HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 December 2024: Vietravel Airlines has appointed VIT AIR (Thailand) as its general sales agency following the signing of a cooperative agreement last week.
Vietravel Airlines general manager Dao Duc Vu signed on behalf of the airline. Under the terms of the new general sales agency agreement, VIT Air will embark on sales activities to boost the number of Thai passengers flying the Vietnamese low-cost airline while supporting the airline in promoting its image, sales promotion, and business opportunities in the Thai market.
VIT AIR is a travel company registered under the Miramar Group Thailand. Founded in 1994, It has almost 30 years of experience in aviation and tourism. Currently, VIT AIR is the general agent for Asian airlines such as Srilanka Airlines, Greater Bay Airlines, SkyAngkor Airlines, Tiger Air Taiwan and Lucky Air.
Over the last two years, Vietravel Airlines has established daily flights on the Bangkok – Hanoi and Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh City routes.
The airline also seeks opportunities to expand operations between Vietnam and Thailand, operating both charter and scheduled flights, by focusing on secondary destinations in Thailand, such as Khon Kaen, Buriram, and Udon Thani in Northeast Thailand.
MANILA, 4 December 2024: Air France will inaugurate a new service linking Manila (Philippines) with its global hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, effective 7 December.
The airline will operate three direct flights weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday using an Airbus A350-900, offering 34 seats in business, 24 seats in premium, and 266 in economy (total seats 326)
Flight schedule
AF208 will depart Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) at 2320 on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, arriving in Manila (MNL) at 1930 (plus a day).
AF209 will depart Manila at 2150 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, arriving at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 0550 (plus a day).
Manila is also a KLM destination with four weekly flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
The introduction of Manila marks Air France’s fifth new route for the winter timetable 2024-2025. During this timetable period, the airline will inaugurate new routes to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil, three flights a week from 28 October 2024), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, three flights a week from 18 November as an extension from Zanzibar), Malé (Maldives, up to two flights a week from 20 December), and Kiruna (Sweden, one flight a week from 21 December).
BANGKOK, 4 December 2024: Thai AirAsia X has resumed its direct flight services to and from Sydney, Australia, operating from its main hub at Don Mueang International Airport.
The inaugural flight from Bangkok took off on 1 December 2024, and returned from Sydney today. The Bangkok-Sydney service offers six weekly flights using Airbus A330s with 300 seats.
The new route launch makes Thai AirAsia X the only low-cost airline providing direct services from Bangkok-Don Mueang to Sydney, Australia, offering seamless connections for passengers travelling from Sydney to a wide range of destinations across the AirAsia Group network. These include favourite destinations among Australian travellers such as Krabi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai and popular international destinations such as Japan, South Korea, India and China.
Thai AirAsia X CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said: “The return of Thai AirAsia X to Sydney comes along with an enhanced flight network within the AirAsia Group that will give travellers the much sought-after convenience and seamlessness, especially with our FlyThru connections to over 50 popular destinations.”
“Operating from Don Mueang greatly enhances connectivity with AirAsia Group’s extensive network, particularly to destinations in India, where there is a strong and growing demand for travel to Australia. Our FlyThru service also provides a hassle-free experience, allowing guests to travel seamlessly as they only need to clear immigration and collect their luggage at the final destination,” Tassapon.
Thai AirAsia X currently operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A330 aircraft. The airline now serves eight destinations from Bangkok, with direct flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (China), Sydney (Australia), and Delhi (India).
KUCHING 3 December 2024: Borneo’s biggest international energy expo and summit is coming to Kuching Sarawak in July 2025, hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty) Sarawak and supported by the State Government of Sarawak.
A biennial event, the 6th edition of the International Energy Week (IEW), will be held from 15 to 17 July 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, adopting the theme: “Transitioning Towards A Net Zero Carbon Future.”
Expo space is now open to exhibitors starting at MYR1350 per sqm.
First held in 2009, the International Energy Week (IEW) is recognised as the most prominent international event in East Malaysia, celebrating the future of energy.
A pivotal platform gathering top-level decision-makers, policymakers, innovators and thought leaders to converge to shape the trajectory of sustainable energy.
Against the backdrop of Borneo Island’s natural beauty and rich biodiversity, this event explores cutting-edge technologies and renewable energy solutions, dialogue on environmental stewardship, global energy transitions and investment opportunities in Borneo and the region.
KOTA KINABALU, 3 December 2024: Sabah welcomed 667 passengers and 547 crew aboard the MS Seven Seas Explorer last week on a cruise itinerary that explored Borneo Island destinations: Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia.
Sabah Tourism welcomed passengers on its Facebook post, saying, “We’re delighted to have you dock in the vibrant heart of Borneo. Though your stay may be short, we hope you’ll enjoy the charm of Kota Kinabalu — its landscapes, cuisine, and warm, friendly people.”
Traditional welcome for Seven Seas Explorer passengers
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Sabah welcomed 2.41 million visitors (domestic and international) during the first nine months of 2024, and tourism-generated revenue reached MYR5.62 million.
According to State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew, Chinese visitors made up 39% of the total count.
It represented a 28.3% cent increase compared to the same period last year.
Bernama quoted the minister as saying, “This impressive growth is attributed to increased flight connectivity, with 98% of arrivals via air travel. Sabah currently benefits from 377 weekly domestic flights offering 66,546 seats, linking the state to various regions across Malaysia.
“On the international front, Sabah is linked to 17 destinations through 126 weekly flights, with a total capacity of 23,394 seats,” she reported.
SINGAPORE, 3 December 2024: G Adventures has dusted off its crystal ball, crunched its booking data, and tracked the latest travel trends to serve up its annual ‘Where to Travel’ list, highlighting destinations that should be top of travellers’ wishlists for 2025.
There are some surprises in the destination list, starting with Pakistan, which rarely gains a shoutout from trending destination lists released by online booking sites.
Booking trends rocketed through October and November, with over 200 new trips on the tour operator’s books, suggesting 2025 will be a big year for travel.
In line with the global small-group adventure operator’s commitment to community tourism, many of the ‘Where to Travel’ destinations include brand-new itineraries that take travellers to remote communities that have yet to access the benefits of the tourism chain.
The ‘Where to Travel’ list:
Pakistan
Bosnia
Tibet
Thailand
Morocco
Philippines
South Africa
Greece
Portugal
Japan
1. PAKISTAN
A brand new destination for G Adventures in 2025, Pakistan appeared on the traveller’s radar in recent months with its offer of hiking trips.
Working hand in hand with local communities, G Adventures has launched three new trips in Pakistan, focused on bringing tourism to the ancient Thallay La Trail. Having been the only link between the ancient kingdoms of Khaplu and Shigar for centuries, the trail was vital for the trading and survival of these communities throughout history. With the introduction of modern-day roads, the trail was deemed redundant, used only by a handful of hikers each year. The new trips will offer travellers the opportunity to spend the night in the original castles and forts of Khaplu and Shigar while hiking through mountain passes, past glaciers and communities that, until now, have been unable to access the tourism chain.
2. BOSNIA
Rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, delicious food, and a refreshing lack of crowds are just the start of a compelling list of reasons to visit Bosnia. Add in the fact that travellers can make a real impact in helping to boost this nation’s recovery just by visiting; it’s clear that Bosnia should be high on any travel wishlist. Thanks to a new visa-free travel policy, passport holders from 50+ nations no longer need a visa to enter Bosnia, making it easier than ever to plan a holiday there. This year, G Adventures collaborated with the Resilience Council and USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) to introduce new trips designed to create jobs, raise awareness about the region’s rich history, and encourage cultural exchange – a prime example of tourism supporting locals and assisting the recovery and sustainable development of a nation.
3. TIBET
There’s no place like Tibet — known as “the roof of the world” with its breathtaking high-altitude landscapes, ancient monasteries, and the warm hospitality of its people. While travellers must join a group tour or book a guide to visit, China’s recent easing of visa restrictions makes it easier to explore this extraordinary region. Now is the perfect time to get immersed in traditional Tibetan life and support local communities, take in stunning views of Mount Everest, and marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage site Potala Palace as we return to Tibet for the first time since 2020.
4. THAILAND
Thailand is no “undiscovered” secret, but its ongoing allure lies in the fact that the second, third and even tenth-time visitor will always be able to discover something new and surprising. Hit TV series White Lotus, returns to screens in 2025 with a third series, and Jurassic World Rebirth will hit the big screens with dramatic scenes filmed in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
5. MOROCCO
New direct flights, the launch of remote active adventures and booming booking stats place Morocco on a long list of why travellers are opting to travel to this North African gem.
G Adventures has launched 13 new trips in Morocco for 2025, from four-day Marrakech city breaks to hikes in the high Atlas Mountains that take a step away from the usual hiking trails and instead visit rural communities, desert gorges and the Berber oasis of Amtoudi. The new Geluxe collection, which launched in 2024 and offers upgraded active experiences for more mature travellers, has seen Morocco take top spot on the most popular destination list.
6. PHILIPPINES
While tourism to the Philippines has been slower to recover compared to some of its Asia neighbours, the expansion of international flights is expected to bring pre-pandemic traveller numbers back to the islands in 2025. G Adventures will be relaunching in the Philippines next year, offering young, solo and culture-seeking travellers the opportunity to explore these unique islands with nine new trips, each heavily focused on interaction and supporting local communities. Often celebrated as a backpacker haven, the new trips will showcase the incredible nature, jungles, people and culture that make the Philippines an incredible destination for all travellers.
7. SOUTH AFRICA
Southern Africa is emerging as a must-visit destination for travellers seeking incredible value, especially those passionate about wildlife. Recent data shows a growing trend among older travellers seeking affordable safari experiences. G Adventures has expanded its offering, making its fully refurbished fleet of ‘Lando’ overland vehicles available to all age groups in 2025.
8. GREECE
Although Greece remains a perennial favourite among travellers, exploring its quieter islands is becoming a rising trend. Smaller islands like Paros, Antiparos, and Naxos are stepping into the spotlight, offering a tranquil alternative to their busier neighbours. G Adventures travellers have realised that one of the best ways to avoid crowds, support local communities and bypass the increasing tourist tax is by exploring by small boat. With numbers up 31% since 2022, G Adventures has introduced five state-of-the-art custom-built yachts for the 2025 sailing season, which visit lesser-known islands with flexible itineraries tailored to the group’s pace.
9. PORTUGAL
Defending its place on the Where to Travel list for a second year running, traveller interest in Portugal shows no signs of slowing down, with G Adventures seeing over 50% growth in the past two years. While beaches, charming streets, and a buzzing culinary scene may be the first things that come to mind for Portugal, for those willing to look a little deeper, the lesser-visited mountain villages close to the Spanish border remain Portugal’s best-kept secrets. G Adventures’ new ‘Geluxe Collection’ gets travellers off the tourist trail and into the historic Schist villages for hikes that take you back in time.
10. JAPAN
With the World Expo 2025 taking place in Osaka next year, bookings for Japan have skyrocketed 150% over the past two years, G Adventures has super-charged its Japan offering with the introduction of 12 new trips for 2025, which are closely aligned with the World Expo theme, focusing heavily on physical activity, active experiences and lesser-visited, remote regions. From trekking the rugged peaks of Hokkaido’s Shiretoko National Park, where travellers can get their hands dirty digging their onsen, stay in a traditional ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), hike through primaeval forest areas, to visiting often-overlooked islands in the south, where sea kayaking, days aboard a ‘sabani’ (traditional Okinawan sailboat) and hiking waterfalls are all on the agenda.
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 December 2024: Tourism Malaysia welcomed VietJet Air’s inaugural flight between Hanoi (HAN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) last week, which marked a significant milestone in enhancing regional air connectivity.
The airline deploys an Airbus A320 to provide daily direct flights with a weekly capacity of 1,260 seats on the roundtrip route. The service complements the well-established daily direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur.
“We are delighted to collaborate with VietJet Air to introduce this new route, which will significantly boost tourism and economic ties between Vietnam and Malaysia,” said Tourism Malaysia Director General YBhg Datuk Manoharan Periasamy. “This new route is a step forward in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a regional hub,
perfectly aligned with Visit Malaysia 2026’s goal to attract international visitors while promoting sustainable and accessible travel options.”
VietJet Air has a fleet of 100 Airbus jets serving destinations across the Asia-Pacific from its hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
SINGAPORE, 3 December 2024: Flight data from Expedia’s Winter Travel Outlook shows a 15% increase for year-end travel as Singapore travellers eye a range of Chinese cities and look for off-season deals.
Many of the season’s top and fastest-growing destinations are cold and wintery locations like Tromso (+53%) and Atlanta (+42%), with Asian cities heavily in the mix.
Photo credit: Expedia.
Tips on where to go and how to save
Singapore’s top winter season destinations for travellers include Sapporo (+17%), Tokyo (+13%), and Bangkok (+2%). The fastest growing are Shanghai (+36%), Guangzhou (+22%), and Shenzen (+17%)*.
Based on historical airfare prices compared to mid-year travel, destinations that offer strong seasonal savings include Kuala Lumpur, Phu Quoc, and Bangkok.
*Based on Expedia Singapore flight and hotel search data from 1 Jul to 31 Oct 2024, for the travel period of 1 Nov 2024 to 31 Jan 2025, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Expedia’s Biggest Sale of the Year
There is just one day left for Singapore travellers to grab a good hotel deal with Expedia’s biggest Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales that ends at midnight on 4 Dec.
Expedia Rewards members can score savings on hotels and packages for travel until 15 Dec 2025*.
Here’s what to expect:
Expedia Rewards Members can save on select hotels and packages on the Expedia app. When booking as a member on the app, you can save 30% or more on select hotels. Hotel savings can also apply when you bundle your hotel with a flight. On the Expedia app, Expedia Rewards Members can save 30% off or more and score special perks like upgrades at select top-rated VIP Access hotels.
With the CNY public holidays falling on a Wednesday and Thursday (29 to 30 Jan) in Singapore, expect residents to take advantage of the long holiday for family reunions or to travel overseas.
Based on flight search increases during the CNY period for 2025, international favourites are Phu Quoc (+170%), Chiang Rai (+53%), Guam (+37%), Chiang Mai (+35%), and Beijing (+31%).
JOHOR BAHRU, 3 December 2024: Tourism Malaysia celebrated the inaugural Batik Air flight connecting Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), Thailand, to Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, effective 1 December.
As part of the celebration, Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with Batik Air, hosted a three-day/two-night familiarisation trip for Thai tour agents to strengthen tourism ties and foster greater cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia.
Batik Air’s inaugural Bangkok-Johor Bahru flies Thai travel agents for a hosted fam trip.
Tourism Malaysia supports new flight routes and airline Expansion, especially linking secondary destinations to hub cities. The policy recognises their importance in increasing tourist arrivals and supporting economic growth. This new route underscores Tourism Malaysia’s commitment to connecting Malaysia with key ASEAN markets.
The inaugural flight took place on Sunday, 1 December 2024 and introduces daily direct flights between Bangkok (DMK) and Johor Bahru served by a Boeing 737-800 with 167 seats.
Flight schedule
OD530 departs Johor Bahru (JHB) at 1215 and arrives in Bangkok (DMK) at 1350. OD531 departs Bangkok at 1505 and arrives in Johor Bahru at 1835.
Batik will face tough competition on the route as Thai AirAsia flies 11 times weekly using an A320 (180 seats).
Tourism Malaysia Director-General YBhg Datuk Manoharan Periasamy said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Batik Air on this new route and to host the familiarisation trip for tour agents from Thailand. This initiative aligns with our goals of advancing ASEAN cooperation and regional tourism while emphasising Malaysia’s dedication as it assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
He added, “Strengthening connectivity between key cities in ASEAN and second-tier destinations like Johor Bahru is vital to fostering greater regional integration and showcasing Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings.”
The increased seating capacity on the DMK-JHB route allows travel agencies to create packages for the Thai market, encouraging more travellers to discover Johor Bahru.
This initiative also underscores Malaysia’s role within the ASEAN region. It aligns with the vision of Visit Malaysia 2026, which aims to attract 35.6 million foreign tourists and generate MYR147.1 billion in tourist receipts.
SINGAPORE, 3 December 2024: SAS expands its intercontinental network with a new direct route between Copenhagen and Seoul, starting 12 September 2025.
It will be the first-ever scheduled direct service between Scandinavia and Korea and will operate four times weekly during the summer season and three times weekly in winter.
SAS President & CEO Anko van der Werff.
Connecting Scandinavia with one of Asia’s busiest hubs will complement SAS’ network reach and strengthen Copenhagen’s role as a gateway for intercontinental travel. This route will also cater to the growing demand among travellers from Korea to visit Scandinavia while providing connections through the SAS network to the rest of Europe.
With the launch of Seattle in May 2025, SAS will offer 14 intercontinental destinations from Copenhagen, connecting to over 100 destinations across Europe. This expansion underscores SAS’ commitment to establishing Copenhagen as a premier global hub, enhancing its role in connecting Scandinavia to the world.
“This new route highlights our commitment to meeting customer demand and enhancing connectivity between two dynamic regions. Seoul, renowned as a global centre of culture, innovation, and business, is a strategic addition to our growing network,” said SAS President & CEO Anko van der Werff.
“As a proud SkyTeam member, I believe this route further strengthens the seamless connectivity we provide, linking Scandinavia to key destinations across the globe. We are excited to welcome passengers on board this landmark service”.
Flights are scheduled with evening departures, optimising European connectivity and maximising travellers’ time at their destination. The route will be operated by an Airbus A350, with 300 seats.
Flight schedule
SK987 will depart Copenhagen at 2340 and arrive in Seoul Incheon at 1815 (plus a day) SK988 will depart Seoul Incheon at 2345 and arrive in Copenhagen at 0605 (plus a day)
South Korea has seen a surge in interest from Scandinavian travellers in recent years, driven by its rich cultural heritage and global phenomena like the Korean Wave, which includes the global popularity of K-pop, Korean dramas, and food.
Visitors to Seoul can explore a mix of futuristic skyscrapers and historic palaces, lively shopping streets, cutting-edge technology, and world-renowned cuisine. Seoul is also a vital business centre with strong links to Scandinavia, particularly in green technology, digital industries, and innovation.
Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs for international freight, handled over 2.76 million tons in 2023.
*The new route is subject to final governmental approval.
