HANOI, 22 May 2023: Vietjet Air will launch a new route connecting Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, with Hiroshima in Japan starting 19 July.
According to the airline’s schedule, flights will operate twice weekly on Wednesday and Sunday. The flight time is approximately four hours and 30 minutes.
Photo credit: Vietjet Air. Airline announces Hiroshima launch on sidelines of G7 Summit.
The flight using an A320 will depart Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport at 0215 and arrive at Hiroshima Airport at 0845 (local time). The return flight will depart Hiroshima at 0945 (local time) and land in Hanoi at 1235. Once the new route is established, the airline will offer 58 round-trip flights between the two countries weekly.
Last year Vietnam welcomed over 128,000 Japanese tourists, around 10% of pre-pandemic levels. Japan attracted more than 284,000 Vietnamese tourists last year, accounting for 7.4% of its international visitors.
Phuket flight
Meanwhile, the airline introduced its first direct service from Hanoi to the Thai holiday island of Phuket on 19 May, with 94 passengers on board the inaugural flight. Flight time on the daily service using an A320 is around three hours.
Vietjet is the first airline to operate a direct service between Hanoi and Phuket following the successful launch of direct services from Ho Chi Minh City to Phuket earlier this year.
The inaugural flight took off from Hanoi at 1135 and landed in Phuket at 1440. The return flights departed Phuket at 1545 and arrived in Hanoi at 1835.
MANILA, 19 May 2023: AirAsia Philippines has recorded a surge in summer bookings for 2023 achieving 75% of its pre-pandemic (2019) levels, encompassing domestic and international travel.
The top five most booked destinations for Filipinos this summer include Cebu, Boracay, Tacloban, Iloilo, and Bohol. The top international destinations for summer holidays included Taipei, Incheon, Bangkok, Narita, and Osaka,
AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs country head Steve Dailisan said: “The surge in bookings this summer reflects a strong rebound in travel demand. We are thrilled to witness such enthusiasm from travellers, with reservations reaching unprecedented levels.”
Airasia Super App and the airline’s website generated the highest volume of seat bookings showing Filipinos’ high preference for online platforms rather than traditional booking channels.
Group bookings have also started to pick up after recording a more than 140% increase in bookings from March to May.
AirAsia Philippines is capitalising on Cebu as one of the alternatives to the Manila International Airport, especially with more international flights to Narita, Osaka, Narita, Seoul, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, and Shenzhen.
KUCHING, 19 May 2023: The word Gawai’originated from the Iban language and means ritual or festival, while Dayak refers to the native ethnic groups of Sarawak – the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, Lun Bawang – and many more.
Gawai Dayak is celebrated to mark the end of the padi (rice) harvesting season. It’s a time of togetherness, gratitude for a productive harvest, and a prayer for a peaceful and prosperous future. Common events during the celebration are Kumang (Queen) and Keling (King) Gawai contests, Ngirup Ai Pengayu (Long Life Drink), traditional dancing and overall merrymaking.
Preparations for the Gawai festival start very early, with the brewing of tuak (traditional rice wine) and the making of traditional delicacies such as the kuihpenganan (Mexican hat shaped cake), kuih sarang semut (fishnet-like crispy snack), kuih chuan (crispy flower snack), pulut lulun (glutinous rice steamed in bamboo), manuk daun ubi lulun (chicken and tapioca shoot steamed in bamboo), and many more. After the general cleaning of the longhouse, new mats will be laid out on the ruai (the open area which runs through the entire longhouse), with the walls are adorned with the pua kumbu (traditional handwoven fabric) displayed on the wall and placed on the table as a table cloth.
Gawai celebrations at the longhouse offer celebrants a great time to wear traditional costumes. The women would wear the ngepan, a traditional costume for welcoming guests to the longhouse, wearing the sugu tinggi (Iban maiden headgear) as a hair accessory. The men would wear cawat or sirat (loin cloth) with necklaces, armlets and anklets and a headgear made of peacock feathers.
The celebration typically starts on the evening of 31 May with the Muai Antu Rua (casting away the spirit of greed), signifying the chasing away of the spirit of bad luck. Traditionally each family at the longhouse would throw unwanted articles into a chapan (winnowing basket) dragged by two men as they passed each room along the longhouse. The unwanted articles will then be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse.
As the sun sets, a miring (offering ceremony) will take place, starting with the beating of the gendang rayah (ritual music). The Tuai Rumah (Longhouse Chief) thanks the gods for the good harvest and asks for blessings, guidance and long life as he waves a cockerel over the offerings before ending the miring ceremony. Dinner is then served and just before midnight, a procession of young maidens and warriors in traditional garb go up and down the ruai seven times, known as the Ngalu Petara (welcoming the spirit of the gods).
At midnight, the gong is sounded, and the Tuai Rumah leads everyone in the longhouse in a toast with Ai Pengayu (a special kind of tuak) wishing each other “Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai” which translates to “Long Life, Health and Prosperity”.
The celebration turns merrier as some will dance to traditional music being played. Some will sing and recite their traditional poems (pantun or ramban), while some will perform the traditional dance called Ngajat to symbolise the joy of a good harvest.
The male ngajat copies the mannerisms of a hornbill – considered the king of the birds – to show courage, heroism and strength. The ngajat of the ladies is the opposite, as it consists of soft, graceful movements with precise body turns. A traditional band joins the dance troop giving life to the dance with their vibrant beats and tunes, playing the traditional folklore. There will also be blowpipe competitions as participants will take the opportunity to demonstrate their blowpiping skills.
On 1 June, the homes of the Dayaks open to visitors, a custom known as Ngabang. Traditionally, when guests arrive at the longhouse, they are served with ai tiki as a symbol of welcoming them to their home. From time to time, guests are served with tuak, which is called “nyibur temuai”, which literally means “watering the guests”.
For the Christian Dayaks, Gawai would also mean attending a church mass service to thank God for the good harvest. The Gawai celebrations usually last for several days, and it is also considered an auspicious time for wedding ceremonies and baptisms.
COME AND EXPERIENCE GAWAI IN SARAWAK
In conjunction with the 2023 Gawai festival, everyone is invited to experience the festivity first-hand with the local community at the Sarawak Gawai Festival Open House, to be held at Rumah Matop longhouse in Betong, about 246km from Kuching, on 9 June 2023.
The open house aims to promote the rich cultural diversity of Sarawak and highlight the unique traditions and customs of the Gawai celebrations. Visitors will have the chance to experience the warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak. Not only will they get to taste traditional ethnic cuisines, visitors can also participate in cultural performances at the historic longhouse, which was built in 1941 from belian (ironwood) pillars.
Those interested in participating in the Gawai Dayak Open House can go to the websitehttps://sarawak.travel/openhouse/ for more information.
KOTA KINABALU, 19 May 2023: Indian golf tour experts visited Sabah earlier this week to check out courses and explore the state’s tourist destinations and natural beauty.
Tourism Malaysia hosted the golf tour experts for a four-day familiarisation tour, which included a dinner hosted by Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai on the first day of the itinerary.
During the dinner event, the group shared their perspective on how Sabah could capitalise on its diverse offering for vacationers while allowing golfers to play on world-class golf courses.
India’s leading golf educator Romit Bose remarked that Sabah’s opportunity is readily apparent, emphasising the availability of golf courses within a resort, hotel facilities, and the fantastic weather to play golf all year round.
“I run an academy in New Delhi, where I train golfers and nurture junior golfers who aspire to become pros so they can compete in tournaments. I can see Sabah as a tournament destination.
“Taking advantage of everything that Sabah offers, you should be able to attract between 300 and 500 junior golfers with their family members. To me, Sabah should be a destination for kids and their families,” said the managing director of The Golfing Hub.
The managing director of Diplomatic Travels, Mahender Pal Khanna, acknowledged that the stunning natural beauty of Sabah’s state capital alone is a draw, and good wellness spas are an added plus for Indian tourists.
“From what I have experienced, Sabah is a fantastic destination with much more than just golf. The wedding industry is also significant to us, which you can tap into. I believe having direct flights from India will help bring multiple guests to Sabah,” he added.
Group members also spoke about the potential of mounting direct chartered flights from India to Sabah shortly.
The group’s trip occurred after a successful meeting between golf operators and the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, YB Khairul Firdaus bin Akbar Khan, at the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2023 in India last February.
“We are thrilled to showcase Sabah’s beautiful golf courses and attractions as a significant step in positioning Sabah as a premier golf destination for Indian travellers.
Through collaborations with industry players and enhanced connectivity, we are confident that Sabah will captivate Indian golfers and contribute to Malaysia’s tourism growth,” said Khairul, who met the golfers at a luncheon earlier.
Meanwhile, Joniston, also the state Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, said Sabah hopes to offer a genuinely exotic golfing experience different from other golfing destinations.
“We have some 20 golf courses surrounded by lush rainforests, mountains, and pristine beaches, providing a unique backdrop for golfers to enjoy while playing.
“We have been welcoming golfers to Sabah, but India is a new market for us. We do hope to see more Indian golfers and their families in Sabah enjoy not only golfing but our rich cultural heritage.
“This cultural immersion adds another dimension to the golfing trip, making it a well-rounded experience that combines sport, nature, and cultural exploration,” he said.
During their familiarisation trip, the group played golf at the Sutera Habour and Country Club and the Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club. They also inspected the Nexus Golf Karambunai Resort.
Present at the dinner were the Permanent Secretary of Sabah’s Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry, Datuk Sr Mohd. Yusrie Abdullah; Tourism Malaysia Senior Director International Promotion Division (ASAF), Manoharan Periasamy; Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director (North and East India) Muhammad Akmal Hafiz Abdul Aziz; and Sabah Tourism Board Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Tay Shu Lan.
BANGKOK, 19 May 2023: Minor Hotels, a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 530 hotels worldwide, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund to develop and operate hospitality and lifestyle projects jointly.
The projects will focus on mountain resorts, wellness resorts and urban hotels in Saudi Arabia. The first project under this partnership is expected to be announced during the second half of this year, with multiple projects over the next couple of years.
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara – Aerial View Resort Twilight.
Minor Hotels will act as an operator and partner in each project linked to its flagship brands; Anantara, Avani, Tivoli and Oaks.
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund supports tourism investment, linking private-sector investors with public funding opportunities. It was set up in 2020 to harness opportunities and fund development in the tourism ecosystem and destinations across Saudi Arabia.
The luxury brand Anantara will constitute at least one of the agreed projects, a brand already well-known in the GCC region. Minor Hotels has more than 10 properties in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar.
The Avani Hotels & Resorts brand will debut in the Kingdom with multiple properties. The contemporary hotel brand can be found in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, with a property currently under development in Bahrain to launch in 2024.
“The signing of this memorandum of understanding with Saudi’s Tourism Development Fund represents a significant step for Minor Hotels, enabling the group to offer a wide variety of products ranging from experiential luxury to serviced apartments,” commented Minor International Group CEO and Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier.
HONG KONG, 19 May 2023: Cathay Pacific carried 1,381,073 passengers in April, an increase of 3,283% compared with April 2022, according to the latest traffic figures released this week.
Cathay Pacific Group, comprising passenger airlines Cathay Pacific and HK Express, carried almost six million passengers during the year’s first four months.
The airline group said traffic figures for April 2023 reflected strong demand for travel during the holiday period and confirmed travel sentiment has remained positive since the beginning of the year.
The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 3,139% year-on-year. Passenger load factor increased by 31.3 percentage points to 86.9%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 1,973% year-on-year. In the first four months of 2023, the number of passengers carried increased by 3,707% against a 2,116% increase in capacity and a 3,989% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.
Travel
The airline’s chief customer and commercial officer, Lavinia Lau said: “April was a busy month for our travel business as many of our customers looked to enjoy a getaway during the holiday period. Passenger demand was robust over the Easter holiday in the early part of the month. On 9 April, we recorded our highest number of passengers on a single day since the start of the pandemic, carrying 53,233 in total. Meanwhile, we continued to increase our passenger flight capacity and add more frequencies to destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and Japan. Demand for premium class seats has also been buoyant, driven by corporate and leisure travel.
“We experienced a surge in demand from Indonesia in mid-April, coinciding with the end of Ramadan, and we added more flights from Jakarta and Surabaya for our customers accordingly. Towards the end of April, we also saw increased traffic ahead of Labour Day and the Golden Week holiday from the Chinese Mainland.
Outlook
Looking ahead to the rest of May and beyond, Lau said the priority was to continue efforts to reconnect with customers.
“We are progressively increasing flight capacity as we approach the peak summer travel season. Regarding destinations, we look forward to resuming our Johannesburg service from 1 August with three weekly flights, again connecting our home city with Africa. On top of that, from 3 October, we will resume our Chicago service with three weekly flights, giving us seven destinations in North America and further expanding our connectivity with the region.”
PHUKET, 19 May 2023: Phuket Hotels Association, the nonprofit organisation of hoteliers focused on promoting a positive image of Phuket, is inviting members of the public to take part in its “Absolutely Fabulous Online Travel Sale” – an online auction with great prizes that will fund scholarships for talented young people in Phuket.
This forms part of the Phuket Hotels Association Benefit (PHAB) 2023 campaign, an important fundraising initiative including “PHAB 5”, a charity gala dinner at Angsana Laguna Phuket on 20 May 2023.
Bidding in the online auction is open until midday (Thailand time, UTC+7 hrs) on 15 June, with prizes in dream destinations worldwide! Participants can bid for spectacular five-star stays and exciting experiences generously donated by sponsors in destinations such as Dubai, Sydney and the Maldives, as well as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui – all potentially available with big discounts for the highest bidder. In addition to hotel stays, the auction includes various exhilarating activities such as yacht charters, golf, tennis, surfing classes and gym memberships.
Proceeds from the auction will sponsor at least 20 hospitality scholarships and internships exclusively for the benefit of young Phuket residents who would otherwise be unable to fund their education. The association has successfully sponsored over 30 students studying hospitality and tourism in Phuket.
The PHAB 5 online auction is being continually updated with new prizes. Bidders can check back on their progress, make new offers and see what other exciting prizes are coming up! To learn more about the PHAB 5 online auction and to place your bid in the “Absolutely Fabulous Online Travel Sale”, please visit phab.phukethotelsassociation.com/silent-auction.
“By taking part in our online auction, not only will you be bidding on great prizes and five-star hotel stays worldwide, but you will also be benefiting the local community by helping young people to discover a new career that could raise their standard of living and even support an entire family,” explained Phuket Hotels Association president Bjorn Courage.
Hosted at Angsana Convention & Exhibition Space (ACES), the world-class event space at Angsana Laguna Phuket,”PHAB 5″ is an upbeat fundraising event. The evening will commence with welcome cocktails and live music, followed by an indulgent international buffet dinner featuring live cooking stations by some of the top chefs from Phuket’s best hotels and drinks prepared by the island’s most creative mixologists. A lively MC will keep the fun flowing throughout the night!
Musical highlights include a live band, Feelsion, plus in-demand Phuket DJ CAMMUK, and dazzling dancers who will get the party started with their performances. Tickets are priced at THB4,900 (premium) or THB5,900 (VIP), with the proceeds also funding the hospitality scholarships. CLICK HERE to book tickets.
PUTRAJAYA, 19 May 2023: Xiamen Airlines officially commenced flights from Chongqing, China, to Kuala Lumpur earlier this week, marking an important milestone in boosting travel between China and Malaysia.
The maiden flight touched down at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Airport Terminal 1, on 16 May. Passengers were welcomed by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) management teams at the boarding gate.
The new direct flight is scheduled four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said: “We are thrilled with the launching of this new route by Xiamen Airlines to accommodate the increase in travel demand and enhance connectivity to Malaysia.
“We currently have 175 weekly flights from China to Malaysia and aspire to have more direct flights and even charter flights to Malaysia via strategic collaborations with airlines as we are targetting 3.5 million Chinese tourist arrivals this year.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to China last March, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), has deepened Malaysia-China relations.
With the launch of the nonstop flight to Chongqing, Xiamen Airlines operates 25 flights to China every week, including Kuala Lumpur to Xiamen (two daily flights) and Kuala Lumpur to Fuzhou (daily flights).
BANGKOK, 19 May 2023: Arival, the leading authority for the tours and activities sector, has released six key trends shaping the future of travel experiences in APAC.
The findings from its recent The Outlook for Experiences 2019-2025 research are released ahead of the annual Arival Activate event, which will take place in Bangkok on 12 to 14 June.
Arival CEO and co-founder Douglas Quinby said: “With many countries beginning to open travel after the pandemic, the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is seeing a surge of renewed interest in travel and tourism. APAC travellers are spending more, travelling further and for longer.”
Intra-regional travel is first, but long-haul travel to Europe is not far behind.
Quinby notes the following six essential experiences trends that are likely to shape the travel experience sector’s recovery – and that every creator and seller of tours, activities and attractions should be watching:
A very uneven recovery
There are still considerable variations in the pace of recovery throughout APAC. In some markets, travellers are making a strong comeback – especially from Southeast Asia, Korea and Australia – while some source markets, such as China and Japan, are slower to return.
Intra-regional travel is first, but long-haul and Europe are not far behind
Asia’s travellers have started to travel regionally, but long-haul destinations will likely not be far behind. Operators and resellers are reporting increased demand for Europe in particular.
The return of the outbound Chinese traveller remains a wild card
China has been a crucial engine of travel growth before the pandemic. While domestic travel has primarily recovered, international outbound travel has slowly returned. Operators in the region should focus first on other source markets in the region – and be prepared for China’s return in the second half of 2023.
Asia-based DidaTravel’s chief strategy officer Eric Zhuang recently commented on this shift in preference at the Arival 360 event in Berlin. “The supply chain needs to be reformed, and also, many clients have changed consumer behaviours and booking patterns. Most people will still go to the top destinations of pre-Covid times, but the things they want to do will be quite different.”
Younger travellers – and their booking habits – will define the rebound
Gen-Z and younger Millennials are driving the recovery across Asia, and their behaviour is already reshaping the industry. This large, experience-hungry cohort of the traveller population prioritises experiences over stuff. They are putting experiences first and are willing to pay for them. Operators must be ready for this. This means more small-group, immersive experiences that get travellers off the beaten path with unique, memorable interactions. And it has to be all mobile bookable, with plenty of Instagram- and TikTok-worthy moments.
Mobile booking and online marketplaces will more than triple in market share by 2025
With younger travellers leading the rebound, operators must be ready for the mobile wave. “We have seen a growth of 120% above the pre-pandemic level,” said Klook ChiefCief Commercial Officer Wilfred Fan when speaking at Arival 360 Berlin in March 2023. “That’s a company record, and that trend continues.”
Small group and independent travel will not only lead travel’s return but re-define its future in Asia
Younger travellers are seeking more independent and adventurous travel and experiences. This means more small group tours, independent tours, outdoor adventure activities and other unique experiences that travellers can cherish with family and friends.
For more information about the Outlook for Experiences 2019-2025 research, click here. To find out more about Arival Activate, or to register as an attendee, click here.
GEORGETOWN Penang, 17 May 2023: The Province Wellesley Gold & Silver Ornament Merchants Association has confirmed the PWGS Trade Fair 2023 will take place from 9 to 11 June 2023 at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre.
The event will showcase Penang’s gold and jewellery industry, as well as its distinctive culture, traditions, and craftsmanship. Around 100 exhibitors have booked booth space, with the organisers estimating 10,000 visitors.
In addition to boosting the local economy, the PWGS Trade Fair 2023 will help to promote the state as a hub for creative industries. It will also provide a platform for international promotions and publicity supporting local designers.
“Penang’s unique cultural identity and beauty can be seen in every piece of jewellery created by our talented designers. The designs reflect our diverse heritage, influenced by Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European cultures,” said Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, Yeoh Soon Hin. “At PWGS 2023, we are not only promoting the jewellery industry but also showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Penang to the world.”
Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau chief executive officer, Ashwin Gunasekeran, noted that by bringing in renowned exhibitions and trade fairs, “we showcase Penang’s capabilities and bolster our local economy. These events attract a diverse range of exhibitors, buyers, and visitors.”
