TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Thursday, 9th April 2026
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TTG Asia | Higher fuel costs to dampen India travel demand
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Global Hotel Alliance reveals destination hotspots for 2024

By TTG Asia
0

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) has revealed the most popular destinations for 2024 and what is motivating travellers to visit them.

Japan and Thailand top the list, followed by Spain, Canada and Hawaii, a survey of its GHA Discovery loyalty programme members found, with the desire to try new destinations and experiences a key motivation behind travel decisions.

Thailand ranks as one of the top destinations among travellers; Krabi, Thailand, pictured

Europe has emerged as the most sought-after region to visit next year, while staycations are booming in Asia, led by members in China, who are planning more than five on average, followed by Thailand and Malaysia with more than four.

Similar to last year’s survey, GHA Discovery members’ travel plans are predominantly driven by leisure. Across regions, most respondents are planning to take no more than one business trip on average and two to four trips for leisure.

The strong rebound of Asian outbound travel is also clear, once again led by China where members have six to seven leisure trips planned (a 6.8 average), closely followed by Hong Kong (6.7) Thailand (6.4) and Germany (6.1). The Middle East and Africa stand out too, with travellers in these regions planning almost equal business and leisure trips (4.9 versus 4.0) in 2024.

Travellers in Asia are booking trips to Japan, China and Thailand, the same as in 2023, revealing an appetite to continue exploring intra-regional destinations.

European residents favour Thailand and Japan for the second consecutive year, but have replaced their 2023 hotspot, the US, with a desire to dive deeper into their own region, with Spain and Italy at the top of the list.

Travel-seekers from Australia and New Zealand are heading to Singapore and the UK in 2024, while Sydney is a city hotspot for a staycation. Those travelling to Europe tend to visit Portugal as well.

North American residents are still planning vacations to Japan but have swapped trips to China for getaways in Hawaii, Spain and Thailand instead. This market has the least interest in staycations, with an average of just over two planned.

As for the Middle East and North Africa, Japan remains in demand into 2024, but Canada and Oman are the new hot destinations for travellers based in this region, compared to Italy and Singapore in 2023.

Motivations, inspirations and preferences driving these trending destinations include various factors.

Social media is the top inspiration source, with 75% of respondents saying they travel to new places after seeing friends’ posts, with Asia, Middle East and North Africa, and Oceania leading this trend. Travel magazines are still an important source in Europe and North America but recommendations from friends and family are the most influential.

Post-Covid, members are mostly opting for travel with their spouse or partner and intimate family trips, rather than solo adventures or mega-vacations with extended family. Foodie breaks are also on the rise and have overtaken wellness getaways as the most desired travel experiences.

Loyalty programme websites and apps are now the top choice across all regions for travel research and booking, a clear increase compared to 2023. This is followed by OTAs and dedicated review portals, all preferred to brand and hotel sites, indicating that travellers want to search from a wide choice of options in one place to save time and effort.

When deciding what hotel to stay in, the quality of accommodation and the benefits of its loyalty programme are the most important factors. This marks a change from last year when location or neighbourhood and price were prioritised.

When it comes to travel, upgrades are in demand. Special rates and hotel benefits are seen as the most critical in-hotel loyalty benefits. The largest change is seen in Europe, where discounts were the top pick last year, but now benefits such as room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout are significantly more valued. Across regions, a staggering 70% of elite GHA Discovery members place room upgrades at the top of their preferences, advocating for greater availability of this benefit.

“Travel is back on all fronts with every region thriving, and despite disruptions in certain markets, we are optimistic for another strong year in 2024” said Kristi Gole, executive vice president of strategy at GHA. “Travellers are still willing to pay premium prices to get where they want and to stay in the best hotels, but they now expect the product and service levels to match and want loyalty programmes to add value and enhance each stay.”

Marriott International signs W Singapore – Marina View

By TTG Asia
0

Marriott International has signed an agreement with IOI Properties Group to bring W Singapore – Marina View, a new 350-room property, to downtown Singapore.

The hotel is slated to debut in 2028 at the site of a 51-story mixed-use development.

W Singapore – Marina View is set to open late 2028

Boasting views of the Marina Bay, the new hotel will be located near key commercial and entertainment districts of Marina Bay, Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar as well as the heritage neighbourhood of Chinatown. It will feature guestrooms and suites, as well as a wet deck, fitness centre, spa, and dining and social spaces at multiple restaurants and bars.

Oriol Montal, managing director, Luxury Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International, said: “This signing underscores the strong demand for our luxury brands across the region as we continue to expand our portfolio in new and existing markets. It also marks the opening of our second W Hotels in Singapore, following the success of W Singapore – Sentosa Cove.”

“We are delighted to answer to the growing demands of luxury lifestyle hotels with W Singapore – Marina View, which is set to transform guest experience in leisure, entertainment and gastronomy here within the iconic Marina Bay district,” added Lee Yeow Seng, group CEO of IOI Properties Group.

Meliá hotels across Vietnam get merry for the festive season

By TTG Asia
0

Meliá Hotels & Resorts are getting festive with a range of holiday offerings for all ages.

At Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, the festivities begin on December 16 with a Christmas tree lighting party. A host of activities for families await, such as Christmas ornament colouring and a Christmas biscuit workshop. On Christmas Eve, Santa will make an appearance at the Breeza Restaurant, while on Christmas Day, Breeza will host a barbecue night. On New Year’s Eve, indulge in Mediterranean cuisine before the countdown party on the beach featuring a DJ, fire dance, and other performances.

Meliá Hotels & Resorts across Vietnam are offering a range of holiday activities this festive season; Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, pictured

Meliá Vinpearl Quang Binh is set to light its Christmas tree on December 10, followed by a “Santa in Town” gathering serving up canapes and mulled wine, along with live piano, carol singing and cookies for the kids.

On Christmas Eve at Meliá Vinpearl Cam Ranh, there will be a pre-dinner cocktail party along with live music and a magician to entertain the children.

Several properties have special kids classes throughout the month of December including Meliá Vinpearl Hai Phong with themed workshops for children, such as cupcake decoration and gingerbread decorating.

At Meliá Vinpearl Phu Quoc, there will be a Lobster New Year’s Feast followed by a New Year’s Eve party with a DJ and live music, cocktails and mocktails.

In addition to festive meals this season, Meliá Da Nang has a few unique offerings including a Festive Afternoon Tea at Cape Nao Beach Club, with Christmas-themed treats, from December 23 to January 2, 2024. There’s also a Family Pool Party planned for December 30, which is free to in-house guests, with poolside tropical cocktails, fun games, and lively music.

For more information, visit Meliá Hotels & Resorts.

Perodua, Tourism Malaysia to co-promote and boost tourism in Malaysia

By S Puvaneswary
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Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia’s leading automotive brand, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua (Perodua), have recently forged a three-year memorandum of collaboration (MoC) with a shared objective – to promote tourism in Malaysia.

Set to take effect from 2024 to 2026, this collaboration is founded on a mutual commitment to advancing Malaysia’s tourism sector, enhancing accessibility, and elevating the overall tourist experience.

The collaboration aims to ensure that visitors can seamlessly explore the attractions in Malaysia

Ammar Abd Ghapar, director-general of Tourism Malaysia, has expressed enthusiasm for this transformative journey with Perodua, underscoring the united commitment to making Malaysia even more appealing to tourists.

Zainal Abidin Ahmad, president and CEO of Perodua, expressed that this collaboration aligns seamlessly with their “mobility as a lifestyle” initiative.

Through the MoC, Perodua seeks to expand its new business model, particularly in vehicle subscription, while gaining real-time feedback from foreign travellers on their perception of Perodua.

This collaborative effort promises substantial benefits for the nation, its tourists, and the environment, with Perodua playing a pivotal role in enhancing accessibility for both domestic and international tourists, strategically addressing transportation challenges. This is to ensure that visitors can seamlessly explore the diverse attractions Malaysia has to offer, creating a more inclusive and enjoyable travel experience.

Furthermore, this collaboration will leverage joint resources to market and promote Malaysia as a premier tourist destination. It will also facilitate cultural exchange programmes, enriching the experience for tourists and fostering a deeper connection with Malaysia’s diverse cultures.

Global tourism players target to entice more visitors from Japan

By Kathryn Wortley
0

Tourism stakeholders in Japan and overseas are accelerating efforts to encourage Japanese travellers to go abroad amid sluggish recovery of the country’s outbound market.

Just over one million Japanese travelled overseas in September, representing a 215 per cent increase year-on-year but only 58 per cent of the total recorded in September 2019. Most went to South Korea (250,102) and the US (173,117), followed by Taiwan (94,697), Thailand (80,010) and Spain (76,487), departing from Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports.

Thailand is one of the markets eager to attract Japanese travellers (Photo: Kathryn Wortley)

“We hope outbound travel will rebound to the 2019 level by early next year,” said Hiroyuki Takahashi, chairperson of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA).

However, that may be optimistic according to a recent study of 3,000 people by Mitsubishi Research Institute, which shows Japanese consumers are being deterred from outbound travel by its increasing cost, exacerbated by the weak yen and stagnant domestic wages. Other barriers include lack of knowledge on planning a trip, the difficulty or cost of getting to an international airport, and concerns about the ability to communicate after arrival.

Respondents show less interest in travelling for sightseeing and shopping, and are more likely to go abroad for outdoor activities such as hiking. Among those travelling in 2023, most are men, aged 20 to 40, and travelling alone or in small groups. Longhaul destinations are showing the slowest rebound, according to Toshiya Miyazaki of Mitsubishi Research Institute Inc’s tourism policy team.

“Based on the survey, the potential market for outbound travel is 38 million (of a population of 125.7 million), of which 23 million could be travellers in the short-term, with five million open to travel immediately,” said Miyazaki.

Spain, Malaysia and Thailand are among the markets eager to attract these consumers due to the importance of the Japan market.

“The Japanese market is high-quality for Spain; they spend a lot, and outbound travel to Spain had been increasing pre-pandemic,” said Hiromi Kazama, promotion manager of the National Tourist Office of Spain. Her office is targeting people in their twenties for study, sports and business events.

Tourism Malaysia is working with Japan-based agents to attract 200,000 Japanese visitors by the end of 2023, well below the 424,694 Japanese visitors they welcomed in 2019. They are aiming for 50 to 70 per cent recovery of the market in 2024 and complete recovery in 2025.

“Our promotion keyword is diversity” because of the country’s multi-ethnicity, said the organisation’s marketing manager Kimiko Shimizu.

Thailand is unlikely to reach its target of 850,000 Japanese visitors in 2023, 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, according to Yoshiaki Fujimura, Tokyo office marketing manager for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Fujimura said growth plans include promoting parts of Thailand other than Bangkok to stimulate greater interest in the range of the country’s offerings.

Boosting the sluggish rebound is possible, opined Yoshinori Ochi, visiting professor at the department of international tourism management at Toyo University, pointing to the effectiveness of Japan’s recent domestic travel subsidy campaigns.

Ochi said local governments should support outbound tourism recovery by helping establish more charter and international flights, while promoting how and why Japanese consumers should organise a trip overseas.

Macau, Hong Kong remain confident of inbound travel despite flu situation in China

By Prudence Lui
0

The recent upsurge of multiple infectious respiratory illnesses in China may dampen the desire to travel to China, but inbound operators in Macau and Hong Kong have played down its impact on inbound traffic over upcoming peak Christmas season.

In Macau, the Health Bureau issued a notice on November 26 citing a slight increase in Mycoplasma pneumonia infections but at a low level. Citizens have been advised to stay vigilant in winter, a traditional peak flu season.

The festive ambience in Macau, pictured, is an attraction for the younger generation in China

Pun Cheng Man, travel department sales and marketing manager, China Travel Service (Macao), told TTG Asia: “We specialise in MICE and student exchange tours – so far, there is no cancellation of booking and we don’t see any major impact to our business. In fact, we expect a peak in the upcoming Christmas holidays after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19.

“Christmas is not a public holiday in China, but the younger generation is keen to experience festive ambience in Macau. Winter is typically our usual flu season and our staff have a choice of wearing mask for self-protection.”

CTSHK Metropole International Travel Service’s deputy general manager, George Kai had similar sentiments: “We still predict incremental growth of Chinese visitors due to territory-wide festive marketing and promotions like seasonal discounts to draw visitation. In fact, the respiratory illness attacks children mostly and is confined to Northern China. People are less vulnerable after living through Covid-19. As usual, we advise our staff to (take) preventive measures (such as) wearing masks or (getting) seasonal influenza vaccination.”

With the upcoming Chinese New Year next year, Kam Wai Travel’s director, Frankie Lam noted that the period would be the peak season for Chinese travellers visiting Hong Kong. He added that FITs from China only come to Hong Kong during the Christmas season for shopping, thanks to the various big sales in Hong Kong during that period.

In mid-October, the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong had already urged members of the public to heighten their vigilance against respiratory tract infection, including Covid-19, seasonal influenza and Mycoplasma pneumonia infection.

In view of high flu infection rate in China, Taiwan has also stepped up measures, including voluntary screenings for respiratory illnesses for people presently arriving from China, including Macau and Hong Kong.

Australia launches first airport resort

By TTG Asia
0

Australia’s first airport resort launches following the complete re-imagination and integration of two existing airport hotels at Darwin Airport.

The unveiling of the Novotel & Mercure Darwin Airport Resort follows a A$30 million (US$19.75 million) investment by the Airport Development Group, which also owns the adjacent Darwin Airport.

Novotel & Mercure Darwin Airport Resort features a new pool, aquatic playground, and poolside dining

Located on the lands of the Larrakia Nation, the two hotels had separate receptions previously but will now have a combined reception area, along with a new 60m swimming pool, poolside cabanas, children’s aquatic playground, and poolside dining.

Featuring 423 rooms, the resort offers other accommodation choices such as family suites, bungalows (with kitchenette facilities), and new five-star tropical villas with their own plunge pools, which are named after a leading Territorian to show their connection to Larrakia country.

The resort now offers two poolside dining options – the new Splash Café joins the laid-back Cossie’s Poolside Bar & Bistro, which showcases the Territory’s famous barramundi as well as grills, salads, pizzas and burgers, as well as tropical cocktails and mocktails.

Situated a short walk from the resort is Gurambai, which is the Larrakia name for the area known as the Rapid Creek Conservation Reserve featuring Darwin’s only natural freshwater creek. The hotels plan to introduce the Gurambai Cultural Experience to give guests an appreciation of Larrakia culture. Curated by Larrakia guides, it will comprise a one-hour guided walking tour with information about the area’s cultural and historical significance, their connection to the land and freshwater, and information about some of the Reserve’s seasonal bush tucker.

Tourism attractions such as Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks are just 80 minutes and two and a half hours drive, respectively, from the resort.

Darwin Airport Resort general manager, Chris Chaffe, said: “Integrating and recognising Larrakia Indigenous culture and heritage has been an integral component of the project.

“The new resort is enriched with Aboriginal art and themes, inside and out, providing an appropriate reminder that this pioneering world-class resort is on the lands of the world’s longest-surviving culture.”

In addition, Darwin Airport is a feeder airport to a number of international destinations and local Territory destinations such as the Tiwi Islands, Katherine and Arnhem Land, thus the new resort will provide an ideal base for visitors travelling elsewhere in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory.

BWH Hotels signs BW Premier Collection hotel in Quy Nhon

By TTG Asia
0

BWH Hotels has signed The Sailing Quy Nhon, BW Premier Collection by Best Western in Vietnam.

Located in the heart of Quy Nhon, the upscale hotel will comprise one tower of a new mixed-use development overlooking the ocean. The Sailing Quy Nhon, BW Premier Collection will feature a full range of premium accommodations and amenities.

The Sailing Quy Nhon, BW Premier Collection will join BWH Hotel’s expanding portfolio of properties in Vietnam

At the hotel’s doorstep are the city’s downtown offices and attractions, as well as easy access to Binh Dinh’s natural and cultural wonders, including Hon Kho Island, Ky Co Beach, Ong Nui Temple, Thap Doi Towers and more. Phu Cat Airport, which is just 30km away, offers regular flights to and from major cities in Vietnam, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

The new hotel joins BWH Hotel’s expanding portfolio of hotels and resorts in Vietnam, which currently comprises of five operating properties – Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long, Best Western Premier Sonasea Phu Quoc, Best Western Premier Sonasea Villas Phu Quoc, Best Western Premier Marvella Nha Trang, and Caravelle Saigon, a member of the WorldHotels Elite.

Cathay Pacific temporarily suspends Tel Aviv services

By TTG Asia
0

In view of the uncertainty related to the on-going situation in Israel, all Cathay Pacific flights to and from Tel Aviv from today up to and including March 28, 2024 will be cancelled.

Affected customers should receive a message from Cathay Pacific – those who have not are advised to check the current status of their booking via Manage Booking or contact the airline’s Customer Care teams.

Cathay Pacific temporarily suspends services between Tel Aviv and Hong Kong

Customers who are booked to travel on Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv up to March 31, 2024 can rebook, reroute or refund their travel without the usual fees.

UNWTO data shows international tourism to end 2023 close to 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels

By TTG Asia
0

International tourism is on track to recover almost 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, according to the latest data from UNWTO.

The newest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer revealed that an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38 per cent on the same months of 2022.

UNWTO predicts that international tourism will recover almost 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by end-2023

The data showed world destinations welcomed 22 per cent more international tourists in 3Q2023 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong Northern Hemisphere summer season; international tourist arrivals hit 91 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92 per cent in July; and overall, tourism recovered 87 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023.

That puts the sector on course to recover almost 90 per cent by the end of the year, and international tourism receipts could reach US$1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93 per cent of the US$1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.

Leading the recovery are the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The Middle East saw arrivals 20 per cent above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September 2023, and remains the only world region to surpass 2019 levels this period. Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events, help underpin this recovery.

Europe welcomed 550 million international tourists over the period, 56 per cent of the global total. That represents 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound was supported by robust intra-regional demand as well as strong demand from the US.

Africa recovered 92 per cent of pre-pandemic visitors this nine-month period, and arrivals in the Americas reached 88 per cent of 2019 numbers this period.

Asia and the Pacific reached 62 per cent of pre-pandemic levels this period due to slower reopening to international travel. However, performance among sub-regions is mixed, with South Asia recovering 95 per cent of pre-pandemic levels but North-east Asia only about 50 per cent.

UNWTO’s World Tourism Barometer includes more focused data on regions, sub-regions and individual destinations

Strong demand for outbound travel was reported by several large source markets this period, with many exceeding 2019 levels. Germany and the US spent 13 per cent and 11 per cent more respectively on outbound travel than in the same nine months of 2019, while Italy spent 16 per cent more through August.

The sustained recovery is also reflected in the performance of industry indicators. Drawing on data from IATA and STR, the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker details a strong recovery in air passenger numbers and tourist accommodation occupancy levels.

Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges such as high inflation and weaker global output, as well as important geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili shared: “The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of Covid-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts. This is critical for destinations, businesses, and communities where the sector is a major lifeline.”

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | WTTC report outlines steps for Hong Kong to rebuild international tourism
TTG Asia | Sarawak to host South-east Asian tourist guides conference in Sibu
TTG Asia | Higher fuel costs to dampen India travel demand