Visitors to the first mega travel fair of the year snapped up deals to Europe, exotic destinations and cruise packages amid the economic uncertainty.

Even though sales and visitorship numbers fell below expectations, the fair organised by the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas), saw an increase in sales of packages to less-visited places like Tibet, Russia and Bhutan.

For the first time in Natas' 26-year history, cruise packages broke into the top 10 most popular destinations for visitors to the Natas travel fairs, ranking 7th at Natas travel 2013.

The top five destinations in order were Europe, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Some 53,344 visitors visited the three-day fair and initial estimates by Natas put the overall sales volume at between $85 million and $90 million - less than last February's event, which raked in $100 million of sales and drew 62,871 visitors.

The next Natas travel fair, Holidays 2013, will be held in either July or August this year.