China

UNWTO’s forward-looking scenarios for 2023 suggests global international tourist arrivals could reach 80%-95% of pre-pandemic levels this year. Cambodia is expecting to receive up to four million international tourists this year, accelerated by China announcing its reopening policy. 2022 brought some 2.28 million international tourists to Cambodia with China making up only 106,000 of them. The Macau Hotel Association warned that local hotels may need to cap their maximum guest capacity at 70% to 89% during the Lunar New Year holiday period due to a shortage of staff in operations.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR rose 6.9% year over year the week ended January 7. RevPAR, when compared to the same week in 2019, was down -39.6%. While the Macao Government Tourism Office is predicting visitor arrivals of just 50,000 a day for Chinese New Year week, hotel room rates across Macau are said to be surging with standard rooms now regularly priced above HK$8,000. Colliers International said they are expecting hotels in the Philippines will complete some 3,900 rooms, a record high for developers , as they anticipate the projected recovery in global travel in 2023.

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has suspended issuing short-term visas for South Korean visitors. This is considered the first retaliatory move against nations imposing Covid-19 curbs on travelers from China. The newly inaugurated Fushoushan Farm Guesthouse in Taiwan is fully booked for the Lunar New Year and 228 Peace Memorial Day holidays. Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio continues to expand its footprint in Singapore with the opening of The Serangoon House .

Thailand rescinded its entry policy which requires visitors to show proof of a Covid-19 vaccination, citing sufficient immunization levels in China and the rest of the world. Vietnamnet reported thousands of people lined up at the Mong Cai border gates this past weekend to cross into China. The main requirements to cross were removed on December 31. The first Marriott International property to open on the North side of Phu Quoc in Vietnam has launched.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR was down -17.7% year over year for the week ended 12/31/22. When compared to the same week in 2019, RevPAR was down -23.6%. As of Sunday, the terrible hotel news of the past three years is just that, in the past as borders were reopened in China . The Philippines and China signed a new comprehensive tourism agreement that aims to strengthen mutual development in areas such as hotels, resorts, cruise ships, ports, tourism products and other related industries.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told the media that many foreign nations had responded warmly to the country’s newly relaxed Covid-19 regulations. The Macau government said that, as of this Sunday, they will officially end all quarantine requirements for all nationalities entering Macau. Vietnam said its tourism sector raked in about US$408.3 million in revenue during the three-day 2023 New Year holiday .

STR said China hotel RevPAR the week ended 12/24  was down -21.9% year over year and down -38.9% versus the same week in 2019. Marriott International said its transformation of the Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand  continues to build momentum across the globe. TFE Hotels  will launch into 2023,  opening three new-build hotels  in the first half. The  Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne  will open in Australia in February.

STR reported China hotel RevPAR for the week ended December 17. Hotel RevPAR was down -1.1% year over year for the week. Japan National Tourism Organization said visitor arrivals rose to close to one million in November. This was the first full month after the country ended their Covid-19 curbs. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is predicting the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand will be more than 18 million last year.

Accor announced its list of highly anticipated properties that will open in 2023 . Marriott International announced it expects to reach 50 hotels in Thailand by mid-2023, including adding an anticipated eight hotels next year. Anantara Veli Maldives Resort reopened on December 1, following nine months of extensive renovations.

STR reported Sydney’s hotel industry recorded its highest performance levels of the pandemic-era. Chinese aviation data company VariFlight said domestic flight activity jumped to around 65% of pre-pandemic levels in China yesterday. OYO announced a new program ranking hotels that provide consistent and high-quality customer experience .