Travel bug bites one in four Asian consumers - MasterCard
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One in four consumers inAsia/Pacific is looking to pack his or her bags and head off for a vacation inthe next six months, based on the latest findings from a MasterCard survey. Japan, Australiaand Chinaremain the most popular destinations for travelers in Asia/Pacific.
A rebound in spending on travelis also expected in the Middle East, with morethan a third of consumers planning to spend on international personal travel inthe next six months (similar to a year ago). In the last survey, only 24% ofconsumers were looking at planning a trip.
The latest survey was conductedfrom 15 March to 12 April 2010 and involved 10,503consumers from 24 markets1. Datacollection was via internet surveys, personal, telephone and Computer AidedTelephone interviews, with the questionnaire translated to the local languagewherever appropriate and necessary. (The Index and its accompanying reportsdo not represent MasterCard financial performance.)
Intraregional travel continuesto be popular among consumers who plan to spend on travel in the next sixmonths in Asia/Pacific (86%) and the Middle East(57%), with the majority of them planning trips within their respective regionsin the next six months. Consumers in Africa who plan to spend on travel in thenext six months however prefer to travel to Europe (65%), rather than within Africa itself (19%).
Of the 24 markets surveyed,respondents in Kuwait (71%)topped the list of consumers planning trips abroad, followed by Hong Kong(56%), UAE (52%), Singapore(48%) and New Zealand(40%).
“Personal travel is an integralpart of life for many consumers in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa and from our previous surveys we have seen theappetite for travel hold through the recession. It is encouraging to see thatspending on travel is set to rebound among MasterCard
consumersin Middle East in the next six months. Whilefewer consumers in the Middle East had plannedto spend on travel in the last survey, we now see more consumers intending totake holidays abroad this time round. Interestingly, there is a tremendousappetite for travel among consumers in Kuwait, and we are seeing a huge jump inthe percentage of respondents looking to spend on international travel -growing from 29% in the last survey to an astonishing 71% this time round,”said Dr. Yuwa Hedrick Wong, economic advisor, Asia/Pacific, MasterCardWorldwide.
Other key findings from thesurvey include:
Asia/Pacific
-Many in Hong Kong (50% of consumers surveyed), New Zealand (45%) and the Philippines (43%) are saving totake a holiday abroad.
-Among the Asia/Pacific markets, Hong Kong (56%), Singapore(48%) and New Zealand(40%) boast the highest number of respondents looking to spend on travelingabroad in the next six months.
-Top five destinations for Asia/Pacific travelers: Japan(as indicated by 24% of respondents who plan to spend on travel in the next sixmonths), Australia (20%), China (20%), Hong Kong (17%) and the United States(17%).
– International personal airtravel is deemed as very important or important to 58% of the respondents inAsia/Pacific who plan to spend on travel in the next six months.
Middle East
-The majority of consumers in Kuwait(58% of consumers surveyed) are saving for a holiday abroad. This is higherthan the other markets, where consumers are saving for items such as thepurchase of a car/motorcycle, buying or renovating their homes, and forinvesting.
– Amongthe Middle Eastern markets, Kuwait(71%), UAE (52%) and Qatar(34%) boast the highest number of respondents looking to spend on travelingabroad in the next six months.
-Top five destinations for travelers in the Middle East: Egypt (as indicated by 28% of respondents whoplan to spend on travel in the next six months), UAE (21%), Saudi Arabia (16%), Syria(14%) and Lebanon(13%).
– International personal airtravel is deemed as very important or important to 90% of the respondents inthe Middle East who plan to spend on travel inthe next six months.
Africa
-Among the African markets, Morocco(24% of consumers surveyed) has the highest number of consumers saving for aholiday abroad.
– Morocco (24%), Egypt(20%) and Nigeria(18%) boast the highest number of respondents looking to spend on travelingabroad in the next six months.
– Top five destinations fortravelers in Africa: the United States(as indicated by 27% of respondents who plan to spend on travel in the next sixmonths), France (26%), Saudi Arabia (22%), Canada(17%) and Turkey(14%).
– International personal airtravel is deemed as very important or important to 81% of the respondents in Africa who plan to spend on travel in the next sixmonths.
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