When I told my family I was planning a trip to Hong Kong, they responded: "Why? Isn't Hong Kong similar to Singapore?"

Legislator proposes creation of a mechanism that would require companies, banks and individuals to share the cost of victims’ losses.

Wealthy Filipinos who fly privately usually go to Singapore and Hong Kong to conduct their business dealings, according to business aviation company VistaJet, noting the local executives have grown accustomed to the convenience of traveling on their own terms. Crystal Wong, VistaJet executive vice president for sales in Asia, told the Inquirer that Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, has emerged as a “key growth market, with a growing number of affluent travelers turning to private aviation for both business and personal needs.” READ: Rich Filipinos want newer, bigger private jets Apart from Singapore and Hong Kong, these flyers with deep pockets also charter flights to Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam, she added. Wong noted that private jet traffic in Asia-Pacific rose by 14 percent in the first nine months of last year. Total flight hours grew by 20 percent in the same period. VistaJet also saw its membership soar by 15 percent in the same period last year. Growth market Moving forward, Wong said that Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, has remained a “pivotal growth market” for business aviation. “Economic factors, such as the region’s prosperity, infrastructure advancements and the expansion of business conglomerates into global markets, are driving demand for fast and convenient travel solutions,” she explained. The company official noted their passengers were turning to private aviation so they can have direct flights to tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which are often underserved by commercial airlines. “Filipino private flyers, much like their global counterparts, are increasingly embracing the simplicity, flexibility and efficiency of private aviation,” Wong said. “They value the ability to travel on their own terms, bypassing the complexities of commercial air travel while benefiting from unmatched convenience, privacy, and tailored services,” she added. Based on a report by aviation consultancy firm Asian Sky Group, there were 48 business jets in the Philippines by the end of 2023, most of which were Gulfstream’s s G650ER, G150, G450 and Textron’s CJ4 and Citation Excel. The average fleet age of private aircraft in the Philippines was 15.2 years or two years older than the rest of the business jets in Asia Pacific, the report noted.

CrescentRating gives Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Gold accreditation, boosting city’s effort to tap Muslim markets for growth.

THE London Metal Exchange (LME) on Monday (Jan 20) approved Hong Kong as a warehouse delivery point, seeking to boost access to mainland China, the world’s biggest metals consumer. Read more at The Business Times.

Already, Singaporeans are willing to brave the long queues and jam to shop across the border. Will the RTS make any difference?

In a renewed critique, Professor Cherian George urged the Singapore government to reconsider its approach to civil society, advocating for more collaborative and trust-building engagement with social issues rather than top-down authority.

SINGAPORE stocks closed slightly lower on Monday (Jan 20) ahead of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in the US, even as most markets in the region ended higher. Read more at The Business Times.

Before the pandemic, there was a prevailing sentiment that if you didn’t show up in Hong Kong, you hadn’t truly shown up in Asia. Hong Kong was widely regarded as the gateway to the region—the place to establish a base before branching out. At the time, discussions about “Asia” often meant focusing on China, then in the throes of an economic boom.

Leong said Lee forgot that he was the one who arranged the music for Leslie Cheung's hit Chase. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Singapore Exchange trades at a lower P/E multiple compared to peers like Hong Kong Exchanges and Nasdaq. Learn more on SPXCF stock here.

Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances.