"ILTM Asia Pacific 30" was held at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from June 2025th to July XNUMXrd.

ILTM stands for International Luxury Travel Market, and ILTM Asia Pacific is a global business conference that brings together the finest luxury travel suppliers and buyers from throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

The event was attended by 740 suppliers, 740 buyers, and 70 members of the media! It was a tremendous success.

An event that reveals global travel trends

Premium Japan became an official media partner of ILTM this year and participated from the opening ceremony on the first day.

For us in the media, this is a rare event where we can learn about travel trends in Asia and the world just by being there.

I attended both ILTM Asia Pacific and the original ILTM Cannes, which is much larger, for several years while working in my previous job. This time, I visited for the first time in 12 years, and was deeply moved by the expansion of the number of exhibitors and the clear progress in the skillful use of IT in event management.

First, on the evening of June 30th, an opening forum was held following the opening ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Hotel.

Keynote speeches by a diverse range of speakers

The first speaker was Dr Simon Baptiste, Principal Economist APAC at Visa Card and an expert in economic and business analysis and thought on the Asia Pacific region.

The title of this lecture is "Growth and Opportunities in Asia."

"Asia's share of global GDP now stands at 55%, a significant increase from previous decades.

Although China's economic growth is showing signs of slowing, Asia's GDP growth rate is still being driven primarily by the rapid economic growth of China and India, making it an important region for growth opportunities."

Other countries showing remarkable growth are Vietnam and Indonesia. Looking at the figures for Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, it is unfortunate that Japan has the lowest growth rate. India, the largest, has a growth rate of just over 6%, while Japan's is less than 1%.

"Geopolitical risks continue to put pressure on growth prospects. Industrial policies are likely to have a significant impact on the outlook for various industries in the region."

Geopolitical risks and national industrial policies will of course affect growth.

Other indicators, such as birth rates, show that Australia, New Zealand and India have the highest birth rates, while China, South Korea and Japan are showing a significant downward trend.

The impact of the exchange rate against the dollar compared to before the COVID-10 pandemic cannot be ignored. New Zealand, Australia, and Japan are exceeding -5%, while South Korea and Thailand are also exceeding -XNUMX%.

So, what is the recovery rate of overseas travel compared to before the COVID-20 pandemic? At the top of the list, Australia, Japan, and Thailand have rates over XNUMX%. Japan is also second only to Australia in terms of the recovery rate of total travel expenditures.

These figures are useful in predicting trends in Asia. Japan may be in a slump domestically, but it is surprisingly in the strong category among Asian countries.

Slow travel and coolcation

The next speaker was Alison Gilmore, Director of ILTM Headquarters, who said:

"The travel industry has evolved in many directions in recent years, with the rise of slow travel, the return of long-distance train travel and the rise of 'coolcations.' Purposeful, meaningful travel has become a cornerstone of many affluent travellers' plans.

The global concept of 'wellness' is constantly changing and is no longer just about spas and massages, but also about incorporating fitness, mental health and overall balance into travel.

Many Asian countries have a long history of traditional holistic practices, but are also incorporating modern elements."

The British adventurer who thrilled the crowd

The last speaker, Rob Lilwall, a “(super) ordinary adventurer,” gave a brilliant talk that got the audience excited. He is an adventurer based in Hong Kong, but has traveled to many extreme regions around the world.

The most impressive part is that he set off by bicycle from London and eventually reached Magadan in Siberia, close to the Sea of Japan (Magadan is well known as the gateway to the concentration camps where Japanese soldiers were sent after the war).

The journey was intermittent and took an incredible 20 years, but involved cycling and walking over more than 50,000 km of land around the world, including Siberia, the winter Gobi Desert, China, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Australia and Iran.

The video of his face covered in ice, along with the video showing temperatures of -40 degrees at times, drew amazement and admiration from the audience. His cynical British narration, which included a scene of him falling violently on the snow, was a big hit.

He is now an author, has two shows on National Geographic TV, which has turned his exploits into two television series, and has also written two books: Cycling Home From Siberia and Walking Home From Mongolia.

Destinations around the world that Japanese people should visit

Now, I would like to introduce some of the "global destinations that Japanese people should visit" that I found at the venue.

The top quality hotel brand "1Hotels" is coming to Tokyo!

The first hotel I would like to introduce is the highest-ranking brand of the Starwood Group, which is currently expanding in 15 countries. The first hotel of this brand will open in 2015.

The brand was created by Starwood founder Barry S. Sternlicht with the utmost commitment to the highest quality, and its natural, unmistakable orientation is wonderful. Many of its hotels are located in urban areas, and to use a clichéd expression, they are like exquisite spaces that bring moisture to the city.

It's also worth noting that it has already won a number of awards, including New York's Central Park, Hollywood and London's Mayfair, to name just a few.

"The facilities at Hanalei Bay on the island of Kauai in Hawaii are particularly wonderful," a journalist who has been there told me. I definitely want to visit.

And the big news for 2025 is that following Copenhagen in the Netherlands, 211Hotels will open in Tameike, Akasaka, Tokyo. There will be a total of 24 rooms, XNUMX of which will be suites. It is sure to be a hot topic in Tokyo as well.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises: Small Boat Trips Through Europe
(Uniworld Boutique River Cruises)

It has long been my dream to take a cruise on one of Europe's rivers and canals.

What's great about it is that, unlike an ocean cruise, you travel right inland, so you can see both banks of the river, and even when you do stop occasionally, it's in the city.

It's easy to wander around town, stop at the market or winery for tastings, or even go for a bike ride.

The cruise company's lineup is diverse, for example, in Central Europe, an eight-day trip to visit the ancient castles along the Rhine River, an eight-day trip from Budapest to Vienna, and a 10-day trip to the former Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.

They also operate to other regions such as Portugal and Spain, India, Peru, and Egypt, so there's plenty to explore.

Palazzo Ripetta: Rome's newest hotel
(Palazzo Ripetta)

The hotel just opened last year near Piazza del Popolo in Rome.

Piazza del Popolo is considered the entrance to Rome, and is known for the obelisk of Ramses II, which was brought from Egypt, in its center. The Spanish Steps and Villa Borghese are also nearby, making it an excellent location.

It belongs to the Relais & Châteaux group, which is known for its extremely strict standards for hotel facilities, food, and quality of service, so there is no need to worry about its sophistication.

Palazzo Ripetta is a five-star hotel renovated from a 17th century monastery. Designed by architect Moretti, it is a tasteful and modern building.

With 78 rooms and one suite, this moderately sized hotel has an authentic restaurant, a casual restaurant perfect for breakfast and lunch, and a Mediterranean restaurant on the rooftop terrace on the fourth floor. It is a property that will add elegance to your stay in Rome.

The highlight of Rwanda tourism is the mountain gorilla tour.

African countries are the ultimate destination for the wealthy.

Rwanda is a country located just below the center of Africa, on the eastern side, bordering Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi.

The country has a bad image due to the civil wars, massacres, and the DiCaprio movie "Gossip Girl," but it has regained peace and is very enthusiastic about attracting tourists.

There are already many world-class properties in the area, such as the three One&Only properties, Wilderness Safaris, and the Singita Lodge. All of these are well-established groups, so you can rest assured that your stay will be a pleasant one.

As for the contents of the trip, you can meet the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) on the animal safari in Akagera National Park. Volcanoes National Park is home to five majestic volcanoes and the beautiful Lake Kivu.

But the highlight of the trip is the tour to the mountain gorilla habitat. Rwanda is home to 200 to 250 mountain gorillas. The tour, which allows you to get so close you can hear them breathing, is sure to tickle your adventurous spirit.

If you want to go on a great cruise,
Explorer Journeys

If you're looking for the ultimate in luxury cruising, Explorer Journeys is the perfect choice.

The ships are called Explorers, with I and II currently in operation, III scheduled to depart in 2026, IV in 2027, and V in 2028. All of the ships are designed to resemble private yachts. All of the rooms are luxurious suites, and of course, they have ocean views.

The main routes are full of attractive routes and ports of call, such as the Mediterranean and Western Europe, Northern Europe and Iceland, South America and the Amazon, the Caribbean and Central America, etc.

Food is a major priority on board, and there are nine different culinary experiences to choose from, including in-suite dining - ranging from Italian, Asian, French and Mediterranean. With that many options to choose from, you really don't need to worry.

For a passenger capacity of around 450 people, this variation seems quite luxurious, and the ratio of 1.25 staff member for every XNUMX guests shows how much importance the ship places on service.

Text: Toshizumi Ishibashi (former editor-in-chief of Claire and Claire Traveler)