Tokyo ranks top destination for Chinese New Year travel in 2018

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Tokyo has overtaken Bangkok as the number one Chinese New Year (CNY) destination for Asian travelers in 2018, a title held by Bangkok for the last two years.

Japan has taken three of the top spots as Kyoto makes an entry for the first time and Osaka moves up from 9th place in 2016 to 3rd top destination for CNY 2018. City escapes have dominated the rankings with only one beach destination – Phuket, Thailand – making the top ten.

The appeal of Tokyo’s nearby Yokohama Chinatown district – which hosts two weeks of events, including a countdown party, traditional lion dance performances, parades, and a Lantern Festival — has attracted travelers from all over the world, with the largest groups of foreign visitors hailing from Taiwan (26%), South Korea (15%) and Mainland China (15%).

Meanwhile other destinations such as Singapore and Chiang Mai have slipped down the rankings: from 3rd place in 2016 to 8th place in 2018 and from 7th place in 2016 to 12th place in 2018, respectively.

2016 2017 2018

1. Bangkok, Thailand 1. Bangkok, Thailand 1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Tokyo, Japan 2. Tokyo, Japan 2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. Singapore 3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3. Osaka, Japan
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4. Taipei, Taiwan 4. Taipei, Taiwan
5. Taipei, Taiwan 5. Hong Kong 5. Seoul, South Korea
6. Hong Kong 6. Seoul, South Korea 6. Hong Kong
7. Chiang Mai, Thailand 7. Osaka, Japan 7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8. Phuket, Thailand 8. Singapore 8. Singapore
9. Osaka, Japan 9. Chiang Mai, Thailand 9. Kyoto, Japan
10. Bali, Indonesia 10. Pattaya, Thailand 10. Phuket, Thailand

Top ten CNY destinations for Asian travelers

TRAVEL DATA AT A GLANCE:

Mainland China

This year, Hong Kong wrestles back the top spot from Bangkok which slipped to 3rd place for Mainland Chinese travelers this CNY. Meanwhile, Phuket climbs to 2nd most popular spot as guests look for warmer beach resort holidays.

The most popular country overall for Mainland Chinese travelers is Thailand, which has three destinations (Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket) making an appearance in the top five year on year.

2016 2017 2018

1. Bangkok, Thailand 1. Bangkok, Thailand 1. Hong Kong
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand 2. Hong Kong 2. Phuket, Thailand
3. Phuket, Thailand 3. Phuket, Thailand 3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Hong Kong 4. Chiang Mai, Thailand 4. Tokyo, Japan
5. Taipei, Taiwan 5. Tokyo, Japan 5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
6. Tokyo, Japan 6. Taipei, Taiwan 6. Taipei, Taiwan
7. Bali, Indonesia 7. Bali, Indonesia 7. Osaka, Japan
8. Samui, Thailand 8. Osaka, Japan 8. Sapporo, Japan
9. Boracay Island, Philippines 9. Nha Trang, Vietnam 9. Bali, Indonesia
10. Singapore 10. Kyoto, Japan 10. Boracay Island, Philippines

Top ten CNY destinations for Mainland Chinese travelers

Mainland China will also be welcoming the most visitors from Hong Kong (29%) Taiwan (19%) and South Korea (18%).

Hong Kong

Seoul holds on to the number one spot for Hong Kong travelers, however Japan is a big draw in 2018 with six destinations appearing in the top ten, including Fukuoka, Sapporo and Nagoya.

2016 2017 2018

1. Seoul, South Korea 1. Seoul, South Korea 1. Seoul, South Korea
2. Taipei, Taiwan 2. Tokyo, Japan 2. Tokyo, Japan
3. Tokyo, Japan 3. Taipei, Taiwan 3. Osaka, Japan
4. Bangkok, Thailand 4. Osaka, Japan 4. Taipei, Taiwan
5. Osaka, Japan 5. Bangkok, Thailand 5. Bangkok, Thailand
6. Macau 6. Macau 6. Macau
7. Guangzhou, China 7. Guangzhou, China 7. Fukuoka, Japan
8. Pattaya, Thailand 8. Sapporo, Japan 8. Kyoto, Japan
9. Singapore 9. Pattaya, Thailand 9. Sapporo, Japan
10. Okinawa Main Island, Japan 10. Kyoto, Japan 10. Nagoya, Japan

Top ten CNY international destinations for Hong Kong travelers

Singapore

When it comes to CNY travel, Singaporeans favor nearby Southeast Asian destinations, which make up eight of the top ten destinations year on year. Batam Island, Bangkok and Johor Bahru have held the top three spots for Lunar New Year destinations since 2016.

Singaporean travelers hit the beach over CNY, while Tokyo, Taipei and Bangkok are the most popular further flung international destinations.

2016 2017 2018

1. Batam Island, Indonesia 1. Batam Island, Indonesia 1. Batam Island, Indonesia
2. Bangkok, Thailand 2. Johor Bahru, Malaysia 2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia 3. Bangkok, Thailand 3. Johor Bahru, Malaysia
4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5. Malacca, Malaysia 5. Malacca, Malaysia 5. Malacca, Malaysia
6. Bali, Indonesia 6. Bali, Indonesia 6. Bali, Indonesia
7. Bintan Island, Indonesia 7. Tokyo, Japan 7. Tokyo, Japan
8. Phuket, Thailand 8. Phuket, Thailand 8. Taipei, Taiwan
9. Tokyo, Japan 9. Bintan Island, Indonesia 9. Phuket, Thailand
10. Hong Kong 10. Taipei, Taiwan 10. Bintan Island, Indonesia

Top ten CNY international destinations for Singaporean travelers

Taiwan

While Taiwanese travelers love to stay and explore Taiwan, those visitors seeking international experiences favor Japan for their CNY celebrations with Tokyo holding the number one destination since 2016. Other Japanese destinations — Okinawa, Osaka and Kyoto — also make an appearance in the CNY top ten for 2018.

2016 2017 2018

1. Tokyo, Japan 1. Tokyo, Japan 1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2. Taipei, Taiwan 2. Taipei, Taiwan
3. Taipei, Taiwan 3. Taichung, Taiwan 3. Kaohsiung, Taiwan
4. Osaka, Japan 4. Kaohsiung, Taiwan 4. Taichung, Taiwan
5. Taichung, Taiwan 5. Osaka, Japan 5. Osaka, Japan
6. Tainan, Taiwan 6. Tainan, Taiwan 6. Seoul, South Korea
7. Bangkok, Thailand 7. Seoul, South Korea 7. Tainan, Taiwan
8. Kyoto, Japan 8. Kyoto, Japan 8. Okinawa Main island, Japan
9. Hualien, Taiwan 9. Hualien, Taiwan 9. Kyoto, Japan
10. Seoul, South Korea 10. Yilan, Taiwan 10. Bangkok, Thailand

Top ten CNY destinations for Taiwanese travelers

Taiwan has one-third of travelers hailing from Mainland China, 19% coming from Hong Kong and South Korea (16%) this CNY.

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Chief Assignment Editor

Chief Assignment editor is Oleg Siziakov

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