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Thailand’s B2B show heads for Khao Lak

BANGKOK, 9 February 2024: Thailand’s B2B travel show, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024, will convene from 5 to 7 June at JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa in Khao Lak, Phang-nga province, Thailand.

 Online registration for buyers and sellers opens today, 9 February, via the official website www.thailandtravelmartplus.com

TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool announces the TTM 2024 venue.

TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool commented: “This year’s edition of TTM+ will continue its well-established position as the premier showcase of Thai tourism. Buyers and sellers will come together and build on existing business partnerships and forge new ones. Equally important, the event will shine a spotlight on the transformation of Thai tourism towards more meaningful travel with a focus on high-value and sustainable tourism. TTM+2024 should create around 15,000 business appointments, generating over THB2 billion.”

The show should attract around 950 participants, including 420 buyers from 50 countries, representing key source markets in Europe, ASEAN, East Asia, America, and Australia, plus emerging markets in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa.
About 430 sellers from Thailand will exhibit at the show.

About the TTM+
First held in 2001, the show is now heading for its 21st edition. 
Since its launch, the TTM+ took place mainly in Bangkok. However, it was relocated to Chiang Mai in 2016 and 2017, Pattaya in 2018  and 2019, Phuket in 2022, and Bangkok in 2023.

Emirates returns to Adelaide

DUBAI UAE, 9 February 2024: Emirates has taken the final step in restoring its Australian capacity by announcing its return to Adelaide starting this October. Daily flights will relaunch between the South Australia capital and the airline’s Dubai hub on 28 October 2024.

The reinstated service will facilitate the growing travel demand to and from South Australia and allow passengers to travel conveniently between more than 140 destinations across Emirates’ global network, offering a wide range of choices, flexibility, and connectivity.  

Emirates first launched its Adelaide services in 2012 and carried more than 165,000 passengers between Dubai and Adelaide in 2019. By 1 December, when Emirates also reinstates its second daily service to Perth, the airline will offer 77 weekly flights from Australia with the ability to transport 68,000 passengers per week to and from Australia, returning to its pre-pandemic capacity.

Emirates’ return is a major milestone for South Australia’s pandemic recovery. The tourism expenditure of daily direct non-stop Emirates flights is estimated by the South Australian Tourism Commission to generate more than $62 million per year and create in excess of 315 full-time equivalent tourism-related jobs for South Australians. Each flight will also offer 14 tonnes of cargo space, totalling 196 tonnes weekly between Dubai and Adelaide. The value of freight exports is estimated to be $98 million per year, bringing the total estimated expenditure generated by Emirates’ flights to Adelaide to $160 million.

South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas said: “Reinstating Emirates flights to Adelaide has been a key priority for the State Government. Emirates once again flying daily direct into Adelaide will further drive South Australia’s economic growth – set to deliver an estimated $160 million in tourism expenditure and freight exports and create more than 315 full-time tourism-related jobs for South Australians.

The reinstatement of direct daily Emirates flights into Adelaide is expected to generate more than AUD62 million in tourism expenditure alone – a major boost to our state’s visitor economy.

Emirates’ divisional vice president, Australasia Barry Brown, commented: “Passengers and industry have highly anticipated the return of Emirates to Adelaide for some time. We are equally excited to serve South Australia again, provide the state with opportunities across leisure, culture, and tourism, and support trade growth opportunities through our connection to Dubai and worldwide destinations.

“The return of our Adelaide service completes our current footprint in Australia, serving five points nationwide. With special thanks to our partners at the South Australian Tourism Commission and Adelaide Airport, we could not be prouder to be fulfilling Emirates’ commitment to Australia. We’re already looking ahead to welcoming our first passengers from Adelaide on board in October.”

Emirates will immediately return to daily services – the same as pre-Covid frequencies – which is a real sign of confidence in the Adelaide market. The widebody Boeing 777-200LR aircraft also creates improved air freight export opportunities for our local producers to Middle Eastern and European markets.

Fly Better with Emirates from Adelaide

Operating daily on the Boeing 777-200LR aircraft with 38 Business Class seats alongside 264 seats in Economy Class, the Adelaide service will offer 302 seats per flight and over 4,200 weekly seats between Dubai and Adelaide. Emirates Business Class on the Adelaide service will feature a 2-2-2 configuration.  

Emirates’ EK440 will depart from Dubai at 02:00hrs and arrive in Adelaide at 20:50hrs. Emirates’ return flight EK441 will depart from Adelaide at 22:35hrs and arrive in Dubai at 05:15hrs. All times are local.

With Emirates’ extensive network of more than 140 destinations around the world, the relaunch of the Emirates Dubai-Adelaide service provides a vital link to South Australia’s traditionally strong European markets, as well as the United Kingdom, Middle East, India, and the east coast of the United States. The flight schedule connects passengers with Emirates’ prime European arrival and departure times, offering a seamless travel experience and optimal connections of less than four hours.

With Dubai being a key global connection point, travellers are expected to venture from Adelaide to London, Rome, Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam, Manchester, Athens, Dublin, Barcelona, and Milan. London, Manchester, Dubai, Birmingham, Paris, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Frankfurt, and Dusseldorf are the top inbound markets for Australia-bound traffic. 

Emirates currently serves Australia with 63 weekly flights to Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, operated by a mix of A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft transporting 56,000 passengers per week to and from these major cities. The airline has recently announced doubling its Premium Economy offering on flights to Melbourne, which started on 1 February, adding to the two daily four-class A380 services to Sydney. 

From 1 October, Emirates will up gauge its second service between Dubai and Brisbane to an A380, creating an all-A380 operation from Brisbane. From 1 December, Emirates will reinstate its second Perth service on a Boeing 777-300ER, joining the existing A380 service.

For more information and bookings, visit www.emirates.com

LADA sweetens the deal to win direct flights

LANGKAWI, 9 February 2024: Langkawi welcomed 178 tourists from Chengdu this week on the year’s first charter flight from Chengdu, China. 

The direct flight is part of an ongoing charter series featuring Langkawi, Malaysia. It involves eight charter flights to Langkawi, bringing in an estimated 1,480 visitors, the Langkawi Development Authority reported this week. Flights will originate in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province.

Photo credit: LADA.

Batik Air Malaysia OD611 flew the first of the charter series from Chengdu, departing at 0347 on 5 February and arriving in Langkawi at 0738. Flight time was three hours and 49 minutes.

In 2023, Langkawi welcomed as many as 10 special charter flights secured by LADA’s attractive incentive packages for special charter flights. LADA also offers additional incentives for direct and scheduled flights from new destinations to Langkawi based on airlines pledging to maintain a flight schedule for at least one year.

Escaping Chengdu’s chilly February for a tropical Langkawi.

LADA chief executive officer YBhg Dato’ Haslina Abdul Hamid and Tourism Malaysia senior director of domestic and events Mohd Amin Yahya jointly welcomed the arrival of the year’s first charter flight on 5 February.

The Langkawi District Office, Batik Air party, MAHB staff, Langkawi tourism industry players, and others participated in the celebration that was made more lively and spectacular by traditional Malay cultural performances and lion dances from the Langkawi Chung Hwa Association ahead of the  Chinese New Year celebrations that get underway this weekend.

To speed up airline connectivity to Langkawi, LADA is continuing negotiations with a leading travel agency in Poland, which is planning at least 30 direct flights to Langkawi from Poland from October to March annually, repeated annually over three years. October to March are peak months to attract Europeans who escape the northern hemisphere winter for the warmer climate of tropical Asian destinations.

LADA presents attractive incentives to secure a breakthrough and seal the Poland charter series deal. LADA said it was confident that as all parties in the tourism industry continue to improve the quality of service and the level of hospitality, the island destination will be ready to welcome visitors through more direct scheduled and charter flights.

https://naturallylangkawi.my/

Resorts World Cruises offers transfer subsidy

HONG KONG, 9 February 2024: Holiday seekers from Mainland China will now have more reasons to cruise with Resorts World Cruises from Hong Kong with the introduction of the all-new Special Transport Subsidy (STS) promotion. 

Travellers commuting from Mainland China to Hong Kong will receive a subsidy of HKD150 per person in onboard credits, which is applicable for guests sailing on the Resorts World One from 16 February to 28 April 2024.

Resorts World One at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Upon embarkation, guests must present their original commuting expense receipts from Mainland China to Hong Kong (by land, sea or air) to the ship’s front desk to receive the complimentary onboard credits. 

Resorts World Cruises’ STS promotion is only applicable for full-fare cruise packages with bookings made until 28 April 2024, subject to terms and conditions. Guests may use the onboard credits for food and beverages, shore excursions, spa & wellness, photography and entertainment at Resorts World One.

“The launch of the STS promotion is also timely with the Lunar New Year holidays are just around the corner, as vacationers from Mainland China are exploring new attractive options and holiday experiences,” said Resorts World Cruises president Michael Goh.

With the present winter season, Resorts World One offers a series of cruise itineraries (two, three and five nights) from Hong Kong to warmer climate destinations, including Sanya, an internationally popular tourist hotspot in China famous for its tropical scenery and coastal landscape. The cruises also visit Danang and Nha Trang in Vietnam and Naha and Miyakojima in Okinawa, Japan.

Refresh for Tanah Merah ferry terminal

SINGAPORE, 9 February 2024: Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) will undertake the SGD20 million upgrade of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) to modernise its facilities and enhance passenger experience and position for growth.

The additions and alterations (A&A) work will be carried out in stages through December 2024 with no changes to ongoing ferry services, including ferry schedules.

The upgrade will see the installation of self-service kiosks and systems allowing passengers to self-check in, drop their bags, and clear immigration at automated gates, speeding up departure procedures. 

SCC will also integrate its core proprietary passenger and baggage processing system, Cruise and Ferry Operation System (CFOS), with the self-service kiosks and gates.

The interior of the ferry terminal will be redesigned and refreshed and will feature a new black-and-white themed look. While the terminal’s footprint remains unchanged, the redesign will help to make better use of space, leading to a bigger departure area. There will also be more food and beverage outlets, an outdoor play area for children, and new lounges. Construction in key passenger areas will commence in March, and SCC will make all efforts to minimise inconvenience to passengers by closing work areas in stages.

SCC Chief Executive Jacqueline Tan commented: “Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal remains an important regional gateway for Singapore to the Riau Islands of Batam and Bintan, and Desaru Coast and Tanjung Pengelih in Malaysia. The terminal makeover and automation of our services to improve efficiency are timely as we position the terminal for future growth.

“By the end of the year, when our upgrading is completed, we will be able to deliver a seamless, contactless passenger journey through Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal while increasing our productivity and efficiency.”

Tan added that the upgrade would expand the terminal’s capacity by 20% due to better use of space and automation, allowing TMFT to serve over 3 million passengers annually if required.

Tanah Merah is one of three ferry terminals and one cruise terminal operated by SCC, the others being its international cruise and regional ferry terminal at HarbourFront Centre and its domestic ferry terminal at Pasir Panjang.

Over 1 million passengers travelled to Batam and Bintan in the Riau Islands (Indonesia), Desaru Coast, and Tanjung Pengelih (Malaysia) through TMFT in 2023. The ferries at TMFT are operated by Batam Fast, Bintan Resort Ferries, Majestic Fast Ferry, and Sindo Ferry. In addition, a growing number also fly into or depart from Changi Airport and take the fly-ferry / ferry-fly shuttle bus service run in partnership with Changi Airport to Terminals 1 and 4.

45th IAA World Congress meets in Penang

PENANG, 9 February 2024: Penang anticipates the global spotlight will shine on the island in March 2024 as it hosts the 45th IAA World Congress.

In a press conference held last week, KOMTAR, the IAA World Congress organisers and the co-host, Penang state, unveiled their plans and expressed their readiness to host the 45th International Advertising Association (IAA) World Congress from 6 to 8 March 2024. 

Stakeholders said the congress will attract 1000 attendees worldwide, delivering an estimated economic impact of MYR5.836 million for Penang.

“IAA Malaysia and Penang state government proudly stand as the hosts for the groundbreaking 45th IAA World Congress, a historic event that marks the first of its kind in Southeast Asia,” the organisers told the media gathering. “The congress will adopt the theme; “Brand: RE-CODE, for a Better World, Better Life.”

 
“This congress is not just a convergence of ideas but a celebratory moment, commemorating the 85th Anniversary of IAA Global and the 30th Anniversary of IAA Malaysia, said IAA Malaysia president, vice president of IAA and chair of the World Congress John D Chacko.

The Penang state government noted that the congress would showcase Penang’s investment potential. 
“Our strategic alignment aims to create a more resilient and dynamic economic landscape, fostering innovation, job creation, and sustainable development,” said the Chief Minister of Penang the Right Honourable Chow Kon Yeow.

“As the global community converges in Penang, I encourage local businesses, brands, and organisations from various industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, semiconductor, real estate, and many more to seize this unique opportunity. Participation in the Congress offers a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration, positioning Penang as a thriving hub for diverse industries,” urged the Chief Minister.

The IAA World Congress also announced collaborations with global entities such as Google, Meta, WARC, ANA, Lions, SEEHER, BBC News, Media Prima, Celcomdigi and iFlytek. 

Official Congress Hotel
Amari SPICE Penang

Direct flights from Jakarta to KK

KOTA KINABALU, 9 February 2024: Indonesia AirAsia, reopened its flight from Jakarta to Kota Kinabalu on Tuesday, marking the first international route operated by Indonesia AirAsia to resume in 2024.

The airline offers three weekly direct flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday  to Kota Kinabalu, a destination known as the ‘Land Below the Wind.’

Kota Kinabalu becomes the fifth destination for direct flights from Jakarta to Malaysia by Indonesia AirAsia, following the successful launches of Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta-Johor Bahru, Jakarta-Penang, and Jakarta-Kuching routes. 

The inaugural flight, with the code QZ 526, departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) and landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) at 1555 local time, where it was greeted with a water salute.

Kota Kinabalu, often called by the abbreviation “KK,” is a culturally diverse city with stunning natural beauty, ranging from museums and beaches to the highest mountain in Malaysia. Standing at 4,095 meters above sea level, tourists can challenge themselves to reach the summit of Mount Kinabalu and witness the sunrise. Other popular tourist spots in Sabah include Tanjung Aru Beach, Sabah State Museum, Mari Mari Cultural Village, Atkinson Clock Tower, Gaya Street Sunday Market, KK Waterfront, and Tanjung Aru Perdana Park.

According to data from Statistics Indonesia, Malaysian tourists ranked first among the most foreign visitors to Indonesia in 2023, totalling 16,28% or 1,901,242 tourists. Similarly, records from the Sabah Immigration Department during January – November 2023 show that Indonesian tourists ranked third, with 78,693 foreign visitors to Sabah.

The direct route from Jakarta to Kota Kinabalu should contribute to the government’s efforts to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia. This is aligned with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy’s new goal of welcoming 14,3 million international visitors in 2024, representing a substantial 68% increase from the previous target of 8,5 million in 2023.

Indonesia AirAsia Flight Schedule from Jakarta (CGK) to Kota Kinabalu (BKI)

*Terms and conditions apply.

Grand Andaman Hotel suspends operations

RANONG Thailand, 9 February 2024: Global travel websites cut bookings and reservations for Myanmar’s five-star casino resort Grand Andaman Hotel after it suspended operations indefinitely and laid off an estimated 1,500 staff earlier this month.

A check of Agoda.com, a popular booking website for hotels in Asia, flagged the cancellation of sales. At the same time, Booking.com removed the resort from its selection of properties in southern Myanmar without an explanation. The hotel’s website is still online, but room bookings have been disabled. Its most recent Facebook post on 12 January promoted day trips to the resort island for a “Visa Run”, including a complimentary coffee and a chance to buy booze in the resort’s duty-free shop.

Photo credit: Grand Andaman Hotel Facebook page (June 2018).

Grand Andaman Hotel is located on Thahtay Kyun Island, Kawthoung (formerly known as Victoria Point), Myanmar. It is part of the Mergui Archipelago in the Andaman Sea, facing Ranong across a narrow 5km strait.

Its original owner was awarded a 45-year exclusive concession of the 1,800-acre island by the Burmese authorities, possibly in the 1990s when the resort traded under the Andaman Club brand.

First reported by the Irrawaddy news channel on 6 February, the online news channel alleged: “The five-star hotel and casino with exclusive rights to a tropical island off the southern tip of mainland Myanmar shut down this month after an arrest warrant was issued in Thailand for (its present) owner, U Kyaw Lwin.” 

The resort owner’s status regarding the arrest warrant could not be verified independently. 

The Grand Andaman Hotel ran a lucrative casino business that attracted Thai and Burmese tycoons, offering gaming rooms, spas, karaoke lounges and beauty salons and employing more than 1,500 Thai and Myanmar nationals. 

Dating back to when it traded under the Andaman Club brand, various Thai airlines ran charters and even scheduled flights to Ranong for Bangkok gamblers who crossed the narrow strait by luxury speed boats to the island resort on the Myanmar side of the border. Visitors to the resort could stay on the island without a Myanmar visa. 

A major expansion kicked off in 2016 with the development of a 205 five-star hotel and even an 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Other facilities described in the resort’s sale pitch included water sports and scuba diving centre, zoo, fitness centre, discothèque-cum-karaoke club, restaurants, bar lounge, 24-hour café, business centre and duty-free shop. 

According to Wikipedia, the Andaman Club casino and resort was originally owned and operated by the VES Group of Thailand under a long-term concession from the Myanmar government. However, in 2016, operations were transferred to Grand Andaman Travel, which is believed to be owned by the Burmese tycoon Kyaw Lwin.

Google Map

(Source: Irrawaddy plus additional reporting) https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/five-star-casino-resort-on-myanmar-tropical-island-runs-out-of-luck.html

Aviation IT spending on the rise

SINGAPORE, 8 February 2024: Airports and airlines saw IT spending increase year on year into 2023, reaching an estimated USD10.8 billion and USD34.5 billion, according to SITA’s 2023 Air Transport IT Insights report, published on Tuesday.

Over two-thirds of airport and airline CIOs expect continued growth into 2024. Key investment priorities include a biometrically enabled passenger journey, leveraging data to unlock operational efficiencies, and green solutions to optimise energy consumption and emissions.

Passenger experience

Airlines and airports have made strides in optimising the passenger experience, with over half implementing IT to improve efficiency across check-in, bag tag, and boarding in 2023. Biometrics are becoming commonplace to help curb congestion, with 70% of airlines expecting biometric ID management by 2026 and 90% of airports investing in major programmes or R&D.

Streamline processes

CIOs are now looking to supplement passenger processing advancements with innovative solutions on the operations side. To boost efficiency, protect operations against disruption, and streamline processes for both passengers and staff, CIOs are embracing IT solutions for business intelligence (BI), artificial intelligence, and data sharing.

BI is the most significant area of technology investment for airlines in the coming three years, with 73% investing in significant programmes. Nearly two-thirds of airports and airlines collect and integrate data. With the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), they are now looking to AI and machine learning to leverage this data and generate insights. With most citing the “use of data to improve operational efficiency” as at least somewhat of a business challenge, it makes sense that 97% of airlines and 82% of airports are investing in AI by 2026.

SITA CEO David Lavorel said: “As we approach a full recovery of passenger demand for air travel, with domestic travel even surpassing pre-pandemic levels in some regions, airlines and airports have learned from the congestion and disruptions seen in the past two years. Advanced data sharing and analytics tools will allow them to unite stakeholders and identify opportunities for greater efficiency and leaner operations. Solutions like total airport management and BI for passenger processing provide airports and airlines real-time insight into managing assets and passenger flow, allowing for agile, collaborative responses to disruptions.”

Smart IT to improve sustainability

Sustainability is also high on the agenda, with industry milestones for carbon reduction and emissions regulations coming into view. CIOs are setting their sights on technology solutions that can reduce concrete emissions.

By 2026, over 90% of airlines plan to have IT in place to boost the efficiency of flight operations and aircraft turnaround. More than half have implemented IT to optimise both aircraft taxiing and the takeoff/landing and cruise phases of flights, with nearly all expecting to have this in place by 2026.

On the airport side, building and energy management systems are a key priority for offering a unified view of emissions and opportunities to reduce them. Investment in energy management systems* is expected to grow the most of any airport sustainability initiative, with over half of airports planning this by 2026.

“With industry ambitions to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 in mind, airlines and airports are taking necessary steps towards reducing their carbon footprint, adopting digital tools for accurate monitoring and optimisation of energy consumption and emissions,” Lavorel added.

The SITA 2023 Air Transport IT Insights research was conducted from August to November 2023. It represents the views of over 250 senior airline and airport executives, covering a quarter of global passenger traffic.

May Day getaway to Halong Bay

SINGAPORE, 8 February 2024: Pandaw’s sales team presents an opportunity to book a 10-night expedition exploring the stunning Halong Bay and the Red River in Northern Vietnam during May.

The boutique river cruise adventure will take intrepid travellers into the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage site and beyond, plying the Red River towards the mountainous north of Vietnam aboard a specially crafted river vessel.

“We have limited places for last-minute getaways in May 2024 aboard RV Angkor Pandaw, and with May traditionally seeing fewer tourists in Halong Bay, this is the perfect time to visit and experience Halong and Lan Ha bays without the usual sea of tourist ships. 

A no single supplement and a 10% discount are on offer on selected dates in May when booking the 10-night Northern Vietnam cruise.

For those looking at dates further ahead, Pandaw staterooms are available for bookings late 2024 and early 2025, so we advise booking early to avoid disappointment. Book your place today and join Pandaw on the Red River and Halong Bay.

Pandaw Cruises
Halong Bay & Red River
HALONG BAY TO HOA BUNH
10 nights
FROM USD3,384.00

For more details, visit.

Why are Vietnam’s river cruises special?

There are several advantages to exploring Halong Bay and the Red River by river cruises, as opposed to other travel options.

Unique perspective
River cruises offer a unique perspective on the landscape that you can’t get from land or air. As you sail along the river, you’ll see towering limestone cliffs, lush rice paddies, and traditional villages up close.

Access to remote areas
Many of the Red River Delta’s most beautiful and exciting parts and Halong Bay are only accessible by boat. A river cruise will allow you to visit these off-the-beaten-path destinations, such as hidden caves, secluded beaches, and traditional villages.

Relaxing and comfortable travel
River cruises are a relaxing and comfortable way to travel. You’ll have plenty of time to unwind and enjoy the scenery, and you won’t have to worry about the hassle of driving or navigating unfamiliar roads.

In-depth cultural experiences
Many river cruises include stops at local villages, where you can learn about the traditional way of life in Vietnam. You’ll also be able to interact with the locals and learn about their culture.

Educational value
Professionally managed river cruises have knowledgeable guides who can provide information about the region’s history, culture, and ecology. 

Wide range of activities
Quality river cruises offer a variety of activities, such as kayaking, swimming, hiking, and visiting caves and arrange opportunities to interact with local communities.

All-inclusive experience
River cruises are all-inclusive, meaning that all your meals, drinks, and activities are included in the price. This can make your trip more affordable and convenient.

Bookings are open at pandaw.com or by emailing [email protected].