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Tripadvisor honours Centara Grand Mirage Pattaya

BANGKOK, 24 May 2022: Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya has been ranked 13 in the Top 25 Hotels for Families – Asia – Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2022 “Best of the Best”.   

The beachside property has received the Travellers’ Choice Award Winner from Tripadvisor 12 years in a row.

“It is always an honour and a privilege to be awarded this level of recognition from TripAdvisor,” said Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya’s area general manager Wayne Duberly.

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is Thailand’s first theme hotel, built to a Lost World theme and featuring a jungled water park with pools, waterfalls, water slides, a lazy river, and direct access to the beach. The Kids’ Club has separate zones for the young ones and the teens.

For information and reservations, please contact us email to [email protected] or Tel.+66 (038) 301 234

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Emirates celebrates 30 years of flying to Paris

DUBAI UAE, May 24 2022: Emirates is back for its 10th consecutive year as the Official Airline and Premium Partner of Roland-Garros 2022. The premier clay-court tennis event opened on May 22 and concludes on June 5 2022, at Stade Roland Garros.

This year, Emirates will also be celebrating a significant milestone in France as the airline marks 30 years of operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Novak Djokovic, Roland-Garros 2021, Simple Messieurs, Finale, Photo : Amelie Laurin / FFT

Emirates divisional senior vice president corporate communications, marketing & brand Boutros Boutros said: “We are very proud to be marking our tenth year at Roland-Garros 2022. Roland-Garros is one of the four Grand Slams and one of the most highly followed tournaments in the world. We are thrilled to be using our platform to engage with tennis fans worldwide, bring communities together, and offer our customers exclusive access and experiences.

“It’s also an important year for us in France, as we’ll celebrate 30 years of operations. Over the past three decades, customers have truly experienced what it means to fly better with Emirates. We look forward to raising the bar even higher with our world-class products, exceptional services, and extensive network of more than 130 destinations via Dubai.”

Emirates and Roland-Garros

Emirates’ partnership with Roland-Garros started in 2013, and the airline became a Premium Partner of the Grand Slam in 2018. Under the agreement, Emirates enjoys a significant presence throughout the tournament, including branding on the Philippe-Chatrier centre court, Suzanne-Lenglen court and Simonne-Mathieu Court.

Emirates is also a sponsor of Trophée des Légendes, which takes place from May 31 to June 5 at Roland-Garros. This year, the airline will partner with a local organisation to offer children with mobility challenges an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the stadium and a chance to meet world-renowned tennis legends on May 30.

Emirates is the Official Airline and Premier Partner of the ATP World Tour. The airline’s tennis portfolio includes some of the highest-profile events in the world, including three of the four Grand Slams and 60 other tournaments across the year.

Emirates and France

In July, Emirates will be marking 30 years of operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Since 1992, the airline has played a pivotal role in providing global connectivity for business and leisure travellers to and through Dubai. The airline’s extensive network of 130 destinations offers French customers access to an array of onward connections to Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia.

Emirates currently operates three daily flights to Paris – including a double daily A380 service, four weekly flights to Lyon and four weekly flights to Nice. French customers can look forward to another distinctive Emirates travel experience as the airline has announced the sale of its Premium Economy cabin on the Paris to Dubai route from June 1 2022. The new cabin class will offer luxurious seats, more legroom, and service to rival many airlines’ business offerings. For more information, visit emirates.com.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Thailand ranks high in Airbnb’s latest survey

BANGKOK, 24 May 2022: Encouraged by the ongoing India-Thailand air travel bubble and the easing of entry rules, more Indians are heading for Thailand.

The latest YouGov research commissioned by Airbnb reveals that more than 70% of Indians polled said they were excited about being able to travel internationally, and almost 50% are considering travelling to Asia Pacific destinations. Thailand is one of the most searched destinations.

Indians are ready to travel internationally again, with 75% of those surveyed claiming they would book a trip in the foreseeable future.

More than a third are planning to do this within the next six months. Almost three-quarters of working Indians say they’d consider combining work and travel, underscoring the fundamental changes in how people are living and working since the pandemic.

“As border restrictions gradually ease across many countries in the region, we’re seeing a lot of enthusiasm for cross-border travel. After being unable to travel abroad for so long, travellers are excited to take that long-awaited overseas trip – something we’ve seen reflected in searches on Airbnb,” said  Airbnb general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Amanpreet Bajaj.

“Thailand has always been one of the most popular destinations for Indians. The Thai Government’s recent lifting of all testing requirements pre-travel and on arrival is great news for both Indian travellers and Thai tourism.”

Airbnb’s promotions to Indian travellers recommend luxury villa getaways, treehouses and eco-friendly resorts in popular tourist destinations such as Phuket, Samui, Krabi, Pha Ngan Island in Surat Thani and Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai provinces in North Thailand.

PATA launches tutorials on bouncing back

BANGKOK, 24 May 2022: Following the initial release of the Tourism Destination Resilience (TDR) Programme last December, the Pacific Asia Travel Association launched the Tourism Destination Resilience courses on Tuesday.

The courses are in five languages; English, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Khmer, Mandarin and Chinese, with Thai to be released in the coming weeks.

The TDR Programme, which is implemented by PATA with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), consists of tools and resources available on PATA’s Crisis Resource Centre website to help build a more resilient tourism industry.

It assists tourism destinations and businesses in their Covid-19 recovery and helps them prepare for future crises and challenges.

“PATA’s Tourism Destination Resilience Programme was developed to support destinations in establishing a strong foundation for sustainability, minimising the risk of crises and identifying capacity-building opportunities. It serves as a holistic education for destination management critical for all government tourism bureaus at the national, provincial and local level.,” said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. “TDR allows our industry to develop resilience and mitigate future challenges. With resilience, we move ever closer to sustainable development”.

The negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on destinations, businesses, communities and environments have been unprecedented, and no destination manager or tourism business was prepared for a crisis of this scale. For this reason, preparing for challenges, changes, crises, and emergencies should be an essential element in tourism planning and management.

Over the last year, PATA’s independent experts have been carefully researching, designing, and developing the TDR programme. It will provide tourism professionals with the most relevant and updated information, strategies, tools, materials, and resources on building a destination’s resilience.

The TDR Programme includes the TDR Course, which consists of 10 modules covering all the necessary steps towards building resilience. Subjects covered include risk assessment, destination risk management, emergency and post-crisis planning, training and capacity building, developing resilient infrastructure, local and regional market supply and demand, tourism offers diversification, and sustainability as a competitive advantage.

Participants who take the open-sourced online course will receive a certificate after completing each module and also for completing the entire course if they achieve the minimum required score in the final quiz.

To register for the TDR Course, visit https://crc.pata.org/courses-tdr/. For more information, please visit https://crc.pata.org/tourism-destination-resilience/ or email [email protected].

Changi staggers Terminal 2 reopening

SINGAPORE, 24 May 2022: Changi Airport Group confirmed this week that Terminal 2 would resume operations on 29 May 2022 as the airport prepares to meet an expected increase in passenger traffic in the months ahead.

Closed for upgrading works since May 2020, T2’s phased reopening will augment Changi’s capacity. When completed by 2024, the expansion works will raise the terminal’s capacity by 5 million to 28 million passenger movements per year.

Passenger clearing immigration at upgraded Changi Airport Terminal 2.

In this first phase of T2’s progressive reopening, key touchpoints such as arrival immigration, baggage claim belts and contact gates at the southern wing of the terminal will be ready for flight operations. T2 will host mainly peak-hour arrival flights of airlines operating in Terminal 3 (T3). A small number of T3 departure flights may use boarding gates at T2, although passengers on these flights will continue to check-in and clear departure immigration at T3.

Those coming to Changi to receive passengers are advised to check which terminal an arriving flight has been assigned to. The information will be available on the Changi Airport website (www.changiairport.com) and the iChangi app two hours before the flight’s arrival.

More automated lanes at immigration

The expanded T2 will see a larger Arrival Immigration Hall with more automated immigration lanes and special assistance lanes. The automated immigration lanes will serve Singaporeans and residents who have registered their iris and facial biometrics with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and eligible foreign visitors who have done the same upon their arrival in Singapore.

Additional automated immigration lanes will open as more passengers enrol. As for the special assistance lanes, these feature a wider width than conventional lanes, allowing passengers with mobility aids and big family groups to clear immigration more easily.

CAG’s executive vice president of airport management Tan Lye Teck noted, “CAG is encouraged to see the strong pickup in travel demand and has worked closely with our partners to bring forward the progressive reopening of T2 ahead of the June travel peak to meet this demand. The start of flight operations at T2 will provide more capacity to support our airline partners, who are also gearing up to serve more passengers in the months ahead. T2 will reopen in phases over the next two years to support Changi’s recovery as a regional air hub.”

Jetstar to increase flights to Indonesia

SINGAPORE, 24 May 2022: In response to Indonesia’s decision to end pre-flight and on arrival testing requirements, Jetstar Asia will increase flights from Singapore to key Indonesian destinations to meet pent-up travel demand.

Jetstar Asia welcomed the news that Indonesia has removed pre-departure COVID-19 testing for vaccinated travellers entering Indonesia.

Visitors to Indonesia no longer need to show a negative RT or PCR test result if they are free of any Covid-19 symptoms and have a normal body temperature. Travellers must still show their vaccination certificates and download Indonesia’s tracing application.

Jetstar Asia currently operates up to 23 services from Singapore to Jakarta, Denpasar and Surabaya but will revise its schedule to operate up to 27 services in the coming weeks.

It will offer up to three daily services to Jakarta, daily services to Denpasar and up to five weekly services to Surabaya. These increases are subject to regulatory approval.

Jetstar Asia CEO Bara Pasupathi commented: “Before the pandemic and travel restrictions, Singaporeans rated as one of the top three nationalities visiting Indonesia every year. With 92% of Singaporeans now fully vaccinated, the announcement is welcome news, as one of the final barriers to cross-border travel between Singapore and Indonesia is removed.”

One-way sale fares from Singapore to Jakarta start from SGD87, Surabaya from SGD121 and Denpasar from SGD183.

Destinations Mekong board elections

PHNOM PENH, 24 May 2022: Destination Mekong has jump-started its election campaign that will allow members to cast their votes for eight Executive Board members during the organisation’s inaugural Annual General Meeting scheduled for 3 June.

Destination Mekong was incorporated as a full-fledged company in January 2022 under Singapore’s business registration rules. Its operational head office is located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in an office supplied by the Ministry of Tourism.

Election lineup: 16 candidates vying for eight seats on the DM executive board.

The marketing organisation runs promotions, campaigns, and events while facilitating projects on behalf of the six-member countries that make up the Mekong Region under the umbrella of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office. The six countries of the Mekong Region are Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Destination Mekong’s AGM will be held in a hybrid format and open to members, representatives of partners, and non-members. It will include the confirmation of the Destination Mekong Charter and the election of a new executive board comprised of eight seats for the first year.

Registered and paid-up members of Destination Mekong will cast their votes from a list of 16 candidates.

Candidates up for election

  1. Ms Duangmala Phommavong, Co-Founder and Partner, EXO Travel Laos.
  2. Mr Fréderic Tambon, Founder/CEO | Society and Fred, Expert in international marketing, tourism industry, and education.
  3. Mr Guido Neil, Director of Special Operations, 12Go.
  4. Mr Hailin Zhang, Professor at Guilin Tourism University.
  5. Mr Jacques Guichandut, Managing Director,  All Dreams Cambodia Co. Ltd.
  6. Mr Jean Claude Dhuez, Owner Sâmata.
  7. Mr Mark Bibby Jackson, Founder, Travel Begins at 40.
  8. Ms Melita Koulmandas, CEO/Founder, Song Saa Collective
  9. Mr Miquel Angel Perez Martorell, Founder, MQL Sustainable Tourism Services.
  10. Dr Neal Bermas, Founder, STREETS International.
  11. Mr Nguyen Tuan Linh, Owner, Mr Linh’s Adventures Travel Company Limited.
  12. Mr Nick Ray, Principal at Hanuman Films. Lonely Planet Writer for Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Tourism Consultant with the World Bank.
  13. Dr Sasithara Pichaichannarong, Rector, College of Tourism, Hospitality, and Sports; Chairperson, RSU Vista Golf Course, Thailand.
  14. Mr Sean Too, Chief Eco Consultant, Sentinel Solution Thailand Co Ltd.
  15. Ms Sophea Sok, Regional Program Manager, Asia-Pacific, Planeterra Foundation.
  16. Dr Soriya Yin, Associate Professor, Environmental Science, American University of Phnom Penh.

The profiles of candidates can be found here: https://www.destinationmekong.com/executive-board-election.

Besides the elected members, the Destination Management Executive Board will also include Dr Jens Thraenhart, who founded Destination Mekong, Willem Niemeijer, in his role as past Chair of the Interim Board of Directors, and representatives of the largest private-sector supporters of Destination Mekong, including a permanent seat for its founding contributor UNWTO Affiliate Member Chameleon Strategies.

Founder of Destination Mekong and former executive director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), Dr Jens Thraenhart stressed that the new DM executive board would contribute to the success of DMs mission strategies, models and operations.

“One of the reasons for establishing Destination Mekong was to foster a strong and balanced public-private-partnership framework to boost tourism recovery and resilience in the GMS aligned to the Tourism Strategy”.

Up to one day before the elections, 2 June 2022, all professionals active in the Greater Mekong Subregion and interested in being part of building a sustainable, inclusive, and united regional tourism can become Changemakers (full voting members).

To become a Destination Mekong Member, please go to: https://www.destinationmekong.com/membership/

Escapes to the Maldives on summer deal

BANGKOK, 23 May 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is inviting guests to enjoy a quintessential island holiday in the Maldives this summer with enticing offers at its two award-winning resorts in the tropical archipelago: Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.

Under the “Maldives Summer Escape” promotion, guests will receive an amazing over 25% discount when they book with Centara in the Maldives. Travellers who are members of CentaraThe1, the group’s loyalty programme, will be rewarded with 15% off. Travellers who are not yet members can sign up for free in less than a minute and immediately start enjoying benefits and earning points.

In the Maldives, all guests enjoy 20% savings on select spa treatments, and for stays of 4 nights or longer, they will be treated to a floating breakfast when staying in a pool villa or an in-villa breakfast experience in a non-pool villa.

This enticing offer is valid for bookings made between now and 31 July 2022, and for stays until 20 December 2022. With the summer holidays fast approaching, this exclusive offer provides an excellent opportunity for couples, friends and families to relax and unwind together in paradise.

Nestled on a pristine island in the South Ari Atoll, Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is a fantastic option for families. Amid a landscape of pure white sand, crystal clear seas and swaying palm trees, guests can choose to stay in a 93-square metre Family Overwater Villa, which includes bunk beds and a PlayStation for kids, a Jacuzzi and a secure terrace with breathtaking ocean views and steps down to the lagoon. Alternatively, the stunning Premium Deluxe Sunset Overwater Villa with Pool can accommodate up to three guests in 114 square metres of luxurious living space, with a large terrace, and plunge pool with sunset sea views. A collection of beachfront villas are also available with private pools and access to the powder-soft sand.

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives.

Parents and kids can spend unforgettable days splashing in the beachfront pool or enjoying activities such as tennis, volleyball, water sports, snorkelling and scuba diving. Adults can relax at SPA Cenvaree or work out at the fitness centre, while their children have endless hours of fun at the dual-age kids’ club, and all ages can dine at a variety choice of restaurants, bars and lounges.

Families can also explore the beauty of the Maldives with excursions including snorkelling adventures, semi-submarine rides, and whale shark, turtle or manta sighting cruises.

Every Centara hotel and resort adheres to strict health and safety standards as part of the “Centara Complete Care” programme, which was developed in partnership with Ecolab and SGS.

For couples and honeymooners, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is an exquisite adults-only island retreat in the North Malé Atoll, less than 20 minutes away by speedboat from Velana International Airport. This heavenly hideaway houses a collection of beachfront and overwater accommodation, including the Deluxe Spa Overwater Villa, which is accessed via a wooden boardwalk and features 42 square metres of living space with an outdoor spa bathtub and direct steps down to the reef – perfect for swimming or snorkelling around the lagoon. Alternatively, the Premium Deluxe Sunset Overwater Villa offers an elegant ocean-facing deck with an outdoor spa bathtub and direct access to the sparkling lagoon.

Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is nestled on an idyllic island in the North Ari Atoll.

With seven sensational restaurants and bars, exhilarating water sports, scuba diving, ocean excursions and soothing therapies at SPA Cenvaree, this intimate resort promises many romantic moments, both during the day and under the stars. This makes it especially suitable for honeymoons and couples’ vacations.

For more information and to book the “Maldives Summer Escape” promotion, simply select your exclusive couples’ retreats at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives or for the perfect private island destination at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives for family holidays.

To learn more about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Grab a virtual festival ticket

KUCHING, 23 May 2022: Ticket sales for the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2022’s virtual performances on the festival’s official website opened at the weekend.

This year, the RWMF themed “25th Legendary Rainforest Celebration” is being held as a hybrid event with the physical concert at Sarawak Cultural Village. At the same time, viewers can also live stream it from their homes via an online platform.

Tickets for online performances are priced at MYR25 for an evening and night show each throughout the three-day festival from 17 to 19 June, with multiple performers per show.

For two hours of showtime per day, online viewers will enjoy a showcase of local and international performers performing live on the physical stage together with curated original video content. 

RWMF will feature a host of international performers from Canada, India, USA, Finland, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Madagascar, Ukraine, China, Bhutan and Seoul, among others, while showcasing a string of Malaysia’s own talents such as Alena Murang, At Adau from Sarawak, Bamboo Woods from Sabah and many more.

For the RWMF virtual performances slot from 1900 to 2000, Day 1 (17 June 2022) will feature the opening performance by Majlis Seni Sarawak, followed by Joey Ayala (Philippines), ASZA (Canada), Trad Attack (Estonia), Matthew Ngau (Sarawak) and Arthur Borman (Sarawak). 

Day 2 (18 June 2022) slots showcase Fauziah Gambus & The Geng (Sabah), Issui Minegishi (Japan), Genticorum (Canada) and Desmond Junek (Sarawak),

Day 3 audiences can look forward to Flame of the Forest (Singapore), Timo Väänänen (Finland), Lau Muang (Thailand) and Silk and Bamboo (Japan).

For the 2000  to 2100 slot

 Day 1 audiences are able to see Jurij Fedynskyj (Ukraine), Blue Canyon Boys (USA) Phương Bảo (Vietnam), Jerry Kamit & Friends (Sarawak), Gendang Melanau (Sarawak), Abigail Washburn (USA) and Dong Lusheng (China) in action.

Day 2 will feature Kevin Kolodner (USA), At Adau (Sarawak), Shashank Subramanyam (India), Genggong Kutus (Indonesia), while Day 3 will highlight Debashish Battacharya (India), Yayi Cai (China), Tarika  (Madagascar) and Rining Peter Paris (Sarawak).

For those attending the physical concerts, they can choose from the different ticket categories at pre-sale prices – Adult 1-Day Pass (MYR165), Adult 3-Day Pass (MYR405), Child 1-Day Pass (MYR85), Child 3-Day Pass (MYR195) and 1-Day Family Package Pass- 2 Adult and 2 Children (MYR440). 

For ticket sales check out: https://rwmf.net/ .

(Your Stories: Sarawak Tourism Board)

Pats on the back from PATA

BANGKOK, 23 May 2022: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) honoured two of its members for their contribution to the association’s activities in the Asia Pacific region.

PATA awarded life membership to Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong SAR, China. Over the past 50 years in the hospitality industry, he has worked in numerous senior management and corporate positions for hotels, resorts and management companies in London, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, China, and Asia.

L/R: Andrew Jones, Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong SAR, China and Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Macao, China.

In 1996, Jones embarked on a new journey. He founded and became the Guardian of Sanctuary Resorts, a resort management company that pioneered responsible and sustainable tourism experiences where people balance their body, mind, and spirit in an environmentally friendly space long before it became a ‘kicky’ thing to do.

The PATA Chair’s Award was presented to Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) director. It recognises an individual for their help, support, loyalty, and dedication during the chair’s tenure.

She joined the Marketing Department of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) in 1988, and in September 1998, she became deputy director, leading up to her appointment as MGTO director in December 2012.

Executive Board shuffle

Top Row: L/R: Peter Semone, Destination Human Capital Ltd, Timor-Leste; Benjamin Liao, Forte Hotel Group, Chinese Taipei; Suman Pandey, Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure, Nepal, and Tunku Iskandar, Mitra Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia. Bottom Row: L/R: Luzi Matzig, Asian Trails Ltd., Thailand; Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Ministry of Tourism, Maldives; Noredah Othman, Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia; Mr SanJeet, DDP Publications Private Ltd., India, and Dr Fanny Vong, Institute For Tourism Studies (IFTM), Macau, China.

Meanwhile, the association appointed six new members to its Executive Board for a two-year term. They are Benjamin Liao, Forte Hotel Group, Chinese Taipei; Suman Pandey, Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure, Nepal; Tunku Iskandar, Mitra Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia; SanJeet, DDP Publications Private Ltd, India; Luzi Matzig, Asian Trails Ltd, Thailand, and Dr Fanny Vong, Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), Macau, China.

They join current Executive Board members Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Ministry of Tourism, Maldives, and Noredah Othman, Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia.

The chair goes to Peter Semone. He replaces Soon-Hwa Wong, who was elected chair in 2020.

Semone has engaged in a varied career linked to tourism consultancy in the Asia Pacific over the last 16 years. PATA hired him as its vice president of marketing from 2002 to 2006 under the association’s president Peter de Jong. He headed the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office for a short spell as an interim executive director. He subsequently headed to Laos and Vietnam on Asian Development Bank projects and a Luxembourg aid programme that built the Lao PDR’s first hotel school in Vientiane. He currently resides in Dili, Timor-Leste, where he is ‘chief of party’ for USAID’s Tourism For All Project.

Benjamin Liao and Suman Pandey were elected as the new vice-chairman and secretary/treasurer, respectively.