In the news: Japan and the falling Yen, Johor’s popularity as a tourist destination, Singapore travellers and their smartphone, iPad app for Starwood Preferred Guest

Falling Yen bolsters hotel accommodation search in Japan

There is no better time to visit Japan than now as the steady decline of the Japanese Yen has prompted a surge in interest for the country as an affordable travel destination, according to data from Hotels.com.

It has also led to a sharp increase in searches for accommodation in Japan. Searches increased by 59% during the holiday period of June 1 to August 31, compared to the same period in 2012 as savvy travellers capitalised on the falling prices.

Hotels.com’s Hotel Price Index (HPI) for H1 2013 revealed that Japanese cities saw some of the biggest accommodation price drops over the previous year:

An average night in Fukuoka dropped 23% to S$119 (US$95). A stay in Sapporo dropped 14% to S$128.

There was a 40% jump in searches made for Japan from September 10 to 20, compared to the same period last year.

Festivities and major events in Japan also played a part in spurring the increase in hotel searches. The recent announcement of Tokyo as the host for the 2020 Olympic Games on September 7 has led to a 35% spike in searches made from September 8 to 21, compared to the same period in 2012.

Johor gaining popularity as travel destination

Rapid development in the tourism sector of the southern Malaysian state of Johor is seeing a significant increase in travellers’ interest in the past year, says TripAdvisor.

Globally, traveller searches on the travel site for Johor grew by 45% year-on-year. Closer to home, searches for Johor by Singaporean travellers grew by 23%.

“The increase in interest for Johor may be attributed to the growing number of tourist attractions such as Johor Premium Outlets and Legoland Malaysia that are sprouting up in the city of Johor Baru, to the excitement and delight of travellers,” said Jean Ow-Yeong, TripAdvisor spokesperson.

Iskandar Malaysia is shaping up as a tourism haven for both local and foreign tourists, with Legoland Malaysia and Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park (Hello Kitty Town) being the main magnets for visitors since their opening a year back.

Recognising the state’s tourism potential, Johor Tourism has  been working closely with Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture, as well as relevant stakeholders to aggressively expand plans to attract more visitors.

Plans are also afoot by the state government to transform the city centre of Johor Baru, the state’s capital, into a vibrant place within the next five to seven years under a multi-billion ringgit transformation project. The plan includes conserving old buildings with significant historical and architectural elements, as well as rehabilitation work of Sungai Segget to transform it into a 1.2km waterway,  the “Gem of Johor Baru City”, and a new tourist attraction.

The state has designated 2015 as Visit Johor Year.

Singapore travellers can’t leave home without their smartphone

Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study 2013 reveals Singapore travellers choose smartphones as their top choice for a holiday companion (79%), followed by cameras (67%), computers (52%), and entertainment devices (33%)

According to the survey, more Singapore travellers take a smartphone with them compared to both the APAC and global percentages. This emerging trend is not just limited to the trip itself – 71% of Singapore travellers share their holiday experiences online after returning from their trips.

On the whole, Asian travellers are even keener to share their experiences, with 77% of tourists updating the web with their adventures compared to the 71% for global travellers.

Size of the gadget also rates highly when deciding which to bring on holiday, coming in as the top consideration for affluent travellers in Singapore (61%) ahead of internet capability and weight. First-time travellers (48% percent) also listed size as being the most important factor.

Online sources such as travel review, service provider and official tourism websites are used by 79%  (71% global) of Singapore travellers for trip planning, 77%% (65 global) for bookings of independent travel, and 66% (57% global) for information while travelling.

“Technology has impacted every aspect of our lives, and the way that we plan and enjoy holidays is no different. While traditional word of mouth reviews from friends, relatives and guidebooks are still used – especially among travellers from Africa and the Middle East – online resources that offer reviews from frequent travellers as well as a host of other information such as currency converters, pictures, booking and discount facilities are becoming the first source of information for most Singapore travellers,” said Ooi Huey Tyng, Visa country manager, Singapore and Brunei.

New iPad app for Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), the loyalty programme from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, recently launched a new app for iPad designed to support Apple’s new iOS 7 operating system. It joins the SPG app for the iPhone, extending the programme’s digital suite of products.

Among the new app’s features are

• An “explore” section with a rich mix of curated content, including the more than 100 member favourite resorts awarded by fellow SPG members, and dynamic content generated through social interactions

• SPG life, which is a hub for learning about SPG’s many benefits such as access up-to-date account information including point balance, upcoming stay information and elite benefits.

• Fast and easy personalised booking via a secure area that stores credit card information streamlining booking to just three taps.

• Brand sections designed to highlight each lifestyle brand’s unique attributes and social activities, as well as give travellers a realistic representation of what each destination provides.

The app, currently in English and Chinese, is available free from the Apple App Store. More languages will be added in later versions.

Industry wide 40% of travel searches occur on mobile devices, up from 25% in 2012. Starwood’s mobile bookings are growing at an annual rate of 1,000% – five times greater than the annual growth rate of the web channel 10 years ago.