Mercury News
by: Michael Martinez
January 6, 2008

Marc Casto was quoted in the Mercury News regarding travel trends to China and Southeast Asia. 

TREND: CHINA/SOUTHEAST ASIA TRAVEL

What it's about: Call it pre-Olympic bounce. China is the host of this year's Summer
Games, and cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are rushing to meet the anticipated demand in hotels. The tourism boom began last year and shows no signs of slowing. According to the China National Tourist Office, foreign tourism grew more than 9 percent from 2005 to 2006 and is expected to keep rising.

"A lot of it is pre-Olympic fervor," said Marc Casto, president of Casto Travel in Santa Clara, "there's amazing development taking place there, an expansion of new economies within the country, and people want to go there and see it. It's the undiscovered new frontier. Who doesn't want to be a part of that?" Countries in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam, have also been growing in popularity. Favorable exchange rates make those countries a bargain when compared to Europe. Casto quoted nightly hotel rates as low as $99 in Bangkok and $165 in Ho Chi Minh City; comparable properties in London and Paris can cost more than twice as much.