KUCHING, 26 August 2024: Sarawaj grabbed the spotlight with an impressive delegation of business event entrepreneurs attending Malaysia’s inaugural EventXpo 2024, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 19 to 21 August.
Organised by MACEOS and co-organised by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau MyCEB, the three-day event was the newest component of the annual Malaysia Business Events Week.
Team Sarawak comprised 14 business events specialist companies and organisations. They delivered their sales pitch at the inaugural EventXpo 2024, headlining the importance of this new specialised show established to position Malaysia as the premier business events destination in the region.
BESarawak team at EventXpo 2024
1. Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) 2. Business Events Sarawak 3. The Official Page of Grand Margherita Hotel Kuching 4. Hilton Kuching 5. Imperial Hotel, Miri – New Wing 6. Deckworks Events & Entertainment 7. Place Borneo 8. Pullman Kuching 9. Pullman Miri Waterfront 10. RH Hotel Sibu Sarawak 11. The Official Page of Riverside Majestic Hotel Kuching 12. Sheraton Kuching Hotel 13. Techno Expo 14. The Waterfront Hotel
In a video interview, the EventXpo 2024 chair, Francia Lee, recognised the role of Myceb and MACEOS in bringing 50 hosted business event buyers and establishing the show with 100 exhibitors and between 200 to 300 delegates who attended a two-day conference on the sidelines of the main event.
BESarawak commented: “EventXpo 2024 provides a new platform for business event players in Malaysia to connect and explore new business markets. MACEOS President Datuk Dr M Gandhi and his team visited the Sarawak pavilion to meet with the 14 exhibitors from Sarawak supporting the inaugural event. Congratulations to MACEOS for organising the first EventXpo. We are so proud to be part of it.”
The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) was established in 1990 to develop and raise the standards of the business events industry nationwide. MACEOS organised EventXpo 2024 to provide a new platform for business event players in Malaysia to connect and explore new markets.
MACEOS president Datuk Dr M Gandhi told Bernama news agency the association is encouraging its members to focus on bringing in relevant technologies and exhibitors from abroad, ensuring these contributions align with Malaysia’s economic and nation-building goals.
“We need to bring the right exhibitors from overseas and introduce technologies relevant to Malaysia, such as in the electric and electronics, aerospace and service industries.
“By fostering strategic international collaborations, MACEOS aims to elevate the local industry while driving sustainable economic growth,” he concluded.
SINGAPORE, 26 August 2024: As the mid-year holiday season winds down, Singaporean travellers embrace the chance to plan a quick getaway during the shoulder-peak travel period.
According to Expedia’s Fall Travel Outlook, released last week, intra-Asia trips remain top-of-mind for travellers. Flight searches for destinations like Tokyo, Bangkok, and Seoul are up by 15%, and average ticket prices for Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou are down 20% or more compared to the summer season.
For budget-minded travellers, autumn is the prime season for deals, as airfares historically drop 20% compared to summer.
For many destinations, it’s “shoulder season,” the sweet spot between tourist high season and seasonal low season when the crowds have dispersed and hotel rates are more wallet-friendly.
Tips and trends from Fall Travel Outlook
• Top fall destinations for Singapore travellers include Tokyo, Bangkok and Seoul, while Chinese cities like Shanghai (+15%), Chengdu (+73%) and Guangzhou (32%) are among the season’s top trending hotspots.2
• For the best deals, travellers should target the week of 15 October, when average international ticket prices (ATP) are the lowest, shaping up to be nearly SGD100 cheaper than during the peak of summer.
“The fall season is one of the best times to travel as the weather cools, seasons change, and travel expenses reduce,” says Expedia Group Brands travel expert for AsiaLavinia Rajaram. “Regardless of the destination, many Singaporeans who want to view the fall foliage should take this opportunity to book a getaway when prices are the lowest during the low-peak travel season.”
Top destinations based on flight searches
• Expedia’s search data highlights nearby Asian countries, such as Tokyo, Bangkok, and Seoul, as the most popular destinations overall for autumn travel. Chinese cities like Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou are also a big draw, as the off-peak season promises lighter crowds frequenting the tourist attractions and lower airfare and hotel prices.
Top for autumn travel
1. Tokyo 2. Bangkok 3. Seoul 4. Taipei 5. Osaka 6. Kuala Lumpur 7. London 8. Hong Kong 9. Shanghai 10. Sapporo
Best and busiest times to travel
• Busiest Travel Dates: The week of 19 November is the busiest, just before the December school holidays.
• Lightest Travel Dates: The week of 24 September is the week of the national examinations, which marks the start of the end-of-school-year assessments.
Shoulder season steals
International destinations with average ticket prices down 20% or more compared to summer include Chengdu, Broome, and Shanghai.
In addition, depart on the week of 15 October to save around 20% compared to the week of 19 November.
To maximise savings when travelling to Thailand, Japan, Malaysia or Korea, book your trip before 30 August 2024 to save up to 25% or more.
ROME, 26 August 2024: Pope Francis will fly to Indonesia on the evening of 2 September on a special ITA Airways flight departing Rome Fiumicino Airport and arriving at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to begin a four-day state visit to the world’s largest Muslin nation.
ITA Airways will deploy an Airbus A330neo to transport Pope Francis on his state visit to Indonesia. Equipped with innovative technologies, this Airbus is lighter, more efficient and quieter, facilitating a 20% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per passenger compared to aircraft from the previous generation.
The logo for Pope Francis’s Sept. 3-6, 2024, visit to Indonesia and its capital, Jakarta (CNS/Holy See Press Office).
Commander Massimiliano Marselli, with 18,000 flight hours of experience, will be the flight supervisor. The entire crew will consist of 13 people, including three pilots and 10 flight attendants, joined by the ITA Airways team dedicated to special flights. As is customary, Italian and international press representatives will travel with Pope Francis in addition to the Papal entourage.
ITA Airways has prepared a flight plan that includes efficient operational procedures, the use of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) for an amount equal to 0.5% of the refuelling needed for flights, and the full offsetting of emissions that cannot be eliminated through participation in a Gold Standard certified CO2 reduction project.
Papal visit starts in Jakarta
Meanwhile, the Nationa Catholic Reporter confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore in September on a 12-day Asian tour. This is the longest trip of his papacy and only the third papal trip to Indonesia, the other two being in 1970 and 1989.
He will visit Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, from 3 to 6 September; Port Moresby and Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, from 6 to 9 September; Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, from 9 to 11 September; and Singapore from 11 to 13 September.
“The visit will focus on encounters with people on the peripheries of nations. He will meet with the elderly, the ill, “street children,” the disabled and all those who minister to them, as well as leaders of government and civil society,” the National Catholic Reporter stated.
With 281.5 million people, Indonesia has the world’s fourth-largest population and has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, according to the CIA’s World Factbook. About 87.4% are Muslim, 7.5% are Protestant, 3.1% are Catholic, and 1.7% are Hindu.
The island nation of Papua New Guinea in Oceania is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. It is the world’s third-largest island country and home to at least 10 million people. It is considered the most linguistically diverse country in the world, with about 840 known Indigenous languages. According to the World Factbook, about 70% of the population are Christians, 26% are Catholic, and 1.4% belong to a non-Christian religion.
Internationally recognised as an independent state in 2002, Timor-Leste had been under Portuguese and Indonesian rule for decades. After years of conflict and instability, Timor-Leste is still one of the world’s poorest nations. Of the country’s 1.5 million people, 97.6% are Catholic, 2% are Protestant or evangelical Christians, and 0.2% are Muslims.
A former British trading colony, Singapore is today one of the world’s most prosperous countries. With a population of 6 million people, 31.1% are Buddhist, 18.9% are Christian (37.1% identify as Catholic) 15.6% are Muslim, 8.8% are Taoist, 5% are Hindu, and 20% identify with no religion.
GURUGRAM, India, 26 August 2024: Air India will temporarily operate additional flights to Kolkata from four Indian cities to meet greater travel demand during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities.
Durga Puja is celebrated for 10 days during the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, typically between September and October.
Starting 20 September 2024, Air India will operate daily, nonstop flights to Kolkata from Bengaluru and Hyderabad for nearly a month. The airline has also increased flights to Kolkata from Delhi effective 15 August and from Mumbai effective 25 September. With these additions, Air India will increase flights on the Delhi-Kolkata route from 28 weekly to 35 weekly and on the Mumbai-Kolkata route from 21 to 28 weekly.
Air India’s flights to and from Kolkata are also timed to enable seamless connections via its Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru hubs to and from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and several European and Southeast Asian countries.
*Scheduled time of departure on Sundays is 1155 Hrs
Bookings for the new flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.
SINGAPORE, 26 August 2024: There’s a strong appetite for ‘destination weddings’ in the Asia Pacific, with Indians heading the list of nationalities keen to tie the knot at popular overseas destinations.
A leading global travel app, Skyscanner, recently partnered with OnePoll to conduct a survey targeting adults planning or having already had their weddings. Findings showed that 68% of APAC adults interested in weddings want to, or have already done, a destination wedding, with Indians topping the leaderboard ahead of Singaporeans, Koreans and Australians. For more information, visit https://www.skyscanner.com.sg/mobile.html
Top takeaways
• A significant portion of APAC adults, around 30%, are willing to invest 26-50% more in a destination wedding compared to a traditional hometown ceremony.
• When it comes to selecting locations, APAC adults are prioritising regions close to home, with respondents from India, Singapore, and South Korea favouring Asia and those from Australia opting for Oceania as their top choice.
• In terms of planning tools, about one-third of respondents reported using social media to assist with their destination wedding plans. Additionally, over 20% of respondents from each market are considering the use of online travel agents, while a smaller percentage are turning to travel meta-search engines and AI-powered search tools.
The survey sampled 2,000 respondents from Australia, 2,000 from India, 1,000 from Singapore, and 1,000 from South Korea, all aged 18 and over. About three in four of the respondents from India had attended a destination wedding before. On the other hand, two-thirds of South Koreans have not attended one before, and more than half of Australian respondents have not.
Cost matters in APAC
Parental approval is the top consideration for Indians, while in Australia, Singapore, and South Korea, cost and budget considerations are the top priorities for over 75% of those interested in weddings when choosing a destination. In contrast, while cost/budget is the third most important factor in India (41%), parental approval (50%) and tradition/culture hold greater significance (44%).
MANILA, 26 August 2024: The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco calls for 24/7 tourist courts to speed up the resolution of tourist cases.
She proposed the matter during a recent meeting with President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr in Malacañang, during which the President agreed that the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should work alongside the DOT to investigate and prosecute crimes related to tourists.
Photo credit: DOT. Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
“We are now working with the DOJ, and we will be collaborating with the judiciary department for the establishment of a 24-hour tourist court to resolve crimes related to our tourists,” the Secretary said during a briefing for the proposed budget of the DOT for the 2025 fiscal year held at the House of Representatives in Quezon City last week.
The DOT is also beefing up police forces across strategic locations of the country, primarily in areas with a high concentration of tourists. Over 8,000 police personnel have already been trained under the Department’s Tourist-Oriented Police for Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) Programme.
The tourism chief emphasised that the DOT is also working with the Department of National Defense (DND) to strengthen the strategic development of tourism, especially in key areas of the country.
As of 19 August 2024, the Philippines welcomed 3,860,730 international visitors, of which 92.05% or 3,553,720 are foreigners, while the remaining 7.95%, 307,010, are overseas Filipinos. The top 10 source markets are South Korea, the United States of America, Japan, China, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia.
SINGAPORE, 26 August 2024: Air Astana will launch direct flights from Astana to Phuket, Thailand’s largest resort island on 26 October 2024.
The new service will operate three times weekly, in addition to the existing Almaty to Phuket service, which currently operates five times weekly and will go daily on 26 October 2024.
The new service from Astana will operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, departing at 2140 and arriving in Phuket at 0745 the following day. The return flight will depart Phuket on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 0930 and arrive in Astana at 1610. All times local. The flight duration is eight hours and five minutes outbound to Phuket and eight hours and 40 minutes on the return sector.
All Phuket flights will be operated by Airbus A321LR aircraft, which are configured with 16 business class seats and 150 economy class seats. The fully lie-flat business class seats and ergonomic economy class seats offer passengers enhanced comfort and are equipped with individual entertainment system screens.
A round-trip economy ticket, including fees, starts at USD 698. Tickets are already on sale at the airline’s website or through authorised travel agencies.
BANGKOK, 23 August 2024: Song Wat Street owes its name to King Rama V. In 1906, after a catastrophic fire ravaged Sampheng, the king personally sketched out a new road, stretching straight from the Ratchawong River pier along the Chao Phraya River to Charoen Krung Road, to improve the area’s layout. This 1.2-kilometre thoroughfare, Song Wat, meaning “drawn by the king”, is a tangible testament to His Majesty the King’s urban planning foresight.
The century-old buildings in Song Wat retain their original charm.
Once a vital link to steamship piers and a hub for distributing goods, Song Wat Street played a pivotal role in international trade, handling diverse products from seeds and flours to herbs, soaps, seafood, and even gemstones. This rich commercial history fostered the growth of numerous corporations and firms. The street is home to the historic “Chia Tai” seed shop, today’s Charoen Pokphand Group.
Two decades ago, as the city expanded, a ban on 10-wheeler trucks was implemented in the city centre. Song Wat Street underwent a significant transformation.As businesses struggled with distribution, some adapted while others left, leaving behind empty shophouses. This shift turned the street into a wholesale district for plastics and toys.
Song Wat Street has witnessed the passage of time, evolving from a bustling commercial centre into a vibrant new identity. A fresh generation of entrepreneurs is now breathing life into the street, forging a harmonious blend of heritage and modernity. Their passion is the brushstroke that paints a vivid picture of a community where past and present coexist in perfect balance.
Song Wat gained renewed attention around 2016 when it became a canvas for international street artists. A mural featuring two colossal elephants in a playful pose on a building, one of the art exhibition’s highlights, has become a familiar symbol of the street. The infusion of art into the once-forgotten neighbourhood’s fabric has begun to transform Song Wat, attracting those with an interest in arts and lifestyle. New businesses, including cafes, art galleries, and hostels, have emerged, contributing to Song Wat’s evolution into the vibrant place it is today.
Vibrant murals and graffiti transform the streets of Song Wat into an open-air art gallery.
Creative minds behind PLAY arthouse: Kiattiwat and Patcharin Srichanwanpen.
Kiattiwat Srichanwanpen, founder of the art gallery PLAY Arthouse and a lifelong resident of Song Wat, has witnessed the neighbourhood’s evolution through three distinct phases. He succinctly captures Song Wat’s essence in three words: “Old Meets New.” A testament to this spirit, Kiattiwat and his wife, Patcharin, transformed his father’s former shoe warehouse into an art gallery. Now one of the icons of Song Wat’s transformation, the gallery’s striking blue exterior is a familiar sight on the street.
“Song Wat has a magnetic pull for the passionate. It’s as if the street invites those genuinely wanting to share their art, craft, or heritage. Drawing on the neighbourhood’s unique energy, these individuals integrate their passions into its expression. PLAY arthouse, founded a few years back, is among examples, born from a vision to showcase art and provide a creative space for all.”
In the post-COVID-19 era, Kiattiwat partnered with young entrepreneurs to form ‘Made in Song Wat’. Together, they organized a small arts and crafts event to revitalize the area. Their efforts successfully drew visitors’ attention. The group also collaborated on creating a guidebook and social media campaign to introduce the area as a destination. By working closely with long-time residents and shop owners and drawing on his deep understanding of the neighbourhood as a resident himself, they established a model for community-driven destinations.
Today, Song Wat is a living canvas where people and time have painted their strokes. The street illustrates its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while embracing the future. Beyond the trendy cafés, art galleries, and hostels housed within historic buildings, visitors will discover the legacy of the area’s bustling commercial past. This includes wholesale shops, toy stores, warehouses, second-hand auto parts businesses, known as Xiang Gong, and wood barrels. Even century-old Chinese bun recipes and noodle shops continue to delight. Exploring the surrounding neighbourhoods, one can encounter businesses that have weathered the test of time, dating back to the era of maritime hemp rope and gemstones.
Architecture enthusiasts will find intricate details in century-old shophouses, including woodwork, stucco decoration, and stained glass. Even the aromas tell a story: in one corner, the scent of freshly brewed speciality coffee mingles with the fragrant spices of a neighbouring, old-time Chinese herbal shop.
When asked about Song Wat’s future, Kiattiwat, both an entrepreneur and resident, shared: “I envision Song Wat sustaining its momentum independently, orchestrated and driven by its most valuable resources: its heritage and its people, shaping Song Wat into a destination with its own unique character.”
Exploring Song Wat and its Surroundings:
Arteasia Cafe, located on the second floor of The Fruit Building, still preserves the beauty of its antique stained-glass windows.
Preserving the past: Heritage businesses in Song Wat and its neighbouring area keep traditions alive.
The original home of the Charoen Pokphand Group offers a glimpse into the company’s beginnings.
A unique fusion of old and new: FV Cafe combines contemporary art with a traditional wooden house from Mukdahan, nestled in a renovated building in Song Wat.
HONG KONG, 23 August 2024: HKIA handled around 4.8 million passengers in July, representing a 24.7% year-on-year growth, reaching a post-pandemic high, the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) reported earlier this week.
Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA) air traffic statistics for July 2024 indicated flight movements increased to 31,100, up 29.3% compared to July 2023.
AAHK received the Excellence in Surveying Award and the Grand Award in Construction (Infrastructure) in recognition of the reclamation project for the Three-runway System development.
During July, cargo throughput was up 14.6% to 414,000 tonnes. Passenger traffic maintained growth momentum in July as daily passenger traffic exceeded 170,000 on peak days.
On 28 July, HKIA handled 173,000 passengers, reaching a post-pandemic high. All passenger segments, including Hong Kong residents and visitors and transfer/transit passengers, registered significant growth compared to the same month last year. Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China, and Japan recorded the most significant monthly increases.
Since the beginning of the year, cargo throughput at HKIA has continued its consecutive double-digit year-on-year growth. Export cargo remained the main growth driver, increasing by 16.8% compared to the same month last year. Cargo traffic to and from key trading regions in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East increased significantly during the month.
Seven months’ passenger volume
For the first seven months of the year, passenger volume rose to over 30 million while flight movements increased to 205,830, recording a growth of 47.5% and 44.1%, respectively, compared to the same period of 2023. Cargo traffic experienced a double-digit annual increase of 17.4% to about 2.8 million tonnes.
On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume doubled to 49.2 million, while flight movements increased by 63.1% to 339,080. Cargo throughput increased by 15.7% to 4.7 million tonnes.
AAHK gains award for land reclamation project
Meanwhile, at the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors Awards 2024, AAHK received the Excellence in Surveying Award and the Grand Award in Construction (Infrastructure) in recognition of the reclamation project for the Three-runway System development. The Awards commend and recognise the exceptional achievements of surveyors and promote sustainable development in Hong Kong.
AAHK Executive Director of Third Runway Tommy Leung said: “It is our great honour to receive these distinguished accolades. The expansion of HKIA into a Three-runway System involves reclaiming 650 hectares of land. Thanks to the team’s expertise, innovations, and perseverance, the reclamation works were completed as planned despite many challenges, including the pandemic. The awards recognise the team’s exceptional achievements.”
DUBAI, 23 August 2024: dnata Travel reports high demand for international trips as travellers seek to escape the heat for a last-minute summer break.
Bookings for August and September 2024 are up by more than 50% compared to last year.
For the remainder of the summer, dnata Travel’s most popular destinations for international travel from the UAE remain consistent with trends reported early in the season, with Thailand, Maldives, Turkey, the UK, and Mauritius seeing the most demand. Other destinations with cooler temperatures across Europe are also popular, alongside the winter landscapes of New Zealand and South Africa.
The travel agency supports thousands of travellers with last-minute requests online at dnataTravel.com and across its 14 UAE-based retail outlets. The dnata Travel stores in Dubai Hills Mall, Mercato Mall, and Dubai Mall witness the highest demand for walk-in bookings.
Dnata Travel Head of Retail and Leisure UAE Meerah Ketait commented: “Travellers are seeking to make the most of last-minute offers this summer, either for a final getaway before the schools start or to enjoy a retreat before the season ends. Many opt for European escapes where summer is in full swing, offering sun-filled days to explore vibrant cities or relax on beautiful beaches. For those seeking cooler weather, late winter in South Africa and New Zealand is trending. Thailand and the Indian Ocean also remain popular, offering excellent rates and a wider spread of locations booked from the UAE than ever before.”
Highlight holiday offers with savings and added extras, including locations trending for summer 2024, the Maldives, Thailand, and Mauritius. In the ever-popular Maldives, a dnata Travel summer holiday package includes a three-night stay in a Water Villa with Pool and Slide at the 5-star Siyam World Maldives, with 20% savings on a traveller’s stay. Access to the resort’s premium, 24/7 All-Inclusive package includes return domestic flight transfers and economy class flights, from AED8,595 per person.
To explore trending destinations from the UAE with dnata Travel, visit www.dnataTravel.com
