Major connectivity developments in Hong Kong have allowed travel trade players to better leverage tourism resources of the Greater Bay Area and China’s mainland cities to develop more multi-destination itineraries, seen as a strong draw for longhaul travellers.
Since the opening of the Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) and the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail (HSR), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has been encouraging the travel trade to develop more tourism products featuring the Greater Bay Area.
Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station connects the city to Guangzhou and Shenzhen in southern China
A spokesperson from HKTB said: “Longhaul visitors to Hong Kong usually prefer multi-destination travel. According to the latest statistics, nearly 80 per cent of overnight visitors from Europe including Germany adopt multi-destination itineraries.
“The enhanced connections between Hong Kong and the mainland (brought about by the) new infrastructure will greatly enhance the city’s appeal to visitors from Europe, who are able to bundle Hong Kong with neighbouring mainland cities in their travel plans.”
At Four Seasons Hong Kong, regional director of marketing, Irene Tan, said: “Of the new infrastructure projects, the development of the cruise terminals and promotion of routes beginning and ending in Hong Kong have had the most noticeable benefit to date.”
Cruising demand is “definitely coming in” from Germany and other European markets, and hospitality players in Hong Kong could potentially benefit as couples opt to spend several days in the city pre- or post-cruise, she pointed out.
Moreover, while leisure travellers from Europe are still most interested in exploring the popular tourist cities in northern and central China – most accessible by plane – rail travel is expected to rise as an attractive alternative for those looking to explore China beyond the standard tourist routes, she remarked.
At Gray Line Tours, managing director Michael Wu is also optimistic that the new developments could stimulate the German-speaking markets, which he said have yet to return to their heyday since peaking a decade ago.
“The rail/road/cruise concept driven by the new infrastructural developments really give us new opportunities as well as a ‘twist’ to our tour products, especially to the Greater Bay Area. We can create multi-destination packages to woo Europeans. This not only strengthens the city’s role as a gateway to China but also helps us to get clients to stay longer.
“Trips starting and ending in Hong Kong offer new opportunities to take them to Foshan for handicrafts, Zhuhai for beaches and Guangzhou for culture. The loop covering Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Guangzhou sounds interesting. Europeans are interested in visiting more cities, and it’s easy to arrange a stopover of 10 days,” said Wu.
For Wu, the only stumbling block for now is that “there is no 144-hour transit visa access facilities at the HZMB and HSR stations in Hong Kong”. To get around this, the agency reminds travellers to apply for visas beforehand.
While infrastructural developments have created new opportunities to sell to longhaul markets, members of the trade point out that the benefits would take time to materialise.
HS Travel’s executive director Hazen Tang, for example, hasn’t seen any surge of demand from European markets.
He said: “It takes time for the market to digest new developments and products. However, I believe (they will be won over) in the long run as multi-destination (travel) is the direction to go.”
Meanwhile, ATI Travel’s managing director Richard Woss has not seen benefits on his business so far from the bridge, unless considering departures from Tuen Mun in north-west Hong Kong’s New Territories.
“It’s not time saving if I leave from downtown. I may take three hours to reach Macau if I count in transport to airport direction, queueing for shuttle and immigration, etc, unless one would like to experience the ride and beauty of the bridge. For the high-speed rail, there are some glitches like large-size luggage but it really shortens travelling time to China.”
Malaysia – more fun, longer stays
The opening of two new theme parks in Johor, the indoor MCM Studio and outdoor Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark, has helped agents sell extended itineraries that include Malaysia’s southern region.
Adam Kamal, general manager at Tour East Malaysia, said Johor was previously a day trip option for families travelling to Singapore by land, or as for those travelling from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
The Kubarango in Sunway Lagoon
With the opening of both theme parks last year, it is now easier to promote Johor for one- or two-night stays, especially to Asian families. He said: “They could spend one day in Desaru and another day in Johor Bahru, visiting MCM Studio and other attractions in the city.”
Ally Bhoonee, executive director at World Avenues, is promoting Johor as a destination to Middle Eastern families, using the two new parks as a draw. “However, the main challenge is that the destination is not well-known to Middle Eastern travellers, who are more familiar with Kuala Lumpur, Resorts World Genting and Penang,” he said.
“There are other theme parks in Johor such as Legoland Malaysia Resort, Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Angry Birds Activity Park, but those are for young children.
“However, MCM Studio and Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark have opened the destination up to millennials and adults from Asia and Africa, which are also our core markets. Besides the theme park, there are also surrounding attractions that will make appeal to tourists from Asia and Africa such as shopping, soft adventure activities and food.”
Meanwhile, theme parks, new and old, are working to keep things fresh for visitors.
Arokia Das Anthony, director at Luxury Tours Malaysia, said theme parks are leveraging augmented and virtual reality experiences to stand out from the competition.
He pointed out: “Sunway Lagoon Theme Park in Sunway City, Petaling Jaya, is the oldest theme park in the Klang Valley but it remains relevant and popular as it caters to all ages and segments, including business events. Its Surf Beach, for example, is a popular venue for gala dinners and live concerts.
“(Sunway Lagoon) keeps up with times and constantly introduces new attractions and activities in line with current trends and festivities to make it a top-of-mind destination for theme park goers.
“(Their efforts) have made it easier for us to package Sunway Lagoon into our itineraries,” said Anthony. – S Puvaneswary
Hong Kong – ruled by duo
While Ocean Park Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) remain the city’s key theme parks in the absence of new players, inbound agents are urging greater promotion of these two destinations in South-east Asian markets.
Holiday World Tours, managing director Paul Leung, noted that the new developments expected to open this year at both parks “are not huge” and may not be enough to attract new visitor sources or sustain traffic.
“After Ocean Park debuted its new hotel (Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel) last year, the park doesn’t have many new facilities coming online this year,” said Leung. “Meanwhile, Hong Kong Disneyland suspended the fireworks at night and lost its charm.”
Likewise, W Travel, managing director, Wing Wong observed no big change on source of clients, explaining that new park additions appear to be driving more repeat visits.
Ocean Park plans to launch a ride enhancement, a new ride and a new animal exhibit in the fiscal year of 2019/20. The Lagoon area will also welcome additions including new light shows, a Thai restaurant and Neptune’s Restaurant.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited Water World will be introduced in 2019. Along with the new Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, these are expected to put the park in a better position to attract more visitors.
HKDL’s vice president for commercial strategy Edward Goh told TTG Asia: “We will present a new attraction almost every year under the ongoing multi-year expansion. This year, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! will debut on March 31, 2019. This will be the world’s first attraction featuring Marvel Super Heroes Ant-Man and the Wasp, and the first Marvel-themed attraction to feature a female superhero as a lead character, available only at HKDL. The attraction will appeal to guests of all ages and genders, especially young adults.”
On top of these enhancments, agents agreed that more overseas promotion is needed, especially in South-east Asian markets.
Leung further called for greater collaboration on package design within the industry. “(Without a push for) group tour business, industry cooperation is vital. This is especially true as OTAs compete head to head with us… Stakeholders such as hotels, airlines and attractions should create packages rather than depend (all on) inbound agents.” – Prudence Lui
Singapore – a virtual state of fun
While large-scale openings are rare in land-scarce Singapore, the nation has seen a slate of new technological additions to established parks, as well as smaller, contained attractions entering the scene.
Judy Lum, general manager of Diethelm Travel (Singapore), said such advancements in theme parks have “increased the product range” for families and young adults and that the “technology-driven activities are ahead of (Singapore’s) neighbours”.
In November last year, Korean virtual reality (VR) theme park HeadRock VR made its footprint in Singapore, opening 11 VR rides in Resorts World Sentosa. The rides span different concepts from adventure to horror, and will be updated every six months to a year.
“VR experience has become the new play culture all over the world. There is a demand for VR attractions for both tourists and locals,” said Park Hong Que, founder and CEO of Mediafront, the parent company of HeadRock VR.
Neighbouring attraction Universal Studios Singapore (USS) has been stepping up its game with seasonal events that employ VR and augmented reality (AR) technology.
For example, its TrollsTopia event – based on DreamWorks Animation’s movie Trolls – featured two immersive VR experiences where guests could play a music video game and create 3D virtual art. In a subsequent Jurassic World: Explore & Roar event, USS guests could interact with dinosaurs on a screen with the help of AR technology.
During last year’s Halloween Horror Nights 7 event, USS also employed AR in its queueing areas, where guests could use an app to scan real-world locations to uncover iconic horror characters on their phones and activate a game.
“It aided in storytelling behind each haunted house and kept guests occupied in the queue,” a Resorts World Sentosa spokesperson told TTG Asia.
“In this day and age, there is no running away from experimenting with new technology in creating memorable, fun experiences.”
As VR and AR rise in popularity, the technology must be relevantly employed, opined Lum. She said: “Most importantly, parks need to stay current and ahead with constant enhancements to sustain the interest of target markets. (Agencies) want to see quality, and not quantity.” – Pamela Chow
China – robust development
Theme park development is continuing to swell in China, with large-scale attractions by both local and foreign players opening at a rapid pace.
Chimelong Heng Qin Island
Industry sources indicated about 64 projects are in the pipeline and will be subsequently opened between 2019 and 2020. According to AECOM, China theme park visitation will reach 221 million, surpassing levels in the US.
Last November, Haichang Ocean Park inaugurated the Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park. Its Sanya Haichang Fantasy Town opened on January 20, 2019.
Their spokesperson noted: “This means more choices for visitors in Sanya, especially for visitors who spend the night in Haitang Bay area.”
Apart from plans to launch Qingyuan Chimelong Resort in late 2019 or early 2020, the Chimelong Group has also finetuned existing offers.
For instance, the second phase of Zhuhai Chimelong, including a new hotel and museum, is targeted to open in mid-2019, while a new circus entertainment centre will launch in Zhuhai in 2Q2019.
She said: “Agents can create a variety of packages to target different customers (including families).” Customised programmes for corporate and MICE customers, as well as for students, will also be rolled out.
Meanwhile, Wanda has mapped out an aggressive expansion plan for themed entertainment, hotels and resorts. For instance, the Guangzhou Wanda City is scheduled to open in 2019, featuring the biggest indoor ski facility in Southern China with four ski trails.
Century Holiday International Travel Group, deputy general manager, Kin Qin, believes there is more room for growth in the sector.
She said: “It’s because of our huge population and extensive territory. More establishments are opening up in second-tier cities riding on local culture or ancient tales. I hope to see these local brands find their positioning and direction, just like Chimelong Group’s successful marketing promotion in South-east Asia. They don’t have to be a Disneyland but must make sure to meet international standards in their facilities.
“I look forward to Universal Studio opening in Beijing as we haven’t had new attractions to sell the capital city for years. Theme parks provide opportunities to draw repeat visitors.” – Prudence Lui
Japan – land of plenty
Amid the flurry of developments in Japan’s theme park industry – including park enhancements and Chinese investment – tourism stakeholders remind that theme parks should retain a distinct concept and local elements to continue appealing to travellers.
In March, the Moomin Valley Park will open in Hanno, Saitama Prefecture to the north of Tokyo, allowing visitors to meet fairytale creatures from the books by Finnish illustrator Tove Jansson. A park extension offering a “Scandinavian lifestyle experience” opened in November.
Significant expansion work is also underway at Tokyo Disneyland, with US$656 million pumped into the Tomorrowland and Fantasyland zones, plus a Beauty and the Beast mini-land with a ride that uses next-generation animatronics.
Meanwhile, the Chinese owners of the Hamleys chain of toy stores have entered the Japan retail market with two large new stores, in Yokohama and Fukuoka, with merry-go-rounds, play spaces and gaming areas. The US$381.7 million project is a joint venture with Japanese video game firm Bandai Namco.
The operator of the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Nagasaki Prefecture, southern Japan, has accepted an offer of investment from China’s Fosun Group. Domestic travel giant HIS will remain the largest shareholder in the park, but the Fosun Group is purchasing a 25 per cent share.
“New and better theme parks give us an opportunity to attract new customers to Japan, especially those who are interested in original Japanese content,” said Takashi Okamoto, head of inbound marketing strategy for travel giant JTB Corp, citing the Tokyo One Piece Tower and Studio Ghibli Museum as good examples of parks that appeal to foreign visitors.
“International theme parks like Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and the Disney parks are also popular with people from countries that do not have theme parks, while DisneySea and the new Nintendo Land that is to open at USJ in 2020 are expected to boost their popularity,” he said.
Okamoto stressed that key to sustaining growth in this sector is to continue to provide facilities “with a clear concept and featuring contents that can only be enjoyed in Japan”.
Similarly, Denis Morozov, manager of the inbound division of Tokyo-based JIC Travel Centre, said: “A park like the Studio Ghibli Museum or Edo Wonderland, which are unique to Japan, are incredibly popular especially with families.” – Julian Ryall
Thailand – lack of icons
Although Thailand saw the number of amusement parks soar in recent years, some industry sources say these local attractions still lack the selling power of international branded options available in regional rivals.
The Thai Amusement and Leisure Park Association (TAPA) reported that the surge in water parks in the past five years resulted in about 40 such facilities nationwide.
Pornthip Hirunkate, managing director of Destination Asia (Thailand), argued that the additional choice for tourist “helps extend the length of stay, especially among Asian repeat tourists”.
Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), remarked that the high competition within Thailand’s theme park sector has been beneficial for tour operators and tourists.
Local theme parks “give the best value for money in Indochina”, according to TAPA president Wuthichai Luangamornlert .
Despite the sector’s expansion, Wuthichai observed that for tourists, theme parks were just an additional option on top of the country’s main selling points of culture, shopping and nature.
Adith pointed out that local parks cannot compete with international theme parks in the region, such as Legoland in Malaysia and Universal Studios in Singapore.
“We want world-class theme parks in Thailand. They will be power magnets to attract tourists and allow the creation of interesting tour packages,” said Adith.
This, however, could be a challenge, with Wuthichai noting that the heavy investment to bring international branded parks to Thailand is infeasible, given the country’s cap on ticket prices. – Chadamas Chinmaneevong
India – world-class parks needed
The recent emergence of theme parks in India is allowing agents to offer more than just cultural attractions, although many opine that theme parks in the country still lag behind their overseas counterparts.
“India is known as a tourist destination primarily for culture and heritage. However, new theme parks offer us an opportunity to provide other entertainment and recreation options to guests,” said Subash Goyal, chairman, STIC Travel Group.
Many in-mall themed attractions are opening in India. The Grand Venice Mall launched its entertainment and gaming zone – Mastiii Zone, featuring the first zip line ride of its kind in India.
Ski India, the indoor sci-fi themed Snow Park was also launched at DLF Mall of India, Noida, a ski resort replica offering ski rides, tubing, toboggan, bob sledge, penguin shows and a snow play area.
According to The Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries, the country’s amusement and theme park industry has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of more than 17.5 per cent with annual revenue of approximately Rs17 billion (US$239 million), estimated to grow to at least Rs40 billion by 2020.
“Apart from Delhi NCR, the western Indian region has also seen the opening of good theme parks like Adlabs Imagica which is close to Novotel Imagica Khopoli, making it ideal for family holidays,” said Rajat Singhal, director, Leisure World Tours.
However, Singhal added that in terms of quality and scale, theme parks in India still lag behind those in Singapore and the UAE.
“We can’t compete in terms of theme parks. Our cultural and nature products will be the prime attraction for international travellers,” said Singhal. “If India has world-class theme parks like Disney World, it will be an added advantage for the Indian inbound segment,” added Goyal. – Rohit Kaul
Indonesia – wildlife over thrill rides
While theme parks are opening at a steady pace in Indonesia, amusement parks tend to be left out of tour programmes by the country’s major operators in favour of wildlife attractions.
In Jakarta, Ancol Dreamland has been continuously introducing new attractions, while the Jakarta Aquarium opened a couple of years ago.
Trans Property, which owns the Trans Studio Makassar and Bandung, is adding its third theme park in Cibubur in eastern Jakarta.
And in Batu, a small city in East Java, the Jawa Timur Park Group launched three Jatim Parks (named Jatim Parks 1, 2, 3). Jatim Park 3 recently saw the addition of the Dino Park, with 17 zones.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s MNC Land, the developer of a 2,000ha leisure, entertainment and lifestyle MNC Lido City in Bogor, West Java has a new world-class theme park in the works. Among the attractions will be the favourite MNC TV’s animated programmes and movies.
Similarly, a Cartoon Network-branded park will soon open in Bali, while Mandalika Development in Lombok is also planning to add an internationally branded theme park.
However, many of the country’s theme parks are focusing on the huge domestic market and direct-to-consumer sales.
Renato Domini, CEO of Panorama Destination, said: “Theme parks attract travellers, but are not seen as a priority, (but a) value-add.”
Umberto Cadamuro, COO Inbound of Pacto, added: “The (top-performing parks) in our programmes are Taman Safari Indonesia and the Bali Bird Park. They have been able to (offer) an experience coupled with a high standard of animal care, with the first being suitable for any market and the second very popular in Europe. (The latter is) now becoming a must-visit in nearly all Indian tour operator programmes.” – Mimi Hudoyo
Diethelm's Kurz (left) and Christina Liew, the deputy chief minister and tourism minister of Sabah (photo credit: Diethelm Travel)
Diethelm Travel Group’s Malaysia office has entered into an MoU with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to increase joint marketing and promotion of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo to European markets.
Through the MoU, Diethelm Travel Kota Kinabalu will support STB in showcasing Sabah as a preferred destination to its European partners to encourage new and repeat visitors. New Sabah tours and excursions are also in development and will be available soon.
Diethelm’s Kurz (left) and Christina Liew, the deputy chief minister and tourism minister of Sabah (photo credit: Diethelm Travel)
According to Diethelm, Sabah – while rich in natural wonders, tribal culture, islands and wildlife – is still relatively new to European travellers.
“Malaysia is an ethnically, culturally and geographically diverse country, and nowhere is this more true than Sabah,” said Manfred Kurz, managing director of Diethelm Travel Malaysia. “We see incredible potential for further introducing Sabah to the European market. Between STB’s wealth of unique experiences and our vast network and direct marketing capabilities, we’re looking forward to inspiring a new wave of travellers to discover this magical destination.”
SIA to introduce greater wine selection and branded wellness cuisine, while extending option to pre-order meals to Premium Economy passengers
As full-service carriers continue to vie for market share in the face of low-cost competition, Singapore Airlines (SIA) looks to be on a mission to value add through in-flight dining and wellness experiences, announcing it will soon introduce an extensive selection of artisanal wine labels and new wellness cuisine by Como Shambhala.
Premium class customers can expect the widest selection of Burgundy wines in the skies, with 47 labels planned for rotation over a period of 18 months – a six-fold increase from 2018.
SIA to introduce greater wine selection and branded wellness cuisine, while extending option to pre-order meals to Premium Economy passengers
The introduction of these labels is made possible due to a new approach to sourcing wines, which saw SIA’s “wine consultants” personally visiting vineyards and wineries across different wine regions to taste and source for small-batch wines. This approach is in addition to what “the traditional way of procuring wines through tender requests”, SIA said in a statement.
According to the airline, this move will diversify its wine programme and provide greater variety for customers.
“By expanding the range of labels that SIA offers on board, we are able to ensure a well-planned rotation of wines to keep the palates of our frequent flyers continually excited. Customers can soon look forward to a new and exciting label delivered on board every two months,” said SIA’s divisional vice president inflight services and design, Betty Wong.
“During our wine consultants’ visits to the vineyards, we also actively sought out smaller maisons and domaines to bring them into the SIA family, thus allowing us to expand the depth and range of our offerings, and satisfy the rising demand for more exclusive Burgundy labels.”
The enhanced beverage programme was announced at yesterday’s World Gourmet Forum 2019, where SIA’s three wine consultants presented some of the wines that will be newly introduced on board in the coming year. This includes exclusive Grand Cru and Premier Cru labels from Faiveley, Benjamin Leroux, Domaine D’Ardhuy and Domaine de Montille.
SIA earlier this month announced it will introduce Como Shambhala’s wellness cuisine on selected flights in 2H2019. These dishes will feature seasonal ingredients. A new wellness menu featuring specially curated dishes will then be introduced across all classes, and co-developed dishes will progressively be made available in SIA’s Book the Cook service.
These latest initiatives are among the carrier’s recent efforts to enhance the passenger comfort experience. Since last year, SIA has teamed up with wellness brand Canyon Ranch to focus on wellness cuisines, rest and relaxation, and general well-being of passengers on board its three non-stop flights to the US.
At the forum yesterday, SIA also announced that Premium Economy Class customers will be able to pre-order main courses from its in-flight menu from May 1, 2019, a service that was first launched for its Suites, First Class and Business Class customers last year. With this new initiative, customers may pre-select their meal choices via the SIA website or mobile app anytime from three weeks before travel up to 24 hours before flight departure.
To give parents greater visibility and choices over the child meals in advance of travel, SIA will also enhance its Child Meal programme to enable parents to pre-order specific meals for their children from three different cuisine categories – Asian, Western and vegetarian. Parents can visit the airline’s website up to 24 hours before the day of travel to view and select the dishes planned for their flight.
Airbnb is offering compensation to guests affected by the "sudden" development
On the heels of its HotelTonight acquisition, Airbnb is reportedly in talks to invest around US$100-200 million in SoftBank-backed Indian hotel chain Oyo.
The acquisition is seen as a move by Airbnb to get a share of the hotel-booking business ahead of its planned IPO. Airbnb had also acquired French property management startup Luckey Homes last December, in addition to picking up a minority stake in co-working space startup The Wing.
Airbnb sees opportunity in India and its domestic market
According to reports, the investment is to help Airbnb to meet its growth goals in India and China.
Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb’s co-founder and chief strategy officer had earlier said that Airbnb sees robust growth in India, especially in the domestic market, referring to this as “the future opportunity”.
Oyo is currently in 259 Indian cities with 8,700 buildings and 173,000 rooms. Globally, it is present in more than 500 cities and 10 countries – India, China, Malaysia, Nepal, the UK, UAE, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Japan. India and China make up two of Oyo’s biggest markets.
If the talks materialise, Airbnb would join other investors in Oyo – SoftBank, Sequoia Capital and Grab, which contributed to a combined US$1.5 billion in funding for the Indian company – bringing it to a valuation of around US$5 billion. Last month, Oyo reportedly raised US$100 million from China’s ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing. In December, it raised the same amount in a Series E round of funding from Grab.
FastGo, a Vietnamese car hailing application, is accelerating its South-east Asia expansion with plans to enter four more countries in the region, starting with Singapore this April.
The Lion City is the third country FastGo is officially launching in, after Vietnam and Myanmar. FastGo also has plans to make its application available in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines in 2019.
FastGo app will be available for use in Singapore on April 30
FastGo will officially open registrations to driver-partners in Singapore. The application will be available to customers from April 30, 2019.
The company in June 2018 started ride-hailing service in Vietnam after Uber withdrew from the South-east Asian market. In December 2018, in cooperation with Asia Sun Group, it launched its application in Yangon. FastGo is currently one of the top two ride-hailing applications in Vietnam, with nearly 60,000 driver partners in 10 provinces and cities.
Instead of collecting a commission fee from its driver-partners, the company charges a fixed daily subscription fee, tiered according to driver’s income.
In the Singapore market, FastGo expects to charge an amount lower than US$5 if the driver’s income is over US$30 per day. If the driver’s income is lower than US$30 per day, FastGo will not charge any service fee.
Another point of difference is that FastGo customers do not pay a surcharge during peak hours – although the application allows customers to use the Tip function when booking a ride, or choose Priority services.
FastGo expects this strategy to more swiftly attract driver-partners and customers at a low cost.
Nguyen Huu Tuat, founder and chairman FastGo, commented: “Despite of being a follower, FastGo’s model brings the best economic benefit to the drivers and customers. Any FastGo ride will always be cheaper than the others.”
What it saves in customer acquisition costs can then go into improving products and service quality, according to Nguyen.
Nguyen added that customers’ safety is “ensured with FastGo insurance package”.
FastGo’s three main ride-hailing service types are FastCar, FastTaxi and FastBike. In addition to those, the company is also preparing to launch FastExpress, FastCare and FastLend services.
The company is a member of NextTech Group, one of Vietnam’s leading Internet players in e-commerce, payment and logistics. In August 2018, the startup received a Series A investment from VinaCapital Ventures. The company is mobilising Series B investments to expand.
Yotelair Singapore Changi Airport
Located in the newly-built Jewel Changi Airport, Yotelair Singapore Changi Airport offers 130 cabins – from shower cabins to Premium, Accessible and Family cabins. Bookable in four-hour blocks, and two hours thereafter, cabins come equipped with Serta Smart Beds, Smart TVs, as well as power and USB points. The brand also features time-saving features such as the airline style self-check-in kiosks. Other facilities include the 24/7 gym and co-working space.
Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort, Vietnam
Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort joins Meliá Hanoi, Meliá Danang and Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat as part of the Spanish company’s burgeoning portfolio.
The resort offers 152 rooms and suites and 61 villas. Ranging from 220m2 to 465m2, all of Meliá Ho Tram Beach Resort’s two-, three- and four-bedroom villas have their own private pools, terraces and/or balconies, barbecue areas, outdoor showers and gardens, living areas and separate dining areas. The Level Three- and Four-Bedroom Villas front the beach and provide access to a lounge as well as other private areas such as a pool. Inland from the villas, the resort’s Tower hotel building offers rooms and suites ranging from 47m2 to 88m2.
The 17ha resort will house three restaurants including a beach club, three swimming pools, a swim-up bar, a coffee shop, a 10-treatment-room, an executive lounge, a ballroom and conference facilities, a kids club, gymnasium, gift shop and more.
Kafnu Alexandria, Australia
The Next Story Group’s fourth Kafnu property has opened in Alexandria, Sydney. The 3,000m2 Kafnu Alexandria is located next to The Grounds of Alexandria, within one of Sydney’s creative and industrial hubs. Kafnu Alexandria is also just five minutes from Sydney Airport. Members enjoy 24/7 access to facilities that span two levels, including multiple work space configurations and meetings rooms, as well as purpose-built media production and podcast studios.
There are also 16 guest rooms, a bespoke gin bar and a virtual fitness studio. Kafnu members have access to GoGet car membership and all of the brand’s properties around the world, which today count Hong Kong, Taipei and Bengaluru.
Harper Palembang, Indonesia
Harper Palembang has opened its doors as Archipelago’s first Harper hotel in Sumatra. Harper Palembang features 163 rooms, the D’ Central Restaurant for international and local food, D’ Lotus Restaurant serving Chinese cuisines, D’ Harper Lounge, as well as a swimming pool. The hotel boasts five medium-sized multifunction meeting rooms and a ballroom that can hold up to 1,500 guests at capacity. Located in the center of the city, Harper Palembang is 30 minutes from the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport.
From left: Bangkok Air Aviation Training Center's Dechit Charoenwong, Bangkok Airways' Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth and IATA's Stephanie Siouffi
From left: Bangkok Air Aviation Training Center’s Dechit Charoenwong, Bangkok Airways’ Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth and IATA’s Stephanie Siouffi
Bangkok Air Aviation Training Center (BATC), a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways, and IATA have signed a partnership agreement on the establishment of IATA Regional Aviation Training Partner in Bangkok.
The first and only company in Thailand to be appointed by the airline association as IATA Regional Aviation Training Partner, the collaboration will raise the standard of aviation training to an international level, according to a joint statement from the partners.
The training centre will provide two methods of learning – classroom learning and e-learning – and use a combination of instructional media meant to give learners both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Technology and innovation to be the main ATM theme, integrated across all show verticals and activities, including focused seminar sessions
The impact of disruptive technologies on the tourism industry is set to create multibillion dollar savings through the use of Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR) and wearable technology according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 28 to May 1, 2019.
The latest research from Colliers International, in partnership with ATM 2019, reveals that in addition to vast cost savings, the customer experience is set to be more streamlined with travel set to become better, smoother and more personalised with travel bookings on VR platforms, AI chatbots guiding customers through the booking process and IoT providing internet based inter-connectivity between everyday devices.
Technology and innovation will be the main ATM theme that will cut across show activities such as seminars
Danielle Curtis, exhibition director Middle East, ATM, said: “Technology, and the use of technology, is evolving every day. The tourism industry is at the very forefront of tech innovation with companies investing huge sums of money to improve the customer journey and experience.
“Airports and airlines accounted for US$30 billion of investment in IT in 2018, however this will be offset by the implementation of technology that will see fuel savings alone top US$30 billion in the next 15 years.”
There has already been “incredible developments” in recent years, Curtis said, citing the example of SITA using robots to check travellers onto flights and transport their luggage.
“Although in the infancy stage, robots have been used in some hotels to welcome guests and show them to their room,” she added.
ATM 2019 has adopted technology and innovation as its main theme and this will be integrated across all show verticals and activities, including focused seminar sessions.
Discussing the defining evolutions of hospitality technology, the Travel Tech Show will return to ATM 2019 with 45 dedicated international exhibitors and an influential agenda of discussion and debate in the Travel Tech Theatre – sponsored by Sabre Corporation.
As well as the Travel Tech Show at ATM, other features returning to the show repertoire this year include the Digital Influencers and Buyers’ Speed Networking Events which will feature 20 Chinese buyers for the first time, the ATM Best Stand Awards and the Travel Agents Academy.
This year, ATM will be held as part of the inaugural Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand which comprises four co-located shows: ATM 2019; Connect Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum, ILTM Arabia and new consumer-led event – ATM Holiday Shopper.
Another debutant this year is the Arabia China Tourism Forum at ATM which takes place on the Global Stage on April 28. With China set to account for a quarter of international tourism by 2030, an expert panel will discuss how destinations around the world can capitalise on this growth. The forum will also include a 30-minute networking session with over 80 Chinese buyers.
Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun, one of the most recognised temples of Thailand, will light up each evening this year-end with a 100 million baht (US$3.2 million) project by Index Creative Village and Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat.
Wat Rong Khun Light Fest will mark the first time that the White Temple, which receives over 10,000 visitors a day and over two million people a year, is open to visitors at night, according to Chalermchai, who is also the builder of the popular attraction in Chiang Rai.
Concept of an illuminated White Temple
Running from November 22 to December 22 this year, the multimedia show will use over 100 lasers and 3D mapping techniques to bring an all new night-time experience at the temple. Two performances – each lasting 60 minutes – are available daily at 18.30 and 20.30 during this period, and are limited to only 1,000 seats per show.
Tickets are priced from 400 to 1,150 baht, and are available for purchase via Thai Ticketmaster or 083-989-6926 and/or 083-989-6831. For special promotions for tour groups, email jrl@index-creative.com and/or psp@index-creative.com .
Part of the proceeds from the sales of tickets will be donated to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital.
Yotelair Singapore Changi Airport
Kafnu Alexandria, Australia
Harper Palembang, Indonesia
