Asia is one of the regions that is expected to experience steady tourism in 2016. According to the 2015 issue of the Portrait of American Traveler released by MMGY Global, 20% of the respondents interviewed in a survey cited Asia as being one of the places they would like to visit. According to tourism operators, the increased interest in Asia can be attributed to a number of factors, which include improved infrastructure and great accommodation options. New luxury hotels opening this year are only to support the trend.
Great accommodation in countries such as China, Japan, and Thailand has helped to ensure that they remain in a dominant position when it comes to tourism. These are followed closely by India and Singapore.
Other up-coming countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Bhutan are also expected to receive a steady number of tourists in 2016, especially with the opening of new hotels such as the Apricot Hotel (Vietnam), and the Riverfront and Le Meridien Paro (Bhutan).
In Japan, the scheduled opening of the Amanemu Hotel is expected to boost the number of tourists arriving in Japan in 2016. The luxury hotel, which is located in central Japan, offers 24 luxurious suites and four spacious villas. The hotel also provides other luxurious facilities such as a spa and a restaurant. It also has easy access to the country's high speed rail, and is in close proximity to popular tourist spots such as the Shinto sacred shrine, pilgrimage routes of Ise-Jingu and Kumano Kodo which are a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an 18-hole golf course. Already, the hotel is accepting reservations ahead of the March 1 opening.
The opening of another hotel in Japan, the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, is also expected to boost the country's tourism. The luxury hotel which is located in the historic Higashiyama-ku district of Kyoto city will offer 124 luxurious rooms and 54 private residences. The Four Seasons Hotel is located nearby the attraction sites such as the Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto National Museum, and the Toyokuni Shrine.
The hotel is constructed using a traditionally inspired, but modern design. It will also showcase the works of the local artists, making it the ideal destination for creative tourists and other travelers interested in art and culture. In addition to art and décor, the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is furnished with modern facilities such as a fitness center, a spa, a pool, and food and beverages spots.
Other luxury hotels that are expected to boost tourism in Asia during 2016 include the St Regis Mumbai, which will provide 386 guest rooms, specialty restaurants and a club lounge. In Sri Lanka, the recently opened Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort offers 152 rooms with access to facilities such as a beach, club, spa, restaurant, bars and a children's club. This will greatly boost the tourism in the country.
China has also not been left behind, with the recent openings of the Four Seasons Tianjin, The Grand Mansion, and the Akyra Manor Hotel in Chiang Mai expected to cement the country's position as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia and the world.