JOHOR BAHRU, 6 August 2026: Malaysia Airlines and Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT FC) have renewed their strategic partnership for another three years, extending the collaboration through to 2029.
The continued partnership reflects Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to connecting people beyond travel while bringing together the aviation and sport platforms to engage audiences across Malaysia and beyond.
Photo credit: Malaysia Airlines. The partnership renewal was formalised during a ceremony held at the JDT Headquarters, Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of MAG and Alistair Edwards, Chief Operating Officer and Technical Director of JDT FC, marked the occasion with a ceremonial handshake in the presence of Bryan Foong, Chief Executive Officer of Airline Business from MAG and Sukri Mosman, Operations Manager of JDT FC.
MAG President and Group Chief Executive Officer Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar said: “We are pleased to extend our journey alongside Johor Darul Ta’zim FC as their Official Airline Partner. JDT has set a benchmark for success, driven by world-class discipline and an unwavering winning mindset. As the national carrier, our role goes beyond flying passengers – it is about powering national pride. Through partnerships such as this, we strengthen our connection with Malaysians and create opportunities to engage with communities through the shared experiences of sport and travel. We remain committed to supporting Malaysian sports, championing initiatives that bring people closer together and showcase the energy and ambition of Malaysia to the world.”
Under the renewed partnership, Malaysia Airlines will continue to support JDT FC’s travel for domestic and international competitions, ensuring seamless connectivity through its extensive network. The collaboration will also see both organisations explore opportunities to enhance fan engagement through initiatives that add value beyond the matchday experience.
As part of the collaboration, Malaysia Airlines will introduce exclusive travel offerings for JDT supporters, including up to a 10% discount on eligible flights with a special promo code, available for purchase from now until 30 September 2026, for travel until 31 December 2026.
BANGKOK, 6 August 2026: Thai Airways International has postponed the introduction of its Royal Orchid Plus membership qualification criteria, originally scheduled to take effect on 5 August 2026.
The announcement says the launch date has been rescheduled to allow additional time for further refinement. However, Thai Airways has not provided a new date for introducing the membership qualification criteria.
During this period, the current Royal Orchid Plus membership qualification criteria and programme terms and conditions will remain unchanged and continue to apply.
(Source: Royal Orchid Plus, Thai Airways International)
SINGAPORE, 6 August 2026: Explora Journeys officially named Explora III on 1 August at a ceremony in Barcelona, welcoming the brand’s first LNG-powered ship to the fleet.
Following her early delivery in Genoa on 23 July 2026, Explora III embarked on an exclusive Prelude Journey through the Mediterranean before arriving in Barcelona for the official Naming Ceremony.
Photo credit: Explora Journeys.
Measuring 19.2 metres (63 ft) longer than her sister ships, Explora I and Explora II, she offers 19.5 sqm of public space per guest ― one of the highest ratios in the industry.
The ship’s expanded footprint also introduces new and enhanced venues. A brighter, more open The Conservatory Pool & Bar, a redesigned Crema Café and a new Outdoor Cigar Lounge alongside the Malt Whisky Bar further enrich onboard life. Ocean Wellness has been reimagined as a unified sanctuary that brings together spa and fitness facilities.
Advanced Marine Technology
As the first LNG-powered vessel in the Explora Journeys fleet, Explora III represents the next step in the brand’s investment in advanced marine technologies. Designed to operate on liquefied natural gas today, the ship also offers a pathway towards renewable alternatives such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG as these become increasingly available. She is equipped with shore power capability, enabling connection to onshore electricity in ports with existing infrastructure, allowing engines to be switched off while alongside.
Explora III departed on 3 August on her seven-night Maiden Journey to Lisbon. Her inaugural season will then take her through Northern Europe, Iceland, Greenland and North America, offering guests an extraordinary way to experience some of the world’s most captivating destinations while enjoying the most spacious and refined expression of the Explora Journeys experience to date.
SINGAPORE, 6 August 2026: Holland America Line has opened bookings for its 2028 Europe season, offering travellers more opportunities to explore the continent with expanded sailings across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and beyond.
The cruise ship Rotterdam will once again homeport in Rotterdam for the 2028 Europe season.
Photo credit: Holland America
Featuring Holland America Line’s highest number of Europe port calls in nearly a decade, the 2028 season includes record numbers of visits to Norway, Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands. Guests can discover more than 200 UNESCO World Heritage sites — including in-depth exploration of Norway’s UNESCO-listed fjords — and experience each destination through regional cuisine, local traditions and immersive shore excursions.
Holland America recently expanded its European deployment year-round, with departures from January through early December 2028 and itineraries ranging from seven-day getaways to 48-day Legendary Voyages.
Five ships — Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Volendam and Zuiderdam — will sail throughout the region, giving guests a wide range of options across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and transatlantic crossings. Overnight stays, extended calls and late-night departures in select ports provide additional time to explore destinations from Northern Europe’s historic capitals and fjord communities to the sun-soaked coasts of the Mediterranean.
Mediterranean Sailings
The Mediterranean features prominently in Holland America Line’s 2028 Europe season, with voyages ranging from seven to 11 days and departures from six homeports. Sailings visit destinations across Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey. At the same time, Nieuw Amsterdam returns to Europe for the first time in more than a decade, allowing travellers to experience several of the ship’s signature offerings, including Morimoto by Sea, Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s only dedicated restaurant at sea. Rotterdam and Nieuw Statendam offer spring and fall departures, and Zuiderdam returns following her Evolution enhancements.
Many of the itineraries are designed for guests to sail back-to-back, seeing more of the Mediterranean on a longer vacation with few or no repeat ports. Travellers looking for a more extended exploration can also choose the 48-day Legendary Mediterranean Voyage, sailing roundtrip from North America and visiting destinations across the region. The season includes Holland America Line’s highest number of visits to Spain since 2017 and a record six calls at Portofino in 2028.
Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Zuiderdam will sail Northern Europe voyages ranging from seven to 28 days, visiting Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the British Isles and the Baltic. Itineraries pair major cultural capitals with smaller coastal destinations while offering opportunities to combine multiple regions into a single vacation.
SINGAPORE, 6 August 2026: Following a year marked by energy-market disruption and rising operational costs, global business travel prices are expected to remain elevated through the remainder of 2026 before beginning to moderate in 2027, with variations expected across regions.
Pricing pressures are expected to ease gradually next year. Still, travel costs are unlikely to return to prior levels, as many of the forces driving higher prices have become long-term features of the industry rather than short-term disruptions.
Photo credit: GBTA.
This is according to the new 2027 Global Business Travel Forecast, released last week by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and ALTOUR. The report examines the economic forces reshaping the cost of business travel globally, including energy prices, labour costs, aircraft supply constraints, currency fluctuations and other factors.
“Business travel remains a powerful indicator of business confidence. Companies continue to invest in face-to-face connections, customer relationships and growth despite higher costs and greater complexity,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang. “Business travel may need to weather more uncertainty through this year. In this environment, a well-managed travel program is essential. Realising travel’s full value will depend on managed programs backed by strategic foresight, data and decision-making.”
The forecast identifies energy prices and labour costs as the two most significant forces shaping business travel pricing. The 2026 closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered the largest oil supply disruption on record, driving sharp increases in crude oil and jet fuel prices and affecting airline operating costs worldwide. Although fuel prices have retreated from peak levels, labour costs continue to rise across airlines, hotels, ground transportation, and event and meeting providers due to multi-year agreements, wage inflation, and ongoing workforce shortages.
Airfares face pricing pressure
Air travel remains the most volatile category in the forecast, reflecting continued exposure to fuel costs, aircraft shortages, labour expenses and premium-cabin constraints.
On average, global airfare is forecast to reach USD756, up 4.7% from 2025. Economy fares are projected to rise 8.7% in 2026 to USD536.
Premium fares (e.g. premium economy, business class and first class) are expected to increase 9.5% to USD4,488, reflecting ongoing pressure on long-haul and premium travel markets.
In 2027, airfare increases are expected to slow to 1.5% for overall fares, 1.1% for economy fares, and 2.2% for premium fares.
North America and EMEA are expected to experience some of the strongest average airfare increases in 2026, driven by capacity constraints, higher operating costs and ongoing aircraft delivery delays.
In contrast, Latin America is seeing capacity grow alongside demand, helping moderate airfare increases relative to other regions.
Global hotel growth masks widening regional gap
Global hotel average daily rates (ADR) are expected to increase 3.7% in 2026 to USD168, followed by a more moderate 1.8% increase in 2027 to USD171.
Ground transportation Stabilises
Car rental, the largest component of managed ground transportation, saw rates decline in 2025. Average rates are forecast to increase by 3.6% in 2026 to USD46.50 per day, then drop by 0.9% in 2027 to USD46.10 per day.
Among global regions, APAC rates in 2026 are expected to be the highest at USD57.70 per day, up 4.0%. Fleet availability and vehicle supply are stabilising, helping moderate pricing pressure across most regions.
Event budgets rise despite cost pressures
Meetings and events budgets are expected to increase through 2026 and 2027. While negotiated group hotel rates remain relatively stable, food and beverage, production and labour costs continue to put pressure on program budgets.
Cost per attendee per day is forecast to increase approximately 3.0% to USD263 in 2026 and 1.5% to USD267 in 2027.
Food and beverage and production expenses remain the primary drivers of meeting cost inflation.
While travel cost growth is expected to moderate in 2027, prices are unlikely to return to 2025 levels. Structural factors, including aircraft delivery delays, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) requirements, labour shortages, and geopolitical uncertainty, are expected to lead to a costlier travel environment.
The forecast also highlights significant regional and category differences, underscoring the need for more targeted travel planning. Rather than relying on global averages, travel buyers should evaluate costs by region, market and category, as pricing drivers vary considerably around the world.
Access the full report here for more detailed information, including regional breakdowns and category-specific analysis.
NEW YORK, 6 August 2026: Qatar Airways has reconnected Doha and Philadelphia with the launch of a daily non-stop flight between Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Qatar resumed service to Philadelphia on 1 August 2026, its 14th destination in North America. Flights on the route use an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, equipped with Qsuite and Starlink Wi-Fi.
Photo credit: Qatar Airways.
Flight schedule
Doha (DOH) to Philadelphia (PHL) — QR727: Departure 0730; Arrival 1430.
Philadelphia (PHL) to Doha (DOH) — QR728: Departure 2130; Arrival 1700.
KUCHING, Sarawak, 5 August 2026: Sarawak must continue to strengthen collaboration among government, industry, and strategic partners to fully realise the opportunities presented by the destination’s growing business events sector, particularly as it prepares to host larger business events and expand its event and hospitality infrastructure.
This was emphasised by The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, during a courtesy visit by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) led by its Chairman, Datu Hii Chang Kee, Deputy State Secretary (Operations), together with BESarawak’s Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer Jason Tan Chin Foo.
Datu Hii Chang Kee, BESarawak’s Chairman, leads the courtesy visit to Dato Sri Abdul Karim.
During the meeting, BESarawak briefed the Minister on the industry’s latest progress, upcoming international events and strategic initiatives to strengthen Sarawak’s position as the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo.
“The strong growth of Sarawak’s business events industry reflects what can be achieved through collaboration,” said The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim. “As we prepare for larger international events and expanded infrastructure, our priority is to strengthen partnerships across the business events ecosystem while continuing to enhance Sarawak’s tourism and hospitality capabilities so every event delivers exceptional delegate experiences and greater value for our economy and communities.”
Meanwhile, BESarawak Chairman Datu Hii Chang Kee said BESarawak’s success is driven by strong collaboration between the business events industry and key stakeholders, including ministries, government agencies, associations, and private-sector partners, to strengthen Sarawak’s business events ecosystem.
“Sarawak is welcoming more regional and international business events every year, and that reflects the strong support and collaboration across the business events ecosystem,” said Datu Hii. “As we prepare for BCCK2 and major events such as the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition 2028, we must continue working together to ensure these opportunities bring lasting benefits to Sarawak. We are grateful to the Sarawak Government, as well as our tourism, hospitality and industry partners, for their continued commitment to growing the sector.”
BESarawak Chief Executive Officer Jason Tan Chin Foo said collaboration has become increasingly important as Sarawak prepares for a new phase of industry growth.
“Beyond attracting events, BESarawak will continue connecting organisers with government, industry and academia so that every conference creates meaningful economic, social and intellectual outcomes. We will also continue supporting the industry through capacity-building initiatives, strategic partnerships and innovative programmes that strengthen local capabilities and ensure every business event contributes to Sarawak’s long-term development.”
The courtesy visit reaffirmed the shared commitment between the Sarawak Government and BESarawak to strengthen collaboration across the business events ecosystem, ensuring Sarawak continues building a resilient, future-ready industry that supports the destination’s development aspirations under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030.
BANGKOK, 5 August 2026: The PATA Executive Board has opened the recruitment process for the position of Chief Executive Officer for the next contractual term, starting in October.
The position was advertised through the association’s newsletters, trade channels, and social media platforms following an announcement by the Association’s Chair, Henry Oh.
Photo credit: PATA
Applications will be accepted until Thursday, 20 August 2026, at 1700 Indochina Time (GMT+5).
Details of the position, eligibility requirements, and the application process are available on the PATA Careers page at www.pata.org/careers.
To support the recruitment process, the Executive Board has appointed a Selection Committee to review, evaluate, and shortlist applicants. The committee will submit its recommendations to the Executive Board for consideration. The recruitment process is expected to be completed by October 2026.
The current PATA CEO, Noor Ahmad Hamid, will complete his three-year contract on 30 September 2026 and has opted not to seek a three-year renewal.
Before taking the PATA CEO post, he served as MYCEB’s chief operating officer (Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau) from June 2021 to May 2023.
PATA is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
BANGKOK, 5 August 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association, in collaboration with the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has released the PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2026-2028: Mid-Year Update.
The research highlights the destinations and source markets expected to drive the next phase of tourism growth across the region.
The updated outlook projects that international visitor arrivals (IVAs) across 39 Asia Pacific destinations will reach 714.9 million in 2026, increasing to 758.8 million in 2027 and 789.2 million by 2028. By the end of the forecast period, visitor arrivals are expected to reach 115.6% of 2019 levels, confirming that the region has moved beyond recovery and entered a new phase of tourism expansion.
“Change is no longer an occasional disruption; it is the new constant,” said PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid. “The destinations and organisations that thrive will be those that can adapt quickly, innovate continuously, and respond with agility to an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.”
“The latest forecasts demonstrate the remarkable resilience of Asia Pacific tourism. While the region continues to grow and recover, success will increasingly depend on destinations’ ability to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, evolving traveller behaviour, connectivity challenges, and rising operational costs. This is precisely why timely, data-driven insights have become essential for strategic decision-making.”
One of the report’s key findings is the growing divergence in destination performance across Asia Pacific. While the region as a whole is expanding, some destinations are significantly outperforming others in terms of growth and recovery.
Highlights: APAC destination recovery and growth
Among the region’s 10 largest destinations, Vietnam is forecast to record the strongest growth between 2025 and 2027, with IVAs increasing by 31.2% to reach 27.8 million. This is followed by Macao, China (+19.4%), Japan (+15.8%), Hong Kong SAR (+13.9%), Türkiye (+12.7%), and Malaysia (+11.6%), reflecting strong demand, enhanced connectivity, and continued investment in tourism development.
By contrast, some of the region’s largest destinations are entering a more mature phase of growth. China, while remaining Asia Pacific’s largest destination with 157.8 million arrivals projected in 2027, is expected to grow by just 2.2% over 2025 levels. Thailand and the USA are likewise forecast to record more modest gains of 5.2% and 9.0% respectively, highlighting increasing competition across the region.
Looking further ahead, Mongolia is forecast to achieve the highest recovery rate by 2028, reaching 177.8% of its 2019 arrival levels. Japan, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are also projected to outperform their pre-pandemic benchmarks significantly.
On the other hand, Thailand is expected to return to its pre-pandemic level only by 2028. The USA, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, Myanmar, and several Pacific Island destinations, however, are projected to remain in recovery mode through to the end of the forecast period.
Of the 39 destinations included in the report, about 27 are projected to exceed pre-pandemic arrival volumes in 2027, rising to 30 in 2028.
Notable outbound market sources
The forecasts also provide important guidance for destination marketing organisations, airlines, airports, and tourism investors. China is projected to remain the Asia Pacific region’s largest outbound source market in 2027, generating nearly 127 million visitor arrivals across the region, followed by the USA with 65.2 million. Both markets are expected to grow by approximately 18% compared to 2025.
Korea (ROK), Canada, and Mexico are also forecast to generate substantial outbound traveller volumes, although growth rates are expected to vary across these markets.
Challenges and opportunities on the horizon
Despite the positive outlook, the report identifies several risks that could influence tourism performance over the coming years. Escalating geopolitical tensions and energy market volatility have increased concerns regarding fuel prices, aviation costs, and air connectivity. Continued inflationary pressures and higher living costs in several source markets may also affect discretionary travel spending, particularly among middle-income households and long-haul travellers.
At the same time, expanding airline networks, airport developments, improved visa facilitation measures, and strengthening intra-regional travel demand are expected to support continued growth across many destinations.
The PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2026-2028: Mid-Year Update provides annual and quarterly forecasts for 39 destinations across Asia Pacific, alongside analysis of major source markets, destination performance trends, and the macroeconomic and geopolitical factors shaping the future of tourism.
SINGAPORE, 5 August 2026: FCM Travel has announced its new AI-powered conversational booking feature, which will allow travellers to describe what they need and receive options tailored to their profile or past trips, dramatically cutting the time it takes to secure a booking.
The feature forms part of continued enhancements to FCM Booking, FCM’s proprietary booking platform, and its ongoing global expansion — giving customers an easier, more intelligent booking experience.
Conversational booking is made possible by FCM’s existing intelligence layer, Sam. By synthesising intelligence at every traveller interaction, Sam builds a richer profile in real time. Every recommendation will include its reasoning, showing why it fits policy, matches a traveller’s usual routing, reflects their loyalty programme, or aligns with how their team travels. That visibility will help travellers book with confidence, without second-guessing.
“Conversational booking only works if travellers trust what they’re being shown, and that trust comes from context, not just convenience”, said FCM Travel Global Head of Product, Jessica Dunderdale. “That’s the experience we’re building toward – every recommendation explains itself so that travellers can act on it with confidence, and travel managers see adoption follow as a result.”
That same booking experience also travels with the user. Available first in Microsoft Teams and Slack, Model Context Protocol (MCP) technology will extend booking capabilities to the AI tools travellers use every day, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, without opening a separate app. For travel buyers, that means higher in-programme booking rates and better data capture, without asking travellers to change behaviour.
The intelligence that shapes conversational booking also feeds into FCM’s reporting and proactive analytics, surfacing spend, compliance, and disruption risk as they emerge rather than after the fact. This sharpens the role of the travel manager — allowing them to translate what the technology surfaces into decisions that fit their business.
