Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been appointed global brand ambassador for JW Marriott.
The collaboration will see Rai Bachchan feature in international marketing campaigns and brand storytelling across film, print and digital platforms, while supporting brand experiences in India and other key markets.
The Indonesian government is stepping up efforts to regulate unlicensed short-term accommodation, particularly villas and alternative lodging properties, following concerns over tax compliance, consumer protection and growing competition with licensed hotels.
Rather than relying on temporary enforcement operations, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is introducing a technology-driven approach focused on online distribution channels.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, tourism minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the policy is aimed at improving governance and creating a more balanced tourism industry.
The move follows complaints from hotel operators about declining occupancy rates amid the rapid growth of short-term accommodation offered at lower prices.
According to Widiyanti, many of these properties operate without the necessary licences or tax obligations, creating an uneven operating environment within Indonesia’s hospitality sector.
To address the issue, the MoT is working with nine OTA partners: Airbnb, Traveloka, Trip.com, Tiket.com, Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, RedDoorz and OYO.
The MoT has also conducted licensing and outreach programmes across five priority destinations – Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, Bali and West Nusa Tenggara – alongside coaching clinics and merchant verification initiatives.
Data as of May 20, 2026, showed a nearly 47 per cent increase in the number of short-term accommodation businesses registered with Indonesian business registration numbers (NIB) in the country’s OSS licensing system across eight tourism-related business classification (KBLI) categories, compared with March 31, 2025.
Villa accommodation recorded the strongest growth, increasing 76 per cent over the same period.
A key component of the initiative is the development of an application programming interface (API)-based verification system linking OTA platforms with Indonesia’s OSS business licensing database.
Rizki Handayani, deputy for industry and investment at the MoT, said: “The system is designed to replace the current manual verification process, which involves cross-checking large volumes of OTA and government licensing data one by one.”
Under the new system, accommodation operators will be automatically verified before being allowed to list on OTA platforms.
The integration is scheduled to begin in June 2026 and become fully operational by July 2027.
Widiyanti stated: “Starting June 1, 2027, unlicensed accommodation can be automatically identified and delisted through the API system.”
Several OTA platforms have already begun displaying NIB and KBLI information on accommodation listings to improve transparency for travellers.
So far, the government has identified around 1,600 accommodation operators being marketed on OTA platforms without the required licences.
Those businesses could face delisting from August 1, 2026, if they fail to complete the necessary permits during the transition period.
Under the policy, OTAs will be required to notify merchants and provide a two-month window for them to clarify their status or comply with licensing requirements before listings are removed.
Officials also said travellers affected by future delistings will be managed according to the policies of the respective OTA platforms.
At the same time, the government has instructed OTA platforms to stop accepting new accommodation merchants without valid business licences to prevent further growth in unlicensed listings.
VisitMalta is taking a cautious approach to the Asia-Pacific market, focusing on luxury leisure travel amid global geopolitical uncertainty.
As conflict in the Middle East disrupts traditional transit routes and slows incentive traffic from Asia-Pacific, the tourism board has concentrated its resources on high-spending individual travellers.
“We’re being a bit more cautious on our efforts, because everything is an investment,” said Alaine Ciantar, director of VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings. She added that the current marketing strategy in Asia-Pacific is “to keep our presence in the market not to be forgotten”.
While larger corporate groups remain a long-term goal, Ciantar said she is seeing strong demand from luxury leisure travellers in China, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. She believes leisure travel will help generate future business events demand as more travellers experience the destination.
At the same time, Malta is benefiting from an influx of travellers from the US, Canada and Latin America who are shifting travel plans away from the Middle East and towards Europe. The destination has also seen growth from longhaul markets such as Australia, which entered Malta’s top 10 source markets in 2024, supported by several high-end incentive groups. Brazil has recorded a similar increase.
Ciantar told TTG Asia the growth took the tourism board by surprise and prompted a greater focus on meeting what she described as “organic demand”.
Malta will also host the 26th World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Valletta from October 7 to 9, 2026, which has become a key focus for the tourism board.
“We are concentrating our efforts on making sure this is a massive success for our island,” Ciantar said.
Organised in partnership with the Maltese Government and the Malta Tourism Authority, the invitation-only event will bring together travel industry CEOs, government ministers and international media at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
The three-day summit will address issues including sustainability, resilience, digital transformation and long-term investment priorities.
Agoda and the Philippines Department of Tourism (DoT) are collaborating to support tourism promotion, workforce development and sustainability initiatives in the Philippines.
Under the partnership, Agoda and the DoT will carry out joint marketing campaigns aimed at increasing travel to the country, and will include training programmes and workshops focused on digital transformation, service standards and industry practices.
The collaboration will support sustainable tourism efforts through awareness campaigns and knowledge-sharing initiatives, while also encouraging closer cooperation on tourism data, policy and marketing.
According to the companies, the partnership aims to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a destination for domestic and international travellers by supporting destination management programmes, tourism campaigns, tourism businesses and workforce development through Agoda’s accommodation, flights and activities platform.
Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda, said: “By combining DoT’s leadership with Agoda’s expertise, we will entice more travellers to visit the Philippines while elevating the tourism industry as a whole.”
Travellers’ growing interest in flexible and experiential holidays has presented rail travel with an opportunity to shine, as this mode of travel facilitates deeper and convenient exploration of a destination, according to B2B rail travel specialist Railbookers Group.
Nick Lim, vice president – Asia at Railbookers Group, told TTG Asia: “Travellers today are looking for more than simply getting from one place to another. They want the journey itself to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Rail delivers that freedom, flexibility and even luxury other forms of transportation cannot. The holiday begins the moment you step onboard.
“Whether it has been your dream to live it up in Italy or to spend slow days in a typical Swiss village, the highly customisable nature of rail holidays makes it easy for anyone to fulfill their travel desire. They only need to choose their time to travel, the destinations, and their preferred pace.”
Amid rising travel costs, Lim said rail travel offers another advantage in the form of relatively stable pricing across many key routes and destinations compared with other transport options.
He believes more Asian travel agents should tap into the sector, highlighting Railbookers Group’s portfolio of rail products worldwide and the growing interest among Asian travellers in exploring international destinations.
“Railbookers Group presence is global with both our brands, Amtrak Vacations and Railbookers. We are also building and expanding our product range here in Asia-Pacific, so it will be exciting times ahead,” remarked Lim.
In Asia-Pacific, Railbookers Group offers products including The Ghan in Australia and the Eastern & Oriental Express, which operates between Singapore and Malaysia.
Lim said the company simplifies the process of selling rail holidays by handling logistics behind the scenes.
“We handle all the essentials from behind the scenes – from rail and accommodation to sightseeing, transfers and more. This allows our travel agent partners more time to design exciting new offerings for their customers and not get bogged down by the details.
“The best part of working with Railbookers Group is that our agents don’t have to be experts in rail to sell rail holidays,” he added.
Travel agents earn a 10 per cent commission on the gross package price when booking through Railbookers Group and can increase earnings through additional travel components.
Lim said around 30 per cent of the company’s sales come from pre- and post-cruise extensions in Europe and North America.
“Due to the flexible nature of rail travel, there are multiple ways for more earnings. Travel agents are able to utilise our rail packages to generate more income as they supplement river cruises and ocean liners sales,” he explained.
He added that rail itineraries also offer opportunities for corporate travel agents by providing short leisure extensions after business trips.
“It’s quite clear that rail holidays are the next frontier of travel experiences,” said Lim, while acknowledging that further market growth will depend on greater product awareness among both consumers and travel agents.
“Once the trade and the public are more comfortable and reassured, their confidence levels go up. When this happens, we should naturally see a progressive demand for rail holidays. This pattern is a typical cycle of new travel styles that we have seen in the past, such as in the adoption of river cruises,” he said.
Railbookers Group has been supporting product education through trade events and in-market activities. The company recently participated in the Swiss Tourism Exchange 2026 and hosted a product seminar in Singapore.
Onyx Hospitality Group has signed a joint venture agreement with JR Kyushu Business Development (Thailand), part of Japan’s Kyushu Railway Company, for the development of Shama North Pattaya.
The project will expand Onyx’s serviced apartment portfolio in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), targeting both short- and long-stay travellers. It follows the companies’ existing collaboration on Shama Lakeview Asoke in Bangkok, which Onyx manages for JR Kyushu Group.
Located in North Pattaya, the development will combine serviced apartment facilities with hotel services under the Shama brand. The project is intended to serve growing demand in the long-stay segment, which Onyx expects to continue expanding in 2026 and beyond.
The agreement is Onyx Hospitality Group’s second joint venture with an international partner under its expansion strategy. The company said the partnership reflects continued investor interest in Thailand’s hospitality sector and the EEC, which remains a key tourism and economic zone.
The project will add to Onyx’s existing presence in Pattaya, where the group already operates properties under its Amari and Ozo brands.
According to the companies, the partnership also reflects continued Japanese investment interest in Thailand and the wider development potential of the country’s hospitality market.
Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of Onyx Hospitality Group, shared: “For Onyx Hospitality Group, growth is not defined merely by the number of projects we develop, but by the strength of the partnerships we cultivate. Our joint venture with JR Kyushu Group reflects a shared vision and a commitment to creating long-term value together.”
He added: “Shama North Pattaya represents another important strategic property in strengthening and completing Onyx Hospitality Group’s presence in Pattaya, a high-potential destination within the EEC.”
Sunway Resort Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is promoting a range of accommodation, activities and dining options designed for family travel as families across Asia-Pacific prepare for the school holidays,
Room options include the Family Fun Suite, with gaming and entertainment features, the Family Terrace room with child-focused amenities, and the Waterventure Terrace room with direct access to an aqua play area. Families seeking more space can choose the two-bedroom Pool Villas, which include indoor and outdoor living areas, a kitchenette and a private plunge pool.
Children can spend time at the Wonderland Explorers kids’ club, which offers games, activity spaces and technology rooms, while adults can use the fitness centre or visit Sunway MediSpa. Guests also have access to Waterventure, an outdoor aqua play area, and the resort’s swimming pool.
Dining options include Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza and the all-day Sunset Terrace restaurant.
The resort is located within Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, close to Sunway Lagoon, which features six theme parks and more than 90 rides and attractions, and Sunway Pyramid Mall, home to more than 1,000 stores and an ice-skating rink.
The School’s Out package includes a one-night stay, dining vouchers worth 100 ringgit (US$25) and 200 ringgit in credit for Sunway MediSpa. The offer is valid until June 30, 2026, with rates from 899 ringgit.
The Great Holiday Escape package includes accommodation, daily breakfast, Sunway Lagoon tickets and 200 ringgit in Sunway MediSpa credit. Designed for two adults and two children, rates start from 1,288 ringgit per night for bookings made by June 30, 2026, for stays until November 30, 2026.
For more information, visit Sunway Resort Hotel.
Klook is offering a series of experience packages tied to the BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ In Singapore this December.
Available from June 5, 2026, the Klook Experience Packages combine concert tickets with attractions and accommodation, allowing fans to explore Singapore before and after the concerts.
Three packages will be offered, featuring attractions including Bird Paradise and Night Safari at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, Universal Studios Singapore and Singapore Oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa, as well as a bundle combining Adventure Cove Waterpark with a stay at Hotel Michael.
The packages follow Klook’s partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board and HYBE to welcome BTS to Singapore for four performances on December 17, 19, 20 and 22, 2026. The concerts mark the group’s longest run in Asia outside South Korea and Japan.
Klook is the Official Experience Partner for BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ In Singapore.
For more information, visit Klook.
Jeffrey Goh has been named managing director at Alton Aviation Consultancy in Singapore.
He previously served as CEO of Gulf Air Group, and prior to that, as CEO of Star Alliance. He has also held senior leadership roles at International Air Transport Association.
The PuLi Shanghai has named Vittorio Dincao as general manager.
He joins from Galaxy Entertainment Group, where he most recently served as executive manager of hotel operations and helped lead the launches of Capella and Raffles at Galaxy Macau.
Previously, he held senior roles at Hotel Cipriani Venice, Rosewood Hong Kong and Atlantis Dubai.
