KUCHING, 21 July 2023: Kuching introduced a new river attraction with the inaugural sailing of the Royal Kuching Cruise earlier this month.
The grand opening was presided over by the state’s Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The launch event was also attended by Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, permanent secretary Datuk Sherrina Hussaini, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Sharzede Salleh Askor, STB Deputy CEO Suriya Charles Buas and Yusfida Khalid, and Kuching North City Hall mayor Datuk Junaidi Reduan.
Sailing along the Sarawak River, through the city’s heart, passengers enjoy the cityscape beauty of Kuching at night as they enjoy a light buffet.
The Royal Kuching Cruise catamaran boat accommodates up to 168 passengers and is operated by Island Fun Holiday Company daily from 1745 to 1900. Berthing at the Kuching Waterfront in the city’s centre, the riverboat features a viewing deck, private lounge, a games zone for children and the dining lower deck where buffet snacks are served. The cruise sails between the official residence of the Head of State and the Brooke Dockyard landmarks on Kuching’s Sarawak River.
The minister Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the new attraction would encourage river-based tourism across the state.
“It will unlock the full potential of the state’s captivating natural wonders and cultural treasures,” he said.
SINGAPORE, 21 July 2023: Carnival Cruise Line continues to expand the use of facial biometric technology to expedite the debarkation process for more than 3 million guests.
In partnership with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), nine of Carnival’s 14 US homeports use secure, streamlined technology.
Photo credit: Carnival Corporation.
The system is active in Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York, Baltimore, Mobile, Galveston and Long Beach.
Across the homeports where facial biometrics is being used, the debarkation process has been accelerated by an average of 30%.
“Thanks to our partnership with CBP, these technology solutions make the process more efficient while giving guests a sense of safety and security, knowing their information is protected,” Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy.
She claims the process is simple. Guests debarking ships at the end of a closed loop cruise pause at a kiosk with a camera and take a photo. Within seconds, the image is biometrically compared to their passport or visa photo to verify the guest’s identity with over 98% accuracy. US travellers and select foreign nationals who prefer to opt out of the facial biometric process can request a manual document check from a CBP Officer, consistent with existing US admission regulations.
SINGAPORE, 21 July 12023: Seabourn, a luxury voyages and expedition specialist, will offer once-in-a-lifetime expedition experiences on its newest purpose-built ultra-luxury expedition vessel, Seabourn Pursuit, set to debut during mid-August 2023.
Seabourn Pursuit is scheduled to enter service on 12 August 2023 and will sail five voyages in the Mediterranean before embarking on two voyages across the Atlantic and the Caribbean.
Photo credit Carnival Corporation. A Seabourn submersible.
On 10 October 2023, the ship will arrive in Barbados to begin its expedition journeys, heading south to explore coastal South America, the Amazon, and Antarctica into late March 2024.
With the addition of Seabourn Pursuit to the fleet, Seabourn will provide guests with inclusive expedition offerings such as Zodiac cruising, nature walks and hikes, scuba diving, and snorkelling available on most itineraries.
In addition, the ship will offer optional expeditions with dives on two custom-built luxury submersibles and kayaking at select destinations. Led by a world-class expedition team of 24 experts, including scientists, scholars, naturalists, and more, guests will receive the highest level of knowledge and guidance throughout their Seabourn expedition voyage.
Expedition experiences
Zodiacs: Each ship has a fleet of 24 Zodiacs, which adds an extra dimension to the Seabourn expedition experience. Zodiac cruising is available on all Seabourn Pursuit sailings, including the line’s first-ever voyages to the iconic Kimberley region in Australia between June and August 2024.
Kayaking: Kayaking will be available on Seabourn Pursuit’s Antarctica voyages between November 2023 and February 2024 and her South Pacific sailings between March and October 2024, excluding the Kimberley voyages between June and August 2024.
Submersibles: Available on select itineraries, including Seabourn Pursuit’s Antarctica voyages between November 2023 and February 2024, as well as its South Pacific sailings between March and October 2024, excluding the Kimberley voyages between June and August 2024. Safety design features include a safety buoy and maximum diving depths of 300 metres (less than 1,000 feet), and a surface boat remains near the submersibles throughout each dive.
Scuba Diving: Complimentary dive experiences will be available on Seabourn Pursuit’s voyages across the South Pacific, from Polynesia to Melanesia, between March and October 2024, excluding the Kimberley voyages.
Following its inaugural Antarctic season, the ship will head across the islands of the South Pacific and eventually to Australia, which will be the start of the line’s first exploration of the Kimberley region in the Northern Territory and Western Australia between June and August 2024.
The iconic Kimberley, with its red sandstone gorges, rivers, waterfalls, wildlife, and Aboriginal life and history, is the ideal setting for a truly, world-class expedition experience. In addition to the Kimberley, Seabourn Pursuit will visit Papua New Guinea, West Papua, and Indonesia and sail across the South Pacific between Chile and Melanesia between March and October 2024.
Seabourn Pursuit is designed and built to PC6 Polar Class standards for diverse environments like its sister ship Seabourn Venture. It has nearly 30,000 square feet of deck space, indoor and outdoor guest areas with almost 270-degree views, and a 4K GSS Cineflex Camera mounted on the mast of the Constellation Lounge capable of broadcasting imagery from miles ahead on monitors throughout the ship. Seabourn is a brand of Carnival Corporation and PLC.
SHANGHAI, 20 July 2023: Malaysia made waves at the Diving and Resort Travel Expo Shanghai (DRT) 2023, captivating Chinese travellers with unparalleled underwater adventures during the week-long expo that closed on 16 July.
Tourism Malaysia attended the Diving and Resort Travel Expo in Shanghai for the first time to present dive packages tailored specifically for Chinese travellers.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Dato Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar said: “We recognise the growing interest of Chinese travellers in scuba diving, and Malaysia is the perfect destination to fulfil their desires for adventures, natural beauty, and cultural immersion. Thus, we aim to provide an incredible experience showcasing Malaysia’s best scuba diving industry while fostering sustainable practices.”
During the event, Malaysia highlighted its commitment to sustainable tourism, promoting responsible diving and marine conservation.
The Malaysian delegation, headed by Tourism Malaysia senior deputy director of the Package Development Division Sulaiman Suip, comprised travel agents, representatives from the Sabah Tourism Board, and Tourism Malaysia Shanghai office director Wizani Rosmin.
Malaysia’s scuba diving industry appeals to Chinese travellers due to several factors. The abundance of extraordinary dive sites that cater to divers of all skill levels – from the renowned Sipadan Island, hailed as one of the world’s top dive destinations, to the breathtaking dive spots on Redang Island and Tioman Island.
Another compelling factor for Chinese travellers is the ease of access to Malaysia. There are currently 175 weekly flights from China to Malaysia. The extensive network of international flights connecting major Chinese cities to Malaysia offers convenient access. It should be a deciding factor for Malaysia to reach the target of 5 million Chinese tourist arrivals this year.
SINGAPORE, 21 July 2023: Singapore Changi Airport handled 5.12 million passenger movements in June 2023, crossing the five million threshold for the first time since January 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
The performance represented 88% of the passenger movements registered in June 2019. Regarding aircraft movements, 27,500 landings and take-offs were recorded, about 88% of the June 2019 level. Airfreight throughput stood at 135,000 tonnes for the month, representing a year-on-year decline of 17%.
Photo credit: Changi Airport Group.
Changi Airport saw 14.6 million passenger movements from April to June 2023, 87% of what was registered for the second quarter of 2019. Aircraft movements reached 81,400 or 86% compared to the same period 2019.
In alphabetical order, Changi Airport’s top five traffic markets for the quarter were Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Passenger traffic to and from Northeast Asia steadily improved, rising from around 50% of pre-Covid levels in January 2023 to 75% by June 2023.
From April to June 2023, airfreight throughput totalled 418,000 tonnes, a decline of 10.8% year-on-year. Air cargo demand remained weak due to softening demand amid inflationary pressures. Changi’s top five air cargo markets comprised Australia, China, Hong Kong, India and the US for the period. India has emerged among the top five air cargo markets for two consecutive quarters since the start of 2023.
Changi Airport Group’s executive vice president for air hub and cargo Development Lim Ching Kiat said: “Changi Airport continues to witness steady growth in passenger traffic, with passenger movements inching closer to 90% of 2019 levels as we close the second quarter. We are pleased to have crossed the five-million mark again in June with the mid-year holiday season. Changi has regained more than 80% of its pre-Covid city links, and we look forward to strengthening connectivity to more points in Southeast Asia and China in the second half of the year.”
In the second quarter of 2023, Indigo launched twice-weekly passenger services between Bhubaneswar, India, and Singapore. It represented Changi Airport’s first city link to India’s eastern state of Odisha and its 17th link to India.
Air Canada announced the resumption of its Vancouver-Singapore service in April 2024, after over three decades since the airline last operated at Changi.
As of 1 July 2023, 99 airlines scheduled over 6,300 weekly flights to Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 148 cities in 49 countries and territories worldwide.
PHUKET, 21 July 2023: Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism (PHIST 6), Southeast Asia’s sustainability event for travel and hospitality, is back this September with a full-day forum headlined by one of the region’s most inspiring leaders: KP Ho, the founder of Banyan Tree Group and pioneer of Laguna Phuket.
He will be joined by community advocate, artist and “maximalist” hotel designer Bill Bensley, who PHIST organiser Bill Barnett will interview. David Johnson of Delivering Asia Communications will interview KP Ho.
Passionate advocates of sustainable travel and tourism, KP Ho (left); Bill Bensley (right).
Organised by Phuket Hotels Association, C9 Hotelworks, and Greenview, PHIST edition 6 will be staged on 4 September 2023 at SAii Laguna Phuket. The event should return to full capacity with approximately 1,000 travel and hospitality professionals gathering for a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity from across Asia Pacific.
KP Ho, a former journalist turned hotelier, understood the critical importance of sustainability before it became a buzzword. Having founded Banyan Tree, he was instrumental in transforming Laguna Phuket from a barren moonscape of scarred land – abandoned by the tin mining industry and declared uninhabitable by the UN – into Southeast Asia’s leading integrated resort development.
It set the stage for the first luxurious and eco-sensitive Banyan Tree resort in 1994, featuring the world’s first pool villas. The company has expanded to over 100 hotels and resorts, operating or in the pipeline. The Banyan Tree Global Foundation has also been set up to support conservation and community development.
Bill Bensley has for 30 years designed many of the most outstanding hotels in Asia, winning a small armoury of world-leading awards and accolades for the deep respect paid to their environments and purpose-driven nature. Like KP, he will share his personal story and philosophy with just 100 guests at each session. Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition, guests can look forward to plenty of learning opportunities. A series of 16 workshops will see industry experts share best practices on key and emerging green topics, including waste, renewables, certification, women leaders in sustainability and glamping.
Phuket Hotels Association executive director Jayne MacDougall.
A “Green Think Tank” roundtable discussion will be led by Jesper Palmqvist, STR Global’s Area Director for Asia Pacific, with representatives from islands including Bohol, Bali, Koh Samui, Phuket, Phu Quoc, Singapore and the Maldives. At the same time, an “Eco Travel Show” will showcase eco-friendly products from exhibitors specialising in outdoor activities such as glamping. A “Farm-to-Table” workshop will let guests learn about the origins of food with two Michelin-starred restaurants in Phuket, and the “Women in Leadership” session will highlight the issue of gender equality.
Phuket Hotels Association executive director Jayne MacDougall said: “We are delighted to announce the return of PHIST, Southeast Asia’s biggest sustainability event, for its sixth annual edition. This year, we’re back with a bang as we prepare to welcome 1,000 guests for a full-day itinerary that will shake up the industry, challenge traditional ideas and put learning centre stage. We are also excited to welcome KP Ho back to Phuket. As the man who did so much to stimulate the island’s tourism sector and advance the cause of sustainability, he is the perfect person to inspire our delegates. We look forward to seeing everyone at PHIST this September.”
Sponsors for PHIST 6 include New Capital Energy Asia, Central CPN, Blue Tree, XCO2, Banyan Tree Phuket and SAii Laguna Phuket, with beverages provided by Greenery Water, JCD Coffee and FullMoon Brewery.
BANGKOK, 20 July 2023: Building a winning team in travel or hospitality is on the agenda at the next Skal International Bangkok event to be hosted during lunch from 1130 to 1400 on 8 August at the Hotel Nikko Bangkok Thonglor.
Skal International Bangkok has recruited Richard Cohen, a personal performance coach, trainer, and author, to spell out what it takes to build the right team. He heads The LAB, Bangkok’s personalised health and fitness studio. He is listed among Thailand Tatler’s top 300 resident expatriates in Thailand and a recipient of the Big Chilli Expat Entrepreneur Award.
Hotel Nikko Bangkok 27 Soi Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor). Skal lunch venue.
During his lunch pep talk, Cohen will share insights on team building, offering strategies to develop stronger, more resilient, and higher-performing teams. His expertise and experience will give attendees practical tips and actionable advice to foster organisational success.
Learning how to motivate and build a winning team comes at a price; THB950 for the lunch drinks and the pep talk on coaching and building sales teams. The lunch and talk will set you back THB1,650 if you are not a member.
BANGKOK, 20 July 2023: On an average week, over 50,000 travellers connect to their destination of choice on codeshare or interline flights operated by Emirates’ many partners. The airline’s numerous partnerships developed over the years have helped fuel its growth, enabled frictionless connectivity for customers, bolstered loyalty reciprocity and tapped into unique markets that have generated new traffic flows.
While Emirates’ business strategy has always been to grow organically, its strategic partnerships like interline agreements and codeshares help to expand its global footprint, enabling the airline’s customers to reach places far beyond its network. Emirates will continue to evolve its partnership strategy by broadening many interline partnerships to full-fledged codeshare agreements and strengthening its existing codeshares to build on its already industry-leading network position.
Since it signed its first interline agreement, Emirates’ global partner network has grown exponentially across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.
Today, the airline has 29 codeshare, 117 interline and 11 intermodal rail partners across the transport ecosystem in over 100 countries, delivering an array of travel choices through flexible schedules for travellers and providing seamless connectivity, relevance and a network reach that extends to over 5,250 additional sectors covering over 800 cities. For example, in the Americas, this means reaching cities beyond major airports, like Corpus Christi through United and Halifax with Air Canada. In Asia, travellers have strong connection opportunities to leisure points like Koh Samui in Thailand and Luang Prabang in Laos with partner Bangkok Airways. In Africa, South African Airways and Kenya Airways connect Emirates customers to an array of underserved points like Vilanculos, Kilimanjaro, Juba, and Maputo. For customers of those airlines flying on Emirates, connecting to the carrier’s network of over 140 destinations through Dubai is easily within reach.
Customers can book connecting flights with the airline’s partners and enjoy the benefits of seamless single-ticket itineraries, baggage transfers, frequent flyer benefits, and lounge access, alongside other perks to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Across the airline’s network, strategic partnerships with over 140 airlines have boosted connectivity options for customers through expanding city pairs on a single ticket, in addition to integrating benefits in the loyalty space:
The Americas: Emirates customers travelling to the US can access more than 200 U.S. cities in the United network via Chicago, Houston or San Francisco. Travellers can also access dozens of destinations across Canada, Mexico, Caribbean islands and Central and South America. Customers journeying to Emirates’ extensive network beyond Dubai have many choices to unique destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South Asia. Emirates’ partnership with Air Canada allows customers of both carriers to enjoy seamless connectivity to 232 points spanning three continents, including destinations across the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Europe: Customers can connect on Emirates’ five codeshare partners, including Air Malta, Air Baltic, Aegean Airlines, TAP Portugal and Siberia Airlines, and its 35 interline partners to reach more than 313 cities across the continent, including popular holiday destinations across the Mediterranean. The airline’s rail partners in Germany, Spain and France provide on-ground connectivity for travellers to explore Europe on the train and connect seamlessly with Emirates on a single ticket.
Asia: Emirates’ already extensive Asian network is further bolstered through the airline’s nine codeshare partners ranging from Japan Airlines, Korean Air and Garuda, among others, reaching over 150 popular cities across Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and the Philippines, as well as other popular tourist and business hotspots.
Australia: Often called one of the most seismic partnerships in the industry, theEmirates and Qantas relationship is one that jointly provides access to over 60 Australian destinations that Emirates does not fly to, while Qantas customers can fly on Emirates to Dubai and access over 65 cities in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa beyond Qantas’s existing international network. Frequent Flyers of Emirates Skywards and Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn and redeem points travelling with carriers and enjoy access to each airline’s lounges at airports worldwide. The airline’s Jetstar partnership (a subsidiary of Qantas) also enables travellers to reach cities in Asia – all on one ticket.
Africa: Emirates’ footprint across Africa has expanded over the years to drive better connectivity and value for customers with more flight options to smaller regional points across the continent. Through its codeshares with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, and interlines with a dozen other regional carriers, the airline has expanded its reach to close to 130 regional points in Africa.
Middle East: The airline’s keystone partnership with flydubai has not only bolstered traffic flows in and out of its Dubai hub but has also delivered enhanced connectivity to more than 215 destinations across 98 countries and over 250 codeshare flights to choose from on an average day. Emirates customers can access more than 80 unique flydubai destinations, and flydubai passengers can access more than 100 Emirates destinations. In the last two years alone, the partnership has enabled over 2 million customers to travel on the joint networks of both carriers. The innovative partnership provides seamless connectivity at Dubai International Airport (DXB) between Terminals 2 and 3, baggage transfers on a single itinerary, and reciprocal loyalty benefits under the joint loyalty programme, Emirates Skywards.
SYDNEY, 20 July 2023: Australia’s 2023 National Travel Industry Awards welcomes Singapore Airlines as the NITA major sponsor, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents reports this week.
The highly anticipated event will be held in Melbourne on 18 November, with Singapore Airlines named as the major sponsor for the second year running as part of a multi-year partnership.
Singapore Airlines cabin crew Yijia, AFTA CEO Dean Long, Singapore Airlines general manager agency sales Greg McJarrow.
Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Dean Long said the NTIAs will celebrate the recovery and success of the Australian travel sector.
“AFTA is thrilled to host NTIA again this year and welcome Singapore Airlines returning as our major sponsor.
“We thank Singapore Airlines for their incredible support and look forward to seeing everyone in Melbourne in November for a much-deserved celebration and revamped approach to NTIA.”
Singapore Airlines general manager of agency sales Greg McJarrow added: “Singapore Airlines is proud to continue its support of the National Travel Industry Awards as the major sponsor.
“We are pleased to play a part in continuing this very important event to recognise the industry and its people. We look forward to celebrating the past year’s successes with the industry and look to the future with continued optimism and positivity.”
Founded in 1957, AFTA represents the majority of travel agents and businesses in Australia and includes all major travel agency groups.
SINGAPORE, 18 July 18, 2023: As 2025 bookings open, Holland America Line claims its Alaska cruises feature more glacier, wildlife and wilderness viewing opportunities.
Holland America Line offers 126 cruises to experience Alaska in 2025 and close to 180 shore excursions focusing on wildlife and wilderness encounters. Bookings are now open for cruises to Alaska scheduled from April through October 2025.
Photo credit: Holland America Line. Nieuw Amsterdam
Every Alaska cruise includes a scenic visit to one or more of Alaska’s iconic glaciers, where the ships sail up to the face of the ice formations and rotate for a 360-degree view. Excursions feature whale watching in Juneau and shore excursions to view bears, eagles and seals.
Highlights 2025 Alaska Cruises
The 28-day “Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice” cruise aboard Westerdam departs on 8 June 2025 roundtrip from Seattle to the Bering Sea and into the Arctic Circle.
The 14-day “Great Alaskan Explorer” itinerary offers an in-depth adventure with eight Alaska ports. Departures are roundtrip from Vancouver.
Nieuw Amsterdam (4 May): Anchorage, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Skagway, Valdez and Wrangell, with Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier.
Seven-day “Alaska Inside Passage” cruises sail roundtrip from Vancouver on Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Zaandam. Ports include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.
Have It All package
When guests book 2025 Alaska cruises with the ‘Have It All’ premium package, the standard package amenities of shore excursions, speciality dining, a Signature Beverage Package and Surf Wi-Fi are included — plus the added perk of free prepaid Crew Appreciation, along with free upgrades to the Elite Beverage Package and Premium Wi-Fi.
