Appy Holidays: Map apps a must-have for traveling Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR – 29 June 2016: Malaysians are glued to their maps and depend on their map apps for navigation, according to the Hotels.com™ Mobile Travel Tracker*. This global study of 9,200 travelers across 31 countries reveals that while away Malaysians also become social media show offs, use mobile to search for our next meal and are not fond of the sun.
Malaysians dislike getting lost
Navigation has become part and parcel of Malaysian lifestyle. From finding the most efficient routes to cut through heavy traffic congestion to seeking out new destinations, Malaysians are almost never without their map apps. This explains why 77% of Malaysians say they access maps while away, which is the highest percentage recorded amongst the 31 countries surveyed. Map apps access forms part of the total 3.2 hours Malaysians spend daily on their mobile phones during their travels.
Not fond of the sun
As a tropical country Malaysians are blessed with ample sunlight throughout the year, which is why they only spend 1.4 hours per day sun-bathing when travelling. The country placed third just behind Taiwanese and Japanese travelers, who equally dislike sunlight. On the other end of the spectrum, countries that enjoyed sun-bathing were Canada and Netherlands, which respectively spent 3.2 and 3.6 hours daily.
Facebook for showing-off and as a travelogue
95% of Malaysians access Facebook while traveling. Whether it be showing-off their latest adventures or snapping selfies, Malaysians form part of the 40% of global travelers who have admitted to uploading photos to social media just to show-off. 27% of global travelers also admitted to checking into places on social media just to make their friends jealous and 33% also took photos of their hotel rooms for the same reasons. Nevertheless, photo-logging on Facebook would definitely make for nice additions to a traveler’s timeline turning our Facebook page into a convenient travelogue.
Searching for our next meal
Another Malaysian trait is the need to feed. Globally, 47% pf people admitted that their mobile device was their primary source of information when it comes to searching for tasty food. Malaysians ranked food searching pretty high on their list, with 76% indicating that they turn to their mobile apps for suggestions on where to get the best grub. In fact, twice as many people looked for the best restaurants as opposed to the best beach – yet another indication of Malaysians favoring less sunny sites.
Dan Craig, Senior Director of Mobile at Hotels.com brand said: “For travelers the mobile effect begins with booking, as 42% of people in our study have booked a hotel on mobile. It’s therefore no surprise that today’s modern tourist is so reliant on their smartphone, and as technology is advancing it’s becoming a more indispensable travel companion.”
“Our study shows that some travelers, especially millennials, spend more time looking at their screens than enjoying the sun or the sights. However, most travelers are actually using their device to search for local restaurants, to help them get around and importantly stay connected with the rest of the world. Only 40% of people might have admitted to uploading photos to social media to make friends jealous but we all know you’ve definitely Instagrammed a holiday selfie to show off!”
The Hotels.com mobile app is available for IOS, Android and Amazon Kindle devices, and already has over 50 million downloads worldwide.
Please visit mobiletraveltracker.hotels.com for more insights from the Hotels.com Mobile Travel Tracker.
Mobile developments at Hotels.com:
- Uber Integration – this month Hotels.com integrated Uber into its Android app. Available in 30 languages, it enables customers to book an Uber to take them directly to their hotel at the touch of a button.
- Apple Pay – Hotels.com has gone live with Apple Pay in the US and is working on rolling this out globally.
- In-Stay Mobile Features – Hotels.com is continually evolving its in-stay mobile experience and some exciting new features will be revealed in the coming months.
About The Author
Officially a Deputy Editor with over 10 years in travel media. Unofficially? A professional suitcase overpacker with a knack for turning chance encounters and itineraries into vivid, story-driven features. When not fine-tuning articles, she's likely front row at a concert, taste-testing something spicy, or deep in a conversation that veered wonderfully off-topic.
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