JAKARTA, 26 January 2024: Swiss-Belhotel celebrated the opening of Swiss-Belhotel Airport Yogyakarta in Kulon Progo, DI Yogyakarta province, on 21 January 2024, marking a significant addition to the company’s expanding portfolio.
The latest addition gives the hotel group 82 hotels under its management in Indonesia.
Located a five-minute car transfer from Yogyakarta International Airport, the hotel features 167 rooms, offering three room types — deluxe covering 30 sqm, family (58 sqm), and suite (62 sqm).
Other facilities include a Swiss-Kitchen restaurant, a lobby lounge and an outdoor swimming pool on the 10th floor with views of Kulon Progo Region. A sky lounge and fitness centre with a spa will open during the second quarter of 2024.
To mark the opening, Swiss-Belhotel Airport Yogyakarta offers special rates starting at IDR7000,000 net per night for deluxe rooms, including breakfast for two persons, early check-in at 1000, free SBEC membership, welcome snacks and free shuttle service to the airport.
SINGAPORE, 26 January 2024: Messe Berlin (Singapore) has released a handy guide to the 17th edition of ITB Asia and its co-located shows, Mice Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia.
ITB Asia, co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, will be held from 23 to 25 October 2024 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
The guide presents show statistics, past participating exhibitors and past year’s speakers to simplify essential information you need about ITB Asia and its two co-located shows.
An Early Bird rate for booth registration is available if you register your interest by 31 March 2024 and secure your preferred booth package for ITB Asia 2024 at a discounted price. All ITB Asia booth registrations are risk-free until 15 May 2024.
The annual three-day B2B trade show and convention is designed to bring together the key travel industry leaders in the region. Its performance track record with exhibitors, travel buyer response and hard statistics confirm ITB Asia is the premier meeting place for the travel trade industry to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing business relationships with the most important players in the region.
ITB Asia 2024 will be held in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 23 – 25 October 2024. The show is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
SINGAPORE, 26 January 2024: Booking.com announced the recipients of its 12th annual Traveller Review Awards earlier this week with listings for hotels, taxis and car rentals in the world’s most welcoming cities.
Based on more than 309 million verified customer reviews, 1,484,294 accommodation properties, 449 rental car companies, and 129 taxi providers received a Booking.com Traveller Review Award in 2024.
For the seventh year in a row, Italy is home again to the largest number of award recipients (181,012), followed by Spain (125,611), France (124,361), Germany (86,910), and the UK (74,754) jumping two spots to the fifth position. Poland (61,693), Brazil (58,788), the United States (56,014), Croatia (53,971), and Portugal (32,910).
Awards for Singapore’s hotels
Singapore has 162 accommodation partners this year that are recognised with a Traveller Review Award 2024. They received over 150,000 reviews and received an average review score of 8.5.
Some of the Singapore properties receiving a Traveller Review Award 2024:
Marina Bay Sands (Score: 9.2) Four Seasons Hotel Singapore (Score: 9.1) The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore (Score: 9) The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (Score: 8.9) The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore (Score: 8.9) The Clan Hotel Singapore by Far East Hospitality (Score: 8.9) Conrad Centennial Singapore (Score: 8.8) Wanderlust by the Ultimate Collection (Score: 8.8) Parkroyal Collection Pickering, Singapore (Score 8.8) W Singapore – Sentosa Cove (Score: 8.7)
Land transport recognised
Booking.com recognises ground transport partners for their consistently great service and hospitality. Beyond the basics of just getting around, rental cars make it easier for travellers to explore off the beaten path, and taxis frequently provide visitors with their first interactions with local people and culture.
This year, 449 car rental partners from 26 countries received a Traveller Review Award. Spain (84) tops the list again with the most car rental companies being recognised, followed by Italy (74), Portugal (47), Greece (42) and the US (28).
In gratitude for all the warm welcomes and seamless pick-ups, 129 taxi partners are also receiving an award with Italy (17) and Spain (12) leading the pack. Singapore garnered (2) awards for the first time ever.
Based on the share of accommodation providers receiving a Traveller Review Award 2024* here is the list of the Most Welcoming Places on Earth.
2024’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth
Arraial d’Ajuda, Brazil Ermoupoli, Greece Viana do Castelo, Portugal Daylesford, Australia Grindelwald, Switzerland Moab, USA Uzès, France Mazatlán, Mexico Jaisalmer, India Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
PATTAYA, 26 January 2024: Ocean Marina Jomtien, located on Thailand’s east coast, was recently recognised with the “Best Marina Berth Facilities in Thailand” award at the prestigious Robb Report Thailand Best Of The Best Yachting Awards.
Launched in 1989, Ocean Marina Jomtien is a key economic driver of Thailand’s marine industry and remains a leader in marine services and facilities. Since 2012, Ocean Marina Jomtien has implemented a strategic development programme to upgrade and increase berthing facilities,
Napong Paripontpochanapisuti, Managing Director of Ocean Property Co Ltd (second left) and Scott Finsten, Harbour Master of Ocean Marina Jomtien (second right), received the award.
From a capacity of 200 berths in 2011, the marina has added 255 more berths, making it the largest marina in Southeast Asia today with 455 wet berths, 100 trailer boat berths and hardstand capacity for 30 boats.
“We have invested considerably in the marina’s facilities and expansion over the last decade, which has been well received by local and international visiting yachts,” Ocean Marina Jomtien harbour master Scott Finsten explained. “In addition to visiting international yachts, we have seen an exponential increase in Thais buying boats, enjoying the marine lifestyle and basing themselves at Ocean Marina Jomtien. And we’ve also seen a steady increase in superyachts visiting the area – in fact, 2023 was our biggest year yet welcoming a record number of superyachts to Ocean Marina Jomtien.”
BANGKOK, 26 January 2024: Asia Pacific delivered the bulk of the tourist arrivals to Thailand during 2023, with just over 20 million visits out of the grand total of slightly more than 28 million, according to the official count posted on Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports website last week.
Earlier figures based on January to November records with an estimate for December varied from 27 million to 28.4 million depending on which daily media you read.
Provisional figures swept aside; the ministry posted the full data confirming 28,150,016 visits in 2023, a 154% increase in visitor arrivals compared to 2022, which mustered slightly more than 11 million.
Based on the ministry’s data, the overarching Asia Pacific region generated 20,177,759 visits out of 28,150,016. That region included 9,822 280 visits from Southeast Asia, 7,557,650 from North Asia and 1,998,790 from South Asia (mainly India).
Europe delivered 5,962,231 visits, the Americas 1,287,461 and the Middle East 600,499.
Traditional EU markets falter
Travel from Europe underperformed along with the Middle East. Some key factors impacting travel to Thailand and Southeast Asia include rising airfares and a shortage of operational aircraft — some direct flights still need to resume. The economic slowdown in Europe, rising inflation and living costs could also limit discretionary spending on long-haul travel.
Alternative destinations compete with Thailand, especially Southeast Asian destinations such as Bali, Vietnam, or Cambodia. They might offer more competitive pricing or visa-free entry for Europeans, posing competition to Thailand.
Thailand’s top 10 supply markets
The top 10 country markets emerged as super suppliers with a couple of surprises. China dropped to second place, Vietnam joined the list, and there was no sign of stalwart tourist supplier Germany in the top ranking. Hong Kong was missing, too. Due to poor outcomes in 2022, the percentage increases in 2023 were in the high 80s. Some were amazing — China up 1,200%, Russia up 254%, South Korea 212%, Japan 179% and Vietnam 125%
Malaysia took the top spot with 4,563,020 visits, followed by China in second place with 3,519,735 visits. South Korea took the third place with 1,658,688. India was fourth with 1,626,720, and Russia was fifth, supplying 1,481,878 visits.
Vietnam ranked sixth, delivering 1,033,688 visits; Singapore seventh with 1,027,424; Laos eighth with 919,40; UK ninth with 917,220; and Japan 10th with 805,768.
Thailand’s tourism officials are forecasting tourist arrivals will hit 40 million and pass the pre-COVID-19 level of 39.9 million.
(Source: Data chart Ministry of Tourism and Sports website)
HONG KONG, 26 January 2024: Air Traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to recover in 2023 as passenger traffic and flight movements reached new post-pandemic heights in December, according to figures released by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) earlier this week.
Passenger traffic at HKIA is expected to fully recover to the pre-pandemic level by the end of 2024.
Photo credit: HKIA.
During 2023, HKIA handled 40 million passengers and 276,000 flight movements, representing increases of around 600% and 100%, respectively, compared to 2022. Total cargo throughput saw an annual growth of 3.2% to 4.3 million tonnes.
For December 2023, passenger volume increased 1.7 times to 4.3 million year-on-year. Daily passenger volume recovered to 80% of the pre-pandemic level during the Christmas peak. All passenger segments experienced significant growth compared to the same month last year, with traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China and Taiwan recording the most significant increases. Flight movements in December rose year-on-year by 89% to 30,000, exceeding 80% of the pre-pandemic level.
SINGAPORE, 26 January 2024: Singapore Changi Airport handled 58.9 million passenger movements in 2023, representing 86% of the traffic recorded in 2019.
Aircraft movements, including landings and take-offs, totalled 328,000, compared to 382,000 in 2019. Against a volatile global economic environment, airfreight throughput stood at 1.74 million tonnes for 2023, a year-on-year decline of 6%.
Photo credit: Changi Airport.
For the fourth quarter from October to December 2023, passenger traffic at Changi crossed the 90% recovery line with 16.1 million passenger movements recorded. December 2023 was the busiest month for Changi, registering 5.8 million passenger movements, or 91% of traffic measured in December 2019. The busiest day of the year was 22 December 2023 – the Friday before Christmas – when 203,000 passengers passed through Changi’s terminals. Aircraft movements for the month totalled 30,400, reaching 91% of 2019 levels. Airfreight throughput stood at 150,000 tonnes, a 1.5% decline compared to December 2022.
Traffic recovery
Compared to pre-Covid passenger traffic, the North American region posted the strongest growth in 2023, exceeding 2019 by more than 25%. Europe, Southwest Pacific and South Asia are nearly recovering, registering over 90% of 2019 traffic.
Throughout the year, all regions continued to register strong recovery. Northeast Asia was the forerunner, with passenger traffic increasing more than four times that of 2022, largely due to a significant increase in travel between China and Singapore. Southeast Asia posted the second strongest growth during the year, registering a 72% year-on-year growth.
Changi Airport’s top five passenger markets for the year were Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand and India. Among Changi’s top 10 markets, China, Japan and South Korea were the fastest growing compared to 2022. With the easing of travel restrictions, China regained its spot in Changi’s top 10 markets, closing the year in sixth place with almost 4 million passenger movements.
Passenger traffic between Japan and Singapore tripled compared to 2022, while South Korean traffic exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 36%, making it the market with the strongest rebound compared to pre-Covid traffic.
Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Manila were Changi Airport’s busiest routes during the year, with the Kuala Lumpur route being the world’s busiest international route based on seat capacity.
Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development Lim Ching Kiat said: “2023 was an invigorating year, as we witnessed the resounding resumption of travel across the world, as well as the full reopening of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2. The upswing in travel was fuelled by strong outbound travel demand and growing inbound travel.
“The growth in passenger traffic was especially strong in Asia, with an acceleration seen in the last quarter. Changi Airport also resumed connections to more than 10 cities this year, including Addis Ababa, Changsha, Ningbo, Kaohsiung, and Okinawa. We have restored almost 90% of our pre-Covid city links, with Changi Airport now the fifth busiest airport in the world by seat capacity[1].
“We step into 2024 hopeful of recovering fully to Changi Airport’s pre-Covid connectivity and traffic levels. As more travellers worldwide rekindle their wanderlust, we will continue to work with our airline partners to bring exciting destinations and new travel experiences to travellers.”
Enhancing Connectivity
In 2023, Changi Airport welcomed three new airlines — Air Macau, Firefly and TransNusa. It added two new city links to its network — Bhubaneswar (India) and Sanya (China). Changi Airport also established its first link to Beijing Daxing Airport via China Eastern Airlines.
Through a three-year partnership between the Singapore Tourism Board, TUI Airways and Marella Cruises, Changi Airport will welcome fly-cruise passengers from the UK to Singapore during the December to April cruise season for three years until 2026. TUI Airways operates three weekly services from London-Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham.
During the year, Air Canada announced its return to Changi Airport after more than 30 years and will commence its four weekly nonstop Vancouver-Singapore service in April 2024. Singapore Airlines will also launch new passenger services to Brussels and London Gatwick in April and June 2024.
As of January 2024, 93 airlines operate over 6,700 weekly flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 154 cities in 49 countries and territories worldwide.
PHU QUOC, 25 January 2024: Vietjet is connecting the holiday island of Phu Quoc with daily flights to Taipei in Taiwan, China, ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday week starting 9 February.
Deploying an A321 on the route Flight VJ844 departs Phu Quoc at 0825 and arrives in Taipei, Taiwan at 1300.
Photo credit: Vietjet Air.
The return flight VJ845 departs Taipei at 1400 and arrives in Phu Quoc at 1650. Flight time is three hours and 35 minutes.
Vietjet enjoys an exclusive on the route for the time being. It started the flights on 17 January. During January, the average roundtrip fare on the route is USD582, rising to an average of USD672 in February. By June, the average roundtrip fare drops to USD262 for the month. The average for six months, January to June, is USD430.
To boost bookings on the new route, Vietjet offers passengers zero-dollar fares (excludes tax and fees) on sale every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday until 10 February 2024 when booking on the airline’s website or mobile app.
Meanwhile, Vietjet launched a daily flight from Phu Quoc to Busan in South Korea on 15 January using an A321 for the four-hour and 32-minute flight.
Flight VJ968 departs Phu Quoc and arrives in Busan at 0630 the following morning. The return flight VJ969 departs Busan at 0735 and arrives in Phu Quoc at 1105.
Vietjet also schedules twice daily flights on the Phu Quoc – Seoul (South Korea) route.
SINGAPORE, 25 January 2024: Millennial and Gen Z travellers in APAC declare shared experiences as their new love language; they are ready to splurge on 2024 travels, dedicating up to half their budget to shared experiences.
Klook’s latest Travel Pulse1 research released this week suggests nine out of 10 travellers in the Asia Pacific intend to pursue travel with their loved ones. It also shows that three in five travellers are set to splurge on 2024 adventures, dedicating up to half their budget to experiences and activities despite rising costs from global inflation.
The availability of distinctive experiences is among the top consideration factors for travellers when planning a holiday. Nature and outdoor adventures lead at 59%, followed by the thrill of theme parks (53%) and the cultural richness of museums and historical sites (51%).
The study shows that 65% of travellers pursue shared adventures through more frequent, shorter holidays rather than extended getaways to maximise creating core memories together. New destinations are also on the horizon for 70% of travellers in APAC, with the top destinations on the wishlist being Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore.
Spring inspires APAC travellers
For many travellers (65%), climate or season plays a huge part in the shared travel experience. Spring in the early part of the year is the most popular season across APAC, and nearly half of travellers have booked travel within the first three months of 2024. Nature and outdoor activities are among the top activity themes. Travellers from Malaysia and Indonesia most favour spring, while travellers from Australia and the Philippines want to embrace the warmth of summer. Taiwan and Korea share an affection for the vibrant hues of autumn, and winter claims the spotlight for travellers from India, Thailand, and Singapore.
The Klook Travel Pulse survey was conducted in November 2023 through Milieu with 2,600 respondents across 13 markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Mainland China, India, and Indonesia.
SINGAPORE, 25 January 2024: Pandaw is introducing its newest river odyssey itinerary in India, the ‘Full Brahmaputra’, exploring further than ever before on the iconic river.
Sailing 10 nights between Guwahati and the northern city of Dibrugarh, Pandaw ventures further than ever before along the Brahmaputra River, a trip made possible by Pandaw’s ultra-low draft vessels. It offers intrepid travellers a true adventure to the untouched upper reaches of Assam.
Setting sail in October 2024, the Pandaw cruise will visit the lesser-known Dibru Saikhowa National Park, which is rich in mammal life, including wild horses, explore the world’s largest river island of Majuli and its fascinating culture and enjoy sailing on one of the most scenic rivers in the world.
In all its majesty, the Brahmaputra River winds its way through several towns and cities, each with its unique charm and sights.
Popular cities along the river
Guwahati, Assam: The largest city in Assam, Guwahati is also the gateway to the Brahmaputra Valley. It’s a bustling metropolis with a rich history and culture. Some must-see sights here include the Kamakhya Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya; the Umananda Temple, situated on Peacock Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra; and the Assam State Museum, which houses a collection of artefacts from the region’s past.
Silghat, Assam: Located on the southern banks of the Brahmaputra River in Nagaon district, it is known for its scenic beauty and cultural heritage.
Biswanath Ghat: Also known as Gupta Kashi, this charming town and ghat (bathing steps) is situated on the Brahmaputra River’s northern bank in Assam’s Biswanath district. It’s known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. Biswanath Ghat boasts over 100 temples, some dating back centuries. The ruins of the ancient Biswanath Temple believed to be from the Gupta era, stand as a testament to the town’s long history. Across the Brahmaputra leads to Umatumuni Island, known for its 27 medieval temples and serene natural beauty.
Majuli, Assam: The world’s largest river island, Majuli is a unique cultural and ecological hotspot. The Mising people, an indigenous tribe, have their distinct way of life and traditions. The island is also home to several Satras, which are monasteries that serve as centres of Assamese culture.
Sibsagar, Assam: formerly known as Rangpur, the riverside town was once the capital of the Ahom Kingdom from 1699 to 1788. This rich history is evident in the numerous palaces and monuments scattered around the town. It’s a vibrant cultural centre with a rich tradition of Assamese music, dance, and theatre. The Sibsagar Sivadol Festival, held in February, is a major cultural event that attracts people from all over Assam.
Dibrugarh, Assam: Known as the “Tea City of India,” Dibrugarh is surrounded by sprawling tea plantations. The Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to diverse wildlife, including elephants, tigers, and rhinos. The Kaziranga National Park, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is nearby.
Following strong demand for its seven-night Mighty Brahmaputra expedition launched in 2023, this new adventure is set to be a popular choice for Pandaw members. The inaugural sailing will be offered as a members-only departure. Bookings are already open for Pandaw’s newest expedition in India. Visit pandaw.com or contact the Pandaw sales team at [email protected] for more information and bookings.
India: The Full Brahmaputra GUWAHATI TO DIBRUGARH 10 nights FROM USD5,495.00
Sailing further into the Assam valley than ever before, Pandaw’s new 10-night Full Brahmaputra expedition is a true adventure. Reaching the second largest city of Assam, Dibrugarh, some 450 km up the mighty Brahmaputra from Guwahati the river cruise explores several national parks in search of Assam’s abundant wildlife as well as discovering the diverse and unique cultures of the people who live along this vast river system.
TRANSFERS & JOINING
Day 1 Embark Guwahati Transfer from the hotel or airport in Guwahati to the Pandaw vessel. Flight arrival should be before 13.00.
Day 11 Dibrugarh disembark Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the hotel or Dibrugarh airport (15km / 30 minutes). The latest departure from the ship is at 1100.
