Safety, health and wealth concerns, and extreme weather, are some of the worries putting the brakes on travel by Hong Kong and Singapore residents in 2025.
A survey conduct for insurance giant Allianz Partners found that 81% of APAC travellers cite financial constraints as their primary reason for not travelling, although in most cases that will not be enough to stop them from heading overseas.
Retail therapy is a significant incentive for Hong Kong travellers, a trend not seen quite so markedly in other regions, according to Allianz Partners Travel Index 2025.
Hong Kong travellers are increasingly prioritising personal safety and risk management, more so than many APAC peers
The survey reveals that 53% of travellers are now anxious about personal safety, 52% are concerned about extreme weather, and 53% worry about falling ill.
In Singapore, while travel is high on the agenda for most, cost-of-living is also having an impact on spending. Nevertheless, 74% are planning holidays focused on resorts and wellness, followed by enjoying cultural experiences (50%) and to have an adventure (43%).
Destination wise, most Singaporeans are planning to travel within Asia (52%) and Oceania (19%), followed by UK and Europe (9%), North America or Canada (4%), and South America or Middle-East and North Africa (2%).
According to the Allianz Partners Travel Index, word of mouth and social media are incredibly influential for Singaporeans when selecting their holiday destinations.
More than half of all Singaporeans (67%), whether planning to travel or not, stated that they are inspired by recommendations from family and friends when it comes to travel locations.
There is more reliance on social media among mainland Chinese and Hong Kongers. When selecting their destination, YouTube (69%) is the main source of inspiration, followed by Instagram (56%) and Facebook (53%).
Vinay Surana, managing director of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Allianz Partners, said, “We would like to see all travellers, regardless of their travel budget, make travel insurance an essential purchase because we know that when the unexpected happens overseas, it can be costly.
“Having this extra layer of protection will provide a peace of mind, making travel a stress and worry-free experience.”