SINGAPORE: Europe and the United States are amongst
the top travel destinations for Singaporeans keen to take advantage
of the weak euro and US dollar.
Travel agencies at the NATAS Fair which opened on
Friday, said the two continents, together with Japan and Korea, are
expected to be their best sellers.
This, even though air ticket prices remain more or
less unchanged, said Tradewinds Tours General Manager Sheldon
Hee.
Mr Hee said: "Air ticket prices have always been variable. You
always see promotional prices in the market and these are always
competitive. What has really made the difference right now is that
the prevailing exchange rates for all these destinations, in
particular Europe and the US, has made day-to-day expenses, on
food, or shopping a lot more attractive than it would have been,
even two years ago."
Travel sales to Japan are stabilising five months after the tsunami
in March, with some agencies saying they expect business to return
to or even go beyond pre-tsunami levels.
Eddie Ung Kwan, manager of JTB Travel Saloon, said: "The earthquake
crisis in Japan is over and the radiation threat outside Fukushima
is low. And it's near the end of the year, so people are keen on
holidays."
With uncertainty continuing in the global economy, NATAS CEO Robert
Khoo said some may be more cautious about travelling, but most
Singaporeans will continue to travel at least once a year.
"To a certain extent it does affect directly. But Singaporeans
being Singaporeans, they will always want to go out and enjoy
themselves, at least once a year. Maybe they will cut the number of
trips this year but I'm sure they'll still travel," said Mr
Khoo.
According to a NATAS survey on visitors at its last fair, 62 per
cent of respondents said they make two to three trips a year, while
12 per cent said they travel more than four times a year.
- CNA/cc/ck