Langkawi defies decline, tourist arrivals soar

November 21, 2023

Amid news of declining tourist arrivals in September and October, compared against the same period last year, the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) has come out to say that numbers for 2023 will still exceed last year’s record.

Langkawi, which is loved by local and international tourists for its picturesque islands, welcomed 2.57 million travellers in 2022. Between January and October this year, it had 2.2 million tourists, representing 69.9 per cent of the targetted 3.2 million tourists.

A string of events in November and super peak inbound in December will lift total arrivals for 2023

Azmil Munif Mohd Bukhari, manager of tourism division at LADA, told TTG Asia that a number of festivities and events in November were instrumental in boosting arrivals. These included the extended weekend of Deepavali last week, which coincided with the Langkawi Geopark International Enduro Mountain Biker challenge on November 12 and the Hari Mahsuri (Mahsuri Day) programme on November 18, which featuring a unique musical theatre and storytelling experience.

Furthermore, Langkawi International Half Marathon 2023 on December 2 is expected to draw more than 2,000 participants from 31 countries.

Azmil emphasised that December is projected to be a super peak season for Langkawi, mirroring trends observed in previous years.

However, he acknowledged the possibility that arrivals this year might slightly miss the targeted 3.2 million target.

He explained: “The arrival target for 2023 was set in late 2022. During that period, we anticipated a significant influx of Chinese outbound tourists, but regrettably, this expectation has not materialised. The presence of outbound travellers from China has been limited, not only in Langkawi but worldwide.

“Additionally, certain international carriers that were operating flights to Langkawi before the Covid-19 pandemic have reported a shortage of planes, preventing them from resuming flights to Langkawi post-lockdown.”

Azmil is confident that 2024 will mark the best post-lockdown year ever for Langkawi. To further enhance air connectivity, LADA has introduced a new incentive for scheduled airlines flying new routes to Langkawi effective January 1, 2024. It will provide a one-off US$10,000 to the airline.

Additionally, Langkawi is set to be the host destination for Routes Asia 2024, taking place from February 27 to 29. This event will serve as a platform for the region’s airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and aviation stakeholders to meet and share best practices.

He believes that hosting Routes Asia 2024 and providing senior-level airline executives with the opportunity to experience the island will lead to an increased number of international airlines initiating direct flights to Langkawi.

Air connectivity will see further improvement when flydubai initiates daily flights to Langkawi next February, and AirAsia commences direct flights from Kualanamu, Medan in Indonesia from March 2, 2024.

Itaka, one of Poland’s biggest tour operators, will also launch charter flights to Langkawi from winter 2024 for three consecutive years, shared Azmil.

IHG, Asset World Corp to lead two new hotels to Chiang Rai

By TTG Asia

November 21, 2023

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IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) and Asset World Corp Public Company (AWC) have signed an agreement to open two new luxury hotels in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Opening in 2025, InterContinental Chiang Rai Golden Triangle Resort will offer 68 one- and two-bedroom pool and plunge pool villas. Kimpton Chiang Rai Golden Triangle, which currently operates as The Imperial Golden Triangle Resort, will undergo an extensive renovation and convert to the Kimpton brand with 68 suites, along with a range of facilities.

From left: Asset World Corp Public Company’s Rungruang Wirojcheewan and Matthew John Knights, and IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Saowarin Chanprakaisi and Patrick Both

These luxury destination resorts will mark IHG’s entry into Thailand’s Golden Triangle, an area that is popular with travellers for its rich history, immersion into Lanna culture, and the scenic mountain and river landscape which borders Laos and Myanmar.

Rajit Sukumaran, managing director, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said the signing is “another milestone in IHG’s and AWC’s more than 10-year relationship”.

He added: “We remain on track to grow our luxury and lifestyle portfolio in Thailand by 50 per cent, and it’s fantastic to be expanding the InterContinental and Kimpton brands into new destinations.”

Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and president, AWC, said: “Chiang Rai is a unique destination in Thailand that showcases the beauty in nature and the arts as well as many beautiful temples, hill tribes and local villages, offering different organic and cultural sustainable experiences for travellers. This partnership with IHG will put this most northern province of Thailand top of mind for many local and global tourists. It aligns perfectly with our vision to transform Chiang Rai into a luxury ecotourism destination, with both hotels ideal for the cultural and natural explorer and for couples and families who seek wellness and a luxury lifestyle resort experience.”

Yotel signs first Malaysia hotel

By TTG Asia

November 21, 2023

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Yotel, partnership with High Steet Holdings, will bring the 290-key Yotel Kuala Lumpur to the heart of the Malaysian capital’s central business district.

Projected to open in 2025, the hotel will be steps away from Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and shopping centre.

Plans for the hotel, which will be part of a mixed-use development, include a rooftop pool and bar offering views of the city skyline, as well as signature Yotel amenities, such as the multi-functional dining and co-working space, Komyuniti, a fitness centre, and Grab + Go snack station.

Daniel Yip, partner, High Street Holdings, said: “Yotel has proven that with its modern and sustainable smart design as well as creative use of technology, it is a very attractive brand for guests and real estate owners alike.”

Sojern publishes unique destination marketing report for travel industry players

By TTG Asia

November 21, 2023

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Digital marketing platform Sojern has launched the State of Destination Marketing 2024 report for destination marketing organisations (DMOs). It is said to be the first-of-its-kind, produced through a partnership between Sojern and Digital Tourism Think Tank (DTTT), and supported by Brand USA, Destination Canada, and the European Travel Commission.

The new report sheds light on the latest industry trends and challenges, particularly related to the future of destination marketing, drawing insights from nearly 300 DMOs, government departments and affiliated tourism entities worldwide.

A new report by Sojern aims to guide destination marketing organisations in their future marketing strategy

Sojern commissioned the report to ensure its global destination clients have access to the most comprehensive marketing insights.

The report found that economic uncertainty, inflation, and the cost of living are all having a significant impact on strategies, with more than 50 per cent of respondents considering these to be areas that require careful planning.

“As the travel industry undergoes rapid transformation, we remain committed to empowering destinations to navigate these changes effectively,” said Noreen Henry, chief revenue officer, Sojern.

“The insights uncovered in our report highlight destination marketers’ strategic priorities and overall approach to digital marketing, while also highlighting the significance of promoting sustainable and diverse tourism and meeting consumers’ increasing desire for unique experiences. Working with strategic technology-powered partners like Sojern ensures success in an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment.”

Some interesting observations made in the report include growing adoption of AI and the impact that has on destination marketing. According to the findings, DMOs anticipate that AI’s impact will be most pronounced in content creation, with nearly half (49%) foreseeing significant impact. A growing number of AI tools are transforming creative processes, from long-form content to social media posts.

In addition, 40% of DMOs see significant potential in AI for predictive analysis and forecasting, 38% for data analysis and interpretation, and 37% for marketing content personalisation. However, 71% are currently less confident and see little potential impact in AI’s ability to shape their teams’ web, app and platform creation, and 63% in conversational marketing.

The report also determined greater priority on digital paid media. Ninety-six per cent of DMOs are making significant investments in paid media as an essential component in achieving their marketing objectives. Notably, 58% take an always-on approach, investing year round, while 38% invest seasonally and only 21% invest when specific opportunities arise. Social media advertising maintains its prominence, as does Search Engine Marketing (SEM), with 96% and 95% of DMOs rating them as having a high or average importance, respectively.

Data use and privacy are also top of mind among respondents, with 54% saying that data provides the most value in marketing planning. Demographic data (88%) is used most frequently to guide decisions, followed by behavioural data (79%). However, increased reliance on data also brings its challenges – lack of data integration across channels (52%), the high cost of acquiring data (46%), and limited access to quality data (42%).

With Google’s deprecation of third-party cookies scheduled for mid-2024, 37% reported a significant impact, while 15% of respondents said that these changes have a small impact on their current strategies. DMOs are taking actions to mitigate the effects of these data privacy changes, with 60% planning to focus on social content and 58% prioritising obtaining more first-party data.

More findings and full survey methodology can be found in the full report, accessible here.

Airbnb searches in Thailand surge in lead up to festive period

By TTG Asia

November 21, 2023

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Searches for Airbnb stays in Thailand among international travellers during Loy Krathong, which will be celebrated on November 27 and 28, have risen by 17 per cent.

Based on Airbnb booking data, Bangkok is the most visited destination in Thailand for the coming water festival that will segue into the year-end festivities, followed by Chiang Mai and Pattaya in the second and third position. The rest of the city ranking is made up of Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin, Koh Pha-ngan and Krabi.

Airbnb has seen an approximately 88 per cent spike in searches by Chinese travellers for November to December. In fact, Thailand is the most searched destination for China guests on Airbnb ahead of the upcoming winter holidays, with Phuket and Bangkok getting the most attention.

Australians are also looking to escape the winter, and Thailand is on their radar as searches among Airbnb guests in Australia for travel to Thailand in the last two months of 2023 increased almost 16 per cent.

“Thailand’s international appeal remains strong with travellers from all around the world keen to experience the country’s world-famous hospitality, cuisine and cultural highlights,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan. “Airbnb has seen a more than 30 per cent growth in nights booked in Thailand this year over last. (Based on) the volume of Airbnb guest searches for stays in Thailand during the end of 2023 holiday period, Thailand looks set for a bumper festive season.”

PAL, SIA sign new codeshare partnership

By TTG Asia

November 21, 2023

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Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a new codeshare partnership agreement, which will allow the airlines to enhance flight options for their customers travelling between the Philippines and Singapore, as well as to other domestic and international destinations via their respective hubs.

The codeshare agreement will start on SIA’s and PAL’s flights between Singapore and Manila, the Philippines, by 4Q2023, subject to regulatory approvals. SIA will also codeshare on PAL’s flights from Manila to 27 destinations within the Philippines, while PAL will codeshare on SIA’s flights to six destinations in Europe – Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Zurich.

From left: Singapore Airlines’ Goh Choon Phong and Philippine Airlines’ Stanley K Ng

These European codeshare sectors will be rolled out progressively across PAL and SIA sales channels as well as travel agents over the coming weeks.

The codeshare services to Copenhagen and Milan will represent a historical milestone – the first-ever air links to the Danish capital and the Italian commercial hub by a Philippine carrier.

PAL is making a comeback, albeit through codeshare services, to Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, and Zurich, which were previously served by the Philippine flag carrier in the 1980s and 1990s.

Both airlines will also explore an expansion of the codeshare agreement to include SIA’s flights to additional points in Europe, as well as destinations in Australia, India, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Stanley K Ng, president and COO, Philippine Airlines, said: “We are happy to offer our Philippine Airlines passengers a wider range of flights between Manila and Singapore through this codeshare partnership, affirming our promise to keep building new connections and opportunities for our customers. The partnership is the product of a strengthened relationship with our fellow ASEAN mainline carrier, Singapore Airlines, and an enduring commitment to expanding our presence in Singapore, a top PAL destination that we have been serving for 58 years and counting.

“We also look forward to offering increased connectivity to several cities across Europe, home to many overseas Filipinos and to a growing number of tourist and business travellers whom we invite to discover the wonders of the Philippines.”

Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines, added: “This agreement enables Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines to work more closely together, and find ways to offer our customers enhanced travel connections between Singapore and the Philippines. This will support the growing demand for both business and leisure travel between the Philippines and Singapore, and beyond that to our key markets around the world.”

Further East 2023 wins more hearts

By Mimi Hudoyo

November 20, 2023

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Further East 2023, an annual invited-only luxury travel trade event, has seen a 30 per cent growth in attendance as the Australasian travel market rebounds.

Now into its fourth year, the event in Bali’s Seminyak, Indonesia, welcomed 165 exhibitor stands, 75 per cent of which were repeat, and 185 international buyers, 40 per cent of which were new.

Serge Dive, founder and CEO of event owner This is Beyond, said: “It is a good demonstration of the resurgence of the Australasian market. In many ways 2023 (has been) the year the world finally opened and there is a huge desire to travel. There is also a huge desire among travel industry players to shape up.”

Dive noted that the industry has been “rebooting” themselves by evaluating the way they do business, and Further East has been able to provide a platform for them to elevate their brands and to see what the future holds for the luxury travel industry.

Participation interest in the exclusive event is up, but the organising team maintains high standards in the qualifying process, according to Dive.

Sophia Asghar, project manager of Further East, said she had received a lot more interest from industry members to join the event this year, thanks to the success of last year’s event, which was held just after borders started to reopen.

Dive said: “We need to make sure that Sophia and the team are finding only the very best buyers and sellers, and that we bring some new buyers and sellers to the show.”

Building on the success of last year’s edition, Further East 2023 birthed a new element – the Further East Leadership Summit together with NIHI Sumba. The three-day summit from November 10 to 13 brought together just 10 people, of which eight were Asia-Pacific’s most influential travel leaders. Behind closed doors, they discussed ideas to shape the future of travel in the region. Ideas generated will be shared with the wider Further Easy community early 2024.

Dive was confident that Further East will rise along with the uptrend in Asia-Pacific’s luxury travel, with participation likely to cross the 500 mark in the next five to six years.

Further East 2024 will return to Alila Seminyak on November 4 to 7.

Commenting on the Further East 2024 commitment, Christiane Ferger, general manager of Alila Seminyak, said: “(The hotel) has been home to Further East since its beginnings in 2018, and we are very grateful to be chosen. The show brings exhibitors, buyers and media together, and allows for open minds to exchange ideas.

“The event not only benefits our hotel and Seminyak as a global destination but also extends its impact by fostering exposure among exhibitors, buyers, media worldwide, beyond the event itself.”

Sabreena Jacob, general manager of Ta’aktana, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, which is set to open 1Q2024 in Labuan Bajo, said the event provided a timely platform for her to “start the conversation about our unique resort”.

First-timer Romy Strang, director of The Resort Villa, Rayong Thailand, added that the event helped her to connect with international buyers, allowing her to expand her sources beyond her dominant Scandinavian market.

Expedia’s Unpack ’24 casts light on 2024 travel trends

By TTG Asia

November 20, 2023

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Come next year, travellers are expected to make trip decisions based on screen inspirations, affordable duplicates, concert draws and AI assistance, say Expedia Group’s Unpack ’24 study that involved 20,000 respondents worldwide.

Tour tourism will continue to thrive in 2024, as consumers combine their favourite concerts with destination exploration

Set-jetting
For 2023, Expedia predicted travellers would turn to television sets and movie screens for travel inspiration. They did, and the trend shows no signs of stopping in 2024. More than half of travellers say they have researched or booked a trip to a destination after seeing it on a TV show or movie, and one in four admit that TV shows and films are even more influential on their travel plans than they were before. In fact, travellers say TV shows influence their travel decisions more than Instagram, TikTok and podcasts.

Expedia search data indicates a similar trend. Following the release of Wednesday on Netflix, Expedia saw a 150% increase in travel searches for Romania. Searches to Paris increased 200% after Emily in Paris debuted its previous season.

Given the popularity of this travel trend, Expedia compiled its first-ever Set-jetting Forecast predicting what entertainment-inspired destinations travellers will head to in 2024, based on upcoming show and film releases and travel data from the Expedia Group platform.

Romania inspired by Wednesday season 2
Paris inspired by Emily in Paris season 4
South Korea inspired by Squid Game season 2
Thailand inspired by The White Lotus season 3
Malta inspired by the new Gladiator 2 film
Scottish Highlands inspired by the remaining seasons of Outlander
London, Bath and Windsor, UK inspired by the new season of Bridgerton and The Crown season 6.

Destination dupes
Expedia’s 2024 destinations of the year are destination dupes — places that are a little unexpected, sometimes more affordable, and every bit as delightful as the tried-and-true destinations travellers love.

The 2024 destination dupes all experienced a notable uptick in searches over the past year. In fact, global searches for the Top 5 destinations on the list more than doubled YoY.

Taipei (dupe for Seoul) – 2,785%
Pattaya (dupe for Bangkok) – 250%
Paros (dupe for Santorini) -195%
Curaçao (dupe for St. Martin) – 185%
Perth (dupe for Sydney) – 110%
Liverpool (dupe for London) – 95%
Palermo (dupe for Lisbon) – 90%
Quebec City (dupe for Geneva) – 60%
Sapporo (dupe for Zermatt) – 40%
Memphis (dupe for Nashville) – 15%

Tour tourism
In 2023, the cultural impact of the Eras and Renaissance tours was undeniable, driving ticket sales as well as travel and tourism. Expedia predicts that tour tourism will continue to thrive in 2024. Nearly 70% of survey respondents say they are more likely to travel to a concert outside their own town, with over 40% saying they’d travel for a concert as an excuse to visit a new place. In a new twist to tour tourism, perhaps driven by ticket prices, 30% of travellers say they would travel outside of their home city for a concert because tickets were cheaper elsewhere. Unexpected places on Expedia’s list of top tour tourism destinations are Kuala Lumpur, Edmonton, Canada, and Mexico City.

‌Gen gen AI
While generative AI tools like ChatGPT took centre stage in 2023, only 6% of travellers used it to plan their trip. In 2024, Expedia predicts the generation of generative AI travellers will come of age and fully embrace this tech throughout their travel journey. In fact, survey data reveals that half of travellers are interested in using generative AI to plan their next trip, and the percentage is even higher among Singaporeans (68%).

What drives this trend is generative AI’s ability to simplify planning and shopping through a conversation. Nearly 40% of travellers say they would use this tech to find the perfect stay, 35% would plan activities and things to do, 33% would compare flight options, and 20% of travellers would change or cancel their travel plans.

Saudi intensifies investments in tourism talents

By Kathryn Wortley

November 20, 2023

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Saudi Arabia is expanding its efforts to develop talents for its growing travel as well as business events sectors, with a specialist school and new training programmes for professionals and businesses in the events ecosystem all in the works.

The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality, set to open in 4Q2024, is co-founded by the tourism ministry and Riyadh-based entertainment mega project Qiddiya in collaboration with the UNWTO. The institute will offer a range of educational programmes, from diplomas to Master’s degrees, and intends to welcome 25,000 students annually by 2030.

Saudi Arabia’s travel and business events sectors are getting top level support in talent management

Training sufficient human resources to work in tourism and hospitality roles is an important part of the country’s Vision 2030, an ambitious programme that aims to diversify the economy and open up Saudi Arabia, including through tourism, by the end of this decade. The Kingdom aims to create one million new jobs in tourism across the country by 2030.

The Ministry of Tourism had earlier allocated US$100 million to the Tourism Pioneers programme, which enabled 100,000 young people from its second-largest city, Jeddah to study at top institutions in France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the UK and Australia in 2022. On completion, participants will be equipped to “secure employment opportunities in leading hospitality companies in the Kingdom,” to help “create a skilled and ambitious workforce to support the tourism sector,” said the ministry in a statement.

Most graduates are likely to return to Jeddah due to employment opportunities in its historic Al Barad district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its unique architecture and historic role as a major port for Indian Ocean trade and gateway for pilgrims to Mecca who arrived by the Red Sea.

An estimated 1,800 hotel units, as well as recreational and commercial spaces, are earmarked to be built in the 2.5 million square-metre district by 2030, alongside the restoration of historic buildings.

On the business events front, Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority is investing in brand equity promotions for the local meetings and events industry, relevant education to build a pool of events professionals, and training packages for business in the events ecosystem.

These efforts are meant to make Saudi Arabia an even more attractive destination for meetings, according to Amjad Shacker, CEO, Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority.

Amjad said: “(A destination needs) human capital because without it, none of the infrastructure for meetings – the venues, the regulations, the bylaws and the standards – will be possible.”

He shared that work to “educate the masses on this industry” is ongoing, and it has resulted in many “young female and male Saudis eager to participate” as well as the emergence of start-ups in the events ecosystem.

Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority is collaborating with educational institutions to make “courses at various levels” available to anyone keen on a meetings and events profession, and providing educational packages to help SMEs and start-ups in the business events sector grow to a bigger scale. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue

Tourism Tropical North Queensland launches global campaigns to boost visitation

By TTG Asia

November 20, 2023

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Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) has launched its first global trade campaigns for the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef brand with partners Expedia and Trip.com, targetting seven key international markets.

TTNQ chair John O’Sullivan said the new campaigns are part of some 20 that are being supported by federal government’s A$15 million (US$9.8 million) International Tourism Recovery Program funding.

Atherton Tablelands is Tropical North Queensland’s highland plateau

O’Sullivan noted that the funding has seen good initial yield.

“This level of investment will drive the region’s recovery with the International Tourism Recovery Program funding already delivering more than A$3 million in gross sales after just three trade campaigns in Japan, which ran from June to July,” he said.

TTNQ CEO Mark Olsen said the campaign activity was closely aligned with Tourism and Events Queensland’s international initiatives, such as its campaign, A Beautiful Way to Be, in China.

“Partnering with influential brands like Expedia and Trip.com will ensure our region is penetrating a highly competitive travel marketplace and leveraging Tourism and Events Queensland’s activity,” he said.

The Trip.com partnership will be live in the UK, China, Singapore and Japan at various times until May 2024, and will include activities such as live streaming promotion via WeChat in China through online travel agent Ctrip.

The Expedia partnership will target the UK, Japan, the US, Canada and New Zealand, and will see tactical activations such as discount coupons in the US market and engagement of some 40,000 travel agencies in Japan and New Zealand through the Travel Agent Affiliate Program.

Langkawi defies decline, tourist arrivals soar

IHG, Asset World Corp to lead two new hotels to Chiang Rai

Yotel signs first Malaysia hotel

Sojern publishes unique destination marketing report for travel industry players

Airbnb searches in Thailand surge in lead up to festive period

PAL, SIA sign new codeshare partnership

Further East 2023 wins more hearts

Expedia’s Unpack ’24 casts light on 2024 travel trends

Saudi intensifies investments in tourism talents

Tourism Tropical North Queensland launches global campaigns to boost visitation

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