This study by Milieu Insight would be useful and informative as countries start to reopen their country, welcoming back international visitors. While they also need time to ramp up their travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation industries back to pre-pandemic level, travel insights would come in handy for inbound travel and tourism organisers/partners in terms of their destination marketing, publicity and awareness campaigns. 

From this study, respondents from the Philippines and Indonesia have shown the highest willingness for domestic travel. Movement restrictions across Asia have been gradually lifted, the travel and tourism industries are finally opening up. There are over 80% of domestic travelers in Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, that have indicated a likelihood to engage with travel agent services for their domestic travel and vacation plans.

Travelers from the Philippines remain most concerned with the pandemic 

An interesting point – travelers from Indonesia (89%), Vietnam (83%) and Thailand (79%) have expressed the least concern for themselves when it comes to domestic travel. The travelers willingness to travel is also reflected in the domestic travel policies of those countries as there are minimum restrictions involved in their inter-state/inter-provincial travels. In the month of February 2022, Vietnam had a total of 9.6 million domestic travellers.  

Another key and interesting point highlighted – Travelers is more widely accepted by travelers is due to the fear of a pandemic resurgence as they do not wish to be unwittingly stranded from home and work. This is totally understandable as countries can go into lockdown mode or revert back to its COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and measures that would affect traveling between countries.

On the other hand, 40% of respondents from the Philippines remain highly concerned for their safety even towards domestic travel. For the Philippines, domestic travel is still only limited to select designations and with restrictions (as of 11th May 2022). 

Travel habits and preferences of domestic travelers in SEA

What are the travel habits and preferences of domestic travelers in SEA for this upcoming summer vacation? 

Most travelers across all five countries are looking to unwind and reconnect with their family after 2 years of pandemic isolation (Philippines 83%, Indonesia 82%, Vietnam 78%, Malaysia 81%, Thailand 79%).

Recently, in April 2022, Indonesia saw mudik mass migration for Idul Fitri (end of Ramadan), where 31% of the population was estimated by the Indonesian Transport Ministry to travel back to their hometowns and spend time with their extended family.  

For the domestic travelers across all five countries, hotels remain their top choice. Half of travelers in Vietnam show preference for Resorts, and more than half from Thailand also prefer Pool Villas (54%)

Where are the destinations that the domestic travelers would like to visit? Those destinations that are family friendly should look to receive high popularities this summer, especially places that are inclusive towards multi-generational groups. Some of these activities could be a road trip to a national park or other tourist spots in a neighbouring state, or visiting a beach resort that provides entertainment for all ages, or even taking time off to unwind from the big city hustle and bustle in a tranquil village. 

Travel agencies sought after even for domestic travels

Do travel agencies still have a place in a post pandemic world? The study revealed insights that travel agencies are still sought after even for domestic travels. SEA travelers will still engage with a travel agency to plan for their domestic travel and vacation plans, despite only traveling within their home countries. 

Especially those from Indonesia (85%), the Philippines (82%), and Vietnam (83%). Engaging with a travel agent may ensure a less stressful trip, creating more time and leisure for travellers to enjoy their first post-pandemic vacation with their loved ones. 

Methodology

Based on Milieu Insight surveys with N=1000 respondents each from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, conducted in April 2022. 

Personal Thoughts and Views

This is part of my ongoing “Special Theme Q2 2022 – Fully Restarting Tourism” series, covering both outbound and inbound travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation industries worldwide. Milieu Insight study provides great insights into domestic tourism on Southeast Asia countries, helping countries to plan their marketing, publicity and awareness campaigns. This Milieu Insight study might be useful for travel agencies and travelers that are planning to visit those Southeast Asia countries.

As travel restrictions are gradually lifted across the world, we should be witnessing a (truly and finally) fully restarting tourism movement in Q2-Q3/Q4 2022. The travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries around the world would need time to ramp up, getting back to speed, from getting skilled and experienced staff back, to re-training and getting back to pre-pandemic levels again. 

The route ahead for the world travel and tourism industries is still bumpy with incoming headwinds, we are still some time away from getting back to a more normalised period like pre-pandemic days. However, the world travel and tourism industries are definitely working hard to get themselves back up and running again. We can definitely see light at the end of the tunnel.

* Information and pictures courtesy of Milieu Insight and Ellerton & Co. *

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I came across World Tourism Organisation recent article dated 2nd June 2021, “Tourist Numbers Down 83% but Confidence Slowly Rising”. During this difficult period for everyone in the world, it’s comforting to read this news, not just for the travel and tourism industries, it’s also for everyone of us feeling the travel wanderlust. We are still some time away from the reopening of the world travel and tourism and we would get there in time to come.

Travel bubbles

A number of travel bubbles have been mentioned in the local/regional press, it’s a start to get international leisure travel and tourism back on their feet again. I am unable to keep track of the travel bubbles arrangements around different regions of the world, therefore, I always keep in touch with fellow travelers from different regions and I would check with them.

Meanwhile, I am keep a close watch on the travel bubbles in Southeast Asia and Greater Asia, keeping my fingers crossed on their developments and changes. 

When can we travel overseas again?

Q4 2021? 

My personal humble opinion is, Q4 2021 is possible, given the rate and percentage of  the Singapore population that have two doses of vaccination. I am also not keeping my expectations and hopes too high, keeping it really low or even zero. 

Even though we may be vaccinated and ready for travel, the countries that we want to visit may not be ready to receive overseas visitors. Nobody wants to visit another country for leisure holidays and they have to be quarantined before they can travel around the country. Vice versa, we don’t wish to be quarantined when we return back home to our home country. 

Year 2022?

Setting the target to year 2022 is a more prudent, safer and sensible option for the countries to reopen their travel and tourism industries to welcome international visitors. 

What’s next? Mass tourism? Scheduled tours? Independent travel?

I am more of an independent traveler or small group (3-4 pax) travel type of traveler, not a fan of scheduled tour groups. Based on the current travel and tourism situation, as well as the restrictions imposed, I don’t think we would get back to the mass tourism days that fast, we might not be able to do independent travel, small group DIY travel package may still be possible with a licensed travel agency or travel guide in the destination country. 

Until the world reaches a stage whereby COVID-19 is endemic and becomes part of our everyday life, like the common flu, scheduled tour groups might be the traveling restrictions to adhere to for a period of time as the world travel and tourism industries safely open up again. 

Which countries would I like to visit?

My travel bucket list is getting more lengthy, I have a huge travel wanderlust, I would really love to travel around the world again. Since I am unable to travel around the world, my priority shortlist would be: 

Japan 

Kansai region – Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Wakayama and Mie

Chubu region – Shizuoka, Gifu, Nagano, 

Hokkaido – to continue my personal travel photography project on Hokkaido 

Malaysia – Visit relatives and friends in Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah in East Malaysia

Africa – for wildlife safari and trekking 

Australia – visiting friends in SA, QLD

Other countries in my shortlist includes, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Finland/Norway, Austria/Switzerland and many more. 

I can only do much travel even in a post COVID-19 era, nevertheless, I still hope to travel to as many different countries all over the world. 

Collaborations with travel agencies, tourism bureaus with digital/social media marketing, content creation, visual storytelling and travel photography

Since I got onboard the Travel Talk on Twitter (TTOT) chat community as a co-host with Melvin and Sonja, I expanded my travel networks with many people from different parts of the world. The TTOT chat community is great, allowing me to meet a few travel agencies as well tourism bureaus. 

I have recently embarked on upgrading new skills and knowledge, going for courses to get myself certified with digital marketing specialist diploma. I hope to apply my digital/social media marketing, content creation along with visual storytelling and travel photography, seeking collaborations/partnerships with travel agencies and tourism bureaus. 

Therefore, I am reaching out to travel agencies and tourism bureaus, if there is an opportunity to partner and collaborate together, let’s chat!

We can overcome this

This ongoing global pandemic COVID-19 has severely impacted the world travel and tourism industry, it’s still ongoing, exerting massive stress on the livelihoods of those in the travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries. Let’s hope we can start to revive the travel and tourism sectors around the world soon.

Many of us travel wanderlusts are eagerly awaiting for the opportunity to travel away for a holiday again. A massive test for the world, it’s not easy, we have the resilience and tenacity to overcome this global pandemic situation. 

When can we #RestartTourism? Keeping our fingers crossed that it’s getting closer soon! 

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