KUALA LUMPUR, 16 December 2024: AirAsia MOVE, an online travel agent (OTA) in ASEAN is partnering with Tongcheng Travel, a prominent player in China’s travel industry.
AirAsia MOVE CEO Nadia Omer and Tongcheng Travel AVP Gong Xiaolei signed off on the partnership.
(From top left) Dato’ Fam Lee Ee, Board of Director Capital A and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, witnessing the signing between AirAsia MOVE and Tongcheng Travel, represented by (from bottom left) Nadia Omer, CEO of AirAsia and AVP Gong Xiaolei Tongcheng Travel.
Both parties will work together to develop a cutting-edge B2B platform, innovative duty-free shopping solutions, and integrated rewards programmes in the future.
Omer commented: “This partnership with Tongcheng Travel represents a significant step forward in AirAsia MOVE’s mission to bring unparalleled value and convenience to travellers in our respective markets. By combining our strengths, we’re creating innovative solutions that enhance the travel experience and redefine industry standards. We look forward to unlocking new opportunities together and delivering exceptional experiences to our customers.”
AirAsia MOVE, which is the digital travel platform of Capital A, was recently named ‘Asia’s Best Travel Booking App’ for the second year in a row by World Travel Tech Awards 2024 and offers a seamless travel experience with options for flights from over 700 airlines worldwide,
KUCHING, Sarawak, 13 December 2024: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) hosted over 150 media personnel last week from across Sarawak, Peninsula Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Taiwan, and France for its Media Night 2024 celebration.
Themed ‘The Soul of Sarawak, the event was held at the Imperial Hotel, Kuching, to celebrate the invaluable role of media in showcasing Sarawak’s unique offerings to the world.
Showcase of Sarawak culture
The theme “The Soul of Sarawak” encapsulated the essence of Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food, and Festivals (CANFF) pillars, which continue to shape the state’s narrative as a leading tourism destination. Guests were treated to a showcase of Sarawak’s culture, including traditional performances, Sarawakian cuisine, and a heartfelt programme celebrating the collaborative spirit of media and tourism.
Impressive PR value leap
In her welcome address, Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor expressed appreciation for the media’s unwavering support in promoting Sarawak throughout 2024.
“Our media outreach garnered 533 million eyeballs, over 210 million impressions, and an incredible MYR91 million in PR value — an impressive leap from 2023, when we achieved 313 million eyeballs, 92.2 million impressions, and MYR39 million in PR value. These numbers speak volumes about what we can achieve together— a testament to our shared vision and commitment. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and your willingness to go above and beyond in your craft.,” said Puan Sharzede.
Tourist arrivals soar in 2024
2024 has been a remarkable year for Sarawak Tourism, achieving record-breaking visitor arrivals by mid-November with over 4 million visitors and generating over MYR10 billion in tourism receipts, surpassing both the state’s targets and pre-pandemic levels.
This remarkable achievement reflects the successful collaborations between STB and its media partners and the impactful launch of the ‘Gateway to Borneo’ campaign earlier this year at ITB Berlin. This campaign positions Sarawak as the ideal gateway to Borneo, inviting travellers to immerse themselves in the state’s rich tapestry of nature, culture, and adventure.
UNESCO recognition for Niah Caves
Adding to this year’s remarkable milestones, the state celebrated the inscription of Niah Caves as its second UNESCO World Heritage Site. This prestigious recognition underscores Sarawak’s significance as a cultural and archaeological treasure, enhancing its appeal to eco-tourists and cultural explorers.
Three awards close the year
Closing the year on a high note, the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) garnered three prestigious accolades. The Sia Sitok campaign was honoured with the coveted Campaign of the Year Award in the In-House Category.
At the same time, the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2024 secured the same title in the Agency Category at the Malaysia Public Relations Awards (MPRA) 2024.
Additionally, STB received the Tourism Board Campaign of the Year – Malaysia award at the TDM Travel Trade Excellence Awards 2024, presented by Travel Daily Media, recognising its exceptional efforts in hosting and promoting the iconic Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2024.
With a target of 5 million visitor arrivals for 2025, STB is eager to build on this year’s successes. The board looks forward to further forging stronger collaborations with media to amplify Sarawak’s offerings on a global stage.
SINGAPORE, 13 December 2024: Pandaw launches special group rates of USD35,000 for 10 cabins (single or double) for selected seven-night cruises on the Lower Mekong River between Vietnam & Cambodia and the mighty Brahmaputra & Ganges Rivers India for any departure in the 2024/2025 season.
Special group rates apply to three cruise itineraries featuring the Mekong River in Southeast Asia and the iconic rivers of India: the Lower Ganges and the Brahmaputra.
Pandaw is also promoting its combo cruises. If you want to make the most of your next overseas adventure and explore Asia in more depth, join Pandaw for one of the combination expeditions. With inclusive flights, transfers and accommodation between cruises where necessary, this is the perfect way to immerse in Asia’s diverse cultures and experiences in one trip, all from the comfort of Pandaw’s custom-built river ships.
The Full Mekong Four Country 21-night combo is Pandaw’s newest and most adventurous combo expedition, and it sees intrepid travellers sail along all navigable stretches of the Mekong River through Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Taking advantage of high water in the early part of the season, it explores further than any passenger vessel, including a crossing of the Tonle Sap Lake for a true adventure across Indochina. This exciting itinerary is sold out for 2024, and advanced 2025 dates are selling quickly.
Pandaw’s 14 and 21-night Ganges & Brahmaputra expeditions offer guests the chance to experience the wide variety of life in India. Sailing along the sacred Ganges before heading into the remote North-East for an unforgettable journey along the Brahmaputra river. New dates for 2025/26 have just been released for preferred stateroom bookings.
If you want to combine two or more of Pandaw’s cruises that are not currently offered as a combo or to make a booking, reach out to the Pandaw team at [email protected], visit pandaw.com, or contact your local travel agent.
SINGAPORE, 13 December 2024: JATI, a new private resort, opens in March 2025 on Russey Island*, off Cambodia’s southern coast.
The private island experience is a 35-minute car transfer from Sihanoukville International Airport to the jetty at Ream (distance 18 km and a 15-minute speedboat transfer (4.5km) from the mainland jetty in Sihanoukville province to Russey Island.
Photo credit: JATI.
The resort features 82 one-and-two-bedroom villas, some with private pools directly on the beach.
JATI is owned and operated by HMD Asia owns and operates JATI along with numerous properties in Southeast Asia, including Shinta Mani Hotels in Cambodia, TRIBE Hotel in Phnom Penh, Park Hyatt Siem Reap, La Residence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang, Laos and La Residence D’Angkor in Siem Reap.
The resort offers a variety of onsite venues to host beachfront weddings and is planning a conference centre in a jungle setting for late 2025. HMD Asia Executive Director Anthony Lark heads the island project.
*Koh Russey, or Bamboo Island, is one of a group of small islands in the Gulf of Thailand, located about 4.5 km off the coast of Sihanoukville province in southern Cambodia. It is administered by Prey Nob District in Sihanoukville Province.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Google Map. Sihanoukville airport to Ream beach jetty.
SINGAPORE, 13 December 2024: Paul Gauguin Cruises, French Polynesia’s premier destination expert and part of the Ponant Explorations Group, has announced a makeover for the 330-guest MS Paul Gauguin due to take place during Q1 2025.
Scheduled for a seven-week drydock in Singapore from February to March 2025, the multi-million-dollar renovation will feature sustainable technology enhancements, a transformation of its Le Grill restaurant and pool deck, and an additional eight new connecting staterooms.
Makeover highlights
Le Grill: This indoor/outdoor restaurant adjacent to the pool will get a makeover featuring a contemporary look in white with wood screens, ceramic tiles, trim framing culinary stations, and soft oak wood furnishings crowned by bamboo light fixtures.
Connecting Staterooms: Eight new connecting staterooms on Deck 7 will appeal to the growing multi-generational travel boom. The Gauguin remains the only cruise ship in French Polynesia year-round to offer a complimentary programme for children ages six to 15 on select summer and holiday voyages.
Emerging from drydock at the end of March 2025, MS Paul Gauguin will launch two voyages as part of the 2025 Boutique Crossing Collection.
Guests can choose the 14-night Immersive Indonesia: Singapore to Australia itinerary, departing 1 April 2025, or the 16-night Crossing Melanesia: Australia to Fiji voyage, departing 15 April 2025, as the ship returns to Tahiti.
Following these cruises, the ship will return to her lineup of all-inclusive luxury itineraries, offering seven to 14-night explorations of the Society Islands, Tuamotus, Cook Islands, and Marquesas.
BANGKOK, 13 December 2024: Thailand’s MICE* industry posted a 42% rise in overseas business event travellers in its 2024 fiscal year (October 2023 -September 2024), totalling 1.16 million travellers.
According to the statistics released by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the performance closes in on the record high of 1.2 million travellers achieved during the pre-pandemic 2019.
Looking forward to 2025, the country will host large-scale international events, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 delegates per event.
TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya commented: “With the record performance in 2024, TCEB aims to achieve higher at 1.4 million overseas business event travellers in the 2025 fiscal year.”
During the 2024 fiscal year, the top 10 market sources were China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, the US, and Japan. Focusing on the European and UK markets, the top five were Germany, the UK, Russia, France and Italy.
Conventions lead the business events sectors, recording close to a 200% increase in delegates over 2023, followed by incentive travel, exhibitions and meetings.
One major highlight for the conventions sector was the 74th FIFA Congress, held last May in Bangkok. Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to host the football governing body’s congress. ICCA Congress in Bangkok, with 1,100 attendees, was the largest annual gathering of ICCA ever held in the Asia-Pacific.
Events line up in 2025
In 2025, Thailand is again poised to record growth as the country will be hosting various TCEB-supported international events covering many industrial sectors.
Money 20/20 Asia 2025, a fintech event, will take place in Bangkok in April, with an anticipated 5,000 attending delegates representing start-ups, financial bodies and tech enterprises.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) World Diabetes Congress 2025, due in April in Bangkok, will attract 10,000 attendees. This will be the first time that this world congress has established a foothold in the Southeast Asian region.
The Asia Pacific Life Insurance Congress (APLIC 2025), which will be held in May 2025 in Bangkok, should attract 10,000 delegates, including life insurance agents and professional financial consultants.
THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2025, a premier trade show dedicated to food products and beverages, innovation and technology, will convene in Bangkok in May. It is one B2B highlight in Thailand’s exhibition calendar and should attract 85,000 participants.
*MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions.
SYDNEY, 13 December 2024: Australians continue to travel in record numbers, with the latest data revealing Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia as the top-growth destinations.
The Australian Travel Industry Association’s (ATIA) December Travel Trends report uses data from the ABS, Department of Infrastructure and analysis by the ATIA team.
The most recent data shows that 1.66 million Australians departed for international destinations in October alone, a 12.1% increase on the same month last year.
Japan recorded an astounding 73.8% year-on-year growth (567,330 Australians travelling as of October 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. Vietnam was up 35.4% (423,630), and Indonesia improved by 26% (1,644,010). Regarding total travellers, Indonesia was the top destination, followed by New Zealand at 1,344,150, up 8.2% and the USA at 732,490 (up 13%).
63.6% of Australians travelling in the year up to 31 October 2024 were holidaying, with 24% visiting friends and relatives and 5% on business.
Inbound, year-on-year, China is the fastest-growing market in terms of visitors to Australia, with a 96.6% increase from last year. Visitors from South Korea to Australia have slightly overtaken Japan, with both showing near 50% growth on last year.
Leisure travel surges
ATIA Director of Membership and Industry Affairs Richard Taylor commented: “Destinations like Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia are seeing unprecedented growth. Japan’s 73.8% year-on-year surge is phenomenal, while Vietnam and Indonesia continue to rise by 35.4% and 26%, respectively. These figures highlight the evolving preferences of Australian travellers.
“Leisure travel is driving this surge, with 63.6% of Australians travelling for holidays. The strong focus on reconnecting with friends and family, as reflected in 24% of travellers, also highlights the personal value of travel.”
SINGAPORE, 13 December 2024: Korean Air has completed its acquisition of Asiana Airlines four years after announcing its decision in November 2020.
Effective 12 December, Korean Air acquired 131,578,947 newly issued shares of Asiana Airlines, representing a 63.88% ownership stake and making Asiana Airlines a subsidiary of Korean Air.
Photo credit: Korean Air
The completion follows Korean Air’s payment of KRW800 billion to Asiana Airlines on 11 December, concluding the share purchase transaction. This brings the total investment through the third-party allotment capital increase to KRW1.5 trillion, including the previously paid deposit of KRW300 billion and interim payment of KRW400 billion.
Asiana Airlines will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on 16 January to appoint new board directors nominated by Korean Air.
Korean Air plans to complete the integration with Asiana Airlines over two years. The integration strategy includes network optimisation through diversified flight schedules on overlapping routes, service expansion to new destinations and enhanced safety investments. The merger aims to strengthen national aviation industry competitiveness, enhance Incheon Airport’s hub capabilities and expand global network reach.
The integrated frequent flyer programme framework will be submitted to the Korea Fair Trade Commission by June 2025. Following regulatory review, programme details will be communicated to customers.
About Korean Air Serving the world for more than 55 years, Korean Air is one of the world’s top 20 airlines, carrying more than 27 million passengers in 2019, pre-Covid. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 115 cities in 40 countries on five continents with a modern fleet of 158 aircraft and over 20,000 employees.
VIETNAM, 13 December 2024: Efforts to market Central Vietnam’s golf offerings in Australia are paying dividends, with clubs across the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC) reporting significant growth in Australian golfers’ rounds played.
Montgomerie Links, a cornerstone of the region’s golf scene, has seen a 20% increase in rounds from Australian visitors over the past two years, rising from 1,700 to 2,200 annually.
The Luke Donald course at Ba Na Hills Golf Club is also experiencing high demand from guests from Down Under.
Ba Na Hills Golf Club has experienced even more dramatic growth, with Australian play surging by 35% to 40%. Notably, many of these golfers visit during the Australian winter — typically a quieter period for foreign visitors in Vietnam — providing a welcome boost to the destination year-round.
Central Vietnam’s efforts to establish itself as a golf destination of choice for Aussies have been bolstered by a series of high-profile initiatives aimed at the Australian market. Over the past year, the destination has welcomed several leading Australian golf writers, including representatives from Golf Digest Australia, to experience the region’s offerings firsthand.
Driving this momentum, Laguna Golf Lang Co — a signature course designed by Sir Nick Faldo and a founding member of the VGC — made a bold statement by hosting roadshows in Melbourne and Sydney earlier this year. Representing the resort and Central Vietnam on an international stage, the team worked tirelessly to bring together Australian media and tour operators and highlight the exceptional golf experiences at Laguna Lang Co and Central Vietnam.
Laguna Golf Lang Company Director of Golf, Stephen Banks underscored the importance of these events in solidifying ties with Australian stakeholders. “These roadshows demonstrate our commitment to positioning Central Vietnam as a leading golf destination for Australians,” he said. “By fostering connections with key players in the market, we aim to build lasting partnerships and promote sustained tourism growth.”
The roadshows showcased the region’s standout courses, including those designed by Luke Donald (Ba Na Hills Golf Club) and Colin Montgomerie (Montgomerie Links), alongside iconic names like Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr Representatives from the Danang Tourism Promotion Centre joined the events, providing insights into the broader appeal of the region, including its luxurious accommodations and vibrant cultural experiences.
Montgomerie Links Club Manager Le Vo Hoang Van attributed the growth to targeted marketing campaigns and the undeniable allure of Central Vietnam. “Australian golfers are drawn to the region’s world-class courses, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality,” she said. “The recent uptick in rounds is a testament to the effectiveness of our outreach efforts.”
Ba Na Hills Golf Club’s General Manager, Simon Mees, echoed these sentiments. “The Australian market has been a game-changer for us,” he added. “Seeing how well our course resonates with these visitors is gratifying. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum.”
Set to open on 1 February 2025, this new oasis invites travellers to embark on an immersive journey that blends signature Thai-inspired hospitality with authentic Maldivian allure through thoughtfully curated experiences, excursions and complimentary nights.
Located within The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives offers a blend of tranquillity, sophistication and tropical charm and unprecedented access to boundless adventures at the neighbouring Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives.
Across 142 spacious beachfront villas and overwater havens, every element of this private island paradise — from indulgent dining experiences to rejuvenating spa and wellness journeys — is crafted to deliver extraordinary moments and unparalleled comfort.
The resort’s special opening offer celebrates the art of island living through signature experiences, including an exclusive champagne experience at Sunset Social and a rejuvenating couples’ spa treatment combining modern wellness and traditional Thai healing techniques at Cenvaree Retreat. For ocean enthusiasts, choosing between a traditional nighttime hand-fishing trip or a mesmerising sunset dolphin cruise adds to the enchantment.
In addition to these offerings, guests can book four nights for the price of three. Or they can extend their visit to seven nights while only paying for five when booking from now until 31 March 2025 for stays between 1 February and 15 October 2025.
Exclusive access to The Club and an upgrade to Half Board+ dining privileges are also included. At the same time, CentaraThe1 members will receive an additional 15% discount and the opportunity to earn triple points for their stay. To take advantage of the “Grand Island Indulgence” offer and learn more about Centara’s new property, visit: https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cglm/introductoryoffer
