APAC travellers look at new domestic destinations to celebrate year of the Ox

Traditionally one of the biggest annual travel periods for Asia Pacific travellers, this Lunar New Year Agoda reveals changing travel patterns emerging post-COVID.

This year travellers are discovering off the beaten track destinations as well as revisiting traditional tourist hotspots. Family or group travel is the most popular traveller type and some travellers are pampering themselves and indulging in more high-end stays. There is also an upward trend in the search and bookings for Agoda Homes – non-hotel accommodation that offer more ‘home comfort’ facilities including kitchens, separate living and sleeping spaces.

With most international borders closed, this Lunar New Year domestic destinations are set to enjoy the spotlight with and places like Xian (China), Medan (Indonesia) and Langkawi (Malaysia) making a debut in their markets’ top eight Lunar New Year destinations waiting to be explored.

Across the region, families or group travellers are the number one traveller type, as many people plan to celebrate the Lunar New Year with loved ones. Thai and Indonesian travellers in particular are focusing more on traveling with kin and friends this year, as families or group take over couples as top traveller type this year, compared to last year’s festivities. However, couples took over group or families as the most popular Lunar New Year traveller type in China this year and continued to dominate the top spot for Japan and the Philippines. In Japan, solo travellers remained the second most popular traveller type.

Malaysian, Indonesian, and Vietnamese travellers are taking advantage of great value deals to upgrade to 4-5-star accommodation to celebrate this year, while Chinese travellers maintain their desire for luxury stays.

While hotels continue to rank higher than non-hotel accommodation which includes service apartments, unique homes, villas and resorts, non-hotel accommodation options have become more popular for travellers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam travellers.

“Just like the mythical Ox of the Chinese zodiac, the Asian traveller is proving their resilience and strength this Lunar New Year through their determination to get away and make the most of domestic travel opportunities. In a change from non-COVID times, our data shows us that beach and countryside spots are more popular than capital city breaks and high energy destinations. People want to reward their hard work and resilience with upgraded stays in top class areas, be it beach destinations, such as Phu Quoc (Vietnam) or Boracay Island (the Philippines), scenic mountains like Khao Yai (Thailand) and Chiayi (Taiwan), or historic cultural destinations like Xian (China),” said Timothy Hughes, vice president of corporate development at Agoda.