Thailand Tops Global Last-Minute Tourism List as Travellers Increasingly Book Holidays Late

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Thailand has emerged as the leading last-minute travel destination, according to new accommodation booking data, with the Philippines and Australia following closely behind. The findings show how tourism habits are changing as travellers become more comfortable arranging holidays only days before departure. More than seven in ten bookings in Thailand were made within seven days of check-in, while the Philippines recorded a similarly high share. Australia, Mexico and New Zealand also feature strongly, showing that late booking is not limited to one region. The figures offer a useful snapshot of spontaneous travel demand and highlight destinations where flexible holiday planning is increasingly shaping tourism activity.

Thailand has taken the top spot in a new ranking of the world’s most popular last-minute travel destinations, with 74.8% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in. The Philippines follows with 71.7%, while Australia ranks third at 61.2%, highlighting a strong appetite for spontaneous tourism across several major international markets.

The findings come from hotel management system Sirvoy, which analysed booking activity across its customer base of independent hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels and holiday rentals. The study defines a last-minute booking as an accommodation reservation made within seven days of check-in, giving the research a clear measure of how close to arrival travellers are making their plans.

Thailand leads the global last-minute travel market

Thailand records the highest proportion of last-minute accommodation bookings in the study, with nearly three-quarters of reservations being made within seven days of arrival. Even more strikingly, 56.8% of bookings were made on the same day as check-in or the following day, suggesting that Thailand has a particularly strong market for highly spontaneous travel.

The country’s position reflects several factors that can make late tourism planning attractive, including warm weather, extensive beach destinations, established visitor infrastructure and a wide range of accommodation choices. For travellers seeking a quick escape, Thailand can offer everything from island breaks and resort holidays to city stays in Bangkok and cultural experiences in northern destinations.

The figures also indicate that last-minute travel is not simply a niche behaviour in Thailand, because the proportion of late bookings is considerably higher than half of all accommodation reservations. That level of demand may be important for independent accommodation providers, which can use flexible pricing, real-time availability and targeted promotions to capture travellers making decisions close to departure.

Philippines follows closely behind

The Philippines ranks second, with 71.7% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in, while 53.0% were made either on the arrival day or the day before. The result places the country firmly among the destinations where tourism demand remains highly flexible right up to the point of travel.

The Philippines has a broad tourism offer, ranging from beaches and diving locations to historic cities, island communities and nature-based attractions, giving different types of travellers plenty of options. Its reputation for comparatively affordable food, activities and accommodation can also make it appealing to people who decide to take a holiday without committing to a long booking window.

For tourism businesses, the Philippine result highlights the value of maintaining room availability close to arrival dates, particularly in markets where visitors may be comfortable organising accommodation after deciding where they want to go. The data does not explain why every booking was made late, but it does show that short booking windows form a major part of the accommodation market captured by the study.

Australia ranks third

Australia takes third place, with 61.2% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in and 36.8% made on the same or following day. Its inclusion is notable because the country combines major urban tourism centres with beaches, coastal destinations, wildlife experiences and long-distance domestic travel opportunities.

Sydney and Melbourne remain internationally recognised city destinations, while Australia’s coastline and outdoor attractions provide strong reasons for travellers to make shorter-term holiday decisions. The scale of the country also means that last-minute tourism can involve both domestic trips and international visitors extending or changing plans after arrival.

Australia’s position demonstrates that late booking is not restricted to traditionally low-cost or tropical destinations, because travellers can also show spontaneous booking behaviour in a mature tourism market. Accommodation providers therefore face a balancing act between securing reservations early and preserving enough inventory to benefit from demand that appears only days before check-in.

Mexico and New Zealand complete the next positions

Mexico ranks fourth, with 59.7% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in, while 40.7% were made on the day of arrival or the following day. The country’s combination of beach resorts, historic sites, cultural attractions and major cities gives last-minute travellers a broad choice of experiences.

New Zealand follows in fifth place, recording 58.3% of bookings within seven days and 32.9% on the same or next day. Its dramatic mountains, lakes, forests and outdoor attractions make it particularly suitable for travellers who want an adventure-focused holiday and are prepared to make arrangements relatively close to departure.

The two destinations also show that tourism demand can be driven by different types of travel experiences, rather than one single holiday model. Mexico has strong appeal for beach and cultural tourism, while New Zealand attracts visitors seeking scenery, outdoor activity and road-trip experiences, yet both record more than half of accommodation bookings within the study’s seven-day window.

Indonesia and Nordic destinations show broad demand

Indonesia ranks sixth, with 55.8% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in and 35.4% made on the same or following day. The country’s established tourism infrastructure, island destinations and wide range of accommodation options provide considerable choice for travellers who want to arrange a holiday without booking months in advance.

Norway is seventh, recording 53.8% of bookings within seven days and 39.1% on the same or next day. Its presence is significant because it shows that last-minute tourism is also prominent in a northern European destination, despite its very different climate, geography and travel profile from Thailand or Indonesia.

Finland ranks eighth, with 53.3% of accommodation bookings made within seven days and 31.8% made on the day before or day of check-in. The Netherlands takes ninth place at 52.3%, followed by Sweden in tenth at 51.9%, meaning every destination in the top 10 records more than half of accommodation bookings inside the seven-day period.

What the ranking says about travel behaviour

The strongest pattern in the research is the willingness of travellers to postpone accommodation decisions until very close to their arrival date. While early planning remains important for many international holidays, the figures show that a substantial share of tourism customers are prepared to wait, compare options and book accommodation only when their trip is imminent.

The ranking also suggests that destination appeal and booking flexibility can work together, because countries with different tourism products appear across the list. Warm-weather destinations dominate the top positions, but Norway, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden demonstrate that late travel decisions are also relevant in European markets with different seasonal conditions.

For independent hotels and other smaller accommodation businesses, this behaviour creates both an opportunity and a challenge. Empty rooms can potentially be converted into revenue through late promotions and improved online visibility, but excessive discounting can also weaken margins if businesses rely too heavily on last-minute demand.

Same-day bookings reveal an even stronger trend

The second measure in the study provides another useful insight by identifying bookings made either on the same day as check-in or one day before. Thailand leads again at 56.8%, followed by the Philippines at 53.0%, meaning more than half of the accommodation bookings recorded in these two markets were made extremely close to arrival.

Mexico ranks strongly on this measure at 40.7%, while Norway reaches 39.1% and Australia records 36.8%. These figures point towards a segment of travellers who are not merely booking late but are making accommodation decisions almost immediately before their stay.

That behaviour has implications for tourism technology, revenue management and customer service, because accommodation businesses must be able to process reservations quickly and keep availability information accurate. A traveller booking a room only hours before arrival is likely to expect a seamless digital experience, clear confirmation details and minimal friction between payment and check-in.

Why spontaneous tourism matters to accommodation providers

The results are particularly relevant to independent accommodation operators, which may not have the same marketing budgets or distribution reach as large hotel groups. Reliable booking technology can help these businesses remain visible to travellers searching close to their arrival date, while accurate inventory management can reduce the risk of selling rooms that are no longer available.

The data also shows why tourism businesses should avoid assuming that every customer follows a traditional booking cycle. Different destinations, accommodation types and traveller segments can produce very different booking patterns, making it important for operators to understand their own demand rather than relying solely on broad industry averages.

Sirvoy’s analysis therefore offers a useful indicator rather than a universal forecast for every destination or hotel. Because the dataset comes from Sirvoy’s own customer base, the results reflect the behaviour represented within that network and should be interpreted in that context when assessing wider travel and tourism trends.

What travellers can learn from the figures

For holidaymakers, the ranking provides a clear indication of destinations where late accommodation booking is already common. However, a high share of last-minute reservations does not guarantee that every traveller will find cheap rooms, flights or premium properties close to departure, particularly during major events, school holidays or peak tourism periods.

Travellers considering a spontaneous trip should therefore compare transport costs, accommodation availability, cancellation conditions and local demand before booking. Flexibility can create opportunities, but it can also reduce choice if the most desirable hotels, flights or activities have already sold out.

“This research offers a valuable snapshot of how modern travellers are approaching travel and tourism, particularly as booking behaviour becomes more flexible and immediate. Thailand’s leading position is especially interesting because it combines strong destination appeal with a tourism ecosystem capable of serving spontaneous visitors. The presence of the Philippines, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand also shows that last-minute tourism is not confined to one region or holiday style. For the travel industry, these findings reinforce the importance of flexible accommodation strategies, strong digital distribution and accurate real-time inventory. Independent tourism businesses can learn a great deal from how quickly today’s travellers are making decisions.”

Thailand leads the latest travel ranking because its accommodation market records the highest share of bookings made within seven days of check-in. The Philippines follows closely, while Australia, Mexico and New Zealand also demonstrate strong last-minute tourism demand. The wider result is important because every destination in the top 10 records more than half of bookings inside the seven-day window. For travellers, this points to growing flexibility and a stronger appetite for spontaneous holidays. For accommodation providers, it creates opportunities to capture late demand, although availability and pricing can change quickly. The research therefore highlights a tourism market where timing increasingly influences how travel is planned. Nichlas Linderborg, Chief Customer Officer of Sirvoy, commented on the study:

“Travelers are embracing spontaneity when booking their next vacation, with every destination in the top 10 seeing more than half of its accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in.

“Warm weather is clearly an appealing factor, with the countries in the top spots, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and Mexico, offering last-minute sun while the US, UK and much of Europe enter the colder season.”

The main cause behind the trend is changing travel behaviour, supported by easier online booking, flexible accommodation choices and travellers’ willingness to make decisions closer to departure. The answer to why Thailand leads is found in its combination of strong tourism appeal, warm weather, beaches, established accommodation supply and a high proportion of extremely late reservations. The reason the wider ranking matters is that it shows last-minute travel has become significant across very different tourism markets. Thailand and the Philippines dominate the top, but Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and several European countries also exceed 50%. Together, the figures indicate that spontaneous tourism deserves greater attention from accommodation businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country is the most popular for last-minute travel?

Thailand ranks first in the study, with 74.8% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in. The country also has the highest same-day or next-day booking share, at 56.8%, making it the strongest destination for spontaneous accommodation demand in the research.

Which destination ranks second for last-minute tourism?

The Philippines ranks second, with 71.7% of accommodation bookings made within seven days of check-in. A further 53.0% of bookings were made on the same day or the day before arrival, showing particularly strong short-window booking behaviour.

What does Sirvoy define as a last-minute booking?

For this study, Sirvoy defines a last-minute booking as an accommodation reservation made within seven days of check-in. The analysis covers independent hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels and holiday rentals within its customer base.

Are last-minute holidays always cheaper?

No, booking late does not automatically mean paying less for travel or accommodation. Prices can fall when businesses try to fill remaining rooms, but popular destinations, peak periods and limited availability can also make last-minute tourism more expensive.

Which European countries appear in the top 10?

Norway ranks seventh, Finland eighth, the Netherlands ninth and Sweden tenth in the study. Each records more than 50% of accommodation bookings within seven days of check-in, showing that late tourism planning is widespread beyond tropical holiday markets.