In the news: ZUJI’s “Giving Back is the New Black” study, British Airways’ survey on Hong Kong travellers’ habits, Wego’s Apple Watch app
Voluntourism on the rise among Singaporean travellers, inclined towards Asia: ZUJI
Growing number of Singaporean travellers are into voluntourism within Asia. (Image credit: artisticco/Stock)
Volunteer travel or Voluntourism is on the rise among Singapore-based travellers, and they preferred to travel for a cause within Asia, revealed ZUJI in its “Giving Back is the New Black” study.
The survey, which polled 855 Singapore-based travellers on their preferences for charitable work both in Singapore and abroad, found 60% of the respondents voted Asia as the destination where they would most like to help the less fortunate.
South America was the least popular choice for voluntourism with only 4% of the vote, likely due to its distance from home and unfamiliarity.
ZUJI said this trend was aligned to its booking data where 70% of bookings are to locations within Asia, with the remaining 30% being to further abroad countries.
The respondents said that helping the underprivileged overseas was best enjoyed with a group of friends (37%), while one in three felt it did not matter whom they travelled with, as the trip served a bigger purpose. Despite that, 60% of ZUJI bookings shows that people are solo travellers.
Other findings from the study:
- 45% of the respondents believe children are the future, preferring to teach underprivileged kids when volunteering overseas.
- 27% wanted to build and restore communities.
- 17% were motivated to save endangered species through wildlife conservation 11% went on mission trips for a spiritual awakening.
- 65% researched destinations and causes through reputable travel content before volunteering abroad. According to ZUJI, destinations on the rise include Yangon and Auckland, witnessing an increase in bookings over the past year.
- For accommodation, ZUJI hotel booking data reveals Singapore-based travellers opt for at least four star accommodation (63%). However on volunteer trips, 86% are willing to stay in budget hotels, 45% in and hostels (28%).
Chua Hui Wan, CEO for ZUJI Singapore, said: “We are witnessing more people travelling to developing countries, with Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines featuring among our top 20 booking destinations.
“The latest ZUJI-dex also reaffirms that travellers are interested in volunteer travel, particularly when it comes to helping children. With the strong number of long weekends in 2015, it’s the opportune time to jet-set for a few days, see a new place, but also give back.”
See infographic below for full details of the survey.
Revealed: Habits of Hong Kong travellers
British Airways’ survey unravels travel habits of Hong Kongers. (Imager credit: Artportus/iStock)
For the people of Hong Kong the English football legend, David Beckham, is the first choice as a flying companion, according to British Airways’ first-ever Travel Habit Survey.
Other popular choices included Emma Watson, Harry Potter actress and model, and Benedict Cumberbatch, Oscar nominated actor.
Earlier this year, British Airways asked people in Hong Kong to answer a selection of questions on their travel habits. The survey received nearly 1,000 responses.
London is the top destination from almost half of the respondents, followed by Paris (France), Rome (Italy) and Prague (Czech Republic).
On items to take on board, the survey showed that for Hong Kongers, the most crucial item for the flight is a laptop or tablet. For 21% of the participants, mainly females, skincare products and make-up on board the plane are must-haves for the journey. These are in addition to essential items such as passports, mobile phones and money.
During flight he number one irritation for many of the respondents (30%), is their seat being kicked from behind by another passenger, followed closely by the annoyance of a fully reclined seat in front of them (21%). Almost one out of five people are annoyed by parents who cannot control their children during the flight.
Other in-flight habits:
- 98% of the respondents watch at least one movie during the flight with comedy topping the list with 33%, and only 2% dared to watch a thriller during the flight.
- 86% choose to eat the in-flight meal, and only 3% choose to have an alcoholic beverage,
- 92% enjoy reading the in-flight magazine.
- 41% manage to sleep for more than four hours during a long-haul flight.
The survey also showed 33% of the respondents chose to shop before boarding the flight; 43% prefer getting the boarding passes from the check-in counters; and 18% always book their hotel accommodation through the website of the airline;
Tracy Dedman, British Airways’ regional general manager, Greater China and the Philippines said the survey results were interesting and useful. “The findings from this survey help us focus on the areas that are really important to Hong Kong travellers.”
A Wego app for the Apple Watch
Wego Apple Watch app suggests the best airfares to popular destinations. (Image credit: Wego)
Proud owner of a brand new Apple Watch? Want to check airfares for your next breakaway by just looking at your wrist? Travel search site, Wego, helps you to do this with its new Apple Watch app.
According to Wego, the app is intuitive and works by identifying the user’s location and suggests the best airfares to popular destinations based on a number of variables for the approaching weekend, within five hours flight time.
Honey Mittal, VP mobile apps for Wego, said: “We’ve designed a solution by creating an app which provides more opportunities for a spontaneous, good value weekend getaway, within a comfortable flight time. The Wego Apple Watch app makes escaping for the weekend as simple as looking at your wrist.”
Key features of the app include:
- Best flight options for destinations within five hours flight time for approaching weekends
- Booking flights and hotels in one app
- Searching lowest prices with real time, unbiased rates and airfares
- Viewing last minute airfare or hotel options in an instant
- Advanced sorting and filtering options
- Available in 20 languages
Wego’s Apple Watch app is available from the Watch App Store and App Store.
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