Sydney

Starting late 2025, foreign tourists visiting Thailand will pay a 300-baht tax, which includes life and accident insurance.

Thailand leads the Asia branded residences market with a 23.3% share, Phuket has the most units, and Singapore buyers dominate the region.

Bloomberg Intelligence doubts Thailand's 2025 tourism goals, citing a surge in Chinese flight cancellations and increased travel to Japan instead.

Hotel investment in the Asia Pacific region is rising, with Japan, Singapore, and Australia leading interest, while investors shift focus to upscale segments and await interest rate clarity.

India's organized hotel industry is set to exceed 3 million rooms by 2029, driven by religious tourism, rising incomes, infrastructure projects, and major airport developments.

In 2024, Thai luxury hotels experienced significant year-on-year increases in average daily rates and occupancy across key tourist cities.

Indian Hotels Company announced a new Tajhotel in Ayodhya, set to open in 2026 with 300 rooms, luxury villas, extensive amenities, and event space, expanding IHCL’s footprint in Uttar Pradesh to 31 hotels.

Asset World Corp partnered with Melia Hotels International to open the 234-room Melia Pattaya Hotel as part of a 30 million baht investment in Pattaya, featuring eco-friendly development, job creation, and luxury amenities.

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.

JLL's new Hotel Operators Investment Survey highlights Asia Pacific's uneven hotel recovery, with disparities in regional growth, labor challenges, rising costs, and a positive 2025 outlook driven by MICE demand despite lingering tourist shortfalls.