Agoda Reveals Taiwan Leads the Pack of Wishlist Destinations Ahead Last Year’s Champion, Bangkok

Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan are the top searched destinations for travel until the year-end according to search data revealed by Agoda.com.

As the COVID-19 situation improves in many countries and social restrictions are being lifted, the travel itch that has been subdued for months now grows even stronger. Travelers are dreaming again of distance shores, as well as the option to explore their domestic travel scene.

Taiwan tops the travel escape searches list among all different traveler groups from couples to solo travelers, family or groups, beating last year’s champs – Thailand, which is knocked into the second most popular searched destination ahead of Japan, Vietnam, South Korea in the top five.  The United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia complete the top ten. Agoda’s search data shows distinctions between destinations searched by type of travelers, with Japan and Thailand taking second and third spots of solo travelers, while more family travelers are searching for travel deals in Thailand, ahead of Vietnam.  For group travelers, Vietnam vies for the second spot ahead of Thailand for those traveling and also group travel has a more diverse range of destinations including the Philippines and Israel, which don’t feature in the top ten for all travelers.

While in 2019, there was a clear mix of international search destinations across the Asia Pacific, now with fewer markets for international travelers open, Taiwan is receiving the bulk of searches – by Agoda domestic and international travelers. It is a key destination in the second half of 2020, dominating the list with seven of the most popular destinations in the top 10—Hualien (#1), Yilan (#2), Taipei (#3), Kenting (#4), Taitung (#6), Nantou (#8), and Taichung (#10). This marks a dramatic change from 2019, which featured a more diverse set of travel choices from across Asia.

Agoda dives into most searched cities

Hualien, Yilan, and Taipei are the most popular destinations searched for stays in the latter part of 2020, with Hualien and Yilan appearing as newcomers in this year’s top 10. Bangkok and Tokyo, the top two most searched destinations during 2019, fell to seventh and ninth spot respectively, while Taipei (#3) holds the same position as last year.

Hualian, with its port city and stretches of coastal beaches and walks, is the most popular destination for all categories of travelers, except for Solo travelers who opt for Tokyo. Yilan – known for its great natural landscape, Cold Spring, and local delicacies – holds the second-highest appeal to group and family travelers. Other cities with abundant nature that are being considered by family travelers are the coastal city of Taitung, and Nantou, where travelers can escape to the serenity of the Sun Moon lake. The couples are eyeing Taipei, while Solo travelers, who prefer big cities that offer plenty of cultures and a vibrant nightlife, are dreaming of Tokyo and Bangkok.

For couples, this year’s destination wishlist is lead by Hualian, Taipei, Bangkok, followed by Yilan, and Jeju Island, a shift in gears from last year’s couple searches which lead with Bangkok, Tokyo, Pattaya, Bali, Taipei. Families too are searching to alternative off the beaten path and less crowded destinations this year compared to 2019’s Tokyo, Bangkok, and Okinawa Island hot spots.  Instead, this year’s wishlists are led by Taiwanese destinations Hualien (#1), Taipei (#2), and Yilan (#4) in the top five, with Bangkok(3#) and Jeju Island (#5) also taking a spot.

Group travelers have shifted their searches to countryside destinations of Hualian, Yilan, Nantou, Taitung, and Kenting for travel in the remaining of 2020, a shift from beach destinations like Batangas (Philippines), Pattaya (Thailand), Okinawa Main Island (Japan), that featured as the top three searches in 2019.

Interestingly, for solo travelers, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Taipei firmly hold their spots and emerge as the top searched cities in both 2019 and 2020, with Hualian (#7), Jeju Island (#8), and Okinawa Main island (#9) making a debut this year. Singapore, Bali, and London which were Solo travelers’ most searched destinations in 2019 are missing from this year’s wishlists.

After spending some time with travel restrictions in place, travelers are shifting their travel searches away from well-known tourist destinations to lesser-known places and moving towards nature and beaches instead of city breaks.

“While Agoda’s search data has seen a shift toward domestic destinations as regulations are being eased for domestic travel, people are still dreaming about international travel adventures. What Agoda’s data is showing us is there is still a hunger to travel, people are enjoying exploring their own countries whether alone, with family, or with friends. But most importantly,  they still have hope that travel corridors will open later this year to some key markets where COVID has been more contained, and are looking out for great deals for when they do,” said. Tim Hughes, Vice President of Corporate Development, Agoda.

Australia

• This year Bali loses its crown to the world-famous Gold Coast as the most searched destinations for Aussies.

• The top ten Aussie searches are: Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Bali (Indonesia), Margaret River, Sunshine Coast, Perth, Cairns, Bangkok (Thailand), and Phuket (Thailand)

• While Melbourne and Sydney feature on the couple, family, and solo traveler lists, neither make the cut for group travelers who show different destination preferences including Hunter Valley (NSW) (#3), Stanthorpe (QLD)(#6), Launceston(#7), and Stanley (TAS) (#9) that are not on other lists.

• Seven out of ten cities most searched destinations are domestic, compared to only three in 2019 when Bali ranked the first across all traveler types.

 Great Britain

• The Brits are looking to shake the cabin fever off with a summer holiday overseas with eight of the ten most searched international destinations.

• London (#3) and Manchester (#10), making a debut this year, are the only two domestic destinations on all travelers’ lists.

• Couples are dreaming of their trips to the tropics including Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Bali, and Maldives Islands.

• Only two European destinations make the family traveler list – London (#2) and Paris (#9).

• British family travelers are still dreaming of long-haul journeys to spend their holiday, with Dubai topping the list. It is the only traveler type that features US destinations, New York (#10).

• This year, all travelers, couple travelers, and solo travelers have no US destinations on the list, unlike last year where travelers when searches for Las Vegas and New York made the top 10.

• Group travelers are looking to explore new destinations off the beaten track such as Thailand’s Nakhonratchasima (#6), Vietnam’s Sapa (#7), and Greece’s Kamena Vourla (#10).

Indonesia

• Bali is listed in the first place for all travelers, couples, and solo travelers for two consecutive years.

• Seven out of 10 top searched wishlist destinations are within Indonesia for 2020, compared to eight in 2019, as Indonesians dream of international travel post-COVID.

• Singapore jumps from #8 to #5 in 2020, ahead of new international wishlist destinations, Tokyo and Bangkok, (#6 and 7 respectively). Kuala Lumpur falls out of the top 10.

• Surabaya debuts at the tenth on all traveler list.

• Japan destinations jump up the ranks for wishlist travel in 2020, with both families and group travelers searching for Tokyo, plus Osaka (Families) and Kyoto and Takayama (Group).

• Family travelers show strong interest as half of the destinations are overseas.

• Group travelers’ top two most searched destinations are Japan’s Kyoto and Takayama.

• Couple travelers’ wishlist, on the other hand, has the lowest number of international destinations but includes Seoul, Songkhla, Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo. Last year, only Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur were on the list.

 Japan

• This year, Japanese destinations take the top three spots on the travelers’ searches, knocking Bangkok to fourth place and Seoul out of the top 10.

• Okinawa Main Island, known for its subtropical climate and local food, jumped from the fifth in 2019 to the first place this year on all traveler search list. It also tops the lists for family travelers and group travelers.

• Many Japanese destinations make a debut in this year’s top ten including, Izu, Hamamatsu, and Aizuwakamatsu. Kobe enters at the eighth on all travelers and couples list, the fourth on the family traveler list, and the ninth on solo traveler lists.

• Honolulu (HI) appears for the first time as the sixth most searched destination among family travelers and is the only international destination on the family traveler list.

• Group travelers in 2019 were the traveler type that preferred overseas destinations with most, with half of the destinations on the list being overseas. However, in 2020 it is the only traveler type that features no international destinations in the top ten.

South Korea

• Jeju Island tops the wishlist for Korean travelers for the latter part of 2020, followed by Seoul and Busan in the top three across all traveler groups except Solo, where the Maldives knocks Busan into the fourth spot.

• Still, hope for international travel remains, especially for the Solo traveler list which features Maldives Islands (#3), Bangkok (#6), Tokyo (#7), and Pattaya (#9).

• Across all travel types, only Bangkok and Bali make the list. Japan slides right out of the top ten, with Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka, all being replaced by Korean destinations in 2020.

• Korean group travelers are enthusiastic to explore their own country with no international destinations on the list.

Malaysia

• According to Agoda’s search data, Malaysians favor domestic destinations this year, with the nation’s capital Kuala Lumper placed at a top spot across different traveler type lists, except Group, where Bentong is the most searched.

• While Kuala Lumpur and Penang are among the top three across all, couple, family, and solo traveler lists, they are not on the group traveler search lists.

• On international destinations, Tokyo and Seoul leap into the top ten this year, at ninth for all travelers and tenth for family travelers, respectively.

• Bangkok is still on Malaysian’s mind but slips from fourth to sixth spot this year.

• More solo travelers aim to travel to Bangkok (#2) this year, a jump from #4 last year. 

Philippines 

• The Filipino are dreaming about local retreats. Manila is a winner for all, couples, and solo traveler types. It’s second for family travelers and third spot for group travelers.

• Popular destinations that appear on every traveler type list are Manila, Boracay, Cebu, and Palawan.

• Group travelers are most keen to travel domestically with all top ten most searched destinations within the Philippines.

• Mountain town, Baguio, is not on group travelers’ mind, but is in the rest of the traveler types lists.

• Solo travelers are inclined to explore overseas metropolitan cities of Tokyo (#5), Bangkok (#9), and Seoul (#10).

Thailand

• Beach destinations like Hua Hin / Cha-am and Pattaya are the most popular search destinations for Thais.

• Hua Hin / Cha-am takes Pattaya’s crown moving to the top spots of most searched destinations on all traveler, couple traveler, and family traveler lists in 2020.

• Pattaya maintains its first place on the group traveler list, whereas Bangkok remains first on the solo traveler list.

• Koh Kood, known for white sand and beautiful beaches, is a newcomer on all traveler list (#9), couple (#9), and group traveler list (#5).

• Six out of ten destinations for family travelers are beach destinations.

• Bangkok is in the third place for all travelers and couple travelers, the first for solo travelers. But for family travelers, Bangkok is on the 8^th (a fall from 5^th last year).

• Group travelers’ wishlists showed interest in international travel with Korea’s Seoul (#8) and Japan’s Osaka (#10) on the list.

Taiwan

• Taiwanese travelers are looking to discover the country’s treasure in their own backyard in 2020.

• Domestic destinations dominate the top ten destinations on all, couple, family, and group traveler type lists.

• Hualien, renowned for its Ch’ing-Shui Cliff, supersedes all destinations and take the first spot on every list, a big jump from last year’s number eight spot.

• Yilan is on the second place of almost every list, except for solo where it comes in at #6.

• Taiwanese solo travelers showing interest in urban cities outside the country in 2019 such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Bangkok, this year showed strong support to local communities, with almost all destinations featured in the list this year are domestic destinations, except Tokyo, placed at tenth for solo travelers.

US

• With travel restrictions, the American are eyeing domestic destinations in 2020.
• The top destination in the US featuring across all traveler types is Las Vegas (NV).

• All types of travelers’ list show that people are longing for big cities and beaches as the list runs as Las Vegas (NV), Myrtle Beach (SC), Bangkok, Cancun, Orlando (FL), Tokyo, Bali, Honolulu (HI), Pattaya, Manila.

• Beyond North America, American solo travelers also want to spend their time in Asia including Pattaya (#1), Bangkok (#2), Tokyo (#3), Hong Kong (#5), Bali (#6), Seoul (#7), Manila (#10).

• Family travelers are most interested in venturing domestically with seven US destinations on the list.

Vietnam

• Overall, the Vietnamese travelers show strong support for domestic tourism, with no overseas destinations featured on any traveler types’ lists this year.

• Nha Trang is gaining popularity leaping to the first place across all, couple, group, and solo traveler type, pushing out Da Nang for the top spot.

• Ho Chi Minh City, #3 on 2019’s couple list, now slips to #8, replaced by Phu Quoc Island as number three most searched destination.

• Family travelers set their hearts on sunshine and seashore in Phu Quoc island (#1), jumping from #6 last year, and coastal cities like Nha Trang (#2), Da Nang (#3), and Vung Tau (#4).
•  Nha Trang jumps from seventh to the first spot this year on solo travelers’ lists.