Brisbane: Big buzz coming
Brisbane is emerging as Australia’s most exciting city for tourism, driven by a culmination of strategic developments, new attractions, and the 2032 Olympic Games on the horizon.

From the multi-staged opening of the Queen’s Wharf Precinct to the activation of the Brisbane River and the launch of Bluey’s World, these efforts have been elevating Brisbane’s appeal on the global stage, transforming it into a key destination rather than just a stopover.

“Brisbane’s momentum is the product of a crescendo that’s occurred over a decade. (We have) enormous prospects, prosperity, and opportunity for growth, and that’s exciting,” Oliver Philpot, acting CEO at Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), told TTG Asia.

Philpot said Bluey’s World has been an important addition because of its global profile. The attraction has drawn unexpected fans like Virat Kohli, the captain of the Indian Cricket team, who posted about his recent visit with his family to his 150 million Facebook followers.

Other drawcards include Agnes, which was voted Australia’s best restaurant in 2023, alongside a growing array of exceptional dining experiences, rooftop venues, and laneway bars.

“What’s now added is your ability to string together a two- or three-day itinerary, particularly for international visitors, that offers enough quality and density to keep them here longer and use Brisbane as a base, something that wouldn’t have occurred 10 years ago,” Philpot explained.

Brisbane’s growing popularity is confirmed in its international overnight visitor statistics, which were up 8.5 per cent last September over its previous five years.

The growth of international aviation links has been a significant contributor to Brisbane’s tourism story. Flight capacity from North America recently reached record levels and connections to South-east Asia and India are expanding.

At the same time, premium and luxury offerings are thriving, catering to a growing market of sophisticated international tourists.

Brisbane will be hosting this year’s Australian Tourism Exchange, which is expected to showcase its expanding portfolio to global tourism stakeholders. – Adelaine Ng

Matsumoto: Timeless appeal
In Nagano Prefecture’s Matsumoto, halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto, tourism stakeholders are strengthening the city’s reputation as a historic destination while developing new cultural and outdoor attractions.

At Matsumoto Castle, a National Historic Site and the city’s largest draw for visitors, the southern and western outer moats are being restored to their mid-19th century form. New experiences within the grounds include wearing samurai armour and making traditional candy.

From December to February, the event Light and Ice Matsumoto transforms the castle at night with colourful projection mapping related to the city, ranging from ukiyo-e woodblock prints to screen paintings from centuries ago. Two model courses, which showcase nature walks and photogenic spots in winter, have also been introduced for visitors.

Matsumoto City Museum, which opened in 2023, celebrates the city’s feudal heritage and tells the story of how Matsumoto and the surrounding region developed, with a permanent exhibition on the castle. Special exhibits introduce the city’s rich culture, such as the temari silk hand-embroidered balls that were first made in Matsumoto, and proximity to nature including the Chubu Sangaku National Park.

There is greater activity in adventure tourism. The new Shinpi Trail, a 113km walking route, connects Matsumoto with Takayama in six sections that traverse the area’s ancient highways through mountains and villages. Hikers can expect views of rivers, volcanic peaks and valleys, rice fields and historic sites.

In the Norikura Highlands, there are new trekking and mountain bike tours, while companies in the Northern Alps offer experiences related to sake and hot springs.

Supporting infrastructure improvements have also emerged, in the form of more free Wi-Fi locations across the city and the deployment of fuel-efficient buses. Some roads are being widened, with dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Matsumoto Tourism and Convention Association has released a tourism website and guide, both in English, and participated in international industry events in Thailand, Taiwan and Japan. – Kathryn Wortley

Lombok: Highlight in the making
Lombok in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara Province is fast gaining travellers’ attention, in part due to the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which is positioned as one of the country’s five super-priority destinations.

SEZ is home to the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, which hosts international races such as Superbike World Championship, MotoGP Indonesia, the Asia Talent Cup, and the Asia Road Racing Championship. This year, the GT World Challenge Asia is among the races on Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit’s agenda.

Ni Made Ayu Marthini, deputy of marketing at the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, pointed out that each super-priority destination has its own tourism development and marketing focus – for Mandalika, sports tourism and festivals get top attention.

Infrastructure development is still ongoing to ensure the destination attracts a wider range of year-round visitors.

The Indonesia Pertamina MotoGP Experience Gallery is a new addition, opened in 2024. It is the result of a collaboration between the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Pertamina, Indonesia’s state-owned oil company. The museum is the world’s first MotoGP museum. It showcases race history and Pertamina’s support of automative sports since the 1960s.

ITDC has also signed a Land Use and Development Agreement with Morocco’s Kenzo Hospitality Investments in January for a 4,510m² beach house at Tanjung Aan. This luxury facility will offer dining, water sports, adventure activities, as well as spa and wellness facilities, making it a product suitable for families and sports enthusiasts.

Troy Warokka, ITDC commercial director, said the beach house was “part of ITDC’s strategy to strengthen Mandalika’s position as a world-class destination”. He added that the project would “create a sustainable and positive impact for the local community and economy”.

Hotels are a key component of Mandalika’s development plans. According to the SEZ masterplan, ITDC aims to expand room inventory from 1,000 currently to 9,000 across various categories.

However, Lombok’s tourism potential does not solely lie in Mandalika.

Sahlan Saleh, chairman of West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Promotion Board, shared that the Senggigi Art Market is being revitalised and transformed into an open public space with art performances, while tourism villages, such as the Bonjeruk and Tete Batu in East Lombok, have been developed to offer more home stays and improved infrastructure. Furthermore, local people are well trained to welcome travellers.

Premium stay options are emerging in Lombok. New openings include The Cocana Resort by Social Living Collections on Gili Trawangan, and Marriott International’s The Sira, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Lombok.

As these investments come through, the government’s Regional Long-Term Development Plan 2025-2045 also show connection improvements. A bypass road will connect Lembar Port in West Lombok and the Kayangan Port in the East, while North and South cross-island roads will connect Mataram and Central Lombok to North Lombok. 
– Mimi Hudoyo

Ayodhya: From ancient town to tourist hotspot
The government of northern Indian state, Uttar Pradesh is spearheading efforts to transform Ayodhya into a premier tourist destination. The grand inauguration of the Ram Temple last year, constructed at an estimated cost of US$225 million, marked a pivotal moment in Ayodhya’s transformation.

According to international brokerage firm Jefferies, a US$10 billion makeover that included the construction of a new airport, a revamped railway station, enhanced road connectivity, and modern townships has also contributed to Ayodhya’s rise as a tourist hotspot.

“Ayodhya is experiencing exponential growth, attracting a significant number of tourists every month,” said Prateek Hira, president and CEO of Tornos, an experiential travel company based in Uttar Pradesh. “The state’s tourism policy is also highly conducive for investment, with infrastructure and policy incentives attracting top hospitality brands to open their properties in Ayodhya.”

Indeed, the hospitality industry has responded swiftly to Ayodhya’s rise. Major hotel chains such as ITC, IHCL, Radisson Hotel Group, Espire Hospitality Group, and Cygnett Hotels & Resorts are establishing a presence in the city to make the most of the tourist influx.

While Ayodhya’s spiritual significance remains a central draw, the state government is diversifying the destination’s tourism offerings.

The Uttar Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board has initiated a project to enhance facilities around Udhaila Lake in Milkipur, a picturesque spot known for its migratory bird population. The development will include a kids’ play area, ghats (riverfront steps), cottages, a canteen, parking facilities, a nature trail, and more to attract nature enthusiasts and photographers.

“The new development at Udhaila Lake will provide much-needed amenities for visitors. The department of tourism aims to expand beyond spiritual tourism, with a focus on attracting tourists through other segments like ecotourism and rural tourism,” shared Jaiveer Singh, minister of tourism and culture, Uttar Pradesh. – Rohit Kaul

Selangor: Malaysia’s true gateway
It is easy to mistake Kuala Lumpur as the gateway to Malaysia, given that the country’s top two busiest airports, Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal One (KLIA1) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2), carry the city’s name.

The Visit Selangor Year 2025 (VSY2025) campaign aims to correct this misconception and firmly position Selangor as the true gateway to the country. Both major airports are, in fact, located within Selangor.

Selangor is unique as the only state in Malaysia that is home to three airports with domestic and international passenger traffic. In addition to KLIA1 and KLIA2, the state also boasts the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, more commonly known as Subang Airport.

While Subang Airport is smaller compared to its counterparts, it is a vital transit hub for domestic and regional flights. It is well-regarded for its proximity to urban cities, catering primarily to domestic and regional travellers.

The VSY2025 campaign underscores Selangor’s infrastructure readiness and connectivity beyond its airports. The state boasts an extensive network of highways and public transportation systems that link urban and rural attractions to other parts of Malaysia.

Anchored under the theme Surprising Selangor, VSY2025 aims to attract eight million visitors and generate 11.7 billion ringgit (US$2.6 billion) in tourism revenue.

Ng Suee Lim, state executive councillor for local government, tourism, and new village development, said: “VSY2025 aligns with Selangor’s long-term tourism strategy by focusing on a variety of tourism segments such as eco-tourism, agro tourism, art and culture, gastronomy, business events and medical tourism.

“Through the campaign, we want to reach out to all demographics with special emphasis on solo and female travellers, honeymooners, students and business professionals.

“Our goal is to showcase Selangor as a destination that has it all – breath-taking nature, rich cultural heritage and modern attractions.”

Collaborative initiatives with the travel trade, as well as organising fam trips for media, key opinion leaders and travel agents, aim to amplify the campaign’s global reach. – S Puvaneswary