Airbnb says it has seen a surge in searches for stays in Thailand in recent weeks by international travellers attracted by the reopening to quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated visitors from 63 countries.
International guest searches for stays in Thailand within the next six months have more than doubled from one year ago, based on latest Airbnb search data for the week of Oct 18. International travellers are already planning to rediscover Thailand with Airbnb this coming holiday season, and villas are their most-searched stay of choice, the accommodation sharing platform said.
Phuket's appeal remains undimmed, as the popular island destination continues to be one of the most searched Thai destinations on Airbnb by international guests, along with Bangkok, Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Resort destinations near Bangkok are also trending -- compared with September, Airbnb saw an 80% surge in the third week of October in international guest searches for stays in Phetchaburi for the next six months, and a more than 40% increase for both Pattaya and Hua Hin stays.
Looking to escape the chilly winter, guests from North America and Europe are leading the surge in travel interest in Thailand. The top 10 countries of origin for searches of Thailand were: United States, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland.
Notably, there was a significant spike in searches from Germany, South Korea, Australia and Switzerland in the week of Oct 18. Tied to Australia's recent announcement that it would reopen its international borders in November, searches for Thailand stays by Australians doubled from the same period a month earlier.
"As Thailand officially reopens for quarantine-free international travel, we're seeing incredibly strong demand among international travellers to visit the country with Airbnb," said Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan of Airbnb.
"A significant number of our guests are searching for long-term stays, which is no wonder as Thailand is a top workation destination and Airbnb stays provide a unique getaway with top-notch remote work amenities."
"Working closely with our host community, industry partners and the Thai government, Airbnb is committed to re-energising travel across the nation by driving local, authentic travel that showcases the best of Thai culture and hospitality."