Mastercard Economics Institute on Travel in 2025: Asia-Pacific leads trending summer destinations for second year running

• Tokyo and Osaka top the list of summer hot spots while Nha Trang makes its debut
• Currency fluctuations are a key consideration for travelers

SINGAPORE, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia-Pacific is home to eight of the world's top 15 trending summer travel destinations, according to Travel trends 2025, the annual Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) report on consumer spending in the travel economy. While exchange rates and geopolitical dynamics can influence behavior, the report highlights that passions and purpose-driven motivations remain strong drivers shaping the travel industry. Drawing on a unique analysis of aggregated and anonymized transaction data and third-party data sources, the report uncovers what is shaping travel choices today. Highlights from the Asia-Pacific region include:  

Japan leads the pack—with Vietnam's Nha Trang rising fast:

Tokyo and Osaka are the world's #1 and #2 top trending destinations for summer travel (June-September 2025), with the two largest increases in tourism demand relative to previous levels^[1].

In 2024, Japan's capital city climbed from the number two spot that it held in 2023 to lead global travel demand heading into the peak summer season, reflecting its continued appeal. Meanwhile, Nha Trang in Vietnam made a surprise entry into the list, climbing in popularity thanks to its beautiful beaches, enviable coastline and vibrant nightlife.  

China and India—still Asia's travel titans: The Chinese Mainland retained its position as the world's largest outbound travel market in 2024. Chinese travelers are increasingly prioritizing value and visa-friendly destinations including Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Interest in Central Asian destinations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan is also increasing.

India again posted the country's highest number of outbound travelers on record in 2024. Indian tourists are exploring a broad mix of destinations—the top three being Abu Dhabi, Hanoi, and Bali—with growth supported by expanded direct flight connections and a rapidly growing middle class that is eager to travel. Together, the two markets continue to play an outsized role in shaping global travel flows.

Experiences over itineraries: Across Asia-Pacific, travelers are prioritizing dining, nature, and wellness as key motivators for travel, seeking meaningful moments over traditional sightseeing. Destinations like Gianyar in Bali, Indonesia, known for its iconic Babi Guling spit-roasted pork, and Queenstown in New Zealand—where restaurants welcomed tourists from 44 countries in 2024—are standing out as globalized culinary hotspots. According to MEI's Wellness Trend Index^[2] (WTI), Thailand is among the destinations leading the way in relaxation experiences and self-care, where visitors can reconnect with nature in immersive eco lodges or find calm in meditation retreats. At the same time, the rising WTI score for New Zealand suggests a growing effort to be part of this popular movement. Overall, the trend toward purpose-driven travel reflects people's broader desire for experiences that nourish both body and spirit.

Sports fandom fuels travel: The rise of sports tourism continues, with major events like the Australian Open tennis tournament and Baseball World Series in Los Angeles drawing significant international spend. Shohei Ohtani's World Series debut saw spending by Japanese visitors surge by 91%, six times the broader cross-border boost, highlighting how sporting events are proving to be powerful travel catalysts for fans.

David Mann, chief economist, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, said: "The Asia-Pacific region continues to set the pace for global travel, with buzzing destinations like Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, and Singapore capturing the imagination of travelers around the world. Even as economic uncertainty persists, travel remains a bright spot—driven by people seeking meaningful, value-driven experiences. From exchange rates to regional accessibility, travelers are making smarter, more intentional choices about where they go and why, with a clear shift toward more personal, purposeful journeys."

Travelers from Asia-Pacific tend to be more sensitive to exchange rate shifts. A weaker yen throughout much of 2024 played a significant role in boosting Japan's inbound tourism, making the country a compelling destination for visitors in search of value. Notably, a 1% depreciation of the JPY against the RMB is associated with a 1.5% increase in tourists from the Chinese Mainland. However, visitors from New Zealand and the U.S. rose only around 0.2% in response to the same degree of depreciation relative to their currencies. In 2024, the number of Singaporean visitors to Japan hit record highs — thanks to a 40% rise in the Singapore Dollar (SGD) vs. Japanese Yen (JPY), even as airfare and hotels got pricier.

Turning to the U.S., MEI's analysis shows that tourists from India, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan are particularly sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations, after accounting for other factors. Specifically, a 1% depreciation of the United States Dollar (USD) against their local currencies corresponds to an approximate 0.6–0.8% increase in the number of tourists traveling to the U.S. These findings, consistent with our earlier analysis of tourism to Japan, suggest that these travelers are more responsive to exchange rate movements when selecting outbound destinations.

The shifting sands of business travel: Corporates today are limiting global travel in favor of regional trips. And while people are taking fewer business trips overall, the average duration is longer, suggesting efforts to stretch travel budgets. For example, U.S.-based travelers' trips to Asia-Pacific increased from 8.8 days^[3] to 10.2 days^[4]. 

Travel fraud demands a safer, smarter travel ecosystem. According to MEI, fraud in popular tourist destinations spikes up to 28% during peak seasons. Common scams include inflated charges in restaurants and taxis, fake tour companies, and fraudulent property listings. To combat these, Mastercard employs advanced fraud prevention technologies, including digital wallets and AI-driven systems, to protect travelers. This ensures that travelers can focus on their journeys without worrying about security threats.

"This report is designed to offer a clearer view of how consumer behaviors are evolving—and what that means for tourism growth," added Mann. "By turning data into actionable insights, the Mastercard Economics Institute aims to support the travel ecosystem in making smarter decisions that drive stronger tourism strategies, better traveler experiences, and more resilient economic outcomes."

View the "Travel Trends 2025: Purpose-driven journeys" report here and other insights from MEI, here.

About the Mastercard Economics Institute

The Mastercard Economics Institute provides insights into global and local economic trends using advanced analytics and Mastercard's proprietary data assets. Established in 2020, MEI supports businesses, governments, and policymakers with economic monitoring services and timely analysis on economic themes including consumer spending, retail and travel trends, and other local and global barometers of economic performance. MEI offers valuable perspectives to inform decision-making and promote sustainable growth worldwide through our thought leadership series, and through Mastercard's specialized product offerings. 

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
www.mastercard.com 

SOURCE Mastercard