BANGKOK, 3 March 2026: Booking.com identified Thailand’s most popular destinations among Chinese Travelers during the recent Lunar New Year 2026, based on the booking site’s searches.
Ao Nang Beach in Krabi, southern Thailand, topped the searches, increasing by over 400% for travel searches linked to China’s Golden Week, which ran from 15 to 23 February.
Photo credit: Chareena Hill Beach Resort. Ao Nang Krabi.
Tourism data from China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) showed that the holiday season generated 17.796 million cross-border trips, with the average daily number of trips rising 10.1% year-on-year to 1.977 million.
Top search destinations in Thailand among Chinese travellers for the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year-on-Year increase in search volume).
TOKYO, 3 March 2026: The Tokyo Marathon 2025 generated an estimated USD100 million (JPY155 billion) in incremental consumer spending over three days, according to new analysis from the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI).
Merchants within a 10-kilometre radius of the finish line recorded spending approximately 7% higher than a typical non-marathon weekend, highlighting the event’s measurable short-term economic impact.
“Major sporting events are measurable economic catalysts,” said Mastercard Chief Economist, Asia Pacific, David Mann. “The Tokyo Marathon demonstrates how domestic demand and international travel combine to drive broad-based spending gains. For economies across the Asia Pacific prioritising tourism-led growth, understanding how events influence consumer movement and cross-border travel patterns is increasingly important for policy and investment decisions.”
While hotels and restaurants benefited, gains extended broadly across retail and services. Spending rose 47% in family apparel, 30% in cosmetics, 18% in drug stores, and 14% in women’s clothing, reflecting elevated discretionary and event-driven purchases across categories.
District-level data shows how the uplift spread across Tokyo’s commercial hubs.
Chiyoda: Hotel spending by Japanese visitors increased 72%.
Minato: Bar revenues rose 57%.
Ginza: Theatre and museum spending increased 37%, with retail and dining up around 10%.
Shibuya: Children’s apparel sales rose 28%, alongside strong dining and souvenir activity.
Taito: Leisure spending increased 27%, while department store sales rose 23%.
Domestic consumers accounted for more than 83% of incremental spending, underscoring how large-scale events can activate local demand and support neighbourhood economies.
International visitors also contributed, particularly in premium retail and hospitality. Travellers from the US, UK, Germany, Italy, and Australia represented a significant share of cross-border spending.
Notably, 73% of participants from the US and UK visited other Japanese cities within a week, extending economic activity beyond Tokyo.
The findings are based on MEI’s analysis estimating the marathon’s economic impact by comparing actual spending during the event period with a modelled baseline of expected spending absent the event. The approach uses aggregated and anonymised historical Mastercard transaction data to isolate the marathon’s incremental effect.
The Mastercard Economics Institute provides insights into global and local economic trends using advanced analytics and Mastercard’s proprietary data, supporting businesses, governments, and policymakers with timely analysis. Mastercard is a sponsor of the Tokyo Marathon.
BANGKOK, 3 March 2026: Thai Airways International’s total revenues for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2025 accounted for 103.4% of the 2019 pre-COVID pandemic financial performance.
When compared with total revenue excluding one-time items of THB 190,277 million, it represented a 1.2% increase over the 2024 performance, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) reported last week.
Photo credit: Thai Airways International. TG overhauls COVID-2019 milestone with a marginal increase in total revenue.
The growth was mainly driven by passenger revenue, which expanded by 0.5%.
In 2025, expenses excluding one-time items totalled THB149,438 million, increasing 2% from 2024 in line with higher production and traffic volumes, including increased flights and passengers. This was despite lower jet fuel expenses following a decline in the average fuel price. As a result, THAI and its subsidiaries recorded EBIT (excluding one-off items) of THB40,839 million, a decrease of THB676 million from the previous year, while EBITDA amounted to THB53,880 million.
THAI and its subsidiaries recorded net one-time items as income totalling THB782 million. These were mainly attributable to gains on the termination of aircraft lease agreements, gains on foreign exchange rates-net, impairment losses on assets, losses on the measurement of derivatives, revisions to the estimate of expiring miles, and losses on impairment in accordance with TFRS 9. In addition, finance costs recognised under TFRS 9 amounted to THB13,154 million. Consequently, THAI and its subsidiaries reported a net profit of THB30,940 million, equivalent to earnings per share of THB1.09, compared with a loss per share of THB6.26 in 2024.
As of 31 December 2025, compared with as of 31 December 2024, THAI and its subsidiaries reported total assets of THB304,059 million, an increase of 3.9%. Total liabilities amounted to THB228,147 million, down 7.6%, while shareholders’ equity totalled THB75,912 million, up THB30,323 million. Supported by improved operating performance and profitability, THAI held cash and cash equivalents, including bills of exchange with the right to be redeemed and fixed deposits with a maturity period of more than three months and not over 1 year, totalling THB123,560 million, an increase of THB8,571 million.
THAI and its subsidiaries recorded an 8.3% increase in Revenue Passenger Kilometres (RPK) compared with the previous year. The average cabin factor was 79.2%, up from 78.8% in 2024. Total passengers carried reached 16.46 million, representing an increase of 2% from the previous year. Cargo production, measured in Available Dead Tonne Kilometres (ADTK), increased by 9.7% from the previous year, while Revenue Freight Tonne Kilometres (RFTK) rose by 8.3%, with an average freight load factor of 51.3%.
Currently, THAI operates 80 aircraft, comprising 59 wide-body aircraft and 21 narrow-body aircraft, including one Airbus A321neo aircraft equipped with next-generation engines that enhance sustainability by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and supporting the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
For the Summer 2026 schedule (April to October), THAI will operate flights to 62 destinations worldwide, including
the resumption of the Bangkok–Amsterdam route, starting from July 2026. THAI also plans to increase flights to destinations in China and India to accommodate growing passenger demand and support future business growth.
SINGAPORE, 3 March 2026: Taking off on 29 December 2026, a new seasonal Sydney–Las Vegas direct service will run until 12 March 2027, saving customers up to five hours of travel time by eliminating the need for connections through another US city.
This becomes the 101st destination on the Qantas network and the airline’s eighth city across North and South America, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, Dallas, New York, Vancouver and Santiago.
Photo credit: Qantas.
Open for booking since 26 February, the service will operate during some of the city’s biggest global events and expos including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest and most influential tech show, and as Vegas plays host to the National Rugby League’s (NRL) annual season kick off Las Vegas Festival, which has quickly become a flagship event for Australian and international sports fans.
For the past two years, the airline has operated charter flights in partnership with NRL from Australia’s East Coast to Las Vegas to get Aussie fans to rugby games. Flights took off this week and, for the third year in a row, are fully booked.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said strong customer demand for international travel is driving the airline’s expansion of seasonal services to destinations like Las Vegas.
“Australians’ appetite for international travel continues to be incredibly strong. Rome and Sapporo have shown us there’s real demand for seasonal services to destinations people want to visit at certain times of year, and we’re continuing to expand those direct connections around the world,” Wallace said
“Our historic fleet renewal is giving us the flexibility to deploy aircraft where we see demand, opening up route possibilities that simply weren’t there before. Las Vegas becomes our 101st destination and is a great example of how we’re using that capability. This growth also creates real opportunities for our people, particularly our pilots and cabin crew, as we expand where we fly,” said Wallace.
Key information
Sydney (SYD) to Las Vegas (LAS) will operate as QF55, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 29 December 2026 and continuing until 12 March 2027*.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft will serve the route with three weekly flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
QF55 is scheduled to depart Sydney at 2100 and arrive in Las Vegas at 1555 (flight time is 13 hours and 55 minutes)
SINGAPORE, 2 March 2026: Following the outbreak of hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the US on 28 February 2026, air travel across the Middle East has been severely disrupted.
As of 1 March 2026, several countries have closed their airspace, either entirely or partially, leading to the indefinite suspension of operations at some of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Photo credit: Dubai Airports. DXB, the world’s busiest airport.
Major Airport & Airspace Closures
Israel: All airports, including Ben Gurion International (TLV), are closed to commercial traffic. The Transportation Ministry has indicated closures will last until at least Tuesday, 3 March.
United Arab Emirates (UAE): Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC): Operations have been halted indefinitely. Dubai Airports reported over 700 flight cancellations after the UAE partially closed its airspace as a precaution.
Abu Dhabi International (AUH): Etihad Airways has suspended all departures and arrivals.
Qatar: Hamad International Airport (DOH) operations are suspended following the total closure of Qatari airspace.
Iran: All domestic and international airports are closed to civilian traffic as the country remains on high military alert.
Iraq & Kuwait: Both countries have closed their airspaces entirely, effectively shutting down Baghdad International (BGW) and Kuwait International (KWI).
Oman: Muscat International Airport (MCT) has been temporarily closed, though Omani airspace (Muscat FIR) remains open for overflights.
Syria: Airspace is largely closed, particularly along major transit routes near Damascus.
Airline status summary
Most major regional and international carriers have grounded flights to the region until early to mid-March.
Airline
Affected Destinations
Current Status
Emirates
All Dubai operations
Suspended indefinitely
Etihad
All Abu Dhabi operations
Suspended (Reviewing after March 1, 1400)
Qatar Airways
All Doha operations
Suspended until further notice
Lufthansa / Swiss
Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Tehran
Suspended until March 7
British Airways
Tel Aviv, Bahrain, Amman
Suspended until March 3
Wizz Air / airBaltic
Tel Aviv, Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Suspended until March 7
(Source: Airlines and Civil Aviation Authorities).
Impact in Southeast Asia
The escalation in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through Southeast Asian aviation. Because the Middle East serves as the primary “bridge” for flights between Europe and Southeast Asia, the closure of Iranian and Gulf airspaces has triggered immediate cancellations and massive logistical shifts for regional carriers.
Major airline disruptions
As of 1 March 2026, here is how Southeast Asian airlines and routes are being impacted.
Singapore Airlines and Scoot: SIA has suspended all flights to the Middle East. At least six flights have been cancelled so far, including SQ494/495 (Singapore–Dubai) and Scoot flights TR596/597 (Singapore–Jeddah).
Malaysia Airlines: The carrier took immediate action as the strikes began, recalling aircraft mid-flight.
MH160 (Kuala Lumpur–Doha): Forced to turn back and return to KLIA.
MH156 (Kuala Lumpur–Jeddah): Diverted to Chennai, India, before returning to Malaysia.
Thai Airways: The airline reported minimal impact on its European schedule because it does not currently use Iranian or Israeli airspace. However, it has adjusted paths to avoid the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as an extra precaution, adding roughly 20 minutes to some European flights. It continues to fly to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but there is a high probability of delays, rerouting, or short-notice cancellation. Thai Airways often has to fly through or near the now-closed airspaces to reach the Kingdom.
Most Asian carriers have issued travel advisories, warning of flight delays to London, Paris, and Frankfurt as they navigate the closed “Middle East corridor.”
Route rerouting
With the “Silk Road” of the skies (the path over Iran and Iraq) closed, airlines are being forced into two primary alternatives:
Northern route: Flying over Central Asia and Turkey. This adds significant time and fuel costs.
Southern route: Flying over the South Asian peninsula and across the Southern Arabian Sea/Africa.
Passengers on flights between Southeast Asia (Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Kuala Lumpur) and Europe should expect 90 minutes to three hours of additional flight time due to these detours.
Impact on transit passengers
The biggest “hidden” impact for Southeast Asian travellers is the total shutdown of Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), and Abu Dhabi (AUH).
Thousands of travellers who use these hubs for connecting flights to Europe or the US are currently stranded in Southeast Asian gateways (like Changi or KLIA) because their connecting carriers (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad) have grounded operations.
Airlines are struggling to find alternative seats on non-Middle Eastern carriers (For example, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways, or direct flights), leading to a massive spike in last-minute ticket prices.
Flight status summary
Region/Carrier
Status
Typical Delay
Flights to Middle East
Mostly Cancelled
N/A
Flights to Europe (via ME)
Rerouted
+1.5 to 3 hours
Flights to North America
Minimal Impact
On time (Pacific routes)
(Source: Airlines, Civil Aviation Authorities, FlightRadar24 and news services — Reuters and AP)
KUCHING, 2 March 2026: As long-haul travel demand continues to rebound and shift towards more sustainable and experience-driven travel, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is showcasing Sarawak offerings at ITB Berlin 2026 from 3–5 March in Berlin, Germany.
At this year’s ITB Berlin B2B show, Sarawak is presenting the theme Journey Unveiled: ‘Redefining River Routes to Storied Lands’. It signals the introduction of a signature experience portfolio designed to position the state’s riverine and heritage narratives for the global travel trade.
The unveiling reflects Sarawak’s evolving approach to long-haul engagement — one anchored in authenticity, cultural depth and place-based storytelling.
Leading Sarawak’s delegation at ITB Berlin, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism) Sarawak, YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, signals the State Government’s strong commitment to international market development and long-haul destination positioning.
“Europe remains an important long-haul market for Sarawak. Our participation at ITB Berlin is not merely about visibility, but about strengthening relationships, building confidence among trade partners, and positioning Sarawak as a destination defined by authenticity and sustainability”.
As the world’s largest travel trade show, ITB Berlin attracts over 100,000 trade visitors and industry stakeholders from more than 190 countries, providing Sarawak with a strategic platform to deepen engagement across key European markets, including Germany, the UK, and the Nordic and Benelux nations.
In 2025, Sarawak welcomed 57,107 visitor arrivals from Europe, including 7,525 arrivals from Germany, reflecting the region’s growing importance as international travel demand continues to evolve.
Sarawak’s participation comes at a pivotal time as global travellers seek destinations that offer depth, cultural richness, and immersive nature-based experiences.
Guided by its CANFF tourism pillars — Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals — Sarawak spotlights its nature-based and community-driven offerings that distinguish the state as the Gateway to Borneo.
During the three-day ITB Berlin, 3 to 5 March, Sarawak will engage in strategic business meetings, destination briefings, and trade networking sessions to expand product distribution, strengthen tour operator partnerships, and amplify market awareness ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, which targets 43 million international arrivals nationwide.
BANGKOK, 2 March 2026: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a leading nonprofit research organisation for the global wellness industry, has announced the renewal of its partnership with Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) for a fourth consecutive year.
This ongoing collaboration ensures continued access to in-depth research and data-driven insights on Thailand’s evolving position within the USD6.8 trillion global wellness economy.
Thailand’s wellness market expanded from USD38.8 billion in 2023 to USD42.7 billion in 2024. According to the latest Global Wellness Economy: Country Ranking Report by GWI, Thailand ranked 7th among the world’s top 25 wellness markets for growth between 2023 and 2024, with a 10.1% increase.
In 2024, Thailand maintained its position as the world’s 24th largest wellness economy, ranking 9th in the Asia-Pacific region. The country is ranked 15th globally for wellness tourism, with spending surging by 36.4% between 2023 and 2024 — one of the fastest growth rates worldwide — bringing the market to USD14 billion.
Other fast-growing wellness sectors in Thailand include wellness real estate (22.9% annually) and spas (18%). The spa sector demonstrated strong momentum, with spending at destination spas and hotel/resort spas increasing by more than 20% between 2023 and 2024.
“Thailand’s continued rise as a global wellness leader — reaching a USD42.7 billion market and achieving double-digit recent growth — reflects both the country’s deep cultural commitment to wellbeing and its forward-thinking investments in innovation and preventive health,” said GWI Chair and CEO Susie Ellis. “The remarkable expansion in wellness tourism, spas, and wellness real estate highlights how Thailand is meeting the evolving expectations of today’s wellness consumers while shaping the future of the global wellness economy.”
“At BDMS Wellness Clinic, we believe that a strong wellness economy must be built on credible data, evidence-based insights, and a long-term vision,” said BDMS Wellness Clinic and BDMS Wellness Resort, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS) CEO Dr Tanupol Virunhagarun.
“Our continued collaboration with the Global Wellness Institute and our sponsorship of the Geography of Wellness data underscore our commitment to supporting preventive healthcare and positioning Thailand as both a regional and global wellness hub.”
Phuket, Thailand, will host the 20th anniversary of the Global Wellness Summit, a prestigious gathering of international thought leaders shaping the future of the wellness industry, taking place from 10 to 13 November 2026.
About the Global Wellness Institute The Global Wellness Institute (GWI), a nonprofit 501(c)(3), is considered the leading global research and educational resource for the global wellness industry and is known for introducing major industry initiatives and regional events that bring together leaders to chart the future.
About BDMS Wellness Clinic As Thailand’s largest private healthcare network, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) provides advanced medical-based wellness services through its flagship wellness centre, BDMS Wellness Clinic. Grounded in scientific evidence and personalised medicine, BDMS Wellness Clinic has grown to become Thailand’s largest wellness clinic network, with 25 branches nationwide. Building on more than 50 years of tertiary-level medical services across its network of 58 hospitals, the BDMS group is extending its strengths into the wellness space.
BERLIN, 2 March 2026: ITB Berlin is turning 60 as it raises the curtain on a new trade show year with a special anniversary edition from 3 to 5 March 2026.
Events will officially kick off with the opening press conference on Monday, 2 March 2026, offering media representatives a concise overview of key industry trends, strategic developments and the main topics at arguably the world’s leading travel trade show.
Photo credit: ITB Berlin. Every year, ITB Berlin attracts around 3,000 media representatives who report live from the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show.
Messe Berlin CEO Mario Tobias will present the highlights, topics, and trends of the 60th-anniversary edition, along with the Host Country, Angola, represented by Angola’s Minister of Tourism. Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel
EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, will speak about the new EU strategy for sustainable tourism and the current priorities of European tourism policy.
Phocuswright Senior Vice President Content, Mitra Sorrells, will present the latest market data and trend analyses, including on global market growth in so-called growth regions (Middle East, Latin America, India) and the growing use of AI in the travel sector.
Following the press conference, media representatives join a behind-the-scenes tour, which will offer a preview of selected stands and key areas of the trade show before it officially opens.
On Monday at 1600, the UN Ministers’ Summit at ITB Berlin will take place. The opening day will conclude with the newly organised ITB Berlin Opening Gala, featuring Angola as the official host country.
About ITB Berlin The ITB Berlin 2026 exhibition halls are open to trade visitors from Tuesday, 3 to Thursday, 5 March as a B2B event. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the leading trade show for the global travel industry. In 2026, it celebrates its 60th anniversary under the motto “Discover the stories behind 60 years of legacy.”
At the same time, the ITB Berlin Convention will take place under the theme “Leading Tourism into Balance,” bringing together 400 top speakers from business, science and politics on four stages and across 17 thematic tracks to explore the key challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the industry.
At ITB Berlin 2025, 5,800 exhibitors from more than 170 countries and territories displayed their products and services to almost 100,000 visitors.
SINGAPORE, 2 March 2026: Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for travel suppliers worldwide, and the Indian airline Akasa Air (AKJ), have signed a new, long-term content distribution agreement.
With this deal, Travelport becomes the first global distribution system (GDS) to sign a content agreement with Akasa Air, underscoring the airline’s confidence in Travelport as its preferred distribution channel.
“Choosing our first global travel retailing platform was significant for Akasa’s growth and expansion plans, but the final decision was easy based on Travelport’s strength in India and beyond,” said Vice President, Commercial & Sales, Sagar Naik. “Travelport’s singular focus on agents, its industry-leading search speed, and its history of customer service and satisfaction made it the perfect partner and easy choice for Akasa.”
This partnership will enable Akasa Air’s flights, offers, and services to be distributed through Travelport’s extensive network of travel agents globally, broadening the airline’s reach and supporting Akasa’s focus on strong financial and commercial performance as it expands its global footprint.
The distribution agreement also allows agents to access Akasa’s content through Travelport+, the fastest and most innovative travel content platform, potentially unlocking new opportunities for Akasa to achieve its goal of expanding its ancillary revenue ecosystem.
“We’re honoured Akasa has entrusted Travelport to be its first GDS partner and in granting us a preferred GDS status in point-of-sale India before any other,” said Travelport Global Head of Air Partners Damian Hickey.
About Travelport Travelport is a global technology company that powers bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide. Buyers and sellers of travel are connected by the company’s next-generation marketplace, Travelport+, which simplifies how brands connect, upgrades how travel is sold, and enables modern digital retailing. Headquartered in the UK and operating in more than 165 countries, Travelport is focused on driving innovation to simplify the complex travel ecosystem.m
About Akasa Air Akasa Air has served over 20 million passengers since its launch in August 2022. It currently connects 24 domestic and six international cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Sri Vijaya Puram, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga, Kozhikode, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah, Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE) Kuwait City (Kuwait) and Phuket (Thailand). Akasa Air currently operates 30 737 MAX aircraft.
KUALA LUMPUR, 2 March 2026: Preliminary January 2026 traffic figures released Friday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show continued growth in both international air passenger and air cargo markets, supported by the steady expansion in global economic activity.
The region’s airlines carried a total of 35.5 million international passengers in January, representing a 3.6% increase compared with the same month last year, when volumes were boosted by the Lunar New Year festive period, which fell in late January 2025.
In revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) terms, demand rose by 3.3%. In comparison, available seat capacity grew by 4.6% year-on-year, resulting in a 1.1 percentage point decline in the average international passenger load factor to 82.8%.
Meanwhile, global manufacturing activity strengthened at the start of 2026. Firm demand for consumer and intermediate goods supported air cargo volumes, alongside front-loading activity ahead of factory closures during the festive period. Against this backdrop, international air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), rose by 5.9% year-on-year in January. With offered freight capacity expanding by 4.9%, the average international freight load factor edged 0.5 percentage points higher to 56.1%.
Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said: “The year began on a positive footing for Asian carriers, with international passenger and cargo markets maintaining growth momentum into 2026, building on gains achieved last year.”
Menon added: “Expanded network connectivity has provided travellers with greater choice during the festive period, while the strengthening of selected Asian currencies has also supported outbound travel. Continued global demand for goods produced in Asia, partly reflecting shifts in global supply chains, has likewise supported air cargo activity.”
Looking ahead, he concluded: “The overall picture for the year ahead looks broadly positive, with underlying global economic conditions relatively firm. Nevertheless, geopolitical and trade developments continue to pose uncertainty. At the same time, airlines face intensifying competition and persistently high costs, and are carefully managing expenses to preserve profitability.”
