India’s accommodation sector remains upbeat about its economic development, despite a sluggish inbound travel recovery. The sector has been reporting rising room and occupancy rates over the past six months.
03.11.2023 - 07:35 / insider.com / Steve Irwin
Blame a childhood spent in front of the TV watching episode after episode of Steve Irwin in "The Crocodile Hunter," but I've always been fascinated by these huge reptiles.
I was probably 11 or 12 when I first set foot on a crocodile farm in Singapore, where I grew up. A few years later, in 2012, the farm that I visited — the Singapore Crocodile Farm, also known as the Tan Moh Hong Reptile Skin and Crocodile Farm — closed down.
There are no official figures on how many crocodile farms there were in Singapore in the past. However, the public fascination with crocodiles did lead to the opening of two popular reptile-centric attractions in the '80s.
The Singapore Crocodilarium at East Coast Parkway was opened in 1981, while the Jurong Reptile and Crocodile Paradise was opened in 1988, per Biblioasia, a publication produced by Singapore's National Library Board.
Both parks were involved in crocodile-breeding efforts but also held shows where performers "would wrestle with the reptiles as a form of entertainment," per Biblioasia. Unfortunately, both places closed down in the early 2000s due to falling visitorship.
That's it, I thought. I didn't think there were any more crocodile-related attractions left in the country — until last month when my editors sent me to the heart of Singapore's last remaining crocodile farm.
India’s accommodation sector remains upbeat about its economic development, despite a sluggish inbound travel recovery. The sector has been reporting rising room and occupancy rates over the past six months.
It’s a good time to be a professional bug killer in Asia.
It's 10 p.m. and I'm riding pillion on a vintage Vespa through the traffic-choked streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Hair is lashing my face and sweat is pouring off my brow. My baby-faced driver doesn't speak a lick of English, nor I Vietnamese, but I know my euphoric smile says it all: I'm having the time of my life.
Tours and activities operators in Asia expect at least another 6 to 12 months of pent-up travel demand. However, maximizing this opportunity depends on addressing capacity bottlenecks, especially in markets like Japan.
I’m sitting with Leonard Tee at a marble-top table in the dining hall of Warong Old China. The Malaysian Chinese restaurant owner has been in business in Kuala Lumpur for 20 years, and this Chinatown address is the newest of his three venues. I ask a question that elicits a long pause for consideration: what dish best symbolises multicultural Malaysia? Tee finally speaks: “The quintessential Malaysian dish is nasi lemak because there’s a Malay, Chinese and Indian version.”
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are chock-full of tempting travel and flight discounts, Travel Deal Tuesday or Travel Tuesday, as it’s become known, has actually become one of the best days of the year to score a travel deal, according to the flight booking site and app Hopper.
Imagine spending your vacation days exploring ancient temples in Cambodia, indulging in the vibrant street food culture of Vietnam, or exploring the neon-lit skylines of Japan’s cities—all while enjoying the comforts of home.
From Elvis and Frank Sinatra to Sia and Leonardo DiCaprio, Palm Springs has been a chic escape for decades and the desert resort area in Southern California is always reinventing itself for a new generation. (As anyone who has attended Coachella knows.) For a sneak peek at what’s ahead for Palm Springs in 2024, veteran Forbes travel writer Jim Dobson reveals the hot hotels, spas and restaurants to check out next year.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, November 9. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Tall people may quarrel with this, but there's nothing worse than flying while short.
Sri Lanka has always been an affordable destination to visit for all kinds of travelers. Even for those with a shoestring budget, the island nation offers travel experiences that don’t break the bank: palm-fringed golden sandy beaches, wildlife adventures, and ancient temples packed with fascinating history. Throw in the island's incredible hospitality, and Sri Lanka is a great place to visit for those on a budget.
Singapore Airlines on Tuesday posted a record half-year profit reflecting strong travel demand as passenger traffic to the northern part of Asia rebounded after countries fully reopened post the Covid pandemic.