Zanzibar’s tourism industry is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, having successfully surpassed pre-pandemic visitor numbers since 2022 according to a new report by C9 Hotelworks. In 2023, the island welcomed over 638,444 visitors from around the globe, marking a significant recovery. Projections for 2024 indicate a further 9% growth, with January to May arrivals reaching 255,408 compared to 234,444 during the same period in 2023.
The government’s comprehensive development plan for 2021-2026 aims to enhance Zanzibar’s infrastructure and economy, bolstering the tourism sector. A key milestone is the opening of the new Terminal 3 at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which now can accommodate up to 1.3 million passengers annually. This strategic initiative underscores Zanzibar’s commitment to becoming a global travel destination.
The majority of visitors to Zanzibar in May 2024 stayed for 8 days, with 94.4% citing holidays as their primary reason for visiting. Hotel demand in Zanzibar varies seasonally, with an average occupancy rate of 62% in 2023. The market is predominantly driven by European travelers, who account for nearly 60% of the total arrivals by sea and plane.
The hotel pipeline indicates improved economic stability, with international hotel chains signing with five new properties including Anantara, Four Seasons, and Canopy by Hilton, primarily in the luxury and upper upscale segments. The number of hotels in the pipeline has doubled this year, signaling a positive outlook for the tourism industry. The introduction of these diverse, high-end properties is poised to attract a broader range of tourists, further enhancing Zanzibar’s appeal.
To download the full Zanzibar Hotel Market Update 2024 CLICK
PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s biggest sustainability event for the travel and hospitality sectors, will return to spark conversation and drive the green agenda this September, with an impressive line-up of key figures and industry innovators led by Peng Sum Choe, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
Led by the Phuket Hotels Association, the non-profit organization of hoteliers focused on creating a bright future for Phuket, PHIST 2024 will run under the theme “One on One: Sustainability from the Top”, as it reveals how senior company executives can successfully build a forward-thinking corporate culture and drive positive change, not only within their own companies but across the entire industry and beyond.
Headlining this year’s event will be Peng Sum Choe, CEO of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, who has guided his company towards integrating sustainability into every aspect of its operations. This has led to the group achieving Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Multi-Site certification for all eight of its properties in Singapore. He will come together with Jesper Palmqvist, Senior Director – Asia Pacific for hospitality analysts STR, to discuss the critical issue of green leadership.
Also driving the conversation will be Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director of the Phuket Hotels Association, who will reveal the details of the Green Planet School Farm Project – an important initiative that is empowering the next generation of organic producers.
Staged at Angsana Laguna Phuket in Phuket on 2nd September 2024, PHIST is not just another conference; it is a highly immersive and interactive learning event that will feature a series of candid debates and discussions, 18 workshops, career development sessions and networking opportunities that will encourage attendees to confront conventional thinking and create meaningful solutions to a range of environmental and community-focused challenges. Last year’s conference was attended by more than 1,000 people.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to address my industry colleagues at PHIST. Sustainability is a crucial issue, particularly for island communities, making this event an important platform for collaboration. I look forward to sharing my experiences and learning from the innovative solutions and insights of others,” said Peng Sum Choe, CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
“We are thrilled to announce Peng Sum Choe and Jesper Palmqvist as our headline speakers; they will provide the perfect blend of expertise and insight to inspire guests to create sustainable futures for their own businesses,” said Jayne MacDougall, Executive Director, Phuket Hotels Association.
PHIST 2024 is organized by the Phuket Hotels Association, and with co-founding partners C9 Hotelworks and Greenview and support from the American Chamber of Commerce Thailand (AMCHAM), QUO, Creative Concept AV Thaiger Media, Brand TD and Delivering Asia Communications.
To reserve a spot free at this special event, please register here.
The once popular Phuket Bali flight route will see AirAsia restart direct flights from 10th August 2024.
AirAsia Indonesia will be the carrier and flight frequency will be three times a week.
Bali hosted nearly 600,000 international visitors in May with Australia ranking 22.5% share, followed by India with 11.3% and China on the rise at 5.6%.
For more on Bali, read C9 Hotelworks and Horwath HTL latest market report Bali Hotel and Branded Residences CLICK
Diversity, inclusiveness, and equality are core issues for the hospitality industry. C9 Hotelworks and the Phuket Hotels Association have organized a learning event titled ‘Mind the Gap, Women & Diversity in Hospitality on Saturday 31st August at the SAii Laguna Phuket.
Join us in this unique, candid, and insightful half-day session that takes a closer look at critical issues facing women in the workplace. Our goal is to tackle topics which will help empower change and provide the tools and inspiration to make a difference. A special focus will be on how to enable career growth and still maintain a work life balance.
This is a learning event for those, regardless of gender, working in hotels, travel, restaurants hospitality tech, human resources, and the service sector.
The event is organized by the Phuket Hotels Association and C9 Hotelworks together with support from Dragonfly 360, Brand TD, Delivering Asia Communications, AMCHAM Thailand, SAii Laguna Phuket and Thaiger Media.
Event Schedule
Date: Saturday 31st August 2024
Venue: SAii Laguna Phuket, Similan Ballroom, 12:00 pm onwards
Registration
Session Schedule: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Exclusive to Inclusive: Hospitality Leading the way for Neurodiverse Employment
Max Simpson, Founder and CEO, Steps
The Mission. Why is Diversity and Inclusion Important Today
Christina Ho, Airline Pilot | From a Fashion Designer to an Airline Pilot | TEDx Speaker
Managing Success at Work and with a Family
Kirsten Fletcher, Australian Consul -General, Phuket
Gaining A Voice, LBGTQ+ In the Hospitality Workplace
Nikki Phinyapincha, Founder, TransTalent Consulting Group
Female Leaders in the Restaurant Industry
(Moderator) Emma Gray, Vice President Marketing and Business Development, Delivering Asia Communications
Panel speakers
- Samantha Häberli, Plant-Based Holistic Nutritionist, F&B Executive at Soneva & Founder of The Earthling Cafe, and Earthling Consulting
- Atchara Wongthai Palleros, Wine Training Manager & Wine Sommelier, Tops Wine Cellar, Central Food Retail Co., Ltd
- Tipaporn Phianthong, Chef the Cuisine, Banyan Tree Group
Session Co-Host
Sumi Soorian, Senior Advisor, Phuket Hotels Association
Short coffee and tea break
A Woman Leader. Leading Between the Lines
Anchalika Kijkanakorn, Founder and Managing Director, Akaryn Hospitality Management Services (AHMS)
Why We Need Role Models. The Power of Inspiration
Julie Cancelloni, Founder and Managing Director, Inspiring Girls Thailand
Networking and Building Meaningful Connections
Naureen Ahmed, Founder, Inspiring Women in Hospitality
Understanding Mental Health and Wellbeing
David Boucher, Chief Executive Officer, Bumrungrad International Hospital Phuket
Paul Hawco, AVP Executive Global Director Integrated Welbeing, Banyan Group
DEI (Diversity, Inclusion, Equity) Training – A Short Course
Papungkron Numprasit, F&B Instructor and Supervisor in the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, Dusit Thani College
Session Co-Host
Viona Zhang, Deputy Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Admission is THB500 payable at the door, with proceeds going to the non-profit Phuket Hotels Association training fund. Advance registration is required and QR code from Eventbrite is required for entry. SAii Laguna Phuket will be offering a special event lunch option. Parking is available and details will be sent out prior to event.
Please click for event registration HERE
A resurgence of Samui tourism has been fueled by domestic travelers, with 69% Y-O-Y growth. Muted Chinese traveler demand pushes hotels to diversify source markets and adapt to a changing landscape according to C9 Hotelworks new Samui Hotel & Tourism Market Review.
In 2023, Samui hosted 3,541,821 visitors, evenly split between domestic and foreign travelers, marking a shift from the pre-COVID dominance of overseas tourists. The gap between airport arrivals and visitors at registered tourist accommodations reflects that many visitors came by ferry from the mainland. A domestic influx has been crucial in driving the recovery, with the total number of registered hotel guests surpassing 2019 levels by 1.5 times. Airport passenger arrivals trailed, closing the year at 94% of pre-COVID level, with a total of 1,208,364 passenger arrivals.
Diving into the international sources markets, the lower volume of Chinese travelers, previously one of the key source markets, now constitute less than 4% market share. This has been replaced by increased travelers from Europe, USA and a re-emerging Israeli market. The new mix of foreign travelers has resulted in a longer average length of stay.
Samui’s tourism legacy was previously influenced by its limited gateway and reliance on Bangkok Airways, leading to higher travel costs compared to its regional counterparts. Nevertheless, the limitations have also allowed the island to attract high-spending tourists which are favorable for hotel operators and maintain its position as a premium beach resort destination.
However, the cycle is expected to gradually shift as the government and Samui International Airport plan for expansion of the airport and adding a cruise terminal to increase traffic to the island. The entry of Scoot Airlines from Singapore and new routes promise further growth in the near future with an increased number of regional upscale travelers Looking at the current momentum, the island-wide 2024 Q1 hotel RevPAR has already outperformed 2023 and may close at a 5-year historical high.
To download and read the full C9 Hotelworks Samui Hotel & Tourism Market Review CLICK
In a major boost for Koh Samui tourism, Singapore’s Scoot Airlines has commenced daily flights.
Currently, there is a daily flight, with a second flight expected to be added in June of this year.
Scoot is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.
The airline is using Embraer E190-E2 aircraft which accommodate 112 passengers on the route.
Read more about Koh Samui tourism in C9 Hotelworks Samui Hotel Market Update report CLICK
The Phuket Hotels Association’s absolutely fabulous charity travel sale is now open.
This annual event continues to grow with amazing travel stays and other prizes not only in Phuket, but across the region and the world.
New items are continuing to be added so check back often.
All proceeds go to support over 20 full-time Thai hospitality students in local colleges and schools. Education is a core value of the Phuket Hotels Association and this is an ongoing commitment to bettering our industry, so pay it forward and participate.
To view the auction link CLICK
One of the world’s leading spa brands Clinique La Prairie has announced a new project in Phuket, Thailand.
Set within the up-and-coming wellness community of Tri Vananda, the destination spa and resort will be opened by the end of 2025.
The development partner is Thailand’s Montara Hospitality which is the group behind ultra-luxury resort Trisara.
The resort’s first phase features 40 resort villas.
Named Clinique La Prairie at Tri Vananda the wellness offering will include a longevity hub and scientific and holistic approach to aging.
With its leading resort in Montreux Switzerland, La Prairie has been expanding clinic hubs across key markets globally, this will be a first for a full-service resort in Southeast Asia.
At Tri Vananda, the wellness branded residences offering has had a redesign and new look that is being launched as well.
Catch this special event this coming Friday 26th April with a special preview of the new MIRA Valley master-planned community in the heart of Phuket, Manik. This is an amazing opportunity to acquire a development plot in a larger high-quality community.
This will be of special interest to property developers looking for land parcels, investors. and brokers. The plots are suitable for luxury home estates, townhouses, and condominiums, private schools, medical and wellness facilities, commercial and sports projects. There are development plots from 9 to 30 rai and above, which can also be combined.
We will be holding three one-house introduction sessions led by Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks who will give an update on the changing island Phuket infrastructure and key demand generators. An overview of the project, available development parcels, and details will be available as a chance to meet directly with the owners who are a highly experienced property group.
Space is limited so please confirm the session and timing if you will attend. The link to reserve is below:
