According to Trip.com data, inbound travel demand to Singapore also remains strong, with China, Malaysia and Indonesia as the leading source markets for tourists
Lunar New Year is shaping up be an increasingly important season for travel. According to Trip.com data, Singaporeans are flocking to nearby destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Tokyo for the coming holiday, reflecting robust demand for outbound travel during the festive season. Inbound travel demand during the Lunar New Year period also remains strong, with China, Malaysia and Indonesia as the top source markets for visiting tourists.
“This Lunar New Year is truly igniting the spirit of reunion and discovery. We’re seeing more Singapore families embracing the opportunity to travel together, using the long holiday and attractive exchange rates to create cherished memories in new places abroad. This strong travel demand demonstrates the transformation of how we celebrate the festive season, and highlights that travelling to reconnect and explore is now an essential part of the Lunar New Year celebrations for many,” said Edmund Ong, General Manager, Trip.com Singapore.
Singaporeans flock to their usual haunts, Chinese cities rise in popularity
Singapore travellers continue to favour nearby cities for their Lunar New Year getaways, with Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Tokyo, Penang and Taipei ranking as the top five outbound destinations (Table 1). While familiar locations remain popular, there is also a growing propensity among Singaporeans to explore cities in Mainland China. In particular, travel bookings to Guangzhou and Shanghai saw the largest growth, rising by nearly 200% yoy on Trip.com (Table 2).
Singaporeans booking earlier, travelling further
Trip.com data indicates that Singaporeans are planning earlier and booking further ahead for their Lunar New Year travels. This year, 53% of the bookings were made more than 60 days before the travel date, a three-percentage point increase from the previous year (Table 3). Moreover, there is a noticeable shift toward longer journeys, with 51% of flights booked for mid to long-haul destinations — an increase from 41% last year (Table 4).
Singapore sees strong growth with inbound travel
Singapore is also experiencing strong demand for inbound tourism. For the coming Lunar New Year holiday, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan emerged as the leading source markets for inbound visitors (Table 5). In addition to these major markets, Singapore is witnessing substantial growth in tourist arrivals from the United States, Myanmar, Japan, Laos and Italy (Table 6), highlighting the city’s wide-ranging appeal to a diverse range of international travellers.
Examining the preferences of visiting travellers, Universal Studios Singapore stands out as the most frequently booked attraction. Other popular attractions for visitors include Night Safari, Singapore DUCKtours, Jewel Changi Airport and Skyline Luge Singapore, indicating that the diverse range of experiences available in the city helps to boost the city’s appeal cater to travellers.
