• Asian women on a quest for new destinations

    Asian women on a quest for new destinations

    Travel Biz News —

    Digital travel platform Agoda has unveiled the top women’s travel trends in Asia this year. While both women and men in Asia plan to travel more in 2025, Agoda’s findings show how women are shaping the travel landscape. 

    The survey spotlights how women in Asia are leading the way in exploring new destinations with family and friends, emphasizing a strong desire for adventure and camaraderie during their travels. 

    The desire to discover new destinations emerges as a key driver, with 60% of women expressing interest compared to 53% of men. Indian and Indonesian women are particularly eager to discover new places, with 80% and 69% respectively showing a strong desire to explore, according to a release issued by Singapore based Agoda.

    This enthusiasm for new experiences reflects a broader trend of curiosity and openness to diverse cultures and landscapes. Women are embracing the thrill of the unknown, chasing novel experiences that promise adventure and discovery at every turn.

    Similarly , Asian women are more inclined to travel with their loved ones, with 40% of women preferring to travel with family compared to 28% of men. Indonesian women are particularly enthusiastic about family trips, with 68% expressing this preference, underscoring the importance of shared experiences and creating lasting memories with loved ones. 

    Additionally, women are more likely to travel with a group of friends than men, with Japanese and Indian women leading the way at 29% and 25%, respectively. This trend highlights the value women place on camaraderie and the joy of embarking on exciting new journeys with close companions.

    When it comes to solo travel, men show a higher preference at 24% compared to 15% of women. However, among Asian women, Hong Kong and Thai women are the most likely to embark on solo adventures, at 25% and 22%, respectively, reflecting an appetite for personal growth and self-discovery through travel. 

    The survey finds that most Asian travelers, regardless of gender, prefer a 5–10-day trip, with women showing a slightly higher preference at 48% compared to 40% of men. This trend is particularly pronounced among women from India and Hong Kong, where two-thirds of Indian women and 68% of Hong Kong women favor this duration, allowing ample time to immerse themselves in new cultures.

    Mai-Linh, Chief Financial Officer at Agoda shared, “At Agoda, we’re thrilled to see how women are shaping the travel landscape in Asia. Their adventurous spirit and desire to explore new destinations with family and friends paints an inspiring picture of the travel landscape in 2025. Whether it’s a family getaway or a solo adventure, Agoda is committed to offer great value deals on accommodation, flights, and activities, ensuring that every journey is filled with memories to last a lifetime.”

    As Asian women continue to embrace travel in 2025, Agoda offers a wide range of options to suit their diverse preferences. With over 5 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda provides endless possibilities for creating unforgettable travel experiences.  

    March , 2025

    Photo : Halong Bay , Vietnam ( Courtesy -Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel )

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      Bangkok has been ranked as the best city to visit in Asia for 2025 by Smart Travel Asia, a leading digital travel magazine, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travellers and readers worldwide.

      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

      Additionally, from luxury malls in the city centre to the Chatuchak weekend market, Bangkok caters to every type of shopper. Affordability and friendliness also play a key role, as Bangkok remains an accessible living cost destination where welcoming smiles continue to charm travellers.

      In the Smart Travel Asia 2025 rankings, Bali (Indonesia) and Tokyo (Japan) shared second place behind Bangkok, while Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Luang Prabang (Laos) tied for fourth. Thailand further strengthened its tourism appeal with Chiang Mai placing third and Phuket sharing fifth place with Hong Kong (China).

      Having the three cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, in the top 10 highlights the diversity and appeal of Thailand’s tourism offerings for travellers worldwide. — VNA/VNS ( Oct.12, 2025)

      India resumes tourist visa for

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      India announced  that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025. It was the first time in five years since the South Asian country suspended Chinese citizens’ tourist visa applications in February 2020.

      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

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      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

      During the session on “Considerations and Implications of Involving Communities in Destination Revitalisation” on the ATM 2025 Global Stage, experts shared insights into building resilience, enhancing local prosperity, and ensuring tourism growth is both inclusive and enduring.

      Arabian Travel Market 2025, held under the theme “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity”,  featured more than 200 speakers across three content stages and welcomes over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.

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      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)