Explora Journeys to Enter Asia-Pacific with 2027 Cruise Itineraries
Explora Journeys, MSC Group’s luxury cruise brand, announced its first Asian itineraries slated for launch in 2027‑2028. The new routes will cover key gateway cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City, featuring longer port stays and overnight calls. The rollout aligns with the expansion of Explora’s fleet and a strategic push into the Asia‑Pacific luxury travel market. The company will collaborate with regional travel partners and advisors to build a lasting trade ecosystem.
Sanya to Stage PATA Annual Summit in May 2027
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) confirmed that its 2027 Annual Summit will be held in Sanya, China, from May 17‑19. The three‑day event, organized with the Sanya Tourism Board, will feature a conference, board meetings, a youth symposium and...
Dorsett Melbourne Welcomes New Rooms Division Manager
Dorsett Melbourne has appointed Anthony Leung as its new rooms division manager. Leung brings nearly 15 years of hospitality experience across Accor’s Art Series, Mantra, Quest Apartment Hotels, and operations in Switzerland, Hong Kong and Australia. The move follows a...
Higher Fuel Costs to Dampen India Travel Demand
Effective April 1, India’s civil aviation ministry approved a 25 % rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for domestic carriers, while oil marketers lifted ATF in Delhi to $1,690.81 per kilolitre—a 107 % jump from March. IndiGo has responded by raising fuel surcharges...
Sarawak to Host South-East Asian Tourist Guides Conference in Sibu
Sarawak will host the 3rd Southeast Asian Tourist Guides Conference in Sibu from October 13‑15, 2026, drawing roughly 1,000 regional delegates. The three‑day event, part of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, will address digital disruption, evolving visitor expectations, and guide shortages....
Plataran Unifies Destinations Under New Wellness Offering
Plataren Indonesia has unveiled HOPE: Home of Peaceful Escape, a wellness‑centric travel concept spanning six of its resort locations. The program blends accommodation with nature‑based, cultural and well‑being activities, allowing guests to curate stays that match personal preferences. Flexible itineraries...
Meliá Chiang Mai Launches Stay Package Supporting Food Rescue
Meliá Chiang Mai has launched a two‑night Sustainability Package that funds Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Thailand, a food‑rescue nonprofit. The deal bundles accommodation, breakfast and a three‑course dinner at MAI Restaurant, featuring locally sourced seasonal produce. The hotel’s 360° Cuisine program emphasizes...
Thailand Pivots to Regional Tourism Hub
The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) unveiled a new strategy to transform Thailand from a passive inbound destination into a proactive regional tourism hub. The plan emphasizes two‑way traffic, bilateral B2B agreements and charter‑flight connectivity with six short‑haul markets....
BBTF 2026 to Focus on Gastronomy and Destination Readiness
The Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) returns for its 12th edition on May 28‑30, 2026, at the Bali International Convention Centre, spotlighting the theme “Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey.” Organisers stress that the event will serve as a strategic platform...
Frasers Hospitality Expands Asia Footprint
Frasers Hospitality announced an aggressive Asian expansion, adding 18 new properties by 2028. The flagship Fraser Suites Bangkok will open in December 2026, occupying the top ten floors of a 45‑storey tower and introducing a new wellness‑focused concept. Additional projects...
Airlines Stress Communication During Disruptions
At the Aviation Festival Asia, airline leaders emphasized that clear, regular communication remains critical during operational disruptions, even as AI chatbots evolve. They highlighted the need to involve families, use unified channel platforms, and maintain human empathy alongside digital tools....
Hilton Singapore Hotels Adopt Initiative to Support Guests with Hidden Disabilities
Hilton has joined Singapore’s Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network, enrolling its four local hotels – Conrad Marina Bay, Conrad Orchard, Hilton Orchard and Hilton Garden Inn Serangoon – into a program that signals non‑visible impairments. Staff across these properties completed certified training...
Asia Drives Next Growth
BWH Hotels is reversing the industry norm by prioritising secondary and tertiary Asian markets, using local partners to pinpoint emerging travel demand such as religious tourism in India. The company leverages its position as the world’s second‑largest soft‑brand operator, offering...
Indonesia Shifts Focus to Shorthaul Markets Amid Longhaul Travel Risks
Indonesia’s tourism ministry warned that ongoing geopolitical tensions at Middle Eastern transit hubs could cut up to 5,500 long‑haul arrivals daily from Europe and the United States. To offset the shortfall, officials are pivoting toward short‑haul markets in Southeast Asia,...
Malaysia Tourism Sector Calls for Support as Diesel Costs Rise
Rising diesel prices are tightening margins for Malaysia’s tourism transport operators and travel agencies, prompting industry bodies to demand government relief. A MATTA survey shows 68.5% of tour‑van operators use over 1,500 litres and 54.8% of bus operators exceed 3,500...
Virtuoso Delivers Successful First Standalone Forum for North and South-East Asia
Virtuoso held its inaugural North and Southeast Asia Forum at The Apurva Kempinski Bali, bringing together 26 of the region’s 27 member agencies and 35 representatives. The three‑day event combined professional development sessions with B2B meetings, featuring a mix of...
Exhibition in Hangzhou Reconstructs Lives From Song Dynasty Artefacts
The China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou has launched the "Unveiling the Wardrobe of the Southern Song Dynasty" exhibition, showcasing 83 artefact sets from seven museums, including 15 first‑grade cultural relics. The show is organized into three thematic sections—identity, daily...
JAAN Hosts One-Day Four-Hands Dining Collaboration
JAAN by Kirk Westaway will host a one‑day four‑hands dining event on April 14, 2026, pairing British chef Kirk Westaway with Swiss‑based Stefan Heilemann of Zurich’s Widder Restaurant. The collaboration is part of Momentum, Les Grandes Tables du Monde’s global...
Sono Signs Hotel Project in Hanoi Old Quarter for 2026 Opening
Vietnam’s Sono Hotels & Resorts Asia has inked a management agreement with Binh Minh Urban Construction Investment to develop Sono Belle Hanoi Old Quarter, its first city‑hotel in the capital. The 56‑room, nature‑led urban lifestyle property is slated to open...
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...
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...