HO CHI MINH CITY, 22 August 2023: Vietravel Airlines will take delivery of an additional Airbus A320 aircraft, raising fleet strength to five aircraft by the end of September 2023.
With five A320s in the fleet, Vietravel Airlines will expand international commercial flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Services will increase on the Ho Chi Minh City – Bangkok (Thailand) route, followed by Nha Trang – Macau.
Photo credit: Vietravel Airlines. More A320s for regional routes.
In addition, charter flights will be introduced from Nha Trang to Daegu (Korea) to tap the strong leisure tour market in South Korea, especially for beach destinations. There are also plans to start charter flights from Hanoi to three cities in China.
SINGAPORE, 22 August 2023: India’s low-cost airline SpiceJet is back in action at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), offering six weekly flights between Madurai and Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
Resuming operations after almost a three-year Covid-19 pause, the first flight arrived in Colombo passengers last week using an ATR72.
Photo credit: Bandaranaike International Airport. Spicejet arrives in Colombo.
Flights operate daily except Wednesday, departing Madurai at 1315 and arriving in Colombo at 1425. The return flight departs Colombo at 1510 and arrives in Madurai at 1820.
Meanwhile, the airline announced the return of direct domestic flights from Bengaluru to Patna, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.
SINGAPORE, 22 August 2023: Expedia’s Q3 2023 Traveler Insights confirms travel confidence is growing, with many travellers planning further out and looking forward to mid-year getaways.
Expedia Group’s exclusive first-party traveller search and booking data shows shifting demand patterns and changing traveller behaviours during the year’s second quarter. Travel holds strong and a return of seasonal trends like quick trips for events and spring and summer holidays, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere.
Search volume steadies, and EMEA shows growth
“Our exclusive first-party data shows that search volumes in Q2 2023 were steady with the prior quarter, indicating sustained global travel interest,” said Expedia Group Media Solutions vice president of business development, Jennifer Andre.
“This is a pattern we’ve seen in previous years, with consistent search volumes in Q2 2022 after a 25% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) lift in searches in Q1 2022. Looking across different regions, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) showed the strongest search growth, with a 10% increase in searches QoQ and year-over-year (YoY).”
Travellers continued to plan further out for international trips, with international searches in the 0- to 90-day window increasing nearly 15% QoQ. This aligns with what our Path to Purchase research revealed about the shopping journey for international travellers, as they typically have a longer path to purchase of 85 days and an extended post-purchase window of 94 days.
Travellers seek out long-haul destinations
Looking at the top 10 booked destinations across all regions, long-haul destinations outside the origin region rose in popularity, indicating international travel demand remains strong. London and New York were popular destinations for travellers, each appearing on the top 10 booked destinations list in all regions.
For Asia Pacific (APAC) travellers, cities such as London and Bangkok increased in rankings, and New York City joined the list. Newcomers Istanbul and Stockholm entered the top 10 for EMEA travellers, while New York City held on to the number one spot. New York City and Madrid moved up the rankings, London joined the list for LATAM travellers, and Boston and San Francisco were newcomers on the list for NORAM travellers.
Sporting events spark travel inspiration
According to the Path to Purchase study, 24% of travellers are initially inspired to take a trip because of a specific event or celebration. This connects with our Q2 first-party data, as major sports games and tournaments drove strong search increases for corresponding destinations.
PHNOM PENH, 22 August 2023: Cambodia’s low-cost Lanmei Airlines has taken the unusual step of closing down its official website directing online bookers to an app branded Lantoncloud.com.
Registered in Cambobia, the Chinese-owned airline posted a notice on its Facebook page on 16 August advising customers that its “official website www,lanmeiairlines.com is no longer available” while inviting them to “enjoy a new experience booking Lanmei Airlines through the Lantoncloud.com App.”
A Google search shows the website www.lanmeiairlines.com is still live and even has a notice advising visitors that it’s the official website, possibly a reference to an independent website identified as Flylanmeiairline.com that adopts a similar ID that could infer it is somehow linked to the airline’s booking business.
Despite Lanmei Airlines’ announcement, the “official website” remains active, making it possible to search for flights. However, once you confirm interest by moving to the next step of the booking process, it switches to the Lantoncloud App.
Earlier this year, the airline did give some warning of its intent to ditch the official website for a new booking and sales strategy linked with Lantonclould.
On 2 June, Cambodia Hotel Association (CHA) and Lanmei Airlines announced they had signed a memorandum of understanding that centred on the Lantoncloud app developed by Lanton Cloud Service Technology Co Ltd, another member of the Lanmei Aviation Group headed by founder and owner Li Kun, according to the Phnom Penh Post report.
At the signing ceremony, CHA president Din Somethearith said the partnership would offer hoteliers a new way to connect with potential guests once the hotel-booking feature was launched on 29 June.
“As Lanmei Airlines expands and adds more flights, this will help our tourism industry rebound quickly by attracting more Chinese and regional visitors in particular,” Somethearith said, inviting CHA members to join and potentially improve their occupancy rates Xinhua News Agency quoted the hotel association president.
Li Kun said the Lantoncloud platform was officially launched in 2022 and obtained the first e-commerce license in Cambodia, noting the Cambodia-based Lantoncloud app has ramped up expansion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China.
“The “Lantoncloud” e-commerce platform will propel cooperation in Cambodia’s hotel, tourism, and supply chain fields.”
With Lanmei Airlines migrating its bookings to the e-commerce platform, it will give travellers a one-stop online shop to buy travel and other consumer products on Lantoncloud, possibly in a similar fashion to what AirAsia has developed with its popular SuperApp.
SINGAPORE, 21 August 2023: Nearly 80% of travellers are willing to pay at least 10% more for sustainable travel features despite the cost of living crisis, according to a Euromonitor International report released last week.
41% of travellers are also prepared to pay more than 30% extra for adventure and eco-tourism, according to the Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey, mentioned in Euromonitor’s newly released Sustainable Travel Index 2023.
Europe dominates the Sustainable Travel Index 2023 taking the top 17 places. Sweden continues to top the chart, with Finland second and Austria third. South American destination, Uruguay, has made the top 20 for the first time, moving up 15 places from the previous year.
Egypt and the Maldives have improved countries the most over the last five years. Egypt has outshone other markets by building resilient tourism, helped by its recovery after travel bans and the pandemic, and driving up average spend per arrival to increase value creation through tourism for the benefit of local communities.
Melbourne tops sustainable city destination charts
Melbourne stands at the top of the sustainability pillar for Euromonitor’s Top City Destinations Index, aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2040. It is followed by Spain’s Madrid and Seville, part of the Net Zero Cities initiative in the EU that includes 112 European cities.
Regarding sustainable tourism demand, Australia, Iceland and New Zealand are the top three destinations. As long-haul destinations, Australia and New Zealand benefit from the long stay. New Zealand also flies the flag for regenerative tourism, going further and deeper than mere sustainability, leaving a positive legacy for generations to come aiming to give back.
Reflecting on the findings of the report, Euromonitor International head of travel Caroline Bremner said: “Our Sustainable Travel Index uses 56 indicators across seven pillars – Environmental, Social, Economic, Risk, Demand, Transport and Lodgings – determining the comparative performance of sustainable travel and tourism for 99 countries through scores and weightings to produce an overall ranking.
“There are three main types of indicators. The health of a destination relating to happiness, equality and social justice, then the specific impacts of tourism on the local environment, such as hotel energy use, followed by the general state of tourism, such as quality of infrastructure or dependency on international demand.
“Looking to the future, the Sustainable Travel Index highlights green technology and digitalising the traveller journey as two sure-fire ways to help achieve the road to net zero. Partnering with new start-ups in the green tech space could help pave the way for a greener and cleaner travel future.”
You can find out more information about the Sustainable Travel Index here
BUSAN, 21 August 2013: A “Unique Venue” by definition is special and distinctive. It is more than just a meeting venue a convention center, hotel, or other conventional MICE venue because it offers exclusive features and represents the city or country in which it is located.
Event planners typically choose a venue based on the theme or purpose of the event, and many planners prefer Unique Venues over hotels and convention centers because they offer a special atmosphere and come with their own special stories.
In Korea, there are many Unique Venues that perfectly convey the charms of Korea. The Korean government recognizes the value of Unique Venues in sharing Korea’s traditions, culture, art, sports, pastimes, pop culture, nature, and other assets with the rest of the world and is always on the lookout for new Unique Venues. Currently, there are 52 venues that have been officially recognized as the Unique Venues of Korea.
Busan Adds to List of Korea Unique Venues in 2023
Source: Busan X the Sky, P.ark
This year, Busan’s Busan X the Sky and P.ark were selected as Korea Unique Venues, which are recognized as the best MICE venues in Korea. In addition to being named a 2023 Korea Unique Venue, Busan X the Sky, an observatory that overlooks downtown Busan and Haeundae Beach, was also named one of the 100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots of Korea for 2023. P.ark, a cultural complex that is ideal for exhibitions and other cultural events, was rated as the top spot among all of this year’s new Korea Unique Venues. Both Unique Venues get their main identity from the ocean and have been officially recognized by the Korean government for their infinite potential as MICE venues.
Busan’s Unique Venues
Source: Busan Tourism Organization, Museum 1
In addition to Busan X the Sky and P.ark, the other Korea Unique Venues in Busan are Busan Cinema Center, Nurimaru APEC House, and Museum 1. Busan Cinema Center features an outdoor theater and indoor exhibition spaces designed for performances and film-related events. Above the outdoor theater and plaza is a sprawling, double-wide roof that comes to life every night with LED lights, a stunning spectacle for which the Busan Cinema Center is famous. Nurimaru APEC House, where the APEC Summit 2005 took place, is an international conference center surrounded by the natural scenic beauty of Haeundae Beach. Museum 1 is a modern art museum famous for its media art installations that place visitors right at the center of a vortex alive with color and motion.
The Unique Venues of Busan strike a harmonious balance between city and nature and represent the city’s unique identity. They embody the beauty and charms of Busan and leave MICE event visitors with lasting memories of the region. Busan’s Unique Venues and advanced MICE infrastructure make the city the ideal location for all kinds of MICE events and are ready and waiting for event planners to reach out.
DUBAI, UAE, 21 August 2023: Emirates and Air Canada have extended their codeshare partnership to include flights to and from Montréal following the launch of services to Québec’s largest city in July.
Emirates customers can now plan travel between 11 of the most popular domestic points beyond Montréal and destinations on Emirates’ expansive network, utilising both airlines’ services conveniently on a single ticket.
The expanded network of Canadian points included in the codeshare partnership between Emirates and Air Canada now extends to 11 destinations via Montréal, with an additional 69 points accessible from the gateway, on an interline basis.
Tickets are available via emirates.com and preferred travel agencies.
The codeshare partnership between Emirates and Air Canada enables customers to enjoy flexibility and choice with smooth connections via Canada’s two largest cities to points such as Halifax, Edmonton, Ottawa and Calgary – perfect for leisure and business travellers or those visiting family or friends.
From Toronto, Emirates’ customers can travel to 19 points whilst enjoying codeshare benefits and an extra 100, made possible through an interline arrangement. Customers from Canadian cities can easily connect to Emirates’ services in Montréal or Toronto to travel to exciting destinations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East via the airline’s hub in Dubai.
On its flights to and from Toronto, Emirates offers daily services to Dubai onboard its popular flagship A380 aircraft. The world’s largest international airline also operates seven weekly flights between Montréal and Dubai, utilising its other widebody aircraft – the Boeing 777 – enabling passengers to plan their travel itineraries to global destinations with seamless connectivity.
Travellers with itineraries on Emirates flights can plan their entire trip on a single ticket and take advantage of hassle-free flight benefits, including the airline’s baggage allowance, in addition to convenient bag check-through to the final destination.*
Furthermore, members of Emirates’ frequent flyer programme, Emirates Skywards, can look forward to earning and redeeming miles on flights of both airlines, courtesy of the partnership.
* Baggage check-through is valid for travel out of Canada. International travellers flying to destinations in Canada must clear their baggage with Canadian Customs at the first point of entry (Toronto or Montréal).
SINGAPORE, 21 August 2023: Travellers should avoid certain foods before they travel to guarantee plain sailing and a comfortable trip.
Travel experts at Panache Cruises have researched the foods most likely to bring on feelings of travel sickness, so travellers can steer clear.
Credit: Pexels
Giving a wide berth to greasy or acidic foods before you travel will help you keep hydrated and not succumb to nausea.
Fried foods can cause heartburn due to their high-fat content and also tend to be high in sodium, leading to fluid retention and causing bloat or swelling in your body.
Acidic food such as coffee, orange juice and bacon are slow to digest and, in the case of coffee, can speed up dehydration.
Luxury cruise specialist Panache Cruises’ founder and managing director James Cole said: “The last thing you want to feel is bloated before jetting off on a long-haul flight or getting ready to dress up for dinner at the captain’s table.
“Travel can be uncomfortable at times, particularly when flying long haul, so avoiding foods that will dehydrate or give you heartburn should be avoided at least until you arrive at your destination.”
“This is a real challenge given the incredible cuisine you will find on a luxury or an ultra-luxury cruise. However, a little self-discipline is advisable if you are faced with a challenging weather forecast or a long-haul flight the next day.”
“Nobody wants to taint their holiday with the worry of managing a dodgy stomach or running back and forth to the lavatory. However, with a bit of preparation, many of the common pitfalls can be avoided entirely.”
Five foods to avoid before travelling as identified by Panache Cruises
Fast Food
It might be tempting to grab some fast food whilst stuck in an airport or waiting at the dock to board a ship, but these greasy foods can cause heartburn because of their high-fat content. Fast food also has high sodium levels, which can cause bloating or swelling because of fluid retention – this can mean some serious discomfort whilst travelling, especially with air pressure.
Alcohol
For many travellers having a pint or a glass of wine is a celebratory start to their holiday – but drinking alcohol before and during travelling might not be such a good idea. The body will quickly become dehydrated and cause a sudden urge to use the bathroom, which could be inconvenient when boarding a flight or ship. Drinking alcohol can also mean causing unwarranted disruption for other passengers because of lowered inhibitions.
Coffee
For most of us, coffee is the answer for those early starts ahead of our vacations. Still, caffeine can cause involuntary jittery movements – not something anyone wants whilst sitting in one position on a long-haul trip. Coffee will also speed up the body’s dehydration which is particularly uncomfortable when travelling.
Orange Juice
Orange juice is known for its acidity, so avoiding drinking before travelling is best. Particularly when flying, heartburn can be brought on by the cabin pressure – and drinking acidic orange juice is no favour. The drink’s vitamin C can also weaken the bladder, meaning more discomfort and treks to the bathroom.
Cruciferous veggies
Vegetables in the cruciferous family – like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and kale- tick the boxes for health benefits for the body, which most of us will want before travelling. But these veggies can make the body bloated and gassy because of the fibre and raffinose packed inside them, which can be very unpleasant when travelling.
Find out more about luxury cruising and how to have a vacation that is comfortable and plain sailing from start to finish at https://www.panachecruises.com/
SINGAPORE, 21 August 2023: SriLankan Airlines relaunched flights between Colombo and Jeddah on 15 August 2023, flying a group of ‘Umrah’ Pilgrims from Tiruchirappalli, India, on the inaugural flight to Jeddah, the gateway to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
SriLankan is now offering three weekly flights from Colombo to Jeddah every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday with seamless connections for Indian ‘Umrah’ pilgrims travelling from the cities of Trichy, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai and Madurai.
Flight UL281 departs Colombo at 1425 and arrives in Jeddah at 1810. Flight UL282 departs Jeddah at 1945 and arrives in Colombo at 0405 the following morning.
Flight time is five hours 32 minutes. The airline flies an A300-200 on the route configured with 18 flatbed seats in business class and 251 seats in economy.
The airline operates daily from Colombo to Dammam and Riyadh, extending the option of convenient connections to Saudi Arabia for Indian travellers. (Source: http://www.aviareps.com/)
HONG KONG, 21 August 2023: DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel distribution company, reports international hotel bookings for the summer season (1 June to 31 August 31) have already surpassed 2019 levels by an impressive 93% hike compared to the same period in 2019.
This booking surge signals DidaTravel’s expansion and growth globally and the strong recovery of the wider hotel sector, including, most recently, the APAC region.
Summer bookings reach new heights
When looking at reservations made for August through the DidaTravel platform, they have skyrocketed by 214% year-on-year, indicating a strong rebound in travel demand.
Meanwhile, hotel bookings for European destinations witnessed a remarkable 123% increase in reservations year-on-year for the June, July and August arrival periods. Destinations in the APAC, Middle East & Africa, and the Americas have seen growth rates of 68%, 65%, and 16%, respectively, contributing to the global recovery.
Average daily accommodation rate (ADR) on the rise
As a global average, the ADR has increased by 35% year-on-year, surpassing 2019 levels by 7%.
However, APAC and the Americas are trailing just below 2019 levels, with ADR year-on-year increases of 55% and 14%, respectively.
Europe and the Middle East & Africa have exceeded 2019 levels, with ADR increases of 29% and 23% yearly, showcasing a strong recovery in these regions.
Extended Advance Booking Window
With the relaxation of travel restrictions in APAC, travellers are displaying increased confidence to book hotels further in advance – rising to an average of 23 days from just 10 during the same period last year and even surpassing the 21 days in 2019.
DidaTravel CEO Rikin Wu commented: “As the summer season progresses, the hospitality industry across APAC and worldwide has significantly recovered. We are excited to witness such incredible growth numbers compared to pre-pandemic. This is a testament to the success of Dida’s international expansion strategy and the broader rebound in both short-haul and intercontinental travel this summer.
“With the increasing confidence of travellers and the relaxation of travel restrictions in APAC, we expect the positive trend in hotel bookings to continue.
*All figures quoted in this press release are based on DidaTravel’s accommodation booking data for reservations made for the 2023 summer season of June, July and August.”
