Published on
February 2, 2026
In 2026, Asia-Pacific will witness a change in business travel trends, where more and more professionals will combine business travel with leisure activities. The trend, known as “bleisure,” has been most popular in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, as cited in Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook Report. In the Asia-Pacific, business travellers expect to add leisure activities to 76% of their trips, showing a transformation in the construction of business travel activities.
The Philippines Leading The Charge
Of all the Asia-Pacific regions, the Philippines is taking the lead in the “bleisure” trend. The report states 95% of Filipino business travellers will add leisure to their trips. This explains the high incidence of leisure travellers in the country who want to experience the more enjoyable and touristy side of a particular destination, be it in the commercial centres or off the beaten path. This phenomenon is a clear indication that with the relaxation of travel restrictions, the previous travellers now possess the want and need to travel.
Thailand and Vietnam Closely Follow Suit
Thailand and Vietnam are experiencing high interest in “bleisure” travel. In Thailand, 92% of business travelers plan to mix work and personal time during their visits. Vietnam, too, is experiencing an increasing number of business and leisure travelers, with **86% planning to partake in “bleisure.” Both countries are emerging business travel hotspots for travelers who wish to explore new destinations and work at the same time.
The Bleisure Trend in Traditionally Conservative Markets
The trend is even making its way into traditionally conservative business travel markets such as Japan and Indonesia. In Japan, 58% of business travelers plan to mix personal leisure time with their business trips. This is a big change for a country with a strict work culture. Also, in South Korea, there is a strong interest in the “bleisure” phenomenon, with 76% of business travelers wanting to make their trips for leisure purposes in addition to work. This emphasizes the increasing desire for work-life balance in the Asia-Pacific Region, valuing productivity and personal time.
How Agoda Is Implementing Schengen For Bleisure Travel
We can consider the tools Agoda uses to translate the bleisure trend to practice. As a bleisure travel enabler, Agoda gives customers the option to combine travel for work with travels for pleasure. Customers can conveniently plan work trips with the option to relax during the journey. Custom property selection, activities, and travel routes (flights and over 6,000,000 accommodations and 300,000 activities, and 130,000 flight routes) allow business travelers to maximize their trips.
Bleisure Travel Market Expansion Projections
Currently, bleisure trends have global application, and they are expected to expand in the near future. By 2032, the global projection indicates a value of over $1.71 Trillion USD in bleisure travel. More business travelers are looking for travel arrangements that offer them work and leisure during their travels. As more travelers see the trips they plan in a new light, there will be more focus on the work/leisure overlap of their travel. More focus on the bleisure phenomenon will re-frame business travel bookings and add to the projection trends.
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The Positive Influence of Bleisure on Local Economies and Tourism
Bleisure travel is a growing phenomenon that will positively impact local economies and the tourism sector of the entire Asia-Pacific region. The business travel extension of the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam will allow for a considerably greater contribution to the local economy through tourism ancillary expenditures. The added travel days will give business travellers the opportunity to discover, experience, and appreciate local attractions, food, and culture, which will positively impact the tourism and hospitality industries.
The incorporation of leisure travel components to the business trip further promotes the lengthening of trip stays and more fully experiential travels, which encourage visceral relationships with the local communities. This is a promising trend, especially for emerging tourism destinations with ideal combinations of leisure activities and business opportunities.
Conclusion: The Rise of Bleisure Travel
The bleisure trend is reshaping how business travel is viewed across Asia-Pacific. Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are leading the way in the integration of work and leisure as core elements of business travel. It is clear that as bleeding-edge markets continue to grow, travel tech businesses like Agoda will work to optimize the user experience on platforms designed to fulfill the needs of the market. The increasing phenomenon of professionals integrating personal leisure on business trips is predicted to contribute significantly to the growth of the overall tourism sector and the bleisure market.
The interplay of work and leisure in travel, as highlighted in Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook, serves to reinforce the appeal of the tourism experience as the business traveler attempts to add personal leisure to work obligations is self-evident. The challenge of integrating work obligations with personal leisure is not just an experience that satisfies the need to work, but is a practice that is sure to significantly impact the work integration of leisure on travel going forward.
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