Skyscanner’s latest Travel in Focus report uncovers key travel insights in Singapore, South Korea, and India for the year, and revealed that while travel remains on the rise, budget-conscious travellers are embracing travel with an open mind to score more affordable getaways.
While rising costs of everyday items will affect their travel plans, close to 99% of travellers across Singapore, South Korea, and India still plan to travel.
When it comes to planning, travellers from Singapore (63%), South Korea (66%), and India (72%) would prefer to plan every single detail of their travel ahead of time, but they are equally willing to change their itineraries if they come across a good deal.
With the rising cost of living, travellers are looking to stretch their dollar – but Skyscanner’s recent research revealed that they are willing to sacrifice different things to fit in their budget. 54% of South Koreans are willing to give up comfort to travel no matter what, while more than 60% of Singaporeans and Indians prefer to travel in comfort.
The following are highlights from the report which show three different traveller categories for Singapore, South Korea, and India.
Singapore
Escape Artists: About 80% of Singaporeans take advantage of long public holiday weekends for quick getaways, while 50% of Singaporeans have utilised between one and three long public holiday weekends in the past two years.
Celebration Chasers: Two of five Singaporeans (40%) are motivated to travel due to the holiday season (long weekends, four seasons, and Christmas) or special occasions (anniversaries, birthdays, and honeymoons). 33% of Singaporeans are attracted to destination-bound events such as Sakura season, Songkran, sale seasons, concerts, festivals, and sports events. Above all, most Singaporeans simply can’t resist a good deal – with 62% of them travelling due to a great price offer.
Zen Z: It was discovered that “social clout” was Gen Zs’ (aged 18-24) least commonly cited benefit of travel (29%). In fact, mental recharge to destress are Gen Zs’ most frequently cited advantage of travelling (76%), closely followed by the desire to enrich themselves through novel experiences (68%).
South Korea
Solo Flyer: 40% of South Korean travellers are likely to travel alone on their next holiday. Gen Zs are less likely to travel solo (23% of the 18-24 age group) when compared to millennials (64% of the 35-44 age group). In comparison, 47% of the respondents from the 65 and over age group responded that they are likely to travel alone.
Travel Junkies: 54% of South Koreans want to travel no matter what – even if they have completed all their planned trips, they would prefer to use their extra cash to squeeze in one more trip (61%) instead of using it on something else (35%).
No-normal Travellers: A majority of South Koreans (86%) are willing to allocate a larger budget, or adjust their itinerary, for obscure travel attractions and destination specific experiences. They’d rather dine at famous local restaurants or experience cultural heritage tours, instead of shopping or attending sporting events.
India
Deal-driven Travellers: Cost continues to be a major consideration for Indian travellers, with 47% of travellers willing to change their itineraries if presented with better deals. Some Indians prefer international destinations that are less expensive to visit (35%), and some opt for non-peak travel periods (33%).
Slow Travelling Gurus: In 2023, Indians prefer slow travel, with many opting for immersive travel (46%) over fast-paced travel (40%). Rather than visiting as many places as possible, travellers are looking to spend more time in a single destination where they can experience the local culture more deeply. They believe this mindful approach creates more meaningful personal connections and a richer experience. According to Skyscanner data, over 38% of Indian travellers spend longer than one month on a single-destination trip, including domestic and international destinations, based on redirect data for the year 2023, which is significantly more compared to travellers in Singapore (3%) and South Korea (8%).
Purposeful Voyagers: From wellness retreats to holy sites and cricket matches, Indian travellers are looking to travel domestically with purpose and centre their travel experiences around specific activities. 55% of Indians embark on purpose-related travels within India for activities such as scuba diving, gold panning, yoga, and wellness retreats. 38% of them are likely to spend more on travel to catch live cricket matches, and 57% of Indians actively plan to visit holy sites in the next six months.
