The expansion of Yas Waterworld Yas Island in Abu Dhabi has completed and welcomes first guests today. The new zone is a continuation of the park’s original story, The Legend of the Lost Pearl, and offers more than 20 new exhilarating rides, slides and experiences across 13,445m2 of space.
With this expansion, Yas Waterworld is now home to more than 60 rides, slides, and attractions, promising more aquatic adventures than ever before.
Families can now dive into an array of new adventures including Al Mafras, a twisting, desert water slide for kids; Red Dunes, a twisting, closed aqua tube slide designed for maximum excitement; and Al Falaj Race, the region’s first side-by-side duelling tube raft race, with high-speed drops, sharp twists, and head-to-head action.
The expanded waterpark also features Al Sahel Junior, the region’s first mini zero-gravity boomerango, featuring exciting drops, winding slides, and vertical zooms; young thrill-seekers can take on Dawwama Junior, a scaled-down version of the park’s iconic tornado slide.
Thrill seekers should make a beeline for Bahamut’s Rage, wshich offer exhilarating drops on a high-thrill log flume water ride.
AirAsia X announces new route to Uzbekistan
AirAsia X has craved out a brand new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with three weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tashkent to launch on October 15. The service is aimed at further facilitating air travel between South-east Asia and Central Asia, fostering stronger trade, tourism and business ties between the regions.
This connectivity will also enable more travellers in South-east Asia as well as Australia, to explore Uzbekistan affordably with AirAsia’s seamless Fly-Thru options, spanning over 130 destinations worldwide.
Hong Kong Airlines flies to Sydney
Hong Kong Airlines now connects Hong Kong with Sydney, Australia, marking the airline’s transformation to an international player.
The service is offered daily, with the flight departing Hong Kong at 22.25 and arriving in the Australian city the next day at 09.50. The flight then departs Sydney at 11.30 and arrives in Hong Kong on the same day at 19.15.
The route is operated with an Airbus A330 aircraft, featuring comfortable business and economy class cabins.
Royal Jordanian Airlines launches nonstop flights to Mumbai
Royal Jordanian Airlines has commenced a new nonstop route between Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai.
The new service operates year-round, four times a week – on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays – aboard the modern Airbus A320neo.
This service strengthens connectivity between India and Jordan, and offers seamless onward travel to over 50 destinations across the Middle East, Gulf, and North Africa.
Vietjet eases Russia-Vietnam traffic The popular coastal city of Nha Trang is now linked with three major cities in Russia’s Far East – Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, and Blagoveshchensk – following the commencement of new direct air services by Vietjet.
The inaugural flights took off on June 15 and June 18 from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk respectively, marking a new chapter in Vietjet’s international expansion.
The inaugural service from Blagoveshchensk is scheduled for July 9.
These flights are operated in partnership with leading international travel agencies as regular charter services. They are expected to meet the growing demand for travel between Vietnam and Russia, particularly as Russian tourism to Vietnam continues to recover. In the first five months of 2025 alone, Vietnam welcomed over 210,000 Russian visitors, with more than 100,000 arriving in Khanh Hoa province, home to Nha Trang, underscoring the destination’s strong appeal.
June’s busy calendar of K-pop events as well as the highly-anticipated comeback of boyband BTS, whose final two members have been discharged from military duties this month, have elevated travel demand for South Korea. Booking.com data shows that international searches for Seoul and Busan rose 30 per cent and 50 per cent year-on-year respectively in June.
The OTA noted that Seoul and Busan are at the heart of the cultural wave, with a busy K-pop calendar that lists events such as Busan One Asia Festival (June 11 to 13), J-hope’s encore concerts (June 13 and 14), BTS Festa celebrations (June 13 and 14), and the Seoul Music Awards (June 21).
Busan One Asia Festival, which took place from June 11 to 13 this year, is a major draw for K-pop fans from all over the world; photo from Korea Tourism Organization
The spike in Seoul hotel searches, specifically for June 12 to 15, followed the BTS Festa announcement over the weekend of May 31. Notable search increases came from the Philippines (106 per cent), Germany (108 per cent), and France (64 per cent).
The surge in travel interest in South Korea reflects findings from Booking.com’s Travel Trends 2025 research, which identifies a global trend where 58 per cent of travellers plan on travelling for music events this year.
Kwak Jae Yeon, director, Hallyu Contents Team, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), told TTG Asia that K-pop continues to be a major draw for international visitors to South Korea, serving as one of the most influential pillars of the Korean Wave, also known as hallyu.
“The timing of large-scale K-pop concerts and festivals often coincides with a sharp rise in foreign arrivals and hotel bookings in host cities,” said Kwak.
According to the 2024 Korea Inbound Visitor Survey, “exposure to hallyu content such as K-pop” ranked as the top reason for interest in visiting the country, cited by 38.3 per cent of respondents – up from 32.1 per cent in 2023.
Hallyu-motivated tourists also reported higher levels of satisfaction and stronger intentions to revisit South Korea compared to the overall average. Their satisfaction score stood at 98.2 (compared with 96.5 for all international tourists), while their willingness to return reached 97 (compared with 92.3 for all international tourists).
As K-pop event are spread across the year, fans have numerous reasons to revisit the country. Major events through the year includes K-pop in Boryeong, which is part of the Boryeong Mud Festival in Chungcheongnam-do, in August; Yeongdong-daero K-pop Concert in Seoul, in September; and the Incheon Airport Sky Festival hosted by Incheon International Airport Corporation in November.
When asked about the travel influence of film events, such as the high-profile Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Kwak said there has been growing K-pop presence through artist appearances in films, original soundtrack contributions, and participation in the opening ceremony.
“As a result, K-pop fan interest and participation in the BIFF has been steadily growing. This trend indicates strong potential for enhanced crossovers and collaboration between various hallyu content areas in the future,” added Kwak.
Nuno Guerreiro, regional director for North & South APAC at Booking.com, is familiar with the power of film festivals. He noted that searches for Bucheon surged 84 per cent year-on-year ahead of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival next month while travel searches to Busan has already risen 69 per cent year-on-year for stays from September 14 to 28 (the event is set for September 17 to 26).
KTO leverages K-pop to influence traveller decisions in several ways. The year-round Ticket to K-Vibe online promotion is conducted on the hallyu-themed Visit Korea: Hallyu with You website, and in collaboration with major K-pop concerts held both in South Korea and other destinations.
The Hallyu K-Pass campaign in November will provide foreign travellers attending K-pop concerts in the country a 50 per cent discount on hallyu experience products, such as beauty and food, through OTA platforms like KKday, NolUniverse, and Creatrip.
Come July, a new K-drama experience exhibition will open at the Cheong Wa Dae Sarangchae, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in iconic scenes and settings from hit South Korean dramas.
OTAs are riding on the hallyu wave by offering package deals that combine concert tickets with accommodation, as well as pilgrimage-style fan tours.
In 2023, Booking.com launched the Ultimate K-pop Experience campaign, offering a pair of lucky fans from across the globe a unique stay in Seoul. The winners enjoyed a two-night stay at the Executive Producer Suite at RYSE, Autograph Collection; accessed front-row seats at live music show, M Countdown; had a private idol makeover by celebrity hair and makeup artists; and picked up autographed albums and personalised recorded content by K-pop sensation Kang Daniel.
Guerreiro said Booking.com also provides hotel partners with research-backed insights and travel trends, such as observations of K-pop impact on travel, to help them “capture demand and boost bookings at their hotels”.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to launch the international Be My Guest campaign as part of the government’s flagship Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025. It is anchored by two core programmes – the Be My Guest Soft Power Fam Trip and Rhythm of Thailand, which together aim to amplify the country’s cultural influence, attract high-value tourism, and promote sustainable travel across emerging destinations.
The Be My Guest campaign is positioned as a key pillar of Thailand’s Soft Power strategy, and reflects the government’s ambition to position the country as a premier tourism hub while creating economic value through cultural storytelling. The campaign merges heritage and innovation, pairing immersive Thai experiences with contemporary content creation to forge global awareness of Thai identity.
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s new Be My Guest campaign will build trust in Thailand’s tourism brand and expand its cultural reach worldwide
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT governor, said: “This campaign is about more than tourism. We’re inviting the world to see Thailand through the eyes of those who live it – artists, chefs, creators, and communities. Be My Guest allows our heritage to speak for itself, sparking admiration through real stories and shared moments. This is where soft power becomes true influence – by forging connections through culture, creativity, and authentic collaboration.”
Taking place from June 26 to July 1, 2025, Be My Guest activates both strategic storytelling and experiential tourism.
The related fam trip will welcome over 20 prominent international guests – celebrities, embassy-nominated guests, entrepreneurs, and influencers – to explore curated routes through three culturally rich provinces: Samut Songkhram, Sukhothai, and Chanthaburi. These routes are shaped by the Thailand in the Box concept, which offers a compact yet complete immersion into Thai food, history, craft, and lifestyle.
Simultaneously, the Rhythm of Thailand initiative will pair 10 global influencers from key markets such as the US, UK, France, China, Italy, and South Korea with 10 leading Thai creators. Each duo will embark on a mission-driven journey across 10 diverse destinations. Their content will explore distinct Thai soft power themes such as Muay Thai boxing, wellness, gastronomy, fashion, and traditional arts.
This approach represents a deliberate shift from one-sided reviews to meaningful co-creation – a storytelling model rooted in cultural immersion, mutual exchange, and shared perspectives. TAT will gradually unveil each duo’s journey and destination on its official Facebook page.
A major highlight of the campaign will be the Amazing Thailand Saneh Thai Gala Night, scheduled for June 30 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok. As the embodiment of the Grand Invitation concept – one of the five pillars of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 – the event will allow guests to experience the best of Thai culture.
TAT expects the Be My Guest campaign to spark widespread engagement both online and offline, and to build trust in Thailand’s tourism brand while expanding its cultural reach worldwide.
Amadeus and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance are deepening their collaboration to improve youth employment and promote inclusivity by providing young people with the skills and experience needed to embark on a hospitality career.
The initiative is part of Amadeus’ Community Impact programme focused on advancing digital inclusion and building skills for jobs in the travel industry as well as World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Employability Program.
Amadeus and World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance are helping students in India with education needed for a hospitality career
Amadeus will commit to a long-term collaboration as a global partner in the Employability Program, helping to grow it across multiple countries, delivering impactful change to communities worldwide and transforming lives.
The first pilot project with Amadeus began recruiting students in April in India, in collaboration with the local non-governmental organization Kherwadi. This project will provide support to 200 disadvantaged young people in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi, and will engage local hotels and global brands.
In addition to financial support, Amadeus will contribute employee volunteering activities, mentoring, and hospitality software.
The Employability Program is currently operational in three countries – India, Egypt and Sri Lanka. It has seen over 6,000 young people graduate with the skills and experience needed to embark on their careers.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, welcomes the generous support from Amadeus.
“We’re delighted to be working with Amadeus on this pilot, which will have a tremendous impact on local communities and serve as a model for the industry. This partnership with Amadeus illustrates how the hospitality sector can play a vital role in removing access barriers to employment and ultimately change lives. We look forward to expanding our program globally and transforming the landscape of our industry.”
Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, president, hospitality, Amadeus, added: “At Amadeus, we believe sustainable hospitality means caring for the world around us and making a positive contribution to people, places, and the planet. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to drive social impact in communities where we operate all around the world.”
Asia-Pacific is set to be the biggest driver of the demand for air travel
PATA’s newly released Mid-Year Update to its flagship Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025–2027 report, originally published in March, shows continued growth trajectory for international visitor arrivals (IVAs) to Asia-Pacific, with numbers set to reach 801 million by 2027, up from 692 million in 2025.
Strong recovery destinations: China remains the top inbound market, forecast to welcome up to 148 million visitors by 2027. The US and Türkiye follow closely. Notably, Türkiye and Mongolia are poised for the most robust recovery, outperforming pre-pandemic levels.
Evolving source markets: China continues to lead outbound travel, with the US, South Korea, and Japan showing stability. Meanwhile, India, the UK, and the Russian Federation are becoming increasingly significant source markets, reflecting a broader diversification in regional travel demand.
Policy and currency shifts reshape travel: Changes such as extended Chinese public holidays, evolving currency exchange rates, and tariff conflicts are reshaping outbound patterns and opening new regional corridors for travel.
Wellness tourism rising: With populations aging across many source markets, interest in wellness and preventative health travel is accelerating – creating an opportunity for destinations to develop more inclusive and health-focused offerings.
Digital influence driving demand: Social media, especially user-generated content, is rapidly influencing younger travellers, fuelling demand for authentic, experiential, and shareable travel moments.
The forecasts acknowledge the volatile environment – including ongoing geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainty, currency volatility, and the intensifying negative sentiments of locals towards mass tourism.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said: “This mid-year update goes beyond forecasting – it’s a strategic guidance for tourism leaders across the region. As the industry grapples with unpredictable forces from geopolitics to global inflation, staying informed through timely, evidence-based insights is more important than ever.
“With the past six months having brought a wave of developments that directly impacted our industry, this report empowers destinations and stakeholders to anticipate market shifts, prepare for disruption, and uncover emerging opportunities – from wellness travel and digital influence to the shifting geography of source markets.”
The comprehensive mid-year update was developed in collaboration with the Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, with contributions from PATA destination members and regional data partners.
Singapore’s Siloso Beach on Sentosa island will welcome the biggest GrillFest event to date, with 39 participating F&B brands across five zones and two new gastronomical experiences all lined up to deliver memorable evenings from July 17 to August 10.
A partnership with Offline Singapore, a homegrown social networking group, will elevate GrillFest 2025 from a food-centric gathering into a dynamic social experience. A series of GrillHouse Social Mixer Nights will be conducted, bringing 160 people together over four gatherings for social activities against a backdrop of live music, sizzling grills, and ocean breezes.
The pièce de resistance of GrillFest 2025 is the GrillHouse, an immersive dining experience that enables guests to become grill masters for a night with Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill by Ninja Kitchen Singapore and premium ingredients from lyhseafood. There are three different curated platters to choose from, all featuring fresh and premium ingredients for guests to grill at their own pace.
Another new addition to GrillFest 2025 is Marketplace, where guests can handpick premium fresh ingredients and then have their selections cooked by expert chefs.
Further, in collaboration with Singapore Food Agency, Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation, Seafood Industries Association Singapore, and Parkroyal Collection Pickering hotel, GrillFest 2025 will showcase how fresh seafood and other produce from local farms can be transformed into exceptional dishes.
Sensible and sustainable food sourcing at the event is joined by other efforts to reduce carbon footprint. Along with local start-up Staxx, Marketplace will have 25 per cent of its seats made from 100 per cent upcycled ocean-bound plastic. Guests are encouraged to bring reusable utensils, cups, or food containers for their meals – and efforts will be rewarded with a S$5 GrillFest voucher, limited to the first 50 redemptions daily. Washing points will be available at the event grounds to facilitate the use of such reusables.
Other highlights at GrillFest 2025 include International Grills, where flavours from around the world can be found; and Local Grills, where 18 of Singapore’s most exciting F&B brands will be showcased.
All are welcomed at GrillFest 2025, as event organisers have planned for smooth and barrier-free access for wheelchair users and families with strollers, as well as carving out 25 per cent of the seating areas for guests with mobility impairments.
GrillFest 2025 takes place from 16.00 to 22.30 on July 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, and August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10.
For more information, visit www.sentosa.com.sg/grillfest.
The conflict between Iran and Israel is beginning to cast a shadow on outbound travel demand from India to the Middle East, with industry stakeholders witnessing a growing sense of caution among their travellers.
Alok K Singh, chairman and CEO, Travomint, told TTG Asia that queries associated with rescheduling, safety, and cancellations are up.
Indian travellers are approaching travel plans for the Middle East with caution; Dubai (pictured)
“Travellers are being cautious, especially leisure and family groups who tend to have second thoughts during time of crisis,” he added.
According to OAG Aviation, Air India cancelled 83 flights and reduced its international schedule by 15 per cent in mid-June 2025, citing operational challenges and security concerns largely stemming from tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, IndiGo reported disruptions across 34 international routes, with average flight times increasing by around 20 minutes due to airspace restrictions and rerouting.
“The combined effect of flight cancellations, longer travel times and heightened security advisories has begun to dampen traveller confidence, signalling a likely decline in outbound bookings from India to the region,” said Mayur Patel, head of Asia, OAG Aviation.
Gulf destinations including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi are also transit hubs to North America and Europe. A segment of travellers are now preferring direct flights or transits in other regions.
“Before finalising new reservations, visitors are choosing to stay put and wait. Direct flights from Indian metropolitan areas or connecting flights via South-east Asia are being pursued or rescheduled by passengers,” said Trishal Rao, chief sales officer at SKIL Travel.
Hari Ganapathy, co-founder of Pickyourtrail, added that given a large volume of long-haul westbound travel from India is routed through Gulf hubs, any disruption in this corridor would have a knock-on effect on broader outbound travel trends.
“While we have not seen large-scale cancellations yet, we are advising customers to stay informed about their transit routes, and where needed, we are proactively offering options via alternative hubs or helping them modify their travel plans,” he concluded.
However, Rao maintains optimism that travel to the Middle East will return as soon as security is restored, as the region offers “well-established attractions and robust connections”.
Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co., a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co., has appointed Hidechika Takasaka as president and representative director.
Takasaka joined the Hotel Okura Group in April 2024 as senior managing executive officer and chief officer of operation management at Okura Nikko Hotel Management. He was later appointed managing executive Officer at Hotel Okura in June 2024.
Prior to joining the Hotel Okura Group, he worked at Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., from 1987, where he held several key positions, including manager of the credit department and general manager of both the International Business Department and the Loan Department.
Indonesia’s inbound tourism players are urging concrete follow-up on the signing of a tourism cooperation agreement with China last month, saying that without immediate steps, the MoU would have limited benefits for the industry.
The MoU was signed in Jakarta during Chinese premier Li Qiang’s official visit in May. It aims to strengthen ties across tourism, health, and trade, and outlines six areas of cooperation including the exchange of market data and business contacts between government agencies and tourism stakeholders, as well as joint promotional campaigns to boost two-way visitor flows.
An MoU on economic cooperation between Indonesia and China could yield benefits for tourism, provided concrete actions are taken
Local tourism operators are eager for the agreement to be more than a positive diplomatic gesture.
Herry Sudiarto, chairman of the China Committee at the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), said: “This is a good sign. It shows that the government is paying a lot of attention to the Chinese market. However, without a follow-up plan, it’s just a ceremony.”
He used the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism to collaborate with associations like ASITA to build links with Chinese tourism organisations.
He also questioned the outcome on a proposed tourism promotion office in China while noting that overseas marketing budget has been significantly reduced.
Instead of waiting for the tourism promotion office to materialise, Herry suggested that the ministry invest in “consistent presence at major travel fairs in China and step-up more sales missions”.
“Forming a task force that includes industry players could also accelerate progress,” he added.
Bambang Sugiono, director of marketing and overseas promotion at RD Tours Bali, observes a shift in Chinese traveller trends and calls for targeted promotions to engage the market.
“We’re seeing more high-end and independent Chinese travellers, especially younger ones looking for destinations beyond Bali,” said Bambang. “Destinations like Labuan Bajo and Bromo are gaining interest, but we need serious marketing efforts to compete.”
Other players warned of structural issues that need addressing.
“We need improved air connectivity – not just more flights, but new routes to secondary cities,” Asman Louis, director of Millennium Indo Wisata, told TTG Asia, adding that short-term visa exemptions, such as seven-day visa-free entry, will also help to boost arrivals from China.
Families can now dive into an array of new adventures including Al Mafras, a twisting, desert water slide for kids; Red Dunes, a twisting, closed aqua tube slide designed for maximum excitement; and Al Falaj Race, the region’s first side-by-side duelling tube raft race, with high-speed drops, sharp twists, and head-to-head action.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said: “This mid-year update goes beyond forecasting – it’s a strategic guidance for tourism leaders across the region. As the industry grapples with unpredictable forces from geopolitics to global inflation, staying informed through timely, evidence-based insights is more important than ever.
The pièce de resistance of GrillFest 2025 is the GrillHouse, an immersive dining experience that enables guests to become grill masters for a night with Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill by Ninja Kitchen Singapore and premium ingredients from lyhseafood. There are three different curated platters to choose from, all featuring fresh and premium ingredients for guests to grill at their own pace.
