Wonderful, Complex, Rich: Goway showcases Asia

Goway’s first forum devoted entirely to Asia enabled travel agents to be updated on the likes of pandas, pagodas and pachyderms.

The tour operator — which previously held similar events showcasing Africa and the Middle East — held its June 9 Asia Forum 2026 in Toronto, enabling hoteliers, tour companies and Goway itself to brief agents on what their clients can expect when visiting that continent.

“We hope it’s going to become an annual event … Asia is wonderful, it’s complex, it’s rich…,” Moira Smith, who oversees Goway’s Asia program, told the crowded event.

“We love talking about all things Asian.”

Among presenters was Margie Aquino of DTH Malaysia, who noted that Borneo rainforest dates back over 130 million years, making the Amazon seem youthful in comparison.

Among Malaysian wildlife are orangutans, the unusual-looking proboscis monkey and another creature that stands out because of its size. “Malaysia is the home of the smallest elephants, the pygmy elephants. They’re very cute,” Aquino said.

Ulu Muda, found near the Thailand border, features the likes of sun bears and elephants, and has a large number of bird species, she continued.

Aquino praised “vibrant” Kuala Lumpur and noted Malacca has UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Clark Hung of the Hong Kong Tourism Board said his destination is where “East meets West.”

Hung said those who enjoy the Great Outdoors will appreciate Hong Kong, which has a large number of hiking trails.

Hong Kong is also a festive part of the world, he continued.

Hung added that Hong Kong now has 323 hotels, adding that it is “a destination that continues to evolve.”

Kim Martin Rasmussen of EXO Travel — which has itineraries throughout Thailand — noted that that country is labelled the Land of Smiles. “Be prepared to smile back if you go to Thailand.”

Martin Rasmussen noted that his company can enable visitors to see elephants, considered symbolic of the country. “When Westerners travel to Thailand, this is what they want to see.”

His company offers clients offer “responsible” elephant visits, with those clients not allowed any physical contact with the mammals, he noted.

EXO Travel sends people throughout Thailand, including northeastern-most Chiang Rai and James Bond Island, so named because it appeared in the James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun and has since become a popular tourist attraction.

Patrick Chase of Destination Asia — which has tours in Indochina — noted that Hanoi offers both French architecture and “treasured historical sites,” while Vietnam’s scenic Ha Long Bay is “becoming super, super popular.”

Saigon in turn has “beautiful French colonial architecture,” along with reminders of the Vietnam War, he continued.

Tours that have visitors ride the backs of Vespas are available in Saigon, he noted.

Chase said Cambodia has often simply been viewed as an add-on to Vietnam but has “become much more of a destination in itself.”

The storied Cambodian religious site of Angkor Wat is “absolutely stunning,” Chase added.

Chase also said the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh offers insights into Cambodia’s tragic Khmer Rouge era but has also become a “glitzy” city with “wonderful nightlife.”

He also said Laos is often overlooked by travellers but is a great place to gather insights into Buddhism.