Rising travel costs and contracting Covid-19 while on vacation are top concerns for Asian travelers. Despite a looming global recession, more than 80% of Asian travelers plan to travel in 2023, planning to spend the same amount or more on travel than they did in 2022.
SINGAPORE – If economic uncertainty has you feeling worried or anxious about your holiday plans for 2023, you’re not alone.Nearly four in five travelers in Asia are anxious about traveling next year (2023), according to a new study Klook1.
However, concerns about inflation and rising costs haven’t stopped travelers from packing their bags. The vast majority (81%) are eager to travel abroad in the new year, with a third planning at least 2 to 4 trips. In Singapore, almost all (92%) are eager to travel despite 80% worrying about travel due to economic uncertainty, with a third of Singaporeans already booking holidays for 2023, the highest in Asia.
Which Are Travelers Concerned More: Covid-19 or Rising Travel Costs?
A whopping 63% of Asian travelers are concerned about travel-related price increases. However, the desire to travel appears to be stronger, with more than 80% planning to spend the same amount or more on travel. Among the respondents, tourists from Malaysia, Singapore and Japan were the most concerned about fees. However, despite concerns, Singaporeans are most interested in travel, with 40% intending to increase travel spending by 2023. In addition to rising travel costs, concerns about Covid-19 remain, with 39% worried about catching the virus while traveling while on holiday.
Take a holiday all the way, rain or shine
Facing a looming global recession, Asian travelers are not giving up on their travel plans despite travel anxiety. 35% would choose a closer destination or travel during the off-season, while 34% would cut other expenses to save more on travel.
To allay their concerns, half of travelers aim to plan ahead to maximize their travel experience. For those who are more health and safety conscious, 43% would make sure they have travel insurance, while 35% would seek to explore less-populated places within their destination to minimize risk and exposure.
Is 2023 the year of “Travasillience”?
Marcus YongKlook’s VP of Global Marketing predicts that by 2023, travelers will remain resilient against all odds. He says, “After two years of grounding, travel is now an experience that people cherish more than ever, and this is clear from our survey data. Although travel behaviors and attitudes have changed over the past few years, the We still see travelers ready to adapt and determined to travel at all costs in search of the joy and rewards of travel.”
“2023 is the year of Travelsilience (travel and resilience), as travelers seek to travel to create new and memorable experiences despite all the difficulties and headwinds.”
With Klook, the traveler’s world is at your fingertips. From popular attractions to cozy lesser-known activities, travelers can experience and find joy in a wide variety of experiences while on the road. In 2022, Klook delivered more than 108 million hours of joy through experiences booked through its app and website.
Across Asia, a common thread of discovery and family-focused events took center stage. Common themes such as museums, theme parks, zoos and animal parks lead the way for top experiences in Asia. There was also strong demand for car rentals and outdoor experiences like hiking and trekking – a sign that travelers are moving out of metropolitan areas and exploring areas beyond cities.
Key Survey Highlights – Asia and Singapore
- Roughly four in five Asian travelers (77%) are anxious about international travel in 2023 due to economic uncertainty.
– In Singapore, 80% of travelers are anxious about traveling in 2023 in the face of economic uncertainty. - The vast majority (81%) of Asian travelers are eager to travel abroad again in 2023 (while 19% are not eager at all).
– 92% of Singaporean tourists look forward to traveling, while 8% are not at all eager. - 79% of avid Asian travelers plan to take at least one international vacation in 2023, and nearly four in ten plan to take two to four vacations in 2023.
– 97% of Singapore’s avid travelers plan to take at least one international holiday in 2023, with more than half (54%) planning to take 2 to 4 holidays in 2023. - Among travelers in Asia, the most popular break travel period is 3-5 days (45%), followed by 6-9 days (34%) and then 10 or more days (25%).
– Among Singapore travelers, the most popular rest travel duration was 3-5 days (44%), followed by 6-9 days (38%), 10 or more days (29%), and then 1-2 days (18%). - 41% of Asian travelers plan to spend more on travel, 40% keep their travel budget the same and only 19% plan to spend less.
– 40% of Singaporean travelers plan to spend more on travel, almost half (48%) keep their travel budget the same and only 12% plan to spend less. - The top travel concerns for Asian travelers are travel costs (63%), getting Covid-19 or getting sick while traveling (39%), language barriers (35%), and having the correct travel documents (33%).
– Among Singapore travelers, travel costs (70%) are the top concern, followed by COVID-19 while traveling (47%), flight delays and lost luggage (37%), transportation (37%) and flight availability (35%) .
1. The travelsilience survey was conducted through Stickybeak in November 2022, with a total of 902 respondents from 9 markets including Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan and South Korea.
2. Based on Klook internal data
