A thriving & contested marketplace
The symbiotic and tenuous relationship that OTAs have with airlines and hotels is now shaping up in the hot emerging sector of in-destination experiences. What does the future hold in this newfound alliance between tour operators and OTAs? By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
A whole new world
A swathe of new developments and visitor attraction efforts are reframing the Middle East – traditionally regarded as transit hubs – into desirable holiday spots, with the Asian market a prime target
Rising ambitions
Hotels in the historic Macau Peninsula strive towards the success seen in the buzzier Cotai
Welcome to Wellywood
Tourists arrive in Wellington for its famed film locations, but stay for the other experiences it has to offer.
The smart, experiential airport of the future
A new model for airports has emerged. Some of the world’s most cutting-edge aviation gateways are rethinking the customer experience by transforming their spaces into attractions in their own right and incorporating digital solutions that extend passenger engagement beyond the confines of arrival and departure halls.
Glowing and growing
Wellness tourism is entering a robust state of growth, having ballooned into a multibillion-dollar global industry and bringing a convergence of sectors from airports to accommodation.
A balancing act
Although overcrowding at popular tourist sites is not yet causing major problems for some tourism players, it is not too early to start dispersing traffic to lesser visited areas.
Walking the walk on sustainability
Destination New Zealand has pledged to put environmental and cultural values at the heart of tourism pursuits, where for the first time, its NTO is trudging forward in partnership with the conservation ministry. Find out about the nation’s fervent commitment to its key assets, and how tourism players in the private sector are also doing their part.
The changing face of OTA-hotel relationships
Hotels and OTAs need each other, but the scales of their symbiotic relationship often appear tilted in favour of OTAs in the latter’s aggressive growth path in the past decade. As hotels big and small now seek to assert greater control of their distribution channels and commission structures, how will their love-hate relationship with OTAs evolve in the next phase?
The missing link
Thailand is putting forth a more compelling high-end proposition, with suppliers stepping up on service and experiential offerings. But is manpower keeping up?
















