In the news this week: Habits of Malaysian online shoppers, international tourists up for H1 2014, specialist training for Etihad Airways’ trainee butlers
Habits of Malaysian online shoppers unveiled
Social shopping gaining popularity among Malaysians
Most Malaysians are shopaholics, and shopping is a national pastime for them. In fact, the country has three major shopping seasons every year, each of which lasts three month!
With the advent of the digital age, however, the shopping habits of Malaysians have evolved with many now opting to shop online, though visiting malls remains a favourite pastime.
We reveal three interesting online shopping habits of Malaysians:
1. More shopping online with mobile phones
42% of Malaysians have bought something with their smartphones, according to eCommerceMILO infosite, with more showing inclination to shop with their mobile devices.
2. Google as they shop
A study by Google on the purchase journey of Malaysians showed that 77% use their smartphones for research while trying to make a purchase decision, as opposed to 41% prior to shopping and 16% right before the purchase. This applies to both online shoppers and those at malls.
The Nielsen Global Survey of E-Commerce 2014 reveals that shoppers who search for a product online, usually end up purchasing online as well,
3. Getting more social in shopping online
Social shopping is gaining popularity among Malaysians as Japanese e-commerce company, Rakuten, reveals in its 2014 E-Commerce Index. About 66.5% of people it polled said that they read online reviews or social media recommendations before they commit to a purchase.
These trends, coupled with the high mobile phone penetration of 140% and household broadband penetration rate of over 67% in Malaysia, will help drive the country’s e-commerce industry. There are also over 25.3 million Internet users representing 89% of the country’s population.
4.6% growth in International tourist arrivals for H1 2014
Growth in arrivals to major destinations worldwide
Destinations worldwide received some 517 million international tourists between January and June 2014, 22 million more than in the same period of 2013, representing a 4.6% increase.
The data in the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows growth was strongest in the Americas (+6%) followed by Asia and the Pacific and Europe (both at +5%).
South Asia and Northern Europe (both +8%) were the best performers, together with North-East Asia and Southern Mediterranean Europe (both +7%).
The results are also in line with the UNWTO forecast issued at the beginning of 2014. For the full year 2014, international tourist arrivals are expected to increase by 4% to 4.5% worldwide, above the organisations’s long-term forecast of 3.8% per year for the period 2010 to 2020.
Detailed results:
- The Americas (+6%): North America, Mexico, Central and South America all increased by 6%, and the Caribbean by 5%. In South America (+6%), the hosting of the FIFA Football World Cup in Brazil contributed to the positive results in the sub-region – receipts from international tourism in Brazil grew by 10% in the first seven months of the year with a 60% increase in June and July.
- Asia and the Pacific (+5%): The region consolidated the trend of recent years, with South Asia (+8%) and North East Asia (+7%) in the lead and major destinations such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia posting double digit growth rates. The region has been benefiting from ongoing economic growth, continuous investment in infrastructure and visa facilitation measures.
- Europe (+5%): The most visited region in the world continued the strong pace of growth of 2013, driven so far this year by Northern Europe (+8%) and Southern Mediterranean Europe (+7%). These results reflect improved consumer confidence in Europe and the rebound of important traditional European source markets.
- Middle East: International tourist arrivals down by 4%, although this figure should be taken with caution as it is based on limited available data for the region.
- Africa: International tourist numbers grew by 3% as the recovery consolidated in North Africa (+4%). The current Ebola virus disease outbreak might affect tourism to the region due to misperceptions about the transmission of the virus.
Etihad Airways readies its inflight butlers for service at The Residence
Etihad Airways’ butlers in training. / Image credit: Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has sent its first group of inflight butler trainees for specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London in preparation to service guests of the The Residence by Etihad, the airline’s revolutionary three-room cabin.
The airline’s inaugural Airbus A380 flight to London Heathrow on December 27 will feature The Residence. It features a living room, private shower-room and double bedroom, and is being introduced on Etihad Airways’ fleet of 10 Airbus A380. The first of these aircraft is due for delivery in December this year.’
The airline said the 13 men and women, all Inflight chefs or food & beverage managers, were carefully chosen to fulfil the coveted role of butler, which combines the skills of both concierge and maître d’hôtel at The Residence by Etihad.
The second group of butler trainees is scheduled to start their Savoy Butler Academy training in early 2015.
• Featured image (Malaysian shopping) credit: xtock/Shutterstock
