New research from BBC News shows that people around the world are actively searching for their next getaway abroad and that Thailand is now seen as the most popular destination to visit in Southeast Asia for visitors planning a trip from North America and Europe. In fact, more than half of the respondents from both Europe and North America named Thailand as their number 1 destination of choice in South East Asia.
57.4% of the global respondents who are intending to travel to SEA say they would be likely to visit Thailand than any other country in the region.
Furthermore, the research showed that travellers to South East Asia are often experienced world travellers, looking for new and different experiences and they will plan to stay for 1-2 weeks, preferring self-planned trips to package deals.
John Williams, vice president – advertising sales, BBC News, says: “Travel has been in a state of flux since the pandemic and we are seeing a wonderful comeback throughout South East Asia currently for travellers and the travel industry as a whole. It is fantastic to see that travellers from across the world are planning on coming to South East Asia and it is really important to understand why their travel decisions are being made. Great news for Thailand to come out on top!”
The research also showed that nearly 4 in 5 Europeans who plan to visit SEA said they plan to embark on the trip within the next 6 months. Meanwhile, statistics show that travellers’ priorities lie in cultural and sustainable travel, with 91% of travellers looking for unique culture and heritage in their chosen destination and 72% of travellers conscious of minimising their impact on the local environment.
