THAI presents its Asia travel forecasts for 2025 at the THAI Talk.

Bangkok, Thailand, September 8, 2025 / TRAVELINDEX / Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), in partnership with Mastercard, hosted the event “THAI Talk: Travel Trends and Unforgettable Experiences.” The event showcased the latest travel trends for Thai travelers to Asian destinations in 2025. It highlighted statistics on popular routes, emerging trends, and modern passenger behavior, building on positive feedback from various routes with premium services that meet demand. The airline also presented its “Good Taste for a Good Cause” campaign, which supports Thai entrepreneurs in creating added value and sustainability for society. In partnership with Mastercard, THAI is promoting travel in the fourth quarter with a special offer: customers will receive a 2,000 Baht discount per seat on round-trip tickets booked through Thai Airways channels using Mastercard and the code “MCTHASIA.” Bookings are possible until September 30th for travel until December 31st, 2025.

The event brought together executives from leading business partners such as Mastercard, YouTrip, Doi Tung, and Kanvela Chocolate, as well as popular travel influencers from the "Where Do We Go" and "Loi Story" platforms. They shared their travel experiences in Asia, presented exciting new destinations, and offered tips on how to prepare for even more enjoyable trips.

Tokyo, Singapore and Shanghai top the list of the most popular cities in 2025.

Kittiphong Sansomboon, Chief Commercial Officer of THAI, explained: “Based on Thailand’s passenger statistics from January to July 2024, the five most popular routes from Bangkok to Asia were Tokyo (Narita), Hong Kong, Osaka, Singapore, and South Korea (Seoul). In 2025, Tokyo remains the most popular route, while Singapore and Shanghai move into second and third place, respectively, displacing Hong Kong and Osaka. Seoul in South Korea continues to be among the top ten.”

“Routes with interesting growth include Colombo (Sri Lanka), where the number of Thai travelers has increased by over 100%, and Shanghai (China), which has seen passenger growth of over 80%. In 2025, THAI increased flight frequencies on several routes to meet the increased demand, for example to Shanghai, Colombo and Denpasar (Bali).”

Guangzhou is gaining momentum as a hotspot in 2025

Mr. Kittiphong Sansomboon continued: “Guangzhou in China is an emerging tourist destination and one of the routes where the number of Thai tourists has increased compared to the previous year. Thais not only go there to shop, but are also interested in museums, history, sights and the diverse street food on offer. This popularity has been further enhanced by China’s visa-free travel policy, which has made travel significantly easier.”

China is a true hidden gem for Thai travelers, offering a comprehensive package with affordable prices and attractions to suit every taste. From breathtaking natural landscapes, history, and culture to famous theme parks like Disneyland, the country appeals to those seeking unique experiences beyond Japan or Korea. Furthermore, THAI serves China's major cities, providing passengers with maximum comfort and an optimal travel experience.

Thai travelers increasingly prefer "full-service" and all-inclusive flight experiences.

"Today's Thai travelers place more value than ever on comfort and prefer full-service flights where one payment covers all their needs. THAI meets passengers' comfort requirements throughout their entire journey – be it through wide-body aircraft, spacious cabins, modern in-flight entertainment systems or high-quality, carefully prepared meals for all service classes."

All Airbus A320 aircraft have been equipped with Royal Silk Class seats, which offer a more comfortable recline, providing a special experience for discerning travelers who value comfort even on short-haul flights. THAI is committed to creating seamless and enriching travel experiences with meticulous attention to detail. We have also increased flight frequencies and adjusted schedules to better meet the needs of our travelers, for example, with overnight flights arriving in the morning for a full day of sightseeing, or morning flights landing in the afternoon – ideal for hotel check-in. This benefits both business travelers looking to save vacation days and families with children or elderly passengers who require extra comfort. This underscores THAI's commitment to seamless and affordable travel,” Mr. Kittiphong concluded.

YouTrip reveals travel trends for 2025: The new generation of travelers embraces the motto "Save costs, don't forgo your vacation"

Juthasree Kuvinichkul, founding partner of YouTrip Thailand, explained: “In the first half of 2025, international travel by Thais increased by 45% compared to the previous year. This reflects how much overseas travel has become an integral part of their lifestyle. To reconcile their desire with practical considerations, travelers are now taking a smarter approach, opting for destinations in Asia that offer the same luxury as long-haul trips at a fraction of the price. We are also seeing Thais become more financially savvy: 25% more travelers are monitoring exchange rates and exchanging currencies in advance to secure favorable rates and make the most of their budget.”

Another clear trend is the rise of the digital traveler. From using AI for trip planning to seamless payments with multi-currency wallets like YouTrip, smartphones have become the "new passport" that enables every journey. Features such as real-time spending alerts and the ability to lock or unlock cards directly in the app are no longer extras, but essential components that offer travelers security and convenience throughout their trip.

The "Good taste for a good cause" campaign brings Thai products to the global market.

Another highlight of the event was the unveiling of the vision behind the important "Good taste for a good cause" campaign, which reflects THAI's commitment to sustainability. Wit Kitchathorn, Director of Customer and Marketing at THAI, explained: “THAI’s in-flight service delights international travelers not only with outstanding taste and quality, but also supports Thai farmers and entrepreneurs. By selecting high-quality, regional ingredients, we combine great taste with social impact while reflecting the Thai identity we proudly showcase. THAI collaborates with renowned Thai brands committed to the international quality of Thai ingredients – including Thai coffee from Doi Tung and premium chocolate from Kanvela Chocolate. We also offer our own rice crackers, as we believe that in-flight snacks should be high-quality Thai products. Under the motto ‘Thai Rice, Global Flair,’ we use three Thai rice varieties: jasmine rice from Buriram, Kor Khor 6 sticky rice from Chiang Rai, and white rice from Pathum Thani. This allows us to offer flavors that appeal to international passengers. We are currently supporting the farmers, by ordering 100 tons of rice monthly and constantly generating enthusiasm with new flavors.”

THAI is proudly strengthening its partnerships with outstanding Thai brands, bringing the authentic taste of Thailand to international aviation. Kanvela Chocolate creates distinctive, handcrafted chocolates from Thai cocoa, masterfully combining traditional Thai dessert elements with tropical fruits. Their signature melt-in-your-mouth mung bean crepe chocolate, with its rich notes of mung beans, coconut, and toasted sesame, is served exclusively in Royal First Class. Doi Tung has developed the sophisticated Black Silk Blend, a premium filter coffee that blends dark chocolate and caramel notes for an exceptionally smooth taste experience. This exclusive blend is offered in both Royal First and Royal Silk cabins, while the new Royal Highland Single Origin coffee is now available in all classes and on all flights.

Great deal with Mastercard for Asian routes

In addition to first-class service and comfortable travel, THAI, in cooperation with Mastercard, offers an exceptional promotion: a discount of 2,000 Baht per seat for round-trip flight bookings from Thailand to all Asian destinations via Thai Airways channels when paying with Mastercard using the code “MCTHASIA”.

THAI encourages travelers to discover new destinations with comprehensive full-service comfort, combining exceptional value and comfort with sustainable practices that benefit Thai communities.