SINGAPORE, 6 January 2026: Pandaw, an Asian specialist river cruise operator, is constructing a second vessel to sail the Kerala Backwaters in India.
The brand new RV Kerala Pandaw will debut at the end of 2026, joining its sister ship, the RV Kochi, which pioneered the Kerala Backwater cruises in 2025.
Photo credit: Pandaw. RV Kerala Pandaw sails at the end of 2026.
Due to their ultra-shallow draft design, the two ships will remain the only cruise vessels able to navigate the full 900 km of Kerala’s canals and backchannels.
The new ship will follow the same seven-night itinerary as RV Kochi, blending cultural performances, temple visits, village walks, and explorations of Kerala’s palm-lined waterways.
Kerala Pandaw will operate a weekly eight-day circular sailing from Kochi, visiting Fort Kochi, Munroe Lighthouse, and the ancestral house of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara. There will be visits to Hindu temples, artisan villages and the legendary beaches of the Malabar coast.
The nearest airport, Cochin, offers convenient connections to Europe via leading Middle Eastern carriers, direct flights to major cities across Southeast Asia, and domestic services to most of India’s gateway destinations.
SINGAPORE, 6 January 2026: Lufthansa marks a significant milestone — 100 years ago, on 6 January 1926, the first “Luft Hansa” was founded, and by 6 April of the same year, the fledgling airline celebrated its maiden flight.
This anniversary reflects the history of one of aviation’s most iconic brands by honouring the pioneering spirit, innovation, and connection of people, cultures, and economies that Lufthansa has shaped for a century.
Photo credit: Lufthansa.
The story begins with the founding of the first Lufthansa, formed through the merger of Junkers Luftverkehr and Deutsche Aero Lloyd. This fusion laid the foundation for a success story in international aviation that continues to this day.
However, Lufthansa’s history is marked by challenges, interruptions, and new beginnings, showcasing the company’s resilience and relentless spirit of innovation.
The darkest chapter in Lufthansa’s history was during the Nazi era, when the airline became part of the regime and played an active role within it. Lufthansa is using its 100th anniversary to critically examine its involvement during this period and address it based on historical research.
In reflecting on its history, Lufthansa does not limit itself to the post-war chapters. The years from its founding to the downfall of the first Lufthansa are equally part of the company’s story.
With the re-establishment of the “second Lufthansa” in 1953, the legal foundation of today’s Lufthansa was created. Once again, a great pioneering spirit was required to embark on a fresh start after the war. In 1955, flight operations resumed, marking the beginning of Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s journey.
Photo credit: Lufthansa.
Anniversary Motto: “We are the Journey”
The anniversary is being celebrated under the motto “We are the Journey” — a message that highlights the shared journey of employees and passengers. It’s a tribute to the guests who have accompanied Lufthansa through a century of challenges, changes, and progress. Without their loyalty and trust, Lufthansa’s success story would not have been possible. The anniversary is therefore a tribute to the people who have shaped this journey.
This primarily includes Lufthansa employees. Since the company’s founding, they have been united by a unique spirit characterised by pioneering ambition, a passion for flying, and a commitment to excellence. Today, 40,000 people from 122 nations work for the Lufthansa brand, and 100,000 people from over 160 countries are part of the aviation group.
A year of experiences for customers, fans, and employees
In the anniversary year 2026, Lufthansa will organise activities and events to honour the history and future of the aviation group. These include a permanent exhibition at the Lufthansa Group Hangar One, special events, a history book, film and video productions, employee celebrations, customer events, and marketing and product campaigns.
The anniversary year will be visible and tangible for Lufthansa customers starting in January. The exceptional “100 Years of Lufthansa” emblem will appear on boarding passes, at airports, and on board Lufthansa flights.
Outside of airports — for example, in many city centres — a poster campaign will tell Lufthansa’s story through iconic images and messages.
Lufthansa’s anniversary fleet
A highlight of the celebrations will be the special aircraft liveries: the key sub-fleets of Lufthansa’s core brand will feature one aircraft with the new 100-year special livery. The Lufthansa anniversary fleet consists of six aircraft: an Airbus A380, an Airbus A350-1000, an Airbus A350-900, an Airbus A320, and a Boeing 747-8. Leading the anniversary fleet is the Boeing 787-9 named “Berlin,” which was delivered from Boeing’s factory in Washington State, USA, to Germany shortly before Christmas and landed at its new home airport in Frankfurt. Soon, this state-of-the-art aircraft, registered as D-ABPU, will enter scheduled service.
Additionally, there will be two retro liveries. These designs combine tradition and progress, making each aircraft a unique flying ambassador of the brand. The iconic crane, designed by Otto Firle in 1918, remains Lufthansa’s global symbol.
BANGKOK, 6 January 2026: Minor Hotel announces the upcoming launch of NH Hua Hin in Thailand’s royal seaside town, with the global hotel group assuming management of the hotel effective 16 January 2026.
NH Hua Hin will offer 152 rooms and suites with city and mountain views. The property provides accommodation options for leisure and business guests, including deluxe rooms, studios, family rooms with bunk beds, and one-bedroom suites.
For meetings and events, the hotel offers a fully equipped 110 sqm function room that accommodates up to 90 guests.
Situated 200 km south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is renowned as Thailand’s royal seaside retreat. NH Hua Hin’s prime location at the southern end of Hua Hin will offer guests access to Hua Hin Beach (400m away), local night markets (Cicada Night Market and Hua Hin Night Market), and shopping experiences (BLUPORT Hua Hin and Market Village Hua Hin).
The hotel will be the fourth NH Hotels & Resorts property in Thailand, joining NH properties in Bangkok and Phuket — NH Bangkok Sukhumvit Boulevard, NH Bangkok Asoke, and NH Boat Lagoon Phuket Resort — as well as sister resorts in Sri Lanka (NH Bentota Ceysands Resort) and the Maldives (NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort). The hotel expands Minor Hotels’ footprint in Hua Hin to three properties alongside the luxury Anantara Hua Hin Resort and premium Avani+ Hua Hin.
JEDDAH, 6 January 2026: As Saudi Arabia continues to build momentum as a premier international destination, Saudia, the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, is reinforcing its role as the airline supporting access to the country’s mega events throughout 2026.
From sports to cultural festivals, the year ahead showcases Saudi Arabia’s continued evolution on the global events stage.
Photo credit: Saudia.
Event highlights 2026,
Diriyah Season (Now to March 2026) offers a powerful convergence of living history, culinary experiences, and performance in the ancestral home of the Saudi state. This season features a diverse range of culture- and heritage-driven programming centred on the UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif.
Riyadh Season (now to March 2026). The Kingdom’s flagship entertainment festival continues to push boundaries with a massive lineup of global concerts, elite sporting events like the WWE Royal Rumble, and high-energy attractions such as Beast Land, inspired by the challenges of MrBeast.
A new highlight of the current season is the BLVD Flowers zone, presenting a record-breaking botanical wonderland spanning 214,000 square meters and featuring 200 million real blossoms and 3D floral art with three retired Saudia Boeing 777s integrated into the garden, allowing visitors to discover a landscape where aviation meets art.
Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale (Opens Jan 2026- May 2026): Hosted in the JAX District, this premier art event features over 70 international artists. The 2026 edition, “In Interludes and Transitions,” explores the global themes of movement and cultural exchange through large-scale installations and performances.
Noor Riyadh (dates to be announced): The world’s largest annual light art festival, transforming Saudi Arabia’s capital into an open-air gallery through large-scale light installations, immersive artworks, and creative programming by leading international and regional artists.
In addition, Saudi Arabia’s events calendar includes recognised cultural, entertainment, and sporting attractions such as MDLBEAST, the Historic Jeddah Festival in Al Balad, and Winter Wonderland, alongside a selection of Saudia-supported international events, including Formula E, the Esports World Cup, and The Saudi Cup — an internationally acclaimed thoroughbred horse-racing event and theworld’ss richest race by prize value.
BANGKOK, 6 January 2026: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) introduces a new mission to steer the Thai MICE industry toward a Net Zero Carbon future, aiming to cut emissions by 20,000 TonCO₂e by 2030.
The target reflects a growing resolve to collectively reduce 2,445.97 TonCO₂e across 232 events in TCEB’s fiscal year 2025, compared to 780 tons of CO₂e in FY 2024. The 313% increase underscores the industry’s rising commitment to environmentally responsible event management.
Photo credit: TCEB.
To achieve this goal, TCEB has updated its Terms of Reference for bidders and proposal submitters, requiring organisers to plan carbon-neutral events.
Event organisers must calculate the carbon footprint of their events and implement measures to reduce carbon emissions, either obtain certification or follow additional guidance from TCEB.
Organisers are also encouraged to offset emissions by sourcing carbon credits from greenhouse gas-reduction projects in Thailand, ensuring the event’s net greenhouse gas emissions are reduced or fully neutralised.
TCEBprovides practical tools for event organisers
Carbon footprint avoidance calculator for event planners; Zero Carbon application developed by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO) for tracking emission reductions; Comprehensive network of auditing and verification bodies; Access to domestic carbon credit projects to facilitate effective offsetting.
BANGKOK, 6 January 2026: The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is recruiting a “new Executive Director” to lead regional tourism cooperation and drive implementation of the GMS Tourism Strategy 2030.
The search for a new Executive Director went public in December via a brief statement and a link to the Terms of Reference. They indicate that the successful candidate, hired under a two-year consultancy contract, will earn a monthly fee of USD4,800 plus work-related travel expenses.
Photo credit: MTCO.
There’s a clause that extends the consultancy for a second two-year term based on KPIs
The MTCO was established in 2006 by the six governments of the Greater Mekong Sub-region — Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
Applications must be filed by email to the MTCO no later than 1700 Bangkok time on 8 January. All nationalities can apply, but “GMS citizens, and women are strongly encouraged.”
TTRW filed questions with the spokesperson for the GMS Tourism Working Group, who noted “we cannot confirm whether the current Executive Director will be applying, as that remains her personal decision to make before the deadline.”
The incumbent Executive Director, Dee Suvimol, completes her second term this March. She declined to comment.
However, the GMS Tourism Working Group says it will announce the appointment of the new Executive Director in mid-March, following online interviews with shortlisted candidates in February.
The Bangkok-based Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) leads the organisation’s overall management and coordinates regional public- and private-sector tourism marketing and development initiatives in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
“The Executive Director’s primary objective is to provide specialised knowledge to support secretariat functions of the GMS TWG and MTCO Board, including organising TWG/MTCO Board meetings and the annual Mekong Tourism Forum,” the ToR states. “The secondary objective is to coordinate andfacilitate the implementation of GMS Tourism Strategy, the GMS Tourism Marketing Action Plan, and other regional tourism initiatives as directed by the MTCO Board.”
SINGAPORE, 5 January 2026: Atlas Ocean Voyages unveils a new Enhanced Explorer’s Choice offer, allowing guests to enjoy double the amenities on a limited selection of 2026 voyages.
Available for bookings made through 31 March, the promotion allows guests on select itineraries, regardless of stateroom category, to choose two complimentary amenities from a curated menu of premium enhancements.
Photo credit: Atlas Ocean Voyages.
In addition, Atlas Ocean Voyages announces the return of its standard Explorer’s Choice promotion across all remaining 2026 and 2027 voyages. Under the standard offer, guests reserving a stateroom may select one complimentary amenity, while guests booking a suite may select up to two.
Both the enhanced and standard Explorer’s Choice offers may be combined with bonus savings of up to 40% on select voyages, delivering exceptional value across Atlas Ocean Voyages’ Polar, Epicurean, and Cultural Expeditions.
Explorer’s Choice amenities’ options include air credits for guests arranging their own flights, pre-expedition hotel stays or land programmes, and unlimited Wi-Fi. Featured sailings:
Epicurean Expedition 2 April 2026
Sailing round-trip from Tenerife, this Epicurean Expedition highlights a Table Journey dining experience in Casablanca, combining gourmet cuisine with guided cultural exploration.
Cultural Expedition 11 May, 2026
This Northern Europe Cultural Expedition sailing from London to Tromsø features cultural exploration.
Polar Expedition 18 June, 2026
Sailing from Longyearbyen to Oslo, this Arctic Polar Expedition is led by Atlas’s experienced Polar Expedition Team. It includes Zodiac landings, expedition shore excursions, and scenic cruising throughout the High Arctic.
Polar Expedition 19 July 19, 2026
Sailing from Oslo to Longyearbyen, this Polar Expedition features Atlas’s signature expedition experiences, including Zodiac operations and guided shore landings, with scenic exploration in ports such as Skagen, Denmark, and Måløy, Norway.
Epicurean Expedition 20 July, 2026
Sailing from Piraeus (Athens) to Civitavecchia (Rome), this Epicurean Expedition blends regional Mediterranean cuisine with immersive cultural discovery.
About Atlas Ocean Voyages Atlas Ocean Voyages is the yacht expedition brand of Mystic Invest Holding, with expedition yachts featuring fewer than 100 suites. World Navigator was launched in 2021, World Traveller in 2022, and World Voyager joined the fleet in 2023.
LANGKAWI, 5 January 2026: As Malaysia enters the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign year, Langkawi marked the occasion with the official launch of the Langkawi Calendar of Events 2026 at Dataran Lang, Kuah, alongside the destination’s New Year Countdown Celebration.
Organised by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), the launch reflects the island’s readiness to welcome a new chapter of travel growth.
The event was officiated by Datuk Seri Iskandar Bin Datuk Haji Mohd Kaus, Chief Executive Officer of LADA, and witnessed by invited dignitaries, including representatives from the federal and state levels, Members of Parliament, State Assemblymen, district administration, and local authorities.
The Langkawi Calendar of Events 2026 presents a year-long programme of 151 cultural, community, sporting and visitor-focused experiences curated to sustain momentum throughout the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign year.
Designed with both travellers and the tourism industry in mind, the calendar supports consistent visitor flows, encourages longer stays, and creates opportunities for local operators to participate meaningfully in the island’s tourism ecosystem.
“The Calendar of Events 2026 reflects our focus on quality, continuity and readiness as we enter Visit Malaysia 2026. Langkawi is well-positioned to offer experiences that are welcoming, well-curated and grounded in the island’s character,” said Datuk Seri Iskandar Bin Datuk Haji Mohd Kaus.
The evening programme culminated in a New Year 2026 countdown at Dataran Lang, featuring live performances and fireworks — a moment that marked the start of a new tourism year for Langkawi.
New Year’s welcome at all entry points
Carrying the spirit of the celebrations into the first day of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign year, Langkawi extended a coordinated New Year Visitor Welcome across its primary entry points on 1 January 2026, from 1000to 2400.
Visitors arriving via Langkawi International Airport, Kuah Jetty and the RORO Terminal were greeted with flower garlands and welcome goodie bags, offering a warm first impression that reflects Langkawi’s long-standing culture of hospitality. For more information on upcoming events, visit naturallylangkawi.my.
(Source: Your Stories — Langkawi Development Authority)
DUBAI, UAE, 5 January 2026: Emirates moved 55.6 million customers, circled Earth 29,290 times on nearly 180,580 flights, and placed orders for 73 new aircraft during 2025.
Here are the highlights that defined 2025 for the world’s largest international airline:
Emirates A350 takes off
The first Emirates A350 entered commercial service in early January 2025 with its maiden journey to Edinburgh. The airline’s A350 network has expanded rapidly since then, and now 16 Emirates A350s fly to 18 cities, connecting travellers in comfort across Europe, West Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and, soon, the Americas, when it debuts in Montreal in February 2026.
Looking East
2025 saw Emirates double down on its footprint in Asia with the launch of two new Chinese mainland destinations – Shenzhen and Hangzhou – served by non-stop daily flights, as well as services to Danang in Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia via Bangkok. The airline has been working to serve growing travel and trade demand across East Asia and China as business activity grows across the region.
More Premium Economy
Throughout 2025, Emirates has been adding more of its next-generation Airbus A350, retrofitted Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. They all feature the award-winning Emirates Premium Economy cabin across its network. Today, close to 70 cities are served by more than 100 aircraft offering the latest Emirates cabin interiors, constituting roughly 40% of the airline’s passenger fleet.
Lightning speed with Starlink
Emirates announced the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi across 232 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow in November. Starting with its Boeing 777s, the programme will quickly expand to make Emirates the world’s first airline with Starlink-equipped A380s in early 2026.
Uniting fans through sport
Emirates announced nine major sports deals and renewals in 2025, positioning it as one of the world’s most visible sports sponsors through the 2030s. Its seven-year headline partnership with FC Bayern Munich made Emirates the Platinum Partner of the German football powerhouse and marked the airline’s high-profile return to the Bundesliga.
Emirates signed a historic contract extension with World Rugby through 2035, the longest commitment in the airline’s 40-year sponsorship history and the first-ever Platinum Partnership in rugby. It also inked a brand-new partnership with the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), backing the continent’s most prestigious club rugby competitions to connect the airline with over 70 million rugby fans worldwide.
Other notable deals included: becoming the Official Main Sponsor of Real Madrid Basketball; renewing its 18-year AC Milan partnership; extending its Olympique Lyonnais and ATP Tour partnerships through to 2030; and UAE Team Emirates XRG. These deals solidified Emirates’ sports portfolio spanning football’s elite clubs, international rugby, professional basketball, Grand Slam tennis and tournaments, professional cycling, and more.
Door-to-door Courier Express
Emirates launched Emirates Courier Express, setting new benchmarks in cross-border delivery by flying packages directly on its passenger fleet instead of routing through multiple hubs. Shortly after launch, Emirates Courier Express added Australia and Germany to its network, now serving 10 international markets, with further expansion planned in 2026. To date, the airline has handled over 50,000 packages and achieved an average delivery time of just three days across its lane pairs.
Emirates Skywards turns 25
Emirates Skywards marked its Silver Jubilee in 2025, complete with a special A380 livery and month-long activations for its members. The award-winning programme today boasts 37 million members across 190 countries. In the last 20 years, Skywards has distributed nearly 400 billion Miles through 100+ partners across 1,400 flight destinations and 30,000 hotels, with members now redeeming over 800 flight rewards daily and one upgrade every minute. This milestone underscores the programme’s place as one of the commercial aviation industry’s most valuable loyalty platforms, adding 78,000 new members weekly.
Fly better
Over the last 12 months, Emirates elevated its premium and family travel experience with a suite of enhancements in the air and on the ground. In July, the airline opened Emirates First, an exclusive private check-in area at Terminal 3, Dubai International, featuring plush seating and modern ambience, complete with quick check-in while seated, for a sleek, smooth experience for First Class customers and Skywards Platinum members.
The airline also unveiled refined First-Class service details on board, including keepsake menus exploring wine heritage and culinary inspiration; Robert Welch-designed caviar presentation bowls for its unlimited caviar service, complemented by gloved service from cabin crew; and rustic slate cheeseboards with wooden accompaniments.
Investing in the highest levels of luxury hospitality, Emirates opened its Centre of Hospitality Excellence in Dubai to train nearly 25,000 cabin crew in Michelin-star-standard hospitality, featuring an immersive fine dining restaurant, presentation kitchens, and tech-enabled classrooms.
KUCHING, 5 January 2026: Sarawak’s historic flight from Tanjung Datu to Lawas, positioning Sarawak as the Gateway to Borneo, was officially unveiled as a Guinness World Records (GWR) achievement during the Countdown 2026 celebrations at the Kuching Waterfront.
Recognised worldwide as the definitive authority on record-breaking achievements, Guinness World Records provides independent verification and global credibility to milestones achieved across countries, industries and cultures.
Sarawak’s historic flight from Tanjung Datu to Lawas was officially unveiled as a Guinness World Records (GWR) achievement during the Countdown 2026 celebrations at the Kuching Waterfront.
The record-setting journey traversed Sarawak’s diverse landscapes and significant landmarks, symbolising the state’s scale, connectivity and ambition. Beyond its technological achievement, the initiative stands as a powerful symbol of Sarawak’s scale, connectivity and ambition, reinforcing its positioning as the Gateway to Borneo.
Achieving a Guinness World Records title places Sarawak among an international community of record-holders, reinforcing the state’s international standing while celebrating a moment of collective pride for its people.
“This achievement goes beyond setting a world record. It reflects Sarawak’s readiness to lead with bold ideas, innovation and confidence as we stepped into 2026,” said YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Sarawak. “Announcing this Guinness World Record on New Year’s Eve is a strong signal of the momentum Sarawak is building as we prepare to welcome global travellers.”
The Guinness World Records announcement marked a meaningful moment of pride for Sarawakians during Countdown 2026, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak.
