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Raffles Cambodia promotes Path of History Tour

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SIEM REAP, 12 June 2026: Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor promotes a new ‘Path of History’ tour featuring rare photographs, video footage, architectural drawings, and other vintage artefacts that highlight a golden age of travel in Southeast Asia.

A new history book by authors Andreas and Carola Augustin complements the permanent exhibition at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor in Siem Reap. A Tale of Two Hotels – Raffles in Cambodia showcases the property alongside Raffles Hotel Le Royal, its sister property in Phnom Penh, while chronicling an era of globe-trotting explorers and thrilling discoveries.

Photo credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts.

The ‘Grand Path of History’ tour and book both trace the early boom years (1900-1940) of international travel, when passengers boarded steamships bound for the East and the first aircraft took to the skies. It is a story of true pioneers, like the Sarkies brothers in Singapore, whose Raffles brand has epitomised luxury travel for nearly 140 years.

The 160-page book, full of colourful photographs and available in hardcover and paperback, brings readers into Cambodia’s two grandest hotels, Hotel Le Royal and Grand Hotel d’Angkor, and recounts the country’s determined efforts to promote its rich cultural heritage abroad, from the Royal Ballet of Cambodia’s striking debut in Paris at the start of the 20th century to Hollywood actor Charlie Chaplin’s visits to Le Royal and Angkor Wat.

The ‘Grand Path of History’ tour is available to in-house guests only, with guided visits led by a Raffles historian. Andreas and Carola Augustin curated the exhibit.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal, which originally opened in 1929, today features 175 rooms and suites that underwent a full refurbishment as part of a meticulous one-year restoration project in 2019. The hotel’s elegant past has been reinterpreted in a bold, contemporary style that is inspired by French colonial, Khmer, and Art Deco influences.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor opened in 1932 as a rest stop for archaeologists and adventurers exploring the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat. The hotel features an authentic expression of 1930s French Art Deco style, with beautifully refined rooms, suites, and villas that blend old-world charm with Cambodian influences and contemporary details.

(Source: Raffles Hotels & Resorts)

Visit Maldives AGM reports record income

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SINGAPORE, 12 June 2026: Visit Maldives Corporation reports its strongest financial performance in eight years, highlighting a year marked by tourism growth, strengthened governance, and expanded international destination marketing activities, according to a statement released at the close of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 9 June 2026.

During the meeting, shareholders reviewed and approved the corporation’s annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, with VMC recording total self-generated income of MVR32.54 million in 2025, the highest annual income achieved by the corporation in the past eight years. 

Photo credit: Visit Maldives.

Income was generated through membership contributions, participation in international trade fairs and roadshows, publications, and other commercial activities, reflecting continued growth in stakeholder engagement and revenue diversification.

The AGM also highlighted a landmark year for Maldivian tourism. During 2025, the Maldives welcomed more than 2 million tourist arrivals, while tourism receipts exceeded USD5.57 billion, representing a 16.4% increase compared to the previous year.

The corporation contributed to these broader industry achievements through destination marketing campaigns, international trade engagement, strategic partnerships, media outreach, and digital promotion activities implemented across key global markets.

Speaking at the AGM, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, noted that the achievements of 2025 reflected the collective efforts of the tourism industry and the corporation’s continued focus on strengthening destination competitiveness.“

“The achievements of 2025 demonstrate the strength of the Maldives tourism industry and the value of collaboration between government institutions, industry stakeholders, and our international partners.

“While the corporation’s record financial performance reflects stronger stakeholder engagement and commercial growth, our broader success lies in supporting a tourism industry that continues to deliver economic value for the country while maintaining the Maldives’ position as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.”

In July 2025, the corporation officially rebranded from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation to Visit Maldives Corporation under a Presidential Decree.

On the international stage, the Maldives secured significant recognition during 2025, winning World’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards for the sixth consecutive year and World’s Leading Green Destination for the second consecutive year.

The AGM further highlighted the corporation’s extensive marketing activities during the year, including 46 destination campaigns, 27 collaborative initiatives, and participation in 16 international trade fairs, 14 familiarisation trips, 27 public relations activities, and strategic engagements across key source markets.

About Visit Maldives Corporation
Visit Maldives Corporation is the State-owned enterprise mandated to promote the Maldives as a tourist destination worldwide under the brand “Maldives” and slogan “Maldives… The Sunny Side of Life”. The corporation actively markets the Maldives in key global markets with an integrated 360-degree marketing approach and has gained immense recognition, accolades, and awards in the international tourism arena.

Etihad Airways doubles Kabul flights

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ABU DHABI, UAE, 12 June 2026: Etihad Airways will increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul to double daily, effective 15 July, due to a rapid growth in travel demand.

Kabul joined the Etihad network in March 2026, initially operating four times weekly. Demand has significantly exceeded expectations, with strong take-up from both point-to-point travellers and those using Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport as a hub to connect onwards to Europe and beyond.

Photo credit: Etihad. Twice daily to Kabul.

The route is flown by Airbus A320 aircraft configured with eight business and 150 economy seats. With double-daily flights now in place, travellers between Afghanistan and the UAE will have considerably more choice over departure times, whether travelling for family, business or leisure.

Afghanistan has longstanding ties with the UAE, which is home to one of the Gulf’s largest Afghan communities. For the hundreds of thousands of Afghans living and working across the country, as well as those with business and trade connections between the two nations, the expanded schedule offers a more flexible and better-connected service.

Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said: “The response to our Kabul launch has been exceptional. Demand has remained strong from day one, and moving to double-daily is a direct reflection of what our guests have been telling us with their bookings.

“This rapid expansion is another example of the strategic approach we take to network development, allowing us to respond quickly to the wishes of our guests, and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role as an important gateway connecting regional markets with our global network.”

(Source: Etihad)

Qatar Air reinstates Philadelphia flights

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DOHA, Qatar 12 June 2026: Qatar Airways has announced the resumption of daily flights between its Doha home base and Philadelphia (PHL), effective 1 August 2026. 

The reinstated service expands the airline’s North American network to 14 destinations, further strengthening its connectivity for travellers across the region.

Photo credit: Oatar Airways. Back to Philadelphia.

Qatar Airways will resume direct flights to the largest city in Pennsylvania, operating Airbus A350-900 aircraft equipped with the airline’s award-winning Qsuite business class and Starlink.

The resumption of flights reflects the airline’s commitment to the US market while providing seamless connections to destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East via Hamad International Airport. In the US, the resumed US flights will provide onward connectivity through Qatar Airways’ oneworld partner, American Airlines.

Since launching its inaugural US service to New York in 2007, Qatar Airways has steadily expanded its presence across North America, offering passengers increased flexibility, premium travel experiences, and seamless connectivity to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways flights to Philadelphia (PHL)
Departing daily from 1 August 2026:

Qatar Airways will operate flights to the following North American destinations this summer: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Montreal (YUL), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Toronto (YYZ), and Washington D.C. (IAD).

(Source: Qatar Airways)

Start-up Riyadh Air rolls out Dreamliners

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SINGAPORE, 11 June 2026: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has unveiled five destinations – Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester – as it inaugurates flights from its home base in Riyadh.

The brand-new airline flying the Saudi Arabian flag took delivery of its first three Boeing 787-9 aircraft ahead of its “official launch” of international services on 10 June to London Heathrow.

Photo credit: Riyadh Air.

The airline previously operated ad hoc flights to London using a leased 747-900, with ticket sales limited to the airline’s staff and their families.

Flights to each destination are scheduled to begin on the following dates:

Each of these five routes will be served by Riyadh Air’s 787-9 Dreamliners.

In addition to these scheduled route launches, Riyadh Air confirmed that its inaugural flight to London, using the brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, took off from Riyadh on 10 June. 

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas stated: “This is a major step in our journey to connect Riyadh to the world. But this is just the beginning of our rapid expansion in the coming weeks to many more exciting destinations.”

Douglas added: “These routes have been carefully selected to serve key markets for business, tourism, and trade, and are designed to facilitate seamless transit for travellers from Europe to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and beyond, aligning with our ambition to become a global airline and a significant contributor to Vision 2030.”

Riyadh Air’s new 787-9 Dreamliners offer a four-class configuration – Business Elite, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

(Source: Riyadh Air)

SQ extends Barcelona service to Madrid

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE, 12 June 2026: Singapore Airlines will launch a new five-times-weekly service from its home base at Changi Airport to Madrid, with a stop in Barcelona, effective 26 October 2026.

SIA will deploy its Airbus A350-900 long-haul aircraft on the Singapore-Barcelona-Madrid route, configured with 253 seats: 42 in business class, 24 in premium economy, and 187 in economy.

Photo credit: SIA. SQ flies beyond Barcelona to Madrid.

It is part of a wider expansion that will progressively increase the frequencies on flights between Singapore and Manchester, Milan, Munich, and London Gatwick in the coming months and enhance connectivity options at its Singapore hub.

The five-times-weekly services to Madrid via Barcelona, subject to regulatory approvals, will replace SIA’s current twice-weekly Singapore-Barcelona services, SQ388 and SQ387, on the route, making Madrid SIA’s 15th destination in Europe and its second in Spain. 

Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Dai Haoyu, said: “Madrid is an increasingly popular tourist destination, as well as a financial and business hub. These new services will give our customers more choice and greater value when planning their travel.”

The inaugural flight to Madrid, SQ388, is scheduled to depart Singapore at 2330 on 26 October 2026 and arrive in Barcelona at 0640 on 27 October 2026. The flight will depart Barcelona at 0740 and arrive in Madrid at 0850 the same day. 

The return flight, SQ387, is scheduled to depart Madrid at 1000  on 27 October 2026, arrive in Barcelona at 1115, depart Barcelona at 1235 the same day, and arrive in Singapore at 0825 the next day. (All times are local).

Spain’s capital is known for its lively culture, world-class museums, and landmarks like the Royal Palace of Madrid. It is also a business and financial hub for the region and for South America.

Tickets for the new Madrid service have been available since 1 June 2026 via SIA’s distribution channels.

(Source: SIA)

Dusit International heightens India expansion

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Your Stories
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NEW DELHI, 11 June 2026: Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a hotel management agreement with Atmosphere, a luxury real estate and hospitality development company focused on creating premium lifestyle destinations, to introduce Dusit’s upper-midscale Dusit Princess brand in the Tehri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Spirituality, wellness and adventure tourism, the project is envisioned as an upscale mixed-use development that combines contemporary hospitality with immersive, wellness-led experiences inspired by the surrounding natural landscape.

Thoughtfully planned to harmonise with its natural surroundings, Dusit Princess Rishikesh will comprise 300 keys, including hotel rooms and luxury duplex villas, catering to both leisure and business travellers. The property will offer a comprehensive range of facilities, including a lobby lounge, business centre, all-day dining restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, fully equipped gym, yoga room, and versatile multipurpose spaces.

Further enhancing the lifestyle offering, Dusit Princess Rishikesh will also feature a clubhouse with curated wellness and recreational amenities, including a spa, infinity pool, a restaurant with approximately 250 covers, a squash court, a mini-plex, a bowling alley, indoor games, and other leisure experiences.

The signing builds on the momentum generated by the opening of dusitD2 Fagu, Shimla, in December 2024 and further strengthens Dusit’s development pipeline across India.

“India continues to be a strategic growth market for our company, with strong long-term potential across both gateway cities and emerging leisure destinations,” said Dusit International Vice President – Development (Global) Siradej Donavanik. “The signing of Dusit Princess Rishikesh reflects our commitment to growing thoughtfully in India through destinations that align with evolving traveller trends and owner aspirations. Rishikesh, with its unique blend of spirituality, wellness, and natural beauty, is an excellent example of the kind of destination where we believe our brands can create meaningful and memorable experiences for our guests. As we continue to expand our brand presence in the country, we will maintain our focus on destinations that are well-positioned to benefit from growing demand for leisure, wellness, and experience-led travel, supported by strong market fundamentals and sustainable growth potential.”

Atmosphere Chairman and Managing Director Sanchit Jain added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Dusit International for this landmark hospitality development in Rishikesh. The vision for Atmosphere has always been to create destination-led experiences that combine luxury, wellness and nature in a meaningful way. With Dusit’s globally recognised hospitality expertise and strong wellness-driven approach, we are confident that Dusit Princess Rishikesh will emerge as a distinguished retreat for travellers seeking immersive and elevated stay experiences in Uttarakhand.” 

About Dusit International
Established in 1949, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: Dusit Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Hospitality Education, Dusit Foods, Real Estate Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. 

Dusit International’s diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion and diversification.

For more information, visit dusit-international.com.

(Source: Your Stories — Dusit Hotels & Resorts)

May events lifted Adelaide room rates

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Newsdesk
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SINGAPORE 11 June 2026: Key events helped Adelaide post improved average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR), according to May preliminary data from CoStar, a global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets.

Photo credit: CoStar.

May 2026 (year-over-year % change): 

Occupancy: 72.7% (-0.9%)

ADR: AUD198.79 (+6.6%)

RevPAR: AUD144.43 (+5.7%)

Adelaide’s performance peaked across the key performance metrics during the Australian Tourism Exchange (Wednesday, 13 May): occupancy (88.3%), ADR (AUD243.62) and RevPAR (AUD215.09). Levels were further helped by the PRECI conference taking place across the same dates.

The night before produced the month’s second-highest levels: occupancy (87.4%), ADR (AUD239.85) and RevPAR (AUD209.60). 

These were the only two nights with RevPAR above AUD200.

“Demand grew year over year, but occupancy came in lower as the market absorbed an additional 1.6% of supply,” said STR Regional Director Mathew Burke. “The market is expected to see future occupancy declines as a wave of new supply opens across the city. It will take time for demand to catch up.”

For more information, visit  CoStarGroup.com.

(Source: CoStar)

ATIA welcomes WSI domestic flights

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Newsdesk
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SYDNEY, 11 June 2026: The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has welcomed Monday’s announcement that Jetstar and Qantas tickets are now on sale for domestic services from Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI), describing the development as a significant and long-awaited step forward for Australian travellers.

The launch follows the confirmation of services linking WSI to Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, connecting some of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations to a brand-new 24-hour international airport.

 Photo credit: ABC News — supplied by Western Sydney Airport Co Ltd.

While the initial flight schedule is modest, ATIA says the significance of what WSI represents to the broader travel network is substantial.

From 25 October 2026, Jetstar will operate up to 14 flights a week between WSI and Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast, and three weekly flights to Brisbane. From 28 March 2027, Qantas will add four weekly services to both Brisbane and Melbourne, operated by QantasLink Embraer E190 aircraft.

For travel agents and tour operators across the country, the arrival of a new gateway into Greater Sydney opens genuine new options for building domestic itineraries and packages, particularly for the fast-growing Western Sydney catchment area. More flights mean more options for travellers, and more opportunities for travel businesses to serve a broader range of customers.

WSI will also become a significant freight hub, with the airport’s integrated 24-hour Cargo Precinct opening on 26 July 2026 and Qantas Freight among the first operators to fly from the facility.

ATIA CEO Dean Long commented: “This is exciting news for Australian travellers and for the travel industry. Yes, it is a small number of flights to start with, but they connect to some genuine holiday hot spots and mark the beginning of what WSI will grow into.

“More flights always mean more options for travellers, and more options mean more business for the travel agents and tour operators who are there to help Australians plan their trips.

“Western Sydney International is a transformative addition to Australia’s travel landscape. It gives millions of people in western Sydney direct access to the network for the first time, and it gives the whole country a new gateway. We look forward to watching this airport grow and to the increased connectivity it will bring for Australian travellers.”

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is located 41 km west of Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) and 44 km from downtown Sydney.  

Designated a 24-hour airport, in contrast to Kingsford Smith, which has a nighttime curfew for landings and take-offs, WSI will open for commercial passenger flights on 25 October, with a single 3.7 km-long runway and a terminal building capable of handling 10 million passengers annually. That compares with 41 million passengers that move through Kingsford Smith (SYD).

Singapore Airlines will serve WSI from its Singapore home base starting daily flights effective 23 November 2026.

(Source: ATIA)

TTM kicks off with record turnout

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Newsdesk
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PATTAYA, 11 June 2026: Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2026 officially kicked off on Wednesday, 10 June and runs through 12 June at the NICE Pattaya Convention and Exhibition Centre in Chon Buri, Thailand.

On the eve of the opening celebrations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released fresh updates regarding the event’s scale, strategic theme, and core showcases for this year.

Photo credit: TAT

Promotion of major events

A notable takeaway from the show’s opening celebration is Thailand’s vision to become a regional event hub. The Thailand Pavilion is actively showcasing upcoming events slated for the country, specifically highlighting Tomorrowland Thailand to target high-yield travellers. 

One of many events scheduled in and around Pattaya is the Sattahip Amazing Race Festival, and Toyota Sattahip Triathlon 2026, presented by MAMA, from 13–14 June 2026 at Ao Dong Tan, Sattahip, Chon Buri.

The event features a full race programme comprising:

• New Standard S2 triathlon — 750-metre swim, 20 km cycle, and 5 km run, completed over two rounds;

• Sprint triathlon: 750-metre swim, 20 km cycle, and 5 km run;

• Sprint duathlon: 5-kilometre run, 20 km cycle, and 2.5 km run;

• Breakfast Run road races: 10 and 5 km;

• Open Water Swim races: 10, 5, 3, and 1 km.

The event should welcome at least 8,500 participants and generate at least THB120 million in direct and indirect economic activity.

TTM numbers and market signals

Record turnout: The event is hosting 429 global buyers (increases 5.7% over 2025), 428 Thai sellers, and more than 60 international media representatives. Information on the breakdown of sellers and the number representing Hidden Gem destinations is missing this year. TTRW has requested more information on the breakdown.

Shift in market interest: Buyers from the Americas (15%) have seen a significant spike, signalling strong renewed long-haul confidence in Thailand. The remaining buyer share is led by ASEAN (33%), East Asia (28%), and Europe (24%).  

Business velocity: TAT projects the event will facilitate over 15,400 pre-scheduled business-matching appointments over the next three days.  

Core Theme: “Healing is the New Luxury” This year’s edition focuses heavily on wellness tourism, physical and mental restoration, and sustainable travel.  

Sustainability focus: The mart is being run under a strict Sustainable Event framework, featuring carbon footprint monitoring and a “Zero Waste to Landfills” policy. Participants include TAT STAR-certified operators (aligned with Sustainable Tourism Goals) and CF Hotels members.  

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