Japan gallops to top amid Thai turmoil

Hongkongers will be spending more on travel during the Year of the Horse with Japan, Australia and Korea as the top three destinations, a global media company says.迷你倉 Travelzoo, a publisher of travel and entertainment deals, predicted Hongkongers will spend on average HK$54,000 in travel, or 20 percent more than last year. They are also expected to take 4.3 trips on average. The survey, from November 24 to December 15, was conducted in collaboration with WIMI, a consumer insights consultancy firm. More than 40 percent of Hongkongers are choosing Japan as their top destination this year, followed by Australia and Korea with 32 percent and 29 percent respectively. About 40 percent of the 3,400 Asia-Pacific respondents said they are reluctant to travel to the Philippines. In other findings, a massive 98 percent of mainlanders and 93 percent of Hong Kong residents said they will use the internet on their mobiles during their holidays. The average for the region was 80 percent. A total of 84 percent said the first thing they will do when reachimini storageg a restaurant or hotel is to check for free Wi-Fi. Travelzoo claims it has 26 million subscribers around the world. A local travel agency said it expects a 14 percent increase in revenue from just the Lunar New Year travel tours. ``Hongkongers are confident about the economy and are willing to spend more on traveling,'' Miramar Travel general manager, Alex Lee Chun-ting, said. Lee said since the United States has a weak economy, cruise companies are directing more of their tours to Hong Kong to attract customers in the Asia-Pacific region. About 3,000 travelers have chosen cruises sailing to Sanya in Hainan, with cabin prices ranging from HK$4,000 to HK$11,000. Because of the political turmoil in Thailand, Hongkongers have switched their destinations to South Korea and Taiwan. ``Thailand used to be a favorite destination for families because of lower prices,'' Lee said. However, while a six-day tour to Seoul can cost more the HK$10,000, many Hongkongers are still willing to take their families there, he said. kelly.ip@singtaonewscorp.com self storage