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Sabah: Heritage in the making

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TTR WEEKLY
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TUARAN, Sabah, 2 November 2022: The Kent Teachers Training Campus (IPGK Kent) could be transformed into a heritage building based on its 70-year history as the first teaching campus in the state.

The campus was established in 1952 and was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. To this day, the IPGK Kent continues to preserve and store antique objects, such as the first camera that was ever used by the college, as well as video recorders, projectors, and paper compressors.

Last week, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai visited the campus in conjunction with its 70th Platinum Jubilee Celebration Ceremony.

He toured the campus and visited galleries exhibiting old education-related artefacts, including scrolls and certificates, newspaper clippings, trophy awards, and nostalgic photographs.

“Given the campus’s rich history, IPGK Kent has the makings of an educational tourism attraction,” he said. “It has been brought to my attention that the campus intends to designate its Kent Education Heritage Centre as a state heritage site. As Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, I will do my best to bring attention to this matter within the state government.
“I regard it as a good effort as it will cement Tuaran’s position as the oldest centre of excellence in teacher education, in addition to its already-established status as a tourist hotspot,” he remarked.

Joniston strongly suggested the campus administrator put together paperwork on that matter.

Present at the event were IPGK Kent deputy director Datin Dr Rosnah Edinin; Head of the Department of Academic Excellence Harun Sarail; Head of Student Affairs Department Amidy Malagob; Head of Social Science Studies Department Dr Jais Abdul Hamid; and Kent Alumni Association president Adnan Ibrahim.

According to Dr Rosnah, IPGK Kent, Malaysia’s fourth teacher education institute, has successfully produced approximately 18,500 teachers who have served all over the country. She added that the state government’s commitment to support and strengthen the old campus site as a National Education Heritage site would make it one of the district’s landmarks.
“Certainly, this can stimulate the local economy and become an ideal tourist attraction,” she added.

For more information, visit www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

MATTA’s mega fair returns in 2023

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 2 November 2022: Come March 2023, the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) will host the biggest consumer travel fair not only in Malaysia but also in the region.

The fair will be held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from Friday, 17 March, until Sunday, 19 March 2023. MATTA forecasts more than 250,000 visitors will visit the fair generating MYR500 million in sales over the three days.

“This latest edition of the MATTA Fair will not only be bigger, but it will also be more exciting for travel enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike. It’s a brand-new concept; new exciting products and destinations, lots of cultural content and a celebration of festivals from all over the world”, said MATTA Fair March 2023 organising chairman Rocky Kho.

The show will feature domestic and international destinations, ‘umrah’ and ‘hajj’ travel content with a strong turnout of travel agencies, national and state tourism organisations and airlines.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback from tourism stakeholders indicating that the fair will feature great travel deals like never seen before,” added Kho.

The fair venue has ample parking and also provides free shuttle transfers from nearby parking lots and numerous other pick-up points, such as the MRT Semantan, LRT Bangsar, LRT World Trade Centre (WTC), LRT Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), and MRT Kuala Lumpur.

REGISTRATION

https://www.matta.org.my/event/26896-matta-fair-17-19-march-2023-registration-for-exhibitors

MATTA WEBSITE

www.matta.org.my

Buy a ticket plant a tree

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE 2 November 2022: Cathay Pacific announced Tuesday its latest ‘1 Ticket, 1 Tree’ initiative across Southeast Asia to plant trees in various mangrove forests across the region.

Trees will be planted in mangrove forests located in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The initiative announced at a tree-planting event organised by Cathay Pacific at the Taman Wisata Alam Mangrove, Angke Kapuk, Indonesia, will see the airline plant a tree for every ticket purchased on its website from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, through to 30 November 2022.

The latest campaign is part of Cathay Pacific’s sustainability efforts to support local communities, ecological restoration, and climate resilience. It started in 2021 when the airline launched its ‘1 Ticket, 1 Tree’ project in Thailand, one of Cathay Pacific’s key destinations in Southeast Asia. A similar initiative, Join For Trees, was rolled out earlier this year in Indonesia and the Philippines. The airline committed to planting a tree for every new member sign-up. Cathay Pacific planted more than 1,000 trees in the mangrove forests in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

With both these efforts combined, Cathay Pacific has committed to planting more than 1,700 trees in the mangrove forests in Thailand, Indonesia and soon the Philippines. Today, about 50 volunteers comprising Cathay Pacific employees, trade agents and other partners came together at Taman Wisata Alam Mangrove to plant saplings to kick start this year’s initiative. With ‘1 Ticket, 1 Tree’ covering more countries this year, Cathay Pacific hopes to plant significantly more saplings.

“This initiative underscores our commitment to our customers in Southeast Asia,” said Cathay Pacific’s regional manager for Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific, Dominic Perret. “1 Ticket, 1 Tree is in line with our broader sustainability efforts, which include contributing purposefully to the communities we serve. We embarked on this tree-planting effort because many of our communities in Southeast Asia depend on mangroves for food, protection and income. As always, we strive to make a meaningful impact, both in service and sustainability.”                                  

For more information on 1 Ticket, 1 Tree, visit: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_SG/offers/collection/sustainability.html.

Royal Caribbean visits Phuket

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 2 November 2022: Asia’s largest cruise ship, Spectrum of the Seas, will embark on longer itineraries, with Phuket as one of the primary stops on four to seven-night cruises.

Phuket joins popular destinations such as Penang and Port Klang in Malaysia for 2023/2024 sailings that are already open for bookings on the cruise line’s website.

Angie Stephen, vice president and managing director, Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean International; His Excellency Narong Wun Siew, the Governor of Phuket (Centre) and Admiral Cherngchai Chomcherngpat, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, and Deputy Director of Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center (left) during plaque ceremony to recognise the return of cruise tourism to Phuket.

Vacationers can look forward to exploring Phuket’s beaches in addition to stops in Penang and Kuala Lumpur to enjoy cultures, historical sites, and street food. Guests can also look forward to itineraries to Vietnam, China and Japan on 2023-24 sailings.

“Thailand is hugely popular with our guests from Singapore – its distinctive food, culture and welcoming

locals have made the country a destination of choice for many, and we are thrilled to be able to visit Phuket again so travellers can fully experience the rich heritage of the Southeast Asian region,” said Royal Caribbean International vice president and managing director Asia-Pacific Angie Stephen.

STARLUX deploys its first A350

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 2 November 2022: Taiwanese airline STARLUX has taken delivery of its first A350, becoming the latest operator of the world’s newest widebody.

The aircraft is the first of 18 A350-900s to join the carrier, flying alongside the A330neo and A321neo that make up an all-Airbus fleet.

STARLUX specifies a four-class layout for its A350s, featuring four suites in first class, 26 in business class, 36 in premium economy and 240 in economy. The Airspace cabin onboard the A350 features the latest developments in cabin configuration resulting in extra space to offer more comfort and personal room in every class. In addition, the aircraft features the latest in-flight entertainment systems and full connectivity. STARLUX will benefit from the highest operational efficiency offered by the A350, with a reduction of fuel consumption and carbon emissions of 25% compared with older generation aircraft in the same size category.

“This delivery is a milestone for STARLUX Airlines. The A350-900 is our first large widebody aircraft, which will allow STARLUX to open markets for longer routes, and this also marks the next step for our partnership with Airbus, as there will be 17 more A350 deliveries in the future. With the addition of the A350-900, the STARLUX fleet now can cover short, mid, and long-range flights, providing service to passengers outside of Asia,” said STARLUX Airlines CEO Glenn Chai.

STARLUX’s A350 fleet will begin operations within the Asia-Pacific region before moving to trans-pacific routes. The international airline company is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. It operated its first flight from Taipei to Macau on 23 January 2020. The carrier’s A330neo resumed flights to Thailand on 1 June, followed by services to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Services are back on routes to Japan and Singapore.

World Cup: More than footie matches

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 2 November 2022: With the countdown to hosting the world’s largest football event advancing, Qatar Airways Group and Qatar Tourism unveil major events to provide football fans with world-class entertainment during their stay.

Events on the sidelines of the World Cup games are underpinned by Qatar Live – which hosts more than 60 international artists throughout the competition. The 2022 FIFA World Cup gets underway on 20 November and closes on 18 December.

Qatar Airways announced this week that over 10 projects had been developed with partners, including Qatar Tourism, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the Qatari Diar.

The entertainment list focuses on the development of beach clubs, fan zones and theme parks, in addition to hosting Qatar Live, Daydream Music Festival, Lusail Boulevard brand activation, Qatar Airways Sky House, Winter Wonderland and the naming ceremony for the MSC World Europa cruise ship.

Beach Clubs

Fans visiting the peninsula can visit newly developed beaches. Qatar Airways and Qatar Tourism recently inaugurated the family-friendly B12 Beach Club with Ayla Oasis Development, which offers a range of activities, exceptional dining options, premium services, and live family entertainment.

Doha Sands is one of Qatar’s newest beaches, where live music, dancing and dining come together for an unforgettable experience. Locals and tourists can enjoy Doha’s classic food kiosks for various culinary options.

Named after Doha’s prominent district, West Bay Beach is a public beach shoreline that is set to offer families a range of water sports activities and accommodate up to 1,500 guests.

Sports fans can also enjoy the first-of-its-kind Fuwairit Kite Beach, built on Qatar’s northern coast. The resort offers thrill seekers spaces to relax and unwind after a day’s activities.

Fuwairit Kite Beach Resort

The resort offers kite surfers an ideal setting to practice their sport. With a total of 50 rooms, the resort offers 40 beach-front rooms, where guests can enjoy various facilities, including a pool, yoga pavilion, Padel courts, an outdoor cinema, and a state-of-the-art gym.

Qatar Live

Qatar Live, a series of concerts, will engage audiences with performances from Enrique Iglesias, Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Post Malone, J Balvin and Robbie Williams. Alongside these world-renowned artists, Qatar Live will bring back the Daydream festival with this year’s new stage, the Magic Lantern. Daydream Qatar 2022 will be headlining the biggest DJ lineup in the Middle East, with Alesso, Alok, Armin Van Buren, DVLM, John Newman, Major Lazer, Tiesto, & Tinny Trumpet, with many more global artists to be announced ahead of the tournament. Additionally, the airline and its partners will schedule family theatre circus musical performances, including The Enchanted Prince and Pinocchio. The Qatar Live series has been organised by the international event management company Alchemy Project.

MSC

On 13 November, Qatar Airways welcomes guests to the naming ceremony for MSC Cruises’ largest ship, the MSC World Europa. The ship, which has 2626 cabins, will be docked at the Grand Terminal in the Doha Port throughout the FIFA World Cup, acting as a floating hotel. The MSC World Europa ship includes six pools and 14 whirlpool baths with ocean views, a Balinese-style wellness centre and spa, a beauty salon, a fully equipped gym and 13 dining venues.

JetBlue and Qatar expand codeshare

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 November 2022: JetBlue and Qatar Airway are expanding their codeshare agreement to expand flight options between the US and 11 new markets, in eight countries, across Africa and Asia using Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) hub.

The JetBlue codeshare is available on Qatar flights between Doha and:

  • Accra, Ghana (ACC)
  • Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ADD)
  • Alexandria, Egypt (HBE)
  • Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)
  • Cairo, Egypt (CAI)
  • Denpasar-Bali, Indonesia (DPS)
  • Harare, Zimbabwe (HRE)
  • Jakarta, Indonesia (CGK)
  • Khartoum, Sudan (KRT)
  • Phuket, Thailand (HKT)
  • Windhoek, Namibia (WDH)

These 11 new markets will be added to the 13 existing codeshare destinations already available to JetBlue customers within the Qatar Airways Network of Excellence in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

“Together with Qatar Airways, we’re connecting more customers to more outstanding destinations, all while providing them with industry-leading experiences onboard our two airlines,” said JetBlue chief executive officer Robin Hayes. “Qatar Airways is already our top internationally-based partner for connecting customers across the Americas to its worldwide network, and as we continue to strengthen our relationship, we’re giving travellers various fresh choices for flying to new corners of the globe.”

This expanded codeshare agreement builds on the airlines’ partnership in 2011. Qatar Airways passengers already benefit from access to more than 50 destinations across the JetBlue network, including the ability to book travels on JetBlue’s extensive options between the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America regions.

(Source: Business Wire)

Pandaw sells mega India river cruise

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 November 2022: Pandaw Cruises sailings on India’s rivers are back on the books, with the company launching sales for what it calls a grand tour of India.

The new cruise combines a 14-night adventure on the Upper Ganges with the newest itinerary, a seven-night Mighty Brahmaputra cruise segment. The Upper Ganges and Brahmaputra River cruise route features Varanasi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Silghat before returning to disembark in Guwahati.

Photo credit: Pandaw Cruises.

Pandaw covers the cost of the transfers between the two sailings ports that require a domestic flight transfer within India. The 21-night combo cruise’s rates start from USD10,249 per person.

The river cruise explores Varanasi, India’s spiritual capital, and then sails downstream on the  Ganges River towards Kolkata before transferring to Guwahati in the north-eastern Assam region. Once in Guwahati, passengers embark on the RV Kindat Pandaw for a cruise along the Brahmaputra River, stopping at two national parks where they join a safari in search of rhinoceros, elephant and even tiger sightings.

Pandaw Cruises introduces new dates for the 14-night Upper Ganges cruise and the 21-night combo cruise, with bookings open for sailings during the 2023/24 season.

Book online at www.pandaw.com or with a travel agency.

Air Astana revives Asian flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 November 2022: Air Astana will increase flights during its winter schedule that kicks off today and runs until 25 March 2023, featuring 27 international and 15 domestic routes.

The winter schedule sees frequencies increase to popular year-round destinations from Atyrau to Istanbul (three per week), Almaty to Phuket (daily), Almaty to Delhi (double daily) and Almaty to the Maldives (five per week).

Flights from Almaty to Istanbul will remain unchanged at 10 per week, while frequencies from Astana to Istanbul will increase to seven per week.

After a long break due to the pandemic, Air Astana resumed services between Almaty and Bangkok using the Airbus A321LR on 30 October 2022. Air Astana plans to launch twice-weekly services between Almaty and Medina (Saudi Arabia) in January 2023.

Seasonal flights will be suspended during the winter,  including those to Bodrum, Batumi, Heraklion and Podgorica, but these services will be resumed in spring 2023. Flights from Astana to Tblisi will also be suspended during the winter timetable, while flights from Almaty to Tbilisi will be gradually reduced to three times a week.

In addition to schedule changes that match passenger demand during the winter, Air Astana continues to work on improving inflight services. This month, Air Astana will introduce additional IFE capabilities dedicated to passengers with impaired hearing and vision. This special selection will include movie releases from around the world and Kazakhstan with sound descriptions and subtitles. The IFE system will also offer a wide range of popular podcasts.

About Air Astana Group

Air Astana, a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s national wealth fund, Samruk Kazyna, and BAE Systems, is a full-service international and domestic carrier, with its low-cost division, FlyArystan. Established in 2002, the Air Astana Group operates 40 aircraft, comprising 32 Airbus A320/A321 family aircraft, three Boeing 767 and five Embraer E2.

PG doubles daily to Siem Reap

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 November 2022: Bangkok Airways increased flights, 30 October, from its home base at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Siem Reap in Cambodia and to Trat on the eastern seaboard of Thailand.

The airline posted details on its Facebook page showing it increased its flights to Siem Reap from once to twice daily.

 Flight Schedule from Bangkok

– Flight PG905 1120 – 1235. (Daily)

– Flight PG907 1730 – 1845  (Daily)

Flight Schedule from Siem Reap 

– Flight PG906 1325 – 1445. (Daily)

– Flight PG908 1935 – 2055. (Daily)

The airline has also doubled frequencies on the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Trat route to twice daily starting 30 October 2022. The flight is popular with tourists heading for Chang Island. Travellers fly to Trat and transfer to the ferry port to catch the boat service to the island from dawn to dusk.

Flight Schedule from Bangkok

– Flight PG305 1140 – 1240. (Daily)

– Flight PG307 16:55 – 1755. (Daily)

Flight Schedule from Trat 

– Flight PG306 1310 – 1410. (Daily)

– Flight PG308 1830 – 1930. (Daily)

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