An analysis by global travel service provider Trip.com, of October bookings for popular winter sun destinations, shows travel in many parts of the world is becoming consistently busy, and appears to be heralding the demise of so-called ‘peak season’ travel. Continued increased desire for overseas travel, combined with more flexible work schedules, shows an emerging trend towards year-round demand to many destinations, which traditionally were more popular in the summer months or school holidays.

Flight searches and bookings are on the up
Trip.com data reveals a 20% increase in flight searches from Europe and the US to popular Asia-Pacific winter sun destinations in October compared to September. The Maldives is particularly popular for off-season travel, with flight searches from Germany up by 116% in October compared to the previous month. Other markets have followed this trend, with flight searches to the Maldives from the UK up 57%, Italy up 47% and the US up by nearly a third (27%). Interest in the Philippines has also increased, with flight searches from Italy up by 45% and for the UK and Germany by almost a third (29% and 28% respectively)

Data also shows a healthy 27% increase in flight searches for travel within the Asia-Pacific region in October. Flight bookings from the UK to New Zealand also rose by 71% in October versus September. Across select Asian destinations, Trip.com data shows flight bookings rose by 19% in October 2022 compared to the previous month. Flight bookings to the Philippines from Europe and the US are up by an average of 14% and from Germany to the Maldives are up by 63%.

Travellers taking time off to travel in the off-season can benefit from Trip.com’s 5th anniversary global offers. This includes one-for-one ticket deals in Hong Kong, up to 50% off deals in Japan, daily hotel and flight offers in Thailand. There is also a lucky villa lottery draw in Vietnam, crazy hour flash sales in Singapore, flight giveaways in Australia and New Zealand, and the chance for European users to get a massive discount on a Barcelona getaway.

Trip.com users in France and Spain can also be in with the chance to win a holiday for two to Malaysia with free emirates flights and a 5* stay at Shangri-la hotel in Penang.