Southeast Asia : travel demand increases as borders reopen across the region

Travel Biz News —

More people are interested to visit Southeast Asian countries , as borders begin to reopen across the region.

All countries in Southeast Asia, with the exception of Brunei, have started to remove their travel restrictions and are reopening their borders to international tourists in hopes of rejuvenating the industry that was hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic: tourism.

Travelport, a global technology company that powers bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, released the trend data showing how the easing of restrictions has affected the international demand for travel to Southeast Asia.

According to Travelport’s booking data, the top ten destinations in Southeast Asia for international travelers to visit in 2022 are:

Manila (Philippines)

Singapore (Singapore)

Bangkok (Thailand)

Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)

Jakarta (Indonesia)

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Hanoi (Vietnam)

Phuket (Thailand)

Bali (Indonesia)

Angeles/Mabalacat (Philippines)

For the first quarter of 2022, international flight bookings to Southeast Asia overall have increased and have showed upward trajectory with the Philippines taking the lead by achieving 42% of its international bookings in the first quarter of 2019 prior COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippines and Thailand were among the earliest countries in Southeast Asia to reopen their borders, and travelers are already clamoring to visit. In the first quarter of 2022, these two countries alone represent over half (51%) of all international flight bookings to the region.

The top five countries traveling to Southeast Asia are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.

Solo travelers made up 44% of international flight bookings for the first quarter of 2022 to date, by far the largest traveler segment, which may be comprised of returning business travelers, flexible tourists whose bags are packed the moment borders reopen, and Southeast Asian expats who are eager to return home without enduring a once mandatory quarantine.

Southeast Asia is defined as the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei. ( Source: Travelport )

19 April 2022

Photo : Tourists at Hong Kong International Airport ( Travel Biz News )