By Cheryl Lim

Recession or not, Singaporeans are still going ahead with their year-end travel plans, but many are making adjustments.

These include trimming their trips and opting for more affordable locations within the Asia-Pacific region.

That is according to the feedback and sales figures from travel agencies and the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas).

They say that many people are going ahead with their holiday trips this month and next.

They booked the vacations as long ago as July, well before the economic crisis was fullblown.

Mr Robert Khoo, chief executive of Natas, told my paper that "travellers who made bookings at the Natas travel fair" have not cancelled them.

He added that "the full impact of the economic downturn is yet to be felt".

However, he noted that many travellers have changed their travel plans, eschewing long-haul flights for short trips to regional destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

CTC Holidays saw packages to Asian locations rise by 20%, compared to the same period last year, said Ms Alicia Seah, the agency's senior vice president of marketing and public relations.

Singaporeans are also attracted to countries such as Australia and South Korea, whose currencies have depreciated in the financial crisis.

For instance, the South Korean won - Asia's worst-performing currency this year - has lost "a total value of 31.8% from the end of last year, the biggest depreciation against the greenback among 20 major currencies", the Korea Times reported recently.

This means that vacationers can save up to 30% shopping and dining in Seoul.

Ms Ruth Lim, marketing and communications manager at SA Tours, said that their tours to South Korea and Australia "saw a spike of at least 20 and 8%, respectively", compared to the same period last year.

While industry players are cautious about next year's growth potential, they will continue to come up with more promotions to entice travellers.

Ms Seah said: "Singaporeans will continue to travel as long as they are employed and have set aside a budget for a holiday."

One such traveller is housewife Winnie Ang, 38, who went to Ho Chi Minh City last week with her family.

She said: "There is no need to abstain in a downturn. We still need a break, otherwise we will feel more depressed."

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