SINGAPORE, 26 February 2025: Skyscanner offers travel savings of at least 20% when we log in to its DROPS app. It claims to drop daily deals on your screen for a collection of flights from a nearby airport. Prices must have dropped by at least 20% that day (compared to the last seven days).
Skyscanner says it is “relentlessly on the hunt for DROPS in fares worldwide, ensuring travellers can tap bargains for flights from their nearest airport.
Skyscanner’s data gurus have crunched the numbers to share their top DROPS insights (based on all DROPS served up to Singapore travellers in January 2025).
Wednesday was the most popular DROPS day.
Helping Singapore travellers get past hump day, Skyscanner has highlighted the most DROPS on Wednesdays this January*.
Early birds catch the most DROPS
38% of all DROPS were published before the workday even started (pre-0900) in January**
Bangkok tops the most dropped destinations list
Short-haul city breaks and cultural hotspots are the top spots for having the most DROPS in January**.
Top 10 destinations with bargain fare deals
TOKYO ranks No1 for the biggest dropped destination
The average saving from DROPS in January was USD214**
but Tokyo took the crown for the biggest average savings (based on all destinations from Singapore with a minimum of 100
DROPS in January 2025).
Ranking destination average savings from DROPS
*Data based on all DROPS published between 1 – 28 January 2025 from Singapore. **Data based on all DROPS published between 1 – 31 January 2025 from Singapore.
MANILA, 26 February 2025: Cebu Pacific will launch direct flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City in April, marking the first time an airline directly connects passengers from Central Visayas to Vietnam.
Starting 7 April 2025, CEB will operate direct flights from Cebu to Ho Chi Minh City three times a week — every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Photo credit: Cebu Pacific.
“As Vietnam continues to grow in popularity among Filipino travellers, launching a new gateway to the country via Ho Chi Minh City is an exciting step for Cebu Pacific. We look forward to offering travellers from Cebu the chance to explore a new destination more seamlessly and welcome more international visitors to discover the Philippines,” said CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao.
To introduce the route, the airline offered fares as low as PHP1 one-way base fare (excluding fees and surcharges) from 20 to 24 February for travel from 7 April to 31 July 2025.
The airline will deploy A320neo aircraft departing Cebu on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Flight schedule
5J5780 will depart Cebu (CEB) at 2045 and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 2255. 5J5781 will depart Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) at 0005 and arrive in Cebu (CEB) at 0410. Flights depart on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Cebu Pacific will compete head-on with Philippine Airlines due to launch three weekly flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City effective 2 May. (Flights depart Cebu on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.)
CEB currently flies to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
POKHARA, Nepal, 26 February 2025: The Nepal India China Expo (NICE) 2025 closes today, 26 February, having attracted close to 800 delegates for three days of networking and discussions in Pokhara.
It was the first expo created to drive new collaborations, investment opportunities, and cross-border partnerships by bringing together tourism, trade, and business leaders from three nations (Nepal, India, and China).
Photo credit PATA Nepal Chapter.
As one enthusiastic delegate posted on Facebook, the historic tri-nation tourism expo in Pokhara, with buyers and sellers from Nepal, India, and China, will strengthen tourism ties and unlock new opportunities for MICE tourism.
“This initiative marks a significant milestone in positioning Nepal as a tourism hub between its two giant neighbours while strengthening regional cooperation. A united effort in tourism can boost economies, create new travel experiences, and bring people closer across borders,” said panellist Nandini Lahe Thapa.
Apart from industry insights and networking sessions, NICE 2025 highlighted the need to grow business events tourism, reflected in the keynote presentation delivered by the Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid and the banner headline over the stage “NICE for MICE.”
Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid.
NICE Nepal India China Expo was the first tri-nation expo hosted in the Pokhara Event Centre from 24 to 26 February and organised by the PATA Nepal Chapter in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Industry and Tourism (Gandaki Province), Pokhara Metropolitan City, Pokhara Tourism Council, and other key public and private sector partners and stakeholders. Chief Guest at the event was the Honorable Badri Prasad Pandey – Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation – Government of Nepal.
Pokhara Metropolitan City’s Mayor, Dhan Raj Acharya, expressed his happiness and pride in hosting NICE 2025 in Nepal’s tourism capital, noting it was the most significant event ever held in Pokhara that would significantly boost the city’s tourism promotions.
The landmark event brought together the world’s two largest outbound travel markets, India and China, for an event hosted in Nepal.
Show organisers estimated that on the opening day, the three-day event attracted close to 800 delegates and VIPs, including 150 regional buyers, 100 exhibitors, 20 speakers, and 25 media from the three countries.
“The primary goal of the expo was to explore Nepal’s tourism potential in India and China and to promote opportunities for integrated hospitality businesses, the PATA Nepal Chapter said in a press statement.
KIULU, Sabah, 25 February 2025: British actor and filmmaker Emrhys Cooper pushed his limits on the rugged trails of Sabah in the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM), calling it “one of the best ultra marathons” he has ever joined.
Held from 22 to 23 February, the BUTM is an annual extreme trail marathon that takes runners through the jungles and landscapes of Kiulu Valley, about 45 km from Kota Kinabalu.
Participants navigate dirt tracks, backroads, and steep trails, with breathtaking views of ridges, valleys, and the majestic Mount Kinabalu.
The event, supported by the Sabah Tourism Board, features four race categories: 106 km, 55 km, 32 km, and 9 km. Each tests runners’ endurance and resilience.
“The run was challenging but rewarding. I slipped down countless times because the trail was wet, but it was fun,” said Cooper, who is part of the UK-based Maverick Racers.
Datuk Joniston Bangkuai presenting prizes to Veslemoy Ronnevik, who won the women’s 50km category.
Best known for his role as a cult leader on the British television programme Coronation Street, Cooper was joined by seven other group members in the race. Despite the harsh conditions, he is eager to return.
“I hope to return again next year with more runners from the UK,” said Cooper, who joined the 50 km category.
This year’s BUTM drew around 1,300 participants, including nearly 300 international runners. Among them was Norway’s Veslemoy Ronnevik, who won the women’s 50 km category.
“The surface was slippery because of the rain, but I really enjoyed the run,” she said.
“It was quite a challenge because of the humidity. It was -10°C in Norway when I left for Sabah to join the run, but the beautiful scenery along the way made it worth it.
“I would rank BUTM among the best, and I’m keeping my options open for next year,” added Ronnevik.
On Saturday, 22 February, Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister and Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai flagged off the event’s first run.
He welcomed the growing number of international participants, saying it helps boost Sabah’s reputation as a premier adventure tourism destination.
“Cooper’s participation, along with other international runners, will help raise the profile of the annual BUTM, which is already gaining popularity.
“The increasing interest in BUTM and similar events in Kiulu supports our ongoing efforts to promote the district as an adventure tourism hotspot,” said Joniston.
With more international athletes joining each year, BUTM is set to attract even more global attention, further establishing Sabah as a must-visit destination for endurance runners and adventure seekers.
For more information on Sabah’s attractions and destinations, visit the website Sabah Tourism Board
BANGKOK, 25 February 2025: Tarek Beheiry, a seasoned hospitality professional with more than two decades of industry experience in Asia, Africa, and Australasia, has been appointed to the helm of INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit.
He has taken charge of the 208-room INNSiDE by Meliá hotel, reaching 34 floors and towering over Bangkok’s trendy On Nut neighbourhood, replete with a sky-high transparent infinity pool, rooftop tapas bar and integrated co-working spaces.
The new role is his first with the Spanish company Meliá Hotels International. He joins the team after working as the regional general manager of Ennismore New Zealand and general manager at SO/ Auckland. Before that, he was the general manager at Mondrian Seoul Itaewon.
In Thailand, he was previously the general manager at W Koh Samui, hotel manager at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit and the resident manager at Pullman Bangkok Hotel G.
MANILA, 25 February 2025: The Philippines’ Department of Tourism is positioning the Philippines as a premier golf tourism destination through its support for the Philippine Golf Convention (GOLFCON) 2025, which convenes from 8 to 9 March at the Marriott Manila Hotel, Pasay City.
Organised by South Pacific Events & Marketing Co, GOLFCON 2025 brings together industry leaders, golf brands, tour operators, and stakeholders to promote collaboration and innovation within the golf sector.
The event will highlight the Philippines’ world-class golf courses, scenic landscapes, and diverse tourism offerings, reinforcing the country’s standing in the global golf tourism market.
High on the convention agenda is the launch of the latest golf club models from leading international and local brands, offering golf enthusiasts and professionals an exclusive first look at cutting-edge technology and performance innovations in golf equipment.
With a strong lineup of panel discussions, business engagements, and exhibitor showcases, GOLFCON 2025 is a platform for fostering partnerships, driving investments, and expanding opportunities for golf tourism in the Philippines.
Fujiyoshida, Japan at Chureito Pagoda and Mt. Fuji in the spring with cherry blossoms.
SYDNEY, 25 February 2025: Australians continue embracing international travel, with the latest ATIA Travel Trends report revealing significant growth in outbound travel, particularly to Japan, Indonesia and the US.
The report, which analyses data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Infrastructure, highlights a 16.2% increase in Australian international trips, rising to 11.6 million in December 2024.
Japan recorded an exceptional 56.9% increase, with 798,710 Australians travelling there over the past year. Indonesia remained a favourite, with 1.68 million Australian travellers, marking a 22.7% rise, while the US saw 735,210 Australian visitors, a 10.2% increase.
China leads inbound growth
Inbound travel to Australia also experienced robust growth, with a 15.1% rise in visitors, reaching 8.27 million. China was the fastest-growing market, with a 66.4% increase in visitor numbers, reaching 891,550 arrivals.
New Zealand remains Australia’s largest source market, with 1.39 million visitors, a 9.5% rise. The US and UK also experienced strong growth, up 8.0% and 7.4% respectively.
Most popular travel months by purpose
According to the report, July was the most popular month for Australians travelling on holiday, with 63.1% of outbound travellers citing leisure as their reason for travel.
For those visiting friends and relatives, January saw the highest percentage at 34.8%, reflecting the holiday season’s influence on travel patterns.
Business travel peaked in March, with 8.7% of outbound travellers departing for work-related purposes.
Airline market share — international & domestic
For international travel, Qantas Airways maintained its lead with a 17.3% market share, carrying 597,000 passengers in the year ending November 2024. Jetstar followed with an 11.7% market share, carrying 402,000 passengers, while Singapore Airlines accounted for a 9.8% market share, transporting 337,000 passengers.
Domestically, Melbourne-Sydney remained the busiest route, with 763,228 seats available in November 2024. Brisbane-Sydney recorded a 93% load factor, reflecting strong domestic demand. Perth-Sydney saw a 7.1% increase in available seats, reaching 163,560 seats by year-end.
Commenting on the findings, ATIA CEO Dean Long said: “The latest data confirms that Australians’ appetite for international travel remains strong, with destinations like Japan, Indonesia and the US seeing significant increases.
“At the same time, inbound travel continues to strengthen, with China’s remarkable growth standing out. These figures underscore the resilience and vitality of our travel and tourism industry.
“As always, we encourage travellers to book with an ATIA Accredited business to ensure a seamless and professional travel experience.”
About ATIA (www.atia.travel) The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.
SINGAPORE, 25 February 2025: Air India and Lufthansa Group are extending their codeshare partnership. This sees Air India enter into a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines and expand the existing codeshare agreements between Air India, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).
The expanded partnership significantly boosts flight options and connectivity for travellers between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe with the addition of close to 60 codeshare routes operated by the four airlines across 12 Indian and 26 European cities.
Photo credit: Air India
The expanded agreements increased the codeshare routes between Air India, Lufthansa and SWISS from 55 to nearly 100. The new agreement between Air India and Austrian Airlines adds 26 codeshare routes.
Air India will now offer 26 destinations across Europe and three destinations in the Americas beyond its gateways in Europe (Frankfurt, Vienna, and Zurich), with the ‘AI’ designator code placed on the following services operated by airlines in the Lufthansa Group, including Austrian Airlines for the first time.
Lufthansa
From Frankfurt to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Nuremberg, Oslo, Prague, Riga, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Valencia, – Washington DC.
SWISS
From Zurich to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Dublin, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.
Austrian Airlines
From Vienna to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Hannover, Lyon, Manchester, Marseille, Munich, Nice, Oslo, Prague, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Valencia.
Reciprocally, customers of Lufthansa Group will now be able to connect to Air India’s domestic services to or from 15 points within India, namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa Mopa, Goa Dabolim, Hyderabad, Indore, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Thiruvananthapuram. Lufthansa Group carriers will also add their respective designator codes to Air India’s international services to three destinations from Delhi and Mumbai: Kathmandu, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Additionally, flights currently operated by Air India and Lufthansa Group carriers between India and Germany or Switzerland will be covered under the expanded codeshare partnership. For example, customers who wish to fly between Delhi and Frankfurt will now have three daily flight options each way with ‘LH’ flight numbers, including two flights operated by Air India and one by Lufthansa.
Both airlines plan to progressively include other destinations in their network in the codeshare arrangements.
Air India and the three Lufthansa Group carriers are members of Star Alliance. Frequent flyers will continue to earn and redeem points/miles on all four airlines. At the same time, elite status holders of Air India’s Maharaja Club and Lufthansa Group’s Miles & More programmes will benefit from Star Alliance Gold benefits including priority services, extra baggage allowance, and airport lounge access worldwide.
DOHA, Qatar, 25 February 2025: Qatar Airways, in partnership with Qatar Airways Holidays, offers football fans travel packages for the world’s most prestigious club competition match, the UEFA Champions League final 2025.
As the Official Airline Partner of the UEFA Champions League, the airline presents a limited opportunity for fans to secure complete travel packages, including flights, hotel accommodation and match tickets to the final in Munich on 31 May 2025.
UEFA Champions League final match tickets and hotel accommodation.
With these all-inclusive travel packages, fans will secure flights and accommodation and category one UEFA Champions League final match tickets, which are also seamlessly integrated for a hassle-free experience.
The travel package includes the following:
Return flights with Qatar Airways
Hotel stay in Munich
Match tickets
The opportunity to collect Avios and Qpoints on your flights, as well as on the total package value
The option to redeem packages using Cash + Avios for even more significant savings.
Football enthusiasts across the GCC, Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and beyond can now quickly secure their spot at one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.
SINGAPORE, 25 February 2025: Korea introduces the e-Arrival card, allowing visitors to submit their entry information online in advance instead of the current paper arrival form system, which will be discontinued in December 2025.
Visitors can now submit the declaration form up to three days before entering Korea, based on Korean Standard Time. However, if they fail to enter Korea within 72 hours after submitting their e-Arrival card, the card will no longer be valid.
The form can be submitted through the e-Arrival card website by entering the required information; the website supports both PC and mobile devices.
Visitors can download a PDF file of their submitted form, but it is not a requirement for entry inspection. For visitors under 14 years old, a family member or another person must complete the declaration form on their behalf. The form can also be submitted on behalf of adults and for multiple people at once.
Fast facts
e-Arrival card website: e-arrivalcard.go.kr
Launched on 24 February 2025 at 1400 KST
Korea Immigration Service website: mojhome.moj.go.kr (Korean, English)
e-Arrival card information can be downloaded in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese
2025 Cherry Blossom Forecast
Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organisation is pinpointing the best times to visit to capture cherry blossoms blooming with its annual forecast for 2025. Released on Sunday, KTO notes that this year’s cherry blossoms are expected to bloom three to eight days earlier than average.
The earliest cherry blossoms can be seen in Jeju Island around 22 March, Busan around 23 March, Seoul and Gangneung around 1 April. As cherry blossoms are estimated to peak approximately one week after blossoming, the flowers are expected to fully bloom in Seogwipo, Jeju, after 29 March and in Seoul around 8 April.
For those planning a trip to Korea this spring, plan to see cherry blossoms in full bloom across the country.
Jeju Island: 22 March (Sat) Busan: 23 March (Sun) Jeonju, Jeonbuk State: 26 March (Wed) Gangneung, Gangwon State: 1 April (Tue) Seoul: 1 April (Tue) Chuncheon, Gangwon State: 4 April (Fri)
* Actual blooming and peak dates may differ from forecast dates depending on weather conditions.
