The need to stay connected at every corner of the globe has made technology both a trusted companion and an indispensable resource for leisure travelers.

According to Visa's Global Travel Intentions Study 2013, Singapore travelers choose smart phones as their top choice for a holiday companion (79 percent), followed by cameras (67 percent), computers (52 percent), and entertainment devices (33 percent).

Gadgets are used by travelers to find essential information and to easily share their travel experiences with friends and family. According to Visa's findings, more Singapore travelers take a smartphone with them compared to both the APAC and global percentages.

This emerging trend is not just limited to the trip itself – 71 percent of Singapore travelers share their holiday experiences online after returning from their trips. On the whole, Asian travelers are even keener to share their experiences, with 77 percent of tourists updating the web with their adventures compared to the 71 percent for global travelers.

Size of the gadget also rates highly when deciding which to bring on holiday, coming in as the top consideration for affluent travelers in Singapore (61 percent) ahead of internet capability and weight. First-time travelers (48 percent) too, listed size as being the most important factor.

Online sources such as travel review, service provider and official tourism websites are used by 79 percent (71 percent Global) of Singapore travelers for trip planning, 77 percent (65 percent Global) for bookings of independent travel and 66 percent (57 percent Global) for information while traveling.

"Technology has impacted every aspect of our lives, and the way that we plan and enjoy holidays is no different. While traditional word of mouth reviews from friends, relatives and guidebooks are still used – especially among travelers from Africa & the Middle East – online resources that offer reviews from frequent travelers as well as a host of other information such as currency converters, pictures, booking and discount facilities are becoming the first source of information for most Singapore travelers. In a positive sign for providers who are offering both information and booking solutions online, Singapore travelers are saying that online booking processes are fast and getting easier. Visa understands this and have been working on ways to enrich this process for travelers," said Ooi Huey Tyng, Visa Country Manager, Singapore and Brunei.

On the back of these findings, Visa has launched a new and unique regional travel campaign on social media. It will tap existing behaviors of travelers, who document their travels with photos taken with their cameras and phones.

Travelers are encouraged to make their photos more exciting by jumping into the air– creating a sense that they are literally ‘dropping in' to a location. Travelers are then required to share their photos on social networks via Visa hash tags (#travelhappy), where they will stand a chance to win prizes.

About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world's most advanced processing networks — VisaNet — that is capable of handling more than 30,000 transaction messages a second, with fraud protection for consumers and assured payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa's innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit corporate.visa.com