Issue #168: Key Travel & Tourism Themes for 2025 in Asia Pacific!
Looking ahead to this year's hot tourism topics in China, South East Asia & Japan.
Welcome to Issue 168 of Asia Travel Re:Set.
After a month’s break in the UK, I’m easing back into the travel saddle.
I’ve got some news upcoming about this newsletter, but let’s leave that for another day.
Meanwhile, t’is the season to be forecasting.
So let’s follow that train of thought… for China, South East Asia & Japan.
Thanks for checking in…
Japan Targets 60 Million Visitors
60 million visitors annually by 2030. Is Japan's ambitious target achievable? And what are the potential implications for the tourism industry, broader economy, society and the environment of almost doubling arrivals in 6 years?
Really enjoyed chatting with Otelli Edwards on CNA's East Asia Tonight to work through the challenges for Japan's visitor economy after a record-breaking 2024.
Along the way, we discussed:
Japan's slow-growth economy, weak Yen, inflation, and a declining labour force.
Flight connectivity, a short-stay travel culture, and rethinking repeat visits.
Pressure on infrastructure and public services - and measures to entice tourists to explore beyond the Golden Triangle of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Anti-tourism public sentiment in hotspot areas.
Japan’s government intends to grow (and disperse) arrivals from China with a 10-year multi-visit visa for Chinese visitors - but it also needs to diversify the inbound mix. In 2024, 70% of total arrivals came from just 5 source markets (all in Asia Pacific).
Tourism has been a post-pandemic bright spot for Japan's economy - but it is entering a new realm as travel patterns normalise and competition increases to attract tourists.
CLICK HERE to watch the interview segment (starts at the 27.10-minute mark)
Trains, Planes & Inclusion in South East Asia
To kick-start each year, Phocuswright analysts are invited to predict what might happen in travel over the next 12 months. Here’s my contribution:
In Southeast Asia, high-speed rail (HSR) development will be a major focus in 2025. Vietnam’s decision to approve an ambitious north-south HSR is likely to be followed by Indonesia green-lighting a major extension of Southeast Asia’s first bullet-train service – which connects the capital Jakarta and third city Bandung – to the second city of Surabaya. These are long-term transport infrastructure projects, but expect more regional governments to unveil their own HSR plans over the coming months.
Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC opened regional offices in Singapore and Hong Kong in October as it steps up efforts to sell its C919 narrow-body jet to airlines in Asia Pacific. Obtaining the required certifications in the US and EU will be difficult, meaning COMAC’s goal of competing globally with Airbus and Boeing is unlikely any time soon. Nevertheless, it is possible we could see the C919 flying through Asian skies beyond Chinese airspace in 2025.
And keep your eye on Thailand, which recently became the third jurisdiction in Asia – after Nepal and Taiwan – to legalize same-sex marriage. This is a significant progressive step for a Southeast Asian country, and will be selectively integrated into some of Thailand’s tourism promotions in 2025.
The full article, Phocuswright analysts share their travel predictions for 2025, is well worth a read.
Expert Predictions for Chinese Tourism in 2025
Many thanks to Beijing-based China travel solutions firm Dragon Trail International for inviting me to participate in their annual trends forecast. Here are my thoughts?
Diversifying booking and travel patterns to the Middle East and North Africa will be a big theme in 2025. We will see more elaborately curated marketing engagements in China by destinations in these regions to tap growing interest and improving flight connectivity.
Promotional budgets are likely to be bigger in 2025, and ambitious destinations will present marquee experiences in first-tier cities reflecting unique aspects of their history, heritage and folklore, traditional arts and culture. In 2024, Saudi Arabia’s reimagining of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the ancient Egypt exhibition at the Shanghai Museum set a high bar.
We may also see thematic travel and brand partnerships as tourism marketers explore attention-grabbing interactions as competition to attract Chinese visitors heats up.
Meanwhile, the globalization of Xiaohongshu will accelerate, enabling travelers to follow the social footprints of their peers to off-track locations and in-the-know hangouts in, or close to, popular destinations.
Some excellent forethoughts in the full article, Expert Predictions for Chinese Tourism in 2025
15 Hot Topics to Watch in South East Asia in 2025
To kick-start the 6th year of The South East Asia Travel Show, we put together a list of 15 hot travel and tourism topics to watch out for over the next 12 months.
No spoilers, but the journey takes us to Thailand, Malaysia (East & West), Singapore, Vietnam, The Philippines and Myanmar, plus China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Nepal... with mentions also for the EU and BRICS.
We wrap up by each selecting our 2025 Tourism Word of the Year.
NB: In 2024, for the first time, our show was downloaded in over 100 countries (113).
Click the live link below to listen to South East Asia’s 15 Travel & Tourism Hot Topics to Watch in 2025.
Or search for The South East Asia Travel Show on any podcast app.
And, that’s a wrap for this week.
Asia Travel Re:Set will return next Sunday.
Happy Travels,
Gary