 |
|
year-end destinations based on the latest findings from
the agoda Travel & Tech Study
|
Comparing agoda booking data for December 2015 against December 2016, Sapporo (Japan) has been
identified as the most popular up-and-coming destination of choice for Singaporean
and Malaysian travelers, while Taipei (Taiwan) has been identified as the top up-and-coming
destination for Filipinos.
Sapporo December bookings experienced a rapid growth of 161% and 145% in
Singapore and Malaysia respectively.
Famous for its high quality seafood, Sapporo is a foodie’s
paradise for the 73% of Malaysian and 71% of Singaporean millennial travelers who chose food
and dining as one of their preferred travel experiences in the agoda Travel
& Tech Study. Pair
this with an epic ski season, and it’s easy to see why this
winter wonderland is becoming more popular with Singaporeans and Malaysians
looking to escape the heat and hit the slopes.
Taipei features as one of the fastest-growing destinations across all
three countries. The most rapid growth was amongst Filipino travelers, with the
Taiwanese capital experiencing a massive 191% increase in agoda December bookings
between 2015 and 2016.
With 60% of millennial Filipino travellers identifying local culture
and lifestyle as a top travel experience in agoda’s Travel
& Tech Study, it’s no
wonder Taiwan, with its rich history and vibrant culture, is quickly gaining
traction with this curious bunch.
Being only a two-hour plane ride from the Philippines means airfares to
the modern metropolis of Taipei are affordable. Combine this with a decent
exchange rate and delicious street food, Filipinos have unsurprisingly begun
flocking to Taipei in droves. The Taiwanese government have taken note,
launching a strong tourism campaign and introducing visa-free entry for
Filipinos from Nov 2017.
Besides the local favourites, other up-and-coming destinations between
Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines for year-end holidays include Japan’s Tokyo,
Osaka and Kyoto, Taiwan’s Taichung, and the South Korean capital of Seoul.
Andrew Edwards, Global
Director for Brand and Communications at agoda, comments: “Travelers from
Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines want variety when they’re abroad, so there are a diverse group of destinations emerging
as year-end holiday hot spots.”
“Taiwan and Japan are two of
the most unique places in the world, boasting a hybrid of ultramodern and
vibrant capital cities paired with historic and scenic landscapes. The growth
of travel to these two countries has led to an increased focus at agoda on
catering to these new travel experiences amongst South East Asian travelers.”
Top 15 growing destinations for Singaporean travelers (Dec
2015 vs. Dec 2016)
Ranking
|
Country
|
Place
|
Growth (%)
|
1.
|
Japan
|
Sapporo
|
161
|
2.
|
United Kingdom
|
London
|
83
|
3.
|
South Korea
|
Jeju Island
|
75
|
4.
|
Myanmar
|
Yangon
|
75
|
5.
|
Taiwan
|
Yilan
|
73
|
6.
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
72
|
7.
|
Malaysia
|
Johor Bahru
|
68
|
8.
|
China
|
Guangzhou
|
61
|
9.
|
Japan
|
Tokyo
|
47
|
10.
|
China
|
Beijing
|
44
|
11.
|
Malaysia
|
Cameron Highlands
|
43
|
12.
|
Japan
|
Osaka
|
40
|
13.
|
Taiwan
|
Taichung
|
38
|
14.
|
Japan
|
Kyoto
|
35
|
15.
|
Taiwan
|
Taipei
|
31
|
Top 15 growing destinations for Malaysian travelers (Dec
2015 vs. Dec 2016)
Ranking
|
Country
|
Place
|
Growth (%)
|
1.
|
Japan
|
Sapporo
|
145
|
2.
|
Malaysia
|
Kinabalu
National Park
|
132
|
3.
|
Malaysia
|
Seremban
|
110
|
4.
|
Taiwan
|
Taichung
|
109
|
5.
|
Malaysia
|
Bintulu
|
102
|
6.
|
Malaysia
|
Sungai
Petani
|
91
|
7.
|
Malaysia
|
Miri
|
89
|
8.
|
Malaysia
|
Sandakan
|
82
|
9.
|
Malaysia
|
Batu
Pahat
|
80
|
10.
|
Taiwan
|
Nantou
|
78
|
11.
|
Malaysia
|
Tawau
|
74
|
12.
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala
Terengganu
|
72
|
13.
|
Malaysia
|
Kota
Bharu
|
68
|
14.
|
United
Kingdom
|
London
|
66
|
15
|
Taiwan
|
Taipei
|
61
|
Top 15 growing destinations for Filipino travelers (Dec
2015 vs. Dec 2016)
Ranking
|
Country
|
Place
|
Growth (%)
|
1.
|
Taiwan
|
Taipei
|
191
|
2.
|
South Korea
|
Seoul
|
96
|
3.
|
Philippines
|
Bohol
|
93
|
4.
|
Philippines
|
Angeles/Clark
|
66
|
5.
|
Philippines
|
Palawan
|
58
|
6.
|
Philippines
|
Iloilo
|
53
|
7.
|
Philippines
|
Subic (Zambales)
|
49
|
8.
|
Philippines
|
Cebu
|
49
|
9.
|
Philippines
|
Cagayan De Oro
|
47
|
10.
|
Philippines
|
Boracay Island
|
47
|
11.
|
Philippines
|
Batangas
|
44
|
12.
|
Philippines
|
Manila
|
43
|
13.
|
Japan
|
Osaka
|
42
|
14.
|
Japan
|
Tokyo
|
38
|
15.
|
Philippines
|
Tagaytay
|
34
|
About the research
The agoda Travel & Tech
study was carried out on more than 16,000 respondents across 15 countries
during the period of February to April 2017. Top growing destinations are based
on highest YOY bookings growth, comparing the period of December 2015 and December
2016.
About agoda
agoda (Nasdaq:PCLN) is one of the world’s
fastest-growing online travel booking platforms. agoda is committed to
delivering the best holidays, at the best prices. With a network of over 1.6
million accommodation properties, including apartments, villas, homes, and
hotels backed by over 15 million real traveler reviews, agoda helps other
travelers find and explore new experiences in new destinations. Established in
2005, the start-up quickly expanded in Asia and was acquired in 2007 by the
Priceline Group – the world’s largest seller of rooms online. agoda is
headquartered in Singapore, with offices in major cities across over 30
countries.