Thailand

Katerina Giannouka has left Jumeirah Group, one year into her time as CEO. Thomas Meier, CEOO, will serve as Interim CEO again.

Chinese travelers flocked to tourist hotspots across Asia over the Lunar New Year break, with visitor numbers and spending in destinations including Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia exceeding pre-Covid levels.

A 60 member House committee in Thailand that is tasked with considering the possibility of developing Thailand’s first legal casinos continues to have trouble completing the task at hand.

Seibu Prince Hotels will offer a consolidated membership program and unify its brand identity under a single brand.

A recent implementation of unilateral visa exemptions for 13 European countries was credited for the strong growth in arrivals from the UK, France, Germany, and Russia in January.

Savills Vietnam predicts a substantial increase in hotel real estate supply in Vietnam, focusing on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, due to new projects from 2024 to 2026.

Minor International said they expect foreign tourist arrivals to Thailand to exceed 34 million, ahead of the government’s forecast.

China’s outbound travel bookings for the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays have surged more than 10 times compared to the previous year.

Malaysia led Southeast Asia in foreign tourist arrivals in 2023 with 26 million visitors, followed by Thailand with 24.6 million. Vietnam attracted 12.6 million foreign tourists, reaching only 70% of pre-pandemic levels, while Cambodia's recovery rate was at 92.48%. Vietnam's National Authority of Tourism set ambitious goals for 2024, aiming to match pre-pandemic tourism levels despite past challenges. The Philippines exceeded its 2023 tourism target, welcoming over five million international tourists and surpassing pre-pandemic international tourism revenue. Dusit Hotels and Resorts opened Dusit Princess Phatthalung in Thailand, its first in the far south of the country. Regal Hotels International announced a partnership with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment to build about 100 hotels globally, with a significant focus on the Middle East.

The Philippine Department of Tourism achieved over 5 million international visitors in 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels, with a focus on their National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028. China's tourism rebound is driven by domestic demand, though sustainability into the next year is uncertain. The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels announced executive changes effective 2024, with a formal search for a new CEO.