MANILA, 11 May 2023: The Department of Tourism welcomes the return of charter flights between China and the Philippines, saying it sends a positive signal speeding up recovery from the country’s top tourism supply market.
Before the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, China was the Philippines’ largest source market for tourist visits recording 1.7 million visitors from China in 2019.
Photo credit: DOT. Welcome party for the first charter flight from China.
“We are very happy to welcome the resumption of charter flights from China to Kalibo. This only demonstrates that Boracay remains a popular destination for Chinese tourists,” said DOT Secretary Christina Frasco in a statement Monday quoted by the Philippines News Agency.
On 18 April, 180 Chinese tourists on an OK Airlines charter flight from Changsha, China, landed at Kalibo airport for a holiday on Boracay Island. It was the first charter flight from China since the market reopened for international travel on 8 January 2023.
“Together with the local government and our very active private stakeholders, we shall aggressively promote sustainable and responsible tourism in Boracay so that more will come to enjoy its beauty in the long run,” Frasco said.
In 2019, 434,175 Chinese visitors arrived at Boracay Island. They were the number one source of foreign visitors in Boracay, numbering 434,175 in 2019, before the global tourism lockdown in 2020.
The Philippines embassy in China resumed issuing visas to Chinese tour groups on 11 April.
“The DOT looks forward to equaling, if not surpassing, the Chinese visitors we received before the pandemic. We thank our partner agencies, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs, for heeding our appeal to resume the processing and issuance of Philippine visas to Chinese tour groups shortly after we underscored the necessity of regaining China as our largest source of inbound travellers,” Secretary Frasco said.
”We look forward to other interventions, such as implementing an electronic visa system to facilitate the ease of entry into the country,” the DOT Chief added.
She confirmed the DOT’s intention to maintain strong ties with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MOCT) in China and ensure the Philippines is one of the 20 nations that are part of the pilot project to relaunch China’s outbound tourism group tours to overseas destinations.
DOT has two offices in mainland China, one in Beijing and the other in Shanghai, promoting and marketing Philippine tourism to the Chinese market.
SINGAPORE, 10 May 2023: Radisson Hotel Group and La Vie Hotels & Resorts have signed a Master Collaboration Agreement to add over 30 hotels to the group’s portfolio over the next 10 years by expanding its franchise business model.
The Master Collaboration Agreement enables La Vie to develop, manage and operate properties under five industry-leading brands: Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, under a non-exclusive brand collaboration agreement.
Photo caption: The Radisson Blu Resort Galle lobby in Sri Lanka, one of the three hotels that opened in 2022.
The partnership will drive La Vie’s expansion in Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Fiji and Vanuatu.
La Vie Hotels & Resorts is an owner-centric hospitality management company and is a subsidiary of La Vie Hospitality Group, which provides end-to-end innovative hospitality solutions across multiple disciplines.
Radisson Hotel Group and La Vie’s cooperation started in 2022 through the successful rebranding and conversion of three hotels in Sri Lanka. These hotels under the Radisson Blu and Radisson brands are located in the prime tourist destinations of Galle, Colombo and Kandy, managed and operated by La Vie Hotels & Resorts.
Radisson Hotel Group executive vice president and global chief development officer Elie Younes commented: “This latest news marks the next step on our journey together and the expansion of our partnership across key regional markets.”
The arrangement with La Vie is just one example of Radisson Hotel Group adopting flexible and innovative business models that meet the needs of the owners and developers through partnerships with leading third-party management operators.
With the group’s portfolio growth across the region, a centralised franchising service will soon be extended into Australasia*, enabling independent and small-scale hotel companies to plug into Radisson Hotel Group’s global network.
*Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean.
BANGKOK, 10 May 2023:Centara Korat Hotel, an all-in-one leisure and lifestyle destination in the Northeast of Thailand, invites guests to experience the fusion of Eastern and Western culinary delights in the new premium “ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT” a la carte buffet style at House of Kin KORAT restaurant.
Located in the heart of Korat, House of Kin KORAT restaurant is a perfect destination for family and friends to indulge in various Japanese, European, Thai, and dessert dishes curated by the award-winning chef, “Chef Gur-Angkur Rodcharoen”. His exceptional skills have won him numerous culinary awards and made him a master in the art of cooking.
House of Kin KORAT restaurant was designed under the Three Generation Restaurant or Family Dining concept, with a unique minimalist design that emphasises natural colours to create a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere. Indulge in various dishes from the ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT buffet, including the highlights such as Spaghetti with Mentaiko Fish Egg, Grilled Steak served with butter sauce and truffle mashed potatoes, and a fresh and delicious selection of sashimi. Don’t miss the opportunity to savour these delectable dishes that will please your taste buds.
For those who love an international buffet, House of Kin KORAT offers an “ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT” a la carte buffet priced at THB699 ++ per person. Customers can reserve their seats in advance through online channels at https://www.facebook.com/centarakorat and Line: @centarakorat.
House of Kin KORAT restaurant is open daily on the 1st floor of Centara Hotel Korat in three-time slots: from 0600 to 1000 for breakfast, 1130 to 1400 for lunch, and 1800 to 2300 for dinner.
For more information about Centara Hotel Korat, visit:
BANGKOK, 10 May 2023: Dusit Hotels and Resorts under Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, is set to expand its global and domestic footprint by opening three hotels within the next 30 days – including two new properties in Bangkok and its first hotel in Japan.
Hot on the heels of opening its first hotel in Europe, in Greece, and returning to Nairobi, Kenya, in March, with the opening of Dusit Suites Athens and Dusit Princess Hotel Residences Nairobi, respectively, Dusit is now gearing up to welcome its first dusitD2 branded hotel in Bangkok – dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok– which will soft open on 12 May 2023.
Located on Si Phraya Road, a vibrant street parallel to Silom and Sathorn roads in Bangkok’s central business district, the new hotel comprises 179 well-appointed guest rooms. It boasts a sleek, modern design that reflects Thai culture and embodies the upscale nature of the dusitD2 brand.
The hotel’s wide range of facilities includes a stylish lobby, a fully equipped fitness centre, a versatile meeting space with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, an outdoor swimming pool with a panoramic city view, and a multi-level food and beverage concept featuring a grab-and-go gourmet outlet, an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen, and a Miami-inspired rooftop bar called Mimi serving burgers, shakes, craft beers, and cocktails.
Up next, on 15 May 2023, Dusit will mark the official expansion of its distinctive lifestyle brand, ASAI Hotels, by opening ASAI Bangkok Sathornon Sathorn Soi 12 near Bangkok’s central business district, just a five-minute walk from Saint Louis BTS (Skytrain) Station.
Building on the success of ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, one of the top-rated hotels in Bangkok on TripAdvisor, the new hotel will continue the brand’s promise to uniquely link visitors with authentic local experiences in the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods – this one renowned for its impressive cluster of hip bars and Thai and international restaurants.
Alongside 106 thoughtfully compact rooms that focus on the essentials, such as highly comfortable beds and powerful showers, the new property boasts a spacious and welcoming communal space that features a cosy neighbourhood bar, a comfortable co-working area, and a unique dining experience created by award-winning chefs Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones, who specialise in authentic Thai cuisine crafted from seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
On 1 June 2023, Dusit will take the ASAI brand outside of Thailand with the opening of ASAI Kyoto Shijo– Dusit’s first hotel in Japan – which puts guests in the heart of the Shijo-Karasuma neighbourhood, near the famous Nishiki Market in the city’s renowned Downtown area.
Alongside 114 thoughtfully compact rooms designed to offer the utmost comfort and convenience, the hotel will feature a large communal hub for work, rest, and play and a cosy dining room inspired by the rich street-food culture of Bangkok. Regular collaborations with local restaurateurs and artisans and sustainable sourcing of produce will further set the distinctive lifestyle hotel apart.
“As we continue to execute our plan for domestic and global expansion, we are delighted to welcome three new hotels to our portfolio, including our first dusitD2 branded hotel in Bangkok, our second ASAI hotel in Bangkok, and our first hotel in Japan,” said Dusit International Chief Operating Officer Gilles Cretallaz: “These openings represent significant milestones for our company, and we are confident that their unique positioning and distinctive lifestyle and food and beverage experiences will resonate with travellers from around the world. As we gear up for these launches, we are excited about the future and look forward to making our mark in more key international markets.”
With an additional nine hotels set to open globally before the end of the year, including Dusit’s first entry into Nepal, a second hotel in Japan, and a strategic return to India, Dusit is set to add approximately 1,700 keys to its hotel portfolio, resulting in 62 hotels (13,700 keys) operating across 18 countries worldwide by year-end.
Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, property development, and hospitality-related services.
The group’s portfolio of hotels, resorts and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under seven brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, Dusit Suites, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 17 countries worldwide. The group also operates culinary schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, plus catering companies for the education sector in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
SINGAPORE, 10 May 2023: Oneworld, a global airline alliance, announced last week that its chief executive officer Rob Gurney has elected to leave the alliance’s central management team.
“We are grateful to Rob for his leadership in navigating oneworld through the challenges of the past six years,” said oneworld Chairman and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Akbar Al Baker. “Rob has played a critical role in establishing oneworld as the most preferred alliance by global travellers with a best-in-class travel experience.”
Photo credit: Oneworld. Rob Gurney.
Gurney joined oneworld in 2016 and grew the alliance by adding Royal Air Maroc, Alaska Airlines and future member Oman Air.
He has also championed oneworld’s sustainability efforts as member airlines committed to a 10% sustainable aviation fuel target across the alliance by 2030. During his tenure, oneworld launched oneworld connect to offer airlines a new way to link to the alliance and provide more travellers the benefits of being part of oneworld.
Gurney will remain in his role until 1 July 2023. American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja will lead the search for Gurney’s replacement on behalf of oneworld. Gurney and the oneworld management team will report to Raja until a successor is named. Recently, oneworld relocated its global headquarters to Fort Worth to further grow and strengthen its partnerships with its member airlines.
MANILA, Philippines, 10 May 2023: AirAsia Philippines is on the path to recovery after posting a 92% load factor in Q1 2023, among the highest in all AirAsia airline operations across the region.
AirAsia Philippines’ flight frequency, seat capacity, and the number of passengers carried from January to March 2023 increased to almost 84% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The airline also sold 1.4 million seats in Q1 2023, 8% higher than the previous, while sales on international seats increased by 70%.
The biggest contributing factor to this milestone was the full recovery of the Philippine domestic market and stronger demand for international destinations.
AirAsia Philippines communications and public affairs country head Steve Dailisan said: “AirAsia Philippines intends to sustain the momentum by opening more international destinations this Q2 and Q3. We expect these developments to encourage more guests to fulfil their travel plans as we impact the speedy recovery of the travel and tourism industry. To sustain our momentum, the airline continues pushing to return to service more aircraft, which will be assigned to our Cebu, Clark, and Kalibo hubs.”
With the complete restoration of AirAsia’s domestic and international routes, destinations such as Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Boracay, Narita, Osaka, and Macao have become the top-performing routes coming from the Manila Hub. AirAsia’s Cebu Hub also performed well in Puerto Princesa and Boracay routes.
SINGAPORE, 10 May 2023: Saudia continues its network expansion in Asia with news it will add its fourth direct weekly flight from Jeddah to Singapore at the start of the winter timetable in November.
The new flight will operate every Friday starting 3 November.
Effective last March, the summer timetable shows the airline currently offers three direct flights from Jeddah to Singapore on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday using a Boeing Dreamliner 787-900.
Flight SV836 departs Jeddah at 0125 and arrives in Singapore at 1530. The return flight (SV837) departs Singapore at 1700 and arrives in Jeddah at 2150.
Wego, an online booking site for hotels and airlines based in Singapore, reports that the most popular flight routes from Saudi Arabia to Singapore are Riyadh to Singapore, Dammam to Singapore and Jeddah to Singapore. The cheapest flight from Saudi Arabia to Singapore is from Jeddah to Singapore, with airfares starting at SAR1998.97. The fastest flight from Saudi Arabia to Singapore is from Jeddah to Singapore, with an average flight time of 9 hours and 35 minutes. The most popular airlines are Malaysia Airlines, Saudia, and Qatar Airways.
Saudia has added more than 50 flights worldwide to its summer schedule that came into effect at the end of March 2023. It added flights to six destinations in Asia.
Bangkok
The airline added three weekly flights from Jeddah, giving it 10 weekly flights to Bangkok; daily from Jeddah and three from Riyadh.
Seoul
Saudia introduced direct flights to Seoul from both Jeddah and Riyadh; two from Jeddah and two from Riyadh.
Guangzhou
Saudia introduced three flights weekly to Guangzhou from Jeddah and two weekly flights from Riyadh.
Kuala Lumpur
Three new weekly flights from Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur increase Saudia’s presence in Kuala Lumpur to 24 weekly flights, with 21 from Jeddah and three from Riyadh.
Singapore
The start of the summer timetable saw the airline serve Singapore with three weekly flights from Jeddah. Previously, it offered flights with a stop in Male.
Jakarta
Three weekly flights from Riyadh to Jakarta have been added to the schedule, along with three more from Jeddah, giving the airline 24 weekly flights to Jakarta.
The airline operates over 50 Boeing aircraft on its long-haul network, including the 777-300ER (Extended Range) and the 787-9 and 787-10 Dreamliner.
VIENTIANE, 10 May 2023: Cambodia Angkor Air has introduced a new flight between Siem Reap, Cambodia and Vientiane, Laos starting 1 May.
To mark the inaugural flight, the airline introduced a promotional fare tagged at USD79 on the Vientiane to Siem Reap sector and USD89 on the return.
Photo credit: AeroLaos
AeroLaos reported the inaugural flight took place on 1 May. The airline schedules a single weekly roundtrip flight every Monday. The flight departs Siem Reap at 0600 and arrives in Vientiane at 0705. On the return leg, the flight departs Vientiane at 0750 and arrives in Siem Reap at 0900.
Cambodia Angkor Air’s flight K6 908 uses an A321 for the weekly service, and if it attracts enough leisure travellers touring the Mekong Region, it plans to increase frequencies.
The airline’s domestic flights serve Siem Reap and Sihanoukville from its Phnom Penh hub. International flights serve Vietnam: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang. It also flies to China: Guangzhou, Chengzhou, Shanghai, Haiku and Macau.
SINGAPORE, 10 May 2023: Pandaw survived a rough voyage through Covid-19 to report “good earnings” despite having to mothball six ships in Myanmar and cope with a spike in international airfares, the riverboat cruise line’s founder Paul Strachan reported in his annual report released Monday.
Strachan commented on the season from October 2022 to March 2023: “It was a surprise to see that we had finished the season with good earnings. We had not anticipated any earnings at all in our year of recovery after Covid.”
Photo Credit: Pandaw
Pandaw operated eight ships: two in India, three in Laos and Thailand, two between Vietnam and Cambodia, and one on the Red River in North Vietnam from October to March. That followed two and a half years of lay-up due to Covid when all eight ships had to be refitted and refurbished.
“If Covid were not punishment enough, following the 2021 military coup, we suspended operations in Myanmar,” Strachan explained. “Myanmar had been an important destination for Pandaw and provided about a quarter of annual revenue. The six ships remaining in Myanmar have been mothballed in the hope that the country will one day be safe for travel.”
But he identified “airline behaviour” as the most formidable bar to recovery. He claims airlines were slow to reopen routes, and travel confidence was low due to uncertain schedules.
“They were charging double or even treble what they had pre-Covid. As a result of this, many European tour operators were reluctant to promote Asian destinations. Visitor numbers to the region through the season were very low, as was seen in city hotels, resorts and river ships.”
India’s decision to no longer offer an eVisa to UK nationals, a key leisure travel market, was described as a massive blow to the tourism sector along with Covid restrictions.
Despite negative regional factors, high restart costs and the loss of Myanmar, the Pandaw founder noted that nearly 50% of bookings came from the Pandaw Members Club. Members must have previously sailed with the company, and a top Legacy tier caters to members who have sailed five times. Club member bookings are direct without commission.
Pandaw estimates it will achieve 60% of pre-Covid revenue during the next season and the year after, matching the pre-Covid annual average.
“That is without Myanmar. Already for 2023/24, we are close to target, so we feel very positive about our recovery.”
Routes in Laos and Red River occupancy and yields were higher this season than pre-Covid, reflecting a preference for smaller ships on remote river routings.
On the Classic Mekong route between Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Siem Reap in Cambodia, a larger ship offered scheduled cruises with an average of 50% occupancy. Next season the company will deploy two larger ships for the Classic Mekong cruises.
“India proved far more challenging for Pandaw’s cruises with lower occupancy caused by the visa issue that resulted in a small loss. We also experienced incessant management dramas,” Strachan noted.
Pandaw has now appointed a senior person to head up the India operations, with an office in Kolkata and has invested in hiring competent ship managers with a team from Myanmar conducting training sessions for the crews.
Pandaw has also opened a new office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and hired local staff for customer services and finance.
After reviewing the corporate structure, the company trades as a UK-incorporated company, while regional companies have been established in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to streamline operations.
BANGKOK, 9 May 2023: Thai Vietjet has launched ‘Sky ConX’, a fly-through network that connects its passengers from and to various destinations via its Bangkok Suvarnabhumi base without multiple check-in procedures.
The Sky ConX offers the airline’s Thailand domestic and international connections, with a convenient transfer at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main operating hub of the airline.
It ends the need to collect their baggage and recheck themselves for the onward flight while transferring at Suvarnabhumi Airport, making their journey seamless.
In the early stage of the introduction of Sky ConX, the airline offers seamless international connections from Phuket, Krabi, and Chiang Mai to Fukuoka, Taipei, and Singapore. In addition, the airline offers a domestic connection between Chiang Rai – Hat Yai/Phuket/Krabi/Surat Thani, Chiang Mai – Hat Yai/Krabi/Surat Thani, and Udon Thani – Hat Yai/Phuket/Krabi.
Passengers check in their bags once the first departure airport and are given two boarding passes. Once in Bangkok, there is no need to recheck.
Thai Vietjet will cooperate with the parent Vietjet Group to further provide connections from Thailand to international destinations, including Australia, Japan, and Korea using the same check-through service.
Flights with the Sky ConX service are available for booking at www.vietjetair.com, after selecting the inclusive origins and destinations, the flights available for the service will be suggested automatically.
When arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport, passengers can follow the sign to their connecting flight and then proceed to the waiting room after passing through the ticket check and carry-on bag scan. Passengers must allow at least 20 minutes before departure at the gate, check for the gate number, and they will board the following flight without leaving the passenger area or rechecking their bags.
