HO CHI MINH CITY, 26 June 2023: It’s official; Vietjet’s Facebook post confirmed last Friday the airline plans to increase flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Australia starting this December to meet growing travel demand on the routes to three Australian cities.
By December, flights to Melbourne will increase from three to four weekly.
Flights to Sydney from Ho Chi Minh City will increase from three to daily. The service launched on 12 April, just days after the launch of a service to Melbourne from the southern hub of HCMC on 8 April.
In December, flights to Brisbane will increase from two to three per week from the airline’s Ho Chi Minh City hub.
Vietjet launched the twice-weekly service from Ho Chi Minh City – Brisbane on 16 June. All the Australian services use A330 aircraft.
BANGKOK, 23 June 2023: Thailand’s delegation to the travel show IMEX Frankfurt 2023 concluded positively according to the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s post-event evaluation.
Fielding one of the largest delegations since 2019, TCEB claimed Thailand netted 120 leads that could yield 61,141 overseas MICE visitors over the next two years. It estimated 109 meeting and incentive groups (21,561 persons), and 11 convention groups (39,580 persons) were in the pipeline resulting from discussions initiated during the show.
TCEB said Thailand’s sales team logged 866 appointments with overseas buyers during the three-day show, 23 to 25 May 2023, while the TCEB team logged 94 roundtable discussions with event organisers.
The Thailand sales team comprised 29 exhibitors – nine hotels from Bangkok, five from Phuket, and one each from Samui and Khao Lak. In addition, seven destination management companies, three venues, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Airways International and TCEB participated.
TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said: “Thailand had one of its best showings at IMEX this year. The Thai Team chalked up impressive appointments and leads – a sign that Thailand continues to command great interest among international buyers.”
Last May, Bangkok ranked third and Phuket 10th in Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting Destinations in Asia-Pacific.
At IMEX 2023, TCEB highlighted two upcoming events – the ICCA Annual Congress scheduled for 12 to 15 November 2023 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group scheduled for 2026 in Bangkok.
DUBAI UAE, 23 June 2023: Gearing up for a busy summer travel season, Emirates is launching customer experiences that echo Emirates’ sentiment of ‘travel is not just about the end destination; it’s also about how you get there’.
Making journeys magically memorable, Emirates passengers will enjoy delightful moments this summer, including complimentary ice cream in the airport, duty-free summer specials, delicious seasonal delicacies and summer mocktails onboard, and the world’s best library of movies and bingeable box sets on ice.
Scoop a complimentary Emirates ice-cream
Travel through Dubai International Airport on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and scoop a free Emirates ice-cream for the whole family. From 23 June to 16 July, Emirates will have six eye-catching ice-cream carts positioned around the various Departures areas to offer passengers a refreshing treat of vanilla, Arabic coffee and dates ice cream, or mango sorbet before setting off on the summer holiday.
Binge a box set or blockbuster movie
For the thousands of passengers embarking on summer vacations, Emirates is making every journey special with endless entertainment onboard – as ice just got even better. By far the biggest library of content in the air, ice offers up to 6,500 channels of on-demand, multi-language entertainment, with each one hosting heaps of episodes, more than 45 Academy Award® winning films, over 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages.
This summer, passengers can enjoy thousands of movies, including new releases Avatar: The Way of the Water, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. There is a vast selection of movies for kids and kids-at-heart, including an all-new Disney Classics collection, plus Marvel Studios and Star Wars collections, and the complete Harry Potter movies series. There are also lots of new kids and preschool kids TV from CBeebies, Nickelodeon, Disney TV, Cartoon Network and more. Adults can settle in to enjoy all seasons of award-winning hit TV series Succession on HBO Max, inspire a holiday mood with series like White Lotus, or relax with awe-inspiring nature documentaries from BBC Earth, on top of content from new streaming partners Discovery+, Bloomberg Originals, BBC and Shahid.
Sports and news fans won’t miss a moment of action with five channels of live TV, including news channels BBC, CNN and Sky News Arabia, and live sports coverage on Sport 24 and Sport 24Extra. Summer live sports highlights include Formula 1, Wimbledon and The Open Championship.
Indulge in seasonal specialities onboard
Passengers onboard Emirates will be treated to various delicious dishes like fresh, seasonal strawberries and burrata. For a refreshing respite from the summer heat, Emirates summer mocktails Tropical Twist, Rose Iced Tea, Citrus Twist, Raspberry Spice, and Mint Lemonade will feature on all flights in July and August.
In July, all passengers flying to and from the UK with Emirates will enjoy the luscious indulgence of fresh, ripe strawberries. The strawberries are grown perfectly in Bustanica vertical farm in Dubai, without pesticides or herbicides. A British summer staple, First Class passengers will enjoy flavourful strawberry tarts with compote or rhubarb and strawberry charlotte served with whipped cashew cream and custard. Business Class passengers will be offered white chocolate cheesecake served with strawberry basil confit or strawberry éclair, a choux pastry filled with crème anglaise, topped with fresh seasonal strawberries. Premium Economy passengers will also enjoy éclairs or strawberry panna cotta. Economy passengers can tuck into succulent strawberry cheesecake topped with crumble or fresh strawberries with vanilla whipped cream and hazelnut streusel. Even the lounges will get in on the strawberry passion, serving a Strawberry and Basil Gin Fizz alongside classic strawberries and clotted cream with a dollop of almond butter crumble.
Throughout August, First and Business Class passengers on routes to and from Italy will be treated to the perfect summer dish – smooth and creamy Burrata and fennel salad with grapefruit and orange segments, garnished with a tapioca crisp.
Scent of summer in the air
This summer, EmiratesRED.com has more than 70 new luxury products onboard from Tom Ford, Jo Malone, La Mer, Tumi, Secrid, Alexandre J, Dolce & Gabbana and many more. Passengers can take advantage of summer specials and save $15 off any two fragrances purchased. Passengers can pre-order duty-free Shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive duty-free products, which are then delivered to their seats once in the air. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and passengers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight. Passengers need to provide their flight details during checkout, and the orders are delivered by cabin crew directly to the passenger’s seat in flight.
KOTA KINABALU, 23 June 2023: A Korean-based low-cost airline, T’way Air, introduced its first-ever direct scheduled flight from Incheon to Kota Kinabalu earlier this week.
The inaugural flight, which carried 188 passengers last Monday, 19 June, further strengthens links between South Korea and Sabah as the state continues to draw international visitors.
Group photo with Sabah Tourism Board officials and crew members of T’way Air at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport on Monday evening.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai was at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to warmly welcome the passengers.
Joniston emphasised the importance of enhancing international connectivity to Sabah, recognising its immense value to the region.
“Having more international direct flights creates a vital balance that not only benefits our tourism industry but also fuels economic growth in Sabah.
“By enhancing connectivity, we are opening doors for more visitors to experience the natural wonders and cultural heritage that Sabah offers while simultaneously generating employment opportunities and driving sustainable development,” he said.
South Koreans have consistently shown a keen interest in exploring Sabah’s natural wonders, evident in their dominant position as the top international visitors to the state.
The Sabah Tourism Board registered 68,685 South Korean visitors between January and April this year compared to 720 arrivals in the same period last year.
The debut of T’way Air’s direct route is expected to accelerate this growing trend and build even deeper tourism linkages between the two destinations.
This surge in South Korean tourists underscores the growing popularity of Sabah as a preferred destination, fueled by its captivating natural wonders, cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality.
Sabah’s islands, beaches, and golf courses are popular among Korean tourists. They are also interested in diving and birding.
The Sabah Tourism Board has strategically planned two notable events – the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) and the Asian Bird Festival – that aim to attract international participants, including from South Korea.
Sabah’s commitment to hosting these events underscores its dedication to becoming a premier destination for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers, added Joniston.
T’way Air, which initially began as Hansung Airlines, underwent reorganisation and rebranding in 2010. As of 2019, it was the third-largest Korean low-cost carrier in the international market.
The regional manager of T’way Air Kota Kinabalu station Kim Minkeun expressed enthusiasm about connecting travellers to Sabah, saying: “Sabah has long been known for its captivating natural wonders, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality.
“As T’way Air spreads its wings to this remarkable destination, we aim to bring travellers closer to the magic of Sabah, creating memories that will last a lifetime,” he said.
The collaboration between Sabah Tourism Board and various airlines underscores the joint efforts to unlock the full potential of Sabah’s tourism industry.
Currently, Sabah is connected to 10 international cities, namely Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan, Taipei, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Incheon, Busan, and Manila.
In addition to the T’way Air flight, Sabah is expected to receive more direct flights in the coming months.
Shanghai Airlines is scheduled to reinstate daily direct flights to Sabah on 2 July, offering further connectivity between Sabah and Shanghai.
AirAsia also plans to commence routes from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu (daily) on 2 July and from Macau to Kota Kinabalu (4 times weekly) on 16 July.
Additionally, Jin Air will upgrade its aircraft from the B738 to the B777, with a maximum capacity of 393 passengers instead of 189, starting in July 2023.
GEORGETOWN, Penang, 23 June 2023: Georgetown, Penang, will host the 6th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB) from 2 to 5 July 2023.
The global event, organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia, will bring together prominent scientists, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts worldwide, united by their commitment to saving marine biodiversity.
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran announces global marine conservation event.
The WCMB 2023 represents a unique opportunity for Penang to showcase its unwavering commitment to marine conservation, research and sustainable practices.
WCMB 2023 will feature a diverse array of sessions, special symposiums, and panel discussions, offering attendees the opportunity to delve into emerging technologies, cutting-edge research and successful case studies in marine conservation and resource management.
“We are honoured to have been selected as the host city for the 6th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2023,” Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran explained.
He added that “the insights gained from this global gathering will inspire further research, innovation, and sustainable practices, positioning Penang as a leading hub for marine biodiversity conservation and research.”
The conference will contribute an estimated economic impact (EEI) of MYR 3.2 million and attract more than 400 delegates, of which 70% are international participants.
Over the years, science conferences have significantly contributed to Penang’s economy generating nearly MYR40 million earned from around 8,056 delegates who attended events on the island recently.
“The long-term effects of the WCMB 2023 will reverberate throughout Penang’s marine and environmental sectors. The knowledge shared, research presented, and collaborations formed during the conference will foster further innovation, shaping the future of marine biodiversity conservation. Penang will emerge as a recognised centre of excellence in the field, attracting investments, partnerships, and scientific talent,” he concluded.
Penang has been chosen by the International Association for Biological Oceanography (IABO) to be the first-ever host city in Malaysia and ASEAN for this tri-annual global conference. The next General Assembly of IABO will also be held during the WCMB 2023 in Penang.
PUTRAJAYA, 23 June 2023: Malaysia has confirmed attendance at the UK’s leading exhibition for the events, meetings and incentives community, The Meetings Show 2023.
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) will lead a sales team to engage with global industry players at The 11th edition of The Meetings Show to be hosted at Excel London from 28 to 29 June 2023.
Photo Credit The Meetings Show. Networking at the 2022 event in London.
MyCEB acting Chief Executive Officer Zain Azrai bin Rashid said Team Malaysia has high expectations.
“The Business Events industry in Asia is soaring once more, and Malaysia is ready to be part of the action in welcoming business visitors back to the region,” Zain said.
He continued, “While our presence at the event is to position Malaysia as the preferred Business Events destination in Asia, we are also looking towards boosting the region’s presence. We believe concerted efforts with other ASEAN countries through knowledge sharing and business exchange is the way forward”.
At the show, Team Malaysia will present a cultural theme inspired by the traditional art of embroidery. The theme embodies Malaysia’s aim to fabricate golden opportunities to create masterpiece events representing the Best of Asia. MyCEB will also present support packages for international business event planners to assist them in bringing international events to Malaysia.
Team Malaysia will be led by MyCEB director – experiential & Events Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim, with Borneo Kuching Convention Centre, Business Events Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
SINGAPORE, 23 June 2023: Finland introduces the world’s first phone-free tourist island – Ulko-Tammio island that encourages visitors to go off the grid for a stress-free holiday stay this summer.
Ulko-Tammio is located in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, and the new guideline recommends visitors keep their phones in their pockets this summer. The aim is to encourage holidaymakers to switch off their smart devices, take a break from social media and enjoy nature. Ulko-Tammio is believed to be the world’s first phone-free tourist island.
Google Maps: Ulko-Tammio is located in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park.
The Eastern Gulf of Finland boasts beautiful islands and charming coastal villages characterised by nature, peace and the Baltic Sea.
“The island of Ulko-Tammio, which is located off the coast of Hamina, will be a phone-free area this summer. We want to urge holidaymakers to switch off their smart devices and to stop and genuinely enjoy the islands”, Visit Kotka-Hamina island tourism expert Mats Selin explains.
“We encourage visitors to voluntarily put their phones away and focus their senses on nature rather than their phones. This initiative could be implemented in other natural and recreational destinations, too”, says Parks & Wildlife Finland outdoor recreation and visitor management manager Joel Heino.
Interest in the Eastern Gulf of Finland is on the rise
The Eastern Gulf of Finland boasts a 30-nautical-mile-wide national park, where the island of Ulko-Tammio is located.
“The eastern side of the Gulf of Finland is home to a unique group of islands you won’t find elsewhere. According to our research, interest in the islands of the Eastern Gulf of Finland is also on the rise among Finnish tourists looking for a nearcation destination”, Selin explains.
The phone-free island of Ulko-Tammio
Considered one of the crown jewels of the Eastern Gulf of Finland, the island of Ulko-Tammio is located in the Eastern Gulf of Finland National Park, which is one of the 41 national parks in Finland. Ports at Kotka and Hamina have ferry and cruise links to the island. The island of Ulko-Tammio is less than 10 km from the Russian marine border and a 30 km sail from the Finnish port of Hamina.
Google Maps: Ulko–Tammio Island can be reached by boat cruises organised by the company MeriSet. The cruise sails a beautiful archipelago route from Kotka to Tammio Island. Other ferries depart from Hamina.
BANGKOK, 23 June 2023: Philippine Airlines (PAL) has finalised a purchase agreement with Airbus for nine A350-1000 long-range aircraft.
The agreement was signed during the Paris Air Show by Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer Captain Stanley K Ng, and Airbus chief commercial officer and Head of International Christian Scherer.
The A350-1000s will fly nonstop services from Manila to North America, including the US and Canada East Coast. The new aircraft will join two A350-900s already in service. The aircraft will accommodate 380 passengers in a three-class layout, with separate cabins for business, premium economy and economy classes.
Captain Stanley K Ng said: “This order will see PAL operating one of Asia’s youngest and most modern widebody fleets. We selected the A350-1000 to give PAL the power to match capacity closely to predicted demand on both the very longest routes to the North American East Coast and our prime trunk routes to the West Coast and potentially to Europe. At the same time, the aircraft will use significantly less fuel than older aircraft of a similar size, which also brings an important reduction in carbon emissions.”
The A350 claims the longest range capability of any commercial airliner in production today and can fly 9,700 nautical miles or 18,000 kilometres nonstop.
At the end of May 2023, the A350 Family had won 967 firm orders from 54 customers worldwide, with 535 aircraft currently in the fleets of 40 operators, flying primarily on long-haul routes.
Philippine Airlines operates various Airbus types on its full-service network. In addition to the A350 on long-haul intercontinental routes, PAL flies A330-300s on services to the Middle East, Australia and various points in Asia. The Philippine flag carrier also operates a fleet of A320 and A321 single-aisle aircraft on its extensive domestic and regional network out of hubs in Manila and Cebu.
KUCHING, 23 June 2023: The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 kicked off in Kuching Wednesday with a Welcome Dinner hosted by Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.
The three-day event culminates with a visit to the Rainforest World Music Festival on Friday evening, with delegates joining the opening night of the annual music festival against the backdrop of a beach and rainforest cliffs.
Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.
Following almost a three-year disruption of the state’s tourism during the Covid pandemic, the Sarawak Government created two resilient tourism industry development plans to kickstart recovery; The Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and the Sarawak Tourism Master Plan 2035.
Elements of Sarawak’s two strategy plans were mentioned during the PATA forum and mart sessions for their strong content that supports environmental sustainability.
“The PATA forum is more important than ever as it stems from the desire to boost destinations through marketing and managing responsible tourism growth while recognising Sarawak as a leading tourism destination in ASEAN,” the deputy minister commented during the welcome dinner event.
Opening welcome and celebrations
The 272 Delegates from 28 destinations attending the forum and mart shared insights and knowledge while enjoying an opportunity to explore Sarawak’s natural landscapes and cultural treasures.
Thought leaders presented their narratives on Climate Action Strategies, Market Trends & Insights and other critical topics that will shape the future of the tourism industry in the Asia-Pacific during the forum.
In addition, participants at the three-day event joined travel mart sessions for networking and business discussions to strengthen strategic relations within the PATA community to ensure the tourism industry embraces the challenges and opportunities to achieve sustainable tourism growth across the Asia-Pacific.
DUBAI UAE, 22 June 2023: Emirates announced commercial management rotations earlier this week across its outstations in West Asia, Central Asia, the Indian Ocean, and East Asia.
The organisational moves are aligned with the airline’s strategy to place UAE talent in commercial roles and strengthen the airline’s presence in key markets across its network.
Emirates’ commercial team members are assuming new roles, effective from 1 August.
Chandana De Silva, currently manager of Sri Lanka and Maldives, will be appointed as manager government liaison in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Rashid Al Ardha, currently country manager of Singapore & Brunei, will move to a new post as manager of Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Rashed Alfajeer, currently country manager of Iran & Central Asia, will take on the role of Country Manager of Singapore & Brunei
Mohamed Alhammadi, currently area manager in Bangladesh, will become manager of Iran & Central Asia
Jaber Mohamed will be appointed as the area manager of Bangladesh.
Majid Al Falasi, currently the manager of Sudan, will move to a new role as manager of Vietnam.
“This rotation is part of our long-established commercial outstation managers programme, with a track record spanning over 25 years, that has groomed many UAE nationals to date. It also supports the UAE’s strategic economic vision of creating a knowledge-based economy powered by skilled Emiratis and advances the UAE aviation sector.”
