SOME Singaporeans are forgoing the traditional holiday indulgences of feasting and kicking back to relax by opting for fitness holidays this year, with more travellers displaying a keener interest in adventure sports during their vacations.
A survey by Hotels.com found that some 60 per cent of Singaporean travellers polled are planning a fitness holiday, and almost half of respondents or 46 per cent will be embarking on their first fitness holiday in 2015.
Furthermore, Asia-Pacific is the top destination for 78 per cent of Singaporeans intending to do a fitness holiday, out of which 53 per cent are inclined towards South-east Asia, and Europe is the choice of 13 per cent of voters.
More than one-third of survey participants, or 37 per cent, professed to having been on a fitness holiday before, and of this number 78 per cent felt that it had been a good cornerstone to build an active lifestyle upon.
Thirty per cent of respondents who have been on a fitness holiday before said they did so to relax and get away from the daily drudgery, and 27 per cent said it was to try a new workout.
However, one in five respondents have an ulterior motive – they view fitness holidays as a chance to meet hot potential love interests.
Katherine Cole, regional director at Hotels.com, said: “Singaporeans are a bunch of savvy and seasoned travellers with a thirst for all things new, including trending holiday concepts. This, coupled with the growing public awareness of the health risks that come with leading a sedentary lifestyle, has contributed to the rise of fitness holidays among locals.”
Singaporeans planning fitness holidays are most interested in land adventure sports such as bungee jumping, snowboarding and skydiving, followed by water adventure sports like windsurfing, cage-diving and whitewater rafting. Recreational activities like golfing and hiking came after, with spiritual and strength exercises such as pilates and yoga in fourth place. Competitive marathons, races and other sporting tournaments are in fifth place.
