HONG KONG, 21 December 2022: Cathay Pacific will resume direct flights from Hong Kong to Phuket on 1 January with four weekly services.
The new Cathay flights are in addition to the four weekly A320 services that Hong Kong Express (Cathay’s low-cost airline) already offers on the Hong Kong – Phuket route. The Hong Kong Express flight departs Hong Kong at 0735 and arrives in Phuket at 1025.
Using its latest A321neo, Cathay Pacific will fly to Phuket on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. CX771 will depart Hong Kong at 0840 and arrive in Phuket at 1125. The return flight CX770 will depart Phuket at 1230 and arrive in Hong Kong at 1700. Flight time on the route is around three hours and 45 minutes.
The starting fare (roundtrip) is around HKD4,855.
Earlier this month, the airline introduced its newest Airbus A321neo on the Hong Kong – Bangkok route. It features Cathay Pacific’s newly designed regional business class seat and 4K ultra-high-definition inflight entertainment screens on every seat across all cabins.
SINGAPORE, 21 December 2022: Regional inbound travel company, Phoenix Voyages, reports the return of business event travel to South Korea and Vietnam.
The company’s Meetings Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) department handled an incentive group of 60 passengers to South Korea from Europe last week, noting that South Korea is emerging as an incentive group destination in the key European source markets for business events.
“Our team arranged professional visits linked to the group’s business expertise and organised their gala dinners. The trip also included visiting famous landmarks, including the Hwaseong Fortress (Suwon, capital of Gyeonggi-do), the Folk Village, and Namdaemun Market (Seoul), as well as the famous Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).”
A similar picture emerged for Phoenix Voyages in Vietnam with the recent hosting of a group of 126 French people on an incentive trip from 11 to 18 November.
The group travelled through various regions of the country, including Hanoi, Hoa Lu – Ninh Binh, Halong, and Hoi An in central Vietnam.
Phoenix Voyages organised a welcome dinner in Hanoi and a gala dinner at an exclusive beach resort in Halong Bay. A farewell dinner was held at a private village in Hoi An.
The company call it a positive start on the road to recovery and an encouraging trend because incentives usually take more time to recover than the leisure travel segment.
BANGKOK, 21 December 2022: The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) will host its 62nd annual congress in Bangkok from 12 to 15 November 2023 with an expected 1,000 attendances.
Established in 1963, ICCA is a global association supporting the international meetings industry, representing public and private sectors from 91 countries worldwide.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, at the close of ICCA’s inspection trip of the venue and infrastructure in Bangkok between 5 and 9 December.
He noted during the ceremony that the 62nd ICCA Annual Congress 2023 would achieve carbon-neutral status and champion sustainability in the business event hosting segment.
Bangkok’s environmental credentials in the meeting industry were reaffirmed last month when it won the Most Improved Award from the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) 2022 during the 61st ICCA Annual Congress in Poland.
The ICCA Congress 2023 will mark the third time Thailand has hosted the event in Bangkok.
The ICCA Congress 2023 is scheduled for 12 to 15 November 2023. Registration will open in March 2023.
TCEB says the event should attract around 1,000 delegates, comprising 800 foreigners and 200 Thai attendees. It should generate THB85 million in revenue, contribute THB47 million to the gross domestic product (GDP), and create THB2.92 million in tax revenue. The public relations value for Thailand is estimated at THB 300 million.
The event will be held at the recently renovated Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC).
KUCHING, 21 December 2022: Kuching in Sarawak attracts golfers from around Asia through promotions that position the state capital as a paradise for golfers.
The city is home to world-class golf courses, making it a popular choice for golf tours and amateur golf tournaments organised by golf groups in neighbouring countries, particularly Thailand and Singapore.
Golf facilities have been mushrooming across the state and catching the attention of golf tour specialists around Asia.
With one golf course practically at your doorstep just a short commute from the city centre, playing a top-notch golf course is within striking distance of city centre hotels in Kuching.
Damai Golf & Country Club has an 18-hole championship course bordering the foothill of Mount Santubong and hugging the beaches, rocky outcrops and mangrove forests of the South China Sea.
Samarahan Country Club is located next to the University of Malaysia, Sarawak Campus along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway, Kota Samarahan and 12 km away from Kuching International Airport. The course layout requires precision and accuracy for players to score well on each hole.
Kelab Golf Sarawak (Sarawak Golf Club) is located approximately 10 km from the centre of Kuching. The main feature of KGS is its 36-hole golf course, the only one in the Land of the Hornbills. Aside from golf, KGS offers a variety of other sporting and recreational opportunities. The club, for example, has an eight-lane Olympic-size swimming pool. The indoor hall is fitted out with badminton and squash courts, and a tennis complex is adjacent to the indoor badminton hall.
Kuching is also noted for its restaurants and open-air street markets lined with food stalls serving local dishes. Siniawan Night Market is the top spot to enjoy delicacies you can only find in Kuching. The well-known Oyster Omelette and Ngoh Hiang is a must-try dish, and you can pair it with a mug of cold beer or even enjoy it with a bowl of rice. Other famous dishes include Kolo Mee, Manok Pansoh (Chicken cooked in bamboo) and the godly Sarawak Laksa, which you can smell from a mile away.
KUCHING, 20 December 2022: Celebrating 65 years of India-Malaysia’s diplomatic ties, Sarawak Tourism Board welcomed the 12-member Bharatnatyam dance troupe of the Anthara Dance Academy from Tamil Nadu, India, for performances hosted at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV).
The visit to Sarawak was integral to a people-to-people cultural exchange to showcase the diverse relationship between India and Malaysia.
STB Team with the 12-member Bharatnatyam dance troupe of the Anthara Dance Academy from Tamil Nadu, India.
According to the High Commission of India in Malaysia Second Secretary Narender Pal Singh, this was part of the Indian High Commission’s efforts to reach out to the Indian community across various parts of Malaysia and an opportunity for the community to reconnect with Indian performing arts.
“India and Malaysia share an enhanced strategic partnership with rich engagement across business, defence, education, culture and people-to-people ties. We very much value the people-to-people exchanges and will continue to do our best to facilitate and promote them,” he said.
The cultural stories of India were communicated in motion through the dances performed at Sarawak Cultural Village called the ‘Shadakshara Kowthwam’, ‘Annai Mugathone’, ‘Swarapallavi’, ‘En Pallo Kondeerayya’, ‘Enenna Vilayadai’, ‘Thottu-thotthu Pesavaraan’, and ‘Tillana’.
This is the fourth Indian performing arts troupe to visit Malaysia in the last four months. The Bharat Natyam Troupes consist of the Bhangra Troupe and Kalaripayattu troupe sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Bharatnatyam Troupe visited Ipoh and Penang last September, while the Kalaripayattu group visited Penang and performed at Malaysia’s Living Arts Cultural Festival.
KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Dec 2022: Sabah Tourism Board received the Malaysia Tourism Industry Award (MTIA) 2022 for the Best Tourism Promotion Campaign.
The Malaysia Tourism Industry Award 2022 was organised by the Malaysia Tourism Agency Association (MATA) and Santai Travel Magazine to honour the country’s tourism industry. There were 50 award categories contested during the event.
Receiving the award for Sabah Tourism Board is Puan Noredah Othman the CEO of Sabah Tourism Board.
SINGAPORE, 20 December 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) premiered its next episode of “EMBARK with NCL,” a two-part feature chronicling the milestone launch of its record-breaking ship, Norwegian Prima, last week at www.ncl.com/embark-series and on Facebook.
For the first time, NCL pulled back the curtain and invited viewers to be part of the most important milestone of any new ship, the christening ceremony and celebration, with this first episode, “Christening Norwegian Prima: First in Class.” The audience was given a front-row seat to the exclusive event, which begins with a preview of the opening ceremony at the HARPA Concert Hall, the epicentre for the Icelandic cultural arts. The evening included performances by the award-winning Icelandic singer-songwriter Briet and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. The festivities continued when Godmother Katy Perry boarded Norwegian Prima to officially name and christen the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship’s hull, marking the start of Norwegian Prima’s maiden voyage.
In part two, “Norwegian Prima: Discover Innovation,” viewers received an inside look into brand and industry first experiences debuting aboard the ship, including Indulge Food Hall featuring 11 different eateries; the three-level Prima Speedway; two adrenaline-pumping slides, The Drop and Rush; the sustainable Metropolitan Bar; and a three-story transformational theatre showcasing “The Price is Right” and the Tony Award®-nominated musical “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.”
“With the debut of the Prima Class, we wanted our guests to be amazed from the moment they stepped on board, instantly creating everlasting memories with family and friends,” said Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Harry Sommer.
“And what better way to kick off that very first memory than christening Norwegian Prima in one of the most beautiful and spectacular countries in the world, Iceland? With this EMBARK episode, I’m extremely excited to offer our guests, for the first time, an inside look at this momentous milestone and inspire them to join us for their dream vacation at sea.”
Hosted by American television personality and world traveller Zay Harding and Lexie Alford (aka Lexie Limitless), the Guinness World Record Holder for the youngest person to travel to every country by the age of 21, viewers followed them along in this EMBARK episode as they experienced everything Norwegian Prima has to offer, as well as discovered the natural wonders of the land of fire and ice.
For more information on EMBARK with NCL or to watch the complete series, including the latest episode featuring Norwegian Prima, visit www.ncl.com/embark-series.
For more information about NCL’s award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call Hong Kong on +852 800 901 951 and Southeast Asia on +65 3165 1680 or visit www.ncl.com.
SINGAPORE, 20 December 2022: Air Astana’s fleet has expanded with the addition of three Airbus A321LR aircraft in 2022, with the tenth Airbus A321LR being delivered directly from the manufacturer’s facility in Hamburg last week.
FlyArystan also increased its fleet by three Airbus A320neo aircraft and expects another Airbus A320neo before the end of the year. The group’s fleet now consists of 42 aircraft, with an average age of five years, making it one of the newest fleets in the world.
The Air Astana Group’s fleet is expected to grow by an additional six aircraft in 2023. Three new wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are expected to be delivered in 2025, by an agreement with Air Lease Corporation signed earlier this year.
Air Astana’s network consists of 42 routes (27 international and 15 domestic), and FlyArystan has 34 routes (eight international and 26 domestic).
This year Air Astana launched new regular flights to Heraklion and Bodrum, and has resumed flights from Almaty to Bangkok and Beijing. FlyArystan launched flights from Aktau to Baku and Istanbul and has resumed Shymkent-Kutaisi, Aktau-Dubai and Shymkent-Dubai flights. Next year, Air Astana plans to open flights to Medina and Tel Aviv.
“Despite the global and local challenges, we have strengthened our position in regional and international markets, creating a base for new achievements. We believe that the delivery of the Airbus A321LR and Boeing 787 brings a bright future for Air Astana,” said Air Astana Group President and CEO Peter Foster.
Air Astana has carried over 60 million passengers and more than 280,000 tonnes of cargo and mail since its launch in 2002. By the end of the year, the airline expects to carry more than 7 million passengers, which is 12% more than in 2021. Net profit for 10 months in 2022 amounted to USD65 million, which is 84% higher than in the same period last year.
PHUKET, 20 December 2022: The 2023 Thailand International Boat Show will be held from 12 to 15 January 2023 at Royal Phuket Marina, highlighting the combination of onshore lifestyle opportunities and on-water boating opportunities abound in Phuket.
Phuket, tagged the yachting playground of Southeast Asia, has four world-class marinas and expanding its influence with a superyacht marina now in the planning stage.
Working closely with the Thailand Yachting Business Association and Thailand Charter Week, JAND Events, organisers of the Thailand International Boat Show, aims to reignite interest in Phuket and Thailand’s marine scene post-pandemic target yacht owners in Hong Kong and Singapore.
“Pre-pandemic, Thailand’s yachting industry was a multi-billion baht industry, welcoming yachts from cruisers to superyachts and their owners from around the world,” said JAND Events’ CEO David Hayes. “The Thailand International Boat Show aims to put Phuket and Thailand back in the limelight and on the world stage after three years of incubation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our goal is to bring the industry together and showcase the best brands and products from the marine and lifestyle sectors to a global audience while re-cementing Phuket and Thailand’s position as one of the top boating destinations in the world.”
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau support the Thailand International Boat Show.
The 2023 Thailand International Boat Show will comprise up to 50 boats in the water, an onshore pavilion with a luxury hub and marine products and services, as well as an onshore social programme that will include live music, a bustling dining scene on Royal Phuket Marina’s boardwalk as well as family activities on Children’s Day (14 January). One of the social highlights is a first-of-its-kind charity gala dinner that will take place at the InterContinental Phuket Resort on Saturday, 14 January.
JAKARTA, 20 December 2022: Tourism Malaysia won the National Tourism Organisation of The Year for the third time at the 13th Indonesia Travel & Tourism Awards 2022/2023, which took place at Artotel Suites Mangkulur Hotel, Jakarta, last week.
Tourism Malaysia won the same award in 2019 and 2021.
An annual event, ITTA, is organised by the ITTA Foundation, established in the year 2010. This event aims to create awareness and ensure the quality of strong brands serving the Indonesian market.
The National Organisation of The Year award was presented to Tourism Malaysia Jakarta Office director Junus Suhid.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Dato’ Zainuddin Abdul Wahab acknowledged the award as a tribute to Tourism Malaysia’s active role in promoting the country through mainstream and social media platforms and engagement with Indonesian industry players and media.
This year’s ceremony presented 45 awards to honour tourism industry players from travel agencies, hotels, hospitality investors and foreign tourism boards.
For the Indonesian market, Tourism Malaysia Jakarta is confident its promotions this year will draw more than 1 million Indonesian tourists to Malaysia. Its international border reopened on 1 April 2022 following the end of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions.
