THE Lion City’s inbound operators have pounced on the implementation of 14 new direct charters to Okinawa by SilkAir and Jetstar from this month through to January 2015, creating new packages to the up-and-coming destination.

Dynasty Travel director of marketing communications, Alicia Seah, said: “More and more Singaporeans have already been to many parts of Japan, such as Hokkaido, Tokyo and Osaka, so Okinawa is somewhere new and unique they would like to explore.”

CTC vice president of marketing and PR, Sylvia Tan, added: “Demand for Okinawa has certainly been growing in recent years. There is no dramatic change of climate for Singaporean travellers, and Okinawa offers a variety of options like island tours, cultural sites, family attractions and DIY activities.”

Seah explained: “Currently, scheduled services to Naha require a stop in Taipei, Hong Kong, or other Japanese cities. Although there have been chartered flights from Singapore to Okinawa periodically since 2010, they are only in March and October.

“With the addition of direct charters by SilkAir and Jetstar, our company has launched a 5D4N tour package to Okinawa ranging from S$1,838 (US$1,455) and it is very popular among Singaporeans.”

Similarly, CTC has jumped on the bandwagon with the introduction of two 6D5N packages – one for Christmas, the other for the Muslim market – in December, via SilkAir flights.

However, Chan Brothers Travel is sticking to its current 7D6N package twining Okinawa and Taipei as it is “gaining traction” among customers.

Its manager of marketing communications, Jeremiah Wong, explained that the direct impact of the new charters has not surfaced yet. “(With the current package) not only would customers be able to explore the varied marine bio-diversity of Okinawa and indulge in outlet mall shopping, they are also able to enjoy two days free and easy in Taipei for shopping and food.”

He added: “With the direct charters, consumers will undoubtedly reap benefits such as more competitive fares, increased frequencies and more choices of flight timings, hence lending a hand in boosting travel to Okinawa.”

LUXURY hotel group, ITC Hotels, is expanding its portfolio with a new golf resort and spa to be introduced this October.

The ITC Grand Bharat is set in the Aravalli Hills in Manesar, a 40-minute drive from Delhi.

Occupying 121ha, the resort offers 100 suites with either an al fresco terrace or private plunge pool, and four Presidential Villas with private pools and round-the-clock butler service.

The highlight of the resort is its Jack Nicklaus-designed, 27-hole golf course with three specialised courses, a golf club and a bar.

Another signature of ITC Grand Bharat is the Kaya Kalp – The Royal Spa. Built with nine treatment rooms, the spa also features yoga regimes from the Bihar School of Yoga, a fitness centre with personal trainers, and naturopathic cuisine – a special diet planned by Ayurveda practitioners and certified doctors.

There will be four dining outlets within the resort namely the all-day dining Aravalli Pavilion, the India Room serving European cuisine, The Peacock Bar & Cigar Divan and Camp Bharat, a poolside bar and lounge. Guests can also try their hand at cooking at ITC Hotels’ first culinary school.

The resort simultaneously caters to guests with a range of activities for adventure and nature lovers, from nature trails and bird watching, to canoeing, paragliding, swimming, cycling or watching a live performance at the open-air amphitheatre.

Besides its extensive facilities, ITC Grand Bharat promotes sustainable tourism, which can be seen through the water conservation facilities, on-site recycling plants and energy efficient lighting on hotel premises.

Meanwhile, ITC Hotels is preparing to open ITC Vilasa, the hotel group’s first beach resort and spa situated 25km from Chennai overlooking the Bay of Bengal, by mid-2015.

A further four hotels are scheduled to open by 2018, as is the ITC Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The company currently has a portfolio of 10 business-focused hotels in top Indian cities.

LUX* Resorts & Hotels this week launched Lux Lijiang in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lijiang, following a recent unveiling of adventure circuit, Lux Tea Horse Road.

Situated at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the boutique hotel was constructed with traditional timber frames found in Naxi architecture. Its six Superior Rooms, two Deluxe Rooms and two Junior Suites offer views over tranquil courtyards and picturesque rooftops.

Lux Lijiang also comes with a tea house and library.

The hotel can act as a base for travellers keen to explore the Lux Tea Horse Road, which can be done on foot, bicycle or horseback. Traversing Yunnan and Szechuan provinces, the legendary trail once stretched from Pu’er, Yunnan to Lhasa, Tibet, and supported the trade of Chinese tea in exchange for salt and Tibetan horses. Lux tour guides can also arrange a private audience with Dongba shamans.

Paul Jones, CEO, Lux Resorts & Hotels, said: “In a comparatively short time, we have built a strong and growing Chinese customer base for our existing operations in the Indian Ocean. Our intention now is to create the journey of a lifetime for these guests in this most special part of their home country.”

INFINITE Luxury will open its flagship Kata Rocks on Phuket’s Kata Beach on November 28, its first luxury resort property and with more to come.

The resort is located on a hillside overlooking Kata Beach and the Andaman Sea, giving guests easy access to luxury shops, boutiques, bars and restaurants in Kata village.

Guests can walk out to the rocky headland, and during the high season, arrive at the resort’s own jetty on private yachts.

Kata Rocks has an inventory of 34 one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom Sky Villas, all of which come with a private infinity pool. Each villa comes with an interactive iPad controller that allows guests to control mood lighting and order room service.

Other on-site facilities include an oceanfront restaurant, a 35m swimming pool and poolside bar, the Infinite Luxury spa with seven treatment rooms, and a gym equipped with the latest equipment.

All the villas at Kata Rocks are privately owned but managed by Infinite Luxury, a construction and residential development company founded more than 20 years ago in London’s Notting Hill.

Kata Rocks has launched a soft opening package from now until October 31, giving guests a 20 per cent discount on published rates and free airport transfers. Contact reservations@katarocks.com.