Phuket

Berjaya Land Bhd plans to expand its presence in Japan by developing at least ten Four Seasons hotels and resorts, starting with the groundbreaking for the Four Seasons Resort & Private Residences Okinawa.

China introduces 15-day visa-free entry for citizens of six European countries, extending from March 14 to November 30, alongside existing visa agreements with other nations.

Centara Hotels & Resorts announced its expansion plans at ITB Berlin. Their sustainable strategy is to introduce its style of family-centric hospitality to multiple new markets, striving to become one of the planet’s top 100 hotel operators by 2027.

Marriott International said they signed 28 deals in South Asia in 2023 and so far in 2024, adding over 4,500 rooms to its development pipeline.

Radisson signed a deal to expand in Cambodia and announced even larger growth on its own across India.

A 60 member House committee in Thailand that is tasked with considering the possibility of developing Thailand’s first legal casinos continues to have trouble completing the task at hand.

Fosun International was reported by Reuters to be exploring the sale of a minority stake in Club Med, targeting a valuation of US$800 million for the whole business. Reuters said Fosun has been in discussions informally with potential buyers and advisors about the sale but no firm bid has emerged.

The Singapore Tourism Board said tourism receipts in 2023 surpassed their forecast. This was driven by key markets such as Indonesia, China and Malaysia, the top three contributors in 2023 with 2.3 million, 1.4 million and 1.1 million visitors respectively.

In 2023, the Taj brand strengthened its presence in key metro and commercial cities, including Delhi, Cochin, Dhaka, and Bhutan. Vivanta and SeleQtions collectively added 17 hotels while Ginger signed agreements for six new hotels.

The Thai hotel industry anticipates a full recovery from the pandemic by late 2024, with Phuket remaining a top destination. Thai hotels had a 60% occupancy rate in 2023, a surge attributed to direct overseas flights and visa-free entry for several countries. Vietnam's tourism authority targets 17-18 million international visitors in 2024, with a revenue goal of 840 trillion VND. In 2023, Vietnam exceeded its 12.5 million visitor target and saw 108 million domestic trips, generating 678 trillion VND in revenue. Marriott International plans to open new Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Marquis hotels in Beijing by 2026, enhancing their presence in China. The Sheraton Colombo Hotel, Marriott's second in Sri Lanka, has opened, offering luxury amenities and strategic location.