Thai delight: Thailand a Golden Week hotspot for Japanese tourists

Online booking platform Agoda declared Thailand as the second most popular destination for Japanese tourists during the Golden Week according to the search data.

Agoda yesterday revealed the search data of Japanese nationals during Japan’s Golden Week, April 29 to May 6, and reported that Thailand emerged as the nation’s second most popular destination.

While South Korea took the top spot, Thailand surpassed Taiwan (3rd), the United States (4th), and Vietnam (5th). The country was also the only Southeast Asian nation in the top three destinations of Japanese travellers.

Agoda’s data further reveals a 60% increase in searches for Thailand among Japanese travellers between January and March of this year compared to the same period last year. This suggests a growing fascination with Thailand’s diverse attractions and culture.

Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Koh Samui remain favourites among Japanese tourists. Additionally, Chon Buri and the Khao Lak area in Phang Nga recently joined the top-ten list of preferred destinations.

Aside from the impressive ranking on Agoda, CEOWORLD magazine named Thailand the No.1 must-visit country out of 67 nations in its 2024 World’s Best Countries to Visit in Your Lifetime list.

The magazine cited the vibrant nightlife, delicious food, rich culture and arts, abundant shopping, beautiful waterways, temples, and night markets in Thailand as key reasons for its top ranking.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed gratitude to relevant sectors and residents for elevating Thailand as a global travel destination. He believes these rankings validate the success of government campaigns to promote Thai tourism and expressed confidence in further establishing Thailand as a world-class tourism hub.

Japan is also the top destination for Thai tourists. The president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTA), Charoen Wang-ananon, reported in December last year that Japan was the most popular destination for Thai New Year holidays, followed by China, Vietnam, and Laos.

Charoen said Thais chose Japan even if they had visited the country several times before. The association expects about 1.2 to 1.5 million Thais to visit Japan this year.