Cruise tourism provides huge economic benefits in south-east Asia

 

Love them or loathe them, cruise ships provide major economic benefits for host ports.

In south-east Asia, for instance, the cruise industry generated US$10 billion in total output in 2024, travel news hub Travel Mole reports.

The findings come from from the inaugural Economic Impact Assessment of Cruise Tourism for Southeast Asian countries, produced by Tourism Economics for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The study highlighted the region’s cruise industry economic contributions in 2024, reinforcing the strategic importance of south-east Asia in the global cruise landscape. It also underscored how the cruise industry brings substantial economic returns to destinations across the region.

“This study reinforces south-east Asia’s strong cruise tourism value proposition, driven by a growing middle class, rising demand for diverse travel experiences, and rich destination variety," said Jean Ng, assistant chief executive, Experience Development Group, Singapore Tourism Board. 

"As ASEAN’s lead co-ordinator for cruise developments, Singapore is committed to working with regional neighbours and global industry partners to unlock south-east Asia’s full potential for cruising and build a compelling destination network that attracts cruise lines while delivering sustainable economic benefits across the region.”

Bud Darr, president and CEO of CLIA, added: “We greatly value the collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board on this project. 

"Their partnership enabled us to broaden the annual CLIA Economic Impact Studies and, for the first time, measure the economic contribution of cruise tourism across south-east Asia within our global analysis. 

"The results underscore the region’s growing role as a driver of jobs, economic activity, and a global cruise sector that brings unforgettable travel experiences to millions of guests worldwide.”
south-east Asia generates strong economic returns from cruise tourism

"South-east Asia’s cruise tourism recorded a strong performance in 2024, contributing US$4.5 billion to regional GDP and 5% of global cruise-related GDP. 

"This strong showing is reinforced by positive passenger sentiment, with 85% of cruise travellers rating their south-east Asian experience positively and nearly half (47%) expressing intent to return for land-based travel. This attests to the sector’s potential to drive broader tourism growth."

Market concentration data reveals Singapore and Malaysia collectively accounted for 70% of south-east Asian cruise passenger visits in 2024.

London Heathrow just gets busier and busier

If you dislike busy airports then London Heathrow might not be the destination for you.. 

Heathrow has just reported it had its best full year ever for passenger traffic volume. 

London's leading airport handled nearly 84.5 million passengers during 2025, it said. 

The airport set records in nine out of 12 months and also recorded its busiest ever single day on August 1, with more than 270,000 fliers, news hub Travel Mole reported.

Aircraft movements was also a record high with 477,883 during the year.

“December’s record-breaking performance shows the strength of demand for Heathrow and the benefit to passengers of the great service our colleagues are providing,” said Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye.

“Last year, there was no hub airport in Europe that was more punctual than Heathrow.”

London Stansted Airport also enjoyed its busiest ever year in 2025.

Passenger traffic numbers surpassed the 30 million milestone for the first time with a number of new route launches and seat capacity increases. 

The airport completed the record year with its busiest ever December, driven by strong demand festive season demand.

Challenges for the Thai tourism industry

Declining visitor numbers, natural disasters and political flashpoints are making this a tough time for the normally buoyant tourism industry in Thailand.

With ongoing border clashes with Cambodia - albeit a fair distance from tourism regions - the House of Representatives was dissolved on Friday and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul‘s government resigned.

Under Thai law, a general election must be held within 45 to 60 days of the decree.

The political instability followed recent floods in Hat Yai in the south of the Asian nation.

Despite a caretaker government being installed ahead of elections in February, the Thai Tourism and Sports Ministry is pressing ahead with plans to roll out two tourism stimulus initiatives, the Bangkok Post reported over the weekend.

While the ministry says that policy momentum remains intact, tourism operators want to see quick rebuilding of flood-hit destinations in the south popular with Malaysian visitors, and at ensuring stability along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Tourism and Sports Minister Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said the ministry continues to have the legal authority to advance tourism policy despite the political transition.

He confirmed that proposed stimulus measures will be submitted for consideration at the next cabinet meeting, leaving it to the caretaker government to determine whether they move forward.

Among the proposals is the “Tour Thai Khon La Khrueng” co-payment program, which would cover 50% of the cost of domestic tour packages for Thai domestic travellers.

The ministry is also still seeking approval for a scheme to distribute 200,000 complimentary domestic flight tickets to foreign visitors.

That move is designed to encourage travel within the country and spread tourism revenue more evenly.

Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), told the Bangkok Post that impacts on inbound tourism should be minimal. He said the dissolution of parliament alone is unlikely to deter visitors.

Festivals and other major events are proceeding as scheduled.

Date clash a serious stuff up for Hobart's winter tourism industry

The Tasmanian capital of Hobart is extremely quiet for virtually every weekend of winter.

Hotels have empty rooms; restaurants bemoan empty tables.

So the announcement on November 3 that crowd-pulling Dark Mofo, Australia's mid-winter solstice festival, would return to Hobart from Thursday June 11 to Monday June 22 universally welcomed.

Alongside the festival’s large-scale public art installations, will be live performances and exclusive musical acts.

Dark Mofo 2026 will also include familiar rituals: Winter Feast, Night Mass, the Ogoh-Ogoh burning and the Nude Solstice Swim.

Hotels will be full; bars and restaurants heaving.

That only leaves a dozen other weekends when Hobart's tourism operators would welcome some help from other events.

What a wasted opportunity then that after the hapless Tasmanian Government paid a million dollars for Richmond to play one home AFL game in Hobart in 2026, the AFL last week announced its fixture list.

Sure enough, the AFL chose Sunday, June 14, for the Hobart match between Richmond and reigning AFL premiers Brisbane.

Accommodation will be at a premium; many flights will be full with Dark Mofo attendees and any remaining seats will be priced stratospherically.

So who stuffed up? Jane Howlett, minister for tourism and events will plead ignorance. Dark Mofo will say it had announced its dates well in advance.

The AFL, one of the most arrogant sporting bodies on the planet, is unlikely to give a damn.

There will be two victims. The Tasmanian tourism industry. And interstate fans of Richmond and Brisbane. Just another stuff up. A shrug of the shoulders, Just move on.      

Malaysia Airlines urged to ban in-flight alcohol

A consumer group has urged Malaysia Airlines to ban alcohol from all domestic and international flights.

The Rural Malaysia Consumer and Ecology Association (Rural Malaysia) released a statement calling on the national airline to “take a brave and principled step”.

Secretary-General M.S. Anuar Mahmod insisted it isn’t a religious issue but about “social responsibility, flight safety, public health and national identity.”

The group wants Malaysian Airlines to follow the likes of Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, EgyptAir, Iran Air and Royal Brunei Airways - all from countries where alcohol is heavily restricted or banned outright.

But tourism industry leaders are warning that banning alcohol could impact not only the airline’s bottom line but Malaysia’s international image, too, news hub Travel Mole reported.

It would negatively impact the country’s reputation as a tolerant nation, they say.

Sri Ganesh Michiel, president of the Malaysian Tourism Federation, says the availability of alcohol on board is simply what global travellers expect. It doesn’t mean the airline is being culturally insensitive.

It will put the airline at a competitive disadvantage, tourism stakeholders say.

“Malaysia is known as a moderate tourism country. We emphasise values like tolerance, acceptance, and inclusiveness," said Nigel Wong, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents.

"That’s what makes Malaysia so appealing as a tourism destination.”

Dear tourists: Please go away we don't want you here

First Venice took action against over-sized cruise ships, now Amsterdam is cracking down.

The Dutch city plans to start cutting the number of ships that can stop at its main port terminal over the coming years, its municipal government has said.

Starting from 2026, the number of sea cruise vessels that can stop at the Passengers Terminal Amsterdam will be set at 100 per annum, down from 190 today.

Within a decade, cruise ships will not be allowed to stop at the main terminal, and by 2035 the main terminal for cruise stops will be outside the city, travel news portal Skift reports.

All cruise ships will be required to use shore power by 2027.

This means ships will have to get their electrical power from the shore while docked at the port, cutting the use of onboard diesel engines - a contributor to carbon emissions.

“By limiting sea cruises, requiring shore power, and aiming for the cruise terminal to move from its current location in 2035, the council is responsibly implementing the proposal to stop sea cruises,” said Hester van Buren, an alderman for the municipal government.

Both Venice and Amsterdam have concerns about over-tourism and its impact on the environment.

In Venice, the government has limited the number of cruise ships at its industrial port and is building a smaller terminal outside the city centre.

The cruise cap is the latest policy by Amsterdam to combat over-tourism.

In April, the city banned the construction of new hotels. And earlier this year, it launched a new campaign to discourage nuisance party tourists from visiting the city’s red light district.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Barcelona, Mayor Jaume Collboni, revealed this month that his city plans to ban short-term vacation rentals by 2028.

That plan is in response to rising tourist numbers and ever-increasing rents for locals with a large portion of housing stock having been turned into accommodation for visitors.

It will be more expensive to visit Bali from February

Bali's long-promised tourism tax will be imposed on visitors to the Indonesian holiday island from Valentine’s Day next year.

All foreign nationals arriving in Bali from February 14, 2024, will be required to pay a fixed fee of IDR150,000 ($15) when they enter the country.

The charge will also be levied on children.

Payment counters will be set up at Denpasar Airport to enable payment in cash or by credit card.

Local officials say it will take just a few seconds per traveller to process the fee, Travel Mole reports. But how long will the queues be? How much chaos will there be?

There have also been discussions about an advance online payment system, which may be implemented before the tourist fee payment is imposed.

Non-Indonesians arriving at Denpasar Airport via domestic flights will also have to pay the fee.

Funds raised by the Bali tourism fee will reportedly go towards environmental and tourism infrastructure projects.

Balinese officials recently proposed a light rail connecting the international airport to holiday hotspot Kuta and southern beach destinations as a way of cracking down on traffic jams.

Airline slammed for "unacceptable" service failures

Britain's Civil Aviation Authority has clamped down on budget airline Wizz Air after a swag of customer complaints.

The organisation - which clearly has more teeth than Australia's pathetic excuse for a regulator - had expressed concerns for several months over consumer rights being ignored when Wizz flights were delayed or cancelled.

Several County Court Judgements have been issued against Wizz Air over the last nine months and The Guardian reported Wizz Air could be forced to pay out millions of pounds to angry passengers.

The CAA has instructed Wizz Air to make changes to its policies and procedures to comply with its legal obligations.

Wizz Air, for those not familiar with this bad boy, is a Hungarian multinational with its head office in Budapest.

The airline serves many cities across Europe, as well as some destinations in North Africa, the Middle East and the Indian sub continent.

The CAA says Wizz Air will now be forced to make changes to its policies and passenger communications.

The airline has agreed to look again at claims it received from disgruntled passengers for replacement flight and other costs incurred after flight disruptions.

The action covers claims for flights to and from UK Airports since March 18 last year, Travel Mole reports.

Wizz Air has agreed to sign undertakings with the regulator to make good on these outstanding claims.

The CAA will also monitor the airline for compliance over the coming months.

Wizz Air will also be required to provide information to the CAA about its review of closed expenses claims.

Paul Smith, joint-interim CEO at the CAA, said: “This enforcement action sends a clear message that airlines must meet their obligations to passengers.

“Passengers have every right to expect their complaints and claims to be resolved quickly and efficiently and to be treated fairly.

“We made it clear to Wizz Air last year that the way it was treating passengers was unacceptable.”

Why customers should speak up about bad service

Why are Australians so bad at complaining about poor service?

Most Australians are not known for being shy and retiring - but when it comes to speaking their mind about slackness from airlines and five-star hotels they are noticeably reticent.

Sure they might Tweet about their experience later, but the best time to call out under-delivering operators is at the time.

That means calling for the manager when you are in a 30-minute queue to check into the room for which you are paying several hundred dollars a night.

Or asking to see a supervisor when you have waited an hour for your luggage to arrive at the airport conveyor belt.

The public should not harass over-worked staff - but take their complaints to management, who are ultimately responsible.   

The way the travel industry tells it, they are keen to hear about issues that customers suffer "so we can offer a better service".

But are they really? And if customers let them get away with dismal service will it continue?

Luke Martin, head of the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania, tweeted at the weekend about his experience at the ritzy - and expensive - The Star on the Gold Coast, where he encountered a 30-strong queue to check in - at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon.

"Beyond shit" was his succinct analysis.

The general manager, or duty manager, was clearly at fault here. 

Someone should have been going along the line, explaining the reason for the delay and offering drinks vouchers or somesuch to placate the tired travellers not being shown any "hospitality".

Airlines are just as guilty of treating their passengers poorly, despite spending thousands on conducting surveys about "what our passengers want".

The Australian Frequent Flyer website reported this week that Virgin Australia discovered there were fewer seats available on a recent Boeing 737 flight from Cairns to Brisbane than the number of booked passengers.

There were passengers with onward connections that they were unable to find seats for, so they asked for volunteers to catch the next flight - three hours later.

Their offer was laughably bad: 140 Velocity Frequent Flyer points, which are worth between 70 cents and around $3, depending on how they’re spent.

Insulting really. I hope someone spoke up.

Image: Luke Martin, Twitter. 

Tourism Tasmania head to step down

Tourism Tasmania CEO John Fitzgerald is standing down after a decade that saw the Apple Isle's travel industry boom like never before.

The organisation announced today that a recruitment process will commence shortly for a replacement.

Fitzgerald has indicated that after 10 years in the role he has decided that the time is right for renewal for both the organisation and for himself. "John has agreed to stay on until early January 2023 to provide leadership and input into the important T2030 visitor economy strategy due for launch later this year and support the transition to a new CEO." Tourism Tasmania said in a statement.

Since starting in the role in 2013, Fitzgerald has overseen significant growth as well as facing one of our greatest challenges.

"Over the last decade, his vision and leadership have contributed to significant economic and sector growth alongside the evolution of the state’s tourism brand and marketing activity resulting in Tourism Tasmania becoming one of the nation’s leading STOs," the statement said.

"It is hard to understate the impact of Covid on the tourism sector and the value of John’s calm and collaborative leadership style and stewardship of T21, that not only provided a strong response to the crisis but also ensured an effective and targeted recovery strategy was delivered.

"John’s strong commitment and connection to Tasmania’s tourism industry, his contribution to tourism strategy at a national level and his passionate leadership of the Tourism Tasmania team will leave a strong and lasting legacy.

"John remains committed to shaping our positive impact agenda over the next six months and will leave Tourism Tasmania in good shape with a strong vision, executive leadership team and board to ensure its work for Tasmania remains nation leading."

Fitzgerald held previous roles as CEO of Tourism Sunshine Coast and Tourism Northern Territory and has been a pleasure to deal with. 

Thai tourism body calls for restrictions to be lifted

The Tourism Council of Thailand has called for a further lifting of travel restrictions in a bid to lift visitor numbers. 

Thailand’s tourism industry is still in a "comatose" state, TCT President Chamnan Srisawat said.

The TCT is proposing that the Government scraps the Thailand Pass scheme and ditches the mandatory PCR test on arrival in favour of the more convenient ATK tests. 

It says that these measures Thailand can attract about16 million foreign visitors this year, Travel Mole reported.

Chamnan noted that many countries - including the US and several European and Asian nations - have been relaxing entry restrictions in order to rejuvenate their tourism sectors.

He urged the Thai Government to consider similar moves, insisting that once these restrictions are relaxed, several sectors will immediately benefit. 

These could include construction, real estate, agriculture and food, as well as the healthcare and wellness sectors. 

“Tourism operators are still struggling to maintain business as the number of tourists has yet to fully rebound due to the current travel rules," Chamnan told local media. "This obstacle needs to be removed before more operators collapse.”

The TCT president said the agency aims to attract at least 16 million foreign visitors to Thailand and 75 million local travellers. 

Image: Winsor Dobbin, Krabi

Twiggy swoops and Australian tourism icons change hands

 

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest - Australia's second-richest man - and his wife Nicola have added Margaret River’s iconic Cape Lodge Hotel to their Australian lifestyle portfolio through their Tattarang company.

Set on 40 acres of lawns, gardens and vineyards, Cape Lodge is a significant landholding in the heart of one of the world’s most acclaimed wine regions, centrally located to the town sites of Margaret River, Dunsborough and Yallingup in Western Australia.

Originally opened in 1993 as a six-room luxury bed and breakfast, the Lodge underwent an extensive renovation and refurbishment in 2003 to evolve into one of the finest accommodation offerings in the Margaret River region.

Today Cape Lodge is considered one of the best lodges in Australia. 

The property features 22 rooms and a five-bedroom luxury private residence as well as a range of dining, leisure and conference facilities, and the Cape Lodge Restaurant which overlooks the main lake with al fresco decking.

The acquisition by Tattarang includes an eight-acre private vineyard that was planted in 1998 and produces premium sauvignon blanc and shiraz for the hotel.

Tattarang Chief Investment Officer John Hartman said Cape Lodge has been an essential component in establishing Margaret River’s international reputation for unique, luxury experiences for national and international visitors.

“We see significant opportunity to further develop the core guest experience at Cape Lodge, including the potential integration of premium wellness services and a refocusing of the vineyard resources, which can further underwrite a global quality lifestyle precinct in the heart of Margaret River,” Hartman said.

Hartman said the group’s property division Fiveight had acquired the hotel, with its lifestyle division Z1Z to deliver all hotel and associated operations. The property has been owned by Peter and Joelle Larsen for the last 14 years.

“While selling this iconic property is bittersweet for us, we are very pleased to know the lodge could not have more suitable and capable custodians than the Forrest family who will be able to take the guest experience to even higher levels of performance across all aspects of its operations,” Peter Larsen said.

Z1Z’s diverse portfolio features hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and sport, including iconic Australian brand RMWilliams, Indiana Tea House at Perth’s Cottesloe Beach, The Swan Brewery in Perth, and the proposed Ningaloo Lighthouse Resort near Exmouth on Western Australia’s North-West Cape. 

Tattarang earlier announced its purchase of Gaia Retreat & Spa (above) – the country’s most awarded boutique lifestyle retreat. 

Founded in 2005 by co-owners Gregg Cave, Ruth Kalnin, Olivia Newton-John & Warwick Evans, Gaia is located 20 kilometres south-west of Byron Bay, on the New South Wales Far North Coast.

Gaia is a global leader in personalised health and wellbeing and a regular recipient of international hotel and spa awards. 

Set on eight hectares of pristine hinterland with views of the Byron Bay and Ballina coastline, Gaia boasts 22 luxury rooms and suites, a restaurant, large lounge area and deck, retail boutique and reception.

The property also includes a wide range of recreational facilities including a naturopathic consulting room, day spa with 10 treatment rooms, saltwater heated swimming pool, sauna and spa, yoga studio, fitness centre, tennis court, walking tracks and outdoor fire pit.

Tattarang director Nicola Forrest AO paid tribute to Gaia’s founders for creating and sustaining an iconic Australian brand with a coveted global reputation for excellence in wellness and luxury.

“As custodians of truly unique Australian experiences, we understand and deeply respect the founding vision of Gaia which has transformed a wellness philosophy into one of Australia’s most celebrated destinations,” she said.

“We are investing in and developing unique and meaningful places – places that have the capacity to enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Tattarang’s business approach is holistic – it’s not just about investing in quality businesses, but ensuring sustainability and community benefit.”

Gaia co-founders Gregg Cave, Ruth Kalnin, Olivia Newton-John & Warwick Evans said they were delighted their globally awarded retreat is entering its next chapter under Tattarang.

”It is with great honour and gratitude that we have found the right custodians to take the reins of our precious piece of paradise," Cave said. "From the moment we met the Tattarang team at Gaia and shared our story with them, we knew there was no other group we could entrust our business to."

Cave, one of the best hospitality operators in the country, will stay on at Gaia in the short term.