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Spectrum of the Seas back in China

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SINGAPORE, 3 July 2023: Vacationers planning to explore Asia can book four and seven-night vacations on Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas

The cruise line schedules its return to China in April 2024, when Spectrum will sail from Shanghai to popular getaway destinations like Fukuoka, Okinawa, Nagasaki and Osaka, Japan. The all-new vacations are now open for bookings on the cruise line’s website.

Back in China

“Chinese vacationers have been eagerly awaiting to wander and make memories throughout Asia again, and we are delighted to make that possible as the first international cruise line to open for bookings and cruise in China. And what better way to mark Royal Caribbean’s homecoming than with the return of Spectrum of the Seas, a ship specifically designed for Asia,” said Royal Caribbean Group senior vice president and chairman Asia Zinan Liu.

Specially designed for Asia and families with young children, Spectrum features a lineup of restaurants and entertainment options, including skydiving on the RipCord by iFly, scaling more than 300 feet above the ocean on North Star, the all-glass observation capsule, and bumper cars and sports in the largest indoor activity space at sea, SeaPlex.

ASAI Bangkok Sathorn commits to community

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BANGKOK, 3 July 2023: ASAI Bangkok Sathorn, the second ASAI-branded hotel in Bangkok, which recently celebrated its opening, is intent on becoming a vibrant community hub, bringing the community together in events that embody the essence of the ASAI experience, according to Dusit International vice president – development global and ASAI Hotels’ head of Culture Siradej Donavanik.

“At ASAI, our commitment lies in enabling our guests to ‘Live Local’ and forging meaningful connections with our neighbours to craft extraordinary experiences for visitors and locals alike. The resounding success of the Hamlet Block Party is a testament to this community-focused approach, and we are delighted to have provided an unforgettable gathering for all who joined us.”

Explore the newest ASAI hotel in the heart of Sathorn with a special offer starting from THB 1699++ per night.

Created by Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, ASAI Hotels is a distinctive lifestyle brand designed to link curious, millennial-minded travellers with authentic local experiences in the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Its operations are built on four pillars: Thoughtful Essentials, Common Areas, Locally Inspired, and Connected Community.

The first ASAI-branded property, ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, opened in September 2020 in the heart of the city’s renowned Chinatown district. It is now one of the top-rated hotels on TripAdvisor. ASAI Bangkok Sathorn opened in May 2023. It aims to build on its successful launch by linking guests with another vibrant neighbourhood – this one renowned for its cluster of hip bars and restaurants – just a five-minute walk from Saint Louis BTS (Skytrain) Station and a few blocks away from the buzzing Silom Road, on Sathorn Soi 12.

Photo credit: ASAI Bangkok Sathorn.

Alongside 106 thoughtfully compact rooms that focus on the essentials, such as highly comfortable beds, powerful showers, high-quality amenities, and work desks with USB charging stations, the new property boasts a spacious and welcoming communal space that features a cosy neighbourhood bar, a comfortable co-working area, and ERR Rustic Thai Dining, as mentioned above.

Guests also benefit from ASAI’s team of ‘community ambassadors,’ who are on hand to share their in-depth knowledge of the neighbourhood and guide guests towards hidden gems and local treasures, with itineraries tailored to suit individual preferences.

The welcome mat rolls out for international visitors and local residents at ASAI Bangkok Sathorn. Grab a drink from the bar, catch up with friends or get some work done. The hotel’s comfy lounge is the perfect spot to relax and mingle before venturing out to explore the neighbourhood.

Photo credit ASAI Bangkok Sathorn.

For more information: ASIA
CHECK OUT: https://www.facebook.com/ASAIBangkokSathorn  for the latest offers and F&B promotions.

Centra by Centara expands in Bangkok

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 July 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator and Thai Hospitality Management Company Limited, announced the signing of a hotel management agreement for Centra by Centara Ratchada Hotel Bangkok.

Senior management teams from both companies officially executed the agreement at a signing ceremony at Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.

The project marks Centara’s sixth hotel in Bangkok and the second HMA to be signed with Thai Hospitality Management Company Limited. With plans to renovate an existing building, the hotel is scheduled to open its doors to guests in December 2024.

“It is a pleasure to be working with Thai Hospitality Management Company Limited once again, and we are delighted to add a third Centra by Centara hotel to our offerings in Bangkok. Known for its comfort, value and convenience, we look forward to bringing the Centra by Centara brand to another part of the city for travellers to explore,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts chief executive officer Thirayuth Chirathivat.

Thai Hospitality Management Company Limited director Kunyarat Thongtam added: “We are excited to strengthen the relationship between Thai Hospitality Management Company Limited and Centara Hotels and Resorts. We are confident that the values of both our companies align, and we are thrilled to be bringing the elevated comfort of Centra by Centara to MICE and leisure travellers alike in the increasingly popular Ratchada areas”.

With 306 rooms across 32 floors, this new addition to the Ratchada neighbourhood is conveniently located a 10-minute walk to Ladprao MRT station. The property will feature an all-day dining restaurant, meeting rooms, a swimming pool, rejuvenating spa, a fully-equipped gym and a contemporary rooftop restaurant with spectacular city views.

Centra by Centara Ratchada Hotel Bangkok is the ninth Centra by Centara-branded property and the third in Bangkok, after the Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Chaweng Watthana and Centra by Centara Hotel Bangkok Phra Nakhon.

For more information, please visit Centara’s website at https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/.

MATTA demands corruption probe

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TTR WEEKLY
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Photo: TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 July 2023: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) is calling for a thorough independent and transparent investigation into the recent incident involving the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), Dato Sri Tiong King Sing at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

“There is nothing new about reports of corruption and victimisation of tourists by Malaysian immigration officers. These incidents involve tourists from many nationalities, not just the Chinese, said MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang. “MATTA has, on several occasions, raised concerns about this as it impedes tourism stakeholders’ marketing efforts.”

He added: “The crux of the issue is whether there was any corruption, abuse of power or mistreatment of tourists, not whether Tiong broke protocol – that is secondary”.

According to Transparency International, Malaysia’s 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score deteriorated to 47 points from 53 points in 2019 (0 is highly corrupted, and 100 is perceived to be very clean).

“It is imperative that the government does all it can to uplift the image of Malaysia as a safe and attractive tourism destination by eliminating corruption at all levels, more so at KLIA, which is the main gateway”.

MATA’s official statement noted: “It is time for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to reassess the situation in light of current development at key entry points in Malaysia. A review of the existing procedures on handling travellers with NTL ( not to land) status is also crucial to prevent abuses as Malaysia gears up to receive more international tourists.

“It is reassuring to know that the Minister is taking his job seriously, and we applaud him and the ministry for the initiative. We hope that the various ministries will work closely with MOTAC to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a key tourism destination in Southeast Asia. We anticipate more positive changes to the industry in the coming months,” the MATTA president concluded.

PG resumes Samui-Hong Kong flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 July 2023: Bangkok Airways resumed direct flights between Hong Kong and Samui on Saturday, offering initially three weekly flights scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Celebrating the relaunch of the Samui – Hong Kong route, the airline and the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Hong Kong office are offering a discount of HKD250 on both one-way and roundtrip fares, but you have to log the promo code ‘ATHK250’ when making the booking.

The promotion is open until 31 July 2023 for booking or until the 1,000 seats allocated to the promotion run out. The travel period ends on 31 December.

PG805 departs Samui at 1055 and arrives in Hong Kong at 1515. The return flight PG806 departs Hong Kong at 1615 and arrives in Samui at 1835. The flight time is three hours and 20 minutes.

A search of the airline’s website on 2 July showed the return fare could be as high as THB18,065, so the HKD250 is a welcome gesture. Also, travellers might be able to double the discount by booking two one-way fares rather than one roundtrip fare.

India delays TCS levy until October

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TTR WEEKLY
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DELHI, 3 July 2023: India has announced a three-month extension on introducing a TCS levy that adds a 20% tax on overseas tour packages and funds remitted under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).

The new rate will kick in on 1 October instead of 1 July, a move welcomed by leading tour operators that dominate India’s highly competitive outbound travel market.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited executive director and chief executive officer Mahesh Iyer commented: We welcome the announcement to defer the proposed increase in the TCS rate for remittances under LRS. We appreciate the government’s initiative to help create a level playing field – taking on board inputs from relevant stakeholders, including travel and authorised foreign exchange players.

The clarification regarding the threshold of INR7 lakhs ( USD8,500) per individual per financial year across all modes of payment, regardless of purpose, will go a long way in aiding the buoyancy being witnessed in the travel industry, which is still recovering from two consecutive years of the impact of the global pandemic.”

The original decision on increasing the tax was included in the Union Budget 2023-24  and will now be activated on 1 October  2023.

According to local media reports, India’s Finance Ministry is giving more time to implement the revised TCS rates. “Also transactions through International Credit Cards while overseas would not be counted as LRS and hence would not be subject to TCS,” according to a statement by the Finance Ministry quoted by the business news service Mint.

Mint’s report continued: “Firstly, it has been decided that there will be no change in the rate of TCS for all purposes under LRS and for overseas travel tour packages, regardless of the mode of payment, for amounts up to INR7 lakh per individual per annum.

“It has also been decided to give more time for the implementation of the revised TCS rates and inclusion of credit card payments in LRS,” the finance ministry statement said.

(Source: Mint online news plus additional reporting)

AirAsia revives Sihanoukville routes

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 3 July 2023: AirAsia Group airlines are scheduling flights to Sihanoukville on the southern coast of Cambodia from their Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur hubs starting in early August.

The group’s Thai AirAsia (FD) will launch twice weekly flights on Tuesday and Saturday from its home base at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Sihanoukville (KOS) starting 1 August.

FD660 will depart DMK at 1145 and arrive in KOS at 1305. The return flight FD661 will depart KOS at 1335 and arrive in DMK at 1505. Flight time is around 1 hour and 10 minutes. The roundtrip fare starts at around USD149, according to popular booking sites.

One day later, on 2 August, AirAsia (AK), home-based in Kuala Lumpur, will launch three weekly services to Sihanoukville from its home base in Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

AK264 will depart from Kuala Lumpur at 1535 and arrive in Sihanoukville (KOS) at 1625. The return flight AK265 will depart KOS at 1710 and arrive in KUL at 2000. The starting fare is USD83. Flight time is one hour and 50 minutes.

There’s a massive USD66 between the roundtrip fare quoted by Thai AirAsia out of Bangkok (USD149) and AirAsia’s USD83 quote out of Kuala Lumpur. But that’s what popular booking sites and AirAsia are quoting this weekend. Fares will fluctuate as bookings power up.

(Flights schedules: OAG)

Mae Hong Son lowers PG fees

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 July 2023: Mae Hong Son’s tourism community sweetens the deal for Bangkok Airways to start flights on the Bangkok – Lampang – Mae Hong Son route this August.

Discussions between Mae Hong Son’s tourism community, the town’s chamber of commerce and the airport operator, the Department of Aviation, have cleared the way for the airline to gain “special airport fees for two years to support the new route”.

Launching a flight that transits in Lampang is a gamble. Over the last few decades, the far northwest resort town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains relied either on daily direct flights from Bangkok (Nok Air quit the route last April) or the short daily hop from Chiang Mai on a Bangkok Airways’ ATR72 stationed in Chiang Mai. It ended flights during the initial Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020. The flight took 35 minutes, and the return fare was pegged at USD133.

Bangkok Airways returns to Mae Hong Son on 2 August using the same 70-seat ATR72 aircraft but with a stop in Lampang, a town 108 km south of Chiang Mai.

In a digital message to travel agents late last month, the airline confirmed a decision to fly to Mae Hong Son on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Departing Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, the flight time will be around one hour and 35 minutes to Lampang with a 30-minute ground stop and then a 50-minute flight to Mae Hong Son. Flight PG 205/206 will use a 70-seat ATR-72 to serve both towns. The airline also operates twice-daily turnaround flights on the Bangkok -Lampang route (depart Bangkok at 0820 and 1625).

Mae Hong Son’s Chamber of Commerce reported last week that the one-way fare between Mae Hong Son and Lampang would start at around THB1,500 and THB2,800 one-way Mae Hong Son to Bangkok.

Chiang Mai residents planning to visit Mae Hong Son will miss the convenient daily flight (CNX-HGN) that Bangkok Airways scheduled pre Covid-19. Still, there are plans to establish a bus service from Chiang Mai to Lampang’s airport operated by the Green Bus Service. Details have yet to be finalised.

Checking the latest fares posted on the Bangkok Airways website, the airline quotes a roundtrip fare of THB4,860 on the Bangkok – Lampang sector.

The roundtrip fare on the Bangkok – Mae Hong Son route is THB 5,810. The roundtrip fare between Lampang and Mae Hong Son starts at THB3,030. 

Bangkok Airways’ website and Facebook account post very little information on the Bangkok-Lampang-Mae Hong Son route besides communications to Bangkok and Chiang Mai’s local travel agents’ communities. See below the email announcement:

BWH Hotels plots global expansion

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TTR WEEKLY
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KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle.

SYDNEY, 30 June 2023: BWH Hotels celebrates the expansion of its 19 distinctive brands across every chain scale segment – from luxury to premium economy – adding several new properties to its global portfolio of hotels and resorts.

The company has recently expanded in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. There’s an increased presence of BWH Hotels properties in Austria, Canada, Dubai, Ethiopia, France, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand and the US.

“This summer season, we are excited to offer travellers even more convenient accommodations in key destinations worldwide,” said BWH Hotels president and chief executive officer Larry Cuculic.

“We are growing our global presence thoughtfully to serve our valued guests wherever their travels take them. From upscale, luxury and lifestyle hotels to midscale, premium economy and extended stay brands, BWH Hotels offers properties that cater to all travel needs.”

“It is with great enthusiasm that we invite new properties to join our distinguished global portfolio,” said BWH president of international operations and WorldHotels Ron Pohl. “I am particularly proud of the continued growth of WorldHotels. By becoming a member of WorldHotels, these fine independent hotels benefit from the reputation and strong global presence of BWH Hotels while maintaining their individuality. We are excited to share these new properties with travellers for their upcoming globetrotting adventures.”

BWH Hotels has maintained its momentum through the year’s first half with plans to continue its growth and development in the third and fourth quarters. The brand looks forward to further growing its diverse portfolio, which includes approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide, while providing travellers with unique offerings and experiences.

Asia Pacific: Hotels joining the portfolio

Tawa Ravadee Resort, WorldHotels Distinctive collection (Prachinburi, Thailand)

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection (Kyoto, Japan)

Aiden by Best Western @ Hennur Bengaluru (Bengaluru, India)

Best Western Plus Mohali (Mohali, India)

Middle East additions

Best Western Ajyad Mecca (Mecca, Saudi Arabia)

Best Western Pearl Swiss Hotel (Dubai)

Best Western Sur (Oman)

Best Western Plus Danat Almansak Hotel (Ahba City, Saudi Arabia)

LADA sales team joins MATTA Fair Kedah

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI Malaysia, 30 June 2023: Langkawi Development Board (LADA) led a sales team from the island’s travel and hospitality sectors to attend the MATTA Fair Kedah from 23 to 25 June.

Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd, Jupeter Holidays Sdn Bhd and Anytimes Holidays Sdn Bhd joined the LADA’s Team Langkawi promotion at the

Photo credit: LADA. MATTA Fair Kedah opening day.

MATTA Fair Kedah held at Central Square Sungai Petani.

It was the first time that the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents organised a fair in Kedah. Kedah Tourism Exco YB Tuan Mohd Firdaus bin Ahmad officiated at the opening ceremony.

LADA noted that the primary purpose for joining the fair was to attract domestic tourists to visit Langkawi through special holiday packages and present Langkawi as the top leisure travel destination in northern Malaysia.

Throughout the three-day fair, the Langkawi booth recorded sales estimated at MYR32,059.50. The fair involved 35 exhibitors from government, hospitality, and travel agencies.

Photo credit: LADA. Langkawi reaches out to families in its latest domestic travel promotions.

Visit the LADA website for more information: lada.gov.my

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