File photo courtesy of Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

 

Trip.com Group predicts Japan, China, and Thailand will be the top travel destinations in 2026, driven by trends among Millennials and Gen Z. These younger generations are set to shape global travel preferences, favouring Asia's cultural richness and exciting attractions.

 

We anticipate Japan to emerge as the world's most popular travel destination in 2026. We expect travellers from ASEAN nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to flock to vibrant cities like Tokyo and Osaka. We predict these cities, known for their unique blend of tradition and modernity, to rank among the global top 10 most visited.

 

China also continues to rise in travel popularity, especially with visitors from countries like Thailand and Singapore. The demand for cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou is increasing, with forecasted "triple-digit" growth in bookings. Secondary cities like Beijing and Xi’an are also becoming hotspots due to their historical appeal. In addition, Thailand remains a favourite destination, with its allure complemented by a growing interest in Turkey among German travellers.

 

We expect Millennials, aged 29 to 44 in 2026, to dominate the travel scene, accounting for nearly half of all bookings. Gen Z (aged 15 to 28) also seeks unique adventures, reflecting a shift towards experiential tourism.

 

Attractions such as Shanghai Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan are attracting significant interest in theme parks and nature adventures. Fan-based tourism is thriving, with events like K-pop concerts and Harry Potter-themed tours gaining traction. Nature tourism is also on the rise, attracting tourists to sites such as New Zealand’s Glowworm Caves and China’s Wulong mountains.

 

Cultural landmarks in Europe, including the Louvre in Paris and Barcelona’s Sagrada Família, continue to attract those seeking cultural enrichment, reported The Nation.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Japan, China, and Thailand are forecasted as top 2026 destinations.
• Millennials and Gen Z are driving travel trends towards Asia.
• Theme parks, fan-driven events, and nature sites see rising popularity.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-12-16

 

 

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from [source] 2025-12-16

 

 

 

Here we go again what a load with whats going on in thailand people wont be coming war, visas, baht high vietnam and japan are going to benefit not thailand

yes sure.. K pop is performing in Bangkok and people from all over the world to buy tickets and accommodation in the age of 15- 29??? With this exchange rate things will be too expensive..Dream Thailand, but with the ongoing border clashes, the scams, the raise of the VAT, the double prices, the bad airquality, and the dangerous roads, the too expensive THB you have to wait to be in the top of the tourism destinations again

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

yes sure.. K pop is performing in Bangkok and people from all over the world to buy tickets and accommodation in the age of 15- 29??? With this exchange rate things will be too expensive..Dream Thailand, but with the ongoing border clashes, the scams, the raise of the VAT, the double prices, the bad airquality, and the dangerous roads, the too expensive THB you have to wait to be in the top of the tourism destinations again

Tourists , not returning tourists , just tourists , as i meet at my work .... 

Do not know or care anything at all about any VAT in Thailand , never hear of it , do not know the rates , not noww , not before and not what is planned . 

They do not know or care about dangerous roads , besides they heard : do not drive there , but they got no plans for that , they take taxis 

They do not know about bad air quality , most only look when it is rainy season because they do not want rain when coming to a exotic hot place

 They do hear about a war , which certainly might get in the way of their plans . The strong THB , well they do check before about planning their holiday how much it all costs , but they generally do not care at all . They do not give a s***t about the rate 5y ago and neither the rate next year . They go on holiday , they need to know now , not tomorrow or yesterday . 

The people i see at my work , some went to Thailand already , others are planning to go , maybe this year , maybe in 5y but 1 time ever . They do not check the price difference with other countries just yet as Thailand would be nr1 destination in Asia together with Bali . Japan is btw their 2nd , and that is much more expensive then Thailand . 

2 hours ago, sezze said:

Tourists , not returning tourists , just tourists , as i meet at my work .... 

Do not know or care anything at all about any VAT in Thailand , never hear of it , do not know the rates , not noww , not before and not what is planned . 

They do not know or care about dangerous roads , besides they heard : do not drive there , but they got no plans for that , they take taxis 

They do not know about bad air quality , most only look when it is rainy season because they do not want rain when coming to a exotic hot place

 They do hear about a war , which certainly might get in the way of their plans . The strong THB , well they do check before about planning their holiday how much it all costs , but they generally do not care at all . They do not give a s***t about the rate 5y ago and neither the rate next year . They go on holiday , they need to know now , not tomorrow or yesterday . 

The people i see at my work , some went to Thailand already , others are planning to go , maybe this year , maybe in 5y but 1 time ever . They do not check the price difference with other countries just yet as Thailand would be nr1 destination in Asia together with Bali . Japan is btw their 2nd , and that is much more expensive then Thailand . 

from another planet ,,,,or total out of reality

Please include words like 'expect' or 'anticipate' (used in story) in headlines so as to reflect the uncertainty of the estimate. Thank you

10 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Here we go again what a load with whats going on in thailand people wont be coming war, visas, baht high vietnam and japan are going to benefit not thailand

sit down a lot harder on that pylon 🫠

On 12/16/2025 at 7:31 AM, sezze said:

Tourists , not returning tourists , just tourists , as i meet at my work .... 

Do not know or care anything at all about any VAT in Thailand , never hear of it , do not know the rates , not noww , not before and not what is planned . 

They do not know or care about dangerous roads , besides they heard : do not drive there , but they got no plans for that , they take taxis 

They do not know about bad air quality , most only look when it is rainy season because they do not want rain when coming to a exotic hot place

 They do hear about a war , which certainly might get in the way of their plans . The strong THB , well they do check before about planning their holiday how much it all costs , but they generally do not care at all . They do not give a s***t about the rate 5y ago and neither the rate next year . They go on holiday , they need to know now , not tomorrow or yesterday . 

The people i see at my work , some went to Thailand already , others are planning to go , maybe this year , maybe in 5y but 1 time ever . They do not check the price difference with other countries just yet as Thailand would be nr1 destination in Asia together with Bali . Japan is btw their 2nd , and that is much more expensive then Thailand . 

     Totally nailed it.  Spouse and I visited Spain, Italy, and France last month.  Did not give a thought to all the things you mentioned and nicely debunked.  Did not research anything in advance of the trip except the weather--so we knew what to pack. 

    Tomorrow we are going to Shanghai.  Ditto--not a thought to all the things that supposedly stop people from traveling to some place.  Again, all we have checked is the weather.  Unless, as you say, there is a war going on or some other unsafe situation, if we want to visit a place we will visit it.  

boom boom. TAT will fix it

This post is surely going to attract all the usual negative comments about Thailand.