Skyscanner report reveals 89 per cent plan to maintain or increase travel, with digital detoxes, music tourism and currency-conscious holidays gaining popularity
Singaporeans are showing little appetite for cutting back on holidays despite economic uncertainty and rising living costs, with nearly nine in 10 planning to travel as much or more in 2027.
Instead, they are becoming increasingly selective about where they go, what they spend and the experiences they seek, according to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2027 report released on Oct 8.
The global travel app found that 89 per cent of Singapore travellers intend to maintain or increase their travel plans next year, signalling strong demand for holidays that offer greater personal satisfaction and value for money.
From digital detoxes and music-inspired journeys to shopping expeditions and fitness-focused getaways, Singaporeans are increasingly moving away from conventional sightseeing towards experiences reflecting their lifestyles and interests.
The report identifies seven emerging travel trends, while revealing Indonesia’s Belitung as the fastest-rising destination and Chicago in the United States as the leading best-value destination.
Skyscanner CEO Bryan Batista said travel habits were undergoing a significant transformation.
“Travel is entering a new era. As people become more intentional about how they spend their time and money, they’re making different choices about where they go, how they book and what creates lasting value,” he said.
“They’re prioritising meaningful experiences over material possessions, seeking confidence in every booking decision, and, in some cases, using AI during the planning process.”
The findings, based on a June 2026 survey of 1,000 Singapore respondents conducted by OnePoll, suggest travellers are adjusting their priorities rather than abandoning holidays.
Authentic local experiences and convenience or familiarity are equally important, each cited by 37 per cent of respondents, while 36 per cent prioritise keeping costs low.
Airfares and accommodation prices remain major considerations, each influencing 51 per cent of travellers in the youngest age group surveyed.
Meanwhile, 32 per cent are allocating more money towards travel insurance, reflecting growing concerns about unexpected disruptions.
Seven trends reshaping holidays
One of the most striking trends is Signal Severance, reflecting a growing desire to escape constant digital connectivity.
With Singapore’s demanding work culture and widespread smartphone dependence, travellers increasingly want holidays that allow them to disconnect and recharge.
About 80 per cent say they can disconnect to some extent while travelling.
Destinations associated with nature and tranquillity are benefiting. Searches for Yining in China have surged 193 per cent year on year, while Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania has recorded an 84 per cent increase.
Another emerging trend, Pilgra-merch, combines travel with the pursuit of exclusive purchases.
Rather than ordering everything online, travellers are increasingly willing to journey abroad for locally produced fashion, artisanal crafts and merchandise unavailable elsewhere.
More than half of Singapore respondents, or 56 per cent, have travelled specifically to purchase items they could not buy online.
Music is also becoming a powerful travel motivator.
Under the trend Sound Bound, travellers are looking beyond international superstar concerts to experience regional music, traditional performances and local cultural celebrations.
About 18 per cent identify cultural immersion as their most important consideration when planning music-related trips.
Traditional concert venues and carnival experiences are especially popular among younger travellers.
Financial considerations are driving Currency Chasers, another significant trend.
Nearly half of respondents, or 44 per cent, have switched destinations to take advantage of favourable foreign exchange rates.
The proportion rises to 55 per cent among Generation Z and 49 per cent among millennials, indicating that younger travellers are particularly alert to currency fluctuations.
Romance is also taking a different direction.
Under Multi-Mooning, newlyweds are increasingly replacing one elaborate honeymoon with several shorter romantic escapes spread over months or years.
About 31 per cent favour multiple mini-honeymoons, rising to 45 per cent among Gen Z travellers.
Udaipur in India, renowned for its palaces and lakes, has recorded a 119 per cent increase in searches, while Qingdao in China has seen growth of 105 per cent.
History, mythology and architecture are inspiring another trend called Grand Odysseys.
Films such as The Odyssey have encouraged 38 per cent of respondents to consider travel inspired by ancient stories, while 54 per cent cite architectural landmarks such as Pompeii, the Parthenon and the Colosseum as sources of inspiration.
Fitness-conscious travellers, meanwhile, are embracing Gym-cation, combining holidays with exercise and healthy eating.
Among Gen Z respondents, 78 per cent are more likely to book hotels offering nutritious breakfasts, while 32 per cent favour properties with superior gym facilities.
Bangkok, Mumbai, New York, Phuket and Seoul are among the leading destinations globally for travellers using Skyscanner’s hotel gym search filter.
Belitung leads emerging destinations
The report also highlights growing interest in lesser-known destinations offering distinctive experiences.
Belitung, an Indonesian island known for its beaches and natural landscapes, tops Skyscanner’s trending destinations list with a remarkable 388 per cent year-on-year increase in searches.
Its popularity reflects travellers’ willingness to explore beyond familiar regional holiday destinations.
PHOTOS: Skyscanner and Santosh Kumar VK
For those prioritising affordability, Chicago has emerged as the leading best-value destination, with airfares falling 47 per cent year on year.
The American city offers visitors access to jazz clubs, cultural festivals, museums and diverse neighbourhood experiences.
AI changes holiday planning
Technology is playing an increasingly important role in how Singaporeans organise their trips.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents, or 65 per cent, are already using artificial intelligence tools for travel planning, primarily for destination research and itinerary development.
Skyscanner travel trends and destination expert Brendan Walsh said travellers could combine AI-powered searches with currency monitoring and flexible destination choices to maximise their budgets.
“Singapore travellers are also becoming smarter planners,” he said.
“To maximise value in 2027, I’d recommend taking advantage of AI tools to relieve you from the manual labours of trip planning.”
However, traditional inspiration sources continue to dominate.
YouTube leads with 58 per cent, followed by Instagram at 48 per cent and TikTok at 39 per cent, compared with just 19 per cent for AI chatbots and tools.
Among Gen Z travellers, recommendations from friends and family remain particularly influential, at 58 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.
For Singaporeans, the overall message is clear: holidays remain a priority, but spending wisely and finding personal meaning increasingly determine where they go.
Whether escaping digital distractions, exploring Indian heritage in Udaipur, discovering Indonesian islands or following musical passions abroad, the emphasis in 2027 is shifting from simply travelling more to travelling better.
As part of the report, Skyscanner travel experts analysed tens of thousands of data points to reveal the Top 10 Trending and Best Value Destinations. The destinations set to steal the spotlight in 2027 are:
Top 10 Trending Destinations List*
1. Belitung (Tanjung Pandan), Indonesia: +388%
2. Nha Trang, Vietnam: +181%
3. Chiang Rai, Thailand: +122%
4. Udaipur, India: +119%
5. Qingdao, China: +105%
6. Prague, Czechia: +100%
7. Hamburg, Germany: +86%
8. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: +84%
9. Amsterdam, Netherlands: +83%
10. Krakow, Poland: +82%
*Destinations seeing an increase in return flight searches between 1 January 2026 and 17 June 2026, for travel throughout 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, then selected for travel suitability.
Top 10 Best Value Destinations List**
1. Chicago, United States (-47%)
2. Zagreb, Croatia (-45%)
3. Chiang Rai, Thailand (-33%)
4. San Francisco, United States (-23%)
5. Christchurch, New Zealand (-21%)
6. Tashkent, Uzbekistan (-20%)
7. Shijiazhuang, China (-15%)
8. Caticlan, Philippines (-13%)
9. Adelaide, Australia (-12%)
10. Calgary, Canada (-10%)
**Based on % price drop for economy class return flights booked between 1 January 2026 and 17 June 2026, for travel throughout 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, coupled with stays pricing insights for the same period, then selected for travel suitability.
Trends Deep Dives
1. Signal Severance – Driven by digital fatigue and constant connectivity, travellers are logging off to tune back in – with remote travel replacing endless scrolling with shared moments and deeper conversations.
• 4 in 5 (80%) Singapore travellers are able to disconnect during their trips
• 45% feel minimally affected by the fear of missing a key piece of global news when on a signal severance holiday
• 13% of Gen Zs confess they never fully disconnect while away.
• 52% admitted that they are able to be more present in the moment if they are
intentionally off-grid, more so for Gen Z (69%) and Millennials (55%)
• In light of the desire to unplug, trending digital detox spots like Yining, China (+193% Year-on-Year) and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (+84% Year-on-Year) are seeing rising demand.
2. Pilgra-merch – The best keepsakes are the ones you must travel for. Travel Trends 2027 research found that travellers are building itineraries inspired by unique regional apparel, artisanal crafts and location-exclusive items.
• More than 1 in 2 (56%) taking a trip specifically for items they couldn’t buy online, more so for Gen Zs (66%)
• Specifically, 43% of Gen Z proudly return home with a franchise merchandise (e.g. limited-edition Jelly Cat), and 16% are proud to own rare vinyls from their trips.
3. Sound Bound – Music has become one of the biggest drivers of global travel, but beyond stadium tours, regional sounds and local culture are driving destination choices.
• Cultural immersion is a priority as 18% state cultural immersion to be the most important factor when planning a music-related trip.
• Traditional concert venues and carnival experiences also rank highly for both Gen Z (41% and 37%) and Millennials (31% and 34%).
4. Currency Chasers – Savvy spenders can make their money go further in 2027 by actively matching holiday destinations to foreign exchange advantage.
• Majority (89%) will take into consideration, the strength of the destination’s currency against their home country when planning their travels.
• Nearly half (44%) of travellers, including 55% of Gen Z and 49% of Millennials, have switched destinations to take advantage of better exchange rates, directly influencing destination choices.
5. Multi-Mooning – One honeymoon no longer has to do it all. Couples are spreading romance across a series of meaningful escapes, from mini-moons just after the wedding to dream trips years later, celebrating every new chapter together.
• 31% of travellers (rising to 45% of Gen Z) now opt for multiple “mini-moons” to celebrate their wedding rather than a single traditional honeymoon.
• Skyscanner data shows that Asian destinations are seeing the biggest surge in romantic hotel searches, led by Udaipur, India (+119% Year-on-Year) and Qingdao, China (+105% Year-on-Year).
6. Grand Odysseys – In a fast-paced world, history offers context, grounding travellers in timeless human stories. Whether following sacred walking trails or exploring legendary ruins, modern tourists are turning to the past to enrich their present.
• Travel Trends 2027 research shows that cinematic releases are driving real-world bookings, epic film and TV like Gladiator and The Odyssey inspired 38% of the travellers surveyed to plan a trip.
7. Gym-cation – Health and fitness travel is inspiring people to seek out destinations where staying active and prioritising protein-rich healthy choices is as easy as sightseeing.
• Two thirds of Gen Z travellers (78%) are more likely to book a hotel which serves a nutritious breakfast.
• 32% of Gen Z travellers prefer hotels with gyms
• Bangkok, Mumbai, New York, Phuket, and Seoul topping the list of destinations where global travellers select hotel gym filter.
