Travellers now into more sustainable vacations
AS Malaysians explore new horizons, they are increasingly mindful of the potential impact of their travel choices. A survey by digital travel platform Agoda found that 81 per cent of travellers from Malaysia care about more sustainable travel. Respondents highlighted that financial incentives, the availability of sustainable travel packages and clearer guidance on sustainable travel practices could encourage them to make more sustainable choices on their next trip.
More than 10,000 respondents were polled on Agoda’s platform from 10 markets across Asia.
Almost eight in 10 stated their willingness to make more sustainable travel choices, with 18 per cent indicating that they would always take every effort to this end.
Still, 22 per cent rarely consider sustainability in their travel decisions
with Japan’s respondents being the least concerned (45 per cent) as opposed to those from the Philippines (only eight per cent).
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FACTOR
Agoda’s Eco Deals Survey also asked respondents about the key factors that would encourage them to make more sustainable travel choices.
In all markets, financial incentives came out on top, with an average 45 per cent of respondents highlighting incentives such as discounts as the key motivation. This sentiment was particularly strong in Singapore (58 per cent), Taiwan (54 per cent) and Indonesia (47 per cent).
The availability of sustainable travel packages ranked second, with offerings ranging from guided conservation hikes to supporting local initiatives piquing the interest of travellers from the Philippines (28 per cent), Vietnam (24 per cent) and Thailand (23 per cent).
Clear guidelines on sustainable travel practices, education and awareness on environmental impact , and relevant sustainability policies from the local government completed the top five factors.
Aligned with the overall trend, financial incentives emerged as the top factor for Malaysian respondents, driving nearly one in two towards making more sustainable travel choices (46 per cent), while others would be drawn to the availability of sustainable travel packages (21 per cent) and clearer
guidelines on responsible travel practices (12 per cent). Additionally, increased education and awareness about environmental impact (10 per cent) and government incentives or policies for sustainable travel (nine per cent) round up the top five factors that would drive Malaysians to choose more sustainable travel options.
TRAVEL PRACTICES
When asked which of the sustainable travel practices travellers across Asia would prioritise on their trips, more than a quarter (26 per cent) of respondents chose supporting local communities through actions such as buying locally made products or contributing to local initiatives.
Recycling and waste reduction (20 per cent), such as reusing towels and bed linens, was the second-most preferred action, followed by participating in conservation-focused activities and tours (17 per cent).
The fourth-preferred practice was picking accommodations with sustainability certifications and finally, selecting more sustainable transportation.
Notably, travellers from Malaysia would prioritise supporting local communities and conservation projects (26 per cent) by opting for travel packages promoting conservationfocused activities (24 per cent) and accommodations with sustainability certifications (19 per cent).