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Travel insurance booked by the hour

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SINGAPORE, 11 September 2024: Income Insurance launched FlexiTravel Plus on Tuesday, Singapore’s first travel insurance that enables travellers to extend travel protection, as needed by the hour, to 19 Asian destinations*.

FlexiTravel Plus is part of Income Insurance’s latest suite of travel insurance innovations, which also include an industry-first post-departure purchase feature and a new overseas telemedicine service.

Photo credit: Income Insurance. For short trips, cover is booked by the hour.

As the plus-sized travel insurance for short trips, FlexiTravel Plus replaces FlexiTravel Hourly Insurance, which only covers travellers to Bintan, Batam, and Malaysia. It is part of Income Insurance’s latest travel insurance innovations, which provide greater flexibility and value-added benefits for travellers.

FlexiTravel Plus charges a minimum of SGD1.80 for a six-hour block of protection. Travellers can extend coverage at SGD0.30 for every additional hour, capped at a maximum charge of SGD3.00 per day. For instance, a 3D2N trip to Thailand would only cost a maximum of SGD9.

The launch of FlexiTravel Plus is part of Income Insurance’s ongoing commitment to closing protection gaps in Singapore by offering customer-centric options when customers go on short getaways to destinations in Asia.

FlexiTravel Plus covers:

Trip disruptions, travel delays and alterations;
Overbooked public transport;
Insolvency of agency;
Loss of handphones and electronic devices due to robbery and snatch theft;
Overseas medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation;
Sports equipment such as golf clubs and surfboards (via opting for a rider).

In addition, Income Insurance’s Enhanced PreX Annual Travel Insurance, the only annual travel plan offered in Singapore that covers pre-existing medical conditions, now includes a new benefit: overseas telemedicine service for policyholders. Policyholders can access a doctor from Income Insurance’s appointed medical provider 24/7 via an overseas emergency hotline.

Income Insurance Vice President & Head, Key Accounts Management, Annie Chua commented: “Given their busy lifestyle, travellers may sometimes forget to purchase travel insurance. At the same time, some may not regard conventional travel protection as necessary, especially when going for a short getaway. We aim to bridge these gaps by offering travel insurance options tailored for modern travel patterns and prevalent concerns so that travellers mindfully close their protection gaps and enjoy peace of mind.”

“We are encouraged that more travellers see the importance of protecting themselves while they go on short trips, even a weekend getaway, as the take-up for FlexiTravel Hourly Insurance in 2024 tripled last year’s. This has motivated us to launch FlexiTravel Plus, the plus-sized version to protect short trips to 19 Asian destinations so that travellers have affordable and flexible travel protection options,” Chua added.

About Income Insurance

Established in 1970 to address a social need for insurance, Income Insurance Limited is one of the leading composite insurers in Singapore, offering life, health, and general insurance. 

* Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia (including Batam and Bintan), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.

FCM: Business travel powers up

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SINGAPORE, 11 September 2024: Strong passenger demand, the desire for in-person meetings, conferences, and events, and positive travel industry momentum over the last six months continue to drive incremental growth for business travel, according to FCM Consulting’s latest Global Trends Report. 

Global passenger demand, as reported by IATA^, was up 9.1% in June 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. International passenger demand saw the largest growth of 12.3%, and passenger load factors were 85%, an increase of 12.7% year-on-year. Domestic passenger demand was 4.3%, and passenger load factors were 85%, a rise of 2.1% year-on-year.

Photo credit: FCM. FCM Consulting’s latest Global Trends Report.

“Total seats offered for calendar year 2024 is up 3.04%  (175 million increase) on 2019 levels and up 6.15% (352 million rise) on 2023. This calendar year is the new baseline for aviation growth after 2023. And 2025 airline schedules are forecast to be positive with continued increases,” said FCM Consulting head of  APAC Felicity Burke.

“Global hotel occupancy climbed to nearly 70%  by the end of H1-2024, and air travel demand grew steadily throughout the same period. As the northern hemisphere summer emerges, we forecast travel demand to grow steadily through the next quarter.

“The forecast seats offered across the top corporate global airlines in 2024 are set to be five per cent above 2019 and, in comparison, seats offered in 2023 were two per cent below 2019 levels – 11 of the top corporate airlines are also forecast to exceed their 2019 levels by the end of 2024.

“As for accommodation, the hotel average room rate across the top 100 corporate cities reported by FCM Consulting’s business analytics team was USD182, a USD5 drop versus H1-2023. As reported by STR on 6 July 2024, the global hotel occupancy rates were forecast to reach 70% during July.”

FCM Travel Southeast Asia General Manager Kenji Soh commented: “In the car hire sector, the H1-2024 global average daily rate was USD54, a decrease of 26%, compared to 2023. International economy and business class fares for all destinations globally from Singapore saw an average decrease of 12% and 4% respectively in April to June 2024”. 

“A year after China’s border reopening, Asia’s average room rates hold strong in the first half of 2024. Singapore remains the priciest destination for hotel stays, with rates averaging USD298 — a 27% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024 — followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo.

“Shanghai saw a modest 3% rise, bringing its average hotel room rate to USD146, while Beijing’s rate stands at USD149. Bangalore has now taken the lead in India with the highest average nightly room rate at USD152, trailed by Mumbai at USD147 and Delhi at USD142”. 

(^IATA passenger demand, July 2024.)

About FCM Consulting quarterly trend report
This FCM Consulting quarterly trend report draws on global data from FCM Travel and Flight Centre Travel Group corporate booking data for travel from April to June 2024 (Q2-2024). The report uses Cirium aviation schedule data as of 19 August 2024. Airfare pricing variations exclude all taxes.

The hotel Average Room Rate (ARR) quoted is the average booked rate using FCM Travel and Flight Centre Travel Group corporate booking data. Variations in rates booked reflect seasonality, supply and demand, booking lead times and variations in exchange rates. STR hotel content quoted as of 12 August 2024. Unless otherwise stated, all fares and rates are reported in US dollars.

Jetstar Asia resumes Medan flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 September 2024: Jetstar Asia (3K) will resume flights between Singapore and Medan, Indonesia, on 1 November after a four-year suspension.

Jetstar Asia will become the only low-cost carrier to fly directly between these two exciting cities. Medan will become the Singapore low-cost carrier’s fourth Indonesian destination, alongside Jakarta, Denpasar, and Surabaya.

The daily return service from Singapore’s Changi Airport to Medan’s Kualanamu International Airport will have the seating capacity to accommodate 130,000 travellers annually between Singapore and the capital of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province.

Special fares are now on sale to celebrate the launch, starting from SGD79*, with an exclusive rate of SGD74* for Club Jetstar members.

Jetstar Asia CEO John Simeone said resuming flights on the route reflected Jetstar Asia’s commitment to expanding its presence in Indonesia.

“Indonesia is a key market for our business and leisure travellers, and with the reintroduction of our services to Medan, we’ll now be operating over 40 flights to Indonesia each week,” Simeone said. “We’re delighted to reconnect our customers with Medan, a city that offers rich cultural experiences and economic opportunities.

“Being the only LCC to offer direct flights on this route underscores our commitment to making travel more accessible and affordable.”

Flight schedule

From Friday, 1 November 2024
*One-way sale fares are available on jetstar.com from 1000 (SGT) on Tuesday, 10 September 2024, until 1159 (SGT) on Monday, 16 September.

Tap in Taipei for a MATTA moment

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 10 September 2024: Taipei will host the 2025 World Masters Games, and the city’s delegation attending the MATTA Fair last weekend extended an invitation to sports enthusiasts in Malaysia to participate in the prestigious international event.

The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years that attracts tens of thousands of athletes to new locations. Officially the world’s largest multi-sport participatory event, the Games will have its 11th edition in 2025 after visiting Canada, Italy, Australia, Denmark, and New Zealand. Taipei City will host the event from 17 to 30 May 2025.

Photo credit: MATTA Fair Tap in Taiwan campaign.

For more information on the 2025 World Masters Games, visit https://imga.ch/event/world-masters-games-2025/ 

Taipei messages at the MATTA Fair 

Taipei City fielded a strong delegation led by 20 industry representatives who attended the 2024 MATTA Fair, Malaysia’s premier travel event, from 6 to 8 September. 

Taipei City Government’s Secretary-General, Lee Tai-Hsin and Commissioner of the Department of Information and Tourism, Wang Chiu-Tung, led the delegation showcasing Taipei’s diverse tourism offerings under the theme “Tap Into Taipei”.

Wong, in discussions with Malaysian tour operators on the sidelines of the MATTA Fair, highlighted how Taipei is now even more accessible to Malaysian travellers as the city’s tourism office has rolled out special discounts and packages.

Until 30 November, Malaysians in Taipei can enjoy a 10% discount on selected hotels and complimentary breakfasts by presenting their passports. 

For Muslim travellers, Taipei offers tailored packages that include Muslim-friendly dining and accommodations, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

In 2023, CrescentRating awarded Taipei the “Most Promising Muslim-friendly City Destination of the Year — Non-OIC,” boosting its appeal to Muslim travellers. 

Over the three-day fair, the Taipei Pavilion presented a variety of engaging activities designed to catch the attention of fair-goers  with a taste of Taipei’s unique culture and experiences:

Culinary Showcase: Renowned Chef William Lo from Taipei’s Grand Hyatt demonstrated the art of “Colourful Bubble Tea,” showcasing the innovation of Taipei’s food culture.

Scented Journey in Dadaocheng: Experience crafting Moon Rabbit-shaped scented candles with artisan Grandpapa.

Discover Taipei Quiz: An interactive session highlighting Taipei’s top tourist spots, complete with fun quizzes and prizes.

Photo Opportunities: Visitors captured special pavilion moments depicting cultural landmarks, including a replica of Taipei 101. They could redeem exclusive gifts by posting pictures with the hashtag #TapIntoTaipei.

Premium Brand Presentations: Leading Taipei brands showcased hot spring resorts, accommodation options, agricultural experiences and exclusive insights into Taipei’s tourism products by specialised associations. They included the Taipei Hot Spring Association and Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association (TLFDA), which highlighted exclusive hot spring and eco-tourism packages.

Secretary-General Lee Tai-Hsin emphasised the strategic importance of the MATTA Fair as a platform to strengthen tourism ties with Malaysia. 

During the visit, the Taipei delegation met with Selangor Local Government and Tourism Committee Chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim, MATTA President Nigel Wong, and MCTA President Patrick Law to explore opportunities for tourism collaborations between key Malaysian cities and Taipei. The goal was to boost visitors to Taipei and grow tourism revenue.

Commissioner Wang Chiu-Tung noted that the Taipei Pavilion showcased the city’s wide range of attractions, including new sites like the Taipei Dome, seasonal events such as the Hot Spring Season as well as marathons scheduled during autumn and winter. The spotlight at the fair shone on major celebrations such as Taipei’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and the 2025 Taipei Lantern Festival. 

Centara wins workplace award

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 10 September 2024: Centara Hotels & Resorts has been awarded Bronze in the ‘Excellence in Workplace Culture’ category at the prestigious HR Excellence Awards Thailand 2024. 

This recognition underscores Centara’s commitment to fostering a positive and supportive workplace environment that enhances employee engagement, productivity, and retention.

It follows Centara’s success at the end of last year when the company received the Kincentric Best Employers — Thailand 2023 award, further cementing its position as a leader in human resources management within the hospitality industry.

“We are honoured to receive this award as a testament to our dedication to our people and our commitment to growing together. By ensuring our team members are well-cared for, we enable them to pass on that positivity to our guests, creating memorable experiences for all,” stated Centara Hotels & Resorts Executive Vice President of Human Resources Siriwan Wangthamrong. “I’m incredibly proud of the projects we’ve spearheaded to strengthen our workplace culture at Centara, and we’re already looking ahead to how we can further improve and aim for even greater success next year.”

The Excellence in Workplace Culture category recognises organisations that strongly commit to diversity and inclusion, implement effective communication and collaboration strategies, and prioritise employee well-being and development.

The HR Excellence Awards 2024, Thailand, held its grand gala in Bangkok on 23 August 2024. Now in its fourth year, the event celebrated exceptional achievements in human resources across 37 diverse categories, with Centara’s bronze award highlighting its standing among key industry players.
For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts career opportunities, visit HERE.

New Pandaw ship sails Kerala Backwaters

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 September 2024: Pandaw will introduce a new-build river ship to sail its Kerala Backwaters cruise in South India starting October 2025.

The 10-cabin Kochi Pandaw has been specially designed for this specific cruise route while maintaining the much-loved classic Pandaw cabin and wraparound promenade decks. It will be Pandaw’s fourth ship in India and reflects the increasing demand for cruises on India’s iconic rivers and waterways.

The Kochi Pandaw will be built in a Kochi yard under the supervision of the Pandaw build team, which will be the fruit of an exciting collaboration between Pandaw managers and Kochi-based specialist naval architects. 

Many Pandaw loyal guests are expected to combine this route with a river expedition on the Ganges or Brahmaputra, where Pandaw is well established as the premier operator. The Kerala backwaters offer an incredible diversity of culture in addition to breathtaking scenery, beaches and southern Indian cuisine.

The Kochi Pandaw will operate an eight-day weekly circular itinerary from Kochi port. It will visit the main towns and remote areas of the backwaters with its 900 km of waterways connecting rivers with lakes. There will be exciting visits to ancient churches, Hindu temples, artisan villages and the legendary beaches of the Malabar coast. 

Cochin International Airport has flights connecting to Europe with Middle Eastern airlines and direct flights to most Southeast Asian cities, in addition to domestic flights connecting to most major Indian cities.

The airport is served by 28 airlines that fly to 52 airports worldwide. Numerous flights from aviation hubs in the Middle East, with Dubai leading with 203 flights monthly to Cochin, are available. Frequent connecting flights from Europe via airports in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat, and Kuwait are also available.

In Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur has the most flights to Cochin on AirAsia, Batik Air and Malaysia Airlines. There are also flights from Bangkok’s two airports, DMK and BKK, on AirAsia, Thai Lion and THAI. Air India flies direct from Cochin to London, offering three-weekly flights.  

For more information visit www.pandaw.com 

The Kerala Backwaters
KOCHI – THOTTAPALLI – KOCHI
Seven nights
FROM USD4,950 PP

For more information on Kerala Backwaters: https://pandaw.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2db7eb23b51745f1cfeb8b440&id=0c55075052&e=44c98c9747

Jazeera tempts early birds with a discount

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 September 22024: Jazeera Airways believes early bird bookers should be rewarded — the earlier you book, the greater your savings.

In its latest promotion posted on the Kuwaiti airline’s Facebook page, if you book 91 to 120 days in advance, you get 30% off. The discount shrinks to 20% for bookings made 61 to 90 days upfront, and for bookings made 45 to 60 days in advance, the discount stands at 10%

To gain the discount, you must use promo code J9EARLY when booking before the sale ends on 14 September. 

The airline flies to destinations in central and South Asia, as well as Africa, from its home base in Kuwait.

Flight Network

About Jazeera Airways
Established in April 2004, Jazeera Airways is the first non-government-owned airline in the Middle East and continues to be one of the few private airlines based there. The airline is listed on Boursa Kuwait and serves more than 60 destinations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Europe, and Africa from its single hub in Kuwait. The airline operates a fleet of leased Airbus A320 and A320neo aircraft with a single-class cabin. Jazeera Airways owns and operates its terminal at Kuwait International Airport – Terminal 5 (T5).

Saudia flies to Medan Indonesia

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 September 2024: Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has launched its first direct flight to Medan, Indonesia, marking its second destination in the country after Jakarta.

With four weekly flights scheduled from Jeddah (twice weekly) and Madinah (twice weekly), the new service aligns with Saudia’s commitment to contribute to the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030, particularly those related to serving pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques. The Saudi Vision 2023 targets 30 million Umrah pilgrims by 2030.

Photo credit: Saudia. Abdulaziz Ahmed, the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom (5th from left), KSA Sales at Saudia Assistant Vice President Wail Basaffar, and stakeholders attended the event.

Saudia celebrated the inaugural flight to Medan on 31 August with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. The event was attended by Abdulaziz Ahmed, the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom; KSA Sales at Saudia Assistant Vice President Wail Basaffar; and stakeholders.

Flight SV874 departs Madinah (MED) at 1420 and arrives in Medan (KNO), Indonesia, at 0325. The direct flights depart on Wednesday and Saturday using a Boeing 777-200/300.

Flight SV877 departs Medan at 0730 and arrives in Madinah at 1155. The flight time is approximately nine hours and five minutes.

Saudia’s international operations are continuously evolving to expand its market share and set new benchmarks for guest transportation for tourists, visitors, and pilgrims. 

Saudia’s fleet of 144 aircraft plays a crucial role in supporting these efforts. The airline pledges to increase the volume of transit traffic between continents via the Kingdom, a key pillar of its strategic vision.

Qatar Airways wins MICE awards

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TTR WEEKLY
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HO CHI MINH CITY, 10 September 2024: Qatar Airways won two accolades — the ‘World’s Best MICE Airline 2024’ and ‘Middle East’s Best MICE Airline 2024’ — at the World MICE Awards held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last week.

The World MICE Awards™ honour industry leaders for furthering global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, otherwise known as “business events”. This is the second consecutive year Qatar Airways won this recognition.

Photo credit: Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori, said: “Qatar Airways is proud to have received the World’s Best MICE Airline and Middle East’s Best MICE Airline 2024 awards for the second year. 

“This recognition serves as a testament to our efforts in advancing the global MICE industry through our one-stop digital travel solution, QMICE, which offers exclusive fares, significant travel flexibility and exclusive benefits for MICE professionals.”

QMICE, along with the award-winning service, business class Qsuite, and Qsuite Next Gen, offers a stylish and convenient travel experience to over 170 destinations through the airline’s five-star award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport, which supports Doha as a leading venue for MICE.

Thomas Cook sold to eSky Group

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 September 2024: Polish eSky Group acquires one of the most recognisable names in travel — Thomas Cook.

The acquisition agreement signed with the Chinese Fosun Tourism Group will unlock significant growth opportunities for Thomas Cook and allow eSky to strengthen its position in Western Europe.

Photo credit Thomas Cook: New Business, Same Sunny Heart.

Thomas Cook, the oldest travel brand, confirmed it has been acquired by Polish eSky Group, owner of a leading travel platform in Central and Eastern Europe. The deal will provide Thomas Cook with access to eSky’s superior flight inventory and support its continued growth. This, in turn, will pave the way for eSky to enter one of the most developed markets in Western Europe.

eSky Group has become the dominant travel platform in the CEE region and has expanded worldwide over the years. 

eSky and eDestinos brands operate in 50+ countries across Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Over 150 million customers access 550 airlines globally and 1.3 million hotels. eSky Group’s 2023 profits surpassed EUR 19 million — up 42% YoY and nearly three times the level of 2019.

“The synergy of Thomas Cook’s brand heritage with our technology will drive Thomas Cook’s growth and allow us to strengthen eSky’s position in Western Europe. This acquisition is part of our strategy to diversify from just selling flights to offering package holidays across our existing markets in Europe and Latin America and expand further into Western Europe,” says eSky Group CEO Łukasz Habaj.

“The completion of this transaction will inject significant funding into our business as we rebuild the brand and accelerate the growth of this company. By combining the strength of our dynamic packaging technology and holiday know-how with the flight inventory, performance marketing and technical strength of eSky, we are confident we will create a formidable European travel business,” adds Thomas Cook Tourism’s CEO Alan French.

Since 2022, eSky has been heavily investing in City Break and Holiday packages, which are a cornerstone of its business transformation from a flight platform into a Virtual Tour Operator. eSky Group has over 800 employees—including an in-house development team of over 190 people— and is part-owned by the listed private equity fund MCI.

Euro News reported that the Polish travel group eSky agreed to buy Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel brand, from its current Chinese owner, Fosun, for UKP30 million (EUR35.6 million).

“The online travel agency business in the UK…does not align with the core competencies and strategic focus of the group,” said Fosun in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The sale does not include Thomas Cook’s business in China.

Thomas Cook, a travel company founded in the UK in 1841, fell into insolvency in 2019 after failing to clear a debt burden of UKP1.1 billion.

The deal does not involve Thomas Cook India and affiliated companies in Asia, such as Asian Trails, headquartered in Thailand, with offices and registered affiliated companies in Southeast Asia.

The Thomas Cook collapse led to chaos in the travel industry and triggered the biggest peacetime repatriation in the UK’s history. The British government helped organise return trips for more than 150,000 holidaymakers who were stranded overseas.

Later, in 2019, the firm was acquired by its biggest shareholder, Chinese conglomerate Fosun, for UKP11 million (EUR13.06 million).

Thomas Cook was relaunched in 2020 as an online-only service, while UK competitor Hays Travel acquired about 550 of its physical outlets. Since then, the struggling travel company has been on the road to recovery, with CEO Alan French predicting a full-year profit for 2024.

In 2023, Thomas Cook recorded a pre-tax loss of UK3.6 million (EUR4.3m), down from last year’s UKP13.5 million (EUR16.0 million) loss.

(Source: news agencies and Euro News)

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