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Malaysia kicks off VM2026 campaign

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TTR WEEKLY
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SEPANG, Malaysia, 8 January: Malaysia launched the highly anticipated Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign on Monday in a spectacular event held at Hangar 6, MAB Engineering Complex. 

With an ambitious goal to welcome 35.6 million international visitors and generate RM147.1 billion in tourism receipts, VM2026 marks a significant chapter in Malaysia’s tourism journey. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, led by YB Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing, is committed to making VM2026 a memorable and impactful campaign.

Photo credit: Tourism Malaysia. Malaysia’s PM outlines VM2026 campaign goals at the official launch. 

Malaysia’s  Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim, officiated the event, unveiling the campaign’s logo, mascot, theme song, and aircraft livery.

The VM2026 logo symbolises Malaysia’s vibrant culture, natural beauty, and global appeal and serves as a visual reminder of the country’s readiness to welcome tourists worldwide. The logo was creatively unveiled on Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, and AirAsia aircraft. This marks the first time that these airlines will proudly display the logo as part of their aircraft designs, symbolising a united front in promoting tourism and generating excitement for the transformative year ahead.

The event also premiered the official VM2026 theme song, titled Surreal Experiences, which captures the essence of Malaysia’s unique offerings. This song will be a key component of the campaign to attract global attention and engage visitors with Malaysia’s enchanting experiences.

In addition, the Malayan Sun Bear, a proud endangered species and a symbol of Malaysia’s commitment to wildlife conservation, has been adopted as the official icon for the campaign. Designed in a lovable, animated style, the Malayan Sun Bear aims to appeal to all ages, evoking a sense of joy and further enhancing Malaysia’s image as a welcoming destination for tourists.

Key representatives from various ministries attended the event, reflecting the national importance of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. As part of Malaysia’s broader National Agenda, VM2026 aims to increase tourism revenue, strengthen Malaysia’s global tourism competitiveness, and ultimately position the sector as one of the largest contributors to the country’s GDP. With Malaysia’s strong potential as a world-class tourist destination, VM2026 is set to not only boost tourism but also create jobs and enhance the country’s global image, bringing prosperity to communities, enriching local cultures, and fostering growth in sectors beyond tourism – including hospitality, transport, retail, and food industries.

The event also featured the exchange of Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with key strategic partners, including Malaysia Aviation Group, AirAsia, Batik Air, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Huawei, Mastercard, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), and The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH). These partnerships aim to enhance connectivity, expand marketing campaigns, and deliver exceptional visitor experiences through innovative technologies, seamless travel experiences, and exclusive promotional offers.

As part of the build-up to VM2026, the Malaysia Sarong Music Run (MSMR) 2025 will be held on 8 February 2025 at the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur. This unique cultural and fitness event, endorsed by Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to attract over 20,000 participants.

A celebration of Malaysia’s heritage while promoting a healthy lifestyle, MSMR 2025 is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture and will feature collaborations with Locco, known for the Keretapi Sarong, showcasing Malaysia’s multicultural harmony.

About Visit Malaysia Year 2026

Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) is a national initiative launched by the Government of Malaysia to drive the country’s tourism sector toward greater economic impact. Aiming to attract millions of visitors, VM2026 will feature a series of events, promotions, and developments that celebrate Malaysia’s culture, heritage, and tourism offerings. The initiative is set to strengthen Malaysia’s global tourism competitiveness and make tourism a key contributor to the national economy.

Emirates A350 flies to Edinburgh

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI UAE, 7 January 2025: Emirates marked a significant milestone last week as its first Airbus A350 entered commercial service, operating its inaugural flight from Dubai to Edinburgh. 

The aircraft, featuring Emirates’ latest cabin products, is the first of 65 A350s to join the airline’s fleet over the coming years.

Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim, said: “This marks a pivotal moment in Emirates’ journey as we introduce the A350 into service. Our first Airbus A350 making its maiden journey to Edinburgh also underscores the strategic importance of the UK within our global network. The Emirates A350 offers the best of our latest inflight products, with new features and enhancements in every cabin. As we expand our A350 fleet, we’re not just adding new aircraft – we’re setting new standards for global air travel.”

A closer look at the A350

Emirates’ A350 showcases the latest in cabin innovation and has been designed to maximise customer comfort. Standout features include a newly-designed, more comfortable Economy Class cabin; upgraded Business Class and Premium Economy cabins; the best image quality on any aircraft with 4K and 4K HDR ultra-responsive touchscreens; extra-high ceilings with wider aisles in all classes; and faster Wi-Fi with uninterrupted global connectivity across all A350 destinations.

The most fuel-efficient large widebody aircraft in commercial service today, the A350 also offers the quietest twin-aisle cabin of any aircraft. Emirates has configured its A350 to provide three spacious cabin classes, accommodating 312 passengers in 32 next-generation Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 generously pitched Economy Class seats.

In the coming months, customers can look forward to experiencing the Emirates A350 on flights to eight more global destinations: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Colombo, Lyon, Muscat, and Bologna.

Connecting Scotland to the world

The Emirates A350’s arrival in Edinburgh follows the airline’s resumption of services to Scotland’s capital in November 2024. The airline operates 14 weekly flights to Scotland, including an A380 service to Glasgow – offering customers enhanced connectivity to more than 140 destinations across its extensive global network.

Emirates’ A350 flight EK23 departs Dubai at 1450 local time and arrives in Edinburgh at 1905 local time. The return flight EK24 departs Edinburgh at 2040 and arrives in Dubai at 0805 local time the following day. 

Business Class customers onboard the inaugural A350 flight from Edinburgh to Dubai enjoyed the special delicacies of Scotland with the airline’s specially curated menu featuring dishes like rich broccoli and Lanark Blue cheese soup made with Lanark Blue cheese produced in Ogcastle, Lanarkshire, a Scottish smoked salmon dome, paired with caviar, dill, cranberries, and a citrus dressing; tender seared Angus beef fillet from Aberdeen; Balmoral chicken served with traditional tatties and neeps; and a delicious cranachan cheesecake topped with raspberry coulis.

Economy Class passengers also enjoyed a refreshing potato champ salad with Scottish smoked salmon, cheddar cheese with Nairn’s oat biscuits and Walker’s shortbread biscuits.

Customers can book tickets on emirates.com, or visit the Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.

Langkawi hosts ASEAN Summit 2025

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI, 7 January 2025: Malaysia’s popular holiday island Langkawi will host the ASEAN Summit 2025 this month, attracting 1,000 delegates to three conferences for leaders of the ASEAN 10-nation bloc.

The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) Board of Directors co-chairman, Datuk Zamzuri Abdul Aziz, presented details of the three ASEAN events that will convene at the island’s international convention centre, reported by the New Strait Times. 

LADA Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Haslina Binti Abdul Hamid (centre) launched the Visit Kedah Year 2025 campaign last week, welcoming tourists on New Year’s Day.

The ASEAN Sumit agenda starts with the ASEAN+3 Meeting (Financial Track) scheduled from 14 to 15 January on Langkawi Island. Representatives from three East Asian countries, China, South Korea and Japan, will join delegations from the 10-member countries of ASEAN.

Two other meetings — the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat from 18 to 19 January and the Special Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Energy from 21 to 23 January — will conclude the summit agenda.

Meanwhile, LADA Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Haslina Binti Abdul Hamid launched the Visit Kedah Year 2025 campaign last week, spotlighting 132 calendar events in the year, including the 21st Langkawi International Regatta scheduled from 13 to 16 February at the island’s Royal Langkawi Yacht Club and the 17th Lima (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) from 20 to 24 May 2025

Visit Kedah Year 2025 will headline arts, culture, sports, promotions, community, and geoparks, key elements of  Langkawi’s identity.

New Straits Times quoted Dato’ Haslina saying that of the 132 planned events, 36 are dedicated to sports and culture, 17 to international promotions, 10 to domestic promotions, and 26 to community programmes.

“In addition, there are 24 investment mission programmes and 19 geopark events, all aimed at achieving the target of 3.5 million tourist arrivals by year-end,” she told NST.

Langkawi played a key role in the Visit Kedah Year 2025 initiative, hosting a welcome reception for the travellers arriving at the island’s airport and ferry cruise ship terminal. LADA was joined in the celebratory welcome by Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airports, Malaysia Marine Department and Langkawi Port officials.

LADA said it was committed to making Langkawi the destination of choice throughout the Visit Kedah Year 2025 campaign as a forerunner to the nationwide Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign launch.

Air India Express expands Bangkok routes

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 7 January 2025: Expanding its wings in Southeast Asia, Air India Express commenced services recently from Bangkok with four weekly flights to Surat in Gujarat. 

This new route marks a significant step in the airline’s presence in the region following its successful operations in Singapore.

A celebratory event was recently held at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok to mark Air India Express’s arrival in Thailand’s capital.

Senior officials from the Government of Thailand, the Embassy of India, the airport authority, the travel trade community, and representatives from Air India and Air India Express attended the event.

Surat, famously known as the Diamond City of India, benefits from four weekly flights, strengthening ties between the textile and diamond trade sectors and the Thai market. 

The airline has since commenced direct flights from Bangkok to three other Indian cities. It offers tri-weekly flights to Lucknow, the cultural capital of Uttar Pradesh, renowned for its rich heritage, thriving handicraft industries, and warm hospitality.

The airline’s tri-weekly flights to Pune, Maharashtra’s educational and IT hub, facilitate travel for students, professionals, and tourists who want to explore the region’s historical landmarks and vibrant lifestyle. 

Additionally, four weekly flights are scheduled to Amritsar, the spiritual heart of Punjab and home to the iconic Golden Temple. The new route caters to the significant travel demand for religious tourism and cross-border trade.

Reservations and ticketing are managed by TamGP CO., Ltd, the airline’s newly appointed representative agent in Thailand.

Flyers can also book on Air India Express’s website, airindiaexpress.com, its mobile app, and other major booking channels.

Commenting on the introduction of Bangkok to its network, Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh said: “We are delighted to add Bangkok to our growing network in Southeast Asia and connect it to four Indian cities — Amritsar, Lucknow, Pune, and Surat.

These direct flights will make travel more accessible for Thai travellers to explore the diversity of Indian culture, complemented by an exceptional travel experience and warm Indian hospitality offered by us.”

From Amritsar: Air India Express operates 20 weekly flights from Amritsar, connecting directly to four destinations – Bangkok in Thailand, Dubai and Sharjah in UAE, and Bengaluru in the Indian state of Karnataka.

From Lucknow: Air India Express operates 86 weekly flights from Lucknow connecting directly to six Indian cities — Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune — and Bangkok in Thailand. Additionally, the airline provides one-stop connectivity to 18 Indian cities from Lucknow.

From Pune: Air India Express operates 83 weekly flights from Pune connecting directly to nine Indian cities — Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangaluru and Bangkok in Thailand. Additionally, the airline provides one-stop connectivity to 19 domestic destinations from Pune.

From Surat: Air India Express operates 40 weekly flights from Surat, connecting directly to eight destinations — Bangkok in Thailand, Dubai and Sharjah in UAE, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata in India.

Thai AirAsia top for on-time performance

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 7 January 2025: Thai AirAsia (FD) retains its status as the most on-time airline in Thailand, reaffirming its fifth place among Cirium’s top 10 on-time airlines in Asia Pacific. 

With an On-Time Performance (OTP) rate of 77.46%, it was the only Thailand-based airline to gain a place in the top 10 chart.

Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya commented on the carrier’s ability to rank high in the global OTP ranking by Cirium, saying it reflected Thai AirAsia’s commitment to operational excellence. 

“Throughout 2024, Thai AirAsia has focused on being the best on-time airline as part of our goal of instilling confidence and punctuality wherever we fly,” Santisuk said.

Cirium is a globally trusted aviation analytics body that presents quantifiable data and employs cutting-edge analytics to support industries from airlines and tourism to aircraft manufacturing and financial services. The institute’s in-depth data is collected from the review of approximately 3 million flights each month.

HK Express wins award for fast expansion

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 7 January 2025: HK Express Airways closed 2024 with a 40% year-on-year traffic increase, totalling 6 million passengers. 

Due to its rapid growth, the airline garnered industry recognition, winning the World’s “Fastest Growing Airline of 2024” title from OAG, a leading data platform for the global travel industry. (1)

HK Express management team greeted the six-millionth passenger at the boarding gate.

“This year has been significant for HK Express as our team meticulously expanded our network of destinations, fleet and team,” said HK Express CEO Jeanette Mao. “Not only have we surpassed six million passengers in a single year, but the industry has also recognised us as the fastest-growing airline globally. 

On 31 December 2024, the six-millionth passenger received six return flight tickets. The HK Express management team greeted the lucky passenger at the gate (flight UO668 from Hong Kong to Fukuoka).

[1] The rankings of data retrieved from OAG are based on the number of flights.

Hainan Airlines adds Singapore routes

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 7 January 2025: Hainan Airlines has launched flights between Singapore and two Chinese cities — Lanzhou and Yichang — Changi Airport reported in a recent blog. 

Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu province in Northwest China. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and link to the historical Silk Road. 

Image Credits: TSNN.

Yichang is located in the western Hubei province, extending along the left bank of the Yangtze River. Both flights will briefly stop at Haikou Meilan International Airport in Hainan before continuing to their final destinations. 

After adding the two destinations, Changi Airport has direct routes to 30 Chinese cities.  

The service to Lanzhou commenced on 2 January 2025, re-establishing the link between Singapore and the capital city of northwest China’s Gansu province. Flights operate between Changi Airport and Lanzhou (Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport) four times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

Flights to Yichang started on 3 January 2025 between Changi Airport and Yichang (Yichang Sanxia Airport) three times a week on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Lanzhou: Gateway to the Silk Road

Lanzhou is a busy city nestled along the banks of the Yellow River in northwest China. Travellers can glimpse the rich cultural heritage of the historic Silk Road as it serves as a gateway to the ancient trade route. The Gansu Provincial Museum showcases various artefacts from the Silk Road era.

Yichang: Gateway to the Three Gorges

“Yichang in western Hubei province will be Changi Airport’s latest and newest link to China. The city uniquely blends history and modernity, featuring ancient temples and pagodas alongside bustling streets, markets and a thriving cultural scene. No visit to Yichang is complete without a cruise through the Three Gorges, where you will see towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls, making it an unforgettable experience.” Post shared by Simin Zhang (@simonzhang0207).

Hainan Airlines’ new flights to Lanzhou and Yichang are in addition to its daily flights to Haikou, operated from Changi Airport Terminal 4. 

(Source: Changi Airport route update)

Qatar Airways resumes flights to Syria

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TTR WEEKLY
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DOHA, Qatar, 7 January 2025: Qatar Airways resumed three weekly flights to Damascus, Syria, starting today, 7 January 2025. 

It marks a significant step in reconnecting the region and providing passengers access to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network of more than 170 destinations.

Photo credit: Qatar Airways.

The airline deploys an Airbus A330-200 on the route, flying Monday, Friday, and Saturday. The cheapest economy class round-trip fare is QAR2,510 (USD689).

The decision to restart operations in Syria reflects Qatar Airways’ commitment to fostering regional connectivity and supporting passenger demand. Qatar Airways is working closely with Syrian authorities to ensure that all necessary safety, security, and operational standards are in place.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: “We are pleased to resume flights to Damascus, a destination of great historical and cultural importance. This announcement underscores our dedication to fostering connectivity and facilitating travel for our passengers.”

Flight schedule

Flight QR410 departs Doha (DOH) at 0835 and arrives in Damascus (DAM) at 1130. Aircraft A330-200.
Flight QR411 departs Damascus (DAM) at 1330 and arrives in Doha (DOH) at 1605. Aircraft A330-200.

Norwegian deploys three ships in Asia

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 7 January 2025: Norwegian Cruise Line celebrates the arrival of Norwegian Spirit in Singapore, which increases its regional deployment to three ships offering sailings across Asia until March 2026.

Norwegian Spirit will offer itineraries ranging from eight to 15 days, with few sea days and extended time in port, enabling travellers to maximise their time in iconic destinations such as Osaka, Tokyo, Incheon, Singapore, and Bangkok. 

Sabah welcomed Norwegian Spirit with 2,108 passengers and 906 crew on a recent visit to Kota Kinabalu.

Three ships sail Asian seas

As part of NCL’s largest-ever Asia Pacific presence, Norwegian Spirit will be joined by Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky this year, offering travellers eight departure ports. 

From November 2025 to March 2026, Norwegian Sun will sail itineraries for 11 to 15 days, exploring Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and other highly sought-after destinations in Southeast Asia.

 In addition, Norwegian Sky is also visiting Singapore for the first time as part of her Asia season, which features several country voyages departing from Singapore and Tokyo, Japan, until March 2025, ranging from 11 to 14 days discovering fascinating destinations such as the Philippines, Japan and India.

There is also the opportunity to combine a cruise with one of NCL’s Cruisetours in Incheon, Singapore, Tokyo, and Taipei, enabling travellers to explore more of Asia by land and sea in one seamless trip.

Sailings down under

Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Sun will also sail a range of Australia and New Zealand itineraries, allowing travellers to experience the breathtaking natural landscapes of the Southern Hemisphere, from rugged coastlines to lush vineyards, and to Hawaii, South Pacific and Alaska.

Looking ahead, Norwegian Jade will make her Asian debut with a seven-month season from October 2026 to April 2027. This will include 16 open-jaw voyages and two roundtrip Tokyo voyages. Itineraries span nine to 14 days, and guests can embark from four homeports — Tokyo, Incheon, Hong Kong, and Singapore — to enjoy highlights such as cherry blossom season in Japan, late-night departures in Osaka and Kanazawa, and overnight stays in Hong Kong.

Sarawak welcomes the Year of the Snake

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, Sarawak, 6 January 2025: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) extends festive season celebrations with the release of a limited-edition Chinese New Year ang pao featuring the Bornean Palm Pit Viper, a species endemic to Borneo and found in Sarawak’s Mulu and Gunung Gading National Parks. 

Since 2 January 2025, visitors have been able to collect ‘ang pao’ packets at the Visitors Information Centres in Kuching, Miri, and Sibu. Marking its seventh year, STB’s annual ‘ang pao’ tradition celebrates Sarawak’s cultural and natural heritage. Inspired by the Year of the Wood Snake, this year’s design features elegant gold stamping and the Bornean Palm Pit Viper, a symbol of resilience, growth, and Sarawak’s biodiversity. 

STB team poses with the 2025 Chinese New Year  Angpao.

Chinese New Year celebrations will welcome the Year of the Snake on Wednesday, 29 January 2025, a “symbol of wisdom, intuition, and transformation that also represents elegance, resilience, and mystery,” according to the Asia Society. Chinese New Year travel peaks from 28 January to 4 February.


Sarawak Tourism Board unveils its 2025 Chinese New  Year Angpao.

“This year’s ‘ang pao’ highlights Sarawak’s vital ecosystems, encouraging greater conservation awareness,” said STB Chief Executive Officer Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor. “Through meaningful initiatives like this, we aim to inspire residents and visitors to discover and protect Sarawak’s natural heritage.”

The campaign emphasises Sarawak’s position as a premier eco-tourism destination. By blending cultural traditions with a commitment to environmental stewardship, STB strives to balance sustainable tourism growth with conservation.

For more information on Sarawak tourism visit: https://www.sarawaktourism.com/web/home/index/

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