Britons lead the way for globetrotting, taking the top spot for the highest number of international countries visited according to the “Well Traveled Survey” commissioned by Agoda.com, one of the world’s fastest growing digital travel platforms, with the average British traveler visiting 12 countries, closely followed by Australians who average 10 international destinations.
Agoda’s “Well Traveled Survey” reveals travel trend comparisons by gender and age, for countries in Asia Pacific, the Middle East, plus the UK and US, ahead of World Tourism Day on 27 September.
According to the survey findings, almost seven out of 10 people have visited up to 10 countries (68%), with Middle Eastern travelers from United Arab Emirates (92%) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (82%) in the lead, followed by Thailand (76%), Malaysia (75%) and Japan (71%).
The UK has the largest proportion who have traveled to more than 31 destinations (5%), followed by Australia (4%), Thailand (3%) and the United States (2%).
In Agoda’s home markets of Asia Pacific, Malaysians were most likely to have traveled to more than 10 countries (11%), followed by Thais (8%), Indonesians (2%), and Vietnamese (1%).
“Whether it’s looking to find yourself or just the need for a relaxing break in the sun after working hard throughout the year, it’s clear people everywhere – regardless of age or gender – love to travel,” says Timothy Hughes, Vice President of Corporate Development at Agoda. “And with so many ways and reasons to travel, and bustling cities, breathtaking beaches or rich arts and cultural centers to explore, it’s no wonder that the number of people visiting up to 10 countries is so high.”
Never traveled abroad
Meanwhile, the data also found that 18% of people have never traveled to another country at all, with a surprising 13% of over 55s never having traveled internationally.
Interestingly, among the non-Asia Pacific markets (United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Americans are the least traveled, with 29% having never been overseas.
Gen Z and Millennials biggest groups where travel still hasn’t taken off
Globally, 27% of 18-24 year olds have never traveled with individuals from China, Vietnam and Indonesia most likely to never have traveled at 49%, 45% and 37% respectively. However, in the 25-34 age group, where the global average is 19% having never traveled, Vietnam is pushed out of the bottom three by the US.
By 45-54 years old, 86% have traveled abroad, while 81% of the 25-34 years age group has already traveled to other countries.
“While it seems Gen Z and Millennials are yet to have the opportunity to travel as extensively abroad as other age groups, the gap between those who have never traveled internationally is shrinking fast. It will be exciting to see the potential cultural and socio-economic gains once those from China, Vietnam and Indonesia start traveling more,” Timothy adds.
Gender no barrier for travel for Asia Pacific travelers
Overall, 19% of women have never traveled outside their home country versus 17% of men. Only the United States, Vietnam and Indonesia showed significant differences in percentages of males and females traveling – 66% of females versus 76% of males in the United States have traveled internationally at least once, and 67% females compared to 74% of males in Vietnam. Indonesia bucks the trend with 72% of women having traveled internationally before, compared to only 65% of men.
Agoda’s Well Traveled Survey Summary
COUNTRY SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTS
Australia
- A majority of Australians (59%) have been to up to 10 countries.
- They also recorded the second-highest percentage of people (4%) who have been to over 30 countries, behind the UK.
- 12% of men in Australia have been to 21 plus countries while only 8% of women have done the same.
China
- Chinese in the 18-24 age group are the least traveled, with almost half of them (49%) yet to go overseas.
- Majority of Chinese (57%) have been to 1-5 countries.
- Less than 1% of Chinese have been to 21 or more countries.
- Chinese women are slightly more likely to travel than men (66% versus 64%), alongside Indonesian and Japanese travelers.
Indonesia
- Globally, men were more likely than women to have traveled outside their home country with 83% indicating that they have traveled as opposed to 81% of women. Indonesia travelers buck this trend, however, with women were more likely to have traveled to at least one other country (72% vs 65%).
- Fewer than 1% of Indonesians have been to 21 or more countries
Japan
- 19% of people in Japan have never traveled before and a majority (54%) have only been to between 1-5 countries.
- An equal number of men and women (3%) have been to 21 or more countries.
- Those aged 55 and above were among the most extensive travelers in Japan, with 11% having been to 11-20 countries, 3% to 21-30 countries and 1% to 31 or more countries.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- At 82%, the largest proportion of people in the KSA have been to 1-10 countries.
- Only 1% of people from the KSA have been to 21 or more countries.
- Of those aged 55 and over in the KSA, 6% have been to 21 or more countries.
Malaysia
- 14% of people in Malaysia have never traveled before, while 75% have been to 1-10 countries.
- A slightly higher percentage of men (15%) have never traveled before as opposed to 13% of women.
- 59% of women have been to 1-5 countries, while only 57% of men have done the same. However, an equal percentage of men and women have been to 6 or more countries (28%).
Thailand
- 16% of people in Thailand have never traveled before, while 76% have been to 1-10 countries.
- A greater percentage of women (18% vs. 14%) have never traveled or been to 1-5 countries (60% vs. 67%) as compared to men.
- A greater percentage of women in Thailand have been to 11-20 countries (6% vs. 4%) as compared to men.
United Arab Emirates
- Of those who traveled, UAE showed the biggest difference in male and female travelers. 73% of males have traveled up to 5 countries compared to 81% of females.
- Less than 1% of those aged 18-24 in the UAE have not traveled, with 96% having visited up to 10 countries.
Vietnam
- 30% of those in Vietnam have never traveled before and only 1% of Vietnamese have been to more than 10 countries.
- An equal percentage of men and women in Vietnam have been to 6-10 countries (5%).
- Vietnam along with China and Indonesia averaged the fewest countries visited (two countries).
United Kingdom
- 97% of men and women in the UK have traveled internationally. 7% of men have traveled extensively to over 31 countries opposed to 3% of women.
- 8% of those aged 55 and above have traveled to more than 31 countries.
- Brits have traveled to 12 countries on average, beating Australia to the top spot.
- UK has the largest proportion of travelers who have been to more than 31 countries.
United States
- 3% of 18-24 year olds in the US have already traveled to 31 or more countries as opposed to 1% of those aged 55 and above.
- 34% of women have never traveled internationally before compared to 24% of men.
- US comes fourth for the largest number of people to travel to more than 31 countries.
- 29% of US people have never traveled abroad, ranking 9th out of 11 countries
For more information, please contact press@agoda.com
About the data
The results, are based on an Agoda.com commissioned survey conducted by YouGov, in June 2019 of those aged 18 and above in 11 markets: Australia (AU), China (CN), Indonesia (ID), Japan (JP), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Malaysia (MY), Thailand (TH), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and Vietnam (VN).
