Results of some end-of-year number crunching
at Sabre highlight some interesting travel trends, improving
travel confidence, as well as the
top 10 destinations travellers are booking for the festive season.
The Sabre analytics also reveal that booking windows
for the holiday period are nearing pre-pandemic levels, while the
number of Christmas and New Year bookings have soared compared to
in 2021.
A deep dive into Sabre’s booking trends (of bookings made to
the end of October) shows that 60% of bookings for the holiday
period were made in September and October this year, versus 55% in
2019. While a higher percentage of bookings were made closer to
the holidays this year, the gap is narrowing between 2022 and
2019.
Booking windows can be a significant metric to
determining traveler confidence, as a longer the booking window
can indicate greater confidence. During the pandemic, there was a
higher percentage of last-minute bookings believed to be due to
uncertainties of travel and border restrictions. Travelers were
often less keen to make advanced bookings as they were not sure if
the travel situation would change by the time their departure date
arrived. Now, with a more predictable travel landscape, people are
generally more willing to make longer-term plans as it is more
likely for the trip to proceed as planned.
Looking at
international trips originating from the USA, where travel
restrictions were lifted much earlier in comparison with other
regions, a clear recovery picture emerges. 29% of international
festive bookings (made to the end of October) were
made during September and October in 2022, compared to 38% in 2021
and 27% in 2019.
In Asia, 76% of all bookings (made to the end of
October) both domestic and
international, for the year-end holidays this year were made in
September and October, in line with when travel restrictions began
to further unwind across the region. In 2019, around 55% of
bookings were made in the same months. Recovery in APAC has been
particularly pronounced in Taiwan and Hong Kong, where travel
restrictions have recently relaxed. Hong Kong bookings started Q3
at just 16% of the same period in 2019. By the end of the third
quarter, the recovery there was 29%. Taiwan is an even better
story, with the quarter starting at a 17% recovery and ending at
45%.
Sabre’s booking analysis shows most travelers are opting
for destinations close to home for the upcoming holiday period,
with 33% of global travelers choosing domestic travel, compared to
27% in 2019. Key destination trends include:
– Almost half
(47%) of passengers traveling internationally from the US, as part
of a family or couple, have booked to go to Mexico or
Caribbean for the holidays;
– 67% of those traveling from Asia are choosing to
stay within Asia. This was higher (70%) in 2019, with the drop
likely due to ongoing border closures in China. Top destinations
for Asia are Japan, followed by Thailand, which make up close to a
third of bookings. It seems some travelers who may previously have
gone to China have switched to Japan or Thailand, as Japan,
Thailand and China together used to make up a third of trips in
2019;
– Globally, the United States, Mexico and Japan
are among the top destinations for both couples and families, in
both 2019 and 2022;
– Family travelers globally are
increasingly opting to travel to the United Arab Emirates, whereas
Thailand is a popular destination for those traveling as a couple;
– For those traveling from North America as a
family or couple, emerging top destinations are Costa Rica and
Italy respectively;
– Vietnam and China were among the top 10
destinations globally in 2019, but both fell beyond the top 10
this year, giving way to the Dominican Republic and Canada;
– While Thailand still remains within the top 10
of global destinations for the festive season, it has dropped from
third position to fifth; and
– Fewer travelers from India are choosing Vietnam
this year, compared to 2019, while fewer Japanese travelers are
choosing Thailand.
– India to United Arab Emirates: With eased travel restrictions, affordable accommodation
options and short travel times between the two countries, the UAE
is a popular destination for Indian travelers looking to spend
time with their partners and family.
–
Canada to Mexico: With an under five-hour flight, Mexico is
proving a popular getaway destination for Canadian travelers
looking for affordable holiday options.
– South Korea to Thailand: South Korea is a major
inbound source market for Thailand, with the Thai tourism body
expecting to attract more than 500,000 Koreans this year and over
1.3 million in 2023.
– United States of America to Jamaica: With Jamaica only a short flight
from the US, it is always popular amongst Americans looking to
trade the cold winter for sun, sand, and blue seas.
– United Kingdom to United States of America:
The US is a major tourist destination for many countries around
the world. Historically a strong source region for the US, inbound
tourism from the UK continues to look strong in 2022.
– South Korea to Vietnam: Many Korean tourists
travel to Vietnam due to its close proximity and frequent direct
flights. The government of Vietnam has also made efforts to
promote the country as a tourist destination and attract more
visitors from South Korea.
– United States of America to Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is
another popular beach getaway promising sunshine and relaxation to
US tourists nearby and at affordable rates.
– Canada to United States of America: With a short flight time,
the US is an extremely sought-after getaway for Canadians looking
for an affordable holiday this festive season.
– South Korea to Japan: Japan, one of the last few
countries globally to unravel travel restrictions, is a popular
destination for many travelers globally, so it’s little wonder to
see so many inbound tourists from neighbouring South Korea.
– United States of America to Mexico: The US
is also a natural destination for Mexico due to the proximity of
the countries.
With passenger numbers increasing,
travelers more confident about longer-term plans, and emerging
destinations stepping in to replace geographies that remain hard
to access, the global travel ecosystem is poised
for further recovery and growth in 2023.
