Expedia Flip Flop Report 2016: Malaysian Beachgoers More Afraid of Shark Attacks Than Drowning
Expedia.com.my® 2016 Flip Flop Report discovers not only the preferences of Malaysian beach lovers but our quirky nature too.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 12 September, 2016 – Today, Expedia.com.my® released the results of the 2016 Expedia® Flip Flop Report, an annual study of the behavior and preferences among beachgoers around the world.
Aside from a resounding statement by 38 percent that they prefer to holiday at one of the many pristine local beaches and that 71 percent have taken a beach vacation in the last 12 months, a lot of quirky habits were discovered as well.
Expedia Flip Flop Report 2016
Even after more than 30 years, the movie Jaws might have left an imprint, as 35 percent of Malaysian beach-going respondents said they were afraid of shark attacks. This is despite the fact that shark attacks are extremely rare in the country. A popular shark attacks tracking site http://www.sharkattackdata.com/place/malaysia notes only three, non-lethal incidents in Malaysia since 1968. This sits pretty high when compared to the mere 16% who ranked fear of drowning as their top beach-related concern. The reason for this might be pretty clear though, seeing that 51 percent of Malaysian beachgoers hardly swims on the beach, and instead, prefers to watch other beachgoers (about 40%).
Simon Fiquet, General Manager for Southeast Asia and India, Expedia group said: “The study enlightens us to the fact that Malaysia, with its people, is indeed an interesting destination to visit! Malaysians obviously already know this and domestically, the tourism industry is seeing positive growth with popular destinations like the Pulau Perhentian, Langkawi and Pangkor Laut beaches continuing to attract local and foreign travelers year after year.”
Slobs be gone!
Nothing seems to annoy Malaysian beachgoer, and threatens to spoil their vacation, more than The Slob – the culprit who leaves garbage on the beach behind them. Some 56 percent of respondents voted against The Slob, which is surely a great news for everyone interested in keeping Malaysia’s white sands, and clear, blue waters in pristine condition.
Some other pet-peeves of Malaysian beach vacationers include:
- The Loud Mouth – the beachgoer who talks so loudly that you can’t help but listen to their conversations.
- The Paparazzi – the beachgoer who photographs strangers. Invading one’s privacy is a definite no-no even when you are on a beach vacation.
- The DJ – Malaysia beachgoers go on holiday to relax and unwind, but nothing spoils that moment of peace like other beachgoers playing their music too loudly.
When asked about some of the key amenities their beach lodging should have, a resounding majority of 63 percent voted for WiFi and Internet browsing, with 38 percent saying they needed Internet access to share snippets of their experience on social media. This is in line with the fact that Malaysians are one of the world’s most active social media consumers.
This study was conducted on behalf of Expedia by Northstar, a globally integrated strategic insights consulting firm. This survey was conducted online from April 6 to April 21, 2016 across North America, Europe, South America and Asia Pacific using the Kantar-owned GMI (Global Market Insite) and Lightspeed Research amalgamated group of panels.
About Expedia.com.my®
Expedia.com.my® offers travellers a wide selection of hotels, activities and travel services at attractive rates. With over hundreds of thousands hotel partners worldwide and comprehensive choices of flight inventory made readily available on Expedia.com.my®, travellers can book everything they need for a holiday – rooms to meet every budget, activities of every kind and travel services to complement.
About Northstar
NORTHSTAR is a strategic marketing insights and consulting firm that aligns leading edge, customized research techniques and cultural context with proprietary and proven strategic marketing frameworks and models to drive insights to impact. Northstar’s suite of services relate to the most critical elements of brand, customer and marketing strategy, with sector expertise in travel and tourism, retail, automotive, CPG, food & beverage, financial services, pharma / health care, transportation and fashion / luxury. For more information, please go to www.northstarhub.com.
For more information, please contact:
Lavinia Rajaram Liyana Ahmed Rasly
Expedia group essence Burson-Marsteller for Expedia.com.my
(65) 84280079 liyana@my-essence.com
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