The property has been awarded the Thailand Sustainable Event Management Standard (TSEMS) – Level 3 Leading, the highest level of certification within Thailand’s sustainable event management framework. It also successfully renewed its Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) certification and received recognition for Friendly Design for MICE Venue and TCEB Hygiene & Hybrid, reflecting the property’s ongoing commitment to sustainable operations, inclusive design, and high standards of safety across its meetings and events facilities.

Together, the certifications recognise the property’s ability to meet rigorous national standards across sustainability, venue management, accessibility, and health and safety, while reinforcing its reputation as a trusted destination for meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and events.

Commenting on the achievement, Robert Maurer Loeffler, Vice President Operations and General Manager of Centara Grand at CentralWorld, said, “These certifications are a testament to the dedication and passion of our entire team. They reflect the standards we strive to uphold every day and our ongoing focus on creating exceptional event experiences through responsible hospitality, outstanding service, and continuous improvement.”

The achievement further strengthens the reputation of Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld as a trusted destination for domestic and international events. It reflects its continued contribution to Thailand’s position as a leading MICE destination.

For more information, please call +66 (0)2 100 1234 or visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cgcw

(Source: Your Stories — Centara Hotels & Resorts)

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The study found that seven in 10 people in Singapore use screens to cope with everyday pressures, while more than 80% reported feeling mentally drained by prolonged screen time.

In response, StarHub has launched The Power of Pause, the next chapter of its Digital Wellbeing initiative. Building on last year’s focus on excessive screen time, this year’s initiative encourages people to understand the motivations behind their digital habits better and make more intentional choices about when to connect and when to take a break. 

“The conversation around screen time is increasingly about balancing that with creating meaningful, real-life moments with the people around us,” said StarHub Chief of People, Organisation and Communications Tan Toi Chia. “As our lives become increasingly digital, choosing to pause creates opportunities to strengthen the connection between individuals, families and communities, one moment at a time.”

The Power of Pause initiative will run throughout the year through the refreshed Digital BMI (Balanced Media Index) microsite, corporate partnerships, creator collaborations, and community activations, culminating in the return of the StarHub 5G Wellness Festival in September 2026.

The refreshed platform combines new, tailored recommendations and expert-backed resources from partners, including the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the National Library Board (NLB), and the digital mental health platform ThoughtFull. In support of the national Digital for Life movement, IMDA has contributed online safety resources to the platform, focused on helping parents and youths build healthy digital habits.

“The study findings reflect what we see in ThoughtFull’s clinical data across the region every day: hyperconnectivity is becoming a measurable driver of psychological strain. Through our partnership with StarHub, Digital BMI users will be able to understand their emotional needs better with clinically backed content and a dedicated support journey within the ThoughtFull app,” said ThoughtFull’s Head of Counselling, Dr John Pinto

From digital wellbeing and long-form reading to improve focus to online safety and parenting in the digital age, the Digital BMI microsite aims to provide trusted guidance tailored to different life stages and needs. 

To learn more and discover your Digital BMI, visit StarHub Digital BMI.

(1) StarHub and YouGov conducted the national survey of 1,036 respondents in Singapore in April 2026.

(Source: StarHub)

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RAYS 2026, the third edition of the Rainforest Youth Summit, was organised by the State  Government of Sarawak and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism,  Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), and supported by the Ministry of Youth,  Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED).

Held in Kuching from 24 to 26 June  2026, the summit convened delegates, speakers and partners from across ASEAN and beyond. 

Hosted in Sarawak, one of the world’s most ecologically significant rainforest regions, RAYS  situates climate and sustainability dialogue within the realities of living landscapes, communities and cultures. 

Held under the summit theme, Youth: Many Ways, One Planet, the forum created a space for young people to move beyond discussion and contribute to shared priorities in climate action, sustainability, governance, and collective responsibility. 

As the first initiative of its kind at RAYS, the Planet Futures Forum was introduced not as a standalone summit activity, but as the foundation for a continuing youth-led platform that carries discussions, priorities and recommendations beyond the summit. 

Guided by the principle of Two-Eyed Seeing, the forum brought together indigenous wisdom alongside Western knowledge systems and practices, recognising that meaningful and lasting solutions require diverse perspectives, lived experiences and ways of knowing. 

The discussions were organised around three key thematic areas: 

• Ways of Knowing  

• Living with the Earth  

• Power & Responsibility  

Supported by the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health as Knowledge Partners, delegates developed and refined recommendations that were relevant, evidence-informed and grounded in the realities faced by communities and young people today. 

The forum resulted in the selection of nine priority recommendations across the three thematic areas. These recommendations were subsequently presented during the Declaration Congress,  where delegates endorsed the Preliminary RAYS Youth Declaration 2026. 

The endorsement marked a significant outcome of RAYS 2026, reflecting a shared commitment among delegates to carry forward youth priorities into future conversations on climate,  sustainability and community action.

Throughout the forum, delegates were supported by Knowledge Holders and Allies, including YB  Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Sarawak; Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board;  as well as RAYS speakers including Diwigdi Valiente, Dr Dzaeman Dzulkifli and others who contributed perspectives from governance, conservation, indigenous leadership and environmental practice. 

Closing the session, YB Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu underscored that the Preliminary RAYS Youth Declaration represents the beginning of a longer journey. He encouraged delegates to continue strengthening the document through consultation, dialogue, and collective ownership, with the aspiration that it would inform future action and decision-making. 

The Planet Futures Forum is intended to continue beyond RAYS 2026. Following the summit, the  Preliminary RAYS Youth Declaration will undergo further consultation through a region-wide survey, giving young people beyond the RAYS community the opportunity to share their perspectives and strengthen the recommendations. 

The feedback gathered will contribute towards the development and publication of the Final RAYS  Youth Declaration. This will ensure that the priorities identified during the forum continue to evolve through wider youth participation, dialogue and collective ownership. 

In this way, the Planet Futures Forum establishes a longer-term pathway for youth voices to inform future dialogue and meaningful action. It reflects the belief that a more sustainable future cannot be shaped by one generation, sector or knowledge system alone, but through many voices, many ways of knowing and one shared Planet. 

(Source: Your Stories — Sarawak Tourism Board)

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The city welcomed a record 7.74 million overnight visitors during the first five months of 2026, a 20.9% year-on-year increase. International arrivals climbed 23.6% to 4.18 million, while domestic visitors rose 17.9% to 3.55 million.

The recent rollout of Vietnam’s digital arrival card in Da Nang is expected to build further on that momentum by making travel to Central Vietnam even more seamless for overseas visitors.

For golfers, the timing could hardly be better.

Few destinations in Asia combine such a concentration of championship golf with beaches, luxury resorts, UNESCO World Heritage sites and an acclaimed culinary scene. Within a little more than an hour’s drive, visitors can play courses designed by Colin Montgomerie, Luke Donald, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Jr. As the region enters its peak playing season, Vietnam Golf Coast clubs are unveiling major tournaments, enhanced playing experiences and compelling seasonal offers designed to build on growing international demand.

At Ba Na Hills Golf Club, Night Golf continues to grow in popularity, giving golfers the chance to play the Luke Donald-designed championship course under floodlights every Wednesday and Friday. Available over both nine and 18 holes, the experience combines cooler evening conditions with a post-round food-and-beverage offering.

The course has also returned to peak condition following its annual coring and summer maintenance programme, setting the stage for the busiest months of the golfing calendar. Attention is now turning to the prestigious IMG Trophy Tournament 2026 in September, when 132 golfers will compete in one of the club’s flagship annual events.

“Our course has recovered exceptionally well and is in outstanding condition heading into our busiest period of the year,” said Ba Na Hills Golf Club General Manager Andrew McGregor. “Night Golf has become one of our defining experiences, while the IMG Trophy Tournament 2026 showcases the quality of golf and hospitality that golfers can expect when they visit Central Vietnam.”

Meanwhile, Montgomerie Links Golf Club will host its 16th Club Championships on 22 August 2026, bringing together members and guests for one of the highlights of the club’s annual calendar.

Beyond celebrating the spirit of golf, the Club Championships also reflect Montgomerie Links’ ongoing commitment to the community through its Green Hope CSR projects. This year, the tournament will raise funds to support underprivileged students in Da Nang, helping them pursue their educational dreams.

“Our Club Championships have become about much more than competition,” said Montgomerie Links Golf Club Manager Le Vo Hoang Van. “They bring golfers together, showcase everything that makes Central Vietnam such a rewarding golf destination and continue to support an initiative that is making a real difference in our local community.”

(Source: Vietnam Golf Coast Clubs)

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Each sailing is built around four core pillars designed to support a holistic approach to self-care: Culinary nutrition, physical activity, mental wellbeing and education in longevity science. 

Guests can participate in nutrition consultations, cooking demonstrations and culinary workshops.

Sailings

Fort Lauderdale to Las Palmas, Canary Islands | 20 March – 2 April, 2027 — Crystal Symphony.

Panama to New York | 3 August – 3 September, 2027 — Crystal Serenity.

New York to San Juan | 12-21 October 2027 — Crystal Serenity.

Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale | 8-22 November 2027 — Crystal Symphony.

Specialists onboard include Jenni Demus, Yoga and Mental Wellbeing Specialist; Minna McHale, Strength and Fitness Specialist; Lacey Cleland, Fitness and Dance Workout Specialist; Mandi Appelberg, Fitness and Sound Healer Specialist; Eva Estandler, Yoga and Sound Healer Specialist; Chef Abbie Gellman, Culinary Nutrition Specialist; Sabrina Sawall, Yoga and Sound Healer Specialist; and Mary Ann Adornato, Pilates Specialist and Doctor of Physical Therapy.

(Source: Crystal)

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A prominent cultural tourism conglomerate providing leisure and MICE offerings, Chimelong Group aims to support the Asia-Pacific visitor economy through tourism research and the exchange of data and intelligence to drive initiatives that advance responsible tourism practices in the region.

“As one of Asia’s most innovative tourism enterprises, Chimelong Group has demonstrated how world-class attractions and experiences can inspire travel, create economic opportunities, and contribute to destination development,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. 

Key partnership elements 

Enhance the value and perceived value of the Asia Pacific visitor economy.

Strengthen engagement between governments and national tourism organisations.

Promote the benefits of reliable and comprehensive tourism intelligence.

By bringing together PATA’s industry expertise and its global network with Chimelong Group’s innovative approach to cultural tourism and hospitality, the partnership creates opportunities for future cooperation to support the long-term growth and success of the visitor economy across Asia Pacific.

About Chimelong Group
Chimelong Group, established in 1989, is a cultural tourism enterprise operating theme parks, resort hotels, cultural performances, dining, business conventions, and educational programmes.  Over the past 36 years, the group has developed three world-renowned cultural tourism resorts: Chimelong Guangzhou Resort, Chimelong Hengqin Resort, and Chimelong Qingyuan Resort. 
Together, they feature seven major theme parks, nine resort hotels (with over 10,000 rooms), and three international circus theatres. It is ranked among the top theme park groups globally, and Chimelong welcomes over 40 million visitors each year.

(Source: PATA)

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SITA’s Impact Report 2025 sets out how the industry is closing that gap, and the answer is increasingly software rather than steel and concrete.

The industry will carry 8 billion passengers a year within 20 to 25 years, heading toward 10 billion by 2050, according to IATA. Drawn from a year of work with airlines, airports, governments, and travel partners worldwide, the SITA Impact Report 2025 tracks how technology is becoming the principal means by which the industry adds capacity, manages disruption, and reduces its environmental footprint.

SITA CEO David Lavorel, said: “With passenger numbers heading toward 10 billion a year by 2050, the question is unavoidable: how do we move twice as many travellers without doubling our infrastructure? The SITA Impact Report 2025 shows how that shift is already underway. Airports are scaling capacity within existing buildings, avoiding the costs and timelines of new construction. Governments are clearing borders before passengers ever reach a queue or an officer’s booth. AI is moving out of pilot programs and into the operations rooms where flights are run. None of this is one company’s achievement. It is a shared tech transformation, where airlines, airports, governments, and partners are powering the future of air transport together.”

Some of the most visible changes are at the border. In Singapore, residents now move through immigration in 10 seconds with no passport required, using face and iris biometrics, in what is the world’s first passport-less border clearance. In Aruba, pre-cleared passengers complete border processing on arrival in as little as eight seconds, 78% faster than before, by combining digital travel credentials with biometric checks. Behind these visible shifts, more than 271 million travellers a year now receive a risk assessment supported by SITA before they arrive, most of which are completed in under four seconds.

AI is moving in the same direction, out of trials and into live operations. SITA OptiFlight uses machine learning and digital-twin modelling to recommend fuel-efficient climb and cruise profiles to pilots; in 2025, it processed 2.9 million flights for 59 airline customers, saving 127,732 tons of fuel and the equivalent of 403,633 tons of CO₂. 

At Toronto Pearson and Abu Dhabi Airports, AI-driven Total Airport Management tools are recovering minutes per turnaround, gains that compound across the day. At Thai Airways, AI-driven routing in SITA WorldTracer® Auto Reflight automatically rebooks mishandled bags onto the next available flight, reducing reconciliation time from three minutes to one second.

The same technology that scales capacity makes the network more resilient when a disruption hits. In a 2025 proof of concept at France’s Reims Control Centre, air navigation service provider DSNA gave controllers the same live weather picture that pilots and dispatchers already use, cutting weather-driven delays by up to 65% and saving up to 105,000 minutes of delay over 21 days of weather-affected operations. When a 2024 CrowdStrike outage disrupted airline systems worldwide, more than 460 flights continued to run on SITA Maestro DCS. At Hajj 2025, SITA’s around-the-clock operational support and automated incident management kept airline and airport systems running with zero downtime and zero major incidents.

Across the rest of the journey, the industry is moving in a similar direction. Lost luggage has fallen sharply for airlines participating in SITA’s partnership with Apple, now joined by Google: for bags equipped with an Apple AirTag, the number of truly lost bags fell by 90% when location sharing was used through SITA WorldTracer®. In Europe, Frankfurt Airport’s new Terminal 3, designed to handle up to 19 million passengers a year in its initial phase, was delivered around a digital-first common-use design developed with SITA and CCM.

The strong customer relationships outlined throughout the report were also reflected in SITA’s financial performance. Revenue grew 7% to USD1.71 billion in 2025, the fourth consecutive year of 7 to 8% growth, with continued R&D investment, the strategic acquisition of airport interior design leader CCM, and multimillion-dollar co-innovation with over 30 customers through SITA Labs. On its own sustainability, SITA cut emissions by 1.3% year on year, taking total reductions to 32% against a 2019 base year. SITA now sources 90% of its electricity from renewable sources across its offices worldwide.

The full SITA Impact Report 2025 is available at SITA | Impact Report 2025.

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MATTA acknowledges the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence but firmly disputes the recent characterisation by the Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, that diesel subsidies for tourism transport operators would only benefit foreign tourists. 

MATTA strongly believes that a broader view of how these vehicles are used would support the case for their inclusion in the scheme.

“Tourism vehicles serve both Malaysian and international tourists every day. Licensed tourism transport operators provide services not only for inbound visitors but also for domestic holidaymakers, school groups, corporate events, incentive travel, religious pilgrimages, educational tours, and community programmes.

It is therefore incorrect to assume that diesel subsidies for tourism transport operators would benefit only foreign tourists.

To say this subsidy only helps foreigners ignores the reality of how our tourism transport industry operates. This decision, if left unchanged, will raise fares for Malaysians and may even force them to consider utilising unlicensed service providers,” said MATTA President Nigel Wong.

The removal of diesel subsidies will directly increase operating costs for tourism transport operators, which will inevitably be passed on through higher fares and more expensive travel packages for both Malaysians and international visitors.

As the country accelerates its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, higher transport costs threaten to undercut the very affordability that drives domestic tourism and inbound arrivals.  

More affordable tourism services would encourage Malaysians to explore destinations within the country rather than travel abroad, while also enhancing Malaysia’s appeal to international visitors.

This would support the growth of both domestic and inbound tourism, in line with the government’s objectives to strengthen the tourism sector.

Higher tourism activity generates a multiplier effect throughout the economy. Increased visitor arrivals and domestic travel create greater business opportunities for hotels, restaurants, attractions, retailers, transport operators, and local communities.

This translates into higher business revenue, more employment opportunities, increased tax collections, greater foreign exchange earnings, and stronger economic growth. In the longer term, these economic benefits could outweigh the costs of providing targeted diesel subsidies to licensed tourism transport operators.

This issue is especially significant for destinations such as Sabah, where tourism relies heavily on road transportation due to the state’s vast geography and dispersed attractions.

High transport costs risk making destinations across Malaysia less competitive and could discourage both domestic and international travel, particularly as the nation intensifies its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

Tourism is an intensely competitive industry. Malaysia is competing directly with neighbouring Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, many of which continue to provide various forms of support to their tourism sectors. Any increase in operating costs reduces Malaysia’s competitiveness and may divert visitors to alternative destinations.

Since the onset of the global energy price crisis, MATTA has worked closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to address the challenges faced by the tourism industry.  

MATTA has presented its case to the Ministry of Finance for a review of the diesel subsidy programme’s exclusions. 

MATTA’s request for a review

Review the exclusion of licensed tourism transport operators from the diesel subsidy programme, considering the broader Malaysian public they serve.

Engage with MOTAC and industry stakeholders to explore a targeted, well-governed subsidy mechanism for licensed operators.

Consider tourism transport as a strategic enabler of both domestic mobility and the tourism economy, in support of VM 2026.

The government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of tourism as a key contributor to the national economy. Ensuring that tourism transport operators remain competitive is fully aligned with that objective and with the aspirations of Visit Malaysia 2026.

(Source: MATTA)

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Visa shared the latest travel trends shaping the future of tourism across Asia Pacific, as the region enters a new phase of momentum driven by travellers seeking meaningful experiences and by affluent consumers contributing a growing share of tourism spending.

As destinations compete for higher-value visitors, the focus is shifting from visitor volume to deeper engagement, higher spend and repeat visitation.

Visa also unveiled findings from its latest Thailand Travel Pulse report 2026, highlighting the continued strength of Thailand’s tourism recovery and evolving visitor behaviour. 

The report showed that cross-border consumer spending in Thailand grew by 14% year-on-year, reflecting sustained momentum in international travel and growing confidence among global travellers.

The data also underscored Thailand’s enduring appeal among international visitors, with the US remaining the largest inbound market, followed by the UK and Germany. Beyond visitor volumes, the findings point to a more important shift in traveller behaviour; repeat visitors are a major driver of tourism value. While they represented only 20% of total cardholders, they generated 34% of total inbound spending.

The findings further showed that travellers are engaging with Thailand in increasingly diverse and localised ways. While shopping and lodging remained among the largest spending categories, some of the strongest growth came from everyday lifestyle activities, including quick-service restaurants, food and grocery purchases, and dining experiences. This reflects growing demand for more authentic and immersive ways to experience local culture and everyday life.

Visa Thailand Country Manager Anthony Watson said: “As travel becomes more experience-led and digitally connected, the opportunity lies in creating seamless and rewarding experiences that inspire travellers not only to visit, but to engage more deeply, explore more of what Thailand has to offer and return more often.”

Thailand was the first market in Asia Pacific to activate Visa Destinations and the first globally to roll out the programme at a country level, reflecting the country’s strategic importance within the regional tourism landscape and Visa’s commitment to supporting Thailand’s long-term tourism ambitions. 

Through Visa Destinations, Visa works on both sides of its network to attract travellers, elevate visitor experiences, and create greater value for local businesses and communities. By combining VisaNet-powered insights, payment innovation, ecosystem partnerships and expanded acceptance, the programme is designed to strengthen every stage of the traveller journey, from trip planning and booking to payments and on-the-ground experiences.

A key focus of the programme is to encourage longer stays, increase repeat visitation and help more merchants participate in the tourism economy. As part of Visa Destinations Thailand, Visa has already onboarded more than 50 merchants in Song Wat district, helping visitors discover one of Bangkok’s emerging cultural neighbourhoods while enabling more seamless digital payments.

Building on this momentum, Visa aims to expand digital payment acceptance to 56,000 small businesses nationwide, strengthening merchant participation across tourism-related sectors such as dining, retail, accommodation, transportation, attractions, wellness and local experiences. Through these efforts, Visa continues to support Thailand’s ambition to remain a leading global travel destination while creating more seamless, rewarding and inclusive experiences for visitors, businesses and local communities alike.

(Source: Visa)

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The collaboration will improve connections for guests, allowing them to book destinations currently flown by both airlines on a single ticket. 

The agreement was signed in Harare on 7 July 2026, with sales opening on 24 August 2026.

Under the partnership, guests travelling on Etihad can connect onward on Fastjet Zimbabwe to Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Johannesburg, combining travel on both airlines.

The partnership builds on Etihad’s upcoming direct service between Abu Dhabi and Harare, launching on 24 March 2027, extending the airline’s reach beyond the Zimbabwean capital to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, and giving guests across Etihad’s network a simple way to reach them.

For Fastjet Zimbabwe, the partnership also opens the door to Abu Dhabi and Etihad’s wider global network. Those staying in the UAE capital will find a city that rewards slowing down, from the Corniche and the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat to the quiet of the desert beyond the city, with up to two complimentary hotel nights through the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme.

Fastjet Zimbabwe will become Etihad’s 32nd airline partner, with guests in the future enjoying frequent flyer benefits across both airlines.

Etihad Airways Chief Revenue & Commercial Officer, Arik De, said: “Africa is an important part of Etihad’s growth, and partnerships like this one with Fastjet Zimbabwe are how we extend our reach and open up more of the continent for our guests. From Harare to Victoria Falls, travellers can now plan their journey across Zimbabwe on a single ticket, and we look forward to building on this cooperation.”

Fastjet Chief Commercial Officer, Vivian Ruwuya, added: “This partnership opens up the world for our customers in Zimbabwe. From Harare, travellers can now connect onto Etihad’s global network and reach Abu Dhabi and destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and beyond, all on a single ticket. We are proud to give the people of Zimbabwe easier access to so many more places.”

Travel under the partnership is available from 24 August 2026.

(Source: Etihad)

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