Skyline Enterprises has pumped S$14 million (US$10.3 million) into its Skyline Luge attraction in Sentosa, adding two new Luge tracks and a new Skyride.
Philippines laments shortage of multi-linguistic guides
The dearth of third language-speaking tour guides has been an overlooked issue over the years.
Consider this. The Philippines has only one qualified Korean-speaking guide even as South Korea has been the top source market – comprising nearly 25 per cent of tourist arrivals – for many years, prompting the hiring of some 200 Koreans to serve as tour guides in Cebu.
There’s also an insufficient number of Mandarin-speaking guides, an irony in a country with a large population of Chinese. As such, hotels and resorts catering to Chinese tourists have taken to hiring university students in Chinese-speaking countries for a short stint.
“It’s been a perennial problem, and the Department of Tourism (DoT) needs to tackle this problem seriously,” said Angel Ramos Bognot, president and managing director of Afro Asian Travel and Tours.
The DoT, which licenses tour guides, has an existing programme and training template, but a third language programme has not been implemented, said Bognot. He further suggested implementing a scholarship programme for third languages.
To cope with the shortage, tourism undersecretary Alma Jimenez announced that they would be tapping into overseas Filipino workers – who already speak foreign languages like Chinese and Japanese – to become tour guides.
For Madrid Fusion Manila, which requires interpreters fluent in Spanish and “nannies” to guide Spanish participants around the country, gets volunteers from wealthy families who are well-acquainted with Spain and its language.
Marisa Nallana, secretary-general of the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) which helps in organising the annual gastronomy event, said their Spanish counterpart does the screening and interviews. Interpreters have to be well-versed in food and cuisines because are required to translate into English, what the Spanish chef is explaining, on the go.
Singapore brings greying trades to life
Tourism stakeholders in Singapore are rolling out tours that are promising to cast a spotlight on fading businesses and bring more travellers to the city state.
Featuring old-school trades such as traditional baking, ancestral paper-house making and Arabic perfume mixing, these tours bring out cultural flavours of Singapore beyond its modern attractions.
Tribe, one of the pioneers of such tours, offers excursions led by locals and experts in related fields, such as a master paper-house maker and one of Singapore’s last traditional bakers.
The concept can “disrupt the way tours are usually conducted”, said Tribe’s co-founder Jason Loe. He explained: “Singapore has so many layers to peel back and discover… We like our guests to come away with an authentic slice of life in Singapore.”
Similarly, tour operator Journeys takes guests to the heart of cultures and businesses oft forgotten in modern Singapore. A third of its tours include visits to traditional trade shops where guests can also interact with the owners, said its executive director Savita Kashyap.
Stops include a Chinese funeral supplies shop, a popiah (spring roll) stall, an Indian flower garland shop and a traditional Arabic perfume mixer.
Joseph Sze, project director of Siam Express, observed that travellers – especially visitors from China – are now more drawn to such shops, especially in Haji Lane and Little India, for products that “cannot be found in their own countries”.
The endangered rickshaw business has also been given new life. Operator Trishaw Uncle recently refreshed its services with GPS-guided trishaw tours through heritage districts such as Little India, Kampong Glam, Chinatown and the Civic District.
Its managing director, Png Yiow Beng, noted that such tours are growing in popularity among the youth segment. Trishaw Uncle is also attracting younger drivers who are “are very passionate about introducing Singapore’s history and landmarks”, he added.
Hoteliers have also jumped on the bandwagon; The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, for instance, offers complimentary monument and maritime tours, and has recently partnered with Jane’s SG Tour to offer experiences covering Singapore’s oldest mosque, a pre-war medical institution and culinary classes on local cuisine.
“Stories told enable travellers to appreciate Singapore on a deeper level and stay longer, beyond just a quick stopover,” said Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale, general manager of The Fullerton Hotels Singapore.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Economic Development Board in August launched a unified destination brand, which aims to tell “a fuller Singapore story beyond tourism… about this destination and its people”, said STB chief executive Lionel Yeo.
Through promotional efforts, the Passion Made Possible brand will also see operators roll out new tours highlighting heritage businesses – such as Wok ‘n’ Stroll’s food trail featuring new-generation hawkers, Ruby Dot Trails’ family businesses of Kampong Glam and Tribe’s past-to-present industry tour.
STB has identified 15 target markets for this brand, including China, India and Indonesia, Australia, the UK and US.
STB has also been expanding its marketing efforts to tier-two cities in key source markets Indonesia, China and India, said its director, strategy planning & incentive policy, Rachel Loh.
As of April 2017, year-to-date international visitor arrivals from targeted tier-two cities in Indonesia, China and India reached 170,000 (+11 per cent year-on-year), 315,000 (+17 per cent) and 58,900 (+ eight per cent) respectively.
Loh added: “We remain hopeful for a year-on-year growth of one to four per cent in tourism receipts and one to two per cent in international visitor arrivals for 2017.”
East Asia Institute of Management acquires NATAS’ training arm
The East Asia Institute of Management (EASB) is acquiring a majority share of the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS), the training arm of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS).
NATAS said this is the association’s first step in transforming the travel trade, with EASB taking over training of new entrants and existing agents with a three-step approach.
Termed New Blend, it comprises bite-sized learning, video streaming and gamification – with a focus on integrating mobile technology into learning processes, said Andrew Chua, principal and executive chairman of EASB.
This will acclimatise trainees to working with mobile solutions, especially with the technological disruptions in the travel industry today, said Chua.
Steven Ler, acting president of NATAS, added that the partnership is the association’s first step in pushing for technology confidence in Singapore’s travel trade sector.
He said: “We are focusing on two main pillars: technology and manpower. These will be the key supports in transforming the travel trade. (With EASB) NATAS now has a focused arm to build curriculums that support new initiatives, in terms of technology and getting the right skill sets.”
In the next three to six months, NATAS will be launching an online human resource portal for greater visibility of demand and supply in the trade, said Ler.
He added that NATAS is also working closely with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to transform tourism businesses, with several initiatives in the pipeline.
These developments may help veterans overcome their “resentment” of technology as a threat to their jobs, said Robin Yap, president, Asia, The Travel Corporation, who sees technology as a complementary tool to agency services.
“While we are embracing technology, this is a people industry, which requires people to deliver services,” said Yap. “This will be facilitated by technology, but the human element (is still needed) to deliver the finer touches.”
With increased efforts between NATAS and STB, Yap hopes to see more local travel players follow in the footsteps of agencies like BeMyGuest and emerge into the global sphere.
Bellew to leave Malaysia Airlines to return to Ryanair
Peter Bellew is leaving Malaysia Airlines after just over a year in charge as its CEO to return to Ryanair as COO and tackle a pilot shortage that has led to over 20,000 flight cancellations.
Bellew had been Ryanair’s director of flight operations until 2014 before joining Malaysia Airlines as COO in September 2015 and taking over Christopher Mueller as chief executive in July last year, according to a Reuters article.
With Ryanair under fire for the cancellation of 20,000 flights, a statement from the airline said that Bellew would specifically be responsible for managing pilots and “(ensuring) that the pilot rostering failure which Ryanair suffered in early September will never be repeated”.
Bellew will leave Malaysia Airlines in the midst a three-year turnaround programme at the airline, set back in recent years by high-profile incidents such as the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 and MH17 being shot down over eastern Ukraine.
Malaysia Airlines said the announcement was “unexpected”, with Bellew as recently as September 27 expressing commitment to the airline in response to speculation of him re-joining Ryanair. Bellew was quoted by Malaysia Airlines as saying that the airline’s turnaround would be “the greatest achievement of my life”.
The turnaround of Malaysia Airlines remains on track and on schedule, as per the MAS Recovery Plan, Malaysia Airlines assured.
US holidays push Panorama Philippines to half a million in sales in Manila
New outbound agency Panorama Holidays Philippines, which aims to specialise in leisure and business events to the US and Europe, claims it has made US$500,000 in sales at the recent three-day consumer travel fair, World Travel Expo in Manila.
Its group managing director, Richard Vuilleumier, said its bestsellers wreathe 10D7N USA East Coast packages and 7D4N USA West Coast packages. For both packages, the company offered two free packages for every two packages purchased.
Vuilleumier said: “It was a successful sales strategy because we knew most holiday makers from the Philippines travel with families. Rooms in the US are large and fit four people as they have two queen-sized beds.
“Being an international company with offices in Malaysia and Vietnam, we believe we can, in time, become a market leader in the Philippines for the longhaul segment specialising in US and Europe due to the fact there are few big competitors. We are able to make bulk purchases from suppliers and get passengers internationally to join our group departures to Europe and US. This gives us an upper hand.”
In Malaysia, Panorama Holidays Malaysia changed its focus last year to concentrate only on the US and European markets. Previously its outbound focus was mainly on shorthaul and mediumhaul destinations.
Vuilleumier’s rationale: “Consumers tend to make their own bookings online for the short and mediumhaul segments. Longhaul tends to be multiple destinations and this is where travel agents still have an advantage. Travellers are not as confident planning their itineraries and making their own bookings. They still rely on an agent.”
Singapore travel companies boost Malaysia-bound coach fleets
Singapore’s Transtar Travel & Tours and WTS Travel & Tours have each expanded their fleet by adding 10 units of the Scania K-series coach – the manufacturer’s largest delivery of the kind – which will be deployed on new routes between Singapore and Malaysia.
Transtar Travel & Tours, a leading express coach company established in Singapore in 1994, operates between Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands. The latest acquisition will allow the company to introduce two new routes between Gelang Patah Sentral Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru and Singapore.
The first of these routes, starting in December, will cover Singapore’s Central Business District, while the second commencing in April 2018 will cover the Jurong and Tuas industrial areas, Clementi and Buona Vista. Adding these to its two existing routes between Singapore and Johor Bahru, the company will provide passengers with more than 70 pick-up and alighting points on the island.
WTS Travel & Tours, established as a travel subsidiary of Woodlands Transport in 1989, currently operates coach services between Singapore and Johor Bahru, Malacca, Muar, Tangkak, Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands. It plans to announce its new routes and travel packages at a later date.
Micker Sia, managing director of WTS Travel & Tours, said: “We expect to see between 10 and 15 per cent increase in passenger traffic when we put the new coaches on the road.”
Narita adds electronic screening capabilities
Following a national directive from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau to upgrade checkpoint security to comply with international standards, Tokyo’s Narita International Airport has deployed 13 new passenger screening capabilities by Smiths Detection.
Using unique, flat-panel millimetre-wave technology, Smiths Detection stated that the eqo portals allows checkpoints to evolve from mechanical screening to electronically steered technology, offering better image quality and system reliability.
The portals offers a “rapid means” of detecting concealed objects – of materials including metals, liquids and narcotics – using the system’s real-time automated detection interface.
“More than 20 million visitors entered Japan last year and this number is expected to increase due to the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games in 2020,” commented Nathan Manzi, vice president of Asia Pacific at Smiths Detection.
“For this reason, Japan’s International airports are seeking to increase and strengthen the effectiveness of the security process while ensuring that passengers move quickly and seamlessly through them. Narita selected our eqo solution as it offers a small footprint and the highest passenger throughput comparable to alternative products in the market.”
Marriott brings select service AC Hotels to Asia with Tokyo signing
Marriott International has signed the AC by Marriott Tokyo Ginza hotel, which will open in the Ginza entertainment district in summer 2020 and mark the entry of the AC Hotels brand into Japan.
The 15-storey new-build owned by Tobu Railway, and operated by Tobu Hotel Management, will feature 296 guestrooms, a meeting room, exercise room, AC Library, executive lounge on the top floor, international all-day dining restaurant AC Kitchen, and AC Lounge and Bar for breakfast, tapas-inspired small bites and hand-crafted drinks.
Tobu Hotel Management already has a relationship with Marriott International with the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Ginza and the recently signed The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko.
Shigeta Atsushi, president, Tobu Hotel Management, commented that the AC Hotels brand will be introduced at a time when Tokyo’s inbound and domestic travel market is steadily increasing and in need of select service hotels.
Aviation: AirAsia Japan, Hong Kong Airlines, and more route updates
AirAsia returns to Japan
AirAsia Japan is back in business with its maiden service from Nagoya to Sapporo. The twice-daily service will commence on October 29 from Nagoya, AirAsia Japan’s main hub.
DJ0001 and DJ0009 will depart Chubu Centrair International Airport at 07.35 and 17.10, and arrive in New Chitose Airport 09.25 and 19.00 respectively.
The return flight will depart Sapporo at 10.00 and 19.35, and arrive back in Nagoya at 12.05 and 21.40 respectively.
AirAsia Japan is a joint venture between AirAsia Berhad, Rakuten, Octave Japan Infrastructure Fund I GK, Noevir Holdings and Alpen. The airline operates two A320-200 aircraft from its hub at Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport.
Hong Kong Airlines expands presence in North America
Hong Kong Airlines will fly from Hong Kong to San Francisco from March 25, 2018.
The service will be operated with an Airbus A350 featuring 334 seats, with 33 in Business Class, 108 in Economy Comfort and 193 in Economy Class.
Taking approximately 13 hours, HX060 will depart Hong Kong at 12.20 and arrive in San Francisco at 10.15 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Return flights will depart San Francisco at 12.00 on the same days, and arrive back in Hong Kong at 17.25 the following day.
New non-stop route between Qingdao and London
Starting from November 17, Beijing Capital Airlines will launch a twice-weekly service between London and Qingdao.
Utilising an Airbus A330, JD432 will depart London on Mondays and Fridays at 22.00 and arrive in Qingdao at 17.30 the following day. The return flight will depart on the same days, from Qingdao at 15.05 and arrive in London at 19.50.
At the Imbiah Station starting point, riders can choose from a variety of tracks including the new 658m-long Expedition and 638m-long Kupu Kupu (“Butterfly” in Malay) trails, on top of the existing 628m-long Jungle Trail and 688m-long Dragon Trail. All four tracks total a length of 2.6km.
Another addition is Skyride, which spans 315 metres, offering views of Sentosa, the Singapore city skyline and South China sea on a four-seat chairlift.
These enhancements are expected to decrease waiting times for the rides, said Danny Luke, general manager, International Luge.
Since its opening in 2005, Skyline Luge Sentosa has hosted more than 13 million rides.