Market Specific Highlights from MasterCard's Index of Travel Report - Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam

Results from the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of Travel Report, predict steady growth in the number of outbound travelers across Asia Pacific for the second half of 2008 despite the inflation pinch felt all across the region. Below we feature the market specific highlights from the report for Australia, China and Hong Kong, we also feature the results from Indonesia, Japan and Korea, as well as Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines plus Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam on the final page.

Singapore Forecast on the Outbound Travel for Second Half of 2008

• 23% year-on-year growth
• 4 million outbound travelers forecasted for the next six months

Survey on Personal Travel:

• Key sources of information used by travelers in planning their trips were travel agents (56.60%), followed by the Internet (44.10%) and advertising by airlines/travel agencies/national tourism association (39.90%).

• Top concerns for travelers when traveling to a foreign destination were language barriers/communication problems (52.70%), security and safety issues (50.20%) and being cheated and running out of cash (42.00%).

• The main activities travelers engaged in when traveling were shopping (68.00%), entertainment (60.90%) and rest and relaxation (43.40%).

• Most preferred shopping items for travelers when abroad were apparel and personal effects (75.80%), followed by food items (48.80%) and luxury items/jewelry/branded goods (42.30%).

• The favorite personal travel destination for Singaporean travelers was Hong Kong (24.90%).

Survey on Business Travel:

• 25.50% of business travelers said that over the last 12 months, there was the need to travel more as compared to the previous period.

• Hong Kong (16.10%) was the most frequently visited destination, followed by India (14.90%) and Thailand (14.30%).

• Majority of business travelers (61.50%) used a travel arrangement company engaged by their company when making business travel arrangements.

• Singapore Airlines (41.00%) was the most preferred airline for business travel, followed by Cathay Pacific (10.60%) and Qantas (9.30%).

• International four-star hotels (33.50%) were the most preferred for business travel, followed by international five-star spa and resorts (29.80%) and international five-star/higher end hotels (24.80%).

Environment and Travel:

• 43.90% of respondents are not letting this affect their personal and business travel plans. 27.90% said they would make less personal and business trips because of environmental concerns and 28.20% said they would travel more.

Taiwan Forecast on the Outbound Travel for Second Half of 2008

• 1.70% year-on-year growth
• 4.6 million outbound travelers forecasted for the next six months

Survey on Personal Travel:

• Key sources of information used by travelers in planning their trips were the Internet (54.80%), followed by travel agents (40.50%) and word of mouth (30.20%).

• Top concerns for travelers when traveling to a foreign destination were security and safety issues (61.90%), losing one’s passport (34.90%) and falling sick or no proper medical facilities available (19.80%).

• The main activities travelers engaged in when traveling were general sightseeing and scenic spots (76.20%), rest and relaxation (50.00%) and entertainment and visiting historical sites/museums/art centers (35.70%).

• Most preferred shopping items for travelers when abroad were local souvenirs/antiques/arts and crafts (57.90%), followed by food items (52.40%) and apparel and personal effects (34.10%).

• The favorite personal travel destination for Taiwanese travelers was Japan (54.80%).

Survey on Business Travel:

• 17.60% of business travelers said that over the last 12 months, there was the need to travel more as compared to the previous period.

• China (60.80%) was the most frequently visited destination, followed by Japan (19.60%) and the US (15.70%).

• Majority of business travelers (54.90%) used their company’s in-house travel department when making business travel arrangements.

• EVA Air (35.30%) was the most preferred airline for business travel, followed by China Airlines (23.50%) and Cathay Pacific (21.60%).

• International four-star hotels (35.30%) were the most preferred for business travel, followed by serviced apartments (19.60%) and three-star/medium priced hotels (17.60%).

Environment and Travel:

• The majority of the respondents (86.00%) are not letting this affect their personal and business travel plans. 13.20% said they would make less personal and business trips because of environmental concerns and 0.70% said they would travel more.

Thailand Forecast on the Outbound Travel for Second Half of 2008

• 10.30% year-on-year growth
• 2.1 million outbound travelers forecasted for the next six months

Survey on Personal Travel:

• Key sources of information used by travelers in planning their trips were the Internet (46.40%), followed by travel agents (36.90%) and word of mouth (33.50%).

• Top concerns for travelers when traveling to a foreign destination were security and safety issues (85.20%), losing one’s passport (20.90%) and getting lost or losing one’s wallet/pocket book (18.30%).

• The main activities travelers engaged in when traveling were shopping (78.70%), followed by general sightseeing and scenic spots (71.90%) and rest and relaxation (64.30%).

• Most preferred shopping items for travelers when abroad were local souvenirs/antiques/arts and crafts (63.90%), apparel and personal effects (62.70%) and food items (31.60%).

• The favorite personal travel destination for Thai travelers was China (25.10%).

Survey on Business Travel:

• 12.30% of business travelers said that over the last 12 months, there was the need to travel more as compared to the previous period.

• China (24.50%) was the most frequently visited destination, followed by Singapore (17.20%) and Japan (12.90%).

• Majority of business travelers (43.60%) used their company’s in-house travel department when making business travel arrangements.

• Thai Airways (72.40%) was the most preferred airline for business travel, followed by Singapore Airlines (6.10%) and Cathay Pacific (4.90%).

• International four-star hotels (45.40%) were the most preferred for business travel, followed by international five-star/higher end hotels (22.70%) and three-star/medium priced hotels (16.00%).

Environment and Travel:

• The majority of the respondents (68.80%) are not letting this affect their personal and business travel plans. 28.30% said they would make less personal and business trips because of environmental concerns and 3.00% said they would travel more.

Vietnam - No Forecast being made for Vietnam

Survey on Personal Travel:

• Key sources of information used by travelers in planning their trips were word of mouth (57.60%), followed by travel agents (45.50%) and the Internet (37.90%).

• Top concerns for travelers when traveling to a foreign destination were security and safety issues (62.10%), language barriers/communication problems (54.50%) and losing one’s passport (51.50%).

• The main activities travelers engaged in when traveling were general sightseeing and scenic spots (78.80%), followed by shopping (74.20%) and entertainment (72.70%).

• Most preferred shopping items for travelers when abroad were apparel and personal effects (80.30%), local souvenirs/antiques/arts and crafts (72.70%) and electronic and audio visual products (54.50%).

• The favorite personal travel destination for Vietnamese travelers was China (54.50%).

Survey on Business Travel:

• 49.00% of business travelers said that over the last 12 months, there was the need to travel more as compared to the previous period.

• Thailand (55.10%) was the most frequently visited destination, followed by China (42.90%) and Singapore (38.80%).

• Majority of business travelers (69.40%) used their company’s in-house travel department when making business travel arrangements.

• Vietnam Air (49.00%) was the most preferred airline for business travel, followed by Thai Airways (10.20%) and EVA Air and Cathay Pacific (8.20%).

• Three-star/medium priced hotels (53.10%) were the most preferred for business travel, followed by international four-star hotels (26.50%) and international five-star spa and resorts (8.20%).

Environment and Travel:

• The majority of the respondents (83.00%) are not letting this affect their personal and business travel plans. 4.00% said they would make less personal and business trips because of environmental concerns and 13.00% said they would travel more.

Results from the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of Travel Report. We feature the market specific highlights from the report for Australia, China and Hong Kong, and also from Indonesia, Japan and Korea, as well as Malaysia, New Zealand and the Philippines and lastly but not least Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam on the final page.

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