Asia Travel Destination Industry News & Information by Skift

Instagram Gives Boost to Obscure Japanese Destinations Looking for More Tourism

Won Jae Ko, Bloomberg

Call it the Instagram effect. The platform can be an economic driver for destinations desperate for more tourism, but many locales remain unprepared for how quickly social media can elevate their profiles.

1 week ago

Top Korea Hotel App Takes Majority Stake in Singapore Startup Zen Rooms

Sam Kim, Bloomberg

Southeast Asia is one of the world's fastest-growing travel markets, and companies that want in on the excitement could learn from Yanolja and Zen's localized apps that are making waves in the region.

2 weeks ago

Indonesia Steps Up Efforts to Attract Tourists to Help Trim Its Deficit

Viriya Singgih and Rieka Rahadiana, Bloomberg

The strong U.S. dollar has implications beyond making it more expensive for many travelers to visit the United States; it's also making other countries like Indonesia increasingly desperate to get more tourists through the door.

3 weeks ago

The Philippines Aspires to Shift Visitors From Beaches to Culinary Tourism

Andreo Calonzo and Cecilia Yap , Bloomberg

The Philippines' new tourism chief is hoping that millennials will be inspired by social media sites like WeChat and Instagram to visit its culinary destinations as the government considers imposing quotas on beachgoers. Tourism officials worldwide will be watching to see how it turns out.

3 weeks ago

Japan Legalizes Casino Gambling in a Boon to Resort Developers

Lisa Du and Maiko Takahashi, Bloomberg

After years of debate, Japan legalized casino gambling and created a path for three casino resorts to be built. Operators are lining up for their chance to get in on the building boom.

4 weeks ago

Philippine Airlines Steps Up Quest for Chinese Tourists

Claire Jiao, Bloomberg

With Chinese tourism increasingly big business for many countries, airlines are stepping up their route development. The Philippines will have plenty of competition from other Southeast Asian beach destinations.

4 weeks ago

U.S. and China Are in Tourism Standoff as Trade War Heats Up

Daniel Meesak, Jing Travel

Its millions of international travelers aside, China's many investments in the U.S. travel industry have left it at an impasse in the trade war and, for now, with America having the upper hand.

1 month ago

Overtourism Becomes a Burden for Thailand as It Breaks Visitor Records

Natnicha Chuwiruch and Sunil Jagtiani, Bloomberg

Overtourism is a phrase Skift has championed to describe a phenomenon that's increasingly common and that requires industry attention. In Thailand, the number of annual visitors to the country has gone from 25 million four years ago to an expected 40 million next year.

1 month ago

Tokyo’s New Digital Art Museum Wants to Draw Global Tourists

Kurumi Mori, Bloomberg

Tokyo has the opportunity to impress tourists from around the world during the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and the destination is taking that chance seriously. An interactive museum is one way to capture visitors' attention — and get lots of play on social media.

1 month ago

India’s Thriving Domestic Travel Scene Prompts Overtourism Concerns

Adam Popescu, Bloomberg

As India's middle class expands, so too will the country's tourism industry. In many ways this is good news. It will bring more money into local economies but at the same time it needs to be well managed.

1 month ago

Trade War Threat Is Hurting Travel to Macau’s Casinos

Daniela Wei, Bloomberg

Chinese gamblers' worries about a simmering trade war risk denting Macau’s $30 billion casino industry. Hotels and restaurants in Macau are priced in Hong Kong dollars or Macau patacas, which will become costlier if the yuan depreciates.

1 month ago

Chinese Airlines and Luxury Retailers Stung by Shifting Currency Exchange Rates

Jeanny Yu and Amanda Wang, Bloomberg

China has been letting the value of its currency weaken to a six-month low as a response to a simmering trade war with the U.S. But that move is hurting domestic airlines and luxury retailers outside the mainland.

2 months ago