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Flight reservations to Singapore are up 305% before the Grand Prix: Sojern

The Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix is expected to draw the largest crowd it has had since its inaugural night race in 2008, demonstrating that the island city is once more prepared to host prestigious events following the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the tourist board, visitor arrivals in Singapore increased for the sixth consecutive month in July to 726,601, up from 543,733 in June, since most COVID restrictions have been abolished. Before the first Grand Prix in three years returns, Sojern, a top provider of digital marketing solutions for the travel industry, discusses travel trends and insights. 


According to Lina Ang, managing director APAC, Sojern, "Following two years of COVID-19 limitations it's plain to see that international travelers are thrilled to return to Singapore." "Our "Garden City" is ready to extend a warm welcome to tourists, whether they want to experience the thrills of the night race, take advantage of the many chances for eating, or indulge in a little shopping therapy.

How does your plan to visit the Little Red Dot seem so far?

Flight bookings to Singapore have increased by 305%* globally since the beginning of 2022 as a result of the gradual relaxation of COVID limitations. When comparing weekly booking volumes in 2022 vs. 2019, bookings increased from 13% to 50% of 2019 levels, indicating a robust demand for travel to the well-liked Southeast Asian location. Oceania, particularly Australia, has demonstrated the strongest interest in traveling to Singapore in the run-up to the F1 with a 17% increase in 2022 compared to 2019.

Sojern predicts that as we get closer to the F1 date, travel demand from neighboring countries like Southeast Asia and East Asia will also rise. Other prominent locations with market share increases compared to 2019 volumes include South Asia (+5%), Western Europe (+3%), and the Middle East (+1%).

Australia continues to be the top origin country for Singapore in 2022 while also growing its market share (+18% from 18% in 2019 vs 36% in 2022). In line with this, other noteworthy nations that will move up in 2022 include India (+6% from 4% in 2019 to 10% in 2022), the Philippines (+5% in 2022), and Indonesia (-3% from 7% in 2019 to 4% in 2022), with the United Kingdom and South Korea moving up in 2022 in the 6th and 10th spots, respectively. In 2022, China and Japan fall out of the top 10, which may in part be due to persistent inbound and outgoing travel restrictions in both countries. The United States (8%) and Thailand (6%) stay in the top five.

What are the search and booking patterns of travelers?

Flight booking popularity is shifting toward the middle of the week, peaking on Thursday, less than a month before the night race, while hotel booking popularity is shifting toward the end of the weekday and into the weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The change may be attributed to tourists wanting to make the most of their time in Singapore before the rush to fully immerse themselves in the multicultural metropolis.

With 76% of flights and 88% of hotel reservations made 60+ days prior to the event, vs only 36% of flights and 12% of hotel reservations in 2019, the lead time for booking flights and hotels suggests considerable forward preparation. Longer lead periods may be a result of passengers looking to get favorable flight rates given that post-pandemic airline tickets are at an all-time high.

Bookings for hotels and flights reflect interest in staying longer during the 2022 F1 season. Flyers may be extending their stay in light of rising international flight expenses, as 19% of bookings are for flights lasting more than five days and 20% are for flights lasting more than eight days. In contrast, the bulk of reservations in 2019 were shorter, ranging from 3 to 4 days.

Who is making the trip to Singapore?

Sojern observes a decline in business travel for the 2022 F1 timeframe, with only 4% of flight bookings made for business travel, down from 10% in 2019. This result is consistent with a recent analysis that suggested business travel spending may not reach pre-pandemic levels until 2026, two years later than initially anticipated. Compared to only 31% and 15% in 2019, weekend (51%) and weekly (27%) travel have grown for hotels, which may be an indication that F1 is a significant pull for travelers to Singapore.

When compared to 2019, traveler profiles reveal a different trend for flight and hotel bookings in 2022. According to data collected from flight bookings, solo travel has decreased in popularity, with 33% and 18% of couples and families traveling respectively, down from 28% and 8% in 2019. The majority of hotel guests are still singles, accounting for 96% of the market share in contrast to 48% in 2019.

Positive outlook for Singapore's tourism industry

Sojern has been in a unique position to assist local partners with travel recovery difficulties for the past three years thanks to our creative digital solutions. We look forward to continuing to assist our local partners in their travel recovery during this hectic F1 period and beyond.

The news that Singapore Airlines intends to expand flights to locations throughout the world is excellent news for the industry and travelers alike as the lifting of travel restrictions continues to generate a surge in flight demand that surpasses supply. The business anticipated operating at 81% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, up from May's 61% overall passenger capacity compared to pre-COVID levels. Sojern believes that the airline's expansion of its flights to places like India, Los Angeles, and Paris, as well as the well-known Japanese towns of Tokyo and Osaka, will lower above-average rates and promote more travel.

Sojern has continued to expand its market share in Singapore and the larger APAC area by serving as a crucial partner for business stakeholders that desire assistance with their ongoing recovery. Large hotel chains like Frasers Hospitality, Accor, and Hyatt, as well as Singapore Airlines, the official airline of the city-state and title sponsor of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, are all part of Sojern's portfolio in the city-state, where it has operated since 2015.