Asia Travel Destination Industry News & Information by Skift

Homesharing Is on the Rise in China as Real Estate Market Cools

Mason Hinsdale, Jing Travel

China's sharing economy is growing rapidly. How long will that growth be able to sustain itself — and what new complications will come with the increase in alternative accommodations?

2 days ago

Marriott Is Making New Moves in China With Partner Alibaba

Jing Travel

Despite Marriott's recent troubles in China, its joint venture with Alibaba appears to be moving forward without a hitch. As this story points out, the partnership looks like a win-win.

3 days ago

Sri Lanka Quietly Opens Itself Up to Luxury Tourism, 10 Years After Revolution

Nikki Ekstein, Bloomberg

Balancing the needs of local residents with those of incoming travelers is something Sri Lankan officials need to consider seriously, especially if they want to avoid the perils of overtourism.

3 days ago

How to Make Abu Dhabi a Real Destination and Not Just a Stopover

Colin Nagy, Skift

Abu Dhabi has a long way to go to become a destination and not just a stopover. Here are some ideas.

4 days ago

China Is Making It Easier for Foreign Tourists to Visit Hainan

Keith Zhai, Bloomberg

Extending visa-free access is a surefire way to make a destination more popular. We can expect to see more tourists visiting the province over the next couple of years.

6 days ago

China to Use Tourism-Friendly Hainan Island as Test Case for Electric Vehicles

Bloomberg

Think of China's Hainan island as test case for domestic tourism, gaming, and electric vehicle usage. In a country that faces a pollution crisis every time the direction of the wind changes, the Hainan electric vehicle experiment takes on added significance.

1 week ago

Hainan Province Is Getting Governmental Help in Bid to Become a Tourism Powerhouse

Daniela Wei, Bloomberg

It's not that Hainan doesn't have a lot of tourists; there were nearly 67 million last year. But the island destination wants more international visitors, and these new policies supported by China's president could help make that goal a reality.

2 weeks ago

The Prospect of China Opening Up Hainan to Gambling Could Impact the Global Travel Industry

Bloomberg

The issue of opening up Hainan to gambling could have a huge impact if it signals more broadly that China wants to turn more inward and keep its growing middle class traveling at home rather than abroad.

2 weeks ago

Chinese Tourism Growth Puts Southeast Asia Travel Industry in Balancing Act With Locals

Jing Travel

Southeast Asia destinations won't want to put all their eggs in China's tourism basket, and they don't want to cook the goose of local populations and Western visitor markets. But the region knows China is too good of an opportunity to pass up, at least for now.

2 weeks ago

Japan Resort Area Attracts Hotel Investments and Foreign Tourists

Masahiro Hidaka, Bloomberg

Foreign tourism is up in Beppu, Japan, which is renowned for its hot springs, as domestic tourism wanes. The surge in foreign visitors has attracted hotel investment from International Hotels Group and Hoshino Resorts.

3 weeks ago

Thailand Gives Beach Made Famous by Hollywood Movie a Break From Tourists

Tassanee Vejpongsa, Associated Press

It has taken Thailand almost 20 years to realize that it might make sense to limit the number of people visiting Maya Bay. A good reminder that overtourism isn't a new phenomenon.

4 weeks ago

China’s Super Aggressive Sunac Picking Up Troubled Travel Assets

Daniel Meesak, Jing Travel

Sunac's valuation is skyrocketing as it buys up other companies' assets to fuel its own growth. But will its strategy backfire as debt mounts? And what does all the turnover mean for the travel industry in China?

4 weeks ago