This October, Southeast Asia will take center stage in the motorsport calendar, with Formula 1 (F1) making its long-awaited return to Malaysia from 2-4 October, followed just one week later by the Singapore Grand Prix from 9-11 October. Against this backdrop, new Amadeus Travel Intelligence data shows a rise in travel demand across the region coinciding with the back-to-back races. Data shows an increase in international air arrivals into both markets[1] and cross-border movement between Malaysia and Singapore[2].
With just five days between the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit and the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, data shows strong growth in air arrivals from key international markets, as fans look to make the most of the back-to-back events. Air arrivals from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore are also up 74% year on year between both races, from 5th October to 11th October.
This reflects a broader shift in travel behavior, with 15% of leisure travelers globally said to be inspired by events when choosing a destination, as major sporting events increasingly influence where people go and how they plan their trips.[3]
F1 fans are traveling further and staying for more than the race
Malaysia’s hosting of the Grand Prix is drawing travelers from well beyond its neighboring markets. The top 10 origin markets for air arrivals into Malaysia during the week of the race, from 28th September to 4th October, are Australia, India, the United Kingdom (UK), Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan.
Notably, the UK constitutes the fastest-growing international source market for air arrivals into Kuala Lumpur, up 49% year-on-year, followed by Australia at 40% and Singapore at 38%, pointing to strong long-haul traveler interest.
A similar pattern is also present amongst travelers ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Long-haul travelers make up the top four performing markets into Singapore. International air arrivals to Singapore between 5 and 11 October were up 88% year on year from the United States, 73% from the UK, 54% from New Zealand, and 43% from Taiwan.
International air arrival data also offers a further indication of how back-to-back races may be changing how fans plan their trips[4]. In Kuala Lumpur, shorter stays of one to five nights rose by 17% year on year during the same time period, while medium and long stays both fell by 8%. Meanwhile, Singapore is seeing a strong shift towards medium length stays, with trips of six to 13 nights up 49% year on year, suggesting visitors are building longer holidays around the event rather than travelling solely for the race weekend.
Couples and solo travelers drive the increase
Amadeus data also suggests that couples and solo travelers make up a significant share of air arrivals across both markets. In Malaysia, solo arrivals into Kuala Lumpur are up 37% year-on-year, followed by arrivals among couples, up 11% year-on-year. In Singapore, air arrivals among solo travelers are up 44% year-on-year, while couples have increased by 24%. This data suggests that travelers are increasingly building sporting events into trips – whether as a shared getaway or individual travel experience – and is consistent with the growing trend and demand for sports tourism.
“Back-to-back races in Malaysia and Singapore could offer F1 fans an opportunity to combine two race weekends into one Southeast Asian journey. For the travel industry, the opportunity extends beyond the events themselves. Understanding how fans and travelers are looking to move between these markets can help airlines, hotels, and other hospitality businesses build experiences around longer stays, multi-city itineraries, and the broader trip, while identifying opportunities that drive greater visitor spend,” says Bing Han Kee, Regional Vice President, Travel Intelligence, Hospitality, Asia Pacific, Amadeus.
