(Milieu Insight pic)
Interestingly, for most countries, the promotion of a destination is less impactful than a recommendation from family or friends.
The survey also revealed that concerns about Covid-19 safety have generally waned, with the Philippines showing the highest level of concern, likely due to rising cases there in the last week of April.
When it comes to key considerations, holiday spots and sceneries rank the highest in Indonesia (69%), Thailand (66%) and Vietnam (58%), while travel safety (69%) tops the list of considerations for those from the Philippines.
The cost of the whole vacation also affects travel decisions, especially for those in Indonesia (61%), Malaysia (61%) and Thailand (60%).
But it’s the weather that takes precedence, especially for respondents in Thailand (62%) and Vietnam (55%). This could be due to extreme weather events that can happen quite frequently in both countries, reflecting the negative impacts of global warming.
Beach holidays are popular across the region, with such destinations ranked first in each country: Boracay in the Philippines, Bali in Indonesia, Da Nang in Vietnam, Sabah in Malaysia, and Phi Phi Island in Thailand.
Meanwhile, waterfalls across Thailand are hotspots for domestic travellers, with 24% of respondents choosing them as top destinations.
(Milieu Insight pic)
The survey also provides insight into air travel, with national carriers ranking first for the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam: Philippine Airlines (76%), Garuda Indonesia (74%), and Vietnam Airlines (72%).
In Malaysia (84%) and Thailand (83%), AirAsia was the airline of choice, perhaps owing to price sensitivities.
Travellers in Southeast Asia naturally prove to be foodies, with about five in 10 planning a food trip experience. Meanwhile, four in 10 respondents from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam are keen on shopping.
Beach holidays are especially popular with the Philippines, with five in 10 respondents choosing swimming alongside other activities such as paragliding or parasailing (13%).
Of Thai respondents, 65% showed enthusiasm for touring, also a popular activity in Malaysia (45%), Indonesia (40%), and the Philippines (43%).