SINGAPORE, 7 October 2022: Korean Air has selected Amadeus Customer Loyalty Suite to manage its lifestyle loyalty programme, Skypass.
Skypass is one of the largest and most recognised frequent flyer programmes in the Asia Pacific, operating for over 35 years.
Korean Air was looking for a high-performing loyalty system to help Skypass identify and engage with its customers and grow its membership base.
“Of all the partners we considered, we found Amadeus to be the most trustworthy, not only in its willingness to collaborate but also in its technical abilities. We can seamlessly integrate our existing systems – and those of our partners, whether it’s other airlines, alliances, or service providers. This will enable us to differentiate Korean Air’s loyalty program and boost engagement with our passengers.” said Korean Air managing vice president & head of loyalty Young Soo Yoo
With Amadeus Customer Loyalty Suite fully integrated into the booking experience, Skypass members can book both reward tickets and ancillaries in miles and commercial tickets with a combination of both currencies.
Today, Amadeus powers loyalty, reward and recognition programmes for airlines globally, representing a footprint of over 600 million members.
BHUTAN, 7 October 2022: A daily USD200 sustainable development fee is being tagged onto the cost of visiting Bhutan following the reopening of the mountain kingdom’s borders last month. It’s all about funding Gross National Happiness.
Visitors no longer need to book through a tour operator. They can book directly with hotels and hire tour guides, a change aimed at providing a more level playing field in the industry. Travellers will also be issued a 90-day visa, which can be applied for online, with the flexibility to visit anytime within that period.
Bhutan coined the phrase Gross National Happiness, and the sustainable development fee generates revenue to fund the maintenance of the kingdom’s distinct way of life and level up village economies.
International travellers must also shell out USD40 for a tourist visa. Indian visitors pay substantially less to visit Bhutan under the terms of a bilateral agreement. Indian visitors can enter the country with a free travel permit and pay a Sustainable Development fee of INR1200 INR (USD15).
Daily tour, lodgings, guides and meal costs, including the USD200 SDF, average between USD400 to USD550 per person.
Entry conditions came into effect on 3 October 2022.
They include:
All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, are permitted entry without quarantine; No PCR test is required on entry to the country; Travel health insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is mandatory; All land borders are open for Indian tourists except for Phuntsholing, which is open to other nationalities.
SINGAPORE, 7 October 2022: Jetstar Japan will restart daily direct flights between Manila and Tokyo on 16 December for the first time in nearly three years.
This is the first international destination Jetstar Japan will operate since international borders re-opened, allowing two-way quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated travellers.
From Singapore, travellers on Jetstar Asia (3K) can fly to Narita via Manila on 3K765 and transfer to GK40 operated by Jetstar Japan.
Unvaccinated Filipino and Singapore residents and vaccinated visitors without booster doses must produce a negative Covid-19 PCR result within 72 hours of departure from Manila and Singapore*. Philippine residents will also need to apply for a visa to enter Japan.
Fares for the new Jetstar Japan route are on sale now with one-way economy starter fares from Manila to Narita starting from PHP14,019 and from Singapore to Narita via Manila from SGD858 in December 2022. Jetstar Japan will operate return services on a 180-seat Airbus A320.
Jetstar Asia CEO Bara Pasupathi said the news that Japan’s border requirements will be eased from 11 October would go a long way to help restore consumer confidence.
“Travellers from the Philippines and Singapore will be pleased to learn that pre-departure Covid-19 testing for vaccinated travellers to Japan will be waived, and we expect this will positively impact demand for air travel,” Pasupathi explained.
“In one single booking, Singapore travellers will be able to book and connect to Narita (Tokyo) through the Jetstar Group of airlines.”
Jetstar’s Group Sales Agency HTT Travel in the Philippines have also welcomed the resumption of low-fares services to Narita by the year-end.
“Pre-pandemic, this route was the most popular among Filipino groups travellers with many travelling beyond on domestic Japan routes,” says newly appointed HTT Travel general manager Francis Loi.
Jetstar Japan is the second airline in the Jetstar Group to resume operations in Japan, following the relaunch of Jetstar Airways’ services from Cairns and Gold Coast to Narita (Tokyo) and Cairns to Osaka earlier this year.
*Travellers should check the requirements before travel.
KUALA LUMPUR, 7 October 2022: Tourism Malaysia is collaborating with Traveloka on a smart partnership campaign to promote the country as the holiday destination of choice.
The four-month campaign, which invites travellers to enjoy Malaysia’s multicultural attractions, scenic locations, diverse cuisine and renowned hospitality, will harness Traveloka’s innovative travel and lifestyle platform, which offers one of the most comprehensive, seamless and personalised user experiences in the industry.
The campaign ends 31 December 2022 and will also provide holidaymakers with redeemable offers and promotions from Traveloka.
Aimed at increasing holiday bookings and supporting tourism recovery, the collaboration comes at an opportune time as Malaysia sees an uptick in domestic and regional post-pandemic travel after lifting international border restrictions.
The strategic alliance also emphasises the National Tourism Policy’s focus on digitalisation. Online campaigns are the most convenient and popular way to attract consumers, especially today’s digital-savvy individuals.
The campaign is also in line with Tourism Malaysia’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which sees the agency focusing on partnerships to promote the use of digital technology. More than that, however, the fully-online experience will empower the region’s fast-growing, highly-aspirational middle class to book stays in Malaysia effortlessly and conveniently via Traveloka’s core travel offering and its comprehensive suite of products and services.
Malaysia has set a target of 9.2 million international tourist arrivals this year and MYR26.8 billion in receipts.
“Forging smart partnerships with industry players is crucial to boost the recovery of the tourism sector. They are the backbone of the industry, and by working with influential brands and unicorns like Traveloka, we record higher tourist arrivals, maximise resources and elevate our distribution channels to promote Malaysia domestically and regionally,” said Tourism Malaysia director-general Dato’ Zainuddin Abdul Wahab.
“We are delighted that local travel agents foresee domestic tourism rebounding faster than anticipated due to more people finding the confidence to travel, with 95% of Malaysia’s adult population being fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 and new cases decreasing. Tourism Malaysia will work hand-in-hand with our partners to ensure domestic tourism demand returns to its pre-pandemic levels of 2019 as early as the fourth quarter of 2022.”
Four main markets have been identified to implement this campaign which are Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia (for the domestic market), with an average booking target of 39,500 in four months starting from September until December 2022.
Traveloka Malaysia country manager Angelica Chan said: “Traveloka supports the government’s efforts toward tourism recovery, and we are extremely pleased to collaborate on this smart partnership campaign with Tourism Malaysia.
HONOLULU, 7 October 2022: Outrigger Hospitality Group announced the appointment of Angela Murphy as vice president of sales for the Americas.
Murphy will work closely with the commercial strategy stakeholders to develop key sales strategies for the brand’s Waikiki Collection, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa and other Hawaii properties. She will collaborate with other corporate sales leaders to provide leadership and support for property sales strategy, planning and execution of the company’s portfolio of branded, managed, and third-party franchise properties with an emphasis on the core Hawaii-owned assets in Waikiki and Kona.
Angela Murphy
Murphy will also drive strategy and process refinement in the growing groups and wedding market segments; lead the Outrigger Expert Advisor and Outrigger Business Connection programmes; serve as overall Delphi and Hubspot champion; and lead the company services sales and North America independent contractor network.
She was most recently a global director of sales and marketing consultant for a portfolio of contracted clients in New York, Northern California, Portland and international destinations.
Before consulting, she was co-founder of non-profit Food For Change; area director of sales & marketing for Proper Hospitality and also Viceroy Hotels and Resorts; global director of sales & marketing for One&Only / Kerzner International in Australia and the USA; and Key Account Director for IHG in Australia, USA and the UK.
Murphy holds a Bachelor of Business in management from Griffith University and an honours certificate in international travel and tourism from Advanced Careers College, both institutions in Australia.
HONG KONG, 7 October 2022: Hong Kong will give away 500,000 airline tickets worth HKD2 billion million once the remaining Covid-19 restrictions.
First reported by the BBC, inbound and outbound travellers will be eligible to pick up the free tickets through the Airports Authority of Hong Kong, possibly in early 2023 or as soon as the remaining Covid-19 rules phase out.
Hong Kong scrapped hotel quarantine restrictions on 26 September and pre-departure flight tests. However, health surveillance measures remain prohibiting access to restaurants, entertainment spots, and events for the first two days. PCR tests are still required on day two, day four and day six during the self-surveillance phase when travellers monitor themselves for possible infection
Last month, Hong Kong’s government said it would no longer require people arriving in the city to go into hotel quarantine or show a negative Covid test before boarding flights to Hong Kong.
The BBC quoted the Hong Kong Tourism Board executive director Dane Cheng saying that the free tickets, purchased to support Hong Kong airlines during the pandemic, will be “distributed next year to inbound and outbound travellers by the territory’s airport authority.
“Once the government announces it will remove all Covid-19 restrictions for inbound travellers, we’ll roll out the advertising campaigns for the free air tickets,” Cheng confirmed.
Airlines serving Hong Kong have been struggling to recover flight schedules, with Cathay Pacific expecting to run just a third of its pre-pandemic passenger capacity by the end of the year.
The carrier last month welcomed the removal of hotel quarantine for arriving passengers as helping to boost sentiment for travel, adding that it was “fully committed to rebuilding the connectivity of the Hong Kong aviation hub”.
Originally the 500,000 ticket purchase was part of a financial rescue scheme to aid the territory’s airlines, approved in April 2020. At the time, Secretary for Transport & Housing Frank Chan noted that due to the shutdown of international traffic during the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong International Airport was down to 1% of its capacity.
Today, aviation experts say Hong Kong’s airport runs at 18% of the passenger traffic that passed through the airport in the pre-Covid-19 era. Around 45 airlines serve the airport, down by 50%. A typical regional route, Hong Kong – Bangkok, is currently served by 14 weekly flights down from 63 before Covid.
Under the 2020 aid package, the Airport Authority purchased 500,000 air tickets from Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Express and Cathay Pacific to provide airlines with cash flow during the pandemic.
DUBAI, UAE, 6 October 2022: Emirates has announced new appointments to its commercial team in the Middle East, Far East, West Asia and Europe to support the airline’s efforts in rebuilding its global network.
This latest move will see 11 seasoned UAE Nationals positioned in vital markets where they will lead the airline’s commercial operations and bring their skills and experience to drive growth and develop new strategies. In addition, they will be responsible for strengthening Emirates’ partnerships and footprint in their assigned markets.
Emirates chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim commented: “As we accelerate the recovery of our operations and channel our collective energies towards rebuilding the aviation ecosystem, we must create opportunities for our talented managers to utilise their capabilities, experiences and leadership skills to the fullest. The commercial outstation program is in line with the strategy advocated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, that reaffirms our commitment to nurturing Emiratis by providing them opportunities to advance their careers and eventually become future leaders. I’m proud of our UAE Nationals who support our business and represent the airline in some of its most strategic markets, and I look forward to seeing the new team create innovative prospects in their new roles.”
Commercial team changes effective 1 November
Thani Al Ansari: currently Manager Kuwait and Iraq, will become Manager Ireland.
Khalid Al Zarooni: currently Manager Greece and Albania, will become Manager Kuwait and Iraq.
Ibrahim Ghanim: currently Manager Egypt and Libya, will become Manager Greece and Albania.
Abdalla Al Zamani: currently Manager Indonesia, will become Manager Egypt and Libya.
Mohammad Al Attar: currently Manager Malaysia, will become Manager Indonesia.
Saeed Mubarak: currently Manager Tunis, will become Manager Malaysia.
Almurr Al Marri: currently Commercial Support Manager in India, will become Manager Tunis.
Mohammed Alwahedi: currently Manager Vietnam, will become Manager Thailand.
Marwan Al Marri: currently District Manager Riyadh, will become Manager Vietnam.
Wahid Albalooshi: currently Regional Manager Pakistan, will become District Manager Riyadh.
Salem Al Mana: currently Commercial Support Manager in Indonesia, will become Regional Manager Pakistan.
Vikram Arora: currently Country Manager in Afghanistan, will become Commercial Business Analysis Manager, based in Dubai.
MANILA, 6 October 2022: The Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), welcomes Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles as its new chief operating officer, effective 4 October.
A recognised entrepreneur in the local fashion and retail industry, Nograles is the owner and proprietor of Kaayo Modern Mindanao, a clothing and accessories brand showcasing a curated collection of traditional weaves created by artisan women in Mindanao.
Marga Nograles takes the oath of office in the presence of Philippines Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (right).
“Kaayo Modern Mindanao has been my passion project, my heart, and my soul. It was not easy to make this decision, but now, given the opportunity to bring more of the Philippines to the world, I have stepped down as creative director of Kaayo and taken on my new role – for the country. I am deeply honoured to have been appointed chief operating officer of the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines,” said TPB COO Nograles.
Having championed sustainable livelihood programmes that uplift women and local artisans in Mindanao, Marga Nograles commits to forging meaningful partnerships, embracing responsible and sustainable tourism programmes, and supporting stakeholders under the seven-point agenda of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
Nograles will lead TPB to implement strategic domestic and international marketing and promotional efforts to revitalise the Philippine tourism industry as a sustainable, dynamic, world-class tourism, MICE and investment destination.
JOHOR BAHRU, 6 October 2022: Malaysia’s Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong confirmed earlier this week the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had approved 12 additional direct flights from Malaysia to China, increasing frequencies from three to 15 per week.
And as travel demand soars, promising speedy recovery for Southeast Asian destinations, Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture revised its target to 9.2 million tourists this year.
One of the tourist cards of Johor Bahru, Country Garden’s Forest City, says it is ready to welcome the influx of tourists, particularly from Asia and China, given the forecasts China will reopen outbound travel in mid-January 2022 to coincide with the Chinese New Year holiday season.
With tourism recovery in Malaysia underway, all Forest City projects are up and running again. For example, Forest City Water Park has opened with programmes including Surf n Slide, Water Fun Challenge and a Water Maze.
Forest City has first-class hotels, including the Forest City Golf Hotel and the Forest City Marina Hotel have reopened, along with two world-class courses, the Jack Nicklaus Legacy Golf Course and the Liang Guo Kun Classic Golf Course.
HANOI, 6 October 2022: Ahead of the Mekong Tourism Forum in Quang Nam, Central Vietnam, 12-13 October, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Doan Van Viet, outlines the vision and latest tourism priorities for his country.
Deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism Doan Van Viet.
Q: What are your targets for Vietnam tourism in 2022?
A: In the last “normal” year, 2019, we attracted over 18 million foreign visitors. China, South Korea, and Japan are traditionally our biggest markets. We have the ambitious target of attracting five million foreign tourists in 2022, up from almost zero in 2021 due to Covid-19. In the first eight months of 2022, we welcomed over 1.2 million international tourists. Besides the international market, Viet Nam’s tourism industry aim was to serve 60 million domestic tourists by the end of 2022. However, domestic visitors exceeded the target, reaching 79.8 million. Domestic tourism is forecast to recover in 2022 fully.
Q: Is there a new emphasis or focus in Vietnam’s 2022-23 tourism promotion campaigns?
A: We completely re-opened the door for tourism from 15 March 2022. without any entry conditions required. We promote communication to attract international tourists to Vietnam with the campaign “Live fully in Vietnam”. The Vietnam tourism marketing plan 2022 – 2023 is to bring an image of a safe, friendly and hospitable Vietnam to the world. We focus on smart and sustainable tourism development followed by green and responsible travel.
Q: What role does Quang Nam province play in Vietnam’s tourism marketing plans?
A: It plays an increasingly important role in our tourism cluster strategy. Quang Nam, together with Danang, Thua Thien Hue, will be one of the clusters in Central Viet Nam. The national tourism year 2022 was chosen to be held in Quang Nam with the theme of a ‘green destination’ because of its potential. Thanks to its natural resources and wonderful coastline, it is already a visitor-friendly destination. It offers a vibrant culinary scene, cultural attractions, and history, especially Hoi An ancient town. For tourists seeking a sustainable travel experience where you can learn and appreciate nature, Quang Nam is home to productive farms, handicraft villages, rivers, mountains, and unspoiled natural attractions.
Q: Which new tourism-related infrastructure projects will improve the tourism sector in Vietnam?
A: We have a lot going on, much of it guided by the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030. The strategy clearly defines our goal of developing modern and holistic infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure in tourism clusters, national tourist sites and areas with tourism potential. We are taking an inclusive approach to tourism infrastructure development, focusing not only on international-class tourism destinations, such as Hoi An, Sapa, Ha Long, Danang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc but also on secondary tourism destinations, especially ones with the potential to connect to regional tourism networks. Regarding Greater Mekong Subregion cooperation, for the last 20 years, Vietnam has participated in four regional tourism infrastructure development projects sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. The latest is the Second GMS Tourism Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth Project. These projects were designed to improve the accessibility to secondary tourism destinations in provinces along GMS economic corridors and to enhance the environmental conditions and urban infrastructure for tourism development.
Q: What does Vietnam Tourism hope will be the positive outcomes from the 2022 Mekong Tourism Forum?
A: There are three outcomes we would like. First, to strengthen linkages between the leaders of the GMS tourism industry, with the aim of rapidly recovering the tourism industry in a sustainable, resilient and comprehensive way, to promote the region’s tourism as a common destination. Second, to introduce the city of Hoi An, voted as one of the 25 best cities in the world; also, to introduce Quang Nam in Central Vietnam as an ideal destination for green and sustainable tourism, rich in cultural values, full of amenities of a top-class beach resort. Third, the Forum demonstrates the recovery of the tourism industry and the return of sellers and buyers in the region after a period of travel freeze. Our aim is to promote the rapid recovery of international tourism and create sustainable tourism supply and demand.
Q: What message do you have for tourism leaders and delegates attending the Forum?
A: We should focus on practical goals that make the travel and tourism industry better for the benefit of our populations. My message is, “Let’s act together for sustainable tourism growth.” I hope all delegates arrive in a positive state of mind to listen, learn and return home motivated to “Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience” – the theme of the 2022 Mekong Tourism Forum.
ABOUT THE MEKONG TOURISM FORUM
First held in 1996, the Mekong Tourism Forum is an annual government-led event dedicated to the tourism industry in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The event provides a cooperative platform for travel and tourism stakeholders to discuss regional tourism development, along with the marketing and promotion of travel to, from, and within the GMS. It presents an inclusive, interactive, and results-oriented opportunity to encourage public- and private-sector participation in promoting the GMS as a single destination. Visit: https://mekongtourismforum.org/about-mtf-2/
