SINGAPORE, 16 October 2024: UK travellers top Agoda’s bookings chart for the MotoGP, which will be held in Buriram, Northeast Thailand, from 25 to 27 October 2024.
The digital travel platform Agoda reported this week that the UK is the top source market based on accommodation searches for Buriram Thailand during the Thailand MotoGP, which is due to be hosted at the Chang International Circuit.
Photo: https://motorsportguides.com
Australia followed in second place with Netherlands #3, Singapore #4 and Switzerland #5. The variety of international accommodation searches underscores the global appeal of the Buriram event.
The data was based accommodation searches made in the first month following the ticket release, highlights a 45% year-over-year increase in searches for Buriram during the event period.
Agoda Senior Vice President, Supply Andrew Smith said: “It is great to see a lesser-known city like Buriram take the spotlight, which isn’t an easy feat in a world-class tourism market with destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui. It once again showcases the power of event travel, and I do not doubt that all race enthusiasts will enjoy everything Buriram has to offer.”
Thailand is one of four Asian stops for the MotoGP and exhilarating world-class motorcycle racing series. Other races take place in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. The popularity of the Buriram race is set to increase even further next year, with recent reports suggesting that the high-octane race season will kick off its 2025 season on Thailand’s most prominent racetrack on 2 March.
MotoGP has confirmed that Thailand will take over Qatar’s spot to host the opening round of the 2025 season on 2 March. Usually scheduled at the latter end of the campaign in October, along with the bulk of races in Asia and Oceania, Buriram is now the opener for the Motocycle World Series in 2025.
(SOURCE: Agoda)
The ranking is based on accommodation searches made on Agoda’s platform one month from the ticket release date (18 June to 18 July 2024) for check-ins from 24 to 27 October 2024.
SINGAPORE, 16 October 2024: Despite the current economic backdrop, Singapore travellers are continuing to prioritise travel and travel expenditure according to the latest Skyscanner Travel Trends findings for 2025.
Part of the findings focuses on identifying the top 10 cheapest places to fly in 2025 as Singaporeans plan their holidays and travel budgets.
Photo credit: Skyscanner. Topping the list is Okinawa, Japan.
Skyscanner’s booking data and trends suggest airfare drops are making travel more accessible than ever.
“We’re likely seeing cheaper fares for these destinations due to a combination of a couple of factors: the launching of new routes opening up these destinations for the first time and a higher frequency of low-cost carrier flights.”
These 10 destinations have seen the biggest airfare price drop from Singapore over the past year*. Two surprises are Birmingham, not the first city to come to mind as a tourist destination, and Nice, France, considered outrageously expensive.
1 Okinawa
Topping the list is Okinawa, Japan, offering serene beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a rich cultural heritage. Its unique blend of Japanese and indigenous culture and beautiful coral reefs make it a must-visit for nature lovers and those seeking relaxation.
2 Shenzhen
Shenzhen, China, comes in second with a 37% price drop. Shenzhen is appealing for tech enthusiasts and modern travellers, as it offers a glimpse into China’s rapid modernisation and dynamic urban life.
3 Vienna
Vienna**, Austria, boasts grand architecture and historic coffeehouses and is home to famous music composers such as Mozart and Beethoven.
4 Birmingham
Birmingham**, UK, has a diverse cultural scene and lively arts districts. The city’s rich industrial history is complemented by its modern shopping malls and thriving culinary scene.
5 Nice
With its stunning coastline, vibrant markets, and art museums, Nice** offers a perfect blend of relaxation and cultural enrichment on the French Riviera.
6 Maldives
A 20% price drop makes Malé, the capital of the Maldives, a prime destination for reset and recharge and honeymoons. Surrounded by turquoise waters and stunning coral reefs, it’s ideal for scuba diving, snorkelling, and indulging in luxurious resorts.
7 Wellington
Wellington**, New Zealand, offers a vibrant arts scene and stunning natural landscapes at great value. The city’s coastal location and rich cultural life, including film and theatre.
8 Hangzhou
Hangzhou, China, offers more than its famous West Lake. Visitors can explore traditional tea plantations and ancient temples, adding to its unique cultural appeal.
9 Hobart
Hobart** in Tasmania, Australia, is one of the best locations to view the Southern Lights. It is a charming destination close to stunning natural landscapes like Mount Wellington and the Tasmanian wilderness.
10 Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada, is an ideal destination with beautiful natural scenery, including mountains and ocean views, a vibrant cultural scene, and a wide range of outdoor activities. With new direct flights from Singapore to Vancouver, travelling to the other side of the world has never been easier.
*Based on a % price drop for economy class return flights booked between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2024 for travel throughout 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
**One stopover. No direct flights are available.
Singaporeans are avid travellers
Statista indicates that Singaporeans are impressive travellers, racking up a substantial average of 3.51 trips per person in 2017. In 2023, Singaporean residents made about 7.87 million outbound departures by air. By comparison, there were around 1.52 million outbound departures by sea (mainly ferries to Indonesia) in that same year.
Number of outbound departures Singaporean residents 2014-2023 by mode of transport. (Credit: Statista)
For peace of mind and extra comfort, Singaporean travellers are most likely to spend money on:
Singapore is expected to see a significant rebound in outbound travel in 2025. The country’s strong economic performance and a growing appetite for international experiences drive this positive outlook.
2025:Positive indicators
Increased Travel Spending: Singapore households are projected to double their overseas travel spending by 2025, placing the country among the top 10 global spenders.
Popular Destinations: Asia Pacific destinations, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, are likely to remain popular choices due to their proximity and diverse offerings.
Growing Demand for Luxury Travel: Singaporeans increasingly seek premium experiences like luxury resorts and customised itineraries.
Digital Transformation: Technology will become increasingly important in travel planning, including online booking platforms and mobile apps.
BANGKOK, 16 October 2024: Tripseed has achieved recognition as a member of the Social Enterprise Thailand Association (SE Thailand), reinforcing its commitment to driving social change within Thailand’s tourism industry.
By joining SE Thailand, Tripseed becomes part of an influential network dedicated to promoting ethical, responsible, and inclusive business practices nationwide.
Tripseed’s membership aligns with its ongoing mission to address deep-rooted challenges in the tourism sector, including economic leakage, gender inequality, and inclusivity. As a Destination Management Company (DMC) focused on creating sustainable travel experiences, Tripseed is honoured to stand alongside other social-purpose businesses working to make a meaningful impact on local communities.
Shared mission for a fairer tourism industry
Tripseed’s inclusion in SE Thailand reflects its long-standing efforts to reshape Thailand’s tourism landscape, particularly by addressing issues such as the foreign-dominated DMC sector and unequal opportunities for local businesses. The company’s initiatives aim to ensure that tourism revenue benefits local individuals, businesses, and communities and stays within Thailand’s economy, fostering a more economically inclusive marketplace.
With the addition of Tripseed, the Social Enterprise Thailand network is now comprised of around 100 social purpose businesses nationwide.
Tripseed joins other travel companies, such as Local Alike, SiamRise, and FindFolk, as one of six members committed to driving the industry forward and prioritising purpose ahead of profit.
“This membership represents a significant milestone for us,” said Tripseed Director of Growth Ewan Cluckie. “Joining SE Thailand not only validates the work we’ve been doing but also connects us with a broader community of social entrepreneurs committed to transforming their industries. Together, we’re creating a path for a more sustainable and equitable tourism sector.”
Collaboration for sustainable tourism
Tripseed’s focus on social-purpose tourism offers not just a blueprint but a long-missing alternative for overseas travel agents and tour operators looking to create lasting and honest positive impacts in their destinations. By working with Tripseed, travel professionals can help reduce harmful practices like economic leakage and genuinely support the livelihoods of local communities.
“Overseas travel agents and tour operators have a critical role to play in responsible tourism,” Cluckie added. “By partnering with social-purpose businesses like Tripseed, they can ensure that tourism dollars stay within the local economy and help to address social inequities.”
Social Enterprise Thailand (SE Thailand) General Manager Nattakorn Asunee Na Ayudhaya welcomed Tripseed’s membership: “We are thrilled to welcome Tripseed as part of the SE Thailand network. Their dedication to addressing critical issues such as economic inequality and social inclusion aligns perfectly with our mission. We look forward to collaborating with Tripseed to explore innovative ways to create lasting, positive impacts in Thailand’s tourism sector.”
About Tripseed Tripseed is a majority locally owned and women-owned Destination Management Company based in Thailand. With an award-winning approach to sustainable tourism, Tripseed collaborates with the international travel trade to deliver immersive, culturally rich tours.
About Social Enterprise Thailand Founded in 2019, the Social Enterprise Thailand Association (SE Thailand) supports and connects social enterprises nationwide, fostering business growth while addressing social and environmental challenges. SE Thailand plays a crucial role in developing a thriving ecosystem for social enterprises, encouraging innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing to drive scalable social impact. For more information visit https://www.sethailand.org
KUALA LUMPUR, 16 October 2024: The Malaysian Tourism Federation (MTF) calls for an efficient tourism allocation in the upcoming budget 2025 to revitalise the country’s tourism sector.
It is more than “pumping money” into the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Malaysia; it advocates for a tailored approach that ensures adequate funding and incentives are effectively channelled to private stakeholders and address the industry’s pressing challenges.
MTF President Datuk Tan Kok Liang
“Funding needs to be segmentalised accurately and channelled expeditiously into tourism infrastructure and facilities, products, incentivising key stakeholders, support private sector-initiated events and upskilling the tourism workforce”, says MTF President Datuk Tan Kok Liang.
“In addition, the perennial challenges of the industry need to be tackled by the Malaysia MADANI government once and for all, which includes overhauling the outdated tourism legislation and regulations, resolving entertainment tax issues, mitigating hikes in operating costs, especially manpower and utilities, upgrading of tourism vehicles and encourage domestic travel via tax reliefs.”
Given the industry’s competitiveness regionally and globally, a robust tax incentive framework is needed to stimulate tourism development.
Tan explained that the Federation cautions that a “one size fits all” tax policy approach may not be suitable compared to a targeted approach under the current evolving circumstances.
“For example, some locations in Malaysia need a category four to five-star hotel with international branding to attract high-end tourists and provide a better tourist experience. However, it is perplexing that tax incentives are only given to category one to three-star hotels. This doesn’t make sense, as Malaysia is still far behind other tourism destinations.”
MTF urges policymakers not to brush aside the proposals of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), and the Malaysian Budget & Business Hotel Association (MyBHA).
Hotel associations have long advocated for investment incentives to promote sustainable development in the hospitality sector. While the government, through the National Tourism Policy, has set a clear goal of achieving a sustainable tourism industry by 2030, there still needs to be strong incentives to propel industry players toward this transition.
“We hope the upcoming budget will finally prioritise and allocate funding to support this crucial initiative,” the MTF president stated.
The traditional and currently available tax incentives for the past years up to budget 2024 need to be revisited, which includes pioneer status eligibility for up to three-star category of hotels and convention centres, Income tax exemption for organising specific conference and sports events, investment tax allowance on building extension or modernisation, double deduction for overseas promotion expenses, tax exemption for motor races, chartering of luxury yacht and special tax rates for film production. These incentives ought to be reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and practical to reflect the current business environment, failing which, they need to be updated or repealed in budget 2025.
Broader and more inclusive tax incentives should be offered in budget 2025 to accelerate tourism development for significant subsectors of the tourism industry.
The MTF president pointed to a glaring exclusion: the tax incentive for tour operators organising domestic or international tourists in Malaysia, which was withdrawn in the year of tax assessment 2023. MTF urges the Ministry of Finance to reintroduce this incentive to support domestic travel, and tax savings may be utilised for marketing activities.
“To position Malaysia as a premier destination and increasing international arrivals have its complexities due to changing behavioural and travelling patterns and higher tourist expectations. It requires support and understanding from interlocking government agencies, more conducive policies and aggressive private sector-driven initiatives backed by the government.
“We hope the budget allocation shall be monitored by the Ministry of Finance in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY 2026) with a strong emphasis on infrastructure and facilities improvement, product development, enhancing and diversifying destination marketing, improving rural tourism infrastructure, expanding digitalisation and human resource development to drive tourism growth,” concluded Tan.
SINGAPORE, 16 October 2024: In response to increasing travel demand, Korean Air will commence daily flights from 24 November from Seoul Incheon to Kumamoto in Japan.
It marks the resumption of the route after a 27-year suspension due to the Asian financial crisis in 1997.
Located in the heart of Kyushu, Kumamoto is known as a year-round tourist destination. It boasts a long history and stunning natural landscapes – including Mount Aso, one of the world’s largest caldera volcanoes, and Kumamoto Castle, one of Japan’s three most famous castles.
Other attractions include the Kikuchi Castle ruins, a medieval fortress site showcasing architectural influences from Korea’s Baekje Kingdom and offering insights into the region’s feudal history; the Amakusa Islands, presenting picturesque coastal landscapes ideal for nature enthusiasts; and Kurokawa Onsen, a hot spring village with a 300-year tradition, offering a traditional Japanese onsen experience in a charming forested valley setting. These diverse attractions, combined with Kumamoto’s climate and renowned local cuisine, make it an appealing destination for travellers seeking both cultural experiences and natural beauty throughout the year.
Kumamoto is also famous for its local mascot, “Kumamon.” A combination of “kuma” (bear) and “mon” (person), Kumamon is a playful black bear character that has gained popularity both in Japan and worldwide. Since its debut in 2011, Kumamon has significantly boosted Kumamoto’s recognition, generating over 1 trillion yen annually in revenue and becoming Japan’s most successful character since Hello Kitty.
Korean Air is expanding its services to smaller Japanese cities to meet the growing demand for diverse Japanese destinations. From 27 October, the airline will increase the flights on the Seoul Incheon to Okayama and Kagoshima routes while resuming the Seoul Incheon-Nagasaki route with four weekly flights. These expansions reflect Korean Air’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and providing more options for passengers seeking to explore Japan’s rich cultural tapestry beyond major metropolitan areas.
SINGAPORE, 15 October 2024: In a significant move towards enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability, Emirates has partnered with Etihad Clean Energy Development to launch a large-scale solar energy project at the Emirates Engineering Centre in Dubai.
The signing ceremony took place at the World Green Economy Summit 2024 in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group; and His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
The project includes developing, engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at Emirates Engineering Centre, along with 20 years of operation and maintenance services.
A total of 39,960 solar panels will be installed, providing 37% of the facility’s annual energy consumption and reducing CO2 equivalent emissions by over 13,000 tonnes each year when fully operational. The total capacity is 23,177 kWp, with an estimated annual generation of 34,301,960 kWh.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “This initiative highlights Emirates’ commitment and continued investment in renewable energy solutions as part of our sustainability strategy. By integrating solar energy into the Emirates Engineering Centre, we are significantly reducing our carbon footprint while supporting the UAE’s clean energy goals. We are pleased to partner with Etihad Clean Energy Development in this solar PV project, which adds another milestone in our sustainability journey and greatly expands the number of solar installations at our facilities.”
HE Saeed Al Mohammed Tayer said: “Etihad Clean Energy Development, a leading provider of energy efficiency solutions in the region, will spearhead the project, showcasing its expertise in delivering high-performance energy systems. Through this partnership, Etihad Clean Energy Development and Emirates Airline will ensure the long-term operational efficiency of the solar PV systems while achieving substantial reductions in carbon emissions and energy costs. We are proud to collaborate with Emirates Airline on this landmark project. Our partnership not only supports the UAE’s vision for a sustainable future but also sets a precedent for renewable energy adoption in the aviation sector.”
With a 20-year agreement for operation and maintenance, the solar PV systems will contribute to long-term environmental benefits, ensuring that the Emirates Engineering Centre continues to operate efficiently using clean energy. This project is part of both companies’ broader efforts to support the UAE’s sustainability agenda, which focuses on reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and driving progress towards a low-carbon future.
Other Emirates-owned and managed facilities in Dubai with solar panel installations include the Emirates Flight Catering facility and The Sevens Stadium, which boasts the region’s first and largest solar carport at a sporting facility.
For more information on Emirates sustainability initiatives, visit here For more information on the airline and to book flights visit www.emirates.com.
KUCHING, 15 October 2024: BESarawak is conversing with AirAsia to explore how Capital A’s business channel can add customer service features to support business event organisers planning events in Sarawak.
According to BESarawak’s recent Facebook post, ongoing discussions focus on “potential perks” that could be offered to delegates attending business events in the state, such as “dedicated check-in lanes, streamlined baggage drop, and in-flight announcements to welcome delegates on their arrival.”
Photo credit: BESarawak. AirAsia and BESarawak discuss ways to add value to business events heading for Sarawak.
Discussions are ongoing as part of AirAsia’s commitment to supporting business event organisers planning MICE events in Sarawak’s state capital, Kuching, and beyond.
AirAsia flies 70 weekly flights to Kuching from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and from Kuala Lumpur (SZB) 14 flights weekly. It flies daily from Penang to Kuching and from Johor Bahru to Kuching 21 flights weekly. The airline flies daily from Jakarta (Indonesia) to Kuching, and from Singapore, it schedules 12 flights weekly.
Sarawak is home to Southeast Asia’s premier music festival, the Rainforest World Music Festival, which is hosted annually on the grounds of the Sarawak Cultural Village, 35 km north of Kuching. Kuching is a popular choice for domestic corporate and association conferences, incentive groups, sports events, and regional meetings focusing on delegates from ASEAN member countries.
October Event in Kuching
International Forensic Civil Engineering Seminar 2024 (iForCES’24) 15-16 Oct 2024 Imperial Hotel, Kuching https://asm.mysir.org/
Malaysian Society of Interventional Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting (MySIR) 2024 17-19 Oct 2024 Sheraton Hotel, Kuching https://asm.mysir.org
1st International Conference Of Art And Creative Technology 2024 (1ST IC-ACT) 2024 23-24 Oct 2024 Borneo Cultures Museum, Kuching https://icactech.wixsite.com/first
Borneo International Water and Wastewater Exhibition and Conference 2024 23-25 Oct 2024 Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) https://www.biwwec.com
MUMBAI, 15 October 2024: SOTC Travel, an India-based omnichannel travel and tourism company, announced its latest campaign featuring six films in six key regional languages.
The initiative aligns with the brand’s positioning: “No one understands the Indian Traveller better than SOTC” which is part of the company’s 75th Anniversary celebrations and branding.
The campaign underscores its commitment to being a truly Indian brand that resonates with the diverse rhythms of its travellers, positioning itself as India’s favourite travel partner.
The campaign connects with the modern young Indian traveller, weaving unique cultural narratives into an engaging storytelling format and a fun, playful manner. Each of the six films features young couples from the company’s key markets, capturing the respective region’s essence and global aspirations.
For example, the West Bengal film features passion for football, Maharashtra with cricket, Gujarat with business, Tamil Nadu with education, Karnataka with technology and North India with fashion. Despite their diverse holiday dreams, all the couples share one common choice of booking with India’s favorite travel partner SOTC. This highlights that SOTC understands the complexities of holiday planning while catering to the varied regional preferences of its customers.
SOTC has introduced special regional holidays targeting major source markets such as West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and North India. These tours have been specially crafted, keeping in mind the respective region’s diverse preferences and passions.
To make travel planning even easier, our deep investments in AI empower customers to effortlessly customise itineraries, access personalised recommendations, and explore budget options—all designed to create memorable journeys.
SOTC Travel Limited’s President and Country Head of Holidays and Corporate Tours SD Nandakumar said: “At SOTC, we take pride in being a homegrown Indian brand and recognise the importance of connecting with the diverse regional travellers across the country. We are delighted to launch this unique campaign, which reflects our understanding of each region’s passions and preferences.
This inspires us to create holidays incorporating local passions, ensuring our products resonate with each regional traveller. To enhance the experience, our website is also available in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Tamil, making travel planning more accessible for our regional customers.”
SOTC Travel Limited Vice President & Head of Marketing Asif Riaz commented on the campaign: “Celebrating SOTC Travel’s 75th anniversary, we’re delighted to unveil a campaign that truly embodies our brand’s core belief: No one understands the Indian Traveller better than SOTC. Each of our six dynamic films captures India’s cultural richness and diverse regional nuances, reflecting our commitment to creating memorable holidays. Given how discerning today’s traveller has become, it was important for us to communicate a personal connection in our messaging through their local language.”
SINGAPORE, 15 October 2024: Tourism Malaysia assigns Norliza Md Zain, Director of Tourism Malaysia, Singapore, effective 14 October 2024.
She succeeds Salahuddin Mohd Ariffin, who ended his tenure in Singapore last year. Norliza has 19 years of experience in the organisation.
Before her latest appointment, she was part of the Tourism Malaysia Production Division. She also led the Shopping Secretariat Malaysia and the Lifestyle Unit in the Package Development Division and has worked in both the Advertising Division and the International Marketing Division.
Throughout her tenure at Tourism Malaysia, she played a key role in establishing a branch office in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
She now has the opportunity to promote Malaysia to the Singapore market and strengthen tourism relationships and collaboration.
Tourism Malaysia Singapore is committed to restoring tourist traffic from Singapore to Malaysia to levels seen before the pandemic and welcomes innovative and creative ideas from the travel industry, she explained.
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 October 2024: British Airways has halted its ambitious plan to expand international services during the winter timetable from 28 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.
An immediate casualty is the highly anticipated daily flights from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, that were due to start on 10 November. The airline last flew the route in 2022.
Photo credit: British Airways.
The Boeing Dreamliner 787-900, scheduled to serve Kuala Lumpur, has a four-class configuration: eight first-class seats, 42 Club seats, 39 World Traveller Plus seats, and 127 World Traveller seats.
The UK Indepent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder first broke the news, claiming “around 200,000 prospective passengers had booked seats on the new service.” British Airways is culling services during the winter timetable, saying it has been hit by a shortage of Trent engines and spare parts from Roll Royce that triggered delays in the delivery of Boeing 787s and grounding aircraft that required spare parts. Five of the 40 Dreamliners in the airline’s fleet are grounded, waiting for engine spare parts from Rolls Royce.
Calder, in his popular travel column, said that in a “bid to reduce the number of short-notice cancellations, the airline is freeing up the equivalent of three long-haul, wide-bodied planes each day between November/December and March/April – by making long-notice cancellations.”
British Airways has not posted a list of the cancelled international flights, but if the spares crisis deepens, it might cancel its planned resumption of flights to Bangkok from its London Gatwick hub. It last flew the route to Bangkok in 2020.
The UK Financial Times reported the airline had cancelled one of its daily flights from London Gatwick to New York and one daily flight on the London Heathrow-Doha route, blaming the cancellations on a shortage of engine spare parts and delays in delivering Trent 1000 engines for its Boeing 787s
Will Bangkok flights suffer the same fate?
Three flights weekly were scheduled between the Thai capital and London Gatwick using a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Bangkok flights are scheduled three times weekly on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, starting 28 October and ending the winter timetable in March 2025. TTRW requested more information on the Bangkok startup and possible flight cancellations.
Flight schedule Flight BA2231 will depart from London Gatwick at 2100 and arrive in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi at 1555 plus one day. Flight BA2230 will depart Bangkok at 2255 and arrive in London Gatwick at 0530 plus one day.
The Boeing 777-200 ER has a three-class cabin configuration: 32 Club, 48 World Traveller Plus, and 252 World Traveller (economy).
