Tourism news roundup: Hotels get updated as Australians flock back to Fiji, and other news

For PropertyGuru’s tourism news roundup, older hotels in Fiji are being updated and replaced with slick new management in place as Australian travellers flock back to the islands. In other headlines, tourism activities in destinations across Vietnam heat up for summer, while the Philippines retains its title of “emerging Muslim-friendly destination” for the second straight year, according to Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024.

Tropical dreams for Australians: Hoteliers check into Fiji revival

On the back of record tourism arrivals, British hotel giant InterContinental Hotels Group is spearheading development in the Pacific island nation of Fiji, where its Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is undergoing a transformation.

As Australian travellers flock back to Fiji, IHG Australasia and Pacific managing director Matt Tripolone, previously head of development for the hotelier, said he was looking to expand the company’s hotels in Fiji – from Nadi, out to the islands and to the capital, Suva. “There’s a lot of interest in Fiji, in new hotels, obviously demand is high,” Mr. Tripolone said in realcommercial.com.au.

Visitor numbers to the Fiji Islands should hit one million from the past 12 months – 45 percent of whom are Australian travellers. As such, Fiji’s older hotels are being updated and replaced with slick new management in place: think the French-run Sofitels, and American-managed chains such as Marriott, Hilton, and Outrigger – which are busily stamping American culture on parts of Fiji’s tourism industry.

Tourism activities are vibrant across Vietnam as summer comes

Tourism activities in all destinations across the country have become vibrant as summer comes, prompting localities to gear up various events for the peak season.

According to VietnamPlus, Ho Chi Minh City held the second Vietnamese ‘Banh mi’ Festival in mid-May and is about to organise the second River Festival from 31st May to 9th June.

The south-central province of Khanh Hoa plans to hold the Nha Trang Sea Festival while Binh Dinh, another province in the south-central region, will host a series of summer tourism activities.

The Hue Festival Week in central Thua Thien – Hue province is to take place in June. Meanwhile, the Festival for Peace, slated for the same month, is expected to draw visitors from far and wide to the central province of Quang Tri.

The Philippines retains ‘emerging Muslim-friendly destination’ title

The Philippines retained its title as an emerging Muslim-friendly destination for the second straight year, according to the latest citations released by Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024.

The citation for another Emerging Muslim-friendly non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) nation was announced at the Halal in Travel Global Summit in Singapore on 30th May.

The GMTI said the Philippines focuses on “building capacity to welcome tourists through various initiatives,” including Halal food and integrating Muslim-friendly amenities in major tourist spots.

“Tourism authorities have placed Halal tourism high on their priority agenda, evidenced by their action to enhance the Halal tourism portfolio and raise awareness among tourism stakeholders about the values and practices important to Muslim travelers,” the GMTI said in PNA.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].