SINGAPORE, 5 October 2026: Emirates launched daily direct flights year-round between the UAE and the Finnish capital on 2 October using a 298-seat A350, with tickets now available for booking through various channels.
EK167 departs Dubai at 0815 and arrives in Helsinki at 1430. EK168 departs Helsinki at 1620 and lands in Dubai at 0020.
The daily service has been scheduled to ensure smooth onward connections, offering access to and from key destinations across East and Southeast Asia, and connectivity across West Asia and popular Indian Ocean points; major cities in Africa, the Middle East and GCC; as well as Australasia.
Named as one of Lonely Planet’s must-visit destinations for 2026, Finland offers year-round experiences, from Arctic adventures beneath the Northern Lights to the iconic phenomenon of the Midnight Sun during summer. Nature is at the heart of the Finnish tourism proposition, with 41 national parks and nature reserves protecting Finland’s green forests, Baltic islands, Arctic fells and pristine blue lakes. For the eighth consecutive year, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world, a spirit that’s encapsulated in the capital, Helsinki.
KUCHING, 2 October 2026: Borneo Jazz Festival returns for its 20th edition on 4 and 5 December 2026, staged for the first time in Miri city centre, with Pullman Miri Waterfront as its official venue.
The festival will bring together music, culture, creativity and communities from across Borneo under the theme ‘Beyond Jazz’.
From left: Mr Zaid Zaini, Front Row Entertainment; YBrs. Dr Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Tourism Board; YB Dato Dennis Ngau, Chairman, Sarawak Tourism Board; YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak; YB Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (Creative Industry and Performing Arts); Encik Julin Alen, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak; and Councillor Sean Huang Hong Siong, Miri City Council, during the Borneo Jazz 2026 Press Conference.
The 2026 edition marks a new chapter for the festival, expanding beyond its traditional concert format into a broader festival experience that celebrates Borneo’s people, cultures and creative connections.
Tickets for Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 will go on sale at midnight on 3 October 2026 via the official website, Jazzborneo.com.
The festival will feature stronger participation from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia, alongside Malaysian, regional and international performers representing seven countries. Across two evenings, audiences will experience 10 acts spanning jazz, contemporary R&B, hip-hop, electronic music, jazz fusion and other contemporary sounds.
The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, said: “Twenty editions is an important milestone. It reflects the passion for music, creativity and cultural exchange that has sustained Borneo Jazz over the years. As we enter this new chapter, it is also an opportunity to look forward. ‘Beyond Jazz’ reflects the direction we want the festival to take, growing beyond the traditional concert experience into a wider platform for music, culture, creativity, tourism and community, while remaining firmly connected to Borneo.”
The 2026 programme will present five acts each night at the Main Ballroom of Pullman Miri Waterfront, with performances running from 1900 to midnight.
The opening night on 4 December will feature Elisha Tiga Eksperiment from Brunei, Marter from Japan, LaidThis Nite from Indonesia, Q Sound from the US, and Dato’ Zainalabidin & Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra from Malaysia.
The second night, 5 December, will feature Nathanie Ngu from Sarawak, Greg Tan & Ai Furusato under Berklee Asia Rising, Matthew Sayersz & Marclesia Karim from Indonesia, Brekky Boy from Australia, and Platina Jazz from Sweden.
Beyond the main concerts, the festival will introduce the Borneo Jazz Festival Village, a free-entry outdoor experience next to Pullman Miri Waterfront operating from 1000 to 2200 on both days.
The family-oriented space will feature food and beverage offerings, retail, arts and crafts, family activities, live performances, community experiences and interactive brand activations.
Speaking on behalf of Diamond Sponsor A&W Malaysia, Chief Operating Officer Angelina Fernandez said: “We are proud to support Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 and celebrate one of the region’s most anticipated music and cultural events. This partnership is especially meaningful as A&W begins a new chapter in Sarawak with the opening of our first Miri outlet. We look forward to growing alongside the community and creating more ‘Good Food, Good Times’ moments with Sarawakians.”
The Village will also feature the All Borneo Pavilion, bringing together participation from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia and further reinforcing the festival’s Borneo-wide character.
The collaboration with Berklee Asia Rising, a programme under Berklee College of Music, will strengthen the festival’s talent development efforts, with performers Greg Tan and Ai Furusato joining the programme. Workshops, masterclasses and collaborative sessions will give musicians and emerging talents opportunities to exchange knowledge, build skills and explore diverse musical perspectives.
Complementing the festival programme will be the Borneo Jazz Fun Run, a non-competitive 5km run open to participants of all ages. Taking place on 5 December 2026, the run will flag off at 0630 in front of Pullman Miri Waterfront and finish at the same location.
With Borneo Jazz taking place in the heart of Miri city centre and Pullman Miri Waterfront serving as its official venue, the wider surroundings will form part of the overall festival experience, creating a vibrant atmosphere for visitors, local communities and festival- goers while generating activity for local businesses and the tourism industry.
Festival-goers and music lovers are encouraged to save the date, as Borneo Jazz Festival 2026 promises two unforgettable nights of world-class performances, culture and community celebration in the heart of Miri.
Tickets will go on sale at midnight on 3 October 2026 via Jazzborneo.com.
SINGAPORE, 2 October 2026: Royal Caribbean announced Thursday new cruises on Voyager of the Seas for spring 2028, giving vacationers more ways to explore Japan during its cherry blossom season.
Vacationers can explore historic ports including Nagasaki and Osaka; discover the regional flavours of Kobe, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima; and visit Okinawa, Mount Fuji (Shimizu), Sasebo (Uragashira), and destinations across South Korea, including Jeju (Seogwipo) and Busan.
Photo credit: Royal Caribbean. Voyager of the Seas.
Cruises exploring Japan
A 10-night holiday from Hong Kong to Tokyo, showcasing Japan’s mix of history, culture and cuisine; vacationers can explore the heritage of Nagasaki, discover the regional flavours of Kagoshima, and enjoy an overnight stay in Kobe, a cosmopolitan port city known for its scenic waterfront and culinary heritage, before experiencing Osaka’s food scene and continuing to Tokyo.
Roundtrip holidays from Tokyo — ranging from 11 to 12 nights — offer different ways to explore Japan and South Korea, with ports of call spanning major cities, regional destinations, and island escapes. Vacationers can experience Kobe and Osaka, discover Kumamoto’s castle heritage, sample Fukuoka’s celebrated food culture, explore Nagasaki’s history, take in Kagoshima’s volcanic scenery and regional flavours, and visit Sasebo, known for its coastal landscapes.
The holidays are part of Voyager’s broader 2027- 2028 Asia Pacific season, which features two- to 16-night trips from Brisbane and Sydney, Australia; Singapore; and Hong Kong — taking vacationers across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Korea.
SINGAPORE, 2 October 2026: HPL Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality management subsidiary of Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), has taken over the management of Holiday Inn Kandooma Resort Maldives, effective 1 October 2026.
The resort has been rebranded as Kandooma Maldives. Set on a private island in the South Malé Atoll, a 40-minute speedboat journey from Velana International Airport at Malé, Kandooma Maldives is designed for travellers seeking an easy-going island escape, whether travelling solo, as a couple, with family across generations or with friends.
Photo credit: HPL Hotels & Resorts.
From 1 October, the all-inclusive plan includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, selected beverages, and snacks throughout the day, along with complimentary experiences designed to help guests make the most of island life.
The management transition will include upgrades to all 146 villas and facilities. These enhancements will introduce new accommodation and social spaces while expanding the resort’s appeal to families and multi-generational travellers.
New additions
▪ Eight Family Beach Villas, each featuring a private splash pool.
▪ Splash pools for the two-bedroom Beach House (4 units).
▪ A second three-bedroom villa, with both three-bedroom villas featuring private pools.
▪ A new Beach Club, creating an all-day social hub and a relaxed gathering space for guests of all ages, including teens.
▪ 24-hour dining at Kandooma Café.
Throughout the transition, the resorts will maintain business as usual for guests, while the ongoing enhancements are completed.
Kandooma Maldives marks Hotel Properties Limited’s eighth property in the Maldives, further strengthening the group’s presence in the destination.
HONG KONG, 2 October 2026: HK Express, the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, will introduce direct flights between Hong Kong (HKG) and Hefei (HFE), the capital of China’s Anhui province, commencing 3 December.
The new route connects Hong Kong directly to Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (HFE), with four weekly flights scheduled Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The A320neo assigned to the route has a flight time of two hours and 30 minutes.
In a press statement, the airline said the new service will significantly improve travel convenience between Hong Kong and Anhui Province without requiring connections or high-speed rail transfers from nearby hubs like Nanjing or Shanghai.
Round-trip “Ultra Lite” fares on the route will start at HKD77, while round-trip “Lite” fares start at HKD99, including one Small Personal Item and one cabin Baggage
The booking period for the introductory fares remains open until 4 October 2026, with travel allowed from 3 December 2026 to 27 March 2027 on the official HK Express website or the HK Express mobile app.
Flight schedule
UO270 departs Hong Kong (HKG) at 1135 and arrives in Hefei (HFE) at 1405. UO271 departs Hefei (HFE) at 1500 and arrives in Hong Kong (HKG) at 1735.
Visa requirements
Unilateral Visa-Free Policy: Citizens holding ordinary passports from an expanding list of countries (including many European nations and Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea) can enter Mainland China visa-free for up to 15 or 30 days for tourism or transit.
Visa-Free (240-Hour / 144-Hour): Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (HFE) participates in China’s extended Visa-Free Transit Scheme for passport holders of around 54 eligible countries.
Best Time to Visit
Autumn (September – November): The best season to visit. Temperatures are mild (18°C – 25°C), weather is dry, and park foliage is colourful.
Winter (December – February): Chilly with occasional light snow (temperatures hovering around 0°C to 8°C). Keep warm layers ready if travelling on the December flight route.
Spring (March – May): Mild and pleasant, with blooming gardens around the Hefei Botanical Garden.
Attractions & Highlights
Sanhe Ancient Town: A 2,500-year-old water town about an hour south of central Hefei, known for its classic Hui-style architecture, narrow stone alleys, ancient bridges, and local snacks.
Bao Zheng Memorial / Lord Bao Park: Dedicated to Bao Zheng (Judge Bao), the famous Northern Song dynasty official known for his incorruptibility and justice. The tranquil park features his temple, tomb, and the Clear Breeze Tower.
Anhui Museum: Excellent for history buffs, showcasing thousands of Anhui cultural relics, bronze items, and historical Hui architecture displays.
Chaohu Lake & Swan Lake: Chaohu Lake is one of China’s five largest freshwater lakes. For modern leisure, Swan Lake in the New District offers illuminated cityscapes and parks.
Gateway to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain): Hefei serves as a convenient transit point for exploring broader Anhui Province, with frequent high-speed trains running directly to Huangshan in under two hours.
SINGAPORE, 2 October 2026: Total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), fell 0.8% from August 2025, according to the International Air Transport Association’s latest August 2026 data.
However, when excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 0.6%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased 0.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.1% (-0.9 ppt compared to August 2025).
International demand fell 0.9% compared to August 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand grew by 1.3%. Capacity was flat (0.0%) year on year, and the load factor was 85.0% (-0.8 ppt compared to August 2025).
Domestic demand fell 0.5% compared to August 2025. Capacity increased 0.7% year-on-year. The load factor was 85.3% (-1.1 ppt during the same reference period).
“Global demand for air transport contracted by 0.8% compared to August 2025 as the recovery trajectory for carriers in the Middle East was interrupted. The region’s carriers reported that demand was 14.6% lower year-on-year, reversing an improving trend.
Excluding the Middle East carriers, demand for air travel grew by 0.6% year-on-year in August, half the pace seen in July. With some important exceptions such as domestic China, global connectivity was generally weaker in August. The coming months will reveal whether travellers, whose purchasing power has been reduced by higher energy prices, are adjusting their travel budgets and whether prevailing geopolitical instability is discouraging them from travelling. In the meantime, forward schedules for October are showing cautious optimism with 2% growth in available seats,” said IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen.
Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets
International RPK fell 0.9% year on year, with capacity unchanged. However, excluding the Middle East carriers, total demand rose 1.3% on the same basis.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand fall 0.1% year on year. Capacity fell 0.9% year on year, and the load factor was 85.6% (+0.7 ppt compared to August 2025). Traffic on routes within Asia fell 2.0%, and capacity declined for the fourth straight month. By contrast, traffic on the Asia-North America corridor grew by 2.5%.
European carriers saw a 2.1% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose 2.8% year-on-year, and the load factor was 86.8% (-0.6 ppt compared to August 2025). The Europe-Asia corridor continued to expand strongly (+12.2%), but transatlantic routes fell 2.4%, with traffic declining from several markets, including the UK and France.
North American carriers saw demand fall 1.7% year on year. Capacity fell 1.1% year on year, and the load factor was 86.8% (-0.5 ppt compared to August 2025).
Middle Eastern carriers saw a 14.2% year-on-year decrease in demand. Capacity fell 9.0% year-on-year, and the load factor was 79.1% (-4.8 ppt compared to August 2025). Traffic declined further in August, reversing the gradual stabilisation trend since the Iran war in February. The year-on-year contraction on Middle East-Asia routes, for example, accelerated to -11.7% from -8.6% in July.
Latin American airlines achieved a 6.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 6.4% year-on-year. The load factor was 84.8% (+0.2 ppt compared to August 2025).
African airlines saw demand rise 6.7% year on year. Capacity was up 8.3% year-on-year. The load factor was 78.4% (-1.2 ppt compared to August 2025).
NISEKO, Japan, 2 October 2026: C9 Hotelworks has released its Niseko Tourism, Hotel and Property Market Review 2026, combining its own market research with hotel performance data from STR CoStar.
The review finds Japan’s leading ski resort entering a period of rapid supply growth, with its investment case increasingly tied to trading beyond winter.
Photo credit: C9 Hotelworks. From left: David Johnson, CEO of Delivering Asia, Atsushi Nozao, Sales Manager for Japan at STR CoStar, Giles Adams, Partner and President of ThirdHome, Wade Shealy, Founder and CEO of ThirdHome, Miwa Urata, Manager of Global Sales and Branding at List Sotheby’s International Realty Japan, Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, Penny Trinh, Vice President of Mixed-Use Development for Asia Pacific, Marriott International.
“Niseko has built one of Asia’s strongest winter markets, but 792 new hotel keys can’t be filled in four months,” said C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett. “Our review shows demand deepening through longer stays and new North American access. The next chapter of Niseko’s story will be written in the shoulder seasons.”
Winter visitor arrivals across Kutchan, Niseko and Rankoshi rose 8.4% to 2.14 million between November 2025 and March 2026. Stays lengthened, with 24.5% of international overnight guests staying eight nights or more, up from 21.7% the previous winter. International guest nights increased 32.9%.
The US is now Niseko’s largest international source market by overnight guests at 40,504, up 15.2%. Access improves in December, when United Airlines from San Francisco and Air Canada from Vancouver each begin three weekly flights to New Chitose Airport.
STR CoStar data for the Niseko market confirms winter remains the engine. February 2026 occupancy reached 84.8%, up 6 percentage points, at an ADR of JPY 156,773 (USD988), while March RevPAR grew 24%. Summer is where the shift is showing. ADR rose 10.6% in June and 15% in July to JPY40,209, and July occupancy improved 4.1 points to 41.1%, lifting RevPAR 27.7%.
“July delivered year-on-year growth in both occupancy and rate, and ADR growth was the strongest of the past twelve months,” said STR CoStar’s Sales Manager Japan Atsushi Nozao. “The opportunity now sits in April to June, when occupancy remains between 19% and 26%, well below winter levels.”
That gap matters because supply is rising fast. Moxy Niseko Village (310 keys) and Hotel101 Niseko (482 keys) take inventory from 1,727 keys to 2,519 by end-2026, a 46% increase.
Primary residential supply rose 27.6% to approximately 2,500 units, the highest level in the 2018 to 2026 period, with Fairmont, Hoshinoya, The Chedi and Aman in the pipeline through 2030.
SINGAPORE, 2 October 2026: Air Astana has opened bookings for a service between Astana and Bangkok scheduled to start this December.
Direct flights will commence on 11 December 2026 and operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays using a 168-seat Airbus A321LR. Flight time is around seven hours and 50 minutes.
Photo credit: Air Astana.
Flight schedule
Tuesday departures (NQZ)
KC8111 departs Astana (NQZ) at 2125 and arrives in Bangkok (BKK) at 0710 (plus a day). KC8112 departs Bangkok (BKK) at 0815 and arrives in Astana at 1445.
Friday departures (NQZ)
KC8111 departs Astana (NQZ) at 2105 and arrives in Bangkok (BKK) at 0655 (plus a day). KC8112 departs Bangkok at 0805 and arrives in Astana at 1430.
Return fares start at USD553 in economy class and USD2,193 in business class. Tickets can be booked on the airline’s website and mobile app or through accredited travel agents.
The Astana-Bangkok service will complement Air Astana’s existing daily flights between Almaty and Bangkok.
ABU DHABI, UAE, 2 October 2026: Etihad Airways will fly double daily between Abu Dhabi and Sydney from 15 December 2026, in time for the Australian summer holidays.
Etihad has served Sydney since 2007. Four weekly flights join the current 10, giving passengers a choice of two departures daily, all on the Etihad Airbus A350, and delivering over 5,000 seats a week between the two cities.
Photo credit: Etihad.
Guests connecting through Abu Dhabi can add a complimentary hotel stay of one or two nights with the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme, which now includes Al Ain, the UAE’s oasis city, with its UNESCO-listed gardens, forts and the Jebel Hafeet mountain. Beyond Abu Dhabi, the extra flights open more of Etihad’s network across the Gulf and the wider Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Europe.
For passengers travelling to Sydney from across the Etihad network, the second daily flight opens up more of Australia and New Zealand beyond Sydney, with onward connections on Etihad’s interline partners Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand.
For passengers in New South Wales, the two departures line up with Etihad’s morning and evening banks in Abu Dhabi, with same-day connections across the Gulf and onward to Zurich and Geneva, Milan and Rome, Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid and Barcelona, London and Manchester, and Dublin.
More flights mean more opportunities to explore new destinations, reconnect with family and friends, do business across continents, or break up the journey with a memorable stopover in one of the world’s most dynamic and fast-growing cities.”
Etihad’s Australian network also includes daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Melbourne on the Boeing 787.
DUBAI, UAE, 2 October 2026: As Dubai gears up for a busy winter season, Emirates is inviting travellers to experience Dubai’s festivals and world-class events.
Travellers booking a return trip to Dubai with Emirates will receive a bundle of complimentary passes, worth AED535, to three of the city’s favourite attractions.
Photo credit: Emirates.
They can enjoy the slides at Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark, come face to face with sharks and rays at Lost World Aquarium, and hop on and off the Dubai City Sightseeing bus to take in landmarks from the Burj Khalifa to the historic Al Fahidi district, at their own pace.
My Emirates Pass presents savings at hundreds of restaurants, shops and leisure spots across Dubai.
Emirates’ care goes well beyond the flight itself. Customers travelling to Dubai also benefit from unlimited free date changes across all cabin classes, the option to hold a fare free of charge for 24 hours, and reduced refund fees.
Customers can add Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover when booking on emirates.com or later through Manage Your Booking. Available in 27 countries, it includes unlimited worldwide medical expenses, emergency evacuation, and cover for trip cancellation and baggage delay or loss. It also provides conflict cover, with medical expenses reimbursed up to USD25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days, and it isn’t restricted by government travel advice.
The offer is valid across all cabin classes on eligible return tickets to Dubai purchased between 21 September and 11 October 2026, for travel between 24 September and 13 December 2026.
