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ITE readies to welcome tour buyers

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 1 April 2025: Hong Kong’s international travel fair, ITE Hong Kong 2025, which comprises the 39th ITE (Leisure) and 20th ITE MICE, will be held from 12 to 15 June, with two days each for trade and public visitors in Halls 1A to 1E of the Hong Kong Convention Exhibition Centre.

Hong Kong’s outbound independent travel market fully recovered by the end of 2024, while the package tour recovery remains off the pre-Covid pace. Local tour operators are confident that the 39th ITE will be an essential platform to drive bookings and close the gap with independent travel trends in the Hong Kong market. The show’s public visitors are 90% premium FITs.

Photo credit: ITE Hong Kong. ITE statistics show that independent travel from Hong Kong is prospering.

ITE2024 statistics

*   515 Exhibitors (87% from overseas / outside Hong Kong)

*   68 exhibiting countries & regions (Asia 64% | non-Asia 36%)

*   7023 Buyers and Trade Visitors (Mainland China 28% | Overseas 18%)

*   63027 Public Visitors (90% – FIT (Free Independent Travelers)

Residents made 104 million departures in 2024, which was up 45% from the previous year. However, Hong Kong’s outbound package tour recovery was still sluggish.

ITE’s premium FITs are worthy targets

The ITE 2024 survey collected 3740 replies and found that ITE public visitors are premium FITs: 90% prefer to travel as FITs — private group; frequent travellers, and the majority spend more on travel. Indeed, there is great potential and strong buying signals.

74% of ITE trade visitors came from the Greater Bay Area (Bay), which includes Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Another 10% came from other Chinese provinces, and 16% from other Asian countries. By sector, 28% came from the MICE industry or corporations.For more details visit: www.itehk.com  WhatsApp: +852 69361271 | wechat: itehongkong

PATA forecasts strong recovery path to 2027

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 April 2025: International visitor arrivals to the Asia Pacific are projected to reach 813.7 million by 2027, reflecting a continued upward trend from the estimated 648.1 million in 2024 based on a medium scenario adopted by The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) latest Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025-2027. 

The report presents forecasts for 39 destinations in the Asia Pacific region under mild, medium, and severe scenarios, offering critical insights for stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry.

PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid remarked, “As global travel continues its strong recovery, the Asia Pacific region remains a key growth driver. This latest forecast highlights the dynamic shifts in visitor flows, policy interventions, and infrastructure improvements that will shape the region’s tourism landscape over the next three years. By understanding these evolving trends, destinations can better position themselves for sustainable growth and resilience.”

Key Highlights 

Resilient Growth Trajectory: Under the medium scenario, international visitor arrivals (IVAs) to Asia Pacific are projected to reach 813.7 million by 2027, continuing the upward trend from the estimated 648.1 million in 2024.

Policy and Connectivity Driving Recovery: Simplified visa processes, expanded airline routes, and enhanced infrastructure are accelerating recovery. Initiatives such as China’s visa-free transit expansion and Thailand’s “Six Countries, One Destination” project illustrate how strategic policy shifts can drive visitor flows.

Destination Performance: China is forecast to reclaim its position as the leading inbound destination in the region, with the USA, Türkiye, and Hong Kong SAR ranking among the top performers by 2027. Meanwhile, Mongolia, Türkiye, Sri Lanka, and Japan are projected to lead in recovery rates, surpassing their pre-pandemic visitor numbers.

Top Source Markets: China is expected to remain the most significant source market for the Asia Pacific, followed by the USA, Hong Kong SAR, Korea (ROK), and India. The rising middle class in India and Southeast Asia and increased adoption of digital payment platforms and social media-driven travel inspiration are fuelling outbound travel growth.

Macro Trends Impacting the Visitor Economy: The Asia Pacific tourism landscape will continue to be shaped by economic shifts, geopolitical factors, and technological advancements. Digital transformation, sustainable tourism initiatives, and new transportation infrastructure are set to redefine travel experiences in the region.

Access to the full report

The PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2025-2027 report is now available for purchase at www.pata.org/research-q1v63g6n2dw/p/asia-pacific-visitor-forecasts-2025-2027. 
For further information, visit www.pata.org.

Air Astana switches to spring/summer schedule

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 April 2025: Air Astana has adopted its Spring/Summer schedule offering passengers an expanded route network, including both new destinations and the return to seasonal flights to popular resort cities.

The number of flights to Antalya will increase to 12 per week from Almaty and 10 per week from Astana, providing convenient options for Mediterranean holidays.

The Almaty-Tbilisi route will continue with up to 10 weekly flights, while flights from Astana-Tbilisi will resume up to four times a week. A new Atyrau-Tbilisi route three times a week will also be introduced, bringing the total frequency to 17 flights per week.

The number of flights from Almaty to Istanbul will increase from seven to 10 per week.

New international destinations

Nha Trang, Vietnam: Flights launch on 24 March from Almaty four times a week and on 25 March from Astana three times a week. Nha Trang is known for its white sandy beaches, warm climate and well-developed tourism infrastructure.

Guangzhou, China: Flights from Almaty started on 30 March, three times per week. Guangzhou is one of China’s most prominent business and trade centres.

Mumbai, India: Three flights per week from Almaty will start on 20 April. Mumbai is India’s economic and cultural hub.

Frankfurt, Germany: During summer, direct flights from Almaty will operate three times a week. Frankfurt is Europe’s largest financial centre and a key transit hub.

Danang, Vietnam: From 14 May, flights from Astana will be scheduled twice weekly, and from 4 June, flights from Almaty will be twice a week. Danang is famous for its beaches, historical landmarks, and cuisine.

Osh, Kyrgyzstan: From 28 May, flights from Almaty will be four times a week.

Seasonal routes

Flights to Podgorica, Montenegro, from Almaty and Astana will resume from June to September. This destination attracts tourists with its picturesque Adriatic beaches and unique Balkan nature.

Flights from Almaty to Batumi, Georgia, and Bodrum, Turkey, up to five weekly flights on each route, will resume in June. Tickets for all routes are available on the airline’s official website and at partner agencies. Kazakhstani citizens can enter Georgia, Turkey, Montenegro, China and Vietnam visa-free. 

MTF heads for Luang Prabang

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 April 2025: Luang Prabang in northern Laos will host the annual Mekong Tourism Forum from 23 to 27 June 2025 side-by-side with the 55th Meeting of the GMS Tourism Working Group attended by government representatives from the six Mekong Region countries.

Lijiang City in Yunang Province, China, hosted the 2024 Mekong Tourism Forum last April when an announcement confirmed that Laos would host the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang.

Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij

When asked for more information, Mekong Tourism Coordination Office executive director Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij said details would be posted on the MTCO website next week when “we will start promoting the event.”

The office has around 12 weeks to plot the profile and muster a more substantial turnout of travel executives from the six member countries than was evident in Lijiang in China. First established in the late 1990s, the event’s popularity peaked at around 300 delegates. Due to Southeast Asia’s crowded travel show calendar, attendance has dropped dramatically in recent years.

However, Suvimol noted that MTF 2025 would be the platform to launch the “new GMS Tourism Strategy, which serves as a roadmap for GMS tourism until 2030… MTCO’s work priorities follow the recommendations outlined in the strategy.”

In the meantime, MTCO is preparing capacity-building programmes to foster inclusive tourism with some development partners. 

Details will be confirmed during the second half of the year.

Since the last MTF in Lijiang, the MTCO has led capacity-building programmes(training for trainers) to improve digital skills for women in tourism communities in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, working with the ASEAN Japan Centre (AJC), the Ministry of Tourism Laos and the Asian Development Bank. The participants have recently run their own training in their communities to use digital skills to promote their tourism products online. AJC provided financial support, while MTCO initiated and acted as the coordinating agency. 

The Mekong Region comprises Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The six countries fund the MTCO with equal contributions.

If the MTCO is quiet regarding its plans for the next annual Mekong Tourism Forum, Destination Mekong, the high-flying agency responsible for marketing the Mekong Region through partnerships with the private sector, is even quieter. The most recent mention of activity was recorded on its website in May 2024, when it announced a collaboration with Netblitz. Since then, a digital slowdown of communications has been apparent after it recorded details of its Annual General Meeting on 4 July 2023. The Cambodian-based marketing organisation (registered in Singapore) heads towards its next AGM scheduled for July 2025, when it is due to appoint members to its board. Destination Mekong is led by its CEO, Catherine Germier-Hamel, and its Chief Marketing Officer, Gerrit Kruger. TTRW messaged questions to both executives and awaits a response. Destination Mekong’s CEO did respond. She confirmed: “My three-year contract with DM ended on 31 October 2024. Your valid questions should be asked to Dr Jens Thraenhart and Gerrit Kruger.”

Edelweiss welcomes its first Airbus A350

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TTR WEEKLY
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ZURICH, 1 April 2025: Edelweiss, Switzerland’s leisure travel airline, has officially presented its first Airbus A350 at a ceremony held in an aircraft hangar at Zurich Airport on Thursday 27 March 2025. 

The first of six long-haul aircraft was welcomed and named ‘Piz Bernina’. Guests, including all past and present CEOs, attended the event, which included a viewing of the interior of the new Airbus A350 for the first time.

Photo credit: Edelweiss. Unveiling of Switzerland’s first A350. 

The A350 has 246 seats in economy class, 63 in economy Max and 30 in business class.

First passengers to fly in April

The first commercial flight of the Airbus A350 is scheduled for 1 April 2025. Initially, the aircraft will be deployed on short- and medium-haul routes to enable crew members to familiarise themselves with the new aircraft type. The first flight will be from Zurich to Tenerife. Other destinations in the first few months include Faro, Ibiza, Heraklion, Palma de Mallorca and Antalya

The Airbus A350 is scheduled to be deployed on long-haul flights starting in mid-May 2025, with flights to Las Vegas.

Edelweiss is a sister company of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and a member of the Lufthansa Group.

SWISS A350 orders

SWISS will receive five new Airbus A350-900 aircraft from 2027 onwards, in addition to the five already on order. The new SWISS Airbus A350 fleet will be gradually delivered—complete with the new ‘SWISS Senses’ cabin interior—between summer 2025 and the end of 2031.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to take delivery of more new long-haul aircraft. In addition to the five Airbus A350-900s which are already on order, the airline is to receive five more of the advanced long-haul twinjet, as part of an overall investment by the Lufthansa Group.

“Our new Airbus A350s will make our fleet even more modern,” said SWISS CEO Jens Fehlinger. “This is a major investment and a vital one to ensure we continue meeting our customers’ high expectations. With these advanced twinjets and their innovative cabins, we’re bringing our long-haul aircraft fleet up to a new level of modernity, sustainability and inflight comfort for our guests.”

SWISS’s first Airbus A350-900 will be delivered in the summer of 2025, with nine more aircraft following gradually between then and the end of 2031. Over the next few months, SWISS will finalise which routes its new Airbus A350s will serve.

AirAsia wings its way to Hai Phong

By
TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 1 April 2025: Thai AirAsia continues expanding its network in Vietnam by launching a new direct route from Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) to the city of Hai Phong, the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay. 

The service will commence on 16 July 2025, with four weekly flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The airline uses an A320 with 180 seats on the route.

Flight schedule

FD670 departs Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) at 1030 and arrives at Hai Phong (HPH) at 1230.
FD671 departs Hai Phong (HPH) at 1300 and arrives at Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) at 1455. 

Promotional fares start from only THB1,790 one-way, bookable  6 April 2025, for travel between 16 July and 24 October 2025. Tickets are available exclusively via AirAsia MOVE and airasia.com.

Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya said: “Thai AirAsia will be the only airline offering direct flights between Bangkok and Hai Phong, further solidifying our position as the airline with the most direct routes to Vietnam. With this addition, we now connect Bangkok to six Vietnamese cities. Based on the strong demand for our existing Vietnam routes, which saw an average load factor of 90% in the first two months of 2025, we expect a fantastic response from travellers for this new route as well,” Santisuk added.

Located in northern Vietnam, Hai Phong is a dynamic coastal city known for its cool climate, local food scene, and easy access to the world-famous Halong Bay — just a 50-minute drive from the airport.

Thai AirAsia currently operates direct flights from Bangkok to six cities in Vietnam, comprising Hanoi (21 flights per week), Ho Chi Minh City (21 flights per week), Danang (21 flights per week), Nha Trang (seven flights pe week), Phu Quoc (seven flights per week), and Hai Phong (four flights per week).

Flying Kangaroo starts Darwin – Singapore hop

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 1 April 2025: Qantas introduced a new direct service on Sunday connecting Australia’s Northern Territory capital Darwin with Singapore four times weekly.

The new service adds 70,000 seats between Darwin and Singapore providing business and leisure travellers with direct flights between Australia’s Top End and Singapore, a leading aviation gateway for travel to India and Southeast Asia.

Photo credit: Qantas. Left-to-right: Oliver Craven-McLeay, Manager Communications and Government Affairs Asia, Qantas;
The Hon Robyn Cahill OAM,  Minister Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Northern Territory Government; 
Florence Liau, Associate General Manager – Air Hub Market & Passenger Development, Changi Airport.

Return fares from Singapore to Darwin start at SGD434 in economy. All Qantas fares include checked baggage, meals, beverages and entertainment. Fares are on sale at Qantas.com or via travel agents. 

Qantas CEO International, Cam Wallace, commented: “We’re delighted to offer another option for Singaporeans to experience the magic of Australia’s Top End and strengthen the important trade and business links between the Lion City and Australia. By adding over 70,000 new seats from our hub in Singapore, this new route will open up more options for travellers to make Darwin the first stop on their Australian itinerary.”

Singapore Tourism Board’s Executive Director, International Group HQ & Oceania, Oliver Chong, added: “It’s fantastic that Qantas is creating more access for Aussies to visit Singapore from the top end. With Singapore just under a five-hour flight from Darwin, the city is a perfect choice for a quick break, whether it be a whirlwind tour of our food, shopping and attraction offerings or a chill-out time indulging in wellness and bar options.”

Flights operate four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, operated by Qantas Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 12 business and 162 economy seats. Flight time is four hours and 50 minutes.

Flight schedule

QF113 departs Darwin at 1455 and arrives in Singapore at 1815.
QF114 departs Singapore at 1920 and arrives in Darwin at 0140, plus a day.

Qantas will compete head-on with Singapore Airlines, which has been flying the route five times weekly and increased to daily on 31 March. It uses a Boeing 737-9 with 154 seats. The average roundtrip fare on the route is USD650. Both airlines offer business class.

BWH Hotels brings international hospitality to Quetta Pakistan

By
TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 31 March 2025: BWH Hotels, the leading global hospitality network comprising WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels, has expanded its presence in Pakistan with the launch of a brand new hotel in Quetta, the capital and largest city in the province of Balochistan.

Now open and welcoming guests, Best Western DHA Hanna Mall Quetta forms part of a major new mixed-use development. Travelers can stay in complete comfort with a choice of 25 spacious rooms and suites, all fully equipped with modern and comfortable amenities.

This contemporary hotel also features extensive facilities for business and leisure, including an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a yoga studio, and a business centre. The five meeting rooms will enable companies to conduct professional conferences, and all guests will enjoy the convenience of direct access to the Hanna Mall retail complex.

The hotel is conveniently situated on the city’s outskirts and easily accessible via National Highway 25. It is approximately 20km from Quetta’s historic centre and 10km from Quetta International Airport, which offers direct connections to and from major cities including Dubai, Jeddah, Karachi and Lahore.

Best Western DHA Hanna Mall Quetta becomes BWH Hotels’ fifth property in Pakistan, following the group’s popular Best Western Premier® hotels in Lahore and Islamabad and two new Best Western® properties in Rawalpindi and Gujranwala. It also marks the first internationally-branded hotel in Quetta, a vibrant regional commercial hub home to more than one million people. 

“We are delighted to start welcoming guests to Best Western DHA Hanna Mall Quetta, which marks the start of an exciting new era of world-class hospitality in this major city. An integral part of the new DHA Hanna Mall complex, I am confident this outstanding property will become one of the most popular places to stay, meet, shop and dine in Quetta,” said BWH Hotels Vice President – APAC Olivier Berrivin.

With five hotels now operating and several more in the pipeline, BWH Hotels is one of the leading hotel operators in Pakistan.

To book your stay with BWH Hotels in Asia, please visit bestwesternasia.com and worldhotels.com. 

About BWH Hotels

BWH Hotels is a leading global hospitality enterprise comprising three hotel companies: WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 18 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market.

Emirates flies double daily to Beirut

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

DUBAI UAE, 31 March 2025: Emirates will reinstate its second daily flight between Dubai and Beirut starting 1 April 2025 operated with a Boeing 777-300ER.

The additional flight will boost weekly passenger capacity by more than 5,000 seats (roundtrip), offering customers flexibility and catering to the growing demand.

Emirates’ flight EK957 will take off from Dubai at 0730 and arrive in Beirut at 1035. The return flight EK958 will depart from Beirut at 1205 and arrive in Dubai at 1655. 

The additional daily flight will offer travellers from Beirut a second option to visit friends and family in Dubai. This service is also a convenient, seamless layover for those connecting and travelling beyond Dubai to Emirates destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Mauritius, and other key points across Asia and the Indian Ocean.

For more information or to book tickets, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked through the Emirates’ app, retail stores, the contact centre, or via travel agents.

Carnival: More ships homeport in Australia

By
TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 31 March 2025: Carnival Cruise Line confirmed that Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter embarked on their maiden voyages from Australia, departing from their respective homeports in Sydney and Brisbane at the weekend. 

With the addition of these two ships, Carnival Cruise Line now has the largest fleet in its 53-year history, totalling 29 ships worldwide.

Photo credit: Carnival. Carnival Encounter.

In Sydney, Carnival Adventure was officially welcomed into the Carnival fleet during a special celebration led by Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy on Friday. A second celebratory event took place on Saturday in Brisbane, the homeport of Carnival Encounter. Once the celebrations ended, the ships welcomed guests onboard for their maiden voyages from both homeports.

Completing the integration of P&O Australia into the Carnival brand, the ships previously known as Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter have been reimagined to deliver Carnival’s signature features while retaining some of P&O’s most-loved elements. They will join Carnival’s Splendor and Carnival Luminosa, with the cruise line forecasting more than 500,000 guests will sail on its four ships from Australian homeports this year.

Carnival’s HubApp is now available for guests sailing on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter. Guests can use the app on personal devices to easily make dining and excursion reservations, chat with other guests and explore onboard activities.

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