Bangkok one of world's most-booked destinations this summer

The latest data from Trip.com reveals that global travel bookings for the summer (June 1 to August 31) have already surpassed 2019 levels, with intra-regional travel leading the way.

Overall, bookings on the platform this summer have increased by 170% when compared to the same period in 2022. Specifically, thanks to the relaxation of travel restrictions in APAC, summer bookings have skyrocketed by 356% y-o-y in Asia, with European markets recording a 72% y-o-y increase this summer.

Short-haul regional tours are the preferred trip this summer, with short-distance flight bookings accounting for 44% of all bookings in Asia and more than half in Europe (67%).

On the other hand, the percentage of long-haul summer travel in Europe has dropped significantly from 48% in 2019 to 13% this year. Over in Asia, the percentage is up slightly from 22% in 2019 to 27%.

Specifically, Asian travelers are focusing on travel closer to home. The top five most-booked cities in Asia are – Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei, with Singapore coming in as the 7th most booked city in Asia. Bangkok (pictured) is the most-booked destination this summer by Singaporean travelers, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bali, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, Manila, Johor Bahru and Penang.

In terms of searches by Singaporean travelers, Batam ranked first, followed by Bentong, Bintan, Bangkok, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Kota Tinggi, Hong Kong and Seoul.

Likewise, in Europe, nine out of 10 destinations booked this summer are European cities, such as London, Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris; Bangkok is the only destination on the list outside Europe.

Interestingly, even though European users are in “wait-and-see” mode for long-distance travel, search demand is still prominent – Trip.com search data finds that European users are looking for hotels in Asian and Middle East destinations, with Bali, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Marrakech listed on the top-10 most searched hotel destinations.

“We are witnessing a strong rebound in short-haul travel across all our global markets this summer,” said Ray Chen, CEO of the Hotel Business Unit, Trip.com Group. “As flights and hotel capacity continue to increase, and the global industry is better prepared for welcoming back international travelers, we can expect a faster return of long-distance travel in the near future.”

This summer, some emerging destinations have become the fastest growing destinations booked by Trip.com users, with many of them coastal or island destinations, such as the Fuerteventura Island, Lanzarote and Santander in Spain, and Kefalonia in Greece.

More travelers are also going to remote or rural areas for unusual travel experiences. Tourism destinations with unique cultures and landscapes are proving popular this summer, such as Lijiang in China and Shimukappu Mura in Japan.

Music Tourism and Amusement Parks

Significant music events, such as concerts and music festivals, are in full swing across major cities in Asia, becoming a new engine to attract more visitors to the area.

According to data from Trip.com’s user-generated content (UGC) platform Trip Moments, discussions on ‘going to music events’ while travelling are trending in Hong Kong and South Korean sites, especially music fans from the Chinese mainland looking to flock to Hong Kong for concerts and performances in 2023.

Theme parks and water parks are drawing travellers’ attention this summer, with some new theme parks opening up in the region, such as the “Making of Harry Potter” in Tokyo, which will be the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia.

“Indeed, most travellers have chosen intra-regional getaways this summer, but that doesn’t mean they will have less fun. Travelers this summer are seeking unique and mind-blowing travel experiences that they missed for the past three years,” commented Han Feng, Senior Marketing Director of Trip.com.