Revealed: The travel habits of millennials

Revealed: The travel habits of millennials

BREAKING NEWS: Millennials are everywhere. Okay, maybe it’s not breaking news, but it is important to realise when trying to sell travel to them.

Because not only are millennials one of the largest groups of travellers in the world, they also make up 45 per cent of Asia Pacific’s population.

In other words, it’s a group no one can afford to ignore.

Luckily for you, Amadeus has got you covered with their new research.

Journey of Me Insights: What Asia Pacific Millennial Travellers Want is the latest in a series of Journey of Me reports that Amadeus first launched in August 2017.

Conducted in collaboration with YouGov across 14 markets in Asia Pacific, the research surveyed 6870 respondents.

Unsurprisingly, millennials are embracing new technology, experiences, and ways of traveling. 42 per cent of millennials say they often use ride-sharing apps when they travel, and 35 per cent frequently use sharing economy services for trip accommodation.

Roughy 45 per cent of Australian millennials use sharing economy apps while travelling – like Uberpool or Airbnb.

sleeping-at-night-out

Millennials are also lusting after new experiences – 29 per cent of Aussie millennials are most interested in recommendations that expose them to something new, and prefer to be contracted via email or social media rather than in person.

Karun Budhraja, vice president, corporate marketing & communications, Asia Pacific, Amadeus said that the industry needs to serve millennials differently to other customers.

“The millennial generation is indeed an extremely interesting generation.

“They grew up with the Internet and technology is second skin to them. They have an openness to new experiences and a willingness to rattle the status quo,” she said.

“They want different experiences in travel, so the industry must serve them differently. Travel providers will need to adopt new technology, new strategies, and above all, new mindsets if they want to secure millennial mind and market share.

“By understanding what drives Asia Pacific millennials and what they value when they travel, businesses will be better placed to meet their needs.”

Millennials are also less likely to take travel advice from celebrities or social media influencers, with the majority preferring recommendations from family or friends, plus traveller reviews.

“While millennials may still look to influencers to curate trends, ideas and inspiration, I believe they are also becoming more sophisticated in how they evaluate them.

“With so many influencers becoming brands unto themselves, some of the authenticity that made them so appealing in the first place starts to get lost.

“‘Real’ is more important than ‘perfect’, and that is an important lesson for the industry to understand,” Budhraja added.

Compared to older generations, millennials are less likely to avoid visiting a destination that has had a recent terror attack, political or social uprising, or the likelihood of a natural disaster like an earthquake. While 59 per cent of baby boomers would avoid a destination where natural disasters are likely, only 51 per cent of millennials say the same.

giphy-2

“While this research has highlighted a number of unique behaviours and preferences of APAC millennial travellers, it is also worth pointing out that there are just as many similarities between millennials and travellers from other generations.

“Personalisation is increasingly important, being real is key, and travellers want to be connected with the right content, through the right channel, and at the right time.

“What is certain is that the travel industry can only thrive if we put the traveller at the center of everything we do,” Budhraja said.

Latest News

  • Famil

TravHost launches expert hosting service to transform industry famils

TravHost offers a pioneering service bridging the gap between media professionals, travel agents and tourism organisations, addressing the demand for exceptional famil hosts. Founded by seasoned travel media professionals Fiona Harper and Carolyne Jasinski, TravHost is poised to revolutionise the way tourism organisations and travel companies approach famils. With decades of experience in tourism and […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Travel Agents

Book big and bag a spot of the TTC Tour Brand’s Top Achievers’ Famil

TTC Tour Brands’ Top Achievers Famil incentive is back, rewarding top-selling agents with the chance to embark on an unforgettable trip to a destination that remains a secret – for now. Agents who have sold any Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver and Contiki, from 1 December 2024 to 14 March 2025, go into the […]

  • Business Travel
  • Conferences

New Zealand International Convention Centre to open in February 2026

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has announced it is opening its doors to New Zealand and world conferences and events in February 2026. The long-awaited NZICC is set to transform New Zealand’s conference and events industry, boosting visitation and the wider economy with its world-class facilities. Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, […]

  • Cruise
  • Events

AmaWaterways invites AU/NZ travel trade to An Evening with AmaWaterways events

AmaWaterways has announced the dates of its upcoming An Evening with AmaWaterways events for travel advisors, just over a year after it entered the Australian and New Zealand markets. Dedicated to travel advisors, the events will be held in six cities and will be hosted by AmaWaterways’ regional sales managers, plus feature a presentation from […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

Mooloolaba cruise season boosts Sunshine Coast tourism and trade

Mooloolaba is set to welcome a series of cruise ships through February and March 2025, significantly boosting local businesses and tourism to the Sunshine Coast. Their arrival is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere and provide a substantial economic uplift to the region. Viking Sky kicks off the season on Sunday 8 February, with 930 […]

  • Food & Beverage

Little Pete Brewing opens first of its kind open-air bar

Little Pete Brewing has opened a new open-air bar at 543 Step Rd, Langhorne Creek, a must-visit South Australia destination for a drink with a view. The first-of-its-kind open-air bar sits on 8ha, surrounded by vineyards and paddocks, with the Bremer River flowing nearby and framed by majestic ancient river red gums. “We always felt […]

  • Events

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025 with a one-of-a-kind activation that showcases their world-class event capabilities to inspire event planners and decision-makers. CENTREPIECE is located in the heart of Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Victoria’s epicentre for live sports and entertainment and home to world-renowned venues including Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

NYC Tourism + Conventions announces two exciting new events

NYC Tourism + Conventions has announced ‘NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025’ and ‘Value Family Activities’ events lined up for this year. NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025 2-for-1 ticket sales for this event have begun with this season’s program featuring 29 Off-Broadway performances, including 18 new participants. The twice-yearly program runs from 17 February through 9 March with […]

  • Events
  • Tourism

Jeju wins bid to host 2028 Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has successfully secured the 14th Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference (APMC14) for Jeju in November 2028. This was achieved in partnership with the Korean Society of Microscopy, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju Convention Bureau, and Jeju International Convention Center. Korea was selected as the final host after strong competition at the 13th […]

  • Cruise
  • Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises sets new standard for onboard dining: one chef for every 10 guests

Oceania Cruises, renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea, has set a new standard for onboard dining with an exquisite new menu evolution in The Grand Dining Room. Launching on its newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, in July 2025, the reimagined menus introduce over 270 brand-new recipes, from curated Signature Eggs Benedict breakfast selection to a chic French […]