Kyoto

Japan’s booming tourism, driven by a weak yen and rising demand, has pushed hotel costs so high that even business travelers are priced out, prompting shifts to alternatives like Airbnb and further tax hikes in places like Kyoto.

Kyoto plans to introduce Japan's highest accommodation tax—up to 10,000 yen per night—by 2026 to curb overtourism and potentially double its annual revenue.

Banyan Group is expanding globally with its 100th resort debuting in Singapore, new openings in Tanzania and the Dominican Republic, and record multi-brand growth across Asia, including highlights in Japan.

Leechiu Property Consultants reported 158 new hotel projects across the Philippines, adding 40,084 rooms, with full recovery in foreign arrivals expected by 2026, generating PHP250 billion in investments and 57,000 jobs.

CoStar's STR reports uneven growth across Asia-Pacific markets in 2024, with Japan and Vietnam showing the strongest potential for continued growth.

Asia's largest Hard Rock Hotel will open in 2027 at Genting Highlands' King's Park, featuring 1,001 rooms and various amenities as part of a larger entertainment and business district project.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding its presence in Thailand by introducing its new brand, Garner, and aiming to double its hotel portfolio in the country.

Banyan Group has launched its first Banyan Tree hotel in Japan, located in Kyoto, and plans further expansion with four additional properties in development.

India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan lead this quarter’s hotel construction pipeline in the APEC region. China doesn’t make an appearance.

Domestic Chinese hotel chains are expanding internationally, with notable investments in Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, driven by the rising number of Chinese travelers.