Short ‘hop’ destinations are top choices for Asian travelers celebrating the Year of the Rabbit
Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand emerge as the most searched destinations
Japan is the most sought-after destination for travelers across Asia as they usher in the Lunar New Year, Agoda reveals. According to search data from the global digital travel platform, Japan was the most searched destination overall, followed by Malaysia and Thailand.
This year, Agoda insights show that many travelers are opting for short hops to neighboring destinations for the festivities. Notable exceptions to this trend include travelers from China and Japan. Both those countries have Thailand as the #1 desired destination, seeking some winter sun. Thai travelers on the other hand are hoping to head to Japan.
Most searched
Destinations |
1. Japan |
2. Malaysia |
3. Thailand |
4. Indonesia |
5. Singapore |
6. Vietnam |
7. South Korea |
8. Philippines |
“It is great to see confidence in international travel returning especially in the more recently opened markets of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. We expect there will be a surge in travel from mainland China with Thailand, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan back on the wish lists this Lunar New Year. However, it might be too soon to expect a full recovery, given the challenges with flight capacity and prices,” said Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer of Agoda.
Agoda’s search data also reveals the top choices within the three most popular markets by volume, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand. Capital cities are a major draw in Japan, with Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka being the three most searched destinations. In Malaysia, visitors are particularly eager to head to bustling cities, with Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, and Penang in the top three respectively. In Thailand it’s Bangkok that takes top spot, followed by coastal party town Pattaya and culture-rich Chiang Mai.
Top five ranked destinations by market for the
Lunar New Year 2023
China | Indonesia | Japan | Malaysia | Philippines |
Thailand | Malaysia | Thailand | Thailand | Singapore |
Hong Kong | Singapore | South Korea | Indonesia | Japan |
Macau | Thailand | Taiwan | Singapore | Thailand |
Japan | Japan | United States | Japan | Hong Kong |
Taiwan | Taiwan | Vietnam | Philippines | Malaysia |
Singapore | South Korea | Taiwan | Thailand | Vietnam
|
Malaysia | Japan | Japan | Japan | Thailand |
Indonesia | Vietnam | Thailand | Singapore | Indonesia |
Thailand | Thailand | South Korea | Vietnam | Singapore |
Japan | Philippines | United States | Laos | Malaysia |
Philippines | Taiwan | Malaysia | Malaysia | Taiwan |