By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ An expected group of 300 agents and supplier partners across Goway’s roster of 20-plus destinations in Asia is convening today (Tuesday) at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, at the tour company’s inaugural Asia Forum, reflecting just how popular the region is right now for travellers, says Goway VP for Asia, Moira Smith.
“It’s the perfect time (for the Forum),” Smith told Travel Industry Today. “Asia is hot!”
Indeed, Asia bookings Goway have jumped nearly 30% year over year, she says.
With this in mind, Smith concluded the time was right to start an Asian version of the company’s successful Africa Forum, which has been running annually since 2009.
And her instincts were correct, she says, with Asian partners quick to commit to the event, which also included a virtual day Monday that boasted 15,000 participants from across North America.
“It’s been such an incredible response,” she said, even as jet fuel prices and the inability to overfly Russian airspace have been cited as concerns for Asian tourism.
Smith says many Canadians now simply fly west to Asia (instead of via the Middle East), taking advantage of significant lift from this country, combining multiple destinations into epic trips, and, as such, tending to stay longer to maximize the length of travel and expense.
At the same time, Asia can offer great value on the ground once there, Smith says, stating, “The value, especially at the premium level, is outstanding.” Not least in India.
Top selling destinations in the region, she says, include – “obviously” – Japan, where Goway continues to expand its product line to keep up with intense demand, and China, which she says is “coming back in a huge way” since the recent détente between the governments of Canada and China and subsequent ability of Canadians to obtain 30-day visas.
Thailand and Vietnam are always popular, and she counts The Philippines as “emerging.”
She adds that Asia also “lends itself to train travel,” and highlights a Lernidee Silk Road itinerary across the Stans, and the SJourney luxury train in Vietnam, which Goway will soon offer. From the Palace on Wheels to the Maharaja Express, India also boasts many celebrated train trips.
Goway specialists
Smith concedes that planning a trip to Asia can be “complicated,” which is why she says the company continues to invest heavily in both product and people, namely its destination specialists, who she enthuses are “just so good.”
Some actually hail from the countries they sell, while others continually travel there to build their own personal destination and product knowledge. Many of them are in attendance and leading sessions at the Forum.
“The 2026 Goway Asia Forum has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be more excited to finally make it a reality,” says Smith. After all, she adds, “Life is good in Asia!”
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