-Over 500% increase in searches to Thailand from Jan 2022 to end March 2022
-Top three incoming travellers from Japan, United States and Singapore
-Agoda integrates with Thailand Pass application to help streamline booking 
process


According to search data from Agoda, Thailand tops global charts as the number 
one most searched destination for travel in the next six months. Since last 
year, the country has seen a steady increase in international visitor traffic, 
with Agoda search data reflecting a 500% spike in interest in the first quarter 
of the new year to date.  

Japan (#1), United States (#2) and Singapore (#3) are the markets most keen to 
head back to Thailand following the local government's efforts to revitalise 
international tourism with initiatives such as Thailand Pass and the Sandbox 
programme. European markets follow closely behind with United Kingdom (#4), 
France (#5) and Switzerland (#6), while other departure cities in South Korea 
(#7), Maldives (#8), Philippines (#9) and Indonesia (#10), round up the top ten.

To aid with this anticipated influx of travellers, Agoda has collaborated with 
Finema, the technology company responsible for the development of Thailand Pass 
on behalf of the Department of Consular Affairs (under the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs), in a joint effort with the Department of Disease Control (under the 
Ministry of Public Health), Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and the 
Digital Government Development Agency (DGA). This collaboration aims to help 
automate booking data uploads and speed up the Thailand Pass application 
process and reduce room for error or delays.

"While the government has made great efforts to help streamline the booking 
experience for travellers gearing to get back out there, with Test & Go, 
Sandbox and Thailand Pass, it can be daunting and time consuming for 
international travellers to keep track of these requirements, and the processes 
needed. That's why Agoda has worked on integrating its booking data seamlessly 
to the Thailand Pass platform in order to help travellers upload booking 
details automatically, reducing the room for human error," said Damien Pfirsch, 
Chief Commercial Officer of Agoda.

Agoda is offered as a check box option on the Thailand Pass application 
page(https://tp.consular.go.th/). Once a user enters their booking ID, the 
system immediately pulls all data needed and will autofill the application 
form. Customers will receive instant booking validation and clear instructions 
on next steps – helping to speed up the review process.

"At Agoda, we want to make the customer travel experience as hassle-free as 
possible. We understand that the new world of travel is going to come with its 
fair share of challenges and want to help make it easier with our tech 
expertise. With this partnership, and many others we are working on in the 
region, we hope to help our customers through their pre-departure journeys," 
added Pfirsch.

Travellers from all corners of the world are more excited than ever before to 
unwind at all-time favourite beach destinations like Phuket, Koh Samui, 
Pattaya, Krabi; explore northern hill tribes and heavenly hikes in Chiang Mai, 
Chiang Rai, Pai; or simply dig into great street food and the endless shopping 
experience that the much-loved capital of Bangkok has to offer.

Travellers looking for more details and further information on travelling into 
Thailand, can find relevant hotel packages at discounted rates and information 
via the Agoda platform here, https://www.agoda.com/thailandreopens.

Notes to Editor:

Agoda Top 10 inbound searches 2022 (Mar 1 – 30 Sep)

Japan
United States
Singapore
United Kingdom
France
Switzerland
South Korea
Maldives
Philippines
Indonesia
Top 10 nationalities that travelled to TH since reopening (2021)

USA
Germany
UK
Russia
France
Sweden
Israel
South Korea
Australia
Switzerland
*Data extracted from TH Pass platform

About Thailand Pass

As part of the Thailand Pass application process, travelers are required to 
provide accommodation information to verify that their booking follows 
Thailand entry requirements. This includes sharing booking ID, property name 
and location, check-in / checkout dates, and booking voucher details. Once 
submitted, there is a manual process to verify all booking information against 
the booking vendor (such as Agoda or any hotels). As the number of travellers 
grow, there is a need to reduce the manual workload on both government agencies 
and travellers.

About Agoda

From its beginnings as an e-commerce start-up based in Singapore in 2005, 
digital travel platform Agoda(http://www.agoda.com/?site_id=1811392) has 
grown to offer a global network of over 2.5 million properties in more than 200 
countries and territories worldwide, offering travelers easy access to a wide 
choice of luxury and budget hotels, apartments, homes and villas, to suit all 
budgets and travel occasions. In 2019, Agoda added a flight product and 
packages to help make travel even easier. Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is 
part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 4,000 staff in 30 
countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 39 languages.

For more information, please contact press@agoda.com

Source: Agoda