The "Travel Addiction" Ranking Is Out: Love-to-Check-In Taiwanese Rank Only Third

▲Taiwanese people love to travel—do you also have a travel addiction? (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-xuan)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Do you have a travel addiction? You’re already searching for flights online before returning home, daydreaming about your next trip. Today, travel search engine KAYAK released a questionnaire report on “travel addiction” in the Asia-Pacific region, analyzing the degree of “travel addiction” among 2,100 travelers from the Asia-Pacific area. The results showed that over 50% of Taiwanese travelers believe “choosing a good travel companion” is the most important aspect of a trip—more so than travel costs or safety.

According to the survey report, when asked about “the most important factor in traveling,” over 50% of Taiwanese travelers said “choosing a good travel companion” is the most crucial, followed by “a safe travel environment,” “travel cost,” “comfortable accommodation,” and “inspiring foreign cultures or attractions.”

Compared to other markets, Taiwanese (52%) and Hong Kong (44%) travelers are the only two groups who prioritize travel companions over travel costs, while the majority of Korean (67%) and Japanese (62%) travelers are most concerned with “travel costs,” far outweighing other factors.

▲Snap photos non-stop when going out, and check in everywhere. (Photo / Reporter Li Zi-yi)

Interestingly, although Taiwanese people love taking photos and checking in, they’re not the top when it comes to sharing their travel moments on social media. Indian travelers post an average of over 10 social media updates per trip, followed by Australians with an average of 6 posts, Singaporeans with 5, and Taiwanese. However, 12% of Taiwanese travelers said they don’t share any posts or photos on social media during their trips.

Additionally, moments such as “when working in the office” (43%), “when seeing travel ads on TV or the internet” (40%), and “when dining with family and friends” (33%) are also common triggers for the desire to travel. Moreover, Taiwanese travelers have also searched for or booked trips while “riding or waiting for public transport,” “binge-watching dramas,” or even “in the bathroom,” showing that Taiwanese people are adept at using “fragmented time” and are accustomed to planning trips anytime, anywhere via their mobile phones.

▲Even before bed, they scroll through their phones to search for travel itineraries and attractions. (Photo / Reporter Ji Xiang-ru)

The survey also uncovered many interesting statistics: for example, Taiwanese people often search for travel plans while at work, as do travelers from Hong Kong (48%), India (45%), and Singapore (38%). However, only 18% of Japanese have searched for flight or hotel information during work hours, indicating that culture also influences travel behavior across countries. Additionally, some Taiwanese travelers admitted they’ve booked trips online while drunk, and others have even done so “during boring classes” or “while walking down the street.”

29% of Taiwanese travelers habitually book multiple hotels with “free cancellation” options during a single trip, then, just before the cancellation deadline, “hold out for the best deal” by selecting the one they like most and canceling the rest. Hong Kong travelers (31%) share this habit, while other nationalities such as those from Singapore (19%), Japan (17%), and Australia (13%) are less likely to do so.

In addition, Taiwanese travelers have many money-saving tricks, including “checking flight and hotel prices daily for last-minute deals,” “comparing prices between websites and mobile apps,” and “constantly booking, canceling, and rebooking just to find a cheaper price”—they’re quite savvy with their spending.