SINGAPORE, 6 June 2022: Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), celebrates 10 years of flying this June and, to kick off celebrations, has launched its biggest-ever network sale.
Scoot has grown from a single aircraft and route to serving 73 destinations with 59 aircraft. Over the last decade, Scoot has carried more than 65 million passengers.
To mark the 10-year milestone, Scoot is offering more than 226,000 discounted seats across its network – even to the newest addition, Jeju. Fare deals start from SGD55 to Kuala Lumpur, SGD79 to Bali, SGD80 to Bangkok, and SGD179 to Berlin (one-way, tax inclusive).
In addition, Scoot customers have greater access to the loyalty programme, KrisFlyer.
Scoot network
Scoot started off by flying to just six destinations in 2012 and has since expanded to 73 destinations, connecting people across Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
It has also added other new destinations such as London, Miri, and Davao in the past year. Scoot recently launched sales for flight services to and from Jeju.
Scoot fleet
Its fleet has expanded from just three aircraft in 2012 to 59 aircraft comprising narrowbody Airbus 320 aircraft and Boeing 787 aircraft, boosted by the recent addition of nine brand-new A321neos.
BANGKOK, 6 June 2022: Vietjet’s Phuket – Ho Chi Minh City route resumed 3 June, making the airline the first to relaunch direct flights between Thailand’s most popular beach destination and Vietnam’s commercial capital.
Vietjet is offering four weekly return flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The flight takes off from Phuket at 1200 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 1350. The flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 0900 and lands in Phuket at 1100 (local time) on the return sector.
Customers can track down heavily discounted promotional tickets during the airline’s so-called “golden hour” from 1300 to 1400 on its website and mobile app.
Vietjet has resumed other services connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang with Bangkok since early 2022. The carrier operates the largest flight capacity between Thailand and Vietnam. It will resume the Ho Chi Minh City – Chiang Mai route on 1 September 2022 with three-weekly flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Vietnam scrapped Covid-19 testing requirements for all international arrivals from 15 May 12022 regardless of vaccination status. The new ruling makes Vietnam the first in the Asia Pacific to be fully open to international travellers.
SINGAPORE, 6 June 2022: Spain was recognised as this year’s “Top Muslim-Friendly Emerging Destination (non-IC)” at the Halal in Travel Awards 2022.
The “Halal in Travel Awards” celebrate and recognise the travel industry players’ efforts that significantly impacted the Muslim lifestyle travel segments.
This award acknowledges Spain’s outstanding efforts in enhancing halal awareness levels, consequently leading to an increase in halal-friendly services.
Present to receive the award were the Ambassador of Spain to Singapore, His Excellency Santiago Miralles, and Spain Tourism Board’s Director for Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Monica Sanchez.
Palacios Nazaries.View of the Alhambra in Granada.
In his speech, Ambassador Miralles mentioned that the Muslim-friendly services offered in Spain continued to grow due to the close collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.
Many hotels, restaurants and establishments in Spain adapt to meet the needs of Muslim travellers. Certain products and services also have the Halal Certification awarded by the Halal Institute, which guarantees that they meet the requirements demanded under Islamic law. The list of places with halal options in Spain where you can go to enjoy Spanish gastronomy is extensive. From small charming places to halal haute cuisine.
But aside from food, Spain also has some magnificent mosques, rich Islamic heritage, scenic landscapes, and buzzing cultural life.
Many Muslims choose cities like Cordoba and Granada to spend Ramadan because of the number of hours of sunlight. During Ramadan, some institutions such as the Casa Árabe, Cordoba City Council and the Halal Institute organise activities such as the Noches de Ramadán in Cordoba, a special programme of activities that includes films, workshops, talks, exhibitions and concerts.
LANGKAWI, 6 June 2022: Nine Malaysian artists created 14 gigantic sculptures depicting the island’s myths and mystical creatures and dumped them in the sea.
The sculptures were anchored off the coast of Pulau Pasir following a ceremony on 22 May. Commissioned by the National Art Gallery’s Seabound Initiative the gigantic sculptures will serve as artificial reefs to support the recovery of marine life while providing a unique underwater attraction for scuba divers.
The Star. Dr Zainussin Abindinhazir’s ‘Sumpahan Mahsuri’ sculpture (concrete cement, latex, metal rod, fibreglass and silicon, 2022) – National Art Gallery.
Tourism leaders are positioning Langkawi as a water sports hub focusing mainly on ASEAN’s scuba divers and clubs through social media campaigns. If successful, underwater sculptures could become welcome additions adding variety to Langkawi’s dive sites. It’s a development that may encourage scuba dive agencies to spice their itineraries with dives to sunken art objects.
Scuba diving is the standout attraction for tourists visiting Pulau Payar Marine Park, a cluster of islands just a short transfer by ferry or tour boat from Kuah, Langkawi’s main town and the entry point for ferries from the mainland and Penang. The Pulau Payar islands reopen for divers this month after a two-year hiatus following the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
Deals on scuba lessons
For those new to scuba diving, Langkawi’s dive tour companies offer instructions from pool to sea through internationally recognised certification programmes.
In June, Ninety Nine Islands Diver’s Facebook page introduces scuba diving that will get you from the swimming pool to Langkawi’s exciting underwater world through recognised certification courses.
To attract beginners keen to explore the diving experience, the company offers instruction under the PADI certification for MYR999 down from MYR1699.
PADI instructors take you through the lessons in three days to graduate with a PADI Open Water Diver certification, the most widely-recognised scuba qualification worldwide.
For more details, visit Ninety Nine Islands Diver’s Facebook page.
Travel Triangle’s diving tips and blog identify the six best scuba diving spots in Langkawi.
House Reef Dive Site This is a reef site on Pulau Payar Island at a depth from 15 to 18 metres and a visibility of 10 to 20 metres.
Coral Garden Dive Site The dive site is located near the southern part of Payar Island, with an average depth of about 15 metres and a visibility of 10 meters.
Grouper Farm Dive Site The popular dive site is located right beside Coral Garden, near the southern end of Payar Island. The reef is completely covered with hard corals and can be explored to a depth of 15 metres.
Kaca Sunken Boat Wrecks Dive Site A small island, Kaca located east of Payar offers one of the most popular diving sites where divers can explore sunken wrecks, mostly fishing boats.
Lembu Rocks Dive Site A short seven-minute boat trip from the Marine Park Beach area, the dive site is recommended for diving beginners.
Pulau Segantang Dive Site Segantang Island is located 12 km west of Payar Island, a 20-minute boat trip from Marine Park Beach and is recommended only for experienced divers looking for larger fish that thrive in deeper waters.
ADDIS ABABA, 2 June 2022: Ethiopian Airlines has started three weekly flights to Chennai earlier this week, giving the airline four destinations in India.
The other destinations are New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Ethiopian started its service to India with a flight to New Delhi in 1966, just 20 years after the airline was founded. Recently it marked its 50th year anniversary of uninterrupted service to Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.
The flights to Chennai using a Boeing 737-8 aircraft depart Addis Ababa on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew commented: “The addition of Chennai as a fourth passenger destination in India is a testimony of our resilience and unwavering commitment to serve our customers in India. We will continue to serve India with enhanced frequency and more destinations in the future. “
Besides opening a new route to Chennai, Ethiopian Airlines’ flights to Mumbai and New Delhi will increase to double daily and 10 weekly flights, respectively, as of July 2022.
SINGAPORE, 2 June 2022: Princess Cruises is introducing to Southeast Asian markets its Princess Premier, a new premium add-on package that offers guests unlimited WiFi for up to four devices, premium beverages, photos, and speciality dining, plus crew appreciation (formerly known as gratuities).
For just USD75 (SGD102) per person per day, the inclusive package builds off the popular Princess Plus add-on to offer a more comprehensive bundle and savings of more than 50% when the amenities of Princess Premier are purchased separately.
“Guests have overwhelmingly embraced the convenience and value offered in Princess Plus, so we are adding Princess Premier to take our inclusivity options to the next level,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “Princess Premier is our most inclusive package, offering guests sought-after onboard amenities at an incredible value. Whether a guest prefers a standalone cruise purchase or a fully inclusive vacation, Princess has hassle-free options for everyone. Every option is intended to provide great value.”
Princess Premier is on sale since 1 June in Southeast Asia for voyages globally departing on 25 June and beyond. The package includes:
Unlimited MedallionNet WiFi – the best WiFi at sea – for up to four-devices
New “Premier” Beverage Package – top-shelf spirits and cocktails up to US$18 with bar service charge including a new selection of wines by the glass, 25% bottles of wine, speciality coffees, smoothies, and bottled water
Two speciality dining meals per person, including popular restaurants like Crown Grill and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria
Digital downloads of all photos taken by professional staff on board, plus three prints of any size up to 8 x 10
Daily Crew Appreciation
The addition of Princess Premier gives guests in Southeast Asia three package options when booking a Princess cruise vacation:
Princess Standard cruise package, including the standard cruise fare
Princess Plus (US$50 per person, per day) – including unlimited WiFi for a single device; Plus Beverage package (covering drinks up to USD12, 25% off bottles of wine, speciality coffees, smoothies and bottled water); and daily crew appreciation
NEW. Princess Premier (USD75 per person, per day), on sale, beginning 1 June
Guests on voyages departing 25 June and beyond who previously purchased Princess Plus can upgrade to Princess Premier for an additional USD25 per person, per day.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 65-6922 6788, or visit the company’s website at http://www.princess.com/.
BANGKOK, 2 June 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts confirms the reopening of COSI Samui Chaweng Beach on 16 June.
A shortt walk from Chaweng Beach, COSI Samui Chaweng Beach is a lifestyle hotel for the freedom-loving traveller and a lively place for connecting and mingling. It’s hyper-connected with fast, free Wi-Fi and USB charger points throughout and is available 24 hours. Guests can redeem their daily free credit for drinks and a bite whenever they want and meet like-minded travellers at The Social Hub. The hotel’s COSI Crew provides local recommendations to explore the island, after which guests can chill out at the rooftop pool with a see-through side.
To experience more of the COSI lifestyle at COSI Samui Chaweng Beach, book the “COSI Celebration” promotion from now until 30 June 2022 for stays from 16 to 30 June 2022 and enjoy a second consecutive night free for every night booked, starting from just THB900++ for a two-night stay.
SINGAPORE 2 June 2022: Leading global travel management company FCM has established a new, dedicated Tokyo office to bolster the company’s Asian capabilities.
While FCM has previously assisted its portfolio of large national and multi-national clients through Japanese agency partnerships, this investment in a direct-to-market strategy means customers continue to benefit from the company’s commitment to new technology, including FCM’s game-changing platform.
FCM Managing Director Asia Bertrand Saillet said the decision to expand in Japan was driven by ‘evolving customer requirements while recognising considerable business development opportunities the country offers.”
“Japan is an exciting and dynamic market for business travel. We are seeing strong demand from existing customers, but prospects across Asia are also expressing strong interest in TMC support. To harness the growth potential and capitalise on this trajectory, we are pleased to have solidified our presence while bringing onboard a slew of local talents to our Japanese team,” said Saillet.
As FCM operates and owns the office in Japan, clients will experience additional investment and new solutions designed for the local market underpinned by the company’s signature flexibility and consistent user experience via access to the global FCM Platform.
Kenichi Shiraishi heads the office as its general manager, Japan.
Japan is the world’s fourth-largest business travel market; however, FCM’s research shows there is still significant scope for business development. Less than 15% of Japanese companies currently use TMCs, with business travel mainly managed in-house.
Of the 818 Japanese travel managers currently not working with a TMC, 88% indicated a pressing need to digitalise business travel arrangements. It also emphasised risk management, with 81% believing business travel would be easier and safer when using a qualified, company-designated agency.
LANGKAWI, 2 June 2022: Malaysia’s top holiday island, Langkawi could attract around 2.5 million visitors this year, according to a Langkawi Development Authority forecast.
As reported by the New Straits Times, the LADA chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Muttalib said he was making the estimate based on data showing 890,000 tourists visited the island during the five months ending 27 May.
“This is in line with the positive recovery of the tourism sector following the rise in tourist arrivals since the country reopened international borders on 1 April.
He made the comments during the opening of the Langkawi Geopark Carnival 2022 earlier this week. This year, Langkawi will place a strong emphasis on promoting cultural and sports events in the hope that it will boost arrivals to reach 2.5 million by year-end. Promotions will move up a gear in the domestic market mainly through social media channels to build awareness followed by campaigns to reach out to the travel trade worldwide and also introduce a strategy to provide airlines with incentives to start new routes to Langkawi from Europe during the last quarter of the year.
The island attracted 3.9 million international visitors in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic brought lockdowns and strict travel restrictions in 2020.
Core promotions focus on the travel trade, where support from tour operators could speed up tourism recovery for the island’s tourism industry.
“We will be having promotional campaigns in Vietnam, followed by the World Travel Market in the UK and travel shows in China, Singapore and Thailand,” the LADA chief explained.
MUMBAI, 2 June 2022: Thomas Cook (India) Limited, and its group company, SOTC Travel, are monitoring a substantial 35% growth in spiritual tourism this year.
In a focussed endeavour to tap the potential of an unorganised segment, the companies have expanded their portfolio to include a range of ready-to-book pilgrimages and personalised spiritual journeys. It starts with the launch of a five-day tour with a starting price of INR20,000.00 per person and offers premium-personalised options priced at INR 200,000.00 per person for the six-day tour.
Thomas Cook India and SOTC’s spiritual tourism content features pilgrimage tours, spiritual with wellness experiences and spiritual programmes that incorporate local experiences.
India’s senior segment and the 45+ age group form the core segment for pilgrimage tours combining India and Nepal.
India’s couples and solo travellers (30 to 45 years) display a strong preference for customised spiritual tours that include meditation, yoga and wellness programmes like the Yoga Centre/Ashram in Coimbatore, Dharamshala and Rishikesh; Panchakarma programme at Kumarakom.
India’s millennials and young professionals and families present the highest growth opportunity – and their preference is for spiritual journeys in combination with outdoor adventure and authentic local culture/culinary experiences.
This could include experiences like white-water rafting and night trekking in Vaishno Devi, Kathadi (close to Rameswaram – an emerging hub of water sports), and Badrinath’s famous valley of flowers trek; bungee jumping in Rishikesh, etc. are inspiring India’s millennials to explore the land of spiritual journeys.
Thomas Cook (India) Limited president & country head – holidays, MICE, Visa Rajeev Kale said: “Post the pandemic, we are witnessing a definitive surge in spiritual tourism. With the government’s strong focus on connectivity and infrastructural development, spiritual locales attract interest from seniors, families and millennials.”
