U.S. travel interest to Thailand plummets 43% following military coup

After months of protests and political unrest, Thailand’s military took control of the country in a coup on May 22, and almost immediately, U.S. tourist interest to the country plummeted. Hotel search www.trivago.com analyzed Americans’ travel interest to Thailand in the week following the coup (May 22 to 29) and found a 43% drop in travel searches to the country, compared to the week before. Similar drops were seen on Canadian, Australian and European trivago platforms.

Travel interest to nearby countries – Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia – also declined an average 29% the same week, suggesting an overall hesitation to travel to Southeast Asia by Americans. Meanwhile, Spanish travelers have not let the unrest interrupt their travel plans. While interest to Thailand fell 53% in Spain following the May 22 military takeover, interest to Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia all jumped by more than 20%.

“Americans’ overall interest to Thailand and to several neighboring countries has suffered a drastic drop following the military takeover. Historically, travel interest to these countries doesn’t experience such a radical decrease this time of year,” says a spokesperson from trivago.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews