The summer vacation period is the peak time for planning family trips. Expedia released a major survey titled “Attitudes Toward Family Travel,” which surveyed parents and children in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. The results showed that over 90% of teenagers believe family travel helps strengthen emotional bonds, but around 25% of parents in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan would prefer not to travel with their children, with nearly 40% of parents in Taiwan and Hong Kong citing concerns about not wanting to affect their children’s academic performance.
Expedia conducted a survey among 4,000 teenagers aged 13–17 and parents aged 18 and above from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. It found that nearly 90% of teenagers said “family travel” is more important than “new toys or games,” and over 90% believe it helps enhance emotional closeness within the family.
The survey revealed that over 80% of respondents arrange family travel at least once a year, with nearly 70% of South Korean parents traveling twice a year or more—the highest proportion—followed by Japan at 55%, Taiwan at 45%, and Hong Kong at 25%. However, Asian parents’ post-trip experiences varied greatly: over 40% of parents in Taiwan and Hong Kong said they couldn’t fully enjoy their holiday, compared to just around 20% in Japan and South Korea.
Additionally, when asked whether they would prefer not to travel with their children, fewer than 10% of South Korean parents expressed such an inclination, while around 25% of parents in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan would rather travel without their kids. Among them, nearly 40% of parents in Taiwan and Hong Kong said they “didn’t want their children to miss classes,” while nearly 50% of Japanese parents said they “needed a break.”
Regarding parenting styles during travel, nearly 50% of parents in Japan and South Korea allow their children to relax more or sleep in, whereas around 50% of parents in Taiwan and Hong Kong maintain the same strict “tiger parent” approach and do not alter their usual parenting style even while traveling.
Over 70% of Taiwanese parents spend more time researching family-friendly travel destinations, shifting their focus toward family trips. Nearly 90% of parents and children alike said travel is an important opportunity to create lasting memories, and nearly 70% of parents also said it’s a chance to teach their children new things.
Expedia also highlighted five key tips for family travel, advising travelers to pay attention to local temperatures, pack clothing according to trip duration, prepare common medications, choose flight times that suit children’s routines, and check hotel booking policies and room types. When planning itineraries, they recommend prioritizing destinations where children can be more actively involved, helping ensure both parents and children enjoy a pleasant travel experience.
For parents who haven’t yet planned their summer trips, Expedia has partnered with EVA Air to offer exclusive limited-time discounts for the top five summer family travel destinations: Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, Seoul, and Hong Kong. The promotion runs from now until the end of August, encouraging parents to take their children on vacation—with just 3 to 5 days off, a perfect family trip can be easily arranged.
(Taipei Times Information)