Thais look to escape to Japan

• Mar 22, 2019

Agoda’s booking data has revealed changing patterns for Thai Songkran travellers, with Tokyo overtaking Bangkok as the top destination this year. 
Traditionally a time when Thais return to their hometowns to pay respect to their elders by pouring scented water onto their palms and visiting temples to make merit during the festival, the booking data suggests they are bucking tradition to spend the April 12-16 holiday abroad. 
Agoda reports that more overseas destinations made up the top 10 this year, with Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul and Taipei in four of the spots. 
Furthermore, Tokyo has usurped Bangkok’s crown for the most-booked Songkran destination, a title Bangkok held for the last two years. 
Japan, South Korea and Taiwan offer visa-free entry and have many attractions to offer travellers looking for alternative ways to spend Songkran, such as the trendy Shibuya neighbourhood in Tokyo, the world-class Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, the elegant Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul and the famous Taipei 101 Observatory. 
The seaside cities of Pattaya and Hua Hin, renowned for their laid-back atmosphere, dynamic nightlife and delicious street food, are once again second and third. 
Chiang Mai, a popular venue for Songkran in the past, fell to seventh place from fifth last year. 
The Thai Hotel Association’s northern chapter said just 40% of rooms in Chiang Mai were booked, citing the election campaign and hot weather. 

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1648936/thais-look-to-escape-to-japan