KUCHING, 4 May 2022: Organisers of the 17th edition of the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022 have extended the submission deadline for the Borneo Jazz Talent Search (BJTS) to 15 May 2022.
The BJTS platform provides musicians from
all over Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan with an opportunity to participate and
compete in an open category plus categories for Jazz and DJs.
Winners of Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2022
will not only win cash prizes but will also have the opportunity to attend a
MasterClass by an international band on 24 June in Miri, Sarawak, and perform
during Borneo Jazz Festival Stage on 25 June.
Four prizes will be awarded, first second and third plus best original composition with cash prizes worth more than MYR10,000.
A jury panel comprising renowned
international and Malaysian artists will evaluate participants based on originality,
creativity, musicality, stage presence and interactivity.
Interested groups must submit a
high-quality performance video of the required repertoire and duration, a
written solo artist/band profile and a high-resolution photo on or before 15
May.
On 22 May, the organiser will select
winners for three prizes plus one special prize.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 May 2022: Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company says it kicked off 2022 with a great performance in the first quarter of 2022, reporting a leap of 113% in pre-tax profit.
The year-on-year improvement was mainly due
to the rapid recovery of passenger transport and robust cargo business, which
grew by 76% and 94%, respectively, during the first quarter.
In the first quarter, Vietjet’s
consolidated revenue reached USD197 million, while the after-tax profit was
USD10.6 million increasing by 12% and 98% YOY, respectively.
Regarding its airline transport business,
Vietjet’s revenue for 1Q was USD145 million, helping nail the after-tax profit
of the parent company at USD1.7 million.
Vietnam’s aviation and tourism sectors have
fully reopened since late last year to meet pent-up travel demand. During the
first quarter of 2022, Vietjet resumed its entire domestic network and
relaunched scheduled international services. It has operated 20,000 flights
carrying more than 3 million passengers on 60 domestic and international routes.
The airline’s flights and passenger uplift
in 1Q2022 already passed 50% and 55%, respectively, of the 2021 performance,
marking a milestone of strong recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic. Regarding cargo
transport, Vietjet has airlifted more than 12,500 tons of cargo in the first
quarter of this year.
Vietjet also reports it has deployed the
first of two A330s and is expected to add a third A330 later this year.
The airline also announced its 2021 audited
financial statement, with the parent company reporting revenue of USD394
million and an audited post-tax profit increase by 91% over the compiled
financial statement due to gains in financial activities.
Meanwhile, Vietjet’s consolidated revenue
and after-tax profit in 2021 reached USD556 million and USD3.47 million,
respectively. Rising costs from deferred income taxes resulted in a lower
consolidated after-tax profit than in the 2021 compiled statements.
As of 31 December 2021, Vietjet’s assets
totalled nearly USD2.25 billion. Its debt-to-equity ratio stayed at 0.9 while
the liquidity ratio was at 1.6, which were considered good indicators in the
aviation industry.
In 2021, Vietjet operated nearly 42,000
flights across its network with more than 5.4 million passengers on board. The
airline has reported over 66,000 tons in cargo transport, achieving fast growth
with cargo revenue, in particular, rocketing by over 200% YoY.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 May 2022: Vietjet Air resumed flights to Bali last week, ending a two-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and travel restrictions.
Flights to Bali launched in May 2019 and
were popular with Vietnamese travellers who could fly directly to Bali without
connecting with flights in Bangkok or Singapore.
Travel restrictions have been eased in
Vietnam, and Indonesians can now visit the country for 30 days visa-free.
Flights operate four times weekly (Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday), departing HCMC at 0814 and arriving in Bali
at 1305. Flight time is three hours and 50 minutes. The roundtrip fare starts
at USD236.
Meanwhile, since the reopening of Bali’s I
Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on 3 February 2022, the airport has recorded 859
flights and handled 133,083 passengers.
Including the VietJet Air flights, the
airport musters 10 scheduled international routes, namely Singapore, Melbourne,
Sydney, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Istanbul, Perth, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh
City.
VietJet Air is the 13th airline connecting
Bali with cities worldwide, after Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar
Asia, KLM Royal Dutch, Scoot, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Qatar
Airways, AirAsia, Turkish Airlines, Thai AirAsia, and Qantas.
SYDNEY, 4 May 2022: Qantas’ next-generation
distribution platform is now available for international travel agents,
unlocking capabilities for agents globally to offer more personalised customer
service and access new revenue opportunities.
The Qantas Distribution Platform – built
using IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standards – went live Monday in
the UK, US and South Africa and will progressively roll out in other markets in
the coming months.
The platform has been designed to enhance
the service agents provide to customers with a wider range of products, including
special offers for Qantas Frequent Flyers, ancillary products and dynamic
commission opportunities.
It gives travel agents worldwide access to
more automated processes and improved functionality across Qantas bookings,
including automated refunds and ticket revalidation.
The Qantas Distribution Platform is already
available in Australia and New Zealand, enabling agents to take advantage of
dynamic commission opportunities and special offers for customers, such as a
20% discount on particular routes.
The rich content and new features of the
Qantas Distributed Platform can be accessed via Qantas’ growing network of
technology partners, already delivering Qantas NDC to agents in Australia and
New Zealand.
Qantas executive manager, global sales
& distribution Igor Kwiatkowski said rolling out the platform
internationally would help agents worldwide better serve customers with Qantas
bookings as the airline’s international network ramps up.
“Despite the significant impact of
COVID over the past two years, we have continued to invest in our new
distribution capabilities and are pleased to offer these to our international
trade partners,” said Kwiatkowski.
“The Qantas Distribution Platform is a key
part of our strategy to support agency partners with richer content, new
features and revenue opportunities that help them deliver a better and more
bespoke experience for customers.
“We know that customers expect an
increasingly personalised, flexible and seamless experience, and we’re
committed to providing travel agents around the world with the tools to offer
this service.
“We will continue to roll out new
capabilities and features for our agency partners as the industry evolves the
service it offers travellers.”
Travel agents registered in the Qantas
Channel can connect to the Qantas Distribution Platform via either an approved
technology partner or by developing a direct connection to Qantas’ NDC XML
Application Programme Interface (API).
DENPASAR, Bali, 3 May 2022: The Indonesian government increased nationalities eligible for visa-on-arrival (VOA) at the weekend as the country seeks to make it more convenient for international travellers to visit the country.
The additions to the latest VOA list are Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The 30-day visa-on-arrival facility is available at
international airports in Bali, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Manado, Makassar,
Batam, Yogyakarta and Lombok, Asian Trails confirmed in its latest update for
travel partners and customers. The seaports of Benoa (Bali) and in Riau
Province (including Batam and Bintan) are also eligible for VOA.
The VOA fee remains IDR 500,000 (approximately USD35) and
can be paid in all major currencies or credit cards upon arrival.
For nationals from nine ASEAN countries, the visa fee is
waived for a 30-day stay.
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
Latest entry rules
Travellers must show physical or digital evidence in English that the visitor is fully vaccinated at least 14 days before departure (no need for a booster shot).
Children under 18 years are exempted from this rule
(previously under 12 years). They follow the same provisions for their parents
or caregivers.
The traveller should download the PeduliLindungi application
on one’s smartphone and fill out the e-Hac Indonesia within the application
(the PeduliLindungi app is available for download on Apple and Android
devices).
They must provide evidence of a negative PCR test taken in the country of origin within 48 hours of the scheduled flight departure.
Show evidence of health insurance covering Covid-19. No
minimum cover is mentioned in the latest regulation, but Asian Trails
recommends a minimum cover of USD25,000.
Upon arrival, no further PCR testing or quarantine is
necessary if the body temperature is below 37.5 degrees Celsius. The visitor is
free to travel anywhere in Indonesia.
A second PCR Test is only necessary if the visitor’s
temperature is above 37.5 degrees Celsius.
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 May 2022: Malaysia pulled the plug on most
Covid-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers effective 1 May.
The new measures bring Malaysia in line with Covid-19 travel
rules in neighbouring ASEAN countries, particularly Thailand and Singapore and
considerably easier than is currently the case in Indonesia. In its favour,
Malaysia stands out for abolishing the need to buy Covid-19 insurance as a
condition for entry.
Tourism Malaysia outlined the new measures that came into effect on Sunday.
Fully-vaccinated inbound travellers are no longer required to undergo pre-departure and on-arrival Covid-19 tests, including children age 12 and under and those infected with Covid-19 within six to 60 days before departure to Malaysia.
Travel insurance is no longer required for foreigners
entering the country.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 still need to take an RT-PCR test two days before their flight departure to Malaysia and a professionally-administered RTK-Ag test within 24 hours after arrival in Malaysia. They must observe a five-day quarantine (quarantine exemption is only for those aged 17 and under).
Optional mask-wearing
The wearing of masks outdoors is now optional but still
mandatory when visiting indoor venues such as shopping malls, offices, public
transportation, and e-hailing rides.
However, health authorities encourage masks wearing in
crowded places. Physical distancing rules have been scrapped, and people are
now free to shake hands, but good hand hygiene is recommended.
Check-in via the contact tracing app MySejahtera is not
required, but the MySJ Trace function should be activated for contact tracing.
The seven-day mandatory quarantine for positive cases
remains, and the MySejahtera app is used for the Covid-19 test results
submission and health assessment. However, those who test positive for Covid-19
may be released earlier from quarantine if they retur4n a negative result of a
professionally-administered RTK-Ag test on day four.
(Source: Tourism Malaysia; health ministry announcements).
SANDAKAN, Malaysia, 3 May 2022: The Covid pandemic may not be over completely, but Sabah’s tourism industry is already showing the first signs of resurgence.
For the six trekkers who took part in the six-day/five-night 77th Sandakan-Ranau Death March (SDRM) trekking tour from Sandakan to Ranau, recovery from the pandemic and the opening of the international borders have inspired a newfound love for historical tourism attractions that are available right in their own backyards.
The Sandakan Death Marches were a series of forced marches
from Sandakan to Ranau in Borneo that resulted in the deaths of 2,434 Allied
prisoners of war incarcerated by the Japanese at the Sandakan POW Camp in North
Borneo during World War II. As with the previous years, this year’s SDRM tour
was held as a commemorative pilgrimage to honour the fallen heroes.
For years prior, the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches tour was
only participated by members of the armed forces or groups comprising the
descendants of the fallen Australian and British servicemen who wanted a deeper
insight into what ordeals the POWs endured during the forced 260 kilometre-long
Death March.
The invading Japanese army organised the marches between
January and August 1945, and they are regarded as the single worst atrocity perpetrated
against Australian personnel during World War II. Only six Australians survived
the wartime incarceration in Sandakan and Ranau.
Local trekking expert and veteran tour guide Tham Yau Kong
of TYK Adventure Tours says that it’s important for Sabah’s residents to delve
deeper into their own history and honour the sacrifices made in the past.
“It is important to remember that there are other local
heroes worth knowing beyond the ones mentioned in our history books,” says
Tham.
During the tour, the six trekkers have had the opportunity
to get to know the locals and mingle with them. They have also had a chance to
speak with the sons of the late Gambut @ Ahmad Tajudin bin Abang, who played an
important role in helping the Australian teams recover bodies along the Death
March track after the war.
The trekkers also had a chance to meet with the grandnephew
of the late OKK Domima Akoi, known as the ‘Ring Lady’ of the unsung heroes who
helped to support the Australian POWs.
“I have been thinking about doing this death march
trail for years and finally decided to do it this year. I then contacted Tham
Yau Kong, the expert in this SDRM trail and managed to rope in five other
like-minded people to join the trek,” says Dr Sen Nathan, one of the six
trekkers and the organiser of the SDRM expedition.
“It was exhilarating but emotionally and physically
challenging even for healthy walkers like us. Imagine how difficult it was for
the starving, undernourished, malaria and dysentery-stricken POWs had to endure,”
Sen adds.
The SDRM trekking tour started at Kg Bauto, Telupid, on 19
April and concluded in Kg Muruk, Ranau, on 24 April. The group attended the
special ANZAC Day Dawn Service on 25 April to complete their SDRM tour.
“I applaud this group effort for taking up the
challenge of the Death March trek. While historically, it was the Australian
POWs and Japanese soldiers who were much involved, we often forget that many
local heroes provided welfare to the POWs when they were able to, more so when
brave enough to as they too faced much affliction if caught. It’s good for the
local community also to learn this part of history,” comments Sabah
Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman.
“On an annual basis, the Sandakan Day Memorial is
commemorated at the Sandakan Memorial Park on 15 August. It is a meaningful
event to reflect on this historically shared bond between Sabahans and
Australians,” she noted.
BANGKOK, 3 May 2022: Thailand introduced easier entry rules
effective 1 May 2022, which does away with the Test & Go and other entry
schemes, although the Thailand Pass remains active to register the insurance
package and certificate of vaccination.
Vaccinated travellers must have the following documents to Thailand:
In addition to having a valid passport, they must register
with Thailand Pass https://tp.consular.go.th/ or have a Border Pass for an overland arrival
via designated border checkpoints. (Some border checkpoints remain closed,
possibly until June).
An insurance policy with a minimum USD10,000 cover. Thais
and foreign expatriates who are enrolled in Thailand’s national healthcare
service are exempt from this requirement.
A recognised vaccination certificate for Covid-19.
Everyone 18 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated
at least 14 days before travelling to Thailand.
Unaccompanied travellers, five to 17 years of age, must show
proof of at least one dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before
travelling to Thailand. Those travelling with parents are exempt from this
requirement.
Travellers with a history of Covid-19 infection who have
received at least one dose of an approved vaccine post-infection must have a
medical certificate of Covid-19 recovery.
Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated travellers must have
the following documents to enter Thailand.
A valid passport, a Thailand Pass (https://tp.consular.go.th/), or a Border Pass for arrivals via border checkpoints.
Insurance policy with a minimum cover of USD10,000. Thais
and foreign expatriates under Thailand’s national healthcare coverage are
exempt from this requirement.
A proof of prepayment for five-night quarantine at the
government-approved hotel such as SHA Extra Plus (SHA++) hotel, or AQ
Accommodation, plus proof of prepayment for one RT-PCR Covid-19 test. Thais are
not required to prepay for the test.
The quarantine is exempt for unvaccinated and not fully
vaccinated travellers who can upload proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72
hours of travel via the Thailand Pass system. The exemption also extends to
travellers under six years of age travelling with parents.
On Arrival Requirements
Upon arriving at the border checkpoint in Thailand, all
travellers must undergo entry screening, including a body temperature check,
and present the required documents to the Immigration and health control
officers.
The vaccinated travellers will be free to travel anywhere in
Thailand. *For overland travellers using a border pass, they will be allowed a
stay for no longer than three days within the specified areas only.
Unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated travellers who have
uploaded proof of a negative RT-PCR test within 72 hours of travel via the
Thailand Pass system will be allowed to enter and are free to go anywhere in
the country.
Otherwise, unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated travellers
must undergo five days of quarantine. The trip to the prebooked accommodation
must use a designated vehicle on a sealed route within a travelling time of no
longer than five hours. Then, they must undergo an RT-PCR test on Day four or
five. Travellers under five years of age, travelling with parents and
undergoing the quarantine together can have a saliva test. Travellers whose
test results return negative are free to travel. In contrast, those who test
positive will undergo the appropriate medical treatment paid for by the
insurance policy or at their own expense or for Thais and eligible foreign
expatriates through the country’s healthcare system.
KUCHING, 3 May 2022: The Rainforest World Music Festival is back from 17 to 19 June 2022 to celebrate its 25th year with more heart-racing, foot-stomping world rhythms from the jungle stage of Sarawak.
Adopting a Hybrid format for the first time in Malaysian festival history returns to the Sarawak Cultural Village under the banner “Legendary Rainforest Celebration”.
The full festival experience will be simultaneously
live-streamed worldwide so that everyone can feel the rhythm of the Rainforest
wherever they live.
This festival has grown into one of the most anticipated
World Music events on the international calendar, and this year will not
disappoint.
It offers equal excitement for the world music aficionado
and the fun-seeking festival-goer alike. Held at the Sarawak Cultural Village,
it will blend Sarawak’s natural landscape and the sound of its many cultures
with the music of the world, featuring 60 performers from a host of countries,
including Korea, Canada, China, India, Mexico and almost everywhere in between.
International Performers
This year sees more individual acts than ever before on the
Rainforest stage, some live at the Sarawak Cultural Village, and some beamed in
by the power of modern technology. This year, the festival welcomes Bluguru
from Australia, a group that sets the soundwaves singing with their incredible
blend of musical styles from Bluegrass to Blues, Indian to Celtic, Swing, Jazz
and adventure too. The audience can enjoy the rapid switches from one genre and
one instrument to another, backed by soaring vocal harmonies, blistering guitar
and fiddle.
It will also feature Timo Väänänen, the leading exponent of
Finland’s national instrument, the kantele. He will seamlessly blend the
traditional model with the modern, electrical 39-string version to give the
Sarawak audience a taste of a haunting and unique sound which has graced film,
25 albums and five solo CDs.
If that isn’t enough for today’s teaser, the organisers
promise to fly in Randrianantoandro Clément, direct from Madagascar. Better
known as Kilema, he burst onto the music scene as part of the Justin Vali Trio,
playing his Marovany, Kabosy and Katsa, guitar and percussion, respectively. He
blends the sounds of his rich and rhythmic heritage with his experience of the
world, drawing from diverse musical styles to produce a sound entirely his own.
But these three are just a taste of what is on offer, to be
announced as the weeks to the festival tick down.
The Hybrid Format
For those watching RWMF from home, online viewers will enjoy
two hours of performances through the dedicated festival platform, combining
live stream action at the Sarawak Cultural Village with original curated
content. Sign up for one hour priced at MYR25, then extend for another when the
rhythm moves you. Or just book two hours in advance over all three evenings.
Expect the same grand performances from global acts, but
this time alternating with curated original video material, showing a range of
local and international performers in their own environments.
RWMF Legacy
This year is a celebration, but it is also about legacy
building. Randy Raine Reusch, the founder of RWMF, returns to the stage and,
behind the scenes, the guiding hand of the artistic content. He is joined by
two rising stars of Sarawak music, Alena Murang and Bob Meldrick of At Adau, as
Randy passes the baton to the next generation of musicians who grew up with
this festival. Our two Sarawak performers share their award-winning experience
of video production and international travel with the next set of performers to
appear on the stage that first welcomed them.
Workshops and Activities
All the best of the festival returns for all those familiar
with the format, alongside our many surprises. The Sarawak Cultural Village,
itself an award-winning venue displaying all the traditional lifestyles of this
amazing state, is home again to food bazaars from this newly-crowned Creative
City of Gastronomy under UNESCO and Craft fairs featuring the best of Borneo
handicrafts. Get an indigenous hand tap tattoo, enjoy a meal and learn
something new under the shadow of our magic mountain, even before the sun goes
down and the evening show begins.
The environment is the making of Sarawak, so food vendors
will follow the highest standards in recycling and waste reduction. RWMF aims
to be truly sustainable, avoiding single-use plastics and promoting
environmental appreciation. All this is in line with Sarawak Tourism Board’s
campaign for Responsible and Sustainable tourism, supporting communities and
the environment that shaped them alike.
The festival’s workshops are the defining feature of the
festival, bringing together musicians from many disciplines. Drawing together
these talents under unifying themes showcases festival-goers can join jam
sessions in the setting of the Sarawak Cultural Village. The Friday opening
sessions will kick off the ‘Sape Gathering’. The organisers are recruiting
anyone who can strum a sape in Sarawak for a grand sape jam session.
Tickets
Early Bird ticket sale is happening now until 14 May 2022
for both the physical and virtual concerts. Those interested in the physical
concert can grab tickets in the different categories – Adult 1-Day Pass
(MYR150), Adult 3-Day Pass (MYR375), Child 1-Day Pass (MYR80), Child 3-Day Pass
(MYR155) and 1-Day Family Package Pass- 2 Adult and 2 Children (400). The
physical tickets are available for purchase via rwmf.net.
The virtual blocks will feature handpicked artists that will
showcase the allure of world music from both Sarawak and the international
stage. Audiences can choose to buy the virtual block of one hour each depending
on their preferred lineup. Virtual tickets will be sold at a later date which
will be announced soon.
PHUKET, 3 May 2022: Phuket Hotels Association, the nonprofit organisation of hoteliers focused on promoting a positive image of Phuket, is inviting members of the public to take part in its “Absolutely Fabulous Online Travel Sale” – an online silent auction with great prizes that will fund scholarships for talented young people in Phuket.
This forms part of the
Phuket Hotels Association Benefit (PHAB) 2022 campaign, a vital fundraising
initiative including “PHAB 4 Dance Fever”, a charity gala dinner at
Angsana Laguna Phuket on Saturday, 28 May 2022.
Bidding in the online
auction is open until midnight (Thailand time, UTC+7 hrs) on 28 May, with
prizes in dream destinations worldwide! Participants can bid for spectacular
five-star stays and exciting experiences generously donated by sponsors in
Dubai, Sydney and the Maldives, and Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Koh Samui –
all potentially available with big discounts for the highest bidder. In
addition to hotel stays, the auction includes a range of exhilarating
activities such as yacht charters, golf, tennis, surfing classes and gym
memberships.
Proceeds from the auction
will sponsor at least 20 hospitality scholarships and internships, exclusively
for the benefit of young Phuket residents who would be otherwise unable to fund
their education. The association has successfully sponsored over 30 students
studying hospitality and tourism in Phuket.
The PHAB 4 silent auction is being continually updated with new prizes. Bidders can check back on their progress, make new offers and see what other exciting prizes are coming up! To learn more about the PHAB 4 silent auction and to place your bid in the “Absolutely Fabulous Online Travel Sale”, please visit phab.phukethotelsassociation.com/silent-auction.
“By taking part in our
online auction, not only will you be bidding on great prizes and five-star
hotel stays worldwide; you will also be benefiting the local community by
helping young people to discover a new career that could raise their standard
of living and even support an entire family,” explained Phuket Hotels Association president Bjorn
Courage.
Hosted at Angsana
Convention & Exhibition Space (ACES), the world-class event space at
Angsana Laguna Phuket, “PHAB 4 Dance Fever” is an upbeat fundraising
event. The evening will commence with welcome cocktails and live music,
followed by an indulgent international buffet dinner featuring live cooking
stations by some of the top chefs from Phuket’s best hotels and drinks prepared
by the island’s most creative mixologists. A lively MC will keep the fun
flowing throughout the night!
Musical highlights include
two live bands, Dating Blonds and Big Fat Horns, plus in-demand Phuket DJ Fred
Jungo and dazzling dancers who will get the party started with their Dance
Fever-themed performances. The event is supported by the Thailand Tourism
Authority (TAT). Tickets are priced at THB 3,900 (premium) or THB 4,900 (VIP),
with the proceeds also funding the hospitality scholarships.
