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Thai AirAsia X to fly to Australia

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 30 August 2022: Thai AirAsia X  (XJ) will introduce direct flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Melbourne and Sydney for the first time, commencing 1 and 2 December 2022.

Four weekly flights direct to Sydney Airport on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) three times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are on sale starting from THB5,990 one way. Sales opened yesterday, 29 August.

From left to right: Dr Angela Macdonald, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Tassapon Bijleveld, acting CEO of Thai AirAsia X.

Flights will be served by the 377-seat Airbus A330 aircraft with 12 upfront business-class reclining seats and 365 economy seats.

Thai AirAsia X acting CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said: “Thailand and Australia have maintained strong relations for over 70 years, and Australia is among the top three educational destinations for Thai students as well as a leading travel destination for Thai tourists.

“Thai AirAsia X is very excited to be adding Sydney and Melbourne as two key destinations in Australia this year, with a priority on these two cities as amongst the most popular routes. Having resumed services to South Korea and Japan, we are thrilled that we are now expanding to Sydney and Melbourne as our next key growth markets. Australia’s largest cities have much to offer in terms of strong economy, tourism and education, making them prime additions to Thai AirAsia X’s growing network.”

Thai AirAsia X marks the introduction of its two new routes from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Sydney and Melbourne with its ‘Take a Fun Trip’ to Australia promotion. Members can book both routes from only THB5,990 from 29 August to 4 September 2022 for travel from 1 December 2022 to 25 March 2023 via the AirAsia Super App.

Australia remains a key market for the AirAsia brand. Malaysian-based AirAsia X, the affiliate long haul sister airline of Thai AirAsia X, has also recently announced new services from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney commencing 9 September and to Perth, Melbourne and Auckland (via Sydney), which commence in November this year.

(Source: Thai AirAsia X)

Sarawak showcases holiday offers

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, 30 August 2022: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) announced the return of its homegrown brand, Sia Sitok Sarawak, on Monday, themed “Discover Sarawak Gems” exclusively for Sarawakians and non-Sarawakian residents.

Back by popular demand, Sarawakians looking to discover the undiscovered Sarawak for their year-end holidays can choose from 62 tour packages. SSS offers discounts ranging from 35 to 50% on single-day to multi-day trips. Seven new tour packages have also been included, emphasising community-based and responsible tourism products aligned with the post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS).

New tour packages

  • Kedaya Telang Usan to chase waterfalls and experience the local culture.
  • A more in-depth Bidayuh village experience at Saloma Homestay.
  • Bird-watching in Ba Kelalan to get the chance to spot the Dulit Frogmouth bird, which is endemic to the mountains of northern Borneo.
  • An unforgettable Belaga expedition with a visit to Uma Belor, potentially the longest interrupted longhouse structure in Sarawak.
  • Follow Rajah Brooke’s trail and visit Rentap’s Fort at Bukit Sadok.
  • Enjoy a water rapids experience with the Julau and Upriver Expedition.
  • Discover Murum and visit Limbang–Lawas Meritam Pasir Lumpur to pamper yourself with a natural mudbath.

SSSA 3.0 will provide the best bargains with discounts up to 35% off for staycation packages from over 40 participating hotels.

 Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “We started Sia Sitok Sarawak, which translates to ‘Ke Sana Ke Sini’ Sarawak, as a measure to boost the local tourism industry during the pandemic, revive the state economy and keep traveller confidence high.

“I am happy to see the success of our homegrown brand “Sia Sitok Sarawak” for the past two years and “Sia Sitok Accommodation” in 2021 with sales generated over MYR10.5 million. The Sia Sitok Sarawak campaign will be a great initiative to cultivate local interest and appreciation of Sarawak’s greatest offering. Over the long-term, Sarawakians can become tourism ambassadors for travellers worldwide.”

Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said: “With the return of Sia Sitok Sarawak, there is no better way to travel throughout Sarawak than with friends and family this year-end as we go beyond the pandemic with its exclusive offerings and deals. Do not miss the opportunity to try the eight new packages in SSS4.0 for an unforgettable lifetime experience and take the opportunity of the good deals at participating hotels while on vacation.”

SSS4.0 and SSSA 3.0 is available for bookings from 1 September 2022 to 31 October 2022, with the travelling or staying period from 1 September 2022 to 15 December 2022.

For more information on Sia Sitok Sarawak and its packages, visit the official website at www.siasitok.sarawaktourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sarawak Tourism Board)

DOT and DOLE sign a deal on tourism jobs

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 30 August 2022: The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) jointly announced the  National Tourism Jobs Fair programme that will run until May 2023 during the MOU signing today (30 August) to provide a bridge for employment opportunities in the tourism sector.

The multi-month campaign will conclude in May 2023 to coincide with the 50th Founding Anniversary of the DOT.

(Photo credit DOT). Jobs for Filipinos were discussed on the sidelines of the recent APEC summit.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma signed the MOU.

“We are prioritising the provision of employment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector in response to the severe losses in income and livelihood due to the pandemic and workforce shortage in the tourism industry. It will help Filipinos find jobs while helping the accommodation and services sector to address workforce shortages, resulting in the continued recovery of the tourism industry as a whole,” said Secretary Frasco.

The National Tourism Job Fair programme’s first activity will roll out during the Hotels Supplier Show from 22 to 24 September at the SMX Convention Centre Manila.

Global-Link MP, the organiser of the Hotels Supplier Show, has offered 50 free booths for the programme. Other job fair venues are planned for Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

DOT’s regional offices will work with DOLE field offices and local government units to manage job fairs. The process will include collecting relevant job posting information from participating establishments, ensuring the credibility of all participating employers, and, monitoring the submission of job fair reportorial requirements of participating establishments.

Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Frasco also recently announced that overseas hospitality career opportunities would be made available to Filipinos in a separate job fair in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers and DOLE.

She was commenting on Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn’s comments on the sidelines of the recently concluded APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, which suggested creating job opportunities for Filipinos in Thailand’s hotel and tourism business sectors.

“Providing tourism employment opportunities in the Philippines and abroad is important because this will help the thousands of Filipino workers and their families displaced or repatriated because of the pandemic. For new graduates and others seeking a career in tourism, this will also open new doors for economic prosperity,” said Secretary Frasco.

(Source: DOT Philippines)

Hahalolo hopes for Asia network

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 30 August 2022: Hahalolo, a travel social networking application, plans to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific and Africa by the end of the year.

Hahalolo has introduced plans to expand during the last quarter of 2022 in popular travel markets such as India, Indonesia, and Vietnam in the Asia Pacific. It is also planning to extend its cover to Africa to reach 25 million users by December 2022.

Hahalolo announced it would celebrate the grand opening of its India branch office on 29 August. The US headquarters will also be upgraded and relaunched in November.

The Covid pandemic has affected the global tourism industry, forcing businesses to change their models to overcome difficulties. Hahalolo delivers an online travel agency (OTA) application linked to a social network that creates an effective platform to promote cultural destinations while helping businesses increase revenue and approach travel customers directly.

Launched in 2019, Hahalolo supports tourism business growth in 192 countries and territories despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Partnering with thousands of travel agencies, hotels, and hundreds of airlines worldwide, Hahalolo has all the features of an online travel agency plus the advantages of a  social network that help users quickly book travel services and share their experiences on their pages.

Hahalolo creates opportunities for users to earn money by posting high-quality content on their pages or participating in affiliate marketing programmes when booking flights, hotels and tours.

Hahalolo USA claims to have attracted nearly 10 million users within two years. However, the rate of active users would be higher when the coin mining feature is launched on the platform. New users will receive coins equivalent to USD10 after registering. 

(Source: Bernama)

Vietnam reports 1.44 million visits

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TTR WEEKLY
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HANOI, 30 August 2023: Vietnam welcomed 1.44 million international arrivals during the first eight months of 2022, Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday, quoting Government Statistics Office data.

It represented a 13.7-fold rise from a year earlier due to reopening borders to foreign tourists in May and the fast resumption of international air routes, particularly to Southeast Asia, Korea and India. But it is still off the pace achieved in 2019 by a whopping 87.3%, the General Statistics Office noted in the 29 August update. Vietnam targets 5 million international arrivals in 2022.

Of the international arrivals, 88.2% came to Vietnam by air, while 11.8% by road and 0.03% by sea. Asian visitors made up the majority with nearly 997,000 arrivals, accounting for 69.18% of the eight-month total.

The GSO noted in August alone, international arrivals reached 486,400, increasing 38% from July. The eight-month tourism revenue is estimated at VND15.4 trillion VND (USD657.4 million), 47.7% off the 2019 pace.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency)

TPB appoints acting COO

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 29 August 2022: The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), recently named Charles Aames Bautista as the new officer-in-charge of the agency.

His appointment ratified last week follows the resignation of the former chief operating officer, Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones. She now serves as an undersecretary for the newly-formed Department of Migrant Workers.

Charles Aames Bautista addresses a recent gathering of travel agents in Manila.

Bautista, who held the post of deputy chief operating officer for marketing and promotions, was the next highest-ranking executive of the TPB in line to take the top job. He was nominated and unanimously voted in as the acting COO  by the TPB’s Board of Directors, chaired by DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, during a special board meeting last 15 August 2022 to temporarily head the agency.

Before joining TPB, Bautista was the former department manager for the Communications and Creative Services of the Centre for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). He spent the past 15 years as a marketing, public relations, and corporate planning executive in various industries, including e-commerce, media, pharmaceuticals, hospitality and advertising. He spent a third of his career as the digital manager and concurrent online editor of Tatler Philippines.

“I am excited to take on this role and steer the ship, albeit temporarily,” said Bautista. “We will continue to serve our stakeholders with the enthusiasm and excellence that the agency is known for, and I also look forward to bringing in new ideas that align with the Secretary’s vision of having a multidimensional approach to tourism,” he added.

Bautista will serve the OIC position until the TPB Board members appoint the next COO.

(Your Stories: TPB Philippines)

Anantara Desaru expands senior team

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TTR WEEKLY
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DESARU COAST, Malaysia 29 August 2022: Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas has appointed Peter Wagner as resort manager.

He joins Anantara Desaru Coast from Six Senses Samui, a resort with a strong villa product, where he worked as director of rooms. Before that, he was rooms division manager at Anantara Mui Ne in Vietnam.

In his latest posting at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, he reports directly to the general manager Christian Gerart.

Owned by Minor International, a hotel operator with 530 properties, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is located on a 17-kilometre beach facing the South China Sea in a new high-end resort development that offers a range of accommodations nestled in tropical gardens. Desaru Coast is located in Johor Darul Ta’zim and spans over 16 square kilometres. It is near Iskandar Malaysia, and is easily accessible via a 45-minute drive from Malaysia’s Senai International Airport (JHB) and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally, visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru Coast by ferry, followed by a short drive.

The Maldives taps Traveloka’s network

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TTR WEEKLY
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JAKARTA, 29 August 2022: Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation ( Visit Maldives) has initiated a digital marketing campaign with Indonesia’s leading online travel agency, Traveloka, which has its head office in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The campaign will promote the Maldives as a leading destination of choice in the Southeast Asian market and covers three months ending in November.

Traveloka is Indonesia’s leading online travel agency with a strong presence across Southeast Asian markets. The Traveloka app has been downloaded over 60 million times, and the platform boasts over 40 million monthly active users. It connects with over 150 airlines, covering 200,000 domestic and international flight routes.

As of 17 August, Maldives welcomed 1,028,467 travellers to its shores, with 22,181 arriving from Southeast Asian nations.

TMMPRC has been holding several activities targeting this market, including joint marketing campaigns with major stakeholders, outdoor advertising campaigns, participation in fairs, and hosting webinars, including e-Learning programmes.

SQ goes mask free on most flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 29 August 2022: Singapore Airlines will not require passengers to wear masks during flights starting from today, 29 August, unless they travel to and from a country that requires a face mask.

Face masks are optional at Singapore Changi Airport.

Singapore Airlines has strictly enforced the mask mandate onboard all its flights, regardless of destination, to stick with government guidelines. However, effective 24 August, the government Ministry of Health eased rules on wearing masks that also included public transport.

That ruling has now been extended to passengers flying on Singapore Airlines unless they are flying to and from destinations that still mandate mask wearing.

In its latest update, Singapore Airlines reassured passengers that if they wish to wear a mask onboard or within Changi airport, they can continue to do so.

Passengers must wear masks during flights to Germany and Spain ( Milan and Barcelona) due to regulations in the two countries. 

For more information on destinations requiring masks, see:

https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/media-centre/Maskrequirementsbydestinations.pdf

QF to resume Auckland – New York flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SYDNEY, 29 August 2022: Qantas will recommence flights to New York, with a new service from Australia to the Big Apple via Auckland from 14 June next year*.

The launch of QF3 and QF4 will initially see the flying kangaroo return to New York three days a week after a three-year Covid-induced hiatus. Flights will use Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with three new aircraft scheduled for delivery next year.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said flying via Auckland would provide better connectivity from more destinations in Australia before an uninterrupted 16-hour flight to New York.

“We’re back flying to most of our pre-Covid destinations, a fantastic achievement by our teams and so important for Australians reconnecting with the rest of the world.

“We can’t wait to return to New York, and it’s made possible by the delivery of new aircraft, which have been caught up in delays that have impacted many airlines.

Sydney-Auckland-New York flights went on sale last week. Qantas currently operates six daily services to Auckland from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, increasing to 11 daily services when the new flight to New York launches.

*Flights subject to regulatory approval

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