#Asia

Travel in Asia is entering a new era where artificial intelligence is no longer a curiosity but a driving force behind how people plan, decide, and experience journeys. A recent discussion gathering four voices from across Asia’s travel ecosystem highlights a global shift toward AI-powered personalization, coupled with a fierce appetite for trustworthy, authentic experiences. The takeaway for Thai readers is clear: the next generation of travel will be defined not only by clever algorithms but by how well those algorithms respect local cultures, protect privacy, and preserve the human touches that travelers value.

Travelers in 2026 are chasing authenticity more than ostentation, a shift reflected in a new list of top destinations curated by luxury travel advisers. It’s not about showing off luxury as much as finding meaningful, deeply human experiences that connect travelers to place, people, and purpose. For Thai readers, this trend resonates with a long-standing cultural emphasis on family, mindfulness, and respectful curiosity about other cultures. The list that has caught attention this week includes Nikko in Japan, Kona in Hawaii, Versailles near Paris, Guanacaste in Costa Rica, Antarctica, and Marrakech in Morocco. The overarching message from industry insiders is clear: the best journeys next year will be the ones that help travelers feel grounded in a fast-moving world.

A new wave of research on where to live abroad places Thailand squarely in Asia’s spotlight for expats. The latest International Expat Insider data show that five Asian countries are among the world’s top expat destinations, with Thailand ranking fourth overall. The study, which surveyed more than 10,000 expatriates across 172 nationalities, ties personal finances directly to happiness, and it highlights how affordability, culture, and career opportunities are shaping where people choose to live, work, and raise families overseas. For Thai readers, the findings come with immediate relevance: they map a regional shift in where foreigners, including long-stay visitors and remote workers, are choosing to settle—and they illuminate what Thailand is doing right and where gaps remain in its own landscape.

Across Asia’s high-performing property markets, a troubling consensus is taking hold: housing is increasingly unaffordable for ordinary households, and policy efforts so far have not tackled the deeper forces driving skyward prices. The leading cities—from Hong Kong and Singapore to Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul—have enjoyed economic dynamism and urban magnetism, yet the same forces fueling growth are now making homes an ever more distant dream for many residents. The overarching message from researchers and international policymakers is clear: if governments do not address the root causes, affordability will continue to erode social cohesion, choke mobility, and threaten the very benefits urbanization promises.

In a region famed for its glittering shows of wealth, a new language of affluence is quietly taking over the minds of Asia’s ultra-wealthy. Silent luxury, a movement that values craftsmanship, longevity, and deeply personal experiences over logos and conspicuous branding, is redefining what it means to be rich in 2025. For Thai readers, this trend arrives at a moment when wellness tourism, curated hospitality, and high-end experiential travel are already climbing the ladder of importance in both domestic and international markets. The shift signals not just a taste for exclusivity, but a shift in values: spending less on visible status and more on meaningful, long-lasting moments with family, culture, and nature.

A recent wave of research suggests twin births across Asia are set to rise in the coming years, a trend driven by the growing use of fertility treatments and women increasingly delaying motherhood. The finding, highlighted by a leading global analysis, warns that higher twin rates could complicate pregnancy and childbirth for mothers and babies alike. For Thailand, where birth rates have plunged and the population is aging, the potential uptick in twins could reshape how perinatal care is organized, funded, and delivered.

Luxury cruise line Explora Journeys has announced a bold expansion into Asia for 2027, marking its first substantial foray into the region with a dedicated Asia itineraries season. The move comes as the company unveils its 2027-28 journeys collection, featuring the debut of its new Explora III ship on Asian shores and a broader plan to offer nearly 200 destinations across 59 countries in less than a year. For Thai travelers and industry stakeholders, this signals a new chapter in Southeast Asia’s growing appeal as a premium, experience-rich travel corridor, one that could ripple through Bangkok’s travel ecosystems, coastal ports, and the broader Thai luxury tourism market.

Japan’s gleaming trains, flawless hospitality, and postcard-perfect temples enchant millions of visitors each year. Yet behind the glittering facade lies a more complicated picture: a rising sense of anger and fatigue among local communities strained by crowds, rising prices, and a stubborn labour shortage in service sectors. The country has become a case study in how a tourism boom can lift an economy while testing the social fabric that makes travel feel joyful rather than intrusive. For Thai readers who are used to planning trips that balance wonder with responsibility, Japan’s experience offers both a warning and a blueprint for more sustainable, community-centered tourism.

A recent travel-trend report reveals a striking shift in how Indian travelers are exploring Asia. Between May 15 and August 15, 2025, Indian interest in trips to Japan surged by 68% year-on-year, signaling a broadening appetite for cultural, leisure, and scenic escapes beyond the country’s city hotspots. The data show Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto dominating search activity, with Osaka recording the sharpest growth at 158%. Other destinations—Hakone, Fujikawaguchiko, Okinawa, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Yokohama, Nagoya, and more—also moved up the ladder as travellers sought diverse experiences across Japan. The trend underscores Japan’s evolving appeal as a multi-faceted destination: modern city life, deep cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, and wellness experiences all packaged for a new generation of explorers.

A new Gallup poll shows that Americans still prefer families with more than one child, with the average ideal number around 2.7 children. This comes even as the United States’ actual birth rate sits at historic lows, roughly 1.6 children per woman, suggesting a widening gap between what people say they want and the choices available or feasible in daily life. The survey’s finding — that four in five adults still consider at least two children ideal — highlights enduring cultural beliefs about family, alongside real-world constraints like cost of living, housing, and work-life balance.

A 15% surge in Chinese visitors to Paris signals a robust rebound in global luxury travel and a renewed appetite for European city breaks after the pandemic era of travel restrictions. The lead story points to a quiet but powerful shift: Paris remains a magnet for Chinese travelers, not just for its world‑famous museums and couture boutiques, but for a broader cultural experience that blends history, gastronomy, and modern city life. For Thai travelers and Thai tourism professionals watching global travel patterns, the Paris rebound is another piece of a long-running puzzle about how Asia’s shifting outbound demand shapes regional and domestic travel ecosystems.

A recent line of travel research has flagged a striking shift in luxury itineraries for 2025: Europe, once a staple of the expensive-trips dream, isn’t on the list of the priciest journeys. The hint that Europe isn’t among the most costly destinations has sent shock waves through the luxury travel industry and, by extension, Thai travelers who often pair European city breaks with Southeast Asian getaways or seaside retreats. While the full report covers a spectrum of destinations and pricing levers, the headline takeaway is clear: the calculus of “what makes a trip expensive” is evolving, driven by supply constraints, demand patterns, and the premium placed on unique or extreme experiences.

Bangkok is quietly reshaping Southeast Asia’s digital backbone. In early 2025, the city’s data center footprint crossed 2.5 gigawatts of IT load, a figure that positions Bangkok as the region’s second-largest market after Johor, Malaysia. The numbers reflect a shift from small, retail-leaning facilities to purpose-built, hyperscale campuses clustered around Bangkok’s metropolitan hub and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Cloud services now account for roughly 38% of Thailand’s total data center capacity, with AI workloads expanding rapidly and shaping the next wave of infrastructure needs. The story is not just about bigger buildings and bigger numbers; it is about how a capital city with strong land availability, stable power, and a strategic geographic position is becoming a fulcrum for Southeast Asia’s tech ambitions—and what that means for Thai workers, policymakers, and communities.

A new wave of luxury villa development around Komodo National Park is prompting urgent questions about wildlife conservation and the true costs of “world-class” tourism. Environmentalists warn that unchecked expansion risks fragmenting dragon habitat, increasing human-wildlife interactions, and undermining decades of conservation work. The debate has sharpened after plans surfaced to extend upscale accommodation and private tourism infrastructure into buffer zones that were once considered sacred buffers for the park’s delicate ecosystems. In short, the question on many conservationists’ minds is whether Thailand’s neighbors are replicating a risky model that could jeopardize one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic species.

Aerial views of Ora Beach on Seram Island reveal turquoise lagoons framed by limestone cliffs, rivaling the Maldives at a fraction of the cost. Yet this Indonesian paradise remains largely off the global radar because reaching it requires a series of time-consuming transfers that turn a vacation into a logistical challenge. The lesson is clear for Thai travelers and regional planners: infrastructure shapes where tourists go, even when the scenery is world-class.

A global race to recruit Southeast Asian students is reshaping international higher education. Universities are rewriting admissions norms and launching multi-million-dollar campaigns aimed at ASEAN learners, recognizing Southeast Asia as a major source of mobile students. Thailand stands at the heart of this shift, with Thai families and universities weighing unprecedented opportunities and strategic choices that will shape future study paths.

Policy shifts reflect a realignment in the international education landscape. Australia recently raised its international student cap by nine percent to 295,000 positions and signaled a clear preference for Southeast Asian applicants. Japan aims to host 400,000 international students by 2033, building on purposeful initiatives from national leadership. South Korea plans 300,000 international students by 2027 and extends post-study work rights to three years starting in 2025, creating a generous employment pathway in Asia. Taiwan targets 25,000 foreign students annually, prioritizing Southeast Asian entrants with pathways into industries facing skill gaps. These moves show coordinated national strategies to attract Southeast Asian talent through education-to-employment pipelines that match their economic goals.

Thailand’s tourism sector faces a pivotal moment as luxury travel demand in Asia-Pacific surges. Industry leaders call for strategic modernization to attract high-net-worth travelers from China, India, and fast-growing Southeast Asian markets. Analysts observe that the traditional volume-driven model risks losing ground to rivals embracing premium experiences, branding, and infrastructure upgrades. Thailand must enhance hospitality infrastructure, refine its global image, and deliver world-class, luxury-ready experiences.

For decades, Thailand has drawn more than 40 million international visitors annually through affordable tropical allure, cultural richness, and celebrated hospitality. While this mass-market strength remains a solid foundation, market dynamics are shifting. Data indicate a rising share of affluent travelers seeking private villas, exclusive dining, wellness retreats, and seamless service. Countries such as Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, and Macau are expanding upscale offerings, intensifying regional competition and urging Thailand to respond with decisive strategies.

A new wave of Asian design is drawing global attention as eight standout projects from East and Southeast Asia appear on the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 shortlist. From Beijing courtyards to nature-inspired city halls and eco-friendly pavilions, these works show how regional architects blend tradition, community, and sustainability. The developments offer timely ideas for Thailand’s built environment and public policy as the country pursues resilient, inclusive, and culturally rooted design.

A new wave of Asian design ingenuity is capturing global attention, as the recently announced shortlist for the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2025 highlights eight standout projects from East and Southeast Asia. These groundbreaking works—from courtyard homes in Beijing to nature-inspired city halls and eco-friendly pavilions—demonstrate how architects from the region are redefining the dialogue between tradition, community, and sustainability in contemporary spaces. Their inventive approaches signal important trends for Thailand’s own built environment and public policy as the nation seeks more resilient, inclusive, and culturally rooted architectural solutions.

A global survey reveals Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai as Asia’s priciest cities for “living well” in 2025, with Singapore ranked the most expensive city worldwide for luxury living for a third consecutive year. The findings come from the Julius Baer Global Wealth & Lifestyle Report 2025 and highlight how luxury consumption patterns affect Thai travelers, investors, and residents seeking prestige with value.

The Julius Baer Lifestyle Index measures the cost of maintaining a high-net-worth lifestyle across 25 major cities. It considers prime property, private healthcare, luxury goods, business-class travel, and even the price of an international MBA. The 2025 edition blends objective price data with insights from affluent individuals about their priorities, offering a snapshot of global luxury aspirations and realities.

Bed-sharing remains a common practice in Thailand and much of Asia, shaped by culture, family cohesion, and practical living spaces. In many Asian households, the question is when children should move toward independent sleeping, not whether they should share a bed with parents. This reflects a broader contrast with Western sleep norms while highlighting local benefits of closeness and supervision.

In Thai families, bed-sharing is normalized and tied to strong family bonds. A multicultural survey from 2010 highlighted that many Asian households maintain shared sleep spaces with infants and toddlers, whereas Western data often show lower rates. While Western safety guidelines flag risks for infants under six months, Thai parents weigh the emotional benefits of proximity against hazards within their homes. Some Western figures may underreport bed-sharing due to stigma, a nuance less commonly discussed in Asia.

Bed-sharing between parents and young children, a practice often frowned upon in the West, continues to be the standard in many Asian societies, with cultural values, family structures, and practical constraints shaping distinct sleep customs across the region. Recent international reporting and research suggest that, while Western parents debate the pros and cons of children sleeping in their parents’ beds, Asian families view the question not as “whether” but “when” children should move out of the family bed, reflecting sharply contrasting expectations about parenting and child development.

A new international survey has found Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai lead the list of Asia’s most expensive cities for “living well” in 2025, with Singapore claiming the global top spot for the third consecutive year. The findings, published in Julius Baer Group’s Global Wealth & Lifestyle Report 2025, underscore shifting trends in luxury consumption—and hold important implications for affluent Thais and Southeast Asian travelers seeking both status and substance in urban living.

A new wave of hotels across Asia is turning rooms and lobbies into living art spaces. Guests now enjoy immersive cultural experiences alongside luxurious stays. From Bangkok and Chiang Mai to Hanoi, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, hotels are commissioning local and international artists, drawing on regional heritage, and inviting visitors to engage with the creative process. Industry leaders describe this trend as a powerful way to connect travelers with local culture while supporting Southeast Asia’s thriving creative economy.