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.
MANILA, 20 December 2022: The Philippines’ Department of Tourism reports tourist receipts reached PHP130 billion as visitor arrivals climbed to 2.39 million, according to a Philippine News Agency.
The Department of Tourism media statement quoted Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco saying the easing of travel restrictions and health protocols had contributed to the high tourism revenues amounting to USD2.34 billion or PHP130.59 billion up until 31 October 2022.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco
Visitor arrivals reached 2,397,919 as of 15 December 2022. The US led the top supply markets with 447,278, followed by South Korea with 374,097, Australia with 118,228, Canada with 109,041, and the UK with 90,196.
“The Department of Tourism projected arrivals pegged at 1.7 million only by the end of this year. Because of the changes that have been instituted, as well as the direction of our president to prioritise tourism, we’ve seen that we now have visitor arrivals of close to 2.4 million, far exceeding projection,” Frasco told local reporters in an interview last week quoted by PNA.
The figures are still far from pre-pandemic levels, but strong recovery signs are evident.
“Our goal is no longer to go back to pre-pandemic levels as far as international arrivals, but really to exceed it simply because of the quality of our destinations in the Philippines that far exceed many across the globe, and also because of the distinct warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people that is unique all over the world,” Frasco said.
For 2023, the DOT targets 3 to 4 million visitor arrivals.
“Our goal now is to further that growth by inviting our fellow Filipinos to help us in the task of increasing these tourist arrivals, having in mind the necessity for sustainable tourism in our destinations, which we’re doing closely with our local governments,” she said.
Through the Bisita Be My Guest campaign, launched at the weekend, DOT aims to reintroduce the Philippines as a premiere tourist destination.
BUSAN, 19 December 2022: Surrounded by the sea, Busan is well known as a summer tourist destination. It is also a popular winter destination to Koreans who want to avoid the cold weather thanks to its location in the southern part of the country and its warmer winter climate. In addition, various activities and unique attractions can be enjoyed in the winter in Busan, doubling the fun of the year-end holiday. For instance, there are cooking classes where you can make traditional Busan dishes. You can also enjoy relaxing in the city’s many hot springs and jjimjilbangs. There are also special winter festivals where you can get into the Christmas spirit.
Make and Taste Traditional Busan Dishes
Since Busan faces the sea, eomuk, a fishcake made with fish as the main ingredient, is considered to be one of the most popular local foods. After the country’s liberation, people who returned from Japan went into the eomuk business by opening fishcake factories, helping the fishcake become a representative food of Busan. Eomuk can be eaten with warm broth, making it a perfect street food in the cold winter. Samjin Amook is a bakery-style store that sells unique types of fishcakes, while also operating a history centre that offers eomuk-making classes. A highly recommended program for eomuk lovers, you can choose from cooking courses ranging from easy ones that even children can join to more difficult ones. The centre also provides an educational session on the history of Busan, allowing you to understand and enjoy the history, culture, and food of Korea and Busan during your visit.
Source: Samjin Amook, Jangtofu Company
In addition to fishcake, there are cooking classes where you can make a variety of other traditional Busan foods. Jangtofu Company is a travel agency that operates cooking classes and gourmet walking tours for overseas tourists. The cooking class program usually starts with a lecture on Busan’s food culture, followed by a cooking class, meal, tea ceremony, and a traditional market tour. Using fresh ingredients from Busan’s Jagalchi Market, you can make four types of dishes: Dongnae pajeon (Korean scallion pancakes), jogaemiyeokguk (seaweed soup with clams), nakjibokkeum (stir-fried octopus), and a dish using seasonal ingredients. Dongnae is an old name for Busan, with Dongrae pajeon being a special dish that was often presented to the kings of the Joseon Dynasty. Later, it appeared in Dongnae Market and has become a key local food of Busan. During class you can taste various flavors of the ocean, thanks to special ingredients such as fresh clams, seaweed, and octopus from the sea around Busan. Every Thursday, there is even a cooking class for vegan participants, where seafood is not used.
Enjoy a Unique Experience While Relaxing
Source: Busan Tourism Organization, Spaland
In the winter, there is an optimal place where you can warm up your shivering body and relieve your fatigue. In Busan, hot springs have been around since ancient times, with Dongnae Hot Spring and Haeundae Hot Spring being the most popular. Dongnae Hot Spring is known as Asia’s largest hot spring, and it has a variety of convenience facilities suited to its size. Among them, there is the family hot spring, where you can relax together with your family. Haeundae Hot Spring is the only coastal hot spring in Korea and is famous for its hot spring water containing healthy substances that are beneficial for your skin. You can enjoy a hot spring bath while looking down at the sea view through wide windows, which makes this hot spring a special destination. In addition, there are hot springs that are conveniently located near department stores. Located inside the Centum Shinsegae Department Store, Spa Land is attractive in that it has outdoor footbaths where you can soak your feet in the warm hot spring water while looking at the Suyeong River, as well as various themed jjimjilbangs and convenient facilities.
How to Enjoy a Special End-of-Year Holiday in Busan
If you want to double the excitement of your end-of-the-year holidays, make sure to take part in the winter festivals of Busan. The Haeundae Light Festival, where you can see waves of light spread over a white sandy beach, has a fantastic atmosphere. The Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival, where the streets are decorated with colorful sculptures and tree lights around Gwangbok-ro, is also held around this time of the year.
The Haeundae Light Festival, in its 9th year, will be held from November 18 to January 24, with the theme of “Again, Haeundae Sea of Light.” Compared to last year, the festival area has doubled in size, and the fantastic light sculptures illuminate the entirety of Haeundae. On Christmas, you can watch various performances on stage in the event plaza at Haeundae Beach. Here, against the background of the night sea and the wonderful sculptures, visitors can take photos that they will cherish for a lifetime.
At the Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival, held from December 17 to January 29, colourful Christmas decorations illuminate Gwangbok-ro, and a huge Christmas tree serves as the centrepiece of the decorations. In addition to photo zones, various performances and experience programs are held in the plaza, where you can immerse yourself in the year-end atmosphere. At Yongdusan Park, the 2023 New Year’s Bell Ringing Ceremony for Citizens will be held, where you can spend a meaningful time welcoming in the new year with your loved ones.
In Busan, you can experience its many unique winter charms made possible by the city’s warm weather, nearby ocean, various activities, and festivals. Wrap up 2022 and ring in the new year in Busan and make wonderful long-lasting memories.
KOTA KINABALU, 19 December 2022: Wildlife of the World by Private Jet, a team of outstanding National Geographic wildlife experts and their guests made Sabah the first location in Asia to witness wildlife in the wild.
Sabah was chosen and put on the map as part of the luxury private jet trip because of its wildlife diversity and how much each area offers in terms of knowledge and wildlife sightings.
The top-notch team of experts includes author and National Geographic emerging explorer Sandesh Kadur and the primatologist and conservationist Mireya Mayor.
The specialists and guests travelled in style aboard a refurbished and decked-out Boeing 757 private jet, branded under the National Geographic brand, across three continents, Asia, Africa, and Europe, staying in exquisite lodgings.
After a two-day stop in Singapore, the experts flew into Sandakan for a three-day wildlife adventure. Visiting Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre (SOURC), Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) and spending two nights at Kinabatangan River. While at SOURC and BSBCC, the experts and their guests were given private tours and talks.
“I am pleased that the Nat Geo experts’ team with their VVIP guests were here to experience our amazing wildlife. I commend Sticky Rice Travel for their efficient planning and arrangement in guiding the Nat Geo group in Sabah,” said Sabah Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman.
“We also had a private jet that came into Sabah in October this year, bringing in VVIP guests for wildlife tours. This private jet was brought in by Abercrombie & Kent with their ground handler Asia Top Team Travels. Sabah is a world-class nature and wildlife destination; we are also known for our conservation efforts”.
“A big thank you to MAHB, Sabah Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department and PDRM in Sandakan airport for their continuous cooperation and support on the private jet arrangement,” Noredah concluded.
Sticky Rice Travel general manager Grace Chan said: “We are very excited to host up to 3 Private Jet arrivals annually to guests who are all very passionate about wildlife. The close proximity of Sepilok and Kinabatangan from Sandakan enhances the possibility of experiencing the river and seeing Orang Utans, making it a key destination in the overall program. Thus, putting Sabah on the radar as one of the top wildlife destinations in the South East Asia region.”
Asia Top Team Travels managing director Gennaro Nardone commented: “In 2015, Abercrombie and Kent came to Borneo to scout for destinations which we crafted an interesting itinerary for them and finally, in 2017, we had the first private jet in Sandakan for a four-day, three-night Sandakan and Danum Valley trip. In 2021, the private jet was fully sold. However, due to Covid restrictions, the trip was cancelled, but now they are back. Previously in October, we have done another private jet with a full flight of 48 VVIP guests and 20 staff.”
“Due to positive response from the guests, Abercrombie & Kent was able to sell off an additional departure private jet for February 2023 and another one for February 2024. Sabah has the potential to be the ‘In’ destination for the high-end market, allowing visitors to see wildlife in the wild and experience what it’s like to live in a pristine jungle,” Gennaro concluded.
DUBAI, UAE, 19 December 2022: Emirates has ramped up its operations at Gatwick Airport by adding a third daily A380 flight. The airline continues to scale up its UK operations to meet sustained demand ahead of the holiday rush.
The additional frequency will offer enhanced capacity with more than 1,000 seats to/from Gatwick to Dubai every day. Emirates flight EK11 will depart Dubai at 0250, flight EK15 will depart at 0740 and flight EK09 will depart at 1425 – offering customers even more flexibility and travel choices.
Emirates currently serves the UK with 119 weekly flights across seven UK hubs, including six times daily to London Heathrow, three times daily to London Gatwick, daily service to London Stansted, three times daily to Manchester, double daily service to Birmingham, daily flights to Newcastle and a daily service to Glasgow.
Emirates’ extensive network spans 130 destinations across six continents. Emirates’ home and hub, Dubai, remains a very popular holiday and stopover destination. Visitors from the UK can take advantage of the new Dubai Experience platform that enables customers to browse easily and create and book their customised itineraries, including flights, hotel stays, visits to key attractions, and other dining and leisure experiences in Dubai and the UAE.
For more information, visit emirates.com. Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents or online travel agencies.
