Europe remains the most aspirational holiday spot among longhaul destinations for South-east Asian holidaymakers, according to the latest research from the European Travel Commission (ETC).
The South-East Asian Outbound Travel Market report, which aims to provide a thorough analysis investigating the potential of this market for European tourism, is based on primary research among potential visitors to Europe, with a focus on four key markets, namely, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
The research found that first-time travellers who visit multiple destinations on their trip prioritise countries that are perceived to be more “prestigious”, such as France, Italy and Germany. The ease of borderless travel between countries, backed by a well-developed tourism infrastructure, adds to Europe’s appeal as a continent with “unity in diversity”.
Just as European destinations are united in diversity, so too are the tourism interests amongst the four markets. Specific exploration of passion-related or interest-based travel themes among South-east Asian travellers establishes Europe’s competitive advantage on slow adventure, culture and history, nature, city life and local gastronomy – the top five travel themes considered as the “main reason for travel”.
The report found that longhaul travellers from South-east Asia are mainly young couples and families. But evidence points to the rise of solo travellers, especially financially independent working women, in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. Group travel with friends and/or family also remains popular in this market, with travel parties usually consisting of two to four people. This trend is larger in Malaysia and Indonesia, where multigenerational travel is more common than in Singapore and Thailand.
As for age and frequency of travel, the travelling class tends to be between 21 to 54 years old, with evidence suggesting that South-east Asians undertake an average of two to three holidays overseas, with one longhaul trip typically lasting 10 to 21 days.
In terms of accommodation preferences, family travellers prefer four-star hotels across all four key markets, with a larger proportion of Singaporeans opting for five-star hotels, and some cost-conscious Malaysian and Thai travellers choosing to stay in budget accommodation. When deciding where to stay, OTAs like Expedia, booking.com and Agoda are increasingly being used.
South-east Asian travellers are mostly city enthusiasts, therefore travel itineraries that incorporate these interests are expected to appeal to both first-time and repeat visitors to Europe.
For Singaporeans, destination choices vary significantly as they are more likely to tick one or more destinations off their bucket list each time they travel overseas, with traditional holiday destinations such as the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland proving to be the most popular.
In Malaysia, preferences have undergone noticeable change over the years, with Central/Eastern destinations enjoying more travellers from this market in recent years, while demand for Turkey and the Balkans is also rising, due to their Muslim-friendly environment.
For Indonesians, the evergreen destinations in Europe are the UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands and Turkey, while in Thailand, Europe commands the largest share of longhaul travel, with the traditional Western European destinations most popular.
Europe is perceived as an expensive holiday destination which appears to be the main barrier to travel to the continent for South-East Asian travellers. Limited air connectivity, especially from Malaysia and Indonesia, and the need to apply for a Schengen visa for Indonesia and Thailand citizens are mentioned as some of the key deterrents for travel to Europe from these markets.
