HONG KONG, 17 May 2022: Adjustments to the government’s travel restrictions and quarantine requirements should encourage the gradual resumption of travel activities and strengthen network connectivity to and from the Hong Kong aviation hub, the airline said in its marketing outlook attached to its traffic figures for April 2022.
“We will actively resume more flights to more destinations in the coming months. Our flight arrangements from early June notably include daily flights to and from London Heathrow (LHR). We will also be resuming or increasing passenger flights for a number of important markets, including the US, Australia, New Zealand and India,” the airline said in the media statement.
According to the airline’s April 2022 traffic figures
released last Friday, Cathay Pacific carried 40,823 passengers last month, an
increase of 82.2% compared to April 2021 but a 98.7% decrease compared to the
pre-pandemic level in April 2019.
The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased
60.7% year-on-year but were down 98.5% versus April 2019. Passenger load factor
increased by 31.5 percentage points to 55.6%, while capacity, measured in
available seat kilometres (ASKs), decreased by 30.2% year-on-year and decreased
by 97.7% compared with April 2019 levels. In the first four months of 2022,
passengers increased by 37.8% against a 60.1% decrease in capacity and a 15.8%
increase in RPKs, as compared to the same period for 2021.
The airline’s chief customer and commercial officer, Ronald
Lam said: “April saw some positive developments for our travel business
with improved demand across our network. Following the lifting of the ban on
inbound flights from nine countries on 1 April, in addition to the adjustment
of the quarantine period from 14 to seven days for travellers arriving in Hong
Kong, we saw increased demand among residents wishing to return home to the
city, in particular from the UK. In view of this stronger demand, we increased
our passenger flight capacity by about 25% compared with March, although we
still only operated about 2% of our pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity last
month.
“We launched additional frequencies, providing more and
better connections for our transit passengers. In addition to ongoing demand
from the Chinese Mainland, transit traffic going to and from other destinations
in Asia also picked up. On 29 April, we carried 2,805 passengers in total,
which was the highest since 4 August 2021. Conversely, we further reduced our
frequencies to the Chinese Mainland in view of the Covid-19 situation in
Shanghai.
Outlook
The airline said it would continue to look for opportunities to add back capacity and rebuild its Hong Kong hub and network. It expects additional capacity to positively impact Cathay Pacific’s business, benefit operations and improve its cost base.
“According to preliminary assessment, we are targeting to reduce operating cash burn to less than HKD0.5 billion per month for the next few months,” Lam concluded.
SINGAPORE, 13 May 2022: From the world’s largest theme and waterparks and a museum that transports visitors to the future to an authentic desert safari adventure, a summer in Dubai promises to delight all senses for travellers looking forward to a refreshing vacation.
For a limited time only, travellers from Singapore can enjoy special promotional fares to Dubai when flying with Emirates, with all-inclusive economy class fares from Singapore to Dubai starting at SGD579, business class fares starting at SGD2,529, and first-class fares starting at SGD8,949. Bookings open until 22 May 2022 for travel from 5 May to 31 December 2022, both dates inclusive.
Following the return of “My Emirates Pass Summer Edition”,
Emirates’ customers arriving in or stopping over in Dubai can also unlock
special deals and discover the best of the city’s attractions, retail
experience, and culinary highlights.
From 1 May to 30 September 2022, Emirates customers can show
their boarding pass and a valid form of identification to enjoy exclusive deals
at hundreds of retail, leisure, and dining outlets in Dubai and the United Arab
Emirates.
Here are some of the attractions travellers should not miss
when they set foot in Dubai.
Atlantis Aquaventure
Photo from Atlantis.
Among the world’s largest waterparks with over 105 slides,
activities, and entertainment, the Atlantis Aquaventure is home to the world’s
tallest waterslide, aptly named the ‘Odyssey of Terror’, as well as the famed
‘Leap of Faith’ open-air ride, which promises riders a euphoric experience with
its speedy near-vertical plummet. Besides the thrills of the rides and slides,
visitors can also get up close and personal with hundreds of marine animals
inside the underwater world of the Shark Lagoon or suit up for an exhilarating
afternoon of watersports at the private beach located within the waterpark.
Visitors can take a stroll through the Lost Chamber Aquarium and discover the
depths of the sea and the wonders of marine life. With more than 65,000 creatures
within the 11-million-litre aquarium and 21 unique exhibits, it is the perfect
learning journey for children and adults alike.
With the return of “My Emirates Pass Summer
Edition”, Emirates customers can simply show their boarding pass and a valid
form of identification at the ticket counter to enjoy a 20% discount on general
admission to Aquaventure Waterpark and a 40% discount on general admission to
the Lost Chambers Aquarium.
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Photo from IMG Worlds of Adventure’s Facebook Page.
Among the world’s largest indoor theme parks and Dubai’s
first mega themed entertainment destination, the IMG Worlds of Adventures
brings together the best-loved cartoon and superhero themes with
state-of-the-art roller coaster rides and adventure zones. Fans of The Avengers
can bask in the Marvel Universe at the dedicated Marvel zone and walk in the
shoes of their favourite superheroes for a day. Rides include the
gravity-defying ‘Thor Thunder Spin’ and the hyper-realistic ‘Hulk Epsilon Base’
3D ride. Meanwhile, visitors can catch characters from the Power Puff Girls and
soar high on an adventure with Finn and Jake from Adventure Time at the Cartoon
Network zone, which also houses the world’s largest Ben 10 retail store. To conclude
the day, visitors can wind down by catching a film at the theme park’s massive
IMAX theatre, which boasts three VIP screens and a seven-star service
experience.
Emirates’ customers can enjoy a 30% discount on general
admission to IMG Worlds of Adventure with “My Emirates Pass Summer
Edition”.
Desert Safari with Arabian Adventures
Picture from Arabian Adventures’ Facebook Page.
A holiday to Dubai will not be complete without an escapade
to the deserts. For those who thrive on adrenaline, buckle up, hold on tight,
and be whisked off into the endless dunes on a trusty four-wheel drive. For
those who prefer to savour the tranquillity of the desert, a plethora of other
activities awaits – catch the sunset, ride a camel, enjoy a barbeque dinner, or
try out glamping within the pristine dunes.
From 1 May to 30 September 2022, Emirates’ customers can
enjoy a 15% discount when they book with Arabian Adventures for Exclusive
Desert Experience – Private Vehicle, Shared Evening Safari with Premium
Beverages, Dune Buggy Driver Experience, and VIP Desert Safari – Sharing.
Marina Sightseeing Cruise
Photo from Emirates.
For unrivalled panoramic views of the city’s most iconic
skylines from the Arabian Gulf, travellers can hop onto the Marina Sightseeing
Cruise, travelling through Dubai in a handcrafted wooden dhow. They can sit
back, relax, and enjoy the hour-long tour offering a unique perspective of the
city’s architecture, culture, and history.
Emirates’ customers landing in Dubai from 1 to 31 May can
enjoy a complimentary Tour Dubai Marine Sightseeing Cruise.
Museum of the Future
Photo from Museum of the Future’s Facebook Page.
Touted as ‘the most beautiful building in the world, Dubai’s
Museum of the Future welcomed its first visitors in February this year.
Bringing together the best of science, technology, and innovation, the museum
explores the endless possibilities and visions for the future of humanity.
Visitors can expect cutting-edge multi-sensorial exhibits across seven floors
as they journey to the year 2071. The pillarless architectural and engineering
marvel stands at 77 meters and invites visitors to an inspiring and immersive
experience they can never forget.
Shopping spree at The Dubai Summer Surprises
Photo from Pexels.
In addition to an exciting calendar of world-class culture,
shopping, and dining, The Dubai Summer Surprises, one of the city’s major
shopping and entertainment events, will also be running from 1 July to 4
September, with a packed line-up of events and family activities, exclusive
shopping deals, fun competitions, and shop and win promotions.
With “My Emirates Pass Summer Edition”, Emirates’ customers can receive up to a 20% discount on full-price merchandise when they shop at Aldo, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.
Emirates flies to over 130
destinations across six continents. Emirates will be increasing passenger
services from Dubai to Singapore from seven weekly flights to 14 weekly
flights, starting from 23 June 2022. Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates Sales Office, via travel agents or
through online travel agents.
KUCHING, 13 May 2022: One of the longest-running jazz
festivals in the region, the Borneo Jazz festival is returning to Coco Cabana,
Miri, Sarawak, from 24 to 26 June 2022.
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. It will be joined by performers from over countries, namely Singapore, Japan, France, Switzerland, USA, and Hungary, not to mention the best names in Malaysian jazz.
Curated by No Black Tie and in keeping with the festival’s
objectives to bring musicians from cultural backgrounds together in Borneo,
this year’s edition will highlight cross-cultural musical collaborations from
jazz, soul and bossa nova to hip hop in celebration of Jungle Jazz.
Among those featured is renowned percussionist Steve
Thornton from Brooklyn, New York, with his band AFRO ASIA.
Jazz and Afro-Caribbean rhythms come together with AFRO ASIA
playing Rumba, Guaguanco, Samba, Calypso and Salsa, featuring sounds of
percussion instruments from Latin America, Africa and Asia. Adding a unique
Asian flavour to the sounds of AFRO ASIA will be Kamrul Hussin on Malay
percussions and Sesatre Bansuri on Indian and traditional flutes, teaming up
with one of Asia’s brightest jazz trios featuring pianist from Shanghai, Eric
Li, Malaysian bassist Rozhan Razman and drummer John Thomas.
Another top bill is ASIABEAT featuring celebrated Asian
drummer Lewis Pragasam, the founder and moving spirit of the pioneering
ASIABEAT project, whose recordings and performances are now legendary in the
merging of Asian and contemporary music styles. Since its inception in 1979,
ASIABEAT has toured and performed more than 500 performances at concerts and
festivals such as Edinburgh Arts Festival, Java Jazz and ASEAN Music Festival.
For the Borneo Jazz Festival edition, ASIABEAT will feature
Helga Violin from Hungary, Grace Leong on Keyboards, Luke Joseph on Guitar and
Zailan Razak on Bass. Sarawakian musician Clinton Chua will also feature as a
guest singer. This will be the first large scale performance for ASIABEAT after
a two-year hiatus.
In addition, Gecko & Tokage Parade from Tokyo, Japan,
will be on stage. The Japanese
new-generation instrumental jazz band is led by the composer and pianist Wataru
/ Gecko, with their band motto “Pursuit of new-generation sound”.
This four-piece band, with its attractive technique and ensemble playing pop
and classical melodies, will appeal to the young generation of the audience
seeking a new sonic experience from attending Borneo Jazz.
From Singapore and the US, Alemay Fernandez & Richard
Jackson will woo the Borneo Jazz audiences with their refreshing style and
unmistakable chemistry.
Bringing Jazz, R&B and hip hop vibes to Borneo Jazz
Stage is QSOUND, a graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York
City.
Next, MASIA ONE from Singapore. Born in Singapore, she grew
up in Canada, where she earned her stripes in America and became inspired by her
time in the Caribbean. Now this artist is reconnecting with her roots in Asia.
More names will be revealed in the coming weeks leading to
the festival.
Tickets
Jazz music lovers can start purchasing tickets for BJ
starting 22 April 2022 from the website jazzborneo.com. For the public
category, a one-day pass costs MYR128 per ticket, a two-day pass MYR228 per
ticket and a three-day pass MYR338.
For those who want to enjoy BJ virtually, tickets are priced at 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.
List of Confirmed Artists
AFRO ASIA FEAT STEVE THORNTON (USA/Malaysia)
ASIABEAT FEAT LEWIS PRAGASAM & HELGA VIOLIN (Malaysia / Hungary)
GECKO & TOKAGE PARADE (Japan)
ALEMAY FERNANDEZ & RICHARD JACKSON (Singapore / USA)
MASIA ONE (Singapore)
QSOUND (USA / Malaysia)
DJ ESTEPHE FEAT CHRIS STALK & JULES VULZOR (France / Switzerland)
SINGAPORE, 13 May 2022: Carnival Corporation has announced
that effective 1 August, Arnold Donald, currently president and chief executive
officer, will be appointed vice-chair and member of the Boards of Directors.
Josh Weinstein, currently chief operations officer, will
assume the role of president and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Left: Arnold Donald. Right: Josh Weinstein.
“Josh is a proven executive who is well-respected
throughout the company, serving in key leadership roles, driving strong
business results during his tenure and playing an integral part in stewarding
the company through the global pandemic,” Donald said.
A 20-year veteran of Carnival Corporation & plc,
Weinstein has a long history of success in critical senior-level roles for the
company. In his most recent assignment for the past two years as Carnival
Corporation & plc’s Chief Operations Officer, Weinstein oversaw all major
operational functions, including global maritime, global ports and
destinations, global sourcing, global IT and global auditing. He also led Carnival
UK, the operating company for P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard, which he
previously managed directly for three years as president.
Donald was named President and CEO of Carnival Corporation
& plc in 2013. During his nine-year tenure as CEO, he led the company to
record results, pre-pandemic — including achieving the company’s highest
profits in its history.
Recently, Donald has helped the company and its brands
successfully navigate the global pandemic, well positioning the company for the
future. The company expects each of its nine leading cruise line brand’s full
fleets to operate guest cruises in 2022, following what has been an extended
pause. Carnival Corporation & plc also anticipates that monthly adjusted
EBITDA will turn positive at the beginning of the summer season.
Carnival Corporation is one of the world’s largest leisure
travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world’s leading cruise lines
sailing to all seven continents. With operations in North America, Australia,
Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises,
Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises,
AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
DUBAI, 13 May 2022: Tourism Malaysia returned to the Arabian
Travel Market this week to restart promotions in the Middle East and network
with tourism trade partners after a two-year pause due to the Covid-19
pandemic.
The prestigious annual event was held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 9 to 12 May. This year, the Malaysian delegation was led by the Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri. The Malaysia Pavilion consisted of 64 delegates representing 32 organisations, mainly hotels, travel agencies and state tourism boards.
Malaysia reopened its borders to international tourists on 1
April 2022. Commenting on the decision, Dato’ Sri Nancy said: “It was
indeed a significant milestone for our tourism industry as we welcome more
international first time and returning visitors to boost our economy further.
Now that our borders are fully open again, we are confident that we will
witness a strong rebound in tourism numbers to bolster the recovery of our
economy. This year, we estimate 2 million international tourist arrivals
generating more than MYR8.6 billion in tourism receipts.”
Pre-pandemic, in 2019, Malaysia received 397,726 tourists
from the MENA region. Saudi Arabia was Malaysia’s top market, accounting for
121,444 tourists, more than 30% of arrivals, from the West Asia and North
African regions, an 8.2% increase over the previous year.
The minister scheduled meetings with senior executives from
key Middle Eastern airlines to discuss future collaboration during the event.
She also attended the signing of a Memorandum of Collaboration (MOC) between
Tourism Malaysia and Emirates hosted at the airline’s pavilion.
“We will continue to place a strong emphasis and focus
on attracting Middle Eastern tourists to Malaysia, so naturally, we will be
stepping up our promotional efforts here,” said Dato’ Sri Nancy during the
signing ceremony.
HANOI, Vietnam, 13 May 2022: After deciding to pivot from long-haul to Asian markets, Absolute Asia Travel, a Vietnamese and Mekong Region inbound tour operator, found cooperation in an unlikely place, handling the first Mongolian group of tourists to Vietnam since the pandemic.
Absolute Asia Travel was hit hard by the onset of Covid-19
and saw its traveller base, predominantly North Americans and Europeans,
disappear overnight with the closing of borders.
The first Mongolian tour series arrives in Vietnam as Covid-19 restrictions ease.
The pivot in marketing began by hiring Pear Anderson in 2020
as its sales representative for Southeast Asia a shift in strategy that has
started to pay off.
As Vietnam started to take steps to reopen earlier this
year, Absolute Asia Travel found themselves with an unexpected lead – a
Mongolian travel agency, Cruise Tour Mongolia. The tour operator handled the
ground arrangements for the first group of Mongolian tourists to enter Vietnam
just nine days after the country reopened.
According to Absolute Asia Travel’s director of sales and
marketing, Dong Minh Tuan, 130 Mongolian passengers flew in on 24 March 2022.
They travelled on an eight-day trip to Hanoi and Phu Quoc. Cruise Tour Mongolia
are now planning 15 back-to-back direct flights to Hanoi – and Absolute Asia
Travel is their partner for all the arrangements Vietnam-side.
“The Mongolian market is one that Absolute Asia Travel
had never even considered before the pandemic. Our strategy of looking at new
sources of inbound visitors is starting to pay off now that Vietnam is open.
With Southeast and East Asia also reopening, we are keen to start working
together with new Asian partners to showcase all Vietnam offers,” Dong
Minh Tuan explained.
“We discovered Phu Quoc Island in January through internet
research and wrote to many tour operators in Vietnam looking for a company to
support us,” said Cruise Tour Mongolia international affairs manager Amar
Munkhbat.
“Luckily, we came across Absolute Asia Travel, who were
professional in their communications – and their quote was one of the most
competitive. The tours have been selling very well and have seen a great deal
of interest from Mongolian travellers. From 24 March until now, we have sold
780 seats.”
DUBAI, 13 May 2022: Maldives Marketing and Public Relations
Corporation (Visit Maldives) and Qatar Airways have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) to increase inbound air traffic to the Maldives.
The MOU was signed by MMPRC chief executive officer Thoyyib
Mohamed, and Qatar Airways chief commercial officer Thierry Antinori on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market
(ATM) earlier this week.
According to the agreement, the partners will launch joint
promotional and marketing activities with the overarching objective of
increasing inbound air traffic to the Maldives.
Activities will include a mix of B2B and B2C campaigns,
organizing familiarization trips for travel partners and media influencers, and
working on joint activities with trade partners.
Speaking at a panel discussion held during the 9th Arab
Aviation Summit in Dubai earlier this year, Thoyyib noted that the tourism and
the aviation industry should work closely together to overcome challenges. He
had also referred to the important role the Middle East plays as a growing
source market for the Maldives and acting as a hub where tourists could connect
with flights to the Maldives.
Over 35 international airlines operate flights to the
Maldives, including leading Middle Eastern airlines such as Emirates Airlines,
Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Etihad Airways, and Gulf Air.
On 4 March, Maldives phased out the need for vaccinated tourists to present a negative PCR test pre-flight or on arrival and lifted the national public health emergency on 13 March.
MMPRC is currently promoting the country at the 28th edition
of the ATM 2022, a leading travel trade show for the inbound and outbound travel
industry in the Middle East.
GENEVA, 13 May 2022: Good news for travellers; the latest guidance recommends ditching masks when flying within Europe, a move that gained a welcome response from the International Air Transport Association.
However, phasing out mask-wearing inflight would still depend
on whether it is mandatory for other forms of transport and the rules
individual countries may impose. Mask wearing on flights in Asia remains
compulsory and on public transport and indoor venues, including shopping malls.
Singapore is easing the rule but not for public transport and airlines.
Japan on Wednesday said it was no longer necessary to wear
masks outdoors to protect against Covid-19 providing social distancing was
practised.
A recent report noted that 18 airlines in the US phased out
mask-wearing on their domestic flights and international flights to
destinations where mask-wearing was deemed optional. However, here in Asia,
inflight mask-wearing remains mandatory in most contexts and is likely to stay
that way until Covid-19 is declared an endemic across the region.
Newest EU guideline
IATA said on Thursday it welcomed new guidance from the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), removing its recommendation that masks
should be required in-flight.
EASA’s updated Aviation Health Safety Protocol, published on
11 May, calls for the mandatory mask rule to be relaxed where restrictions have
been eased for other transport modes.
This important shift reflects the high levels of
vaccination, natural immunity levels, and the removal of domestic restrictions
in many European nations. The updated guidance also acknowledges the need to
move from an emergency to a more sustainable mode of managing Covid-19.
“We welcome EASA’s recommendation to relax the mask mandate,
which is another important step along the road back to normality for air
passengers. Travellers can look forward to the freedom of choice on whether to
wear a mask. And they can travel with confidence knowing that many features of
the aircraft cabin, such as high-frequency air exchange and high-efficiency
filters, make it one of the safest indoor environments,” said IATA’s
director-general Willie Walsh.
However, several jurisdictions still maintain mask
requirements. That is a challenge for airlines and passengers flying between
destinations with different requirements.
“We believe that mask requirements on board aircraft should
end when masks are no longer mandated in other parts of daily life, for
example, theatres, offices or on public transport. Although the European
protocol comes into effect next week, there is no globally consistent approach
to mask-wearing on board aircraft. Airlines must comply with the regulations
applicable to the routes they are operating. The aircraft crew will know what
rules apply and it is critical that passengers follow their instructions. And
we ask that all travellers be respectful of other people’s decision to
voluntarily wear masks even if it is not a requirement,” said Walsh.
IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents
290 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic.
SINGAPORE, 13 May 2022: New data shows rising travel intent, growing traveller confidence, longer search windows and improved lodging performance, according to Expedia Group Media Solutions’s Q1 2022 Travel Trend Report.
The report includes global data and regional insights for the Asia Pacific, EMEA, North America
and Latin America, spanning search trends, top booked destinations, and lodging
insights.
Key findings
Travel searches surge as restrictions eased. During Q1,
global search volume was up 25% quarter-over-quarter, led by double-digit
growth in North America (NORAM) at 30% and in Europe, the Middle East, and
Africa (EMEA) at 25%. A prior-year comparison further illustrates strong
recovery, with global search volumes up 75% year-over-year compared to Q1 2021.
All regions saw a year-over-year lift, with EMEA* search volume up 165%,
NORAM* up 70%, Latin America (LATAM) up 50%, and Asia Pacific (APAC) up 30%.
*NORAM: North American Region (Canada, United States, and Mexico) *EMEA: Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Expedia’s report for Q1 2022 indicates growing traveller
confidence, evident in longer search windows. For example global share of
searches in the 180+ day, search window increased 190%, while the 0- to 21–day
search window decreased 15% quarter-over-quarter. EMEA and NORAM travellers searched the furthest out; 91- to
180–day search window increased by 140% and 60%, respectively.
Big cities & beaches maintain appeal
Major cities such as Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, and
London remained popular with travellers. They made the global top 10 list of
booked destinations in Q1, along with beach destinations like Cancun, Punta
Cana, Honolulu, and Miami.
Las Vegas topped the global list, surpassing New York, which
held the No. 1 spot in Q3 and Q4 2021. However, New York appeared on the top 10
list of booked destinations across all regions for the third consecutive
quarter.
In APAC, destinations within Australia experienced
quarter-over-quarter solid growth, including Sydney, Melbourne and Surfers
Paradise.
Lodging performance on the rise
Global lodging bookings for hotels and vacation rentals
combined were up 35% quarter-over-quarter, and all regions experienced at least
double-digit growth in Q1. During Q1, 15 of the top 25 global destinations saw
double-digit growth in hotel bookings quarter-over-quarter. International
lodging length of stay held steady between Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, at two days for
hotel stays and 5.5 days for vacation rental stays.
Opportunities for sustainable tourism
50% of consumers would be willing to pay more for
transportation, activities, and lodging if the option was more sustainable.
Consumers worldwide are already making more mindful
decisions when travelling, such as opting for more eco-conscious and
sustainable offerings and more want to do so in the future. However, many feel
overwhelmed by starting the process of being a more sustainable traveller and
are looking for sustainability information from trusted travel resources and
providers.
According to Expedia’s Sustainable Travel Study, two-thirds
of consumers want to see more information on sustainability from lodging and
transportation providers, and half want to see this information from destination
organizations. Additionally, 50% of consumers would be willing to pay more for
transportation, activities, and lodging if the option was more sustainable.
“As we look back on the first quarter of the year and forward to the months ahead, we’re optimistic about what 2022 has in store,” said Expedia Media Solutions global vice president Jennifer Andre. “Rising travel intent, lengthening search windows, a lift in international searches, and growing consumer interest in sustainable travel are just a few of the positive trends we saw in Q1 2022. This year is shaping up to be a year of sustained growth, and we look forward to collaborating with our partners and across the industry to continue rebuilding tourism for the future.”
The 2022 Travel Trend
Report quarterly combines Expedia Group’s first-party data and custom research
with actionable insights and industry examples to help travel marketers on
their continued journey toward rebuilding.
DUBAI, 12 May 2022: The Sabah Tourism Board, along with five local travel agents, are promoting Sabah as one of Malaysia’s hidden gems at the 2022 Arabian Travel Market in Dubai this week.
The Sabah tourism delegation met with tourism key players
and potential buyers on the eve of the ATM for a business-to-business (B2B)
session that focused on resuming Sabah’s tourism promotions in the Middle East
market.
Organised by the Solidarity Association For Travel and Tours
Agency Malaysia (SAFTTA), the engagement was launched by the Tourism, Arts, and
Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Sabah Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Noredah Othman
said the Middle East was an emerging market for Sabah… the B2B session was
timely and necessary as travel activities returned to normal.
“Sabah can be an eye-opening destination for our Middle
Eastern visitors, from its friendly people and rich culture to its breathtaking
nature, wildlife, and cuisine. We have a wide variety of unique experiences for
tourists to enjoy.
“We, at Sabah Tourism Board, have consistently maintained
our commitment and aggressiveness in promoting tourism activities and products
to the foreign market, especially during the pandemic.
“We anticipate an influx of Middle Eastern tourists to
Malaysia and to the state. We hope that this will boost our tourism industry
even more. All stakeholders must work together to achieve this,” she said.
The five local travel agents participating in the SAFTTA B2B
session were Fun Holiday Tours and Travel, Borneo Wakid Adventures, i-world
Travel and Tours, Exotic Asian Explorer (Borneo), and AiTrave.
According to Fun Holiday Tours and Travel managing director
Connie Chong, Middle Eastern travellers visiting Malaysia are not necessarily
looking to shop. She added that many of them are drawn by the country’s
climate, culture, and food.
“The SAFTTA B2B aims to promote Malaysia tourism
products and provide more destination information to all trade partners and
tourism industry players. As agents, we need to be aggressive in promoting our
state’s uniqueness to them, such as the Danum Valley, Kundasang highland,
islands, the local cultures, and many more.
“Flight connectivity is not a major problem for Sabah. So,
we will continue to play our role in promoting Sabah as a new travel
destination,” said Chong, who helped organise the engagement session.
Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Brunei are currently the easiest
gateways to reach Sabah from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Kuala Lumpur – Kota Kinabalu and Singapore – Kota
Kinabalu routes are well connected, with several airlines now operating between
the cities.
