Singapore

The Philippines is close to reaching its annual goal of 4.8 million tourist arrivals, with nearly 4.1 million arrivals in the first 10 months of 2023. South Korea remains the top source of inbound tourists. Hotel prices in Malaysia may increase by 30% due to a rise in the Sales and Services Tax, excluding food and beverages or telecommunications. Consumers are expected to pay higher room rates. Sri Lanka anticipates its best tourism year in 2024, with exceeding arrival and revenue targets for this year. Plans to accommodate higher arrivals include expanding accommodation in Colombo and other areas.

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.

Phuket's hotel market saw strong growth in the first half of 2023, driven by increased flight volumes, with Russia and China as top tourism markets, and higher room rates post-pandemic. Accor anticipates a surge in hotel conversions due to stricter lending rules, leading to more independent Thai hotel owners seeking franchising, rebranding, or conversion opportunities. Macau plans to invest in attracting foreign tourists but faces challenges due to airport expansion. Wyndham opens its first Wyndham Grand hotel in South Korea, and S Hotels and Resorts launches SO/Maldives in the CROSSROADS Maldives.

Sentosa Island in Singapore is on track to recover its pre-pandemic visitor numbers within one to two years, with new projects like Raffles Sentosa Resort & Spa and Sentosa Sensoryscape expected to boost visitation. Macau SAR experienced a -28.6% decline in visitor arrivals in September, but it anticipates a potential increase in October, aiming to reach 24 million visitors by the end of the year. Accor has become the world's largest player in extended-stay hotels outside of the United States, offering various brands such as Novotel Living and Adagio, with plans to open new properties in different locations.

Cushman & Wakefield reported significant growth in China's hotel industry, with domestic tourism on the rise and strong performance in the hotel market. Las Vegas Sands is embarking on a $3.3 billion expansion project in Singapore, while Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is expanding in Vietnam, including a massive complex on Bai Dai beach. Fine Acers Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd is partnering with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to open a luxury Wyndham Grand Hotel & Branded Residences in Amer, Jaipur, India.

China hotel RevPAR for the week ending October 14th increased by 73.4% YoY, with a -35.5% comp from 2022, but was still down -18.3% compared to the same week in 2019. The Ascott Limited introduced The Crest Collection brand in Asia, opening three properties in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia with heritage-themed hospitality experiences. Various hotel developments and transactions include Royal Orchid & Regenta's new property in Mysuru, a 4-star hotel sale in Vadodara, Lemon Tree Hotels' franchise agreement in Vadodara, Kenilworth Hotel's upcoming project in Coimbatore, Bong Sen Corp's plan to sell assets in Vietnam, and BWHSM Hotels' expansion in Bangkok. Pride Hotels Group appointed Chandrashekhar Belose as Corporate Chief Engineer, focusing on sustainability measures.

Efforts to attract Chinese tourists to Southeast Asia are falling short, with drops in arrivals to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam; Thailand's visa exemption offers a temporary boost. Numerous hotel developments across Asia include expansions by Amora Group, partnerships in Malaysia and Indonesia, and potential property transformations in Singapore and Australia. DigiPlus Interactive Corp. aims to resurrect a $500 million casino resort on Boracay Island, hoping for favorable response from the Marcos administration.

Chinese tourists flocked to the Middle East during Golden Week, benefiting destinations like Dubai, Thailand, and Singapore. Plans were unveiled for a hotel in Braddon, Australia, with a unique design inspired by canyons, featuring 119 suites and retail tenancies. Accor plans to open 30 new properties in India, focusing on tier 2 and tier 3 cities, introducing additional brands like Swissotel, Movenpick, and Handwritten Collection.

Outbound travel from China surged significantly during the National Day Holiday, led by younger Chinese travelers. Indonesia became the top source market for Singapore's monthly visitor arrivals, with Chinese visitors staying longer on average. The Postcard Hotel is set to open India's most expensive hotel in Ranthambore and plans to launch several more hotels in 2024.

Macau's Golden Week holiday saw a surge in visitors, with over 932,000 arrivals and high hotel occupancy rates, mainly driven by mainland Chinese tourists. Indonesia plans a significant expansion in its tourism sector, aiming to attract up to $8 billion in investments for specific destinations. Several new hotel properties by Accor and Hilton are announced in countries including Australia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.