A Year in Search: Google Releases Top Searches in Thailand during 2008

The 2008 year-end Zeitgeist offers a unique perspective on the year's major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in Thailand. 

The top fastest rising searches on this year's list of royal terms reflect a sad moment for the Thai nation but also the love and respect of the people for the monarchy. The fastest rising royal search term of 2008 was Saeng-Nung - the title of a song composed in memory of Her Royal Highest Princess Galyani Vadhana, who passed away earlier this year. 

The top two spots in the fastest rising celebrity searches category went to searches for singer Lula and actress Jeeja, eclipsing more established Thai artists. The top local searches on this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing reflected the country's excitement around its best hopes for medal glory: boxing and weightlifting.

The latest year-end Zeitgeist also highlighted a shift in holiday travel trends during 2008. Search data showed that increasing numbers of people contemplated heading for the hills during their vacations, with searches for the mountain retreat of Pai growing faster than those for more traditional beach holiday destinations such as Hua Hin and Phuket.

Each of these lists shows the fastest rising searches, meaning these were the search terms that saw the largest spike in searches during 2008, as compared to 2007.  Take a look below to get sense of the zeitgeist, or spirit of the times, in Thailand for 2008!

* Disclaimer: All duplicates have been removed from the list.

Top Searches of 2008

• music

• games

• listening to music

• job

• hi5

• picture

• car

• Download

• home

• mp3 Fastest rising searches of 2008

• code hi5

• decorate hi5

• Imeem

• skin

• Hi5

• music code

• watch tv

• tv

• music downloads

• Pang Paen-Jai-Noi

Fastest rising Royalty Searches

• Saeng-Nung (Song composed for HRH Galyani)

• HRH Galyani

• King Rama V

• Chakri Dynasty

• Mother's Day (HM the Queen's birthday)

• Bureau of the Royal Household

• Royal Projects

• Sufficiency Economics

• Royal duties

• Picture of HM the King Fastest rising TV shows

• Boo-Tan-Kep-Sud-Tai (soap opera)

• Ruk-Ri-thum (sitcom)

• NagnTas (soap opera)

• Ngao-Asoke (soap opera)

• King-Kaew-Ka-Fark (soap opera)

• Sapai-Luk-Tung (soap opera)

• Sila-manee (soap opera)

• Sawan-Biang (soap opera)

• Jamlai-Ruk (soap opera)

• Ben-Tor (Sitcom)

Fastest rising celebrities searches

• Lula (singer)

• Jeeja (actress)

• Aon (actor)

• YodRuk (singer, died in 2008)

• Mario (actor)

• Note Udom (comedian)

• Four (singer)

• Dome (singer)

• Taey (actress)

• Pey (actress) 

Fastest-rising Olympics related searches

• Beijing 2008 Olympic

• Torch running Olympics

• Western-style boxing Olympic

• Weight lifting Olympic

• Gold medal Olympics 

• Medal summary 

• Swimming

• Kay Prapawadee

• Manus Boonjumnong

• Somchit

Fastest rising song searches

• Kon-Due-Deng

• Lalai

• Kob-Khun-Kun-Lae-Kun

• Kae-Ni-Yai

• Ngoo

• Kai-Ta-Phang

• Jod-Rak

• Kom-Phang

• Lab-Kam-Wan

• Paen-Jai-Noi   

Fastest-rising local destination searches

• Pai

• Hua Hin

• Cha-am

• Pattaya

• Wang Nam Keaw

• Koh Kood

• Muang Boo Ran

• Koh Samet

• Koh Chang

• Phuket

Point your browser to www.google.com/zeitgeist2008 to read about the year's top gaining and declining search terms as well as the most popular entertainment, sport, political economic and local topics as determined by Google users in 35 countries including Thailand.

More Thais Searching Online for a Better Deal during Tough Times

This year's Zeitgeist would not be complete without a final note on the economic downturn, which was top of mind for users in Thailand. According to Google Insights for Search, there were large increases in the number of searches for "cheap" (164% increase from 2007), "good price" (113% increase) and "sale" (79% increase) reflecting Thais searching more often online to find the best deals and save money (see graph below). To check out what else Thais are searching for and to compare search volumes across time frames or regions, visit Google Insights for Search at www.google.co.th/insights/search.