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Druk Asia launches Bhutan insider tours

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE 17 September 2025: Druk Asia, a Bhutan travel specialist, introduces “Bhutan Insider Experience with James Low”, a new series of small-group journeys with curated flexibility. 

Druk Asia has recruited retired hotelier James Low, who lived in Bhutan for nearly 10 years. He accompanies each “Bhutan Insider Experience” journey alongside a licensed local guide and driver.

Royal Highland Festival at Laya.

Designed for travellers seeking to experience Bhutan’s essence, the limited-edition seven-day six-night trips prioritise Bhutan’s “High Value, Low Volume” tourism policy. Each journey strikes a balance between cultural preservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

While essential logistics such as accommodation, transport, and privileged access are seamlessly managed, each day remains open to unplanned discovery. Shared meals, interactions with local artisans, and conversations with spiritual leaders create an environment that fosters mindfulness.

Accompanied by a seasoned hotelier and trusted figure in Bhutanese circles, the journey opens doors to people, places, and perspectives rarely accessible to the average traveller. 

Guests are invited to dine where locals gather, listen to the untold stories behind sacred temples, and discover the Kingdom through encounters that feel both intimate and extraordinary. 

Low was the general manager of COMO Uma Bhutan, an international five-star hotel brand in Bhutan, before retiring in December 2024. During his tenure, he welcomed royalty, high-profile guests, and well-travelled visitors from around the world. Initially expecting a two-year posting, he was so captivated by Bhutan’s profound spirituality, serene landscapes, and the warmth of its people that he stayed for a decade. Today, he remains a passionate advocate for the Bhutanese way of life, deeply reverent of the Kingdom’s landscapes, culture, and spiritual heritage.

“You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of why the Bhutanese are often considered the happiest people on earth. Visually, visitors can expect magnificent Himalayan landscapes, magical monasteries and temples, rich cultural tapestries, pristine farmland, and charming heritage farmhouses,” said Low. 

“My time in Bhutan grounded me in values that now anchor my life: compassion, kindness, selflessness, acceptance (‘it is what it is’), impermanence, and the interconnection of all things. Most of all, Bhutan helped me discover a sense of purpose. I hope to open the doors for others to experience the Bhutan that has meant so much to me”.

“We were thrilled when James approached us to co-create this journey,” said Druk Asia Managing Director Joni Herison. “This insider experience is ideal for anyone seeking a deeper connection with Bhutan. James will introduce guests to his favourite restaurants and, depending on the group’s interests, visit a monastery to witness the monks’ daily prayer rituals, invite artisans to share their knowledge of Thangka painting, or explore other aspects of traditional Bhutanese culture.”

Druk Asia has hosted over 20,000 travellers to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, establishing itself as one of Bhutan’s leading travel specialists. 

The company is also the official representative of Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) since the office opened 15 years ago. Druk Asia also operates MICE Bhutan and AVIS Bhutan, extending its expertise to corporate events, meetings, and high-quality mobility services.

Bhutan Insider Experience with James Low

Dates

4–10 December 2025 — USD6,588 per person

23–29 April 2026 — USD7,680 per person

Royal Highlander Festival in Laya, Gasa

Dates

19–29 October 2025 — From USD4,740 per person

Held at 4,000 metres above sea level in Laya, Gasa, the Royal Highland Festival is a high-altitude festival celebrated by Bhutan’s remote highland communities. Reaching the festival grounds is an adventure in itself: a six-hour drive from Thimphu to Tongshida base camp followed by a four-hour hike. 

Prices are based on twin-sharing accommodation and include return economy airfare with Druk Air to Paro from Singapore. For options flying from Bangkok, visit www.drukasia.com.

Fairfield by Marriott passes China milestone

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 16 September 2025: Marriott International announced that the Fairfield by Marriott has reached a milestone of 150 combined open and pipeline hotels in Greater China, underscoring the brand’s accelerated expansion in the region’s select service segment.

The announcement was made during ‘The Beauty of Simplicity – Fairfield by Marriott Fireside Chat’ in Hangzhou, China, attended by Marriott International Chairman of the Board David Marriott and Marriott International President, Greater China, Yibing Mao. 

(Left to right) David Marriott, Chairman of the Board, Marriott International, and Yibing Mao, President, Greater China, Marriott International.

The two senior executives reflected on Fairfield by Marriott’s heritage, the brand’s expansion to over 50 destinations in Greater China since its debut in 2017, and the new momentum driven by recent product enhancements in the region, centring around three core spaces — The Fairfield Living Room, The Fairfield Restaurant, and Guest Rooms.

As a key growth engine for Marriott in Greater China, Fairfield by Marriott has rapidly scaled its presence in the region. Since celebrating its 50th hotel opening in Greater China in 2024, the brand has grown by more than 50% in just over a year, with another 50+ hotels expected to open within the next two years. In the first seven months of 2025 alone, newly signed Fairfield by Marriott projects increased 75% year-over-year, with upcoming projects set to bring the brand to core locations across first-tier cities, including Shanghai’s Xuhui District, Beijing Capital Airport, and Shenzhen’s Qianhai area.

Fairfield by Marriott continues to expand both the breadth and depth of its footprint in Greater China, covering key transportation hubs, emerging urban districts, and trendy leisure destinations. In recent years, the brand has accelerated its expansion into high-demand leisure and business destinations, such as Yangshuo (Guangxi), Xinzhou (Shanxi), and Qiandao Lake (Hangzhou), extending its signature at-ease, comfortable stay experience to more destinations across Greater China.

To support this growth, Fairfield by Marriott recently launched a comprehensive product upgrade in Greater China, including a new Chinese name that carries the “by Marriott” endorsement, and unveiled its newly refreshed product design and guest experience. 

The upgrades address the evolving needs of the Chinese market and modern travellers, while injecting new momentum into the brand’s development in the region. The newly upgraded design brings “The Beauty of Simplicity” to life, while addressing four core travel needs: working, sleeping, bathing, and service. The regional upgrade also enhances owner value through a best-in-class design model, efficient construction, and streamlined operations, strengthening the brand’s competitive edge in the select service segment in Greater China.

Globally, Fairfield by Marriott has more than 1,350 open hotels in 20 countries and territories, with over 460 additional hotels in the pipeline.

Etihad reports record half-year profit

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TTR WEEKLY
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ABU DHABI, 16 September 2025: Etihad Airways has reported its strongest-ever half-year performance, delivering record profitability and passenger numbers in the first six months of 2025. 

Profit after tax rose 32% to AED1.1 billion (USD306 million), while the EBITDA margin reached 20% on the back of strong operating performance and efficiency gains.

Photo credit: Etihad. Performance standouts HY2025.

Passenger numbers rose 17% 10.2 million in H1 2025, with passenger load factor improving to 87% (+2pp year-on-year). The airline reached 20 million passengers carried on a 12-month rolling basis in early July.

Operating fleet surpassed 100 aircraft, with over 20 additional aircraft in the last 18 months.

Total revenue rose by 16% year-on-year, driven by both passenger and cargo revenue (16% and 9% growth, respectively).

The airline reported a 14% rise in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) and an improved passenger load factor of 87%, +2pp year-on-year. 

The operating fleet exceeded 100 aircraft, including the delivery of Etihad’s sixth Airbus A350 in April and the reintroduction of a seventh A380 in May. In the same month, the airline announced an agreement for an order for 28 wide-body aircraft with Boeing, reinforcing Etihad’s long-term growth and connectivity ambitions. In July 2025, the airline added five new aircraft to its fleet, including its first A321LR. This marked the highest number of deliveries the airline has ever received in a single month.

“We are proud to deliver another record half-year for Etihad,” said Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves. “Our strong financial performance and continued passenger growth demonstrate the success of our strategy and the dedication of our people. We are expanding sustainably, investing in premium experiences, and bringing record numbers of visitors to Abu Dhabi through our growing network.”

Fiji Airways wins APEX award

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 16 September 2025: Fiji Airways, the national carrier of Fiji and a member of the oneworld alliance, won the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award, which places the airline among the Top 10 airlines in the world. 

Fiji Airways is the smallest airline by fleet size ever to earn this honour, and the only airline in Oceania to be recognised.

(Centre) Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoe.

Fiji Airways also took home the APEX Innovation Award for Best In-Flight Food and Beverage 2026. The airline recently launched a new Pacific Rim menu, alongside on-demand Business Class dining and refreshed Economy service.

Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen said: “This recognition is a proud and historic moment for the airline and for Fiji.”

The APEX World Class Award is judged through a rigorous process that combines independent audits with global passenger feedback, measuring excellence across safety, sustainability, well-being, service, and customer experience.

“In 2016, we were ranked outside the world’s Top 100 airlines. Today, through sheer grit, relentless innovation, and the unbreakable spirit of our people, we have risen to be named one of the top 10 airlines in the world,” said Viljoen. 

About Fiji Airways 
Founded in 1951, the Fiji Airways airline group comprises Fiji Airways, Fiji’s international airline, and its wholly-owned domestic and regional subsidiary, Fiji Link. From its hubs at Nadi and Suva International Airports, Fiji Airways and Fiji Link serve 101 destinations in over 14 countries (including code-share). Destinations include Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong (SAR China), Singapore, India, Japan, China, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Agoda powers training in Mekong countries

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 16 September 2025: The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) and digital travel platform Agoda are partnering to strengthen the digital capabilities of micro, small and medium-scale accommodation providers across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). 

The project focuses on regional E-commerce Training for MSME Accommodation Providers in the Greater Mekong Subregion that commences on 18 September with the Thailand session, marking the beginning of a series running through November in each of the MTCO countries — Cambodia, China (Yunnan and Guangxi), Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

Myanmar is also a member of the MTCO board but was not identified as a participant in the training project.

The programme supports homestays, ecolodges, and guesthouses in rural and secondary destinations—enterprises that are vital to inclusive and community-based tourism in the GMS and stand to benefit from stronger digital engagement in the global marketplace. By strengthening capacity at the grassroots level, the training will help accommodation providers across the Mekong region prepare to welcome the growing number of visitors by enhancing their online presence, competitiveness, and business sustainability.

“This marks the first collaboration between MTCO, Agoda, and the GMS National Tourism Organisations of Cambodia, China (Yunnan and Guangxi), Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. The initiative represents a milestone in regional tourism cooperation, showcasing the value of public–private partnerships in advancing digital transformation and inclusive tourism, according to the press statement.

Delivered online in local languages and tailored to each location, the workshops provide participants with practical skills to create and manage listings on online travel agency platforms like Agoda. The training will cover uploading room inventory and images, managing availability and pricing, implementing promotions, and engaging effectively with customer reviews.

The training series will run from September to November 2025, beginning in Thailand before expanding to Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and China (Yunnan and Guangxi provinces). The workshops are expected to lay the groundwork for stronger, digitally enabled tourism businesses, helping the Greater Mekong Subregion meet rising visitor demand while supporting sustainable growth and regional competitiveness.

About MTCO
The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is the secretariat of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Tourism Working Group, fostering regional cooperation among Cambodia, China (Yunnan and Guangxi), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. MTCO promotes the Mekong as a single tourism destination while advancing inclusive and sustainable development.

About Agoda
Agoda, a digital travel platform with a global network of 6 million hotels and holiday properties worldwide, plus flights and tour activities. Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 7,000 staff in 27 markets.

Qatar launches FIFA World Cup packages

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TTR WEEKLY
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DOHA, Qatar, 16 September 2025: Qatar Airways and Qatar Airways Holidays, the airline’s leisure division, have reintroduced FIFA World Cup travel packages ahead of next year’s tri-nation mega event to be hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States. 

The Official Airline Partner of FIFA and the Official Airline of the Journey, offers a one-stop solution for football fans to reserve their flights, accommodation, and official match tickets and transfers through Qatar Airways Holidays.

Photo credit: Qatar Airways Holidays launches FIFA World Cup travel packages.

Qatar Airways Holidays and Discover Qatar Senior Vice President, Steven Reynolds, said: “We are thrilled to deliver exceptional packages that will support fans from across the world in seamlessly travelling to the world’s most renowned sporting event. As the Authorised Travel Package provider of the FIFA World Cup 26, our packages will assist travelling fans throughout their journey, from the moment they leave their homes until they arrive at the match.”

With 48 participating teams playing matches in 16 host cities across three nations, the FIFA World Cup 26™ is poised to be a record-breaker in terms of attendance, global diversity and logistical scale. Qatar Airways Holidays’ return to the international football stage will support travelling fans with unprecedented access, ensuring seamless journeys to every destination. By making travel easy and worry-free, fans can focus entirely on the thrill of football.

As the Authorised Travel Package Provider of the FIFA World Cup 26, Qatar Airways Holidays offers packages that assist travelling fans throughout their journey with unmatched convenience. Fans can secure ticket-inclusive and refundable packages following the progress of their specific team before the official draw takes place with the use of the ‘Follow My Team Series’.

From hotels in prime locations to Category 1 match tickets for preferred matches, the packages are comprehensive and include arrival and departure transfers for travel between Host Cities, as well as return match-day transfers.

Qatar Airways Holidays will also be selling Knockout Series and Final Round Series packages for fans to secure their seats at their preferred semi-final and final matches. Bookings for the Gold and Silver packages can be made on: qatarairways.com/fifa26.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can collect Avios on the total package value.

Vietjet flies A330 to tap peak demand

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 16 September 2025: Vietjet has welcomed an Airbus A330 widebody, registered VN-A820, bringing the airline’s fleet across the whole group to 121 aircraft. 

This milestone underscores the carrier’s sustainable growth strategy and readiness to meet surging international travel demand during the year-end peak season.

Photo credit: Vietjet.

The aircraft will be deployed immediately on services to Australia, India, Japan, and Kazakhstan — all popular destinations for Singaporean travellers seeking affordable long-haul options. 

Powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the A330 delivers fuel efficiency and performance and is part of a new modern fleet of more than 400 new aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing through 2030.

Emirates takes home two global accolades

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 15 September 2025: Emirates won global recognition on Friday at the APEX/IFSA Global EXPO in Long Beach, California, winning two notable awards — the 2026 APEX Best Global Entertainment Award for its ice inflight entertainment system and a 2026 APEX World Class award for all aspects of the airline’s customer experience and brand. 

Emirates’ ice wins the 2026 APEX Best Global Entertainment Award

From a selection of more than 600 airlines globally, Emirates scooped the 2026 APEX Best Global Entertainment award from one million verified passenger votes. Emirates ice has long been celebrated as the world’s most extensive media library in the sky, providing customers with more than 6,500 channels of diverse entertainment and information. Within its vast library, customers can choose from up to 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages. Ice partners with all the best providers, including HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+, Food Network, CBeebies, Discovery+, BBC, Bloomberg Originals, Shahid, BBC Earth, Animal Planet, HGTV, Nickelodeon and Spotify to provide trending and current content. Ice also offers five channels of live TV covering sports fixtures and news, as well as providing updates, news headlines, flight times and an in-flight airshow to follow the flight’s progress and see the world from 40,000 feet through external cameras.

Emirates is also rolling out the installation of a new Thales’ AVANT Up system for its 50-strong fleet of new Airbus A350 aircraft. At an investment of over USD350 million, the next-generation in-flight entertainment on the Emirates’ A350s offers a suite of ground-breaking and innovative features. The game-changing technology includes Optiq 4K QLED HDR displays, the capacity to host triple the amount of content, improved ‘live’ television options, innovative and user-friendly interfaces, and enhanced passenger connectivity.

Emirates receives 2026 APEX World Class award for 6th consecutive year.

Introduced in 2021, Emirates has once again received an APEX WORLD CLASS™award for its suite of products and services beloved by customers across the world, for the 6th consecutive year. Emirates was recognised and defined as world-class across all categories, including safety and well-being, sustainability, service and guest experience, food and beverage, brand integrity, hospitality, personalisation, comfort, connectivity and many more. The APEX World Class award is a top achievement, audited by industry professionals on real flights in real time.

The 2026 APEX World Class award is another testament to Emirates’ customer promise of ‘fly better’, and builds on multiple other accolades received in recent months. Emirates claimed the top spot as ‘Best Long Haul Airline’ at The Telegraph Travel Awards 2025. Recognised for its world-class products, exceptional services, and unmatched travel experiences, the airline was voted the best long-haul carrier in the world by 20,000 Telegraph Travel readers. Emirates continues to be the airline of choice for customers worldwide, and was also recognised as ‘2025’s Most Recommended Global Brand’ by YouGov, the only airline to be featured on the top 10 global list. 

For more information on the airline and to book a flight, visit www.emirates.com.

Sarawak joins MICE Meeting Point Beijing

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, 15 September 2025: Sarawak is attracting strong Interest from China for corporate meetings and incentives following its sales mission to the MICE Meeting Point in Beijing, China, which reached out to corporate and business event buyers.

Showcasing Sarawak’s distinctive value proposition for impact-driven corporate experiences, the promotion highlighted authentic cultural offerings, world-class meeting infrastructure, and a pioneering legacy impact strategy.

Jason Tan Chin Foo, Deputy CEO (right) and Adrian Goh, Business Development Manager for Corporate Meetings and Incentives (left) at MICE Meeting Point Beijing on 11 and 12 September 2025.

“The outcome of our mission was highly positive, with a strong wave of interest and multiple enquiries for collaboration. This is good news for Sarawak as we are in the midst of developing a new brand for corporate meetings and incentives, designed to showcase Sarawak as Asia’s preferred destination for meaningful and purpose-driven business events,” said BESarawak CEO Amelia Roziman.

“China is a high-potential market and we are pleased to see the high level of engagement and interest during the two-day business exchange,” said BESarawak Deputy CEO Jason Tan Chin Foo. “This is a promising step towards building stronger business relationships in China and curating products and services that suit the Chinese corporate meetings and incentive market.”

Sarawak recorded 28,815 visitors from China in the first five months of 2025. The destination had already demonstrated strong growth with arrivals nearly doubling from 39,243 in 2023 to 74,721 in 2024 – a superb 90.4% increase. With a target of 100,000 Chinese visitors set for 2025, Sarawak signalled strong confidence in the market’s vast potential and rising appeal as a destination.

MICE Meeting Point is a high-profile event platform designed explicitly for the Chinese MICE and business travel industry. It features a conference with insightful sessions from top-level industry leaders and experts, as well as B2B networking sessions at Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing.

About Business Events Sarawak
BESarawak was established in 2006 by the Sarawak Government as a non-profit destination marketing organisation to promote Sarawak for national and international business events. Support and services include, but are not limited to, bidding services, developing business events of interest, delegate marketing, financial support and developing incentive itineraries. 
BESarawak is a member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Union of International Associations (UIA), and Union des Foires Internationales (UFI) – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. 

Visit www.businesseventssarawak.com for more information.

Sabah sets wellness tourism benchmark

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 15 September 2025: SWWICE 2025 has firmly positioned Sabah as a pioneer in sustainable holistic wellness tourism, harnessing its breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant cultural heritage, and a community of visionary wellness practitioners. 

The event unfolded over 10 days during June and July, creating a powerful catalyst for cross-border collaborations, global wellness certifications, and future-focused investments that are shaping Malaysia’s rising wellness economy.

With growing international recognition, Sabah is now poised to take centre stage in redefining the global wellness narrative, anchored in sustainability, inclusivity, and cultural authenticity.

SWWICE 2025  garnered the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Convention Bureau, and the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), positioning Sabah as a premier wellness tourism destination.

Wellness journey continues  

Discover the 10 Sustainable Wholistic Wellness Pillars in action at upcoming QiMag-supported events in Sabah: 

17–19 October and 7–9 November 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).

Learn more about AEI Wellness, QiMag, and future SWWICE initiatives at: www.swwice.com 

Standouts — Sustainable Wholistic Wellness International Conference & Expo

The three-day SWWICE 2025 Conference, hosted at the  Magellan Sutera Resort in late June, adopted the theme “Sustainable Wholistic Wellness Tourism,” welcoming over 250 participants from 15 countries, and showcased 26 distinguished speakers across fields such as integrative medicine, sustainable architecture, energy healing, and transformational leadership.

The Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, Sabah and Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board, YB Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, opened the event that explored four topics:

Voice for Health – community-led wellness dialogue sessions;

Kadaiku – celebration of Sabahan cultural crafts;

Rakta Wellness – bio-resonance and holistic therapies;

North Borneo Herbs – promoting indigenous healing traditions.

Live therapy demos focused on frequency treatments, soul alignment, breathwork, and emotional clearing, reflecting the 10 Pillars of Sustainable Wholistic Wellness.

 Borneo Excellence Wellness Tourism Gala Dinner

The Gala Dinner led by Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd CEO Thonny Chee was the launchpad for the non-profit Energy Medicine Practitioners Association Malaysia (EMPAM), plus recognition of EMPAM founding members and the Vital Energi Seal presentation to Alexander Geissler (Germany) for BioHotel Mattlihaüs.

SWWICE Wellness & Smart Lifestyle Expo

Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) was the venue of the Expo that featured 300 booths and energetic themed zones such as

SWWICE Wellness, Smart Lifestyle, Baby Festival & Life and business matching with GoGlobal Solutions

Total sales across the Expo exceeded MYR3.6 million, signalling strong regional interest in wellness-driven and health-tech solutions.

Additionally, over MYR300,000 in cash, vouchers, and products were given away as lucky draw prizes and exclusive gifts throughout the Expo.

Wholistic Wellness Immersion Tourism — Ranau, Kundasang & Kiulu

SWWICE 2025 concluded with participants experiencing an immersive wellness retreat across Sabah’s scenic highlands:

Kinabalu Park, Pekan Nabalu, Poring Hot Springs,

Kipungit Waterfall, Sabah Tea Garden, Bombon Fish Spa

Mari Mari Cultural Village, StoneAgeSpa and Perkasa Hotel.

(Source: Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd. Sri Pelancongan Sabah.)

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