HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan 6 — Almost four in five travellers in Asia are eager to travel internationally in 2023 as concerns over inflation and rising costs are unlikely to stop them from packing their bags, reported a new study conducted by Klook in November 2022.
The study which was conducted in nine markets, including Vietnam, showed an overwhelming majority, about 81 per cent, are eager to travel internationally in the new year, with one-third planning to take at least two to four trips, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.
In Vietnam, even though 75 per cent are worried about travel given economic uncertainties, 79 per cent plan to have more than one international trip in 2023, and 45 per cent plan to stay abroad for 10 days or more.
According to the study, 63 per cent of travellers in Asia are worried about the increasing cost associated with travel. However, the desire to travel appears to be even stronger, with more than 80 per cent planning to spend the same or more on travel than in 2022, VNA reported.
Among the respondents, travellers from Malaysia, Singapore and Japan ranked the highest for cost as a concern. However, Vietnamese are among the most excited to travel despite their worries, with 51 per cent intending to spend more on travel in 2023.
Beyond the rising cost of travel, concerns around Covid-19 still remain, with 39 per cent worried about catching the virus while on holiday.
Despite feeling anxious about travel in the face of a looming global recession, travellers in Asia have not given up on their travel plans yet. It reported that 35 per cent will opt for a closer destination or travel during off-peak seasons, while 34 per cent are willing to cut back on other expenses in order to save more for travel.
“In 2022, Asian travellers, particularly Vietnamese travellers, have reacted and adapted positively to travel changes. We have seen waves of Vietnamese travelling outbound as soon as travel restrictions were lifted, giving rise to a strong recovery of outbound travel since March 2022. Among the top three destinations visited from Vietnam, there were months when demand for Singapore, South Korea and Thailand surpassed pre-COVID levels,” said Michello Ho, general manager of Klook in Vietnam.
“For the year 2023 and beyond, we have ambitious growth plans for Vietnam. As revealed in our data and survey, Vietnamese people are looking forward to travelling in 2023. They plan to go abroad more. They expect to spend more. And we are here to serve all of their current and new travel needs, both domestic and outbound levels,” Ho said.
VNA reported that in Asia, a common thread of discovery and family-centric activities take centre stage. Usual attractions such as museums, theme parks, as well as zoos and animal parks lead the way for top experiences in Asia.
Additionally, there has also been strong demand for car rentals and outdoor experiences such as walking tours and trekking — suggesting that travellers are exploring areas beyond the city.
— Bernama
