Club Med Kiroro Grand, Japan
Immersed in the breath-taking beauty of Kiroro’s natural landscapes, the 266-key Club Med Kiroro Grand beckons guests into a sanctuary where nature and design seamlessly intertwine.
The resort provides direct access to ski slopes spanning the Asari and Nagamine mountains and features 23 diverse courses catering to skiers of all levels. Individual and group lessons are available and the ski and lift passes will be ready upon arrival.
Aside from skiing, guests can also pamper themselves at the spa, indulge in gastronomy at the resort’s four restaurants and bar, or even explore the lesser-known wonders of Hokkaido with a day trip to the Otaru Coastal Town.
Kinn Studios, Singapore
Kinn Studios is situated in the heart of the CBD-fringe area of Keong Saik Road in Singapore, and places a significant focus on holistic wellness by offering a curated guest programme promoting emotional and mental fulfilment.
Each room type caters to a different experience: Cosy Rooms are perfect for those who enjoy natural light and vibrant streets; Ground Rooms, which are also wheelchair friendly, grant easy access to the communal dining area and lounge; while those who prefer more privacy can opt for the Hideaway Rooms, which are neatly tucked away on the topmost floor.
The hotel aims to furnish guests with access to therapy sessions to help counter any travel anxieties and worries through its collaboration with Safe Space, an online/offline mental health counselling service provider in Singapore. Guests will also get to use and keep a Kinn Pocket Serenity wellness booklet featuring words of affirmation and personal journaling prompts.
Cross Paasha Bali Seminyak, Indonesia
Cross Paasha Bali Seminyak in Indonesia is nestled at the heart of Seminyak, offering guests beachside bliss by day and an electrifying nightlife scene after sunset.
Just a 30 to 40-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, the 99-key hotel features a variety of suites ranging from 55m² to the expansive 110m² Penthouse Suite which is great for families and small groups.
There are facilities like a pool, spa, gym, and dining options. Nearby attractions include Seminyak Beach, Seminyak Square, Petitenget Temple, Ku De Ta Beach Club, Eat Street, Potato Head Beach Club, The Seminyak Village for shopping, Batu Belig Beach, and more.
Mantra Tonsley Adelaide, Australia
Mantra Tonsley Adelaide in Southern Australia offers 88 rooms and apartments, a restaurant and bar, as well as two conference rooms.
Situated in the Tonsley Innovation Precinct, just a 12-minute drive south of Adelaide’s CBD, the hotel is also near Flinders University and the Flinders Public & Private Hospitals.
The hotel provides easy access to iconic South Australian destinations, including McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, and Glenelg Beach.
The welcome reception was hosted at Museum Siam in Bangkok and themed, A Picnic Celebration at the Museum. Food and drink from Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants were dished out, and guests were entertained by contemporary Thai performances, live music, and other activities, including a test-ride on the Thai Tourist Police’s Segway, Thai massage, fortune telling, and lucky draw.
Tourism Australia is recording strong demand from the Indian market on the back of enhanced air capacity, a friendly visa regime, and growing interest from diverse segments like business events and young travellers.
Indian arrivals to Australia have reached 385,000 for the period between October 2022 and September 2023, and the market is now the fifth largest inbound market for Tourism Australia.
Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia, told TTG Asia that India “has been the first market to bounce back to pre-Covid levels”. The market used to rank number seven.
Indian travellers are also spending more in Australia – up 24 per cent, reaching a substantial A$2.2 billion (US$1.5 billion) for the period from July 2022 to June 2023.
Improved flight connections play a pivotal role in fostering tourism growth, opined Kashikar. Capacity on the India-Australia route has increased from eight flights a week pre-Covid to 28 flights per week today. Most recently in December 2023, Air India commenced thrice weekly direct flights connecting Mumbai and Melbourne.
Said Kashikar: “We are seeing a lot of young Indians travelling to Australia. We are going to leverage the digital ecosystem to reach out to young Indian travellers and inspire them through our Come & Say G’day campaign that we launched a year ago. We are also noticing a growing demand for self-drive holidays from India.”
Tourism Australia also recorded overwhelming interest from the Indian corporate events segment last year – “a remarkable five-fold increase in MICE leads compared to 2019 levels”, shared Kashikar.
“This is primarily because of the faster turnaround time, and streamlined service offered for corporates by the Department of Home Affairs to process their visas. So, we have seen Australia’s attractiveness rise in terms of MICE in 2023. The Indian economy has done well and segments like banking, financial services, insurance, infrastructure and healthcare have helped in the growth of MICE demand for Australia,” he explained.
Guldeep Singh Sahni, managing director, Weldon Tours & Travels, commented that an easy visa application system is a strong motivation for travellers to pick a destination.
“Even though the average turnaround time for visa processing is four to five days, we have seen some applications being processed within 24 hours. As a result, many Indian travel agents are suggesting travel to Australia,” said Sahni.
In the new year, Tourism Australia will do more to promote destinations beyond well-known ones – the draws of Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Canberra, Perth, Northern Territory, Daintree region in tropical North Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef will be highlighted to the Indian market.