Starlink is available on all three Cunard ships and will launch on Queen Anne in 2024.
SINGAPORE, 20 September 2023: Cunard has announced it is rolling out a new Wi-Fi service on board as it launches SpaceX’s Starlink across its fleet.
Starlink is available on all three Cunard ships and will launch on Queen Anne in 2024.
Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology will provide guests with greater capacity across Cunard ships, allowing for sharing photos and videos, streaming films, and enjoying other content on board with a more reliable Wi-Fi connection at even faster speeds.
The roll-out of Starlink aboard Cunard Queens began in June 2023, with the service due to be available in both public spaces and staterooms on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth by the end of 2023.
Cunard’s newest ship, Queen Anne, will launch with the service in May 2024.
KUALA LUMPUR, 20 September 2023: Mark your calendars and get ready for the highly anticipated return of Miss SHOPhia Go Travel, Malaysia’s premier niche product travel fair, organised by Tourism Malaysia.
Happening from 27 to 29 October 2023 at Gurney Paragon Mall, travellers can look forward to an extraordinary event coinciding with the year-end festivities, promising exciting deals and discounts. Other activities include busker performances, spa and cooking demonstrations, Miss SHOPhia Wheel of Fortune, local artist performances, and lucky draws.
In sync with this travel extravaganza, the renowned Miss SHOPhia Shopping Hunt 5.0 is poised to captivate participants on 28 October 2023. Also organised by Tourism Malaysia, this thrilling hunt serves as a platform to boost awareness of the charms of Penang and shine a spotlight on the beloved niche icon, Miss SHOPhia.
This year, a fresh twist is added as participants are encouraged to embrace sustainable travel options, such as public transportation and the convenience of e-hailing services, to access shopping havens, UNESCO heritage sites and culinary delights.
Tourism Malaysia is collaborating with Penang Global Tourism as a strategic partner, with venue sponsors from Penang Development Corporation, The Top Penang, and Gurney Paragon Mall, as well as Malaysia Airlines Berhad and Firefly as airline partners. Tourism Malaysia will host a familiarisation trip for our esteemed media friends from India, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Brunei to showcase the charm of our beautiful niche segments in Malaysia.
Among other sponsors are VISA (payment gateway), OZO Georgetown, The Granite Luxury Hotel, Sunway Lagoon, Lost World of Tambun, and major malls such as Design Village, 1st Avenue Mall, Gurney Plaza and Sungei Wang Plaza.
“We are thrilled to announce the return of Miss SHOPhia Go Travel and the Miss SHOPhia Shopping Hunt 5.0. These events showcase Penang’s cultural richness and vibrant shopping scene, its UNESCO heritage sites, and its diverse gastronomy, offering an unforgettable experience to locals and international tourists,” said Tourism Malaysia director-general YBhg Dato Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar.
“Through these initiatives, we aim to emphasise the accessibility and charm of this enchanting destination while supporting sustainable and convenient travel options.”
For more information about Miss SHOPhia Go Travel and Miss SHOPhia Shopping Hunt 5.0, visit https://www.malaysia.travel.
MANILA, 20 September 2023: Philippine Airlines has launched PAL Holidays powered by Expedia Group, a one-stop travel website that offers travellers a comprehensive platform for all travel needs.
The new site is online in the US, Canada, Australia and the Philippines.
Photo credit: PAL
The new platform is powered by Expedia Group’s White Label Template technology. It is designed to help passengers plan and book their entire journey — including PAL flights, hotels, transportation, and exciting travel activities- in one convenient location.
“We are thrilled to introduce PAL Holidays, our new one-stop booking platform that simplifies and enhances the travel planning process for our passengers. By partnering with Expedia, we are confident that our customers will enjoy unparalleled access to a range of great offers for hotels, experiences, and transport that can go together with the Philippine Airlines flights they book. PAL Holidays reflects our dedication to providing exceptional travel experiences, and we look forward to serving our customers more conveniently and efficiently,” said Philippine Airlines vice president for sales, Bud Britanico.
With Expedia Group’s long-standing reputation as a reliable and trusted travel platform, travellers can be assured that PAL Holidays will deliver exceptional service and value.
PAL Holidays provides travellers access to over 900,000 properties globally, enabled by the collaboration with Expedia Group and allows travellers to access various services in one transaction, encompassing PAL flights, hotel accommodations, transportation and promotional deals.
“We are thrilled to team up with Philippine Airlines for PAL Holidays. We share the same vision of transforming and easing how travellers plan and book their journeys. With our combined expertise and service, we are excited to offer a seamless travel platform that will greatly help travellers,” said Expedia Group senior vice president of strategic travel partners Greg Schulze.
HONG KONG, 20 September 2023: Teamwork Creative Events Limited, the Greater China promoter for the FIA World Rallycross Championship, has signed a MOU with China Travel Intelligence Brand Marketing Institute of the China Tourism Group, Chinese Culture Institute and Bonjour Technology Services Limited.
Signed on 17 September, the MOU covers promoting brand culture, race operations and cooperation to create events, meetings and conventions and introduce major international races.
Dai Linxu, President of China Travel Intelligence Brand Marketing Institute (BMI) of the China Tourism Group, Leslie Wong, CEO of Teamwork Creative Events Limited.
The collaboration aims to seek partners in the local government and enterprises for Teamwork’s events and to provide support for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
The Season Finale of the FIA World Rallycross Championship will be held in Hong Kong from 11 to 12 November. The 2023 World Rallycross Championship includes eight stops. The race series started in June this summer.
During the season finale on 11 to 12 November, the champion will be crowned at the Central Harbourfront Event Space. The circuit is around 1.2 km long, and the surface will be half mud and half tarmac. Five cars are on the starting line in each race, and the cars are all electric, making for a fast, entertaining event.
About the FIA World Rallycross Championship
The FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) showcases head-to-head, short, sharp racing on mixed surfaces (gravel and asphalt) within amphitheatre-like venues. An evolution of the popular and prestigious FIA European Rallycross Championship World RX was launched in 2014 and represents the very pinnacle of the discipline, visiting some of the most iconic venues in the sport.
In 2022, the series entered a new era, going fully electric – the next step towards a more sustainable future. Find out more at www.fiaworldrallycross.com.
About the Teamwork Creative Events Limited
Teamwork Creative Events Limited brings in international events and offers a platform for events to promote technology in China and Hong Kong.
HANOI, 20 September 2023: The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) inaugural World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) opened in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Monday, adopting the theme ”Leadership in Action: Driving Safer and More Efficient Operations.”
Vietnam Airlines is the host carrier for the WSOC, which will examine aspects of safety, including flight operations, cabin operations, and emergency response. It is the first time IATA has held a safety conference in Vietnam.
“Safety is aviation’s highest priority, and this is reflected in the high levels of government participation and the fact that over 550 safety professionals from approximately 100 airlines, aviation regulators, aircraft manufacturers, and other safety stakeholders are in attendance. With its location in the heart of Asia and strong economic growth, Vietnam provides an ideal venue for the WSOC. We’re excited to have Vietnam Airlines, which has a growing route network connecting the region and the globe, as our host airline,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.
“Safety is at the core of every airline. As Vietnam’s national airline, Vietnam Airlines has always remained committed to our vision, mission and core values as a responsible airline group. We are pleased to welcome the global safety community to Hanoi to share insights, expand knowledge and together transform for the safer aviation industry,” said Vietnam Airlines President and CEO Le Hong Ha, who is participating on the CEO panel, along with Philippine Airlines President and COO Stanley K. Ng and Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior VP, Operations, Safety and Security.
Agenda for Safety
A highlight of the WSOC will be the launch of the IATA Safety Leadership Charter, with safety leaders from more than 20 airlines as signatories. The Charter was developed in consultation with IATA members and the wider aviation community to support executives in growing a positive safety culture within their organisations.
Also high on the agenda is the ongoing transition of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which turns 20 this month, towards a risk-based model under which audits will be tailored to each airline’s risk profile.
Other sessions will review the need for prompt and thorough state accident investigation reports to help improve safety. The programme also includes runway safety, unruly passengers, cabin crew health and well-being, and pilot training.
Value of Aviation to Vietnam
Aviation makes a major contribution to Vietnam’s economic well-being. Based on 2019 (pre-pandemic) data, it contributed US $11.7 billion to the country’s GDP, including the spending of foreign tourists arriving by air, representing 5.5% of GDP. In total, 2.5 million jobs, including tourism-related jobs, were supported by aviation, according to Aviation Benefits Beyond Borders.
BANGKOK, 20 September 2023: AirAsia will introduce a new route from Bangkok-Don Mueang to the Indian city of Guwahati, starting 1 December 2023, as the tourism market in India continues to grow steadily.
To launch the route, the airline will schedule three weekly services on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The new direct route will offer travellers from Thailand an opportunity to visit the sacred city of India’s northeast. In contrast, Indian travellers will have access to an extensive network across Thailand in time for the end-of-year holiday season.
AirAsia Thailand’s head of commercial Tansita Akrarittipirom said: “The Don Mueang-Guwahati is a completely new route for the carrier that came with exciting challenges. The addition marks the ninth Thai-Indian connection for Thai AirAsia after Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Bangalore, Gaya, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, affirming the growth of the Indian market and its potential for even more routes for AirAsia.”
To introduce the new route, AirAsia offers one-way fares starting at THB3,590 all-in, bookable until 1 October 2023 for travel from 1 December 2023 to 29 March 2024 via AirAsia Superapp.
SINGAPORE, 20 September 2023: ForwardKeys, a leading travel analytics firm, reports worldwide summer (1July to 31 August) flight bookings were 23% behind pre-pandemic (2019) levels and 31% ahead of last year.
By analysing the top destinations and origin markets compared to last year and pre-pandemic levels in 2019, ForwardKeys identified five major global air travel trends this summer.
US dominance
Patchy post-pandemic recovery
The Far East revving up
Resilience of classic beach destinations
The heatwave
US Dominates the Ranking
In ranking the most visited country destinations by share of scheduled flight bookings, the US was top of the list by a substantial margin, attracting 11% of all international visitors this summer (1 July to 31 August). Spain, the UK, Italy, Japan, France, Mexico, Germany, Canada and Türkiye followed.
The US was even more dominant in outbound travel. Regarding source markets, the US ranked top with an 18% share of scheduled flight bookings. Germany, the UK, Canada, France, South Korea, China, Japan, Spain and Italy followed.
Patchy Recovery
Travel was up last year by a double-digit figure for most countries, but volumes have yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. A closer look at the world’s traditionally largest outbound travel markets reveals the patchy nature of the recovery. The US was 17% up on last year and just 1% down on 2019 volumes. However, other traditionally large source markets were much further off the pace: Germany, 21% down on pre-pandemic levels; the UK, 20% down, France, 17% down, South Korea, 28% down, China, 67% down Japan, 53% down and Italy 24% down.
The Far East Revving Up
Also striking are the differences in travel volumes compared to last year, which reveal how much the Far East was still in lockdown but is now revving up, with all three Asian countries in the top ten source markets, namely South Korea, China and Japan, showing at least a triple-digit growth rate compared to 2022. While the Chinese outbound travel market has been amongst the slowest in the world to recover, it still manages to hit 7th place thanks to its sheer size.
Classic Beach Destinations are Most Resilient
Looking at the destinations which have done best against 2019 levels, the list is dominated by countries famous for their beaches and warm waters. The top 10 exceeded the summer of 2019, and most showed strong growth from last year. Top of the list is Costa Rica, 19% up in 2019 and 15% up in 2022. It is followed by the Dominican Republic, Columbia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Greece, Tanzania, the Bahamas and Mexico. Throughout the pandemic, leisure travel to beach destinations proved to be the most resilient, with many highly tourism-dependent economies in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico working hard to keep their borders open and the tourists coming; their efforts have certainly paid off. The same has also been true of Greece, Portugal, and the UAE.
Limited Impact of the Heatwave
While the unusually high temperatures and the outbreak of wildfires in Greece and Portugal substantially impacted television screens, they only impacted tourism, as most holidaymakers had already booked. A spate of cancellations affected Rhodes, but flight bookings recovered to normal levels in weeks. While bookings for Northern Europe and the Nordic region were 16% and 17% behind 2019, they demonstrated better performance in the late bookings market, probably influenced by the heatwave.
ForwardKeys VP Insights, Olivier Ponti said: “Throughout the pandemic, US travellers were an economic lifeline for many Caribbean destinations. As other parts of the world relaxed their entry restrictions, Americans came. This summer, they have been extremely helpful to many European destinations. The world’s other major tourism powerhouse, China, is starting to revive. Looking ahead to Q4 and further to 2024, I am increasingly optimistic. Currently, global flight bookings for the last three months of the year are just 4% behind 2019 and for the first three months of 2024 are 3% ahead. The world region that shows the greatest promise in Q4 is the Middle East, to where flight bookings are 37% ahead of 2019. Central America follows it, 33% ahead and the Caribbean, 24% ahead.”
BANGKOK, 19 September 2023: Thailand’s prime minister Srettha Thavisin, has announced a temporary tourist visa exemption scheme for passport holders of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, effective 25 September 2023 and valid through to 29 February 2024.
Data crunchers at the Tourism Authority of Thailand are confident the measure will enable the country to reach its 2023 tourism revenue target of THB2.38 trillion. Tourism data and revenue-earning estimates cannot be independently verified.
Photo credit: TAT
Chinese and Kazakhstani nationals will be granted a temporary visa exemption, allowing them to stay in Thailand for a 30-day stay during the five-month visa exemption period.
The minister of tourism and sports Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, commented: “This stimulus visa scheme forms part of the government’s quick-win measures announced on 11 September 2023 to achieve the long-term goal and boost the Thai economy through travel and tourism.
It will help stimulate inbound travel from China, one of Thailand’s key source tourist markets, and Kazakhstan, an emerging market, especially during this coming high tourist season. Ultimately, it will help revive Thai tourism and reach the revenue target set for this year.”
However, the scheme’s architects may have underestimated the challenges facing China’s outbound travel market. China’s overseas travel is still in the doldrums and will likely stay that way for the rest of the year. China’s economy is not growing at levels recorded in the pre-Covid-19 era.
Also, flights are not up to speed yet, although experts say the volume of flights from China to Southeast Asian destinations should pass Covid-19 levels in early 2024. In the meantime, fares are high, almost double what they were in 2020, including domestic fares in Thailand. Plus, we may have forgotten Covid-19, but it is still around, especially when we fly or spend time at airports.
During the five-month visa exemption period, Thailand is expected to welcome 1,912,000 to 2,888,500 Chinese tourists – a year-on-year growth of about 41% to 62%. It should generate tourism income of around THB92.58 to 140 billion. From Kazakhstan, Thailand has forecasted 129,485 Kazakhstani tourists – a 49.73% increase over the same period last year – and THB7.93 billion in revenue.
From 1 January to 10 September 2023, Thailand recorded 2,284,281 Chinese visitors, making China the second largest source of tourist markets after Malaysia. From 1 January to 10 September 2023, Thailand recorded 108,636 tourists from Kazakhstan.
Ambitious target
The visa exemption scheme extended to Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists should enable the country to achieve its 2023 target of 25 to 30 million tourists and generate THB2.38 trillion in tourism receipts.
SINGAPORE, 19 September 2023: Pandaw, a river cruise specialist, introduces special Christmas and New Year sailings in 2023 featuring the Mekong River in Southeast Asia and two rivers in India.
Two festive season cruises are featured on the Mekong River, with bookings open for upstream and downstream cruises. One of the cruises explores the Mekong River in northern Laos, cruising from the Lao capital to Chiang Khong on the Thai-Lao Border. A second Mekong River cruise explores the Mekong Delta, sailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia and then to the Tonle Sap and the fabled temples of Angkor near Siem Reap.
The Christmas and New Year special sailings have no single supplement for those travelling solo. The cruises come with specially crafted festive menus and onboard entertainment.
The Laos Mekong Pandaw’s 10-night expedition on the Upper Mekong. Sailing between Chiang Khong on the Thai-Laos border and through Laos to the capital, Vientiane, the trip delivers stunning scenery and opportunities to meet friendly locals and learn more about Laos’ national animal, the majestic elephant. The cruise stops for three nights at the UNESCO World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, with its dazzling wood-carved monasteries, before heading through the mountain gorges.
VIENTIANE to CHIANG KHONG 22 December 2023 – 01 January 2024 Upstream 22 December 2023 – 01 January 2024 Downstream
There can be no river in the world as sacred as the Ganges, and an expedition on the Lower Ganges or Hooghly is one of the prettiest river journeys imaginable. The river winds its way through the lush countryside of West Bengal, with its culturally significant towns crammed with temples and palaces. A rich and vibrant rural life abounds, and there is never a dull moment as we sedately ply this pleasant waterway. Combine this with the mighty Brahmaputra river in Northern India, which originates high in the Himalayas before flowing through the scenic Assam Valley, where UNESCO-protected national parks and remote rural communities provide the traveller with the most wonderful and authentic expedition.
No tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed, there can be no more striking cultural contrast than that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquillity of Cambodia. The cruise starts from Saigon port (Ho Chi Minh City) and sails through the vast delta rich in human life and endeavour, along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia. With a full day in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, the cruise explores remoter waterways as it progresses to the great monuments of Angkor.
High water notice: During the months of September to November, water levels may rise significantly, leading to issues accessing the Tonle Sap River. During this time, the itinerary points on the Tonle Sap could be replaced by sailing north on the Mekong River to Kratie, featuring excursions to view the Irrawaddy dolphins.
SIEM REAP TO SAIGON 23 December 2023 – 30 December 2023 Downstream
DUBAI, 19 September 2023: Emirates and Maldivian have announced an interline partnership, enabling Emirates customers to access 16 popular holiday destinations in the Maldives beyond Malé.
The agreement follows last year’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two airlines.
The interline agreement will create more options for Emirates customers when travelling to the Maldivian archipelago, using both carriers’ services and networks on a single ticket while enhancing the customer experience throughout the journey.
Customers travelling to exotic island destinations in the Maldives will now reap the benefit of flying into more popular holiday spots after connecting easily and seamlessly from Velana International Airport in the North Malé atoll. Emirates passengers will link to Maldivian’s services to reach a choice of domestic points for their island getaway.
From 15 September, travel itineraries can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates mobile app, or preferred travel agents for flights effective immediately.
Emirates’ chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim said: “By partnering with the Maldivian flag carrier, we can offer customers smooth connections when flying to a wide choice of islands within the country via Malé. By extending this added-value benefit, our customers from across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas can plan their journey to the Maldives with the convenience of booking flights on a single ticket to reach their final destination.”
Emirates customers can fly to airports in a selection of popular atolls via Malé including Dharavandhoo Island (DRV), Faresmathoda Airport (FMT), Funadhoo Airport (FND), Fuvahmulak Island Airport (FVM), Gan Island International (GAN), Kooddoo Island (GKK), Hanimaadhoo Island Airport (HAQ), Kulhudhuffushi Airport (HDK), Hoarafushi Airport (HRF), Kaadedhdhoo Island Airport (KDM), Kadhdhoo Island (KDO), Madivaru Airport (LMV), Maafaru International Airport (NMF), Maavarulu Airport (RUL), Thimarafushi Airport (TMF), and Ifuru (IFU).
Customers spending their holidays at other resort islands can also enjoy the convenience of travelling to the closest point in the interline network. They are within reach of their final destination with only a short ride by seaplane or boat.
As the partnership between both airlines evolves, more benefits and conveniences will be added to enhance the customer experience when travelling to the Maldives.
Emirates has supported the development and growth of tourism and trade in the Maldives for over three and a half decades. The award-winning global airline commenced operations in Malé in 1987 and now operates 28 weekly flights between Dubai and the Maldives. With a choice of four flights per day to Malé, customers from across Emirates’ network of almost 140 points have the flexibility to choose flights and enjoy the convenience of minimal connection times.
Through its 29 codeshare, 11 Intermodal and 117 interline partners, Emirates boasts a global footprint encompassing destinations far beyond its network, offering increased connectivity and convenient options for travellers.
