The launch of JC International Airlines, which started operations in Cambodia this month with daily flights connecting Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville on two Airbus A320s, has been welcomed by the industry.

This brings the number of local airlines to five – the existing four are Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, Bassaka Air and Sky Angkor Airlines – and hopes that the new Chinese-backed carrier will drive down airfares in the country.

Sihanoukville

Mick Spencer, owner of ANA Travel & Tours, said: “JC is welcome competition for existing airlines operating domestically.”

Heng Khan, manager of Mekong Tours, added that the additional flights make it easier for travellers on tight itineraries to explore Cambodia beyond Angkor Wat.

He said: “Many visitors come for just a few days. Affordable flights mean they can still see glorious Angkor Wat and enjoy our beautiful beaches and islands in a short holiday.”

Kimhean Srun, CEO of Cambodia Smile Travel, said: “The skies opening up further means we can fit more into visitors’ itineraries, and they can see more in a shorter time. This can only benefit the industry and lead to more development and quality.”

By end-2017, JC International Airlines plans to add an additional three aircraft to begin international routes to Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea and Europe, according to CEO Dongyan Huang.

In a similar move to the US’ ban on carry-on electronic gadgets on planes coming from 10 airports in the Middle East and North Africa, the British government has also announced a cabin luggage ban on laptops for direct passenger flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Laptops and devices larger than 16cm long, 9.3cm wide or 1.5cm deep will not be permitted, but most smartphones fall inside these limits. The banned items will still be allowed on board checked luggage instead.

Airlines expected to be affected by the gadget ban include Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways.

This move comes barely a week after US president Trump’s second attempt at curbing travel from several Muslim-majority countries

After announcing plans to introduce its first flights to Hong Kong, Virgin Australia has now confirmed Melbourne will be the Australian city to enjoy the connections starting July 5.

To be operated on Airbus A330-200 aircraft, Virgin Australia’s Melbourne-Hong Kong service will offer 255 economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Flights will depart Melbourne five-times weekly: at 00.35 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for arrival in Hong Kong at 08.15 the same day, on Mondays at 10.25 to arrive at 18.05 and on Wednesdays at 09.40 for arrival at 17.20.

The return flight from Hong Kong will depart at 19.50 every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving in Melbourne at 08.20 the next day.

Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti said: “Virgin Australia’s entry into Hong Kong and Greater China is a key pillar of our international strategy, allowing us to tap into Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable inbound travel market.

Melbourne Airport’s chief of aviation, Simon Gandy, said: “As Australia’s fastest-growing capital city, Melbourne represents an incredibly sound, long-term investment market for international airlines.”

Hong Kong, on top of being a strong market for both inbound and outbound travel, also serves as a hub for connecting to onward services into mainland China and North Asia, he added.

More connections between Australia and China are expected to follow from the alliance between Virgin Australia and HNA Aviation.

The authorities’ plans to raise tourism standards significantly across Cambodia have been met with approval by agents in the country.

Tourism minister Thong Khon announced the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is gearing up to unveil a seven-step plan in the coming months as part of the kingdom’s aim of attracting seven million visitors by 2020.

Phnom Penh

While full details of the proposal are yet to be released, it will focus on improving the quality of tourism services and strengthen the management of industry standards within the tourism sector, especially MICE. It will also look at the professional management of business licenses and strengthening revenue collection.

The shake-up will also see all non-licensed businesses shut down by 2018. According to MoT figures, there were 647 hotels, 1,996 guesthouses, 1,844 restaurants, 588 tourism agencies and 5,088 guides registered across Cambodia in 2016.

Chan Kung, general manager of Mekong Trails, said raising and monitoring standards is essential to make the country more appealing to tourists, as well as bring offerings up to the levels expected from various markets, such as Europe.

He said: “The European market bring certain expectations and sometimes these are not met by hotels or restaurants. If implemented correctly, this could be very beneficial.”

Chhanny Sorn, founder of Asian Dreams, added regulations for tourism products are “definitely needed” and would undoubtedly raise the industry as a whole.

Hot on the heels of Royal Caribbean Cruises’ announcement last week to build a purpose-built cruise ship terminal in the Western Visayas’ Caticlan or Boracay, Genting Cruise Lines has also signed an MoU with Philippine stakeholders to develop cruise infrastructure in the country.

The agreement is in line with the country setting in motion a new cruise strategy, focused on improving port facilities, easing entry procedures and designing cruise packages.

SuperStar Virgo arrives in Manila; Photo credit: Phiippine DoT

Hui Lim, executive director of the Genting Group, which owns Star Cruises, said: “(We will continue to work closely) with the Philippine government and the various local agencies to accelerate the growth of cruise tourism in the Philippines and to maximise its full potential.”

Genting’s latest announcement comes amid SuperStar Virgo‘s arrival into the Philippines this week to become the first international cruise ship to homeport at Manila.

SuperStar Virgo will return for another season of cruising from Manila in December of this year, calling at ports in the Philippines, as well as other Asian destinations such as Kota Kinabalu, Brunei, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Okinawa.

No longer content with selling just hotel rooms, Marriott International yesterday announced its investment in PlacePass, an online tours and activities metasearch platform based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

With this partnership, all 100 million members of Marriott’s loyalty programmes – Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) – will now have access to over 100,000 local experiences in 800 destinations worldwide when they book direct on Marriott.com or SPG.com or their respective apps.

Marriott now offers VIP guided tours to the filming locations of Downton Abbey

“The addition of PlacePass activities and tours beginning later this year reflects Marriott’s commitment to giving our guests a complete travel experience, whether they are in planning mode, staying in our hotels and even in-between stays when they’re thinking about travel,” said Stephanie Linnartz, global chief commercial officer, Marriott International.

Some of the in-destination experiences offered include visiting the filming locations for the hit series Downton Abbey on a VIP guided tour from London; wrestling with a retired sumo wrestler in Tokyo; getting a taste of desert life in the dunes outside Dubai with a camel or 4×4 ride and a traditional Bedouin-style dinner; and exploring Cambodia’s iconic Angkor temples on a sunrise mountain biking tour; among others.

The annual Vivid Sydney festival will happen at Sydney’s new harbourside CBD precinct of Barangaroo for the first time this year, bringing back its iconic light displays and featuring a robust music lineup including UK electronic dance outfit Goldfrapp.

Vivid Sydney will illuminate the city for 23 nights with festival favourites such as the Vivid Light Walk as well as displays at Chatswood, Martin Place, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo, plus an expanded trail through the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Magicians of the Mist light display

The New South Wales minister for tourism and major events, Adam Marshall, said: “The sails of the Sydney Opera House will again be illuminated, this year with a spectacular projection of imaginary creatures inspired by insects, plants and the ocean underworld, that will captivate locals and visitors from around the world.”

Apart from Goldfrapp, Vivid Sydney will present acts such as folk-rock group Fleet Foxes, indie-rock band Dappled Cities, Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Dianne Reeves, plus the Ideas programme headlined by American contemporary artist Shepard Fairey.

The festival returns this year from May 26 to June 17.

Jet Airways will begin codesharing on Jetstar Asia flights from Singapore to 11 destinations, extending its footprint to three new destinations: Darwin, Phuket and Penang. Sales lines open tomorrow for travel commencing from March 26.

The Indian airline will place its marketing code ‘9W’ on Jetstar Asia flights to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, Perth and Darwin in Australia, Jakarta, Denpasar Bali and Surabaya in Indonesia, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

With this, Jet Airways will also offer guests twin/tri-city itineraries options through Singapore, either via Bangkok or Hong Kong. Passengers transiting through Singapore will enjoy baggage check-in transfer and receive onward boarding passes at the initial departure point.

As well, JetPrivilege members will be able to accrue JPMiles, which will count towards tier status, on the codeshare flights.

Jetstar Asia said the codeshare will allow it to participate in the high growth traffic trends between India and the codeshare markets which have demonstrated a CAGR of over 17 per cent over the last five years in Asia-Pacific.