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Outrigger in festive mode

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHUKET, 6 December 2022: Newly opened Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, and Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort have announced family-friendly Christmas and New Year festive programmes.

Both resorts will have special entertainment, food and drinks on Christmas Eve, 24 December, Christmas Day, 25 December and New Year’s Eve, 31 December.

Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort

The recently fully renovated and newly opened Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, nestled in an enclave of coconut trees on Lamai beach, has many family-friendly Christmas and New Year happenings.

On Saturday, 24 December, the resort will go festive with an evening of entertainment in its Mala Kitchen restaurant with games in the Coral Kids Club, lucky draw prizes and festivities. There will be traditional dishes and sparkling wine and Christmas carols. (THB1900/USD53.08/EUR51.08/UKP44.08 ++ per adult. Or THB3700/USD103.37/EUR99.49/UKP85.86 ++ inclusive of wine cocktails and local beers. Children ages 4 to 11 THB800/USD22.35/EUR21.51/UKP18.56 ++.)

On Christmas Day at Outrigger Koh Samui, Santa Claus will exchange his reindeer and sleigh to arrive by longtail boat at Edgewater Beach Club, where he will join festive celebrations from 1230 to 1630. There will be family-sharing plates, a Christmas main course buffet and classic homemade desserts, all in the fantastic beachside setting with plunge pools, water slides, kids’ games and more. (THB1500/USD41.90/EUR40.33/£34.80 ++ per adult. Or THB3200/US$89.39/EUR86.04/UKP74.25 ++ including wine, cocktails and local beers. Children 4-11 THB500/USD13.97/EUR13.44/UKP11.60 ++.)

Outrigger Koh Samui guests are invited to ring in the New Year under the stars with a glorious seafood feast and tender cuts from various carving stations. There will also be an assortment of live entertainment, such as Thai dancing, Muay Thai boxing, and the famous Samui fire juggling show. While this is happening, children can enjoy numerous organised activities at the resort’s Coral Kids Club, giving mum and dad a chance to enjoy time around the table.

The New Year extravaganza at Outrigger Koh Samui is THB3400/USD94.7/EUR90.9/UKP78.3 ++ per person with an option of THB5100/USD142.1/EUR136.4/UKP117.4 ++ inclusive of wines, cocktails and local beers. Children are THB1000/USD27.9/EUR26.7/UKP23 ++.

Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort

The newly opened Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort on the Andaman Sea side of the southern Thai peninsula will also help families step into Christmas and the New Year in style, surrounded by nature.

At Outrigger Khao Lak, guests can enjoy a Christmas Eve 24 December sunset welcome reception followed by yuletide carols sung by a local choir. An extravaganza of roast duck, charcoal grilled seafood, ribeye beef and delicious options from a selection of live cooking stations follow. There will be Christmas desserts, live entertainment and a visit by Santa Claus. (THB2200 (USD61.3/EUR58.8/UKP50.6) ++ for adults and THB500 (USD13.9/EURP13.4/UKP11.5) ++ for kids aged 4 to 11.)

On Christmas Day, Santa will arrive at Outrigger Khao Lak’s beach to regale children with gifts between 1400 and 1500. The event is free for Outrigger guests.

Also, at Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, guests are invited to bring in the new year with sunset cocktails and canapes followed by a beachside barbecue, fireworks, prime cuts, succulent seafood options and ice creams for the little ones. As we say farewell to 2022 and hello 2023, there will be southern Thai dance performances, a live band, a fire show and lucky draws. The fun starts at 1900 and will continue to 0100.

The Outrigger Khao Lak, a new year event, is THB3999/USD111.4/EUR107/UKP92 ++. And for kids: THB900/USD25.1/EUR24/UKP20.7 ++.

There is a 10% discount on the above prices at Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort for guests who book before 15 December. Guests from outside are welcome to join.

To join Santa Claus when he comes to town or ring in the new year under the stars at Outrigger Koh Samui, call +66 77 458 560 or email [email protected]. The resort’s festive brochure is here.

To party with Santa or celebrate the new year in style at Outrigger Khao Lak, call +66 76 427 100 or email [email protected]. The resort’s festive brochure is here.

(Your Stories: Outrigger)

Club Med names GM Singapore and Malaysia

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 6 December 2022: Club Med has named Olivier Monceau as the new general manager of Singapore and Malaysia to guide the team through the next phase of brand growth.

“I am delighted to have him on the team as he leads the execution of our aggressive plans to grow the Club Med brand within the region,” says Rachael Harding, Chief Executive Officer of East, South Asia and Pacific. He produced exceptional results in his previous appointment within Club Med, and I am confident he will accelerate the strategic growth in Singapore and Malaysia markets. His appointment is also perfectly timed to succeed our new capacity in Kiroro, Hokkaido, in 2023 and Borneo, Kota Kinabalu, in 2024.”

He will be based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Travel recovery speeds up in Africa

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 December 2022: After a bumpy road in travel recovery during the post-pandemic phase, Africa is now performing above the global average when looking at international arrivals for 2022, according to ForwardKeys’ latest air ticketing data.

Long-haul travel to West and Central Africa recovers faster

International travel is currently 30% behind pre-covid levels, yet Africa in Q4 of 2022 is just -19% under 2019 levels. At the same time, the 2023 outlook is even more promising, at -11% of international arrivals.

Closer inspection of the top performing regions and destinations, travel recovery shows growth is led by West and Central Africa, at -6% and +10% for Q4 travel compared to 2019 levels. At a country level, the best performer in Q4 of 2022 is Cape Verde, +10%, followed by Ivory Coast, -3% and Ghana, -9%.

“West and Central Africa benefit from VFR travel from Europe and North America. Our data shows growing interest from Portugal and Spain for Cape Verde, while the improved seat capacity from the US to Ghana is attracting a more premium travel crowd,” says Gordon Clark, VP of Business Development at ForwardKeys.

“Southern Africa has been recovering slower due to the impact of Omicron early in the year,” he adds.

The 2023 outlook for Africa looks rosy

Looking ahead at Q1 2023, Central and West Africa will continue to drive the recovery. East Africa will come close to 2019 levels due to strong demand from leisure travellers from Western Europe. Recovery is slowly spreading across the regions of Africa, and flight connectivity plays a pivotal role.

“Seamless connectivity is vital for encouraging travellers to visit Africa,” says Clark.

The top airport hubs for connecting passengers onwards to West Africa are Paris Charles de Gaul and Amsterdam Schiphol; however, the dark horse to keep an eye on is Istanbul International Airport which has grown four percentage points in Q4 versus pre-pandemic times. This is due to Turkish Airlines ramping up capacity to West Africa.

(Source: ForwardKeys)

Visit: www.forwardkeys.com

AirAsia X returns to the Gold Coast

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TTR WEEKLY
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SEPANG, 6 December 2022: AirAsia X announces it will resume flights to the Gold Coast, Australia, commencing 15 February 2023.

The route will be the airline’s fourth destination in Australia. Following the recent return to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, between April to November this year, AAX has carried over 30,000 passengers between Malaysia and Australia.

AirAsia X Group Head of Commercial, Pam Thienthong (Seventh from left); Destination Gold Coast Chair, Adrienne Readings; Queensland Airports Limited CEO, Amelia Evans; Deputy Mayor, Donna Gates; and Queensland Airports Limited CCO Adam Rowe.

Passenger traffic is set to grow substantially with today’s announcement and additional frequencies to Sydney and Melbourne starting this month.

To mark the return to its first-ever route, AAX is offering discounted fares (at 1000 Gold Coast time/0800 Malaysia time on 6 December) between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast from MYR799 (under AUD299)  all-in-one way for economy and MYR3,999 (under AUD1,999) one way for Premium Flatbed.

AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said: “We are thrilled to be returning to the stunning Gold Coast as the first and only low-cost carrier flying direct! As our first-ever route, which launched in November 2007, this is an incredibly special announcement for AAX.

“Through Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia X will connect visitors to more than 130 destinations across Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, India, South Korea and many more.”

Alongside AAX’s return to Australia, sister medium-haul airline Thai AirAsia X also launched its first-ever direct services between Bangkok to Sydney and Melbourne, delivering six mid-range routes to Australia, providing more value and choice for consumers than ever before. Indonesia AirAsia recently increased services between Perth and Bali to fly twice daily to meet overwhelming demand.

THAI and SQ sign codeshare accord

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 6 December 2022: Thai Airways International and Singapore Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation.

It starts with the airlines’ code sharing more extensively on international routes and exploring commercial collaboration to provide customers with more options and value.

Suvadhana Sibunruang Acting Chief Executive Officer, THAI (left) and Goh Choon Phong Chief Executive Officer, SIA (right).

In the initial phase, THAI and SIA will codeshare flights between Singapore and Bangkok. THAI will also benefit from a codeshare on SIA’s flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa; Houston, Los Angeles, New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport), San Francisco, and Seattle in the US; as well as Vancouver in Canada. The codeshares will be up and running by the first quarter of 2023, pending regulatory approval.

The airlines will explore additional codeshare arrangements supporting increased air connectivity to Thailand and Singapore. Routes to Europe, India, and South West Pacific are under consideration. 

Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Airlines, said: “SIA and THAI have had a close relationship for many years, which we aim to strengthen through this comprehensive agreement. This is a win-win opportunity to support the growth of our respective hubs and enhance the options and service offerings for our customers.”  

Suvadhana Sibunruang, acting chief executive Officer of THAI, said: It will expand THAI’s network to more service points in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Europe, India, and South West Pacific routes.”

International cities power tourism recovery

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 December 2022: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched its Cities Economic Impact Report (EIR) at the 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh last week.

Sponsored by Visa, the report shows cities remain the powerhouses of global tourism and will drive the recovery of the sector and economies worldwide.

The Cities EIR analyses 82 international city destinations and shows that before the pandemic,  cities were popular travel destinations, accounting for almost half of all international visits, both as standalone destinations and as gateways to other tourism hotspots within countries.

Covid-19 had a devastating impact on Travel & Tourism, particularly in cities worldwide, as countries closed their borders in response to the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, and as borders began to reopen, leisure travellers swapped major metropolises for less-populated destinations such as coastal and rural hotspots, leaving economies of international cities to battle through an incredibly tough three years.

Thousands of hotels, restaurants, and attractions in cities worldwide were forced to close, with hard-working people losing their jobs as businesses struggled to stay open during these challenging times.

The Cities EIR shows how leisure and business travellers are flocking back to cities. Their draw as iconic destinations is again becoming the beating heart of international tourism destinations and business centres for overseas visitors.

According to the report, 10 of the 82 cities analysed are projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in terms of direct Travel & Tourism GDP contribution to the city economies this year.

Qatar’s capital Doha is forecast to see the largest increase from 2019 to 2022, in terms of international traveller spending as well as in direct Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the city’s GDP, with an expected increase of 21%.

In Europe, Warsaw is expected to witness a 14% increase in 2022 versus 2019 in Travel & Tourism’s contribution to the city’s GDP.

In the US, Orlando is projected to see a 10% increase in direct Travel & Tourism contribution to the city’s GDP over that same period.

Over the next decade, Travel & Tourism is on track to become a key driver of economic growth again, with faster GDP growth than other sectors, generating 126 million new jobs worldwide.

By 2032, the Travel & Tourism sector will directly generate up to 8% of all jobs in the 82 cities analysed in the Cities Report, up from 6.6% in 2019 and a low of 5.1% in 2020.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Our report clearly shows that cities remain iconic global destinations for millions of tourists worldwide. There’s still a strong appetite to experience the history, culture, and energy that cities offer travellers.

“Before the pandemic, cities were powerhouses for international tourists, serving as standalone destinations and as gateways to other tourist destinations within countries. This year cities are recovering worldwide, and we forecast that cities will continue to grow and thrive over the next decade.

Jeni Mundy, Head of Global Merchant Sales and Acquiring, Visa, said: “Even after the colossal challenges the pandemic brought to the travel industry, the economic benefit of tourism to cities remains strong. Consumers’ willingness to adopt digital-first travel experiences will help pave the way for future innovations.

“At Visa, we remain focused on how payments technology can make a traveller’s journey more seamless – something anyone who’s had a travel hiccup can appreciate.

(Source: WTTC)

Princess resumes Japan homeport sailings

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 December 2022: Following the recent decision by the Japanese government to allow the return of international cruise ships to the country, Princess Cruises has announced it will begin homeport sailing in Japan starting 15 March 2023, giving guests in the region the opportunity to enjoy the effortless, personalised Princess MedallionClass experience for the first time.

“The reopening of Japanese ports to the international cruise industry is an important and welcome development that not only vastly expands the vacation opportunities available to guests but also helps to significantly strengthen the Japanese tourism economy,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “In addition, Japanese guests will appreciate the unmatched Princess MedallionClass experience offering unmatched personalisation and hassle-free service.”

Diamond Princess delivers the ultimate effortless, personalised cruising featuring world-class dining and entertainment, all elevated by the Princess MedallionClass Experience. The Medallion enables everything from expedited, contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests can share their favourite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best WiFi at sea, stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favourite movies and shows.

Japanese-built Diamond Princess returns to celebrate the 10th anniversary of sailing from Tokyo (Yokohama) and Kobe starting 15 March with a nine-day sailing roundtrip from Tokyo. The ship – designed exclusively with the destination in mind –will call to 38 destinations in four countries on 43 unique itineraries and 57 departures, ranging from 5 to 19 days. Key reasons to experience Japan with Princess in 2023 include:

  • Temples, Shrines, Castles – Guests delight in the abundance of stunning temples and shrines, like the magnificent 16th century Osaka Castle or Seiryu-ji Temple, home of Japan’s largest bronze seated Buddha.
  • Festivals – Opportunities to experience seven festivals, including Japan’s world-famous Kyoto Gion Festival, featuring massive, hand-crafted “Yama” and “Hoko” floats constructed every year without using nails, or watch a display of 10,000 fireworks during the Kumano Fireworks Festival.
  • Vibrant Cities & Landscapes – Astounding cities where the 21st century coexists with the spirit of ancient Japan thrive, such as shopping in Tokyo’s Ginza district, trying local delicacies at nearby restaurants or exploring the Imperial Palace plaza. With access to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, guests can marvel at Mt. Fuji, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
  • Spring Flowers, Gardens and Onsens – Travelers soak in spring flowers all over Japan during spring, whether it’s visiting a classic Japanese garden, seeing hundreds of sakura (cherry blossoms) while picnicking, enjoying the meditative atmosphere of tranquil parks or soaking in the healing benefits of a geothermal “onsen” natural hot spring bath.

For those travellers with more time to explore Japan, Princess offers 13- or 14-day Highlights of Japan cruisetours, featuring a multiple-night land tour combined with the cruise for more time on land to experience the wonders of both Tokyo and Kyoto.

Diamond Princess features the largest open-air Japanese bath at sea – an 8,800 sq. ft bath and garden complex offering indoor and outdoor Japanese bathing experiences, including steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs with spectacular ocean vistas. Guests can experience Diamond’s distinctly Japanese offerings, such as Kai Sushi, an authentic sushi bar and various other dining options while enjoying the warm, welcoming service synonymous with Princess.

www.princess.com

Airlines tap VFS e-Visa service

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 2 December 2022: VFS Global has signed an agreement with Thai Airways International and Thai Smile to introduce a service to facilitate the e-Visa On Arrival process for passengers using the two airlines.

Suvadhana Sibunruang, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Thai Airways International (THAI), and Kaushik Ghosh, Head of Australasia, VFS Global, signed the cooperation agreement under the project of e-Visa On Arrival (e-VOA) to facilitate the process for THAI and THAI Smile passengers holding passports of the People’s Republic of China, Republic of India, Taiwan Republic of China and 14 other countries.

Airline passengers from the specified nationalities will be offered the service when they book flights to Thailand on the two airlines.

Once the fares have been purchased, they will be redirected to the VFS Global website to apply for the e-Visa On Arrival. The immigration bureau will consider the application process within 48 hours.

The e-Visa On Arrival (e-VOA) platform is for passengers who hold passports from the following countries:

People’s Republic of China; India; Taiwan; Bulgaria; Bhutan; Cyprus; Ethiopia; Fiji; Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexican; Nauru; Papua New Guinea; Romania, Uzbekistan; Vanuatu.

(Your Stories: Thai Airways International)

Danna Langkawi relaunches website

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI, Malaysia, 2 December 2022: Danna Langkawi Resort & Beach Villas celebrates its 12th anniversary, relaunches its website and offers guests a  daily credit directly for spa and F&B.

Danna Langkawi Resort & Beach Villas General Manager Karan Singh commented: “We look forward to creating more decades of turning dreams into lasting memories for our local guests and international travellers from around the world.” 

To kick-off celebrations, the hotel offers a daily credit of MYR300 net per stay for Spa and F&B when guests book directly on The Danna website.

Danna Langkawi Resort & Beach Villas recently unveiled its revamped hotel website www.thedanna.com to showcase the resort. Besides its video content, guests can make immediate reservations and enjoy the best rates and benefits offered under Danna Direct.

The property has refreshed its amenities. The newly refurbished gym is fitted with the latest state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including the TechnoGym Ride, the first of its kind in Malaysia. It also features a full range of high-tech cardio and strength training equipment.

The all-new refurbished Danna Spa, located on the top floor, offers five single and two couple rooms for rejuvenating spa rituals that draw on the benefits of traditional Malay treatments.

Danna Langkawi Resort & Beach Villas recently joined Small Luxury Hotels of the World, becoming the first-ever luxury resort member on the island.

Jetstar moves to Changi T4 in early 2023

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 2 December 2022: Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Airways have confirmed they will operate from Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 (T4) from 22 March 2023.

The relocation to T4 will enable Changi Airport to optimise the use of its aircraft gates to meet the growing demand for air travel while creating headroom for Jetstar to grow at the global hub.

The first Jetstar Asia flight to arrive at T4 will be 3K766 from Manila at 0040 on 22 March 2023, with flight 3K761 to Manila taking off from T4 at 0615.

The first Jetstar Airways flight to operate out of T4 will be JQ8, departing Singapore to Melbourne at 2210 on 22 March 2023. The return flight, JQ7, will arrive in Singapore the following day, at 2010.

Jetstar Asia will initially operate more than 200 weekly services in and out of T4, to and from key destinations in Southeast Asia, including Bali (Denpasar), Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Phnom Penh.

Jetstar Airways will continue to fly between Singapore and Melbourne up to six times a week, with the popular route being operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying more than 200,000 passengers each year between the two cities.

Opened in 2017, T4 is Changi’s newest terminal with 21 contact gates, of which 17 are built for narrow-body aircraft. With a 16 million passengers per annum capacity, T4 reopened on 13 September 2022 after a two-year pause. Since its reopening, T4 has handled more than one million passenger movements with the 14 airlines that have moved their operations to the terminal.

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