Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA) has placed a firm order for two Embraer E175 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
The order, announced at the Farnborough Airshow, is already included in Embraer’s order backlog.
Fuji Dream Airlines will add two Embraer E175 aircraft to its regional fleet, with deliveries scheduled for 2027 and 2028; photo by Phuong D. Nguyen
The new aircraft will be configured in a single-class layout with 84 seats and will support FDA’s regional network across Japan. The E175 is designed for high-frequency operations and shorter routes, making it well suited to the airline’s domestic services.
FDA currently operates a fleet of 15 Embraer E-Jets, comprising two E170s and 13 E175s. The latest order will expand the carrier’s fleet while extending its longstanding partnership with the Brazilian manufacturer.
The airline has operated Embraer aircraft since launching services in 2009. According to Embraer, FDA’s fleet has achieved an average schedule reliability of more than 99.8 per cent over the past 12 months.
Hilton Honors members can now earn and redeem points on Explora Journeys cruises booked through Hilton, following an expansion of the hospitality group’s partnership with the luxury cruise brand.
Members booking eligible sailings through Hilton can earn 10 base points for every US$1 spent on cruise fares, redeem points towards future journeys, and receive a five per cent discount on Explora Journeys fares. Eligible bookings will also count towards Hilton Honors elite status.
Hilton Honors members can now earn and redeem points on Explora Journeys sailings booked through Hilton, with additional member benefits based on status
Additional benefits are available based on membership tier. Gold members will receive access to a welcome cocktail party hosted by Explora Journeys’ ship leadership, while Diamond members will receive additional Journey Experience Credits. Diamond Reserve members will also receive a behind-the-scenes bridge tour, subject to availability, and private port transfers.
The partnership extends Hilton Honors beyond hotel stays to include Explora Journeys’ global cruise itineraries, covering destinations including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, North America’s East Coast, the Caribbean and Central America.
The collaboration was first revealed in late 2025 as part of the Hilton Honors Adventures programme, which offers members access to travel experiences beyond traditional hotel stays.
Explora Journeys currently operates Explora I and Explora II. Explora III is scheduled to enter service on July 24, 2026, followed by Explora IV in early 2027. Explora V and Explora VI are expected to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028.
Mark Weinstein, chief marketing officer and head of luxury brands, Hilton, said: “Our partnership with Explora Journeys is, first and foremost, about giving Hilton Honors members new ways to dream and new ways to stay – unlocking the ability to redeem and earn Hilton Honors Points and receive unique perks and access.”
Anna Nash, president of Explora Journeys, added: “Today’s guests seek enriching experiences, personal recognition and the freedom to explore the world in a way that is uniquely theirs. This next phase of our partnership with Hilton Honors reflects a shared commitment to exceptional hospitality and recognising each guest as an individual.”
Meliá Chiang Mai has planted more than 6,600 native trees in northern Thailand since 2022 as part of its Meliá Go Green initiative, supporting forest restoration and biodiversity conservation in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.
The latest activity took place on June 26, 2026, when almost 180 hotel employees joined the Doi Suthep Nature Center to plant 800 native trees across two rai (0.32 hectares) in Mae Taeng and Mae Rim. The planting brought the total to 6,650 trees, helping restore more than 2.8 hectares of seasonally dry tropical forest.
Almost 180 Meliá Chiang Mai employees took part in a tree-planting activity at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
Native tree species have been planted to strengthen biodiversity, improve watershed health and create wildlife habitat.
Meliá Chiang Mai has worked with the Doi Suthep Nature Center on forest restoration since 2022. The forests surrounding Doi Suthep-Pui National Park are home to more than 300 bird species and nearly 2,000 species of ferns and flowering plants.
The tree-planting programme forms part of the hotel’s wider sustainability efforts, which also include sourcing seasonal ingredients from local producers, reducing food waste, and working with farmers, universities and local communities on environmental initiatives.
The hotel also supports local artisans through The Gallery social enterprise, which showcases handcrafted products to help preserve traditional skills and generate income for community enterprises.
Marc Selinger, general manager, Meliá Chiang Mai, said: “Meliá Go Green has become so much more than a regular volunteer activity. Our team is making a tangible contribution to restoring northern Thailand’s forests with the Doi Suthep Nature Center to help protect biodiversity and leave a positive environmental legacy for future generations.”
Coliwoo Resort Changi, Singapore
Coliwoo Resort Changi will soon open in July as Singapore’s first resort-style co-living hotel.
Located along Jalan Loyang Besar on the site of a former holiday chalet, the property has 380 rooms, making it Coliwoo’s third-largest development. Accommodation includes studio units and maisonettes designed for families and groups.
Facilities include adult and children’s swimming pools, a jacuzzi, gym, sports court, co-working lounge, karaoke rooms, children’s playground, outdoor event spaces, gardens, a community farming area, and on-site dining and retail outlets.
The resort is about a 10-minute drive from Changi Airport and Changi Business Park, and is close to Pasir Ris Park and Downtown East, providing convenient access to leisure and business destinations.
Radisson Resort Layan Phuket
Radisson Resort Layan Phuket, Thailand
Located between Layan Beach and Sirinat National Park, Radisson Resort Layan Phuket brings 300 rooms to Phuket’s north-west coast. The resort has 300 guestrooms and suites, including family and two-bedroom options.
Facilities include three swimming pools, a spa, fitness centre, three dining venues, four meeting rooms and a 324m² ballroom.
The property is within a 15-minute drive of Laguna Phuket, Boat Avenue and Porto de Phuket, and around 30 minutes from Phuket International Airport.
Dusit Thani Maldives
Dusit Thani Maldives, the Maldives
Dusit Thani Maldives has refreshed several villa categories at its resort on Mudhdhoo Island in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll.
The refurbishment covers Beach Residences, Overwater Pool Villas and Overwater Pavilions. Updates include new furnishings, refreshed timber ceiling finishes, contemporary lighting and selected layout changes, while retaining the villas’ spacious design.
Located a short journey from Malé by seaplane or a combination of domestic flight and speedboat, the resort features a 360-degree house reef, Devarana Wellness, dining venues and a range of island experiences. Further upgrades, including selected dining areas, are planned from 3Q2026, with the enhancement programme due for completion in 3Q2027.
Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit
Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand
Canopy Bangkok Sukhumvit is set to open on August 1, 2026, marking the brand’s debut in South-east Asia.
Located on Sukhumvit Soi 12, the hotel is 600 metres from Asoke BTS Skytrain station and a five-minute walk from the BTS-MRT interchange, providing easy access to Bangkok’s dining, shopping, nightlife and business districts.
The property features two interconnected towers linked by a skybridge above a central courtyard. Designed by New York-based studio AvroKO, the hotel draws inspiration from Asoke’s links to Thailand’s early film industry, with interiors and social spaces reflecting the surrounding neighbourhood.
Malinda Samarasekera has joined Intrepid Travel as general manager for Thailand and Laos.
He moves from his previous role as general manager – DMC Sri Lanka and will relocate from Sri Lanka to Thailand to take up the position in early August.
India has the potential to become one of the world’s biggest tourism destinations but must remove policy and infrastructure bottlenecks to realise that ambition, according to Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
Speaking at the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality’s (FAITH) conclave in New Delhi from July 16 to 17, she said India remains underrepresented in global tourism despite its rich cultural heritage, history and diverse experiences.
WTTC’s Gloria Guevara addresses delegates at the FAITH conclave in New Delhi; photo by Rohit Kaul
Delivering a presentation titled Travel & Tourism – A Global Powerhouse for Growth, Prosperity & Employment on the opening day of the conclave, Guevara highlighted that international overnight arrivals reached a record 1.54 billion in 2025, an increase of 82 million travellers over the previous year, representing 5.6 per cent growth. Globally, the travel and tourism sector expanded by 4.1 per cent, significantly outpacing overall global GDP growth of 2.8 per cent.
India’s travel and tourism economy also posted robust growth, expanding by 7.3 per cent in 2025, although it trailed China, which recorded 9.9 per cent growth. Japan’s travel and tourism GDP grew by 4.6 per cent during the same period.
“Global international visitor spending crossed US$2.02 trillion in 2025, registering a 3.2 per cent year-on-year increase. In contrast, India witnessed an eight per cent decline in international visitor spending to US$33 billion, while China recorded a 10.5 per cent increase and South Korea posted an 11.6 per cent rise,” she shared.
Guevara attributed India’s decline in international visitor spending to a series of adverse events during the year, including the Pahalgam terror attack in April, subsequent India-Pakistan border tensions, the Air India Ahmedabad-London crash, intense monsoon rainfall in several parts of the country and widespread flight disruptions in early December following the implementation of the government of India’s revised Flight Duty Time Limitation norms.
International visitor arrivals worldwide also reached 1.54 billion in 2025, growing by 5.4 per cent over the previous year. India, however, recorded a 7.4 per cent decline, receiving 18.6 million international visitors. WTTC’s figures include Indians residing overseas who visited the country during the year. In comparison, China welcomed 68.2 million international visitors, reflecting a 15.5 per cent increase, while Japan recorded 42.7 million arrivals, up 15.8 per cent.
“Despite the setback in inbound tourism, India’s domestic travel market remained a major growth driver. The country’s travel and tourism sector contributed US$263.6 billion to the economy in 2025, accounting for 6.6 per cent of GDP and supporting 46.2 million jobs. Domestic visitor spending rose by 10.3 per cent year-on-year to US$203 billion,” said Guevara.
India’s share of global international visitor spending slipped to 1.6 per cent in 2025 from 1.8 per cent a year earlier, underlining the country’s relatively modest presence in the global inbound tourism market.
Looking ahead, WTTC expects India to remain one of the world’s fastest-growing travel economies. The organisation forecasts India’s travel and tourism GDP to grow by 8.5 per cent in 2026, higher than China’s projected 5.3 per cent growth, though below Thailand’s expected 11.6 per cent expansion. International visitor spending in India is projected to rebound by 15.3 per cent to US$38 billion next year.
WTTC also projects India to become the world’s fourth-largest travel and tourism economy by 2036, up from 10th position in 2025. The growth is expected to be driven by sustained investment, enabling government policies, improved connectivity and continued expansion of tourism infrastructure. The sector is also forecast to create 15.4 million new jobs between 2026 and 2036.
However, Guevara emphasised that India must address several structural issues to unlock its full tourism potential.
“I don’t think that India has its fair share in the global tourism market considering the size of the country, its rich history, culture and gastronomy. India currently offers visa-free access to citizens of only three countries compared with around 70 countries in China and about 90 in Thailand. There is also a need to improve connectivity to secondary cities through high-speed rail networks and introducing a fully digital arrival process to make travel to India more seamless and attractive for international visitors,” she advised.
Klook and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) have renewed their partnership to promote regional travel across South Korea while supporting the digital transformation of the country’s tourism sector.
The memorandum of understanding focuses on four areas: digitalising tourism products and businesses, promoting destinations beyond Seoul, developing marketing campaigns for free independent travellers (FIT), and building smart tourism solutions using traveller insights and AI.
From left: Korea Tourism Organization’s Sunghyeuck Park and Klook’s CS Soong
The renewed partnership comes as demand for regional destinations continues to grow. Klook said bookings for Busan and Jeju increased by more than 50 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, outpacing the national average.
According to Klook’s latest Travel Pulse report, 73 per cent of Asia-Pacific travellers would visit a lesser-known destination to attend a local event, festival or activity, while almost 80 per cent have chosen destinations after seeing them trend on social media.
Under the agreement, Klook and KTO will work together to promote a wider range of tourism experiences across South Korea, raise awareness of emerging destinations and encourage a more even distribution of visitors.
The partners will also develop marketing campaigns and tourism products across multiple source markets, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South-east Asia, Japan, the US and Europe.
The collaboration builds on earlier initiatives launched in 2023 to improve transport access for international visitors. These include a real-time express bus booking service developed with the Korea Express Bus Lines Association and Tmoney, as well as a real-time KORAIL rail booking service introduced on Klook in April 2026.
Sunghyeuck Park, president and CEO, KTO, said: “Through this partnership with Klook, we aim to make it even easier for international travellers to discover more of Korea, while supporting local tourism businesses in adapting to changing traveller needs.”
CS Soong, vice president of corporate development at Klook, added: “South Korea is already one of the most exciting destinations for international travellers, but there is still a huge opportunity to help visitors discover more of the country, from major cities to emerging regional destinations.
“Working closely with KTO allows us to combine digital access, traveller insights, and destination storytelling to create meaningful ways for travellers to experience South Korea.”
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has partnered with Hong Kong travel platform Flyday HK to launch the Macao, Get, Set, Glow 2026 campaign, promoting neighbourhood tourism through running-themed experiences.
The campaign combines urban exploration with recreational running, encouraging visitors to discover lesser-known parts of Macao beyond its main attractions.
The Macao Government Tourism Office and Flyday HK have launched a campaign encouraging visitors to explore Macao’s neighbourhoods through themed running routes
Eight themed jogging routes have been developed across four categories: gastronomy, heritage, community and scenery. Designed for different fitness levels, the routes will be promoted by influencers from Hong Kong and overseas through social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, TikTok, Xiaohongshu and YouTube.
The campaign also includes online voting, allowing the public to support their preferred running routes, alongside an offline challenge where participants who complete designated routes and share photos at selected locations can receive promotional gifts, including Marathon Sports vouchers.
A series of short videos featuring local residents will showcase Macao’s food culture, neighbourhoods and running routes. Participants include a Macanese chef, the owner of a long-established local business and a local runner, who share their perspectives on the destination.
To encourage spending in local communities, MGTO has partnered with AlipayHK to distribute promotional vouchers through the payment platform. Travellers can redeem campaign offers via the AlipayHK app and earn A.Point rewards on eligible purchases made in Macao.
The initiative aims to encourage visitors to spend more time exploring residential districts while supporting local businesses through community-based tourism and digital payment incentives.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) will stage the second edition of MATTA Connect from July 29 to 30 at the Ipoh Convention Centre in Perak, following the inaugural event held in Kuala Lumpur in April 2025.
The B2B travel marketplace will bring together buyers, sellers and tourism stakeholders from Malaysia and across South-east Asia for two days of business matching, networking, destination presentations and industry discussions. Malaysia’s minister of tourism, arts and culture, Tiong King Sing, will attend the closing dinner on July 30, where he is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
Selected international buyers will explore Perak attractions, including Royal Belum Rainforest, pictured, ahead of MATTA Connect 2026
Nigel Wong, president of MATTA, said: “Following the success of our inaugural edition last year, MATTA Connect has established itself as an important platform for tourism businesses, buyers and destination partners to forge meaningful collaborations and unlock new business opportunities.”
He added that MATTA Connect plays a strategic role in supporting Visit Malaysia 2026, while continuing to drive business matching, knowledge sharing and market expansion into 2027, strengthening the competitiveness of Malaysian travel businesses.
Wong said the minister’s attendance reflects the importance of industry-government collaboration in driving Malaysia’s tourism growth.
“The minister’s presence reflected the importance of strong industry-government collaboration in driving Malaysia’s tourism growth.”
MATTA Connect 2026 will feature structured B2B business matching sessions and a business forum covering tourism trends, digital transformation, innovation and market opportunities. Participants will include international buyers, destination management companies, airlines, hotels, attractions and travel service providers. The ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) will also participate, creating additional opportunities for cross-border collaboration across South-east Asia.
Selected semi-hosted international buyers will take part in a five-day pre-tour from July 24 to 28, visiting Perak’s tourism attractions, including Ipoh, Kuala Kangsar, the Lenggong Valley and the Royal Belum State Park.
The programme is designed to provide buyers with first-hand destination experiences before participating in scheduled business meetings, enabling them to better promote Perak and Malaysia in their respective international markets.
“Ipoh was chosen as the host city for MATTA Connect 2026 to showcase Perak’s rich tourism offerings while creating meaningful business opportunities for the industry,” said Ken Chong, organising chairman of MATTA Connect 2026.
He said the event was designed as a long-term platform to strengthen Malaysia’s tourism industry beyond Visit Malaysia 2026, while creating lasting value for MATTA members in 2027 and beyond.
MATTA Connect 2026 is supported by Tourism Perak, alongside destination partners Penang Global Tourism and the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO).
Accor has signed ibis Styles Johor Bahru City Centre in partnership with Worldwide Hotels Group, with the 243-room property scheduled to open in late 2026.
Located within walking distance of Johor Bahru Sentral and close to the city’s cultural attractions and shopping areas, the hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge, fitness centre, and meeting and function spaces.
From left to right: Accor’s Chris Cho and Garth Simmons, and Worldwide Hotels Group’s Carolyn Choo and Jason Peck
The signing expands Accor’s partnership with Singapore-based Worldwide Hotels Group to nine hotels across Asia and supports the group’s growth strategy in high-potential markets. Accor currently operates 28 hotels across seven brands in Malaysia, with a further 10 properties in the pipeline.
Garth Simmons, COO, Asia, Accor, said: “The signing of ibis Styles Johor Bahru City Centre marks another step in advancing Accor’s growth in Malaysia. Johor Bahru is a key cross-border gateway, supported by rising connectivity and growing demand from both leisure and business travellers. ibis Styles is well suited to this market, offering a design-led, flexible model that appeals to today’s value-conscious, experience-driven guests while delivering strong value for owners.”
Carolyn Choo, CEO, Worldwide Hotels, added: “Strategically located within walking distance of the upcoming Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link station at Bukit Chagar, the hotel will offer convenient accommodation for travellers commuting between the two destinations.”
He moves from his previous role as general manager – DMC Sri Lanka and will relocate from Sri Lanka to Thailand to take up the position in early August.
