Compared with 2015, occupancy rates for the region grew 1.6% to 69% with Northeastern Asia – China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan - reporting the highest growth (2.8%).
Hotels in Asia Pacific reported mixed performance for total-year 2016, according to data from STR.
Compared with 2015, occupancy rates for the region grew 1.6% to 69% with Northeastern Asia – China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan - reporting the highest growth (2.8%).
Overall, average daily rate (ADR) dipped 0.9% to US$100.46, and RevPAR increased slightly by 0.6% to US$69.34.
Within Southeast Asia, occupancy rates grew 1.9% (from 67.2% to 68.5%), while ADR declined 2.3% (from US$79.27 to US$77.41) and RevPAR fell 0.5% (from US$53.26 to US$52.99).
Performance of featured countries for 2016 (in local currency, year-over-year comparisons):
Australia
Through the first 11 months of the year, international arrivals to Australia increased 11.3% compared with the same time period in 2015, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. December 2016 marked the country’s highest monthly ADR on record (AUD200.33), which was a 3.2% increase compared with the previous December.
The country’s hotel industry was helped by major events throughout the year, including the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final (October 2) in Sydney and the cricket Boxing Day Test (December 26 kickoff) in Melbourne. Sydney finished the year with RevPAR growth of 4.4%, while Melbourne reported a slight increase of 0.8%.
Japan
Japan welcomed 24 million visitors in 2016, a 21.8% increase year over year, according to preliminary figures from the Japan National Tourism Organization. The country’s main feeder markets during the year were other Asian countries, namely China, South Korea and Taiwan.
STR analysts note that the yen’s recent pickup in value has made travel more expensive for visitors from other continents. By the end of 2016, the yen had increased nearly 10% against the U.S. dollar, marking the first time the yen has increased in value since 2011.
Thailand
Thailand turned in a second straight year with performance growth, continuing its recovery from a period of political instability in 2014. Throughout 2016, Thailand recorded 48 nights with occupancy above 85.0%, and ADR during those nights was 20.5% higher than nights with occupancy below 85.0%. That performance came even with weaker than usual occupancy during the fourth quarter, Thailand’s high season for tourism, which STR analysts believe occurred as a result of floods in major tourist areas in Southern Thailand.