Southeast Asia Tourism Industry Is On The Way To Recovery

According to statistics, Vietnamese tourists tend to choose big cities as destinations when traveling abroad. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asia was the world's most popular travel destination. But in just a few months, the pandemic quickly changed this, with devastating consequences for the region's $380 billion tourism industry. At the beginning of 2022, the wave of tourism begins to return. Southeast Asian countries have eased travel restrictions, and we're seeing a new phenomenon emerge: more travelers eager to make up for their lost time.

Explosive Southeast Asia Tourism Demand
Based on searches in Southeast Asia, inbound tourism demand saw the fastest recovery in the Philippines and Indonesia. In March, travel search demand in the Philippines surpassed pre-pandemic numbers (104%) and Indonesia is nearing full recovery (94%). These two countries have also seen the fastest resurgence in outbound travel demand, with search volumes rebounding to 70% of pre-pandemic levels. Singapore ranks third in terms of domestic and international travel demand. Vietnam, along with Thailand and Malaysia, is in the group of countries with relative recovery.

Southeast Asia Tourism Trends
While a surge in demand is a positive sign, it is important for the tourism industry to embrace and respond to the changing needs and preferences of travelers. Traveler search trends show that travel needs are more diverse today than before the pandemic, specifically:

• People are spending more time researching, planning, and weighing options for peace of mind and assurance that they are prepared to deal with unexpected changes.
• Searches for “best hotel” increased by 71% on Google, showing that Vietnamese people are willing to spend money on high-end services.
• Tourists want to stay longer when they travel: Southeast Asian tourists' preference for long-term accommodation rentals increased 1010% over the same period last year. Vietnamese tourists look for long-term accommodation when traveling abroad 8 times more because they find it a convenient choice.