BRUSSELS, 28 March 2022: Visit Maldives joined the in-person Brussels Holiday Fair 2022, 24 to 27 March 2022.
The Brussels Holiday Fair is the leading national tourism
fair in Belgium, serving the travel trade and travel consumers for more than 60
years.
Four industry partners joined MMPRC at the Brussels Travel Fair.
After a two-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the show
returned, attracting 350 exhibitors and 800 sub-exhibitors.
Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation
(MMPRC) that operates under the Visit Maldives brand-led travel firms and
resorts from the Maldives to conduct meetings and network with key members of
the travel trade community during the show week.
The Maldives has welcomed 219 travellers from Belgium up to 12 January 2022 and with markets opening again, the agency is organising media familiarisation trips and social and digital media campaigns.
The Maldives has also eased travel restrictions imposed on
tourists. Earlier this month, the Maldives ended the need to present a Covid-19
PCR negative result upon arrival for fully vaccinated travellers. It also
lifted on 13 March the national public health emergency declaration, imposed in
response to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. It opens the way to ease
travel restrictions further.
Late last year, the Maldives secured the title World’s Leading Destination at the 2021 World Travel Awards, the second consecutive year that the Maldives had successfully earned this prestigious title.
SINGAPORE, 28 March 2022: Cruise holidays in Southeast Asia
will make a comeback, starting with sailings from Singapore to Phuket in
Thailand, possibly by November if talks between health officials from the two
countries succeed.
According to the Strait Times, talks are ongoing between the
Singapore embassy in Thailand’s first secretary Alexander Lim and Thai
authorities to reach an agreement on resuming cruises between Singapore and
Phuket.
A Bangkok Post report last week suggested cruise passengers
would need to show only an antigen rapid test (ART) result taken within 24
hours of departure. All cruise passengers would have to be fully vaccinated or
have other certifications to show why they did not need to be vaccinated.
Thai health officials fear the infection risk could be
higher for cruise passengers, but cruise lines have adopted robust health
protocols to ensure potential risks are equivalent to airline travel.
However, it is likely that passenger numbers will be capped,
although plans have yet to be approved by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19
Situation Administration.
In pre-pandemic 2019, cruise lines from Singapore ferried
more than 250,000 international passengers to Thailand in 110 sailings, roughly
a fifth of cruise ship calls to Thailand that year.
The close links between the two ports make the lane
particularly important as Singapore seeks to resume port calls for cruise
vessels to re-anchor its regional cruise hub status.
STB reiterated that it is working with several other ASEAN
countries to resume port calls, aimed at restarting later this year cruises
from Singapore to popular ports in Southeast Asia and ultimately Hong Kong.
In 2020, Singapore had just 410,000 cruise ship passengers,
compared with 1.8 million in 2019. All port stops are still not allowed. It
forced cruise lines to settle for cruises to nowhere last year. However, that
is no longer a solution as borders reopen in Southeast Asia and airlines resume
flights to popular destinations.
SINGAPORE, 28 March 2022: Singaporeans’ holiday searches
doubled in the three days leading up to Singapore’s announcement last Thursday
that established a new Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) that kicks in 1 April
2022.
Outbound flight searches on Expedia.com.sg saw destinations
like Stockholm (+270%), Perth (+50%) and Zurich (+50%), indicating significant
growth in demand. It made them the top trending destinations among Singaporean
travellers over the last seven days.
Additionally, with the relaxation of border measures such as the removal of on-arrival testing and the vaccinated travel pass application (VTP) for general inbound travel to Singapore, Expedia also expects inbound travel demand to rise, with the US, UK and Australia remaining as the top three inbound markets quarter on quarter on Expedia.com.sg.
“The decisive move by the Singapore Government to ease travel-related
measures for both inbound and outbound travellers spells positive news for the
travel and tourism sector. Over the past few months, Expedia has seen demand
for international travel grow significantly with the establishment of
Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs).
“The removal of on-arrival testing, application of the
VTP and the VTL flight requirements are impactful milestones that will improve
the traveller experience and instil confidence among our travellers. We believe
that travel deprived Singaporeans will be excited at the prospect of travelling
freely the way they did pre-COVID times. Expedia looks forward to playing a key
role in supporting the travellers’ needs at every phase of their travel
journey,” said Expedia Group Asia Head of public relations Lavinia
Rajaram.
DENPASAR, Bali, 28 March 2022: Indonesia has abolished the
third PCR test required from all foreign travellers during their third day in
the country.
The change applies to international visitors arriving in
Jakarta, Bali, Batam, Manado and Lombok.
mother with kids and luggage looking at planes in airport, family travel
Also, according to the latest government update, the
four-day pre-booked travel package is no longer necessary.
Asian Trails managing director Björn Schimanski in his latest newsletter update, said the “most important change is the removal of a third PCR test on day three, and other details released by the government are “another major milestone towards normalisation for our industry.”
Depending on the nationality, visitors must present a B211A
visa approval letter or request a Visa-on-Arrival.
Visitors must provide physical or digital evidence in English to confirm they are fully vaccinated at least 14 days before departure (booster jab not necessary).
Children under 18 years are exempted from this rule (previously under 12 years).
Travellers must install the PeduliLindungi application on
their smartphone and fill out the e-Hac Indonesia within the application (the
PeduliLindungi app is available for download on Apple and Android devices).
They must provide evidence of the first negative PCR test
taken in the country of origin not more than 48 hours before their flight
departure.
They must buy health insurance covering Covid-19. (No
minimum cover is mentioned in the latest update of regulations, but the
standing recommendation is a minimum cover USD25,000 (or equivalent in other
currencies).
A second PCR test will be required on arrival at the airport of entry directly after arrival. The payment for this test is IDR275,000 and needs to be paid on the spot by the client (other currency options and credit card payment available). There is also the option to book it in advance under: https://balitourismhospitality.com(select “entry Covid19 test”).
After leaving the airport, the traveller is required to
immediately transfer to their accommodation and isolate in the room until PCR
examination shows a negative test result (three to six-hour wait).
In its email newsletter to travel partners and guests, Asian Trails Indonesia recommends that travellers pre-book the first night at an accommodation provider certified for cleanliness and safety (CHSE-certified).
“They will be much better equipped to manage government
procedures and will help to ensure that the PCR test result is presented to the
guest promptly.”
After a negative result, they can travel freely within Indonesia. A third PCR test is no longer necessary. The four-day pre-booked package is no longer required.
Should the second PCR show a positive result but the patient
is asymptomatic or shows only light symptoms, isolation or treatment is carried
out in designated isolation hotels at the guests’ costs. More severe cases will
be treated at dedicated referral hospitals paid for by the insurance policy.
Asian Trails emphasises that the Visa on Arrival* remains
available for certain nationalities for arrivals to Bali, Bintan and Batam.
The recommendation is that travellers eligible for VOA should start their trips to Indonesia in Bali. They can then travel onwards to explore the other islands of Indonesia.
A special thanks to Asian Trails for presenting a clear update on Indonesia’s latest information regarding entry to the country.
SINGAPORE, 28 March 2022: Singapore returns
to an almost old normal 1 April when most Covid-19 rules will end for fully
vaccinated travellers.
In a media statement, Singapore said it was “taking a major step forward to restore air connectivity to the world, to rebuild and reclaim Singapore’s position as a premier air hub.”
The new Vaccinated Travel Framework
starting from 1 April replaces
Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) that allowed visitors from 32 countries
to travel to and from Singapore. As of 22 March, close to 585,000 travellers entered
Singapore through the VTLs since November last year.
Now Singapore is rolling out the welcome carpet to fully vaccinated travellers from all countries with very few checks under the new Vaccinated Travel Framework. There is no need to quarantine, no need to test and no need to complete the Vaccination Travel Pass application,
All fully vaccinated travellers from any country or region can enter Singapore quarantine-free, as long as they have not visited any countries or regions on the MOH’s Restricted Category in the past seven days. Currently, there are no countries or regions on the ministry’s Restricted Category list.
Testing
It means travellers fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to take any Covid-19 tests in Singapore. However, they must provide evidence of a negative pre-departure test (PDT) within two days before departing for Singapore. The pre-departure test can be a Polymerase Chain Reaction test, a professionally-administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART)[4], or a self-administered ART that an ART provider remotely supervises in Singapore.
However, the Ministry of Health will
continue to monitor the local and global Covid-19 situation and consider
removing the PDT requirement in the coming weeks.
Designated Flights and Quotas
Airlines no longer need to operate designated VTL flights to Singapore, and fully vaccinated travellers may now enter Singapore on any flight. Correspondingly, there will no longer be quotas applied on daily arrivals.
Vaccination Status
All vaccination certificates, regardless of
the place of issuance and whether digitally verifiable or not, will be accepted
as proof of vaccination. Children aged 12 years and below are exempted from the
vaccination requirement, in line with Singapore’s domestic measures.
Travellers who need assistance can write to the Safe Travel Office through its enquiry form at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/contact-us or call the SafeTravel Enquiries helpline at +65 6812 5555.
SINGAPORE, 28 March 2022: The US network CBS and Australian broadcaster Network 10 jointly announced they have ordered localised versions of ‘THE REAL LOVE BOAT’, a reality dating competition series inspired by “The Love Boat” the hit 1970s scripted series that used Princess Cruises ships as its setting.
Production begins in summer 2022, and both versions are
expected to air in the US and Australia later this year.
The “The Love Boat” IP is owned by CBS Studios, which, along with CBS and Network 10, are Paramount Global brands.
“‘The Love Boat’ is a timeless, romantic concept with
universal appeal, and we’re excited to reimagine this popular series for
audiences in two different countries,” said George Cheeks, president and chief
executive officer of CBS, and head of global content strategy for Paramount’s
free-to-air networks, including Network 10. “On the heels of NCIS: SYDNEY,
today’s announcement is another example of our global franchise strategy to use
our rich intellectual property and vast international footprint to develop new
content for viewers around the world.”
‘THE REAL LOVE BOAT’ brings singles together to cruise the Mediterranean on a luxury cruise ship while looking for love. Destination dates, challenges and surprise singles will test the couples’ compatibility and chemistry. Like the beloved original scripted series, the indispensable crew members, including “captain” and “cruise director” will play pivotal roles in the matchmaking and navigation of the romantic (and sometimes turbulent) waters ahead.
After almost a month at sea, only one winning couple will
make it to the final port and take home a cash prize plus a once-in-a-lifetime
trip courtesy of Princess Cruises, the series’ exclusive cruise line partner.
Beverley McGarvey, executive vice president and chief content officer of Paramount Australia and New Zealand, said: “‘The Love Boat’ was synonymous with exotic locations, glamour, excitement and of course, romantic connections underpinned by wonderful comic tales. ‘THE REAL LOVE BOAT’ will encompass all of this and more. A dating show showcasing suspense, exhilaration, humour and love as it sets sail for romantic adventures.”
“Audiences really connected with the fun and escapism of
‘The Love Boat,’” said Mitch Graham, senior vice president, alternative
programming, CBS. “The iconic series embodied the many possibilities of people
making new, meaningful connections. Reimagining it as a dating show with
competition, adventure and romance make THE REAL LOVE BOAT an ideal fit for our
schedule and viewers.”
“The Love Boat’ has been synonymous with the Princess brand
for more than 45 years since the world was introduced to glamour and elegance
of the Princess experience,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
“We look forward to millions coming aboard our iconic ships as we are expecting
you on THE REAL LOVE BOAT.”
BANGKOK, 25 March 2021: Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office has appointed Suvimol Thanasarakij as its new executive director, effective last week, 2022.
Tourism leaders of the six Greater Mekong Subregion countries (Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) confirmed the appointment earlier this month after offering the job to Suvimol last November.
“We are happy to welcome Suvimol to our GMS tourism family, particularly as she is the first female executive director and the first one of GMS nationality in MTCO’s 16-year history,” said Somxay Sipaseuth, Deputy Director-General of the Tourism Development Department from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism Lao PDR, which is also chair of the upcoming 49th GMS Tourism Working Group Meeting.
Suvimol replaces Jens Thraenhart, who left the MTCO last October to head Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
She has worked for the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) where she spent more than eight years managing tourism marketing projects. She also worked for the US Department of State, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok and Centara Hotels & Resorts.
SARAWAK, 25 March 2022: Sarawak Tourism Board participated
in the recent virtual ITB Berlin Convention 2022 to increase Sarawak’s
visibility amongst travellers and tourism players worldwide ahead of Malaysia’s
reopening of borders 1 April.
STB, along with local travel and tour operators from the
southern, central and northern regions of Sarawak, networked with global travel
buyers via the ITB Berlin Digital Business Day 2022, an international virtual
travel agency marketing show. The Sarawak stand was housed in Kuching
Waterfront Hotel for the one-days virtual sessions.
Sabah’s message welcomed the return of international
travellers, saying they can plan their return starting 1 April after lockdowns
and restrictions disrupted travel over the last two years. The virtual ITB
Berlin networking platform connected travel buyers and sellers worldwide.
STB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sharzede Datu Haji
Salleh Askor said: “Our participation in ITB Berlin Convention 2022 is
another step forward in allowing our local industry players to network with
traders, buyers and media worldwide.
“Sarawak’s presence in ITB Berlin Convention 2022 is
timely with the recent announcement of Malaysia’s borders reopening by the
federal government. This platform allows Sarawak’s travel and tour operators to
engage with a global audience as we prepare to welcome international
travellers, who will contribute to our industry’s recovery.”
“We are geared up to present our best effort to make
Sarawak a preferred tourism destination. We hope the continuous resilient
spirit among Sarawak industry players will push and accelerate the progress of
rebuilding our industry.”
For more information about Sarawak, log on to Sarawak Tourism Board’s website: https://sarawaktourism.com.
SEPANG, Malaysia, 25 March 2022: AirAsia gears up for the
nation’s reopening by adding more international routes to cater for significant
pent up demand ahead of Malaysia reopening borders to international travel 1
April.
With the continued
easing of travel restrictions, the airline group increased domestic flight
capacity in Malaysia by 156% since October 2021, when it kickstarted the
Langkawi travel bubble scheme.
It has also increased international flights by 50% since the
Malaysian government’s 8 March announcement confirming the reopening of borders
on 1 April.
Currently, the airline has 75 aircraft operating flights
across the group serving Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia,
Singapore and Vietnam.
AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam said: We’re thrilled to be resuming more flights in
all of our core markets in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia
and to be adding additional services to some of AirAsia’s most popular international
destinations, including Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Phuket and
more, starting in April. Domestic flying also continues to soar across the
group. We have recently launched four
new domestic routes in Malaysia from Kuching to Langkawi, Penang to Sibu, Johor
Bahru to Bintulu and Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Terengganu this year.
“While our domestic services across the group have grown by
156% in recent months due to significant consumer demand, and by 50% for
international, we expect to return to 100% or more of pre-Covid domestic and
international flying by the end of this year.”
To spur travel demand and bookings to destinations such
as Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines,
India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, Brunei, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Laos,
Bangladesh, the airline group is pegging fares as low as MYRM89 one-way, while
domestic routes are on sale from just MYR39 one-way.
Travellers can book cheap fares through the ‘Flights’ option
in the AirAsia Super App from now until 27 March 2022 for travel between 1
April and 25 March 2023.
HONG KONG, 25 March 2022: Mandarin Oriental
Hotel Group has announced a management agreement to rebrand the historic
Shepheard Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.
This will be the group’s first hotel in
Egypt and expands the brand’s portfolio in the Middle East.
Shepheard Hotel first opened its doors in
1841 and remained a landmark in the city. A comprehensive renovation of the
property is already underway and should be completed in 2024, when the property
will reopen as Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo.
Located on the eastern shore of the Nile in
the heart of downtown Cairo, the property will feature 188 rooms, 88 suites and
five restaurants and bars.
The project developer is Al Sharif for
Tourism and Hotels, an Egyptian Closed Joint Stock Company that is a subsidiary
of Al Sharif Group Holding, the Saudi holding group based in Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia, who won the concession to redevelop the site from the Egyptian General
Company for Tourism and Hotels in 2020.
