Indonesia’s Surabaya followed with a 63.1% increase, narrowly ahead of South Korea’s Busan at 62.7%.
Manila and Jakarta saw increases of 55.1% and 38.1%.
Travelers from mainland China accounted for much of the bookings to these five cities. Trip.com attributed the growth to demand for affordable trips close to home and interest in exploring a wider range of destinations.
Chiang Mai’s growing appeal was also highlighted in Trip.com’s earlier outlook for China’s Golden Week holiday, which identified the northern Thai city as an increasingly popular destination among Generation Z travelers.
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The golden stupa at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a hillside temple overlooking Chiang Mai. Photo by Unsplash |
Chiang Mai combines mountain scenery with pagoda and street markets, where visitors can browse local handicrafts and sample northern Thai food.
Among its best-known landmarks is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a hillside pagoda overlooking the city.
Each November, Chiang Mai takes on a fairy-tale glow during the Yi Peng festival as colorful lanterns adorn homes and pagodas and sky lanterns drift into the night during certain celebrations.
The festival was recognized as a “World Night View Heritage” in 2024, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Across its autumn booking data, Trip.com said Generation Z recorded the fastest growth in flight bookings.
Its separate outlook for China’s Golden Week holiday also highlighted Chiang Mai’s growing popularity among travelers aged 18-24, who showed increasing interest in nature and destinations beyond major tourism hubs.