Singapore travel confidence peaks – Nearly 73% of Singapore travellers planning trips before October according to Expedia

Travel in the post-pandemic world has been redefined in many ways – rebuilding trust in travel again while navigating through a complex and high-cost travel environment has made travellers much more aware about their travel planning needs.

Expedia’s latest Travel for Real study found that confidence in travel comes with ease of restrictions. Most people feel safe as they are vaccinated (69%) and find testing/entry requirements easier to manage (58%) now that countries have relaxed their entry restrictions.

The Travel for Real study surveyed 1,000 Singaporeans between 18-45 years old who travel for leisure at least once every three years, with an aim to understand what stimulates travel confidence in the post-pandemic world.

MORE TRIPS BOOKED AS TRAVEL CONFIDENCE INCREASES

When asked about reasons for decision to travel this year, 6 in 10 Singaporeans considered it safer to travel as restrictions have eased, and countries have started to reopen their borders, with relaxed entry requirements. Travel confidence is evident with more than 52% feeling more confident to travel. 73% of Singaporean travellers are also planning to travel overseas this summer and among them and 40% have booked their summer trip.

Singaporean travellers generally feel safe now that they are vaccinated and know that most travellers today are. 27% and 29% of travellers aged 18 – 25 and 26 – 35 respectively have booked their summer travel plans, while 33% of travellers aged 36 – 45 have made theirs. Younger travellers take a longer time to observe situations in planning their trips.

For those who were still hesitant to travel this summer, the most common reason was budget (45%), as travel costs have increased compared to pre-covid times. This is most common among the 18 – 35 age group where 48% cited budget to be among their top concerns as compared to 37% among travellers aged 36 – 45. More than half of respondents also felt that a refundable/ flexible booking policy helped to boost their confidence in travel.

TRAVELLERS LOOKING TO TAKE A LONGER TIME-OUT FROM REALITY

With those looking to travel, trips have been planned for longer durations. Of the 73% planning to travel this summer, the majority (50%) plan to take one trip while 30% are planning to take two trips. Almost 1 in 2 (46%) would like to have a trip that lasts at least 6 days. Travellers aged between 18 – 25 are also most keen on taking trips that last 6 – 9 days (31%), or a trip of 4 – 5 days (29%). Meanwhile, 37% of travellers aged 26 – 35 are most keen to take a 4 – 5-day trip, while 32% of them are keen on a 6 – 9-day trip.

NEW MOTIVATIONS TO TRAVEL BEYOND BUCKET LIST, GIVING TRAVEL A NEW MEANING

The pandemic allowed Expedia to introduce better travel planning tools for travellers to get the best out of their travel investment. In tandem with the survey, the following traveller planning trends were revealed:

Lavinia Rajaram, Asia Head of Public Relations, Expedia Group, said, “It is encouraging to see Singaporeans finding confidence and feeling excitement about travel again. With many travel restrictions easing over the past months, Singaporeans have been inspired to take to the skies once again and fulfill that pent up travel desire”.

When we looked back at the 2022 Travel Trends Report released at the start of the year, travellers were open to last minute trips and travelled with a carpe diem mindset. Fast forward to now, we see travel behaviours shifting towards plans that cater to more meaningful experiences for their well- being. That said, the wanderlust for new sensations and discoveries remains.

“Prices are already indicating a huge demand for travel, and planning is going to be key in finding that sweet spot for a good deal,” she added.

EXPEDIA TIPS TO BOOK YOUR NEXT GETAWAY

  1. Book early and book smart: As with demand, prices will likely increase as the months go by, making last-minute deals harder to find. Travellers should lock in plans early by using “free cancellation” filters on Expedia and choosing flights with waived change fees. While it may be tempting to save a few dollars by choosing restrictive basic economy or saver fares, selecting flexible options will not only save travellers money in the long run but also ensure peace of mind as plans can change.
  2. Travel insurance is vital: Having travel insurance helps assure travellers in unforeseen circumstances. Bumping into potential mishaps such as lost baggage or pandemic-related issues can affect travel experiences. Travellers should look carefully into the type of travel insurance that they need most, instead of what they want.

BEST TIME TO BOOK ACCORDING TO EXPEDIA AND AIRLINE REPORTING CORPORATION (ARC)

Best day of the week to book1

Singaporean travellers might want to wait till the weekend to book their flights – the report revealed that Sunday is the cheapest day to book flights, with tickets close to 20% cheaper than Friday, the most expensive day.

Best day of the week to travel2

Thursdays are the cheapest day to depart – with travellers unlocking an average of up to 25% savings compared to the most expensive day (Monday).


1 Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

2 Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

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