A large number of Singapore leisure travellers prefer to remain off-the-grid enroute to their destinations, according to Expedia’s latest survey on “The Future of Travel”.

The global study, which dissects the anatomy of the Singapore digital traveller,reveals only 4% are interested in having on-board Wifi on the plane, while the majority prefers to remain disconnected enroute to their destination.

Another surprising fact is that one in five (21%) do not use their smartphons during their travel process, either for pre-travel planning or experience sharing during or after their trips.

Key findings (full details in slides below):

Leisure traveller

• Mobile consumption: Despite being one of the countries with the highest smartphone penetration rate in the world, only 79% of Singapore travellers use their smartphones when on a holiday.
• More clicks than swipes: They are also almost twice as likely to make their holiday reservations through a personal computer (63%)  tan with their smartphones or tablets (35%).
• Travel reviews: Singapore travellers are not only well connected, but are also well informed. Travel reviews are essential with 86% of respondents’ decisions being influenced by reviews.
• Few complaints: Two in three (64%) Singapore travellers have not posted a negative review in the past year.

Business traveller

• Converting business to leisure: More than half (57%) of the respondents said they have extended a business trip into a personal holiday in the past year.
• Food’s a priority: Business travellers rank food high on the priority list with room service (38%), high-end meals (29%), and hotel room upgrades (24%) making up their additional business expenditure.

“Internet travel booking has become increasingly popular with the convenience and ease of doing research online and making purchases with the click of the mouse or the tap of the screen,” said Vikram Malhi, Expedia’s general manager for South and Southeast Asia.

• The “Future of Travel” study was conducted across five continents in 24 countries between August 20 and September 12, 2013 among 8,535 employed adults on how they conduct business and leisure travel – their likes, dislikes, preferences and pet peeves.