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GSTC publishes sustainability criteria

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SINGAPORE, 26 March 2024: The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has released its GSTC MICE Criteria, making it available to the general public for non-commercial use. 

Developed for venues and event organisers, the GSTC MICE Criteria was published with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to guide businesses toward implementing sustainable practices.

The GSTC Criteria serve as the global standards for sustainability in travel and tourism. It has been adopted for education and awareness-raising, policy-making for businesses, organisations and government agencies, measurement and evaluation, and as a basis for certification. 

They result from a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management, (B) Socioeconomic impacts, (C) Cultural impacts, and (D) Environmental impacts.

The GSTC MICE Criteria is the third set of GSTC Criteria, in addition to the GSTC Industry Criteria (for Hotels and Tour operators) and the GSTC Destination Criteria. The GSTC Attraction Criteria are currently under development.

“After a year of dedicated work and effort, we formally release the GSTC MICE Criteria for Venues, Event Organisers, and Events & Exhibitions. We thank the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), a key contributor to its development. Let’s seize this opportunity together to advance the MICE industry’s journey towards sustainability significantly,” says GSTC CEO Randy Durband,

Singapore Tourism Board Deputy Chief Executive Yap Chin Siang added: “Our collaboration with the GSTC and SACEOS to develop the GSTC MICE Criteria underscores Singapore’s unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism and solidifies our position as a leading MICE destination. The MICE Criteria represents a major milestone on this journey, empowering industry players with the relevant tools to contribute to and thrive in a sustainable tourism landscape. I strongly urge all stakeholders in the MICE ecosystem to embrace the criteria and play a pivotal role in forging a greener future for global tourism.”

Click here to see the new GSTC MICE Criteria

Bahrain introduces Ramadan Tourism Guide

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BAHRAIN, 26 March 2024: As part of the festivities in Manama, the Gulf tourism capital for 2024, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has published a  Ramadan Tourism Guide titled “Ramadan in Bahrain.” 

Ramadan began on 10 March and will conclude on 9 April.

Visitors from across the globe can immerse themselves in the vibrant culture of the season through festivities hosted at the Bahrain National Theatre, 

The guide brings together tourist events, iftar and suhoor offerings, and accommodation packages, promising visitors an unforgettable experience during the holy month of Ramadan. Live performances, bazaars, seating areas, food and beverage vendors, and more await participants, promising an enriching cultural experience.

Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) CEO Sarah Ahmed Buhiji highlighted the authority’s commitment to boosting tourism momentum year-round by launching initiatives during Ramadan in collaboration with the private sector.

Buhiji underscored the significance of the “Ramadan in Bahrain” guide in serving BTEA’s promotional goals. The guide aims to showcase Bahrain’s intriguing attractions and diverse tourist landmarks. She emphasised that the Ramadan Guide is replete with numerous tourism, entertainment, and hospitality offerings, extending a warm welcome to all tourists, whether families or individuals.

During Ramadan, a variety of venues and locations across the kingdom will host entertaining events, including Marassi Galleria, Al Liwan, The Avenues, Souq Al Baraha, and Seef Mall-Seef District. Visitors will immerse themselves in a vibrant cultural display, with Gergaoon events at all municipalities ensuring that Ramadan nights are filled with joy and glamorous festivities.

Bahrain National Theatre will come alive with the “Manama Nights” event featuring musical performances and traditional games. Additional events of “Ramadan in Bahrain” include the “Emirates Arabian Horse Global Cup (Bahrain Breeders Show)” at Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federations, “Musagaf Evenings” in Manama Souq, “Roast Camp” at Budaiya Botanical Gardens, “Layali Chill” at Bahrain Bay, and “Ramadan Nights” at District 1 featuring Geragoon and traditional performances.

With exclusive offers, 23 hotels will provide Iftar and Suhoor experiences. These hotels include The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Raffles Al Areen Palace, Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq, Movenpick, Hilton-Juffair, Intercontinental Regency, The Westin, Downtown Rotana, Le Meridien, Crown Plaza, Wyndham Grand Manama, The Merchant House, The Domain Hotel & Spa, The Grove, Dragon Resort, Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area, Novotel Bahrain Al Dana Resort, Golden Tulip, Majestic Arjaan by Rotana, and Swiss-Belhotel Seef. Visitors from across the globe are invited to participate in the vibrant Ramadan festivities in Bahrain, promising an enriching cultural experience and unforgettable memories.

(Source: Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority).

Amadeus Travel4Impact Network goes global

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SINGAPORE, 26 March 2024: Travel4Impact, the innovation programme & network run by Amadeus and IE University to support small sustainable enterprises (SMEs) in the travel and tourism sector, is welcoming applications worldwide for the first time. 

With its expansion to the Americas, the programme adopts a global scope to reinforce its commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and responsible travel and tourism industry. 

The 4th edition of Travel4Impact is now open to applications worldwide until 30 April 2024. Around 40 small and medium-sized companies will be selected to join the new launchpad phase, which will start in September 2024.

Designed together with IE University*, a top international academic institution, the programme has already supported more than 60 SMEs to amplify their positive impact and accelerate their digitalisation since its launch in 2021. The first and second-edition programme satisfaction surveys have shown that Travel4Impact helped 72% of participants improve their expectations about the future of their business. 

During the launchpad phase, Travel4Impact provides leaders (C-level executives and founders) from small companies with a fully funded online six-month training and tutoring programme taught by IE University professors. As part of the programme, SMEs participate in work sessions to further develop their digital strategies and incorporate new sustainable practices into their business model. More than 87% of the participants reported that the educational support and training sessions helped them better understand how to integrate sustainability into their business strategy. After the launchpad, participants are invited to join the network, which is comprised of members from previous editions. It’s a community that brings together like-minded professionals to foster collaboration, mutual support, and exchange of best practices.

The programme reevaluates its content and offerings yearly to remain as relevant as possible to its members. With this in mind, Travel4Impact will pilot a new format called the Co-Lab Sprints to collaboratively produce publications on a range of sustainable travel topics this year. The programme will also initiate a new consulting initiative to help Travel4Impact participants solve some of their main business challenges with the support of an Amadeus expert.

Amadeus global head of social impact, Esther Villena, highlights: “Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our industry as they account for over 80% of all global businesses in travel and tourism. At Amadeus, we recognise our unique position at the heart of the travel ecosystem, and we want to work together to make a positive social impact. To foster the inclusion of players of all sizes in this ecosystem, we are working with IE University on Travel4Impact to empower small businesses, especially those who have sustainability at the heart of their business strategy, to collaboratively build a more sustainable, inclusive, and responsible travel and tourism sector that capitalises on digitalisation.”

Travel4Impact will be accepting applications until 30 April. The program welcomes leaders from small and medium-sized travel agencies, tour operators, and accommodation services to destination experiences who want to improve the world while travelling and enhance the positive impact of travel and tourism. IE University will notify successful applicants between June and July 2024.

Travel4Impact is funded by Amadeus and delivered in collaboration with IE University. It is fully funded for SMEs. Interested participants can find more information here and apply by filling out this form.  

*IE University, known as IE Universidad or Universidad Instituto de Empresa, is a private university with campuses in Madrid, Community of Madrid and Segovia, Castile and León, formed as an outgrowth of IE Business School originally founded as the Instituto de Empresa. (Wikipedia).

QF announces EVP Asia appointment

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SINGAPORE, 26 March 2024: Qantas has appointed Nick McGlynn as the Australian national carrier’s new executive vice president of Asia, based in Singapore.

Nick McGlynn.

McGlynn has a decade of commercial experience living and working in Singapore and is currently Jetstar Japan’s executive chairman. In his new role, he will steer Qantas’s commercial, financial and operational performance across its Asian markets.

He brings nearly 40 years of global aviation experience and a comprehensive understanding of Qantas and the Asian aviation industry to the role. He has held several senior roles across Qantas, including Airport Manager in Singapore, General Manager in China, Airport Manager in the UK, Regional General Manager in Asia, Chief Operating Officer Freight, and Chief Customer Officer Freight.

McGlynn will start this transition to the role in the coming weeks. The announcement follows the recent appointment of John Simeone as CEO of Jetstar Asia.

Asia is an important market for Qantas, which operates more than 130 return services per week between Asia and Australia with a mix of A380, A330, 737 and 787 aircraft. Qantas also operates services between Singapore and London, and with a strong partner network, customers can connect seamlessly with Jetstar Asia across the region.

In December 2024, Qantas will add Darwin to its network from Singapore, providing customers with more choices for visiting Australia’s Northern Territory.

HK passenger traffic peaked in February

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HONG KONG, 26 March 2024: Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) handled 4.2 million passengers and 27,615 flight movements during February, according to the latest Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) data.

 It represents an increase of 96.5% (passenger traffic) and 69.3% (flight movements) compared with the low base in the same month last year.

Photo credit: HKIA.

Such significant growth was partly due to the Chinese New Year holidays, which drove higher traffic among all passenger segments. Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China and Taiwan recorded the most significant increases.

During the Chinese New Year holiday period from 7 to 18 February, the airport handled an average of more than 150,000 passengers and over 960 flight movements daily. Traffic peaked on 18 February, with 160,600 passengers using HKIA. The 1,029 aircraft movements on 7 February represented another peak during the holiday period.

Cargo volume increased by 11.7% year-on-year to 324,000 tonnes in February 2024. Exports contributed most to this growth, rising by 30% compared to the same month last year. Among key trading regions, traffic to and from North America, Europe, and the Middle East significantly increased.

Over the first two months of the year, the airport handled 8.4 million passengers, marking an increase of 98.2% compared to the same period in 2023. Flight movements registered a year-on-year increase of 73.3% to 56,370, while cargo throughput rose by 21.3% to 701,000 tonnes.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume was 44 million, or 349.2% higher than the previous comparable period. Flight movements and cargo throughput saw year-on-year increases of 98.7% and 8.2% to 299,925 and 4.5 million tonnes, respectively.

Meanwhile, HK Express inaugurated a new flight route connecting HKIA and Beijing Daxing International Airport in March. 

AAHK Chief Operating Officer Vivian Cheung said: “We are delighted to see our home-based carrier launch a new flight route between Hong Kong and Beijing Daxing. Hong Kong and Beijing have close economic and cultural relationships. This new route will further strengthen the connections between the two cities and consolidate our role as a gateway linking Mainland China and the world.”

(Source: AAHK)

Sabah promotes camping holidays

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KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2024: Sabah promoted camping and outdoor experiences during the MATTA Fair, which was held in Kuala Lumpur from 22 to 24 March.

Hosted at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), the event attracted close to 150,000 travel fans keen to source travel bargains and explore new destinations during the fair.  

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister and Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board together with Julinus Jeffery Jimit, CEO of Sabah Tourism Board at the Sabah Booth during MATTA Fair KL.

Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister cum Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Datuk Joniston Bangkuai highlighted the global trend of “healing trips”, with travellers increasingly seeking holistic adventure experiences alongside relaxation and fun.

“Sabah has embraced this trend by branding itself at the MATTA Fair as a healing destination focusing on camping. Sabah has a lot of avenues for camping destinations,” he explained.

“From Kadamaian, Kundasang, Kokol Hill, to the beaches in Kudat, and rural areas like the Rundum Highlands in Tenom, each location has its unique landscapes, views, and cultures, making Sabah a versatile destination that caters to all interests.

“What makes the experience more fulfilling is that most of these camping sites are empowered by community-based tourism. This clearly demonstrates the success of this initiative,” he remarked.

A total of 22 travel and tour agents from Sabah participated in the 54th edition of the MATTA Fair. The show is held biannually in March and September.  

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Assistant Minister and Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board together with Josie Lai, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Permanent Secretary at the Sabah Booth during MATTA Fair KL.

Sabah Tourism Board led the Sabah zone with 10 booths, offering a travel rebate, ‘Token Rehat Minda’ worth up to MYR150 in a single receipt made from a purchased Sabah tour package. STB also invited Glamping_KK, a Sabah-based camping gear rental provider, to promote their offerings to potential visitors to Sabah. Local Sabah content creators and adventure enthusiasts, @sesat_in_Malaysia and @rosesabahlady, were also present to share their experience with visitors during the interactive Locco Ajak Borak session at the MATTA Fair.

Joniston added, “MATTA Fair is a significant domestic consumer travel fair in Malaysia, and we will continue to be actively present. STB will study the trend in the domestic market’s travel preferences to keep our destination exciting.”

STB Chief Executive Officer, Julinus Jeffery Jimit, was also present at the event.

For more information on Sabah visit: http://www.sabahtourism.com/ 

Sarawak focuses on Gateway to Borneo

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KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2024: Sarawak gained the limelight during the 54th edition of the  MATTA Fair held at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC), at the weekend by unveiling its innovative ‘Gateway to Borneo’ campaign. 

This initiative marks a significant brand rejuvenation as it positions Sarawak strategically as the leading gateway to Borneo, bridging Kalimantan, Sabah, and Brunei. 

With the launch of this campaign, Sarawak seeks to enhance its appeal as a top-tier tourism destination, inviting travellers to embark on a voyage of exploration and inspiration.

The Sarawak Tourism Board has set ambitious targets for 2024, aiming to welcome 2.0 million domestic visitors, constituting 50% of the total projected visitor arrivals. At the fair, the focus was on providing comprehensive information on Sarawak’s diverse tourism offerings, promoting and facilitating the sale of Sarawak travel packages from esteemed industry partners and strengthening networks between West Malaysian tour operators and Sarawak tourism for future collaborations.

Sarawak Tourism created an immersive experience for attendees at the MATTA Fair KL 2024, offering a glimpse into the region’s captivating allure through the ‘Gateway to Borneo’ campaign. 

Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Sarawak, shared: “Our pavilion signifies more than just a physical presence; it symbolises Sarawak’s unwavering commitment to showcasing an  immersive experience of the richness of our culture, the diversity of our landscapes, and the warmth of our hospitality.”

The launch at the fair was an introduction to Sarawak Tourism’s new direction with “Gateway to Borneo” and the refreshed “Sarawak More to Discover” logo, following the initial launch at ITB Berlin. This event was a pivotal continuation of the board’s efforts to amplify and give prominence to its communications and advertising strategies. The physical presence at MATTA Fair KL aimed to engage domestic audiences in the ongoing narrative of ‘entering’ Sarawak as the “Gateway to Borneo”.

Targeting 4 million visitors in 2024, the Deputy Minister added: “Our effort in 2023 helped to contribute a significant increase in arrivals from Malaysia and the neighbouring countries, totalling over 1,770,000 domestic visitors and over 1,800,000 from Indonesia and Brunei – marking a remarkable 43% increase domestically and a staggering 182% increase regionally compared to 2022. 

“We are optimistic that our continued efforts will propel Sarawak towards achieving our target of welcoming 4 million visitors worldwide in 2024.”

At the heart of the campaign lies the revitalised “Sarawak More to Discover” (SMTD) destination logo, an emblem that embodies the essence and excitement of Sarawak’s unique offerings.

Designed to encapsulate the region’s rich tapestry of Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food, and Festivals (CANFF), the STMD logo serves as a visual ode to Sarawak’s pristine rainforests, coastal waters and the kaleidoscope of ethnicities that call it home. Within its design, the majestic silhouette of the Rhinoceros hornbill stands tall, an iconic symbol synonymous with Sarawak’s cherished moniker, “Land of the Hornbills.”

For more information, visit www.sarawaktourism.com 

KAL confirms Airbus order

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SINGAPORE, 25 March 2024: Korean Air will sign a contract with Airbus to procure 33 A350 family aircraft, comprising 27 A350-1000s and six A350-900s, valued at USD13.7 billion.

The order will supplement the airline’s long-term fleet operations as it gradually retires its older aircraft. Procuring the next-generation, eco-friendly A350 is not only aligned with the airline’s sustainability efforts but also seen as preparation for the integration of Asiana Airlines.

The A350-1000 is the largest in the A350 family and can accommodate 350 to 410 passengers in a standard three-class configuration. The aircraft uses advanced composite materials, reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 25% compared to similarly sized previous-generation aircraft models.

With the longest flight range among existing passenger aircraft, the A350-1000 can operate up to 16,000km with full payload.

The A350-900 has a range of 15,370km and typically seats 300 to 350 passengers in a three-class layout. The airline can deploy the aircraft on its long-haul routes, such as Seoul Incheon-New York, where it currently operates two daily flights.

In addition to the agreement to purchase 33 A350s, Korean Air plans to introduce 50 Airbus A321neos, 10 Boeing 787-9s, 20 Boeing 787-10s, and 30 Boeing 737-8s. 

CX recovery robust in February

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HONG KONG, 25 March 2024: Strong travel demand continued in February, particularly during the Chinese New Year holiday, Cathay Pacific reports in its latest traffic figures.

On 18 February, Cathay Pacific achieved a significant milestone by carrying more than 70,000 passengers and operating 272 passenger flight sectors, the most on a single day since the start of the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific carried 1,801,174 passengers in February 2024, an increase of 61.6% compared with February 2023. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 50.3% year-on-year. Passenger load factor decreased by 3.8 percentage points to 82.4%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 57.3% year-on-year. In the first two months of 2024, the number of passengers carried increased by 63.9% against a 60.6% increase in ASKs and a 53.4% increase in RPKs compared with the same period in 2023.

Travel trends

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “Our passenger business performed well in February as customers travelled for Chinese New Year. Demand from Hong Kong, the rest of the Greater Bay Area and the Chinese Mainland surged over the holiday period, especially on short-haul routes. We also saw good traffic between the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. As a result, our Chinese Mainland routes achieved 85% load factors over Chinese New Year. Our Japan routes also saw a strong resurgence in bookings, especially from Hong Kong, after the subdued demand in January following the devastating earthquakes that impacted Japan.

“Following the introduction of visa-free travel between the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, travel sentiment has remained consistently positive on these routes. We also resumed our Chennai and Colombo services in February. For Chennai, traffic has been good to and from Hong Kong and onward destinations in the US. Colombo has seen good demand from customers from mainland China, Japan, and Australia.”

Outlook

“Looking ahead, we anticipate demand will progressively grow leading up to the Easter holidays, especially on long-haul routes. We are seeing strong demand for business travel into Hong Kong with various exhibitions in the city. The extension of the Individual Visit Scheme to include travellers from Xi’an and Qingdao will also boost sentiment for travel to Hong Kong, especially during the Labour Day holiday in May.

“Throughout our rebuild journey, we have put in great effort not only to resume destinations and increase frequencies but also to expand our network and bring more business opportunities and leisure travel destinations for the public of Hong Kong. In addition, we have been a staunch supporter of the Central Government’s Belt and Road Initiative, serving 21 destinations in 14 participating countries already. We are excited to announce that Cathay Pacific will launch passenger flights to Riyadh, the capital and financial hub of Saudi Arabia, in the fourth quarter of this year, and we will share more details in due course.”

MATTA chief identifies priorities

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KUALA LUMPUR, 25 March 2024: An uptick in domestic tourism in Malaysia is the dominant trend post-Covid as more Malaysians explore their backyard, MATTA president Nigel Wong noted during his presentation at the opening of the biannual MATTA Fair on Friday.

“The world has changed since we came out of the pandemic, and we must acknowledge that we must embrace this paradigm shift to ensure that our tourism sector is not only sustainable but also thrives.”

Photo caption from left:  Nigel Wong, president of MATTA; DYTM Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Tuanku Raja Muda Perlis; DYTM Tuanku Dr Hajah Lalilatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, Raja Puan Muda Perlis.

He pointed to the uptake in domestic tourism, saying: “Malaysians are viewing their own country through new lenses. This has resulted in a surge of creativity, especially amongst domestic and inbound tourism stakeholders, that will elevate tourism within territories and nationally.”

The state of Perlis was the signature destination of the 54 edition of the  MATTA Fair named “ Favorite Malaysian Destination”– a gem hidden in plain sight.

“The entire state, itself a UNESCO Geopark; famous for its harum manis mangoes, its unique and harmonious blend of Southern Thai and Malay cultures, its rolling fields and natural parks — evokes a sense of going back to a time when life was simpler and more idyllic,” Wong said his speech.

Noting that transportation is the key driver for tourism expansion, Wong said it was important to recognise that travel is a two-way street. 

  • “Both public and private sectors must stop being inwardly focused and push towards a more open environment where the inflow and outflow of tourists are encouraged and efficiently managed. At MATTA, we understand the value of this, and over the years, this has enabled us to grow bigger and stronger as an organisation and as an industry.”

MATTA Fair attracted the participation 11 foreign National Tourism Organisations comprising:

  • Taiwan
  • Australia
  • Maldives
  • Gyeongnam – Korea
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • India
  • Thailand
  • Gifu – Japan

MATTA Fair had eight state tourism partners: Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah, and Sarawak.

On the closing day of the Show (Sunday 24 March) MATTA officially launched its sustainability programme, Green Circle that teams up with various partners from every spectrum of the economy: Climate Governance Malaysia, MAG, RHB, MDEC, federal and state government agencies MAH and MACEOS. 

Wong noted that Green Circle aspires to “help our nation reach its sustainability goals by empowering our local tourism stakeholders with the right tools and resources, raising awareness amongst industry stakeholders and the public, contributing significantly to policy making and by contributing back to our industry through our various CSR programmes.”

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