BANGKOK 31 August 2022: Thai Vietjet will increase flights on the Fukuoka – Bangkok route to four weekly, starting from 1 September 2022.
“We have received great feedback from the market, beyond expectation, both from Thailand and Japan, since our flight service launch between Fukuoka and Bangkok back in July 2022,” said Thai Vietjet director of commercial Pinyot Pibulsonggram. “This is a significant and positive sign that the international travel market is gradually bouncing back after a long Covid-19 pause. With further relaxation of travel restrictions in both countries, we expect to add more flights during the upcoming peak travel season, offering a more convenient yet affordable travel choice for international tourists between the two countries.”
The airline commenced its flight service connecting Fukuoka and Bangkok on 16 July. As of 1 September, the service connecting Fukuoka to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) will increase to four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with an approximate flight time of five hours and 30 minutes.
Flight schedule:
FlightNumber
Origin
Destination
Departure
Arrival
Days of Operation
VZ810
Bangkok
Fukuoka
00:45
08:10
Monday/Wednesday/Friday/
VZ811
Fukuoka
Bangkok
09:10
12:50
VZ810
Bangkok
Fukuoka
02:35
10:00
Saturday
Vietjet Group also offers direct services from Hanoi (Vietnam) to Fukuoka and Nagoya. The route connecting Fukuoka to Hanoi operates with three return flights on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. In comparison, the service from Nagoya to Hanoi has four return flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Currently, passengers entering Thailand are no longer required to possess a certificate of testing for a negative COVID-19 result before entering the country or upon arrival. Passengers are also not required to quarantine upon arrival due to the removal of the ‘Test & Go’ scheme from 1 May 2022.
HONG KONG, 31 August 2022: Cathay Pacific will increase services from its Hong Kong hub to Kuala Lumpur to six weekly flights in December, up from three weekly services in September.
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions, the airline intends to increase flights to pre-Covid-19 levels to most destinations in Asia by early 2023.
In September, the airline will serve Kuala Lumpur with three flights weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. The flights depart Hong Kong at 0855 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1250.
Starting in December, the frequency will jump to six weekly flights (Tuesday to Sunday) with no flight on Monday. The same flight days are in place during the January to February 2023 timetable. The return fare in economy class starts at HKD5,510 return with tax and fees. Flight time is three hours and 55 minutes on an Airbus A350-900.
SINGAPORE, 31 August 2022: Princess Cruises has added its EZair flight booking programme for guests from Southeast Asia, mainly Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brunei.
This easy-to-use tool provides customised suggestions based on when and where passengers are sailing, low prices with flexible airfares, and the reassurance that they will reach their ship quickly and conveniently.
This service is particularly beneficial for guests who must travel to faraway destinations to board their cruise and relieves the hassle of visiting different websites to check flight details. This programme has long been enjoyed by guests in North America and Europe and is now available in Southeast Asia.
“Princess Cruises’ EZAIR elevates the pre-cruising experience by making it easy and convenient to book the flight component for guests in Southeast Asia who will be travelling overseas to cruise. The Princess website will serve as a one-stop all vacation planner, making it stress-free and convenient in booking flights with their cruises,” said Princess Cruises director Southeast Asia Farriek Tawfik.
“The EZair programme will better serve guests in this region with access to competitive airfares compatible with their cruise,” he added. Available flights can be reviewed in real-time, and the desired air schedule and carrier can be chosen at the time of booking. The cruise must be reserved and deposited before flights can be booked. However, flights can be searched when checking cruise availability.
Flights are available to book from four days before the cruise to 300 days before the end of the vacation. Princess EZair allows guests to customise their flights – choosing the desired time, carrier, number of stops, class of service, etc. – at the time of booking without paying any additional customisation fee. This makes it easy to find flights that fit the requirements of the cruise and at competitive fares.
Princess EZair also provides the flexibility of booking flights – whether directly on princess.com or with travel advisors. Princess EZair is connected to Princess’ booking system so that all flight guidelines and voyage information is automatically applied to the search. Travel advisors can also access the EZair programme to check flights for guests, thereby saving time.
Princess EZair provides Late Arrival Protection
Guests who book air travel through Princess Cruises will be automatically enrolled in the Princess Late Arrival Protection program.
If guests miss or will miss their original port of embarkation due to airline delay or an airline service disruption, such as flight cancellation or flight re-routes and weather-related issues, Princess will work with the airlines to find a reasonable alternative to provide flights to the next appropriate port at no additional air cost to the guest.
If, for any reason, the cruise arrives late at port or the Princess transfer is delayed to the airport and the return flight is missed, Princess works with the airline to rebook flights to get the guests home.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling +65 6922 6788 (Singapore), Toll Free: Malaysia 1800-806-656 or Indonesia 007-803-651-0004
KOTA KINABALU, 31 August 2022: Malaysia Airlines marked another milestone in its network expansion by introducing a new direct flight between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore starting Monday.
Passengers on the inaugural flight arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) at 1255 local time on MH648 from Changi International Airport (SIN). A water cannon salute welcomed the aircraft upon arrival at BKI. Passengers received gifts to remember the special occasion, distributed by representatives from Malaysia Airlines, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Tourism Board, and Malaysia Airports Holdings.
Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Puan Noredah Othman said: “Sabah Tourism Board will continue to promote Sabah as a preferred holiday destination to Singaporeans and use the popular Singapore hub as a transit point for long haul market travellers to reach Sabah. Since the re-opening of the SIN-BKI route in April, we have recorded an upward trend with 1,248 arrivals in May and 3,051 arrivals in June. With the inclusion of Malaysia Airlines, we are confident that this trend will continue.”
The airline will operate the direct flights three times weekly on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, departing from Kota Kinabalu for Singapore on MH647 at 0700 and departing Singapore to Kota Kinabalu on MH648 at 1000. The flights use a B737-800 aircraft, with 160 seats; 16 in business class and 144 in economy class.
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND - AUGUST 27: <> on August 27, 2022 in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Norwegian Cruise Line)
SINGAPORE, 30 August 2022:Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, christened its newest ship, Norwegian Prima, which made history as the first major cruise ship christened in Reykjavík, Iceland.
The first of six ships in the groundbreaking Prima Class, Norwegian Prima, debuted to more than 2,500 guests who enjoyed an immersive experience in the beautiful Icelandic capital and a christening celebration like no other.
“With her stunning design and unique offerings, Norwegian Prima is in a league of her own,” said
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd president and CEO Frank Del Rio. “As the industry’s most spacious new cruise ship featuring ‘only-available-on-Prima-experiences,’ she is continuing NCL’s legacy of industry firsts. We wanted to launch Norwegian Prima in a location just as special and unique as she is, and Reykjavik’s striking landscape is the perfect setting for such a milestone occasion. We thank the Reykjavik community for welcoming us with open arms.”
We have been eagerly anticipating and preparing for this special event for several years, so we are delighted to embark on NCL’s next chapter with Norwegian Prima. It’s been a joy to see our vision come to life with this landmark christening ceremony, which sets the tone for the unparalleled holidays guests will enjoy for years to come. We are so thankful to our team members and partners worldwide who have made Norwegian Prima a stunning reality.
Harry Sommer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line
At 965 feet (294 metres long) and more than 142,500 tons with a capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Prima offers the highest staffing levels and space ratio of any contemporary or premium cruise ship. She also boasts the largest variety of suite categories available at sea as well as a redefined The Haven by Norwegian, NCL’s ultra-premium keycard-only access ship-within-a-ship concept. Her recreational activities, including the fastest slides at sea – The Rush and The Drop – and the Prima Speedway, the first three-level racetrack at sea, provide guests with adrenaline-pumping moments. Spaces like Ocean Boulevard, the 44,000 square foot outdoor walkway which wraps around the entire ship; The Concourse, which boasts a multi-million dollar outdoor sculpture garden; and expansive pool decks and infinity-style pools at Infinity Beach offer guests a chance to slow down and relax. To learn more about all Norwegian Prima offers, please click here.
“We have been eagerly anticipating and preparing for this special event for several years, so we are delighted to embark on NCL’s next chapter with Norwegian Prima,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “It’s been a joy to see our vision come to life with this landmark christening ceremony, which sets the tone for the unparalleled holidays, guests will enjoy for years to come. We are so thankful to our team members and partners worldwide who have made Norwegian Prima a stunning reality.”
Guests at the christening ceremony were treated to a show-stopping performance by a popular Icelandic group and 2021 “Eurovision Song Contest” fan favourites, Daði og Gagnamagnið (pronounced “Dah-they Oh Gack-no-Mak-ne”), before Norwegian Prima’s very own godmother, Katy Perry took to the main stage to officially name and christened the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship’s hull. The three-level Prima Theater & Club stage was then transformed into a whimsical backdrop where guests enjoyed a powerhouse performance of some of Perry’s chart-topping hits, including “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Roar,” and “Firework.”
“It was so much fun to sprinkle some fairy godmother dust on Norwegian Prima and send her on her way to sail the high seas,” said Katy Perry. I always appreciate a family vacation and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I was happy to wish all the vacationing guests a happy bon voyage!”
Before the Christening ceremony, guests were surprised by an authentic Icelandic experience at the HARPA cultural centre. Attendees were treated to a captivating LED light show by Artist Olafur Eliasson and performances by Icelandic singer-songwriter Bríet, who joined the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in an awe-inspiring show.
Norwegian Prima will depart on inaugural voyages to Northern Europe from the Netherlands, Denmark and England beginning 3 September 2022, before making her way to the U.S. She will then sail voyages to the Caribbean from New York City, Galveston, Texas, and Miami in October and November before settling into her homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida, and Galveston, Texas for the 2023 and 2024 cruise season.
To access Norwegian Prima’s christening press kit, please click here. To download high-res images and videos from Norwegian Prima’s christening activities, please click here. For more information about NCL’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call Hong Kong on +852 2165 6000 and Southeast Asia on +65 3165 1680 or visit www.ncl.com.
SINGAPORE, 30 August 2022: ProWine Singapore returns for its third edition from 5 to 8 September 2022 at the Singapore Expo.
The show will attract around 200 exhibitors from 20 countries to meet with an estimated 5,000 trade visitors from Southeast Asia.
Jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia and Informa Markets, ProWine Singapore is co-located with FHA – Food & Beverage. The theme of ProWine Singapore 2022 centres on A New Hope as the world emerges from the pandemic and begins finding its own momentum once more.
Kicking off ProWine Singapore’s knowledge-based line-up of seminars and activities is an engaging and educational panel discussion held on 5 September. Across the four days, these Masters of Wines, as well as thought leaders and industry experts, will also lead other masterclasses. For the full masterclass and seminar schedule, click here.
“We are looking forward to staging ProWine Singapore. It’s been four years, and we are eager to continue playing our part as a major industry event and business platform to bring the industry together as we navigate the new realities. Our strong foothold in the markets of Asia and Southeast Asia, and the quality of visitors attending ProWine Singapore ensure producers from Europe, North and South America, and the Oceanic regions will benefit greatly by having a presence at the trade fair,” says Messe Düsseldorf Asia managing director, Gernot Ringling.
ProWein has a long-established history, which first began in Düsseldorf. Over the last 25 years, ProWein has since expanded its presence to Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sao Paolo and Mumbai. ProWine Singapore made its debut in 2016 as a biennial trade fair, co-located with FHA – Food & Beverage, organised by Informa Markets.
BANGKOK, 30 August 2022: Thai AirAsia X (XJ) will introduce direct flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Melbourne and Sydney for the first time, commencing 1 and 2 December 2022.
Four weekly flights direct to Sydney Airport on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) three times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are on sale starting from THB5,990 one way. Sales opened yesterday, 29 August.
From left to right: Dr Angela Macdonald, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Tassapon Bijleveld, acting CEO of Thai AirAsia X.
Flights will be served by the 377-seat Airbus A330 aircraft with 12 upfront business-class reclining seats and 365 economy seats.
Thai AirAsia X acting CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said: “Thailand and Australia have maintained strong relations for over 70 years, and Australia is among the top three educational destinations for Thai students as well as a leading travel destination for Thai tourists.
“Thai AirAsia X is very excited to be adding Sydney and Melbourne as two key destinations in Australia this year, with a priority on these two cities as amongst the most popular routes. Having resumed services to South Korea and Japan, we are thrilled that we are now expanding to Sydney and Melbourne as our next key growth markets. Australia’s largest cities have much to offer in terms of strong economy, tourism and education, making them prime additions to Thai AirAsia X’s growing network.”
Thai AirAsia X marks the introduction of its two new routes from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Sydney and Melbourne with its ‘Take a Fun Trip’ to Australia promotion. Members can book both routes from only THB5,990 from 29 August to 4 September 2022 for travel from 1 December 2022 to 25 March 2023 via the AirAsia Super App.
Australia remains a key market for the AirAsia brand. Malaysian-based AirAsia X, the affiliate long haul sister airline of Thai AirAsia X, has also recently announced new services from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney commencing 9 September and to Perth, Melbourne and Auckland (via Sydney), which commence in November this year.
KUCHING, 30 August 2022: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) announced the return of its homegrown brand, Sia Sitok Sarawak, on Monday, themed “Discover Sarawak Gems” exclusively for Sarawakians and non-Sarawakian residents.
Back by popular demand, Sarawakians looking to discover the undiscovered Sarawak for their year-end holidays can choose from 62 tour packages. SSS offers discounts ranging from 35 to 50% on single-day to multi-day trips. Seven new tour packages have also been included, emphasising community-based and responsible tourism products aligned with the post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS).
New tour packages
Kedaya Telang Usan to chase waterfalls and experience the local culture.
A more in-depth Bidayuh village experience at Saloma Homestay.
Bird-watching in Ba Kelalan to get the chance to spot the Dulit Frogmouth bird, which is endemic to the mountains of northern Borneo.
An unforgettable Belaga expedition with a visit to Uma Belor, potentially the longest interrupted longhouse structure in Sarawak.
Follow Rajah Brooke’s trail and visit Rentap’s Fort at Bukit Sadok.
Enjoy a water rapids experience with the Julau and Upriver Expedition.
Discover Murum and visit Limbang–Lawas Meritam Pasir Lumpur to pamper yourself with a natural mudbath.
SSSA 3.0 will provide the best bargains with discounts up to 35% off for staycation packages from over 40 participating hotels.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “We started Sia Sitok Sarawak, which translates to ‘Ke Sana Ke Sini’ Sarawak, as a measure to boost the local tourism industry during the pandemic, revive the state economy and keep traveller confidence high.
“I am happy to see the success of our homegrown brand “Sia Sitok Sarawak” for the past two years and “Sia Sitok Accommodation” in 2021 with sales generated over MYR10.5 million. The Sia Sitok Sarawak campaign will be a great initiative to cultivate local interest and appreciation of Sarawak’s greatest offering. Over the long-term, Sarawakians can become tourism ambassadors for travellers worldwide.”
Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said: “With the return of Sia Sitok Sarawak, there is no better way to travel throughout Sarawak than with friends and family this year-end as we go beyond the pandemic with its exclusive offerings and deals. Do not miss the opportunity to try the eight new packages in SSS4.0 for an unforgettable lifetime experience and take the opportunity of the good deals at participating hotels while on vacation.”
SSS4.0 and SSSA 3.0 is available for bookings from 1 September 2022 to 31 October 2022, with the travelling or staying period from 1 September 2022 to 15 December 2022.
MANILA, 30 August 2022: The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) jointly announced the National Tourism Jobs Fair programme that will run until May 2023 during the MOU signing today (30 August) to provide a bridge for employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
The multi-month campaign will conclude in May 2023 to coincide with the 50th Founding Anniversary of the DOT.
(Photo credit DOT). Jobs for Filipinos were discussed on the sidelines of the recent APEC summit.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma signed the MOU.
“We are prioritising the provision of employment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector in response to the severe losses in income and livelihood due to the pandemic and workforce shortage in the tourism industry. It will help Filipinos find jobs while helping the accommodation and services sector to address workforce shortages, resulting in the continued recovery of the tourism industry as a whole,” said Secretary Frasco.
The National Tourism Job Fair programme’s first activity will roll out during the Hotels Supplier Show from 22 to 24 September at the SMX Convention Centre Manila.
Global-Link MP, the organiser of the Hotels Supplier Show, has offered 50 free booths for the programme. Other job fair venues are planned for Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.
DOT’s regional offices will work with DOLE field offices and local government units to manage job fairs. The process will include collecting relevant job posting information from participating establishments, ensuring the credibility of all participating employers, and, monitoring the submission of job fair reportorial requirements of participating establishments.
Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Frasco also recently announced that overseas hospitality career opportunities would be made available to Filipinos in a separate job fair in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers and DOLE.
She was commenting on Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn’s comments on the sidelines of the recently concluded APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, which suggested creating job opportunities for Filipinos in Thailand’s hotel and tourism business sectors.
“Providing tourism employment opportunities in the Philippines and abroad is important because this will help the thousands of Filipino workers and their families displaced or repatriated because of the pandemic. For new graduates and others seeking a career in tourism, this will also open new doors for economic prosperity,” said Secretary Frasco.
SINGAPORE, 30 August 2022: Hahalolo, a travel social networking application, plans to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific and Africa by the end of the year.
Hahalolo has introduced plans to expand during the last quarter of 2022 in popular travel markets such as India, Indonesia, and Vietnam in the Asia Pacific. It is also planning to extend its cover to Africa to reach 25 million users by December 2022.
Hahalolo announced it would celebrate the grand opening of its India branch office on 29 August. The US headquarters will also be upgraded and relaunched in November.
The Covid pandemic has affected the global tourism industry, forcing businesses to change their models to overcome difficulties. Hahalolo delivers an online travel agency (OTA) application linked to a social network that creates an effective platform to promote cultural destinations while helping businesses increase revenue and approach travel customers directly.
Launched in 2019, Hahalolo supports tourism business growth in 192 countries and territories despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Partnering with thousands of travel agencies, hotels, and hundreds of airlines worldwide, Hahalolo has all the features of an online travel agency plus the advantages of a social network that help users quickly book travel services and share their experiences on their pages.
Hahalolo creates opportunities for users to earn money by posting high-quality content on their pages or participating in affiliate marketing programmes when booking flights, hotels and tours.
Hahalolo USA claims to have attracted nearly 10 million users within two years. However, the rate of active users would be higher when the coin mining feature is launched on the platform. New users will receive coins equivalent to USD10 after registering.
