Phuket ranks first in Canadian travellers’ wellness vote

Phuket has ranked first in the wellness category of Air Canada Vacations’ 2026 Travellers’ Top Picks Awards, after receiving the highest number of votes from Canadian travellers.

The result was announced at Air Canada Vacations’ Toronto product launch at Universal Event Space in Toronto, according to Thailand’s deputy government spokeswoman. The awards, held for the second year, allowed Canadians to vote for their preferred destinations across 10 categories through the Travellers’ Top Picks website. More than 1.3 million votes were cast this year.

The government said Phuket’s win reflected recognition of Thailand’s health and wellness experiences and supported its value-led tourism strategy, which focuses on the quality and value of travel experiences rather than visitor numbers alone.

A total of 180,510 Canadian visitors travelled to Thailand between 1 January and 21 September 2026, up 2.35% from the same period last year, making Canada the country’s ninth-largest long-haul market, according to the figures cited by the government.

The government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand plan to use the award to expand cooperation in health and wellness and attract more high-value visitors from Canada.