AirAsia rolls out Super+ deal

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May 12, 2022

BANGKOK, 12 May 2022: AirAsia is adding value to its SUPER+ subscription, ranging from domestic and international flights to unlimited free AirAsia food deliveries and even Covid-19 related cancellation cover for up to one full year.

The SUPER+ subscription also delivers one-year unlimited free seat redemption from an increased seat allocation and more available dates. On offer until 15 May, the added value deal kicks in when you purchase a THB5,555 fare.

“The SUPER+ promotion has been very well received, with this latest round aimed at those who missed out during the previous registration period. Promotional seats have been adjusted to be two to 30 per flight, providing even more value,” commented Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya.

“SUPER+ subscribers can redeem unlimited free flights immediately after the purchase (all flights require an advance redemption of 14 days). Existing SUPER+ users will gain added privileges automatically to stimulate travel and tourism as many countries reopen and end quarantine requirements, and as AirAsia increases its available routes and flight frequencies.”

SUPER+ subscribers can redeem for domestic and ASEAN routes served by Thai AirAsia (FD), AirAsia Malaysia (AK), AirAsia Indonesia (QZ) and AirAsia Philippines (Z2), covering more than 100 routes, an average of 270 flights daily, or over 3 million seats per year.

Download the AirAsia Super App from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the airline group issued a travel advisory saying it has revised business cooperation plans between Thai AirAsia X (flight code XJ) and the AirAsia rewards programme.

“Guests who reserve seats and spend with Thai AirAsia X will no longer be able to accumulate flown sectors, AirAsia points or redeem existing points for flights with Thai AirAsia X flights until further notice.”

However, passengers can still enjoy accumulating AirAsia points and redeem benefits with Thai AirAsia (flights code FD) and AirAsia Group, including various lifestyle products and services via the AirAsia Super App as usual.

Sarawak accelerates digital game plan

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TTR WEEKLY

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May 12, 2022

SARAWAK, 12 May 2022: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) charted another milestone this week by launching its online data management platform, STB InTel and an E-learning platform.

The platform is powered by Lotus Voyager Group (LVG) as part of STB’s ongoing efforts to digitalise the tourism industry.

Karim (3^rd from left) launching STB InTel and E-Learning Platform with Lotus Voyager Group (LVG). Also in the picture is Sharzede (3rd from right) and MTCP Permanent Secretary Hii Chang Kee (2^nd left)

These data-based initiatives will further enhance Sarawak’s destination visibility globally through digital strategies and also position STB as an organisation moving forward in “smart tourism” together with Sarawak tourism stakeholders, in line with the Sarawak Government’s digital transformation agenda.

The digital initiatives were launched by the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Hii Chang Kee and Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor.

During his speech, Abdul Karim said STB InTel would provide another component in Sarawak’s digital tourism strategies. The government to business (G2B) data-sharing initiative will enable ministry and tourism industry stakeholders to leverage the data compiled from government agencies and tourism websites, in addition to Google Analytics, to monitor the effectiveness of tourism strategies, identify new key opportunities and create new initiatives and policy recommendations in the near future.

“A data sharing platform such as STB InTel will help ensure a cohesiveness between the public and private sector as we work together to create more informed strategies and develop more targeted products,” he added.

The LVG partnership will create a learning and networking platform for tourism professionals to promote destinations and tourism products. Sarawak is the first state in Malaysia to use the learning management system at the B2B level to connect and collaborate with tourism professionals worldwide.

“Since the onboarding of these modules in early April, there are currently 1,346 outbound tour operators in the region who are ready to enrol in the course. We expect over 10,000 selective travel agents to be trained under the course by year’s end on 31 December 22. The programme will assign 1,000 new users for the course every month with promotions lined up in India, the Nordic market, and the UK in the months to come.” Abdul Karim said.

“I would like to praise Sarawak Tourism Board for this effort, and I look forward to more digital transformation initiatives that will increase the tourism sector’s efficiencies and productivity,” Abdul Karim added.

On the partnership with LVG, STB chief executive officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor was confident that the e-learning platform would provide the relevant information on how to promote Sarawak to international travel tour operators, especially LVG’s current subscribers, which includes those from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.

Under this initiative, five modules on Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) have been created to highlight the wonders of Sarawak. The modules will take participants through a detailed tour of Sarawak and make Sarawak a priority when it comes to promoting preferred destinations.

For more information on Sarawak’s tourism visit www.sarawaktourism.com

(Your Stories: STB)

Etihad tweaks economy experience

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May 12, 2022

ABU DHABI UAE, 12 May 2022: Etihad Airways unveiled its new economy class soft furnishings and tableware, which will be launched during this year’s fourth quarter.

The announcement was made on the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market, a trade event for the travel and tourism industry taking place this week in Dubai.

The economy class experience will be upgraded with new soft furnishings, including a 35% larger pillow with a 200 thread-count cotton cover made locally in the UAE. This is complemented by a soft blanket made from recycled plastic for additional comfort on all flights.

Etihad’s new dining experience features reusable tableware made from high-quality recycled plastic and eliminates the use of single-use plastic. The tray, serving plates, and their lids are part of a closed-loop recycling system. At the end of their lifecycle, they are collected, washed, ground and reused to make new replacement products.

Etihad is also introducing quality stainless-steel cutlery into the economy cabin, which upgrades the experience and reduces single-use plastic.

In 2019, Etihad committed to removing 80% of single-use plastic from its operation by the end of 2022. Introducing this new inflight equipment ensures the airline meets this sustainability goal. Where possible, Etihad is also moving towards locally produced items which will further improve the overall environmental impact of the operation.

Economy seating features its signature fixed-wing headrest, which provides optimal support for a relaxing travel experience. The airline also offers seats with an additional 4″ of legroom as an upgrade option. In addition, Etihad’s passengers may choose neighbour-free seating for an additional fee, which offers extra privacy and comfort.

This new launch follows the unveiling of the new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which entered into service in March and is the first of five A350-1000’s to join the Etihad fleet this year.

Sabre expands hotel services

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May 11, 2022

SINGAPORE, 11 May 2022: Sabre Corporation announced Monday its acquisition of Nuvola, a prominent provider of hotel service optimisation and guest engagement software to hoteliers worldwide.

The transaction includes Nuvola technology and guest enablement software and the integration of Nuvola employees to Sabre. The terms of the agreement were not released.

Sabre expects to advance its hospitality retailing and merchandising strategy through the acquisition while also broadening its property and operations abilities.

“Our vision for the future of hospitality retailing goes beyond the industry’s current focus on selling the room along with a limited set of ancillaries,” said Sabre Hospitality Solution president Scott Wilson. “ Leveraging Nuvola’s capabilities will help us deliver the ‘last mile’ in the retailing process.”

Created by hoteliers who have a first-hand understanding of select-service, full-service, and resort-style property processes, Nuvola equips hotels with cloud-based solutions, including task management capabilities, guest messaging and concierge services, and advanced housekeeping management solutions.

Germany relaunches GCC promotions

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May 11, 2022

DUBAI, 11 May 2022: The German National Tourist Board is relaunching two local culture and nature campaigns during the Arabian Travel Mart this week to reach out to GCC travellers*.

The highly successful campaigns ‘German.Local.Culture’ and ‘Embrace German Nature’ form a compelling tourism proposition that reflects authentic, local experiences in urban destinations while shining a light on rural areas and their sustainable tourism.

*German National Tourist Office director of sales & marketing for the GCC, Yamina Sofo.*

“We want to inspire GCC travellers. Germany is a diverse destination and ideal for longer holidays for the culturally minded families and those who enjoy outdoor pursuits and natural beauty,” said German National Tourist Office director of sales & marketing for the GCC, Yamina Sofo.

After more than two years of travel restrictions, Germany is once again becoming a popular destination for GCC Nationals.GCC nationals booked 518,516 overnight stays in Germany during 2021, an 82.3% increase over 2020.

In December 2021 alone, despite the outbreak of the Omicron variant, Germany recorded over 54,493 overnight stays from the GCC region, an increase of 335%, compared with the same period in 2020,

“These figures show that Germany is a preferred destination for GCC Nationals. Visitor numbers in 2021 rebounded significantly, which is even more impressive given COVID travel restrictions in Germany only eased end of June 2021. The GCC is now the highest inbound performing region within Asia, Australasia and South Africa,” added Sofo.

This has clearly been supported by the way in which the GCC countries have responded to the pandemic, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which are currently ranked second and sixth respectively in the world, according to Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking on 31 March 2022, with a combined 846 vaccinated travel routes.

‘Cities & Culture’ and ‘Nature & Outdoors Activities’ that highlight sustainability and accessibility form the bedrock of Germany’s tourism offering. According to research conducted by IPK International on behalf of the GNTB, city breaks (59%), multi-destination tours (34%) and holidays in nature (30%) are the most popular types of holidays with travellers from around the world.

Arabian Travel Market 2022 takes place from 9-12 May, and the Germany stand is located in the Europe Hall EU1235

*Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

India and Thailand score high travel searches

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May 11, 2022

BANGKOK, 11 May 2022: If internet searches are a measure of travel intentions, then India and Thailand are high up the chart of destinations on the must-see list.

That’s according to the latest Visa Global Travel Intentions Study released late last week and based on average monthly search data collected in 2021.

Visa calls them the most desirable and attractive destinations identifying the US in the number one spot, followed by the UK in second place, India in third and Thailand fourth. Australia takes the fifth spot, followed by Canada (6), Singapore (7), Germany (8), South Africa (9) and Malaysia (10).

India and Thailand scored the highest search percentage of all the Asian destinations on the top 10 list. India registered 10% of the average monthly searches and Thailand 8% compared with 31% for the US and 30% for the UK, the two top destinations. Singapore generated 3% and Malaysia 2%. Australia generated 6% of the searches, followed by Canada at 4%, Germany and South Africa both at 2%.

Based on average monthly search data and searches that signalled an intent to travel, the Visa study explores 7,000 keywords ranking low travel intent, essentially dreaming and gathering information and high intent when searches move up a notch to focus on how to get to the destination.

All of the top 10 destinations shared high scores for the travel intention to escape and relax, identifying it as the top motivator. Other strong motivators across the board included leisure pursuits, experiencing local culture and outdoor adventures.

India’s escape and relax options motivated a 38% score, the category’s highest in all the 10 countries. The country’s local cultural experiences motivated 26% of the searches and leisure pursuits 13%.

Thailand’s escape and relax scored 25% of searches, but leisure pursuits scored a higher 30% and outdoor activities 18%. Local cultural experiences scored a lower 13%.

The bottom-line advice from Visa for travel companies in any of the top 10 destinations is “to prepare for an influx of travellers as borders reopen.”

Visa group country manager for regional Southeast Asia Serene Gay commented: As borders reopen and international travel gradually resumes, it’s important that travel-related businesses are ready to accommodate tourists and their new post-pandemic preferences, including the ability to make safe, contactless digital payments. This will be key in creating business momentum and allowing businesses to thrive in the future.”

(Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study December 2021)

Emirates launches premium economy

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May 11, 2022

DUBAI, UAE 11 May 2022: Flyers can look forward to another Emirates travel experience as the airline unveils its full premium economy offering with sales opening on 1 June 2022.

The new cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom, and service to rival many airlines’ business offerings, will be available to Emirates customers travelling on popular A380 routes to London, Paris, and Sydney from 1 August. Christchurch follows in December.

Emirates is the only airline in the region to offer a premium economy cabin.

Emirates president Sir Tim Clark said: “As with everything we do, Emirates premium economy will be exceptional in its class, with minute attention given to every aspect of the customer experience. Customers trading up from the economy will be getting excellent value.

“Since we first introduced our premium economy seats in January 2021, the positive response and demand have been tremendous. We currently have six A380s equipped with this cabin class, which limits our initial deployment, but we intend to offer this experience to many more markets across our network. This November, we will begin our retrofit programme to install premium economy on 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s. At the end of the programme, Emirates will have 126 aircraft fitted out with premium economy cabins and our latest interiors across other cabins. It is a major investment to ensure our customers continue to have the best experience in the sky.”

Emirates’ premium economy is in a class of its own, offering a signature experience unmatched in the industry.

Dedicated airport experience: Customers can look forward to a dedicated check-in area for Premium Economy at Dubai International airport or utilise one of the many convenient self-service check-in kiosks in the hall to avoid queues.

Luxurious seats: Once onboard, customers will immediately notice the quiet luxury in Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin. A wood panel finishing similar to Business Class sets the cabin’s mood, and each seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support with 6-way adjustable headrests.

The cream-coloured leather seats (19.5 inches wide and reclines 8 inches) have a generous pitch of up to 40 inches, offering a comfortable cradle position with ample room to stretch out. It also offers calf rests and footrests for additional comfort and many other thoughtful touches such as easily accessible in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table.

Comfort: Customers can get comfortable under soft, sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles and snuggle into the generously sized pillow designed uniquely for Premium Economy. They can also refresh themselves with the complimentary amenity kits, which come in reusable, sustainable bags and contain items made with some element of recycled or sustainable materials.

Dining experience: Incorporating elements inspired by Business Class, customers will be welcomed on board with a welcome drink in fine glassware. A selection of generous meals made with seasonal ingredients and regional influences will be served on chinaware, accompanied by stainless steel cutlery wrapped in a linen napkin during meal service. The drinks menu will include a selection of beverages, including premium wines and sparkling Chandon wine. There are also liqueurs available after meals, with chocolates.

Unmatched entertainment at 40,000 feet: Each seat has a 13.3″ screen, one of the largest in its class, to enjoy the choice of up to 5,000 channels of music, movies, TV, news and other content on Emirates’ award-winning ice.

On a four-class Emirates A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. On the Emirates Boeing 777, up to 24 Premium Economy seats will be installed in a dedicated cabin section between business and economy.

For more information visit: www.emirates.com

Tripadvisor reveals the world’s best hotels

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May 11, 2022

SINGAPORE, 10 May 2022 – Tripadvisor announced Tuesday the winners of its annual Travellers’ Choice Awards for Hotels for 2022.

Following the early 2022 releases of the Best of the Best Destinations and Beaches, this latest community-powered ranking reveals the top hotels worldwide just ahead of the busy summer travel season.

*Six Senses Laamu, Olhuveli Island, Maldives.*

Now in its 20^th year, the 2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards are based on traveller reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period from 1 January 2021 through to 31 December 31, 2021.

The 2022 awards include 11 subcategories of accommodations, including three brand new ones: Out of the Ordinary Hotels, Hotels on the Water, and Mountain Resorts & Lodges. These subcategories are based on a variety of different factors – from hotel type to location and even the age of the property.

“We know there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to travel planning. Some travellers are looking for unique stays – ranging from cave hotels to overwater bungalows – while others are looking for a quaint B&B,” said Tripadvisor chief commercial officer Kanika Soni. “No matter what type of trip you are looking for, this year’s Travellers’ Choice Awards – with winners spanning six continents and 90 countries – showcase the top recommendations from other travellers.”

Global winner

The No. 1 Top Hotel worldwide for 2022 is Tulemar Bungalows & Villas in Costa Rica. This jungle resort is perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Consistently ranking in the Best of the Best Awards, Tulemar is frequently called an “amazing stay in paradise” by its guests.

1 Top Hotel worldwide for 2022 is Tulemar Bungalows & Villas in Costa Rica. This jungle resort is perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Consistently ranking in the Best of the Best Awards, Tulemar is frequently called an “amazing stay in paradise” by its guests.

Asia’s top choice

Topping Asia’s best list is Six Senses Laamu, Maldives, ranking No 1 for 2022. Located in the Laamu Atoll, the stunning property offers 97 villas, both overwater and on the beach, and an abundance of dining options, water sports and spa.

Indonesia hit the jackpot this year, with 12 World’s Best wins across all categories. Amongst Asia’s Best lists, Indonesia pulled through with 25 winners. The most notable wins include Adiwana Suweta, which is ranked No 1 Hottest New Hotel in the World as well Padma Resort Ubud, ranked No 3 on the World’s Best Mountain Resorts & Lodges list and No 5 Best Luxury Hotel in the World.

Top 10 Hotels in the World for 2022

Tulemar Bungalows & Villas – Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Hotel Colline de France – Gramado, Brazil
Ikos Aria – Kefalos, Greece
Romance Istanbul Hotel – Istanbul, Turkey
THE OMNIA – Zermatt, Switzerland
Kayakapi Premium Caves – Cappadocia – Urgup, Turkey
Six Senses Laamu – Olhuveli Island, Maldives
Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort – Hopkins, Belize
Padma Resort Ubud – Bali, Indonesia
BLESS Hotel Madrid – Madrid, Spain

Top 10 Hotels in Asia for 2022

Six Senses Laamu – Olhuveli Island, Maldives
Padma Resort Ubud – Bali, Indonesia
Pimalai Resort and Spa – Ko Lanta, Thailand
Lotte Hotel Hanoi – Hanoi, Vietnam
COMO Cocoa Island – Cocoa Island, Maldives
Sukhumvit Park, Bangkok – Marriott Executive Apartments – Bangkok, Thailand
The Royal Purnama – Bali, Indonesia
Jaya House River Park – Siem Reap, Cambodia
Lotte Hotel Seoul Executive Tower – Seoul, South Korea
Viceroy Bali – Bali, Indonesia

To see all the 2022 winners in 11 subcategories, visit tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels.

NCL completes Great Cruise Comeback

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May 11, 2022

SINGAPORE, 11 May 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated on Monday the completion of its ‘Great Cruise Comeback’ with the sailing of Norwegian Spirit, the 17^th and final ship in its fleet to return to service.

NCL’s return to service after a 500-day pause began with Norwegian Jade’s 25 July 2021 sailing from Athens (Piraeus), Greece. Since then, NCL has systematically relaunched its ships worldwide, welcoming guests and crew members aboard its award-winning vessels.

“This is an incredibly important day in our history and a defining moment for our future,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We are moving full speed ahead, having already welcomed more than half a million guests for an exceptional vacation at sea.”

Norwegian Spirit, which is sporting an extensive bow-to-stern, over USD100 million up-grade, will be sailing through the South Pacific, visiting eight ports in 12 days, with departures from the beautiful Island of Tahiti.

Itinerary highlights include a journey to Bora Bora, where guests can enjoy snorkelling and discover why the elegantly calm waters are world-famous. They also can venture to Raiatea, which is considered the most sacred island in the South Pacific, where visitors can spend the afternoon exploring lush rainforests and the extinct volcano, Mount Temehani. The itinerary also features other destinations for guests to experience, such as Nāwiliwili, Kaua’i, where nature is truly the star. Nicknamed “The Garden Island,” guests can admire scenic views of the Kokee Mountains and stop at the geological wonder, Fern Grotto, a lava-rock cave covered with tropical flora.

This cruise that started from Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, Saturday, 7 May, ends on Thursday, 19 May 2022, in Honolulu, Oahu.

Norwegian Spirit will also debut in Australian waters for the very first time on 22 December 2022 for her inaugural local sailing season. This will mark NCL’s return Downunder after an almost three-year interval.

As part of the most extensive renovation in the company’s history, Norwegian Spirit now showcases 14 new venues, additional and updated staterooms, enhanced public areas and new hull art. Enhancements included a doubled-in-size Mandara Spa that features a new thermal suite and relaxation areas, an expanded Pulse Fitness Center and the second Onda by Scarpetta restaurant at sea. New complimentary dining venues include an additional main dining room, Taste; the 24-hour eatery, The Local Bar and Grill; the all-day dining outlet, Garden Café; the Great Outdoors Bar; and Waves Pool Bar. Making their debuts are The Social Comedy & Night Club and Spinnaker Lounge, which features the Humidor Cigar Lounge and the adults-only retreat Spice H2O, a daytime lounge featuring two new hot tubs and a dedicated bar, which transforms into an after-hours entertainment venue.

For more information about the company’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call NCL Hong Kong at +852 800 901 951 or visit www.ncl.com.

(Your Stories: NCL)

Borneo Jazz sets community goals

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May 11, 2022

KUCHING, 11 May 2022: The highly anticipated Borneo Jazz festival will empower the community through its social empowerment platform such as Borneo Jazz Talent Search, Borneo Jazz FAB LAB, ECO DRUM JAM Project and Eco Art Project.

Pre-Festival Activities

One of main Borneo Jazz’s objectives is building on the music tourism ecosystem in Miri to elevate the resort city as a cultural and music centre. In line with Sarawak Tourism Board’s goals to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, Borneo Jazz will be providing fun and educating workshops and eco-friendly projects prior to the festival.

Borneo Jazz Talent Search (closes 31 May 2022)

The Borneo Jazz Talent Search is a platform to provide musicians between the ages of 15 years and above from all over Malaysia who wants to make their talent known on the world stage with categories for Jazz, DJ and Open categories.

BJTS prizes

Jazz Category
First prize: MYR5000
2^nd prize: MYR3000
3^rd prize: MYR2000
Open Category
Prize: MYR3500

Winners of Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2022 will not only win cash prizes but also attend a MasterClass by an international band on 24 June in Miri, Sarawak, and perform during Borneo Jazz Festival on 25 June.

Borneo Jazz FAB LAB (closes 18 June 2022)

Bringing musicians of diverse cultural backgrounds together to celebrate jazz music and empower the local community, a new artist residency programme called FAB LAB is hosting a six-week interactive workshop in Miri for 30 musicians through to 18 June 2022.

FAB LAB aims to empower and enliven musicians prior to the Borneo Jazz festival through four workshops — Music Appreciation – Listen and Make It Your Own; Methodology – How to FEEL Free Playing Music; Sound Engineering- Make It Sound Good!; and Performance Module- Let’s Play.

FAB LAB will be led by two international musicians, Chris Stalk, a saxophonist, composer and arranger from France and Jules Vulzor, a bassist, producer and DJ from Switzerland.

ECO DRUM JAM project (1430 to 1830) 5 June 2022

ECO DRUM JAM is an eco-friendly initiative and community music outreach programme with Lewis Pragasam and FAB LAB artists at Coco Cabana to create unique drums and percussion instruments from recycled waste and produce feel-good beats from community drumming sessions as a lead up to Borneo Jazz Festival 2022.

Festival workshops

Borneo Jazz FAB LAB / Talent Search Masterclass with the Pros: (1400 to 1545, 24 June).

Borneo Jazz FAB LAB / Talent Search Showcase Performance: (1600 to 1730, 25 June).

Eco Drum Workshop & Jam with Lewis Pragasam & Steve Thornton: (1530 to 1730, 26 June).

Borneo Jazz Fringe Activities: (0800 to 1730, 24 to 26 June)

Eco Art Project

An Eco-Art Installation project in collaboration with Miri City Council and MYY Living Arts as a continuation of the Borneo Jazz Beat Plastic Campaign initiated in 2019 as part of the Borneo Jazz festival ‘Responsible Tourism’ programme to transform Miri into a sustainable and eco-friendly city. Themed ‘Trashing the Jungle’, this is a reminder that the plastics that make our lives convenient also choke and pollute our natural environment through our own actions. The objective of this eco-project is to re-purpose recyclable plastic waste and make art from it.

Borneo Boat Lute Exhibition

The exhibition will consist of four different boat lutes from Borneo island to be showcased with informative talks by two boat lute practitioners.

Miri Sape Movement – ‘Evolution of the Sape’

For the first time at the coming Borneo Jazz Festival 2022, the story & the evolution of the Sape’ will be dramatised through live Sape’ instrumentals performed by professional Sape’ artistes from the Sape’ Movement (Miri) community.

This 30-minute Sape’ instrumental dramatisation is aimed to bring audiences to “travel through a legendary journey” in getting a glimpse of the beginning & evolution of Borneo’s prized & once known to be a “spiritually soul healing” instrument. Estimating between 12 to 15 young & senior Sape’ Masters from various native ethnicity will collectively perform various Sape’ genres & songs.

The Sape Movement performance will be arranged by Mr Anderson Kalang & Mr Garry Sudom Raymond. They were among the co-founders of KL Sape’ Collective (the first network of Sape’ artists established in Kuala Lumpur in mid-2016).

Wellness Programme (25-26 June)

Sun Meditation & Yin Yoga Flow with Sape Accompaniment (0800- 0930).

Social Experiments on Human Connection: Eye Contact in Silence, Mirror Work Join us for a 15-mins experience to engage in meaningful human connection and a shared sense of humanity (0930 – 1130).

Recharge Station: A quiet space where people can meditate while listening to sounds of nature and or/sounds of Sape to recharge.

Artisanal Craft Bazaar by Artsy Fartsy (1000, 25 to 26 June)

The bazaar will feature Sarawak’s basketry and beads. Visitors will also have the chance to witness the Batik Painting demonstration by Miri-based artist Noel Belulok. There will also be a Tattoo Gallery featuring Miri tattoo artists.

Performers’ line-up and tickets

Themed “Jazz in The Jungle”, the 17th edition, will be held in a hybrid format for the first time to reach out to the greater jazz-loving community worldwide, supported by performers from Singapore, Japan, France, Switzerland, the USA, Hungary and India.

Performers at the Borneo Jazz festival include Afro Asia Feat’s Steve Thornton, ASIABEAT (Malaysia/Hungary), Gecko & Tokage Parade (Japan), Alemay Fernandez & Richard Jackson (Singapore/USA), MASIA ONE (Singapore), QSOUND, DJ Estephe Feat. Chris Stalk and Jules Vulzor with more to be announced in the run-up to the festival.

Jazz music lovers can start purchasing tickets for BJ from the website jazzborneo.com. The one-day pass costs MYR128, the two-day pass MYR228 and the three-day pass MYR338.

For those who want to enjoy the festival virtually, tickets cost MYR25 per one-hour block. For more information on the Borneo Jazz festival 2022, log on to BJ’s official website at www.jazzborneo.com.

Bundled deals with Malaysia Airlines

As the official airline partner for the Borneo Jazz festival, Malaysia Airlines and sister company Firefly will offer attractive deals of up to 15% discount on flights from Peninsular Malaysia, London, Australia and some ASEAN destinations to cities in Sarawak. Firefly will fly passengers from Penang to Kuching.

The offer is open until midnight on 15 May 2022 for travel between 1 and 30 June 2022. These deals are available exclusively for those who purchase the normal pass to the Borneo Jazz festival through the airline’s websites.

For more information visit: www.sarawaktourism.com

(Your Stories: STB)

AirAsia rolls out Super+ deal

Sarawak accelerates digital game plan

Etihad tweaks economy experience

Sabre expands hotel services

Germany relaunches GCC promotions

India and Thailand score high travel searches

Emirates launches premium economy

Tripadvisor reveals the world’s best hotels

NCL completes Great Cruise Comeback

Borneo Jazz sets community goals

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