Women driving Thailand’s travel economy

Women are playing an increasingly influential role in Thailand’s travel landscape — not only as travellers, but also as entrepreneurs and hosts shaping local tourism experiences. New data from Airbnb released for International Women’s Day highlights how women are contributing to both sides of the travel economy, from hosting homes to making booking decisions — influence that extends beyond Thailand as well, where Bangkok ranks among the top international destinations searched by women travellers from India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Women represent 56 percent of hosts on Airbnb in Thailand. Their impact is also reflected in guest experience quality, with 52 percent of Guest Favourite listings in Thailand hosted by women, demonstrating strong hospitality standards and trusted experiences for travellers.

“Women are playing an increasingly important role in Thailand’s travel landscape – both as hosts welcoming guests into their homes and as travellers driving booking decisions,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Head for Southeast Asia and India. “On Airbnb, we see how hosting can unlock real economic opportunity for women while helping travellers experience destinations in a more authentic way. As more women participate across both hosting and travel, they are helping shape a more inclusive and resilient tourism economy in Thailand.”

Across Thailand, many women hosts are turning their passion for hospitality into meaningful opportunities, creating memorable stays for guests while contributing to local communities.

Co-host of Guest Favourite stay Luan Heritage Surawong Dhanikcha, shared, “We have travelled and stayed in many homes ourselves, and that inspired us to create something similar. Almost everyone who stays tells us they feel comfortable — not just because of the house, but because of the hospitality. Guests often say it feels like staying in their own home and for us, that feeling of warmth and care is the most important part of hosting.”

Beyond providing accommodation, many women hosts also play an important role in helping guests connect more deeply with local neighbourhoods and communities — creating more meaningful travel experiences while supporting nearby businesses.

Dhanattha, co-host of Luan Heritage Surawong, added, “We try to connect guests with the neighbourhood — recommending local restaurants and helping them discover the community around the house. It’s nice to see how hosting can support local businesses as well, not just our own home.”

Women are leading travel decisions

The influence of women extends beyond hosting to travel planning itself, with women making more than 50 percent of all bookings by Thai travellers on Airbnb in 2025, highlighting their role as key decision-makers when it comes to trips for families, partners and social groups. Of these, Millennials are the dominant age group, representing almost 70 percent of all bookings made by Thai women,⁵underscoring the stronger purchasing power of this generation.

Travel for Thai women is also highly social in nature. The most popular trip styles in 2025 were group stays followed by duo trips, reflecting a preference for shared experiences with friends and partners rather than travelling alone.

Where Thai women are travelling

Domestically, Thai women are travelling across a mix of urban hubs and nearby nature escapes. In 2025, the most searched destinations include Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Surat Thani. Internationally, Thai women are travelling across both regional and long-haul destinations, with top searched locations in 2025 including Tokyo, Osaka, Paris and London.

As travel continues to evolve, women are playing an increasingly central role, not only as travellers seeking meaningful experiences, but also as hosts and entrepreneurs contributing to local economies.

This International Women’s Day, Airbnb data highlights how women are helping shape the future of travel in Thailand by influencing where people go, how they travel and the experiences they choose along the way.