The Lunar New Year travel boom has just started in Asia and already airports and train stations are bursting with travelers. So we thought it was interesting to look the most popular destinations during this extremely busy time to travel.
Bangkok, Tokyo and Taipei are the top three most popular destination for Asia Pacific travelers over the Lunar New Year period in 2019, according to booking data from Agoda. The top destinations for Lunar New Year focuses on classic destinations in the region and shows just how wide spread holiday travel is for Asians across the region.
This year, Osaka, slips from third spot in 2018 to sixth, while Taiwan scoops three of the top ten destinations with Taipeiin third, and Kaohsiung and Taichung in fifth and seventh respectively. Overall, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand will benefit most from travelers celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Travels during the Spring Festival tend to be reserved for family bonding and indulging in food and leisure activities that the whole family can enjoy. It is thus not surprising that most travelers in the region picked well known food and retail cities such as Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Top 10 destinations for Asian travelers in 2019
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Bangkok, Thailand |
1. Tokyo, Japan |
1. Bangkok, Thailand |
|
2. Tokyo, Japan |
2. Bangkok, Thailand |
2. Tokyo, Japan |
|
3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
3. Osaka, Japan |
3. Taipei, Taiwan |
|
4. Taipei, Taiwan |
4. Taipei, Taiwan |
4. Hong Kong |
|
5. Hong Kong |
5. Seoul, South Korea |
5. Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
|
6. Seoul, South Korea |
6. Hong Kong |
6. Osaka, Japan |
|
7. Osaka, Japan |
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
7. Taichung, Taiwan |
|
8. Singapore |
8. Singapore |
8. Sapporo, Japan |
|
9. Chiang Mai, Thailand |
9. Kyoto, Japan |
9. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
10. Pattaya, Thailand |
10. Phuket, Thailand |
10. Singapore |
Taking a look by market:
China
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in many cities across Asia, but Chinese travelers enjoy the longest holiday. With a week to spare, Chinese tourists are spending their New Year in cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bangkok.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Bangkok, Thailand |
1. Hong Kong |
1. Hong Kong |
|
2. Hong Kong |
2. Phuket, Thailand |
2. Tokyo, Japan |
|
3. Phuket, Thailand |
3. Bangkok, Thailand |
3. Bangkok, Thailand |
|
4. Chiang Mai, Thailand |
4. Tokyo, Japan |
4. Phuket Island, Thailand |
|
5. Tokyo, Japan |
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand |
5. Osaka, Japan |
|
6. Taipei, Taiwan |
6. Taipei, Taiwan |
6. Chiang Mai, Thailand |
|
7. Bali, Indonesia |
7. Osaka, Japan |
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
8. Osaka, Japan |
8. Sapporo, Japan |
8. Singapore |
|
9. Nha Trang, Vietnam |
9. Bali, Indonesia |
9. Taipei, Taiwan |
|
10. Kyoto, Japan |
10. Boracay Island, Philippines |
10. Kyoto, Japan |
Hong Kong
This year, Hong Kongers chose to change things up, traveling to Japan, Thailand and Taiwan over the previously favored Korea. In fact, Korea dropped out of the top three destinations altogether to settle at the fifth spot. Staycations have also risen in popularity, and Hong Kong made its way into the top ten this year as well.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Seoul, South Korea |
1. Seoul, South Korea |
1. Tokyo |
|
2. Tokyo, Japan |
2. Tokyo, Japan |
2. Bangkok |
|
3. Taipei, Taiwan |
3. Osaka, Japan |
3. Taipei |
|
4. Osaka, Japan |
4. Taipei, Taiwan |
4. Osaka |
|
5. Bangkok, Thailand |
5. Bangkok, Thailand |
5. Seoul |
|
6. Macau |
6. Macau |
6. Macau |
|
7. Guangzhou, China |
7. Fukuoka, Japan |
7. Fukuoka |
|
8. Sapporo, Japan |
8. Kyoto, Japan |
8. Sapporo |
|
9. Pattaya, Thailand |
9. Sapporo, Japan |
9. Hong Kong |
|
10. Kyoto, Japan |
10. Nagoya, Japan |
10. Guangzhou |
Indonesia
Indonesians are venturing further afield this year to celebrate the Lunar New Year, with Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo taking up two out of three of its top travel destinations. Japan is rising in popularity, as the region adds Sapporo with its winter wonderland into Indonesia’s top ten destinations.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Bandung, Indonesia |
1. Bandung, Indonesia |
1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
2. Jakarta, Indonesia |
2. Bali, Indonesia |
2. Bali, Indonesia |
|
3. Bali, Indonesia |
3. Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
3. Tokyo, Japan |
|
4. Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
4. Bangkok, Thailand |
|
5. Surabaya, Indonesia |
5. Singapore |
5. Bandung, Indonesia |
|
6. Singapore |
6. Jakarta, Indonesia |
6. Singapore |
|
7. Bogor, Indonesia |
7. Tokyo, Japan |
7. Genting Highlands |
|
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
8. Malang, Indonesia |
8. Sapporo, Japan |
|
9. Semarang, Indonesia |
9. Bangkok, Thailand |
9. Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
|
10. Malang, Indonesia |
10. Puncak, Indonesia |
10. Penang, Malaysia |
Japan
Agoda data shows, domestic travels dominates the travel agenda for Japanese travelers over Lunar New Year this year, clinching six out of ten spots in the list. Thailand continues to be a hot spot for those seeking a tropical celebration, and Hawaii makes its entrance into the top ten list for the first time.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Bangkok, Thailand |
1. Bangkok, Thailand |
1. Tokyo, Japan |
|
2. Tokyo, Japan |
2. Tokyo, Japan |
2. Bangkok, Thailand |
|
3. Seoul, South Korea |
3. Seoul, South Korea |
3. Yokohama, Japan |
|
4. Pattaya, Thailand |
4. Pattaya, Thailand |
4. Sapporo, Japan |
|
5. Manila, Philippines |
5. Osaka, Japan |
5. Pattaya, Thailand |
|
6. Osaka, Japan |
6. Manila, Philippines |
6. Osaka, Japan |
|
7. Kyoto, Japan |
7. Okinawa Main Island, Japan |
7. Okinawa Main island, Japan |
|
8. Cebu, Philippines |
8. Bali, Indonesia |
8. Fukuoka, Japan |
|
9. Sapporo, Japan |
9. Taipei, Taiwan |
9. Oahu, Hawaii |
|
10. Taipei, Taiwan |
10. Cebu, Philippines |
10. Kyoto, Japan |
Malaysia
Malaysians continue to favor traveling within the region to celebrate Lunar New Year. In 2019, domestic destinations take up eight out of the top ten destinations. Thailand remains the only overseas destination in the top ten list for Malaysian travelers over the period.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
1. Hat Yai, Thailand |
|
2. Malacca, Malaysia |
2. Malacca, Malaysia |
2. Bangkok, Thailand |
|
3. Penang, Malaysia |
3. Penang, Malaysia |
3. Malacca, Malaysia |
|
4. Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
4. Bangkok, Thailand |
4. Penang, Malaysia |
|
5. Bangkok, Thailand |
5. Hat Yai, Thailand |
5. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
6. Ipoh, Malaysia |
6. Langkawi, Malaysia |
6. Ipoh, Malaysia |
|
7. Langkawi, Malaysia |
7. Ipoh, Malaysia |
7. Langkawi, Malaysia |
|
8. Port Dickson, Malaysia |
8. Port Dickson, Malaysia |
8. Port Dickson, Malaysia |
|
9. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia |
9. Cameron Highlands, Malaysia |
9. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia |
|
10. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia |
10. Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
10. Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
Singapore
Singaporeans prefer to travel to neighboring regions to spend the short Lunar New Year public holidays. For the first time, staycations have emerged as a popular choice for those who prefer staying behind to celebrate the festival.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Batam Island, Indonesia |
1. Batam Island, Indonesia |
1. Bangkok, Thailand |
|
2. Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
2. Bangkok, Thailand |
2. Batam Island, Indonesia |
|
3. Bangkok, Thailand |
3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
|
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
4. Tokyo, Japan |
|
5. Malacca, Malaysia |
5. Malacca, Malaysia |
5. Singapore |
|
6. Bali, Indonesia |
6. Bali, Indonesia |
6. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
|
7. Tokyo, Japan |
7. Tokyo, Japan |
7. Taipei, Taiwan |
|
8. Phuket, Thailand |
8. Taipei, Taiwan |
8. Malacca, Malaysia |
|
9. Bintan Island, Indonesia |
9. Phuket, Thailand |
9. Bali, Indonesia |
|
10. Taipei, Taiwan |
10. Bintan Island, Indonesia |
10. Khao Yai, Thailand |
Taiwan
Taiwanese are traveling within the region to spend Chinese New Year, with Kaohsiung rising up to clinch the top position. For the first time in three years, Kyoto has slipped out of the top ten ranking.
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
1. Tokyo, Japan |
1. Tokyo, Japan |
1. Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
|
2. Taipei, Taiwan |
2. Taipei, Taiwan |
2. Taichung, Taiwan |
|
3. Taichung, Taiwan |
3. Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
3. Taipei, Taiwan |
|
4. Kaohsiung, Taiwan |
4. Taichung, Taiwan |
4. Tokyo, Japan |
|
5. Osaka, Japan |
5. Osaka, Japan |
5. Tainan, Taiwan |
|
6. Tainan, Taiwan |
6. Seoul, South Korea |
6. Hualien, Taiwan |
|
7. Seoul, South Korea |
7. Tainan, Taiwan |
7. Taitung, Taiwan |
|
8. Kyoto, Japan |
8. Okinawa Main island, Japan |
8. Yilan, Taiwan |
|
9. Hualien, Taiwan |
9. Kyoto, Japan |
9. Okinawa Main island, Japan |
|
10. Yilan, Taiwan |
10. Bangkok, Thailand |
10. Chiayi, Taiwan |
The Lunar New Year travel boom shows just how popular Asian destinations are for Asian travelers and why this has become such a huge time for travel across the region.
