Singaporeans take more trips per year but spend less per trip than the regional average

Visa study shows Singapore travellers take more trips than regional counterparts but spend less per trip than regional average.

Singapore travellers continue to lead the Asia Pacific region in international travel, averaging slightly more than four leisure trips over the last two years, compared to the Asia Pacific average of 2.7, and the global average of 2.5, according to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2017 (“Study”). Singapore is the leader in international travel for leisure and business, with Singaporeans taking almost seven international trips over the last two years. 

In addition, Singaporeans plan to travel the most, with an average of 6.58 international trips for leisure and business followed by China (6.21), Thailand (5.98) and India (5.64).  

“Singaporeans are avid travellers whether it’s for business or pleasure. Based on VisaNet data, travel made up 10  per cent of total spend by Singapore Visa cardholders in 2017. Singaporeans are also spending more when they’re abroad with international spending up more than 10 per cent as compared to 2016,” said Kunal Chatterjee, Visa Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei. 

Although Singapore travellers lead in terms of number of trips, they are spending fewer nights away while on holiday (average of six nights per trip) compared to regional (seven nights) and global (eight nights) travellers. They also stick closer to home (average of five hours journey time to their destination), compared with the Asia Pacific average of six hours and global average of seven hours.

In terms of preferred travel destinations, Malaysia remains the most popular, with almost half of respondents (47 per cent) having visited the neighbouring country during the past two years, followed by Japan (37 per cent) and Thailand (36 per cent). 

Spending and budgeting while on holiday 

Singapore travellers are spending less (a median spend of US$1,462 per trip) compared to the regional (US$1,677), and global numbers (US$1,793). However, Singaporeans plan to increase their spend overseas by 55 per cent compared to other travellers in Asia Pacific (+46 per cent) and global (+36 per cent).

More than one third (43 per cent) of Singapore travellers cite budget considerations as the main reason for choosing their next travel destination, followed by value for money and number of days available to make the trip (40 per cent each). Compared to the Asia Pacific regional average, Singapore travellers are also stricter with their travel budgets, with 34 per cent sticking strictly to their travel budgets, compared to Asia Pacific counterparts (29 per cent) and global travellers (32 per cent). 

Header photo from Shutterstock, woman on boat