Vietnam outbound power grows for Japan
Record numbers of Vietnamese travellers are holidaying in Japan, demonstrating the potential of the South-east Asian country as one of Japan’s key source markets.
Tourist arrivals from Vietnam have been rising continuously since the 1990s, except during the Covid-19 period, and bounced back quickly in 2023 to reach 173,672 arrivals, almost touching 2019’s volume of 173,936.
Growth in 2024 has been even more rapid, with 122,633 Vietnamese travellers arriving in Japan from January to March, up from 172,100 over the same period in 2019, equating to a growth rate of 40.3 per cent.
Data from Booking.com during February 8 to 14 shows that Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto were the most popular overseas destinations for Vietnamese tourists for this Lunar New Year holidays.
March was busy, too, with a record-high number of travellers from Vietnam and record-high sales for a single month in Vietnam, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
“Vietnam was affected by a recovery in the number of direct flights (above the 2019 level), including between Ho Chi Minh and Narita, and the organisation of incentive tours,” said a report by JNTO.
A March 2024 survey by global data and business intelligence platform Statista shows eating Japanese food was the most popular motivator for travel, at 37.1 per cent, followed by nature/scenery sightseeing (18.1 per cent), shopping (10.8 per cent) and seasonal activities (4.9 per cent).
Travel agents expect such high demand to continue among tourism and business events sectors.
Companies Hoang Kim Japan and Aikai Group are developing eight-day itineraries incorporating Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe as Customized Abroad Study Tours, following the successful launch of similar tours in March.
Norwegian Sun opens 2025 Asia-Pacific season for sale
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has released itineraries for the Norwegian Sun’s debut in Asia-Pacific for the 2025 season.
The ship will first make her Australian debut in Brisbane and Melbourne on December 18 and 21 respectively, and offer three new sailings to the Great Barrier Reef and South Pacific, three island-hopping French Polynesia cruises between Fiji and Tahiti, and two in Asia.
This deployment marks NCL’s most extensive South Pacific offering with first-time visits to Port Douglas and Townsville in Australia, Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, and Suva, Fiji.
It will also be the first time that Norwegian Sun visits several other ports including Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu; Dravuni, Fiji; Noumea, New Caledonia; and the popular port of Kushiro, which is known for some of the most unspoiled scenery and wildlife habitats in Japan.
“This new collection of voyages provides even more choice for those who prefer to explore close to home with more South Pacific destinations than ever before, including Far North Queensland, where we will be returning for the first time since 2019,” said Ben Angell, vice president and managing director, NCL APAC.
Altogether, Norwegian Sun will sail 35 voyages in this region from October 2024 through March 2026.
Four-party partnership to drive marketing efforts for Singapore’s Sentosa
Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), DBS Bank (DBS), and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signed an MoU last week to enhance Sentosa’s guest experiences through the development of a Sentosa Precinct Partnership.
To promote it as Asia’s premier island resort getaway and leading lifestyle destination, marketing efforts include SDC’s event line-up and new offering launches; STB’s Made in Singapore global brand campaign; and RWS’ and DBS’ strengths in offering shopping, dining, travel, and family experiences for customers across Singapore and key inbound markets like China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
The partnership will encourage discovery of Sentosa offerings across accommodation, attractions, entertainment, dining, and retail, enabling a longer stay on the island.
Visitors to Sentosa can expect an enlivened precinct, with enhanced unique and personal experiences.
This partnership comes as RWS sharpens its product offerings, with S.E.A. Aquarium set to triple in size and be rebranded as the Singapore Oceanarium with new oceanic zones. RWS will also host the Asian premier of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, a multimedia spectacle showcasing mysterious places of the Wizarding World in 4Q2024, while Illumination’s Minion Land will open at Universal Studios Singapore this year.
The Forum at RWS is also undergoing a makeover into a 20,000m2 lifestyle space of upscale restaurants, specialty retail, entertainment, and new-to-market concept stores. These will open progressively in 2025.
Middle East identifies cruise tourism as new growth vertical
As destinations in the Middle East look to grow tourist arrivals and promote intra-regional tourism, cruise tourism has been identified as one of the critical avenues to their goal. Destinations in the region are investing in infrastructure as well as collaboration to boost cruise demand.
“I think more people in the region need to be aware of cruising…that they can cruise in their own backyard and don’t need to fly six hours to the Mediterranean or 15 hours to Miami to be able to take a Caribbean cruise,” remarked Saud Hareb Almheiri, cruise tourism & yachting lead – Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) at a session during the Arabian Travel Market 2024 last week.
“We have also created the Cruise Arabia Alliance recently as we want to maintain quality and service level in the region. We are looking to expand the alliance by bringing more partners on board,” he added.
The Cruise Arabia Alliance comprises Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman.
Aroya Cruises – operated by state-backed Cruise Saudi – is all set to embark on its maiden three-night/four-day voyage from Jeddah in December 2024. The company currently owns one ship and is looking to launch three ships in the next decade.
Turky Kari, executive director – marketing and corporate communications, Aroya Cruises, said: “At present we have three ports that can handle cruise liners (Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, and King Abdulaziz Port Dammam). All ports have very easy access to different destinations in Saudi, including UNESCO heritage sites and amazing beaches. We are targeting to have 10 cruise ports in Saudi by 2030. Today, we are handling around 170,000 cruise tourists and are aiming to reach 1.3 million passengers per year.”
Kari shared that the focused markets will not be restricted to domestic and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, but also the larger Arabian region.
“The Middle East is still not a hub for cruise liners, so one of our objectives is to attract more international cruise liners to the region,” said Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development authority.
According to DET’s Almheiri, cruise tourism is going to play a big part in Dubai’s economic agenda, as the city in the United Arab Emirates looks to double its GDP by 2033.
“Activating our own regional market is very important to us, which we are looking to do in the near future, as well as looking eastwards towards Asia and trying to attract more Asian cruise liners,” added Almheiri.
Taiwan’s new tourism brand conveys waves of seasonal highlights
The Taiwan Tourism Administration has unveiled Taiwan Tourism Brand Version 3.0, titled Taiwan – Waves of Wonder, which utilises wave-like designs to illustrate the seasonal highlights the destination and its year-round welcome.
The new identity is supported by innovative brand elements, including an animated short film and a promotional song composed by award-winning musician Chris Hou.
The new logo of the Taiwan tourism brand integrates imagery such as Taiwan’s mountains, oceans, winding roads, and railways, presenting a design with wave-like contours. It adopts the orange tones of sunrise to not only align with the “warmth and vitality of the previous brand”, but also to symbolise the future development of Taiwan’s tourism industry.
The new branding is aimed at bolstering Taiwan’s efforts to attract a greater number of international tourists.
Taiwan – Waves of Wonder replaces the Taiwan – The Heart of Asia branding, which was promoted globally for 13 years.
Collinson, WithU joint venture crafts new traveller wellness proposition
The Collinson Group’s venture capital arm, Collinson Investments, and fitness-tech specialist, WithU Global, have embarked on a joint venture to create an industry-first end-to-end digital travel wellness proposition, set to launch later in 2024.
The product, which can be integrated into any existing platform, will offer intelligent health and well-being recommendations specifically tailored to travel. It is designed to enhance customer wellness at every stage of any journey.
This marks The Collinson Group’s entry into the wellness space. The company already has an extensive travel offering, including airport and travel enhancement products, Priority Pass and LoungeKey, as well as loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance and protection arms.
David Evans, CEO of Collinson Investments, said: “At Collinson, we’re extremely passionate about driving innovation that leads to the evolution of the travel industry. Investing in traveller wellness with this partnership allows us to break new ground when it comes to creating exceptional experiences for travellers, as we equip partners and consumers alike with the tools they need to travel more healthily and confidently.”
Steve Clarke, WithU Global’s co-founder and CEO, said: “Overhauling wellness within the travel sector is no mean feat, but working in partnership with the team at Collinson, it’s one we’re hitting the ground running with. With our advanced FitTech capabilities and their decades of knowledge in the sector, we’re confident that the launch of our first travel proposition later this year will be the first step that ultimately leads to a significantly healthier travel experience for all.”
Minor, dnata strengthen partnership to offer greater savings and flexibility
Minor Hotels has forged a strategic partnership with dnata Travel Group that will enhance the travel experience for both leisure and corporate customers through flexible booking options, exclusive packages, and savings, while supporting the global growth plans of both companies.
Minor Hotels plans to expand its portfolio by over 200 hotels by the end of 2026 and dnata will assist in the launch of new hotels and resorts.
The partnership will cover dynamic distribution for leisure and corporate travellers, wholesale distribution for the travel trade, DMC integration to elevate the travel and in-resort experience, and an aligned sustainability programme and initiatives.
For leisure travel, Minor Hotels will offer dynamic rates to dnata brands in all Emirates Group markets. This includes access to rates from all Minor Hotels brands.
Travel agencies under dnata will create preferred travel packages featuring Minor Hotels for select destinations.
For corporate travel, a dedicated agreement will give dnata’s corporate clients access to direct rates across Minor Hotels’ brands, offering flexibility and savings.
In the travel trade sector, Minor Hotels is collaborating with dnata’s brand Yalago on a sustainable distribution agreement, providing significant savings for trade partners and travellers.
Ocean Marina Jomtien readies for seaplane services
Ocean Property and Siam Seaplane, Thailand’s premier amphibious seaplane service provider, will launch a seaplane facility at Ocean Marina Jomtien, which will offer a luxurious travel experience along Thailand’s vibrant eastern coast.
The facility will allow for water landings and takeoffs, granting travellers swift access to luxury yacht charters, convenient stays at the Ocean Marina Resort, and expedited travel within the Chonburi area and beyond.
Siam Seaplane will offer both local scenic flights and broader connections, linking Jomtien with major Thai destinations such as Bangkok, Hua Hin, Rayong, Koh Chang, Koh Samui, and Phuket.
Professional on-ground teams, trained by Siam Seaplane and in compliance with regulatory standards, will ensure an “impeccable guest experience” promised both parties in their joint press statement.
Ahead of the official launch, Ocean Property, in collaboration with Siam Scenic – a branch of Siam Seaplane – will offer an array of ground-to-ground charter and scenic flights. These flights will connect U-tapao airport with major domestic hubs such as Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Hua Hin, and Samui airports, in addition to private airfields like Best Ocean Airpark and Klong 11.
Adventure enthusiasts can also look forward to reaching Dropzone Thailand in Klaeng Rayong and the private airstrip at Rancho Charnvee Resort and Golf Course in Khao Yai.
Furthermore, this partnership extends to incorporate Ocean Property’s affiliated hotels and resorts in Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok, enhancing connectivity and enriching the travel experience for all guests.
Napong Pariponpochanapisuti, managing director, Ocean Property said: “Ocean Marina Jomtien has always been at the forefront of redefining the luxury marina experience. Collaborating with Siam Seaplane elevates this to new heights, offering our guests an extraordinary way to discover the beauty of Thailand’s eastern seaboard with the utmost style and convenience.”
Worakanya Siripidej, CEO, Siam Seaplane, said: “This landmark partnership with Ocean Property is testament to Siam Seaplane’s vision of transforming travel in Thailand. Our mission is to offer an unrivalled experience that begins the moment our guests take off from the majestic Ocean Marina Jomtien and extends to every corner of the country’s stunning landscapes.”
Xiaohongshu is most consulted by Chinese travellers, whose travel sentiments are improving
Chinese outbound travellers polled by Dragon Trail International (DTI) six weeks before the May Day holiday reveal emerging trends on preferred information and booking source and type of media, and new attitudes towards spending.
According to Sienna Parulis-Cook, director of marketing and communications, DTI, the key takeaways from the latest survey are as follows: Chinese social media and e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu is the leading source of destination information; video content has the deepest impact; the traveller is price conscious but is willing to spend; outbound travel intent is much higher than in 2023; there are more plans to venture beyond Asia; and the perception is the world is safer than before.
In ranking channels used for destination information, Janice Meng, market research analyst, DTI, said Xiaohongshu was top at 52 per cent, Douyin 43 per cent, Ctrip 37 per cent, and tying with friends, family and acquaintances, and 36 per cent bloggers and key opinion leaders.
Elaborating on booking channels, Meng noted 60 per cent would pick domestic platforms likes Ctrip and Qunar, 38 per cent via travel agents and social platforms like Xiaohongshu and WeChat; 27 per cent directly on official airline and hotel sites; 23 per cent with offline traditional travel agencies; 22 per cent with domestic review-sharing platform like Mafengwo, 21 per cent on international booking platform like Booking.com, and 17 per cent on online traditional travel agencies.
She noted current attitudes on outbound travel spending show 58 per cent “considering carefully to get the best value for money”, and 14 per cent choosing products with the best price.
Parulis-Cook added: “Chinese travellers are definitely price conscious right now, are seeking value for money, and actually see outbound travel as delivering better value for money compared to domestic trips, especially during Chinese national holiday periods.
At the same time, Meng pointed out that 11 per cent of respondents said they would choose the best products and services regardless of cost and, and another 11 pet cent said they were willing to increase their budget for better experiences.
Based on international departure ticketing data as of early-April. Nancy Dai, China market expert, ForwardKeys, who also spoke at the webinar, cited demand from China for European destinations was being driven by affluent travellers
Dai said the percentage difference for premium travel in 2Q2024 vs 2Q2019 was only minus three per cent; and the top-three destinations of Geneva increased 105 per cent, Copenhagen 55 per cent and Madrid 49 per cent.
In summing up which overseas destination marketing initiatives had the biggest impact among those polled, Meng shared the top three destinations were Thailand, Singapore and Japan; Douyin, Xiaohongshu and TV for platforms; cuisine, scenery and culture for content; and video, live streaming and advertisements for delivery preference format.
Popular reality shows also succeeded in familiarising Chinese audiences with overseas destinations, like in the case of Iceland featuring in the TV show Divas Hit the Road, Meng added.
There were 1,015 survey responses and Parulis-Cook pointed out that 56 per cent of respondents were female.
Cambodia Angkor Air, the national flag carrier of Cambodia, will commence four-times-a-week direct flights between Phnom Penh and New Delhi beginning June 16. When operational, the service will mark the first direct air connection between the two countries.
“The Indian outbound tourism market is growing rapidly. Since a lot of Indians are looking to explore new destinations like Cambodia, we remain positive about the demand for our flights. Our future plans include increasing frequency to daily flights on the Phnom Penh-New Delhi route besides connecting the Indian capital to Siem Reap. We also see potential in expanding direct service to other Indian cities like Mumbai,” said Eng Molina, the airline’s chief commercial officer.
Speaking to TTG Asia at a trade event in New Delhi on May 14 to announce the new flights, Molina also shared that talks will soon begin with Indian carriers for a codeshare agreement, as Cambodia Angkor Air looks to tap feeder markets across the country.
“This year we are planning to launch a promotional campaign in India. Our focus will be to promote not just Siem Reap but also other experiences like beautiful beaches, islands, eco-tourism, vibrant cities, and shopping options,” said Seila Hul, undersecretary of state, Cambodia’s ministry of tourism.
As per official tourism statistics, 34,016 Indians visited Cambodia in 2022. Cambodian travel agents are optimistic that the new flights will help to boost demand from the Indian outbound market.
“We are already working on tour packages ranging from three nights, targeting weekend travel, to 15 nights. Presently, Angkor Wat (in Siem Reap) is very popular among Indians visiting Cambodia. However, we see potential in promoting our other cultural heritage sites like Temple of Preah Vihear, mangrove forest, river cruises, and bird-watching sites like Prek Toal. Our focus is on both leisure and MICE segments,” said Chhay Sivlin, president, Cambodia Tourism Association.
Anil Kalsi, vice president of the Travel Agents Federation of India, noted that direct flights would reduce the cost of tour packages. Indian travellers currently struggle with high airfares due to the need for connecting flights from locations such as Bangkok to reach Cambodia.
“Cambodia Angkor Air should further offer convenient connections to Siem Reap from their Phnom Penh flights. Indian travellers can then (combine) Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Also, if the Cambodian government can consider visa waivers for Indian tourists, it will have a very positive impact on demand,” added Kalsi.
Cambodia Angkor Air is planning to start direct thrice-a-week direct flights to Singapore by the end of this year.