BANGKOK, 4 May 2022: Red Elephant Reps, a hotel and travel representation company headquartered in Bangkok, has expanded its global sales team with the appointment of Nico Steenkamp as director of sales for South Africa.
He will be responsible for executing sales
and marketing strategies throughout South Africa to drive growth and provide
brand awareness for clients.
Commenting on the new appointment, Red
Elephant Reps’ chief executive officer Ian Paul Woods said: “Nico’s
extensive knowledge and expertise in hospitality combined with his strong
entrepreneurial background will be crucial in helping us to grow within the
region.”
Having worked with sales and marketing
companies and international hotels throughout South Africa for over 28 years,
he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge of the travel industry within South
and East Africa and is a familiar face at travel industry workshops and shows
across the continent.
SINGAPORE, 4 May 2022: In an imaginative ceremony hosted last Friday at the Port of Los Angeles, television stars and show hosts united as godparents and officially named Discovery Princess.
The godparents comprised of fashion designer Randy Fenoli, chef Alex Guarnaschelli, special effects designer and fabricator Adam Savage, and real estate broker and flipper extraordinaire Page Turner.
Standing together at the
Retreat Pool on the open deck of Discovery Princess with the ship’s Captain
Gennaro Arma, they pronounced, “We name this ship Discovery Princess. May God
bless her and all who sail on her.” They then sent a giant Nebuchadnezzar-size
bottle of champagne against the ship for the celebratory smash, officially
welcoming Discovery Princess into the
fleet of Princess Cruises, the world’s leading international cruise line and
leader on the west coast.
The “Discover Our World” themed ceremony blended maritime tradition
with contemporary elements, celebrating the cruise line’s exclusive, seven-yearDiscovery at SEA™ program – bringing the spirit of curiosity and
exploration to every cruise through branded experiences like Shark Week at Sea,
exclusive shore excursions and onboard activities such as the Camp Discovery
youth centres and Stargazing at SEA.
“Today is a celebration to remember as our
newest ship, Discovery Princess, is officially named by this talented group of
experts and personalities – Randy, Alex, Adam, and Page,” said John Padgett,
Princess Cruises president. “We can think of no more fitting godparents to mark
this significant milestone.”
About Discovery Princess
Discovery
Princess expands the cruise line’s fleet of MedallionClass ships to 15, offering
elegantly appointed accommodations, world-class entertainment, gourmet dining
and cocktails, extensive alfresco dining areas and expansive views from the
cruise line’s largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites.
The
3,660-guest Discovery Princess was built at the Fincantieri Shipyard in
Monfalcone, Italy, and is the sixth and final Royal-Class newbuild sharing all
of the spectacular style and luxury of her sister ships – Enchanted Princess®
Sky Princess®, Majestic Princess®, Regal Princess® and Royal Princess®.
As
part of the leading cruise line on the west coast, Discovery Princess debuted
in Los Angeles on 27 March, sailing a series of Mexican Riviera and California
Coast voyages from 27 March to 24 April. After the naming ceremony in Los
Angeles on 29 April, the ship will head up the Pacific coast to begin a season
of seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle, making her the newest ship sailing in
the Alaska region.
With
an array of innovative new experiences, guests will enjoy 270-degree sweeping
views from the Princess’ largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites, unwind in
ultimate comfort at The Sanctuary and indulge the senses with world-class
dining options. Plus, Princess live entertainment presents mesmerizing
Broadway-style production shows that can only be seen in the state-of-the-art
Princess Theater, including the newest show, Spotlight Bar.
In
addition, Discovery Princess delivers Princess MedallionClass Vacations which
begin with the Medallion™ wearable, a quarter-sized device that enables
everything from expedited contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere
on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need
delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests
can share their favourite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best Wi-Fi at
sea, as well as stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely
anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favourite movies and
shows.
Discovery
Princess also offers signature Princess venues and amenities, including the
Piazza, Lotus Spa, The Sanctuary, Movies Under the Stars, Gigi’s Pizzeria, Good
Spirits at Sea Bar, Vegas-Style Casino, The Shops of Princess, Camp Discovery
Youth & Teen Center and Discovery at SEA™ programs.
KUCHING, 4 May 2022: Organisers of the 17th edition of the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022 have extended the submission deadline for the Borneo Jazz Talent Search (BJTS) to 15 May 2022.
The BJTS platform provides musicians from
all over Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan with an opportunity to participate and
compete in an open category plus categories for Jazz and DJs.
Winners of Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2022
will not only win cash prizes but will also have the opportunity to attend a
MasterClass by an international band on 24 June in Miri, Sarawak, and perform
during Borneo Jazz Festival Stage on 25 June.
Four prizes will be awarded, first second and third plus best original composition with cash prizes worth more than MYR10,000.
A jury panel comprising renowned
international and Malaysian artists will evaluate participants based on originality,
creativity, musicality, stage presence and interactivity.
Interested groups must submit a
high-quality performance video of the required repertoire and duration, a
written solo artist/band profile and a high-resolution photo on or before 15
May.
On 22 May, the organiser will select
winners for three prizes plus one special prize.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 May 2022: Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company says it kicked off 2022 with a great performance in the first quarter of 2022, reporting a leap of 113% in pre-tax profit.
The year-on-year improvement was mainly due
to the rapid recovery of passenger transport and robust cargo business, which
grew by 76% and 94%, respectively, during the first quarter.
In the first quarter, Vietjet’s
consolidated revenue reached USD197 million, while the after-tax profit was
USD10.6 million increasing by 12% and 98% YOY, respectively.
Regarding its airline transport business,
Vietjet’s revenue for 1Q was USD145 million, helping nail the after-tax profit
of the parent company at USD1.7 million.
Vietnam’s aviation and tourism sectors have
fully reopened since late last year to meet pent-up travel demand. During the
first quarter of 2022, Vietjet resumed its entire domestic network and
relaunched scheduled international services. It has operated 20,000 flights
carrying more than 3 million passengers on 60 domestic and international routes.
The airline’s flights and passenger uplift
in 1Q2022 already passed 50% and 55%, respectively, of the 2021 performance,
marking a milestone of strong recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic. Regarding cargo
transport, Vietjet has airlifted more than 12,500 tons of cargo in the first
quarter of this year.
Vietjet also reports it has deployed the
first of two A330s and is expected to add a third A330 later this year.
The airline also announced its 2021 audited
financial statement, with the parent company reporting revenue of USD394
million and an audited post-tax profit increase by 91% over the compiled
financial statement due to gains in financial activities.
Meanwhile, Vietjet’s consolidated revenue
and after-tax profit in 2021 reached USD556 million and USD3.47 million,
respectively. Rising costs from deferred income taxes resulted in a lower
consolidated after-tax profit than in the 2021 compiled statements.
As of 31 December 2021, Vietjet’s assets
totalled nearly USD2.25 billion. Its debt-to-equity ratio stayed at 0.9 while
the liquidity ratio was at 1.6, which were considered good indicators in the
aviation industry.
In 2021, Vietjet operated nearly 42,000
flights across its network with more than 5.4 million passengers on board. The
airline has reported over 66,000 tons in cargo transport, achieving fast growth
with cargo revenue, in particular, rocketing by over 200% YoY.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 May 2022: Vietjet Air resumed flights to Bali last week, ending a two-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and travel restrictions.
Flights to Bali launched in May 2019 and
were popular with Vietnamese travellers who could fly directly to Bali without
connecting with flights in Bangkok or Singapore.
Travel restrictions have been eased in
Vietnam, and Indonesians can now visit the country for 30 days visa-free.
Flights operate four times weekly (Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday), departing HCMC at 0814 and arriving in Bali
at 1305. Flight time is three hours and 50 minutes. The roundtrip fare starts
at USD236.
Meanwhile, since the reopening of Bali’s I
Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on 3 February 2022, the airport has recorded 859
flights and handled 133,083 passengers.
Including the VietJet Air flights, the
airport musters 10 scheduled international routes, namely Singapore, Melbourne,
Sydney, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Istanbul, Perth, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh
City.
VietJet Air is the 13th airline connecting
Bali with cities worldwide, after Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar
Asia, KLM Royal Dutch, Scoot, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Qatar
Airways, AirAsia, Turkish Airlines, Thai AirAsia, and Qantas.
SYDNEY, 4 May 2022: Qantas’ next-generation
distribution platform is now available for international travel agents,
unlocking capabilities for agents globally to offer more personalised customer
service and access new revenue opportunities.
The Qantas Distribution Platform – built
using IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standards – went live Monday in
the UK, US and South Africa and will progressively roll out in other markets in
the coming months.
The platform has been designed to enhance
the service agents provide to customers with a wider range of products, including
special offers for Qantas Frequent Flyers, ancillary products and dynamic
commission opportunities.
It gives travel agents worldwide access to
more automated processes and improved functionality across Qantas bookings,
including automated refunds and ticket revalidation.
The Qantas Distribution Platform is already
available in Australia and New Zealand, enabling agents to take advantage of
dynamic commission opportunities and special offers for customers, such as a
20% discount on particular routes.
The rich content and new features of the
Qantas Distributed Platform can be accessed via Qantas’ growing network of
technology partners, already delivering Qantas NDC to agents in Australia and
New Zealand.
Qantas executive manager, global sales
& distribution Igor Kwiatkowski said rolling out the platform
internationally would help agents worldwide better serve customers with Qantas
bookings as the airline’s international network ramps up.
“Despite the significant impact of
COVID over the past two years, we have continued to invest in our new
distribution capabilities and are pleased to offer these to our international
trade partners,” said Kwiatkowski.
“The Qantas Distribution Platform is a key
part of our strategy to support agency partners with richer content, new
features and revenue opportunities that help them deliver a better and more
bespoke experience for customers.
“We know that customers expect an
increasingly personalised, flexible and seamless experience, and we’re
committed to providing travel agents around the world with the tools to offer
this service.
“We will continue to roll out new
capabilities and features for our agency partners as the industry evolves the
service it offers travellers.”
Travel agents registered in the Qantas
Channel can connect to the Qantas Distribution Platform via either an approved
technology partner or by developing a direct connection to Qantas’ NDC XML
Application Programme Interface (API).
DENPASAR, Bali, 3 May 2022: The Indonesian government increased nationalities eligible for visa-on-arrival (VOA) at the weekend as the country seeks to make it more convenient for international travellers to visit the country.
The additions to the latest VOA list are Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The 30-day visa-on-arrival facility is available at
international airports in Bali, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Manado, Makassar,
Batam, Yogyakarta and Lombok, Asian Trails confirmed in its latest update for
travel partners and customers. The seaports of Benoa (Bali) and in Riau
Province (including Batam and Bintan) are also eligible for VOA.
The VOA fee remains IDR 500,000 (approximately USD35) and
can be paid in all major currencies or credit cards upon arrival.
For nationals from nine ASEAN countries, the visa fee is
waived for a 30-day stay.
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Latest entry rules
Travellers must show physical or digital evidence in English that the visitor is fully vaccinated at least 14 days before departure (no need for a booster shot).
Children under 18 years are exempted from this rule
(previously under 12 years). They follow the same provisions for their parents
or caregivers.
The traveller should download the PeduliLindungi application
on one’s smartphone and fill out the e-Hac Indonesia within the application
(the PeduliLindungi app is available for download on Apple and Android
devices).
They must provide evidence of a negative PCR test taken in the country of origin within 48 hours of the scheduled flight departure.
Show evidence of health insurance covering Covid-19. No
minimum cover is mentioned in the latest regulation, but Asian Trails
recommends a minimum cover of USD25,000.
Upon arrival, no further PCR testing or quarantine is
necessary if the body temperature is below 37.5 degrees Celsius. The visitor is
free to travel anywhere in Indonesia.
A second PCR Test is only necessary if the visitor’s
temperature is above 37.5 degrees Celsius.
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 May 2022: Malaysia pulled the plug on most
Covid-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers effective 1 May.
The new measures bring Malaysia in line with Covid-19 travel
rules in neighbouring ASEAN countries, particularly Thailand and Singapore and
considerably easier than is currently the case in Indonesia. In its favour,
Malaysia stands out for abolishing the need to buy Covid-19 insurance as a
condition for entry.
Tourism Malaysia outlined the new measures that came into effect on Sunday.
Fully-vaccinated inbound travellers are no longer required to undergo pre-departure and on-arrival Covid-19 tests, including children age 12 and under and those infected with Covid-19 within six to 60 days before departure to Malaysia.
Travel insurance is no longer required for foreigners
entering the country.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 still need to take an RT-PCR test two days before their flight departure to Malaysia and a professionally-administered RTK-Ag test within 24 hours after arrival in Malaysia. They must observe a five-day quarantine (quarantine exemption is only for those aged 17 and under).
Optional mask-wearing
The wearing of masks outdoors is now optional but still
mandatory when visiting indoor venues such as shopping malls, offices, public
transportation, and e-hailing rides.
However, health authorities encourage masks wearing in
crowded places. Physical distancing rules have been scrapped, and people are
now free to shake hands, but good hand hygiene is recommended.
Check-in via the contact tracing app MySejahtera is not
required, but the MySJ Trace function should be activated for contact tracing.
The seven-day mandatory quarantine for positive cases
remains, and the MySejahtera app is used for the Covid-19 test results
submission and health assessment. However, those who test positive for Covid-19
may be released earlier from quarantine if they retur4n a negative result of a
professionally-administered RTK-Ag test on day four.
(Source: Tourism Malaysia; health ministry announcements).
SANDAKAN, Malaysia, 3 May 2022: The Covid pandemic may not be over completely, but Sabah’s tourism industry is already showing the first signs of resurgence.
For the six trekkers who took part in the six-day/five-night 77th Sandakan-Ranau Death March (SDRM) trekking tour from Sandakan to Ranau, recovery from the pandemic and the opening of the international borders have inspired a newfound love for historical tourism attractions that are available right in their own backyards.
The Sandakan Death Marches were a series of forced marches
from Sandakan to Ranau in Borneo that resulted in the deaths of 2,434 Allied
prisoners of war incarcerated by the Japanese at the Sandakan POW Camp in North
Borneo during World War II. As with the previous years, this year’s SDRM tour
was held as a commemorative pilgrimage to honour the fallen heroes.
For years prior, the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches tour was
only participated by members of the armed forces or groups comprising the
descendants of the fallen Australian and British servicemen who wanted a deeper
insight into what ordeals the POWs endured during the forced 260 kilometre-long
Death March.
The invading Japanese army organised the marches between
January and August 1945, and they are regarded as the single worst atrocity perpetrated
against Australian personnel during World War II. Only six Australians survived
the wartime incarceration in Sandakan and Ranau.
Local trekking expert and veteran tour guide Tham Yau Kong
of TYK Adventure Tours says that it’s important for Sabah’s residents to delve
deeper into their own history and honour the sacrifices made in the past.
“It is important to remember that there are other local
heroes worth knowing beyond the ones mentioned in our history books,” says
Tham.
During the tour, the six trekkers have had the opportunity
to get to know the locals and mingle with them. They have also had a chance to
speak with the sons of the late Gambut @ Ahmad Tajudin bin Abang, who played an
important role in helping the Australian teams recover bodies along the Death
March track after the war.
The trekkers also had a chance to meet with the grandnephew
of the late OKK Domima Akoi, known as the ‘Ring Lady’ of the unsung heroes who
helped to support the Australian POWs.
“I have been thinking about doing this death march
trail for years and finally decided to do it this year. I then contacted Tham
Yau Kong, the expert in this SDRM trail and managed to rope in five other
like-minded people to join the trek,” says Dr Sen Nathan, one of the six
trekkers and the organiser of the SDRM expedition.
“It was exhilarating but emotionally and physically
challenging even for healthy walkers like us. Imagine how difficult it was for
the starving, undernourished, malaria and dysentery-stricken POWs had to endure,”
Sen adds.
The SDRM trekking tour started at Kg Bauto, Telupid, on 19
April and concluded in Kg Muruk, Ranau, on 24 April. The group attended the
special ANZAC Day Dawn Service on 25 April to complete their SDRM tour.
“I applaud this group effort for taking up the
challenge of the Death March trek. While historically, it was the Australian
POWs and Japanese soldiers who were much involved, we often forget that many
local heroes provided welfare to the POWs when they were able to, more so when
brave enough to as they too faced much affliction if caught. It’s good for the
local community also to learn this part of history,” comments Sabah
Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman.
“On an annual basis, the Sandakan Day Memorial is
commemorated at the Sandakan Memorial Park on 15 August. It is a meaningful
event to reflect on this historically shared bond between Sabahans and
Australians,” she noted.
BANGKOK, 3 May 2022: Thailand introduced easier entry rules
effective 1 May 2022, which does away with the Test & Go and other entry
schemes, although the Thailand Pass remains active to register the insurance
package and certificate of vaccination.
Vaccinated travellers must have the following documents to Thailand:
In addition to having a valid passport, they must register
with Thailand Pass https://tp.consular.go.th/ or have a Border Pass for an overland arrival
via designated border checkpoints. (Some border checkpoints remain closed,
possibly until June).
An insurance policy with a minimum USD10,000 cover. Thais
and foreign expatriates who are enrolled in Thailand’s national healthcare
service are exempt from this requirement.
A recognised vaccination certificate for Covid-19.
Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated
at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
Unaccompanied travellers, five to 17 years of age, must show
proof of at least one dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before
travelling to Thailand. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this
requirement.
Travellers with a history of Covid-19 infection who have
received at least one dose of an approved vaccine post-infection must have a
medical certificate of Covid-19 recovery.
Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated travellers must have
the following documents to enter Thailand.
A valid passport, a Thailand Pass (https://tp.consular.go.th/), or a Border Pass for arrivals via border checkpoints.
Insurance policy with a minimum cover of USD10,000. Thais
and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are
exempt from this requirement.
A proof of prepayment for five-night quarantine at the
government-approved hotel such as SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel, or AQ
Accommodation, plus proof of prepayment for one RT-PCR Covid-19 test. Thais are
not required to prepay for the test.
The quarantine is exempt for unvaccinated and not fully
vaccinated travellers who can upload proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72
hours of travel via the Thailand Pass system. The exemption also extends to
travellers under six years of age travelling with parents.
On Arrival Requirements
Upon arriving at the border checkpoint in Thailand, all
travellers must undergo entry screening, including a body temperature check,
and present the required documents to the Immigration and health control
officers.
The vaccinated travellers will be free to travel anywhere in
Thailand. *For overland travellers using a border pass, they will be allowed a
stay for no longer than three days within the specified areas only.
Unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated travellers who have
uploaded proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel via the
Thailand Pass system will be allowed to enter and are free to go anywhere in
the country.
Otherwise, unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated travellers
must undergo five days of quarantine. The trip to the prebooked accommodation
must use a designated vehicle on a sealed route within a travelling time of no
longer than five hours. Then, they must undergo an RT-PCR test on Day four or
five. Travellers under five years of age, travelling with parents and
undergoing the quarantine together can have a saliva test. Travellers whose
test results return negative are free to travel. In contrast, those who test
positive will undergo the appropriate medical treatment paid for by the
insurance policy or at their own expense or for Thais and eligible foreign
expatriates through the country’s healthcare system.
