The survey, conducted by travel site Booking.com in October and November last year, required respondents to be either the “primary decision maker” or “involved” in deciding travel plans.

All the respondents – aged 18 and 44 – went on holiday at least once last year. There were 1,950 Singaporean and 1,816 Malaysian respondents, the company said.

Respondents worldwide said the main purpose of a holiday was to unwind, see the world, and try experiences they did not have at home.

However, motivations for travel differed among nationalities.

Malaysian and Singaporean travellers most motivated by food

Almost 80 per cent of Malaysian respondents and nearly three-quarters of Singaporean respondents ranked “trying new food” as a key motivation.

Most travellers from China and Taiwan wanted a holiday where they could experience “a simpler lifestyle”, while most Japanese and Hongkongers travelled to “get away from the demands at home”.

Indonesians, Indians and Filipinos went on holiday to prove their “social status”, and were most concerned about visiting places their friends had never been to.

When deciding which country to visit, respondents worldwide mostly ranked “personal safety” as the top factor for consideration.

The next most important consideration for Singaporeans was whether the country had “tasty local food”. This outranked cleanliness, a reliable public transport system and “outstanding natural scenery”.

Malaysians ranked tasty food as the third most important factor, after personal safety and cleanliness.

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This article originally appeared on Business Insider.