South Korea’s Air Busan will no longer allow passengers to keep power banks in luggage stored in overhead cabins – a cautious move following a fire that devastated one of its airplanes last week.
Only bags cleared of power banks and tagged at the boarding gates will be allowed to be stored in overhead cabins
Starting this February 7, all passenger carry-on bags will be inspected at the boarding gates. Those not containing power banks will be tagged and allowed for storage in overhead cabins. This measure will begin on trial routes before being expanded to all flights.
The airline will require power banks to be kept with passengers so overheating, smoke or fire incidents can quickly be dealt with immediately.
Furthermore, crew will undergo additional fire training and aircraft will carry additional fire containment equipment.
The Indian government has announced a slew of measures aimed at boosting the country’s tourism and hospitality sector in the Union Budget 2025-26 presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week.
The central government will collaborate with state governments to develop top 50 tourist destinations in the country through a “challenge mode”. Land for building key infrastructure will be provided by states. Hotels in these destinations will be included in the infrastructure Harmonized Master List (HML), which will offer investors a host of benefits such as access to more External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) funds and eligibility to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company.
State governments will play a part in tourism development, and incentives will be given to those that are effective in their destination management efforts; Parliament House, New Delhi pictured
Furthermore, performance-linked incentives will be offered to state governments for effective destination management, such as having made investments in tourist amenities, cleanliness and marketing efforts.
Pradeep Shetty, vice president, Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), said: “Inclusion in HML will facilitate access to cheaper and long-term financing, enabling hotels in these newly developed destinations to upgrade their facilities and offer world-class services, further boosting the sector.”
The government of India plans to modify its regional airport development programme to enhance connectivity to 120 new destinations and support helipads and smaller airports in hilly and north-eastern parts of the country.
“The Union Budget 2025 marks a significant step in supporting the sustained growth of India’s aviation sector. We commend the government’s commitment to infrastructure which will make air travel more accessible, thereby boosting tourism and the economy on the whole,” said Vinay Dube, founder and CEO of Akasa Air.
The Indian finance minister also announced that the central government is considering visa-fee waivers for certain tourist groups. Kush Kapoor, CEO, Roseate Hotels & Resorts, feels that the announcement of visa waivers will undoubtedly make India a more accessible and attractive destination for global travellers.
Asia-Pacific destinations’ cultural and historical richness, authentic hospitality as well as quality travel products sold at attractive prices have been lauded as solid draws for luxury travellers, according to hoteliers and DMCs participating at the recent Further East 2024 luxury travel tradeshow in Bali.
Travel and tourism players in this region have become ever more innovative with their products and services to charm well-travelled guests, especially as luxury travellers – particularly those from the west – turn away from flashy experiences to favour engaging and immersive options.
Street food culture is brought into The Nanee hotel in Bhaktapur, Nepal though the Bara Shop
Le Hong Lan, co-founder of Luxperia, Vietnam, said tours today are focused on delivering enhanced personalised experiences across the whole journey.
An example lies in a Luxperia programme where guests are invited to dinner with a Michelin-starred chef – Lan said the experience extends beyond the food.
“Having dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant is nothing special for high-end travellers. However, having dinner with a Michelin-starred chef while learning to prepare Vietnamese dishes and then taking home the prized recipe is,” said Lan.
He added that the experience is special, as the interaction with the chef results in practical tips, such as substitute ingredients that guests can use back home to create a fusion Vietnamese dish of their own.
Over at Destination Asia Indonesia, 15 Impact Tour programmes have been created. These feature local personalities heading unique causes – such as interaction with someone specialising in fireflies conservation, where guests will visit rice fields in the evening to watch the lightning bugs dance in the dark; and participation in a women empowerment project.
Elaborating on the women empowerment project, David Nuetzel, director of leisure at Destination Asia Indonesia, said the initiative was founded by Sari Pollen, known affectionately as Ibu Sari, who had risen up from a difficult life following her divorce and a 12-year separation from her daughter. She created a safe space for vulnerable women and children in Bali after realising that many other women had gone through similar adversity. The women’s centre provides a secure environment for divorced women, who are often highly stigmatised and ostracised by their community, according to Nuetzel.
At the centre, women learn to cook, make clothes and accessories, and selling techniques. Visitors are invited to learn about Ibu Sari and the role of women in the Balinese society, as well as to participate in activities such as herbal tea workshop, batik painting, soap making, paper recycling, or cooking. A Balinese lunch, prepared by the women at the centre, is also served to visitors.
Product innovation with regenerative tourism in mind is also happening.
The Nanee, an 18-room hotel in Bhaktapur, Nepal, is a good example. It was built and opened in 2023 as “an experiential property to contribute to the sustainability and regeneration of the heritage of Bhaktapur”, said managing director Ajay Pradhanang.
Bhaktapur was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, and is recognised for its outstanding cultural and historical significance.
Bhaktapur’s heritage and culture are given attention through The Nanee’s Storytelling Room where local artisans, storytellers and cultural experts often come to share their stories about the destination with guests. The hotel also conducts various tours and activities for guests to experience and appreciate Bhaktapur, such as street food tours, pottery workshops, and interaction with local artisans in their home, workshop or gallery.
Pradhanang explained that when visitors immerse themselves in the way of life in Bhaktaphur, they inject income into the local community, allowing the locals to sustain their traditions.
Ibu Sari lifts Balinese women and children through her support centre, where visitors are invited to join them in activities
Attractively priced
The abundance of meaningful experiences unique to Asia-Pacific also comes at a good price point.
Comparing Asia with the Caribbean, which is also popular among US travellers, Nuetzel said that while airfares to this region are not cheap, due to the vast distance, luxury travellers could score a top-notch hotel stay for US$1,000 to US$1,500 per night; in the Caribbean, the same would cost between US$3,000 and US$4,000 per night, or as high as US$8,000 per night.
Luxperia’s Lan added that the hotel landscape in Asia-Pacific has become a lot more exciting after the pandemic, with many investors erecting new hotel projects and appointing international brands to manage their properties.
In Vietnam, hotel capacity has boomed, especially as developers convert apartments and residences into hotels. The supply surge has dampened prices, making fresh accommodation options available at attractive prices.
Lan added: “Similarly, airlines are expanding their network. Vietnam Airlines, for example, not only flies to and from Vietnam, but also across the region, serving routes between Laos and Cambodia. This creates borderless travel and gives travellers more destinations to choose from. With more choice, travellers’ demand has become more sophisticated,” he remarked.
Powerful welcome
Serge Dive, CEO of This is Beyond, which owns the Further East event, said Asia-Pacific is also very powerful in the competition for travellers because of its hospitality spirit.
“The region often holds very different values to those in the West. For one, many Asia-Pacific countries traditionally elevate the collective over the individual; from Confucius to Buddhism, people here have a root awareness of the small improvements to body and mind that link every human being. We can see that in how Asia-Pacific brands treat their guests by emphasising subtle touches that slowly align into a satisfying whole, even if you don’t notice that as much as splashier, typically luxurious elements to service and design.
“It’s the difference between waiting for a huge meal under magnificent chandeliers and eating by the ocean, under a night sky, with the guy who caught the crab putting it on the grill a few feet away.
“Travel in this region is more naturally attuned to what we have in common, instead of what keeps us apart,” Dive explained.
He added that the “sheer optimism of tens of millions of hospitality workers in Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, etc, is very special”, and has the power to deliver a spectacular welcome to guests from all over the world.
Venture farther
Driven by both a desire to not contribute to overtourism and to broaden their horizons while on holiday, more consumers are making a conscious effort to visit less touristy destinations in 2025.
According to the Skyscanner Horizons: 2024/5 report, travellers are increasingly interested in exploring lesser-known destinations, with 27 per cent of Asia-Pacific respondents expressing intentions to visit these areas. This intention is strongest among South Korean travellers.
Travellers can opt to detour to Fukuoka from Tokyo
Unpack ’25, Expedia Group’s annual data-driven outlook on travel motivations, also spotted a rising trend for what it terms, Detour Destinations. Travellers will not skip tried-and-true tourist destinations in 2025, but will add on less crowded and lesser-known places that are close to popular hotspots.
Based on flight searches, Expedia has identified some top trending Detour Destinations in Asia-Pacific. They are Fukuoka, Japan as a detour from Tokyo; Abu Dhabi, the UAE as a detour from Dubai; Krabi, Thailand as a detour from Phuket; and Waikato, New Zealand as a detour from Auckland.
Slow and meaningful
Back in 2019, Skyscanner spotlighted the growing preference for slow travel, where travellers throw out packed itineraries to truly savour the moment.
At the same time, the term JOMO – joy of missing out – took hold among travel marketers, content creators and consumers, further highlighting the value of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life and priortising quality travel experiences.
Seek wellness options like cryo therapy
Five years on, JOMO is still here to stay, observed Vrbo, an online marketplace for vacation rentals that is owned by Expedia Group. Sixty-two per cent of respondents in the Unpack ’25 study say JOMO trips reduce stress and anxiety, and nearly half say that it enhances quality time with loved ones. Such trips can be found by staying in cosy cabins, peaceful beach houses, or secluded lakeside lodge that are equipped with all the amenities to help them unwind.
It is clear that travellers are strategic about what they are choosing not to miss out. Booking.com ’s annual Travel Predictions research highlights a firm recognition that holidays are more than just a time to unwind. Sixty per cent of travellers want a longevity retreat -– a super-charged flex on traditional well-being itineraries that could include body vibration (61 per cent) and red light therapies (54 per cent) to cryotherapy (51 per cent) and stem cell treatment (51 per cent). More than two thirds of respondents want new wellness activities that can be mix into their daily lives. In this region, travellers say they are willing to pay for a holiday that is solely meant to extend their lifespan and well-being.
Natural pursuits
Expedia Group found that droves of travellers booked private holiday homes along the path of totality to see the total solar eclipse in 2024, proving people will travel great distances to see natural phenomena in real life. Unpack ’25 study revealed that the Northern Lights (61 per cent) are the top phenomenon travellers want to see, followed by geological phenomena (30 per cent) like volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. In Asia-Pacific, travellers will be drawn to Hokkaido, Japan to witness the graceful ballet of Red-crowned cranes and Melbourne, Australia for the adorable penguin parade.
The fascination for nature’s greatness is also picked up by Booking.com, which spotlights the trend towards noctourism – trips that are tailored around night-time activities. Two thirds (67 per cent) of respondents are considering visiting dark sky destinations in 2025, with star-bathing experiences (76 per cent), star guides (66 per cent), constellation tracking (62 per cent), and once-in-a-lifetime cosmic events (61 per cent) topping the stellar adventure list.
Concerns around climate change have also influenced this shift, with 57 per cent planning to elevate their night-time pursuits to avoid rising day-time temperatures and 56 per cent preferring to take their holidays in cooler locations. An appreciation for the nocturnal world is also deepening travellers’ connections with nature, as the majority of travellers (60 per cent) say they would book an accommodation without lights to encourage less light pollution and preserve flora and fauna.
Iceland is a choice destination for travellers who want to view the Northern Lights
All-inclusive attention
According to Unpack ’25, the year 2025 will be the all-inclusive era, as more Gen Z travellers discover the appeal of all-inclusive accommodation options. The report stated that all-inclusive resorts were no longer just attracting families looking for fun in the sun by the pool, but also younger travellers who want stress-free stays and a good deal that still feels luxurious.
One-third of Gen Z travellers say their perception of all-inclusive hotels has changed for the better, and 42 per cent say an all-inclusive resort would be their preferred hotel type.
Precious procurement
Shopping on holidays are turning a refined turn, as more travellers make time during their trip to pick up local speciality goods, from viral chocolate bars from Dubai and butter from France to skincare products from South Korea and tea leaves from China.
Some travellers, according to Expedia’s Unpack ’25, are even creating entire trips around getting the goods.
The study found that 39 per cent of travellers visit grocery stores or supermarkets while 44 per cent shop for local goods they cannot get at home.
The love for Goods Getaways, as Unpack ’25 terms this trend, extends to experiences unique to the destination, such as coffee tours in Costa Rica, tea tastings in China, and matcha experiences in Japan.
Tea-tasting experience in China
Taste paradise
Food is the biggest decision-making factor when choosing a destination, finds Skyscanner Horizons: 2024/5. Two thirds of Asia-Pacific travellers agreed that food is important when picking a holiday destination – this consideration triumphs over weather (55 per cent), natural landscape (55 per cent), the attractions (54 per cent) and culture (54 per cent).
Echoing this observation is Hotels.com’s findings that point to travellers seeking standout hotel dining experiences and making dinner reservations when planning ahead for their holidays.
Nearly a third of travellers say room service from a famous hotel restaurant would make them more likely to book, while 31 per cent say restaurant tables reserved exclusively for hotel guests would be their top reason.
Attention to hotel dining is also reflected in the rise in positive reviews about hotel restaurants, chefs and bars on the Hotels.com website.
Global adventure travel company, Intrepid Travel, has chosen Colombo, Sri Lanka as the host city for its Global Summit 2025 – the second time the company will host its annual gathering outside of its Melbourne, Australia headquarters.
Company officials said the decision underlines Sri Lanka’s vital role within Intrepid’s global operations.
James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, will lead the company’s Global Summit to Colombo, Sri Lanka later this month
Intrepid established an office in Colombo in 2012 and has gone from strength to strength since then. With both a capability centre and a country office managing trips across the country, Sri Lanka has become a key operational centre for the company, supporting technology, revenue management, human resources, product services, finance and customer service.
Scheduled to take place from February 24 to 27, 2025, the Global Summit 2025 will bring together over 200 international participants over 50 nationalities across its 40-plus offices, including Intrepid’s board, co-founders, and core management team, alongside 300 local team members.
The four-day summit will feature strategy discussions, leadership workshops, local community engagements and fam trips.
“Our team in Sri Lanka is such an important part of our company and our customers also love visiting this incredible and vibrant country,” said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel.
“Our vision for Sri Lanka extends beyond tourism; it’s about driving sustainable growth and creating meaningful, lasting impact. The growing number of Intrepid travellers choosing Sri Lanka highlights its immense potential, and we remain committed to ensuring local communities share in the benefits of this success.”
In 2024, Intrepid welcomed over 4,000 travellers to Sri Lanka, a 206 per cent increase from 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The company aims to welcome over 15,000 travellers to Sri Lanka by 2030.
Air Astana is celebrating 20 years of connecting Kazakhstan and India by expanding its services with a new Almaty-Mumbai route launching on April 20, 2025. Since entering the Indian market in 2004, the airline has steadily expanded its presence and now operates nine weekly flights to Delhi from Almaty, with a regular increase in frequencies during the summer.
Air Astana expands India services
Flights to Mumbai will be operated on an Airbus aircraft three times a week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Economy class return fares including taxes start at US$406, while Business class return fares including taxes start at US$1,136.
Jewel Changi Airport has reported positive results for the year 2024, riding on the steady growth in passenger traffic at Changi Airport, with a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in footfall traffic and a five per cent increase in sales.
It recorded over 80 million footfall traffic from January to December 2024.
Jewel Changi Airport’s footfall and sales in 2024 are the highest since its opening in 2019
These accomplishments also represent a record full-year footfall and sales for Jewel Changi Airport since its opening in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Particularly, year-on-year retail sales per square foot grew by six per cent from 2023 – an indication that the facility’s retail offerings have resonated strongly with shoppers.
Overseas travellers made up more than 35 per cent of the total footfall recorded in 2024, an increase of seven per cent compared to the year before. The top five markets were tourists from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines, with visitorship from China and Taiwan more than double that of 2023.
There are now more than 260 retail shops and restaurants at Jewel Changi Airport. More than 30 new brands were welcomed into the fold in 2024, and another 30 are set to join the tenancy mix in 2025.
James Fong, CEO of Jewel Changi Airport Development, said: “We are highly encouraged by the strong performance of Jewel, especially against a soft retail climate. This was only possible with close collaboration from our tenant partners and business partners. To ensure that Jewel stays an exciting destination for both local and overseas visitors, we continue to support the business strategies of our existing tenants to grow their business and customer base by expanding their brand presence and introducing new retail experiences in Jewel.”
Following stricter national regulations on whale shark conservation introduced in November last year, the government of Maldives has now moved to enforce propeller guards on all excursion boats within the next three months.
The new regulation will be expanded to areas beyond South-Ari Marine Park (SAMPA) where whale shark activity is observed. The SAMPA is a world-renowned area, and the most significant feature of this area is that whale sharks can be seen here throughout the year.
Propeller guards must be installed on all excursion boats in the Maldives within the next three months
Special speedboats will patrol areas with whale shark activity to monitor vessels that take tourists to these sites.
Minister of climate change, environment, and energy, Thoriq Ibrahim, remarked: “Sometimes, over 100 tourists swim after a single whale shark; with no set policy. Even speedboats venture into this area.”
“By mandating propeller guards, we are taking a significant step towards ensuring the safety of both whale sharks and those who admire them. This measure reflects our commitment to sustainable tourism and the preservation of our marine environment.” added Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO & managing director of Visit Maldives.
Japan’s Kyoto is working towards higher accommodation tax – up to 10,000 yen (US$64.20) per night for rooms priced from 100,000 yen and more – to fund city infrastructure developments and address overtourism issues. This is expected to be implemented from March 2026.
Kyoto’s current accommodation tax on overnight tourists, in place since 2018, has an upper limit of 1,000 yen per person per night.
Kyoto will raise accommodation taxes to fund city infrastructure development and address overtourism ills
With the revision, stays costing 6,000 yen a night will incur a 200 yen tax; room rates from 6,000 yen to 19,999 yen a night would be subjected to 400 yen in taxes; from 20,000 yen to 49,999 yen would have 1,000 yen in taxes; from 50,000 yen to 99,999 yen would have 4,000 yen in taxes; and rates exceeding 100,000 yen would have 10,000 yen in taxes.
Trips for educational purposes would be exempt from the taxation.
According to local news reports, the collected money would be used to improve city infrastructure, including public transportation services and conservation of traditional buildings.
Riding on a proven rise in bleisure travel and the pivotal role food plays in travel experiences, Oakwood is taking a strategic position to cater to the evolving needs of travellers seeking the perfect blend of business and pleasure.
In a press statement, Ascott’s Oakwood noted that bleisure travel is currently a global market valued at nearly US$600 billion, based on Forbes research, while American Express Travel’s 2023 Global Travel Trends Report had highlight the influential power of food experiences in travel, with 46 per cent of respondents saying they would sign up for cooking classes to engage with the culture of the destination, while 34 per cent would shop for groceries while travelling.
Oakwood brand’s All You Knead is Comfort brand campaign this year will connect guests with comfort food from various regions through food-inspired activations and a digital cookbook
In line with these findings, all new Oakwood properties will feature on-site dining options. Following last year’s brand refresh, more than half of Oakwood properties today offer the convenience of dining on-property, featuring a variety of culinary options that focus on comfort food.
Furthermore, the Oakwood brand’s All You Knead is Comfort brand campaign 2025 will tap into the universal power of comfort food to soothe the soul and satisfy the palate. The campaign invites guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations, including cooking classes, celebrity chef collaborations and limited-time offerings at on-property restaurants, available through March 31 this year.
As part of this campaign, Oakwood is also showcasing its culinary capabilities with the launch of its first digital cookbook, Comfort, Curated. Featuring recipes by Oakwood chefs from all 12 countries that the brand currently operates in, the cookbook presents a collection of dishes from various regions, and is available for free download on the brand campaign webpage. Through this initiative, Oakwood invites guests to recreate a taste of home no matter where they are, and when they return home, a taste of the destinations they have visited.
Alongside the digital cookbook, Oakwood properties have teamed up with local culinary experts to offer exclusive, limited-time menus and masterclasses for guests.
Tan Bee Leng, chief commercial officer, Ascott, said: “As bleisure travel continues to grow, our guests are increasingly seeking distinctive culinary experiences. This reflects a broader shift towards experiential travel, where food acts as a gateway to understanding and appreciating the culture and heritage of each destination. Oakwood is well-positioned to ride this trend and distinguish itself with its multi-faceted approach to culinary tourism.
“With Home on a Plate as one of our brand signatures, Oakwood apartments are equipped with kitchens, allowing guests to prepare local dishes using ingredients sourced from the region. This hands-on approach not only fosters a deeper cultural connection but also offers flexibility in dining choices.
“Additionally, our F&B programme, All You Knead is Comfort, goes beyond the physical dining spaces by offering guests interactive culinary events like cooking classes, food tastings and seasonal offerings. These activities enable guests to engage directly with local chefs and food traditions, enriching their stay and creating lasting memories.”
