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Asia/Singapore Tuesday, 30th December 2025
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Hong Kong eyes youth travel to revive Indian market

By Rohit Kaul
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HKTB promoting Old Town Central walking trails

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is taking steps to attract younger travellers from India in hopes of reversing declining arrivals from the market.

Hong Kong recorded 149,000 overnight arrivals from India in the first six months of 2017, a 15 per cent dip from the same period last year. The decline has been attributed to the introduction of pre-arrival registration for the Indian market, the strengthening the Hong Kong dollar, and an increase in direct flights between India and mainland China.

HKTB promoting Old Town Central walking trails

“The pre-arrival registration has (put) a few people off visiting (Hong Kong) because it takes a while for travellers to understand the new process. Indian tourists see Hong Kong as a last-minute destination. Without successfully registering for pre-arrival, it will take Indian travellers longer to get a visa,” said Peter Hoslin, HKTB’s regional director, Europe and new markets on the sidelines of a recent mission to Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

The HKTB’s focus is now on India’s seasoned travellers in their early 20s to early 40s. “We (are targeting) New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru as we see an inclination (of travellers) in these cities to visit Asian destinations,” he added. “We want to target young, evolved travellers who have been to a few destinations before they choose Hong Kong.

“For us, young travellers comprise 54 per cent of the Indian overnight stay. Most of our visitors from India (70 per cent) are visiting Hong Kong for the first time. We want to (increase the share of) younger segment as they are likely to be repeat visitors,” said Hoslin.

With attractions like Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park already popular among Indian travellers, the NTO is now looking to promote experiential products such as walking trails in Old Town Central among India’s youth segment.

Apart from travel trade partnerships, the HKTB is banking on fam trips for trade and media, in addition to digital and social media strategies, to reach out to young Indian travellers. Its new TV commercial, scheduled to run from September, is expected to help attract the segment.

Short notice for tax roll-out frustrates Cambodian trade

By Marissa Carruthers
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Short notice affects bottom line of some trade players

The last-minute implementation of a US$2 environmental tax on visitors taking boat trips from Sihanoukville to outlying islands has been met with criticism from the Cambodian trade.

Government officials gave just three days’ notice ahead of the tax’s initial roll-out on August 10, but within a few days of implementation it was postponed until October 1 to give the authorities more time to organise a structure.

Short notice affects bottom line of some trade players

While officials say the tax levied will be used to protect the environment as development gains pace rapidly off the coast, many tour operators were left footing hefty bills and offering explanation to their clients.

Pierre-Andre Romano, general manager of Exo Travel Cambodia, said the short notice means the company had to cover the extra costs for all confirmed bookings, brochure products and group series, extending to thousands of clients.

“We’ll lose quite a significant amount of money this year because of these short notices,” said Romano, referring also to the last-minute hike of ticket prices to Angkor Wat Archeological Park, the National Museum, Toul Sleng and the Royal Palace in recent months.

Miles Gravett, manager of Khiri Cambodia, commented: “It’s always a challenge when unilateral decisions that affect our bottom line are made with little to no notice.”

Another concern is the collection of the fee, currently not included in ticket prices. Visitors instead hand over cash to officials at the pier.

Gravett said: “Two dollars is not the end of the world but an inconvenience; no one likes to feel they are being taken advantage of, which could be the case if this policy is not clearly communicated and transparently implemented.”

However, if used correctly, taking action to protect and conserve the marine environment is essential. Hopes are high that waste management programmes will be improved, educational initiatives rolled out and aggressive anti-litter campaigns enforced.

“This is absolutely crucial for the future of the (Cambodian) mainland as a tourist destination,” said Mick Spencer, owner of ANA Travel in Sihanoukville.

Waldorf Astoria to make Maldives debut in 2019

By TTG Asia
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Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is set to make its debut Maldives appearance with a new-build resort spanning three islands in the South Male Atoll.

Scheduled to open in 1Q2019, Waldorf Astoria Maldives will be Hilton’s second property in the atoll nation.

This will be Hilton’s second property in the Maldives

Located approximately 23km from Velana International Airport, which is about 20 minutes from Male, the resort will feature 130 guestrooms and 10 dining outlets.

InVision sets sights on Nha Trang hotel and residences

By TTG Asia
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Bangkok-headquartered InVision Hospitality will manage the 2.1 trillion Vietnamese dong (US$93.4 million) Scenia Bay complex in Nha Trang, slated to open in 2020.

Covering 7,666m2, the project is set to feature 700 condominium units for sale and over 270 Glow Hotel guestrooms.


Nam Tien Lao Cai’s Cao Thi Thu Hien (left) and InVision Hospitality’s Kevin Beauvais at the signing ceremony

Scenia Bay marks InVision Hospitality’s fifth signing in Vietnam, after Glow Ma Belle Danang (2019), Mai House Saigon (2018), Mai House Hoi An Beach (2020) and Montgomerie Links Hotel & Villas, Danang (2017).

Food first, then nature for Singaporean tourists: Tourism NZ

By TTG Asia
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Singaporean travellers tend most to seek local food when overseas, with 79 per cent of respondents indicating that preference, according to a recent Tourism New Zealand and Blackbox Research survey.

As well, more than four in 10 look forward to enjoying the best of a country’s natural scenery and wildlife, and just a quarter (25 per cent) ranked the engagement in local cultural activities as an enjoyable holiday activity.


Food from Olive Café in Wellington during the city’s annual culinary festival, Visa Wellington On A Plate (Credit: Visa Wellington On a Plate; Tourism New Zealand)

Just over three in 10 (34 per cent) chose travelling on a local train as the preferred mode of travel while on holiday overseas, while 23 per cent showed a preference for self-drive holidays.

Given the findings, Tourism New Zealand is highlighting cultural and food experiences available in the destination, including feasting with the Maoris and culinary festivals.

The latest figures released by Stats NZ revealed that the country has seen a total of 57,696 Singaporean travellers this year ending in June, a 7.9 per cent increase on the previous year.

“Singapore is currently our largest market in South-east Asia, and our fourth largest in Asia,” said Tourism New Zealand’s regional manager for South and South East Asia, Steven Dixon.

Shimizu joins Andaz Singapore as operations director

By TTG Asia
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Andaz Singapore, which is scheduled to open in October, has appointed Chikako Shimizu as its director of operations.

In her new role, Shimizu will oversee the hotel’s daily operations and managing the teams from concierge, front office, F&B, engineering, security and housekeeping.

She was most recently the executive assistant manager, rooms at Grand Hyatt Singapore.

The Japanese national brings with her over 23 years of industry experience, and has held various positions at Hyatt properties across Macau, Australia, Japan, China and Indonesia.

Wat Arun to reopen after three-year-long restoration

By TTG Asia
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Renovations to secure the base of the pagoda

Bangkok’s Temple of Dawn pagoda, also known as Wat Arun, will officially reopen this year-end after a three-year closure for repairs and renovation.

Under direction from Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, Wat Arun started undergoing renovation over three years ago, specifically to secure the base of a 66.8m-high pagoda decorated with seashells and bits of Chinese porcelain, the main feature of the temple.

Renovations to secure the base of the pagoda

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor, Tourism Authority of Thailand, said: “This was the biggest repair and renovation work to take place on the temple in recent memory using the latest restoration technology.”

The completion of renovations will be commemorated in a 10-day long celebration from December 27, 2017 to January 5, 2018. The festivities will include a tribute to King Taksin, who ordered the previously mentioned restoration of the temple during his reign, along with Thai dance performances and an exhibition on the temple’s history.

Asia DMC plants sales office in North America

By TTG Asia
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American-born Ong will head up the DMC's new LA office

Vietnam-based Asia DMC will launch a North American sales office in Los Angeles, which will be led by director of sales and marketing Derek Ong in the US.

American-born Ong will head up the DMC’s new LA office

Establishing a US office will allow Asia DMC to connect with North American travel companies and develop an increased presence in the country, in addition to facilitating communication with stateside partners, the company said in a statement.

With over 14 years of experience selling South-east Asia travel, including 3.5 years spent living in Thailand, the American-born Ong will be responsible for introducing Asia DMC’s products and services to his native market.

Grand Hyatt slated as part of Jeju IR

By TTG Asia
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Jeju Dream Tower integrated resort to be developed by Korea's Lotte Tour and a Chinese developer

The 1,600-room Grand Hyatt Jeju – Hyatt’s sixth property in South Korea and set to be the world’s second largest under the brand – will open within an integrated resort development in South Korea’s Jeju.

Jeju Dream Tower integrated resort to be developed by Korea’s Lotte Tour and a Chinese developer

The Dream Tower Integrated Resort will feature two towers and a retail podium, with Lotte Tour the lead developer along with Greenland Group, one of China’s largest state-run real estate developers.

Grand Hyatt Jeju will feature 11 F&B outlets, approximately 1,200m2 of meeting space, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre, two spas (Western and Korean) with a total of eight treatment rooms, and two kids clubs.

Toronto-based travel consultancy opens HK office

By TTG Asia
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Toronto-based consultancy Bannikin Travel & Tourism has launched a satellite office in Hong Kong to service destinations and tour operators targeting the Asian adventure traveller.

Natasha Martin, managing director of the newly-opened Bannikin Asia, explained: “Asia has been the fastest growing region in the world for international tourist departures for the past 10 years – due mainly to the incredible wave coming out of China.

“As well, adventure and experiential travel is the fastest growing segment of the industry, and that is only getting bigger. We believe, and the numbers confirm, that the more travellers from Asia-Pacific explore the world, the more adventurous they are becoming.”

The Bannikin Asia team will connect clients with experiential outbound Asian travellers through media and travel trade in major Asia-Pacific source markets – including Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei – and China’s first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzen.

The Hong Kong office will also provide destinations and tour operators around the world with training to help them become “Asia-Ready”.

For more information about Bannikin Asia, visit www.bannikin.com/you/bannikin-asia

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Hilton appoints Marco Neukom to lead dual Bali hotels
TTG Asia | Productivity in tourism economy takes centre stage at 11th GTEF
TTG Asia | JAL steps up sustainable aviation efforts