It appears that Singaporeans tend to have similar travel preferences during festive seasons, flocking to common destinations.

Based on data from travel booking platform Trip.com, a large number of travelers from Singapore are choosing to visit cities in the region, with Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Tokyo being the top three choices.

Penang and Taipei secured the fourth and fifth positions respectively.

While these popular destinations continue to attract visitors, there is a noticeable increase in Singaporeans exploring cities in Mainland China, as reported by Trip.com.

The platform observed the most significant surge in travel bookings to Guangzhou and Shanghai, with an almost 200 percent year-on-year increase.

Chennai in India also witnessed considerable growth, ranking third in the list of fastest-growing destinations by travel bookings.

Furthermore, Trip.com discovered that Singaporeans are planning their Lunar New Year travels earlier and making bookings well in advance. This year, 53 percent of the bookings were made over 60 days before the travel date, up from 50 percent last year.

There is also a shift towards longer journeys, with 51 percent of flights booked for mid to long-haul destinations, compared to 41 percent last year.

Singapore is currently experiencing a high demand for inbound tourism, with visitors from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan occupying the top five positions.

Additionally, there is significant growth in tourist arrivals from the United States, Myanmar, Japan, Laos, and Italy, showcasing the city's broad appeal to a diverse range of international travelers, according to Trip.com.

Among travelers visiting Singapore, Universal Studios Singapore emerges as the most frequently booked attraction, as per the booking platform's data.

Other popular attractions include Night Safari, Singapore Ducktours, Jewel Changi Airport, and Skyline Luge Singapore.

bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com