Monthly Archives: March 2015

Singapore second in Asia for female tourists to travel solo: Survey

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SINGAPORE: The Republic has been named second to Bangkok in Asia for female tourists to travel solo, travel site TripAdvisor announced in a media release on Thursday (Mar 5).

Solo female travellers around the world also named Siem Reap, Bali and Hong Kong among the top five Asian destinations.

For long-haul destinations, most of the solo female travellers set their sights on London, followed by Paris, New York, Rome and Barcelona.

MORE WOMEN TRAVELLING ALONE

More women are taking the road less travelled, with 48 per cent of women in Southeast Asia stating they have travelled alone a 12 percentage point rise from 36 per cent in 2014, TripAdvisor's Women's Travel Survey revealed.

The survey was conducted in February this year with 9,181 female respondents from Australia, USA, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. 431 of the 9,181 respondents were from Southeast Asia, according to TripAdvisor.

Of those who said they travel alone, 79 per cent of women in Southeast Asia said a solo trip was in the works, higher than the global average of 74 per cent, TripAdvisor noted. 47 per cent said they were planning two to four solo trips this year.

FREEDOM, INDEPENDENCE TOP REASONS FOR SOLO TRAVEL

TripAdvisor also highlighted that 60 per cent of women in Southeast Asia said they travel alone because it gives them the freedom of doing what they want. A total of 45 per cent of women said the enjoyed the independence and challenge of travelling on their own, while 32 per cent said they undertook solo travel as their family or friends did not have the time or resources to travel with them.

Survey respondents also brought up the benefits of solo travel. Of the surveyed, 62 per cent said it has helped them become more independent and self-reliant, 39 per cent said solo trips helped them gain confidence, while 38 per cent felt solo trips gave them the opportunity to learn about others and other cultures.

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Singapore second in Asia for female tourists to travel solo: Survey

The three top stories from ITB Berlin on Thursday, 5 March 2015

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ITB Berlin Daily: Maldives is the partner country of ITB Berlin 2016 +++ The rise and rise of smartphones and tablets in the travel world +++ Alternative tourism in Tunisia +++ New Social Media Newsroom: news, photos and posts from Facebook and Twitter

Berlin --At ITB Berlin the Maldives and the world's largest travel trade show have signed a contract sealing their partnership in 2016. The rise and rise of mobile devices means the tourism market faces new challenges. Improved tourism products await those travelling to Tunisia in the years to come.

The Social Media Newsroom of ITB Berlin has online information at http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en on this story as well as other news from the world's leading travel trade show.

The three top stories on Thursday, 5 March 2015

Maldives: the official partner country of ITB Berlin 2016http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/contract-signed-maldives-will-be-partner-country-itb-berlin-2016

The Maldives expects that the partnership with ITB Berlin will attract a visitor increase of around eight per cent. Next year this island paradise will be the partner country of the world's largest travel trade show. Preparations for the rise in tourist numbers are going apace. New resorts including the new Thumburi project will provide additional accommodation for holidaymakers in the mid-range price segment. As of December 2015 Lufthansa will be flying once a week from Frankfurt to Mal on the largest island in the Maldives.

The future of bookings belongs to mobile devices http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/mobile-usage-dominating-travel-market-easy-quick-and-relevant-information-one-page

Mobile devices are tightening their grip on the travel market. By 2020 there will be around 18 billion smartphones and tablets in use around the world, said Arne Erichsen, Market Manager Expedia at the ITB Berlin Convention. In 2016 mobile devices will be used to book one in every five overnights in Germany, twice as many as in 2013. The tourism markets need to be prepared for this demand with products and interfaces to suit. Features required will include easy and quick smartphone navigation for obtaining relevant information that can fit onto one page.

Tunisia has a new tourism concept http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en/news/tunisia-looking-stability-and-growth

Following the political upheavals of 2011 Tunisia is looking for stability and growth again. Besides beach tourism, which remains the mainstay of the tourism market, the aim is to establish alternative tourism, for example tours with the country's historical train line, and music festivals. Thalasso therapy, city and cultural tourism are among other areas intended to attract more visitors. Tourism numbers have already risen. In 2014 figures increased by 0.3 per cent compared to 2013. The same year Tunisia was visited by 425,648 tourists from Germany, which after France was the second most important source market.

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The three top stories from ITB Berlin on Thursday, 5 March 2015