TripAdvisor® today announced the results of the TripBarometer1 study, the world’s largest accommodation and traveller survey, highlighting key travel trends for 2016. Conducted on behalf of TripAdvisor by independent research firm Ipsos, the TripBarometer study is the analysis of more than 44,000 survey responses from travellers and the hotel sector worldwide. The TripBarometer ‘2016 Travel Trends’ report presents a snapshot of the travel landscape for 2016, revealing country-level, regional and global travel trends.
Asian Traveller Key findings:
- 76% plan to try something new in 2016 – millennials are even more adventurous with 82% who say they will try something new next year
- One in three plan to increase their travel budgets in 2016, with 52% say they will spend more because they feel that they and their family deserve it
- One third won’t leave home without bringing an extra suitcase
- One in five plan to go on a cruise in 2016
- One in four have visited a destination because they saw it in a TV show
“For the coming year, travellers appear eager to expand their horizons with the majority saying they will be trying something new in 2016,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer, TripAdvisor. “This year’s TripBarometer reveals key trends that will shape the travel landscape in 2016, from travellers’ sources of inspiration when choosing which destinations to visit, to what they won’t leave home without.”
2016: the year of the cruise, adventure and solo travel
The majority of Asian travellers (76%) plan to try something new in 2016 – above the global average of 69% – with the top three activities being solo travel (25%), going on a cruise (21%) and adventure travel (20%). Taking the lead as the most likely in Asia to embark on solo travel next year are Indonesian (34%), Chinese (30%), and Thai (29%) travellers.
Meanwhile when it comes to adventure travel, the biggest thrill-seekers in Asia next year are Indonesian (30%), Indian (29%) and Thai (29%) travellers. Cruises are also trending as a top activity, with Indian (33%), Malaysian (29%), and Chinese (26%) travellers planning on taking to the sea for the first time.
Looking at travel trends by generations, 82% of Asian millennials are planning to try something new in 2016 with Thailand (92%), Indonesia (91%) and Malaysia (87%) travellers leading the way.
Sense of merit and perceived health benefits drive increase in travel budgets for 2016
One in three Asian travellers (35%) plan to spend more on their trips in 2016 – the number one reason being that they feel that they and their family deserve it (52% cited this reason). 38% are planning more long (more than 5 days) trips next year and 37% are planning to go somewhere on their wish-list.
Australians are set to spend the most globally in 2016 with an average travel budget of US$10,900, followed by the Swiss (US$10,100) and the Americans (US$8,400). Asian travellers are more conservative in comparison, with Japan ranking the highest with an average travel budget of US$5,600, followed by China (US$3,600), India (US$3,100), Thailand (US$2,200), Malaysia (US$2,100) and Indonesia (US$1,400).
“TV Tourism” another influential driver for Asian travel
TV tourism is on the rise for Asian travellers, with one in four (25%) having visited a destination because they saw it on television. In fact, the top three markets inspired by TV are Indonesia (34%), Japan (33%) and Thailand (30%). Movie tourism is another significant driver for Asian travellers with 15% say that they had been motivated to visit somewhere by a film they had seen.
Smartphone more of an essential than cameras and toiletries
81% of Asian travellers won’t leave home without their smartphone, superseding cameras (59%) and toiletries (58%). They are also most likely to have wearable technology, with Indonesia taking the lead globally at 16%, followed closely by China (12%) and India (11%). This is significantly higher than their American and European counterparts with only 5% and 4% respectively citing their wearable technology as a travel essential.
An extra suitcase is also high on the packing list for Asian travellers, with over one third (36%) needing this as a travel essential. Indonesians (44%), Malaysians (41%), and Chinese (41%) travellers were amongst the top surveyed who say they must have this when they travel.
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