Thursday, May 1, 2025
Home Blog Page 238

Skyscanner hires new COO

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 24 January 2024: Skyscanner names Bryan Batista as its new Chief Operating Officer. 

The former senior vice president of international at Gopuff, SVP Trips and CEO of Rentalcars at Booking.com and director of EU Sales at Tesla joins the business as Skyscanner accelerates its growth strategy against a resilient global travel demand background.

Reporting to CEO John Mangelaars and based out of the UK, he will lead Skyscanner’s teams focussed on developing the company’s long-term strategic vision and business operations as well as non-flight verticals such as accommodation, car rental and future travel options.

Travellers checking out deals on Skyscanner in 2023 performed, on average, more than 1 billion trip searches every month. At the start of 2024, Skyscanner saw record travel demand, outperforming the global flights market.*

Skyscanner continues to be a strategic partner for some of the biggest brands, airlines and DMOs in the world, working with companies from across the travel ecosystem, including DMOs like Visit California, to promote destinations, powering the next generation of AI travel tools such as Bing Chat and Layla, as well as helping airlines promote their unique offers via NDC and launch new routes based on data intelligence.

*Between the end of 2023 and the start of 2024, Skyscanner outperformed the global flights market, recording a +16% growth in visitors compared to the broader market’s +3%. SimilarWeb data is based on global flight sessions of tracked brands between 29 December and 4 January. The analysis includes 272 tracked brands and 34 markets. 

AirAsia back flying to Xi’an

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 January 2024: AirAsia X confirms this week it will resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to Xi’an in China, rekindling the link between Malaysia and this iconic Chinese city effective 4 April 2024.

Known as one of China’s four great ancient capitals and the starting point of the Silk Road, Xi’an is home to thousands of years of Chinese heritage and history. It is best known for its Terracotta warriors of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter.

Initially, the airline will schedule three weekly flights, which aligns with AAX’s commitment to strengthen its presence in China with five destinations while complementing the AirAsia Group’s 12th destination in mainland China. AAX is the sole airline offering direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Xi’An.

In celebration of the service resumption, AAX offers promotional fares from Kuala Lumpur to Xi’An with all-in* fares from RM469 one-way. The promotional fares are available for booking until 28 January 2024 for the travel period 4 April 2024 to 26 October 2024.

In addition, AirAsia also offers a 20kg** free baggage allowance for guests who book their flights between 22 January 2024 and 31 January 2024.

Flight Schedule between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Xi’an (XIY)

*All-in one-way fares include airport taxes, MAVCOM fees, fuel surcharges, and other applicable fees. Valid for selected flights only during initial booking on a first-come, first-serve basis. The China visa-free entry is valid for visits of up to 15 days and is only applicable to Malaysians. Other terms and conditions apply.

**20kg free baggage allowance is valid for selected flights only during initial booking on a first-come, first-served basis.

Indonesia rethinks entertainment tax hike

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 24 January 2024: Indonesia backpedals on a proposed entertainment tax hike ranging from 40 to 75% following intensive lobbying by tourism and restaurant associations and tourism leaders in Bali. The proposal has now been shelved pending a review.

After Bali’s tourism and hospitality leaders warned it would deter tourism recovery, the central government intends to reevaluate the controversial 40-75% hike in entertainment taxes.

First reported by the Bali Sun, the central government confirmed this week the tax increase has been shelved. At the same time, legislators say they evaluate the impact on the public, tourism and small businesses across the country.

Bali, the country’s premier tourism destination, can breathe a sigh of relief. Still, the threat has not gone entirely, and tourism officials on the holiday island are warning that tinkering with taxes when other ASEAN countries are reducing them is risky. They quote Thailand’s endeavours to cut its enormous taxes on alcoholic drinks, including wine, as it aims to attract close to 40 million tourists in 2024, up from 27.8 million in 2023.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, is quoted by the Bali Sun saying in an Instagram video: “We decided to postpone it, we are evaluating…There is a judicial review in the Constitutional Court. Let us consider that we are siding with the people because it concerns a lot of small traders.” 

Until a decision is made on introducing a  40 to 75% rate, the entertainment tax will remain at the old rate of 15%. The ceiling rate of 75% would apply to discos, karaoke, nightclubs, bars, steam baths and spas.

Bali Sun said the government wants to update the policy by setting a lower limit of 40% and an upper limit of 75% 

Other taxes and charges

Hotels and restaurants in Indonesia add 10% to the bill for services at hotels and restaurants across the country. It’s included in the listed price so you won’t be surprised by an extra charge at checkout.

Two other charges impact tourists visiting popular destinations in Indonesia — Visa-on-Arrival fees and a new tourist tax that will generate environmental and culture protection revenue.

Tourist tax

Effective 14 February, a new tourist tax will be introduced in Bali and five other destinations — Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.

Amount: IDR150,000 (approximately USD10) for foreign tourists per visit.
Payment: Electronically at designated points, like airports or immigration checkpoints.
Purpose: Funds will support environmental protection, cultural preservation, and infrastructure improvement in tourist destinations.

Visa on Arrival fees

Cost: IDR500,000 (approximately USD33) for most nationalities.
Scope: Required for most nationalities wishing to visit Indonesia for up to 30 days.
(Certain nationalities may require different visas or visa extensions with different fees. For example, citizens from nine ASEAN countries enjoy visa-free travel to Indonesia for 30 days.)

Travel DMC upgrades transfers

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 23 January 2024: Travel DMC Group and its subsidiary, KP Transport, based in Singapore, have launched a Sit-in-Coach (SIC) programme. 

The initiative offers a suite of services, including airport transfers, attraction transfers, and city tours.

Airport Transfers: Travellers can experience a comfortable journey to and from Changi Airport on a fleet of modern vehicles and a commitment to punctuality.

Attractions Transfers: The SIC programme extends beyond conventional transportation, providing dedicated transfers to Singapore’s iconic attractions. Tourists can delve into the city’s rich tapestry, from the historic district of Kampong Glam to the futuristic marvels of Marina Bay Sands.

City Tours: Accompanied by knowledgeable guides, travellers explore cultural landmarks, historic sites, and vibrant neighbourhoods.

To celebrate the launch of the SIC programme, Travel DMC Group and KP Transport are offering exclusive special rates on two prominent global travel platforms, Globaltix and Kkday. This strategic partnership aims to make the SIC programme accessible to a broad global audience, allowing more travellers to embark on unforgettable journeys through Singapore’s diverse landscapes.

Travellers and agents can book SIC services directly on the KP Transport website. Special rates are extended to all agents as a bonus, ensuring that the SIC programme reaches travellers through various channels. Visit: https://travel-dmc.com/ 

About Travel DMC 
Established in 2011, the company offers tours and transfers in Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Turkish bumps up Airbus orders

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 23 January 2024: Türkiye’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, will expand its fleet with an order for 220 Airbus aircraft, made up of 150 Airbus A321s and 70 A350 widebody aircraft.

The latest orders follow earlier orders for 10 A350-900s in September and four A350-900s in July 2023. This latest order will take Turkish Airlines’ total orderbook for Airbus aircraft to 504, of which 212 are already delivered. 

Photo credit: Airbus

The A321neo is the largest aircraft in Airbus’ A320neo family, and by incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo offers a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft. 

To date, over 5,600 A321neos have been ordered by more than 100 customers across the globe.

The A350 is the long-range leader in the 300-410 seater category, serving ultra-long-haul routes up to 9,700nm (17964.4 km). The A350 Family has two versions: the A350-900 and the longer fuselage A350-1000. Turkish will use an A350 when it upgrades to nonstop flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, possibly in 2025. (Distance:7903.34 nautical miles). The airline plans to start a three-weekly Melbourne service starting 24 March this year, but the aircraft will make a technical stop in Singapore for a fuel refill.

Night Markets in Sarawak

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

KUCHING, 17 January 2024: Sarawak’s famed night markets come to life as the sun sets, offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience filled with food, entertainment and culture. 

Here, we have narrowed down a few of Sarawak’s most iconic night markets.

Metrocity Night Market

A 15-minute drive from Kuching’s city centre brings you to the Metrocity Night Market in Petra Jaya. The market is open every Wednesday to Saturday from 1600 to 2400. It is one of Kuching’s largest and busiest night markets, attracting large crowds comprising tourists and locals. On special occasions like Sarawak Day, this market will transform into a lively stage with music and entertainment showcasing local talents and traditional tunes.

Siniawan Night Market 

Another popular destination for food hunting and sightseeing, Siniawan Night Market is located in a small quaint town in the Bau District, a 25-minute car drive from downtown Kuching. It is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1630 to 2300. Siniawan Night Market is known for its picturesque old wooden townhouses, wall graffiti, and Chinese lanterns hung in zig-zag patterns that line the street. It is a true photographer’s paradise at night when it comes to life as the lanterns light up and illuminate the street in an ethereal glow. A culinary journey awaits you at the hawker stalls that sell varieties of local delicacies such as Bamboo Chicken, kueh, satay, kolo mee, laksa, grilled fish, barbeque chicken wing, ‘ais kacang’, ‘rojak’, ‘char kueh’ and more.

Sibu Night Market

Sibu Night Market, otherwise known as the vibrant night market, is one of Sibu’s oldest markets that has been around since the 1960s. Unlike the other night markets, this market is open daily from 5 pm to 10 pm. Here, you can treat yourself to various local delicacies like cakes, steamed buns, dim sum, satay, pastries, dumplings, barbecued pork parts and others. You don’t want to miss out on the half-moon pancakes, an all-time Sibu favourite. 

Senadin Night Market

Located in Miri, the Senadin Night Market was opened in 2022 and operates every Tuesday to Sunday from 1600 to 2400. This night market is Muslim-friendly and is divided into two zones, separating the halal and the non-halal zones. Miri locals visit this market for barbeque delights sold at the ‘rumah asap’ barbeque stalls and food and drink stalls.

Saberkas Night Market

Miri’s Saberkas Night Market is another popular night market that brings in visitors from around the area. It opens every Tuesday to Sunday from 1600 to 2130. It is situated near Taman Bulatan Miri and Boulevard Commercial Centre, a strategic location that makes it a convenient go-to for Miri locals. You can shop for various goods such as local handicrafts, clothes and local products to bring home as a keepsake. Discover an incredible range of local delicacies unique to this region, like nasi lemak, murtabak, grilled chicken wings, apam balik, tender and juicy satay and colourful layered cakes.

Sarawak’s night markets are more than places to shop and eat; they act as a hub that draws communities from all over together to experience Sarawak’s culture to the fullest. 

To learn more about Sarawak’s food culture scene, visit www.sarawaktourism.com  for more information.

(Source: Hornbill Trail Newsletter)

Singapore roadshow recruits pilots

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 23 January 2024: Emirates, arguably the world’s largest international airline, is revving up its recruitment efforts in Singapore to meet the strong surge in customer demand. 

The airline will host a pilot recruitment roadshow in Singapore from 28 to 29 January and is looking to recruit experienced commercial pilots.

The upcoming roadshow will be held at Carlton Hotel Singapore on Sunday, 28 January 2024 at 1000 and 1300, and on Monday, 29 January 2024 at 1000. Experienced pilots keen to join Emirates as first officers, A380 Direct Entry Captains, or via the Accelerated Command Programme are welcome. 

Prior registration is not required, and pilots are only required to attend one of the sessions. At the session, prospective Emirates pilots can find out more about the airline’s recruitment process, available opportunities, training programmes, expected career trajectory, and benefits, as well as speak to pilots currently flying with Emirates. 

More information can be found at https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/pilots/. 

Emirates’ country manager for Singapore & Brunei Rashed Alfajeer said: “Emirates pilots fly one of the world’s youngest and most modern all wide-body fleets to over 140 destinations across the globe. They will have the opportunity to undergo robust in-house training at Emirates’ cutting-edge training facility, which is based in the vibrant city of Dubai. We look forward to having more pilots from Singapore come onboard our airline as we ramp up our operations globally.”

Emirates held a pilot recruitment roadshow in Singapore for the first time in eight years in 2023. The airline currently has 28 Singaporean pilots.

Flying with Emirates

With a network spanning over 140 destinations, Emirates pilots will have the exciting opportunity to fly to diverse destinations. The airline’s constant investment in fleet renewal also means its pilots will fly the world’s youngest and most modern fleet of all wide-body aircraft: the Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. 

Emirates offers exciting company benefits for pilots and their families, including a competitive tax-free salary, 42 days of annual leave, a generous allowance for accommodation and education, full medical benefits, discounted travel benefits for the wider family and friends, and more.

The selection process is held in two stages. The first stage of the assessment will be conducted remotely, while the second stage will be held in Dubai over two days. Emirates will provide a pair of return Economy Class tickets (upgradeable to Business Class, subject to availability) for applicants and their legal spouses when they travel to Dubai for the second assessment stage.

Emirates pilots will be based in Dubai, one of the world’s safest, most vibrant, and tech-savvy cities and a lifestyle destination with global annual sporting events, spectacular attractions, and adventure sports for children and families.

Cutting-edge Training Experience  

Emirates will provide new joiners with robust, evidence- and competency-based in-house training to ease them into their roles. Successful candidates will complete training programmes at Emirates’ advanced pilot training facilities in Dubai, which currently houses 10 simulators.

Emirates has also invested USD135 million to build another advanced training facility to accommodate six full-flight simulator bays for its future Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X aircraft. The new 63,318 sq. ft. facility is slated to open in March 2024.

Pilot trainees can set up and configure the cockpit environment using bespoke devices as part of the pilot training module and upload the data to the full flight simulator before commencing their training session. This innovative, first-of-its-kind concept is designed to shorten the trainee’s preparatory time inside the simulator, help them maintain focus and take full advantage of the training duration.

A380 Direct Entry Captain 

Technically proficient commanders with a minimum of 3,000 hours of recent command on Airbus fly-by-wire wide body such as the A330, A340, A350, and A380, and a minimum of 7,000 hours of total flying time on multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft (in addition to meeting other eligibility criteria) can apply to be an A380 Direct Entry Captain at Emirates. 

Accelerated Command Programme

Emirates relaunched its Accelerated Command Programme (ACP) in 2022, primarily designed for experienced Airbus captains who command narrow-body aircraft on regional routes and wish to dial up their careers by working with a global airline brand. 

Captains with at least 1,500 hours of Airbus fly-by-wire experience will join Emirates as A380 first officers on an enhanced salary package. They are eligible for an accelerated command upgrade after at least 700 flying hours and two successful recurrent checks. Typically, Emirates pilots achieve these milestones in a little over a year as they fly a mix of ultra-long, long- and short-haul routes. 

First Officer

Candidates for first officer roles must have multi-engine, multi-crew aircraft experience, a valid International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL), and a minimum of 2,000 hours on 20-tonne maximum take-off weight aircraft. 

More information about the requirements and benefits of each role can be found here: https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/pilots/. 

Starlux flies to Chiang Mai

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

CHIANG MAI, 23 January 2024: Taiwanese airline Starlux launched direct flights from Taipei to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand last week, competing with three other airlines on the popular route for holiday travellers.

The airline already flies to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, offering 13 flights weekly. On 18 January, it introduced three weekly flights (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) to the popular tourist destination in northern Thailand from Taipei (TPE).

However, schedules posted on booking sites indicate the airline will schedule up to six flights weekly next week and four flights through mid-February to handle peak season traffic to Chiang Mai through to Chinese New Year on 10 February and then cutting back frequency to three weekly flights until the end of March.

Using an A321neo with business and economy classes, flight JX751 departs Taipei at 1255 and arrives in Chiang Mai at 1615. The return flight JX752 departs Chiang Mai at 1715 and arrives in Taipei at 2210.

The airline competes head-on with Thai AirAsia, EVA Air and China Airlines, all serving the Taipei-Chiang Mai route. The roundtrip fare during the year will average USD240, dropping from a January high of USD309 and a low of USD197 during February due to the high volume of seats on the route but levelling out at around USD200 until June.

Tourism officials in Chiang Mai are optimistic, estimating at least  6 million visitors this year, possibly hitting 15 million if source markets in Asia continue to show a high recovery rate.

WebBeds matchmaking in Indonesia

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

JAKARTA, 24 January 2024: WebBeds, a B2B accommodation provider, has staged two “speed dating” events in Indonesia that put the country’s top travel buyers in direct contact with leading hoteliers from Singapore and Malaysia.

The two events hosted at Pullman Jakarta Central Park on 16 January and at DoubleTree by Hilton Surabaya on 18 January were in response to the latest insights from WedBeds’ booking data, which underlined the importance of Indonesia as a key source market for Singapore and Malaysia. 

According to WebBeds, in 2023, Indonesia accounted for nearly 15% of business at Singapore’s hotels and experienced a more than 50% year-on-year growth for Malaysian hotels. Within these totals, arrivals from Jakarta and Surabaya comprised more than 75% of Indonesian visitors.

WebBeds is empowering hoteliers in Singapore and Malaysia to maximise the opportunities presented by the all-important Indonesian source market by organising these two events in Jakarta and Surabaya in partnership with Tourism Malaysia and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Each event followed the same fast-paced, high-energy format. Representatives from 38 hotels, resorts and hospitality companies in Singapore and Malaysia met face-to-face with top Indonesian travel agencies in a round-robin format. Like speed dating, every buyer could meet every hotel, ensuring all attendees found their perfect match. Tourism Malaysia and WebBeds also gave informative presentations to delegates, allowing guests to learn about each destination’s latest updates and attractions.

“We are delighted to kickstart 2024 with these two exciting and important events. With its proximity, shared cultural links and strong connectivity, Indonesia has always been an important source market for Singaporean and Malaysian hotels. These connections will become even more important in the coming years as rising intra-ASEAN travel drives demand. We are happy to be able to use our business intelligence to identify major booking flows and to empower our partners to capitalise on these trends,” said WebBeds senior vice president of sourcing APAC Cyndi Ng.

“This is a good initiative by WebBeds and a great opportunity for Malaysia to engage with the industry and to share with them the various plans and updates for the year towards Visit Malaysia 2026,” commented Tourism Malaysia’s senior deputy director, international promotions division (ASEAN), Jamilah Abdul Halim.

“Indonesia is an important market for Malaysia. With the market showing significant growth in the arrivals in 2023, we hope we can achieve the pre-pandemic performance this year,” she added.

CoStar figures hotel construction trends

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 23 January 2024: With substantial volume in the planning phases, the Americas was the only world region to show an increase in overall hotel pipeline activity, according to year-end data from CoStar.

CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets.

Construction activity was down in every world region except Asia Pacific. 

December 2023 (% change in comparison with December 2022):

Europe

In construction: 171,354 (-9.7%)
Final Planning: 111,255 (-20.9%)
Planning: 178,580 (+16.3%)
Total Under Contract: 461,189 (-4.7%)
Among countries in the region, Germany (30,046 rooms) led in construction activity, followed by the UK (28,503 rooms).

Asia Pacific

In construction: 486,410 (+2.0%)
Final Planning: 111,462 (+2.3%)
Planning: 290,699 (-4.8%)
Total Under Contract: 888,571 (-0.3%)
China leads the Asia Pacific region in total rooms in construction (309,024), followed by Vietnam (36,852).

Middle East & Africa

In construction: 112,128 (-8.6%)
Final Planning: 36,912 (-10.2%)
Planning: 80,294 (+7.3%)
Total Under Contract: 229,334 (-3.9%)
Most of the region’s pipeline activity is focused on the Middle East. Saudi Arabia (42,282) and the United Arab Emirates (18,998) show the most rooms in construction.

Americas

In construction: 200,615 (-3.1%)
Final Planning: 289,394 (+18.1%)
Planning: 370,033 (+30.0%)
Total Under Contract: 860,042 (+16.7%)
The US holds the majority of rooms in construction in the region, followed by Mexico (12,194), Canada (7,215), and Brazil (5,111).

For more information visit www.costargroup.com

1...237238239...600Page 238 of 600

Stay ahead with the
latest travel news
on Southeast Asia.

Subscribe now


Contact Us
TTR Weekly (TTRW) is published in Bangkok, Thailand, registered since 1978.
/ month
placeholder text
/ month
placeholder text
Press releases, announcements, events for calendar should be sent to: [email protected]
/ month
placeholder text

Copyright © 2023 TTR Weekly, all rights reserved.