PHUKET, 6 February 2023: The Phuket Hotels Association, a non-profit organisation representing 80 of the island’s top hotels and resorts, has announced the reappointment of its senior leadership team, including President Bjorn Courage, who has been instrumental in the association’s success.
Following a recent election, Courage, also general manager of the InterContinental Phuket Resort, was re-elected president. The association’s members elected Brett Wilson, general manager of the Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach, as treasurer and Daniel Meury, general manager of the Andara Resort & Hotels as secretary.
Pictured (from left): Bjorn Courage, president, Brett Wilson, treasurer, and Daniel Meury, secretary, have been reelected.
Following his reappointment as president, Courage said: “As tourism and hospitality in Phuket continue to recover, we will make every effort to maintain and build on the important work which helps put people first and provides first-class hospitality-based education opportunities. The aim is to create a strategic pipeline of skilled personnel for current and future employment in this industry.”
The association concentrates efforts on easing the talent crunch by promoting investment in the education and training of local people in Phuket. It recently secured scholarships for 48 young adults at vocational institutions and universities across Phuket and Bangkok, including alliances with Cornell University’s General Managers programme and Dusit Thani College, Bangkok, which specialises in hospitality management and the culinary arts. From the Asia Pacific campus of Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) in Singapore, the association has also provided world-class, university-level online training.
Phuket Hotels Association hired Sumi Soorian as its executive director in 2016. Since it was founded in January 2016, the Phuket Hotels Association has grown to represent 80 of the island’s top internationally-branded and independent luxury and midscale hotels and resorts, comprising just over 12,000 rooms and 25,000 employees.
SINGAPORE, 6 February 2023: Airports and airlines faced with increased disruptions, baggage mountains, and staff shortages are ramping up investments in technology to digitalise operations and more self-service options.
SITA’s 2022 Air Transport IT Insights Report, published last week, reveals that chief information officers in airports want to ensure operations are agile and resilient, with IT solutions crucial to their success post-pandemic.
This has spurred an acceleration of digitalisation, with airlines and airports looking to crucial technology solutions to fortify their operations against disruption while automating the passenger experience.
The industry’s IT spending is projected to continue its steady year-on-year growth trend since 2020 to support this digitalisation push, with 96% of airlines and 93% of airports expecting their IT spending to stay the same or increase in 2023 compared to 2022.
Last year airline and airport IT spending rose to an estimated USD37 billion and USD 6.8 billion, respectively.
SITA CEO David Lavorel said: “Air travel has recovered faster from the pandemic than anyone in the industry had initially expected, particularly in Europe and the US. While the recovery is welcome, airports and airlines have found themselves on the back foot with staff and resource shortages. This has put a strain on operations, increasing the risk of congestion, delays, cancellations and mishandled baggage. Digitalisation is key to addressing these challenges, providing more scalability and flexibility.”
Digitalising operations to achieve more with less
Airlines emphasise IT tools to manage irregular operations and provide the best passenger experience possible, even amid staff shortages. Over the next three years, 90% or more of airlines are investing in IT service management enhancement and disruption warning systems, as well as business intelligence initiatives for aircraft turnaround management, passenger processing, and baggage processing.
Business intelligence solutions are also at the forefront of airport IT investment priorities, with 93% or more planning business intelligence initiatives for asset management and flight operations by 2025.
The emphasis on agility, adaptability to disruption, and prompt communication with customers and stakeholders are clear; by 2025, 50% of airports will implement automated predictive alerts before flight disruption events and business intelligence initiatives to scale operations based on demand.
Streamlining with smart technologies
Both airlines and airports are investing in key technologies to smooth the passenger experience across every step of the journey, to help curb bottlenecks and allow redistribution of key staff resources to focus on more complex tasks. Biometrics and self-service technologies are seeing major emphasis.
Airlines have identified self-service technologies as key to helping manage irregular operations, and this remained their top investment priority in 2022, with touchless solutions and biometric ID management following closely.
To support effective baggage management and empower passengers following a period of significant disruption, a majority of airlines plan to provide real-time baggage tracking information to passengers by 2025.
Airports similarly prioritise self-service initiatives, emphasising self-check-in and self-bag drop, with 86% planning implementation by 2025.
Airports’ implementation of a secure single biometric token across all touchpoints has surged from just 3% in 2021 to 39% in 2022, with over half planning implementation over the next three years. This signals a strong commitment to the next-generation travel experience where passengers can breeze through the airport using their face as their boarding pass.
BENGALURU, India, 6 February 2023: Tourism Malaysia, through Chennai Office, is stepping up another initiative to feature a mural display campaign in conjunction with the Tourism Malaysia roadshow to India due to end on 7 February.
The campaign features Miss SHOPhia Go Travel initiated in collaboration with Jagadish Tours, which aims to promote Malaysia packages through mural display advertisements in Bengaluru.
The main objective is to create awareness of Malaysia to ensure Malaysia stands out on top of the minds of Indian travellers.
The three murals are located along Sankey Road and Brigade Road in Bengaluru for three months starting this week. This will attract the public and corporate offices, leisure travellers and shoppers. To intensify collaboration with Jagadish Tours, they have also organised Malaysia Food Festival at TAKI-TAKI Restaurant until 16 February 2023.
Tourism Malaysia’s promotion campaign is an ongoing effort to boost inbound tourism to a greater height in the hope of achieving 15.6 million international tourist arrivals with MYR47.6 billion in tourism receipts for 2023.
India remains an important market for Malaysia. Regarding connectivity, there are currently 169 flights per week with more than 29,000 seats from India to Malaysia via Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air (formerly known as Malindo Air), AirAsia, and IndiGo.
Malaysia has recently launched a new eVISA Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) that targets specific segments such as fly & cruise holidays, weddings, medical treatment and business visitor purposes. It comes with six months validity and offers Indian nationals a 30-day length of stay and costs INR1,000.00.
BANGKOK, 3 February 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, announces the Centara Early Bird Offer, a limited-time promotion that offers guests one free night’s stay for every two nights booked at participating Centara hotels and resorts across Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Japan.
Early birds are invited to plan their next holiday to take advantage of this Stay-3-Pay-2 offer at one of Centara’s incredible destinations. Bookings must be made from 1 to 28 February 2023 for stays from 1 May to 30 September 2023, where a 3-night minimum stay means one night free. Guests can also opt to extend their travels to stay 6 nights and pay for 4 stays 9 nights and pay for 6, or even longer, at participating properties.
Travellers can discover new and exotic locations while planning a getaway that suits their travel styles. From indulging in a tropical beach retreat in the Maldives, Vietnam or Thailand to experiencing a new culture in Sri Lanka or exploring the vibrant cities of Bangkok or Osaka, Centara brings its signature warmth and hospitality to every hotel and resort to ensure guests always feel at home.
In addition to enjoying a 33% discount (one free night) for every three nights booked, the Centara Early Bird offer also includes an array of exceptional accommodation options and complimentary stays for up to two children under the age of 12.
SINGAPORE, 3 February 2023: Singapore Airlines has rolled out free unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi for all business class customers, as well as its PPS Club members and PPS Club supplementary card holders.
In addition, KrisFlyer members now enjoy free three-hour Wi-Fi plans when travelling in premium economy class and free two-hour Wi-Fi plans when travelling in economy class.
Customers who are not KrisFlyer members, and members who may have consumed their complimentary plans, may take advantage of SIA’s new simplified Wi-Fi price plans. These range from USD3.99 (THB132) for one hour, USD8.99 (THB296) for three hours, and USD15.99 (THB527) for the entire flight (1).
These enhancements further elevate the in-flight customer experience on board SIA flights, with the Airline’s Suites and First Class customers also enjoying complimentary unlimited Wi-Fi.
Previously, business class customers and PPS Club members enjoyed 100 MB of complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi. KrisFlyer members travelling in premium economy class and economy class were offered a two-hour complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi plan optimised for text-only messaging services.
Singapore Airlines, senior vice president of customer experience, Yeoh Phee Teik said: “Staying connected, even at 35,000 feet in the air, has become an essential aspect of the travel experience. These changes are in response to customer feedback and part of SIA’s continuous investment to elevate the travel experience and maintain our leadership position.”
Wi-Fi services are available on routes operated by SIA’s Airbus A380s, Airbus A350s, Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 787-10s, and Boeing 737-8s, but not on routes operated by SIA’s seven Boeing 737-800NGs.
(1) Prices are subject to the prevailing market exchange rate and any related bank currency conversion fees.
SINGAPORE, 3 February 2023: Singapore Tourism Board is partnering with National Geographic CreativeWorks to unveil UNSEEN/SINGAPORE, a campaign that showcases Singapore as a travel destination from the perspective of intrepid photographers from Southeast Asia.
Through photography, the campaign includes a virtual exhibition which encourages travellers to explore the city-state’s cultural diversity and hidden spots by taking a moment to observe the unseen beauty of destination Singapore.
Launched on 2 February 2023, UNSEEN/SINGAPORE showcases a collection of photographic works through a virtual exhibition captured and curated by six photographers from Southeast Asia. UNSEEN/SINGAPORE features the works of:
● Amani Azlin from Malaysia
● Tino Renato from Indonesia
● Chanipol Kusolcharttum, better known as “Rockkhound”, from Thailand
● Phạm Gia Tùng from Vietnam
● Gab Mejia from the Philippines
● Jayaprakash Bojan from Singapore
In curating the UNSEEN/SINGAPORE collection, each photographer visited Singapore in mid-2022, covering areas in Singapore that showcase nature, heritage buildings, cultural sites, and art. Each presented their vision of an UNSEEN/SINGAPORE through ways that resonate with their passions and personal experiences.
The photographers ventured across Singapore, going beyond its famous attractions and iconic skyline, to discover spots equally captivating – from charming neighbourhoods to lush and thriving offshore wetlands and a lighthouse at the island’s edge.
UNSEEN/SINGAPORE is part of STB’s efforts to boost travel recovery through SingapoReimagine, a tourism campaign that highlights new, innovative and unexpected experiences in Singapore to audiences worldwide.
Between January to December 2022, Singapore recorded 6.3 million international visitor arrivals. Visitor arrivals were driven by strong demand from Singapore’s key source markets, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
UNSEEN/SINGAPORE will be open to the public on www.nationalgeographic.com/unseensingapore from 2 February 2023, inviting visitors to reimagine Singapore. The virtual exhibition will showcase each photographer’s ‘room’ based on their thematic-led collections. Viewers can virtually visit many parts of Singapore, including locations such as the Sim Kwong Ho shophouses, Pulau Ubin, Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle, Jurong Lake Gardens, Changi Chapel and Museum.
BANGKOK, 3 February 2023: Qatar Airways has launched additional flights from Thailand, introducing a third flight from the famed holiday island, Phuket, to Doha, starting 1 February 2023.
This additional frequency to Phuket brings the number of flights from Thailand up to seven per day; three from Phuket and four daily flights from Bangkok.
Qatar Airways will introduce additional flights from Thailand, starting with a third flight from Phuket, effective from 1 February 2023.
The additional flight from Phuket gives the airline seven daily departures from Phuket and Bangkok.
The airline serves 150 destinations across a global network, including flights to London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich and New York, all with convenient connections for passengers flying from Bangkok and Phuket to the airline’s hub in Doha.
Flight Schedule
PHUKET – DOHA (Daily flights)
QR 979 HKT – DOH Departure at 09:45, Arrival at 12:50
QR 843 HKT – DOH Departure at 20:50, Arrival at 23:55
QR 841 HKT – DOH Departure at 22:30, Arrival at 01:35+1
DOHA – PHUKET (Daily flights)
QR 840 DOH – HKT Departure at 02:15, Arrival at 12:45
QR 978 DOH – HKT Departure at 09:30, Arrival at 20:00
QR 842 DOH – HKT Departure at 21:15, Arrival at 07:45+1
BANGKOK – DOHA (Daily flights)
QR 837 BKK – DOH Departure at 01:50, Arrival at 05:15
QR 831 BKK – DOH Departure at 08:05, Arrival at 11:30
QR 835 BKK – DOH Departure at 19:30, Arrival at 22:55
QR 833 BKK – DOH Departure at 20:25, Arrival at 23:50
DOHA – BANGKOK (Daily flights)
QR 834 DOH – BKK Departure at 01:45, Arrival at 12:05
QR 836 DOH – BKK Departure at 02:20, Arrival at 12:40
QR 832 DOH – BKK Departure at 08:05, Arrival at 18:25
QR 830 DOH – BKK Departure at 19:45, Arrival at 06:05+1
“We are excited to expand our presence in Thailand by introducing these additional flights,” said Qatar Airways Regional Manager Indochina, Bennet Stephens. “This is a significant step towards our continued commitment to the Thai market, and we are proud to be serving our passengers with safety and great global connectivity. We look forward to welcoming even more travellers on board our flights.”
Visa card holders are also eligible to enjoy up to 10% off their bookings, and new users who join the airline’s loyalty programme, Privilege Club, by 31 December 2023 can use the code PCSEA23 to earn up to 4,000 bonus Avios for travel by 30 June 2024
DUBAI, UAE, 3 February 2023: Arabian Adventures, one of the UAE’s leading destination management companies offering tour safaris, is relaunching an enhanced edition of its Jeep Adventure Safari.
The revamped itinerary includes additional stops for residents and tourists to take in the best of the country’s surrounding desert landscape and its attractions in a single day.
Arabian Adventures’ itinerary covers six key locations to experience Jeep safari, with optional hiking. An expert safari guide provides transportation and local knowledge throughout the tour, which visits Buhais Geology Park, Camel Rock, ‘Valley of the Caves’ at Al Faya Mountain, Mleiha Archaeological Centre, Shawka Pools, and Wadi Al Helo.
Jeep Adventure Safari Itinerary 2023
1. Buhais Geology Park
At the foot of Jebel Buhais sits a dramatic new interpretation of a site of geological significance for the UAE. Buhais Geology Park, located on an ancient seabed in the Sharjah desert, consists of a series of interactive exhibits within a visitor centre designed by London-based Hopkins Architects, which reflects the sea urchin fossils found in abundance in the area. Experience these first-hand within the centre and on an outdoor trail to spot fossils and rocks more than 93 million years old alongside ancient burial sites from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages.
2. Camel Rock
To undercover another side of the fascinating UAE desert, travel to the Mleiha Archaeological Site. Here, visible from over 25km away, Fossil Rock – comprised of fossils millions of years in age – towers in the distance. Travel off-road for a ‘dune drive’ across red sands to find the iconic Camel Rock. This unique rock formation rising up from the sand dunes is shaped like a camel resting. Backed by the impressive Al Faya Mountain range, this is a scenic spot popular with photography enthusiasts.
3. ‘Valley of the Caves’ at Al Faya Mountain
Explore the vast Al Faya Mountain range of the Mleiha Archaeological Site. Jebel Al Faya, shaped like a dragon’s back, is an impressive mountain stretching along the Al Faya desert. At its North-Eastern point, Arabian Adventures’ guides take visitors to visit the ‘Valley of the Caves’. Here they can marvel at the impressive limestone mountain landscape or take a footpath on a hike through Neolithic caves, offering a glimpse into prehistoric times.
4. Mleiha Archaeological Centre
To understand more about the locations, travellers stop by the Mleiha Archaeological Centre for interactive exhibits and ancient artefacts showcased evidence of life in the Sharjah desert several hundred thousand years ago, some of the oldest proof of early human presence in the country.
5. Wadi Shawka
Popular with off-road and hiking enthusiasts, nestled in the Hajar Mountains of Ras Al Khaimah, is Wadi Shawka, comprising the Shawka Pools and Shawka Dam. A true hidden gem of the UAE, a short (15-minute) hike from where the Arabian Adventures team can leave their 4×4 and go on a picturesque trail to the Shawka Pools. Here they will spot local wildlife, including the eye-catching blue-headed agama, on the way to a secluded, tranquil oasis at the foot of rugged mountains.
6. Wadi Al Helo
Known for its abundance of underground water, which first attracted settlers to the area, Wadi Al Helo – or ‘sweet valley’ – is home to a significant archaeological site for Sharjah and the UAE. Another off-the-beaten-track location, Arabian Adventures guides direct travellers to explore its restored Islamic watchtower and evidence of 19th-century homes on to its popular hiking trails. An optional walk to the top of a hill offers panoramic views of the Hajar Mountains from an old fort. From here, spot endangered birds, reptiles and other animals which have made this protected area home.
Arabian Adventures’ enhanced Jeep Adventure Safari itinerary for 2023 is now available to book. Visit www.arabian-adventures.com.
SINGAPORE, 3 February 2023: Singapore Changi Airport handled 32.2 million passenger movements in 2022, reaching almost half of the traffic in 2019, before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aircraft movements, which include landings and takeoffs, totalled 219,000, 57.2% of 2019 levels[1]. Airfreight throughput[2] registered 1.85 million tonnes for 2022, a year-on-year decline of 4.8%.
In 2022, all regions registered strong recovery in passenger traffic, with North America even slightly exceeding pre-Covid levels on a full-year basis and Southwest Pacific, South Asia, and Europe, each reaching two-thirds of 2019 traffic. Closer to home, Southeast Asia has also seen a robust pickup in traffic following the region’s reopening, closing out the year with a new high of two million passenger movements in December 2022, representing over three-quarters of December 2019 traffic.
Changi Airport’s top five passenger markets for the year were, in order, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand. Similar to 2019, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta were Changi Airport’s three busiest routes in 2022[3]. The Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route is currently the world’s busiest international route based on seat capacity[4].
On the cargo front, cargo flows dipped slightly against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures. Changi’s top five air cargo markets for the year were, in order, China, Australia, the US, Hong Kong and Japan.
Strongest traffic in December
Passenger traffic continued to grow throughout 2022, reaching a high in December with 4.62 million passenger movements recorded. This was 72% of Changi Airport’s traffic in December 2019. The busiest week of the year (12 to 18 December) saw more than 1.07 million passengers passing through Changi’s terminals, or 82% of the weekly average in 2019. For the month, aircraft movements registered 25,400, reaching 76% of pre-Covid levels. Compared to December 2021, airfreight throughput fell 17.3% to 153,000 tonnes.
Among Changi’s top 10 markets, South Korea saw passenger traffic grow beyond pre-Covid levels in December 2022, driven in part by additional capacity from Changi’s airline partners, including new airlines T’way Air and Air Premia on the Singapore-Seoul route and Scoot plying the new Singapore-Jeju route.
Enhancing connectivity
In 2022, Changi Airport welcomed eight new airlines. There were seven passenger airlines – Aircalin, Bamboo Airways, Cambodia Airways, Citilink, HK Express, Thai Vietjet Air and T’way Air – and one freighter operator Atlas Air. Four new passenger city links were established for the year – Jeju (South Korea), Nouméa (New Caledonia), Pune (India) and Sibu (Malaysia).
As of the first week of January 2023, 96 airlines operate over 5,600 weekly scheduled flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 143 cities in 48 countries and territories worldwide. This is 82% of Changi’s pre-Covid connectivity.
Strengthening partnerships
With border restrictions lifted and safe management measures eased earlier in the year, CAG also reinstated various industry events to reconnect with trade and airline partners. These include the Let’s Talk Cargo event held on 10 March and the Changi Airline Awards held on 4 May, where CAG took the chance to thank trade and airline partners for weathering through tough times with Changi.
In August, CAG welcomed the partnership between DHL Express and Singapore Airlines to operate five Boeing 777 freighters out of Changi Airport, flying on routes between the US and Singapore via points in North Asia and Australia. The first two aircraft began operations at Changi Airport in 2022, strengthening the Changi air cargo hub by facilitating more express volumes between the USA and Asia Pacific via Singapore.
Changi Airport’s passenger, aircraft and airfreight movements for 2022
JAKARTA, 3 February 2023: To mark the 1 February anniversary of Myanmar’s military coup, civil society groups want assurances that Indonesia, the incoming ASEAN chair for 2023, will not legitimise the Myanmar junta at any cost.
In a press statement released by Civicus on the eve of the ASEAN Tourism Forum that opened in Yogyakarta on 1 February, 22 civil society agencies said a commitment should be made to “disinvite junta representatives from ASEAN meetings at all levels.”
Myanmar’s Minister of Hotels and Tourism, Htay Aung.
Just days before the 26th Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers convened from 2 to 3 February 2023, the event’s agenda indicated the Myanmar junta’s Hotels and Tourism Minister (MOHT), Htay Aung, was due to attend. The Civicus statement claimed his profile was later deleted from the official website.
The ASEAN Tourism Forum opened on 1 February, coinciding with the second anniversary of Myanmar’s military coup that has waged a terror campaign against the people of Myanmar, Civicus noted.
“Our organisations appreciate the effort of Indonesia as the chair of ASEAN to remove the junta’s Hotels and Tourism Minister from the list of high-level officials. This move is consistent with the effort proposed by the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, in November 2022 to bar Myanmar military representatives from all ASEAN-related meetings, including the annual Summit.”
However, Civicus noted that the “fact that the initial ATF programme for the high-level government meetings still included the representative of the illegitimate junta sends a signal that the message from President Joko Widodo has yet to be carefully mainstreamed and implemented by all sectors and ministries.”
On Wednesday, Myanmar Now reported Myanmar’s powerful military council announced a reshuffle that included the appointment of Htay Aung as the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Aung Thaw, a retired navy officer and former deputy minister of defence under ex-general Thein Sein’s government, takes over the role of Minister of Hotels and Tourism. However, Myanmar Now noted that a one-hour ASEAN Tourism Forum media briefing by Myanmar’s national tourism office, scheduled for Thursday, continued as planned but without any senior officials appointed by the military government in attendance. All 10 countries making up ASEAN traditionally hold media briefings during the ATF, mainly focusing on marketing campaigns and tourism development plans.
The media focus concentrates on the fallout from the military coup. Over the last two years, more than 2,700 people have been killed, and over 17,000 people have been illegally detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Since the coup on 1 February 2021, over 1.1 million people have been displaced. Towns and villages have been burned or blown away by artillery shelling and airstrikes.
The 22 civil society agencies led by Civicus claimed any engagement with the junta was a breach of the ASEAN Charter.
Tourism is one of the sectors the junta uses to claim legitimacy and is a tool to raise foreign currency to finance the regime. Myanmar’s military junta profits from most tourism activities through direct and indirect ownership and investment. That includes visa fees, insurance, official exchange and when tourists use military-owned hotels and transport.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo officially kicked off Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN chairmanship last Sunday. The country took over the chair from its previous holder Cambodia at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 14 November 2022.
22 civil societies endorse the Civicus statement
ALTSEAN Burma
Amnesty International Indonesia
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
ASEAN Youth Forum
Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI)
Arus Pelangi
Asia Democracy Network
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Better Engagement Between East and Southeast Asia (BEBESEA)
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
Human Rights Working Group
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
Initiative for International Dialogue (IID)
Kurawal Foundation
Migrant CARE
Progressive Voice
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFENet)
SEAJunction
YAPPIKA
(Source: Civicus)
CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society worldwide. Launched in 2002 and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, it has more than 10,000 members in over 175 countries.
