BANGKOK, 27 May 2022: Thailand introduces a simplified Thailand Pass registration and entry rules for international arrivals starting 1 June 2022.
The proposal gained approval from Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration and is now awaiting publication in the Royal Gazette, making the changes official and binding.
Tourism Authority of Thailand posted details of the 1 June changes to the Thailand Pass.
Foreign nationals must apply for a Thailand Pass (via https://tp.consular.go.th/. However, they will only need to provide details of their passport, vaccination, and the US$10,000 health insurance policy. The system will automatically issue a Thailand Pass QR code for the applicants without any waiting period.
Thai citizens will no longer be required to apply for a Thailand Pass.
Upon arriving in Thailand, vaccinated travellers must undergo entry screening and are free to go anywhere in the kingdom.
Unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated travellers who can upload proof of a negative RT-PCR or professional ATK test within 72 hours of travel via the Thailand Pass system will also be allowed entry and free to go anywhere.
The CCSA also approved the easing of nationwide Covid-19 controls for provinces and destinations identified by different colours – Pilot Tourist Areas or blue zones, the Surveillance or Green Zone, and Areas under the Stringent Surveillance or yellow zone.
Night-time entertainment venues, such as pubs, bars and karaoke lounges in the green and blue zones, will be allowed to resume operations, including the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises from 1700 to 2400. However, restaurants and bars cannot serve alcoholic beverages between 1400 to 1700 daily under pre-Covid-19 rules introduced to limit alcohol sale hours.
TTR Weekly reports on Covid-19 rule changes that are first published on the TAT Newsroom website www.tatnews.org, rather than speculating or reporting proposals that may not be approved by public health authorities and the CCSA.
DELHI, 27 May 2022: A ransomware attack on India’s SpiceJet continued to impact the airline’s operations on Wednesday, leading to more flight delays, the airline confirmed in a Twitter post
Its IT team claims it has now “to a large extent contained and rectified the situation that had a cascading effect on our flights leading to delays.”
BBC first reported the airline faced a ransomware attack on Tuesday evening, delaying flights and leaving many stranded at airports, but flights continued to be delayed throughout Wednesday, and many of the airline’s website pages failed to open.
The airline says the situation has now been rectified, but its media centre and corporate announcements, and other website features remained offline when searching its website. Online booking systems are working normally.
Commenting on the attack, Times Now said that many passengers took to social media to slam the airline after experiencing continued flight delays. Times Now suggested in its report that the incident exposed “cracks in our air safety and how vulnerable are flights to malware attacks.”
LONDON, 27 May 2022: Vueling and Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s railway company, have agreed to offer air to rail connections for Vueling passengers.
Using Vueling Global, the virtual interline platform powered by Dohop (www.dohop.com), customers can now purchase tickets using one booking process, combining their flight with train connections to different destinations across Germany.
Connections between airline and train can be made at Berlin Brandenburg Airport to cities such as Dresden, Hannover, Leipzig, Rostock and Wolfsburg.
With the intermodal travel link, Vueling extends the catchment area of BER to the surrounding cities and seamlessly links it with destinations across Europe.
The Dohop platform allows Vueling and Deutsche Bahn to provide passengers with a one-stop-shop for booking combined airline and train journeys.
Dohop is an Icelandic technology company with 17 years of experience in developing innovative solutions in aviation and travel. Its core technology focuses on connecting itineraries working with alliances and airports worldwide, as well as airlines such as EasyJet, Transavia, Air France, Eurowings, Vueling, and Air Transat.
YANGON, 27 May 2022: Myanmar has reactivated its e-visa service after two years, but entry and health rules are stringent, while travellers remain hesitant as long as the country is under military junta rule.
However, commercial flights for business travellers resumed in April and airlines based in Southeast Asia serve Yangon mainly from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
https://www.gasperexplorer.com.
Myanmar still maintains stringent pandemic protocols that require visitors to show vaccination certification, PCR tests and local medical insurance cover purchased from an authorised insurance company.
Arrivals must be fully vaccinated and present proof of a second Covid dose at least 14 days before arrival. They must also provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR test result not more than 72 hours before departure to Myanmar.
On arrival, all visitors must take a Covid Rapid Antigen Test costing around 15000 ks (USD8). If they return a negative result, they can continue their travel itinerary in Myanmar. If positive, they must be isolated in a designated government hospital or hotel, which is covered by the health insurance they purchased.
Visitors also need to show proof of a return ticket from Myanmar and a hotel booking making the online e-visa application.
Tourism industry leaders are hopeful that reopening the e-visa facility will help revive the tourism sector, but this year will be challenging. The main deterrent to recovery is the dominant traveller perception that visits will generate hard currency spending and that will help to prop up the military junta. Following a military coup on 1 February 2021, the military stands accused of killing thousands of innocent protesters and imprisoning people without fair trials.
Justice for Myanmar claims foreign exchange earnings and investment in tourism projects linked financially to the military junta leaders ultimately fund the purchase of military equipment and weapons used against protestors who are calling for the return of democracy and freedom of speech.
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2022: AirAsia Thailand will launch flights on 20 June from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Malaysia, making it the first low-cost airline to offer flights to Kuala Lumpur from Bangkok’s two international airports.
Travellers planning trips to Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur can now choose flights landing at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) or Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).
Flights on the Kuala Lumpur – Suvarnabhumi (BKK) route will operate twice daily. A promotional fare for AirAsia members sells for a minimum of MYR179 one way. Book promotional seats from now until 31 May for travel from 20 June to 29 October 2022 using the AirAsia Super App.
Commenting on the introduction of the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi – Kuala Lumpur route, AirAsia Thailand chief executive officer Santisuk Klongchaiya said: “At present, the carrier operates three domestic routes from Suvarnabhumi, flying to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi, and from June onwards will be operating our first international route with Suvarnabhumi-Kuala Lumpur.”
Fully vaccinated travellers between Thailand and Malaysia are no longer required to present a Covid-19 test result or undergo quarantine on arrival. Thailand will abolish the Thailand Pass requirement for Thai Nationals to enter the country from 1 June 2022.
SHENZEN, China, 27 May 2022: Thailand’s destinations dominate DidaTravel’s bookings chart for the first four months of 2022 confirming the country leads recovery in booking volume in Southeast Asia channelled through the global hotel wholesaler.
At the country level, Thailand leads the Southeast Asia market growth, with bookings up 324% from 1 January to 30 April compared with the same four-month period in 2021. The total booking volume for Thailand from 1 January to 30 April 2022 was 1.7 times of Malaysia, 2.2 times of Indonesia, 3.3 times of Singapore, 3.4 times of the Philippines, and 11.4 times of Vietnam. The company said the exact booking order amounts were confidential.
DidaTravel said the vast lead in total booking volume for the four months confirmed Thailand as its top destination in the region for its B2B travel buying clients based worldwide.
In its booking performance chart identifying the top 20 destinations, Bangkok topped the list, but other destinations in Thailand returned positive booking trends too. Pattaya on Thailand’s eastern seaboard clocked fourth place, followed by sixth-placed Phuket, Krabi (11), Chiang Mai (12), Hua Hin (15), and Samui (18).
Overall, data from DidaTravel shows that Southeast Asia’s hotel bookings have increased by 460% YoY, even surpassing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 by 15%.
At the same time, the top destinations (cities as opposed to countries) booked by DidaTravel’s B2B buyers, such as travel agents, tour operators, OTAs, TMCs and MICE, are as follows:
Top 20 Southeast Asian destinations for global travellers 2022 reserved via clients of DidaTravel
Rank
Destination
1
Bangkok, Thailand
2
Singapore
3
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4
Pattaya, Thailand
5
Bali, Indonesia
6
Phuket, Thailand
7
Manila, Philippines
8
Jakarta, Indonesia
9
Boracay Island, Philippines
10
George Town, Malaysia
11
Krabi, Thailand
12
Chiang Mai, Thailand
13
Bandung, Indonesia
14
Ipoh, Malaysia
15
Hua Hin, Thailand
16
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
17
Johor Bahru, Malaysia
18
Koh Samui, Thailand
19
Kuantan, Malaysia
20
Malacca, Malaysia
As the demand for Southeast Asia hotel products rises, DidaTravel has added more rooms to its inventory. In the past three years, DidaTravel’s hotel numbers in Southeast Asia have maintained double-digit growth to reach 44% — taking the total number of hotels available in the region to 28,000, of which 3,712 hotels are directly contracted.
In part, this growth has been driven by DidaTravel’s recently announced plan to increase the number of directly contracted hotels globally by the end of 2022 to reach 74,000.
DidaTravel Founder & CEO Rikin Wu said: “DidaTravel has had a rich local knowledge and strong contracting presence in Southeast Asia for a long time – so it is very exciting to see growth in Southeast Asia as demand rebounds. I am optimistic about the travel industry in 2022 because we see more and more countries are easing travel restrictions across the region to bring back the much needed long-haul travellers who stay longer and spend more.
“We’ve been working hand-in-hand with our Southeast Asian hotelier partners to attract and welcome domestic and international travellers to their hotels. I’m proud to confirm that we now have 28,000 hotels in the region, 3,712 directly contracted.” 1 All figures quoted refer to bookings made via DidaTravel from 1 January to 30 April 2019, 2021, and 2022.
PATTAYA, 26 May 2022: Tripadvisor recognises Royal Cliff Beach as a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner for Top Family Hotel.
The award celebrates businesses that received great Tripadvisor reviews from travellers around the globe over the last 12 months. As challenging as the past year was, the Royal Cliff stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to travellers.
Winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from Tripadvisor travellers worldwide. This recognition cements the property’s position among the finest in the country and being part of an elite group known to be truly exceptional.
“Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Winners,” said Tripadvisor chief commercial officer Kanika Soni. “Ranking among the Travelers’ Choice winners is always tough – but never more so than this year as we emerge from the pandemic. Whether using new technology, implementing safety measures, or hiring outstanding staff, I’m impressed by the steps you’ve taken to meet travellers’ new demands. You’ve adapted brilliantly in the face of adversity.”
The Royal Cliff Beach Hotel offers family-friendly accommodations along with on-site amenities that keep both parents and kids happy and entertained at all times. Funtasea – Kids World and The Verge – Games, Pool and Karaoke offer productive and fun activities for families to enjoy. Its new spectacular infinity-edged pool, Sky Aquarium, features an exciting kids’ pool along with multiple spots for various activities, including outdoor massages, surf skating, and many more.
To see traveler reviews of the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel, please visit:
The Travelers’ Choice awards are the highest honour TripAdvisor can give. Royal Cliff prides itself in providing hospitality excellence and exceeding its guests’ expectations. Positive reviews reflect how worldwide travellers constantly commended the Royal Cliff for its unparalleled services and wide-ranging facilities.
The Royal Cliff Hotels Group operates four luxury hotels providing tourists from home and abroad with the ultimate experience. It has won over 250 national and international awards to date.
Book your stay directly with Royal Cliff to get the best-guaranteed price and optional value-added extras for an enhanced hotel experience by visiting http://www.royalcliff.com/or contact reservations at (+66) 38 250 421 ext: 2732 or emailing [email protected].
For more information on the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, please visit www.royalcliff.com.
SINGAPORE, 26 May 2022: In Spain, you expect to discover art in elegant galleries and museums, but don’t forget Street Art which is becoming increasingly popular in many towns and villages, turning the side of houses and buildings into authentic open-air galleries.
If you’re looking to do something a bit different on your visit to Spain, here are some tips on following the street art trail to discover murals and façades so impressive that they don’t seem quite real.
In this Basque city, you can check out the Muralístico la Ciudad Pintada or Painted City Route, a gallery of murals spread around the old medieval quarter and other neighbourhoods. The façades of the buildings in the heart of Vitoria-Gasteiz have been decorated by artists and local people together, who have transformed them into huge, colourful and authentic works of art. Some have very evocative names, such as “The Light of Hope”.
Join a guided tour and discover all these highly original façades and the stories behind them. More information and a Google map showing all the points of interest, should you prefer to complete the route on your own: http://www.muralismopublico.com/
It is possible to explore this very touristy city in a different way. Join a tour either on foot or by eco-bike (they’re made of bamboo) with a specialised artist who will be your guide to Barcelona’s best works of street art, many of which are often unknown to the general public. The neighbourhoods where you’ll find the most emblematic murals are Ciutat Vella and Poblenou. In Poblenou, the façades of the old factories have been completely transformed, becoming enormous canvases. More information.
The capital is another place where you can take some of the best urban art tours in the country. Simply take a stroll around alternative neighbourhoods like Malasaña and Lavapiés to find a multitude of examples. For example, you could take the “Cool Tour Spain” to explore the origins of the graffiti movement and discover places like the walls of the La Tabacalera cultural centre. Or why not check out urban art fairs such as C.A.L.L.E. in the Lavapiés district, where local shops welcome creativity to their window displays, Pinta Malasaña or the UVNT Art Fair. More information.
This city on the shores of the Mediterranean invites you to explore the pretty Turia gardens, either on foot or by bike, following the “Abstracte, un riu d’art” route. You’ll be able to see 12 murals along the 10 kilometre route, at the bases of bridges, in sports areas and on garden sheds.
Another option is to join a guided tour around the famous El Carmen district, right in the centre of the city. You’ll walk through streets steeped in history, and learn about the differences between graffiti and street art. More information.
If there’s a neighbourhood in this Andalusian city that’s perfect for enjoying street art, it’s the one known as “Soho”. In this part of the city, graffiti by international artists is mixed with art galleries, craft breweries, café terraces, shops selling comics, etc.
To see all the creations, you can follow the MAUS route – Málaga Arte Urbano Soho – and see streets transformed into canvases with works by artists such as Bohamistura, Roa, D’Face, Obey and more. More information.
Urban art has been transforming the Aragonese capital for years. Organised for the first time in 2005, each September the Asalto Festival fills the city’s streets with impressive participatory art. However, on a stroll around Zaragoza at any time, you’ll find some 70 works that decorate the old quarter with animals, figures and lots of colours.
Make your own map and discover these fascinating hidden corners by yourself, or join a guided tour if you want a more in-depth experience.
Urban art has also taken to the streets of this Cantabrian city. Many of Santander’s walls have been decorated as part of the “DESVELARTE” festival of public art. Every Sunday, you have the opportunity to join a guided tour to discover them all and take some incredible photos. What’s more, you can round off your tour by checking out the exhibitions at the avant-garde Centro Botín on the waterfront.
A great way to admire the work of contemporary artists. More information.
Thanks to the annual Urban Avant-Garde Festival, the old quarter of this Navarrese city has become one of the key places in Spain for enjoying street art. You’re sure to be impressed by the building façades, which will make you feel as if you’re in an open-air museum.
Other ideas
In addition to these cities, there are many others where you’ll also find innovative examples of street art, such as Zamora, Cuenca, Estepona, Calpe, Vigo, Bilbao and more.
If what you’re looking for is a rural getaway, you’ll also find that there are lots of villages where street art is a tribute to the people of the area and its traditions. Some examples? Villangómez (a village in Burgos with around 200 inhabitants) and Romangordo in Extremadura. The murals you’ll find there have evocative names like ‘Sounds of an Absent River’ and ‘Flying from the Root‘ and will make you fall in love with them.
Interestingly, more and more villages in Castile-La Mancha are renovating old grain silos to create fabulous works of street art and turn them into viewpoints. An example? The viewpoint from the grain silo in Almagro.
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 May 2022: Malaysia’s three Tourism & Culture Ambassadors, appointed in June 2021 for a two-year term, remain optimistic, sharing their plans to jump-start Malaysia’s tourism industry.
Dato’ Haji Chef Ismail Ahmad covers the gastronomy segment, Datuk Lee Jin Bok the South Korean market and Kabir Khan Mohamad Reaz the UK and US markets.
During a recent meeting with the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri in Kuala Lumpur, the ambassadors elaborated on their plans to promote Malaysia in the post-pandemic era.
Photo Credit: Tourism Malaysia. Malaysia’s three Tourism Ambassadors meet with Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture (fourth from left).
Dato’ Haji Chef Ismail Ahmad
Malaysia’s famed celebrity chef, Dato’ Chef Ismail Ahmad has been actively promoting Malaysia’s authentic cuisine globally through various efforts during the recent pandemic, including a collaboration with a Korean YouTube channel, Blimey, as well as personal cooking classes with the Association of Spouses of Heads of Diplomatic Missions Malaysia (SOHOM).
“The idea of working closely with SOHOM came to me three years ago, and I’m truly grateful that we managed to resume the gastro diplomacy programme this year. Due to the encouraging response by the members, the association has also agreed to make it an annual event. In the meantime, I am preparing for a five-country roadshow across Europe, where I will be working closely with embassies in Germany, Serbia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Hungary”.
Datuk Lee Jin Bok
Datuk Lee Jin Bok, Chairman of Technology Infotech Lee Sdn Bhd, Vice Chairman of the World Federation of Korean Chambers of Commerce, and Executive Advisor for the Overseas Business Division of Daemyung Group, acts as a go-between connecting South Korea and Malaysia to promote events or the travel sector known as Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, & Exhibitions (MICE).
Datuk Lee forecasts an increase in international arrivals, particularly from South Koreans, in 2023, after border restrictions eased mainly business travel and golf tours while promoting recovery in the MICE sector.
Kabir Khan Mohamad Reaz
A Penang-born, world-renowned magician, who performs shows in Europe, the UK, and the US, Kabir says he reaches out to audiences to create awareness of Malaysia.
“You can see that show audiences are very much interested to know about Malaysia. However, certain markets listen differently; hence the correct strategies need to be in place to promote Malaysia internationally. I plan to attract these long-haul tourists by creating value-for-money packages, where they get to enjoy several destinations for the price of one,” he explained.
“We are coming out of a pandemic. It’s a reset in tourism that gives us opportunities to develop new approaches. As a co-owner of the Atmosphere 360 Restaurant in KL Tower, 90% of our customers were tourists during the pre-pandemic. Tourists will return and enjoy the culinary experience while creating long-lasting bonds and friendships through our hospitality,” he added.
Commenting on the ambassadors’ achievements, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato’ Seri Nancy said: “Despite the limitations caused by the pandemic, our ambassadors have still managed to continue with their promotional efforts through various means. I hope that this will continue as we move forward and develop more creative efforts that can capture the hearts of our prospective visitors while showcasing Malaysia to the world.”
SINGAPORE, 26 May 2022: Thirty-five individuals and organisations were recognised at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2022 on Tuesday for demonstrating resilience, innovation and service excellence amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Organised by the Singapore Tourism Board, the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community, and Youth Alvin Tan presided over the Singapore Tourism Awards presentation ceremony.
STB chief executive Keith Tan said: “The efforts of all the award finalists and recipients spur the entire tourism industry to greater achievements. Their spirit of resilience and creativity will become more important as we emerge from the pandemic to recapture demand and ensure Singapore remains a world-leading leisure and MICE destination.”
There were 81 finalists for the Experience Excellence, Enterprise Excellence, Customer Service, Top and Special Awards categories this year.
Standout winners
Special Recognition Awards
One Kampong Gelam and Group ONE Holdings each received a Special Recognition Award for displaying resilience and delivering creative and innovative products and experiences.
One Kampong Gelam (OKG) initiated new events and activities to enliven and establish Kampong Gelam as a vibrant cultural district. OKG launched the precinct’s first Hari Raya light-up project in over a decade, with a first-of-its-kind light projection show on the Sultan Mosque. It also transformed and added vibrancy to the precinct with the first official graffiti Hall of Fame in Southeast Asia by turning construction hoardings into a street art attraction.
Group ONE Holdings (ONE) was the first event organiser to pilot an international live sporting event in 2020, with pre-event testing and heightened safe management measures. They shared their experience with other event organisers, paving the way for more events to resume in 2021. ONE continued to hold events safely and successfully while innovating and expanding its product offerings during the pandemic.
Sustainability Awards
In line with Singapore’s ambition to become a top sustainable urban destination, Grand Hyatt Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa were each awarded the Special Award for Sustainability.
Grand Hyatt Singapore implemented impactful sustainability initiatives, such as converting food waste into fertiliser and reducing its carbon footprint by installing a gas-powered plant to provide 30% of the hotel’s electricity needs.
Marina Bay Sands, recognised as the first carbon-neutral MICE venue in Singapore, leveraged smart technology in its operations to support sustainability. MBS has also commercialised sustainability by incorporating it into their offerings and programmes – for example, by offering sustainability tours.
Resorts World Sentosa adopted a comprehensive range of sustainability initiatives in carbon neutrality, waste management, energy efficiency and biodiversity. As a sign of their sustainability commitment, RWS also provided SGD10 million in funding to the RWS-NUS Living Laboratory to enhance biodiversity conservation in Singapore.
Outstanding Achievements
Twenty individuals and organisations were also honoured for their outstanding achievements across the Customer Service, Experience Excellence and Enterprise Excellence categories.
They included Let’s Go Tour’s Red Oil Lamp: Chinatown Stories Alive and Voices: Memories of Kampong Lorong Buangkok were collectively named Outstanding Tour Experience for providing an immersive, theatrical experience based on the tour location and time.
The Clan Hotel was recognised as an Outstanding Hotel Experience. It developed multiple cross-sector collaborations, incorporating them into various services to provide guests with new and authentic experiences.
Organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Singapore Tourism Awards brings together Singapore’s tourism sector to celebrate individuals and organisations that best deliver exceptional experiences and achieve enterprise excellence. The Awards are an integral part of STB’s efforts to raise the Singapore tourism sector’s competitiveness by motivating organisations and individuals to create compelling experiences or adopt best practices.
