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Asia-Pacific
South Korea Takes Steps to Woo More Chinese Tourists
China hotel RevPAR increased by 30.7% YoY but was down by -6.8% compared to 2019. South Korea aims to attract 1.5 million Chinese tourists, lifting group visit bans with incentives. H World Group refines strategy for post-pandemic tourism in China, focusing on quality growth and lower-tier cities. -
Asia-Pacific
China Resumes Group Tours to South Korea
China ‘s hotel RevPAR rose by 22% YoY as of the week ending August 5th, and by 6.7% compared to the same week in 2019. China lifted its ban on group tours to over 70 locations, including countries in Asia Pacific, Europe , Africa , and North America . Notably, group tours to South Korea are resuming for the first time in six years. Indonesia’s ONE°15 Marina Nirup Island opened, with phase two set to include a Westin Hotels & Resorts property by Q4 2024. -
Asia-Pacific
Radisson, Wyndham and IHG Expand Presence in Thailand
Radisson Hotel Group plans to open more premium and luxury hotels in Thailand , Cambodia , Laos , and Vietnam over the next five years, with a focus on popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok , Phuket , Chiang Mai , and Samui Island . Wyndham Hotels & Resorts aims to open over 15 hotels with 5,000 additional rooms in Thailand to catch up with the country’s tourism industry recovery, but they don’t expect a return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024. IHG Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its Hotel Indigo brand in Thailand , with plans to open the Hotel Indigo Bangkok Thonglor in 2026, offering 250 rooms, restaurants, a bar, swimming pool, gym, and meeting spaces. -
Asia-Pacific
Minor Hotels’ Plans to Grow Portfolio
Strong RevPAR growth observed in China, Singapore, and India, indicating recovery and resilience in the Asian hotel industry. Minor Hotels plans significant expansion across multiple countries, capitalizing on pent-up demand and strategic partnerships. Radisson Hotel Group signs multiple new hotels in India, while ITC considers a potential demerger of its hotel business, reflecting evolving strategies in the market. -
Asia-Pacific
Surge in Global Summer Travel Bookings
Summer travel bookings on Trip.com have surpassed 2019 levels, with intra-regional travel leading the way and significant increases in Asia and European markets. Top booked cities in Asia include Bangkok, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Taipei , while European users show interest in hotels in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations such as Bali, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Marrakech. Forecasts by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) indicate strong growth in international visitor arrivals across Asia Pacific destinations, although full recovery is expected to vary by scenario and region, with China projected to reach pre-pandemic volumes by 2024. -
Asia-Pacific
Singapore Has Another 1 Million Visitor Month
The Singapore Tourism Board said 1.13 million tourist arrivals were recorded in April, the second consecutive month of more than a million arrivals. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism believes they may attract 10 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, surpassing the target of 8 million previously set. Savills Hanoi said the hospitality industry of Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi is on the mend on the back of surges in both international and domestic tourist arrivals . -
Asia-Pacific
Chinese Domestic Tourism Posts Strong Golden Week Holiday Numbers
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in China said domestic travelers reached 274 million during the recent Labour Day Golden Week holiday, topping 120% of pre-Covid levels . Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa is set to introduce a new era of exciting hospitality to Vietnam’s central coast. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by Eleven D&C Co., Ltd. to manage Rosewood Seoul , a new build ultra-luxury hotel set to open in 2027. -
Asia-Pacific
Debut of Aman’s Sister Brand Janu
Savills Vietnam issued a report saying despite improvements in 2022, occupancy and room rates in Ho Chi Minh City have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels . Thai hotel operators are ramping up plans to expand investment at home and abroad according to Nikkei. The huge fire in Hong Kong Thursday night into Friday which received so much attention was the 48 story luxury Kimpton Hong Kong hotel that is under construction in Tsim Sha Tsui . -
Asia-Pacific
WTTC Calls Out 5 APAC Cities for Post-Covid Rebound Success
The World Travel & Tourism Council reported positive signs of recovery for the Asian travel and tourism sector with five major metropolises seeing a significant economic rebound . Macau visitor arrivals in January doubled year on year, reaching nearly 1.4 million, but a hospitality and tourism management professional has warned Macau will only see half of the yearly pre-pandemic visitors this year . Accor announced plans to open a Mercure property in Tokyo, Japan. Mercure Tokyo Hibiya will be housed within the existing Uchisaiwaicho Heiwa Building, close to JR Shimbashi and Uchisaiwaicho stations . -
Asia-Pacific
China’s Zero-Covid Policy Shows Cracks at Beijing Airport
Beijing’s International Airport and Daxing Airport have dropped the requirement for a negative Covid-19 test result to enter their terminals. Hotels on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali are booked solid for the Christmas and New Year period . The Kyushu Tourism Organization in Japan sent us a press release on their expected new resorts and hotels opening in 2023.