Written/Compiled & Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel & Lifestyle Network
With the peak travel season approaching at year’s end, Mastercard’s latest “Consumer Purchasing Trends Survey – Travel” reveals that 95% of Taiwanese people plan to travel abroad within the next year, and among them, 18% hope to increase the frequency of their overseas trips, with Japan remaining the most desired destination. The average spending per overseas trip is around NT$23,000, with transportation and accommodation accounting for over 50% of total expenses, and 60% of respondents prefer using credit cards for spending.
Japan once again tops the list as the most favored overseas travel destination for Taiwanese, with Tokyo being the city Taiwanese most want to visit. (Image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
The primary purposes for Taiwanese traveling overseas are sightseeing (76%), trying foreign cuisine (61%), and relaxation (59%). Japan (61%) is the top choice for Taiwanese when traveling abroad, followed by the United States (33%) and Mainland China (31%); if given the chance to travel abroad for free, Taiwanese most want to go to Tokyo, ahead of any other city in the world. Notably, Japan (36%) is also the most desired overseas travel destination among all respondents in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Australia (33%) and the United States (30%).
In this survey, the United States is the second most chosen destination for Taiwanese traveling abroad. (Image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
The survey shows that 90% (88%) of Taiwanese have traveled domestically within the past year, and over 50% (53%) have traveled abroad, while the remaining 47% who did not travel abroad cited mainly insufficient funds and time. 95% of respondents plan to travel abroad as much or more in the next year, close to the proportion planning domestic travel (96%). Among those planning to travel abroad, 18% hope to increase the frequency of such trips, up 8% from last year, indicating a growing desire among Taiwanese for more opportunities to travel overseas.
Mainland China is the third most chosen destination for Taiwanese when traveling abroad. (Image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)
In 2013, the average spending per person on overseas travel was approximately NT$23,000, with transportation (33%) and accommodation (25%) being the main expenses, accounting for over 50% of total spending. For overseas travel payments, over 60% of Taiwanese use credit cards to pay for transportation and accommodation, with similar usage rates of credit cards and cash when shopping, while other expenses such as food, leisure activities, and local transportation are mostly paid in cash. In terms of sources for obtaining travel information, travel agencies remain the primary source (70%), while online resources including online travel information (50%), airline websites (36%), and social media (36%) are also commonly used by respondents.
● Read More:
Foreigners’ Picks: Top 20 Coolest Attractions in Japan
http://goo.gl/tjZQhW
Besides sightseeing, up to 60% of respondents list trying foreign cuisine as a main purpose of traveling abroad. (Image provided by Moleskine Editorial Department)