Aussie travellers are setting their sights on Asia this Easter, with new search data from Booking.com revealing a growing appetite for culturally rich experiences over the April long weekend.
With the holiday period falling between April 3 and April 6, nearly one in five (17%) Australians are planning trips centred around unique cultural experiences, highlighting a shift towards more immersive travel.
Leading the charge are Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, which have emerged as the most searched international destinations. Tokyo continues to perform strongly, ranking second overall across both domestic and international searches, driven in part by Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season and traditional events such as the Kanamara Festival, held each April at Kanayama Shrine.
Seoul and Nusa Dua are this year’s biggest movers, each climbing 14 places year-on-year, with Seoul also surging 17 spots in combined rankings.
“Booking.com search data shows Australians are increasingly using the Easter long weekend to travel within Asia,” APAC Home Area manager at Booking.com, Joanne Whitby-Lee said. “Nine out of 10 top international destinations Aussies are travelling for over Easter are in Asia. Seoul is particularly trending at the moment, rising 14 places since the same travel time last year.”
Aussies are also travelling this Easter with their tastebuds, especially when staying in homes or apartments. Our Booking.com Taste of Home Asia Pacific research found 82 per cent of travellers have chosen a destination solely to visit a particular restaurant or food establishment. A further 85 per cent visit local markets, often bringing ingredients back to their stays to cook authentic dishes. Seoul is again a great example of where this trend comes to life, such as at Mangwon Market and Seoul Jungang Market.”
Domestic travel
Domestically, the Gold Coast retains its position as the top Easter hotspot, while Adelaide has jumped 18 places to seventh overall. Byron Bay also recorded strong growth, climbing 20 spots to enter the top 10.
