Slow Travel and Micro Escapes: Trends to watch out for in 2020

Skyscanner has published its APAC Travel Trends Report for 2020. today. Following research into the booking preferences of Asia-Pacific (APAC) travellers, the report has revealed that Slow Travel and Micro Escapes are becoming ever more popular options in the region.

Key Highlights:

Taking it slowly

Slow Travel is coming up tops in 2020. Registering a 20%increase from the previous year, Slow Travel came in as the Top Travel Trend for 2020 with almost 19% of Singaporeans opting to travel slower in the coming year.

With the World Health Organisation officially recognising burnout as an occupational phenomenon in 2019, Asian travellers, Singaporeans in particular, seem to be flocking to idyllic locations with a meandering pace of life over classic holiday locales as a means of escape from their busy lives.

Exotic destinations for Slow Travel include Budapest (Hungary), Takamatsu (Japan), Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Saipan (the Northern Mariana Islands).

Getting away from it all

With Singaporeans ranked among the most stressed at work globally in 2019^[2], it is no wonder why they are also chasing micro escapes. As highlighted in the report, one out of five Singaporeans went on a micro escapes trip in 2019. Described as short holidays with an average length of stay ranging from three to seven days, Micro Escapes serve as temporary breathers for Singaporeans throughout the year without having to sacrifice too much family time or work commitments.

Due to the short length of stay, Asia remains a key region for Singaporeans looking for a break, with Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Seoul (Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan) ranking as the top five most popular travel destinations in 2019.

New discoveries

Getaway destinations closer to home burgeoned in popularity, with over 75% of emerging destinations for travellers located in the APAC region, and Vietnam driving the strongest growth.

APAC travellers are also choosing to head off-the-beaten-track, displaying a growing interest in emerging destinations including Trivandrum in India. Famed as a cultural hub, the capital city of Kerala saw year-on-year growth in bookings of 61%. Another off-the-radar destination, Kunming (Yunnan), which draws travellers for its snow-capped mountains, rice terraces and lakes, registered a year-on-year growth of 42% in bookings.

Small luxuries 

Singaporeans may be taking shorter trips, but more are indulging in little luxuries for maximised comfort. We see travellers spending where it counts, with 2019 seeing an increase in premium economy flights (50%) and business class bookings (18%). A driving factor may be an overall decrease in both premium economy and business class fares by 9% and 5%, respectively.

Bargain hunters on the lookout for additional savings can also avoid paying a premium on return Economy flights with proper trip planning, potentially making significant savings of up to 28% by avoiding popular days of departure. In addition, Best-Value Destinations are great alternatives to popular but pricier destinations.

Kolkata (India), Fukuoka (Japan) and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) all displayed price drops of 19%, 13% and 20%, and these destinations are more affordable than their popular counterparts New Delhi, Tokyo or Kuala Lumpur.