Nature, Food, and Multi-Stop Itineraries Lead Labor Day Travel Trends in Asia-Pacific

A growing appetite for regional escapes, nature-based stays, and experience-led itineraries is shaping how Asia-Pacific travels this Labor Day. According to new data from Trip.com Group, travelers are taking advantage of the extended holiday period to explore closer to home—with Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia emerging as top destinations. At the same time, preferences are shifting toward alternative accommodations and multi-city journeys that offer both convenience and discovery.

Asia-Pacific Travel Sees Growth, with a Shift Toward Nature and Alternative Stays

According to booking data from Trip.com Group, travel activity within and across the region is seeing strong year-on-year growth. Domestic travel across key Asia-Pacific markets is nearing triple-digit increases, while cross-border travel shows double-digit gains. Cross-border bookings are concentrated in several high-traffic destinations across the region, reflecting broader interest in regional travel corridors.

Accommodation preferences are shifting as well. Bookings for non-hotel stays such as apartments, villas, and inns are on the rise, with triple-digit growth reported in South Korea, Thailand, and Hong Kong SAR. Nature-focused destinations are also drawing more interest, with travelers seeking lakes, mountains, national parks, and beaches. Japan has seen particularly strong demand, driven by attractions like Mt. Fuji, hot springs, and Hakone National Park.

Coastal destinations are experiencing increased demand for villa accommodations with beach access and sea views. The trend is especially prevalent among travelers from China, Japan, and South Korea, with Bali seeing a rise in bookings.

Searches for scenic and photogenic travel experiences have grown significantly as more travelers seek peaceful, nature-connected getaways according to the data.

Cross-Border Travel Rises: China, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam Lead

The timing of public holidays is contributing to the increase in regional travel. In China, a five-day holiday from May 1–5 has led to strong outbound activity. Japan’s Golden Week, from April 29 to May 6, has similarly boosted travel. According to Trip.com, both markets are seeing notable cross-border growth compared to 2024.

In China, a five-day holiday from May 1–5 has led to strong outbound activity. Japan’s Golden Week, from April 29 to May 6, has similarly boosted travel.

Chinese travelers are heading to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. Japanese travelers are booking trips to South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States.

Vietnam and South Korea are both seeing significant travel volumes, driven by extended holiday periods. Vietnam marks a five-day break from April 30 to May 4, while South Korean travelers are using two days of leave to create a six-day holiday stretch. As a result, domestic bookings in Vietnam have increased by more than 190%, and cross-border bookings are up over 150%. Similar figures are seen in South Korea, with domestic travel up nearly 190% and international travel growing by over 150%.

Multi-City Itineraries and Long-Haul Flights Gain Traction

Travelers are increasingly booking multi-destination trips. Bookings for itineraries covering two or more cities have risen 60% year-on-year. These trips often include city pairs within the same country. For example, Malaysian travelers to China are combining Chengdu and Chongqing, while visitors from Hong Kong SAR are linking Kyoto and Osaka. Chinese tourists are frequently pairing Osaka and Tokyo.

Travelers are increasingly booking multi-destination trips. Bookings for itineraries covering two or more cities have risen 60% year-on-year.

Long-haul flights—those lasting more than six hours—are also becoming more popular. This segment is seeing the fastest growth, particularly among travelers from South Korea, China, Japan, and Vietnam. Many long-haul travelers are also planning multi-city trips: Japanese visitors are combining London and Barcelona; Chinese travelers are pairing London and Edinburgh; and South Korean travelers are frequently booking London and Paris.

Urban Experiences and Culinary Travel on the Rise

Urban centers remain major draws for travelers, with Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Hong Kong SAR, and Bangkok among the most searched destinations this season. Interest in food-related travel has climbed nearly 20%, as local cuisine plays an increasingly influential role in destination decisions—Japanese food, in particular, leads culinary searches in both Osaka and Tokyo.

Event-based travel is also gaining momentum. Concert bookings have seen double-digit growth, with more tourists building music festivals and live performances into their travel plans.