Tourism Australia and Indonesia’s adventure and sports tourism agency, Yuktravel have teamed up on a new campaign that makes Australia’s top sporting events and scenic marathons accessible to active Indonesian travellers.
The campaign kicked off with a travel fair on January 18 and 19 in Jakarta, where Tourism Australia and Yuktravel showcased some of Australia’s popular upcoming sporting events, including the TCS Sydney Marathon, Gold Coast Marathon, the 2025-2026 Asia Pacific Ironman competition in Busselton (Western Australia), and the Nike Melbourne Marathon. Travel deals alongside Yuktravel’s unique ‘runcation’ travel packages were also up for grabs.
Tourism Australia and Yuktravel are promoting iconic sports events in Australia to active Indonesian travellers
Across February and March 2025, running and sports enthusiasts in Bandung and West Surabaya can look out for fun runs organised by, showcasing Australia’s upcoming sports events and ‘runcation’ packages.
Tourism Australia’s country manager, Indonesia, Agitya Nuraini, said: “Australia is home to a plethora of world-class sporting events and scenic marathons happening year-round. These events are popular among the Indonesian sporting community, and we have seen growing interest from Indonesians wishing to plan a holiday around such events, often bringing their friends and family along for the adventure.
“Through Tourism Australia’s partnership with Yuktravel, it is now easier for Indonesians to participate in these events and explore the amazing sights of Australia with loved ones.”
Yuktravel CEO Tono Raharja added: “This partnership emphasises Australia’s key advantages for sporting events: its perfect weather, easy access from Indonesia, and internationally recognised event organisers. We’re confident this will make Australia the top choice for a memorable ‘sportcation’.”
Bangkok’s hospitality market is experiencing strong growth, largely fuelled by the luxury segment along the Chao Phraya River.
Speaking at the 14th Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF) 2025 at the InterContinental Bangkok, Jesper Palmqvist, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, STR, highlighted the resilience of Bangkok’s hotel market and how luxury hotels are playing a crucial role in shaping the city’s future.
Palmqvist: Bangkok’s luxury hotel rates have surged by 43 per cent
“Bangkok has a long history of resilience that absorbs and adapts to new supply,” he noted, adding that the city’s hotel supply has grown by an average of three per cent annually since 2010, yet performance remains strong.
One of the most striking trends is the rise of riverfront luxury hotels. Compared to 2019, rates for Bangkok’s luxury segment have surged by 43 per cent, surpassing major destinations like London (34 per cent) and Singapore (37 per cent).
“Luxury in Thailand has grown very quickly. Today, 20 per cent of Bangkok’s luxury hotels are selling rooms at over US$300 per night. Half of those are by the river, which are really driving the market forward,” Palmqvist observed.
The Chao Phraya River and Silom areas have seen the highest concentration of new luxury developments, reinforcing Bangkok’s reputation as a premium destination.
While the supply boom peaked in 2022 to 2023, most planned rooms have now been delivered over 2023 to 2024, signalling a shift towards steadier growth.
Moving forward, smaller hotels with fewer rooms are expected to dominate new developments, except in the economy and mid-scale segments.
“Another general trend is that hotels and (developments) are built with fewer rooms. That’s a 15-year trend, since 2015. It’s only in economy that it’s not entirely true. But everywhere else, hotels are being built with fewer rooms,” he said.
Additionally, branded hotels are becoming more common, with 58 per cent of Bangkok’s luxury properties and 36 per cent of upper midscale properties now part of major chains.
“Hotel brands are growing their share of total supply across all classes in Bangkok. The only segment that’s behind is the economy segment. Everywhere else, it’s brands, brands, brands,” Palmqvist remarked.
Looking ahead, Palmqvist forecasted “muted but positive topline growth” for Bangkok’s hotel sector in 2025.
Occupancy levels for 1Q2025 are already 10 per cent higher than last year for river and Silom properties. However, rising labour costs remain a challenge as revenue growth slows.
“Bangkok hotel managers have worked hard to control labour costs over the past two years, but expenses continue to rise while revenue growth lags,” he said, adding that especially in the first two to three quarters of 2025, hotels need to “carefully balance costs and revenue”.
While rate growth is stabilising, overall performance remains strong. “Revenue per available room is still improving,” he noted.
Looking ahead, he emphasised that 2025 will be about maintaining this balance, and concluded that “hotel managers must manage labour costs wisely while capitalising on the luxury segment’s growth to sustain performance”.
Tourism players are hopeful that vastly improved infrastructure will help position Cambodia as a standalone destination, making remote destinations easily accessible.
The opening of Cambodia’s first expressway, connecting Phnom Penh to the coastal city of Sihanoukville in late 2022 was deemed a gamechanger, cutting travel times from about five to six hours to about two, making the coast and islands more accessible to travellers.
Cambodia’s first expressway, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, vastly improved tourism flows across the country; Phnom Penh city centre pictured
The nation’s second expressway, connecting the capital to Bavet on the Vietnamese border, is slated to open in June, with plans underway to create another highway connecting Phnom Penh with Siem Reap and Poipet on the Thai border.
Significant work is also being put into improving the nation’s national roads, which Din Somethearith, president of Cambodia Tourism Federation (CTF), said will play a major role in transforming Cambodia into a standalone destination.
“Visitors will be able to access places such as Koh Kong, Battambang, and Pursat. The improved infrastructure is significant,” he said.
Sinan Thourn, chairman of PATA Cambodia and IMCT, noted that infrastructure development not only allows visitors to experience more remote areas, but also plays a role in providing communities living in those area with the chance to tap into the tourism dollar.
“Improved connectivity will encourage more tourists to explore remote areas, enhancing their overall experience and boosting local economies,” he noted.
Sivlin Chhay, president of Cambodia Tourism Association (CATA), said infrastructure development is vital in enhancing the country’s tourism competitiveness.
According to figures from the Ministry of Tourism, the average stay in Cambodia was 7.6 days in 2023, up from three days in 2022.
Kitchen stoves in Singapore hotels are roaring in the lead up to the Lunar New Year, which starts January 29 this year, with demand for dining-in and festive catering/takeaways said to be stronger than what was seen in 2024.
Aloft Singapore Novena told TTG Asia that F&B performance has shown “promising growth compared to 2024” and there has been a “notable increase” in reservations for dining events. In fact, group dining reservations are close to full capacity on several peak dates.
Last-minute bookings will push festive F&B sales to close approximately eight to 10 per cent higher than January’s average, says Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens; photo by Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens
General manager Tan Kim Seng said the healthy F&B performance was due to “the combination of refined menu offerings, targeted promotions, and enhanced guest experiences”.
The hotel’s two main restaurants – Yuè@Aloft Chinese restaurant and 21 on Rajah halal-certified buffet restaurant – are welcoming the Year of the Snake with their own festive promotions.
Tan added that that as more families prioritise convenience during their reunion meal preparation, indulgent takeaways from the hotel are flying off the rack.
Hua Ting, recognised as one of the top Cantonese restaurants in Singapore, had reservations for the eve of Lunar New Year – a time when families host their big reunion gatherings – made far in advance.
Jacqueline Ho general manager of Orchard Hotel Singapore, which Hua Ting is part of, said reservations for the popular restaurant are currently trending five to 10 per cent above last year, and regular customers had swiftly secured their tables immediately after last year’s reunion dinner.
“The Orchard Cafe’s CNY buffets continue to attract returning guests, and bookings are tracking at a similar pace as last year,” said Ho, adding that festive hampers curated by the hotel have attracted more corporate buyers this year, compared to the last.
“Given that the Lunar New Year is a significant occasion, patrons are inclined to elevate their spending for this annual celebration,” she remarked.
She noted that festive F&B performance is closely watched, as “F&B earnings are a vital component of the hotel’s operations, contributing significantly to our overall revenue”.
While festive dining bookings had started off slow for Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, largely due to 2025’s Lunar New Year following close on the heels of the year-end festivities, hotel spokesperson Elsa Kimy Yue is confident that last-minute bookings will close the gap.
“Bookings have gained momentum, particularly for the eve. Food Exchange’s @Stevens Steamboat Buffet and Winestone’s Serpentine Prosperity Set are seeing encouraging uptake, especially for key celebration dates. We anticipate steady growth in reservations leading up to the festivities, with last-minute bookings likely to play a key role, as has been the trend in recent years. We project F&B sales to close approximately eight to 10 per cent higher than January’s average,” said Yue.
Indeed, with another week to go before the Year of the Snake slithers in, hoteliers see plenty of room for festive sales growth.
“By February 12 (the last day of the Lunar New Year), we anticipate F&B sales to close on a strong note, potentially surpassing our 2024 performance due to both increased demand and our targeted marketing efforts,” said Tan.
There are also positive business sentiments in room sales this Lunar New Year.
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore is enjoying an increase in room occupancy, mainly due to the spike in leisure demand from international guests. It has an ongoing Spring into Savings room offer which includes a CNY welcome amenity upon arrival.
Orchard Hotel Singapore expects an average room occupancy rate of over 85 per cent during the holidays, of which 80 per cent will be overseas guests. It is actively promoting its large family rooms this festive season.
Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens expects occupancy to peak both before and after the festive holidays, with 75 to 80 per cent of guests coming from overseas.
The long weekend marking the start of the Lunar New Year celebrations is a boon to Aloft Singapore Novena, as it draws more local staycationers than usual.
Thailand’s Na-Ranong family, owners of The Slate Phuket, is looking for investors to develop a world-class marina development project on the east coast of Phuket at Sapam Bay, complete with adjacent land for housing, shopping, and leisure facilities.
The land comes with a pre-approved Environmental Impact Assessment and construction permits, which can take up to five years to complete, meaning the property is ready for immediate operation, allowing investors to focus on scaling the business and getting returns faster.
Investors to develop a world-class marina project on the east coast of Phuket wanted
The land, which also has a Marine Operating License in place, is offered at a time when the Thai government is prioritising marina and cruise liner port projects to enhance the country’s role as a regional marine tourism hub.
“Phuket’s nautical tourism has grown rapidly in the past decade, and we are proud to offer this site for development in the burgeoning marine tourism sector, providing a new launchpad to explore the islands and attractions around Phuket,’ said Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong. “This is a rare opportunity to develop a world-class marina project that will contribute to the continued growth of Phuket as a world-class tourism hub.”
Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong said the family is flexible in terms of either offering the site as a long-term lease project or for sale to the right buyer.
Phuket governor, Sophon Suwannarat, commented: “Phuket is fast becoming the boating capital of Asia, and we welcome the development of this marina site, which will not only attract more high-spending international tourists, but will considerably enhance Phuket’s economic growth.”
Ahead of its March opening, Raffles Sentosa Singapore is now taking enquiries for bookings, including stays, weddings and events, and spa and dining experiences.
The 62-villa property, said to be Singapore’s first all-villa property, is nestled within 100,000m2 of tropical greenery on Sentosa island.
Raffles Sentosa Singapore will open in March 2025
“Raffles Sentosa Singapore will be an enchanting sanctuary, where nature, heritage, and wellness come together with the legendary traditions and world-class hospitality of the Raffles brand to create truly unforgettable experiences,” said Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale, cluster general manager of Raffles Sentosa Singapore and Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa.
“The resort will also offer the perfect setting for private retreats, family gatherings, and celebrating significant milestones.”
Villa sizes range from 210m2 for a one-bedroom pool villa to 650m2 for the four-bedroom Royal Villa. Each comes with a private pool and outdoor terrace.
The resort aims to be a destination for weddings and events, with two state-of-the-art ballrooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 400 guests.
The Philippines has plenty to offer, besides the sun and sea; UNESCO World Heritage Site Ifugao Rice Terraces, pictured
Even though economic and geopolitical headwinds have slowed Philippine tourism, tailwinds of opportunities abound within the destination in the coming times.
Last year’s tourist arrivals of 5.95 million – of which 8.58 per cent are balikbayans or Filipinos permanently residing overseas – is 9.15 per cent more than 2023. It is, however, 23 per cent shy of the 7.7 million targeted in 2024 and 28 per cent short of the pre-pandemic (2019) 8.26 million arrivals.
Shortage of tourists from China, aggravated by tourism budgetary constraints and visa liberalisation delays, have caused the fall.
The Philippines has plenty to offer, besides the sun and sea; UNESCO World Heritage Site Ifugao Rice Terraces, pictured
Analysts foresee full tourism recovery in 2026.
In this light, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) executive vice president, Jaison Yang, has suggested a revisit of tourism policies and strategies.
“We need to review current policies, re-strategise and work together (both government and private sectors) to make our targets and prospects objective, realistic and achievable,” Yang explained.
What the country lacks in tourist numbers is made up for by other “more important” indicators spelt out by tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco: longer tourist stays at 11 nights, up from nine nights in 2019; high per capita tourist spend of US$2,073; repeat visitors at nearly 70 per cent of total arrivals; and 41 per cent surge in tourism receipts of 760 billion pesos (US$13.1 billion) last year from 539.4 billion pesos pre-pandemic.
While “arrivals is just one of the metrics,” Rajah Travel chair and president Aileen Clemente posited that the more important aspect is “how we can maximise the tourist receipts we can derive from the arrivals”.
Fortunately, more investments are pouring into infrastructure projects, making the Philippines more accessible with new commercial flights from abroad to regional provinces, Clemente said.
In Colliers’ 2025 Philippine Property Market Outlook Report, research director Joey Bondoc highlighted the impact of at least six new and modernisation airport projects in attracting tourism investors.
“Now is an opportune time” and “developers should identify growth opportunities,” Bondoc said, which is already happening with an investment surge in accommodation, business events facilities, and tourist attractions especially in emerging tourist destinations.
Another tailwind is the broadening of tourism products outside of the usual sand and sea offerings to include halal, farm, gastronomy, health and wellness and eco-tourism, among others.
This diversification is creating new source markets and adding to the country’s destination appeal, said Jennifer Sanvictores, global head of sales and marketing, The Farm at San Benito.
Sanvictores cited the Department of Tourism’s recent positioning of the Philippines as a leading international destination for wellness as the sector evolves beyond spa relaxation into mainstream offering scientific and evidence-based and holistic wellness.
Marketing these new offerings and new destinations can also harness tailwinds of opportunities. As Clemente said: “We need to push our promotions, both traditional and new, to be more aggressive in certain countries on a consistent and sustained basis. More importantly, we need to have effective curation of our tourism sites (and offerings).”
From left: Eco-STEPS’ Kingston Khoo; The Habitat Foundation’s Justine Vaz; Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre’s Wong Siew Te and Batu Batu’s Cher Chua-Lassalvy discuss innovative approaches to sustainable tourism development; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
Leading figures in Malaysia’s sustainable tourism sector have sounded an urgent call for collective action to address environmental and social challenges while promoting responsible travel.
From left: Eco-STEPS’ Kingston Khoo; The Habitat Foundation’s Justine Vaz; Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre’s Wong Siew Te and Batu Batu’s Cher Chua-Lassalvy discuss innovative approaches to sustainable tourism development; photo by Rachel AJ Lee
Speaking on the Sustainability Pioneers: Malaysian SMEs Driving Change panel at the ASEAN Tourism Conference on January 15, session moderator and founder and president of Eco-STEPS (Sustainable Tourism & Environmental Protection Society) Malaysia, Kingston Khoo, highlighted the slow global progress in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To help Malaysia on its sustainability journey, Justine Vaz, executive director of The Habitat Foundation, and Cher Chua-Lassalvy, co-founder and managing director of Batu Batu, jointly established the Sustainable Tourism Malaysia network.
The Habitat Foundation is a charitable trust based in Penang. It influences biodiversity conservation at a national level and focuses on empowering local communities, enhancing their livelihoods, and promoting under-appreciated destinations. Its sister organisation under The Habitat Group is The Habitat Penang Hill, a rainforest park.
“The network that we formed comprises NGOs, government organisations, and tourism businesses. We help our network members communicate what they do, where they do it, and (strengthen) their visibility. We also do consumer education and help people to make better (environmental) choices,” said Vaz.
Vaz shared that the foundation is undertaking several projects in preparation for Visit Malaysia 2026, including the development of new trails and an exhibition showcasing the region’s rich tin mining history in Perlis.
Meanwhile, Chua-Lassalvy shared her experience in transitioning Batu Batu – an eco-island located two hours from Johor Bahru – from traditional tourism to a regenerative model, aiming to create positive impacts on the environment and local communities while offering restorative and thought-provoking retreats. It was challenging, she shared, having to deal with problems such as overflowing sewage issues, oil spills that the waves carried in, and trash pollution.
She also encouraged the audience to create destination coordination groups, where stakeholders can discuss, share, negotiate, and find a sustainable way forward.
“This is one thing that the Sustainable Tourism Network does. The plan is to get everyone who is working in sustainable tourism to get together, share their knowledge and databases, so that the industry can progress,” she explained.
Wong Siew Te, CEO and founder, Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, shared how wildlife conservation and nature-based tourism can be mutually beneficial. The centre generates revenue through responsible tourism, which in turn supports conservation efforts and improves the livelihoods of local communities.
“We need to nurture future generations to help protect our environment as much as possible,” he stressed.
Chua-Lassalvy advised the industry to listen to and learn from local communities, rather than impose external ideas. By respecting their knowledge and integrating their cultural heritage, truly authentic and sustainable tourism experiences can be developed.
Vaz said: “I’m currently working on establishing a new protected area in Malaysia, twice the size of Singapore. While the potential for eco-tourism that can benefit the seven villages living (deep in the forest) is significant, we must ensure that their livelihoods and cultural integrity are not compromised by rapid tourism development.”
From left: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Anyu Liu and Haiyan Song; PATA’s Noor Ahmad Hamid and Panadda Suk-in
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has extended its partnership with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) for an additional three years to continue the publication of the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts reports.
This renewed agreement, spanning from 2024 to 2027, will see the continued production of reports that provide insights into the evolving tourism landscape of the Asia Pacific region.
From left: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Anyu Liu and Haiyan Song; PATA’s Noor Ahmad Hamid and Panadda Suk-in
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said that this partnership “will ensure that PATA members receive the most updated insights on the region’s tourism demands”.
The agreement to collaborate on the project Further Development of the Tourism Demand Forecasting for Asia Pacific Region (Phase 4), reinforces the ongoing cooperation between PATA and PolyU to leverage advanced statistical forecasting techniques, scenario analyses, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and stakeholder insights to produce the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts reports, which covers inbound visitors, tourism receipts, and departures.
From left: IDC’s Giuseppe Garofalo, Romolo V Nati, and Jose D. Leviste III; Dusit International’s Gilles Cretallaz, Dusit Thani Philippines’ Evelyn Singson, and Dusit International’s Prateek Kumar
Dusit International has signed hotel management agreements with IDC Prime to manage two new hotels in Northern Mindanao under Dusit’s upper-midscale Dusit Princess brand. Both are set to open in late 2029.
From left: IDC’s Giuseppe Garofalo, Romolo V Nati, and Jose D. Leviste III; Dusit International’s Gilles Cretallaz, Dusit Thani Philippines’ Evelyn Singson, and Dusit International’s Prateek Kumar
Dusit Princess Moena will sit within Moena Mountain Estate, a sustainability-focused mixed-use development located in the mountains of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, on the outskirts of the Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park. The 184-key hotel will cater to both business and leisure travellers and offer a wide range of premium facilities.
Further north, Dusit Princess Firenze will be part of IDC’s Firenze Green Tower project in the Limketkai area of Cagayan de Oro, near the city’s commercial and business districts. Dusit will manage 180 rooms on the tower’s upper floors, providing guests with exceptional views and Dusit’s signature high standards of service.
The Firenze Green Tower and Moena Mountain Estate projects are pre-existing real estate joint ventures between IDC, as the property developer, and the Go family, the original site owners. Adding hotel components to these developments is set to elevate their appeal, positioning Dusit Princess Moena and Dusit Princess Firenze as destinations in their own right.
