Almost four in five travelers in Asia are eager to travel internationally in 2023 as concerns around inflation and rising costs will likely not stop travelers from packing their bags, reported a new study conducted by Klook in November 2022 in nine markets, including Viet Nam.

An overwhelming majority, about 81 per cent, are eager to travel internationally in the new year, with one third planning to take at least two to four trips.

In Viet Nam, even though 75 per cent are worried about travel given economic uncertainties, 79 per cent plan to have more than one international trip in 2023, and 45 per cent plan to stay abroad for 10+ days.

According to the study, 63 per cent of travelers in Asia are worried about the increasing cost associated with travel. However, the desire to travel appears to be even stronger, with more than 80 per cent planning to spend the same or more on travel than in 2022.

Among the respondents, travelers from Malaysia, Singapore and Japan ranked the highest for cost as a concern. However, Vietnamese are among the most excited to travel despite their worries, with 51 per cent intending to spend more on travel in 2023. Beyond the rising cost of travel, concerns around COVID-19 still remain, with 39 per cent worried about catching the virus while on holiday.

Despite feeling anxious about travel in the face of a looming global recession, travelers in Asia have not given up on their travel plans yet. 35 per cent will opt for a closer destination or travel during off-peak seasons, while 34 per cent are willing to cut back on other expenses in order to save more for travel.

To allay concerns, half of travelers aim to plan their itinerary ahead of time to maximize their experiences during their trips. For those who are more conscious of health and safety, 43 per cent will purchase travel insurance, and 35 per cent will look to explore less crowded places in their destinations to minimize risk and exposure.

"In 2022, Asian travelers, particularly Vietnamese travelers, have reacted and adapted positively to travel changes. We have seen waves of Vietnamese traveling outbound as soon as travel restrictions were lifted, giving rise to a strong recovery of outbound travel since March 2022. Among the top three destinations visited from Viet Nam, there were months when demand for Singapore, South Korea and Thailand surpassed pre-COVID levels,” said Michello Ho, general manager of Klook in Viet Nam.

“For the year 2023 and beyond, we have ambitious growth plans for Viet Nam. As revealed in our data and survey, Vietnamese people are looking forward to traveling in 2023. They plan to go abroad more. They expect to spend more. And we are here to serve all of their current and new travel needs, both domestic and outbound levels," Ho said.

In Asia, a common thread of discovery and family-centric activities take center stage. Usual suspects such as museums, theme parks, and zoos and animal parks lead the way for top experiences in Asia. Additionally, there has also been strong demand for car rentals and outdoor experiences such as walking tours and trekking - ​​suggesting that travelers are exploring areas beyond the city. — VNS