SINGAPORE, 14 May 2026: Crystal confirmed Tuesday that its cruise ship Crystal Serenity will enter a three-week drydock in October 2026 for a scheduled refurbishment of select areas of the ship.
The project focuses on refining the onboard experience through updates to the Aquamarine Classic Suite category and several key public spaces.
Photo credit: Crystal. Crystal Serenity.
The drydock will see a complete refit of the Aquamarine Classic Suites’ living area and bathrooms on Deck 10. While preserving their existing layout and spacious bathrooms featuring separate bathtub and shower configurations, these suites will be outfitted with new furnishings, aligning with the design style introduced during the ship’s 2023 transformation.
In addition to the suite enhancements, several public spaces will be updated, with improvements designed to elevate the onboard experience.
New Pool Bar: Located on Deck 12 mid-ship, the heart of the ship’s outdoor space, the addition allows for greater ease and efficiency of service, ensuring guests can enjoy refreshment without leaving the Seahorse Pool area.
Atrium and Crystal Cove: The ship’s central gathering space will be transformed to provide a modern layout with additional seating. Key updates include a new marble dance floor, a new stage for live entertainment and a De Castelli mosaic, echoing the design installed aboard Crystal Symphony during her 2025 drydock. The reception area will have an elevated space with a new desk, a marble top, and a backlit panel.
“These enhancements underscore our commitment to creating meaningful, memorable experiences for our guests at every touchpoint, while ensuring that Crystal Serenity continues to feel as welcoming and enriching as the journeys themselves,” said Crystal Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Bernie Leypold.
In parallel to the enhancements across guest-facing spaces, Crystal Serenity will undergo a series of technical upgrades designed to optimise performance, efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Work along the propulsion line will support the vessel’s operational reliability, while the fin stabilisers will undergo a mechanical overhaul to ensure continued comfort at sea. The ship will also undergo extensive hull cleaning and repainting, along with a range of electrical and automation upgrades to modernise onboard systems. New sound and entertainment systems will be installed in the ship’s main public areas, further elevating the onboard experience.
Crystal Serenity is expected to resume its sailings on 8 November, beginning with a 15-day transatlantic voyage from Lisbon to Fort Lauderdale, where she will begin her Caribbean season.
BANGKOK, 14 May 2026: Bolt has reaffirmed its commitment to operating under fair and equal regulatory standards to help drive the sustainable growth of Thailand’s ride-hailing industry, it said in a press statement last week.
Bolt, a leading global ride-hailing platform, recently met with relevant regulatory authorities in Thailand to provide updates on its ongoing efforts to enhance industry standards for app-based ride-hailing services.
Photo credit: Bolt Thailand.
The discussions focused on fostering a fair and competitive ecosystem while continually strengthening public safety standards.
Following discussions with government stakeholders, Bolt took on board valuable recommendations to improve its services. The company also confirmed that it continues to operate and serve passengers as usual while the electronic platform certification process is under review, ensuring that people across Thailand can continue to access safe and convenient transportation services.
As part of these efforts, Bolt shared updates on several proactive safety measures.
Enhanced driver selfie verification: Bolt has enhanced its driver selfie checks using facial recognition technology to reduce instances of driver impersonation, including a shorter time window, meaning drivers will be verified more often.
Zero-tolerance enforcement: Bolt has further tightened its policy against account sharing and impersonation, with drivers who violate it being terminated from the platform.
Supporting Driver Compliance: Bolt continues to support drivers in obtaining public driving licences and public vehicle registrations (RY.17 and RY.18) to help ensure compliance with Thai regulatory requirements.
Passenger Support and Assistance: Following the unfortunate incident involving a passenger in late April, Bolt acted immediately to provide support and assistance to the affected individual, including coverage for medical treatment and mental health support, in line with the company’s responsibility and care for those impacted.
Bolt Thailand General Manager Nathadon Suksiritarnan said: “Safety remains our highest priority, alongside supporting a fair and competitive ecosystem across the industry. We remain committed to serving passengers in Thailand while continuously improving a transparent and reliable platform. Bolt will continue investing in initiatives that help reduce barriers for drivers entering the platform and contribute to improving mobility standards for people across Thailand under internationally aligned regulatory practices.”
DOHA, Qatar, 14 May 2025: Qatar Airways is expanding its services across international markets and resuming flights to Helsinki, Finland, and Tokyo Haneda, Japan, from 15 July.
Photo credit: Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways flights to Helsinki (HEL)
As part of its commitment to further connectivity to Europe, Qatar Airways will operate four weekly flights to Helsinki from 15 July and increase its frequency to daily from 1 August. Travellers from Australia, Kenya, and Southeast Asia will benefit from the airline’s extensive global network.
Flights will depart every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Doha (DOH) to Helsinki (HEL) – Flight QR301: Departure 0840; arrival 1530. Helsinki (HEL) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR302: Departure 1705; arrival 0005.
From 1 August, additional flights will depart every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Doha (DOH) to Helsinki (HEL) – Flight QR303: Departure 0130; arrival 0820. Helsinki (HEL) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR304: Departure 09:50; arrival 16:50.
Qatar Airways flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND)
Qatar Airways is complementing its service to Tokyo Narita (NRT), returning to Tokyo Haneda (HND) with four weekly flights from 15 July. Facilitating onward transfers in Japan for travellers from Europe and the Middle East, the airline will increase its operations to daily flights from 1 August.
From 15 July, the schedule below will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and will increase to daily operations from 1 August.
Doha (DOH) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Flight QR812: Departure 0750; arrival 0005. Tokyo Haneda (HND) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR813: Departure 01:35; arrival 0645.
Qatar Airways is improving global connectivity by rebuilding its network to cover over 160 destinations across six continents this summer.
SINGAPORE, 14 May 2026: ITA Airways welcomes Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s decision to acquire an additional 49% stake in the company, for a value of EUR325 million, thereby increasing its shareholding to 90% of ITA Airways.
The Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance will retain the remaining 10% of the share capital.
Photo credit: ITA Airways.
Completion of the transaction is expected in the first quarter of 2027, subject to approval by the relevant authorities, including the European Commission and the US Department of Justice.
The company is now preparing to enter a new phase of growth within the Lufthansa Group, thereby improving its exposure to the European and international air transport markets.
ITA Airways will continue to operate under its own brand, which will be maintained and enhanced within the group’s structure. Closer integration into the Lufthansa Group will enable ITA Airways to develop further industrial and commercial synergies with the group’s airlines, while preserving its Italian identity.
For the company, this represents an opportunity to consolidate its role as Italy’s reference carrier, contributing to the growth of the country’s connectivity and to the promotion of Made in Italy around the world.
Italy represents a strategic market in the European and international landscape: it is the third-largest economy in the European Union and the Lufthansa Group’s largest catchment area outside the United States and its home markets. In this context, ITA Airways confirms its central role in connecting the country with the rest of the world, supporting tourism, businesses, trade flows and international mobility.
ITA Airways’ integration path as the Lufthansa Group’s fifth network airline will also continue, building on the progress already made and the major customer milestones achieved.
“This new phase represents a step of major industrial and strategic significance for ITA Airways. Over the past few years, we have built a solid, recognisable company focused on quality, thanks to the contribution of our people and the trust of our customers, and Deutsche Lufthansa’s decision is a clear demonstration of the good work carried out so far,” said ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart. “We look to the future with ambition and responsibility: full integration into the Lufthansa Group will allow us to compete more strongly in international markets, while continuing to bring to the world the value of Italy, its connectivity and its capacity for innovation.”
SINGAPORE, 14 May 2026: Vietjet is strengthening its presence in South Asia by introducing a new international route connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, Sri Lanka, and inking new strategic cooperation agreements in India that will advance aviation, infrastructure, technology, and travel connectivity across the region.
Photo credit: Vietjet. Vietjet announces its Ho Chi Minh City – Colombo direct route, in the presence of General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam (centre) and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Harini Amarasuriya (second from right).
Ho Chi Minh City – Colombo route
The new Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo service marks Vietjet’s entry into the Sri Lankan market and represents a further step to growing its South Asia network.
Scheduled to commence in August 2026, the route will operate four return flights per week, creating a new air bridge between Vietnam and Sri Lanka while supporting greater tourism, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchange.
Vietjet, First Vice Chairman Dinh Viet Phuong said: “The Ho Chi Minh City–Colombo route opens a new air connection between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, creating new opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchange across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the broader Asia-Pacific region.”
Colombo, a key economic and trading hub in the Indian Ocean, and Ho Chi Minh City, one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic metropolitan centres, are expected to form a new bridge for regional growth and cooperation.
Expanding partnerships in India
In India, Vietjet has also signed strategic cooperation agreements with GMR Airports Limited and Bird Group, two of the country’s leading enterprises.
The agreements pave the way for broader collaboration between Vietnam and India across aviation infrastructure, logistics, airport services, technology, tourism, and hospitality.
Over the years, Vietjet has been a pioneer in connecting Vietnam with India, developing an extensive flight network to India’s major economic, cultural, and tourism hubs, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
BANGKOK, 14 May 2026: The Mekong Tourism Forum 2026, organised by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, will return to Yangon, Myanmar, from 16 to 18 June, bringing together public and private stakeholders to explore how tourism can deliver real value for people and places.
MTF last convened in Myanmar in 2002, more than two decades ago. Sedona Hotel in Yangon hosted the 7th edition of the regional event that represents six country members (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam).
Photo credit: Destination Mekong.
Myanmar was scheduled to host the forum in Bagan in 2020 and 2021. Those plans repeatedly failed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and regional travel restrictions following the military coup in February 2021.
This time round, MTF 2026 will be hosted at the Pan Pacific Yangon, adopting the theme ‘Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose’.
Whatever happened to?
As they plan their trip to Yangon to attend MTF’s 28th edition, faithful followers might raise the question: Whatever happened to the Mekong Minis and Moments or Mekong Heroes and Experience Mekong Showcases?
Between 2017 and 2021, MTFs earned a reputation for introducing innovative marketing campaigns. The nine initiatives recognised Mekong tourism companies, individuals residing in the six-country region and startup tourism and hospitality ventures.
The Mekong-themed awards and campaigns had an appealing ring to them that resonated with delegates. MTF delegates welcomed Mekong Heroes, voted on the best 60-second Mekong Mini videos and encouraged startup travel enterprises to gain priceless assistance from technology experts on how to make a breakthrough and succeed. Annually, MTF earned a reputation for being a busy platform spotlighting SMEs in the Mekong region and honouring them with awards.
For several years, before the forum’s two-year pause (2020 and 2021) due to the COVID-19 crisis, the MTCO office rolled out nine “Mekong”-branded campaigns or awards. They caught our attention, earning prime-time slots on the MTF programme. They revitalised the forum’s content and recognised people who make Mekong Region travel succeed.
Since 2021, asking the question “Whatever happened to the nine Mekong campaigns and award schemes?” prompted a bland, almost disinterested response from both the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and the founders of Destination Mekong.
What we do know confirms that the nine Mekong campaigns were successfully established by the MTCO from 2017 to 2021 and premiered at various MTFs with stage presentations curated by the marketing agency Destination Mekong.
But in 2021, they were unceremoniously parked on the Destination Mekong website and, from that point on, ceased to exist as MTCO activities. All nine popular projects failed to resurface at MTFs since 2019.
The only references to the nine campaigns are on the inactive Destination Mekong homepage, headlined “Projects”. That brings us back to the first question: Whatever happened?
Question time
TTRW filed questions with Jens Thraenhart, the former MTCO executive director and founder of Destination Mekong, regarding the future of Destination Mekong.
Photo credit: Destination Mekong. Dr Jens Thraenhart, former Executive Director of the MTCO and Founding Chair of Destination Mekong.
His response: To clarify, Destination Mekong (DM) is currently dormant with no ongoing activities or financial transactions. Regarding the “nine projects”, we are evaluating whether relocating them to MTCO would be the best way to preserve and activate them to guarantee stakeholder and shareholder value.
“At this stage, we have not been approached by MTCO with either an intention to start discussions or a plan to successfully operate some or all of the projects.
“MTCO has not signalled any interest in operating or cooperating on any of these or other projects. Our focus remains on assessing how best to proceed with these initiatives once the GMTO is formally established to ensure the most value for the tourism industry in the GMS, and we remain open to any suggestions either from the public or private sectors”.
A word from MTCO
In response to TTRW questions, the MTCO Executive Director, Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij said: “From MTCO’s perspective, tourism marketing initiatives and campaigns naturally evolve over time depending on organisational priorities, available resources, partnerships, and broader regional directions, including the priorities agreed by the six GMS member countries under the recently adopted GMS Tourism Strategy 2030, which now serves as the key roadmap for regional tourism cooperation. While some earlier initiatives are no longer active, MTCO continues to support and develop new programmes aligned with the strategy and the evolving needs of the region.”
She added: “In particular, we continue to place strong emphasis on storytelling, local voices, and people-centred tourism development. One example is our ‘Mekong Voices. interview series, which has featured nearly 100 stories highlighting tourism champions, local innovators, and community leaders across the Greater Mekong Subregion.”
Meanwhile, a check of Destination Mekong’s registration status in Singapore shows the company registered on 22 January 2022 and, as of 25 April 2026, is “gazetted to be struck off.” (Source: ACRA — Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority).
Nine forgotten campaigns
Experience Mekong Collection The “Experience Mekong Collection” presented small, responsible, and sustainable travel businesses in the Mekong Region.
Experience Mekong Showcase Every year, six members of the Experience Mekong Collection are awarded the Experience Mekong Showcase recognition.
Mekong Deals Mekong Deals was a collaborative campaign to support business recovery in the Mekong Region, with the portal providing SME’s with a channel to offer non-refundable travel and stay vouchers.
Mekong Heroes Annually, the campaign selects a tourism leader who has made a significant contribution to developing tourism sustainability in the Mekong Region. It honours them as a Mekong Hero. Three tourism entrepreneurs have won the award.
MIST The Mekong Innovations in Sustainable Tourism (MIST) programme seeks innovative initiatives and projects from anyone, including students, startups, social enterprises, SMEs, corporates, and governments, to strengthen sustainability and resilience in travel. Four annual editions from 2017 to 2020, with winners declared at MTF
Mekong Memories Mekong Memories is a collaborative social media tourism recovery campaign. It addresses past guests and visitors and asks them to share their memorable experiences in video and photo formats, tagging #MekongMemories.
Mekong Minis The Mekong Minis is a social media campaign that celebrates the many faces and experiences of the Mekong Region and promotes the region as a single tourism destination through 60-second videos, with the best effort winning an award presented at the MTF.
Mekong Moments Mekong Moments is a visual consumer marketing campaign and travel inspirational platform that collaboratively promotes the Mekong Region as a single tourism destination and drives direct business to individual businesses through social commerce.
Mekong Stories The initial edition of Mekong Stories, released in 2021, reflects four years’ work telling the stories of many individuals and organisations working in the GMS’s tourism industry.
MTCO to legalise structure
Meanwhile, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office faces challenging times as it grapples with the need to legalise its structure. This process failed under the tenure of various executive directors and members of the Greater Mekong Subregion Tourism Working Group over the last decade. It is now on the cusp of rebranding the MTCO as the Greater Mekong Tourism Office (GMTO) as it embarks once more on the complicated path to legalise its structure.
Oversight of MTCO’s operations and budgets is with the governments of the six Mekong countries — Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China (Yunnan and Guangxi) — through the GMS Tourism Working Group. However, since the MTCO was formed in 1997, the fundamental challenge has always been how to recruit financial support from the tourism and hospitality sectors in the six-country region, specifically to launch marketing campaigns.
SINGAPORE, 13 May 2026: ITB China will track the transformation in educational travel: from checklist-style tourism toward structured, purpose-driven learning experiences during the three-day trade show in Shanghai.
The clear shifts and questions will be explored in both the conference programme and the exhibition during ITB China, which will convene from 26 to 28 May at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Centre.
ITB China 2026: Educational travel moves to purpose-driven learning. (Unsplash)
Quoting Youth Travel Trends 2026, published by the WYSE Travel Confederation in November 2025, ITB China assures the “outlook for youth, student, and educational travel remains broadly positive”.
However, expectations are evolving rapidly. Rigid, checklist-style itineraries focused on city sightseeing are losing relevance, while authentic, participatory experiences with a strong sense of place are increasingly in demand.
This transformation is clearly visible in outbound educational travel. Programs centred primarily on school visits, landmarks, and museum entries are becoming less compelling on their own. Instead, the focus is shifting toward integrated thematic learning journeys, where classroom learning, local observation, interactive assignments, and group-based activities are combined into a cohesive educational experience.
Market expansion meets sharper differentiation
StudyTravel Magazine observed a similar trend between late 2025 and early 2026. Across junior programmes, summer schools, young adult programs, and tailor-made short-stay group formats, supply continues to expand. Yet the key change is not only volume growth. Short-term programs are becoming more flexible, themes more focused, and target groups more precisely defined by age and interest.
New decision logic: Outcomes over itineraries
As a result, decision-making has become more specific for schools, parents, and students. The critical questions are now: why this theme, why this combination of destinations, what participants will actually do during the program, and what tangible outcomes they will take away. These criteria are increasingly more important than the length or density of sightseeing schedules.
At the ITB China 2026 Conference, educational travel will be a dedicated topic within the broader discussion of travel product and experience design.
Beyond the conference programme, educational travel will also be a key highlight in the ITB China 2026 exhibition area, bringing together exhibitors, including destinations with educational tourism offerings, schools, universities, museums, and research institutions.
GYEONGJU, South Korea, 13 May 2026: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) honours five leaders in the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry with the Awards of Merit, Life Membership, and the Chairman’s Award.
The award ceremony was held on Monday, 11 May, during the PATA Executive Board & Board Member and PATA Awards Presentation Dinner, at Lahan Hotel in Pohang, Korea (ROK).
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid (left), Chairman of the Honours Committee Tunku Iskandar (centre), and Chair Peter Semone (right) with the PATA Honours Awards recipients during the PATA Executive Board & Board Meeting and PATA Awards Presentation.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid congratulated award recipients and the new Life Members, stating: “I would like to congratulate all the recipients and express how proud we are of their immense contributions to PATA and the wider tourism industry. Each of these changemakers has helped shape the association through their leadership, integrity, and commitment to advancing our community, playing an important role in PATA’s continued growth and relevance.”
PATA Life Membership goes to SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications Private Limited, and Suman Pandey, Group Chairman, Explore Himalaya Travel & Adventure. As the association’s highest individual honour, the award recognises individuals for their leadership and dedication to PATA.
The association also honoured Ben Montgomery, Corporate Ambassador, Centara Hotels & Resorts, and Judy Torres, Deputy Managing Director, Marianas Visitors Authority, with the PATA Awards of Merit for their consistent contributions to PATA and its chapter network.
Beyond strengthening relations between Centara and the owners of Centara-managed hotels and representing the brand in various industry councils and associations, Montgomery serves as Vice President of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), a Board Member of the ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant Association, and represents Centara at the Joint Public & Private Working Committee to develop workforce capacity for Thailand’s hotel and tourism industry.
Torres is the Deputy Managing Director of the Marianas Visitors Authority with over 30 years of experience in tourism administration, destination marketing, research management, and public relations in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The PATA Chairman’s Award goes to Kornchalee Tantimongkonsakul, Corporate Affairs, PATA, in recognition of the exceptional behind-the-scenes support she has provided to the Chair during his tenure, as well as her commitment, professionalism, and dedicated service to the association.
KOTA KINABALU, 13 May 2026: Sabah is adapting its tourism outlook as global aviation conditions continue to shift amid geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and significant changes in airline capacity.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said tourism planning for the state would be guided by a flexible framework that allows continuous assessment of global developments, particularly those affecting air connectivity and international travel demand.
Photo credit: Sabah Tourism Board.
“We are already seeing these changes impacting airline capacity, with route suspensions and reduced frequencies affecting connectivity into Kota Kinabalu, and we are closely monitoring developments to ensure our tourism planning remains responsive,” he said.
International routes
AirAsia has suspended the Singapore–Kota Kinabalu route from 13 May to 30 November. Jakarta–Kota Kinabalu until 21 May. Ho Chi Minh–Kota Kinabalu beginning 1 July.
Batik Air has also suspended its Seoul–Kota Kinabalu route since 28 April.
Domestic routes
AirAsia will temporarily suspend its Sibu–Kota Kinabalu and Bintulu–Kota Kinabalu routes from 8 to 30 June.
Jafry said these developments reflect broader external factors that may influence visitor arrivals and overall connectivity trends.
He said arrivals performance planning is based on scenario-based assessments reflecting different operating environments, including prolonged external disruptions, a stabilising baseline, and potential recovery in airline capacity.
Based on preliminary statistics, Sabah recorded 932,970 arrivals up to March 2026, comprising 537,317 domestic and 395,653 international visitors.
13 May 2026: ITB China has announced Malaysia Airlines as the Official Airline Partner of ITB China 2026, taking place from 26 to 28 May in Shanghai.
The partnership will support the airline in further strengthening its presence in the Chinese market and deepening engagement with travel trade, corporate, and MICE partners.
Photo credit: MAG.
Malaysia Airlines will showcase its expanded China network and digital travel experiences at ITB China 2026, further strengthening its long-term commitment to the China market.
Malaysia Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer of Airline Business Dersenish Aresandiran said: “Being named the Official Airline Partner of ITB China 2026 is a proud milestone… As we expand in Shenzhen and Changsha with new services, this partnership is a key way to deepen our engagement with travel agents, corporate customers, and MICE partners, and to strengthen tourism and business links between China and Malaysia ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.
Messe Berlin (China) Deputy General Manager, Lydia Li Dof commented: “We are delighted to welcome Malaysia Airlines as the Official Airline Partner of ITB China 2026. Leveraging its Kuala Lumpur hub, the airline’s participation will introduce strong international air connectivity to the show and create more practical opportunities for collaboration across travel trade, corporate travel and MICE segments, further supporting the growth of two-way tourism between China and Malaysia.”
Malaysia Airlines continues to accelerate its expansion in China, strengthening both its route network and engagement with key customer segments. Following the resumption of its flights to Chengdu in January, the airline will launch daily flights from Shenzhen to Kuala Lumpur on 2 July, followed by new services from Changsha to Kuala Lumpur on 9 July.
With these additions, Malaysia Airlines will operate flights to nine destinations in Greater China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Changsha, Hong Kong, and Taipei – with up to 74 weekly frequencies. By number of destinations served, China will become the airline’s second-largest international market.
At the same time, Malaysia Airlines is placing greater emphasis on high-value travellers and industry partners, supported by products and services such as MHcorporate and Bonus Side Trip programme, further enhancing its offering across both business and leisure travel segments.
