SINGAPORE, Dec. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers are looking for new experiences to celebrate the start of 2022. Famous cities remain hot destinations but the travel trend to 'escape' to more off-beat nature or beach destinations dominates this year's New Year's Eve plans, according to the data from digital travel platform, Agoda. And again this year, travelers are choosing luxury to welcome in the New Year.
While Asia wide, capital cities dominate each market's top destinations for New Year's Eve, including the return of Bangkok to Thailand's number one spot, world class beach destinations like Goa (India) (India #1), Bali (Indonesia), Cebu (Philippines), Pattaya (Thailand), Jeju Island (South Korea), as well as Penang, the food capital of Malaysia also make the list with partygoers this year taking advantage of the lifting of restrictions to be more adventurous and exploring further. Agoda's data shows that across many markets there are many newcomers to this year's top ten, including coastal destinations Batam Island (Indonesia, #10), Andaman and Nicobar Island (India, #7), and Kenting (Taiwan, #10). Lush green mountains and scenic destinations, including Khao Kho (Thailand, #9), Bohol (the Philippines, #8), and Ninh Binh (Vietnam, #10) also gain in popularity. In Vietnam, Sapa and Dalat knock Hanoi out of this year's top three.
Travelers are taking care of themselves after on-and-off lockdowns this year. According to data by Agoda, the preference for 4-5 star hotels is even stronger with Taiwan and Thailand travelers upgrading to 4-5 star hotels, from 1-3.5 star accommodation for New Year's Eve this year, joining Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam travelers who continue to choose 4-5 star venues to celebrate the arrival of 2022. In India, 1-3.5 star hotels remain popular among travelers, reflective of trends in 2020.
"Travel is back, although domestic travel remains the predominant source of business for Asian destinations during this NYE celebration season. Agoda data shows that in addition to the big city, traditional, celebration destinations, travelers across Asia are showing their ongoing desire to get out, to getaway and to escape the constrictions and controls of Covid impacted cities. The city staycay is booming. Equally the appeal of Asia's beaches, stunning scenery and freedom of open space has people heading for the coast and mountains in droves. In Vietnam, Hanoi was knocked out of the top three by Sapa. Meanwhile Kuching in Borneo unseated Langkawi for a spot in Malaysia's top three, and Boracay sprung into second spot for the Philippines. In addition, consumers want luxury. There are great 4-5 star, luxury, hotel deals available during the COVID recovery. Data shows that Taiwanese and Thai travelers are booking higher star category hotels compared to last year. Joining travelers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea and Vietnam in the hunt for a luxurious end to a tough 2021," says Timothy Hughes, Vice President Corporate Development, Agoda.
Most booked destinations on New Year's Eve
Indonesia |
India |
Malaysia |
Philippines |
||||
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
Jakarta |
Jakarta |
Goa |
Goa |
Kuala Lumpur |
Kuala Lumpur |
Manila |
Manila |
Bali |
Bali |
Mumbai |
New Delhi and NCR |
Langkawi |
Penang |
Cebu |
Boracay Island |
Bandung |
Bandung |
New Delhi and NCR |
Mumbai |
Penang |
Kuching |
Tagaytay |
Cebu |
South Korea |
Taiwan |
Thailand |
Vietnam |
||||
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
2020 |
2021 |
Seoul |
Seoul |
Taipei |
Taipei |
Pattaya |
Bangkok |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Jeju Island |
Busan |
Taichung |
Taichung |
Bangkok |
Pattaya |
Dalat |
Sapa |
Busan |
Jeju Island |
Kaohsiung |
Kaohsiung |
Chiang Mai |
Chiang Mai |
Hanoi |
Dalat |
Market-specific data
Indonesia
2020 |
2021 |
Jakarta |
Jakarta |
Bali |
Bali |
Bandung |
Bandung |
Yogyakarta |
Yogyakarta |
Surabaya |
Surabaya |
Malang |
Medan |
Semarang |
Semarang |
Bogor |
Bogor |
Makassar |
Malang |
Medan |
Batam Island |
India
2020 |
2021 |
Goa |
Goa |
Mumbai |
New Delhi and NCR |
New Delhi and NCR |
Mumbai |
Bangalore |
Bangalore |
Chennai |
Pondicherry |
Pondicherry |
Chennai |
Pune |
Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
Jaipur |
Udaipur |
Hyderabad |
Jaipur |
Kolkata |
Manali |
Malaysia
2020 |
2021 |
Kuala Lumpur |
Kuala Lumpur |
Langkawi |
Penang |
Penang |
Kuching |
Kuching |
Langkawi |
Malacca |
Malacca |
Kota Kinabalu |
Kota Kinabalu |
Kuantan |
Port Dickson |
Cameron Highlands |
Genting Highlands |
Port Dickinson |
Johor Bahru |
Genting Highlands |
Ipoh |
The Philippines
2020 |
2021 |
Manila |
Manila |
Cebu |
Boracay Island |
Tagaytay |
Cebu |
Subic (Zambales) |
Tagaytay |
Boracay Island |
Baguio |
Baguio |
Subic (Zambales) |
Laguna |
Davao City |
Angeles/Clark |
Bohol |
Batangas |
Angeles / Clark |
Iloilo |
Batangas |
South Korea
2020 |
2021 |
Seoul |
Seoul |
Jeju Island |
Busan |
Busan |
Jeju Island |
Sokcho-si |
Sokcho-si |
Gangneung-si |
Gangneung-si |
Incheon |
Incheon |
Pyeongchang-gun |
Yeosu-si |
Yeosu-si |
Pyeongchang-gun |
Gyeongju-si |
Gyeongju-si |
Pohang-si |
Pohang-si |
Taiwan
2020 |
2021 |
Taipei |
Taipei |
Taichung |
Taichung |
Kaohsiung |
Kaohsiung |
Yilan |
Tainan |
Taitung |
Hualien |
Tainan |
Yilan |
Hualien |
Nantou |
Nantou |
Chiayi |
Taoyuan |
Taitung |
Chiayi |
Kenting |
Thailand
2020 |
2021 |
Pattaya |
Bangkok |
Bangkok |
Pattaya |
Chiang Mai |
Chiang Mai |
Hua Hin / Cha-am |
Hua Hin / Cha-am |
Phuket |
Khao Yai |
Khao Yai |
Phuket |
Kanchanaburi |
Kanchanaburi |
Krabi |
Chonburi |
Chonburi |
Khao Kho |
Chiang Rai |
Chiang Rai |
Vietnam
2020 |
2021 |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Ho Chi Minh City |
Dalat |
Sapa |
Hanoi |
Dalat |
Phu Quoc Island |
Hanoi |
Vung Tau |
Phu Quoc Island |
Da Nang |
Nha Trang |
Sapa |
Vung Tau |
Nha Trang |
Da Nang |
Phan Thiet |
Phan Thiet |
Quy Nhon |
Ninh Binh |
Note to Editors
About the data
Agoda booking data was collated on 18 December 2020 for New Year's Eve booking in 2020 and 1 December 2021 for New Year's Eve domestic bookings in 2021.
About Agoda
Agoda helps anyone travel anywhere with its great value deals on a global network of 2.9M hotels and holiday properties worldwide, plus flights, airport transfers and more. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 39 languages, and supported by 24/7 customer support.
Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 4,000 staff in 25 markets, dedicated to leveraging best-in-class technology to make travel even easier.