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Emirates promotes travel to the Bahamas

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, 5 January 2023: Emirates has sealed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas to promote tourism to the Caribbean archipelago. The airline and the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism will embark on joint initiatives to boost visitor traffic into the islands from key markets across Emirates’ network.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Chief Executive and HE Tony Joudi, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the UAE and the State of Qatar, at the Emirates Group Headquarters. Also present at the signing ceremony was Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer and Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Americas.  

Emirates Group chairman and chief executive, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “We are pleased to collaborate with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas in supporting its goals to boost the nation’s tourism economy. Through our partnerships with United and Air Canada, we look forward to playing a key role in promoting the Bahamas as a key leisure destination. Our global customers from across our network can enjoy Emirates’ services to our points in North America and benefit from enhanced connectivity and access to the islands.” 

Spread across 16 major islands, the Bahamas boasts more than 100,000 sq. miles of the world’s clearest ocean. Its coveted beaches and pristine shorelines make The Bahamas one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, offering a rich mix of leisure and cultural activities for visitors. 

Under the MoU, both parties will partner on joint promotional campaigns to benefit the airline and boost tourist arrivals into the Bahamas by showcasing the destination’s appeal to visitors and holiday-makers. The agreement will also see marketing activities, including media and trade familiarisation trips, in the first quarter of 2023 and the development of tailor-made tour packages, through its tour operating arm Emirates Holidays, which can be booked by customers across the airline’s vast network. Both parties have also agreed to explore opportunities to collaborate on joint advertising campaigns to promote the West Indies destination.

Under the MoU, both parties will partner on joint promotional campaigns to benefit the airline and boost tourist arrivals into The Bahamas by showcasing the destination’s appeal to visitors and holiday-makers. The agreement will also see marketing activities, including media and trade familiarisation trips, in the first quarter of 2023 and the development of tailor-made tour packages, through its tour operating arm Emirates Holidays, which can be booked by customers across the airline’s vast network. Both parties have also agreed to explore opportunities to collaborate on joint advertising campaigns to promote the West Indies destination.

Emirates currently flies to 12 points in the US in addition to Toronto. Emirates’ customers from across its global network can utilise its services to fly to US destinations such as Houston, Chicago, or Newark before connecting to Nassau on United, thanks to the partnership between airlines. Travellers can also fly to The Bahamas via Toronto, with Canada’s national carrier Air Canada, which activated its codeshare partnership in November. 

While most visitors to the Bahamas originate from the US and Canada, The Bahamas also attracts tourists from other international points in Emirates’ network, including the United Arab Emirates, Greece, India, China, the Philippines and Singapore.

Currently, Emirates customers can connect to Nassau airport on codeshare flights with Air Canada via Toronto and from major US airports, including Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), and Chicago (ORD) on interline flights with United. Emirates operates a modern fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft to a network of more than 130 destinations across six continents.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

The Best of Langkawi: The perfect 5D4N itinerary

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI, 4 January 2023: We’ve curated this wallet-friendly five-day/four-night Langkawi itinerary for you to have the best beach vacay on a budget.

Do you often find yourself scrolling through your social feed, daydreaming about tropical getaways? As most people are feeling the squeeze of inflation, it goes without saying that budget becomes an important factor to consider when it comes to planning trips. With that in mind, we’ve curated an extensive and complete itinerary of the best things to do in Langkawi and some of the must-eat places to experience.

While costs are rising this year, many people are not willing to forgo a family vacation, especially after the last few years of having to miss out on or cancel a family vacation. Just because you may be trying to do family travel on a budget, it does not necessarily mean you have to or should miss out on a fantastic trip. If you are trying to do family travel on a budget, then this post is for you.

Day 1

Start your day by visiting the Oriental Village, the home of Langkawi Skycab and SkyBridge. The area is only a 20-minute drive from Langkawi International Airport.

Langkawi Skycab

You will be amazed at the unfolding dramatic views from the Skycab’splatforms up to 708 meters above sea level. There are plenty of activities in Oriental Village, such as feeding animals and experiencing the joys of animal therapy at Machinchang Pet Land, defying reality at VR Universal, and being entertained by the 3D interactive paintings at the 3D Art Museum.

3D Art Museum

For lunch, check out Restaurant Siti Fatimah for an impressive variety of Malay dishes. After fueling up, continue your journey by making your way to the TelagaTujuh Waterfall, one of the island’s most revered and majestic natural wonders. Cool down in this waterfall, with cheeky monkeys swinging between their branches. If you fancy dining with a stunning view of Chenang beach, Langkapuri Resort Roof Top Restaurant is the place to go as it offers both good food for your stomach and a delightful view for your eyes.

TelagaTujuh Waterfall

Day 2

For your second day on this idyllic island, consider island hopping. This activity is ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy wildlife, dense forests, freshwater, and picturesque views. To have a wholesome experience, head over to the Underwater World Langkawi, one of the largest marine and freshwater aquaria in Southeast Asia. For lunch, eat at Smiling Buffalo, a café tucked in a boutique chalet. With its wall-less structure, flourishing tropical garden, and relaxed ambience, you are promised a good lunch escapade.

Underwater World Langkawi

Be sure to also check out Langkawi Craft Complex, which sells exquisite artworks from Malaysian craftsmen and artists. The main Craft Complex has a succession of halls with several sections designated as museums, displaying various intricate art and craft items reflecting the cultural Malaysian heritage. The entrance is free, and you will leave with a souvenir or two.

Langkawi Craft Complex

For shopaholics, enjoy duty-free shopping amongst the widest variety of luxury brands at designated duty-free stores, shops, and shopping centres at Kuah.

Dataran Lang

To capture Instagrammable holiday moments, stand in front of the eagle’s base at Dataran Lang to take an instantly recognizable selfie. To end your day, bring your family to Wonderland Seafood at Kuah Town, the locals’ to-go place for seafood at pocket-friendly prices.

Day 3

Temurun Waterfall

Have a refreshing start with a breakfast picnic at Temurun Waterfall, which consists of three tiers with a 200-meter drop, making it the highest waterfall in Langkawi. After a hearty breakfast with a view, go to ‘theominously’ named PasirTengkorak beach, which features activities like trekking, camping, swimming, and sunbathing for big and small groups alike. Experience fresh steamed crabs that are caught in the mangrove forests at Crab Farm for lunch.

Pasir Tengkorak

For the second half of the day, immerse yourself in a relaxing Mangrove Tour at Kubang Badak Island and be amazed at Malaysia’s biggest crocodile in captivity at Crocodile Adventureland. To cap off your night, fill your tummy with even more value-for-money seafood whilst basking in stunning views of the Andaman Sea at WarungUpih.

Day 4

Start your morning with nature at TanjungRhu Beach, an amazing getaway that features untouched corridors of forests, serene shorelines, and peaceful enclaves for visitors looking for a tranquil retreat. At TanjungRhu, unmissable adventures await those who are seeking thrilling experiences such as stand-up paddling, kayaking, and paragliding.

Tanjung Rhu

Unwind at Ayer Hangat Village Salt Water Hotspring, where you can soak in soothing and relaxing hot springs. Tantalise your tastebuds at Mak Ngah Gulai Panas, said to have the best Malay Curry Fish in Langkawi!

Ayer Hangat Village Salt Water Hotspring

Discover many animals and have up-close interactions with them during feeding sessions at Langkawi Wildlife Park. See a different side of Langkawi in a rewarding mangrove tour, which can be privately customised for an unforgettable experience. For dinner, indulge in a dizzying array of pizza styles at Artisans Pizza.

Day 5

On your final day in this paradise, be sure to experience the culture Langkawi offers by visiting MakamMahsuri, where you will have an amazing time learning about Mahsuri’s tomb, the final resting place of a beautiful maiden. For your next stop, drop by Langkawi Rice Garden Museumor LamanPadi, a popular eco-tourism spot at Chenang Beach where you can learn about rice cultivation in a rustic setting. For traditional Malay cuisine, explore Nasi Dagang Pak Malau during lunch for Nasi Dagang with a generous selection of side dishes such as chicken curry, beef rendang, mutton korma, pickled cucumber and sambal.

Makam Mahsuri

If you love fruits and eco-tourism, Mardi Agro Technology Park Langkawi is a treat for you. Learn about local agriculture and farming techniques and be awestruck by the sweeping stretch of land consisting of fruit farms over Gunung Raya Reserve forest. For splashing fun, visit Perdana Quay Eco Marine Park Langkawi, the first interactive seawater theme park in Asia. For dinner, visit KapalLayar Langkawi Restaurant. With a mini sailboat docked on its rooftop, this restaurant is truly an arresting sight to behold. Equally as eye-catching are its lavish servings of marine cuisine.

Langkawi Rice Garden Museum

What are you waiting for? Craving a refreshing family adventure? Look no further than the stunning shores of Langkawi Island!

Mardi Agro Technology Park

For more information, visit https://naturallylangkawi.my

(Your Stories: Langkawi Developmerny Authority)

AirAsia relaunches Sabah-Hong Kong service

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 5 January 2023: Sabah begins the year with the resumption of its first flight from Hong Kong.

The flight landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport on 2 January with 138 passengers on board the 186-seat AirAsia A320.

AirAsia confirmed the HKG-BKI route would operate twice a week, every Wednesday and Sunday, offering a total of 372 seats per week.

Water salute welcoming AirAsia’s HKG – BKI Flight.
Noredah welcoming HKG – BKI passengers.

Sabah Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman said: “I am glad that finally, AirAsia has reactivated its Hong Kong – Kota Kinabalu route, adding another international air link to Sabah.”

“Hong Kong is one of our top target markets, and this is a great start in 2023 for our tourism industry. Sabah is blessed with beautiful islands and beaches, making us a preferred destination for Hong Kong travellers,” Noredah commented.

AirAsia connects Kota Kinabalu to five major international cities: Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, Taipei and Hong Kong.

With the resumption of the Hong Kong – Kota Kinabalu route, Sabah now receives 64 weekly direct international flights. Other direct flights are from South Korea (29), Singapore (14), the Philippines (6), Brunei (5), Taiwan (4), Japan (2) and Thailand (2). Sabah will continue to improve access to the state by increasing the number of international flights from major foreign cities.

For more information on Sabah, visit www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

Sofitel names Mumbai GM

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 January 2023: Part of Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, Sofitel Mumbai BKC, names Manish Dayya as the property’s new general manager.

Dayya brings with him over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. He joined Accor in 2013, and most recently, he headed up the management team of Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and the Hyderabad International Convention Centre as the complex general manager.

Sofitel Mumbai BKC is located in the city’s central business district – the Bandra Kurla Complex, offering 302 rooms and suites and meeting spaces.

Philippines’ arrivals beat the target

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 5 January 2023: Visitor arrivals exceeded the 1.7 million target reaching 2.65 million international visitor trips at the close of 2022.

The arrivals translated to PHP208.96 billion or USD3.68 billion in tourism revenues, a substantial 2,465.75% increase from 2021, according to a news briefing by the Department of Tourism on Monday.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) calculated that since the country reopened its borders to all travellers in February until the end of the year, international visitor arrivals and returning Filipinos tipped the 2.65 million mark – 628,445 were returning Filipinos, while the bulk of 2.02 million tourists came from top markets US (505,089), South Korea (428,014), Australia (137,974), Canada (121,413), UK (101,034), Japan (99,557), Singapore (53,448), India (51,542), Malaysia (46,805) and China (39,627).

DOT Secretary Christina Frasco said the tourism sector’s growth clearly showed the hard work of the entire industry to recover from the unprecedented crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Philippines News Agency.

“We welcome 2023 with gratitude and excitement for Philippine tourism to bounce back stronger than ever. We shall welcome with warmth and that distinct Filipino smile visitors from all over the world as they visit our award-winning beaches, experience the richness of our culture, and enjoy our world-renowned Filipino brand of service excellence,” she concluded.

(Source: Philippines News Agency)

BA adds flights to Italy

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 January 2023: British Airways has announced a new daily flight from London Heathrow to Florence, Italy, for Summer 2023.

Starting on 26 April 2023, the new flight will operate daily from London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 at 0750 on an A320Neo aircraft.

Known for its Renaissance art scene, architectural masterpieces and Tuscan fare, Florence is in central Italy, near Bologna and Pisa for those looking to explore further afield.

Florence will be one of 11 Italian cities served by British Airways from London Heathrow in Summer 2023, including Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples.

The London Heathrow to Florence flight joins new routes starting in the Summer 2023 season, such as London Gatwick to Aruba and Guyana, and London Heathrow to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Return flights are on sale from London Heathrow to Florence, starting from UKP114. British Airways Holidays also offers two nights with breakfast at the 4 Palazzo Lorenzo Hotel Boutique from UKP279pp, travelling on selected dates in May 2023. The offer includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and a 23kg luggage allowance. Bookings must be made by 31 January 2023.

Holland America Line revamps 2024 sailings

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 January 2023: Holland America Line is adding several new itineraries for the 2024 season that combine regions, increasing voyages of 14 days or longer, and adding new departure ports in Northern Europe.

From April to November, new itineraries – ranging from seven to 35 days – will be offered on two of the line’s Pinnacle Class ships, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, along with Oosterdam and Zuiderdam.

Rotterdam, Netherlands, is a new homeport for many Holland America Line European cruises in 2024. 

The four Holland America Line ships will cover the entire region on voyages designed for cultural immersion. Nine overnight ports and 33 late-night departure cities provide more time ashore while the ships explore the Baltic, British Isles, Canary Islands, French and Spanish rivieras, Israel, Mediterranean and Northern Europe, including Iceland, Greenland and Norway.

NORTHERN EUROPE

The ship Rotterdam returns to its namesake city with new sailings roundtrip from Rotterdam in 2024.

New seven-day cruises to Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

New seven- or 14-day itineraries to Norway and Scotland.

New 14-day cruises to England, Scotland, Ireland and Belgium.

New 14-day itinerary to Norway, Scotland and Iceland.

Seven-day Norwegian Fjords.

In May, Zuiderdam sails a 14-day Northern Europe cruise that explores Norway, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark, followed by a 21-day “Ultimate Viking Explorer” journey around Iceland, Greenland and Scotland, both roundtrip from Ijmuiden.

The popular “Voyage of the Vikings” returns in 2024 aboard Zuiderdam. Departing on 20 July, the 35-day adventure sails roundtrip from Boston and calls at ports in Maine, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Norway. The itinerary also is offered in 17- and 18-day segments from Boston to Rotterdam or from Rotterdam to Boston.

SAIJAI launches staffing solution

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 4 January 2023: SAIJAI, a digital homecare platform, has launched SAIJAI Hospitality Staffing, enabling workers to navigate a return to the hotel industry by offering flexible working hours and terms.

Thailand’s hospitality industry struggles to find workers to fill the 1.45 million jobs lost during the pandemic, with many unwilling to return to the sector under previous working conditions.

SAIJAI launched during the Covid crisis, was founded by 28-year-old Viona Zhang to address the challenge for those seeking flexible working arrangements such as part-time or work-from-home options.

“Covid accelerated what was going to happen anyway, as the country has been steadily shifting into a Western-style economy over the past decade. But it has also resulted in a perfect storm with rising inflation and a spiralling number of workers who are needed – but who are not attracted to service-type jobs.”

Thailand has 20 million informal workers, according to the country’s National Statistics Office (NSO), a segment which accounts for nearly half of the nation’s total workforce. This sector was the backbone of a hospitality industry now in recovery mode – but lacking in staffing.

SAIJAI responds by creating SAIJAI Hospitality Staffing which taps into its base of service workers from a hotel, tourism or restaurant background.

Zhang adds: “There were 1.45 million Thai hospitality workers, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand, who lost their jobs during the pandemic. Many are unwilling or unable to return full-time to the sector. Still, our online platform can enable service workers to manage their schedules, meet family or educational time constraints and offer them a better future.”

About SAIJAI

SAIJAI is a Thai-based country-wide digital homecare marketplace that tackles the problem of finding reliable part-time service partners. It is also introducing a new product SAIJAI Hospitality which connects hotels, resorts, property management companies and restaurants to part-time workers. 

Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks and Michael Kenner, who heads Digital Broker Ventures (DBV), support and invest in the project.

Chinese are back booking travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 3 January 2023: Trip.com Group data shows China’s outbound flight bookings surging for the upcoming Lunar New Year, which extends at least one week from Sunday, 22 January and heralds the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.

Less than two weeks after China officially abolishes its quarantine restrictions for inbound visitors on 8 January 2023, the country will celebrate its traditional Lunar New Year holiday. Chinese travellers can once more embark on overseas leisure trips.

Trip.com Group’s latest booking data reveals that searches for trips during the national holiday to hot spots have grown significantly to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, the US, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the UK. Searches for package tour products during the Lunar New Year break also soared six-fold.

On 27 December alone, Trip.com Group recorded a staggering 254% increase in mainland China’s outbound flight bookings compared to a day earlier.

Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand led the booking surge as the most popular destinations for air travellers after almost three years of the border closure.

Singapore was the fastest-growing of all the destinations, with flight bookings leaping six-fold, followed by an average 400% jump in airline ticket orders for the other four destinations. Moreover, bookings for long-haul flights to the United Kingdom, the US and Australia also grew.

Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hangzhou claimed the top five places as the most popular cities of departure in light of online searches for outbound flights. Meanwhile, the booming demand for international travel is further mirrored by a spike in interest among overseas tourists looking to visit China.

Trip.com Group data also shows that bookings for inbound flights to China on 27 December rocketed 412%. Australia, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong topped the list as the largest sources of inbound travellers.

Reissuing passports for business and tourism

China’s National Immigration Administration confirmed that effective 8 January 2023, it will handle Chinese citizens’ applications for ordinary passports for tourism and resume permit issuance for mainland residents to visit Hong Kong for tourism and business purposes.

China announced on 26 December that the management of Covid-19 would be downgraded to a Class B infection from 8 January 2023, which includes removing the requirement for nucleic acid tests and quarantine for international arrivals from the same date. 

In addition, the National Immigration Administration will also resume the acceptance and approval of Chinese citizens’ applications for ordinary passports for tourism and overseas visits.

Mainland Chinese tourists were an important part of the travel landscape before the pandemic, having made 155 million outbound trips and spent more than USD130 billion overseas in 2019. 

Dragon Trail International reports that visa services for foreigners travelling to China are on the list to resume, but no firm dates have been announced. As of late December 2022, foreigners could apply for visas to enter China for business or family reunions, study, or work. Holders of APEC business travel cards can also enter China without a new visa. Before the summer of 2022, entry into the country was only permitted for foreign residents with work permits. From 8 January 2023, China’s visa-free transit policies for foreigners will be re-implemented.

Outbound

China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism suspended the sale of outbound group travel packages on 27 January 2020. As of 28 December 2022, there have been no announcements on lifting the ban, but Dragon Trail International said changes are imminent, possibly in time for the Lunar New Year.

(Source: Trip.com Group and Dragon Trail International)

Calls to shut borders are a knee-jerk reaction

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 3 January 2023: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) opposes calls for Malaysia to tighten entry rules for Chinese, saying “certain parties are overreacting to the news China will resume outbound travel starting 8 January.

“Outright calls to shut our borders to Chinese travellers at this very early stage are irrational and irresponsible,” said MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang. “Since the reopening of our borders in early 2022, our country has been making steady, positive progress towards recovery and any knee-jerk reaction to re-introduce restrictions without proper planning risks undoing all that we have achieved,” 

MATTA President Datuk KL Tan During (photo by Ismail Che Rus)

He added: “MATTA has complete faith in the Ministry of Health Malaysia to manage Chinese arrivals just as they have done with other travellers from all over the world. The government’s decision should balance the health and well-being of the people and Malaysia’s reputation as a safe destination and the economic ramifications of its policies in this matter. It must also benchmark with current global practices while considering its capacity and limitations rather than bow to lobbyist groups”.

Data from Tourism Malaysia indicates that 3.1 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia in 2019, making it the country’s third-largest source market for international arrivals. Initial estimates suggest that 1.2 million Chinese will travel to Malaysia in 2023, which is expected to generate approximately MYR3.6 billion in tourism receipts.

“Bear in mind that Chinese travellers won’t arrive all at once,” said Tan. “It will allow the government to monitor and manage the situation as it develops. To that end, the national travel association will provide feedback to help the government tackle and manage this process as it unfolds”.

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