The future of travel in Northeast Asia is moving online, with Phocuswright predicting that the region will reach a milestone of $30 billion in online travel bookings by 2026.
According to the Phocuswright Northeast Asia Travel Market Report 2023-2027, various factors, including new demand, demographic shifts, and strategic dynamics, will reshape the travel landscape throughout the decade. What began as a recovery period following the pandemic will transition into steady growth in gross bookings by 2027.
The report highlights the irreversible shift towards e-commerce and app-enabled travel services, driven by smart technology and AI travel booking tools. As borders reopened, online gross bookings regained momentum, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, bookings reached $21.3 billion, up from $15.6 billion in 2019. By 2026, online bookings are expected to exceed $30 billion, with online penetration reaching 57% of all bookings. The report suggests that the impact of AI technology could drive even faster growth, as the region is known for quickly adopting life-enhancing consumer technology.
In this evolving travel landscape, WiT Japan & North Asia will return to Tokyo on May 26-27 for its 12th edition. Japan, which became the most-visited country in Asia in 2024, saw 36.87 million international visitors last year and aims to attract 60 million by 2030.
