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Centara makes charity pledge

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 10 October 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, announced the launch of an inspiring charity campaign as part of the brand’s ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations.

Founded in 1988 by His Majesty The Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, The Chaipattana Foundation is dedicated to championing sustainable rural development, environmental conservation, and improving the lives of communities throughout Thailand. This foundation also serves as a testament to Centara’s deep-rooted Thai heritage, family values, and dedication to positively impacting the local communities in which its properties are present.

Guests participating in this campaign will not only have the opportunity to contribute to projects that empower, protect, and uplift, but they will also become integral to a greater journey toward a more sustainable and conscientious future.

“As we mark our 40th anniversary, we are not only celebrating our journey but also our Thai heritage, the values that guide us and our commitment to a greener and brighter tomorrow”, said Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “The Chaipattana Foundation represents these same ideals and Centara is delighted to pledge our support to the incredible efforts of this organisation.”

With the holiday season around the corner, Centara extends a warm invitation to guests and loyalty members to commemorate four decades of exceptional hospitality, world-class service, and driving meaningful change in the world.

To learn more about this charity campaign or to make a direct booking, please visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/40th-anniversary-charity-campaign

Sarawak hosts opera extravaganza

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, 10 October 2023: Get ready to immerse yourself in the grand theatrical world of opera in the heart of Sarawak, Borneo. 

The Borneo Opera Festival 2023, from 12 to 15 October, will bring world-class talents to Kuching, Sarawak, promising to mesmerise audiences with its grandeur, artistic brilliance and bel canto of this cultural extravaganza.

Borneo Opera Festival will feature a Gala Opera Concert and opera orchestra performances spanning three days in the heart of Kuching city. 

The festival will be a first of its kind for the region, which already hosts the world-renowned Rainforest World Music Festival and Borneo Jazz Festival. 

This extraordinary musical odyssey celebrates the art and culture of world-class opera with Maestro Alfio Grasso, the Italian baritone set to headline the Borneo Opera Festival 2023, along with Sarawak’s own opera singing prodigy Jeanne-Marie Druce.

The festival’s line-up includes Romanian artiste Ioan Vrasmas, award-winning opera director from Egypt Abdallah Saad, Spanish soprano Beatriz Sylvan and violinist Bogdan Alexandru Costache, a shining virtuoso in the world of classical music.

Other world-renowned performers include Italian conductor Silvano Frontalini, Italian tenor Domenico Menini and Hungarian pianist Gabriella Gyoker.

Festival goers will indulge in opera’s grandeur and beauty as Teatro d’Opera Italiana (Vox Orchestra) takes centre stage. 

“Borneo Opera Festival is a daring step towards putting Sarawak on the map as a hub for opera music in the Southeast Asian region. “This serves as a springboard for singers in the region, offering them invaluable experience, exposure, and international recognition within the opera scene,” said Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Kairm Rahman Hamzah at the launch of the inaugural Borneo Opera Festival.

Borneo Season Opera II Palcoscenico PLT will be fully dedicated to providing an unforgettable experience for all audience members to inspire a new generation of vocalists and music enthusiasts, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the music industry in Sarawak, Borneo, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

For more information or to purchase festival tickets, do visit www.borneooperafestival.com

Resort World One sails in Southeast Asia

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TTR WEEKLY
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Boracay Willys Rock.

HONG KONG, 10 October 2023: Resorts World Cruises introduces new five-night cruises departing Hong Kong for Vietnam and the Philippines. 

The two new cruises were announced last week and complement the current five-night Okinawa cruise. There are two cruise options on the ship Resort World One. It sails to Vietnam with visits to Nha Trang and Danang and also to Boracay Island and Manila in the Philippines. The latter is scheduled to sail from January until March 2024. Both cruises start in Hong Kong.

Boracay is one of the country’s top award-winning islands and was named on a short list of three best islands in Asia according to the 2023 Conde Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards.

Five-night cruise to Vietnam: Departures on 12 November and 10 December 2023; 18 February 2024; 17 March; 14 April 2024.

Five-night cruise to the Philippines: Departures on 21 January, 4 February and 3 March 2024.

Airbnb supports Thai tourism

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 10 October 2023:New research from Oxford Economics reveals that Airbnb is an important pillar of Thailand’s tourism industry, playing a crucial role in the industry’s contribution to GDP and employment.

The report, commissioned by Airbnb, found that the platform’s activities contributed over THB31 billion to Gross Domestic Product and supported almost 56,500 Thai jobs in 2022 alone – accounting for approximately 1.7% of the tourism industry’s contribution to GDP.

The report also highlighted the powerful multiplier effect Airbnb guest spending has within local communities. In 2022, Airbnb guests spent almost THB 41 billion in Thailand, including in restaurants, retail stores, transportation, and accommodation. This marked an increase of nearly 500% from 2021, reaching 72% of 2019 pre-pandemic levels. On average, guests spent THB 34,000 during their trip.

The report also explores two profound changes in travel behaviour since the pandemic: long-term stays driven by the emergence of flexible work arrangements and tourism dispersal from urban to rural areas.

As international travel rebounded, the US was Thailand’s largest origin market, accounting for 14% of international Airbnb guests. Notably, long-term stays (i.e. those staying for 28+ nights) accounted for 35.6% of total guest nights in Thailand in 2022, up from 13.9% in 2019. 

The report found that Airbnb could re-distribute the benefits of tourism spending to areas outside the central provinces of Bangkok and Phuket as guest spending grew in regions such as Koh Samui, Pattaya and Krabi between 2020 and 2022. Koh Samui saw spending surpass pre-pandemic levels – up 12% from 2019 to 2022.

Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan Mich Goh shared: “The economic contribution to both GDP and jobs driven by travel on Airbnb in Thailand has created powerful economic ripple effects that have enabled the growth of local businesses, such as shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes — which are often central to how travellers experience a destination — and created job opportunities for the locals. 

“The growth of the long-term stays segment since 2020 — enabled by flexible work policies and supported by Airbnb’s Live and Work Anywhere initiative with the Tourism Authority of Thailand — is also helping destinations such as Thailand to attract guests who stay longer and spend more per trip. As destinations across Thailand continue to recover, we are committed to partnering with governments and communities to rebuild their tourism economies in an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable way,” Goh added.

Motor & Sports Expo promotes travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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PETALING JAYA, 10 October 2023: Tourism Malaysia participated in the Motors & Sports Expo 2023, an event dedicated to embracing outdoor lifestyles, 4×4 exploration, camping, and celebrating the joy of recreational sports.

The expo attracted enthusiasts, businesses, and innovators at the Tropicana Gardens Mall, Kota Damansara, from 7 to 8 October 2023. Organised by Infinity Events & Exhibitions, the expo underscores the significant role of the great outdoors in promoting physical well-being and fostering a stronger connection with nature.

Booth space was booked by Automax Off Road Malaysia, Ford, Ironman 4WD Malaysia, ANBOT Store, Segway Powersports Malaysia, Krazzy Hobbies and the Fishing Pavilion with Fishing Buddies Academy (FBA), adding further dimensions to the event’s appeal. RC Rainforest Challenge Malaysia offered a prologue stage indoor track for people to experience the excitement of an actual RC RFC race.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of outdoor activities and sports in maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The pandemic has reinforced the value of staying active and maintaining a robust immune system and the great outdoors, with its array of hiking, biking, and water sports opportunities.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar said: “Let’s celebrate the joy of outdoor lifestyles and recreational sports while also pledging to preserve the natural wonders that make Malaysia truly spectacular”.

TCEB bags a bundle of meetings

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 10 October 2023: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau reports Thailand won 23 bids for international conferences from October 2022 to September 2023. 

The 23 events will be hosted in Thailand from now to 2028 and represent specific business fields such as international finance, healthcare and sports, environment, education, digital, and business management.

The largest among the wins is the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG), scheduled to be hosted in Bangkok with an estimated 12,000 delegates.

Two events are notable for being the first to be staged in Southeast Asia – the FIFA Congress 2024 and the World Diabetes Congress 2025. (Federation of International Football Associations). The FIFA Congress is expected to attract 2,000 delegates from 211 countries, and the World Diabetes Congress 10,000 delegates.

Out of the 23 successful bids, 14 are for medical conferences. They include the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress 2024 (8,000 delegates) and the World Congress on Pain 2026 (5,000 delegates).

TCEB was responsible for producing the bid book and publicity while securing the backing of the relevant government ministries through TCEB’s One Ministry, One Convention (OMOC) programme.

The OMOC programme allows TCEB to tap into the resources and support of a particular government ministry. 

It was instrumental in securing the Annual Meetings of IMF and WBG, the FIFA Congress, as well as three global medical conferences, which, other than the World Diabetes Congress, include the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress 2024 and World Congress on Pain 2026. Under OMOC, a relevant ministry will be designated host. The Ministry of Finance will host the Annual Meetings of IMF and WBG, the FIFA Congress by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) and the medical conferences of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

Jetstar Asia to fly to Wuxi

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 October 2023: Jetstar Asia will launch a new direct flight between Singapore’s Changi Airport and China’s Wuxi’s Sunan Shuofang International Airport on 28 December 2023.

It will be the only airline to operate this direct service. The Singapore low-cost airline expects to fly more than 70,000 customers each year between the two destinations, initially operating two weekly return services on the Airbus A320, increasing to four weekly services from 15 January 2024.

Wuxi is located in the southern Jiangsu province, just over 100 km from Shanghai and sits on the banks of Taihu, one of China’s largest freshwater lakes. A historically and culturally prominent city, Wuxi is also an economic centre and export hub.

Jetstar Asia CEO Barathan Pasupathi said: “Since China reopened their borders and entry requirements for foreign visitors returned to what they were pre-Covid, we’re seeing strong interest for services to key Chinese ports as well as increasing demand for services from China to Singapore”.

“China is an important market, and following the successful launch of our services to Haikou earlier this year, we’re excited to add another Chinese city to our growing list of destinations and believe Wuxi has the right dynamics to be a successful route.”

Jetstar Asia will launch special one-way fares from Singapore to Wuxi for travel between January and May 2024 with a lead-in fare of SGD178, available on jetstar.com from 1000 (SGT) on 10 October until 2359 (SGT) on 16 October 2023.

Club Jetstar members will have access to even cheaper fares, starting from just SGD168, with travellers able to sign up to become a Club Jetstar member at jetstar.com when booking.

# Sale fares are available on jetstar.com from 1000 (SGT) on Tuesday 10 October 2023 until 2359(SGT) on Monday, 16 October, unless sold out prior, for travel between 1 – 25 January 2024, 20 February – 26 March 2024, 9 April – 4 May 2024 and 7 – 21 May 2024. T&Cs apply. 

Open Thailand Safely wins an award

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 9 October 2023: The #OpenThailandSafely communications campaign by Khiri Travel and partners has won the 2023 WiT Travel Changemakers Award in the Local Community Engagement category.

The campaign was launched in March 2021 to safely reopen Thailand to visitors after its tourism economy had been decimated by the shutdown of international travel due to Covid-19.

Khiri Travel’s Brand Director, Marsha Niemeijer, collected the Changemaker award on stage
at the Web in Travel (WiT) conference in Singapore, 3 October. 

OpenThailandSafely was launched in early 2021 as the vaccine rollouts were picking up pace and tourism economies such as the Maldives and Greece were reopening. The central idea was to allow vaccinated tourists back into Thailand without subjecting them to quarantine.

The campaign, created by Khiri Travel in Thailand and supported by 60 travel industry companies and organisations, received 12,323 supporting online signatories. 

The Thai government announced the reopening of Phuket from 1 July 2021 and other provinces from 1 October 2021.

“We don’t necessarily claim that Open Thailand Safely had a direct impact,” said Khiri Travel CEO Willem Niemeijer. “But we believe ours was a bold and necessary voice. It spoke for thousands of employees who were too shy or scared to speak up. Open Thailand Safely spoke up for an industry and its people who were collateral damage.”

Khiri Travel’s brand director, Marsha Niemeijer, collected the Changemaker award earlier this month at Singapore’s Web in Travel (WiT) conference.

RCI names new ship Star of the Seas

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 9 October 2023: Royal Caribbean International names its second Icon Class ship ‘Star of the Seas’, due to set sail in the summer of 2025.

The newest addition to the RCI lineup was named last week ‘Star of the Seas’, following confirmation that Utopia of the Seas (5668 passengers) will start its commercial sailings in July 2024 and Icon of the Seas, with (5,610 passengers), will embark on its maiden voyage on 27 January 2024. 

Currently under construction in Turku, Finland, the new ship, ‘Star of the Seas’, will have a passenger capacity of 5610 plus 2,350 crew, 20 decks, seven pools, nine whirlpools and six waterslides.

“The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas,” said Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley.

Icon of the Seas set the tone in October 2022 when advance bookings opened, achieving the cruise line’s single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in the brand’s then 53-year history. 

The unprecedented consumer demand sparked Royal Caribbean to release 2025-2026 vacations on Icon of the Seas three months ahead of schedule (January 2024). 

Now Star’s name and details of its debut season in 2025 have been confirmed to mark another step in this new era as the cruise line’s third ship. Most noteworthy, it will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), combining the cleanest-burning marine fuel available to date with a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs on board. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship will advance parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

Sarawak presents attractions at Sabre Fair

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TTR WEEKLY
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BRUNEI, 9 October 2023: The Sarawak Tourism Board spotlighted the breathtaking beauty and rich cultural heritage of Sarawak, sparking enthusiasm among potential travellers attending the 18th edition of Sabre Travel Network (Brunei) recently.

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), along with Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) and Freme Travel, aimed to recharge and strengthen Sarawak’s presence in the Brunei market, foster business collaborations and update on the region’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) offerings.

“Sarawak Tourism Board aims to create more travel conversions from Brunei, one of Sarawak’s traditional target markets due to its proximity and thriving cross-border tourism between Brunei and Miri. With flights flying directly from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kuching through Royal Brunei Airlines, we are solidifying our tourism presence here in Brunei and looking to expand on our other multifaceted CANFF and health tourism offerings the region of Sarawak can offer repeat and new travellers from Brunei,” said STB deputy chief executive officer Suriya Charles Buas, who added that many visitors to the fair expressed interest in travelling to Kuching and Mulu.

Regarding tourism recovery for the Brunei market, Suriya Charles Buas explained that there had been significant growth in visitor arrivals after the pandemic, with 848,075 visitor arrivals recorded during January to August 2023, surpassing 2019 levels.

“Sarawak has enjoyed a faster recovery in visitor arrivals from the Brunei market, and STB aims to top our highest visitor arrivals from 2017-2023, which was 1,205,581 in 2017.”

Meanwhile, Borneo Medical Centre (BMC), a leading private healthcare provider in Sarawak, offered a wide range of healthcare services at the fair and special discounts and lucky draw prizes to visitors of the fair. 

“We are excited to participate in the Sabre Travel Fair Brunei 2023 and to have the opportunity to serve the people of Brunei,” said Dr. Kenny Yeap, medical director of Borneo Medical Centre Miri. “We are committed to providing high-quality, affordable healthcare services to our patients, and we believe that participation in this fair is a great way to reach out to our patients and introduce them to our services.”

BMC is MHTC (Malaysian Health Travel Council) member hospital and moving toward MSQH (Malaysian Society for Quality in Health) Accreditation. MSQH is an international accreditation for healthcare organisations, and it is a testament to BMC’s commitment to providing quality healthcare.

Freme Travel, the leading Travel Agency in Brunei Darussalam, offers outbound and inbound tours, leisure travel services and corporate adventure team building.

“Throughout our 52-year journey, Freme Travel has diligently built and maintained a stellar reputation for providing reliable and professional services. As a result, we are widely recognised as the most innovative Travel Agency in Brunei Darussalam. We are very happy to be working with Sarawak Tourism Board in highlighting Sarawak’s many attractions as a premier ecotourism destination, as we offer enticing travel packages that showcase the best of Sarawak,” said Freme Travel managing director Michael Lee.

For more information on Sarawak, log on to www.sarawaktourism.com.

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