PR95272

BANGKOK, March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-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