TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Tuesday, 10th February 2026
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Global Sustainable Tourism Council to take its conference to Singapore next month

By TTG Asia
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The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) will host the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference in Sentosa, Singapore from November 13 to 16, providing a connection and learning platform for global and local tourism professionals who are committed to promoting and advancing sustainable travel and tourism.

The conference will be held at the Equarius Hotel, which is certified against the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels. The hotel is part of Resorts World Sentosa, the first tourism destination in the world to be certified against both the GSTC Destination Criteria and GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels in 2021. Additionally, both Sentosa and Singapore are also certified as sustainable destinations, further enhancing the credentials of the event’s setting.

GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference will be held at Resorts World Sentosa, the first tourism destination in the world to be certified against both the GSTC Destination Criteria and GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels in 2021

The event will have four core themes: Driving Sustainable Urban Tourism; Sustainable Hospitality; Integrating Sustainability across the Value Chain; and Preserving Culture, Heritage and Communities.

Through these themes, the conference aims to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to drive progress in their sustainability journey.

Participants can expect pre-conference training, interactive panels, workshops, meetings, networking opportunities as well as tailored post-conference tours across two days.

There are also opportunities to explore Sentosa’s sustainability initiatives through curated tours. According to Lee Shi Ruh, president, Resorts World Sentosa, there would be a guided tour that takes delegates behind the scenes of the integrated resort, highlighting innovations such as its district cooling plant and cloud-based building management system.

Ong Huey Hong, chief sustainability officer, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Hosting the GSTC2024 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference highlights Singapore’s appeal as a global-Asia node for quality events and underscores our commitment to sustainable tourism. Guided by the Singapore Green Plan, our sustainable tourism strategy aims to build a city in nature, where large experiences come with small footprints. We are committed to supporting the tourism industry in their sustainability journey, including pushing boundaries in innovation by leveraging technology, and enhancing the green skills of our workforce such as in certification and reporting, and carbon management. This conference will serve as a crucial platform for global leaders to convene, exchange insights, and collaboratively forge new partnerships in sustainable tourism, inspiring meaningful impact worldwide.”

Lee Cheh Hsien, assistant chief executive, corporate and sustainability, Sentosa Development Corporation, said: “Being the first destination in Asia to be certified to GSTC’s destination standards, we are honoured to host GSTC’s first global conference in South-east Asia and look forward to the learnings and exchanges among global experts and participants. We welcome them to immerse themselves in Sentosa’s lush nature and heritage sites and experience first-hand the sustainability initiatives championed by the businesses across our island ecosystem.”

Booking.com report suggests India tourism will surpass 2019 levels by 2025

By Rohit Kaul
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Booking.com, in partnership with Accenture, has released the second edition of its annual report, How India Travels 2024 – The Inbound Edit, which projects inbound travel to India to surpass 2019 levels by 2025 due to improved infrastructure, new source markets, and rising tourism expenditure.

Speaking at a press conference on report findings on October 9, Santosh Kumar, country head, Indian subcontinent & Indonesia at Booking.com, said India’s infrastructure improvements are enhancing the overall travel experience for international visitors.

Kumar:India’s source markets are evolving, presenting a valuable opportunity to diversify and expand its inbound tourism

“In 2019, India recorded 10.9 million inbound tourist arrivals. We estimate that this year, international tourist arrivals will approach 10.1 million. India will surpass 2019 inbound numbers by 2025,” he remarked.

Earlier, countries like China, Bangladesh and Canada led in terms of searches on Booking.com for travel to India. However, this year, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands are among new markets that have entered in the top 10 source markets by searches.

“We are also observing increased search interest from Central Asia for travel to India, driven by improved direct connectivity. This indicates that India’s source markets are evolving, presenting a valuable opportunity to diversify and expand its inbound tourism,” added Kumar.

Quoting statistics from the ministry of tourism, Booking.com highlighted foreign exchange earnings from tourism have increased, reaching US$15.3 billion in the first half of 2024, a 17.6 per cent increase from 2023 and a 5.5 per cent jump from 2019.

“Across the Asia-Pacific region, India is among the leaders in the recovery of tourism spending, nearing pre-pandemic levels. While we have not fully bounced back yet, 94 per cent of inbound tourism spending has returned to pre-pandemic figures. In comparison, countries like Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia are still trailing behind in terms of tourism spending recovery,” said Kumar.

The study was conducted with a sample of 2,000 adult respondents across 19 countries and territories who intend to travel to India in the next 12-24 months.

GHA puts in “exceptionally strong” performance report for 3Q2024

By Karen Yue
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Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has reported continued growth throughout the year, with total hotel revenues rising 15 per cent to reach US$689 million in 3Q2024 and year-to-date revenues standing at US$2 billion. Describing this performance as “exceptionally strong”, the third quarter are saw a 16 per cent increase in room nights, combined with a small uptick in average rate.

In a press release, GHA said one of the key drivers behind its ongoing success is its GHA Discovery loyalty programme, which now boasts a membership of 28.3 million. In 3Q2024, 66.2 per cent of member revenue was generated by international stays: the US, UK, Germany, Australia and China led as top feeder markets, together contributing 26 per cent of total international room revenue.

Hartley: GHA is well-positioned to finish 2024 on a high note

Redemptions of GHA Discovery’s rewards currency, Discovery Dollars (D$), rocketed by an impressive 95 per cent year-on-year in 3Q2024. Given that members can earn and redeem D$ at any property operated by a GHA brand, this activity benefited all 800-plus hotels, evidenced by total cross-brand revenues jumping 31 per cent to US$100.7 million in 3Q2024, bringing total cross-brand revenue for the year to US$276 million.

GHA’s performance report also highlighted that properties in Spain achieved the highest total room revenues across domestic and international stays in that period, followed by those in Thailand, Italy, Singapore, and the UAE respectively.

GHA Discovery members based in the US delivered the most room revenue in the period, 73 per cent of which was spent on international stays. Australian members were very active in the quarter with an almost equal domestic/international split, while members in the UK delivered the third highest room revenue, 84 per cent of which was international.

In terms of top destinations, GHA Discovery members were most drawn to Portugal over the summer months, with members from the UK and Spain being the biggest spenders there. US members favoured Italy, while Australians chose Fiji, Germans preferred the Netherlands, and members from China opted for Singapore.

GHA’s robust 3Q2024 performance was supported by portfolio growth in key global markets. Four new regional brands in Norway, Greece, the UAE and Malaysia with 32 hotels recently joined the alliance, while existing hotel brands continue to open new properties in key destinations around the world.

Chris Hartley, CEO of GHA, said: “As we build on this momentum, we are well-positioned to finish 2024 on a high note, with even more brands and new hotels to be announced before the end of the year.”

Sri Lanka abandons plans to sell national carrier

By Feizal Samath
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Sri Lanka’s new government has abandoned plans to sell the debt-ridden national airline SriLankan Airlines, but will restructure it for a more profitable future.

“President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed that the airline should be an institution that all Sri Lankans are proud of, and should be owned by Sri Lankans,” the airline’s new chairman Sarath Ganegoda told TTG Asia.

New Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake wants the airline to be proudly owned by Sri Lankans

The previous government had invited bids to part-sell and manage the airline that as been suffering accumulated losses over the years.

While the airline has reported an operating profit for the period April 2022 to end March 2023, its accumulated debt is US$1.2 billion. Under the earlier plan, the government was to retain 51 per cent control of the airline while selling off the remaining 49 per cent to investors. Six parties, some who had no experience in running an airline, responded with an initial call for interest but none was pre-qualified for the next step of the process.

Left-leaning politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the National People’ Party won last month’s presidential election. He had vowed to stop the sale of state assets which the former regime was pursuing. Dissanayake swiftly dismantled a government unit tasked with the sale of loss-making state agencies including SriLankan Airlines.

Ganegoda said the airline is an important pillar of tourism and responsible for 50 per cent of the tourist traffic into the country. Sri Lanka aims to reach 2.3 million arrivals this year with a target of three million tourists next year and five million by 2030.

He said while the sale of the airline has been stopped, there are plans to restructure the airline under a viable business model. “Some structuring of our operations is needed to strengthen the balance sheet,” he added.

Trends and challenges as China’s outbound market returns

By Adelaine Ng
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China is set to play a key role in reshaping the travel market as its outbound numbers recover, and is on track to surpass pre-pandemic levels next year, with some challenges.

Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, outlined key trends and challenges shaping China’s international travellers during the 24th WTTC Global Summit in Perth.

Trip.com Group’s Jane Sun presenting a China market update at the WTTC Global Summit in Perth

Sun noted that Chinese travellers will make 130 million trips abroad this year, building on last year’s 87 million trips after the country’s borders reopened.

Trip.com’s own platform reported that outbound hotel and air ticket bookings surpassed 2019 levels as of 2Q2024, signalling a robust market recovery.

Sun identified three major trends reshaping the Chinese travel market: entertainment-driven travel, eco-friendly travel, and elderly-friendly travel.

The first of these, entertainment-driven travel, is witnessing explosive growth. Sun cited a 400 per cent increase in accommodation bookings during Taylor Swift’s concert in Singapore earlier this year.

“Entertainment plus travel products grew by 70 per cent last year. Destinations like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand are capitalising on this trend by integrating entertainment into their tourism offerings,” she noted.

Eco-friendly travel is also becoming a significant trend, with more travellers paying attention to low-carbon options and avoiding overtourism. According to Sun, orders for electric vehicles on Trip.com’s platform have doubled for outbound markets, reflecting this shift in consumer preferences. The trend is benefitting smaller and emerging destinations, as travellers prefer using public transport.

The third trend gaining momentum is elderly-friendly travel, as China’s aging population becomes a critical driver of outbound tourism.

Sun said: “This is the first generation after Deng Xiaoping opened the (economic) door. They made money and now they also have the time to spend it.

“By next year, over 100 million senior travellers will be travelling more often and spending more time abroad, contributing more than one trillion yuan (US$140.47 billion) to the global tourism economy.”

However, she cautioned there are three challenges facing China’s outbound market growth – visa access, flight availability, and service quality.

Visa access is a significant hurdle, as Chinese travellers tend to book trips on short notice, making visa-free travel crucial for many destinations. “Visa-free travel has allowed destinations like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand to see 200 per cent growth compared to 2019 levels, while the UAE and Qatar grew up to 300 per cent more,” she noted.

“More than 50 per cent of our customers who make hotel reservations will make that reservation on the day they check-in with the hotel. Also, half of customers who book a (domestic) flight normally make the reservation the day before they fly with Trip.com.

“We even have a product called Trip.com Express Link, where as long as you make a reservation one hour before the plane takes off, we can issue the ticket and boarding pass, and get our customer on the plane within the hour. So that’s the speed that we are looking for,” she explained.

Flight availability is another issue, as current flight capacity has only recovered to 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Direct flights are a “key consideration for Chinese travellers”, particularly for longhaul destinations.

Finally, Sun highlighted the need to meet the high service expectations of Chinese tourists, such as offering mobile payment options and tailored experiences, essential for attracting repeat visits.

Alipay+ transactions triple as travellers pay like a local

By Adelaine Ng
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Ant International has seen a significant surge in cross border digital payments in the first nine months of this year, indicating a highly successful take-up of the technology that aims to make travel experiences more seamless.

Alipay+, Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment platform, reported the number of travellers using their home payment apps abroad has tripled, reflecting the growing role of digital technology in shaping travel experiences.

Feagin: an inclusive approach that benefits businesses of all sizes; photo by Adelaine Ng

The technology allows travellers to use their familiar home payment apps while overseas, and now connects 1.6 billion consumers to more than 90 million merchants across 66 markets.

“People want to use their home wallet or familiar home digital interface when they travel because they’re more comfortable with that. They’re more trusting of it, and it gives them much better content for what they’re actually looking for,” Douglas Feagin, president of Ant International, told TTG Asia on the sidelines of the 2024 WTTC Global Summit in Perth.

As of October 2024, Alipay+ supports over 30 payment partners and has actively expanded merchant coverage, particularly through initiatives like Malaysia’s PayNet DuitNow QR code scheme. PayNet DuitNow has seen a 142 per cent quarterly increase in Alipay+ transactions since January. The growth has driven increased travel to smaller cities and “driving significant growth” in destinations like Kota Kinabalu, Selangor and Penang.

The trend also means that smaller merchants, who may not have the resources for traditional advertising, can reach global travellers through its destination marketing tools.

“Very small merchants may not have an advertising budget to promote themselves on billboards, big trade publications or otherwise – but through our digital interface and destination marketing programs, they can showcase their offers to customers from around the world using their digital wallets.

“We see this as a holistic solution where customers get what they want, while the merchants have a chance to reach new, global customers. Importantly, it’s an inclusive approach that benefits businesses of all sizes,” explained Feagin.

The company also reported that its OTA partners have seen a doubling of transactions and it is expanding its network to include hotels, attractions, and other travel-related services.

Alipay+ transaction records also confirm the trend of travellers spending more overall post-lockdown, shifting away from traditional shopping sprees and focusing more on local experiences. Food and beverage transactions increased by 80 per cent while attractions attracted a 50 per cent increase on spending. Spending via Alipay+ on transportation such as ride-hailing, taxis and trains increased by 120 per cent, in line with recent trends to explore destinations more independently.

Apart from cross-border payments, Alipay+ has introduced a range of digital lifestyle services and destination marketing tools.

Its A+Rewards platform targets tourism boards and merchants to boost the visibility of local attractions and services even before travellers arrive. In South-east Asia, where Alipay+ is widely used, claimed destination vouchers from A+Rewards campaigns climbed by 53 per cent in 2024.

Alipay+ partner apps also make possible integrated merchant mini programmes and immediate tax refunds at shops, providing a smoother and more frictionless travel experience for users.

As for further growth plans, Feagin said the company will need to meet the critical challenge of prioritisation.

“With the global tourism market so vast, we’re focusing on key travel corridors first, before broadening our reach. Our open approach supports diverse offers and destination marketing programmes and over the next six to 12 months, we’ll be introducing even more initiatives to enhance these capabilities.”

Alipay+ payment partners include payment apps from Asia’s digital giants such as China’s Alipay, Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go eWallet, Singapore’s OCBC Digital app, and Thailand’s TrueMoney.

Malaysian Tourism Federation calls for efficient budget allocation to further strengthen tourism

By S Puvaneswary
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In anticipation of the upcoming national budget presentation in parliament on October 18, the Malaysian Tourism Federation (MTF) is advocating for a more efficient allocation of tourism funding.

The goal is to revitalise Malaysia’s tourism sector with a well-targeted approach that ensures adequate funding and incentives reach private stakeholders, rather than simply funnelling money into the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Tan: tax incentives should remain relevant and practical to reflect the current business environment

MTF president Tan Kok Liang emphasised the need for precise allocation of funds to address pressing industry challenges: “Funding should be accurately segmented and swiftly directed towards improving tourism infrastructure, facilities, and products, while also incentivising key stakeholders, supporting private sector-led events, and upskilling the tourism workforce.”

He also stressed the importance of addressing longstanding industry challenges, such as overhauling outdated tourism legislation, resolving entertainment tax issues, managing rising operating costs, especially in manpower and utilities, upgrading tourism vehicles, and encouraging domestic travel through tax reliefs.

Given the intense competition within the global and regional tourism sectors, MTF called for a robust tax incentive framework to spur tourism development. Tan warned against a “one size fits all” approach to tax policy, advocating instead for a more targeted strategy that reflects current circumstances. He has called for a review of the current tax incentives, which have remained largely unchanged for many years, to ensure they remain relevant and practical to reflect the current business environment.

He elaborated that some areas in Malaysia urgently need four- and five-star hotels with international branding to attract high-end tourists and enhance the visitor experience. Yet, tax incentives are only provided to one- to three-star hotels. This approach is illogical, especially since Malaysia is still lagging behind other tourist destinations.

While the government’s National Tourism Policy sets a clear goal of achieving a sustainable tourism industry by 2030, Tan pointed out that there is a lack of strong incentives to drive industry players toward this transition.

“We sincerely hope that the upcoming budget will prioritise and allocate sufficient funding for this crucial initiative,” he stated.

These tax incentives include pioneer status eligibility for up to three-star hotels and convention centres, income tax exemptions for specific conferences and sports events, investment tax allowances for building extensions or modernisation, double deductions for overseas promotion expenses, tax exemption for motor races, chartering of luxury yachts and special tax rates for film productions.

MTF further recommended broader and more inclusive tax incentives in the 2025 budget to accelerate tourism development across significant sub-sectors.

One major exclusion highlighted by Tan was the tax incentive for tour operators organising domestic or international travel, which was withdrawn in the 2023 tax assessment. MTF urged the Ministry of Finance to reinstate this incentive to support domestic tourism, suggesting that the resulting tax savings could be used for marketing activities.

“We hope the budget allocation will be closely monitored by the Ministry of Finance, especially in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, with a strong focus on improving infrastructure and facilities, product development, diversifying destination marketing, upgrading rural tourism infrastructure, expanding digitalisation, and enhancing human resource development to drive tourism growth,” Tan concluded.

Banwa Private Island shows support for biodiversity conservation through arts and education

By TTG Asia
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In its commitment to back initiatives that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices, Banwa Private Island recently showed its support for the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity with the Biodiversity in Full Colour Art Exhibition on September 24, which showcased the artworks of Samantha Kaspar, an artist with special needs.

In addition to the art exhibition, Banwa Private Island’s Aquos Foundation, in partnership with the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and World Heritage Site Management Office, held an event for students from Tumarbong Elementary School. The event featured the introduction of the book Mga Hero ng Planetang Blue, produced by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, which inspires young readers to become guardians of our planet.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Biodiversity in Full Colour Art Exhibition, organised by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Banwa Private Island was recently recognised as one of the Philippines’ top 10 Important Shark and Ray Areas, a recognition that highlights the island’s critical importance in preserving these vulnerable species and their habitats.

To further bolster its conservation efforts, the island has also undertaken important research projects, including studies on the native Tabon Bird (or Philippine Megapode) and Mantanani Scops Owl, as well as initiatives to preserve the indigenous beach forests where these species nest.

Commenting on the art exhibition, Janet Oquendo, island manager of Banwa Private Island, shared: “Aquos Foundation’s mission to protect marine ecosystems deeply resonates with Samantha’s beautiful and evocative artworks. Her paintings capture the essence of the underwater world, reminding us of the delicate balance of nature. We’re honoured to have supported her and to continue contributing to the preservation of our island home’s fragile ecosystems through our conservation initiatives, including research on native species and habitat preservation.”

RateHawk launches rail travel booking services

By TTG Asia
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RateHawk, in partnership with Rail Europe, has introduced a rail travel booking service on its platform, allowing its partners – travel agents, operators, and other industry professionals worldwide – to book rail tickets across various European destinations.

This new service complements the existing travel options already available on RateHawk, which include accommodation, flights, car rentals, and transfers.

Rail tickets across various European destinations are now available to book on Ratehawk

RateHawk’s partners can now book all travel components within a single system. Rail tickets are available across 13 European countries including France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the UK, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria.

The new initiative streamlines the booking process for travel agents, allowing them to quickly filter options based on client preferences and select the best choices for their clients.

Travel professionals will have the flexibility to book trips using various payment methods, including payments by card, wire transfer, credit limit or overpayments, or by pay-by-link options – travel professionals can even book railway tickets using their credit limit.

Rail Europe’s product portfolio features leading railway carriers across Europe, including Italo in Italy, Renfe and Iryo in Spain, SBB CFF FFS and Rhätische Bahn in Switzerland, ÖBB in Austria, TGV InOui in France, Rail Delivery Group in the UK, Eurostar in France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as RegioJet in the Czech Republic.

Fredrik Bonnalt, head of non-accommodation supply at Emerging Travel Group, RateHawk’s parent company, commented: “Rail travel offers great opportunities for our partners’ businesses, enabling them to meet customer needs and attract new clients.

“Rail transportation is widely recognised as the most environmentally friendly option, and with many companies prioritising carbon footprint reduction and incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives into their corporate travel programs, our TMC partners can greatly benefit from this new booking service.”

Björn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe, added: “This dynamic partnership reflects our shared commitment to offering seamless travel solutions through advanced technology. At Rail Europe, we believe train travel is the best way to explore Europe – not only for its efficiency but also for its positive environmental impact. By empowering travel agents with the best tools to integrate rail services, we aim to make every journey a memorable experience for travellers.”

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Indonesia and South Africa advance bilateral tourism partnership
TTG Asia | Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur appoints GM
TTG Asia | Amora Hotels and Resorts welcomes new COO