Surf's up: Hong Kong travellers increasingly eyeing beaches as tourist destinations

They plan trips as early as 2 and a half months ahead.

Hong Kong travellers are increasingly looking to relax at the beach, as the number of seaside locations grow in the 2017 list of emerging travel destinations from global travel search engine Skyscanner.

They are also increasingly planning their trips in advance, according to search data, which revealed that the average flight search takes place 72 days ahead of the expected travel date, an increase from the 2014 average of 66 days.

“Our data reveals that Hong Kong Travellers continue to be increasingly organised when it comes to planning their trips. By looking at their travel options so far in advance they are able to take advantage of tools like Skyscanner’s Price Alert, to track changes in price over time and ensure they can get the best deal on their selected route. This advance planning also enables them to get the most from their annual leave by planning trips around the many public holidays that Hong Kong offers,” comments Fang Fang, Senior Marketing Manager, Skyscanner, Greater China.

The 2017 list of emerging destinations featured five city and four beach locations, a noticeable change from the 2016 list in which cities made up nine of the top ten spots.

Location (in order of average search increase)

1. Ishigaki
2. Takamatsu
3. Paro
4. Okayama
5. Kumamoto
6. Hua Hin (Prachuap Khiri Khan)
7. Krabi
8. Semarang
9. Islamabad
10. Saipan

"Our emerging cities list for 2017 reveals that Hong Kongers are increasingly exploring a diverse range of travel options. Where once cities were the popular choice, travellers are now also looking at options that can offer relaxation or adventure. This reflects an increasingly mature Hong Kong travel market that is always pushing to explore new and interesting destinations,” adds Fang Fang.