Issue #129 - This Week's Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in Asia Pacific!
The Lunar New Year holidays generated some compelling travel talking points.
Welcome to issue 129 of Asia Travel Re:Set.
The Lunar New Year holidays are wrapping up. Departure gates (and duty-free outlets) across the region are crowded as holidaymakers head home.
As always (OK, the ‘Covid years’ excepted), the LNY vacation generated some fascinating travel talking points.
So let’s get ready for take-off…
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This Week’s Top 8 Travel & Tourism Talking Points in Asia Pacific!
The Lunar New Year holidays generated some compelling travel talking points.
Let’s kick off in Bali, which on 14 February introduced its long-touted International Tourism Levy (ITL). Applicable to all non-resident visitors (adults and children), the cost is IDR150,000 for each visit to Bali. The ITL must be paid in addition to the IDR500,000 visa-on-arrival fee. [The South East Asia Travel Show]
Next stop is Singapore, which this week announced that all visitors (not just those from the 60 jurisdictions currently permitted) will be able to use Changi’s automated passport scan gates to enter the country from the second half of 2024. Passport-free departure will require biometric verification only. [Nikkei Asia]
On to China, where it’s back to work after the Lunar New Year domestic travel-fest. In Phocuswright’s 2022-2026 China Travel Market Report, I wrote: “Tongcheng is exploring M&A opportunities to build its international packaged tour and FIT business.” This week, the ambitious OTA announced its intention to acquire Target Group. Tongcheng currently holds a 14% stake in the digital financial services provider. Are we set for a new wave of M&As by Chinese OTAs? [Tongcheng]
Meanwhile, China’s most internationalised OTA, Trip.com (aka Ctrip in China) - which will report its 2023 financial results on 21 February - saw on Friday its (Hong Kong-listed) share price reach its highest peak since 4 September 2023. [CNBC]
“In which city did people eat the most gyoza dumplings last year?” Certainly my favourite question of the week comes from Japan. Gastronomy is a prime decision-maker among Asian tourists choosing to visit Japan, where the government conducts an annual survey of its cities about preferred culinary choices. The answer, in case you want to ink it into your next food-fuelled itinerary, is Hamamatsu. [NHK World]
One more to go. In Issue 127, I noted that the Korean Air-Asiana Airlines merger had jumped 12 of the requisite 14 international regulatory hurdles. The European Commission, the penultimate competition regulator, has now conditionally sanctioned the deal. A single obstacle is outstanding, the US. A decision on South Korea’s aviation mega-merger is expected in the coming months. [Korean Air]
The 1. Landing briefly in Australia for the latest iteration of Travel Taylornomics. On Friday, Melbourne Airport announced its busiest single day since the pandemic, as it handled more than 117,000 passengers ahead of Ms Swift’s two shows in the city this weekend. [Melbourne Airport]
Pink Venom. And, finally to Thailand where Blackpink megastar and multi-brand ambassador Lalisa Manobal (aka Lisa) will join the cast for season 3 of the dark luxury resort caper series, The White Lotus. After runs in Hawaii and Sicily, the 3rd series will be filmed in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui in a partnership between HBO and the Tourism Administration of Thailand. It’s a super-smart move by the producers to cast Lisa, who was born in Thailand and brings serious global star-power to the show. [Variety]
And, that’s a wrap for Issue 129.
The Asia Travel Re:Set newsletter will return next Sunday.
Until then, find me at LinkedIn and The South East Asia Travel Show
Happy travels,
Gary