"Undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world" proclaimed Marco Polo upon visiting Sri Lanka in the 13th century.
Cartoons might just hold the key to attracting an important new niche in the tourism market, according to a pioneering recent study by Dr Mimi Li and Mr Yuhao Chen of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their co-authors. With society's increasing emphasis on family togetherness and bonding, especially through leisure activities, more families are travelling together than ever before. How can destination marketing be targeted to meet the needs of different generations? Focusing on child tourists, a growing yet remarkably understudied market, the researchers provide novel empirical evidence of how visuals can best be used to engage and entice these young consumers. The results have important implications for destination marketers focusing on the family sector in Hong Kong, mainland China, and beyond.
Singapore, 28 April 2021 – ITB Asia is back and on track for a physical event from 27 – 29 October 2021 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, in Singapore. The annual three-day B2B trade show and convention is designed to connect the key travel industry leaders in the region from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel and Travel Technology segments. The in-person event will bring travel industry professionals back for meaningful business, networking and learning through face-to-face interactions. The organiser will ensure a trade show with robust safe management measures in place to provide a safe environment for all ITB Asia attendees.
IDeaS, a SAS company, the world's leading provider of hotel revenue management software and services, announced today its partnership with Cora Cora Maldives to implement IDeaS G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) at the Maldives' most anticipated new resort opening of 2021.
The first Meliá property to open in Thailand has launched a "resort within a resort" called The Level, that sets apart 55 luxurious rooms and suites as well as a private lounge and a raft of bespoke privileges.
Local people may be the best ambassadors for tourism in their home towns and cities, according to Ph.D. graduates Dr Philipp Wassler and Dr Liang Wang, and Dr Kam Hung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Building a brand for a destination is an effective way of attracting tourists, but destination marketers rarely consider the needs of residents - the biggest and potentially most influential group of stakeholders in any destination. The researchers note that local communities can make or break a destination brand, and their marketing may be far more cost-effective, authentic and persuasive than traditional advertising. Surveying residents from Hong Kong, famously branded as "Asia's World City", this pioneering study offers important empirical insights into how residents' voices can help tourism destinations to differentiate themselves in an increasingly globalised and competitive market.
More than 400 tourism leaders and industry gurus gathered in Bangkok today - in a safe and socially-distanced format - for the 10th annual edition of the Thailand Tourism Forum 2021 (TTF), Thailand's premier travel, tourism and hospitality powwow.Hosted at Conrad Hotel Bangkok on Monday 22nd March 2021, and organised by C9 Hotelworks hospitality consulting group, this year's TTF took place amid the biggest crisis tourism has ever faced: the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced a series of flexible short-term and medium-to-long-term strategies to prepare for the return of tourists, attract high-yield visitors, and drive the sustainable growth of the tourism industry.
Social media may be the best way for luxury hotels to tap in to China's enormous consumer market, according to a groundbreaking study co-authored by Mr Xinhai Mou, Dr Lisa Gao of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-author. The global luxury sector is growing, and in an era of information overload, platforms such as WeChat and YouTube enable hotel managers to bring luxury experiences vividly to life. Drawing on a sample of affluent Chinese consumers, the researchers show how luxury hotel managers can develop curated social media content to meet the needs of the world's biggest market for luxury travel.
Despite cash incentives to stay home, extensive testing requirements and the launch of digital parades, many Chinese tourists are still likely to travel for the Chinese New Year - the largest and most widely celebrated event across the country, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The member governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion agreed at the recent 46th GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting on December 3rd, 2020 to postpone the Mekong Tourism Forum in Bagan, Myanmar. The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) has been working closely with the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar to plan the annual flagship tourism conference in the Greater Mekong subregion. The forum has been postponed three times so far, originally planned to be hosted on April 28-29, 2020, then August 25-26, 2020, and then February 25-26, 2021.
2020 has been one of change, which has altered the tourism and hospitality landscape forever. Health, hygiene and social distancing have been shaping travel, with reports indicating that over 90 percent people view health and safety as a key consideration; with over 80 percent travelers gravitating towards reputed brands for their travel plans. With around 90 percent people keen to resume travel, more and more travellers have been exploring the myriad beauty of India, leading to a rise in domestic travel. Here are some of the key trends that have carved the path of travel this 2020.
Delivering unique and memorable guest experiences and offers is helping put hotels in Australia's gateway cities on travellers radars as international border closures force them to adjust their plans, but state travel restrictions lift.
The gradual revival of demand in the past few weeks is ushering in a new era of price war tactics in the Indian hotels sector. Hotels are resorting to drastic rate cuts in their quest to attract guests and stay afloat during these trying times. Price wars are not a new phenomenon in the sector and our experience says that this is not the best strategy as it often results in more pain than gain.
Tourism is a core, but highly volatile, component of China's grand national strategy for modernisation, according to Dr Eric Chan of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-author in a recently published research paper. The researchers find that less developed areas in particular desperately need to retain people and resources to strengthen their tourism offering. Drawing on a rich dataset of personal narratives, the study sheds light on the emerging phenomenon of urban-rural migration and offers guidance for rural destinations on strategically planning tourism employment and entrepreneurship. The findings may empower individuals to realise the Chinese dream of personal achievement and help less developed areas attract and retain capital for sustainable tourism development.
Due to the ongoing travel restrictions and the circumstances around the current pandemic situation, ITB India organiser has decided to hold the inaugural ITB India 2021 as an entirely virtual event, set to take place from 7 - 9 April 2021. The new event format provides exhibitors and attendees with both maximum safety and planning certainty. The virtual show welcomes over 400 Indian and Southeast Asian buyers from MICE, Corporate and Leisure sectors. ITB India 2021 Virtual will be hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community), which is a one of a kind, unrivaled 24/7 experience for trade professionals to forge connections, strike conversations with industry peers and do business all-year-round.
he Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Trip.com Group today signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to jointly market Singapore as the destination of choice for travellers, and to enhance visitors' experience in Singapore. In addition, Trip.com Group announced that it has set up its International Headquarters (IHQ) in Singapore.
TravelRevive, powered by ITB Asia and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), will be held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, from 25-26 November 2020.
Adrian Zecha, Founder of Aman, alongside Japanese hospitality group Naru Developments, announce the launch of their new brand Azumi. The brand will offer a fresh take on the Japanese ryokan by combining the wholehearted, personal hospitality that characterizes a traditional stay with the best elements of the global hotel experience. The first Azumi property is scheduled to open in the Setouchi Region of Japan in Spring 2021.
As our industry starts to welcome early signs of recovery, at least domestically while bubble plans accelerate across the Tasman, now is a critical time for us to analyse the long-term impact on traveller booking behaviours in the wake of the pandemic.