SINGAPORE, 30 January 2026: Discova has appointed Michaela Connor as General Manager of Discova Educational Travel, a division of the global destination management company headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, with country offices across Asia.
Connor has already been working closely with the team since mid-January as she prepares to step into the role, with a clear focus on what schools, universities, and agent partners need most: strong safeguarding, thoughtful programme design, and trusted, consistent delivery on the ground.
Photo credit: Discova. Michaela Connor.
She brings broad experience across travel leadership and risk-led practice, with a track record of strengthening standards, building capable teams, and setting clear expectations. That perspective is critical in educational travel, where duty of care and responsible practice are non-negotiable.
As general manager, she will lead DET to its next phase of growth, supporting partners with programmes that are academically purposeful, delivered safely, and built with local expertise.
Meanwhile, Discova Education Travel has appointed Raymond Wong as head of programme operations. Tricia Loh took on the assignment of Singapore Country Manager for Discova earlier this month. She has been leading the Malaysia team since last year, and will also start overseeing Discova’s business in Singapore.
Discova is a global destination management company, owned by the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG).
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 January 2026: Preliminary traffic figures for the full calendar year 2025 released yesterday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed robust growth in both international air passenger and cargo markets, underpinned by resilient economic conditions and healthy travel demand, even as trade and geopolitical uncertainties remained elevated.
For the year, the region’s airlines carried a combined 390.5 million international passengers, a solid 9.4% increase from 2024. Demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rose by 11.0%, reflecting relative strength on long-haul routes, while intra-regional traffic remained buoyant, supported by regional economic growth. Continued network expansion drove a 10.2% annual increase in available seat capacity, resulting in a 0.5 percentage point rise in the average international passenger load factor to a record 82.2% in 2025.
Amid a challenging operating environment marked by tariffs on Asian and major global economies, air cargo markets benefited from the rapid adaptation of global supply chains. As a result, Asia Pacific airlines recorded a 5.6% increase in international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), in 2025. Continued expansion in belly-hold space contributed to a 6.8% increase in offered freight capacity, leading to a 0.7 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 60.3% for the year.
Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General, Subhas Menon, said: “Asia Pacific carriers saw a year of strong growth in international passenger traffic, supported by robust demand across key markets in the region, including China, India, Japan and Vietnam. This resulted in a 9.4% increase in the number of international passengers carried for the year.”
“In addition, Asia Pacific airlines recorded a 5.6% increase in international air cargo demand in 2025, building on the strong 14.9% growth achieved in 2024. The region’s carriers demonstrated agility in responding to changes in trade policies and market dynamics, while benefiting from continued growth in e-commerce demand and intermediate goods flows from manufacturing hubs across the region.”
Looking ahead, Menon added: “The broader outlook for air travel remains positive in 2026, supported by steady economic growth and continued network expansion. Air cargo demand is also expected to continue growing, but may be weighed down by trade tensions in the global economy.”
“At the same time, Asian airlines continue to face inflationary pressures on operating costs, partly reflecting ongoing supply chain disruptions. Overall, Asia Pacific airlines remain focused on active cost management, investments in digital capabilities, and network adjustments in response to market changes, as they navigate ongoing uncertainties while delivering sustainable, long-term growth.”
SINGAPORE, 29 January 2026: Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess has added two speciality dining venues — Makoto Ocean and Princess’s signature, guest‑favourite steakhouse Crown Grill, further elevating the onboard culinary experience.
Reservations are now available for all sailings.
Photo credit: Princess Cruises.
Diamond Princess is currently sailing round-trip from Singapore, offering a range of immersive itineraries throughout the region, visiting destinations including Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, before returning to Japan on 10 February for a sold-out 14-day cruise where guests can celebrate Valentine’s Day as well as Chinese New Year onboard.
Makoto Ocean
Makoto Ocean, which premiered onboard Sun Princess and Star Princess, brings the refined artistry of Chef Makoto Okuwa’s Edomae-style sushi to Diamond Princess. Located on Deck 7, the venue showcases a premium menu of signature dishes such as truffle salmon, snow crab temaki and toro tartare, paired with handcrafted cocktails inspired by Japanese flavours, including the Genmai Negroni and Kodai No Hana, which blends yuzu juice with traditional Doburoku sake. The restaurant reflects Princess Cruises’ continued commitment to elevated, globally inspired dining at sea.
With popular restaurants in Miami Beach, Washington, D.C., Vail, Sao Paulo, Madrid and Panama City, Chef Okuwa has showcased his skills on Food Network’s Iron Chef America. The prestigious James Beard Foundation has recognised him.
Crown Grill
Also debuting is the award-winning Crown Grill, a longtime Princess guest favourite set in the former Savoy Dining Room on Deck 5. Featuring premium aged beef, chops and fresh seafood, the steakhouse offers an elegant, welcoming atmosphere and attentive service. Crown Grill has consistently been recognised among the “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses at Sea.”
Both speciality dining venues are priced at US$55 per person and are included with the Princess Premier package.
“With Makoto Ocean and Crown Grill now onboard Diamond Princess, and also recently added onboard sister ship Sapphire Princess, we’re proud to enhance the guest experience as Diamond Princess sails across Asia and as we look ahead to our dual-ship Japan season in 2027,” said Princess Cruises Vice President of Food and Beverage Sami Kohen.
Historic Japan season in 2027
In a historic first for the cruise line, Princess Cruises will offer its most expansive Japan season ever in 2027, featuring Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess sailing from the Tokyo region throughout the entire season. Marking a major milestone for the brand’s legacy in Asia, the 2027 programme includes 78 departures across 50 unique itineraries, with voyages ranging from seven to 28 days, making it Princess’s most robust Japan deployment to date. The March–December 2027 Japan season is now open for sale.
Sister ships built in Japan
Diamond Princess, at 115,875 tons and accommodating 2,670 guests, is a sister ship to Sapphire Princess, both built in Japan. This important distinction underscores Princess Cruises’ long-standing legacy in the region and deep connection to Asia.
Diamond Princess features the largest onboard Japanese bath complex at 820 sqm, offering guests both outdoor and indoor bathing experiences.
DUBAI, UAE, 29 January 2026: Emirates Skywards has partnered with the UK’s favourite airline, Jet2.com, to offer members flight rewards to more than 75 destinations across the leading leisure airline’s network. The award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai continues to expand its portfolio in the UK to offer its four million members more opportunities, rewards and travel choices.
Emirates Skywards, Divisional Senior Vice President Dr Nejib Ben Khedher said: “The UK is one of our top markets, and we’re pleased to expand our portfolio to offer millions of members a chance to redeem flight rewards on popular holiday destinations served by Jet2.com. In addition to flight tickets, members can also redeem Miles for meals, extra baggage allowance, preferred seat selection, and more – making it possible to enjoy the perfect start to a holiday, fully covered by Skywards Miles. We’re always looking for new ways to expand our offerings and provide members with the best value, choice, and rewards a loyalty programme can offer.”
Starting from 8,000 Skywards Miles
Starting from 8,000 Skywards Miles, including all fees, members can now enjoy convenient redemption options to popular leisure destinations served by Jet2.com. The UK’s third largest airline operates from 14 airport bases, including London Gatwick from March 2026, to destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Canary Islands.
To illustrate the benefits of this new partnership:
Emirates Skywards members can travel from London to Sydney via Dubai on a round-trip Premium Economy Flex Plus ticket and earn 18,000 Miles, which can then be fully redeemed for a Jet2.com round-trip flight ticket from London Stansted to Majorca, Spain.
Emirates Skywards members can also book two round-trip flights with Emirates from Manchester to Dubai in Business Class Flex and earn 21,000 Miles, which can then be fully redeemed for a Jet2.com round-trip flight ticket from Manchester to Salzburg, Austria, for a ski trip.
BANGKOK, 29 January 2026: Building on three consecutive years of presence in Thailand’s travel marketplace, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) continued its engagement at the Thai International Travel Fair (TITF) Bangkok 2026, held from 22 to 25 January 2026 at the Queen’s Park Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), reinforcing Sarawak’s long-term commitment to the Thailand market in support of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Thailand continues to show positive year-on-year growth for Sarawak, reflecting the effectiveness of sustained engagement and collaborative promotional efforts. Visitor arrivals in 2025 exceeded those of the previous year, reinforcing Thailand’s role as a growing market within Sarawak’s ASEAN outreach.
From right: H.E. Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Thailand, and YB Datuk Razali bin Idris, Terengganu State Chairman of Tourism and Arts, at the Sarawak booth during TITF Bangkok 2026.
“Thailand is a market where Sarawak has built sustained visibility and trust through long-term engagement,” said Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board. “Our presence at TITF Bangkok 2026 reflects our focus on deepening trade collaboration, strengthening Sarawak’s role as Malaysia’s Gateway to Borneo, and translating market confidence into measurable visitor growth as part of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.”
As part of the Malaysia Pavilion led by Tourism Malaysia, Sarawak’s presence at TITF Bangkok 2026 directly supported Malaysia’s national tourism promotion efforts and aligned with Tourism Malaysia’s efforts.
Malaysia’s projected target of 43 million visitor arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The engagement also forms part of Sarawak’s EDGE Strategy, specifically under Elevate to enhance international destination awareness, and Diversify to strengthen Thailand as an emerging market in ASEAN, complementing Sarawak’s traditional source markets of Indonesia and Singapore.
TITF Bangkok 2026 marks the Sarawak Tourism Board’s third participation at the Thai International Travel Fair, following previous engagements in Bangkok (2024) and Chiang Mai (2025). This sustained presence reflects a deliberate, long-term strategy to build destination recognition, trade confidence, and consumer familiarity in the Thai market.
Throughout the four-day fair, STB promoted Sarawak’s tourism offerings across culture, nature, and experiential travel, engaging Thai consumers seeking regional and international travel inspiration.
The Board also conducted networking and discussions with Thai travel agents, tour operators, airline partners, and industry stakeholders, laying the groundwork for future collaborations, improved air connectivity, promotional initiatives, and familiarisation programmes.
Sarawak’s continued presence at TITF reflects a broader strategy of consistent, multi-year market engagement, reinforcing destination visibility through repetition, trust-building, and sustained messaging rather than one-off participation.
As Visit Malaysia Year 2026 unfolds, Sarawak remains committed to playing a meaningful role within the national tourism narrative, positioning itself not only as a destination to visit, but as Malaysia’s Gateway to Borneo, offering immersive experiences rooted in culture, nature and authentic connection.
CEBU, 29 January 2026: The 45th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) officially opened on Wednesday, 28 January in Cebu, Philippines, positioning the region firmly at the forefront of global tourism dialogue, as National Tourism
Organisations (NTOs) convened for high-level meetings and ministerial-level discussions as part of the week-long programme.
More than 1,000 delegates are participating in over 30 meetings, business sessions, educational forums, and networking events, including ATF TRAVEX, the forum’s three-day travel trade show, which concludes on Friday when the flag to host ATF 2027 passes to Singapore.
Designed to maximise productivity and commercial outcomes, ATF TRAVEX 2026 enables exhibitors and buyers to pre-schedule up to 100% of their business appointments ahead of arrival.
This year’s TRAVEX has attracted buyers from 50 countries and territories worldwide to the exhibition venue at the newly opened Mactan Expo Centre in Cebu.
The TRAVEX opening ceremony kicked off with Filipino cultural performances followed by an official walk-through of the exhibition hall led by senior government officials and ASEAN representatives, formally marking the opening of ATF TRAVEX 2026.
For the 1,000-plus delegates attending ATF 2026, the highlight remains the annual presentation of awards at the 35th ASEANTA Tourism Awards of Excellence, held on Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
The ASEANTA Tourism Awards recognise initiatives that set the benchmarks for excellence, innovation, sustainability, and collaboration across Southeast Asia.
35th ASEANTA Tourism Awards of Excellence – Winners
● Best ASEAN Convention Centre: SMX Convention Centre, Philippines
● Best ASEAN Cultural Preservation Effort Award: Borneo Nature Tours Malaysia
● Best ASEAN Eco-Lodge: Borneo Nature Tours, Malaysia
● Best ASEAN Hotel Package: Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa, Malaysia
● Best ASEAN Marketing & Promotional Programme: AirAsia MOVE, Malaysia
● Best ASEAN New Tourism Attraction Award: Enchanted Kingdom Inc, Philippines
● Best ASEAN Sustainability Program: Sudamala Resorts, Indonesia
● Best ASEAN Tour Operator: CSL Travel & Tours, Cambodia
● Best ASEAN Travel Article: Shroff Travel, Philippines
ATF 2026 also featured a comprehensive programme of official functions, including a hosted lunch by Tourism Malaysia on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, at Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort and on Thursday, 29 January, the reception and dinner hosted by Singapore Tourism Board as the host destination for ATF 2027.
KOTA KINABALU, 29 January 2026: Sabah has strong potential to further develop as a cruise tourism destination, amid growing interest from international cruise operators.
This was conveyed to the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, during a meeting with cruise industry players.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai with SATS-Creuers Cruise Services chief executive officer Gregory Tan (centre) and Marella Cruises head of marine and operations Joel Christopher Hipple (left).
The meeting followed a site visit by cruise players, including representatives from SATS-Creuers Cruise Services, Singapore Tourism Board, and international cruise liners, to explore tourism offerings in the state capital.
SATS-Creuers Cruise Services chief executive officer Gregory Tan said cruise operators are constantly seeking suitable day-excursion attractions for passengers, noting that Mari-Mari Cultural Village and Kinabalu Park remain a popular option among cruise visitors.
“Cruise ships typically arrive early in the morning and depart by sunset. As such, it is important to have a wider range of accessible attractions in the city and suburbs to enhance the overall passenger experience,” he said.
Marella Cruises head of marine and operations, Joel Christopher Hipple, said Sabah has the potential to attract more cruise ships, noting that port infrastructure, particularly berth depth, is an important consideration.
Kota Kinabalu Port has a depth of approximately nine metres, while Sandakan Port is about seven metres deep, with some waterways hindered by sandbanks, he explained. Sandakan was highlighted as a strong nature-based destination, offering readily accessible attractions for cruise passengers.
Joniston added: “Collaboration between STB and cruise industry players can be further strengthened to better how we can jointly promote cruise tourism and Sabah in general, especially for short-stay and day visitors, by leveraging cruise ship arrivals”.
He was also briefed on Suria Capital Holdings’ efforts to bring more cruise ships to Sabah, with 25 cruise ship calls confirmed this year, bringing in close to 30,000 passengers.
In 2025, Sabah recorded 23 cruise ship calls with 24,634 passengers, comprising 19 ships calling at Kota Kinabalu Port and four at Sandakan Port – nearly double compared with 2024, which saw 14 ships and 16,727 passengers. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Sabah recorded 30 cruise ship calls in 2019, with 36,183 passengers.
PENANG, 29 January 2026: Guided by the theme ‘Simply Penang’, the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) led the 9th edition of the Penang Roadshow to India 2026, 19 to 27 January, covering four major cities in India.
PCEB said the roadshow reflected Penang’s long-standing commitment to the Indian market, which has strengthened bilateral ties in tourism and business events.
Photo credit: PCEB.
The roadshow covered four major Indian cities — Mumbai (19 January), New Delhi (21 January), Kochi (23 January) and concluded with Chennai (27 January). The programme engaged with more than 800 qualified business event buyers and over 100 media representatives across the four cities, connecting Penang directly with decision-makers across the leisure, corporate, incentive and meetings sectors.
As of November 2025, Penang had received over 42,367 visitors from India, marking a significant rise that has propelled India from outside of the top 10 source markets in 2024 to become one of Penang’s top six international source markets. This underscores India’s strategic importance as Penang intensifies its global outreach efforts ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026).
The continued visa exemption for Indian nationals until 31 December 2026 will further enhance accessibility, reinforcing Malaysia and Penang’s competitiveness as preferred destinations for both tourism and business events.
Penang’s strong performance extends beyond leisure tourism. By November 2025, the destination hosted more than 2,900 business events, generating an estimated economic impact of MYR1.3 billion, with final figures for December currently being consolidated. These outcomes reflect Penang’s mature business events ecosystem, robust infrastructure, professional services and its ability to deliver high-value,high-impact events across multiple sectors
2026 marks a defining milestone for Malaysia’s tourism industry through Visit Malaysia Year 2026, a national campaign designed to elevate Malaysia’s global profile and accelerate tourism growth.
For Penang, VM2026 presents a timely opportunity to amplify international market engagement, attract higher-yield visitors and reinforce its standing as a leading destination for both tourism and business events.
Initiatives such as the Penang Roadshow to India 2026 play a critical role in advancing this agenda — strengthening market confidence, deepening partnerships and ensuring Penang remains front-of-mind among global travel and events decision-makers.
HONG KONG, 29 January 2026: The Cathay Group releases traffic figures for December 2025, achieving a new passenger milestone during the year-end travel peak, Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau reported last week.
“December marks the traditional peak season for our travel business. Driven by strong demand, the group’s passenger airlines, Cathay Pacific and HK Express, together carried more than 125,000 passengers on 27 December 2025, the highest single-day total in our history.
Photo credit: Cathay Group.
“In 2025, Cathay Pacific and HK Express carried a combined total of more than 36 million passengers, representing a 27% year-on-year increase. This was supported by a significant expansion in passenger capacity, with Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) growing by over 25% compared with 2024. Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo handled over 1.6 million tonnes of cargo in 2025, up more than 9% from 2024.
” Stepping into 2026, we are excited to launch a series of events and initiatives as we welcome Cathay’s 80th anniversary. As we mark this milestone, we remain committed to elevating our customer experience and reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as a leading international aviation hub, guided by our new vision of becoming our customers’ most loved service brand.”
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific carried 22% more passengers in December 2025 compared with December 2024, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) increased by 23%. In the full year of 2025, the number of passengers carried increased by 27% compared with the same period in 2024.
In early December, the airline saw robust inbound traffic to Hong Kong from visitors to friends and relatives, as well as students returning from North America, Oceania, and the UK. This was followed by increased inbound traffic to Hong Kong from Northeast Asia, Thailand and India over the year-end holiday period.
Lau explained: “In terms of outbound traffic, we saw a surge in leisure travel demand during the holiday peak, notably to Northeast and Southeast Asia. The Chinese Mainland also emerged as a key destination, with travellers from Hong Kong exploring a wide variety of cities across our network.
“Bookings for the Lunar New Year are accelerating as customers begin making travel plans following the year-end holidays. Beyond February, we will focus on capturing demand from major events in Hong Kong and around the region until the next leisure peak at Easter.
“In addition, we are pleased to have recently been named among the world’s top two safest full-service airlines for 2026 by Airline Ratings, underscoring our unwavering commitment to safety excellence.”
Cathay Cargo
Cathay Cargo carried 6% more cargo in December 2025 than in December 2024, while Available Freight Tonne Kilometres (AFTKs) increased by 8%. In the full year of 2025, the total tonnage increased by over 9% compared with the same period in 2024.
Tonnage remained strong in December, despite a 3% decrease from the previous month as the festive season approached. Demand for our Cathay Fresh solution was strong, with the Air-Land Fresh Lane facilitating movements of seasonal produce from the Americas into the wider Greater Bay Area.
HK Express
HK Express carried more than 780,000 passengers in December 2025, an increase of 24% year on year, while Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs) grew by 19%. In the full year of 2025, the number of passengers carried increased by 30% compared with the same period in 2024.
Lau said: “Buoyed by strong travel demand during the festive season, HK Express carried more passengers and achieved a higher load factor in December 2025 compared with December 2024. Looking ahead, HK Express is expected to maintain year-on-year passenger growth as it continues to expand its network.”
KUALA LUMPUR, 29 January 2026: AirAsia rewards, the loyalty arm of Capital A, teams up with Versa, a leading digital wealth management platform, to deliver enhanced value to members.
The loyalty platform delivers a strategic partnership that expands AirAsia rewards through Versa, a digital wealth management app with a portfolio of financial services.
Photo credit: AirAsia
The partnership offers a seamless value proposition that incentivises healthy financial habits with Versa alongside travel and lifestyle rewards within the broader Capital A ecosystem. The AirAsia points earned can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, rides, and more via the AirAsia MOVE app.
Capital A Chief Operations Officer Subashini Silvadas said: “At AirAsia rewards, we are focused on expanding the utility of AirAsia points and ensuring members get more rewards from their everyday transactions. Integrating wealth management through this partnership with Versa is a strategic move to deepen customer engagement and diversify the ways our members can earn and utilise their AirAsia points.”
Versa Chief Marketing Officer Keith MacFarlaine said: “At Versa, we believe saving and investing grow little by little, shaped by the choices we make every day. Building good financial habits should be simple, rewarding, and even enjoyable. Through our partnership with AirAsia rewards, we want to show that financial wellness and joyful living can truly go hand in hand.”
AirAsia members who sign up as new users on the digital wealth management platform and make a minimum deposit of MYR100 will receive a MYR15 Versa Welcome Reward and 400 AirAsia points.
Follow these simple steps to earn AirAsia points with Versa:
Step 1: Tap on Points balance on the AirAsia MOVE app and click redeem now on the “Free MYR15 Welcome Reward + 400 AirAsia points” banner to redeem by using 400 AirAsia points.
Step 2: Go to “My Vouchers”, tap “Use Now” to reveal your unique link, then tap the link to download the Versa mobile app and sign up as a new user using the same email as your AirAsia MOVE account.
Step 3: Cash in at least MYR100 into any Versa product.
Step 4: Get rewarded, receive MYR15 in your Versa account, while 400 AirAsia points are returned to your points balance – the rewarding start to a smarter financial journey.
