Destinations News: Travel Weekly Asia

Destinations News

The incentives for Chinese tourists to Macau come just in time before the Golden Week.

Trip.com gives Macau recovery a leg up with room discountsSome US$22 million in travel vouchers are doled out by the Macau government and Trip.com to spur Chinese travellers...

In Beijing, over 70% of hotels and 81% of scenic spots have reopened for business.

Beijing races towards 2022 Olympics with new offeringsMore Games attractions and theme parks are coming online as China returns to normalcy.

With Malaysia's borders still closed, the economic incentive is crucial to help local tour operators tide through this challenging period.

Nod to booster shot for Sabah tour operatorsDomestic stimulus plan a targeted and timely incentive for local tourism operators in the East Malaysian state.

Since reopening to the domestic market since June, Lake Toba Tourism Authority Agency has channelled resources into the many outdoor activities the cooler mountainous region has to offer.

Trials and triumphs of Indonesia's super-priority destinationsIndonesia’s Tourism Ministry announced five “super priority” destinations in January this year, following on from its 2019 plan...

Global recovery of hotel bookings have plateaued but the last-minute booking trend is still going strong in domestic markets.

A tale of two regions has emerged in global hotel industry recoveryFor the first time since mid-March, SiteMinder’s World Hotel Index showed that hotel bookings globally rose to above 55% of...

GlobalTix's Chan Chee Kong, ForwardKeys' Jamesong Wong, Tribe's Jason Loe and Park Hotel Group's Shin Hui Tan

What will you spend your SingapoRediscover vouchers on?We ask travel industry members in Singapore how they intend to spend their S$100 tourism vouchers to support local businesses.

HKTB anticipates the imminent return of short-haul markets, in particular the Greater Bay Area.

HKTB eyes reopening of short-haul travel marketsTourism board will beef up engagement efforts as Covid-19 restrictions eases, while theme parks and convention centres are...

Growing demand for parks has also brought renewed attention on visitor dispersal.

Basking in nature's glory is top wellness travel trendWith more travellers seeking connection with nature, some Australian regions are seeing their highest-ever occupancy.

Yuthasak's message to the trade: “We are ready to be the wind beneath your wings."

Thailand's tourism chief urges patience to ride out Covid stormTAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn feels the pain of the industry but wants to focus on positive takeaways from crisis.

Sentosa is seeing a boost in local visitorship as the SingapoRediscovers campaign entices locals to become tourists at home.

Singapore leads the pack in domestic travel recoveryTravellers are looking at staycations or short getaways between two to five days, with a focus on relaxation and nature trips.

Without international tourism, it is unlikely that Phuket’s hotels can realistically break even or even be cash-flow positive.

Phuket tourism teeters closer to breaking pointRecent long weekend saw low demand for Phuket, and industry leaders fear more than 50,000 jobs will be lost if the situation...

Travel and hotel association heads Richard Koh, Yap Lip Seng, Jimmy Leong and Tan Kok Liang foresee another round of cost management, restructuring and layoffs.

Malaysia's extended closure means extended hardship for tourism sectorWith borders locked till December 31, travel players are rejigging plans to steel themselves for tougher times ahead.

A true foodie destination, Macau's many restaurateurs and eateries have come up with creative ways to up the game, ready to whet travellers appetites when they return to the city again.

Postcards from Macau: Dining in Asia’s culinary capital in the new normalWhile global travel is currently restricted, many destinations have already taken solid and positive steps to prepare for the...

Sentosa is seeing an encouraging return of domestic visitors since the partial resumption of businesses activities in July.

Sentosa catches domestic tourism waveThe island destination is riding the crest of booming demand from locals seeking Singapolidays in the country.

Thai Airways will begin charter flights from six international destinations to Phuket from November.

Thailand slowly cracks open door to foreign touristsThailand is still tepid on international tourists, but charter flights to Phuket from selected countries will take off in Q4.

Bali received 10.7 million domestic arrivals in 2019, significantly more than the recorded 6.3 million international arrivals.

The restorative power of Indonesia's domestic marketDomestic demand trends are encouraging, but far from sufficient to revive Bali's tourism fortunes.

Care to be a bird in the nest? One of the Instagram-friendly installations in Kampung Agong.

Here's what travel agents are excited about in PenangLooking inward for inspiration, a group of 18 travel experts in Malaysia find an abundance of new and unseen touring ideas in...

The central beach resort town of Danang was seeing crowds until the recent outbreak.

Danang outbreak's chilling effect on domestic tourism recoveryVietnam, among a handful of countries, served as a role model in dealing with the initial outbreak of the worldwide Covid-19...

Many Bali hotels and resorts are now pivoting themselves towards the domestic sector.

Reality check: Bali's reopening looking unlikely for SeptemberAlthough Bali’s governor Wayan Koster had earlier announced that the island would reopen for international arrivals from...

Travel chiefs Hamzah Rahmat and Yeoh Soon Hin believe that Penang has what it takes to attract more domestic tourists to the island-state post Covid-19.

Penang sees reasons for optimism as domestic tourism picks upPositive signs for tourism recovery are coming out of Penang as expressed by travel agents and hoteliers during a recent B2B...