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KAL plans festive season flights to DMK

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 15 November 2023: Korean Air will introduce seasonal flights from Incheon Airport (ICN) Seoul, South Korea, to Don Mueang Airport (DMK) Bangkok from 3 January to 24 February 2024 to meet growing leisure travel demand for holidays in Thailand.

The airline has scheduled two flights weekly with late evening departures from Incheon on Wednesday and Saturday using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The return flights from Don Mueang Airport Bangkok are scheduled for early morning on Thursday and Sunday. 

The flights are in addition to scheduled services between South Korea and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Flight Schedule
Flight KE677 departs ICN in 2005  and arrives in DMK 0015 on Wednesday and Saturday.
Flight KE678 departs DMK at 0145 and arrives in ICN at 0915 on Thursday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, Korean Air will resume scheduled services to Komatsu and Aomori in Japan from Seoul Incheon in December 2023 and January 2024, respectively. The resumption will see the airline fully restore its Japan network to pre-pandemic levels.

The Seoul Incheon-Komatsu route will resume operations on 28 December. The flight departs from Seoul Incheon at 0735 and arrives in Komatsu at 0920. The return flight will depart at 1115 am and arrive at Seoul Incheon at 1325.

Korean Air will also resume its Seoul Incheon-Aomori service on 20 January 2024. The flight will depart from Seoul Incheon at 1030 and arrive in Aomori at 1250. The return flight departs at 1355 from Aomori to land at Seoul Incheon at 1555. Both routes will operate thrice weekly, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Located in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture, Komatsu offers convenient access to the area’s renowned Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, making it an attractive destination for mountain lovers. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking seaside views while driving along the coastal roads. The city is also renowned for its heavy winter snowfall, attracting winter sports enthusiasts and traditional Japanese crafts, including pottery and lacquerware, with a history and heritage dating back to the 17th century.

Referred to as Japan’s hidden gem, Aomori is an attractive region to explore with its stunning nature. The city features UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Shirakami Mountains and the scenic Sanriku Fukko National Park. Visitors can also enjoy cultural festivals, fresh local produce such as Aori apples and relaxing hot springs.

With the resumption to Komatsu and Aomori, Korean Air is restoring its pre-pandemic Japan network out of Seoul Incheon to the following 12 destinations: Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Niigata, Okayama, Kagoshima, Okinawa, Komatsu and Aomori.

Australian travel firms honoured

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TTR WEEKLY
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SYDNEY, 14 November 2023: A record 12,000 Australians have nominated their favourite ATAS accredited Travel Brand in this year’s National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA) People’s Choice Award, supported by News Corp Australia’s leading travel media brand Escape.

The People’s Choice Award at the NTIAs celebrates the travel brands that have impacted Australian travellers’ hearts. Considering the best skills and solutions provided by Australian Travel Brands, five finalists have now been named. 

People’s Choice Award Finalists:
Abercrombie & Kent
Capricorn Travel, WA
Clean Cruising Company, QLD
Dream Maker Travel, QLD
Trafalgar

The national competition winner will be announced later this week on 18 November at the 2023 NTIAs.

The collaboration with Escape is an important ATIA initiative to reinforce the importance of choosing ATAS-accredited travel businesses.

The free-to-enter digital competition asked readers to nominate their favourite ATAS-accredited travel brand in 50 words or less to win these incredible prizes:

Major Prize 
Two return Economy Class tickets on Singapore Airlines (SIA) for travel from any Australian city served by SIA to any European or UK city served by SIA. 
12-day Best of Germany tour experience for two people, courtesy of Trafalgar. 

First Runner Up 
Two nights accommodation (twin share) at Sails in the Desert – Ayers Rock Resort, including buffet breakfast and airport transfers.
AUD500 TravelPay Mastercard Gift Card. 

Second Runner Up
One night’s stay in a Deluxe Room at Crown Towers Melbourne, including breakfast for two people at the Conservatory.
AUD500 TravelPay Mastercard Gift Card.  

ATIA CEO commented: “We’re proud of and congratulate the People’s Choice Finalists who have displayed a commitment to excellence, ensuring every holiday is incredible and unforgettable.”

“This year, the competition was expanded to include cruise lines, ATAS Accredited Travel Agencies and ATAS Accredited Tour Operators so that the wide spectrum of Australian travel could be represented in the People’s Choice.”

LADA monitors new Langkawi flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI, 14 November 2023: Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) confirms AirAsia has scheduled direct flights from Kualanamu, Medan, Indonesia, to Langkawi starting 2 March 2024.

Earlier in November, LADA reported FlyDubai was planning a new flight to Langkawi due to start in February 2024, and charter flights from Poland have already been confirmed for the first quarter of 2024.

Photo credit: LADA Facebook post.

LADA’s Facebook page, updated last week, welcomed the new direct route between Kualanamu, Medan, in Indonesia, saying it was “good news for Langkawi’s tourism community.”

Timetable details for the new direct service have not been released to independent booking websites, and even the airline’s “Super App” booking site lacks any advance details of the service due to start on 2 March 2024. 

The only option is to take an AirAsia flight from Kualanamu to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to connect with a daily direct flight to Langkawi. It takes just over five hours with the stop and change of plane in Kuala Lumpur with the one-way fare starting at USD55. The journey will take less than one hour once direct flights are introduced between Kualanamu and Langkawi. 

LADA is actively persuading airlines to introduce direct flights to Langkawi from key markets to boost holiday traffic and further boost Langkawi island’s tourism industry.

“Hopefully, all players in the tourism industry related to Langkawi will be able to provide good cooperation and boost the momentum of new tourist arrivals and ‘repeat customers visiting Langkawi, which certainly offers a variety of attraction products,” said the LADA Facebook post.

https://naturallylangkawi.my/

Emirates at Dubai Airshow

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, 14 November 2023: Emirates is showcasing its entire family of aircraft consisting of the airline’s latest retrofitted A380, game-changer Boeing 777-300ER, Diamond DA42-VI and Cirrus SR 22 training aircraft used by the Emirates Flight Training Academy during the annual Dubai Airshow open through to 17 November. 

The Embraer Phenom 100 charter jet is also on display. Emirates B777-300ER and A380 aircraft have the airline’s newest signature livery.

The A380 aircraft on display, one of the first 10 units to have undergone a full make-over from Emirates’ ongoing USD2 billion retrofit programme features the airline’s popular Premium Economy Class cabin and refreshed interiors and enhancements across all cabins.

The Emirates exhibition stand, open to all Dubai Airshow visitors, features several Emirates divisions. A highlight this year is the employee experience. Starting with Cabin Crew training, the gamified environments inside Emirates aircraft offer visitors a glimpse into future simulated experiences, providing a cutting-edge approach to learning and service skills development. Airshow visitors also get an early look at the revamped onboarding experience for future Emirates Group employees.

The Emirates Official store also sells aircraft models and other popular aviation and travel merchandise at the stand. For the first time, the airline’s Airbus A350 die-cast aircraft model is on sale as a Dubai Airshow exclusive.

The Emirates Flight Training Academy displays its newest and most advanced training aircraft, the Diamond DA42-VI, which it received earlier this year, in addition to its single-engine Cirrus SR 22. Emirates Flight Training Academy instructors are on hand to provide information about the Academy’s world-class training programme. The Emirates Flight Training Academy is the airline’s state-of-the-art facility that is helping to meet the global aviation industry’s future requirements for skilled commercial pilots.
For more information on the airline and to make bookings visit www.emirates.com.

Sevens tickets go on sale

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 14 November 2023: The Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) have announced that ticket sales for the world-famous Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 will open on Friday, 1 December, via the website www.tickets.hkrugby.com. 

Hong Kong will be the 6th leg of the HSBC Sevens 2024 circuit, with the very best men’s and women’s teams worldwide battling it out at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium from 5 to 7 April 2024, featuring an impressive line-up of 68 World Series matches over three action-packed days.

Hong Kong Stadium.

The Men’s competition will feature defending champions New Zealand alongside Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Samoa, Spain, South Africa and the US.

Meanwhile, Women’s defending champions New Zealand take on Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Spain, South Africa and the USA.

In addition to the World Series matches, the 2024 event will also include an invitational Asian Challenge Cup for the first time; reigning Asian Games Men’s Gold Medalists Hong Kong China, will take on Silver Medalists Japan and the ever-improving China, whilst Women’s Gold Medalists China line up against Thailand and Bronze Medalists Hong Kong China in a six-match round-robin format across the three days.

The 2024 Sevens will be the last at So Kon Po before the much-anticipated move to the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025. Over the years, the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium has hosted many rugby legends, including Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Waisale Serevi and David Campese, catalysing the development of the World Series and the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics.

Tickets for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 remain at 2019 levels, with a three-day pass priced at HKD1,950 for adults and HKD950 for children 12 and under. 

Cathay Pacific has announced exclusive travel packages for rugby fans within their designated territory. At the same time, the official platforms Klook and Trip.com are authorised by Hong Kong China Rugby to sell ticket packages for the 2024 event.

Changi offers free bike rides

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 November 2023: Changi Airport offers bicycle rentals to passengers who have a layover in Singapore.

This year-long campaign offers passengers free use of a bicycle for two hours to explore outdoor attractions in the airport’s vicinity, including the Jurassic Mile and nearby beaches along Singapore’s East Coast.

With an emerging preference for sustainable and authentic travel experiences, the Changi Airport Connector cycling path that links to Singapore’s wider park connector network allows visitors to explore a diverse range of local sights such as the Bedok Jetty – a popular fishing spot, the East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre and nearby residential neighbourhoods such as Bedok and Siglap. 

Changi Airport Airport Operations Services senior vice president Ang Siew Min said: “This initiative represents Changi’s endeavour to delight our passengers as they fly through our airport or visit Singapore. We hope our passengers can experience the tropical outdoors of our airport and its unique surrounding attractions beyond the indoor terminal offerings.”

Passengers with more time to spare and are keen to venture further can pay to extend the bicycle bookings to enjoy more local sights and sounds at their own pace. To help passengers make the most of their time, Changi Airport Group has mapped out four different routes lasting two to six hours. Each route recommends experiences that appeal to different interests, from appreciating local culture and cuisine to exploring the rustic charms of a quaint part of Singapore.

At the bicycle return point at the airport, pay-per-use shower facilities and an alfresco café and bar are readily available, making it convenient for passengers to refresh and recharge before their onward journey. Advance booking is now available on Changi Airport’s website.

Destination Mekong meets in Phnom Penh

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHNOM PENH, 14 November 2023: Destination Mekong Summit will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 6 to 7 December 2023, adopting the theme “Mekong in Motion, Mekong Emotions”.

The event is billed as a networking opportunity for key players in the Mekong tourism industry to connect and learn from decision-makers, investors, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders shaping the future of tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The line-up of speakers has yet to be announced.

The DMS23 continues to be a free event for Destination Mekong full members and partners who must show they are members to get a link to register for the event without fees. There is also a virtual attendance slot, but for non-members wishing to attend in person, the event’s registration fee is USD100, according to the website. It’s the first time the organisers have price-tagged the event for non-members. An early bird, 30% discount, is available until 17  November using the code DMEarlyBird.

Hamas conflict impacts air travel recovery

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 November 2023: Travel analytics firm ForwardKeys says the recent Israel-Hamas conflict has negatively impacted flights to and from the Middle East and caused a global slowdown in the aviation industry. 

According to its latest analysis, flight bookings have decreased by five percentage points in the three weeks following Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October, when compared to pre-pandemic levels. The study compared flight bookings during the three weeks before 7 October with those during the same period after the attack.

Looking at outbound travel, flight bookings from Middle Eastern countries have fallen by nine percentage points since the outbreak of war. They slowed by 10 points from the Americas, while Asia Pacific, Europe (including Israel) and Africa each slowed by two points.

From a destination perspective, the growth in bookings to all regions of the world has slowed down, apart from Africa, which has continued to recover towards 2019 levels. Flight bookings to the Americas are down by 6pp, Europe by 3pp, Asia Pacific by 1pp, and Middle East by 26pp.

Within the region affected by the conflict, Israel has suffered the worst, with many airlines having cancelled flights. In the period since 7 October, flight bookings plummeted by 155pp (*A fall in bookings of over 100% indicates no new bookings; there have also been cancellations, depleting the existing stock of bookings.) It is followed by Saudi Arabia, down 67pp; Jordan, down 54pp; Lebanon, down 45pp; and Egypt, down 35pp. Flight bookings to GCC nations have declined by 25pp.

ForwardKeys, VP of Insights Olivier Ponti commented on the findings: “This war is a catastrophic, heartbreaking, human tragedy that we are all seeing daily on our TV screens. That is bound to put people off travelling to the region, but it has also dented consumer confidence in travelling elsewhere too.”

“As of 6 October, bookings showed that global air travel in the last quarter of the year, Q4, would reach 95% of its 2019 level, but, as of 27 October, the outlook has fallen back by 7pp and stands at 88%. The equivalent change in outlook for the Middle East is much more sobering, falling back 16pp to 110%, from 126%, before the war began.”

Thai Vietjet adds flights to China

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 14 November 2023: Thai Vietjet responds to Thailand’s granting visa-free travel to China’s nationals by expanding its international flight network to meet the increase in travel demand on routes from Shanghai and Hangzhou to Bangkok.

The airline will introduce two new routes linking Thailand and China’s Shanghai and Hangzhou using an A320 aircraft. Flights start on 6 December to Shanghai and 20 December to Hangzhou.

On the Bangkok to Shanghai sector, daily flights will depart Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) at 1640 and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at 2200. 

The return flight will depart Shanghai at 2305 and land in Bangkok at 0255 the following day.

Four weekly flights will operate from Bangkok to Hangzhou International Airport (HGH) every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Thai Vietjet offers zero fares (excluding taxes, fees, and extra add-on services) for bookings made between 15 and 24 November 2023 and valid for travel from 6 December 2023 to 30 March 2024 for the Bangkok – Shanghai service and from 20 December 2023 to 30 March 2024 for the Bangkok – Hangzhou service.

The temporary tourist visa exemption scheme for passport holders of the People’s Republic of China ends on  29 February 2024.

Airbnb upgrades bookings site

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 13 November 2023: Airbnb is introducing three upgrades that present accommodation favourites, revamped ratings and reviews and listing tabs. 

Guest Favorites 
Airbnb introduced a collection of 2 million most-loved homes on Airbnb based on ratings, reviews, and reliability data collected from over half a billion trips.

Revamped ratings & reviews
A redesigned rating page with new features helps guests understand the quality of every home. Guests have left over 371 million reviews about their stays on Airbnb. These ratings and reviews are the best way to understand the quality of a home. Reviews include more information about the reviewer and their trip — including where they’re from, the length of their stay, and whether they travelled with family, pets, or in a group.

Listings tab
Here is a set of new tools for hosts to manage their listing and showcase the details guests care about most, including an AI-powered photo tour. Managing a listing is one of the most essential parts of hosting because it’s how guests learn about a home. Listings with more details can get up to 20% more bookings. But many listings are missing the details guests care about because adding them has been too difficult. The l listings tab is the solution — a set of new tools for hosts to easily manage their listing and showcase the details of their home.

Guest Favorites, revamped ratings and reviews, the new Listings tab, and additional upgrades for Hosts rolled out worldwide last week. 

“People often describe checking into an Airbnb as a  ‘moment of truth’— when you find out if the home you booked meets your expectations,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. “Too often, it doesn’t. We’re changing that today. With Guest Favorites, revamped reviews, and the new Listings tab, you’ll know what to expect every time you book.” 

Airbnb continues to see double-digit supply growth across all regions, with the highest growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America. In Asia-Pacific, Airbnb’s business has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels as total nights booked grew 23% in Q3 2023 compared to Q3 2019.

Thailand, an Airbnb drawcard
Ahead of the upcoming winter and Chinese New Year holidays, Thailand is the #1 most searched destination for Chinese guests on Airbnb, with Phuket and Bangkok being the two top most searched cities for Chinese guests. Pattaya is one of the top 10 global trending destinations on Airbnb for upcoming end-of-year holidays. Thailand experienced year-over-year growth above 30% for gross nights booked on an origin basis.

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