Flight requests surged 86% ahead of Mother's Day weekend, with flights to Japan and Vietnam showing strong demand despite fluctuating fuel costs.

AirAsia Move reveals that flight requests from Thais have increased by 86%, defying the volatile travel costs and fuel prices. The long Mother's Day weekend was a key factor driving strong tourism demand, particularly among families. Japan and Vietnam topped the list of international destinations, while secondary Thai cities are increasingly playing a significant role in travel plans.

3 August 2569 Mr. Chatthant Kunchorn Na Ayutthaya, Country Representative for Thailand of AirAsia MOVE (MOVE). Recent analysis of travel interest reveals that the average daily number of flight searches from Thailand between July 7–16, 2569, increased by 86% compared to the daily average during the period of February 28–June 30, 2569.

This increase comes amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding domestic oil prices, which have been fluctuating and directly impacting consumer travel costs cumulatively since the beginning of the year.

However, the significant growth in search figures in July reflects that Thai tourists are becoming more enthusiastic about planning trips and looking for new destinations again, even though fluctuations in costs persist.

“Even though oil prices and travel costs remain volatile, Thai tourists continue to show interest in exploring destinations and planning meaningful trips with their loved ones.” — Chatthant Kunchorn Na Ayutthaya

The long Mother's Day holiday boosted demand; Japan and Vietnam topped the list of foreign countries.

A deeper dive into travel interests leading up to the Mother's Day long weekend, August 12–16, 2569, reveals that MOVE data shows consumers are considering a wider variety of destinations, both domestic and international.

On the international travel side, Japan continues to be the top destination for Thais, led by major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, which are the most searched destinations.

Meanwhile, Vietnam, particularly coastal cities like Da Nang and Nha Trang, has become a rapidly growing and popular destination, alongside China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and the Maldives.

In terms of domestic routes, major tourist cities such as Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Hat Yai continue to be popular for family vacations.

Thailand's secondary cities are experiencing rapid growth, with travelers aged 30-39 leading the group.

Another interesting phenomenon is that Thailand's secondary cities, namely Nan, Surat Thani, Ranong, Narathiwat, and Ubon Ratchathani, are increasingly playing a prominent role among tourists seeking seaside holidays, nature retreats, and unique cultural experiences.

In terms of demographic structure of those searching for information, the 30–39 age group had the highest proportion of flight searches, followed by the 50+ age group and the 40–49 age group, respectively.

Furthermore, travel patterns have shifted from solo or couple travel to increased group travel compared to the previous year, reflecting the desire to spend time with family members and friends during Mother's Day.

Businesses are signaling their intention to prepare for potential demand before making actual bookings.

Mr. Chatthant added that recognizing consumer interest in travel from the early stages will be extremely beneficial to tourism businesses and destinations in developing effective communication and marketing strategies.

Although flight searches don't immediately translate into actual bookings, they serve as an initial indicator that helps businesses prepare to offer travel experiences that precisely meet the needs of each traveler group.

“Recognizing tourism interest at an early stage allows destinations and tourism operators to communicate more effectively with potential tourists and offer diverse travel experiences both in Thailand and across the region.” — Chatthant Kunchorn Na Ayutthaya

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