HO CHI MINH CITY, 6 January 2022: Bars, dance clubs, karaoke and massage parlours will reopen in Vietnam’s commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City, starting 10 January, according to a Municipal People’s Committee decision confirmed by the country’s news portal.
Strict rules will apply to ensure safety as Omicron variant
infections increase. All employees working at bars, dance clubs and karaoke
parlours must either be fully vaccinated or have proof they have fully
recovered from Covid-19 for at least 14 days.
Customers must also show they have been fully vaccinated,
recovered, or have proof of a negative Covid-19 test result issued within 72
hours before visiting entertainment spots.
Karaoke and massage parlours, bars, and nightclubs in the
southern city have been closed since 30 April 2021.
HCMC has been the hardest-hit locality in Vietnam since the
fourth virus wave began on 27 April 2021 with nearly 505,000 infections.
Meanwhile, Vietnam agreed on 30 December to resume scheduled international flights starting this month to the US, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, and Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Transport. The five nations recognise Vietnam’s vaccine passport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam approved flight
details for Vietnam Airlines to resume commercial flights to Japan on 5
January 2022. Vietjet Air and Japan’s
All Nippon Airways resume flights today, 6 January.
Effective 1 January 2022, Vietnam authorised flights to nine
destinations that have high vaccination rates and credible pandemic control
measures. The authorisation identified Bangkok (Thailand), Beijing/Guangzhou
(China), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), San Francisco or Los Angeles (the US), Seoul
(the Republic of Korea), Singapore, Taiwan (China), Tokyo (Japan), and
Vientiane (Laos).
SINGAPORE 6 January 2022: As the highly contagious Omicron variant emerges as a significant threat disrupting travel confidence in Asia, International SOS warns us to be careful and consider the risks involved when travelling.
International SOS’ Jamon Ngoencharee comments: “It is vital
that employers continue to share up-to-date advice to help their employees
travel safely. Don’t overlook the simple measures that decrease Covid-19 risk –
masks, social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding crowds – don’t drop your
guard.”
Top tips for safe travel
Get vaccinated against Covid-19. As soon as you are eligible, get your booster when offered. An annual flu jab will help protect you from circulating influenza viruses. Don’t forget to wear masks wherever required, avoid large crowds if you can, social distance whenever possible and keep washing your hands.
Maintain flexible itineraries. It’s a good practice to keep departure and return times/routes as flexible as possible. Contingency plans are more important than ever, as travel restrictions may be imposed at short notice, or you may need to self-isolate.
Stay on top of the latest travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant surge in Asia and the related changes in travel rules. It is important to check which specific restrictions may impact you, particularly as this can vary based on vaccination status and nationality. Understand if pre- or post-departure Covid-19 tests are necessary, if there are any self-isolation or mask requirements or whether you have to download a digital health pass to verify your vaccination status.
Timing is everything. Build-in additional travel time to reach your destination due to additional and changing travel requirements and procedures. For international travel, there might be new forms to complete or extra health checks. It is also likely that transit hubs and roads will be more congested due to the increased volume in travel during the festive season.
Be Crowd Safe. When we travel, we can frequently encounter queues and crowds. This is often the case as passengers have to go through additional Covid-19 checks. Once at your destination, you may also experience large crowds at festive events like markets or religious services. It is important to be crowd safe: stay vigilant, keep valuables secure or out of sight, also identify your closest points of exit and abide by local directives if an incident does occur.
Eat, drink and be informed. With numerous restrictions still in place, the key to travelling successfully is to keep informed of the most up-to-date information and any emerging developments. This is particularly important for international travel, as restrictions still vary significantly from country to country and can be imposed with little notice.
LANGKAWI, 6 January 2022: Home to three geoforest parks and
some of the oldest rock formations in Southeast Asia – from Machincang Cambrian
Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest
Park – Langkawi is a dream destination for those who love to lose themselves in
nature.
Whether you are looking forward to enjoying a stroll in the
sunshine at Pantai Cenang (Cenang Beach), escaping to Telaga Tujuh Waterfall or
appreciating the beautiful sightseeing of mangrove nature, there is plenty to
get excited about!
Dangli Island is one of the best snorkelling spots in Langkawi.
Did you know Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the
Andaman Sea and is the first recognized UNESCO Global Geopark in Southeast Asia
since 2007? The island’s karst landscape was shaped by the erosion and
formation of rocks since 550 million years ago.
Meanwhile, the island’s high biodiversity consists of limestone
forests, sandstone forests, granite forests and mangroves. Machincang Cambrian
Geoforest Park, which has the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia, is the
only geoforest made from sandstone in the world!
The formation of Machincang peak geosite, for example, is
derived from the uplifting of the ocean floors, forming sandstone deposition
followed by prolonged weathering and erosion processes by rainwater.
Thanks to the SkyCab by Panorama Langkawi, 360 degrees of
Langkawi’s breathtaking viewpoint at the peak of the Machinchang Range is now
accessible via this world’s steepest cable car.
There are myriads of places to explore in Langkawi, but here
are some recommended destinations and activities for a perfect getaway on the
island.
Pulau Tuba (Tuba Island)
A herd of buffaloes roaming freely on the paddy field at Pulau Tuba.
Leave the skyscrapers and crowded cities behind and head out to
this lesser-known inhabited island, located about 5 kilometres off the south
coast of Langkawi’s main island.
The best way to explore this idyllic fishing village is by
renting a bike or a van, and it is accessible by boat from Pekan Rabu Jetty.
For a leisurely and laid-back experience, you can enjoy paddy field scenery
with buffaloes roaming the roads or discover colourful village houses at Desa
Keda Teluk Berembang.
Alternatively, you may opt for hiking at Bukit Licin, exploring
Gua Wang Buluh and Gua Kelawar, trekking Bukit Kecik for its geological wonders
or enjoying prawn noodles at Tanjung Pandan.
The formation of striped stones found in Bukit Kecik was due to
high-pressure phenomena about thousand years ago.
Dayang Bunting Island
Jet Ski Safari
Cruising around Dayang Bunting Island by jet ski.
For a fantastic experience, try Dayang Bunting Island Jet Ski
Safari conducted by Mega Watersports based in Pantai Cenang. Embark on four
hours adventure zipping on the Andaman Sea, complete with a professional guide
and enjoy several stops at eight islands, including Dayang Bunting, Beras
Basah, Singa Besar, Rebak Besar as well as The Fjords of Langkawi.
Feel the rush of adrenaline as you accelerate and increase the
speed once you turn on the jet ski ignition switch. A good rule of thumb to
avoid capsizing is to keep the load balanced and centred. Believe me, you will
not fall off even though you are a beginner!
The longest free span and curved bridge in the world in Langkawi.
The Langkawi Cable Car
Hopping on Langkawi’s cable car will bring you an elevated
experience at 708 metres above sea level. Located on the west coast of the
island, this SkyCab journey by Panorama Langkawi covers a total distance of 2.2
kilometres linking the Base Station at the foot of Machinchang Range to the top
station at the summit.
Besides that, visitors can go on a spine-chilling walk on the
125-metre Sky Bridge, the longest free span and curved bridge in the world.
Other activities in Panorama Langkawi include visiting SkyRex,
Oriental Village, 6D Cinemotion and 3D Art Langkawi.
Dining at Kerisik Restaurant, Laman Padi.
Kuah Town Tour & Laman Padi
Spend a day in Kuah Town, a former fishing village in Langkawi,
now becoming a favourite tourist destination for shopping under the duty-free
island. Some of the must-buy items among the local tourists include chocolates,
kitchenware, and perfumes. There are also other tourist attractions such as
iconic Dataran Lang, National Art Gallery Langkawi and Maha Tower.
Experience dining in a little wooden hut overlooking paddy
fields at Kerisik Restaurant, Laman Padi, near Pantai Cenang, with several
choices of Malay traditional cuisines, including Nasi Set Tuba, Nasi Set Padang
Lalang, Nasi Set Sunda and Nasi Set Kedawang. The view is certainly stunning at
night. Another nearby attraction is Underwater World Langkawi.
Kubang Badak BioGeoTrail
This island’s newest eco-tourism destination has bagged the
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards 2021 under Heritage
Category. Kubang Badak BioGeoTrail consists of 12 sites to explore by boat,
starting at Kubang Badak Jetty.
Located on the northwest coast of the island, Kubang Badak
BioGeo Trail is generously endowed with high geological diversity, pristine
mangrove forests and a history of an early settlement of the Thai community
with the discovery of 100-year-old igloo-like charcoal kiln remnants used for
fuel production dating back to the 18th century.
In short, visitors can admire three different types of rock
formations with sandstone Machincang Range in the west, granite rocks of Bukit
Sawar in the south, and landscape of karst hills of steep slopes as well as
rough peaks of limestone in the east.
Gua Pinang is a remnant of an ancient sea cave formed by waves when the sea level was about 15 metres higher than the current level, about 6,000 years ago.
BANGKOK, 6 January 2022: IHG Hotels and Resorts will open
the first Vignette Collection hotel in Asia this March following a management
agreement with Sindhorn Midtown Bangkok.
The latest management agreement follows the opening of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok in 2020 that launched IHG’s global boutique brand in Southeast Asia. It is the second IHG lifestyle branding involving a Siam Sindhorn property. Both hotels are situated in Sindhorn Village, a development project that spans 42 rai located on a real estate plot between Bangkok’s Langsuan Road and Soi Tonson. The 393-room Sindhorn Midtown opened in March 2020.
IHG vice president development, SEAK, Serena Lim commented:
“We welcome Sindhorn Midtown as our first Vignette Collection hotel in
Asia…We developed a strong working relationship with the team at Siam Sindhorn,
working closely together on Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, which became the talk of
the town when it launched in the middle of the pandemic.
IHG will open its second Vignette Collection hotel in
Pattaya, and in the long run, Thailand could muster as many as 100 Vignette
Collection hotels globally over the next 10 years.
Thailand continues to be a strong growth market for IHG,
with 29 hotels across eight brands in the country and another 34 properties in
the pipeline.
Vignette Collection recently became the sixth addition to
IHG’s brand portfolio in the past four years, taking it to 17 in total across
nearly 6,000 hotels in more than 100 countries. IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first
collection brand is part of the Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio of brands,
along with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts,
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and
Hotel Indigo.
HONG KONG, 6 January 2022: Despite the
suspension of Singapore’s travel lanes, HK Express will start a new direct
service between Hong Kong and Singapore, 1 February 2022.
The airline’s CEO Mandy Ng confirmed HK
Express remains committed to supporting Hong Kong’s role as one of the world’s
leading international aviation hubs. The airline continuously strives to
enhance connectivity across the region while making travel more accessible for
the Hong Kong community.
Travellers who are planning to visit
Singapore must comply with local entry requirements, which may include pre-and
post-travel testing, quarantine and declaration forms.
As part of its ongoing commitment to
protect the health of customers, HK Express has implemented several layers of
precautions, including HEPA filters onboard, enhanced cabin sanitisation measures
and adjusted meal services.
HK Express customers are recommended to use
online check-in and e-boarding services to facilitate a smooth and safe
journey. Face coverings must be worn in the airport, onboard and during
disembarkation while maintaining social distancing.
MANILA, 6 January 2022: AirAsia Philippines expanded its
domestic market share to19% in 2021, climbing 3.5 notches up from its 15.5%
share in 2019.
The low-cost airline has also peaked at 95% load factor over
the course of the recent holiday period while ending December at 88% – both
record-high figures over the past 1.5 years.
In December, AirAsia Philippines ranked third most popular
airline in terms of flight bookings among AirAsia territories, following
Malaysia and Thailand.
The past year came with its own set of challenges – from new
Covid-19 variants to stricter travel restrictions. However, the airline showed
resilience throughout the year through strategic mitigation strategies that
included new revenue streams, budget management and diversification of
offerings. The airline mounted 619 charter repatriation flights and reunited
50,000 people with their families and loved ones. This has helped defray upkeep
costs to ensure the viability of the company.
AirAsia also observed that domestic travel is gaining
stronger momentum during the last quarter of 2021, primarily because of the low
positive infection rate and daily case count. In the first half of the year,
the majority of airline bookings were done within three days, mainly for
essential travel. But recently, the airline has witnessed a significant
increase in bookings for travel 1 to 3 months in advance – a
telltale sign of growth in leisure travel and more substantial consumer
confidence. AirAsia Philippines also recorded a 15 to 20% increase in bookings for near-term travel
within 30 to 60 days over recent times.
AirAsia has also resumed its flight operations to Hong
Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, servicing Overseas Filipino Workers and business travellers in these
countries.
A Look at 2022
There is strong pent-up demand for travel, and Filipinos are
ready to get back in the air. And compared to the previous two years, all
stakeholders – airlines, government units and customers – are now much more
conscious of the critical strategies and measures needed to properly approach
travelling amid the pandemic. The country is now better equipped to face new
variants and potential surges.
AirAsia is also closely monitoring the impact of the
Covid-19 Omicron variant and has adopted three specific priorities.
They focus on: Cash availability and management to support recovery strategies; Sustainable cost management and rationalisation to operate commercial flights and staff-related costs, marketing and other operating costs; Expansion of the domestic network from 14 destinations (2021) to 18 (2022) and to grow regional routes by exploring opportunities in the Middle East, United States and Australia.
CHIANG RAI, 6 January 2022: Parking 375 tourists on a
250-metre long and 15-metre wide strip of sand might seem to be overdoing it,
but that is the visitor cap for those who want to return to admire Phi Phi
Island’s Maya Bay in southern Thailand.
Following a three year hibernation from mass tourism, Maya
Bay reopened on 1 January, albeit restricting the daily footfall to 4,125 with
visits limited to no more than 375 visitors per one-hour session. At the height
of its popularity in 2018, 5,000 tourists visited the famous bay daily on a
fleet of more than 200 boats that dropped anchor in the tiny bay. The daily
disruption destroyed coral and the nursery habitat of the black-tip reef
sharks.
Maya Bay shot to fame in 2000 when it served as the filming
location for the Leonardo DiCaprio movie ‘The Beach’. By the time the
five-month tourist season of 2018 dawned, the national park, where the bay
resides, generated earnings of THB362
million extracted from 1.2 million tourists (around 70% of them foreigners.)
The new cap is not much less than the footfall that
ultimately forced Thailand’s Department of National Parks to close the bay in
2019. It is also noteworthy that 80 tour operators arrived on the island in
late December to go over the new rules and regulations to plan the return of
their commercial endeavours. Thankfully the impact of Covid-19 will curtail the
immediate footfall at Maya Bay, but once mass tourism rumbles back to life will
the Department of National Parks be able to keep the success story alive that
has seen an amazing restoration of the coral and marine life in the bay?
There are some positive indicators in the set of new rules.
Still, it will require a radical reset of the mentality that drives tour
operators who view natural attractions as their personal property to generate
profits without a thought for restoration.
New rules to protect Maya Bay
Boats will drop all visitors off at the deeper bay of Loh Samah, where visitors will disembark and walk to Maya Bay. Boats are prohibited from anchoring in the bay.
Admission is limited to 375 people per one-hour session.
Visits must be pre-booked. The number of sessions per day depends on park
management, but opening hours are from 0700 to 1800 (11 hourly sessions –
maximum daily footfall 4,125).
Swimming is prohibited, and that includes snorkelling and
“playing in the shallow bay to eliminate negative impacts on the local
reefs and marine creatures.
Maya Bay has undergone a fantastic restoration of its coral reef and sea life that involved the propagation of 15,000 organic corals, but marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasat who exposed the dreadful impact tourism inflicted on the bay that led to the three-year closure, warns it will take another 10 years to restore the bay entirely.
Will Thailand’s tourism industry toe the line and support
the ongoing restoration work, or will it once again be guilty of circumventing
rules to destroy the pristine world of Maya Bay? The jury is still out on that
one.
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines, 5 January 2022: The city’s
government has temporarily suspended the issue of quick response travel permits
(QTP) for tourists or leisure travellers.
The city is also preparing new guidelines for non-essential
travels, according to Mayor Benjamin Magalong, which include managing the daily
intake of tourists currently set at 5,000. Leisure travellers from Metro Manila
who have already been issued QTPs for travel up to and including 8 January but
must undergo an antigen test at their own expense.
City officials said the new guidelines would not constitute
a lockdown or reduce tourist visits. They described the QTP as a mechanism to
ensure the daily arrival ceiling of 5,000 individuals will not be exceeded.
Information obtained from the city government showed that
officials might have to cancel the QTPs for arriving tourists in January and
February as cases of Covid-19 in the city continue to increase.
BANGKOK, 5 January 2021: Emirates launched a new campaign
this week offering special fares to popular destinations including Dubai, New
York, London, Manchester, Paris, Zurich, Madrid and Milan.
Fares start from THB18,999 in economy class and THB45,099 in
business class.
Destination
Economy Class
Fares From (THB)
Business Class
Fares From (THB)
Dubai
18,999
45,099
New York
26,999
78,999
London
21,999
76,999
Manchester
26,999
72,999
Paris
19,999
67,999
Zurich
17,999
68,999
Madrid
20,999
62,999
Milan
20,999
66,999
Customers participating in this unmissable offer will also
have guaranteed access to flexible ticket options and Covid-19 medical travel
insurance for added peace of mind.
Emirates passengers can take advantage of the promotion by
booking their flight on Emirates.com/th or via participating travel agents up
until 23 January 2022, for travel until 30 November 2022.
In addition to these new special fares, customers travelling
to Dubai or considering a stopover at the holiday hotspot can enjoy even more
value-add offers from Emirates:
Free Emirates Expo Day Pass: Emirates customers visiting and
travelling through Dubai anytime during the Expo 2020 mega event will be
eligible to receive a free Emirates Expo Day Pass for every flight ticket
booked with the airline. For more information on this promotion, please visit
the dedicated offer page.
My Emirates Pass – Expo Edition: Customers travelling to or
via Dubai anytime until 31 March 2022 get to explore the city for less with My
Emirates Pass Expo 2020 Dubai, through which they enjoy exclusive discounts and
benefits at over 500 retail, dining, and recreational attractions by simply
showing their Emirates boarding pass.
Earn a Mile a Minute in Dubai: Emirates customers can earn
one Skywards Mile for every one minute spent in Dubai until 31 March 2022.
Existing and new Emirates Skywards members who sign up for
the programme before 31 March 2022 are eligible for the Mile A Minute and will
earn up to 5,000 Miles. The offer is applicable on all Emirates flight tickets
purchased from 1 August 2021 to 31 March 2022 for travel during Expo 2020
Dubai. Emirates marketed, flydubai operated flights with an Emirates (EK)
flight number are also included in the offer.
LANGKAWI, 5 January 2022: Situated in the glittering waters of the
Andaman Sea is a mystical archipelago comprising 99 islets known as Langkawi.
At the northwesternmost coast of Malaysia, it is a living gallery of emerald
paddy fields, ancient and mysterious rainforests, majestic mountain ranges and
rock formations, exotic flora & fauna and sparklingly clear, sapphire blue
waters.
All intricately embroidered by powder-fine sandy beaches and
soothingly swaying coconut palms. Delve deeper, and Langkawi will reveal even
more of its rich treasures that lay in store. Discover a wealth of customs,
cultures and a veritable spring of rich flavours. But the most valuable facet
of Langkawi is its people and the richness of their welcoming hospitality that
begins with a priceless smile.
It is no surprise that Langkawi is considered one of Asia’s top most
sought after destinations amongst tourists, nature-enthusiasts and modern-day
explorers around the world. But words truly fail to capture the magic of these
islands and the experiences that lay in wait, which is why the Malaysia
Pavilion delivered some of it to delight visitors on Naturally Langkawi Day, 28 December 2021.
Dances &
Costumes
Highly skilled dancers enchanted pavilion visitors with their graceful
moves to demonstrate traditions of both Malaysian and uniquely ‘Langkawian’
culture as These dances are not just
intricate choreography, but in pageantry as well. The intricate accessories and
vibrant textiles that make up their costumes reflect fine Malaysian artistry
and craftsmanship as well. You can even see how these intricate textiles are
woven too.
The Expo 2020 Dubai is playing host to 192 countries this year and for the first time ever, is creating a truly global atmosphere. Participating nations are hosting exclusive pavilions, allowing visitors a chance to experience what each nation has to offer. This is the perfect way to explore what is in store for you in Langkawi. Besides fun, flavour and sand, you will also discover that Langkawi has more to offer in terms of business opportunities, innovations and showcasing impactful and sustainable solutions for you and to the world.
