Back after two-year hiatus, Singapore travel fair sees younger crowd, travellers opting for more ‘exotic’ destinations
Despite rising costs, travelers are now more keen on one-way travel packages. — Picture of the Day
Sunday, August 14, 2022 9:10 AM MYT
SINGAPORE, August 14 – After a two-year hiatus, the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas) Fair was held at the Singapore Expo on Friday (August 12) to welcome crowds hungry for a ‘revenge travel’.
Travel agents at Changi Convention and Exhibition venues said that although they observed some changes in travel preferences, attendance was better than expected. For example, they see a trend of young people turning to travel agencies and signing up for tours.
Mr Jeremiah Wong, Senior Marketing Communications Manager at Chan Brothers Travel, said: “Customers who are used to travelling ‘free and easy’ also come to book with us, especially those travelling with their parents.”
Travel Corporation marketing manager Ms Michell Devina Ngan said her company had also received registrations from young couples, possibly because of the need to easily navigate travel restrictions. Mr Sean Patrick, 20, said it was his first time at a travel fair. He usually travels freely. “I’m planning a trip for my parents,” he said. Despite rising costs, travelers are now more keen on one-way travel packages.
Retired businessman Steven Oh, 61, who recently returned from Thailand, said he planned to take a group tour to Australia or New Zealand around the end of the year.
After browsing through several packages at the Natas show, he wasn’t too concerned about the rising cost of package tours, which the tour operator said was largely due to a 20% rise in the cost of air travel.
“I feel like it’s a good time to revisit the country and have fun…even at a higher price, I’d rather have a travel agency do everything for me and my wife so we can focus on relaxing,” Mr Ou said. added.
He was one of several clients interviewed by TODAY who expressed a desire to travel despite the higher fees.
Visitors at the Singapore Expo Hall 5 in Changi on August 12, 2022 are hosting Natas Expo. – Picture of the day
Tan Whye Ngee, a 60-year-old private rental car driver who booked a trip to Europe during the show, said: “I believe the price is worth it and I don’t want to waste my time.” An ex who just wanted to be known as Ms Xu, 62 Reporters say she doesn’t want to delay the trip any more. “You can go, you can see, you have to go,” she quipped. She said she was looking for a trip to Hokkaido, Japan, preferring a less crowded place because of Covid-19 concerns. Currently, mainland China and Taiwan are closed to consumer leisure travel. Hong Kong imposes mandatory hotel quarantine for overseas arrivals, while South Korea recently introduced polymerase chain reaction testing for travelers entering the country.
Others at the Natas show wanted more travel options, especially to Southeast Asian countries.
Sarmiah Safrinah, a 49-year-old kindergarten teacher who plans to travel in December, said she didn’t see much in Indonesia from Thailand, Vietnam and Bali, adding that the publicity for destinations such as South Korea and Japan was “more aggressive.”
Retired aircraft engineer Vincent Toh, 56, also said the options were “limited and uninteresting” and wanted more freedom and ease of travel.
People inquire and sign up for tours at the Natas Travel Show on August 12, 2022. – today’s picture
Traveler needs have changed, travel agencies say
A total of 21 travel agencies participated in this exhibition, which will last until Sunday.
Most of the agencies that spoke to TODAY said turnout and the number of deals completed were at or above expectations.
Ms Kelly Toh, Head of Marketing at Commonwealth Travel Services, pointed to the post-pandemic preference for exotic and single-destination travel.
“Travelers are looking for relatively unusual places like Morocco and Turkey compared to other more traditional destinations,” she said.
People view tourist attractions in Europe at the Natas expo on August 12, 2022. – Picture of the day
Mr Zane Neo, LGE Travel’s public relations coordinator, noticed that many people showed up at the show knowing exactly where they wanted to go, with travel arrangements confirmed in “as fast as five minutes”. While travel agencies are often a sunset industry, Mr Neo said his company tried to meet customers’ needs by “doing custom tours with more flexibility in itineraries to suit their preferred destinations”.
A search of YouGov Global Travel Profiles on March 11 this year showed that 46% of Singapore residents plan to take a holiday, business trip or other overseas trip in the next 12 months, compared to 41% last year. The proportion of residents who did not plan to travel during this period was 40%, compared to 42% in 2021. – today
