Preferences for off-the-beaten-track destinations and experience continue to reign among the well-travelled. Skyscanner’s latest Travel in Focus report found that a majority of budget-conscious (not to be mistaken as low-budget folks) travellers in South Korea are willing to allocate a larger budget, or adjust their itinerary, for obscure travel attractions and destination specific experiences, while those in India are placing their money on itineraries that allow them to delve deep into a single destination.
On the sparkly end of the spectrum, high-net-worth Chinese are prioritising new and unusual experiences, and have become a lot more adventurous when it comes to holiday options. ILTM Asia Pacific 2023’s Decoding the Luxury Travellers Mindset: Spotlight China study, produced in collaboration with affluent research specialist Altiant, reported that 80 per cent of respondents prefer new destinations and experiences while 69 per cent prefer holidays where they explore the local area.
These trends bode especially well for operators of expeditions and adventure experiences, which are not restricted to just adrenaline-filled activities but also include soul-stirring immersions into the culture, landscape and habitat of rarely explored destinations.
Expedition specialists like Quark Expeditions and White Desert have in recent months woken up to the shiny potential of the Asia-Pacific market, while others like Silversea Cruises’ expedition arm and New Zealand’s privately-owned aviation business GCH Aviation are expanding their adventure menu. The latter is even reaching deeper into the high-spending corporate incentive and teambuilding segments, crafting programmes to suit C-suite personnel keen on a fun break between strategy meetings.
This growing affection for expeditions and adventures can benefit Asia-Pacific as a destination too, considering the vast diversity of our region’s geography, culture and history.
World of Frozen, the world’s first and largest Frozen themed land, will open at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on November 20.
Inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ films, Frozen and Frozen 2, World of Frozen will transport guests to the cinematic and living land, Arendelle, where captivating stories, beloved characters, culture, stunning landscapes, and enchanting music can be found.
Cutting-edge technology will also be harnessed to present various attractions and experiences like Summer Snow Day, Frozen Ever After and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs.
Michael Moriarty, managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, said: the new World of Frozen “is an integral part of the park’s latest expansion and growth”, and he expects the new draw to attract “even more guests from around the world”.
Frozen fans can expect to find a number of iconic scenes at World of Frozen, such as the North Mountain, with its peak being the highest point in Arendelle at the resort; the Ice Palace where Elsa unleashes her icy powers freely for the first time; Arendelle Castle, home of the royal family; and many more.
Nordic history and culture will permeate the new attraction, including its themed dining venues Golden Crocus Inn and Bayside Wharf where delicacies are inspired by traditional Nordic dishes. Visitors can pick up Frozen souvenirs at Tick Tock Toys & Collectibles and Traveling Traders.
Klook has been appointed as the designated booking platform for World for Frozen experiences and products in the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. Guests who book through Klook Travel will have the exclusive opportunity to be among the first to explore World of Frozen with a special hotel package on November 4, 2023 before its official gate opens on November 20. In addition, guests can also purchase the One-Day Ticket with Early Park Entry Pass.