Bangkok ranks 5th on Airbnb’s top trending global travel spots in 2023

Airbnb‘s latest data shows that Bangkok has emerged as one of the top global travel spots for 2023, coming in fifth on its list of top trending destinations.

The Thai capital is No.5 on Airbnb’s list of top trending global travel spots in 2023, however, this is a slight drop since it was No.1 in the third quarter of last year. In 2022, Bangkok was the top most-booked destination on Airbnb in Thailand, followed by Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui.

Airbnb’s data revealed that nights booked in Thailand on their platform more than doubled last year, with international travel leading the way.

Travellers from the United States made up the majority of Airbnb guests visiting Thailand in 2022, followed by guests from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, including South Korea, Australia, and China.

Group travel on Airbnb in Thailand surged over 300% year-on-year in 2022, as more people travel to reconnect with loved ones. Family travel on the platform increased by 60% in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic, with more families booking Airbnb stays for their value and space. Travellers are also staying for longer, with the average length of stay on the platform in Thailand being approximately five nights in 2022, and long-term stays of over 28 days more than tripling year-over-year.

Airbnb is working closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to drive more long-term stays in Thailand. Both parties co-launched a Live and Work Anywhere digital guide in January this year to support the growth of digital nomads in Thailand.

While domestic travel remains popular, Thais’ appetite for overseas travel has returned, with South Korea, the US, the UK, France, and Japan being the top five overseas destinations for Thai travellers on Airbnb in 2022.

Songkran travel is back in full swing after years of muted celebrations during the pandemic. Airbnb guest searches for the festive period have increased more than 310% year-on-year, with Bangkok being the most-searched destination amongst international guests, followed by Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket. For this period, Thai travellers are looking to resort destinations, with Pattaya ranking top in guest searches for Airbnb stays.

Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, said that it was “extremely encouraging” to see travellers’ excitement to experience Thailand’s rich landscapes and heritage. He said this signals strong tourism recovery.

Bajaj said Airbnb remains committed to working closely with the government and relevant stakeholders to accelerate travel recovery.