More than 1.15 million Airbnb guests travelled to Thailand last year, signalling further growth in hospitality entrepreneurship this year, says Airbnb.
Data from 2017 shows that over 1.15 million Airbnb guests arrived in Thailand, up 67% from 2016.
Airbnb, an online marketplace for lodging, said Thailand's popularity with domestic and international travellers shows no signs of slowing down, as people worldwide continue to seek out unique and authentic experiences in the country.
People from all over the world flocked to Thailand last year, with the largest proportion of inbound international guests in 2017 coming from China, the US, Singapore, Malaysia and Britain.
Meanwhile, Thai tourists have travelled to more than 100 different countries and six continents in the past year, including non-traditional destinations like Bolivia and Zimbabwe.
According Airbnb, popular travel destinations for Thai travellers include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, France, Italy and the US.
The top city destinations for Thai travellers in 2017 were Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Kyoto, Singapore, London, Fukuoka, Paris, Sapporo, Rome, Milan and Los Angeles.
Moreover, Thais are increasingly using Airbnb to explore their own country, with Khon Kaen, Chon Buri and Hat Yai experiencing year-on-year growth of 139%, 150% and 204%, respectively.
The overall top domestic destinations among Thai travellers last year were Pattaya, Bangkok, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai.
Within Bangkok and Chiang Mai, many neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly popular among travellers. With many of these neighbourhoods, experiencing huge growth shows how Airbnb is bringing lesser-known neighbourhoods into the global consciousness.
In this way, Airbnb is driving not just footfall and economic activity to these communities, but a new love and appreciation for areas that have been previously overlooked.
Top trending neighbourhoods in Thailand including Bangkok's Sukhumvit, Sathon, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Klong Toey and Thon Buri areas.
A more unique type of travel
Increasingly, people are shying away from the usual cookie-cutter tours where they see the same things as everyone else.
Instead, curious travellers are seeking something authentic, different and unique -- handcrafted experiences they won't find anywhere else, that help them really understand the character of a new city.
Airbnb experiences offers unprecedented access to communities and places that travellers wouldn't usually come across through traditional tourist travel, meeting fellow travellers and passionate locals in the process. Southeast Asians are catching on to the trend and have been keen to sign up for the latest experiences this year.
Some experiences have proved particularly appealing, with the following being among the most popular experiences from travellers in the region: create your own perfume in Seoul; urban cycling adventure in Osaka; Fortress Night Hike in Seoul; One Kind House in Singapore; Bangkok Biking Oasis; and Learn the Art of Wasabi Cultivation, Tokyo.
As part of its 2017 review, Airbnb has also compiled some 2018 travel inspirations. These include Tamarind Cottage Treehouse, Chiang Mai; Yong Yi Yuen, Penang, Malaysia; Singaraja Villa, Bali; Private Island Retreat in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines; Rice Field Bamboo Dome in Bali; Baan Sai Tan in Koh Samui, Thailand; and Jonker Street Peranakan Malaysia in Malacca.