Thailand Rolls Out Targeted Fuel Subsidies Ahead of Songkran Travel
Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is launching a targeted diesel subsidy on April 1 to cushion interprovincial buses and ride‑hailing firms ahead of the Songkran holiday. The scheme offers a four‑baht ($0.12) per litre discount and runs through April 30, with GPS data used to verify actual fuel usage. While the relief aims to keep passenger fares stable, the national Oil Fuel Fund faces a 42 billion baht (~$1.1 billion) deficit, leaving broader retail fuel price caps uncertain. Meanwhile, local pilots such as Chiang Rai’s free electric coach service illustrate regional mitigation efforts.
Colbert Collection to Debut in Italy as Minor Hotels Targets Soft Brand Growth
Minor Hotels has launched the Colbert Collection, a premium soft‑brand aimed at independent hotels that prioritize culinary and cultural experiences. The brand lets properties retain their unique identity while tapping into Minor's global distribution, revenue‑management and loyalty systems. Its debut...
StarCruises Adds Kaohsiung and Penghu to Three-Night Hong Kong Sailings
StarCruises is replacing its three‑night Sanya cruises with a new Hong Kong‑Kaohsiung‑Penghu itinerary aboard the Star Voyager, launching on April 12, 2026. The sailings will run on April 12, April 19 and May 10, offering half‑day shore time in Kaohsiung and...
Ibrahim Canliel Steps up as CEO of Air Astana Group
Ibrahim Canliel has been appointed chief executive officer of Air Astana Group, moving up from his role as chief financial officer where he served since 2017. He brings more than 14 years of experience within the airline, having helped shape its strategic...
Marc Handl Helms as MD of Dusit Thani Bangkok
Dusit International has appointed Marc Handl as managing director of its flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok property. Handl will also oversee the adjacent Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside within the Dusit Central Park development. He arrives from Abu Dhabi National Hotels,...
Asia-Pacific Visitor Arrivals to Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels From 2026, PATA Forecasts
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) projects that international visitor arrivals to the Asia‑Pacific region will exceed pre‑pandemic levels by 2026, reaching up to 761.2 million inbound trips in 2028 under a baseline scenario. A more cautious lower‑bound outlook estimates 599.7 million...
Thai Tourism Associations Propose Stimulus Projects as New Cabinet Comes In
The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA) has submitted a stimulus package worth 14‑15 billion baht (approximately $427‑$457 million) to the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the incoming cabinet. The plan centers on the "Tour Teaw Thai" and "A Million Buses Traveling...
China and Taiwan Lead Thai Tourism Recovery
Thailand’s inbound tourism is accelerating, driven by a strong rebound from China and Taiwan. Between Jan 1 and Mar 21 the country welcomed 8.44 million international visitors, with Chinese arrivals up 82% year‑on‑year in February and Taiwan’s market growing 12% in the same...
Hoshino Report Highlights Shift in Japan Travel Towards Regional and Longer Stays
Hoshino Resorts' 2025 inbound travel report, based on data from 68 properties, shows international visitors shifting beyond the traditional Golden Route toward regional destinations and longer stays. Guest nights reached 1.33 million, with bookings up 24% year‑on‑year, a slowdown from the...
SAii Hotels & Resorts Introduces Wellness Packages
SAii Hotels & Resorts has launched "Peace of Mind," a portfolio‑wide wellness programme offering flexible, lifestyle‑based packages. The initiative is organized around five pillars—Eat Well, Sleep Well, Move Well, Explore Well and Stay Well—and is customized at each property. At...
Vikas Chawla Leads Hyatt as New President for India, South-West Asia
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that Vikas Chawla will assume the role of President for India and South‑west Asia, effective April 1, 2026. Chawla brings more than three decades of experience in food and beverage operations and consulting. His background includes...
Indonesia and Japan Seal First Bilateral Tourism Agreement
Indonesia and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on tourism on March 30 in Tokyo, marking the first formal bilateral framework between the two nations. The pact targets business events, wellness tourism, gastronomy and sustainable tourist villages, aiming to deepen...
Zipair Targets Fleet Expansion as It Builds Tech-Driven Low-Cost Model
Japanese low‑cost carrier Zipair plans to more than double its Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner fleet, increasing from eight aircraft to over 20 within four years. The airline, which launched in 2020, emphasizes a technology‑enabled model featuring free Starlink internet, an on‑demand...
Mimaru to Open Two Apartment-Style Hotels in Osaka in 2026
Mimaru, operated by Cosmos Hotel Management, will launch two apartment‑style hotels in Osaka in September and October 2026, adding 66 and 68 rooms respectively. The properties target families and groups with 40 m² rooms featuring kitchens, multilingual staff from 39 nationalities,...
Airalo Partners Busan to Provide eSIM Services for International Visitors
Airalo has signed a letter of intent with Busan Metropolitan City to distribute 100,000 free eSIM vouchers and launch destination‑specific eSIM packages for international visitors. The partnership also includes discounted eSIMs for Busan residents traveling abroad, joint marketing campaigns, and...
Far East Hospitality, JTB Launch Travel Packages for Singapore-Japan Anniversary
Far East Hospitality has partnered with JTB Singapore to launch travel packages celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Japan. The bundles cater to Japanese visitors to Singapore and Singapore residents traveling to Japan, featuring stays at Far East...
Middle East Aviation Outlook Uncertain but Demand Shows Resilience
A recent Atmosphere Research Group survey shows Middle East aviation faces sharp headwinds as jet fuel prices surged 77% and regional conflict threatens tourism. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates daily visitor‑spending losses of $600 million, potentially cutting arrivals by...
Booking Holdings to Consolidate B2B Operations Under Single Global Structure
Booking Holdings announced it will merge the strategic partnership units of Booking.com, Priceline and Agoda into a single global B2B organization. The restructure aims to give travel partners a unified point of contact, consolidate supply, technology and teams, and boost...
The Impact of the Current Oil Crisis on the Travel Industry
The ongoing Middle East‑driven oil crisis is tightening global fuel supplies, hitting the travel sector hard as airlines, ground transport and food logistics face soaring costs. Countries such as Vietnam and Thailand have already trimmed flights and taxi services, while...
Asia-Pacific Airlines Raise Fuel Surcharges as Jet Fuel Prices Climb
Airlines across the Asia‑Pacific are raising fuel surcharges and ticket prices as jet fuel spikes to nearly $200 per barrel, driven by Middle East supply disruptions. Singapore Airlines and Scoot have lifted fares, while Cathay Pacific will increase its surcharge...
StarDream Cruises Sets Out 2026 Programme with Expanded Entertainment Line-Up
StarDream Cruises unveiled its 2026 program in Singapore, expanding itineraries to more than 50 Southeast and East Asian ports across three vessels. The line is boosting onboard entertainment with K‑pop act KIIRAS, a Broadway‑style production, and culinary‑show personalities, while introducing...
Klook Expects Keen Demand for Limited Edition Online Travel Fair
Klook has launched a 72‑hour Online Travel Fair aimed at Singapore residents, offering deep discounts on Asia‑Pacific experiences, especially China tours and cruises. The company points to its Travel Pulse 2026 report, which shows 90% of Singaporeans intend to maintain...
The Akyra Bangkok 11 Debuts with VitalLife as Strategic Partner
Akaryn Hotel Group opened The akyra Bangkok 11 in mid‑March 2026, a 100‑room urban wellness hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11. The property emphasizes sleep health with hypoallergenic rooms, circadian lighting and a dedicated Sleep Concierge. A strategic partnership with VitalLife Scientific Wellness...
Vendfun Enters Indonesia with Local Distributor Partnership
Vendfun, a Malaysia‑based hospitality tech firm, has appointed Jakarta‑based Murni Solusindo Nusantara as its exclusive master distributor for Indonesia, marking its first distributorship outside Malaysia. The deal gives Murni responsibility for marketing, sales, installation and support of Vendfun’s Smart Mini...
TTG Conversations: Five Questions with Laura Houldsworth, Booking.com
Booking.com saw a massive surge in travel interest after BTS announced its world tour, with searches for Kaohsiung, Taiwan jumping 7,000 percent. In a TTG Conversations interview, Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director for Asia Pacific, explains how high‑profile musicians and festivals can...
Malaysia Targets Intra-Asia Travel as Middle East Tensions Reshape Demand
Amid rising Middle East tensions, Malaysia is reshaping its tourism strategy to capture intra‑Asian travel demand. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry is redirecting the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign toward Asian source markets and exploring transit routes that avoid Middle Eastern...
Thailand Looks to GSTC 2026 to Drive Business Benefits Nationwide
Thailand will host its first major Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) conference in Phuket from April 21‑24, 2026. The tourism authority expects at least 600 participants and more than 50 international sustainability experts, turning the summit into a commercial catalyst...
Raffles Sentosa Singapore Sets up Spa Within Restored Heritage Site
Raffles Sentosa Singapore has launched the Raffles Sentosa Spa, a luxury wellness center housed in a restored British military barracks on Sentosa island. The spa sits within 100,000 m² of landscaped grounds and features 12 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy pools, a mud...
EHL Expands Into Gastronomy with New Associate Culinary Degree
EHL, a premier hospitality school, will launch a two‑year associate degree in international culinary arts, fine‑dining experience and restaurant management, with the first cohort starting in September 2027. The program blends culinary techniques, guest‑experience training and restaurant‑operations coursework, and includes a...
Grab Thailand Details High-Yield Tourist Playbook for Hospitality Sector
Grab Thailand warns that inbound tourism will rise 11% by 2026, creating a lucrative opportunity for restaurants and hotels. Platform data shows international visitors spend about 1.7 times more than locals and generate a 1.68‑times larger basket size with a...
Savour Afternoon Tea with Zentis Osaka’s Stay Package
Zentis Osaka, part of Design Hotels, has launched a Stay & Savor package that pairs a two‑night stay with daily breakfast and a seasonal afternoon tea at the Upstairz Lounge. The tea menu, available through May 10, 2026, features sweet items like strawberry macaron...
Sojern Names New President and GM of Global Destinations
Sojern, the AI‑driven travel marketing platform, has named Sylvia Weiler as president and general manager of its global destinations division. Weiler returns after a stint as chief revenue officer at Zartico and senior roles at Tripadvisor and Airbnb, where she helped...
BWH Hotels Sets Sights on Asia-Pacific as Engine for Global Growth
BWH Hotels announced a major push into the Asia‑Pacific region, positioning it as the primary engine for reaching its 5,000‑property goal. The company highlighted strong pipelines in India (36 open, 25 pending) and growing footprints in Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia,...
MITE 2026 to Showcase New and Expanded Tourism Zones
The 14th Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE 2026) runs April 10‑12, introducing a Culture and Creativity Hub aimed at Gen Z travelers and expanding medical tourism with the debut of the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College...
IHG Brings InterContinental Brand Back to Manila After 15 Years
IHG Hotels & Resorts announced a partnership to open a 212‑room InterContinental hotel in Manila’s Bonifacio Global City, slated for 2032. The development marks the brand’s return to the Philippine capital after a 15‑year absence. The property will feature multiple...
Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection Reaches 500 Properties with Further Openings Planned
Choice Hotels International announced that its Ascend Collection has reached 500 properties, marking a milestone for the upscale soft‑brand portfolio. Recent U.S. openings include The Harrison Hotel in Florida and The Gould Hotel in New York, while a pipeline of...
TAT Bets on Domestic Travel Boom with Thailand Tourism Festival 2026
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will host the 44th Thailand Tourism Festival (TTF) from March 25‑29, 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The event will feature nine themed zones that showcase cultural, culinary and creative...
Hospitality HR Pivots to Cross-Training Amid Talent Shortage
Hospitality operators across Asia are overhauling HR structures to address a deepening talent shortage, shifting focus from external hiring to retaining existing staff. Marriott International has launched an integrated cross‑training program that enables employees to work across multiple departments and...
JR East Launches Expanded Rail Pass to Boost Travel Beyond Tokyo
East Japan Railway Company has launched an expanded JR East Pass covering the Tohoku, Nagano and Niigata regions. The new product consolidates the former Tohoku and Nagano‑Niigata passes, offering unlimited travel on Shinkansen, limited‑express, local trains and selected partner lines...
Club Med Opens Reservations for Borneo Resort in Sabah
Club Med announced that reservations for its first East Malaysia resort, Club Med Borneo, will open on March 24, with the property slated to welcome guests beginning November 16, 2026. The beachfront resort in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, spans 17 hectares and will feature 400...
AndBeyond Enters Its Next Chapter in Asia
andBeyond is concentrating on deepening its existing foothold in Asia—particularly India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka—rather than launching new destination‑management operations. The company is reshaping its African safari DNA to suit forest‑rich, culturally diverse Asian landscapes, emphasizing collaboration with local partners....
Agoda Joins Forces with Gangwon State to Boost International Tourism
Agoda has signed a two‑year memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Gangwon State to promote the region as an international travel destination. The partnership will see Agoda provide destination‑marketing support and share market data insights to raise Gangwon’s visibility abroad....
SC Capital Partners Acquires Fusion Hotel Group
SC Capital Partners founder Suchad Chiaranussati has acquired Vietnam‑based Fusion Hotel Group, adding its 18 properties and roughly 3,000 rooms to a portfolio that already includes Hotel Management Japan and Topotels, together overseeing about 16,000 rooms across Asia. Fusion, known for...
Electric Boat Taxi Service Launches on Bangkok’s Historic Canals
TTA Mariner Co. and mobility platform MuvMi have launched an electric boat taxi service on Bangkok’s historic canals, operating between 09:00 and 17:00 with an initial fleet of eight vessels. The boats, each seating six passengers and cruising at about...
Flight Disruption Deepens as Middle East Conflict Escalates
Airlines worldwide are scaling back Middle East services as the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict intensifies. Cathay Pacific announced cancellations of Dubai and Riyadh flights through April 30, while Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and the Lufthansa Group have extended suspensions across key hubs...
Private Jet Arrivals Rise in Maldives as Overall Tourist Numbers Decline
Private jet arrivals in the Maldives surged 166% year‑over‑year, with 128 jets landing between Feb 18 and Mar 14, while overall tourist arrivals fell due to Middle East conflict disrupting key transit hubs. The high‑end segment now represents less than 1% of...
Amadeus Links UnionPay Payments to Airline Booking Channels
Amadeus’s Outpayce unit partnered with UnionPay International to embed UnionPay cards directly into airline payment systems via the Xchange Payments Platform. Native acceptance across direct and indirect booking channels is slated for the first half of 2026, with a global...
Scenic Group to Add Three New River Cruise Ships for Europe and Asia
Scenic Group announced a three‑ship river cruise expansion slated for 2027‑2028, adding vessels on Portugal’s Douro River and Vietnam‑Cambodia’s Mekong River. The new ships—Emerald Nova, Scenic Aria and Scenic Spirit II—join an existing fleet that already includes Emerald Astra, Emerald Lumi...
Stay and Explore with JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach has launched a Stay & Explore package aimed at travelers seeking a city‑centric stay with added convenience. The offering requires a minimum three‑night booking and bundles complimentary round‑trip airport transfers, two Discover tickets for either the Hop‑on Hop‑off...
Tourplan Welcomes New Chief Technology Officer
Tourplan, a provider of software solutions for tour operators and destination management companies, announced the appointment of Eduard Liebenberger as its new chief technology officer. Liebenberger arrives with more than 25 years of technology leadership experience across New Zealand, Australia, Germany,...