Travel

After surpassing the initial target for tourist arrivals in 2022, Malaysia is projected to continue on the path to recovery in 2023, albeit the number of inbound arrivals is expected to remain well below pre-pandemic levels, in terms of number of…

Lagging slightly behind many other countries globally, Japan finally eased its various regulations around COVID-19 in 2023. This has been very significant for the travel industry, not only in terms of deregulation, but also in terms of changes in…

In 2023, tourism flows are expected to show a significant increase compared to 2022. This has already been seen in the first quarter of 2023. Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Timor Leste and India were still the countries that made the largest…

In 2023, international events, coupled with initiatives by the government, have been allowing inbound tourism to witness healthy growth, which is ultimately expected to drive current value sales beyond the pre-pandemic level, seen in 2019. Inbound…

The full resumption of quarantine-free travel is the major driver of the expected exceptional spike in inbound arrivals to Hong Kong in 2023. Inbound arrivals are expected to recover to more than 60% of the 2019 level in 2023, with full recovery…

Effective from 8 Jan 2023, the Chinese government lifted inbound travel restrictions, such as testing and contact tracing passes, effectively ending the country’s “zero-Covid” policy practiced for the last three years. Subsequently, international…

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

Now in its seventh edition, this report explores the top digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this edition touch on topics such as second-hand shopping, community group buying,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in business models and consumer behaviour, as well as altering the ways and the geography many of us live, work, study and play. Understanding what changes will stick after the pandemic…

As the COVID-19 pandemic drives seismic shifts across consumer markets, the key question facing business strategists is which of these changes are more reactionary in nature versus signalling the start of a long-term behavioural shift. This briefing…

As consumers prepare fewer meals overall, while demanding more assistance for the ones they do, spending and brand equity will accrue to those companies providing fresh prepared meals on demand, from delivery aggregators to retailers, restaurant…

With a turnover of USD365.8 billion in 2021, Asia Pacific was the world’s second largest region for recreation, entertainment and arts. Over the next decade, the region’s entertainment industry is poised to grow at the fastest rate, nearly closing…

Travel restrictions imposed in order to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) had a dramatic impact on lodging in 2020. Global travel came to a halt as countries around the world closed their borders, with demand for domestic trips also hit by…

Following the event of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Vietnamese people who are prioritising their health, actively seeking ways to reduce stress, and taking care of their mental wellbeing. Recognising…

Hotels in the Philippines continued to bounce back in 2023, with the number of room nights being close to pre-pandemic levels. The sector suffered during the pandemic, due to mobility restrictions, with resulted in some hotels closing for business on…

Lodging in Thailand continued to bounce back in 2023, with the number of room nights in hotels exceeding pre-pandemic levels. This buoyancy of demand allowed certain hotels to raise their room prices, as they were confident about attracting more…

Hotels in Taiwan continued to bounce back in 2023, although the number of room nights remained below pre-pandemic levels. The sector suffered during the pandemic, due to mobility restrictions, with resulted in some hotels closing, or becoming…

As in previous years, an increasing number of hotels new to South Korea are emerging. Among them, some are international brands, some are the expansion of established brands, while others are domestic names.

In 2023, the average daily room rate in Singapore, across different hotel tiers, continued to reach an all-time high due to two major reasons, namely the labour shortage and increased demand from Chinese tourists. Singapore was no exception to the…

As with the other travel categories, lodging’s recovery has also been boosted by the re-opening of international borders and a significant increase in tourism flows in 2023. Before this, lodging was mainly relying on domestic travellers which led to…