Singaporeans are among the most well-travelled people in the world, and our passion for travel is showing up in our love lives in surprising ways according to two popular apps. Exploring this intersection between love and travel is the crux of a new nationwide survey titled the Roam-ance Study conducted by Bumble, the women-first dating app, and Asia’s leading travel and experiences platform Klook. Coupled with Klook’s booking data, the new research* spotlights how shared travel interest is key for almost every (91%) Singaporean, with travel having a hand in developing chemistry with potential partners, and even making or breaking relationships.

Travel takes a front seat in Singaporean’s dating lives, and more than eight in ten (82%) talk about trips taken or planned in a conversation with a potential match on a dating app, or in person. Bringing it up in conversations allows for a quick icebreaker and also offers a way to learn about a partner’s preferences, to determine if it is a potential match. On Bumble, travel interest badges are among the most popular badges used by Singaporeans to signal their interest in their preferred locales – with “City Breaks” coming in first, followed by “Beaches”, “Road Trips”, “Hiking Trips” and “Country Escapes”.

The first couple trip is an important milestone amongst Singaporeans and is a make or break moment. After all, you do not really know someone until you’ve travelled with them! Almost seven in ten (73%) acknowledge that travelling together may change their opinion about their partners, for better or worse. In fact, one in every six (17%) Singaporeans said they have actually ended their relationship before because of bad experiences on a trip.

Because trips can either bring couples together or make their differences more apparent, Singaporeans are cautious to suss out a partner’s preference before a trip. Majority of Singaporeans (60%) need at least six months before they would bring up the topic of travelling. And for more than one in five (21%) this big milestone is something they are only comfortable with after a year.

Travelling together can bring to light some key relationship dealbreakers especially when they are in close proximity for extended periods of time – for almost half of people (45%), a difference in budgeting and spending habits is a challenge that can ruin the holiday and the relationship. Other dating dealbreakers include a lack of emotional stability in crisis and unexpected situations (41%), or differences in living habits (31%). This is especially true when one person is a night owl and the other an early bird. Alignment of financial habits during the holidays is more important to Gen Zs (46% vs 40% of older Millennials), which could be due to the lack of financial stability as the majority of Gen Zs are likely to still be in school or starting out in their careers.

At the same time, differences in travel are not always irreconcilable. Here are some tips to overcoming them:

1. Have a discussion early on about your preferences and expectations – This ensures that
   boundaries are set and there are no surprises during the trip. Research shows that almost 2 in 3 (65%) Singaporeans are likely to discuss travel preferences and expectations with someone they’re dating early in the relationship.
   
2. Take equal responsibility in planning itineraries – Equality is key with more than half (57%) of Singaporeans saying they prefer equal responsibility in planning their travel itineraries. This could mean taking ownership of different parts of the trip to reduce the burden on one party to plan. Klook’s data reveals that 62% of women make bookings compared to 38% of men, offering a possible peek into how Singaporeans split vacation planning between themselves. While there is a significant dip in preference for equal responsibility in planning for people in relationships (49%) compared to
   singles (64%), it is nice to show you care by offering to help.
   
3. Be firm on your needs but remain open to compromising – For more than 2 in 3 Singaporeans (68%), finding a balance between both parties’ preferences is important, and they compromise when necessary to ensure both parties’ needs are met.

For more than one in two (58%) Singaporeans, the ideal couples trip is a quick weekend getaway to somewhere nearby. Klook’s booking data reveals that some of the top nearby destinations for couples include Johor Bahru, Bali, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

A relaxing vacation (48%), a culturally immersive experience in a new city (44%) and exploring lesser-known destinations/hidden gems (43%) would make for a safe bet. Gen Zs have a greater nose for thrilling adventures than Millennials (42% vs 24%). According to Klook, these activities include bungee jumping, skydiving and theme parks. The survey also suggests that Gen Zs have a greater interest in cultural immersion than Millennials (47% vs 41%). However, Klook’s data shows that the number of bookings for cultural activities like cooking classes, historical tours and DIY workshops are just as popular between the two audiences.

Regardless, Singaporeans’ top choices of couple getaways according to the survey as well as their purchasing behaviour on Klook indicate the preference for ease of travelling to potentially reduce the stress of planning, as well as the inclusion of activities they can do as a couple to immerse in new experiences. This penchant for experiences also applies to singles looking to mingle while overseas. While Singaporeans are cautious on meeting strangers,18% of survey respondents are open to the idea of using dating apps when they travel to find others to share experiences with, with more men being open to it (27%) than women (9%).

Meihui Chen, APAC Communications Lead at Bumble shared, “Travel opens the door to a deeper understanding of our relationships with one another, and we are excited to see how love and travel intertwine with compatibility in romantic relationships. Bumble is the space for meaningful connections, with features like Travel Mode and Interest Badges that help singles connect over shared location or passions . With the growing trend of travel in our love lives, we are excited to be partnering with Klook to unlock new experiences based on shared passions. After all, love is a journey that is as likely to blossom while strolling along East Coast Park as it is along the Hangang River in Seoul.”

Jasmine Seah, Marketing Director (Singapore & Indonesia) at Klook shared, “We’ve seen more Millennials and Gen Zs connect through travelling together. Interestingly, our data shows that shared experience has become a new love language of sorts, where 1 in 3 people chose their immediate partners as their go-to travel companion, compared to family and friends. Through this collaboration with Bumble, we are excited to provide a space for Singaporeans to discover and explore new experiences with their significant other.”

To help Singaporeans spark adventure and ignite connections, Bumble has partnered up with Klook to provide inspiration to globetrotting singles and couples for their next wanderlove adventure. In the “Time for Roam-ance” campaign, Klook is offering an exclusive discount code for Bumble users from now till 31 December 2024, where they can enjoy SGD$20 off sitewide activities with a minimum spend of SGD$200. Additionally, the campaign will curate deals based on the top destinations – Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand – and the types of activities indicated by the survey respondents.

Enjoy $20 off your next Roam-antic adventure with Klook via this link