KUCHING, 15 December 2025: China’s Loong Air launched direct flights last week from Shenzhen (SZX) to Kuching (KCH), the capital of Sarawak, Malaysia, starting with a weekly scheduled charter every Tuesday in December
Announced by the Ukas Sarawak government news portal, the official press release stated the airline plans to introduce additional direct routes to Kuching from Hangzhou and Guangzhou by March 2026.
Photo credit: Ukas).
This new route is expected to significantly boost tourism and business connectivity between China and Sarawak during the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
Flight schedule Flight time is four hours and 15 minutes using a 172-seat A320 on the route. One-way fares start at USD130.
GJ8055 departs Shenzhen (SZX) at 0830 and arrives in Kuching (KCH) at 1245 (Tuesday). GJ8056 departs Kuching (KCH) at 1955 and arrives in Shenzhen (SZX) at 0005 (Wednesday).
Sarawak’s tourism authorities rolled out the red carpet on 9 December for the inaugural Loong Air charter from Shenzhen, marking the first direct air connection between the southern Chinese tech hub and Kuching. The Airbus A320 arrived with 85 passengers.
VisaHQ (www.visahq.com/china/) noted that for Chinese companies in Guangdong and Zhejiang, the link provides a one-stop service via Shenzhen to Sarawak’s energy and agri-processing clusters, shortening journey times for project teams.
Malaysia, which grants 30-day visa-free entry to Chinese nationals, expects increased air services from China to support its goal of welcoming 5 million Chinese visitors in 2026.
Sarawak’s Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS), Datu Wong Hee Sieng, representing Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, welcomed the inaugural flight alongside Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Xing Weiping.
Datu Wong said increased arrivals will generate economic spillover, particularly for Kuching’s tourism and hospitality sectors. He also noted that improved connectivity could encourage additional airlines from China and other regions to consider operating in Sarawak, further strengthening bilateral ties between China and Malaysia, especially in the state,” according to the UKASnews report.
For more information on Sarawak’s tourist attractions, visit the Sarawak Tourism Board.
SYDNEY, 15 December 2025: Crystal, the leader in exceptional cruise experiences, has confirmed its 2028 winter and spring season itineraries aboard Crystal Serenity.
The programme features warm-water sailings across the Caribbean, Central America and the Amazon, followed by a spring transatlantic crossing to the Azores.
Photo credit: Crystal.
The season concludes in Lisbon, where the ship will enter a scheduled dry dock for enhancements. Crystal Serenity’s itinerary complements the previously announced 2028 World Cruise aboard Crystal Symphony, Treasures of the Tides: A Global Odyssey, which will visit 84 destinations across 39 countries on six continents.
Crystal Serenity: January – April 2028 itinerary highlights
January: Round-trip sailings from Fort Lauderdale. Ports of call include the British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, the historic city of Cartagena, Colombia and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.
February: The 25-day Amazon voyage, which begins in January, continues with calls in Manaus and remote river communities. This voyage may be linked with adjacent sailings to form the Caribbean Circle Grand Voyage, encompassing 14 Caribbean islands and five countries in Central America.
March: Warm-water sailings across Cartagena, Roatán and Belize.
April: April begins with late-season warm-water sailings calling at Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic. The month continues with a transatlantic voyage to the Azores, timed to coincide with the spring migration of baleen whales, including blue, fin, and, to a lesser extent, sei whales. The voyage concludes in Lisbon, where Crystal Serenity will enter dry dock for scheduled enhancements.
Crystal Grace: Inaugural 2028 season
Crystal Grace will begin her inaugural voyage on 11 June 2028, sailing from Rome to Venice. She will continue her summer season throughout the Mediterranean before arriving in New York City in September. From there, she will explore the Northeast and Canada and conclude the year with sailings across the Caribbean. Additional details will be announced soon. Crystal Grace’s 2028 inaugural season is scheduled to go on sale in April 2026, with a waitlist opening shortly.
SEOUL, 15 December 2025: Air Premia, South Korea’s hybrid airline, announced last week its plan to launch four weekly scheduled flights on the Incheon (ICN)–Washington Dulles (IAD) route starting 24 April 2026.
Washington, DC is home to the US federal government, major international organisations, and research institutions, generating steady demand from the public sector, diplomatic, and business travellers.
Photo credit: Air Premia — Michael Holly DJ&co.
According to data from South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Air Transport Information Portal, 175,273 passengers travelled this route in 2024, with 158,760 travellers recorded through November this year — demonstrating consistently substantial traffic.
With Air Premia’s launch, travellers can expect additional capacity, more competitive fares, and expanded connecting options.
The new Incheon–Washington Dulles schedule operates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, departing Incheon International Airport at 1005, arriving at 1050 local time in Washington, DC.
The return flight departs Washington, DC at 1320 and arrives in Incheon at 1745 on the following day. Tickets are available for purchase starting 15 December.
With the addition of Washington, DC, the airline will offer a balanced North American network spanning the US West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco), the East Coast (New York, Washington, DC), and Hawaii.
An Air Premia spokesperson said: “Washington, DC, is a strategic route with consistently strong demand from government, international organisations, and research institutions. As we expand our North American network, we aim to provide even greater travel flexibility and convenience for both leisure and business passengers.”
Air Premia is a South Korean airline based in Seoul. It describes itself as a “hybrid airline”, providing a higher level of service than low-cost airlines while having lower operating costs than larger, full-service airlines. The airline was founded in 2017 by Kim Jong-chul, the former president of Jeju Air.
SINGAPORE, 15 December 2025: Royal Caribbean has unveiled the newest lineup of voyages exploring the Caribbean in the summer of 2027.
Starting April 2027, families and vacationers can book Royal Caribbean ships, from the bold new Legend of the Seas and amplified Allure of the Seas to more getaways from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral (Orlando), Tampa, Florida; New Orleans; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cartagena, Colombia; and Colon, Panama.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas is the newest addition to the fleet, delivering summer 2026 adventures to Europe ahead of its grand Caribbean debut from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2026.
The latest 2027-28 seasonal adventures are now available on Royal Caribbean’s website.
Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas is the newest family vacation set to deliver summer 2026 adventures to Europe ahead of its grand Caribbean debut from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2026.
Allure of the Seas
From Fort Lauderdale starting May 2027, the Oasis Class cruise ship will return to Fort Lauderdale for the summer, offering six and eight-night adventures to the Western and Southern Caribbean.
Freedom of the Seas
From Miami starting April 2027, Freedom is set to sail all season long from Miami on four, five, seven and nine-night adventures around the Caribbean.
Adventure of the Seas
From Port Canaveral (Orlando) starting April 2027, Adventure will spend the summer and winter seasons in Port Canaveral (Orlando). Travellers have a choice of four, five and nine-night vacations.
Enchantment of the Seas
From Tampa, Enchantment will deliver shorter four and five-night Western Caribbean getaways beginning in November 2027.
Grandeur of the Seas
From San Juan starting May 2027, Grandeur will kick off the summer in San Juan with seven-night Southern Caribbean sailings and visits to hot spots like Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Philipsburg, St Maarten and Castries, St. Lucia.
MUMBAI, 15 December 2025: Thomas Cook (India) Limited has announced the launch of TACY, its personified AI-powered holiday travel assistant.
It underscores the company’s commitment to pioneering innovation in the travel sector and represents a significant advancement in customer engagement, offering immersive, conversational experiences that seamlessly integrate technology with travel.
Photo credit: Thomas Cook India.
Positioned as the digital face of Thomas Cook India’s product portfolio, TACY makes her debut with the early launch of the company’s flagship Europe Summer 2026 offerings.
Heralding a new era of AI-driven engagement, TACY will progressively expand to additional destinations. The portfolio features 1,000+ guaranteed departures, 15+ value-led holidays, and curated itineraries across Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Scandinavia, catering to diverse segments including families, couples, and groups.
As part of this rollout, Thomas Cook India has created a range of AI-generated videos covering Europe featuring TACY — designed to inspire travel, highlight brand and product USPs, and guide customers through the decision-making process.
Beyond personifying the avatar and producing engaging video content, the company is leveraging traditional media in innovative ways for a digital-first audience, including QR codes that seamlessly direct viewers to the website and videos. This initiative reinforces Thomas Cook India’s innovation-led approach to engagement, blending technology, storytelling and personalisation to connect with travellers like never before.
Thomas Cook (India) Limited, President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation, Abraham Alapatt added: “India is among the fastest growing digital economies in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic traveller demographics. Our customers are digital-first and curious, and they expect interactive engagement that goes beyond traditional marketing. With TACY, we are pioneering a new era of marketing innovation — creating immersive, conversational experiences that resonate with new-age travellers. This initiative is perfectly timed with the launch of our flagship Europe Summer 2026 portfolio and extending to other destinations, enabling us to connect with customers in a way that is intuitive, engaging and future-ready.”
BANGKOK, 15 December 2025: I began this rail journey on the Thailand–Burma Death Railway line* in the morning at Bangkok’s Thonburi Railway Station, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Ceiling fans turned lazily above wooden benches. Vendors poured coffee into plastic cups. The train waited patiently, worn but dependable, its carriages carrying the quiet authority of long service rather than modern polish. This was not a journey for haste. It was a journey for attention.
Thailand’s Kanchanaburi bridge made famous by the epic 1957 war movie Bridge on the River Kwai, starring William Holden and Alec Guinness.
As a child, I remember encountering WH Auden’s Night Mail, the celebrated 1936 poem written for the GPO Film Unit film of the overnight postal train running north from London to Scotland. What struck me then, and still does now, is how Auden makes language behave like machinery. The poem begins deliberately, then gathers pace, the metre (rhythm) tightening as the train accelerates, the words themselves starting to run, clatter, and surge like wheels on rail.
That memory returned as I climbed aboard the train in Bangkok. Here, too, was a train with a voice. But unlike Auden’s mail train, this one did not build towards speed or efficiency. Its rhythm felt restrained, almost cautious, as though the rails themselves remembered what they had once been asked to bear.
Important travel notice for rail passengers
Despite being Bangkok’s new flagship rail hub, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, still widely known as Bang Sue, does not serve trains to Kanchanaburi or the Death Railway.
All public passenger services to Kanchanaburi, the River Kwai Bridge, Hellfire Pass access points, and the line’s terminus at Nam Tok depart exclusively
from Thonburi Railway Station, on the west bank of the river. These are local State Railway of Thailand services that remain rooted in the historic western alignment and have not been transferred to the new central terminal.
Travellers arriving in Bangkok at Krung Thep Aphiwat must therefore cross the city to Thonburi Station by taxi, bus, or river boat. There are no direct services, no through tickets, and no seamless interchanges. In many ways, this is appropriate. The journey to the Death Railway does not begin in a cathedral of glass and steel, but in a modest riverside station where the past is never far from view.
The journey westbound
The 0745 SRT ordinary service eased out of Thonburi with a gentle shudder. Tickets are simplicity itself. A flat fare of THB100, bought at the station on the day. No reservations. No seat numbers. Third class only; open windows and fans overhead.
This is railway travel reduced to its bare essentials. As the train threads its way out of Bangkok’s western suburbs, the city slowly releases its grip. Concrete yields to canals and low-lying farmland. Rice paddies appear. Water buffalo stand motionless in the heat. Inside the carriage, life is unremarkable and quietly human. Students heading home. Elderly couples with shopping bags. A monk gazing out of the window. A handful of travellers drawn by history rather than novelty.
The dramatic railway appears to cling to the sheer mountainside, offering breathtaking views
The train pauses at Nong Pla Duk Junction, the official starting point of the Thailand–Burma Railway. From here, the track curves north-west towards Kanchanaburi, following a route that once carried unimaginable weight.
By late morning, we roll into Kanchanaburi Station, a modest provincial stop forever linked to one of the most painful chapters in railway history.
Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai
Kanchanaburi exists in two timelines at once. There is the present, with cafés, guesthouses, and riverside walks. And there is the past, which asserts itself with quiet persistence.
A short walk leads to the bridge on the River Kwai, its steel spans instantly recognisable. Popular culture has softened its image, but the reality is more sobering. This bridge formed part of a supply route built by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War to support campaigns in Burma.
Nearby, the JEATH War Museum provides essential context. Its displays are unvarnished and sometimes confronting. Photographs of emaciated prisoners. Tools worn smooth by forced labour. Reconstructions of bamboo huts where men were housed, starved, and driven to exhaustion. JEATH stands for Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai, and Dutch, reflecting the nationalities most closely bound to the railway’s history.
Night mail, and what came after
Auden’s Night Mail famously celebrates motion and purpose. In a brief, well-known passage, he writes:
“This is the Night Mail crossing the Border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order…”
The lines surge forward, their cadence quickening as the train presses north through darkness, stitching a nation together overnight.
Here, on Thailand’s western line, the rhythm felt altogether different.
The train did not hurry. It did not surge. Its cadence remained measured, almost grave. The rails carried memory rather than momentum. And so, as the wheels settled into their steady beat, another rhythm formed in my mind, shaped by this place and its past.
Steel on steel through jungle night, Stone cut hard by torch and bite. Wheel on wheel, no time to slow, Tracks remember what we owe…
Where Night Mail celebrates progress, this railway demands remembrance.
The Death Railway
The Thailand–Burma Railway stretched approximately 415 kilometres between Ban Pong in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma. Construction took place between 1942 and 1943 under conditions that defy easy description. Jungle terrain, monsoon rains, tropical disease, starvation, and systematic cruelty combined to produce one of the deadliest engineering projects of the 20th century.
More than 60,000 Allied prisoners of war were forced to work on the line. At least 12,000 to 13,000 died from disease, exhaustion, malnutrition, and brutality. The suffering of Asian civilian labourers, often referred to as romusha (Japanese for labourers), was even greater. Conservative estimates suggest 80,000 to over 100,000 deaths, many unrecorded and unnamed.
This was not simply hard labour. It was deliberate dehumanisation.
Hellfire Pass
No section of the railway embodies that brutality more starkly than Hellfire Pass, also known as Konyu Cutting. Here, prisoners were ordered to cut through solid rock using hand tools, often working through the night by torchlight to meet impossible deadlines.
Survivors described skeletal figures silhouetted against flame, hammering stone in a narrow cutting, the air thick with dust and despair. The name Hellfire Pass was not a poetic exaggeration. It was a literal description.
Today, the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre preserves the cutting and its history with restraint and dignity. Walking the path is a silent experience. The rock faces loom close. The railway bed remains visible. It is impossible not to imagine the sound of tools striking stone, the enforced rhythm of labour driven by fear rather than purpose.
A railway that still runs
From Kanchanaburi, the line continues past the River Kwai Bridge to Nam Tok, passing wooden trestle bridges and cliffs that fall sharply to the river below. Trains still run daily. School children still ride them. Life continues along the line.
Yet this is not a heritage railway in the nostalgic sense. It is a functional line that carries memory, whether acknowledged or not.
As I rode back towards Bangkok later that afternoon, the train’s pace felt deliberate, almost respectful. There was no accelerating urgency, no rising tempo as in Auden’s poem. Instead, the rhythm remained steady and unyielding, as though each turn of the wheel marked not progress, but responsibility. This is not a journey taken lightly. Nor should it be. But it matters.
Morning service: SRT Ordinary Train No. 257 departs at approximately 0745.
Afternoon service: SRT Ordinary Train No 259, departs approximately 1355.
Journey time: Around 2.5 to three hours to Kanchanaburi.
Fare: THB100 (USD3), purchased at the station on the day.
Line continues to: River Kwai Bridge and Nam Tok.
About the author Andrew J Wood is a British travel writer and former hotelier who has lived in Thailand for more than three decades. A past Director of Skål International and former President of Skål International Asia and Thailand, he writes extensively on travel, tourism, and heritage across the Asia-Pacific region. His work focuses on journeys where place, history, and human experience intersect.
*Editorial note and heritage disclaimer This article examines a railway line shaped by war, forced labour, and immense human suffering. Built during the Second World War, the Death Railway claimed the lives of thousands of Allied prisoners of war and Asian civilian labourers through brutality, disease, and starvation. The journey is presented in the spirit of remembrance and historical accuracy, not as a romanticised travel experience. Readers are encouraged to approach the railway and its associated sites with respect, recognising them as both a working line and a living memorial.
DUBAI, UAE, 11 December 2025: This December, Emirates is sprinkling seasonal magic across every customer’s journey, inviting passengers to embrace the warmth, wonder, and whimsy of Christmas from departure to destination.
As the airline prepares for more than 2.3 million departures and 2.5 million arrivals in the coming weekends, those flying with Emirates can expect generous touches of festive flair, from winter-inspired menus in global lounges to treasured traditions served at 40,000 feet.
Classic Christmas cuisine above the clouds
Throughout the month, customers will be greeted with hallmark tastes of the season, beginning with aromatic festive hot chocolate served in all classes, from 17 to 26 December. Between 24 and 26 December, travellers departing Dubai will receive seasonal mini treats including dark chocolate truffles in Economy Class, homemade gingerbread cookies in Premium Economy and Business Class, and a decadent raspberry Paris-Brest pastry in First Class.
In First, Business, and Premium Economy Class, the Christmas table is reimagined with a global culinary lens – beginning with dishes like salmon gravadlax marinated in beetroot and orange, delicately pickled herring with potato and quail egg salad, or smoked salmon crowned with crab mayonnaise and salmon roe. The main courses bring the nostalgia of a traditional holiday feast – classic turkey with jus, chestnut and turkey bacon stuffing, truffle potato gratin, caramelised chestnuts, and roasted brussels sprouts alongside new chef-curated creations on select routes, from herb-crusted lamb shank with jus, braised cabbage and butternut squash, to duck confit glazed in cranberry jus lié, and seared venison enriched with sage butter and blackberry sauce. For dessert, a constellation of festive sweets awaits, with First Class guests also receiving an edible Santa Claus sculpted from fresh strawberries and cream.
Economy Class customers can look forward to unwrapping their own festive feast of roasted turkey with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade and maple-roasted parsnips, followed by orange-soaked traditional fruit cake, or a mini mousse cake featuring one of Santa’s reindeer—especially designed for younger travellers.
At the A380 Onboard Lounge, the merriment continues with artisanal sweet treats such as mince pies, stollen, panettone, festive macarons, ginger profiteroles, dark chocolate ganache, cranberry financier, hazelnut and cranberry jars, biscotti, and candy canes. For savoury savants, a hearty Christmas sandwich layered with turkey, roast beef, cheddar, cranberry sauce and chilli tomato relish is the ultimate snack for the festive season. For some extra festive fun, guests at the A380 Onboard Lounge can grab Emirates’ new seasonal selfie props and take a perfect picture to mark the season.
Lounges: Festive fare with flair
From 15 to 31 December, Emirates’ First and Business Class lounges in Dubai transform into winter-warm culinary havens where guests can savour traditional roasted turkey with jus and cranberry sauce, glazed chestnuts, root vegetables, Brussels sprouts, and new potatoes, paired with festive cocktails such as Emirates’ Cognac Crème Panettone. The holiday mood extends to a thoughtful Champagne selection, with Moët & Chandon Ice Brut and Ice Rosé paired with specially created sorbets, Grand Vintage 2016, Imperial Brut, Rosé Imperial and Nectar Imperial, served alongside elegant new canapés including foie gras bonbons and miso-pumpkin tart. Classic seasonal desserts from traditional stollen and mince pies dusted with vanilla sauce to Emirates’ homemade apple pie with cinnamon ice cream or cranberry sorbet complete the experience. Visitors can also warm up with gingerbread lattes or Galaxy hot chocolate crafted by Costa Coffee.
Across Emirates lounges worldwide—spanning Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the UK and the USA—guests will find timeless Christmas dishes tailored to each region.
A celebration of Christmas cheer
In the elegant ambience of First Class, the celebrations extend to the world of fine wine. Throughout December, Emirates will debut the exceptionally rare Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2, 2006, a vintage known for its luminous energy and refined depth, with aromas of tangerine peel, apricot, white pepper, passionfruit and mint. Two remarkable wines from the Emirates’ exclusive cellar will also be poured – the illustrious Montrachet Grand Cru 2013 – Bouchard & Fils, among the rarest wines ever served onboard, and Château Montrose 2005, a robust Second Growth from Saint-Estèphe.
Business Class customers will have the opportunity to sample a curated array of wines over the season, from Château Larrivet Haut-Brion 2010 and Château Oliver 2010 to Beaune du Château 1er Cru Bouchard Pere et Fils 2020, Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2021 and Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2020.
Premium Economy customers will experience wines ranging from Tenuta Luce Lucente 2021 and Chablis Saint Martin Michel Laroche 2023, or can choose to heighten the festive mood with an exceptional sparkling wine and global exclusive to Emirates – Chandon Vintage Brut 2018.
Delicious dishes for Orthodox Christmas
From 24 December to 8 January, Emirates will celebrate Orthodox Christmas on flights between Russia, Cyprus, Ethiopia and Dubai. First and Business Class menus will feature appetisers such as Olivier salad, lobster tail with celeriac purée and Sevruga caviar, pickled herring, or smoked salmon with crab mayonnaise, followed by duck confit with cranberry jus lié, herb-crusted lamb shank with jus, and a selection of festive desserts including white chocolate and peppermint mousse cake with cranberry compote or chocolate gingerbread cake with cranberry jelly. Economy Class travellers will enjoy starters such as Russian potato salad and Waldorf salad, followed by barbecued chicken with chestnut and turkey bacon roulade or creamy beef stroganoff, finished with peppermint mousse topped with popping candy or classic fruit cake doused in orange sauce.
Festive entertainment on ice
This Christmas, Emirates customers can get cosy with 39 holiday season movies onboard the award-winning inflight entertainment ice, including new movies such as Tinsel Town with Rebel Wilson and Kiefer Sutherland, and Dear Santa starring Jack Black, alongside all-time favourites Last Christmas, The Holiday, Elf, The Polar Express and even Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer from 1964.
An array of 42 Christmas TV shows and holiday specials await, including The Great Christmas Bake Off, Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped documentary and Strictly Come Dancing: Christmas Special. For those who wish to get into the holly jolly rhythm, there are albums and playlists of Christmas music from artists like Sam Smith, the Vince Guaraldi Trio, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
The art of gift-giving
Travellers seeking last-minute gifts will find inspiration in the EmiratesRED Winter 2025 catalogue, offering over 300 products from revered houses including Armani, Creed, Amouage, YSL, Kilian and Van Cleef & Arpels. The EmiratesRED pre-order service, available on most flights, allows customers to shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before departure and have their purchases delivered to their seat inflight, with pre-orders receiving a special 10% discount using the code RED10.
Merry and bright in red, green and white, Emirates also has a festive capsule collection available at the Emirates Official Store, featuring Christas jumpers, matching family pyjamas and themed stockings, hats and cosy mugs.
Spread Christmas kindness
‘You Donate, Emirates Doubles’ — Emirates customers can also celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and spread joy with the Emirates Airline Foundation, dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children. Emirates will match any customer donation up to USD10,000 per donation, ensuring your generosity goes even further. Emirates customers can donate in any currency, on any flight, by using the envelope in the seat pocket, or via credit card, cheque, Skywards miles, or bank transfer, either on board or from home.
BANGKOK, 11 December 2025: Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a Hotel Management Agreement with Earth & Shore Leisure Communities Corporation, a prominent real estate and land-development company in the Philippines, to operate ASAI Camaya Coast.
The property is a new 150-key lifestyle hotel set to open in 2029 within the expansive and fast-evolving 20 million sqm Camaya Coast development in Mariveles, Bataan.
The signing ceremony for ASAI Camaya Coast was held recently at Baan Dusit Thani, Bangkok. (From left): Detlef Skrobanek, Group Director of Technical Services, Dusit International; Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International; Siradej Donavanik, Vice President – Development (Global), Dusit International; Manuel Carlos L Ilagan Jr, President, Earth & Shore Leisure Communities Corporation; Luis Carmelo H Valenzuela, Vice President of Finance, Camaya Coast; and Ronel C Sunga, Strategic Business Unit Head – Hotels, Camaya Coast.
The signing marks a strategic milestone for Dusit as it continues to grow its presence in the Philippines, introducing its ASAI Hotels brand to one of the country’s fastest-rising destinations for domestic tourism and short-break escapes from Metro Manila – just four hours by car or approximately 90 minutes via the Manila–Camaya ferry.
According to the Provincial Tourism Office, Bataan welcomed 1,237,611 visitors in 2024 — a 41.16% increase from the previous year, driven by the province’s rich WWII heritage, scenic beaches, and growing eco-tourism appeal. Against this backdrop of rising demand, and supported by new leisure offerings, residential communities, entertainment facilities, and infrastructure upgrades such as the upcoming Camaya Airport, the Earth & Shore-led Camaya Coast development is well-placed to attract even more domestic and international travellers to the region.
At the heart of this evolving landscape, ASAI Camaya Coast will become the first ASAI Hotels-branded property within a large-scale, master-planned seaside development. The hotel will offer convenient access to vibrant dining and retail areas, outdoor activity hubs, a water park, an 18-hole golf course, expansive event spaces, and the township’s signature white-sand beach and crystal-clear waters.
Building on the brand’s early success in urban destinations such as Bangkok, Thailand, and Kyoto, Japan – and reflecting ASAI’s focus on compact yet thoughtfully designed rooms, energising social spaces, and locally inspired dining and immersive cultural experiences – the new property promises to deliver a relaxed, creative, and community-driven environment tailored to millennial-minded travellers seeking meaningful coastal stays.
Camaya Coast’s natural environment is also central to its sustainability-led vision. A significant portion of the development is being preserved as natural forest, home to fruit trees, orchids, and wildlife, including wild goats, wild boar, and exotic birds. This nature-first approach aligns closely with Dusit’s sustainability framework, Tree of Life. It will support ASAI’s ability to curate eco-friendly activities inspired by the locale and its verdant surroundings.
“Camaya Coast is one of the most compelling leisure destinations emerging in the Philippines today, and we are delighted to introduce ASAI Hotels to this dynamic setting,” said Dusit International. Chief Operating Officer Gilles Cretallaz.
“With visitor arrivals in Bataan showing robust growth, and with the township set to benefit from expanded infrastructure and improved connectivity, we see tremendous long-term potential for creating memorable guest experiences rooted in community, culture, and the natural environment. ASAI Camaya Coast will bring a fresh, vibrant energy to the destination, and we are deeply grateful to Earth & Shore Leisure Communities Corporation for their trust and partnership.”
Earth & Shore Leisure Communities Corporation, President, Manuel Carlos L Ilagan Jr, said: “We see Camaya Coast as a game-changing development for Bataan, and we are proud to welcome a hospitality group that shares our passion for creating memorable, community-centred destinations. Dusit’s distinctive Thai-inspired gracious hospitality and ASAI Hotels’ youthful, energetic approach will complement the natural beauty and vibrancy of Bataan, while supporting our goal of shaping Camaya Coast into a welcoming seaside township that business and leisure travellers, multigenerational families, and long-term residents can enjoy for generations to come. We look forward to a strong and successful collaboration.”
Dusit is already well established in the Philippines, where it currently operates five properties, including Dusit Thani Manila, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort, Dusit Thani Residence Davao, dusitD2 Davao, and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort. The company is now preparing for continued expansion with several new openings planned from 2026 onwards. These include Dusit Hotel Greenhills Manila, an upper-upscale property atop the landmark 50-storey Primex Tower; Plaza de Zamboanga – Dusit Collection, which will revive a classic Leandro Locsin-designed hotel under Dusit’s luxury boutique brand; and the first Dusit Princess hotels in the country at Lipa and Cebu City. Additional properties, including ASAI Oslob Cebu and dusitD2 Residences Cebu City, are scheduled to follow in 2027.
About Dusit Hotels and Resorts Dusit Hotels and Resorts is the hotel arm of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies. The group’s portfolio of hotels, resorts, and luxury villas includes nearly 300 properties operating under nine brands (Devarana – Dusit Retreats, Dusit Thani, Dusit Suites, Dusit Collection, Dusit Hotels, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 18 countries worldwide.
About Dusit International Established in 1949, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: Dusit Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Hospitality Education, Dusit Foods, Dusit Estate, and Hospitality-Related Services.
About Earth & Shore Leisure Communities Corporation Earth and Shore Leisure Communities Corporation (ESLCC) is a Real Estate developer overseeing three major landholdings totalling 2,000 hectares in the Province of Bataan, Philippines. Its flagship development, Camaya Coast, integrates residential communities with tourism and commercial projects.
KUALA LUMPUR, 11 December 2025: Golfasian and Go Golfing will organise the inaugural edition of the Malaysia World Masters Golf Championship, to be held from 22 to 28 November 2026 in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
This new addition to Asia’s calendar of international amateur golf tournaments will bring together golfers from around the world for a week of championship play, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories.
Photo credit: Golfasian Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
The tournament will be staged across four of Malaysia’s premier golf courses:
Tropicana Golf & Country Resort – a 27-hole layout with lush fairways and modern clubhouse facilities, perfect for kicking off the week in style.
Kota Permai Golf & Country Club is renowned for its immaculate conditioning, fast greens, and reputation as one of Asia’s top-ranked courses.
Saujana Golf & Country Club (Palm Course) – a former host of the Malaysian Open, offering an actual test of skill amid beautiful tropical scenery.
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (East Course) – one of Asia’s most prestigious venues, home to past LPGA and European Tour events.
Players will be based at the Parkroyal Collection Kuala Lumpur, offering a contemporary retreat in the heart of the city, with easy access to the courses and evening entertainment.
“Golf has a special way of bringing people together, and Kuala Lumpur is the perfect stage for it,” said Golfasian Managing Director Mark Siegel. “Malaysia combines top-tier golf with incredible food, culture, and hospitality. The courses are world-class, the people are welcoming, and the camaraderie we see at these events reminds us why we love this game.”
Echoing that sentiment, Go Golfing, CEO Peter McCarthy added: “The Malaysia World Masters brings together golfers of all ages and handicaps for a celebrated week of competition and friendship. Better still, players are welcomed and looked after better than tour professionals. The hospitality, organisation, caddies, functions and entertainment – it’s all first class.”
The tournament welcomes men and women aged 35 and over, with divisions based on age and handicap. Each day’s play is professionally managed, with live leaderboards, daily prizes, and an atmosphere that’s equal parts competition and celebration. Off the course, golfers can look forward to welcome and awards dinners, social events, and the chance to experience Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant nightlife and cuisine.
The Malaysia World Masters will attract golfers worldwide with strong support from golfers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, the UK, the US, plus the Middle East and
MUMBAI, 11 December 2025: Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel forex services company, has expanded its network with the opening of its first outlet in Varanasi.
This newly launched outlet broadens the company’s access to five forex outlets across the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Photo credit: Thomas Cook India. Official opening of the Varanasi forex store.
Located in Nadesar, the store offers strong city-centric accessibility positioned to serve both local customers and the significant inflow of inbound and NRI travellers visiting the spiritual capital.
Varanasi sees a high volume of foreign tourists, especially during the winter season, and the new outlet aims to support them with its comprehensive forex services and an exclusive inaugural offer of zero transaction fees.
In addition, the store will serve a broad customer base across Varanasi and nearby cities such as Bhadohi and Jaunpur, creating a strong catchment area for Thomas Cook India’s Foreign Exchange business.
Key customer segments include Varanasi’s large student population travelling overseas, holidaymakers, and foreign nationals seeking currency exchange.
Consumer-services
Currency: 26 global destination currencies;
Overseas Remittances: Thomas Cook Forex’s Send Money Abroad covering over 120 countries;
Prepaid Travel Cards: Partners with Mastercard and Visa; specifically for holidays, includes a Borderless Travel prepaid multi-currency card in 12 global currencies.
Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange – India ka Forex Specialist serves over 1 million customers annually through its website, FX Now app, call centre at 1800-2099-100, and 125+ Forex stores located across 69 metros and tier 2 to 4 cities/towns pan India.
Thomas Cook (India) Limited, Executive Vice President – Foreign Exchange, Deepesh Varma, said: “Varanasi is one of India’s most vibrant spiritual and cultural hubs, witnessing year-round demand from travellers, with a significant number of international tourists. The city also serves as a thriving education centre, home to renowned institutions like Banaras Hindu University and several colleges, resulting in a large student population.
With a significant number of students travelling overseas for higher education and exchange programs, combined with the holidaymakers travelling to international destinations and a steady influx of tourists, Varanasi represents a high-potential source market for our forex services.
“Our new outlet is designed as a one-stop forex hub, offering convenient access to trusted and seamless foreign exchange solutions right in the heart of the city. We’re excited to bring our full range of innovative solutions, including our Borderless Travel, Study Buddy Cards, and mobile-first forex services, to serve our customers in the region.”
Thomas Cook Forex serves 1000+ corporate clients, 1 million+ active Forex prepaid card users, and over 1 Lakh students studying overseas, using the company’s fee and other remittance services. Thomas Cook operates 23 counters at leading airports in India, Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
