Pho, Bánh mì & Egg coffee🧋
This Week in Review ☕️: Buying a Bentley becomes more expensive | Johnson & Johnson to invest billions to shift manufacturing | People have forgotten the Climate Crisis in Trumps era | Food and Travel
This Week’s Partner💡: Rifle Paper Co.
The importance of writing our goals down on paper cannot be overstated.. Which is why we’re personally obsessed with Rifle Paper Co.’s journals and planners which make setting our goals so much easier.. and so much prettier!
All Touristy readers can check it out here 📝
Quick Bites:
Health 🍃: Johnson & Johnson to invest over $55 billion in the US.
A $55 BILLY drop? Seems like they're feeling extra spicy this quarter
If you've fixed a cut on your hands, used a brand-name mouthwash, applied exfoliator in the morning or or bought meds for quick pain relief, it's almost certain you've used a J&J product
Think Bandaids, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Tylenol 🪥🪒🧽🪣🧴🛁🧼
Why the $55 billion investment matters💡:
Faced with potential import tariffs, this investment is the latest in a series of pledges by big American companies, worth around $1 trillion so far, to expand US manufacturing- a core goal of President Trump's trade war.
In addition, having more domestic manufacturing will be key for drugmakers if Trump goes ahead with threatened April 2 tariffs on pharmaceuticals, Axios reports.
Umm about time J&J did something for the American people!! 🖕🏻
The healthcare company that once enjoyed the trust of parents for decades has lost its credibility in the recent years due to thousands of lawsuits emerging that its talc-based products cause ovarian cancer
J&J had to pay over $6 billion to settle the lawsuits.. but let's be honest- that's a SLAP on the wrist for a company worth $400 f**king billion 👋
On a more important note: Why are people powdering their cooch? 🤔
Key Highlights, reported by Axios:
💡The company breaks ground Friday on a manufacturing facility in North Carolina, to make cancer and other medicines
💡It pledged to build 3 new facilities, at unspecified locations, and expand other existing sites
💡The new funds will also support research on medications and robotics, and tech investments to speed drug discovery
💡The investment will be panned out over the next 4 years
💡The initiative is expected to create more than 500 jobs
According to Axios,
Other big investments by other global companies include:
💡$500 billion from Apple to expand manufacturing and training
💡"Several hundred billion" from Nvidia in electronics manufacturing
💡$27 billion from Eli Lilly for drug manufacturing.
💡Reported plans from automakers like Honda to move car production to the US from Mexico
Luxury 🏎️: Driving a swanky new Continental may soon become a distant dream for many as Bentley says it will be forced to hike prices due to Trump's tariffs.
Bentley's CEO indicated that the company might pass these additional costs on to consumers.
This strategy aims to maintain profitability amid challenging market conditions.
Parents always name their kids after expensive sh*t like Diamond, Bentley and Tiffany. In 2025, watch out for Gas, Diesel and Eggs.
If crime is up, just don't go outside
If there is a food shortage, just don't eat
If a Bentley is too expensive, just walk
It's Donald Trump's world and we're all just living in it 🤯
Key Highlights, reported by The Guardian:
💡The British carmaker has already been struggling with declining profits from €589 million in 2023 to €373 million in 2024, primarily due to weakened demand in China
💡The US president last month said that tariffs upto 25% on cars will force manufacturers to shift production to America
💡That is unlikely in the case of luxury brands like Bentley, whose cachet depends partly on its production at its factory in Cheshire, England. That means that price increases can be easier to impose on customers without hurting sales
💡 “We are assessing different scenarios on how to handle it, but it would eventually be passed on to consumers”
Audi's response:
It was considering “the extent to which we will have to pass on at least some of the tariffs to our customers in the form of price increases”, and seeking a “sweet spot” between price increases and adjusting production, Reuters reported.
Climate Change 🌍 : Climate startups shift amid new era.
Companies that once boasted the environmental impact of their work are pivoting to defense and AI in 2025.
Language that once centered on climate goals has been replaced with pointers on national security and energy independence, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Key Highlights, reported by WSJ:
💡The combined equity funding for climate tech startups dropped from $170 billion in 2021 (zero-interest rate) to $50 billion last year
💡Many of these startups began during the Biden administration, when climate action was a priority, but have had to pivot to align with the Trump administration’s agenda
💡More uncertainties from the current administration are causing dry powder to stay dry
💡This is in sharp contrast to last year- when at global events like the World Economic Forum in Davos- Climate was the main agenda.
💡More than a third of panel discussions at last year's WEF meet were linked to climate change.
Background💡: Atleast 9 European countries recorded 'almost unheard of heat' in the winter as warm January weather broke records across the continent.
Winter tourism represents approximately 1% of GDP in countries like Switzerland, but over a whopping 10% for mountain regions like the Valais or Graubünden.
According to the UN, Switzerland is warming up at twice the global average rate due to the heat-trapping effect of its mountains.
Our Thoughts💡: As global temperatures rise, we now wonder how many of us even think its worth having our kids learn to ski?
In the past, puffers, moon boots, hand warmers and ski poles were a standard while planning Christmas and NYE.. Not to mention the only time to binge on cheese fondue and hot chocolate (all in the name of sports) GUILT-FREE! 🍮🍭🍫
But unfortunately, that might no longer be a reality.. Better to act NOW folks!
Travel ✈️ : Vietnam becomes the fastest growing tourist spot in Southeast Asia, Bloomberg reports.
In 2024, the country welcomed +17 million foreign tourists, and is now aiming for 23 million visitors by the end of 2025- surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Why the Boom?
Looser Visa Policies: Easier entry for travelers has significantly boosted tourism.
Direct Flights: More nonstop routes from key markets have made Vietnam more accessible.
Luxury & Unique Experiences: High-end resorts on uncrowded islands, cultural heritage sites, and vibrant cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are drawing in visitors.
Affordability & Sustainability: Vietnam offers a mix of budget-friendly and luxury experiences, with a growing focus on sustainable tourism.
In addition, its blend of natural beauty, rich culture, affordable luxury, and digital nomad appeal including:
Breathtaking landscapes from Ha Long Bay to Hội An
Boutique stays + luxurious resorts at relatively cheap rates
Insanely good food (pho, bánh mì, egg coffee etc have gone viral)
Growing wellness and eco-tourism scene
Super digital-nomad friendly (hello, Da Nang)
Key Statistics:
17.5 million international arrivals in 2024, making Vietnam the third-most-visited country in Southeast Asia, surpassing Singapore.
35% increase in Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday.
501,000 Indian tourists in 2024, a 2.6x increase in two years, making India one of the fastest-growing markets.
Vietnam’s tourism boom is a testament to its strategic growth, making it a top destination in 2025.
Quicker Bites:
Hyundai to invest $23 billion in the US.
DNA-testing company “23andMe” has filed for bankruptcy.
Boeing seeks to revoke guilty plea.
US to tariff Venezuela oil trade.
White House to appoint Dr. Susan Monarez to lead the CDC.
India eyes tariff cuts on $23 billion of US imports to shield $66 billion in exports.