Across Asia, long weekends are no longer just a welcome pause from work — they’re becoming prime opportunities for quick getaways, with new data from Agoda revealing a striking 80 per cent jump in accommodation searches ahead of recent public holidays.
Travellers from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore led this surge, turning festive breaks like Hari Raya or Eid into short-haul escapes to regional favourites including Japan, Thailand, China, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The findings, based on Agoda’s internal booking and search activity, paint a clear picture: short, regional leisure trips are fast becoming the dominant form of travel in post-pandemic Asia.
The data shows a fundamental shift in how public holidays are used and people are making the most of short breaks – this trend is reshaping the travel calendar across the region.
Regional destinations outpace long-haul travel
The pattern extends beyond a single festive period. In Thailand, Agoda reported increased activity during Songkran, with outbound interest in cities like Hong Kong, Osaka, Shanghai, and Seoul. Similarly, Vietnamese travellers took advantage of the Liberation Day–Labour Day weekend to explore nearby cities such as Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul.
While traditional peak seasons like year-end holidays still matter, the rise of the “long weekend micro-vacation” is shifting demand more evenly throughout the calendar year. Industry watchers say this presents both opportunities and challenges for travel providers.
“The opportunity for hotels and airlines to secure bookings and incentivise travellers to extend their trips and add ancillary items to boost revenue over long weekends has never been greater,” said Andrew Smith, senior vice president of supply at Agoda.
Opportunities for hotels: Think local, act fast
With multiple long weekends remaining across Asia in 2025 – from Awal Muharram in Malaysia (27 June) to Thailand’s Queen Mother’s Birthday (12 August) – hotels have a narrow but powerful window to optimise occupancy and drive revenue.
Agoda is urging hoteliers to tailor their offerings to tap into this trend.
Among the key strategies advised:
- Build targeted content: Hotels should invest in SEO-driven content like “Top Things to Do Over a Long Weekend” or highlight local experiences that can be enjoyed in two to three days.
- Offer long weekend deals: Packages such as “Stay 4 Nights, Pay for 3” or early check-in/late check-out perks can help capture booking intent from short-stay travellers.
- Design for families and flexibility: Regional guests often travel in multi-generational groups. Larger rooms or connecting suites, and child-friendly amenities, are increasingly essential.
Hoteliers need to move quickly and use data to target high-intent travellers, especially those who are likely to convert in a short booking window.
As recommended by Andrew Smith, “Hotels should ensure they are using the right data to target the hottest consumers from across the Asia Pacific region and ensure that their service offerings are tailored to their regional tastes. For example, catering for visitors with large families by ensuring they are able to access larger and joined rooms for family travel.”
Upcoming long weekends across Asia (June–December 2025)
Agoda’s analysis highlights several upcoming long weekends that could fuel additional spikes in regional travel. Here are some of the key dates across major markets, as published on Human Resources Online:
Malaysia
- Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah) — 27 June
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday — 5 September
- Deepavali — 20 October
Philippines
- National Heroes Day — 25 August
- Deepavali — 20 October
Singapore
- Deepavali — 20 October
Taiwan
- Mid-Autumn Festival — 6 October
Thailand
- Bridge Holiday to Queen Suthida’s Birthday — 2 June
- Queen Suthida’s Birthday — 3 June
- Khao Phansa Day — 11 July
- King Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday — 28 July
- Bridge Holiday to Queen Mother’s Birthday — 11 August
- Queen Mother’s Birthday — 12 August
- Passing of His Majesty the Late King — 13 October
- His Majesty the Late King’s Birthday — 5 December
Each of these dates offers potential for a travel spike — provided hotels and destinations are ready to act with targeted packages and timely promotions.
APAC’s wellness and culture edge
In a region where wellness tourism is projected to hit USD156.85 billion this year, hotels are also being encouraged to offer stress-reducing, immersive packages that complement the short-trip format. These might include spa bundles, local cooking classes, or guided walking tours.
Such offerings allow hotels to differentiate themselves from generic stays and tap into the growing appetite for experience-rich travel.
A post-pandemic shift in how Asia travels
The rise in long weekend travel coincides with broader shifts in the region’s approach to work and leisure. Hybrid schedules, more flexible leave policies, and a hunger for discovery post-COVID are all fuelling the trend.
For tourism boards and hotel operators across APAC, the message is clear: the next big travel opportunity is not a faraway summer — it is the next long weekend. 