The Four Luxury Travel Trends Singapore Travellers Need To Know For 2027

16th Oct 2026

Written by:

Gracie Stewart
Singapore and Bali Editor | Urban List

Luxury travel in 2027 is less about how many destinations you can tick off and more about what you take away from the experience. Think longer stays, meaningful family adventures and holidays that get you closer to the action, rather than simply putting you in the audience.

That's according to luxury travel operator Scott Dunn, which has identified four trends set to shape the year ahead. Its latest booking figures point to growing interest in travel within Asia, with enquiries up 27% year on year and total booking values increasing by 62%. For Singapore travellers, that could mean looking closer to home for a more immersive getaway, whether that's exploring China's lesser-known landscapes or heading south for a winter escape.

Here are four luxury travel trends worth keeping in mind when planning your next holiday.

1. Closer To Home, But With More To Discover

Image credit: The Southern Alps in New Zealand | Supplied by Scott Dunn

With plenty of destinations within relatively easy reach of Singapore, travellers don't necessarily need to go far to find something different. Japan remains a firm favourite, while China is emerging as a destination to watch for luxury holidays that go beyond the usual city break.

In Yunnan, travellers can swap busy urban centres for dramatic mountain scenery, local villages, hiking trails and horseback adventures. China's luxury offering is also expanding, with more high-end hotels, restaurants and specialist experiences to discover. Food is part of the appeal, too, from artisanal produce to private caviar tastings.

For Singaporeans with Chinese ancestry, there's another reason to venture beyond the major cities: heritage travel. Exploring regions such as Fujian and Guangdong can offer a more personal connection to family history, with traditional Hakka tulou, historic villages and tea-growing landscapes adding another dimension to a holiday.

Closer-to-home travel can also mean heading to Australia or New Zealand to escape Singapore's heat. With winter falling between June and August in the Southern Hemisphere, destinations such as Queenstown offer snow-covered mountains, skiing and alpine experiences.

The shift is towards a fewer, bigger, better approach: investing more in individual trips, staying longer and getting to know a destination beyond its best-known attractions.

2. Family Holidays Are Becoming A Legacy

Image credit: Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka | Supplied by Scott Dunn

For Singapore families, a holiday can be more than a chance to get away from the daily routine. It's an opportunity to spend proper time together, introduce children to different cultures and create memories that span generations.

Scott Dunn reports that family trips have increased by close to 10% year on year, with multigenerational travel also gaining traction. Rather than treating a three-generation getaway as an occasional family reunion, more travellers are making shared experiences a priority.

Africa is one destination attracting interest, thanks to private villas, exclusive-use reserves and activities that appeal to different ages.

Teenagers are also playing a bigger role in deciding where the family goes. Scott Dunn's research found that more than 70% of teenagers actively suggest destinations to their parents, while nearly 40% have successfully influenced their parents' choices. It's a good reason to get everyone involved in planning the itinerary, rather than expecting teens to tag along with an adult-led holiday.

Scott Dunn's Teens-First Adventures are designed with this in mind. In Sri Lanka, families can hike through tea plantations along the Pekoe Trail, head out on dawn safari drives in Yala National Park and take surf lessons in Weligama Bay, with boutique stays providing a comfortable base between adventures.

The goal is to create a trip where grandparents, parents and kids can enjoy experiences suited to their interests, without losing the opportunity to spend quality time together.

3. It's No Longer Enough To Just Watch From The Sidelines

Image credit: An ancient temple in Luxor, Egypt | Supplied by Scott Dunn

From major sporting competitions to cultural events, travelling for a particular occasion is nothing new. What's changing is the desire to get closer to the action.

For luxury travellers, securing a great seat is increasingly just the starting point. Scott Dunn is seeing more interest in hands-on experiences, exclusive access and opportunities to learn directly from experts.

Golf fans travelling for The Masters, for example, could extend their trip with a private experience at Augusta National Golf Club, including access to the clubhouse and practice facilities before playing the course alongside a former Masters champion.

The same idea applies to motorsport and other major events. Instead of simply watching from the grandstands, travellers want opportunities to get on the track, go behind the scenes or experience a sport from a new perspective.

The 2027 calendar offers plenty of reasons to plan ahead, including a total solar eclipse in Egypt in August, the America's Cup in Naples in July, the centenary of the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland in September and the Rugby World Cup in Australia from October to November.

For Singapore travellers who enjoy building a holiday around a major event, these occasions can be the starting point for a longer itinerary, with time to explore the destination beyond the main attraction.

4. Luxury Travel With A Lighter Footprint

Image credit: A herd of elephant move through water hyacinths at Wasgamuwa National Park, Sri Lanka | Supplied by Scott Dunn

A beautiful hotel and a memorable itinerary still matter, but travellers are increasingly considering what their holiday contributes to the places they visit.

Conservation, local communities and the longer-term impact of tourism are becoming a bigger part of the luxury travel conversation. The challenge is finding ways to make more considered choices without compromising on the quality of the experience.

Scott Dunn's Partnership for Nature with Conservation Collective raised more than $200,000 for grassroots conservation in its first year. The company also reports that 85% of its guests in Asia opted into a voluntary donation on every trip booked.

One of the partnership's projects in Sri Lanka focuses on water hyacinth, an invasive plant that threatens local ecosystems. The initiative brings conservationists, communities, designers and artisans together to turn the plant into a resource, helping restore habitats while creating local livelihoods.

A second project, the Aegean Wildlife Care Network, is being launched across five Greek islands: Paros, Naxos, Kos, Crete and Kythnos.

Travellers can also explore Scott Dunn's Travel with Meaning Collection, which brings together hotels and itineraries focused on conservation and community initiatives. Its Carbon Contribution Portfolio with Pinwheel supports carbon removal projects, offering another way to consider the environmental impact of travel.

The takeaway? Responsible travel doesn't have to mean sacrificing the little luxuries. It's about being more mindful of where your money goes and the impact your trip leaves behind.

What This Means For Singapore Travellers

Image credit: Aerial view of Baishuitai in Shangri-La, Yunnan | Supplied by Scott Dunn

The big shift for 2027 is towards holidays that offer more than a change of scenery. Whether it's exploring a lesser-known destination, bringing three generations of the family together, getting behind the scenes at a major sporting event or choosing a stay that supports conservation, the emphasis is on making each trip count.

And with destinations such as China, Australia and New Zealand offering very different experiences within reach of Singapore, there are plenty of ways to make your next holiday feel a little more meaningful.

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Main image credit: Elephants drinking at a watering hole in Africa | Supplied by Scott Dunn