Melbourne

A recent implementation of unilateral visa exemptions for 13 European countries was credited for the strong growth in arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, and Russia in January.

India has now slipped to the fifth position for tourist arrivals into Maldives in January, with just over 13,000 visitors. This is per the latest data from the Maldives tourism industry and is quite different than the commentary last week from the Maldives.

Minor International said they expect foreign tourist arrivals to Thailand to exceed 34 million, ahead of the government’s forecast.

Sydney hotels achieved their highest occupancy levels on New Year’s Eve at 94% followed by 93.8% on December 2nd. There were only two days in the month when occupancy was not above the 60% mark.

The Philippine Department of Tourism achieved over 5 million international visitors in 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels, with a focus on their National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028. China's tourism rebound is driven by domestic demand, though sustainability into the next year is uncertain. The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels announced executive changes effective 2024, with a formal search for a new CEO.

IHG chose Kuala Lumpur as the site of its 150th Hotel Indigo. The new hotel features unique amenities like a living vertical garden and a large-scale installation made from recycled plastic bottles. Pro-invest is preparing to sell an $800 million hotel portfolio, including eight Holiday Inn Express properties across Australia and New Zealand. Best Western is launching its first Aiden property in Southeast Asia in Phu Yen, Vietnam.

Singapore saw a significant rise in international visitor arrivals in October, notably from China and Indonesia. Meanwhile, The Philippines plans to develop 48 new hotels by 2028. Several hospitality brands announced major expansions, including The Standard International's new The StandardX in Melbourne, Australia, and Accor opening Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport. Indian Hotels Company formalized a partnership for a new Vivanta hotel in Kochi, India, and Crowne Plaza in Chennai, India will be replaced by luxury apartments.

STR reported strong hotel performance in China, with an 88.7% year-over-year increase in RevPAR for the week ending October 28th. The region is showing signs of rapid post-pandemic recovery, reaching occupancy levels similar to Europe and America. Macau recorded over 22.72 million visitor arrivals, with a recent increase in daily arrivals, and the first 10 months of the year reaching 68% of 2019 levels. Various hotel-related developments and partnerships were announced by brands like IHG, Accor, and CapitaLand Ascott Trust across Asia, including new property openings, divestments, and expansions, highlighting continued growth in the region's hospitality industry.

ForwardKeys data reveals that Asia Pacific destinations have seen a travel recovery of over 50% of pre-pandemic international arrivals in the first three quarters of the year, with fourth-quarter bookings improving. Marriott International has opened three premium brand hotels in Vietnam, expanding its portfolio to 19 hotels in the country. S Hotels and Resorts will invest $27 million in renovating resorts in Thailand and Fiji, including upgrades to three SAii Resorts and Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, with renovations starting in 2023 and premium rooms available for booking from December 2023.

Asian ultraluxury resort companies are expanding into Japan to cater to wealthy overseas travelers and take advantage of the weak yen, with Soneva Holdings planning to open resorts in Japan by 2027 and investing 100 billion yen in new properties. Foreign investment in Japanese hotels increased significantly in recent years, with 2022 seeing a sixfold increase compared to the previous year, and an expected total of 128.5 billion yen in investments in the first six months of the current year. International hotel brands like InterContinental, Wyndham, Marriott, Hyatt, and Accor are actively expanding their presence in various regions, including India, Vietnam, China, Thailand, and Australia, offering a diverse range of accommodations and amenities.