MANILA, 1 June 2022: The Philippines Department of Tourism welcomed the appointment of Christina G. Frasco as its new secretary, who was officially named the new tourism chief by the country’s president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr earlier this week.
On Monday, 30 May, the incoming press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles announced Frasco’s appointment as one of her first duties.
Christina G. Frasco.
According to Rappler.com news channel, Frasco was reelected mayor of Liloan town in Cebu back in the May polls for her third term in office. She also served as the spokesperson of now vice president-elect Sara Duterte during the national elections campaign.
She replaces Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, appointed in 2018 by the former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The DOT media statement said: “There are high hopes that the momentum that we have generated the past few months toward the revival, recovery, and resiliency of the tourism industry will be carried over to the new administration.”
The DOT statement noted that the “transition team of the DOT is ready to welcome and brief the new secretary and her team for a smooth turnover.”
Earlier this year, the DOT announced the completion of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) from 2022 to 2028.
“We will also be turning over the reformulated Tourism Response and Recovery Plan (TRRP), which has served as the department’s road map to the tourism sector’s full recovery from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the DOT statement concluded.
PHNOM PENH Cambodia, 1 June 2022: Cambodia Airways successfully launched a new direct flight from Phnom Penh to Samui Island in Thailand on Monday, following its resumption of daily flights to Bangkok.
The airline is now flying to Samui twice a week on Tuesday and Friday and selling a return fare for USD176 as part of a promotion that ends 31 July. Details of the offer are hard to capture as the homepage banner rotates faster than you can read the text. In addition, Samui does not feature under the airline’s homepage’s “promotions” tagline or its press releases. But you can book the flight, and for an airline that fails to update its website, that is a consolation.
Cambodia Airways. Samui welcomes a new flight.
Direct flights from Phnom Penh to Samui depart at 0830am and arrive in Samui at 0940. The return flight departs Samui at 1040 and lands in Phnom Penh at 1150.
An Airbus A319 with a seating capacity for150 passengers serves the route.
Samui: Visa on arrival tips
The airline posts tips for passengers who need to get a visa on arrival at Samui airport
1) Complete the visa on the arrival application form (download the form from the web portal www.cambodia-airways.com before arrival to avoid congestion at the terminal).
2) Present two photos size 4×6 cm with a white background without wearing a cap or glasses. Please be noted that there’s no photo-taking service at the Samui Airport.
3) Show copies of the return ticket, passport, Thai Pass and insurance for a minimum of USD10,000 (colour print). Only hard copies are acceptable. Local Immigration needs hard copies to attach to their documents that are not online.
4) Pay the feet THB2,000 (Exchange Thai baht at the arrival terminal).
These instructions do not apply to travellers eligible for visa-free entry. (Citizens of ASEAN countries) but all travellers must register their passport, vaccination certificate, and insurance details on the Thailand Pass app.
LANGKAWI, 31 May 2022: Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) is campaigning to attract more charters to the island by launching the Langkawi Charter Flight Incentive Programme (LCFIP).
LFCIP will run from 1 June to 31 December 2022, offering financial incentives to air charter operators worldwide.
In a media statement released last week, LADA pledged to provide financial support to new charter flights to Langkawi. The offer is open to all airlines, tour operators, dedicated air charter operators, destination management companies, or travel agencies.
According to LADA, financial assistance is channelled through the lead charterer, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All applications and submissions should be submitted to LADA via [email protected] to receive the e-brochure and application form.
Return of the Ironman
Meanwhile, LADA announced the Ironman 70.3 Langkawi is back on the calendar after a two-year pause. It will be hosted on Langkawain 5 November 2022.
The race promises to follow a route that takes athletes through tropical, hilly and demanding terrain, passing traditional villages, mangrove clusters and rainforest vistas. Athletes will finish the race on the stunning Cenang beach. For more details, visit https://www.ironman.com/im703-langkawi
Considered Langkawi’s most popular beach Pantai Cenang is home to the recently opened Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang.
BANGKOK, 31 May 2022:Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator and Baansuay Group (Suratthani) PCL. announced the signing of a Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) for Centra by Centara Hotel Surat Thani.
Senior executives from the two companies officially executed the agreement at a signing ceremony held recently at Centara’s flagship Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.
Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer, Centara Hotels & Resorts (3rd from right) and Piriya Tanerananonth, CEO of Baansuay Group (Suratthani) PCL. (4th from left) signed a Hotel Management Agreement for “Centra by Centara Hotel Surat Thani.”
The largest of Thailand’s southern provinces, Surat Thani, is the main transit point for travellers en route to some of the Kingdom’s most famous islands, including Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
The project comprises the complete renovation of an existing low-rise hotel, with work currently underway and an anticipated opening date of 1 July 2023, which includes the renovation of 110 rooms, an all-day dining Dim Sum restaurant, and a casual in-style Japanese restaurant and meeting room. The completion of a second phase is expected in early 2025, which will see the construction of a new building to house additional facilities, including a large function room, fitness centre and swimming pool.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Centara for their first hotel in Surat Thani. With their excellent reputation and track record, we are confident that Centra by Centara Hotel Surat Thani will become a new landmark for travellers exploring southern Thailand,” said Piriya Tanerananonth, CEO of Baansuay Group (Suratthani) PCL.
The guest journey at Centra by Centara Hotel Surat Thani invites travellers to experience the local community with a concept design that bridges that gap between ethnic communities in surrounding Bandon Bay with contemporary furnishings and local arts and crafts.
The 110-key hotel will offer spacious accommodation ranging from 24 to 36 square metres, featuring amenities and services that allow guests to relax at their home away from home, including connecting rooms for families. Essential facilities include a lobby envisioned as dynamic multi-use spaces, two restaurants which will be positioned as a destination in themselves, and a deck and garden area with blurred indoor-outdoor boundaries.
“We are excited to announce the partnership with Baansuay Group (Suratthani) PCL. for Centra by Centara Hotel Surat Thani, our twelfth Centra by Centara-flagged property and Centara’s first hotel in Surat Thani. Centra by Centara’s positioning of elevating the essentials by delivering great quality at excellent value makes this an ideal brand for leisure and MICE travellers seeking to explore the province’s natural and cultural charms,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.
Centra by Centara Hotel Surat Thani is located in the city centre, a 15-minute drive to Lomprayah Tapee Pier and Tha Thong Pier, and a 30-minute drive from Surat Thani International Airport.
BANGKOK, 31 May 2022: Skål Bangkok’s business lunch talk on Tuesday, 14 June 2022, features Korn Chatikavanij, a famous Thai politician, best selling author, and former investment banker.
The former minister of finance will address the topic of Thailand’s Economy Direction for Thailand Tourism in 2022-2023. Venue and Time: 1130, 14 June 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel.
Korn Chatikavanij.
From 2008 to 2011, Korn Chatikavanij was finance minister under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. In January 2020, he left the Democrat Party to form his own ‘Kla’ political party. Born in London and university-educated at St John’s College Oxford, the 58-year-old Thai politician has an exceptional understanding of Thailand’s macroeconomics and its current political situation.
BANGKOK, 31 May 2022: Property consultant JLL expects hotel investment activity in Chiang Mai to rise this year.
While significant assets have been put up for sale, investor sentiment is improving in response to a more positive outlook for Thailand’s post-lockdown tourism.
JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group – Asia executive vice president Chakkrit Chakrabandhu Na Ayudhya said: “Chiang Mai has been one of the most dynamic tourism markets in Thailand. International arrivals to the city during a pre-Covid period were ranked number 4 after Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. With the continued ease of travel restrictions across the region and Thailand, optimism is now growing. The market has recently seen a number of new openings and completions of major renovation projects such as Melia Chiang Mai having opened early this year, and InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping, scheduled for opening by the year-end.”
Chiang Mai is also one of the top hotel markets in Thailand that see continued demand from both foreign and domestic investors. However, investment activity in the city was generally lower compared to other major hotel markets, largely due to the lack of investment-grade assets that were put up for sale, according to JLL.
“We expect the Chiang Mai hotel market to witness higher investment activity this year as there are a number of significant hotel assets being put up in the market,” said Chakkrit.
One of the most notable disposals being marketed by JLL is Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai Resort, recently won at the auction by Inter Far East Thermal Power Company Limited.
Situated on over 150 rai of land, a 15-minute drive from Chiang Mai International Airport, the 123-key resort is one of Thailand’s most luxurious hospitality developments and was operated as the Mandarin Oriental from 2004 to 2013. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the award-winning hotel temporarily ceased its operation in April 2020.
Inter Far East Thermal Power CEO Thavich Taychanavakul said: “Our decision to dispose of Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai is aligned to our strategy to divest non-core businesses. Advice from JLL suggests that this is a suitable time as the more positive outlook of Thailand’s tourism is putting Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai in a position to attract well-capitalised investors looking to invest in a trophy hotel asset in Thailand.”
According to JLL, Chiang Mai saw only one hotel sale transaction worth THB 85 million in 2018, recording no hotel investment activity in 2019 and 2020. Last year one hotel investment transaction worth approximately THB300 million was recorded.
So far this year, the city has seen one hotel investment deal worth THB 435 million that is close to completion.
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 May 2022: Capital A Berhad (formerly known as AirAsia Group Berhad) has reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2022 that showed the consolidated group posted revenue of MYR812 million, up 153% year-on-year and down by 1% quarter-on-quarter comparison.
Aviation revenue grew significantly by 226% YoY and 5% QoQ to MY601 million off the back of the improved demand during the festive season, together with the further easing of travel restrictions in 1Q2022. The group’s logistics arm, Teleport reported considerable revenue growth of 58% YoY to MYR147 million. Digital businesses consisting of AirAsia Super App and BigPay reported robust revenue growth of 46% YoY. The aviation, logistics and digital companies have contributed 74%, 18% and 8%, respectively, of the revenue in 1Q2022.
Overall, the group’s EBITDA was MYR309 million, which improved by 12% and the Net Loss Before Tax was MYR1,076 million. Several factors offset the big improvement in revenue, mainly attributed to higher fuel and maintenance costs and larger recognition of losses from associates.
On the airline performance results and outlook, AirAsia Aviation Group CEO and president (airlines) Bo Lingam said: “The AirAsia Aviation Group posted an encouraging QoQ trend. In 1Q2022, the aviation group posted a healthy load factor of 76%. Significantly, the increase in capacity and additional frequency of domestic flights supported the strong resurgence in air travel demand. In 1Q2022, demand spiked during the festive season and boosted the overall group capacity to 4.9 million available passenger seats with 3.7 million passengers flown.
“AAAGL’s performance continued to improve across critical metrics throughout the quarter, supported by strong pent up demand and with the easing of travel restrictions in all of our core domestic markets. This is evidenced by the sharp increase in flights up by 235% YoY and 47% QoQ to 26,916 flights in 1Q2022, alongside more robust passenger traffic compared to the same period last year. All of the airlines in the group posted a commendable load factor in 1Q2022, with AirAsia Malaysia at 74%, up by one percentage point YoY, AirAsia Indonesia at 76%, up by 20 ppts YoY, AirAsia Philippines at 86%, up by 12 ppts YoY and AirAsia Thailand at 73%, up by seven ppts YoY.
“The aviation group outlook remains positive. We firmly believe there will continue to be a V-shaped travel rebound and improved passenger traffic throughout the remainder of the year and beyond. We are confident in the ongoing revival of air travel in the coming quarters. With the support of ASEAN countries that are already gradually reopening international borders, we will be flying to pre-Covid capacity on many of our core domestic and international routes by the end of this year. The aviation group flew 60% of pre-Covid domestic flights in 1Q2022. We aimed to operate 93% of its total pre-covid domestic capacity, including AirAsia Thailand, by the end of the year.”
MANILA, 31 May 2022: Beginning 30 May, fully-vaccinated travellers entering the Philippines no longer needed to present a negative (RT-PCR) test upon arrival, the Philippines News Agency reported Monday.
The latest ruling applies to inbound passengers 18 years or older who had a least one booster shot against Covid-19.
Also exempted from the pre-departure RT-PCR requirement are those aged 12 to 17 who have received two Covid-19 vaccine shots and those under 12 who are accompanied by fully vaccinated or boosted parents or guardians. In addition, the travel insurance requirement has also been lifted.
Fully-vaccinated travellers must still present acceptable proof of vaccination and have passports valid for at least six months. For temporary visitors, they must have valid tickets for their return journey to the port of origin or the next port of destination not later than 30 days from arrival.
The acceptable proofs of Covid-19 vaccination include the World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis, VaxCertPH, national or state digital certificate of a foreign country accepting VaxCertPH, and other proof of vaccination permitted by the IATF-EID.
Unvaccinated passengers
Travellers who are unvaccinated, partially unvaccinated or have unverified vaccination status must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours or a negative laboratory-based rapid antigen-negative test result administered and certified by a healthcare professional.
They are also required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day from the date of their arrival in the Philippines. They must also undergo home quarantine until their 14th day in the country.
“As we make it more convenient for tourists to visit the country, the public’s health and safety will remain the DOT’s priority,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
“The DOT sees this development as a win for the local tourism industry as welcoming more tourists in the country will yield more revenues for our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and restore more jobs and livelihoods in the sector,” she added.
Although travel insurance is no longer required, it is still highly encouraged for arriving passengers. Regardless of country of origin, all types of vaccination certificates will also be accepted.
Based on the latest Department of Tourism data, 517,516 foreigners visited the Philippines from 10 February to 25 May 2022.
HONG KONG, 31 May 2022: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is extending its relief package for two more months to the end of July, it confirmed in a media statement on Monday.
The decision to extend financial incentives responded to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Hong Kong’s aviation industry.
Financial support includes various fee waivers or concession policies supporting the industry that will continue throughout June and July 2022.
Support includes the complete waiver of parking charges for idle passenger aircraft and airbridge fees; reduction of passenger aircraft landing charges; fee reduction related to ramp handling, maintenance and airside vehicles.
It also extends to rental reduction for terminal tenants covering lounges and offices; fees wavier for terminal licensees, including ancillary passenger services, commercial services counters and cross-border transport operators; and concessions on fees for aviation support such as plane fuelling, aircraft maintenance and inflight catering services.
The continuing relief package includes rental relief for retail and catering tenants. Most shops and restaurants in the terminal have suspended business, and their rentals are waived.
KUCHING, 30 May 2022: Returning for its 17th year is one of Southeast Asia’s longest-running international jazz festivals – the Borneo Jazz Festival.
Like the preceding years, it brings diverse music lovers to Miri, the second-largest city in Sarawak, but this time in a hybrid format.
‘Jazz in The Jungle’, this year’s theme held at Coco Cabana, Marina Bay, Miri, Sarawak from 24 – 26 June 2022, will portray cross-cultural musical collaborations presenting their brand of ‘Jungle Jazz’. One of those artists will be ASIABEAT featuring celebrated Asian drummer Lewis Pragasam.
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A pioneering force in creating cross-cultural musical collaborations in the region, and drawing inspiration from ‘Fusion’ and ‘World Music, ASIABEAT brings together a convergence of different musicians. For BJ 2022 edition, the band will feature Helga Violin from Hungary, Grace Leong on keyboards, Luke Joseph on Guitar and Zailan Razak on Bass. Additionally, Sarawak’s homegrown talent, Clinton Chua will be featured as a guest vocalist.
A versatile artist, ‘Helga Violin’ graduated from the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest. Helga has appeared in numerous concerts as a soloist and chamber musician not only in Hungary but in Italy and Asia, namely Jakarta, Bali and Singapore. With a custom-made electric violin, Helga is passionate about fusing modern electronic music with Asian ethnic music elements.
The ASIABEAT project was conceptualised in 1979. Lewis started ASIABEAT as a percussion outfit that would explore the blending of various traditional percussion instruments inherent in four of the major ethnic groups in Malaysia, namely; Malay, Indian, Chinese and Sikh, with the goal to highlight and enlighten the general public about the incredibly rich and diverse culture that is largely ignored and taken for granted. ASIABEAT has since evolved with its seven-album recordings, namely ASIABEAT, DARE TO DREAM, SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE, MONSOON, DRUMUSIQUE, URBAN BEYOND & AKAR, reflecting Lewis’ penchant for diversity and knowledge of current trends in the global music industry.
Since the band’s inception in 1979, ASIABEAT has been invited to perform in more than 500 concerts and festivals like the Edinburgh Arts Festival, Java Jazz and ASEAN Music Festival, to name a few.
Recently in 2020, ASIABEAT celebrated its 40th anniversary with a 7th album recording entitled “AKAR”, featuring musicians from 8 different countries. This marked a personal milestone for Lewis, as the album was conceptualised and manifested as a musical entity during a global pandemic.
Lewis Pragasam will be leading the Borneo Jazz’s Eco Drum Project happening on Sunday, 5 June 2022, from 1600 to 1830 at Coco Cabana, Miri, to create unique drums and percussion instruments from recycled waste and to produce feel-good beats from community drumming sessions as a lead up to Borneo Jazz Festival 2022.
Meanwhile, raised on jazz and soul music, coming to Borneo Jazz Festival from the French Riviera is DJ Estephe, a producer, remixer, record collector and creator of musical identity. Cradled in an era without musical concession, DJ Estèphe, at the dawn of his 20s, roams European clubs solo or accompanied by musicians. In the 90s, he decided to move to Switzerland, where he was responsible for a vinyl shop and the artistic direction of various Clubs in Geneva. He produces with Jules Vulzor, his friend and Studio accomplice, two of the most beautiful revisits of Marvin Gaye songs that topped the charts in New York City and London.
DJ Estephe will play solo ‘Sunset Hour’ daily sets by the Borneo Jazz outdoor stage (1800-1930) and will be joined by Chris Stalk on saxophone and Jules Vulzor on bass during the festival’s Outdoor Late Night Sets (2330 to 0130), with nightly themes of Afro Latin House (Festival Day 1), Boogie Disco Funk (Festival Day 2) and Nu Jazz Soul & Bossa (Festival Day 3).
A self-taught artist, saxophonist Chris Stalk began his career in famous ballrooms with his father, who played the drums, quickly discovering Charlie Parker and jazz. The 90s marked the advent of Hip Hop “sound systems”, in which he actively participated, moving toward abstract hip hop and electronic music, playing sax through guitar effect pedals. Constantly evolving as an artist, STALK has performed in various formations in festivals such as Montreux and Paleo in Switzerland, Moers in Germany.
Jules Vulzor is a producer and bassist from Switzerland. He produced “Guess What” in 2009 and “Stress”, a platinum disk winning hip hop band from 2003 onwards. With DJ E’stephe he co-founded ‘Revivra’, a nu-disco label that went on several times on the New York Charts for remixes of Marvin Gaye, and has worked with Dave Richards (Queen).
Chris Stalk and Jules Vulzor have been conducting music workshops and lighting up Miri’s local live music scene as part of the Borneo Jazz Fab Lab Music Empowerment Programme organised by No Black Tie, curator of Borneo Jazz 2022.
Jazz music lovers can start purchasing tickets for BJ starting now from the official website at jazzborneo.com or directly from our official ticket resellers, Miri City Council at [email protected] and Transworld Travel Services Sdn Bhd at [email protected].
For the public category, 1 Day Pass is priced at RM128 per ticket, 2 Day Pass is RM228 per ticket, and 3 Day Pass is RM338 per ticket. As for students and senior citizens, 1 Day Pass is priced at RM88 per ticket, 2 Day Pass is RM128 per ticket, and 3 Day Pass is RM188 per ticket.
For those who want to enjoy BJ virtually, tickets are priced at RM25 per one-hour block. For more information on the Borneo Jazz festival 2022, log on to BJ’s official website at www.jazzborneo.com.
