You may have set out your 2021 resolutions, but a recent survey from Agoda mapped out just what matters to Malaysians this year, and it seems it’s going to be a year focusing on loved ones and making a difference.
As we usher in 2021, one in three people are most looking forward to spending more quality time with loved ones this year, according to the ‘What Matters 2021’ survey.
This is followed by being able to travel unhindered (24%) and doing things that matter or make a difference (21%).
Specifically, respondents aged 55 and above were most looking forward to traveling unhindered, while those between ages 25-54 were keen to spend quality time with family and friends, and youths (18-24) were most excited about making a difference in 2021.
“2020 was a year of survival and of making the best of it. Despite all that struggle and hardship, our research shows that there’s a global desire for travel, connection, meaning and spending time with friends and family. Travel will resume eventually, because, ultimately, the human desire to travel is unstoppable,” said Tim Hughes, Vice President of Corporate Development, Agoda.
Here are the key findings from the survey:
Top things people are most looking forward to in 2021:
- Spending more quality time with loved ones is what most people from the United Kingdom (UK) and Thailand, the United States (US), the Philippines, Malaysia and China are most looking forward to in 2021.
- Being able to travel unhindered is what Singaporeans, South Koreans and Japanese are most looking forward to doing in the new year.
- Doing things that matter or make a difference is what Indonesians, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese are most looking forward to.
- Getting closer to nature and the great outdoors is second on the list for Thais, and third for Japanese.
- Fewer are looking forward to going back to the workplace in 2021. Respondents from China (1.2%), Japan (1.5%) and UK (2%) have the smallest proportion that are looking forward to being done with remote working, while Filipinos (9%), Vietnamese (7%) and Indonesians (7%) are more likely to look forward to returning to office.
- Attending live, sporting or large-scale events is second least popular on the list, but those from the US (8%), UK (8%) and Japan (7%) are more likely to look forward to that.
Top travel commitments:
- Traveling more with loved ones is the top thing all markets are most likely to commit to doing differently when traveling in 2021, with the exception of the United Kingdom (UK) and Taiwan, where respondents are embracing the adventure and committing to taking more spontaneous trips, and the Japanese committing to travel at a slower pace.
- Traveling at a slower pace is the second most popular commitment for Singaporeans and Malaysians.
- Vietnamese, South Koreans, Filipinos, Thais and Indonesians are more likely to commit to travel sustainably. Commitment to making more eco-friendly travel choices comes in second for these markets.
- Indonesians (16%), Thais (14%) and Japanese (13%) commit to consciously support less touristy destinations in the new year.
Photo via Traveloka
Malaysia
- Similar to global trends, people are looking to spend more quality time with loved ones (26%), doing things that matter/make a difference (25%), and being able to travel unhindered (23%).
- Younger Malaysians (18-24) prioritize doing things that make a difference, while those 25-44 most look forward to spending time with their loved ones. Malaysians in age groups 45-54 and 55+ are experiencing wanderlust and are most looking forward to traveling unhindered in 2021.
- When they travel in 2021, Malaysians are committed to traveling more with friends/family (37%), corresponding with the desire to spend time with loved ones, followed by traveling at a slower pace (25%) and making more eco-friendly travel choices (15%).
Do your 2021 resolutions match the findings of this survey?
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
