Expedia HK flight search soars with relaxations of quarantine arrangements

Expedia.com.hk outbound flight search traffic has seen an almost three-fold increase within the 24-hour period since the Hong Kong Government announced a 3+4 quarantine arrangement on 8 August. Search increased by 290% compared to the day before, highlighting the strong desire for international travel amongst HongKongers.

Top trending outbound destinations include Bangkok, which headed the search rankings, followed closely by Osaka, with flight searches increasing ten-fold in comparison to the previous seven-day average. Other popular destinations also indicated strong Hong Kong traveller demand for inter-Asia travel, with Seoul, Phuket  and Singapore all featuring in the top five destinations with the highest surge in search.

Expedia data also revealed that there is a significant jump in searches for shorter stay breaks, with four to seven days stay search doubling as shorter Asia-based trips are clearly in the minds of Hong Kong travellers in the immediate term, with end of summer escapes in the next two to three weeks proving popular, according to the most immediate Expedia.com.hk search data since the government's announcement.

The Expedia Summer #TraveForReal travel study, a four-market traveller survey, conducted in June 2022 by independent research company OnePoll, who surveyed a total of 1,000 Hong Kong respondents aged between 18-45 and who had travelled abroad for leisure at least once in the last three years, in June found that the key factors holding back travel-hungry HongKongers are concerned over complex quarantine regulations and high quarantine costs. Respondents admitted that simpler quarantine and testing requirements would help boost their confidence in travel.

“Whilst the reduction of quarantine requirements has clearly played a key role in inspiring renewed travel interest, Expedia’s flight search data has indicated that Hong Konger’s interest in the resumption of overseas travel has been gradually picking-up over the course of the last six months,” explained Lavinia Rajaram, Asia head of public relations for Expedia Group. “This interest is reflected in international flight searches on Expedia.com.hk, which grew 60% between April to June this year, in comparison to the previous quarter (Jan to March 2022).”

“Expedia, along with our Hong Kong travel and tourism industry partners, welcomes the move to reduce hotel quarantine requirements as a positive step forward in rebuilding confidence in Hong Kong as a destination as we look forward to the continued recovery of international travel for Hong Kong and its travellers,” Rajaram added.

Expedia is one of the world’s leading full-service travel brands, with a mission of helping travellers get the most out of every trip they take by providing everything they need all in one place, ensuring they are getting the most out of their budget and above all else, feel supported every step of the way.

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