GURUGRAM India, 19 December 2023: Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, inaugurated four direct weekly flights between Mumbai and Doha on 15 December.
The inaugural flight, using an A321neo aircraft, departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 1845 on 15 December 2023 and arrived at Hamad International Airport, Doha, at 2030.
With a consistent surge in demand for travel between India and the Middle East, Vistara is focussing on expanding its presence in the region. The airline already offers direct flights to five destinations in the Middle East, namely Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai, Jeddah and Muscat.
Vistara chief executive officer Vinod Kannan said: “Based on the response to Vistara’s Middle Eastern routes, we are confident that the launch of operations to Doha will further strengthen our footprint in the region. Doha – an essential commercial hub and home to a large Indian diaspora – is Vistara’s 50th destination and the sixth in the Middle East. We are excited to bring the Best Airline in India and Southern Asia to Doha with direct connectivity from Mumbai.”
About Vistara TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known by the brand name Vistara, is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA).
SINGAPORE, 19 December 2023: IndiGo will expand connectivity between India and Thailand with a 25% increase in weekly flights, including the resumption of flights between Bengaluru and Phuket.
The expansion starts with IndiGo introducing additional flights on the Mumbai-Phuket route, effective 5 January 2024, and reintroducing Bengaluru-Phuket flights on 28 February 2024.
Photo credit: IndiGo. Travel demand for Thailand picks up.
In a press statement, the airline noted that the new direct flights will improve travel options for both leisure and business travellers. Six flights weekly will operate on both routes from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Phuket.
The move was timed to meet increased travel demands from customers booking year-end holidays and the recent introduction of visa-free entry to Thailand.
IndiGo will now operate 56 weekly flights from five airports in India to Thailand, including the new additions. Travellers can also connect with IndiGo’s 117-strong destination network across India and the world.
IndiGo head of global sales Vinay Malhotra said: “We are thrilled to announce the addition of new flights connecting India to Thailand, reinforcing our commitment to increasing global connectivity from India. Thailand has always been amongst the sought-after destinations known for its tropical beaches, shopping entertainment, and ornate temples. With the addition of these flights, IndiGo will connect India to Thailand 56 times a week, taking our weekly flights between Mumbai and Phuket to 13 and Bengaluru and Phuket to six.”
KUCHING, 18 December 2023: Visitors to Sarawak can enjoy a free city walking tour with guides who know the city like the back of their hand.
Kuching’s free walking tour is a fascinating way to explore the city centre and waterfront of this compact riverside city packed with heritage and cultural attractions hidden away in quaint lanes right in the heart of the city.
Free guided walkabout in Kuching’s heritage district
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) highlights the walking tour on its Facebook page, ‘Sarawak Travel, Malaysia, Borneo, ‘ inviting visitors to dive into Kuching’s rich history and vibrant culture by joining the city’s Kuching Free Walking Tour.
Paradesa Borneo organises the tour, which is led by expert guides and for 90 minutes explores the nooks and crannies of the heritage heart of Kuching. It starts with the city’s famous waterfront and then embarks on a jaunt around the historical quarters of old bazaars.
Walking rather than sitting in a taxi or tour bus allows you to gain a new perspective and insights that reveal local secrets as you mingle with residents in cool neighbourhood spots.
The free tour departs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1600. The meeting point is the office of Paradesa Borneo.
Group size is limited to 12 persons. It requires a level of fitness to walk unaided on a tour that takes 90 minutes.
You will need to book your spot 24 hours in advance. Register here: https://rb.gy/fsd2wt
The free walking tour is available for three months: December 2023 to 28 February 2024.
Tour Highlights 1. Explore the city’s waterfront 2. Visit Kuching’s old bazaars 3. Local tips 4. Socialise at a funky spot 5. Chat with local experts 6. Travel planning assistance
SINGAPORE, 18 December 2023: Jetstar Airways (JQ) is set to boost international capacity to Australia from Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket in 2024 – launching new flights to Perth and additional flights to Melbourne.
On sale since last week, the fares airline confirmed the new direct flights to Perth were part of a major expansion of their Western Australian operations.
From August 2024*, Jetstar will start flying up to six times a week between Singapore and Perth and operate up to four weekly return flights from Phuket to Perth. From September 2024*, Jetstar will also begin flying up to four days per week between Bangkok and Perth.
The flights will be operated using Jetstar’s fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo LRs (NEO), with up to four of the new aircraft to be based at Perth Airport, creating more than 330,000 new low-fare seats between Perth and Southeast Asia annually.
In addition, Jetstar will increase direct flights to Melbourne from Singapore, Bangkok, and Phuket from 17 June 2024 during peak times.
Operated by its fleet of Boeing 787-8 aircraft, the airline will fly: • Singapore to Melbourne: up to daily return flights (currently up to 6 per week); • Bangkok to Melbourne: up to five return flights per week (currently up to 3 per week); • Phuket to Melbourne: up to five return flights per week (currently up to 3 per week).
To celebrate the announcement of the new routes, Jetstar will launch a “Hello Perth” sale from Tuesday, 19 December, with one-way fares from: • SGD 116^ Singapore to Perth; • THB 3935^ Bangkok to Perth; • THB 4143^ Phuket to Perth.
*Subject to government and regulatory approval
^Sale fares are available on jetstar.com from 1000 (SGT) on Tuesday, 19 December 2023, until 2359 (SGT) on Friday, 22 December, unless sold out prior. Travel dates vary per route. T&Cs apply.
SINGAPORE, 18 December 2023: Australia’s national carrier Qantas has taken delivery of its first new generation A220, becoming the 20th operator of the latest aircraft type.
The aircraft is the first 29 A220s ordered by the Qantas Group for operation by QantasLink, their regional airline that services metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.
The A220 will gradually replace the existing 717 fleet at QantasLink. Flying twice as far, the A220 can connect any two points across Australia nonstop while bringing a significant 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.
With a total of 137 seats, Qantas’ A220s will be configured in a two-class layout, seating 10 passengers in business and 127 in economy.
Powered by the latest Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, it can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles or 6,390 kilometres nonstop.
As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 can operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030.
Airbus has received close to 850 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which over 300 have been delivered worldwide.
BUSAN Korea, 18 December 2023: In 2023, the MICE city of Busan was able to attract and host various global MICE events, allowing it to grow into a world-renowned MICE destination.
For example, the city secured the opportunity to host the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) Annual Conference 2025 and World Statistics Congress (WSC) 2027, and successfully hosted the 20th International Microscopy Congress (IMC20), in addition to a number of other major MICE events. However, Busan’s efforts to achieve sustainable growth as a MICE city extended beyond just attracting and hosting events.
Choose Busan for MICE Event Success
The BTO CVB spent 2023 attracting new MICE events and preparing to host MICE events scheduled to be held in Busan. The 2023 Human Proteome Organization World Congress (HUPO 2023) and 2023 World Congress on Biosensors, attended by biotechnology professionals from around the world, were held successfully in Busan, cementing the city’s reputation as a top host city for global science and technology events. Busan also hosted the 11th Annual Meeting of the Asian Organization for Crohn’s and Colitis, held in conjunction with the 6th International Meeting on Intestinal Diseases and the Annual Congress of the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Disease, the foremost academic exchange on inflammatory bowel disease, attended by over 900 experts from 20 countries, and the 2023 Congress of the International Council on Combustion Engines, attended by over 800 experts from 38 countries. These events made clear the vast potential of Busan as a MICE city that can host a wide range of events in various industries.
Source: Busan Tourism Organization
The BTO CVB actively promoted Busan as a host city at major MICE events held around the world, which is one way it attracts MICE events to the city. As a result, in 2024, the 5th Session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution is scheduled to take place in Busan. The event is expected to provide momentum for Busan’s projects in the marine environment sector, including the formation of clusters for resource circulation. The International Geographical Congress 2024, the foremost international conference in the field of geology, will also be held in Busan next year. The event will undoubtedly help the city’s efforts in having Busan National Geopark registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. The 2024 World Volunteer Conference is another international event coming to Busan. It will be an opportunity for Busan to lead a positive change in the global paradigm of goodwill and volunteer work.
With these major global MICE events on tap in Busan for 2024, the BTO CVS is making the necessary preparations. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BTO CVB has made aggressive efforts to attract even more international conferences to Busan. These efforts were able to secure a number of major events, including the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) Annual Conference 2025, 2027 Korea-Japan Conference on Ferroelectrics, and World Statistics Congress (WSC) 2027.
Play, Work, Live Busan!
Source: Busan Tourism Organization
In addition to its work at attracting and hosting events, the BTO CVB has also made many other efforts to the lay the foundation for Busan’s continued growth as a MICE city. In 2023, the BTO CVB adopted the motto “Play, Work, Live Busan” to impress upon MICE organizers and visitors the indelible image of Busan as a well-rounded, global MICE brand that is ideal for work, vacation, and living. Under the “Play, Work, Live Busan” slogan, promoters emphasized the city’s mountains, sea, and urban area and the ability to get to anywhere within the city in 30 minutes, along with the area’s appeal as a workation destination.
Source: Busan Tourism Organization
In 2023, the BTO CVB participated in large international MICE events, such as ITB-Asia 2023 and IBTM World 2023, to promote Busan as an attractive host city for MICE events, keep up to date with the latest MICE industry trends, and make qualitative improvements to Busan’s MICE industry.
The BTO CVB also worked to bring more incentive tourism to Busan. A fam tour for American incentive travel agencies, the fam tour program “Meet in Busan,” and a host of other fam tours were held this year and attended by MICE professionals from multiple countries. While on their tours, visitors could directly see and experience Busan’s advanced MICE infrastructure and a wide range of tourism and entertainment offerings as a maritime tourism city.
The BTO CVB also made great strides in ESG management as part of its efforts for the sustainable growth of Busan’s MICE industry. The BTO CVB diligently supported training programs to raise ESG awareness and conducted ESG networking to create solidarity within Busan’s MICE industry to further ESG activities, which are increasingly being prioritized worldwide.
Over the last 10 years, Busan’s MICE industry has experienced explosive growth highlighted by hosting 100,000 events while drawing over 55 million visitors. Many spots in Busan make it an ideal city for tourism and MICE events, including BEXCO, BPEX, the area’s hotels that also double as great MICE venues, and the officially designated 23 Busan Unique Venues. The city also boasts an ideal workation environment. Leveraging its distinctive advantages and successful hosting experiences in global MICE events, Busan is poised for further growth in 2024.
BHUTAN, 18 December 2023: In a groundbreaking initiative, Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel in Paro, Bhutan, hosted the first-ever Trashion Show recently, transforming trash into wearable art, emphasising sustainable practices and utilising renewable Bhutanese resources.
Divided into 10 groups, participants created designs that promoted eco-friendly fashion and fostered teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Zhiwa Ling managing director Brent Hyde expressed his pride in the team’s efforts, highlighting how the event evolved from a simple project into a powerful symbol of sustainability. Ten teams took place, with participants embarking on a unique journey, creating designs that promoted eco-friendly fashion.
Ten teams took place with participants embarking on a unique journey, creating designs that promoted eco-friendly fashion.
“The Trashion Show became a vehicle to unite people and develop cooperation, communication, and collaboration skills uniquely,” said Hyde. “Team members collaborated beyond their usual roles, fostering a greater understanding of each other’s skills and ideas. Leaders emerged from unexpected quarters, gaining valuable experience in guiding teams and enhancing communication skills,” he said.
Zhiwa Ling Hotel’s commitment to showcasing creativity and passion was evident as each team presented a short documentary capturing their journey from project inception to completion. This event promotes sustainable fashion and aligns with Bhutan’s leadership in ecotourism and sustainability, emphasising happiness and the protection of the country from the damage of over-tourism.
In a world where environmental consciousness is paramount, Zhiwa Ling’s Trashion Show inspires a new younger generation, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.
About the Zhiwa Ling Hotel Located in Paro, Bhutan, the Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel is surrounded by breathtaking views of the Paro Valley and the majestic Himalayan peaks.
SINGAPORE, 18 December 2023: Lufthansa Group Airlines plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv starting 8 January 8, 2024, with 20 flights weekly.
Meanwhile, flights to Beirut (Lebanon) resumed on 15 December. Both the Tel Aviv and Beirut flights by the group airlines will use A320s.
Lufthansa Group Fahnen LAC
In the first phase, Lufthansa Airlines will initially offer four weekly flights from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv and three weekly flights from Munich.
Austrian Airlines is planning eight weekly connections and SWISS five weekly flights. This will give the Lufthansa Group airlines 20 weekly connections to and from Tel Aviv, corresponding to around 30% of the regular flight schedule.
This flight schedule offers convenient transfer connections from Israel to North America via the Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Zurich hubs. The schedule will be published on Monday, 18 December, when bookings will open for all flights.
Lufthansa Group Airlines suspended its scheduled flights to and from Tel Aviv on 9 October 2023. The flights to Beirut (Lebanon), which have also been suspended, were resumed last week by Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings.
PHUKET, 18 December 2023: Global economic recovery have prompted soaring inbound migration to Phuket, creating one of Asia’s most dynamic and diverse international communities, according to C9 Hotelworks’ latest comprehensive investment report on the Phuket economy.
“With a fast-moving tourism and property market, we are now witnessing a rapid diversification of the economy into areas such as international education, health and wellness, retail, and marine industries,” said C9 Hotelworks’ managing director Bill Barnett.
The report covers key island economic data, including tourism, hotels, real estate, key demand generators, and infrastructure. It features key metrics and looks at the potential shift in Phuket’s development.
Phuket has experienced a remarkably sustained tourism growth trajectory over the past 40 years. Since the emergence of Asia’s tiger economies in the 1980s, its strategic geographic location and the rise of Thailand as one of the world’s major tourism destinations have created a strong service sector.
The island’s tourism journey has continued, starting with budget travellers and European snowbirds escaping the winter and onwards to market maturity. Throughout this time, Phuket witnessed the birth of iconic tropical pool resorts and was the starting point for two global luxury brands: Aman Resorts and Banyan Tree.
Within close proximity to two of Asia’s leading financial markets, Hong Kong and Singapore, Phuket’s hotel, tourism, and real estate sectors have accumulated considerable direct foreign investment over the years. Its strong and successful track record has continued to attract Thai institutional capital and overseas private equity, family offices, and publicly listed investors.
Moving through the global pandemic, the Phuket Sandbox was the starting point for Thailand’s international reopening, and Phuket was the first Southeast Asian resort market to welcome global visitors. Covid-19 also led to a boom in the island’s luxury real estate sector, as domestic and foreign high-net-worth buyers opted for a new lifestyle. “We conclude that the island is entering a noteworthy new era of development that will create a platform for one of the region’s most desirable international destinations,” said Barnett.
To download and read The Phuket Report – Economy In Transition CLICK
SINGAPORE, 18 December 2023. Hahn Air reports it is back on a successful business track as a leading provider of ticketing services for travel agents, having integrated 23 new airlines into its partner network.
The global system is headquartered in Germany, services the ticketing requirements of 350 carriers, and supplies more than 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets that can process bookings for flights of Hahn Air’s partners through their Global Distribution Systems (GDS).
“We are very pleased with this year’s business results”, reports Hahn Air CEO Kirsten Rehmann: “It is fantastic to see the travel industry finally recovering, with ticket sales reaching almost 2019 levels. Now, we are looking forward to next year, which will mark the 25th anniversary of our ticketing business.”
Eleven airlines entered an interline agreement with Hahn Air, while twelve partners expanded their distribution reach with one of Hahn Air’s sister companies, Hahn Air Systems and Hahn Air Technologies.
Travel agents can book and ticket all partners by choosing Hahn Air as the validating carrier. For the interline partners, this includes markets where the airlines are not participating in local settlement systems (BSPs or ARC), do not grant ticketing authority, or do not accept the preferred payment method.
The new Hahn Air partners 2023 are: (Available under their own two-letter-code)
Air Connect (KS), Romania (GDS: Amadeus, Sabre)
Air Tanzania (TC), Tanzania (GDS: Abacus, Amadeus, Galileo, Infini, Sabre, Travelsky)
Air Transat (TS), Canada (GDS: Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan, Travelport)
Air Premia (YP), South Korea (GDS: Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Abacus)
About Hahn Air Hahn Air is a German scheduled and executive charter airline. Since 1999, it has offered indirect distribution services to other airlines and thus provides ticketing solutions to 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets. With more than 20 years of experience, the company has established itself as the market leader. Today, Hahn Air’s partner network encompasses more than 350 partner airlines. Hahn Air offers its distribution services exclusively to transportation companies and ticketing solutions to travel agents only. Hahn Air is 100% owned by the Hahn Air Group, an international corporation based in Dreieich near Frankfurt, Germany.
