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Vietjet Air plans direct flights to India

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TTR WEEKLY
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HANOI, 27 April 2022: Vietjet Air builds a competitive edge over other airline players in Vietnam with a substantial expansion of services to India during May and June.

On Monday, Vietnam’s low-cost airline confirmed new routes from three destinations in Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the island of Phu Quoc) to Delhi and Mumbai in India, two key outbound travel markets.

Photo Credit: Vietjet Air. Launch celebrations for India flights.

Details of the flights were released just two weeks after the announcement confirming approval for direct flights made by Vietnamese and Indian officials.

The expansion to India starts on 2 June with a four-weekly service on the Hanoi to Mumbai route, followed a day later by three flights weekly from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai.

Flights from Vietnam’s holiday island Phu Quoc which lies in the Gulf of Thailand bordering Cambodia, will start later in September. The airline will fly three weekly services from Phu Quoc to Mumbai on 8 September, followed by a day later with three flights weekly from Phu Quoc to Delhi.

The two services from Phu Quoc to Mumbai and New Delhi will significantly increase travel arrivals from India to the island resort and ensure it can compete with its nearest revival Phuket Island in South Thailand.

Before the two-year pause in travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India was a marginal market for Vietnam, limited in scope because of the lack of direct flights. Vietjet addresses that drawback by linking city and holiday island destinations in Vietnam with the key outbound travel markets Mumbai and Delhi in India. 

A Hanoi Times report posted on the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s website noted that VietJet Air has flown limited commercial flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to New Delhi. It has also organised charter flights from Vietnam to Bodh Gaya, an important Buddhist pilgrimage site in northern India. In the meantime, the airline will introduce ad hoc  Hanoi-New Delhi and Ho Chi Minh City-New Delhi flights on 29 and 30 April and follow on with more flights in May, raising frequencies in early June.

In 2019, India’s IndiGo operated direct flights from Kolkata City to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to establish the first direct flights between Vietnam and India. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Indian visitors to Vietnam grew by 28% in 2019, mainly due to direct flights.

(Source: VNAT with background Hanoi Times).

Club Med Bali names reopening date

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SINGAPORE, 27 April 2022: Club Med confirmed Tuesday the reopening of Club Med Bali on 28 May after a two-year pause.

Located in Nusa Dua on Bali island, a 30-minute car drive from Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, the Club Med Bali property spans over half a mile on the Nusa Dua beachfront.

“Following the announcement on the streamlining of Bali’s quarantine-free arrival measures – which includes no longer requiring fully vaccinated travellers to undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction tests on arrival in Bali Club Med Bali has experienced a surge in booking requests from travellers worldwide,”  said Club Med chief executive officer, East and South Asia & Pacific Markets, Rachael Harding.

Club Med’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture will deliver a new menu that will incorporate pesticide-free produce freshly grown by the families of Bukit Mesari Farmers Group under the Green Farmers programme in partnership with NGO Agrisud, an initiative supported by Club Med Bali since 2014.

Club Med has developed Safe Together, a guest assurance programme with the support of Ecolab, a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, to ensure optimal health and safety for travellers.

India launches traditional medicine centre

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TTR WEEKLY
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MUMBAI, 27 April 2022: Thomas Cook (India) Limited staged the end-to-end delivery of the recent groundbreaking ceremony and event for the world’s first World Health Organization (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

The groundbreaking ceremony and launch of the new WHO global centre for traditional medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, took place on 21 April.

Thomas Cook India was hired as the exclusive event management agency to launch the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine. This global project will focus on data, innovation, and sustainability while optimising the use of traditional medicine in healthcare and wellness. Funded by India, the project’s investment stands at around USD250 million.

Around 80% of the world’s population is estimated to use traditional medicine, and about 170 of the 194 WHO member states have reported the use of traditional medicine. Their governments asked for WHO’s support to create a body of reliable evidence and data on traditional medicine practices and products worldwide.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, the WHO centre will be designed to engage and benefit all world regions, while Jamnagar, India, will become a traditional medicine hub for Asia.

Traditional medicine is also increasingly prominent in the world of modern science. Some 40% of approved pharmaceutical products today derive from natural substances, highlighting the vital importance of conserving biodiversity and sustainability. For example, the discovery of aspirin drew on traditional medicine formulations using the bark of the willow tree; the contraceptive pill was developed from the roots of wild yam plants and child cancer treatments have been based on the rosy periwinkle. Nobel-prize winning research on artemisinin for malaria control started with a review of ancient Chinese medicine texts.

India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus led the groundbreaking ceremony at the landmark event attended by more than 2,000 VIPs. Thomas Cook India managed the event for the WHO and Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.

(Wikipedia: The Ministry of Ayush, a ministry of the Government of India, is responsible for developing education, research and propagation of indigenous and alternative medicine systems in India. Ayush is derived from the names of the alternative healthcare systems covered by the ministry: Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy)

In addition to the event, Thomas Cook was also responsible for managing public relations and media outreach for the government’s prestigious Global Ayush Investment & Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa Rajeev Kale commented: “We were honoured to be selected as the exclusive event management agency for the Ministry of Ayush’s groundbreaking ceremony for the world’s first World Health Organization (WHO) Global Centre for Traditional Medicine.”

(Source: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd)

Same entry rules for all Indonesia’s gateways

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TTR WEEKLY
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JAKARTA, 26 April 2022: Indonesia has confirmed its latest Covid-19 entry regulations that ease border checks for international travellers at all of the country’s international gateways, travel firms reported on Monday.

Panorama Destination, a leading tour operator, headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, tweeted Monday: “Now the no quarantine regulation for fully-vaccinated travellers is available at every international arrival point in Indonesia.

Latest requirements for tourists entering Indonesia

  • Valid passport with six-month minimum validity.
  • E-visa or apply for Visa on Arrival (VOA) upon arrival.
  • Show full vaccination certificate with the last jab, not less than 14 days prior to the arrival in Indonesia.
  • Provide a PCR negative-tested result taken not more than 48 hours before the flight departure.
  • Pay in advance for a minimum hotel stay of four days in CHSE certified hotels.
  • Covid-19 health insurance with a minimum coverage of USD 25.000.
  • Install PeduliLindungi and Karantina Presisi apps from either playstore or app store.

List of countries approved for Visa on Arrival

South Africa, USA, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Australia, Dutch, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Hungary. India, UK, Italy, Japan, Germany, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Norway, France, Poland, Qatar, New Zealand, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE.

Visa-free countries

Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Source: Panorama Destination)

PAL and STB partner travel campaigns

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 26 April 2022: Philippine Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to promote travel to Singapore.

The agreement signed last week will initially feature well-loved PAL in-flight voice Inka Magnaye. Inka will take her first overseas trip outside of the Philippines, visiting Singapore to discover the vibrant destination first-hand. As part of STB’s SingapoReimagine campaign, Inka’s trip will reignite Filipinos’ passion for travel by showcasing how Singapore has reimagined itself through fresh and innovative experiences.

Apart from this joint campaign, passengers of PAL will also be entitled to exclusive Boarding Pass privileges that provide special deals and promotions across a wide range of tourism establishments in Singapore, including the Museum of Ice Cream and Mandai Wildlife Reserve, establishments on Sentosa.

PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng said: “With two daily PAL flights to Singapore and drawing from over eight decades of service in being part of the journeys of countless Filipinos, PAL is excited to explore and create unique opportunities for Filipino travellers to experience Singapore.”

PAL is now offering base fares to Singapore for as low as USD160 round trip. With PAL’s extensive domestic network, travellers throughout the Philippines can book daily flights from most domestic points to PAL’s Manila hub for easy connections to Singapore.

STB Chief Executive Keith Tan added: “As we welcome more Filipino travellers back to Singapore, Philippine Airlines is an ideal partner for STB to launch attractive promotions and campaigns. Now that fully-vaccinated travellers can visit Singapore easily, this partnership is timely and important for our tourism recovery efforts. We have an exciting lineup of new experiences and events that await our friends from the Philippines, and we look forward to seeing them in Singapore soon.”

Since 1 April 2022, vaccinated travellers to Singapore enjoy a streamlined travel process requiring only proof of vaccination, a pre-departure Covid-19 test, and a simple SG Arrival Card.

(Source: STB)

India’s hotels report recovery trend

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 26 April 2022: Amid continued recovery from the Omicron wave, India’s hotel industry eclipsed pre-pandemic comparables in occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) for three consecutive days during the second week of April, according to preliminary data from STR.

The three days (16 to 18 April) were the first of 2022, with both occupancy and ADR above 2019 levels in India. When using a running 7-day average, occupancy and ADR have been above 90% of pre-pandemic comparables since late March.

On Monday, 18 April, India recorded its highest ADR index at 106% of 2019 comparable. Occupancy surpassed pre-pandemic levels earlier, reaching as high as 109% of the corresponding 2019 level on 25 March.

“With the Omicron wave behind us, traveller confidence has grown significantly, and leisure destinations have continued their momentum from the prior months,” said STR’s regional director – Pacific, Japan & Central South Asia Matthew Burke. “Select leisure markets such as Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Uttarakhand have seen significant occupancy levels throughout 2022, most times exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

He noted that “business demand, which was limited after the Delta wave, has shown significant improvement post-Omicron with momentum continuing through April. While there have been early signs of increased COVID cases across some Indian markets, the country’s hotels have shown resilience thus far. Recovery from each wave has been better than the previous, and we expect that trend to continue.”

(Source: STR)

Emirates increases flights to Algeria

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 26 April 2022: In response to growing passenger demand for air travel, Emirates will double its flights between Algiers and Dubai from two to four weekly, starting 1 May 2022.

The service currently between Algiers and Dubai will no longer be linked with Tunis, offering more flexibility and convenience to travel to Dubai and onwards to Emirates’ extensive network of more than 130 destinations. Emirates is also the only airline serving Algeria with private, enclosed First Class cabins, offering premium customers an enriched experience across every touchpoint of the journey.

Emirates will use its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft between Algiers and Dubai, and the new flights will operate on Saturdays and Sundays, in addition to the current Tuesday and Thursday services. Flight EK758 departs Algiers at 1545, arriving in Dubai at 0105 the next day. EK757 departs Dubai at 0845, arriving in Algiers at 1255.

Emirates manager Algeria Omar Alhemeiri commented on the boost of services: “We have seen a marked increase in passenger demand to and from Algiers, especially to Dubai and onwards to other destinations that are gradually opening or easing their restrictions across our network. We hope that by increasing our frequency into Algeria, we are able to support traffic flows in and out of the country as it continues its post-pandemic economic recovery, and it is also a testament to our commitment to Algeria. We have been operating flights for almost 10 years, connecting Algerians to the world and offering a world-class experience onboard whilst prioritising the health and safety of our customers. We look forward to boosting our services further in the future to provide better travel options for our customers as they take to the skies again.”

Since it safely resumed tourism activity in July 2020, Dubai remains one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, open for international business and leisure visitors. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world-class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences. It was voted the Most Popular Destination of 2022 in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Emirates continues to place top priority on safe travel by implementing comprehensive measures on the ground throughout all touchpoints and onboard to provide its passengers with the highest safety and hygiene standards at every step of the journey. Customers travelling from Dubai can also take advantage of state of the art contactless technology to ease their journey through the airport.

Emirates also offers its customers an unmatched culinary experience in the skies with regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can sit back and relax with more than 5,000 channels of carefully curated global entertainment content featuring movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system.

Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates Sales Offices and online travel agents.

Traveloka sweetens festive travel deals

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 26 April 25 2022: Traveloka’s travel superapp launches ‘Raya Sana-Sini’, offering Malaysians the opportunity to plan their Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) celebrations from 3 to 4 May as the country looks forward to lively celebrations after two years of lockdown and movement restrictions.

Eid al-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. In Malaysia the holiday this year runs from 3 to 4 May.

As Malaysians return to visit loved ones and elderly parents amidst relaxed SOPs, Traveloka aims to assist all Muslims in enjoying Hari Raya in a safe manner as the nation transitions into endemicity.

Traveloka Malaysia country manager Angelica Chan says: “Hari Raya is one of the most celebrated occasions in Malaysia, and we hope that through our superapp, we can help Malaysians create the best memories with their friends and loved ones.”

“Our superapp allows flight bookings on different airlines on a round-trip. According to their personal needs, this empowers travellers to enjoy flexibility and value from their preferred air travel routes instead of being restricted to fly with a single airline for a round trip,” said Chan.

Chan also added, “As Traveloka is registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), bookings made through our superapp qualify for tax exemptions.”

(Source: Traveloka)

Jetstar Asia returns to Surabaya

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 26 April 2022: Jetstar Asia resumed services from Singapore to Surabaya Monday following the relaxation of Indonesian border requirements for international tourists.

Surabaya is a key market in Jetstar Asia’s expanding network for both business and leisure travel, and the resumption of three weekly return services marks an important milestone in the airline’s recovery.

The outbound flight (3K247) departs from Singapore Changi Airport at 1110 and arrives at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 1230.

The return flight from Surabaya to Singapore (3K248) departs at 1320 (local time) and arrives in Singapore at 1640.

Jetstar Asia CEO Bara Pasupathi commented: “The relaxation of Indonesian border requirements and the reintroduction of visa-free travel for ASEAN travellers is restoring consumer confidence and, in turn, demand for air travel.

“There is significant pent-up demand for services in and out of Indonesia, and we know our customers are eager to snap up our great low fares.

“With major festivals like Hari Raya Puasa and Vesak Day around the corner and the timely removal of the pre-departure tests into Singapore, families and friends in the region have more reasons to reunite and celebrate important occasions.”

As we continue to ramp up operations, we look forward to announcing more exciting destinations to join our network in the coming weeks and months.”

Juanda International Airport in Surabaya has now reopened as an international entry port to Indonesia, and Jetstar Asia is one of several international airlines resuming flights to the city.

One-way fares to Surabaya start from SGD102. One-way sale fares to Jakarta, Denpasar and Kuala Lumpur start from SGD65.

In addition to relaunching services to Surabaya, Jetstar Asia will increase flights to key Indonesian destinations to support increasing demand ahead of key festivals.

Jetstar Asia services to Denpasar and Jakarta will increase to five and 14 weekly services, respectively, pending regulatory approval.

Services to other key Southeast Asian destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will also increase to 21 departures a week starting in June.

Tourism Malaysia steps up promotions

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TTR WEEKLY
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ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 26 April 2022: Tourism Malaysia participated in the 20th Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair (KITF) 2022 last week, promoting the full reopening of Malaysia’s borders to international travellers since the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

The three-day travel trade fair in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, closed on 22 April.

Malaysia began its transition to an endemic phase starting 1 April 2022 and is now targeting to attract 2 million international tourist arrivals this year with more than MYR8.6 billion in tourism receipts.

Joining Tourism Malaysia at the Malaysian Pavilion were JPS Travel & Tours and Embassy Alliance Travel.

Before the pandemic, Kazakhstan was one of the main generating markets from CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. In 2019, Kazakhstan supplied 18,138 tourists to Malaysia, increasing 10.2% compared to 13,861 tourists in 2018. Tourism Malaysia’s participation is a continuous effort to promote and inform the market that Malaysia is now ready to welcome back tourists from CIS countries.

“We hope that our participation in this exhibition will trigger back the interest of the tourists from CIS to Malaysia. At the same time, we welcome cooperation from all agents to market Malaysia and urge the CIS-based airlines to resume the scheduled flights and to initiate the charter flights to Malaysia,” said Tourism Malaysia director-general Dato’ Hj Zainuddin B Abdul Wahab.

(Source: Bernama)

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