Most Thai travellers planning summer trips
Sixty-nine per cent of Thais are planning summer trips according to Europ Assistance’s 2022 Holiday Barometer survey – up 25 per cent from the previous year’s figure
Of this, 56 per cent of Thai tourists plan to holiday abroad this year, with Japan, Singapore and South Korea being the most popular destinations. This figure represents a seven-per-cent increase in demand for international travel compared with 2021.
Domestic tourism is less popular, with only 18 per cent of Thai respondents saying that they are planning to holiday domestically – however this this figure still represents a five-per-cent increase year-on-year.
The survey, which polled 15,000 respondents from 15 countries between 26 April and 16 May, including 1,000 Thais, found that Thai holidaymakers are planning to spend 18 per cent more during the 2022 summer holiday period – an average of 62,800 baht (US$1,768.91).
Despite economic conditions being expressed as a primary concern by respondents, 66 per cent of Thai respondents said that they would keep their travel budgets intact, or only slightly cut their budget. Budgetary restrictions and a desire to save money were also key motivation for respondents who were not planning to travel this year, alongside lingering concerns about coronavirus.
The Barometer also highlighted that inflation was a major concern for many travellers.
In addition, 47 per cent of Thai holidaymakers said that they were planning a longer stay than usual this year, while 70 per cent planned to work while travelling this summer – an emerging trend known as a ‘workation’.
Most Thais (63 per cent) purchased insurance to cover their last trip, and concerns about potential disruption have only increased interest in acquiring coverage, with 71 per cent saying that they would likely buy insurance in future.