By Rachel Chan

WORKING executives aged between 30 and 50 are spending more on travel this year - and going to more distant destinations - thanks to the economic recovery, said travel agents at the Natas fair last weekend.

While Bali, Bintan and Malaysia were popular last year, more are travelling to farther-away Asia-Pacific nations, or chalking up more miles on their holidays.

In a year that has seen travel agents enjoy rising sales despite higher air-ticket prices, China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Europe were the five hottest destinations (not listed in any particular order) at the Natas fair.

At press time, the fair had already hit record-high sales and visitorship, raking in an approximate $85 million - a whopping $15 million more than expected and 35 per cent more than the $63 million from February's show. An estimated 69,000 to 70,000 people visited the biannual event, which ran from last Friday to 9.30pm yesterday.

Ms Jun Jiang, managing director of Jun-Air Travel, a tour agency specialising in travel destinations within Asia, said it saw a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in demand for tour packages to South Korea at the fair. Ms Sharon Foo, senior manager of marketing communications at Dynasty Travel International, also said South Korea was a top pick at the fair this year.

"Because of Korean dramas, the country (as a travel destination) has really taken Singapore by storm. Shopping is great there, with streets of wholesale shopping available from midnight till 5am," she said.

Travel Star, which organises package tours to countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, as well as the United States and Egypt, has seen more families sign up for long-haul trips.

Said managing director Shirley Shi: "The last two years, more people preferred to visit nearby Bali and Bintan. Also, the usual group consisted of only two adults and two kids. But this year, we're getting large families - parents, grandparents, kids - going to the United States and even Egypt."

Said Ms Foo: "The travel market is still hungry.

People book early to make sure they can get seats at a promotional price."

Mrs Rachael Goh, 33, an administrative executive, will be taking her mother when she goes on a holiday to Hong Kong with her husband and two daughters in November. "I went to Phuket last year. Prices are a little better this year, so I want to take my mother," she said.

For more my paper stories click here.