TTG Asia will be taking a break from February 16-18, 2026, for the Lunar New Year holidays.
The online news bulletin will resume on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
From all of us at TTG Asia Media, we wish all of our readers a happy and prosperous Year of the Horse!
Klook has released its Klook Travel Pulse 2026 report, highlighting the travel behaviours of Asia-Pacific travellers.
Despite global economic uncertainty, the report found that 88% of global travellers plan to increase or maintain their travel budgets in 2026. Travellers from Asia-Pacific are 50% more likely to increase travel spending compared to those in the west, signifying the region as a growth engine for travel.
The report surveyed 11,000 of Klook’s customer base comprising mainly millennials and Gen Zs, from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK and US.
“Travel has remained resilient despite the rising cost of living. What we are witnessing is a fundamental shift in how travellers evaluate value,” said Marcus Yong, vice president, global marketing, Klook.
“Instead of cutting back, they are spending smarter, prioritising richer experiences, flexible itineraries, and deeper discovery. They seek experiential value that goes far beyond simply ticking destinations off a checklist.”
Indeed, travellers are prioritising experience-led itineraries, willing to spend more on activities and instead, cutting back on shopping spend.
Trip planning patterns have also shifted, with two-thirds intending to visit multiple destinations per trip, shifting away from single-stop itineraries.
Gen Z travellers are leading this shift, favouring faster-paced, densely packed itineraries as they move towards lesser-known locales, away from mainstream cities.
Across markets, travellers are driven by local authentic experiences (42%), the opportunity to discover hidden gems (39%), and affordability (37%) for choosing lesser-known spots.
Japan continues to be a popular destination among travellers but demand is moving towards secondary cities such as Yokohama, Hiroshima and Nagoya.
The same is true for other regions with Cairns and Hobart gaining traction in Australia, Tromsø and Baix Llobregat in Europe, and Sharjah and Hurghada in the Middle East.
When it came to how they are discovering and choosing destinations, travellers are increasingly influenced by social media and AI.
80% of global travellers say social media is the main channel that influences the destinations or experiences they book.
91% use AI as a travel planning tool, mainly for research, translation, organising itineraries and managing budgets.
As Lufthansa Group hits its 65th year of Hong Kong-Frankfurt service, its leadership reaffirms commitment to both Hong Kong and China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) for the years ahead.
Senior vice president for sales, distribution & marketing, Frank Naeve, said Lufthansa Group has long recognised the economic potential and importance of GBA, and continues to work with partners to add value to the travel ecosystem in the region.
Lufthansa Group presently operates two daily flights between Hong Kong and Frankfurt by Lufthansa as well as Hong Kong and Zurich by Swiss International Air Lines. These services serve corporate and the leisure traffic.
Naeve noted that GBA traffic via Hong Kong comprises 70 per cent leisure, but opportunities to grow the business travel share exist.
Additionally, the group is working to court more traffic to European destinations via its network by focusing on product innovation, such as the recent upstream check-in service in GBA. Since September 2024, passengers on Lufthansa and Swiss Air are able to complete immigration, check-in, and baggage tagging at eight ports across GBA, before heading to the SkyPier of Hong Kong International Airport.
“We are creating lounges and digital solutions. We will bring the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Hong Kong this summer. Lufthansa Allegris, our new, premium longhaul travel experience, features brand-new seats and upgraded catering. We are investing heavily on the overall end-to-end experience, such as free high-speed Internet connection across 850 aircraft in the second half of this year,” he added.
Pierre-Yves Buysschaert, Lufthansa Group’s general manager Hong Kong Macao and South China, emphasised continued partnership with travel agents – a valuable medium that generates 40 per cent of bookings from the GBA region.
“We will continue to engage agents through frequent visits to inform their frontlines about our products, networks and latest enhancements. Of the nine GBA cities, Shenzhen remains a key source market. We are also going into second- and third-tier cities like Zhuhai and Dongguan, (where travellers are) using Hong Kong as a gateway. We would like to increase our footprint in these areas,” shared Buysschaert.
This year, Lufthansa Group will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first Lufthansa flight to China and a century of air links between China and Germany.
RX Global has named One Rep Global as its official partner in India to lead and manage the Indian Buyer Program across its portfolio of travel events.
Under the agreement, One Rep Global will act as the primary point of contact for Indian buyers participating in RX Global’s luxury, MICE and specialist travel shows. The mandate covers flagship events including ILTM Cannes and ILTM Asia Pacific, as well as IBTM Barcelona and the International Golf Travel Market.
The partnership reflects RX Global’s continued focus on India as a key outbound market for luxury, experiential and meetings travel. India has seen sustained growth in outbound travel demand, with increasing participation from beyond the traditional metro cities.
One Rep Global will work with RX Global to identify and engage senior decision-makers from across India, supporting buyer recruitment, targeted matchmaking and market development. The initiative is designed to strengthen Indian representation across RX Global’s global event platforms while enhancing exhibitor engagement.
RX Global said India remains one of its fastest-growing source markets, with strong momentum across leisure, luxury and MICE segments. The collaboration aims to improve buyer quality and ensure consistent participation from qualified Indian travel professionals.
For One Rep Global, the appointment reinforces its role in connecting Indian travel leaders with international event platforms and expanding access to global trade networks.
Hemant Mediratta, CEO, One Rep Global, said: “India is no longer a market to watch – it is a market commanding global attention. With spending power, cultural confidence, and scale that rivals any source market worldwide, our mission is to connect RX Global’s world-class exhibitors with this nationwide opportunity.”
Rosi Viljoen, head of visitor strategy at RX Global, added: “We are pleased to partner with One Rep Global, whose deep market expertise, credibility, and strong industry relationships make them the ideal partner to lead our Indian Buyer Program.”
Strong business foundations and regional partnerships have fuelled growth for BWH Hotels in Asia last year, with rapid expansion in Thailand and a second premium product launch in Central Vietnam being among its many success stories.
Last November, BWH Hotels opened Best Western Premier Imperial Dalat, a new-built upscale project in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The 91-key hotel is designed for both leisure and business travellers, featuring event facilities as well as connecting room options for families. Facilities include a year-round heated pool, fitness centre, spa, and a kids’ club. Dining choices are varied, ranging from an all-day dining venue serving Vietnamese and Western cuisine to a cigar lounge.
Olivier Berrivin, vice president – APAC, BWH Hotels, said: “As Vietnam is one of the key markets for BWH Hotels, we are excited to introduce guests to this exceptional new property in Dalat. With its fresh air, breathtaking scenery, lush floral landscapes and a wide range of attractions – from historic palaces and pagodas to golf courses and organic farms – this is the perfect place to unwind, create memorable experiences, or make a lasting impression.”
The group also scored new luxury projects in Vietnam’s Phu Quoc and Ho Chi Minh City through WorldHotels.
The group marked continued rapid growth in Thailand with the addition of three hotels: SureStay by Best Western Iconic Ari-Jatujak in Bangkok as well as SureStay Plus by Best Western T Pattaya and Siamese Hotel Pattaya, BW Signature Collection, both in the country’s Eastern Seaboard.
Over in the Philippines, BWH Hotels relaunched Best Western Plus Hotel Subic, a seafront property located 2.5 hours away by car from Manila.
In Indonesia, BWH Hotels opened Best Western Setiabudhi Bandung.
BWH Hotels’ reach continued through Pakistan with six new hotels, making the company one of the leading international hotel groups in the South Asian country. Its reach in Pakistan now spans eight properties in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hunza, and Multan.
Railbookers Group has appointed Nick Lim as vice president – Asia, strengthening its leadership presence in the region.
Lim brings more than 25 years of travel industry experience and most recently served as CEO, Asia at The Travel Corporation, where he spent over two decades.
He has also held the role of general manager, Asia at Norwegian Cruise Line, and has extensive experience building and expanding travel brands across the Asian market.
Could you please share with us the early outlook for the Asia-Pacific region’s biggest consumer and economic payment trends for the year ahead?
Our latest indicators, including the Spending Momentum Index (SMI) Report for 4Q2025, show a region moving in different gears: some markets are easing after very strong rebounds, while others are stabilising as cost pressures moderate. What’s most notable is that spending patterns are being shaped less by a single regional trend and more by local factors, from household purchasing power to price sensitivity and category‑level shifts.
Across our network, we’re seeing three forces shape spending: travel, trade, and the growing influence of AI. Travel remained the standout category in 2025, expanding at roughly 2.5 times the pace of overall spend and e‑commerce penetration continued to rise, especially in goods and travel. Taken together, the region is moving forward with fast paced digital adoption and sustained demand anchored by travel.
What are the top three new insights into 2025 spending behaviour across the region, especially cross-border payment flows and their evolving role in consumer behaviour?
When we look across our data, a few shifts in spending behaviour stand out. We’re seeing consumers gravitate back towards goods as they look for better value. In several categories, wholesale prices have been easing, particularly in areas like automotive and retail goods, which is making products feel more affordable relative to some service categories.
Second, travel is still a major driver of spending. It was one of the fastest‑growing categories last year, and inbound flows stayed solid. That strength naturally carries through into cross‑border shopping and online purchases linked to travel.
The momentum is fairly broad across the region. Both outbound and inbound spending rose in many markets, and our SMI Report reinforces this picture – travel-loving markets such as Hong Kong saw stronger momentum in 4Q2025, while Japan benefited from improving domestic demand.
Overall, the region is becoming more connected in how people combine travel, e‑commerce, and cross‑border purchases.
What are your thoughts on the spending confidence of Asian markets in 2026, taking into account VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) conditions?
We expect spending confidence to remain uneven across Asia in 2026. Many households are adjusting to higher living costs, while others are benefiting from stronger labour markets and stabilising economic conditions. The affluent show higher levels of spending confidence as many of them are feeling wealthy because of rising asset prices; for the newly urbanising middle classes there is more uncertainty about the pace of jobs growth because of ongoing trade adjustments and AI, and so they are holding back a little.
Across emerging Asia, we see spending growth normalising after a strong surge in 2024 and early 2025 in many markets. Indonesia and Thailand eased more sharply, while India and Vietnam moderated more gradually. This looks less like a slowdown and more like a return to a sustainable pace as post‑pandemic effects fade.
How are tourists currently paying when visiting South-east Asia? What is changing, and why is this information important for destinations and merchants to know?
Tourists visiting South-east Asia are increasingly choosing digital payment methods. Cross‑border card transactions are growing faster than domestic spend, reflecting travellers’ comfort with using cards and digital wallets across their entire journey. This aligns with the broader strength in travel, one of the fastest‑growing categories in the region, expanding roughly 2.5 times faster than overall consumption in 2025.
Our economic signals point to the same pattern. Tourism‑linked categories supported consumer momentum across the region, and cultural tourism is drawing strong inbound growth, with many South-east Asian markets recording high increases in payment volumes. With digital usage rising and online travel platforms gaining share, visitors now expect seamless cross‑border acceptance wherever they go.
What do the affluent spending patterns tracked by Visa reveal about evolving priorities?
From our analysis, affluent consumers continue to be strong contributors in the region, contributing nearly three‑quarters of all new spending in 2025. They grew their spend roughly three times more than other cardholder groups on travel, entertainment and retail goods. This segment is driving much of the region’s travel recovery, especially in markets with large affluent bases like Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
At the same time, discretionary spending varies across markets, with Australia recently softening due to inflation and tight monetary policy, while New Zealand has seen broader gains as borrowing costs eased. For destinations, this means adopting a balanced approach, offering good‑value experiences for cost‑conscious travellers while also curating more premium, experiential options for affluent visitors who increasingly prioritise authenticity over excess.
If advising a South-east Asian NTO today, what is the single most important spending signal from your 2026 outlook to anchor marketing strategy over the next 18 months?
The clearest signal is the continued strength of travel‑related demand. Travel has been the fastest‑growing major consumer category – around 2.5 times the pace of total spends in 2025 – and we saw tourism‑linked categories play an important role in lifting spending momentum.
As travellers become more digital‑first, supported by rising e‑commerce penetration and greater use of online travel platforms, ensuring seamless digital payment experiences will remain essential.
Workforce mobility and talent shortages remain key challenges for the travel, tourism and hospitality sector, despite signs of broader market stabilisation, according to the ACI Report 2026.
The annual report, based on insights from professionals across Asia-Pacific and neighbouring regions, examines employment trends, salary movements and workforce sentiment across the industry.
Findings show unemployment has risen to six per cent, up from two per cent the previous year, while 58 per cent of respondents plan to change jobs within the next 12 months, indicating continued labour market volatility.
Although redundancies have fallen to three per cent, salary growth has moderated. Just 57 per cent of respondents received a pay increase, though 59 per cent reported receiving a bonus. Salary remains the primary reason for changing roles, cited by 34 per cent of respondents.
Workplace preferences continue to shift, with 59 per cent of employees now working fully on-site, up from 54 per cent last year. Meanwhile, 47 per cent ranked work-from-home arrangements as the least important factor when evaluating employment opportunities.
Regionally, the Middle East (the UAE and Saudi Arabia) recorded the highest average salary at US$212,744. The report also highlights a gender pay gap, with men earning 15.6 per cent more on average than women.
Hiring sentiment appears more stable. Only three per cent of hiring managers anticipate redundancies in 2026, compared with 10 per cent previously, while 39 per cent expect to increase headcount. However, employers continue to cite skills shortages and rising salary expectations as key recruitment challenges.
The report positions itself as a practical reference for employers, HR leaders and professionals navigating ongoing shifts in the travel and hospitality employment landscape.
Andrew Chan, founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions, said: “The data shows a workforce that is increasingly mobile, experienced, and selective. While large-scale redundancies appear less likely, competition for skilled talent remains intense, and organisations will need to balance cost discipline with competitive remuneration and career development strategies.”
The full report can be viewed here.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 4-7, 2026, is projecting increased participation from Asia-Pacific exhibitors, supported by a 13.95 per cent compound annual growth rate in Asian exhibitor presence between 2024 and 2026.
The growth reflects sustained demand for Asia-Pacific destinations among GCC travellers. Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan remain among the most popular markets, supported by strong air connectivity and competitive fares.
According to Airports Council International (ACI) World’s 2025 global air traffic forecast, South-east Asia continues to experience notable growth, contributing to a projected 5.9 per cent increase in Middle East air passenger traffic in 2025.
The 2025 ATM Travel Trends Report, developed in collaboration with Tourism Economics, indicates that destinations such as Thailand are expected to see rising visitation from the Middle East as travellers seek a wider range of options.
Tourism boards confirmed for ATM 2026 include Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Indonesia, Brunei and the Maldives. Exhibitors already signed include Hilton Hotels of Malaysia, Conrad Singapore Orchard, Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa, Roku Kyoto and Ayana Hospitality.
Trade between the Gulf and Asia is projected to reach US$802 billion by 2030, according to Asia House, with Asia expected to become the Gulf’s largest trading bloc by 2028.
ATM 2026 will also feature a panel session titled Asia-GCC Corridor: The Next Great Growth Engine, examining the development of this travel corridor.
Registration is now open.
BWH Hotels will debut the BW Premier Collection soft brand in South-east Asia with the launch of a new beachfront resort in Phan Thiet, Vietnam.
Costamigo Phan Thiet, BW Premier Collection is a brand-new resort that commands a prime position on a long stretch of golden sand in Vietnam’s Binh Thuan province, overlooking the ocean. There will be 150 rooms and 34 villas, along with an array of leisure facilities, including a restaurant, beach bar, an infinity pool with cabanas, sun loungers, a playground, a Mediterranean garden and outdoor cinema.
Located 3.5-hours by car from Ho Chi Minh City, the hotel is expected to appeal to both domestic and international travellers.
Costamigo Phan Thiet, BW Premier Collection is also designed for meetings and events. A series of indoor and outdoor function spaces, including a large ballroom, will set the stage for productive team meetings and customised conferences.
The hotel launch is timed to coincide with the opening of Long Thanh International Airport, a major new gateway in Southern Vietnam that will eventually service up to 100 million passengers per year, as well as the new Phan Thiet Airport.
Olivier Berrivin, vice president – APAC, BWH Hotels, said: “Vietnam is one of Asia’s most dynamic and fast-growing markets, and the debut of BW Premier Collection represents a significant milestone in our development strategy, driven by the strength of our upscale brands.
“With its prime beachfront location, world-class facilities, and diverse accommodations designed for every occasion, Costamigo Phan Thiet, BW Premier Collection is poised to become a new landmark in this vibrant resort destination. As new airport infrastructure further enhances accessibility to the region, we look forward to welcoming travelers from around the world to experience this captivating corner of Vietnam.”
