Philippines rolls out virtual destination showcases
The Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines have launched Virtual Destination Videos and 360° VR Experiential Tours, as part of their SmarTourism initiative.
TPB’s chief operating officer Maria Anthonette C Velasco-Allones said the digitalisation push is a product of their drive “to do better amid the trying times”.
“It’s not only a teaser for our foreign guests so they can get a good glimpse of our country in the new normal; it’s also a gift to our kababayans and OFWs who have been wanting to come home. And it’s a way to experience the Philippines vicariously and a guide to making every minute of your travel experience count,” she said.
The Virtual Destination Videos series is spearheaded by the DoT and supports TPB’s It’s More Fun With You campaign, which welcomes both domestic and international travellers back to Philippines. Content invites the audience to look forward to travelling safely in the country after the long hiatus.
The virtual videos showcase the best-of-the-best in Boracay, Palawan, Baguio/Cordillera, Manila, Pampanga/Zambales, Pangasinan/La Union, Ilocos Norte/Ilocos Sur, Bohol, Cebu, Bukidnon/Camiguin/Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo/Guimaras, Davao, Batangas, Tarlac/ Bataan, and various UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Besides allowing viewers to travel vicariously to the country’s tourist spots and activities, the web-based 360° virtual reality tour serves as a marketing tool for travel agents, helping them to promote Philippines digitally, as well as improve their destination knowledge.
The virtual reality tour is accessible via www.tpb.pcitech.com.ph/map, where the regions of Ilocos and Calabarzon can be viewed currently.
“Technology plays an essential role in promoting destinations, attractions, and activities here in our country. By leveraging on it, we have found new opportunities amid the crisis and new ways to tell the world that, hey, the Philippines is alive and well, worthy to see and explore, and remains as beautiful and fun as ever,” said DoT secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during the launch event.
Marriott charts APAC growth plans
Marriott International expects to open nearly 100 properties in Asia Pacific this year, with the greater aim of opening its 1,000th property in the region by late 2022.
With leisure demand expected to outpace business travel, Marriott will be strengthening its presence in several leisure destinations such as Jeju with the opening of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in May 2022, while W Sydney is expected to open in late 2022.
With wellness and well-being another key traveller trend, the company’s wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, is expected to celebrate two new debuts in Yokohama and Cam Ranh in 2022.
Meanwhile, luxury demand will boom in Greater China, a key market for the company’s growth, accounting for more than half of the company’s luxury openings in Asia-Pacific this year. Ritz-Carlton Reserve will be debuting its first rare estate in Jiuzhaigou valley, while other slated luxury openings include JW Marriott Hotel Changsha and W Macau – Studio City.
Also in Greater China, Four Points by Sheraton expects to continue its growth with five openings this year, while Moxy Hotels anticipates making landfall Suzhou and Xi’an.
Outside of Greater China, the company expects to debut its AC Hotels brand in South Korea with AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam, and in Australia with AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank. In Japan, Fairfield by Marriott has six new properties in locations such as Nara, Hokkaido and Hyogo, in the pieline.
Hong Kong’s zero-Covid stance and Omicron restrictions continue to batter tourism players
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s reiteration of the region’s adherence to a “dynamic zero” regime on February 8 has intensified worries for local tourism players, who have had their business disrupted once more by Omicron infections since January 7.
All local tourism activities, such as Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Spend-to-Redeem Local Tours programme as well as cruises to nowhere, have been suspended.
Holiday World Tours, managing director, Paul Leung, told TTG Asia that business had started to pick up in late-2021, thanks to the return of cruises. “Now, everything is halted. We are not sure what the future holds. Perhaps nothing will materialise before June,” Leung lamented.
While there is the Come2HK travel scheme that allows quarantine-free entry for non-Hong Kong residents coming from China’s Guangdong province or Macao, Leung said Hong Kong travel agents have benefited very little from it.
The situation would continue to be tough for tourism and MICE players well into 2023, even if all barriers were lifted tomorrow, opined Destination China, general manager and owner, Gunther Homerlein.
He said: “It is the perfect storm of all bad press Hong Kong received prior to Covid – during the political strife – and during the pandemic. Hong Kong has not yet had a chance to reposition herself.”
Arrivals to Hong Kong went from 55,912,609 in 2019, when the destination experienced social unrest, to 3.57 million and 91,000 in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Homerlein said local tour operators might have made some money, “but most of us who specialise in international business had little or nothing”.
“There is noting that has been done by the government or Hong Kong Tourism Board to help, support or give the industry hope,” he remarked.
Referencing the SingapoRediscovers voucher programme by the Singapore government and the Singapore Tourism Board, Homerlein said: “It was a well directed and managed programme that allowed the industry not only to thrive, but survive. It also encouraged the development of a lot of very good new products.”
Among hotels, Hong Kong’s stance on Omicron has resulted in banquet business losses. Dine-in services after 18.00 have been banned since mid-January.
A spokesperson with Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong said the property has responded with a relaunch of its Dinner Box Buffet and In-room Safe Buffet, both of which have been popular with guests. These will remain available until March 4.
For now, Hong Kong’s SME agencies will continue to receive financial aid from the government. The fifth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, announced on January 14, commits about HK$3.6 billion (US$470.9 million) to supporting initiatives such as the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme and payouts to eligible tour service coach drivers, travel agency staff and licensed agents.
The sixth round of subsidy, confirmed by chief executive Lam on February 8, will amount to HK$26 billion.
Philippine tourism leaders take cautious approach to reopening
As the Philippines reopens her borders tomorrow to fully-vaccinated tourists from non-visa required countries, tourism leaders expect arrivals to be gradual and anticipate hitches with possible solutions built into reopening guidelines.
Indicative figures from Philippine Airlines (PAL) showed that inbound demand is still led by returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), OFWs leaving for abroad, and a considerable number of Filipinos residing abroad (balikbayans) visiting with their spouses and children.
The flag carrier has started flying to 23 international and 28 domestic destinations, with the total daily flights just 40 per cent of the 300 daily flights pre-pandemic, said PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna at a virtual forum, Kapihan sa Manila Bay, on February 9.
Tourism Congress of the Philippines president, Jojo Clemente, said his organisation is taking a “conservative approach” in the “gradual restart” of foreign arrivals. A big influx is not expected until towards the end of the year.
Clemente added that inbound interests are coming more from longhaul markets like Europe “since they are a bit more liberal in travel restrictions” compared to Asia, which has the “toughest set of protocols for inbound and outbound”. Preferred destinations are the major ones: Boracay, Palawan, Cebu and Bohol.
Since mandatory quarantine is no longer required for fully-vaccinated foreign tourists and Filipinos coming from abroad, 76 quarantine hotels in Metro Manila have already applied to convert into regular hotels – more are expected to follow suit – and 14 of them have been approved, revealed tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat.
Former tourism undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr, now executive director of 303-member Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), is asking for financial lifeline for many of its hotels recording a single-digit occupancy and reduced revenue stream as quarantine guests have halted.
“What we would like is some kind of financial assistance coming from the government to help tide us over the next six to 12 months, which we see will be difficult,” Bengzon said.
It is understood that the government has not given hotels the stimulus package that they have been asking for during the pandemic.
Romulo-Puyat said the tourism authority is pushing for the “healthy rebound of tourism,” noting that the country has “moved past the worrying wave” with the Omicron variant under control and high vaccination rate of tourism workers.
Ready for the hitches and challenges that may crop up during the tourism restart, Romulo-Puyat said: “We are ready as we can be with health and safety protocols, rafted as early as May 2020 and implemented in June 2020. These protocols will continue to be changed according to the need of the times.”
As to the lack of unified travel protocols among destinations, Romulo-Puyat said that since it is the destinations’ local government units (LGUs) who are lobbying for foreigners to be allowed entry, “I would like to think that….they will make it easier for foreigners to come to the country and make it as easy as possible”.
Rare storks lift Kinosaki and Toyooka’s eco-tourism potential
A hot spring town in rural Japan is eyeing an uptick in eco-tourism due to the success of environmental initiatives to re-wild a rare breed of oriental white stork.
Kinosaki in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, has restored its population of oriental white stork since work to save the endangered species started in the 1960s. Then, oriental white storks were only present in a handful of regions including Toyooka. Today, about 140 of the birds fly in the skies above Toyooka and live in the city’s organic rice paddies, wetlands and biotopes.
Efforts to revive the oriental white stork population have increased the diversity and number of many other species in Toyooka, giving the city a further boost as a green destination. The city is now home to 280 bird species as well as hundreds of kinds of other wildlife. The city supports 45 per cent of the total 633 species found in Japan.
Along the way, Kinosaki has developed a raft of stork-related tours, facilities and souvenirs. With the opening up of travel in 2022, the town, near Kyoto, hopes to attract visitors who are interested in nature, wildlife and the environment or who simply want to spend time in an environmentally friendly and sustainable destination.
A five-hour tour of the Toshima Hachigoro Wetlands, which was launched in late 2019, aims to introduce revived habitats and the diverse wildlife they support such as insects, fish, frogs and snakes. Visitors can travel through lush wetlands, including rice paddies converted into wetland, which have been registered under the Ramsar Convention. Guides will point out the wildlife and efforts by local stakeholders to create an optimal environment for the storks. These efforts include developing shallows along riverbeds, transforming unused rice fields into biotopes and fostering corridors to connect key wetlands for the birds’ easy movement. Following a viewing of agricultural sites, visitors are served a lunch featuring organic vegetables and Stork Natural Rice, a local brand grown without chemicals.
The tour will be held in full for the first time from April 1 to November 30, 2022. It is aimed at the FIT, group tour and corporate markets, including incentive travel and teambuilding segments. It is expected to generate awareness of Toyooka as a destination for bird lovers and environmentally conscious travellers, as well as draw greater numbers of visitors to Toyooka’s other wildlife-related tourism offerings.
Jade Nunez, coordinator of international relations at Toyooka Tourism Innovation, said by the end of March 2019, five million people had visited the city’s Stork Museum since its opening in 2006, the year after the storks were released back into the wild by members of the Imperial Family in a prestigious ceremony. A Stork Tourism Guide has also been produced to offer information, advice and tips for visitors to make the most of their stay.
With the rise in popularity of outdoor and off-the-beaten track tourism offerings due to demand for social distancing, and growing awareness in Japan of the need to support activities that contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Toyooka’s tourism stakeholders are poised for rapid growth. Their hopes have been buoyed by the city’s listing in the 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories, a global initiative by the Netherlands-based organisation Green Destinations.
“This recognition is definitely helping us to raise awareness of Kinosaki as an eco-tourism destination,” said Nunez.
Cunard welcomes new ship in 12 years
Queen Anne has joined the Cunard fleet, with sales for its maiden season in 2024 opening this May.
Queen Anne is the first new Cunard ship in 12 years, joining Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth to make up the cruise company’s quartet of ships honouring the names of each Queen Regnant – queens who reign by right of birth – over the last millennium.
Queen Anne will feature reimagined Cunard signature spaces as well as new guest experiences within dining, culture and entertainment. A team of world renowned designers will present an extraordinary and thoughtful standard-setting design through bold colour tones and striking aesthetic that also maintains Cunard’s timeless sophistication.
Carnival UK president, Sture Myrmell, said: “This marks a very special moment in Cunard’s 182-year history and showcases Cunard’s exciting global plans for the future, allowing even more guests around the world to set sail with Cunard. With design inspired by the past and set for the future, Queen Anne is the perfect way for our guests to rediscover the joy of exploration and travel again. We look forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks and months.”
Cunard is a part of Carnival Corporation, which also operates Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Costa Cruises, among others.
Malaysia’s National Recovery Council recommends border reopening in March
The National Recovery Council (NRC) has once again put forth a recommended reopening of Malaysian borders to all vaccinated travellers without the need for mandatory quarantine, this time as early as March 1.
The NRC had in November 2021 recommended that the country’s borders be reopened to international travellers on January 1, 2022, but this was postponed indefinitely due to the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Its chairman, Muhyiddin Yassin, told a press conference on February 8 that travellers intending to enter the country must undergo Covid-19 testing prior to departure and upon arrival in Malaysia. He said the reopening of the border would support the country’s economic recovery, the tourism industry and related industries.
Health minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, who was also present at the press conference, said the Health Ministry will announce further pre-emptive Covid-19 measures, conditions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as pre-departure Covid-19 PCR test and others should the government agree with the NRC’s recommendation for the reopening of the border next month.
Responding to the NRC’s recommendation for the reopening of the borders next month, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president, KL Tan, said: “This is definitely a positive step moving forward, taking into consideration our nation’s move towards the endemic phase (of Covid-19), our high vaccination rates and the capability of our public health infrastructure in managing this health crisis.
“As proven the world over, the containment of Covid-19 goes beyond lockdowns, movement control orders and extreme mobility restrictions. A holistic approach taking into consideration economic activities for the well-being of the people must now be a priority.
“MATTA had earlier urged the government to revamp its current policies, and its overly-cautious quarantine rules and testing procedures which should be based on mortality rates and the category of infection levels. Repeating the same approach since 23 months ago and expecting progress is simply not producing good results.”
Malaysian Association of Hotels CEO, Yap Lip Seng, said “a forward blueprint on the reopening plans” is needed next to enable the tourism industry to strategise and “market Malaysia as a choice destination”.
It is also imperative for Malaysia to take into account the best practices of other countries which have reopened their borders so that Malaysia remains an attractive destination for tourists, opined Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners executive director, Shaharuddin M Saaid.
He said: “We have to minimise the inconvenience for tourists while at the same time, ensuring good enforcement and compliance of SOPs.”
Children take centre stage at Pan Pacific Singapore
Pan Pacific Singapore will debut its first-ever children-focused offerings on February 18, comprising a children’s play area, two themed family suites, and a host of kids’ programmes.
The hotel’s family-friendly initiatives follow a storyline of eight curious jungle friends lost their way while in search of Marina Bay, an urban jungle with various iconic sights. Young guests are tasked to ‘find’ these jungle friends.
The Urban Jungle Village indoor play area, located on level four of the hotel and overlooking the pool, offers seven activity zones – Jungle Village, Fishing on the Tree, Interactive Games Station, Safari Trail, Forest Library, Explorer Den, and Cave Climber – all of which integrate thinking, learning and playing.
This facility is open to hotel guests only from 10.00 to 18.00 daily.
Pan Pacific Singapore has also created two 79m2 Urban Jungle Suites in partnership with Kiztopia – Singapore’s largest indoor playground located next door in Marina Square mall – on the higher floors of the hotel. The suite features separate sleeping zones for parents in the main bedroom; and for little ones, a jungle-themed room with an inflatable rocking hippo, a teepee and a treehouse bunk bed that sleeps two. Young guests are gifted an Urban Jungle Survival Pack, filled with bath toys and more.
Urban Jungle Suite guests enjoy daily breakfast at Edge restaurant as well as Pacific Club privileges.
The Urban Jungle Adventure Package is priced from at S$820 (US$610) per night for two adults and two children, and includes private access to the Urban Jungle pool cabana with Kiztopia floats and tickets to Kiztopia.
Reservations are now open. Contact reserve.ppsin@panpacific.com.
Grand Copthorne Waterfront lights up the Singapore river
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel has partnered with Very Small Exhibition, an experimental art collective, to install special light art – as part of the Very Momentary Exhibition Series.
Titled River of Life, this light installation will run nightly from now until February 14, and can be seen from the river from 20.00 to 06.00. Led by local artist Lee Wei Lieh, this is Very Small Exhibition’s first such installation created in collaboration with a hotel.
There will also be an outdoor pop-up venue by the river, which will serve a special snack menu.
The Japanese government will extend Covid-19 restrictions in Tokyo and 12 prefectures for another three weeks in response to daily record-breaking Covid-19 infections across the country.
News reports on February 9 state that prime minister Fumio Kishida would add one more prefecture to the list of regions facing quasi-emergency measures, including restrictions on the business hours of eateries.
Japan’s international borders have been shut for two years, and several states of emergencies were declared throughout the country’s fights against the pandemic.