Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls (Seven Wells): Known for its cascading pools, this trail combines adventure with reward. Families can enjoy a short walk up to the lower pools, where kids can dip their toes and play while parents relax.

Lubuk Semilang Recreational Park: This shaded jungle park has a trail that’s easy enough for children, with lots of greenery and birdsong along the way. It’s also a great spot for picnics, making it a double win.

Gunung Raya Lookout Walks: Instead of tackling the entire mountain, families can enjoy shorter sections of paved paths. Kids love spotting monkeys and butterflies along the way, while the whole family gets panoramic views at rest points.

Durian Perangin Waterfall: With manageable steps and plenty of shaded areas, this waterfall is a popular family stop. Kids love splashing at the base, and parents appreciate the cooling breeze and nearby picnic spot.

Pantai Kok Forest Walk: A peaceful stretch with minimal incline, this trail lets kids experience the forest atmosphere without tiring out too quickly. Keep an eye (and ear) out for hornbills overhead.

Family Tip:

Pack extra water, snacks, and maybe even a small towel for quick waterfall dips. Nature is best enjoyed when everyone is hydrated and happy.

For more information, visit: Naturally Langkawi  

(Source: Your Stories — Naturally Langkawi)

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The festival will bring together music, culture, creativity and communities from across Borneo under the theme ‘Beyond Jazz’.

The 2026 edition marks a new chapter for the festival, expanding beyond its traditional concert format into a broader festival experience that celebrates Borneo’s people, cultures and creative connections. 

Tickets for Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 will go on sale at midnight on 3 October 2026 via the official website, Jazzborneo.com.

The festival will feature stronger participation from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia, alongside Malaysian, regional and international performers representing seven countries. Across two evenings, audiences will experience 10 acts spanning jazz, contemporary R&B, hip-hop, electronic music, jazz fusion and other contemporary sounds.

The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, said: “Twenty editions is an important milestone. It reflects the passion for music, creativity and cultural exchange that has sustained Borneo Jazz over the years. As we enter this new chapter, it is also an opportunity to look forward. ‘Beyond Jazz’ reflects the direction we want the festival to take, growing beyond the traditional concert experience into a wider platform for music, culture, creativity, tourism and community, while remaining firmly connected to Borneo.”

The 2026 programme will present five acts each night at the Main Ballroom of Pullman Miri Waterfront, with performances running from 1900 to midnight.

The opening night on 4 December will feature Elisha Tiga Eksperiment from Brunei, Marter from Japan, LaidThis Nite from Indonesia, Q Sound from the US, and Dato’ Zainalabidin & Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra from Malaysia.

The second night, 5 December, will feature Nathanie Ngu from Sarawak, Greg Tan & Ai Furusato under Berklee Asia Rising, Matthew Sayersz & Marclesia Karim from Indonesia, Brekky Boy from Australia, and Platina Jazz from Sweden.

Beyond the main concerts, the festival will introduce the Borneo Jazz Festival Village, a free-entry outdoor experience next to Pullman Miri Waterfront operating from 1000 to 2200 on both days.

The family-oriented space will feature food and beverage offerings, retail, arts and crafts, family activities, live performances, community experiences and interactive brand activations.

Speaking on behalf of Diamond Sponsor A&W Malaysia, Chief Operating Officer Angelina Fernandez said: “We are proud to support Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 and celebrate one of the region’s most anticipated music and cultural events. This partnership is especially meaningful as A&W begins a new chapter in Sarawak with the opening of our first Miri outlet. We look forward to growing alongside the community and creating more ‘Good Food, Good Times’ moments with Sarawakians.”

The Village will also feature the All Borneo Pavilion, bringing together participation from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia and further reinforcing the festival’s Borneo-wide character.

The collaboration with Berklee Asia Rising, a programme under Berklee College of Music, will strengthen the festival’s talent development efforts, with performers Greg Tan and Ai Furusato joining the programme. Workshops, masterclasses and collaborative sessions will give musicians and emerging talents opportunities to exchange knowledge, build skills and explore diverse musical perspectives.

Complementing the festival programme will be the Borneo Jazz Fun Run, a non-competitive 5km run open to participants of all ages. Taking place on 5 December 2026, the run will flag off at 0630 in front of Pullman Miri Waterfront and finish at the same location.

With Borneo Jazz taking place in the heart of Miri city centre and Pullman Miri Waterfront serving as its official venue, the wider surroundings will form part of the overall festival experience, creating a vibrant atmosphere for visitors, local communities and festival- goers while generating activity for local businesses and the tourism industry.

Festival-goers and music lovers are encouraged to save the date, as Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 promises two unforgettable nights of world-class performances, culture and community celebration in the heart of Miri. 

Tickets will go on sale at midnight on 3 October 2026 via Jazzborneo.com.

For more information on Sarawak’s attractions, visit: Sarawak Tourism Board. 

(Source: Your Stories — Sarawak Tourism Board)

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The service will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 25 December 2026 to 27 March 2027, operating an Airbus A321LR.

Flight schedule

KC8167 departs Almaty at 2135 and arrives in Langkawi at 0810 (plus a day). Flight time: Seven hours and 35 minutes.
KC8168 departs Langkawi at 0940 and arrives in Almaty at 1440. Flight time: Eight hours.

Return fares start at KZT326,605 (USD740) in economy class and KZT886,590 (USD2020) in business class, including taxes and charges. Tickets can be booked on the airline’s website and mobile app as well as through accredited travel agents.

Kazakh citizens can enter Malaysia visa-free for stays of up to 30 days.

Langkawi is one of Malaysia’s most popular island destinations, located in the Andaman Sea and known for its white-sand beaches, ancient mangrove forests and mountainous landscape. The archipelago is recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Its best-known attractions include Pantai Cenang beach, the Langkawi Cable Car and the Sky Bridge, which offers panoramic views over the island’s tropical rainforest.

(Source: Air Astana)

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Through this partnership with IHH Healthcare Malaysia, JCB offers medical and wellness privileges in Malaysia to JCB Cardmembers worldwide.

Cardmembers can now enjoy discounts of up to 10% on selected health screening packages at 10 hospitals operating under five leading brands: Island Hospital, Gleneagles Hospitals, Pantai Hospitals, Timberland Medical Centre, and Prince Court Medical Centre.

According to statistics from the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia), more than 23 million visitors to Malaysia came from the Asia-Pacific and South Asia regions, where JCB has a growing presence with over 181 million cardmembers. As JCB’s global Cardmember base continues to grow, the number of JCB Cardmembers travelling to Malaysia has also increased steadily since the pandemic.

In support of “Visit Malaysia 2026”, an initiative led by Tourism Malaysia, JCB continues to enhance the overall travel and lifestyle experience for its cardmembers visiting Malaysia by carefully curating membership benefits and adding further value to their journeys.

About IHH
IHH is a leading multinational healthcare provider through a portfolio of trusted brands such as Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court. Across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, India, and Greater China, IHH operates 140 healthcare facilities, including 80 hospitals.

(Source: JCB)

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Held from 12 to 19 September 2026, the programme combined market-specific familiarisation trips in Kuching, Mulu and Miri with direct business networking between visiting travel partners and Sarawak tourism industry partners.

Sarawak Connect marks a significant step in STB’s efforts, bringing multiple key market clusters together under one coordinated travel trade programme for the first time. 

Held under the theme “From Partners to Packages,” the initiative was designed to strengthen trade relationships, deepen destination knowledge and create opportunities for continued collaboration.

Each market cluster followed a curated familiarisation programme, with itineraries tailored to reflect the interests and characteristics of its respective market. This allowed participating travel partners to experience different facets of Sarawak first-hand while gaining a deeper understanding of the destination and its tourism offerings.

“Sarawak Connect brought our key trade partners from Domestic Malaysia, ASEAN and North Asia together under one coordinated initiative,” said Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board.

“Each market cluster followed its own tailored itinerary, but the goal was shared: to give travel agents first-hand experience of Sarawak as the Gateway to Borneo — from our culture and adventure to our nature, food and festivals.

We hope the knowledge and connections they gained from the familiarisation trips and the B2B session will translate into new and enhanced packages that bring more visitors to the state.”

A key part of the programme was the Sarawak: Gateway to Borneo Business Networking Session, held on 17 September at The Ranyai Ballroom, The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching.

The session brought participating travel partners from Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Thailand and China together with Sarawak tour operators, destination management companies, accommodation providers, attractions, community-based tourism operators, travel associations and connectivity partners.

Through direct B2B discussions, participants exchanged market insights, explored potential itineraries and discussed opportunities for joint promotions, tourism product development and future collaboration.

The session also laid the groundwork for continued engagement across the respective market clusters, allowing visiting travel partners and Sarawak industry partners to strengthen connections, exchange ideas, and identify areas for further collaboration beyond the programme.

The business networking session complemented the familiarisation component of Sarawak Connect by connecting participants’ first-hand destination experiences with the tourism products, services and industry partners available in Sarawak.

Approximately 20 travel agents from Kuala Lumpur and Johor followed programmes featuring adventure, culture, nature, gastronomy and Muslim-friendly tourism experiences in Kuching and Mulu. Shared highlights included Gunung Mulu National Park, the Penan community experience at Batu Bungan, Kuching Waterfront and the Borneo Cultures Museum. 

The Kuala Lumpur itinerary also featured a cycling and gastronomy experience, while the Johor programme included kayaking at Semadang.

The Thailand delegation followed a broader Miri–Mulu–Kuching circuit, combining destination experiences, tourism product familiarisation and engagement with local industry partners. The itinerary gave participants broader exposure to Sarawak’s tourism offerings across Northern Sarawak and Kuching.

The China delegation, comprising 24 travel agents, participated in a Kuching–Mulu programme featuring heritage, culture and nature experiences. Its itinerary included Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak Cultural Village, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and selected heritage attractions.

Following Sarawak Connect, STB will continue engaging participating travel and Sarawak industry partners to build on the relationships and opportunities established during the programme, with future engagement reflecting the needs of each market cluster.

Through the initiative, STB aims to strengthen long-term engagement with key tourism markets, deepen travel trade understanding of Sarawak and encourage greater collaboration in bringing the Sarawak: Gateway to Borneo experience to travellers across these markets.

For more information on Sarawak’s tourism attractions, visit: Sarawak Tourism Board. 

(Source: Your Stories — Sarawak Tourism Board)

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Widely known as the ‘Oscars of the aviation industry’, the Skytrax World Airline Awards are among the most respected recognitions in global aviation, with the results based on the independent annual World Airline Survey and the views of travellers worldwide. 

For AirAsia, the recognition carries particular weight as a direct reflection of the trust and confidence from our guests, built up over 25 years of service. 

AirAsia’s Co-Founder, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, who accepted the award on behalf of AirAsia during the ceremony, said: “We started AirAsia 25 years ago with a simple mission: to make flying accessible to more people. The Skytrax recognition is a reflection of the trust travellers have placed in AirAsia, and that is something we never take for granted.” 

Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted added: “We congratulate AirAsia on this fabulous achievement at the 2026 World Airline Awards. This success, for the record seventeenth time, demonstrates the airline’s dedication to providing quality, affordable travel options for its customers. This is a highly competitive and fast-growing market for low-cost airlines, and this award is a clear affirmation of AirAsia’s success.”

The Skytrax World Airline Awards are based on the independent annual World Airline Survey, which reflects passenger votes from travellers worldwide. Skytrax independently conducts the survey and charges no entry or registration fees to airlines.

(Source: AirAsia Group)

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Hosted by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and supported by Tourism Malaysia, this year’s edition welcomes 31 hosted buyers and travel trade representatives representing 27 companies across 14 key global markets*, including Algeria, Russia, Belgium, France, Türkiye, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Italy, Cambodia, Spain, Lao PDR, Sweden, and the UK.

At the heart of this year’s programme are four destination experiences: Feel Wonder. Feel Indulgence. Feel Connection. Feel Possibility. 

Together, they offer alternative ways to explore Langkawi — beyond its iconic beaches and postcard views — towards an island where ancient landscapes, exceptional hospitality, local character, and distinctive experiences come together to create highly personal journeys.

“LITE was created with a simple ambition: to establish a platform that connects Langkawi’s tourism industry directly with international buyers and travel partners. For today’s discerning traveller, bespoke travel is increasingly about discovering experiences that feel personal and meaningful, and LITE provides an opportunity to explore how Langkawi can meet that evolving desire,” said Langkawi Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Haji Iskandar Datuk Haji Mohd Kaus.

The programme moves between Langkawi’s natural and luxurious sides, from the heights of Langkawi SkyCab and the mangrove waterways of Kilim Karst Geoforest to a slower-paced exploration on horseback with Island Horses Langkawi, complemented by stays, inspections and dining at leading resorts including The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, The Danna Langkawi, The St Regis Langkawi and Berjaya Resort Langkawi.

For more information on Langkawi’s attractions, visit: Naturally Langkawi 

About Naturally Langkawi
Naturally Langkawi is a story 550 million years in the making. It has nature that is beautifully unique, wonderfully rare and vastly accessible. It envelops the 99 islands and the people who live there, creating a culture rich with stories as unique as the archipelago itself. A land steeped in captivating legends, myths and folklore as interesting as the people who tell them. It is a place full of diverse, incredible experiences where moments naturally become memories.

(Source: Your Stories — Naturally Langkawi)

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PITE 2026 will take place at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC), with the programme combining 1.5 days of structured B2B appointments with a further 1.5 days of familiarisation activities and networking opportunities across Penang.

This year’s edition is expected to welcome approximately 100 buyers, representing a diverse range of travel trade segments including corporate, incentive and association buyers. The international buyer delegation will comprise representatives from key markets across China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Bangladesh, Australia, Romania and South Korea, alongside participants from other international markets.

PITE 2026 is expected to feature approximately 50 exhibitors from across Malaysia, representing a broad spectrum of the tourism ecosystem. These include hoteliers, destination management companies (DMCs), professional conference organisers (PCOs), attractions and other tourism-related businesses, offering buyers a

comprehensive platform to discover Malaysia’s diverse tourism and business event offerings.

(Source: Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau)

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While these challenges are industry-wide and not unique to AirAsia, the group’s resilient low-cost model, combined with strategic fare optimisations and ancillary revenue growth, positions it to absorb these industry-wide pressures as it remains focused on long-term growth.

AirAsia Group CEO Bo Lingam said: “We have been through many crises before in our 25-year journey, with Covid-19 being by far the most challenging. What is different today is that people can still fly and travel continues. Given the current environment,  we are taking a disciplined approach to managing the business – adjusting capacity, controlling costs, having active discussions with key stakeholders and strengthening our resilience. While there has been much speculation in the media, much of it inaccurate, there is no question about our commitment to business continuity and continuing to serve our guests.”

In the second quarter, AirAsia recovered around 70% of fuel price increases through dynamic fares and lower non-fuel operating costs. The group also tactically reduced capacity by 20 to 25% in the third quarter, traditionally a weaker travel period in the region, and is now preparing to ramp capacity back towards pre-war levels in the fourth quarter, aligning with the region’s peak year-end travel season.

AirAsia is also optimising its fleet and moving towards a more efficient aircraft mix. As part of its long-term fleet optimisation programme, the group has returned 25 older, less fuel-efficient aircraft on favourable commercial terms, reducing its fixed lease burden, while accelerating the transition towards more efficient narrowbody aircraft. 

With the group’s short- and long-haul operations now consolidated under one group, the airline has greater flexibility to optimise aircraft and capacity across its network, with a stronger focus on route profitability and sustainable returns.

On its capital and financing requirements, the group has maintained full transparency, disclosing all material developments through official exchange filings and public announcements in accordance with regulatory standards. 

The group’s planned fundraising exercises primarily target debt restructuring, refinancing, and balance sheet consolidation to optimise its long-term capital structure, rather than solely funding operational shortfalls. The group continues to actively manage its capital position and evaluate strategic options to ensure operational and financial resilience. Official updates will be announced as and when definitive terms are finalised. In the interim, stakeholders and the market are advised to rely solely on formal disclosures and refrain from unverified speculation. 

“AirAsia has always been an airline that adapts, adjusts and finds a way forward, and we have a demonstrable track record of doing so. We remain fully focused on maintaining business continuity and preserving operational stability through active, ongoing engagements with our key partners. By staying disciplined and working collaboratively across the ecosystem, we are strengthening our resilience and preparing for the opportunities ahead. The strength of our network is evident in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) ’s recent recognition as the world’s fourth most connected international megahub and the leading low-cost megahub, a position it has held since 2023, with AirAsia as the dominant carrier behind this connectivity.”

“In summary, we are managing industry-wide headwinds from a position of strength, executing a clear and strategic plan for sustainable and profitable growth. We are encouraged by the outlook for the peak fourth quarter and remain confident in AirAsia’s long-term potential. Our focus is on the fundamentals of our business, and we will not be distracted by unsubstantiated speculation from anonymous sources,” the group’s CEO concluded.

(Source: AirAsia)

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Kuala Lumpur International (KUL) ranks fourth globally and first among all Asian airports, with connections to 154 destinations.

KUL also tops OAG’s Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Megahubs index, offering nearly 15,000 possible low-cost connections. AirAsia operates 34% of the airport’s total flights. Seoul Incheon (ICN) ranks second in the LCC rankings, with connectivity to 198 destinations.

Another standout story in Asia Pacific this year is the recovery of Chinese airports. Shanghai Pudong (PVG) rises from 19th to 14th globally, Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN) from 36th to 19th, and Hong Kong (HKG) returns to the global top 20, moving from 22nd to 20th. Tokyo Haneda (HND) also improves, from 9th to 8th globally.

Singapore Changi (SIN) climbs significantly in the LCC rankings, from 10th to 5th, reflecting growth in both destinations served and potential low-cost connections. Fukuoka (FUK) is another strong mover, rising from 13th to 8th in the LCC index.

The average dominant carrier share at Asia Pacific’s top 10 airports is 33%, lower than most other regions. This reflects the diverse mix of full-service and low-cost carriers serving different traveller segments across Southeast and Northeast Asia.

“The Asia Pacific numbers tell two stories this year,” said  OAG Head of APAC Mayur Patel. “The first is the completion of Chinese aviation’s post-pandemic recovery; these airports are back in the top 20, and the data shows it. The second is how low-cost carriers have reshaped Southeast Asian connectivity: 51% of all seats in the region are now operated by LCCs, well above the global average.”

Megahubs 2026 data and methodology: https://www.oag.com/megahubs-2026

(Source: OAG).

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