Pass the “mala” please: Asia demand for China travel surges
Recently, a headline in Bloomberg, “China’s Biggest-Ever Bid For Foreign Tourists Is Falling Flat”, caught my eye.
It reported that despite the extension of visa-free entry access to 38 countries, “the influx of foreign tourists and the billions of dollars in spending they could have brou [...]
ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 spotlights sustainability and AI as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026
35.6 million and 147.1 billion. Keep these figures in mind as they are pivotal to Malaysia’s tourism industry as it gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM 2026). Simultaneously, the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2025, held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, from January 15 to 20, brought together over 1,000 dele [...]
Expats, BNPL and international credit cards are driving UAE’s high-growth payment market
Nuvei, a Canadian-based payments company with APAC headquarters in Singapore, recently launched a report called "Global Expansion Guide to High-Growth Markets", which provides a data-driven roadmap for businesses to expand into some of the world’s fastest-growing markets. Released quarterly, each [...]
Did you know 50% of travellers book restaurants before their flight? Surprising trends shaping 2025 travel
Based on Hilton’s latest trends report, The Vacation Maximized, travel preferences are undergoing a transformation. The report sheds light on emerging habits and desires shaping global travel, from adventure-seeking tourists to the rise of sleep-focused vacations; these insights reveal how modern [...]
APAC leads growth with a 19.9% expansion in passenger demand
Passenger demand up 8.1% in November
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for November 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 8.1% compared to November 2023. Total capacity, m [...]
Cargo and long-haul surge propel Asia Pacific airlines to pre-pandemic passenger demand
Preliminary November 2024 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed further growth in both the international air passenger and cargo markets, on the back of robust consumer and business demand.
The region’s airlines collectively carried 31.0 million inte [...]
Singaporeans prefer ‘rest and recharge’, Indonesians like adventure, study finds
Travel booking platform, Traveloka, in partnership with YouGov, has released a study called "Travel Redefined: Understanding and Catering to the Diverse Needs of APAC Travelers". Based on a survey of nearly 12,000 respondents across nine countries, the study highlights the evolving travel habits and [...]
Rising load factors reflect aviation’s progress amid calls for passenger taxes
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for October 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 7.1% compared to October 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (AS [...]
Ryanair’s Michael Cawley on political tensions, cost efficiency, and why Europe’s aviation future is at risk
“Business thrives in certainty. The uncertainty in Europe, especially with weak political leadership in key nations, is a cause for concern.”
“In 2000, people were saying ‘You’ve reached saturation point.’ We had about 1,200 passengers. This year, we’ll do 200 million passengers,” s [...]
Airlines demand up 18.5% in APAC, reaches September all-time high globally
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for September 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights:
Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 7.1% compared to September 2023, an all-time high for September. Total capacity, measu [...]