TOKYO, 9 May 2024: The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) renewed its official website (https://www.asean.or.jp/), providing access to data on ASEAN trade, investment and tourism.
The top page of the website shows the AJC’s new tagline: “Building Bridges, Connecting Heart to Heart.” Illustrations showcase the diversity and spirit of cooperation between ASEAN and Japan.
In addition to reporting on the AJC’s activities, the new website also features infographics, ‘ASEAN-Japan Basic Information at a Glance’, an ASEAN database that provides access to data on ASEAN trade and investment, including basic economic indicators and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index, as well as tourism-related data such as an overview of the number of visitors to the region.
The website relaunch is the first in almost six years. The AJC has taken the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in 2023 as a new starting point.
Based on the vision statement “Trusted Partners” adopted by the leaders of the ASEAN member states and Japan at the Commemorative Summit, the AJC aims to deepen the “heart-to-heart” relationship between ASEAN and Japan and build a peaceful, sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous society together.
For more than 40 years since its establishment in 1981, the AJC has contributed to building relations between the two regions through trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
DOHA, 9 May 2024: Qatar Airways Privilege Club loyalty programme inks a partnership with Cardless Inc, a San Francisco-based leader in financial technology, to redefine travel rewards on everyday spending for its members in the US with the launch of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Cards.
Powered by Visa, these credit cards are now available for members to apply for and mark the debut of Qatar Airways Privilege Club in the US credit card space. Cardholders can collect Avios – the rewards currency of Qatar Airways Privilege Club – on their everyday purchases and enjoy many exciting benefits.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, which has an annual fee of USD499, has a matte metal design and offers industry-leading rewards. For every USD1 spent with this credit card, cardholders will earn five Avios on Qatar Airways, three Avios on restaurant spending and one Avios on all other spends. Cardholders can also benefit from 24/7 concierge assistance, airport benefits, special upgrades at Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection properties, travel coverage, built-in purchase protection and much more. With only a select few Visa Infinite cards available within the US, Qatar Airways Privilege Club is the first international airline loyalty programme to offer a Visa Infinite credit card in the US market.
With an annual fee of USD99, Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card offers exclusive benefits along with generous rewards. Members will earn four Avios on Qatar Airways spends, two Avios on restaurant spends, and one Avios on all other spends of every US$1 with this credit card.
Both credit cards offer bonus and tier fast-track with Qatar Airways Privilege Club. With the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card, cardholders can collect up to 50,000 Avios and 150 Qpoints as a sign-up bonus with minimum spend and a fast-track to Gold tier with Privilege Club.
With the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Signature Credit Card, members can collect up to 40,000 bonus Avios with minimum spend and a fast-track to Silver tier with Privilege Club. Cardholders will enjoy enhanced privileges, including tier bonus, complimentary lounge access, extra baggage allowance, priority stand-by, priority check-in, priority boarding, and complimentary ‘meet and assist’ service from Al Maha Services when travelling through Hamad International Airport in Doha.
SHENZHEN, 9 May 2024: DidaTravel, a global online travel wholesaler, announced impressive year-to-date 205% TTV* sales growth in hotel bookings for US destinations.
The growth in hotel bookings for US destinations has been generated from Dida’s global client portfolio, which features more than 35,000 travel trade clients, including tour operators, travel agents and airlines, distributing to the 125 source markets in which DidaTravel is active.
The current top five markets driving the fastest growth to the US via Dida’s platform are China (+277%), Brazil (+229%), the UK (+110%), Italy (+125%) and South Korea (+310%).
The most popular US cities booked on Dida’s platform are New York, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The company has expanded rapidly across all key US destinations, with a 60% year-on-year increase in the size of Dida’s directly contracted US portfolio, which now stands at 10,000 properties and continues to grow, many of them contracted under unique or differentiated conditions.
The year-on-year average daily rate increases in the US by +21%, which completes the positive picture for DidaTravel’s hotel partners.
DidaTravel Director of International Chains Suman Khan commented: “As one of the most visited countries in the world, offering such iconic destinations, the US is clearly of key strategic importance to a global travel wholesaler like DidaTravel. We are therefore delighted that we continue to go from strength to strength and register such rapid sales growth across US destinations.
For our hotel partners, Dida’s global B2B reach and distribution capability, fully aligned and complementary to their direct marketing strategies, helps them effectively meet their occupancy targets while attracting high-value guests from hard-to-reach markets.”
*TTV = Total Transaction Value **ADR = Average Daily Rate
All data is based on bookings made via DidaTravel’s platform and distribution channels and compares the full-year performance up to 15 April 2024, versus the prior 12 months.
About DidaTravel The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and has over 600 employees in eight offices globally. It works with over 35,000 travel-buying clients worldwide, including travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, OTAs, travel management companies (TMCs), and airlines.
Additionally, the company has a portfolio of over 75,000 competitively sourced direct hotel contracts and more than 1.5 million accommodation products provided by 600+ global suppliers, covering more than 200 countries/regions.
ABU DHABI, 9 May 2024: Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) launched a free Abu Dhabi Stopover stay promotion on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market this week.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s Director General for Tourism, His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, and Etihad’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the campaign’s official launch at the airline’s ATM pavilion.
DCT Abu Dhabi’s Director General for Tourism, His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, and Etihad’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves signed off on a Memorandum of Understanding for the free stopover stays.
The Abu Dhabi Stopover, exclusive to Etihad Airways, invites guests flying through Abu Dhabi to turn their free stopover hotel stay into a holiday.
When booking flights with Etihad, travellers can add a stopover and select a complimentary hotel as part of the online booking process. Guests can choose a free stay for one or two nights in a range of premier hotels across the city. Stopover packages are only available when booking directly on the airline’s website.
Experience Abu Dhabi
The UAE capital boasts diverse landscapes, from the towering dunes home to desert safari adventures or the soft-sand, turtle-nesting beaches of Saadiyat Island.
Travellers seeking culture can check out the city’s architectural highlights, including the iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi with its unique landmark dome designed by Jean Nouvel, and the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace.
Families can head to Yas Island to enjoy fun rides at theme parks such as Ferrari World, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, and Yas Waterworld.
Yas Island is also home to Yas Marina Circuit, host of the famous Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and the racetrack is open to visitors for walking, running and cycling, as well as go-karting most of the year.
Etihad’s boarding pass also doubles as the Abu Dhabi pass, which offers discounts at many of the city’s leading attractions and dining experiences.
Interline deals
Leading up to the ATM from 6 to 9 May, Etihad Airways announced it had signed reciprocal interline agreements with five new airline partners: Kam Air in Afghanistan, SKY Express in Greece, Rex Airlines in Australia, Jeju Air in Korea, and Myanmar Airways International.
The interline agreements give customers of all airlines involved enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other’s networks, enabling guests to book their entire journey on a single ticket and have their baggage checked through seamlessly to their end destination.
DUBAI, 9 May 2024: Visitors from the GCC region* spent 1,297,256 room nights in Germany during 2023, a 15% increase over the 1,128,341 overnight stays recorded in 2022, according to the latest data presented by the German National Tourist Board during this week’s Arabian Travel Market.
The announcement was made while addressing Middle East travel professionals during a press conference at the ATM.
German National Tourist GCC Office, an affiliate of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), director Yamina Sofo commented: “In 2023, we witnessed a considerable increase of 168,915 overnight stays compared with the previous year.
“The increase in overnight stays in 2023 underscores Germany’s enduring appeal among GCC travellers, which is a testament to the continuous efforts of GNTO in its ongoing marketing campaigns across both B2B and B2C channels. We are delighted to witness our destination maintaining its position as a top choice for travellers from this region,” she added.
“As the region’s largest travel and tourism event, participating in ATM is an integral part of our marketing strategy. We are confident of a significant increase in overnight stays, exceeding our pre-pandemic figure of 1,604,753 overnight stays.”
Germany ranks the GCC region in the top three incoming markets, behind the US and China. In 2022, the GCC region was Germany’s top-performing inbound source market in Asia and Australasia, with more than 404,000 arrivals, representing an increase of over 117%, compared with the same period in 2021.
GCC guests also generated EUR2.1 billion in 2022, a 110% increase over the previous year, averaging 4,443 euros per trip/guest.
“These figures underscore Germany’s increasing post-pandemic popularity with GCC visitors and bodes well for 2024. This year, we want to capitalise on Euro 2024 to encourage longer stays and showcase Germany as an all-year-round holiday destination.
Increased flight availability will support those ambitions, with more than 207 direct weekly flights between the GCC and Germany, compared with 201 in 2022.
There are direct flights from the GCC to five German international airports — Munich, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Berlin, and Hamburg.
New flights are being added this year, with services from Doha to Hamburg by Qatar Airways and from Manama to Munich by Gulf Air, both opening on 1 July. Eurowings will launch new routes in November from Jeddah to Cologne and Berlin. Additionally, Flynas will offer flights from Jeddah to Berlin starting from 4 September.
In addition to connectivity, GNTB has a marketing strategy that it believes will achieve those numbers in the short and long term. Its slogan is ‘Germany, simply inspiring’.
Germany now boasts 52 World Heritage sites and over 6,000 museums, offering a wealth of interesting places of cultural and historical significance for GCC tourists to visit. This includes Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture for 2025, located in the country’s Saxony region.
The GNTB’s ‘Simply Feel Good’ – Sustainable Travel in Germany campaign also underscores Germany’s rural natural landscapes and activity holidays, raising awareness of the fragility of ecosystems.
Germany has 20 sustainably certified regions and cities, and in terms of accommodation, it has over 1,540 sustainably certified establishments and 350 spa and health resorts. The GNTB focuses on the sustainability-related aspects of health tourism, including preserving traditional treatment methods, location-specific treatments and remedies as drivers of regional prosperity, and examples of sustainable energy management.
Clearly, the standout sporting event of the year in Europe will be the Euro 2024 football tournament, which will take place in Germany between 14 June and 14 July.
“The GNTB’s strategy is to promote the ten host cities (Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart) and surrounding areas to encourage tourists to stay longer and explore other regions throughout Germany. This also has the added benefit of reducing the overall carbon footprint per travel day,” added Sofo.
*The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council, is a regional economic union comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. (Wikipedia).
DUBAI, 8 May 2024: Following a successful MATTA Fair Sabah held in Kota Kinabalu during the last week of April, the Discover Sabah team is attending the Arabian Travel Market this week at Dubai’s iconic World Trade Centre.
The Discover Sabah, North Borneo, promotional team, part of the Malaysia Pavilion at the Arabian Travel Market, presents the theme, “Your tropical dream of idyllic islands and beaches becomes a reality.”
Just a week ago, The Star newspaper reported that Sabah’s tourism leaders attended the MATTA Fair Sabah, where they announced the state was on track to attract 2.8 million tourists in 2024.
Held at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) from 26 April 2024 until 28 April 2024 tourism, the Star online newspaper quoted the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew saying promotions had successfully garnered a fifth (560,000) of the 2024 target and MYR1.2 billion in revenue during January to February 2024.
“Sabah has set a target of welcoming 2.8 million visitors for 2024… Our ultimate goal is not just about numbers, but about fostering community-based tourism that respects and benefits our local communities”. Community-based tourism featured high on the sales agenda for Team Sabah at the ATM.
Here are some of the top beaches in Sabah
Tanjung Aru Beach: Located near Kota Kinabalu, this is a popular beach for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the sunset. It’s also a great place to people-watch and soak up the local atmosphere.
Tun Sakaran Marine Park: This remote island chain is home to some of the most pristine beaches in Sabah. The crystal-clear waters are perfect for snorkelling and diving, as well as the incredible marine life.
Layang-Layang Beach: This tiny island is a haven for divers and snorkelers. The coral reefs here are some of the most spectacular in the world, and the underwater visibility is amazing. However, be prepared for a hefty price tag, as this is a high-end resort destination.
Kelambu Beach: Located in Kudat, at the northern tip of Borneo, this beach is known for its white sand and clear waters. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Manukan Island, Sapi Island, and Mamutik Island: These three islands are part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, a group of islands just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. They’re all popular for swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, and diving. Manukan Island is the largest and most developed of the three, Sapi Island is known for its sandbar, and Mamutik Island is the smallest and quietest.
These are just a few of the many beautiful beaches in Sabah. With its long coastline and diverse marine life, Sabah is a great place to relax and enjoy the beach.
DUBAI, 8 May 2024: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is attending the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 this week to showcase its diverse attractions, including its rich cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and local communities.
Hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the show presents a sales platform for Sarawak to draw more tourists from the Middle East region.
In collaboration with Royal Brunei Airline, STB’s promotional activities focus on a Product Update Seminar scheduled for 9 May at the Novotel World Trade Centre. Through valuable connections and partnerships with key stakeholders, it will offer a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and initiatives within Sarawak’s tourism landscape.
With ATM’s theme “‘Empowering Innovation – Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship”, which explored how innovative sustainable travel trends would evolve and identified strategies for growth within specific key vertical sectors, STB aimed to position Sarawak not only as the gateway to Borneo, bridging Kalimantan, Sabah, and Brunei but also as a premier ecotourism and responsible tourism destination on the global map.
STB CEO Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor said that STB’s participation in ATM2024 is a golden opportunity to put Sarawak at the top of visitors’ minds regarding ecotourism and responsible tourism in the Middle East region.
“In 2023, we welcomed 3,630 visitors from the Middle East, marking a 6.95% recovery rate compared to our best year of 2019 of 3,394 visitor arrivals. This is why STB is amplifying our efforts in creating more visibility on Sarawak in this region as part of our aim to receive more Middle East visitors into Sarawak in 2024”, she added.
This year, visitors to Sarawak’s booth at the ATM can experience the rich tapestry of Sarawak’s diverse cultural heritage through daily dance performances by the Sarawak Arts Council (SAC) throughout the travel trade fair.
Apart from highlighting Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) attractions to tour agencies, STB is also promoting its iconic event, the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) to be held from 28 to 30 June 2024 at Sarawak Cultural Village.
The Arabian Travel Market is the premier international travel and tourism trade show that enables inbound and outbound tourism professionals to capitalise on market opportunities in the Middle East.
Popular tourist destinations worldwide congregate in Dubai to exhibit their brands alongside the greatest names in accommodation and hospitality, known tourist attractions, cutting-edge travel technology companies, and airlines.
For more information about Sarawak, log on to the Sarawak Tourism Board’s website at https://sarawaktourism.com
SINGAPORE, 8 May 2024: WebBeds, a global marketplace for the travel trade, has joined forces with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to create a new series of 10 destination videos that showcase a diverse selection of activities and experiences in Bangkok.
The aim is to encourage visitors to rediscover Thailand through the videos, which adopt eight themes: Eat, Nourish, Play, See, Shop, Explore, Relive, and Indulge.
Eat features the best places to savour Thailand’s world-famous cuisine, from street food to fine dining, while Nourish focuses on organic wellness, spa treatments, singing bowl therapies and yoga classes. Play highlights traditional cultural activities such as muay Thai boxing and local handicrafts, as well as Bangkok’s intriguing bars and clubs, and See showcases the city’s most eye-catching sights that are sure to illuminate Instagram.
Shop is dedicated to Bangkok’s amazing array of retail options, iconic brands, and the city’s mesmerising malls and markets. Explore uncovers the city’s rich cultural heritage, including its immersive museums. Relive reminds international travellers of their favourite attractions and activities, such as Chatuchak Market. Finally, Indulge focuses on newly opened five-star hotels and a fine-dining cruise along the Chao Phraya River.
The videos aired for the first time at the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai, which runs until 9 May. They can also be viewed on WebBeds’ “Bangkok Unboxed” YouTube playlist.
WebBeds’ destination videos will now support the TAT’s efforts to achieve its full-year target of 35 million visitors in 2024.
MILAN, 8 May 2024: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) introduced its Hotel Sustainability Basics (known as Basics) last week, achieving a significant milestone: 3,400 properties are now verified across almost 80 countries.
‘Basics’ is designed to help hoteliers take the first steps to improve their sustainability ratings and raise the bar of sustainability across the global hospitality industry. The independent global sustainability verification programme is overseen by internationally recognised verifiers Green Key and SGS.
It empowers hotels of all sizes to follow a 12-step programme to reduce carbon emissions, promote nature conservation, and ensure local communities benefit from a hotel’s operations.
This latest achievement marks a pivotal step in Travel & Tourism towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
Hotels groups from major Travel & Tourism destinations such as Germany, China, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Spain, India, Madagascar, and Turkiye, amongst many others, have joined the groundbreaking initiative.
‘Basics’ has now been adopted by hotels across all continents, signifying major hospitality players’ eagerness to move forward in their sustainability journey.
In addition to its geographical expansion, ‘Basics’ is strengthening the sector’s alignment on sustainability through new strategic partnerships.
A key collaboration with ‘BeCause’ is set to enhance relationships and visibility with Online Travel Agents (OTAs), providing an invaluable platform for hotels committed to sustainable operations.
This initiative reflects WTTC’s dedication to facilitating meaningful connections within the industry promoting a unified approach to sustainability.
‘Basics’ has fully aligned with Green Key, a leading international eco-label for tourism facilities. This means all Green Key-certified hotels are fully compliant with ‘Basics’.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said: “WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability ‘Basics’ is a powerful testament to our collective effort in promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry.
“Reaching 3,400 verified properties is not just a milestone; it’s a clear indication that the industry is ready to embrace sustainability on a global scale. This initiative is about uniting hotels, industry partners, and sustainability standards to create a resilient, responsible, and respectful future for our planet.”
Major hotel brands that have adopted ‘Basics’ include Jin Jiang, one of the world’s biggest hotel groups with more than 10,000 hotels, European hotel giant Louvre Hotels Group, Choice Hotels, and Radisson Hotel Group.
Hotel Sustainability Basics has also gained endorsements from destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador.
As ‘Basics’ continues to grow and evolve, WTTC remains dedicated to leading the Travel & Tourism sector towards a more sustainable and responsible future.
By bringing together hotels, industry partners, and sustainability standards, WTTC is creating a powerful force for change, driving the adoption of practices that protect the planet while supporting local communities. For more information, visit wttc.org
PHUKET, 8 May 2024: Phuket Hotels Association, the non-profit organisation of hoteliers focused on creating a sustainable future for Phuket, has announced that its ‘Absolutely Fabulous Travel Sale’ is back with an amazing array of prizes, including heavenly hotel stays and aspirational travel experiences worldwide.
The annual online auction is a charitable initiative, with all the proceeds being donated to the association’s education programme, which funds hospitality scholarships and internships for young people in Phuket. Talent development is one of the key pillars of the Phuket Hotels Association, which works hand-in-hand with local educational institutions and hotels to empower the next generation of Thai hospitality professionals.
“We are delighted to announce that this year’s Absolutely Fabulous Travel Sale is now live, with an unprecedented collection of prizes up for grabs,” said Bjorn Courage, President of the Phuket Hotels Association. “This initiative plays a vital role in empowering the next generation of talented Thai hospitality students to follow their dreams and pursue a career in the hotel industry. I would like to thank all of our partners for their generous donations. Together, we can build a better future for Phuket and its people.”
The auction will close at 1400 (BKK time) on 2 June 2024.
This year’s ‘Absolutely Fabulous Travel Sale’ gives members of the public the chance to bid for multi-night stays at hotels and resorts in dream destinations worldwide, such as Hawaii, the Maldives, Phuket, Bali, Bangkok, London, Dubai, Kyoto, Koh Samui, Hokkaido and many others. With prizes donated by the world’s most desirable hotel brands, including Banyan Tree, Rosewood, Six Senses, COMO and Capella, the auction promises once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
One of the top prizes, which is sponsored by Outrigger, is an immersive 12-night journey through Hawaii, including four-night stays at three hotels – Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, and Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort – which is valued at USD10,000. Alternatively, guests can place bids for a six-night vacation for up to six guests in a luxurious penthouse at Nisade x The Luxe Nomad in Niseko, Japan, a three-night stay in an overwater pool villa at InterContinental Maldives and a two-night stay in a beachfront pool villa at Rosewood Phuket.
In addition to the hotel stays, other prizes include private boat tours, dining experiences, and spa therapies. The prestigious Cornell University is also inviting bids for a place in its Online Certificate Programme, which is valued at USD3,699. For the full list of prizes and to place your bids, visit phab.phukethotelsassociation.com/silent-auction.
Phuket Vocational College is supported by the Phuket Hotels Association’s educational programme.
“We are delighted to announce that this year’s Absolutely Fabulous Travel Sale is now live, with an unprecedented collection of prizes up for grabs,” said Phuket Hotels Association President Bjorn Courage.
“This initiative plays a vital role in empowering the next generation of talented Thai hospitality students to follow their dreams and pursue a career in the hotel industry. I would like to thank all of our partners for their generous donations. Together, we can build a better future for Phuket and its people.”
The Absolutely Fabulous Travel Sale runs until 1400 (Bangkok time) on 12 June 2024. Click here to place your bids.To learn more about the Phuket Hotels Association, email [email protected], or visit www.phukethotelsassociation.com.
