More choose to spend LNY holidays abroad
With the long weekend Lunar New Year holidays this year, more people in Singapore are choosing to celebrate the festivities outside the country.
Another reason for the stronger demand for Lunar New Year travel this year is because of Singapore’s robust economic recovery in 2010, said travel agencies. CTC Travel and Chan Brothers saw bookings for this year’s Lunar New Year travel coming in as early as August last year. Travel agencies MediaCorp spoke to said bookings for holidays and tours rose 15-20% compared to the same period last year.
CTC Travel’s Alicia Seah said the increase was despite airfare hikes due to higher fuel surcharges and airport taxes. In fact, she said many airlines have increased the number of flights to popular destinations. Korean Airlines and Asiana Airlines have added about 20 flights in February alone.
Now I understand the rush to get all of the new plans for Hotels and Resorts completed for the Asia Pacific Region. Companies like Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Hilton Hotels and Resorts all anticipated this pilgrimage for the Lunar Holiday.