(12/06/23) The latest data from Trip.com reveals that global
travel bookings for the summer (1 June to 31 August) have already
surpassed 2019 levels, with intra-regional travel leading the way.
Overall, bookings on the platform this summer
have increased by 170% when compared to the same period in 2022.
Specifically, thanks to the relaxation of travel restrictions in
APAC, summer bookings have skyrocketed by 356% y-o-y in Asia, with
European markets recording a 72% y-o-y increase this summer.
Short-haul regional tours are the preferred trip this
summer, with short-distance flight bookings accounting for 44% of
all bookings in Asia and more than half in Europe (67%).
On the
other hand, the percentage of long-haul summer travel in Europe
has dropped significantly from 48% in 2019 to 13% this year. Over in
Asia, the percentage is up slightly from 22% in 2019 to 27%.
Bangkok, Thailand. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com
Specifically, Asian travellers are focusing on travel
closer to home. The top five most-booked cities in Asia are –
Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei, with Singapore
coming in as the 7th most booked city in Asia.
Bangkok (pictured) is the most-booked destination this summer by Singaporean
travellers, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bali, Seoul,
Taipei, Tokyo, Manila, Johor Bahru and Penang.
In terms of
searches by Singaporean travellers, Batam ranked first, followed
by Bentong, Bintan, Bangkok, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei,
Kota Tinggi, Hong Kong and Seoul.
Likewise, in Europe,
nine out of 10 destinations booked this summer are European
cities, such as London, Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris; Bangkok is
the only destination on the list outside Europe.
Interestingly, even though European users are in “wait-and-see”
mode for long-distance travel, search demand is still prominent –
Trip.com search data finds that European users are looking for
hotels in Asian and Middle East destinations, with Bali, Dubai,
Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Marrakech listed on the top-10 most
searched hotel destinations.
“We are witnessing a
strong rebound in short-haul travel across all our global markets
this summer,” said Ray Chen, CEO of the Hotel Business Unit,
Trip.com Group. “As flights and hotel capacity continue to
increase, and the global industry is better prepared for welcoming
back international travellers, we can expect a faster return of
long-distance travel in the near future.”
This summer, some emerging destinations have become the fastest
growing destinations booked by Trip.com users, with many of them
coastal or island destinations, such as the Fuerteventura Island, Lanzarote and Santander in Spain, and Kefalonia in Greece.
More travellers are also going to remote or rural
areas for unusual travel experiences. Tourism destinations with
unique cultures and landscapes are proving popular this summer,
such as Lijiang in China and Shimukappu Mura in Japan.
Music Tourism and Amusement Parks
Significant music events, such as concerts and music
festivals, are in full swing across major cities in Asia, becoming
a new engine to attract more visitors to the area.
According to data from Trip.com’s user-generated content
(UGC) platform Trip Moments, discussions on ‘going to music
events’ while travelling are trending in Hong Kong and South
Korean sites, especially music fans from the Chinese mainland
looking to flock to Hong Kong for concerts and performances in
2023.
Theme parks and water parks are drawing
travellers’ attention this summer, with some new theme parks
opening up in the region, such as the “Making of Harry Potter” in
Tokyo, which will be the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in
the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia.
“Indeed, most travellers have chosen intra-regional
getaways this summer, but that doesn’t mean they will have less
fun. Travellers this summer are seeking unique and mind-blowing
travel experiences that they missed for the past three years,”
commented Han Feng, Senior Marketing Director of Trip.com.
