MOVING the Natas travel fair a month earlier than usual has succeeded in getting more Singaporeans to book their trips in advance. It is one factor that has facilitated this year's early holiday bookings for 2009.
The fair, usually held in September, was moved to early August to encourage early bookings, as well as to boost off-peak travel, said Mr Robert Khoo, chief executive officer of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas).
Said Mr Khoo: "It's good that more Singaporeans realise that airplane seats are booked by the whole world, and not just the local market.
"They are competing with countries that book very early, so it's good that they have first choice and not get disappointed."
Even tour operators in the United States are seeing unusually early bookings this year, reported The\ New York Times last week. In June, a family of 18 reportedly booked a Costa Rica trip for a year-end vacation - in end-2009, said one US company.
Locally, at least one travel agent has received a booking for as far ahead as June next year. And as travel agents go all out to woo early birds, it will be bargains galore at this week's fair, which starts today at the Singapore Expo.
ASA Holidays and SA Tours, for instance, are offering up to $1,000 off per couple if they plan on going to Europe, while Commonwealth Travel is offering up to half off the prices of selected tours.
Logistics manager Silvester Siah, 33, bought a tour to Tokyo next March for himself and six of his family members, and another one to Seoul in November this year for himself and his wife.
He was pleased to get a free luggage case and five tickets to watch Taiwanese band F.I.R. from ASA Holidays when he signed up during its pre-Natas fair last weekend. Said Mr Siah: "They are planned holidays so we made it a point to book early. Generally, you get good prices and the freebies are an added bonus."
ASA Holidays' deputy general manager for marketing communications Eileen Oh noted that there had been a 15-per-cent increase in bookings for next year's holidays at its pre-Natas sale, compared to the same period last year.
Other travel agents have also started taking bookings earlier than usual.
Chan Brothers started selling next year's holiday packages last month instead of this month, as is usually the case. To date, more than 100 customers have made bookings for next year, mostly for the Chinese New Year weekend in end-January, to destinations such as Korea, Japan and the US.
Said spokesman Jane Chang: "Consumers can avoid subsequent rises in fuel surcharges prior to the date of travel if their air tickets are issued at the time of booking."
However, only those who buy air tickets or free-and-easy packages can do so, she added.
