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Sarawak and Sabah launch Discover Borneo

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 9 September 2024: The Sarawak Tourism Board and Sabah Tourism Board officially launched their collaborative campaign, ‘Discover Borneo: Malaysia’s Favourite Destination,’ during the MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur 2024, held from 6 to 8 September at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre.

The campaign launch was honoured by the presence of YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts, and YB Datuk Christina Liew, Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment. 

The partnership between the two states seeks to promote Borneo as a unified destination with Sarawak and Sabah’s international airports, the ‘Gateway to Borneo’.

Sarawak aims to attract 4 million visitors in 2024, equally split between foreign and domestic travellers. By July, the state had already welcomed 2,838,572 visitors, comprising 1,763,815 international and 1,074,757 domestic visitors.

YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah remarked that “Sarawak’s collaboration with the Sabah Tourism Board is not just about promoting tourism; it is about sharing the heart and soul of Borneo with the world. Together, we create a compelling narrative that positions Borneo as Malaysia’s Favourite Destination, captivating the hearts of travellers from Peninsular Malaysia and beyond.”

The collaborative pavilion at the MATTA Fair KL served as a focal point for presenting both states’ diverse arts, culture, food, and beverages. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the appeal of Borneo as a singular destination, making travel between Sarawak and Sabah more accessible and showcasing the richness of Borneo’s offerings.

The success of this initiative is evident in the strong performance at previous MATTA Fair events. During the March 2024 fair, Sarawak’s impressive sales contributed significantly to a substantial domestic sales turnover, showcasing the robust potential for growth in domestic tourism. 

With over 170,000 attendees and a total sales figure exceeding expectations, the MATTA Fair underscores the increasing demand and opportunities to promote Sarawak and Sabah as the Gateway to Borneo.

The ‘Discover Borneo: Malaysia’s Favourite Destination’ campaign strategically positioned Borneo as a premier global tourism destination by highlighting Sarawak and Sabah’s complementary attractions. 

For more information, visit the Sarawak Tourism Board’s website at https://sarawaktourism.com/.
For more information on Sabah, visit the Sabah Tourism Board’s website at https://sabahtourism.com.

Philippines wins a hat full of awards

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 9 September 2024: The Philippines took home a hat full of citations at the 31st World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony hosted in Manila on 3 September.

This is the first time the country has hosted the prestigious travel and tourism awards gala ceremony through the combined efforts of the Department of Tourism and its attached agency, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines.

DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

During the 31st World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2024 hosted at Manila’s City of Dreams, the Philippines was honoured as Asia’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year since 2019. 

It bagged the titles of Asia’s Leading Beach Destination and Asia’s Leading Island Destination.

The historic Walled City of Intramuros was recognised as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction. Boracay nailed the title of Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination, and Cebu was declared Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination.

The Philippines also bagged the Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2024 award for the Love the Philippines campaign.

A Transformational Leader Award was presented to DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, recognising the tourism chief for her  “outstanding contributions to tourism governance” and vision, tireless dedication, and the tangible impacts of her initiatives have set a new benchmark in tourism leadership, not just in the Philippines but across Asia and Oceania.”

“We have responded to the challenges we have faced with courage and innovation, harnessing the strength of our culture and heritage and turning them into unique, unforgettable experiences. Through diversification, we are now expanding to new horizons, enhancing and expanding our offerings beyond sun, sea, and sand to include wellness and health, adventure, cruise, halal, cultural, and culinary experiences,” the DOT chief commented.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards span the globe, with regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.

Manila hosted the gala ceremony, marking the fourth leg of WTA’s Grand Tour 2024, a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations on six continents.

Football icons try their hand at golf

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 9 September 2024: A combination of Champions League, Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A winners will descend on Bangkok for the inaugural ‘Reignwood Icons of Football’ golf event from 1 to 2 March 2025. 

Organised by the ‘Icons Series’, Robinswood Golf Course will host 24 famous footballers to battle it out over 10 holes as Team England and Team World for the 2025 Icons Trophy. Early  bird ticket sales (THB500) for the event opened on 2 September 2024

Having chosen Bangkok as the first destination in Asia to host an Icons Series event, Reignwood Icons of Football will promote Thailand as a world-class golfing destination.

Reignwood Group CEO Woraphanit Ruayrungruang commented: “Reignwood Park is continuously promoting the potential of sports and sports tourism in Thailand to develop it into a hub for various sports, particularly golf. Our collaboration with Icons Series introduces an unprecedented Asian event featuring 24 of the world’s most iconic football players.”

The two teams of 12 will be captained by two famous golfers, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood. They will bring their years of rivalry from pitch to green across a 10-hole format of the highest drama, where every shot counts.

Team England – Initial Line Up

Captained by Lee Westwood
Paul Ince
Robbie Fowler
Joe Hart
Theo Walcott
Paul Scholes

Team World – Initial Line Up

Captained by Sergio Garcia
Dwight Yorke
Patrik Berger
Gabriel Batistuta
Luís Figo
Peter Schmeichel

The final seven players on each side will be revealed in the build-up to the event. 

Set across two days on the championship Robinswood Golf Course, team captains will manage players in a series of competitive team matchplay format events, including Alternate Shots, Fourballs, and Singles matches to determine the winning team.

Malaysia on a mission in Vietnam

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TTR WEEKLY
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HO CHI MINH CITY, 9 September 2024 – As part of ongoing efforts to promote Malaysia as a preferred tourist destination, Tourism Malaysia exhibited at the International Travel Expo (ITE) Ho Chi Minh City, held from 5 to 7 September 2024.

In a press statement, Tourism Malaysia said, “ ITE HCMC 2024 served as an excellent platform for Malaysia to showcase Malaysia’s unique tourism offerings and engage with both potential and returning travellers… In addition, Tourism Malaysia strengthened its partnerships with major tour operators and associations in Ho Chi Minh City to craft enticing tourism packages tailored to the preferences and interests of the Vietnamese market.”

Malaysia’s booth featured sales and marketing teams from the Malaysia Homestay Entrepreneurs Association, Kampungstay Holiday, Myhistourism Adventure and Melaka State Government. 

“Vietjet Air operates daily direct flights from Vietnam to Malaysia, further solidifying the bonds between our two nations,” said Tourism Malaysia in Vietnam’s director Nor Hayati Zainuddin. “Vietnam remains a key source market for Malaysia. It is crucial to maintain robust promotional initiatives to attract more Vietnamese tourists, especially with the new direct flights from Vietnam to Malaysia, including Danang to Kuala Lumpur by Malaysia Airlines and the forthcoming routes from Dalat to Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City to Kota Kinabalu by AirAsia. These initiatives will play a significant role in the success of Visit Malaysia 2026.”

In conjunction with Malaysia’s participation in ITE HCMC 2024, Tourism Malaysia will also host food and cultural promotions to showcase the richness of Malaysian cuisine and culture. These events will be held at venues such as Daewoo Hanoi Hotel from 12 to 16 September in Hanoi, Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel from 6 to 10 September, and Equatorial Ho Chi Minh City Hotel from 11 to 16 September in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Malaysia aims to attract 27.3 million international tourists in 2024, with an expected contribution of MYR102.7 billion (USD22.82 billion) in tourism revenue. Currently, 142 direct flights operate between Vietnam and Malaysia, and Tourism Malaysia anticipates significant growth in the ASEAN market, including Vietnam. 

Looking ahead, the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign exemplifies this ambition, with a target of attracting 35.6 million foreign tourists and generating m147.1 billion in tourist receipts.

DidaTravel declares 2024 bookings surge

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 9 September 2024: Hotel bookings from Chinese travellers to Thailand and Malaysia experienced remarkable triple-digit year-over-year growth, DidaTravel disclosed in its 2024 half-year business data released Sunday.

Thailand saw a substantial increase of 340% compared to the previous year, while Malaysia witnessed a surge of 780%.

DidaTravel made the observations while hosting a series of B2B roadshows and networking events in Beijing on 3 September and Shanghai on 5 September that aimed to build a bridge between travel agents and hoteliers to seize new booking opportunities.

DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel wholesaler, confirmed a substantial growth in booking demand for Thailand and Malaysia, fueled by a surge from the China source market. 

In the first half of 2024, hotel bookings from Chinese travellers visiting Thailand rose by an impressive 340% compared to the same period in the previous year. Likewise, hotel bookings from the Chinese source market for travellers visiting Malaysia surged by 780% during the first six months of 2024. These numbers underscore Chinese travellers’ rising interest and confidence in these Southeast Asian destinations.

In Thailand, Chinese visitors prefer booking trips to Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Karon, Patong, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Koh Samui, Bang Phli, and Hat Yai. 

Malaysia’s most sought-after destinations include Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Johor Bahru, Semporna, Langkawi, Malacca, Petaling Jaya, Sepang, and Ipoh.

DidaTravel Senior Director Hotel Direct Contracting Global, Snow Xiao commented: “The surge in bookings to Thailand and Malaysia highlights the growing enthusiasm of Chinese source market travellers in these destinations. We are dedicated to equipping our partners with the necessary resources to harness this demand. Our events in Beijing and Shanghai reflected our commitment to fostering strong, lasting relationships between travel agencies and hoteliers. By enabling direct communication and collaboration, we aim to help our partners deliver exceptional, customised experiences that meet the evolving needs of today’s travellers.”

MATTA fair beats all records

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 9 September 2024: The 55th edition of the MATTA Fair, hosted at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur, from 6 to 8 September, fielded 1,590 exhibition booths across eight halls and gained recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records as the “Largest International Travel Fair” for the second time in the show’s history. 

The previous record was set with 1,416 booths in 2023, underscoring MATTA Fair’s continuous growth and MATTA’s important role in promoting tourism in the country and beyond.

Discover Borneo campaign 

MATTA Fair designated Sabah and Sarawak as the featured destinations under the campaign “Discover Borneo: Malaysia’s Favourite Destination.”  Sabah and Sarawak united to present the essence of Borneo to MATTA Fair attendees in a single voice. The sense of cooperation was evident in the opening ceremony, graced by the attendance of YB Datuk Christina Liew, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah and YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak. 

Speech Highlights: YB Datuk Christina Liew, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah:

“I am delighted to be at MATTA Fair in September 2024 to proudly showcase Borneo as Malaysia’s favourite destination, represented by the captivating states of Sabah and Sarawak. The Sabah Tourism Board is happy to lead this effort alongside 33 travel agents and hotels, our local artisans, and industry partners, with a strong presence of 60 booths under the Sabah Zone.” 

Speech Highlights: YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak.

“Today, I stand before you with immense pride and excitement as we unite with our esteemed partner from Sabah Tourism Board to present Borneo as Malaysia’s Favourite Destination. This collaboration is more than just a strategic effort—it is a celebration of Borneo’s rich cultural heritage, its awe-inspiring landscapes, and its unrivalled biodiversity,” said YB Datuk Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He highlighted Sarawak’s efforts to boost tourism through innovative campaigns and emphasised Sarawak’s recent achievements, such as the inscription of the Niah Caves as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the state’s upcoming launch of its airline to improve connectivity and accessibility.

The Minister invited visitors to engage with the ‘Gateway to Borneo’ experiences at the fair and to explore Sarawak’s diverse offerings of beautiful environment and landscape, diverse cultural performances, food and exciting adventure experiences.

Welcome from MATTA president Nigel Wong

“We are very fortunate to be in one of the best industries in the world – tourism. It is an industry where we accentuate the positive, transcending cultural, racial, religious, and political boundaries. Every day, we celebrate life’s richness, excitement, and diversity. The MATTA Fair is more than just an exhibition; it is an immersive experience into the world of travel and tourism, and it took every one of us here in this room to make it happen.”  

“As times change rapidly, so must we (the industry). To ensure our tourism industry remains competitive, robust, and sustainable, we must focus on the bigger picture and nurture long-term strategies that will help us reclaim our position as a global tourism powerhouse,” he added.

“Recently, MATTA signed a virtual Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Through this partnership, we aim to encourage our members to adopt the GSTC Criteria and pursue accreditation certification to support sustainable tourism practices”.

Acknowledging Sponsors and Partners

Discover Borneo: Sabah & Sarawak – Malaysia’s Favourite Destination.
Taiwan – International Favourite Destination.
Malaysia Aviation Group – Official Airline Partner & Premier Sponsor.
RHB Bank – Exclusive Platinum Sponsor.
Amadeus – Official Travel Tech Partner.

KAL boosts flights to China and Japan

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 September 2024: Korean Air is resuming flights to China and Japan or increasing frequencies on popular routes in the regional network to meet recovering travel demand. 

The airline will resume its Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang and Busan-Qingdao services on 22 October and 1 December, respectively, following a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Seoul Incheon-Mudanjiang route will operate five times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and the Busan-Qingdao route will schedule daily services.

Korean Air is also increasing frequencies on several routes to China. Since 12 August, the airline has increased flights on its Seoul Incheon-Zhengzhou route from four weekly to daily. On the Seoul Incheon-Xiamen route, it will increase flights from four weekly to daily effective 1 October.

The Seoul Incheon-Taichung route will undergo a two-phased expansion. From 10 September to 26 October, the route will be serviced four times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. From 27 October, it will increase flights to daily to strengthen Korean Air’s presence in Taiwan.

Routes to Japan

Starting on 27 October, the airline will relaunch its Seoul Incheon-Nagasaki (Japan) route for the winter season after a break of more than 11 years. This route will operate four times weekly on Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Seoul Incheon-Osaka route will also see a temporary increase in service. From 2 September to 26 October, the airline will operate four daily flights, up from the existing three daily flights. This enhancement will accommodate the anticipated surge in autumn travel to this popular Japanese destination.

As of December 2024, services to China will reach 95% of December 2019 capacity, and services to Japan will achieve 106% of pre-pandemic capacity.

Flights resume or expand

MATTA Fair opens in Kuala Lumpur

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 6 September 2024: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) rolls out its 55th edition of the MATTA Fair today, 6 September 2024, convening at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur. 

Welcoming travel consumers for three days, 6 to 8 September, this edition of the MATTA Fair is billed as the largest ever in the number of exhibitors’ booths that will deliver travel bargains and holiday promotions for thousands of consumers planning to visit the fair this weekend.

This MATTA Fair will cover an impressive 37,000 square meters across eight halls throughout the venue. It will feature 1,590 exhibition booths with 284 participating organisations. These include 183 travel and tour agencies, 15 National Tourism Organisations, nine State Tourism Offices, 44 hotels and resorts, 11 theme parks, one airline, and 21 other travel-related service providers.

Key partners and sponsors include:

1.      Discover Borneo: Sabah & Sarawak – Malaysia’s Favourite Destination
2.      Taiwan – International Favourite Destination
3.      Malaysia Aviation Group – Official Airline Partner & Premier Sponsor
4.      RHB Bank – Exclusive Platinum Sponsor
5.      Amadeus – Official Travel Tech Partner
6.      AmLeisure Media – Media Partner
7.      Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre -Strategic Partner

Visitors can explore a variety of bargains and packages at the Domestic Hall in Level 1 and participate in the Discover Borneo: Explore, Win, and Fly campaign to win a roundtrip ticket to Borneo and a MYR1,000 travel package. The campaign features a variety of tours — from adventure trips to cultural explorations — to inspire visitors to discover Borneo’s rich diversity and stunning natural beauty.

To make this MATTA Fair even more exciting, the organisers have introduced three more engaging campaigns designed to elevate the Fair with fantastic prizes:

1. MATTA Fair Ride & Reels: Capture Your Journey. Enjoy free shuttle service from KL Sentral or Sunway Putra Mall to MITEC and back, capture your journey, and share it for a chance to win amazing prizes.

2. Buyers’ Contest: Spend MYR100 or more at the Fair to join the Buyers’ Contest and stand a chance to win exciting prizes like flight tickets – business and economy class tickets, hotel stays, and the grand prize of a return business class flight from Kuala Lumpur to London, courtesy of Malaysia Airlines.

3. Destination Discovery: Find, Snap, and Win! Join the treasure hunt at Level 3, find MATTA’s Instagram Frame Standees, and take creative photos to win prizes worth up to MYR80,000.

The MATTA Fair offers free admission and is open from 1000 to 2100 from Friday to Sunday. Parking is available at the South Entrance Basement in MITEC, MITI Basement, and MATRADE Open parking. Visitors are encouraged to use our complimentary shuttle services from KL Sentral and Sunway Putra Mall to MITEC and back.

Beauty queens lead Sabah Purpose Tour

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia, 6 September 2024: The recent Miss World Beauty With A Purpose Tour concluded an impactful visit to Sabah, leaving an indelible mark on the community and significantly promoting Sabah tourism. 

The initiative, led by Julia Morley CBE, CEO and Chairman of the Miss World Organisation, and Sean Wong, CEO of HyperLive Entertainment, featured the reigning Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic and Miss World Malaysia 2023 Saroop Roshi. They successfully highlighted the mission of Beauty With A Purpose while showcasing Sabah’s natural beauty and cultural richness.

The initiative, led by Julia Morley CBE, CEO and Chairman of the Miss World Organisation, and Sean Wong, CEO of HyperLive Entertainment, featured the reigning Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic and Miss World Malaysia 2023 Saroop Roshi.

During its stay in Sabah, the Miss World team engaged in activities to make a positive difference in the lives of Sabah’s residents by raising global awareness about the region’s unique attractions.

One of the key highlights of the tour was the ‘Sail Malaysia Tuaran Beach Cleaning’ event, which Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah and Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board, attended. 

Volunteers led by Tuaran Rally of Sail Malaysia and teams from Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort, MOEA, and Discover Sabah Digital collected 402 kg of rubbish, showcasing a solid commitment to preserving Sabah’s pristine coastline.

The Miss World team, alongside the 2024 Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) winners and the UNK national committees led by Tindarama Joanna Datuk Kitingan, provided crucial disaster relief packages and assisted with home clean-up efforts for flood-affected homes in Kg. Pogunon. This initiative was supported by generous contributions from Discover Sabah Digital, Media Works Solutions, Everrise Supermarket, and Bataras Sdn Bhd, with the H3ROS 4×4 Club Sabah ensuring timely aid delivery. The Miss World Malaysia Organization has also pledged to raise MYR30,000 to support the affected families.

In their ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability, the Miss World team planted trees in collaboration with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK). 

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Sabah, under the leadership of Minister YB Datuk Christina Liew, supported the Miss World team’s five-day visit, acknowledging its importance in promoting Sabah and advancing meaningful social causes. The Miss World team’s activities and efforts will be featured in the ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ documentary, highlighting the region’s warm-hearted residents, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.

https://sabahtourism.com

IATA and Outpayce sign up PAL

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 September 2024: Philippine Airlines becomes the first carrier to implement IATA Pay through Outpayce’s Xchange Payment Platform.

Recent market regulations allow merchants to accept consumer payments using direct, account-to-account transfers. 

As airlines seek to meet travellers’ needs best and reduce the overall cost of payments, account-to-account payments are becoming more popular. They represent a new option for travellers to pay for air tickets.

That’s why IATA and Outpayce are partnering so airlines can now accept payments made with IATA Pay through Outpayce’s Xchange Payments Platform (XPP).

IATA Pay is an alternative account-to-account form of payment for travellers to pay for air tickets purchased online by directly debiting their bank account.

 It leverages the new account-to-account rails and regulations developed by countries around the world, such as India (UPI), the Netherlands (Ideal), Brazil (PIX) or the Philippines (QR Ph). 

Currently available in over 30 countries, IATA Pay improves the speed and security of payments while reducing payment acceptance costs.

When a traveller reaches checkout on an airline’s website, the new account-to-account payment service allows them to select their bank or scan a QR code depending on the country. IATA uses the payment and bank details or the QR code’s approval to request a transfer from the passenger’s account, and the funds are transferred using the banking rails. IATA settles the funds with the airline the following day.

IATA Director Financial Settlement Operations Juan Antonio Rodriguez said: “The trend towards account-to-account payments is gaining more momentum. It provides a seamless experience for passengers and provides an attractive option for airlines to lower the cost of payment acceptance. Through Outpayce, airlines using XPP can begin to accept IATA Pay while still benefiting from XPP’s powerful orchestration, analytics and reporting capabilities.”

Philippine Airlines Chief Financial Officer Anna Isabel Bengzon said: “We are pleased to accept IATA Pay in the Philippines. It will provide our passengers with a more convenient and secure way of paying via QR code using their digital wallets, which is highly prevalent in the country, or through their bank accounts. 

“Outpayce’s XPP system helps us to intelligently accept a wide range of payment methods used by travellers across the international markets we serve. Moreover, we can access various payment methods and partners through XPP, with detailed analytics on the performance of payment flows and back-end reconciliation support.”

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