SINGAPORE: Festive travel during the Chinese New Year (CNY) period continues to see high demand, with Malaysians and Singaporeans booking flights and cross-border transport well in advance to secure better deals.
The Straits Times, in an article, shared a traveller's experience of booking her tickets back to Malaysia for CNY in 2023 and this year.
Sharing her experience, Jennifer Chee told ST that she spent SGD1,300 (RM4,300) on tickets to Sandakan, Sabah, during CNY in 2023.
"Learning from that experience, I booked my 2025 flights early, paying SGD$700, saving SGD$600 by avoiding the usual last-minute premium," she was quoted as saying.
CNY in 2025 falls on Jan 29 and 30, further driving demand for flights and land transportation, as noted by both airline operators and land transport services, such as express buses.
The article said that, based on its recent checks, economy return tickets to Malaysian cities such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuching during Jan 25-31, 2025, were priced between SGD414 and SGD983.
"Malaysia Airlines reported a 30 per cent increase in demand for flights to Malaysia in 2024 compared to the previous year. Its chief commercial officer, Dersenish Aresandiran, said ticket prices have generally decreased due to an increase in the number of flights. Other airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, have observed healthy demand for festive travel but declined to disclose sales figures," it said.
Cross-border land transport operators also reported varying demand.
"A Singapore-based private operator reported receiving five bookings and over 20 inquiries, citing potential increases in demand closer to CNY due to Singapore's enforcement of restrictions on foreign vehicles and Malaysia's Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) requirements. This scheme, made compulsory in October, mandates Singapore-registered cars entering Malaysia to have valid permits. Many drivers expressed frustration over delays in the application process, which may push travellers to rely more on private transport operators during the festive period."
However, ST reported that demand for cross-border transport remains uneven based on interviews with a Malaysian operator. The operator said that, in pre-pandemic years, they received about 40 booking requests annually for CNY, but numbers have dropped post-pandemic. The operator now expects moderate demand, as there is increased competition among operators since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Malaysian bus operator Causeway Link anticipates higher demand for its Singapore-Kuala Lumpur and Singapore-Melaka routes. ST's findings showed that ticket prices have increased due to higher operational costs, including extra drivers and extended driving hours to handle traffic congestion.
"Prices for trips between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur now stand at RM192.50, up from the usual RM70 to RM87.50."
Conversely, bus operator Sri Maju Group reported slow sales for its CNY tickets, attributing the lag to upcoming holidays like Christmas and New Year. Its manager, Susan Ng, told ST that travellers may still be undecided about heading home multiple times within a short period.
Despite fluctuating demand across operators, the high cost and competition highlight the challenges of festive travel planning. Many travellers, like Chee, are booking earlier to save costs and avoid disappointment as the holiday approaches.
With airlines, bus operators, and private transport providers anticipating peak demand, travellers are urged to plan ahead to secure their preferred travel arrangements at the best deal available.