Despite recording strong growth in international passenger arrivals in recent years, C9 Hotelworks says the Koh Samui remains a “calm in the middle of a gathering storm” as most of Thailand’s resort destinations face an onslaught of mass tourism.

A new report by C9 showed that international passenger arrivals at Koh Samui’s airport over five years doubled in 2016, rising another 15% in 2017 over the previous year. Two factors that come into play in the airlift is Bangkok Airways’ proliferation of codeshare agreements along multiplication of more regional direct routes, C9 says.

C9 pointed out that while LCCs have tapped into Asia’s soaring consumer class in most destinations, creating dizzying growth numbers, the island’s privately-owned airport has allowed for poised and sustained development over the past five years.

In Koh Samui, airlift, luxury hotel brands and a developing wellness sector are among the factors that are “boding well for a sustainable growth profile”, according C9.

Citing figures from STR, C9 observes the domino effect of the various factors at play on the defined uptick in Koh Samui’s hotel performance over the past three years. Numbers from the Thai Hotels Association reflect a market-wide RevPAR increase as of the end of June of 7%, comparing year-on-year figures.

C9 Hotelworks managing director Bill Barnett said the island’s appeal to upscale travellers stems from its barefoot luxury makings, complemented by global brands such as Four Seasons, W, Conrad, InterContinental and the recently opened Ritz-Carlton, but also a rising tide of wellness focused resorts.

“According to market research, wellness properties such as Kamalaya, Samahita and Vikasa attract year-round visitors, have strong appeal overseas, and trade far less seasonally than many of the legacy properties,” he continued.

“Not only is occupancy a strong point but a longer average length of stay, loyalty in terms of returning guests and direct booking are key attributes.”

Looking ahead, C9’s research points out the growing influence of mainland China which is linked to Bangkok Airways plan to expand airlift to that region.

This trend can be seen in airport international passenger arrivals that by the end of June this year saw Chinese grow by 58%.

One of the traditional geographic source markets Germany also saw a year-on-year spike of 35% for the same period.

Thais’ intended travel spend is growing faster than the regional and global average, according to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study, which also found that most travellers from the market are using cards rather than cash for their pre-trip payments.

The study examines international travel trends and behaviour of 17,500 travellers from 27 countries around the world.

The study show that the intended travel spend of Thais have surged 51% ahead, compared to Asia-Pacific (46%) and global travellers (36%).

The average Thai traveller spends US$1,502 per trip and that is expected to increase to US$2,252 for future travel, based on respondent feedback. On average, Asia-Pacific and global travellers spend more, US$ 1,677 and US$1,793 respectively, but see lower movement in future travel expenditure.

Suripong Tantiyanon, country manager, Visa Thailand, said: “From our conversation with different players in the tourism industry, an increase in intended spending of Thai travellers can be attributed to the fact that there are more financial products today than ever before. They are more sophisticated and better suited to travellers’ needs, with added benefits and privileges. As a result, Thai travellers are more confident and willing to spend more.”

The study also revealed that the use of payment cards is prevalent especially during the pre-trip stage. Three in four (76%) Thai travellers reportedly prefer and use payment cards for pre-trip expenditures, such as flight and hotel reservation, compared to cash at 52%.

Respondents cited their preference towards payment cards are due to promotion, lower transaction fees, better rewards for international usage and higher security.

Despite the fact that cash is used by all Thai travellers at some point during their trip, credit cards are also heavily featured at 67%. A quarter of Thai travelers use a different card to their usual one whilst abroad, basing their decision on transaction speed, wider acceptability at international retailers, lower fees and better rewards.

Additionally, 26% of Thai travellers would have spent more with wider card acceptance.

Interestingly, the use of digital wallet is fast emerging, with a quarter of Thai travellers having used it at their destination. Solo and bleisure travellers, in particular, are the heavier users of digital wallets at 41%.

“It is exciting to see travellers willing to spend and venture overseas more and we believe that the payment industry continues to have an important role to play,” commented Suripong.

“That is why it is important they are not limited to a handful sources of fund or few ways to their payment will be accepted. Travellers’ needs and behaviours are inherently diverse therefore driving adoption and usage of payment form factors, including mobile application, QR code or plastic cards, which will be key to sustaining the growth of the industry in the long run.”

The snow holiday market has seen rapid growth in Asia-Pacific, and continues to be dominated by the higher-income travellers, according to the region’s first snow holiday report launched by Club Med.

The study, supported by market research specialist Insightzclub, sampled 5,500 respondents across 11 markets from China to Australia.

In the last three years, there were 238 million travellers in the region’s snow holiday market – and over half (138 million) were recorded in the last 12 months.

Top snow hunters in Asia-Pacific
Not surprisingly, China is the largest market of snow enthusiasts, followed by India and Japan.

However, markets with little or no snow such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia are showing strong growth, albeit from a smaller base, as they seek more experience-based holidays and fresh, clean air.

Currently snow holidays remain the preserve of the new affluent class and above. Some 85% of Asian snow holiday goers enjoy a household income of US$4,000 or more – 33% higher than the comparable general Asia-Pacific population.

While the average age of the snow holidaymaker is 38 years old, countries with large millennial populations such as China, Malaysia, Indonesia and India are a younger average age of 34 years old. Japan is the oldest average age of 45 in line with its national demographic.

Women hit the slopes
Notably, while holidays are traditionally male dominated, the report shows some markets pointing to a strong female bias and growing interest in outdoor snow adventures beyond skiing and snowboarding.

Hong Kong (57%), Singapore (56%), Malaysia (58%) and Australia (54%) led the ranking bias towards more female snow holidaymakers, while Japan (83%) and India (70%) were clear male strongholds.

Beyond winter sports
Unlike in North America and Europe markets which are very ski and snowboard centric, Asia-Pacific travellers are looking for a much more diverse snow experience, sometimes with no ski/snowboard practice at all.

With food at the heart of many Asian cultures, it is not a surprise to see eating local delicacies (53%) top the list, followed by spending time with family and friends (51%) and other mountain fun activities (50%) rounding off the top three.

Local attractions (47%) and contact with nature (47%) are also popular considerations. Spa makes into the top 10 activities for a well-rounded holiday with resorts expected to be well-equipped with access to all the necessary facilities.

Significantly, 29% also cited doing nothing as a reason to go to a mountain destination indicating a desire to just get away from it all and enjoy their environment.

Where snow hunters are going
Nine out of 11 markets reported Japan as their top choice for a snow holiday in the region.

Behind Hokkaido, resorts in South Korea were attractive across Asian markets, ranking second while the nascent Chinese snow holiday scene came in a strong fourth. With the conclusion of the Winter Olympics, PyeongChang in South Korea in 2018 and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, interest in both these destinations continues to be fuelled.

The surprise came from Switzerland, ranking third regionally and first among longhaul destinations.

For Indian snow enthusiasts, Switzerland was the most popular destination, partly fuelled by the prominence of the country in its Bollywood movie scene. St Moritz in Switzerland was the top longhaul destination for Asians looking for a snow getaway.

Thailand welcomed nearly 22.7 million visitor arrivals in the January-July period this year, up 11% over the same period of 2017, according to preliminary figures tabulated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Estimated visitor expenditure also rose significantly, up 14.4 % to 1.2 trillion baht (US$36 billion).

The top 10 source markets of visitors were in order China (6.9 million, 21.4%); Malaysia (2.1 million, +6.8%); South Korea (1 million, +5.8%); Laos (991,679, +9.3%); India (919,130, +5.6%); Japan (908,059, +5.6%); Russia (900,712, +16.2%); the US (656,327, +5.8%); Vietnam (630,526, +7.8%) and Singapore (579,677, +3%).

There has been a 26% decline in bookings to Indonesia since the August 5 earthquake in Lombok, according to ForwardKeys.

Prior to the devastating earthquakes, Forwardkeys said Indonesia’s tourism was having a good year – bookings from January 1 were up 10% on the equivalent period in 2017. That growth all but ceased after the first quake; and following the second, bookings fell 26%.

The tourist trade has been particularly badly affected because bookings to the country’s top tourist destination, Bali, which is adjacent to Lombok, have fallen more drastically than bookings to Indonesia as a whole.

From January 1 until the first earthquake, bookings for Bali were up 15.2%. However, since the second quake, they have fallen by 42.9%.

According to WTTC, travel and tourism accounts for 10% of total employment in Indonesia but the figure is considerably higher in the tourism hotspots such as Bali and Lombok. By comparison the Indonesian capital Jakarta, which is a regional commercial centre, has fared much better, with bookings down by just 2.2%.

Indonesia’s most important source market is China, accounting for 14% of all visitors. Prior to the second earthquake, bookings were up 3% on the previous year, and afterwards suffered a 59% flop.

Bookings from Australia, Indonesia’s second most important market, were up 28% before the second quake but they have since plummeted 19% down.

Similar setbacks have been seen in bookings from Hong Kong and Singapore but bookings from India are still 16% up on 2017, although they were 38% up prior to the second quake.

New school semesters may already underway after the mid-year break, but that doesn’t mean families are packing away their travel gear just yet.

In fact, new research from Agoda revealed seven out of 10 families globally take at least two family vacations a year, with Asian travellers taking more than twice as many family trips as their Western peers (five trips a year versus two).

The Agoda Family Travel Trends 2018 survey, conducted by YouGov, found that just 18% of travellers globally take only one family holiday a year, while over 34% have taken more than five family trips in the past year.

Asia dominates this multi-holiday trend with 77% of travellers from Thailand and 62% from the Philippines claiming to have taken five or more family breaks in the past year. Conversely, only 7% of British travellers took more than five family trips, with the UK also most likely (34%) to take only one.

A four- to seven-night stay is the most popular duration for family holidays globally but there are large variances across markets.

In the UK, a four- to seven-night stay made up 41% of family travel in the past year, compared to only 20% of family travel for Thais. Instead, family vacations of more than 14 nights are taken by almost a third of Thais but only 11% of Malaysians. Vietnamese, Malaysian and Chinese families are most likely of all travellers to take one- to three-night vacations.

The study also found that Asian travellers engage in more multi-generational and extended family trips. Thais (66%) and Indonesians (54%) were most likely to have included grandparents in their holiday plans. This trend is also reflected when looking at extended family members with Thais and Indonesians most likely to include siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles in their vacation plans.

While 35% of global travellers have taken a holiday with grandparents, respondents from the UK and Australia are the least likely to have done so, with only 13% and 20% of embarking on them respectively.

It is not just family members that the Americans, British, Australians and Chinese don’t travel with, they are also the least likely travellers to go away with other groups of friends, with only 22% of Americans, 23% of Brits, 26% of Australians and 27% of Chinese having done so in the past year.

Meanwhile, almost half (48%) of travellers from the Philippines tie up with a group of friends for some of their vacations, closely followed by Vietnamese and Malaysian family travellers at 43% and 40%.

Hotels are still the most popular accommodation for families, followed by holiday homes, B&Bs and all-inclusive resorts. Cost, safety and activities were the top global considerations for when planning family holidays compared to holidays with non-family or alone.

When it comes to travel motivation, travellers globally look forward to quality family time (68%) the most on family trips. Relaxation (66%) and trying new things (46%) came out as second and third preferences.

British and Singaporeans are the most adventurous on family trips. Exploring new cultures as a family travel experience is most popular among these two groups (48% and 46% respectively). Chinese and Thai travellers are the least likely to investigate new cultures on their trips, (both 29%).

When examining anxieties relating to family travel, concerns about falling sick (36%), the standard of accommodation (21%) and family disagreements (16%) ranked highest for family travellers globally.

Brits seemingly have the least worries when it comes to family holidays, with nearly a third (27%) saying that they have no concerns at all.

While international visitor arrivals into Singapore grew by 7.3% year-on-year to reach 4.6 million in 1Q2018, tourism receipts dipped marginally with declines seen in shopping, accommodation and F&B expenditure, according to the Singapore Tourism Board’s 1Q report.

The destination’s top five visitor-generating markets in the quarter were China (0.9 million), Indonesia (0.7 million), India (0.3 million), Malaysia (0.3 million) and Australia (0.3 million). Combined, they accounted for 54% of total arrivals.

China (+10%), India (+22%) and Indonesia (+4%) registered the largest absolute year-on-year growth, while Germany (-7%), Australia (-3%) and the Philippines (-4%) posted the largest declines.

Tourism receipts for 1Q2018 were down 0.5% to S$6.7 billion (US$4.9 billion). While sightseeing, entertainment and gaming (+6%) and other tourism receipt components (+22%) grew, shopping (-9%), accommodation (-13%) and F&B (-16%) declined.

Gazetted hotel room revenue for 1Q2018 however was up 8.5%, coming in at an estimated S$1 billion. Average occupancy rate was 86.1%, a 1.4 percentage point increase.

Average room rate increased 2.3% to S$222 while revenue per available room increased 4% to reach S$191 in 1Q2018.