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Asia/Singapore Friday, 3rd April 2026
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Page 246

The art of travelling nice and slow

By Karen Yue
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The quest for immersive experiences through a slower pace of travel is feeding the rise of boutique cruises and rail journeys.

Belmond, an operator of luxury train voyages in different parts of the world, saw interest in its latest addition – The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train that goes between Singapore and Malaysia – soar among several guest segments, from retirees and families to young couples and solo explorers. It has sold out most of its cabins on most voyages since its relaunch in March this year.

The Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train is home to Dior’s first ever spa in the region

Nicolas Streff, vice president of strategy and corporate communications, Belmond, believes that customers are drawn to the product concept – one that allows them to slow down and appreciate the value of personal time.

“It ticks all the boxes of what we call slow luxury travel, which is all about taking the time to explore, immerse yourself in the destination, and really understand the landscape, culture, etc,” he explained.

Guests on the all-inclusive Eastern & Oriental Express go on three-night voyages from Singapore through Malaysia. Along the way, they get to wine, dine and play onboard at no extra charge. They are also invited to join off-board excursions led by expert guides.

On July 22, Belmond elevated the Eastern & Oriental Express experience with the opening of Dior’s first-ever spa in the region. Housed in one of the train carriages, the Dior Spa offers five tailor-made wellness rituals.

Hotels, keen to extend guests experiences beyond their room and onsite facilities, have also crafted slow travel opportunities.

In March this year, luxury resort Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia sailed out its very own ship, Ayana Lako di’a, to offer a two-day-one-night adventure through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park for up to 14 guests. The modern phinisi offers nine fully air-conditioned suites, and features a library, lounge, bar, an indoor dining area and daybeds on the main deck.

The Ritz-Carlton has just announced plans to set its 794-foot Luminara luxury cruise liner off in Asia-Pacific, with 10 voyages scheduled between December 2025 and May 2026. The journeys range from 10 to 15 nights in length and depart from Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore.

Minor Hotels’ Boheme will sail along the Mekong River

Minor Hotels, which has seen great interest in The Vietage by Anantara, its luxury train that takes hotel guests through the Vietnamese countryside, will soon launch Boheme, a cruise ship that will depart from Luang Prabang in Laos and journey down the Mekong river on four-day itineraries. Boheme is furnished with 12 suites and one stateroom.

Marion Walsh-Hédouin, vice president communication & public relations for Minor Hotels, told TTG Asia that Boheme would grant guests access to some spectacular locations and impressive experiences along the river, such as the Pak Ou Caves and villages of rice paper-making and silk-weaving craftsmen.

“People want more than just the hotel experience, more than just a nice turn-down amenity. Hence, Anantara Hotels & Resorts (a brand of Minor International) has chosen to offer brand extentions that deliver memorable destination experiences and community connections,” said Walsh-Hédouin.

In Thailand, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort’s Loy Pela Voyages takes guests down the Chao Phraya River on private cruises for up to eight people. Two ships in the fleet, Loy Dream and Loy River Song, offer destination exploration with creative gastronomy. Both ships are outfitted luxuriously.

Spurred by popular demand, The Vietage by Anantara recently launched a second railway carriage to operate a daily return journey between Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. The new five-hour journey through south-central Vietnam presents a slower way to appreciate the destination, with sightings of water buffalos in the countryside, coastal views of the East Sea, and more.

“These extensions provide our guests with opportunities to stay on longer with us and in the destination, and encourages them to stay with more than one property in our portfolio,” she added.

Expedia Group picks out eight trends driving next year’s travel plans

By TTG Asia
0

Expedia Group has unveiled its annual data-driven outlook for travel trends in the new year.

Unpack ’25 harnesses first-party travel data, insights from 25,000 travellers, and the latest industry innovation to identify eight noteworthy travel trends for 2025.

Respondents say they will travel great distances to see natural phenomena in real life; ritual courtship dance of Red-crowned Cranes in Hokkaido, pictured

1. Detour destinations
In 2025, travellers are not only visiting the tried-and-true tourist destinations, but also adding detours. Expedia’s destinations of the year are near popular hotspots, making them ideal day trips while also being attractive as main attractions. In the hunt for the less crowded and less well-known, 63% of consumers say they are likely to visit a detour destination on their next trip.

The 10 trending Detour Destinations for 2025 based on increase in flight searches include Reims, France (detour from Paris); Brescia, Italy (detour from Milan); Cozumel, Mexico (detour from Cancun); Santa Barbara, California, the US (detour from Los Angeles); Waikato, New Zealand (detour from Auckland); Girona, Spain (detour from Barcelona); Fukuoka, Japan (detour from Tokyo); Abu Dhabi, the UAE (detour from Dubai); Krabi, Thailand (detour from Phuket); and Canmore, Alberta, Canada (detour from Calgary).

2. Goods getaways
TikTok has inspired travellers to take trips in search of share-worthy speciality goods. Whether it is a viral chocolate bar from Dubai, butter from France, skincare products from South Korea, or Japanese candy, travellers are making extra space in their carry-ons for unique treasures, even creating entire trips around getting the goods.

When going on holiday, 39% of travellers visit grocery stores or supermarkets and 44% shop for local goods they cannot get at home. Coffee tours in Costa Rica, tea tastings in China, and matcha experiences in Japan are some of the most popular goods getaway experiences bookable on Expedia.

3. All-inclusive era
Today’s all-inclusive resorts are attracting Gen Z travellers who seek stress-free stays and a good deal. One-third of these travellers said their perception of all-inclusive hotels has changed for the better and 42% say an all-inclusive resort would be their preferred hotel type. The top three reasons Gen Z travellers are drawn to all-inclusive resorts are minimal stress (41%), ease of booking (39%), and for luxury (38%).

4. Hotel restaurant renaissance
When booking hotels, travellers are not just making room reservations – they’re making dinner reservations, too. Hotels around the world have opened restaurants featuring Michelin-starred chefs and rotating seasonal menus to attract guests.

Travellers are seeking standout hotel dining experiences; positive reviews about hotel restaurants, chefs and bars increased by 40% YoY on Hotels.com. Furthermore, nearly a third of travellers say room service from a famous hotel restaurant would make them more likely to book, while 31% say restaurant tables reserved exclusively for hotel guests would be their top reason.

5. JOMO travel
In 2025, travellers will embrace JOMO – the joy of missing out. JOMO travel means doing less on holiday to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and staying at cosy cabins or peaceful beach houses to boost relaxation and reconnection. Two-thirds (62%) of travellers say these types of trips reduce stress and anxiety, and nearly half say that it enhances quality time with loved ones.

The best way to experience JOMO travel is from a beach house, lakeside lodge or mountain chalet. The top holiday rental amenities JOMO travellers are seeking are pools, tranquil gardens, hot tubs and porches with a view.

6. The phenomena list
Droves of travellers booked private holiday homes along the path of totality to see the total solar eclipse in 2024, proving people will travel great distances to see natural phenomena in real life. Survey data revealed that the Northern Lights (61%) are the top phenomenon travellers want to see, followed by geological phenomena (30%) like volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. 80% of travellers say it is important to stay in a place that offers prime viewing for these natural wonders, so it is no surprise that private holiday homes in secluded or rural destinations are ideal for phenomena-seekers.

Vrbo hand-picked these natural phenomena that travellers will want a front-row seat to in 2025:

  • International Dark Sky Park – Arches National Park, the US
  • Synchronous firefly season – Great Smoky Mountains, the US
  • Penguin parade – Phillip Island, Australia
  • Bioluminescent plankton – Vero Beach, the US
  • ‘Black Sun’ starlings’ migration – Wadden Sea National Park, Denmark
  • Ballet of Japanese cranes – Hokkaido, Japan
  • Highest tides in the world, walk on the ocean floor – Bay of Fundy, Canada
  • Starling murmurations – Somerset, the UK
  • Volcanoes, lava fields and black sand beaches – Reykjavík, Iceland
  • Northern Lights – Lapland region, Finland

7. Set-jetting forecast for 2025
From binge-worthy streaming shows to reality TV, travellers keep turning to the screen for trip inspiration. Since Expedia Group identified set-jetting as a travel behaviour in 2022, the trend continues to grow. Two-thirds of travellers say that films, streaming services and TV shows have influenced their travel choices, a 16% increase from last year.

For the second year, Expedia Group’s units, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, compiled the Set-Jetting Forecast to reveal what entertainment-inspired destinations travellers will head to in 2025: Dubai inspired by The Real Housewives of Dubai; Montana and Wyoming inspired by Yellowstone; New York City inspired by And Just Like That…; Cape Town inspired by One Piece; and Scotland inspired by The Traitors.

8. One-click trips
Half of consumers make daily, weekly or monthly purchases because of trusted influencer content. Although shopping on Instagram and TikTok has become the new normal for lower-ticket items like fashion and beauty, travel shopping on social media is still in its early stages. Half of consumers say they have wanted to book a trip they saw on their social feeds, but cited time and complexity as the primary barriers. In response to this, Expedia recently launched the travel industry’s first shop-able storefronts curated by social media creators, tastemakers and brands with more than 100 Travel Shops live on the Expedia app.

Oceania’s tourism potential worth extra US$112B, positioned for global leadership in eco-friendly tourism

By Adelaine Ng
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Oceania’s travel and tourism sector could add an additional US$112 billion into the region’s economy over the next decade, bringing its total contribution to a record-breaking US$336 billion by 2034.

The findings from a pioneering new report by WTTC released at its Global Summit in Perth projected that if managed well, the region could create 1.1 million new jobs, bringing total employment in the sector to 3.5 million by 2034.

From left: WTTC’s Virginia Messina and Nejc Jus; photo by Adelaine Ng

This includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, which are regionally poised to become a global leader in ecotourism and sustainable travel, while significantly boosting its economy.

Speaking at the summit, WTTC senior vice president Virginia Messina said the sector is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 3.2 per cent, outpacing the broader economy’s rate of 2.9 per cent and resulting in an economic contribution of US$306.9 billion by 2034. However, she stated that additional efforts could unlock even greater potential, and “we could unlock an additional $29 billion for the region of Oceania if the right investments are made”, bringing the total to US$336 billion.

“But those investments obviously need to be made now, and it is a unique opportunity in this region,” she added.

Developed in collaboration with visa services provider VFS Global, the report Unlocking Opportunities for Travel & Tourism Growth in Oceania outlined strategic investments needed for the region. It includes improving air connectivity, airport expansions, streamlining visa processes, and investing in sustainable infrastructure to mitigate climate change impacts.

“We’re working with a number of partners, particularly VFS, who kindly sponsored this report, and are looking at how we can come up with faster processes and implement technology to streamline those visa requirements. (Air) connectivity is (also) incredibly important, particularly for this part of the world. There’s no other way we can get here,” she pointed out.

Oceania’s travel and tourism industry is set to grow by 16.5 per cent above pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, reaching US$224 billion. Employment in the sector is forecast to exceed pre-pandemic figures by 4.8 per cent, employing 2.3 million people.

The report noted that the region’s tourism sector bounced back through domestic travel to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2023, with Australia the primary force behind the recovery. However, international visitor spending remains slightly behind 2019 levels, with full recovery not expected until 2025.

Despite this, the WTTC report details a clear roadmap for the region’s tourism industry to thrive.

“There’s a lot of unique products that this region has to offer, including the wildlife and nature of this part of the world. Gastronomy is also taken very seriously where everything we’ve been consuming here with our counterparts at Tourism Australia and Tourism Western Australia has been local and very diverse to other parts of the world. We need to protect these islands and ensure the potential growth benefits all communities” noted Messina.

Echoing these sentiments, WTTC president and CEO Julia Simpson stated: “By investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and supporting indigenous communities, Oceania could become a global leader in eco-conscious, inclusive tourism.”

Transforming rural areas in Japan into tourist destinations

By Kathryn Wortley
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Areas of Japan experiencing severe depopulation and ageing communities are being transformed into tourism destinations offering a glimpse of “ordinary life in rural Japan” in a bid to stimulate local economies through inbound visitor spending.

Tokyo-based regional revitalisation business Satoyume aims to transform 30 areas by 2040 by renovating rundown, abandoned or unmanned buildings in villages across the country into accommodation and related facilities managed by residents.

Old buildings are being refurbished in rural areas to serve as accommodation for tourists, such as Kosuge village in Yamanashi Prefecture; Kosuge East Sports Park, pictured

With a mission of “giving shape to the dreams of country towns”, Satoyume aims “to create new destinations from the myriad of attractive regions in Japan that are yet known to the world,” said Shumpei Shimada, the company’s CEO.

In Kosuge, a village in Yamanashi Prefecture with fewer than 700 residents, visitors are invited to stay at Nipponia, a hotel established with the support of Satoyume that comprises several 100-year-old buildings at locations throughout the village. These buildings have been refurbished and are staffed by local people.

Similarly, in rural west Tokyo, unmanned stations on the JR Ome Line are being turned into the reception desks of Ensen-Marugoto, a new hotel launching as a joint venture between Satoyume and JR East in 2025. Local buildings are being renovated into guestrooms, restaurants and saunas while retaining their traditional charm, and villagers are being trained to serve domestic and inbound visitors.

“We aim to offer lifestyle tourism – the idea that local people’s ordinary days can be visitors’ extraordinary experiences,” said Shimada, adding that the initiative can help counter rural depopulation.

Singapore highlights city’s culinary landscape with new global campaign

By TTG Asia
0

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has launched the Made in Singapore global positioning campaign that reinforces Singapore’s status as a Culinary Capital and food haven.

The campaign showcases Singapore’s vibrant, diverse and innovative culinary landscape to a global audience, aiming to boost awareness, rekindle interest, and drive demand, as well as inviting visitors to experience Singapore’s gastronomic offerings.

STB will collaborate with international content creators to spotlight Singapore’s diverse and innovative dining scene

Made in Singapore capitalises on the growing appetite for Singapore’s culinary experiences, which spans from humble hawker stalls to creative modern Singaporean fine dining establishments. The city’s culinary scene is internationally recognised by lists such as the Michelin Guide, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars, and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars.

Kicking off this campaign is a short 30-second song titled What Do I Eat First?, featuring lead vocalist Paddy Ong from one of Singapore’s pioneering indie-pop bands, Club Mild.

STB will also collaborate with content creators from key markets including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, and the US to produce authentic, personalised content that showcases how Singapore puts a unique spin on global culinary movements. These content creators will explore a wide range of experiences, from heritage dishes in traditional hawker centres to innovative fusion creations in restaurants and bars, as well as capture highlights from the ongoing Singapore Food Festival, which runs till October 31.

From end-January 2025, STB will launch a series of video assets on its Visit Singapore social media accounts. These videos will continue to spotlight Singapore’s unique interpretation of culinary trends on social media worldwide.

Kenneth Lim, assistant chief executive, marketing group, STB, said: “In today’s social-first environment, content creators wield significant power in creating awareness and shaping perceptions. Recognising this, our campaign harnesses their reach to position Singapore as a global Culinary Capital_,_ inspiring foodies to explore our endless possibilities curated by both home-grown and international culinary talents.

“Through this approach, we aim to drive greater awareness of Singapore’s diverse F&B offerings, by inviting foodies to explore and share their culinary discoveries.”

Malaysia Airlines, IndiGo to boost travel between Malaysia and India

By S Puvaneswary
0

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and IndiGo have teamed up for a codeshare partnership that aims to boost connectivity and elevate the traveller experience across its key hubs within Malaysia and India.

Through this partnership, MAS customers will gain wider access to destinations within India, as the airline’s flight code MH will be added to seven domestic destinations in India, such as Kolkata, Varanasi, Patna, Tiruchirappalli, Goa, Bhubaneswar, and Visakhapatnam.

The alliance aims to bridge the skies between India and Malaysia

This complements the airline’s current direct routes to 10 key hubs in India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Trivandrum and Kolkata.

Meanwhile, IndiGo’s 6E flight code will be added to MAS domestic flights from its main hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 to destinations like Penang, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, thus allowing holiday goers added travel options to explore the beauty of Malaysia.

Izham Ismail, group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group, said: “This strategic partnership reflects our mutual commitment to boosting tourism growth between our nations, especially with the visa-free entry for tourists between the two countries. Our goal is to provide more travel options, enhanced connectivity, and a seamless travel experience for our valued customers.”

“The partnership will offer increased accessibility, to explore the unique and enriching experience that the country has to offer. This collaboration not only expands travel options for our customers, but also strengthens the cultural and economic ties between the two nations,” added Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo.

Resorts World One to homeport in Keelung next year

By TTG Asia
0

Resorts World Cruises (RWC) will return to homeport in Keelung with the Resorts World One from April 30 to November 9, 2025, and will introduce new itineraries to boost inbound Fly-Cruise passengers from all parts of Asia to board the ship from Keelung to Japan.

The 1800-cruise passenger ship will feature popular and new itineraries to Japan for its three-, four-, and six-day cruises to Okinawa, as well as to the main islands of Kyushu, Honshu and Shikoku.

Resorts World One will homeport in Keelung from April 30 to November 9 next year

Resorts World One will be the first cruise line to depart from Keelung on Sundays to offer 15 sailings for the six-day Osaka (via Wakayama)-Kochi Cruise, which coincides with the World Expo 2025 Osaka held until October 13, 2025. Fans of the expo cruising aboard may join the shore excursions with pre-arranged entry tickets to the 155-hectare expo site.

All cruises during the peak holiday season in July and August will be to Osaka and Kochi, as families will be able to take their children to see exhibits from 161 countries at the Expo 2025 Osaka.

Cruising guests can also elect to have shore excursions to the historical city of Kyoto and also visit the diverse attractions of Wakayama, which has the UNESCO World Heritage site of Koyasan; the Wakayama Castle; onsens; and dine at seafood restaurants in Japan.

In the Shikoku region, attractions at Kochi city comprise the Shimanto River Valley, Kochi Castle, Chikurin-ji Temple, Harimaya Bridge, Ryugu Shrine and more.

RWC will also re-introduce the popular itineraries from Keelung to Okinawa and Kyushu for the upcoming 2025 seasonal deployment, including a total of eight sailings departing on Sundays for the six-day cruise to Kumamoto, Kagoshima and Naha and the six-day Nagasaki-Kagoshima-Naha cruise. The four-day Okinawa cruises departing on selected Sundays will also cruise to both Naha and Miyakojima, while the three-day Okinawa (Ishigaki or Miyakojima) cruise will depart on Fridays and selected Wednesdays.

“As our deployments had spurred the overall local economy with cruise passengers, demand for transportation and accommodation, local sourcing of supplies and services, creating job employment opportunities etc., we look forward to future growth together in 2025,” said Michael Goh, president, RWC.

Alipay+ facilitates cross-border mobile payments in Cambodia

By TTG Asia
0

Ant International, in partnership with the National Bank of Cambodia, has launched cross-border QR code payments between its cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation solutions, Alipay+, and the bank’s Bakong payment system.

With this initiative, Alipay+ partner users of 12 international payment apps – Alipay (China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR), Touch ‘n Go eWallet and MyPB by Public Bank (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), Kakao Pay, Toss Pay (South Korea), OCBC and Changi Pay (Singapore), Hipay (Mongolia), MPay (Macao SAR) and Tinaba (Italy) – will be able to seamlessly make payments to more than one million merchants in Cambodia by scanning KHQR codes, with more to be progressively added.

The collaboration enables travellers around the world to make transactions in Cambodia using their home payment apps

This will facilitate the payment for goods and services to businesses in Cambodia with accounts denominated in Cambodian riels.

KHQR, launched by National Bank of Cambodia in July 2022 and operated by Bakong, was created for retail payment in Cambodia and cross-border payment within South-east Asian countries. It only requires a single QR for receiving payment through any mobile banking apps of Bakong members including Bakong App, making QR payment simple for both customers and merchants in Cambodia.

Chea Serey, governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, said: “I firmly believe that the partnership between Alipay+ and Bakong’s KHQR network would elevate financial cooperation by leveraging technology to benefit the customers, and is one of the most impactful developments in supporting the country’s digitalisation journey and helping merchants capture new opportunities in the evolving landscape.”

Edward Yue, general manager for Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Ant International, commented: “(The parnership) will not only enhance the travel experience for global consumers, but will also enable more local businesses to benefit from the strong tourism recovery.

“We will continue to work closely with regulators, merchants and other industry partners to create a new future of cross-border payments and travel.”

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore announces two key promotions

By TTG Asia
0

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore has named Meng Wen Young as associate director of marketing, and Shengwen Chua as hotel manager.

Young was previously director of sales and catering, with over two decades of experience in the field. She will be instrumental in crafting compelling narratives that showcase the experiences offered at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore.

From left: Meng Wen Young and Shengwen Chua

Chua takes on his new role after over two years as director of marketing at the hotel. With a wealth of experience and a strong background in revenue management with him, he will oversee all aspects of hotel operations.

Lufthansa Group welcomes new senior director sales – Southeast Asia and the Pacific

By TTG Asia
0

Brendan Shashoua has been appointed as Lufthansa Group’s senior director sales – Southeast Asia and the Pacific. He will be based in Singapore.

Having begun his Lufthansa Group career in revenue management at SWISS in 2011, he will now lead the group’s sales force across South-east Asia and the Pacific region in his new role.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Thailand rolls out targeted fuel subsidies ahead of Songkran travel
TTG Asia | Colbert Collection to debut in Italy as Minor Hotels targets soft brand growth
TTG Asia | TTG Asia takes Good Friday break