SINGAPORE, 13 June 2024: Vistara confirms it will increase flights from six weekly to daily from two cities in India to Paris and Frankfurt effective 17 June.
The daily flights will use Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft on routes from Delhi and Mumbai to the two European cities, Frankfurt and Paris.
Delhi – Frankfurt
Flight UK025 departs Delhi at 1250 and arrives in Frankfurt at 1820. Flight UK026 departs Frankfurt at 2020 and arrives in Delhi at 0755 (plus a day).
Vistara competes with Lufthansa and Air India, which both offer daily flights on the route. Lufthansa flies an A340-300 with 279 seats, and Air India a 787-8 with 256 seats. The average fare is USD900.
Delhi – Paris
Flight UK021 departs Delhi at 1405 and arrives in Paris at 2010. Flight UK022 departs Paris at 2225 and arrives in Delhi at 1005 (plus a day).
Vistara competes with Air France and Air India on the route. Both fly daily services during the summer season. The average roundtrip fare on the route is USD790.
Mumbai – Frankfurt
Flight UK027 departs Mumbai at 1200 and arrives in Frankfurt at 1730. Flight UK028 departs Frankfurt at 20220 and arrives in Mumbai at 0755 (plus day).
Once Vistara raises weekly flights from six to daily, it will compete head-on with Lufthansa, which offers daily flights. The average fare on the route is USD1,140.
Mumbai – Paris
Flight UK023 departs Mumbai at 1320 and arrives in Paris at 1930. Flight UK024 departs Paris at 2130 and arrives in Mumbai. (plus a day).
Air France flies the route daily using a Boeing 777-200 with 296 seats, while Vistara increases flights from six to daily using a Boeing 787-9 with 297 seats. The average fare on the route is USD920.
SINGAPORE, 13 June 2024: Passenger traffic recovery at Changi Airport continued steadily, gaining momentum in the last quarter of FY2023/24 to ensure travel demand once more close to pre-Covid levels.
Changi Airport Group’s results for the year ended 31 March 2024, released last week, highlighted a strong traffic performance in the last quarter, boosted by hosting major events in Singapore and the liberalisation of visa requirements between China and Singapore.
Photo credit: Changi Airport Group.
For the full financial year, passenger movements reached 62.5 million, or 91% of pre-Covid levels, and air traffic movements totalled 344,000, or 90% of pre-Covid levels.
While the Group’s revenue has increased with the growth in passenger traffic, concessions revenue experienced a slower recovery. This was due to lower spending amid inflationary pressures and global economic uncertainty. Overall, Changi Group’s revenue grew 45% to SGD2,727 million (FY2022/23: SGD1,883 million).
Group Operating Expenses
In tandem with the recovery in passenger traffic and the return of full operations at Terminal 4 Changi Airport, the Group’s operating expenses increased by 20% year-on-year to SGD2,233 million in FY2023/24 (FY2022/23: SGD1,856 million). Terminal 2 (T2) was fully reopened in November 2023 after 3.5 years of extensive engineering and expansion, boosting the airport’s total handling capacity to 90 million passengers annually. With the recovery of air traffic at Changi Airport, services and licence fees charged by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore were also fully reinstated.
EBITDA and Net Profit
The Group recorded EBITDA of SGD1,205 million (FY2022/23: SGD751 million) and net profit attributable to the company’s shareholders of SG431 million in FY2023/24 (FY2022/23: SGD33 million).
Financial Position
As of 31 March 2024, the Group’s asset base remained strong at SGD14,347 million (FY2022/23: SGD13,313 million), with more than two-thirds comprising capital asset investments in property, plant and equipment and investment property. During the year, the Group invested over SGD800 million to upkeep and upgrade the airport’s facilities and fund the expansion of T2 and the development of Changi East. With significant capital investment outlay for the Changi East development underway, Changi Group continued to “stay prudent and focused on rebuilding its financial resilience and cash reserves.”
As of 31 March 2024, the Group’s cash and cash equivalents totalled SGD2,115 million (FY2022/23: SGD1,595 million), while loans and borrowings amounted to SGD1,925 million (FY2022/23: SGD1,972 million). Total equity attributable to the company’s shareholders stood at SGD,637 million (FY2022/23: SGD6,259 million).
Recovery boosted CAG’s topline
CAG CEO Lee Seow Hiang commented: “FY2023/24 marked a significant milestone for Changi Airport as passenger traffic recovered to pre-Covid levels in the fiscal year’s final quarter.
“The recovery of travel boosted our topline while we continued to exercise prudence with our operating expenses. This has translated into an improved financial performance with higher EBITDA and profit attributable to our shareholders.
“While the outlook for aviation is promising and travel demand is on the upward trend, we are aware that the industry operates in a highly volatile and fast-changing environment. To stay ahead, Changi Airport will continue to invest to keep its fundamentals strong and to remain attractive as an air hub. This includes developing Terminal 5, which will begin construction in 2025.
“As we further strengthen our position as a leading international air hub, we acknowledge the collective efforts of the airport community and thank all our partners for working closely with CAG to drive Changi’s long-term growth.”
About Changi Airport Group Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG) focuses on airport operations and management, air hub development, commercial activities and airport emergency services. It also manages the Changi East development project, including building a new Terminal 5 for Changi Airport. CAG also operates Seletar Airport (IATA: XSP, ICAO: WSSL) and, through its subsidiary Changi Airports International, invests in and manages airports around the world.
PHUKET, 13 June 2024: Thailand’s tourism industry targets long-haul travellers, prioritising improved airline connectivity and sustainable practices.
With long-haul markets representing a significant portion of tourist arrivals, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is implementing a two-pronged strategy to attract visitors from afar. This strategy emphasises increased flight options and responsible tourism initiatives.
At the recent Thailand Travel Mart+ (TTM+ 2024) held in Khao Lak, Phang Nga Province, international buyers from key long-haul markets could explore a wide range of Thai tourism products offered by 430 sellers across Thailand. Of the 425 participants in the business matching sessions, 25.2% were buyers from Europe, and 11.3% were from the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East.
TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, America, Middle East, and Africa) Siripakorn Cheawsamoot highlighted long-haul markets, saying they accounted for 28% of all international arrivals to Thailand.
In 2023, Thailand welcomed 7,972,258 visitor arrivals from these markets. From January to June 2024, the country has already seen 4,321,519 arrivals. TAT aims to welcome 9,938,300 visitor arrivals this year and targets tourism receipts of THB769,824 million.
“Flight connectivity remains a critical component of TAT’s tourism strategy. This summer, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand reported a 28% increase in regular flights from international markets,” he explained. Several airlines are resuming and introducing new routes from long-haul markets. For example, Air Canada will operate seven weekly flights from Vancouver to Bangkok from October 2024 to May 2025. Condor, from Germany, will add four weekly flights from Frankfurt to Bangkok and four weekly flights from Frankfurt to Phuket starting September 2024. Finnair will also start flying from Helsinki to Bangkok and from Helsinki to Phuket from November 2024 to April 2025, adding approximately 20 weekly flights to Thailand.
Effective 1 July, THAI Airways International will operate seven weekly flights from Milan to Bangkok and resume its daily Oslo-Bangkok flights. AirAsia X plans to operate four European routes in the winter of 2024.
TAT has also welcomed new air services from Iberojet, which now operates a single weekly flight from Madrid to Bangkok, catering to the strong demand from the Spanish market.
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot.
“The Spanish market is particularly strong in the summer months of June, July, and August. This new route provides easier connectivity for Spanish-speaking travellers, including those from Latin America,” Siripakorn noted.
Thailand will expand visa-free entry, allowing visitors from 93 countries to stay for up to 60 days, compared to the previous limit of 30 days. The greenlight for the longer visa-free stay deal awaits publication in the Royal Gazette. TAT is negotiating with airlines to offer long-stay airfares, which will be cheaper for tourists, with a minimum stay of 21 days or one month. Additional benefits include hotel bonus nights and value-added services for shopping and dining.
Meanwhile, another critical mission to boost arrivals from long-haul markets focuses on achieving sustainability in tourism content. “According to studies, many travellers are willing to pay more for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). They are happy to pay more to ensure the future safety and sustainable growth of the tourism and travel industry,” said Siripakorn.
Regarding supply, TAT’s initiatives to promote responsible travel practices include the Thailand Tourism Awards and the Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs), which are rated with a STAR certification and CF-Hotels. Siripakorn said: “Apart from these domestic standards, we’ll need more international bodies to ensure our standards are on par with global standards.”
TAT is partnering with Tourism Cares, a US-based non-profit organisation, to enhance sustainable tourism practices in Thailand.
They plan to host the first-ever “Tourism Care Summit” in 2025 in Thailand alongside a responsible tourism event, the “Meaningful Travel Fair.” This fair will bring together all modes of transportation, alternative energy initiatives, carbon-free hotels, and various sustainable activities.
The Meaningful Travel Fair aims to combine the benefits of sustainable tourism with the involvement of local communities, ensuring fairness and mutual benefit. The event will target domestic and international audiences and be held back-to-back with the Tourism Care Summit. This setup will allow summit participants to explore Thailand’s potential as a sustainable tourism destination.
DUBAI, UAE, 12 June 2024: This Hajj season, Emirates has geared up to serve the large volume of pilgrims from the airline’s global network through Dubai to Jeddah and Medina to perform the once-in-a-lifetime Muslim pilgrimage. Emirates has been working hard throughout every travel touchpoint of the journey to ensure a comfortable experience, both in the air and on the ground, for pilgrims heading to Makkah for this significant trip.
Additional flights to Jeddah and Medina
Emirates scheduled 10 additional flights between 7 and 10 June and will deploy again on 21 June and 26 June to carry pilgrims to Jeddah and Medina. These flights have been carefully timed to meet the flight schedules from key markets for Hajj, including Indonesia, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius, South Africa, Senegal and Pakistan.
The additional flights are operated alongside Emirates’ scheduled services to the two Saudi gateways and provide increased choices and options for thousands of travellers from across the airline’s global network to carry out one of the key pillars of Islam. The airline has further deployed 19 flights to cities including Amman, Dammam, Kuwait, and Beirut to meet high demand during Eid Al-Adha in mid-June.
Seamless airport journey throughout
From arriving at Dubai International to stopping in the city and connecting onwards to Jeddah and Medina, Emirates has extended its onboard hospitality to the ground through a carefully planned airport experience.
Emirates’ dedicated teams will guide pilgrims during their airport journey to ensure a seamless connecting process to their onward flights. Airport Service teams have been tasked with meeting, greeting and escorting all pilgrims from arrival to departure. Travellers are welcomed at the arrival gate by dedicated Emirates Airport Service personnel, holding signs with special greetings for pilgrims, where they are escorted to the connection desk for their onward journey or to the Emirates Hotel Desk to pick up their hotel vouchers so they can quickly be transferred on Emirates’ buses to their hotels for a short break before they proceed to their final destination. The airline had dedicated three Economy Class and 15 to 20 Premium Class check-in counters for Hajj travellers. Pilgrims’ luggage will also be tagged with special Emirates ‘Hajj’ baggage tags. Special gifts were distributed on the official UAE Hajj flight from Dubai on 11 June.
A Hajj-centric onboard experience
Onboard, the airline has made extra provisions to accommodate those performing ablutions and provides unperfumed towels and additional blankets. Special PAs advise passengers when they have entered Al Miqat zones (state of sanctity) and indicate the changing of Ihram robes. Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice, features a special video that covers the Hajj formalities and also contains information about safety during Hajj as well as all essential information about performing the pilgrimage. Travellers may also choose to listen to the Holy Quran channel or read verses on ice so they can continue their introspection and worship. Upon return, passengers may check-in up to 5 litres of holy water (Zamzam), which will be placed in special areas in the cargo hold.
Pilgrims travelling on Emirates’ special flights are encouraged to explore the full Hajj experience – from airport to onboard – on the Emirates website. Special flights are available for travellers holding a valid Hajj visa. Pilgrims must also be under the age of 65 and hold a valid vaccination certificate with a vaccine authorised by the Saudi Ministry of Health. In partnership with Dubai International and numerous stakeholders across the Dubai travel ecosystem, Emirates has put in tremendous effort to ensure a seamless experience for Hajj travellers.
BANGKOK, 12 June 2024: The Pacific Asia Travel Association has officially ratified the appointment of its new PATA Executive Board.
Peter Semone has been formally endorsed and will serve as the Chair of the Association’s Executive Board for a consecutive second term.
Picture: Top Row: L/R: Peter Semone, President & Founder, Destination Human Capital Ltd, Timor-Leste/Indonesia; Suman Pandey, President, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, Nepal; Luzi Matzig, Chairman, Asian Trails Ltd, Thailand; and Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA.
Bottom Row: L/R: Ben Montgomery, Director of Business Relations Management, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand; Henry Oh, Chairman, Global Tour Ltd, Korea (ROK); Noredah Othman, CEO, Sabah Convention Bureau, Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia; Mayur Patel, Head of Asia, OAG, Singapore; Gerald Perez, Vice President, Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam; and SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, India.
Following his appointment, Semone said: “It is an honour to be elected by the PATA Board of Directors to lead the Association for a second term. Thanks to the strong commitment of the Secretariat staff and outgoing Executive Board members, over the past two years, significant progress has been made in regard to PATA’s finances and management. Much work remains to be done, and I am confident that the new Executive Board will face this challenge.”
Semone is a leading tourism development expert specialising in the Asia Pacific region. He has served in leadership roles for international donor-funded projects in Timor-Leste, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. He is frequently called upon as a short-term expert for UN Tourism and the Asian Development Bank. He founded the internationally acclaimed Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) vocational school. After graduating from Ivy League colleges (UPENN and Cornell), he resided in Indonesia in the 1990s, where he established several tourism enterprises and served as an expert tourism adviser to the Government of Indonesia.
During the 73rd PATA Annual General Meeting on Friday, 7 June 2024, PATA also ratified Suman Pandey, President of Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure, as the new Vice Chair and Luzi Matzig, Chairman of Asian Trails Ltd, as the new Secretary/Treasurer of the Association.
Suman Pandey is a well-known figure in Nepalese Tourism and President of Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure, a well-known name for diverse and innovative operations. He is also the CEO of Fishtail Air, a Nepalese helicopter company; Director of Summit Air, a fixed-wing operator catering to tourists going to the Mount Everest region; Director of the biggest business complex in Nepal, “Chhaya Centre”, a multi-faceted Mega Complex that includes a five star managed by Starwood under the “Aloft” brand; President of the Himalaya Academy of Travel and Tourism.
Luzi Matzig began his career with Swissair ground operations in Zurich, Switzerland, and had subsequent postings in London and Berne. In 1971, he moved to Thailand and worked for Diethelm Travel in Bangkok, rising to General Manager and later Group Managing Director, overseeing operations in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Yunnan/China. In September 1999, he founded Asian Trails Ltd. and is currently the Chairman. The Asian Trails Group now operates 33 offices with over 500 staff across Thailand, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam.
In addition to managing Asian Trails, Matzig is involved in the cruise and hotel industries, with ventures including Cruise Asia Ltd, Paradise Ko Yao Resort, Treehouse Villas, Legend Chiang Rai Boutique Resort and Spa, Paradise Beach Samui Resort, SUNSET HOUSE, and the Royal Sands Koh Kong Resort. He established VIP Jets Ltd for executive air transport in Asia.
Members of the Executive Board for this term comprise Ben Montgomery, Director of Business Relations Management, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand; Henry Oh, Chairman, Global Tour Ltd., Korea (ROK); Noredah Othman, CEO, Sabah Convention Bureau, Malaysia; Mayur Patel, Head of Asia, OAG, Singapore; Gerald Perez, Vice President, Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam; and SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, India.
Additionally, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid remains on the Executive Board as an Ex-Officio member.
SINGAPORE, 12 June 2024: The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) has revealed a record-breaking year for Travel and tourism in Saudi Arabia, with new records in GDP contribution, sector jobs, and visitor spending.
Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism sector is now soaring past all previous records, a testament to the country’s commitment to becoming a global tourism hot spot.
Last year, the sector grew by more than 32% to contribute a record-breaking SAR444.3 billion to Saudi’s GDP, representing 11.5% of the entire economy. This exceeded the previous record by almost 30% and underscored the sector’s pivotal new role in the nation’s economic framework.
Jobs supported by the sector grew by 436,000 to reach more than 2.5 million, representing almost one in five jobs in the country.
Although the jobs lost during the pandemic were fully recovered in 2022, today’s announcement shows sector employment in Travel & Tourism has increased almost 24% since the previous peak.
International visitor spending surged by almost 57% to reach SAR 227.4BN, breaking the previous record by SAR93.6 billion, while domestic visitor spending grew by 21.5% to reach SAR142.5 billion.
Seven years ahead of its target, Saudi Arabia welcomed 100 million tourists in 2023. Today, the country is surging toward even greater heights and has set a more ambitious aim of attracting 150 million tourists by 2030.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said: “Saudi Arabia’s Travel & Tourism sector’s extraordinary achievements last year mark a pivotal moment in its journey towards becoming a global tourism leader.
“This success is a direct result of the Kingdom’s visionary commitment to the sector, showcasing an impressive fusion of cultural heritage and innovative tourism initiatives. As the sector continues to expand, it promises to play a crucial role in the nation’s diversified economic future, while contributing significantly to global Travel & Tourism development.”
Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Executive Council of UN Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb said: “The latest data from WTTC provides further evidence of the rapid success we have achieved in transforming Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry.
“Tourism is a key pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plans and we have made great strides promoting investment in the sector – with more than $800 billion earmarked by 2030 – as well as creating new jobs and growing the contribution of tourism to GDP.”
What Does This Year Look Like?
Travel & Tourism is forecast to continue growing in 2024, with GDP contribution set to reach SAR498 billion, while jobs will increase by more than 158,000 to reach nearly 2.7 million.
International visitor spending is projected to reach SAR256 billion, almost double the previous high point and domestic visitor spending is forecast to reach SAR155.2 billion.
What Does the Next Decade Look Like?
The global tourism body forecasts that the sector will grow its annual GDP contribution to a staggering SAR836.1 billion by 2034, almost 16% of the Saudi Arabian economy, and will employ more than 3.6 million people across the country, with one in five people working in the sector.
What Does the Region Look Like?
The Middle Eastern Travel & Tourism sector grew by more than 25% in 2023 to reach almost USD460 billion. Jobs reached nearly 7.75 million and international spending grew by 50% to USD179.8 billion. Domestic visitor spending grew by 16.5% to reach more than USD205 billion.
WTTC is forecasting that the Middle Eastern Travel & Tourism sector will continue to grow throughout 2024, with the GDP contribution set to reach USD507 billion. Jobs are forecast to reach 8.3 million, international visitor spending is forecast to reach USD198 billion and domestic visitor spending is expected to reach more than USD224 billion.
SYDNEY, 12 June 024: The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has issued a reminder to consumers about the importance of booking travel through ATAS-accredited businesses following the recent collapse of Calypso Destinations
The ATIA advisory was issued in the wake of the collapse of tour operator Calypso Destinations, which has reportedly left Sydney parents, coaches, and junior cricket players out of pocket, reportedly to the tune of AUD1 million. Tour operator Calypso Destinations was not ATAS accredited.
ATIA CEO Dean Long commented: “The unfortunate situation with Calypso Destinations serves as a reminder of why it’s crucial to look for the ATAS seal when booking travel. ATAS accreditation means the business has undergone rigorous financial reviews and meets strict industry criteria to safeguard your travel plans.”
Established in Sydney in 2013, Calypso Destinations collapsed on 30 May, according to Sydney Morning Herald’s breaking news. The company was best known for its sports-related tourism accounts, including cricket and sports clubs, but it was also a prominent player in the events business and booked worldwide cruise line sailings for its clients. Social media accounts and websites have all gone offline.
ABOUT ATAS ATAS is the Australian travel sector’s prestigious accreditation programme. It sets the industry benchmarks and distinguishes exemplary travel businesses.
ATAS accreditation is contingent upon stringent criteria, including an in-depth analysis of business models, compliance with Australian Consumer Law, indemnity insurance verification, workforce qualification standards, annual financial reviews, daily director checks, and robust consumer complaints programmes.
Consumers are encouraged to always look for the ATAS seal when booking travel to ensure they are dealing with a reputable and reliable provider for their travel.
DOHA, 12 June 2024: Qatar Airways welcomes the return of its nonstop flights between Hamad International Airport (DOH), and Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Portugal.
Qatar Airways will operate direct flights to Lisbon year-round, starting with the inaugural flight on 6 June. Initially, it will fly four weekly services to Lisbon nonstop with a flight time of around eight hours using Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft. It intends to increase to six weekly flights during the European summer season; July and August. Roundtrip fares start at around USD1,037.
Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, commented: “As we continue our network expansion in the European market, we are thrilled to welcome back Lisbon to our global network. This addition reaffirms the airline’s dedication to connecting people and places, making international travel more accessible and convenient across our global network.”
With scenic beaches, thriving cosmopolitan districts, and several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Lisbon offers the perfect starting point for travellers eager to explore Portugal’s rich tourism and cultural offerings.
As the latest addition to Qatar Airways’ global network of more than 170 destinations, Lisbon is the 47th European destination the airline serves. Lisbon also opens up a new entry point for international travel from Europe to the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. Some of the most popular destinations for travellers from Lisbon include Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Denpasar, Kathmandu, and Male.
SINGAPORE, 12 June 2024: Southeast Asia has once again emerged as the world’s leading Muslim tourist destination in the latest edition of the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), with Indonesia and Malaysia tied for the top spot among 145 destinations in the 2024 study.
Meanwhile, Singapore has consistently led among non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations for the ninth consecutive year, underscoring its unwavering dedication to catering to Muslim travellers through the widespread availability of Halal food, prayer facilities, suitable airport amenities, and Muslim-friendly accommodation.
According to the report, the Muslim travel market is set for a significant uptick this year, with global international arrivals potentially reaching up to 168 million, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 5%. This volume growth highlights the segment’s rising prominence, driven by demographic and economic expansion, cultural and Halal tourism development, and technological advancements that enable more personalised travel experiences for Muslim travellers, such as apps that locate Halal food outlets, Qibla directions, and prayer timings. The impact of artificial intelligence is also helping further customise travel experiences to simplify travel logistics while adhering to faith traditions.
Retaining their joint top position as the leading OIC destinations for Muslim travellers for the 2nd consecutive year, Indonesia and Malaysia also scored favourably on ease of entry and quality of tourism infrastructure for both Muslim and non-Muslim travellers.
Thailand maintained its position in the top five non-OIC destinations owing to efforts to promote Halal tourism, such as increasing Halal food availability, integrating Muslim-friendly amenities at tourist spots, and enhancing accommodation and dining options for Muslim travellers.
Meanwhile, the Philippines recorded an increase in its communication score compared to 2023. Among non-OIC destinations, the Philippines has steadily increased its appeal to Muslim tourists by strategically developing its Halal Tourism portfolio, enhancing halal accreditation of hotels and restaurants, and conducting Halal awareness orientations. This effort builds on their achievement of winning the Emerging Muslim-friendly Destination of the Year award in last year’s Halal in Travel Global Summit, based on GMTI 2023 results.
GMTI, now in its ninth year, analyses data across 145 destinations using the ACES framework, built around Access, Communication, Environment, and Services metrics. Over time, the criteria have evolved to keep pace with the changing needs of Muslim travellers. This year, new metrics on the availability of facilities and services for travellers with disabilities were added to the model.
“It is encouraging to see that the travel sectors in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore not only maintained their rankings in this year’s GMTI, but also improved their individual scores. This reflects a broader trend of increased consideration for Muslim travellers, with average scores across the Index rising by 10%,” said CrescentRating Founder & CEO Fazal Bahardeen.
He added: “It is also positive to see the Philippines continue to improve its score, which demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Department of Tourism to bolstering Muslim-friendly tourism and advancing the destination’s appeal. As Muslim travel continues to gain momentum, the GMTI 2024 report provides invaluable insights for stakeholders across the travel and tourism sector to leverage the growing Muslim travel market.”
Mastercard Division President, Southeast Asia Safdar Khan said: “According to the latest report from the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI), travellers from and to Southeast Asia are becoming increasingly focused on getting the best value from their trips to ensure the most unforgettable experiences, a shift echoed in the rapidly growing global Halal tourism industry. At the same time, technology is helping this demographic travel in ways that meet their unique needs, from AI-powered hyper-personalised experiences to Mastercard’s enablement of easy and secure cross-border payments. Together, this heralds a new level of convenience for Muslim travellers and unlocks a new era of growth and profitability for travel operators. Mastercard’s long-running collaboration with CrescentRating is both a testament to the strength of the partnership and the ongoing importance of understanding and serving Muslim travellers.”
HONG KONG 12 June 2024: The Cathay Group reactivated the 85th and final aircraft last week, ending the long-term parking of aircraft in Australia and Spain’s arid regions.
After nearly four years in the Australian desert, Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A330 registration B-HLV returned to Hong Kong, where it will now undergo an extensive hangar maintenance check. B-HLV was the first of the Cathay Group’s aircraft to go into long-term parking overseas on 28 July 2020, as global air travel came to a near-standstill during the pandemic.
Cathay Pacific and HK Express had to park most of their passenger fleet at Hong Kong International Airport and overseas in Alice Springs, Australia and Ciudad Real, Spain at the height of the pandemic. As the pandemic began to subside, the Cathay Group commenced progressively reactivating these aircraft.
Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer Alex McGowan said: “Parking and reactivating so many aircraft is a once-in-a-lifetime undertaking, the scale and complexity of which has never been seen before at Cathay. An incredible amount of work goes into keeping an aircraft safe and protected when it isn’t flying and then reactivating it for entry back into regular service. To do this for more than 85 aircraft long-term parked overseas, as well as to manage the large number of aircraft that were parked in Hong Kong, is a phenomenal achievement.
“With our fleet now fully reunited, our focus is on investing for the future. The Cathay Group has more than 70 new aircraft on order, with the right to acquire an additional 52 aircraft. We are also exploring options for a new mid-size widebody aircraft. These investments reflect our ongoing confidence in the Hong Kong international aviation hub as we look ahead to the exciting opportunities presented by the Three-Runway System at Hong Kong International Airport when fully commissioned by the end of this year.”
When it first arrived, each long-term parked aircraft in Alice Springs underwent a 14-day preservation check, followed by a repeating series of periodic inspections and checks. Over the course of the parking programme in Alice Springs, more than 16,000 of these periodic checks were performed, and 800,000 labour hours were spent performing preservation, periodic, and reactivation maintenance.
Furthermore, over 40,000 parts and specialised equipment were also shipped from Hong Kong to support the Alice Springs operation. Meanwhile, the Cathay Group’s on-site Quality Assurance team conducted more than 2,000 audits.
