Thai Vietjet to fly to Phu Quoc

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August 23, 2022

BANGKOK, 23 August 2022: Thai Vietjet announces its new international services from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport) to Phu Quoc in Vietnam, starting on 12 October.

“We are delighted to connect travellers with one more top travel destination of Vietnam – Phu Quoc providing Thai people more opportunities and flexible choices to travel to Vietnam, as well as welcoming Vietnamese tourists to Thailand.

“Since tourism is on its track to returning to the pre-pandemic level, we strongly believe that the service between the two destinations would help facilitate the region’s growing travel demand and stimulate the trade recovery of both countries, particularly the international tourism industry and aviation business,” said Thai Vietjet chief executive officer Woranate Laprabang.

Thai Vietjet will operate four flights weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday on the Bangkok – Phu Quoc route with an approximate flight time of one hour and 15 minutes.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Flight

Number

Origin

Destination

Departure

Arrival

Days of Operation

VZ980

Bangkok

Phu Quoc

09:45

11:00

Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday

VZ981

Phu Quoc

Bangkok

12:00

13:20

To support the new route, the airline has launched its ‘Deluxe Super Sale’, offering deluxe fares starting from THB 2,999 (inclusive of taxes, fees, and surcharges). The special deluxe service includes 20 kg of checked baggage, free seat selection, priority check-in and flexibility with unlimited flight changes at no charge.

It is valid for bookings made from 25 to 31 August 2022, with the travel period starting on 15 September and extending to 25 March, 2023.

Phu Quoc is the largest island located in South Vietnam and up until the Covid-19 lockdown was a top island destination for travellers visiting Southeast Asia alongside Bali and Phuket. Flights to Phu Quoc are now resuming after Vietnam reopened its borders last May.

Thai Vietjet has recently expanded its international flight network to dtourist destinations, including Fukuoka (Japan), Phu Quoc (Vietnam), Taipei, and Ahmedabad (India).

Etihad partners with Rassure

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TTR WEEKLY

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August 22, 2022

SYDNEY, 22 August 2022: Etihad has selected Rassure, a revenue rescue service provider based in Sydney, to automate its sales audit process fully.

The airline says the collaboration will boost revenue more than possible through legacy, semi-automated service providers. By recovering revenues with high levels of accuracy in short turnaround times, it should positively impact cash flow. As a special feature, this “out of the box” tool enables Etihad to rerun the audit at will, simulating various “What if” scenarios to inform strategic business decisions.

“As we emerge from the pandemic, technology-based evolution is at the core of our recovery and future development strategy. The RAX platform represents a step-change in discovering lost revenue,” said Etihad Aviation Group VP of financial reporting & control Kelly Schroeder.

Rassure is a company based out of Sydney that delivers actionable insights to airline executives on distribution, fares and surcharges.

Busan hosts COSPAR 2024

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TTR WEEKLY

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August 22, 2022

BUSAN, 22 August 2022: Korea has recently successfully propelled the satellite launch rocket Nuri and the lunar probe Danuri in succession. Based on these achievements, the country is securing a stronger global standing academically and technologically in terms of space science.

Korea is also being recognised for its ability to attract relevant MICE events. In particular, Busan was the venue for not only the 2022 International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly but was also selected as the host city for the 2024 Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). With the world’s largest space science academic events taking place in Busan, it has become possible to not only revitalize its MICE and tourism-related industries but also showcase Busan’s potential as a science and technology hub and MICE city.

IAUGA 2022 Successfully Held in Busan

In 2015, Korea won the honor of hosting the 31st International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly over the candidates of South Africa, Chile, and Canada. After a series of unfortunate delays due to COVID-19, this major scientific event finally took place in Busan.

The theme of this year’s General Assembly, which took place for 10 days and opened on August 2 at BEXCO in Busan, was “Astronomy for All”. It was structured not just as an academic meeting of specialists, but also as a science culture event for the general public. On August 6 and 7, public lectures on “next-generation astronomy” were held at the Busan National Science Museum. On August 9, various experiential activities were held at the BEXCO outdoor plaza, such as the Star Party where participants observed the sun during the day and the stars at night.

By hosting the 31st IAU General Assembly, which become a valuable forum for mutual exchange in the field of astronomy, Busan has clearly engraved itself in the hearts of visitors as a seaside MICE city where bright city life and nature coexist.

Busan Secures Hosting of COSPAR 2024!

Meanwhile, the 45^th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, the world’s largest symposium on space science, is set to take place in Busan in 2024. This assembly will be held at BEXCO from July 13 to 21, 2024, under the theme of “Team Spirit in Space Research”. In addition to diverse invitational lectures and academic presentations, assorted public events such as the “Space Film Festival” and “Meetings with Space Scientists” are being planned as well. As a part of the preparations to hold this assembly successfully, a team from the Busan Tourism Organization attended the 44th Assembly held in Athens, Greece, last July and networked with key specialists and officials. Hosting COSPAR 2024 will be an excellent opportunity to showcase Busan as a city of science and technology to space researchers and officials around the world, including NASA.

By being selected to host such large-scale space science events, Busan is being acknowledged as a MICE city that possesses the infrastructure and resources to successfully conduct wide-ranging academic exchanges.

For more information, visit https://bto.or.kr/cvbeng/Main.do

or visit: https://bto.or.kr/cvbeng/CMS/Board/Board.do?mCode=MN039&&mode=view&board_seq=2448&

(Your Stories: Busan Tourism Organisation.)

Travel firms gear up for India’s festive season

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TTR WEEKLY

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August 22, 2022

MUMBAI, 22 August 2022: As India’s key religious festivals get underway during late August and September, Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel data monitor a boost in holiday bookings.

Holidays linked to Hindu festivals lasting up to 10 days, such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri/Durga Puja-Dusshera, followed by Diwali (October and November) fuel holiday bookings. In addition, schools are closed for their mid-term break further boosts demand for family travel.

SOTC Travel president & country head Holidays Daniel D’Souza noted: “India’s festive season presents the perfect opportunity to travel, especially for families with schools closing for their mid-term break and working professionals taking time off and travelling back to their hometowns to celebrate with their families.

To capitalise on the high demand during this peak festive period, Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel, have launched an extensive range of holidays across International and domestic destinations – with a range of special offers and deals.

Destinations in line to benefit

Destinations leading demand include short haul/easy visa destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Maldives, Mauritius; also Nepal and Bhutan in the Indian subcontinent.

The most preferred long and mid-haul destinations are the USA (for visa-holding customers), Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Europe, UK. The domestic favourites include Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa.

Key segments driving demand for the festive season include:

• Multi-generational families/couples: 78% looking for quality bonding time together

• India’s migrant working professional segment: 66% keen to travel home and celebrate with their families

• Millennials: 71% are open to a mini-cation with their group of friends or a solo break

Indians are quintessential value seekers, and hence to accelerate bookings, the companies have announced an array of special deals like Buy One Get One Free, Early Bird Discounts, and Travel Now Pay Later.

Cruise holidays represent a great value proposition: an all-inclusive holiday packed with entertainment/activities across age groups, diversity of dining experiences and sailing to multiple locations with on-shore sightseeing tours – without the hassle of check-in/check-out, transfers, etc. With cruises witnessing a surge in demand, Thomas Cook and SOTC are offering value deals on cruise holidays like children under 18 years of age travel free on Costa Cruise’s Dubai sailings, discounted prices on select Royal Caribbean and NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines) Cruises for Europe.

India’s couples and solo travellers (30 to 45 yrs) are displaying a strong preference for spiritual tours that include meditation, yoga, and wellness programs like the Yoga Centre/Ashram in Coimbatore, Dharamshala, and Rishikesh; Panchakarma program at Kumarakom, etc.

Thomas Cook and SOTC’s festive range of offers also extend to its ready-to-book and personalised experiences, including outdoor and adventure activities like safari drives at India’s leading national reserves, biking, hiking/trekking, camping, white water rafting and paragliding.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited president & country head – holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said: “To encourage our customers, we have introduced an extensive range of Festive Holidays across customer favourite destinations packed with unique experiences and special deals for our ready-to-book and personalised itineraries to ensure great value for money. Customers can make the most of our air-inclusive holidays with Vistara Getaways, Air Arabia Holidays and Emirates Holidays.”

SOTC President & Country Head – Holidays Daniel D’Souza said: “India’s festive season presents the perfect opportunity to travel, especially for families with schools closing for their mid-term break and working professionals taking time off and travelling back to their hometowns to celebrate with their families.

Centara launches Adventure Park

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TTR WEEKLY

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August 22, 2022

BANGKOK, 22 August 2022: Thailand’s leading hotel operator Centara Hotels & Resorts has officially launched a brand attraction at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, the number one family hotel in Thailand.

Nestled against the jungle waterpark at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, The Lost World Adventure Land invites guests to let their imagination soar as they fly through the air with SkyRider, dipping and swooping along the aerial course. Kids and their parents can also face their fears at SkyTrail and navigate their way across a choice of two obstacle courses in the sky.

The outdoor play area also features an expansive three-level playground complete with slides, trampolines, a raft game with a moving raft, a playground tower, and a digging pit where young archaeologists can excavate dinosaur bones.

A relaxation area for adults allows parents to enjoy a view of the action zones while kids play safely under the watchful eye of dedicated playground supervisors.

In addition to providing action for younger guests, a range of activities inspires kids to use their imagination while providing fun learning experiences. Children are invited to unleash their creativity in the indoor zone, which features a sprawling arts and crafts area. Kids can become junior chefs for the day and learn the basics of baking and decorating in lively cooking classes led by the resort’s chef team at the cooking studio.

As part of the indoor zone, The Cave provides a safe environment to enjoy family-friendly entertainment, including wooden toys, a soft-play kids’ cinema screening age-appropriate films, and a giant, soft Lego set.

To fuel the next adventure, a Kids’ Café serves refreshing drinks, ice cream, sweets and other indulgent treats.

“Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is already one of the most famous family-themed resorts in Thailand and Asia, and with the addition of The Lost World Adventure Land attraction, we are proud to offer guests an enhanced experience to share happy, memorable moments with their families,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts, executive vice president – hotel operations David Good.

Located on Wong Amat Beach in North Pattaya, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya is a Lost World-themed destination hotel located directly on a 230-metre stretch of beach with its jungle, waterpark and diverse attractions making it an appealing destination for families as well as MICE events for Thailand’s tourism and MICE industries.

“We are excited to add the Lost World Adventure Land to our unique family experiences, which already include a Kids’ Club with separate zones for younger guests of different ages and the Zulu Family Lounge for guests travelling with children under the age of 15. The addition of a new family-themed attraction further amplifies our resort’s appeal to travellers of all ages,” said Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya area general manager Wayne Duberly.

Day passes for The Lost World Adventure can be purchased in advance at https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cmbr/lost-world-adventure

The gate ticket price for Children over 90cm is 350 THB and for children under 90cm

are free of charge. Special Offer; entry free of charge for parents.

For more information on Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort and other family-friendly Centara hotels and resorts, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Tourism Malaysia on a mission in Thailand

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TTR WEEKLY

-

August 22, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 August 2022: Tourism Malaysia organised its first sales mission to two major cities in Thailand, namely Songkhla and Bangkok, last week, ending the two-year pause in roadshows to its northern neighbour.

Malaysia reopened its borders to tourism last April, and officials have identified Thailand’s outbound travellers as a priority to kickstart recovery in addition to India, Singapore and Indonesia.

The sales mission to Songkhla in the deep south, followed by Bangkok, was led by Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri and Malaysia’s tourism fraternity which consists of a Malaysia-based airline, travel agents, hoteliers, and travel content owners.

Thailand remains one of Malaysia’s essential short-haul markets. In 2019, Malaysia welcomed 1,884,306 arrivals from Thailand, and almost 70% of Thais tourists had previously visited the country.

Tourism Malaysia said the mission’s objective was to instil confidence among Thais that they could revisit Malaysia safely while creating a platform for the travel industry to recover quickly.

Dato’ Sri Nancy commented: “The past two years have been tremendously challenging for us, but ever since the reopening of our international border last April, I am glad to let you know that we have surpassed our initial target of 2 million international tourist arrivals with MYR8.6 billion in tourism receipts. Hence, we have revised our target of welcoming 4.5 million international tourist arrivals with MYR11.1 billion in tourism receipts this year as we are optimistic about achieving higher numbers.”

Since April 2022, Thailand has ranked second after Singapore in tourist arrivals. Tourist arrivals from Thailand could reach 800,000 by the end of the year.

“We are delighted to invite Thai travellers to experience our newly developed attractions, including our outdoor theme park in the highlands – the newly-opened Genting SkyWorld, and the magnificent Merdeka 118 Tower in Kuala Lumpur, currently standing as the world’s second-tallest building.

“For example, many Thais may not have been to the two Malaysian Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak. Thus, we hope to attract more international travellers to explore Sabah and Sarawak,” she said at Tourism Malaysia’s networking dinner during the sales mission.

Malaysia welcomes fully-vaccinated international travellers. They are no longer required to complete the Traveller’s Card or undergo a Pre-Departure Test (PDT) and On Arrival Test (OAT) for their visit to Malaysia. Travel insurance is also no longer a prerequisite for foreigners entering the country.

(Source: Tourism Malaysia and Bernama)

World Tourism Day calls for a rethink

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TTR WEEKLY

-

August 22, 2022

MADRID, 22 August 2022: ‘Rethinking Tourism’ is the theme for this year’s World Tourism Day 2022, celebrated on 27 September with UNWTO designating Indonesia as the host country for the official celebrations.

UNWTO member states, non-members and stakeholders from the private sector are invited to host their celebrations and promote the day by focusing on the central theme of re-imagining the sector’s growth, both in size and relevance.

No one doubts the need to conduct a massive rethink of the tourism industry to meet sustainability and climate change challenges. But it’s a genuine year-long commitment that needs to be embraced across all tourism sectors rather than paying lip service on a particular day.

UNWTO should rethink the globetrotting its officials engage in to attend meetings. Travel executives should review the enormous carbon footprints they create in the name of business networking. Covid-19 taught us that most trade events we attend could function online using apps such as Zoom. Lessons learned are quickly forgotten as the need to gather for networking and a natter reassert themselves. Airlines need to speed up the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The present target aims to achieve net carbon emissions by 2050.

“The potential of tourism is enormous, and we have a shared responsibility to make sure it is fully realised, said UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili in a media statement announcing World Tourism Day: “UNWTO calls on everyone from tourism workers to tourists themselves, as well as small businesses, large corporations and governments to reflect and rethink what we do and how we do it.”

World Tourism Day has been held on 27 September each year since 1980. The date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organisation in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of UNWTO five years later.

(Source: UNWTO)

Thai Vietjet starts Bangkok – Taipei flights

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TTR WEEKLY

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August 22, 2022

BANGKOK, 22 August 2022: Thai Vietjet launched a new international service from Bangkok to Taipei last week, marking the occasion with a USD99 one-way fare, including tax and fees.

The new service departs just once a week from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and lands at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.

Thai Vietjet, chief executive officer Woranate Laprabangsaid: “Thai Vietjet is proactively expanding our network to various major destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, providing international travellers with excellent, hospitable, but affordable service, as well as with the highest level of safety throughout their journeys. This would definitely help bring back travellers to both sides also, positively contributing to the tourism recovery.”

He noted that due to the limited capacity quota in Taiwan, the new international flight from Bangkok to Taipei would operate just once a week on Thursday, with more flights to be added subject to the easing of travel restrictions. Flight time to Taipei is three hours and 45 minutes,

The special Deluxe Super Sale on the Bangkok -Taipei route starts at USD99 (THB 3,499) (inclusive of taxes, fees, and surcharges) including 20kg of checked baggage, free seat selection, priority check-in and flexibility with unlimited flight changes at no charge.

The fare is bookable from 25 to 31 August 2022, with a travel period from 15 September 2022 to 25 March 2023.

Currently, passengers entering Thailand no longer need to show a negative Covid-19 result before entering the country. Passengers are also not required to quarantine upon arrival due to the removal of the ‘Test & Go’ scheme from 1 May 2022. Health insurance is no longer mandatory but highly recommended.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Flight

Number

Origin

Destination

Departure

Arrival

Days of Operation

VZ562

Bangkok

Taipei

09:55

14:40

Thursday

VZ563

Taipei

Bangkok

15:40

18:25

Singapore’s food festival is back

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TTR WEEKLY

-

August 19, 2022

SINGAPORE, 18 August 2022: The annual Singapore Food Festival (SFF) returns for its 29th edition from 24 August to 11 September 2022.

For the first time since the pandemic, SFF 2022 offers a sumptuous spread of 70 gastronomic experiences, including a Festival Village with over 25 food establishments and a special nine-course dinner, as well as an array of workshops, tours, and exclusive menus at partner restaurants.

Singapore Tourism Board director, retail & dining, Teyi Guo said: “As international travel resumes, we are excited to bring SFF back to its usual format, with engaging in-person programming so visitors can fully experience the international palate of our city.”

SFF Highlights

This year’s line-up, with the theme ‘Real Foodies Only’, comprises several components: the Festival Village, limited-time menus at partner restaurants, tours and workshops, virtual offerings, and overseas activations.

The Festival Village will bring together over 25 culinary and beverage brands at the Bayfront Event Space from 31 August to 11 September 2022.

Over 25 food establishments will serve familiar favourites with an innovative twist, such as Jelebu Dry Laksa’s signature dish topped with Boston lobster and tiger prawns.

Singapore’s hottest food truck The Goodburger is set to sizzle with Blue Lotus Eating House on an SFF-exclusive plant-based Golden Chilli Crab Burger, while the newly-minted Michelin Bib Gourmand stall One Prawn & Co will collaborate with heritage brand Hock Lian Huat to present a thick, silky prawn bisque with shrimps, mussels and clams (above), alongside a ngoh hiang (five-spiced meat rolls) platter. The Chef Arena situated within the grounds of the Festival Village will present a special nine-course dinner created by top culinary masters featured in SFF 2022’s virtual masterclasses, complete with a Martell Noblige cocktail created by Juan Yi Jun, the head bartender of No Sleep Club.

Complementing the food offerings is a curated line-up of workshops for those who prefer to get hands-on. Foodies can learn the art of mixing spices from 3rd generation owner Jeya Seelan from traditional spice stall Jeya Spices; as well as gather Thermomix tips to whip up delicious meals with cookbook author Annie Xavier and passionate home bakers. There will also be a Marketplace featuring a curated selection of merchandise and an Entertainment stage presented by Tiger Beer.

Beyond the Festival Village, various restaurants island-wide will offer festival-exclusive dishes. In an ode to the melting pot of cultures in Singapore, Two Men Bagel House will present a bagelwich (left) packed with the aromatic flavours of Chinese, Indian and Malay curries, while Italian meets Malay at Italian-inspired restaurant and bar Dopo Teatro with its sambal goreng pizza.

In a meeting of old and new, deli veteran Steeple’s Deli will collaborate with new-school Park Bench Deli for a 1-day pop-up at Steeple’s Deli, featuring sandwiches that incorporate the former’s mouth-watering corned beef and the latter’s pastrami. Foodies with a sweet tooth must try the Teh Halia flavoured ice cream or the guava sorbet with sour plum powder by Made With Passion[1] brands The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. and Creamier.

Festival-goers can check out www.singaporefoodfestival.sg for the full list of experiences and ticketing information.

Emirates embarks on fleet retrofit

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TTR WEEKLY

-

August 19, 2022

DUBAI, UAE, 19 August 2022: Emirates has kick-started its plans to upgrade the entire interior cabins of 120 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft – two of the largest commercial aircraft types in service today.

This ambitious project, representing a multi-billion dollar investment to ensure Emirates’ customers “fly better” for the coming years, officially commences in November and is managed entirely by Emirates’ Engineering team.

The target is to completely retrofit four Emirates aircraft from start to finish every month, continuously for over two years. Once the 67 earmarked A380s are refreshed and back in service, 53 777s will undergo their facelift. This will see nearly 4,000 brand new Premium Economy seats installed, 728 First Class suites refurbished and over 5,000 Business Class seats upgraded to a new style and design when the project is complete in April 2025.

In addition, carpets and stairs will be upgraded, and cabin interior panels refreshed with new tones and design motifs, including the iconic ghaf trees native to the UAE.

No other airline has handled a retrofit of this magnitude in-house, and there’s no blueprint for such an undertaking. Therefore Emirates Engineering teams have been planning and testing extensively to establish and streamline processes and identify and address any possible snags.

Trials began on an A380 in July, where experienced engineers took each cabin apart piece by piece and logged every step. Every action was tested, timed and mapped out by removing seats and panelling to bolts and screws. Potential impediments to completing the installation of Emirates’ new Premium Economy Class or the retrofit of the remaining three cabins in just 16 days were flagged and documented for expert teams to review and address.

As part of the programme, new purpose-built workshops will be set up at Emirates Engineering to repaint, re-trim and re-upholster Business and Economy Class seats with new covers and cushions. First Class suites will be carefully disassembled and sent to a specialised company to replace the leather, armrests and other materials.

From the trials, engineers discovered several unexpected solutions. For instance, existing food catering trucks could be easily repurposed to move parts destined for refurbishment from the aircraft to the workshop for their refresh, as these vehicles had doors of the right width and offered sufficient space.

Until the retrofit programme starts in earnest in November, a cross-disciplinary team has been assembled to regularly review the planning process, address any issues, and track updates on various aspects of the project, such as procurement, staffing, and training.

Emirates’ new Premium Economy cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom, and service to rival many airlines’ business offerings, is currently available to Emirates customers travelling on popular A380 routes to London, Paris, and Sydney. More customers will be able to experience the airline’s new Premium Economy cabins starting from year-end as the retrofit programme picks up momentum.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Thai Vietjet to fly to Phu Quoc

Etihad partners with Rassure

Busan hosts COSPAR 2024

Travel firms gear up for India’s festive season

Centara launches Adventure Park

Tourism Malaysia on a mission in Thailand

World Tourism Day calls for a rethink

Thai Vietjet starts Bangkok – Taipei flights

Singapore’s food festival is back

Emirates embarks on fleet retrofit

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