More Chinese families spending Lunar New Year overseas
By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE : More and more Chinese families are spending the first two days of the Lunar New Year away from home.
Helped by the long weekend, some have left Singapore as early as Saturday afternoon.
Is it to take advantage of the long weekend or a way to avoid giving out red packets?
Some 4,000 holiday-makers are expected to usher in the Lunar New Year overseas.
And that's counting only those travelling with local travel agent SA Tours.
Alicia Seah of SA Tours said: "This year we do actually see a very interesting trend that passengers are leaving for Taiwan and China. I think to experience the really traditional festivities.
"For sun and sea worshippers, I think they will still long for a sea resort holiday destination. Thus, they actually opt for places such as Bali."
Every Lunar New Year, it's tradition for the Ngiam family to take a well-deserved break from their family run business
For the past five years, they have been to Korea, China, Taiwan, Perth and Japan.
This year is no different.
Shirley Ngiam said: "During school holiday we do not have time because of his own business so we have no choice have to wait until during Chinese New year. They all shut down earlier. So we can have time to get together. This is the only time since every year.
And this year, many couples are also taking a holiday for a double celebration.
Like Shirlyn and Alex Cheng who will celebrate Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day at the same time since the two festivals are just days apart.
Alex said: "Well, we will take this opportunity to celebrate the Chinese New year as well as our second honeymoon."
While its smiles all around, Rachel Quek the tour leader, who have been spending Lunar New Year away from home for the past five years, put on a brave front.
"More or less will be quite sad but I will bear with it. But this is my job so I'm quite used to it already. Moreover I'm bringing a group, a big family celebrating together, and also organise dinner something like 'Lo Hei' over there. We still have the Chinese New year atmosphere," she said.
Having reunion dinners on the eve of Lunar New year seems to be a thing of the past for these holiday-makers.
Most of them had their reunion dinners in advance prior to their holiday.
And they have promised to come back bearing gifts, as well as the traditional red packets since after all, the Lunar New Year celebrations go on for 15 days. - CNA
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