BEACH getaways and upscale hotels are the top vacation destinations for well-heeled Asia-Pacific families, according to a Visa survey.

Researching the travel patterns of 500 affluent consumers in Asia-Pacific, the Visa Affluent Study 2015 found that 82 per cent of respondents have travelled with their families in the past 12 months.

Over the same period, respondents rank Japan, Hong Kong and Australia as the most popular destinations. The region’s most frequent wealthy travellers are from Singapore and China, with 3.1 trips each, followed by Hong Kong with 2.8 trips and India with 2.0 trips.

When asked about their main activities when travelling abroad, 44 per cent of respondents said their top pick was relaxing on a beach, followed by 36 per cent choosing to shop in popular or large shopping centres and 35 per cent wanting to explore landmarks independently.

But there were differences according to source markets – relaxing on a beach was the most popular activity among respondents from China, Indonesia and India, while the rich from Hong Kong and Japan are the most likely to have travelled to explore landmarks independently. Those from Japan, China and Singapore tend to follow the food trails to local restaurants.

When it comes to accommodation, wealthy travellers prefer upscale hotels (48 per cent) and luxury hotels (39 per cent) over mid-scale hotels (35 per cent). Chinese holidaymakers topped the list of being the swankiest stayers, with 67 per cent choosing upscale hotels and 55 per cent picking luxury hotels.

The survey also found that boutique hotels are the most popular with respondents from Australia (49 per cent), followed by Hong Kong and China at 24 per cent each.

SUMMER is here and the timing is ripe for travel marketers who want to make the most of this peak season to engage customers.

In a summer-themed op-ed entitled Get ready for the Grand Wanderlusters this summer, Collinson Latitude draws on its six traveller profiles to highlight the opportunities for travel marketing and highlights three personas in particular.

The first are the Nesters. These family-focused, time-starved travellers are looking for value in terms of cost and experiences. Summer is the key holiday period for them due to the school holidays.

To reach this group, include built-in experiences in their packages to achieve value, offer flexible and long-term rewards they can share or use this summer or next. Once marketers have claimed the Nester’s loyalty, they are likely to become repeat customers.

The second group are the On-Demanders, usually aged between 20-34. Instant gratification and stylishness are crucial to winning the hearts of these career-oriented introverts, who are also most likely to take spontaneous trips.

Target this demographic with last-minute price deals and getaway offers, but keep them happy lest they take to social media to vent their frustrations. On-Demanders use aggregator sites and are twice as likely to include wellness activities as part of their itineraries, so it is good to highlight these when targeting this group.

Last but not least are the time-rich Safeguarders who tend to splash out on one main holiday during the year in the summer on high-value and high points-value trips. Preferring traditional methods of engagement, they are most likely to book offline.

To reach this group, allow them to redeem their reward points throughout the year and offer them the chance to tailor-make their trips.

The Collinson Latitude op-ed stated: “The need for brands to understand their customers has always been true. But even more so now, is the importance for brands to translate this understanding into the products, services and offers provided. Not understanding your customers and using a blanket method could not only reduce effectiveness, but actually damage their perception of your brand and reduce the likelihood of them choosing you as their travel provider in the future.”

Collinson Latitude identified six distinct traveller profiles in the report The Grand Wanderluster: A New Perspective for the modern day travel reward programme.

CHINESE tourists who want to combine a holiday to the UK and continental European countries can now apply for both Belgium – a Schengen country – and UK visas in a single application.

Starting July 1, Chinese nationals who apply for a visa to the UK at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre can also request a visa to Belgium, which gives them access to Schengen countries.

Belgium visas were only available through the Belgium embassy before hand and Chinese travellers intending to include the UK in their itinerary had to apply for both visas separately.

Travel trade members that TTG Asia e-Daily spoke to have welcomed the move, which makes multi-destination itineraries for the Chinese traveller less of a hassle.

Shanghai-based Hongkong Four Seas Travel – TSI, general manager for Greater China (business travel), Jonathan Kao said: “With the new policy, travellers can now easily plan for a ‘whole’ Europe trip, which means that they will most likely be travelling for long periods.

“The cheap euro certainly helps too and we are already seeing a lot of travellers who would’ve otherwise gone to Hong Kong now go directly to Europe to shop.”

He added that the new arrangement helps business travellers save time planning their trips as previously travellers could not apply for both visas at the same time.

The change in visa processes is also timely, as CITS Shenzhen’s outbound travel manager, Ding Wei, reported that travel demand to the UK has been so strong that most of the agency’s tours have been booked up this summer.

Ding said: “This visa initiative will drive more traffic for sure and we expect 50 per cent growth in 2015. Group tours have dominated outbound traffic but we are starting to see more FITs. We plan to create more new tour routes and FIT packages to Europe.”

TRAVEL solutions provider 11 infotech is holding an XML workshop to teach its members how to better distribute their products and work more closely with global online distributors this month.

To be held at Amari Don Muang Airport, Bangkok on July 28, the second edition of 11 infotech’s XML workshop is bringing together more than 80 of its users from around the world as well as global online distributors such as GTA, lowcostbeds and Jac Travel.

Attendees will get a better understanding on how to distribute their products and view the latest version of the TravFlex B2B distribution system, which now allows them to connect to air tickets and insurance products.

The travel solutions provider has been organising such workshops as an annual feature of ITB Asia Singapore for the past nine years.

MALAYSIAN inbound tour agencies are projecting a rise in post-Hari Raya business from the Indonesian market.

Agencies that TTG Asia e-Daily interviewed predicted business to be better than last year, with the weakened ringgit driving demand. Pent-up demand is also fuelling travel, as some had held back their plans to holiday last year due to Indonesia’s general election.

Nanda Kumar, managing director of Hidden Asia Travel & Tours, said he is anticipating a 10 per cent increase in business events travel to Malaysia this year, with five bookings already confirmed.

He expects a pick up in leisure family travel as well, with Genting, Kuala Lumpur and Legoland Malaysia in Johor Bahru being favourite destinations.

Arokia Das, senior manager, Luxury Tours Malaysia, said: “This year, post-Raya will definitely be stronger than last year. We expect leisure business to increase by at least 35 per cent year-on-year during the Lebaran holiday and MICE by at least 18 per cent post-Raya.

“Cheap airfares, a growing middle class, and direct connectivity from major cities such as Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya are driving business.”

Kimberley Khoo, deputy inbound manager at Skyzone Tours & Travel, said she has a few confirmed incentive bookings in August and had received requests for proposals for September and October.

Both Khoo and Das said that Kuala Lumpur remains a key destination for MICE, followed by Johor Bahru twinned with Singapore.