Vietnam launches online portal to facilitate eVisa on Arrival

February 28, 2020

VFS Global has entered a partnership with the Embassy of Vietnam in launching the first official digital Vietnam eVisa on Arrival (eVOA) solution, with the signing of a MoU on cooperation for tourism promotion and facilitation of human mobility.

Eligible travellers can apply for the eVOA before departure to Vietnam by submitting their applications on https://vietnam.vfsevisa.com/.

VFS Global’s Chris Dix signs MoU with Ambassador of Vietnam to India Pham Sanh Chau on cooperation for tourism promotion

Priority eVOA such as same day as well as next day approvals are also available on the portal for those who seek a visa urgently to travel to Vietnam.

These services cost approximately US$10-US$16 more than the normal visas, depending if they are for single or multiple entries into the country.

The digitally integrated solution will offer applicants an electronic wallet/locker; storing scanned copies of their passport, live facial biometric capture and receipt of their eVOA upon approval. Customers are also able to make payments online using the portal.

FHA-Food & Beverage skips a year to 2021

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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Originally scheduled for March 31 to April 3 this year, the FHA-Food & Beverage tradeshow will now be held from March 2 to 5, 2021 at Singapore EXPO & MAX Atria.

Organiser Informa Markets had postponed the event out of consideration for the well-being of attendees and partners amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

FHA-Food & Beverage event has been postponed to March 2021

Martyn Cox, event director, hospitality, food & beverage – Singapore, Informa Markets, said: “FHA’s rich history of collaboration with our longstanding partners and attendees is a huge contributor to our success today. After much deliberation with our partners and industry associations we have concluded the new dates for FHA will provide the all-around best conditions for our community and optimal business performance for our exhibitors and buyers.”

The FHA team will be in touch with all participants to discuss event logistics and planning.

Radisson to reduce usage of single-use plastics globally

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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Radisson Hotel Group is rolling out a global plan to replace single-use plastics with bulk amenities in all hotels across its portfolio by the beginning of 2022.

This action will remove 57 million miniature amenities from circulation, avoiding the use of almost 500 tons of plastic annually.

Radisson to reduce single-use plastics in all hotels across its portfolio by 2022

At the same time, plastic straws and stirrers will no longer be used in its hotels by 2021, with eco-friendly alternatives offered to guests on request.

To affirm Radisson’s commitment to sustainability and responsible business, Federico J González Tejera, president & CEO, Radisson Hospitality AB and chairman, Global Steering Committee, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Plastic pollution is one of the current major global issues and we are proud to play a leading role in driving plastic reduction across the travel and tourism industry.”

A series of initiatives are also in the pipeline across various destinations: commercial reverse osmosis water filtration systems replacing PET water bottles in India and Bangladesh; ensuring responsible recycling efforts in Africa through partnership with a local social enterprise; offering unlimited filtered water and reusable water bottles to guests in Manchester and Brussels; and repurposing soap and bulk amenities to be distributed to the needy in North America.

Single-use plastics in meetings and events have already been phased out in over 200 hotels across the Group.

BA cuts flights to Italy, South Korea, Singapore

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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British Airways (BA) will be cancelling some flights to and from Italy, Singapore and South Korea, due to weakened traffic demand to those areas amid the Covid-19 crisis.

The UK flag carrier will cancel 56 roundtrip flights from London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports to Italian destinations including Milan, Bologna, Venice and Turin between March 14 and March 28.

British Airways cuts flights to and from Italy, Singapore and South Korea as Covid-19 outbreak hits demand

Daily flights from Heathrow to Seoul will be changed to alternate days, and BA will also be cancelling six roundtrip flights from Heathrow to Singapore every other day from March 15, leaving just one flight daily.

Affected customers will have the option of rebooking onto other carriers where possible, full refunds or travel postponement.

Centara Hotels & Resorts grows SE Asia, Middle East portfolio

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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Thai hotel operator Centara Hotels & Resorts will bump up its global inventory by almost 2,000 rooms and suites across eight properties in four countries by the end of this year.

Its South-east Asian portfolio will welcome Centra by Centara Cha Am Beach Resort Hua Hin and KMA Resort Inle Lake, Myanmar in 1H2020; and COSI Krabi Ao Nang Beach, the refurbished Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, and Centara Plumeria Resort Pakse, Laos in 2H2020.

Centara will be opening eight new properties this year; Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai pictured

The expansion continues in the Middle East with the launch of The B Premiere Hotel in 2Q2020 and Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai in 4Q2020. The latter will feature Centara’s first kids’ spa.

Aiden hotel sails into Sydney’s Darling Harbour

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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Aiden, a collection of boutique hotels by BWH Hotel Group, is slated to open in late 2020 at Sydney’s Darling Harbour precinct.

Developed in partnership with property developer iHHL, Aiden by Best Western @ Darling Harbour, set in a refurbished 1930s art deco building, will house 88 guestrooms across eight storeys, including a café, bar and retail shop on the ground floor.

Aiden by Best Western @ Darling Harbour is slated to open in late 2020

Nicholas Chen, director, iHHL, said the hotel will be designed with the guest’s needs at the core.

For instance, guestrooms will provide media connectivity and plentiful workspace – features that today’s travellers seek.

Chen added: “We selected the location for our development for to its ideal positioning, close to world class attractions including the Australian National Maritime Museum, the International Convention Centre, the Sydney Fish Market, Cockle Bay Wharf, King Street Wharf and Barangaroo.”

Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort offers slice of serenity in central Bangkok

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort, the health-focused retreat in downtown Bangkok, offers Thai residents a serene staycation in the Thai capital.

Nestled in the centre of Sukhumvit, Bangkok’s commercial district, and just a 10-minute walk from Ploenchit BTS skytrain station, the resort features 0.48ha of lush gardens and health-focused facilities.

Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort offers an oasis of calm in the heart of Bangkok

Rooms-wise, the entry-level superior rooms promise 42m² of space, while the suites can comfortably accommodate families of four. In-room amenities like yoga mats are also available.

The resort’s healthy-living concept is woven throughout every part of the resort, including its restaurants and bars. Chef Gabi Kurz, a global nutritional expert, has created a series of menus, which is implemented by Chef Rajiv using high-quality and wholesome ingredients.

F&B outlets includes Tamarind Natural Dining which offers fresh and organic cuisine throughout the day, including a Sunday Brunch experience; while the newly launched Khum Hom restaurant specialises in Thai cuisine.

The resort also features an outdoor swimming pool, a cafe, a lobby lounge, a 24-hour fitness centre, and a wellness clinic.

Rates start from 3,500++ baht (US$111++) per room per night, while Tamarind’s Sunday Brunch is available for 2,500++ baht per person (food only), with an optional free-flow drinks package for 888++ baht.

New hotels: Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, K5 and more

By TTG Asia

February 28, 2020

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Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand
Carlton Hotel Group has opened its first property in Thailand’s capital city. Rising 34 storeys above downtown, the 338-key Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit features suites ranging from 37 to 129m².

F&B outlets include the famed Wah Lok restaurant serving Cantonese cuisine, an all-day-dining restaurant, an espresso bar, a pastry kitchen, a rooftop bar, and a poolside juice bar. Other amenities include a 30m outdoor pool with waterfall feature, a pool bar, exercise studio with 24-hour access, luxury spa, and a kids’ zone.

For events and meetings, guests can avail two floors of 10 function rooms, including The Grand Carlton Ballroom with capacity for up to 600 guests, totalling 1,200m² of space.

K5, Japan
Neatly stacked within a four-storey 1920s structure, K5 is marketed as “a micro-complex” featuring a collective of 20 rooms, restaurants, bars and social spaces. K5 is conveniently situated between the commercial district of Marunouchi and Eastern Tokyo, and just a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Station. F&B venues include B, Brooklyn Brewery’s first taproom outside of New York, serving tacos and craft beer; Ao, a celebration of mixology and Chinese medicine; Caveman, a spin-off of Tokyo restaurant Kabi; Switch Coffee, offering a speciality coffee selection; and an in-house flower shop.

Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh, Vietnam
Situated along the Bai Dai Beach in the central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa, Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh features 500 rooms, individual pool villas and apartments that overlook a 17km-long white sand coast.

Guests can choose from 250 contemporary rooms offering sea views from expansive private balconies; the 118 one- to three-bedroom pool villas; or the 132 seaview studio apartments featuring a fully furnished kitchenette and a large living and dining area, which is ideal for long-term stays.

Amenities include five F&B venues, a spa and a foot reflexology centre with an attached wellness bistro serving spa cuisine; two separate kids’ areas, one for teenagers featuring a climbing wall and video games, and the other for younger guests. As well, the resort boasts six multifunction rooms with outdoor spaces. The grand ballroom provides a capacity of up to 800 persons, and leads out onto a 850m² outdoor lawn area.

For a destination within a destination, the Swiss Village at Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh is home to a beer house, an indoor and outdoor fitness centre with tennis and multi-purpose sports field, games room, a minimart and retail shops. For some outdoor fun, Cam Ranh Adventure Rope Park features a 45 obstacle course rope climbing challenge, as well as a kids’ pool complete with waterslide.

SureStay Hotel by Best Western Vientiane, Laos
SureStay Hotel Group has opened its first hotel in Laos. Located in the heart of the Lao capital, and a 15-minute drive from Wattay International Airport, SureStay Hotel by Best Western Vientiane offers 68 rooms and suites, a restaurant, a spa and fitness centre, plus services for corporate travellers, including computer stations in the lobby. Guests can knock back cool drinks while enjoying views of the Mekong at the Tipsy Elephant Rooftop Bar, which doubles up as a venue for intimate events.

Aloft Bali Seminyak, Indonesia
Marriott International’s Aloft Hotels makes its debut in Bali with the opening of Aloft Bali Seminyak. Located in the heart of Seminyak, the hotel houses interactive social spaces and brings a vibrant new social scene to Bali.

The hotel is home to 80 guestrooms, and eight rooms with direct access to a lap pool with views of a tropical hanging garden. The Kahuna, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, features a fusion of eclectic fare; while Re:FUELSM by Aloft serves up Aloft’s signature 24/7 grab-and-go options including light meals, snacks, healthy bites, and beverages. There is also the Re:mixSM Lounge and WYXZ bar.

Other amenities include a 24/7 fitness centre; Splash, a rooftop infinity pool, which features live music and DJ’s spinning until late; and two multifunctional meeting spaces equipped with Wi-Fi, which can also be turned into a venue for up to 66 people.

Indonesia’s government earmarks US$21.5 million to lift tourism businesses

By Tiara Maharani

February 27, 2020

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The Indonesia government has rolled out a range of incentives aimed at airlines, tour operators and tourist areas to combat the tourism slump.

Indonesia’s minister of finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati yesterday announced that the government has set aside a budget of 298.5 billion rupiah (US$21.5 million) to help stabilise Indonesia’s economy and pull tourism businesses through the economic slowdown.

Indonesia’s government rolls out incentives to boost tourism during the Covid-19 outbreak; tourists at terraced rice fields in Bali, Indonesia pictured

Incentives for airlines and tour operators, valued at 98.5 billion rupiah, aim to encourage special discounts for foreign tourists.

Some 103 billion rupiah has been allotted for promotional activities, 25 billion rupiah will go towards improving tourist areas, and another 72 billion rupiah will be invested on influencers.

Additionally, to spur domestic tourism, the government will grant 443 billion rupiah to airlines, in the form of a 30 per cent discount for 25 per cent of the total available seats per flight to 10 tourist destinations such as Yogyakarta, Manado, Bali, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, Bangka Belitung, and Batam.

Transportation minister Budi Karya Sumadi shared that the government will inject additional incentives of up to 50 per cent for flight tickets to 10 tourist destinations.

Total support directed at airlines, including aviation fuel discounts and reduced Aircraft Passenger Services fees, valued at an estimated 860 billion rupiah, will be funded by the Ministry of Transportation, Angkasa Pura Airport Authorities and AirNav.

Furthermore, the central government will provide grants of 3.3 trillion rupiah to 33 district and city governments in the ten tourist destinations in return for waiving hotel and restaurant taxes for the next six months, said Sri Mulyani.

While industry players TTG Asia spoke to said the incentive schemes will help lift the tourism industry, some suggested that more could be done.

Adjie Wahjono, operations manager of Aneka Kartika Tours, said the financial aids to reduce airfares will only benefit travellers and the airlines, and not the DMCs and travel companies which are just as affected by the outbreak.

Budijanto Ardijansyah, vice chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies, sought clarity on the technical distribution of the subsidies, such as if the benefits were the same for LCCs and full-service carriers, and the type of travel companies that can qualify for incentives.

Adjie suggested that a real help for the tourism industry would be tax relief for DMCs and travel companies.

Donny D, founder of Adonta Global Trip, would like the government to organise tourism exhibitions to promote the main destinations in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and East Java, and provide subsidies to allow for cheaper entrance fees, free highway tickets for tour buses, and support schemes for tour guides.

Such efforts, Donny said, would complement the attractive weekend getaway packages created by local travel companies and sold at the recent ASTINDO Travel Fair.

“After the agent creates the package, the government provides subsidies to lower prices. Everyone is happy. Agents get a bigger profit margin, travellers can enjoy cheaper tour packages, and the airlines (get their planes filled),” he said.

Philippines’ partial travel ban on South Korea births mixed bag of reactions

By Rosa Ocampo

February 27, 2020

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The Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DoT) is rallying against the government’s move to temporarily ban tourists from South Korea’s northern Gyeongsang province, amid the escalating Covid-19 outbreaks in the nation.

The ban was approved by the country’s Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases during a meeting yesterday.

The Philippines imposes partial travel ban on South Korea

Under the ban, Filipino tourists will also be barred from visiting any part of South Korea, which has the highest number of Covid-19 cases outside China, with 1,260 infections and a total fatality of 12 to-date.

Permanent residents, students and overseas Filipino workers are permitted to travel to South Korea, but should sign a declaration stating that they know the risks involved in their trip, according to a report by Philstar.

Hurrying from “two hours of heated debate” at the IATF meeting, tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat told PATA Philippines Chapter’s First Business Assembly 2020 yesterday afternoon that the DoT was against a total ban, which health secretary Francisco Duque wanted.

Puyat, who was not consulted when the travel bans on Chinese and Taiwanese (since lifted) travellers were imposed, outlined the implications of a ban on South Koreans, who are consistently Philippines’ top travel market for years. Last year, South Koreans accounted for 1.99 million or 24.08 per cent of total inbound tourist arrivals to the Philippines.

Last November, the Philippines signed an agreement with South Korea to boost tourism ties between the two countries. “They are (our) friends and they are very good to us,” said Puyat.

With an ongoing ban on China (the Philippines’ second biggest inbound market with 1.74 million or 21.1 per cent of total arrivals in 2019), Hong Kong (with 1.1 per cent) and Macau (0.1 per cent), including South Korea in the travel ban will mean losing nearly half of the total inbound market.

Puyat said that the Philippines could follow in Singapore’s footsteps and ban only tourists from Daegu and Gyeongsang, but admitted that it is somewhat moot as these destinations have already cancelled flights, and the South Koreans themselves have stopped travelling and gone into self-quarantine.

The partial ban is subject to a risk assessment review within two days.

PATA Philippines Chapter chairman Bob Zozobrado said the duty of denying entry to citizens from any country should not fall on the Philippines as a country; instead, the airlines, Department of Health, and the Bureau of Immigration should enforce the protocols and be stringent.

“It is their responsibility to screen (inbound visitors) and not let in those whom they feel are contaminated,” he said.

Zozobrado said that “we have to lobby against” a travel ban, even if it’s a partial one. “First of all, it’s very disparaging and very insulting to the country that’s being banned, like what happened to Taiwan,” he said.

He also noted that the Covid-19 outbreak in China has been “blown out of proportion”.

“I know that China is the epicentre of the Covid-19 virus. What has been reported by the media is how many people – 80,000 – are now contaminated, but not how many have been released after being tested negative. That’s the sad part about it,” he said.

Philippine Travel Agencies Association president Ritchie Tuano admitted that this is a tough line to straddle. “Of course, the public health and safety is of paramount importance, but we need to balance it out with the Philippine economy as well, and (consider) what the South Koreans are contributing to our economy.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, Marlene Insigne, general manager of Southeast Travel Corp, said: “I’m not for a travel ban, but if the situation (in South Korea) worsens in the next few weeks, we really have to sacrifice. We shouldn’t think only about the economy, but the people’s safety too.”

Vietnam launches online portal to facilitate eVisa on Arrival

FHA-Food & Beverage skips a year to 2021

Radisson to reduce usage of single-use plastics globally

BA cuts flights to Italy, South Korea, Singapore

Centara Hotels & Resorts grows SE Asia, Middle East portfolio

Aiden hotel sails into Sydney’s Darling Harbour

Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort offers slice of serenity in central Bangkok

New hotels: Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, K5 and more

Indonesia’s government earmarks US$21.5 million to lift tourism businesses

Philippines’ partial travel ban on South Korea births mixed bag of reactions

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