Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its regional subsidiary, SilkAir, will temporarily reduce flights across its global network in the next three months to May, due to weak demand as a result of the coronavirus epidemic.
Affected destinations include Frankfurt, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Paris, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo, according to two travel advisories on the SIA and SilkAir Facebook pages.
Singapore Airlines cuts flights due to weak demand amid the Covid-19 epidemic
“We will continue to monitor the situation and make further adjustments as necessary,” the carrier stated in the same post, and affected customers will be notified and re-accommodated onto other flights.
The latest move follows major flight cuts by SIA to mainland China and Hong Kong.
Demand on flights to South Korea and Japan has been the hardest hit after China, according to DBS analyst Paul Yong who quoted SIA’s management team during a results briefing to analysts on Monday, reported Channel NewsAsia.
Currently, Singapore’s tally of 81 cases of the virus is the second-highest outside of China, after Japan. Last week, the Singapore Tourism Board projected visitor arrivals this year to fall by about 25 to 30 per cent due to the outbreak.
Khiri Travel has become the first DMC in South-east Asia to be Travelife certified across all its offices.
In the last few days, Khiri Travel’s operations in Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos earned Travelife certifications for the first time, joining offices in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar which retained existing certification over the last few months.
Khiri Travel gains Travelife certification across all its offices
Travelife certification is awarded to tour operators after rigorous systems, policy and procedure checks onsite by Travelife auditors. The three-stage Travelife process acknowledges the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development CSR guidelines, which include labour conditions, human rights, environmental responsibilities, biodiversity and fair business practices across the company and its supply chains.
Khiri Travel CEO Herman Hoven said: “With full Travelife certification in all our destinations, clients can rest assured that they are working with a responsible operator who cares about the bigger picture and has the processes and metrics in place to prove it.”
Khiri Travel was one of the first DMCs in Asia to be Travelife certified in 2015. Since then, Khiri has been a proactive supporter of the responsible tourism agenda advanced by Travelife, leading DMCs and PATA through its Tour Operators’ Sustainability Working Group.
The Travelife standard for tour operators is also formally recognised by the UN-supported Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
Commenting on Khiri Travel’s full accreditation in seven destinations, Naut Kusters, general manager of tour operators and travel agents for Travelife, said: “I am delighted that Khiri Travel continues to be a front runner in sustainability. Khiri has always been willing to share its experience and enthusiasm with other companies, for example, through PATA’s working groups.”
Kusters believes sector-wide engagement can become a turning point for the tourism industry in Asia.
“By working together, leading DMCs can set industry standards and positively influence the behaviour of suppliers,” he said.
Booking.com has announced the finalists of its 2020 Technology Playmaker Awards, which recognises and celebrates women who are transforming businesses, industries, and communities through technology and inspiring the next generation of female technology leaders.
This year’s finalists include a software developer leading a “coding caravan” that teaches programming to girls in Kyrgyzstan; the founder of an online educational platform that promotes financial inclusion among girls and women in Argentina; and an organisation that aims to coordinate the international technology community’s response to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people.
Winners of Booking.com’s 2020 Technology Playmaker Awards will be unveiled at an awards ceremony next month
This year’s shortlist consists of 45 finalists across nine categories representing 20 countries, including Australia, Bolivia, Japan, India, Nigeria, the UAE, and the UK.
Collectively, their contributions range from technology innovations in MedTech and female health, renewal energy, fintech and digital payments, to creating opportunities for women technology entrepreneurs and women-impact startups, and elevating the discussion surrounding diversity and inclusion in technology to new levels.
“Each of this year’s finalists has demonstrated outstanding achievements in technology, whether through innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, business leadership and community impact, mentorship and inspiration for the next generation, or the pursuit of greater inclusivity. Whether from emerging economies or more established tech epicenters, these women technologists and advocates for diversity, are joined together by a remarkable talent and optimism for what the future of the tech sector will bring,” said Gillian Tans, chairwoman of Booking.com.
Winners will be chosen by an esteemed 14-member judging panel and thereafter be announced at an awards ceremony on March 26, 2020 in London.
Macau’s casinos will reopen for business on Thursday, as the 15-day shutdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 comes to an end.
However, the South China Morning Post reported that the order will remain for other entertainment premises such as pubs, karaoke bars, cinemas and steam rooms.
Macau’s casinos to reopen for business on Thursday after coronavirus shutdown
Secretary for economy and finance Lei Wai-nong said the closure order would not be extended and casino operators had 30 days to return to full business.
As part of safety precautions, casino visitors would be required to wear a mask and have their temperature checked at the entrance.
The closure was put in place on February 5 to curb the coronavirus after it was found that two casino workers were among the ten infected cases in Macau.
Macau has not reported any new cases of the virus since February 4.
Macau lawmaker Au Kam-san was quoted by the report as saying that the lifting of the closure order of casinos was expected. “Gaming industry is too important to Macau. The government could not afford to let it close for too long. There could also be pressure from the casino operators because they are still paying the staff while the casinos are closed.”
There are 39 casinos in Macau and the gaming sector employs more than 56,000 people, some eight per cent of the city’s population, according to the report.
The closure marks the longest-ever shutdown of gambling activities in Macau since 1999, and the second such suspension, after Typhoon Mangkhut caused a 33-hour shutdown of Macau’s casino industry in 2018
Singapore-headquartered The Lux Collective has signed two new hotels in Dali and Pu’er that will be located along the ancient Tea Horse Road, once a famed trade route through Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet.
Opening in 1Q2021, Lux* Tea Horse Road Dali will nestle at the base of the Cang mountain range, offering views of the famed Erhai Lake. The 180-room resort will be within walking distance of the Dali Ancient Town and part of the Yue Shan Hai project comprising residential and retail facilities.
Lux* Tea Horse Road Pu’er is slated to open in 1Q2021
Opening later in the same year, the 50-room Lux* Tea Horse Road Pu’er will be part of a mixed-use complex that will also feature several amusement parks, natural hot spring, wellness club as well as high-end residential villas.
Travelport has signed new multi-year content agreements with Regional Express, Solomon Airlines, Air Vanuatu, Samoa Airways and Air Tahiti Nui, which will provide the airlines continued support from its technologies and solutions.
“We are delighted to continue the collaboration with Travelport, which has been a trustworthy partner of ours. The pioneering platform and solutions of Travelport have provided strong support for our growth and we look forward to commencing the new phase of our partnership,” said Brett Gebers, CEO of Solomon Airlines.
Travelport renews partnership with five airlines in the Pacific region, including Samoa Airways
“The increasing appeal of the Pacific to global travellers has given us great confidence to further explore this region. We already have a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand, and have been gradually expanding our ties with Pacific Island airlines. We believe the ongoing or planned fleet renewal and infrastructure development by these carriers will significantly rejuvenate the regional tourism sector,” added Chris Ramm, vice president, Asia Pacific, Air Partners at Travelport.
Travelport’s technologies and solutions enable more than 68,000 agencies worldwide serving hundreds of millions of people to search, book and sell air content and inventory.
NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organisation, and Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) have signed a city-to-city tourism agreement, which will boost the tourist flow between both countries.
The two-year agreement, which was formalised on February 17 at an industry ceremony at Ōrākei Marae in Auckland, will enable both companies to cross promote their respective destinations and boost visitorship through reciprocal marketing and promotion.
New York City signs tourism partnership with Auckland
The agreement will cover the five boroughs of New York City to the four corners of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, encouraging each destinations’ communities to connect through storytelling, ideas, business opportunities, and contacts.
The new tourism partnership between New York City and Auckland comes as Air New Zealand (ANZ) prepares to launch a new direct service between the two destinations, beginning in October 2020.
ANZ chief strategy, network and alliances officer Nick Judd said: “Our non-stop flight will cut travel time by around three hours, putting New Zealand in easy reach of New York and the Eastern Seaboard.”
The partnership also demonstrates the respective destinations’ commitment to leading global change around economic, environmental and social sustainability, with a focus on sustainable and responsible tourism.
ATEED chief executive Nick Hill said: “Like New York, Auckland is committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and this commitment will ensure that the growth in visitor numbers enriches our region beyond the economic benefit, helping us protect and improve our environment, our unique identity and cultural heritage, and quality of life.”
Malaysia’s travel trade is seeing growing demand for adventure travel, fuelled by well-travelled Asians looking for deeper experiences, improved air connectivity between cities and secondary destinations, and enhanced infrastructure in rural areas.
Soft adventures are especially in demand among Asian travellers who are willing to pay for authentic experiences, observed delegates who spoke to TTG Asia at the recently concluded PATA Adventure Travel Conference and Mart 2020 in Sabah.
Adventure tourism gains steam among Asian travellers; group of kayakers on Labuan Island, Malaysia pictured
The conference and travel mart, which was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and hosted by Tourism Malaysia, with the support of Sabah Tourism and Malaysia Airlines, attracted 347 delegates from 33 destinations.
Langkawi-based Junglewalla Tours founder, Irshad Mobarak, shared that his company saw a rise in the number of Asian guests from Singapore, South Korea, Japan and the domestic Malaysian market over the last five years.
He said: “Most are made up of FITs, nuclear and multi-generational families, and they appreciate an educational element in the programme as they also hope to learn something new.
“They like soft adventures, such as birdwatching, wildlife spotting, kayaking and trekking to a waterfall, and opportunities to visit a local’s house for a home-cooked meal, unlike our European guests from France and Germany who engage us for hardcore adventure activities.”
Irshad said a key difference between Asian guests and the company’s traditional European market is that the former do not haggle over prices. He shared: “Europeans tend to ask for discounts. They want a high-quality experience for a low price.”
Albert Teo, managing director of Sukau Rainforest lodge, which is situated on the banks of the Kinabatangan river in Sabah, has seen a growing number of guests from China (prior to the Covid-19 outbreak) and India, though European markets remain the mainstay of his business. Guests are mainly interested in photography and having a nature-based experience.
As tourists are also becoming increasingly conscious about sustainability issues and climate change, Teo believes that the numerous awards the lodge had won for its sustainable practices and being a charter member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World have placed the company one step ahead of the competition.
Teo remarked that travellers like knowing that they are “positively contributing to the surrounding environment” when they use sustainable tourism suppliers.
Sharmini Violet, director of sales & marketing at Mega Water Sports Jetski Tours in Langkawi, said millennials, who form the bulk of her clientele, are more environmentally aware and appreciative of the sustainable practices her company has implemented, such as investing in a fleet of low emission jet skis that reduce sound level, air and water pollution.
Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry, with a global market value of US$586.3 billion in 2018. The figure is projected to reach US$1.6 trillion in 2026.
It is expected to post a compound annual growth rate of nearly 46 per cent during the period 2018-2022, according to a market research report by Technavio.
Vietnamese budget carrier VietJet will be expanding its presence in the Indian market with the commencement of three new flights.
The airline will begin flying five times per week on the New Delhi-Danang route starting May 14, 2020. VietJet will also connect Mumbai with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City through thrice-weekly flights and four-times-weekly flights, beginning May 15 and May 16, 2020, respectively.
VietJet looks to further expansion in India
The new routes will complement VietJet’s existing service to India. Last year, the airline started direct flights to New Delhi, with the launch of four-times-weekly flights from Ho Chi Minh City, and thrice-weekly flights from Hanoi.
“When we started operations to India, some experts had reservations about the success of our flights. However, within two months of our operations, we were recording a load factor of 83 per cent. We have a very strong belief that India is one of our key markets and with our new flights, we will further penetrate this market,” said Do Xuan Quang, vice president, VietJet, at a news conference in New Delhi last week.
The airline is also in talks with Indian LCC IndiGo to forge a codeshare agreement to expand its reach to other Indian cities where the airline is not operating flights. VietJet is focusing on point-to-point services in the Indian market.
“With increased capacity, the airline has shown serious commitment to India as a source market. This initiative will surely result in a higher number of Indian tourists visiting Vietnam and neighbouring countries on business and leisure trips. This will also enable India to get more tourists from Vietnam,” said Vineet Raina, founder and managing director, Pink Elephant Sport & Pink Elephant Journeys.
“Currently, we are just offering tickets but we are also planning with our GSA, Bird Group to introduce holiday packages for the Indian market,” added Jay Lingeswara, international sales and distribution director, VietJet.
VietJet has a joint venture, Thai VietJet Air, established with Thai regional carrier Kan Air in Thailand. The airline may also consider operating flights through Thai VietJet Air to India in the future.
Following travel advisories raised against Singapore by South Korea, Israel, Indonesia and Taiwan governments, a trio of trade bodies are rallying its members to step up efforts to make Singapore safe for visitors during the Covid-19 outbreak.
The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), alongside the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and the Society of Tourists Guides Singapore (STGS), have made available recommended guidelines to tour operators, hoteliers and tourist guides, while detailing comprehensive action plans to safeguard the well-being of tourists.
Singapore industry players double down on safety measures amid the Covid-19 outbreak
“We understand the concerns of visitors to Singapore and we would like to reassure them that our industry is making every effort to keep them safe through the collective efforts,” remarked Samson Tan, NATAS chairman-inbound.
STGS honorary secretary Howard Lim added that “the tourist guides will do their part to fulfill the tour itinerary and make the stay of the visitors a pleasant and safe one”.
STGS will push ahead with its International Tourist Guide Day 2020 at Capitol Singapore on February 22, 2020.
“Singapore Hotel Association is confident of a strong recovery. With public health precautions in stringent effect, Singapore remains a safe tourism destination for leisure and corporate travellers. All hoteliers are going beyond the extra mile to protect their well-being and superlative stay experiences,” shared Margaret Heng, executive director, SHA.
In order to ensure instant access to the latest SHA 2019 Novel Coronavirus checklist, SHA has implemented a web-based archive for their members and general public, following consultation with Food, Drinks & Allied Workers Union, Singapore Tourism Board and Ministry of Health’s guidelines and ministerial advisories.
The three associations will continue dialogues with government agencies to identify solutions for Singapore’s rebound as a stronger tourism destination.
