Embracing quiet charms

February 14, 2020

A sleepy mountainous island south of Hiroshima, Shikoku, is looking to the upcoming Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in May to bring in a stream of visitors, with its tourism board and stakeholders working to raise awareness of the island’s many charms.

Shikoku comprises four prefectures – Ehime, Kochi, Kagawa and Tokushima – and has been increasingly welcoming more direct flights from the rest of Asia. Ehime’s Matsuyama Airport is connected to Seoul and Shanghai, while Kagawa’s Takamatsu Airport is linked to Taipei, Seoul and Shanghai.

Nakatsu Gorge (pictured) can be found along the Niyodo River

And travel to Shikoku is set to become even more accessible, with China Airlines’ flights between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Takamatsu Airport coming online, and a new highway connecting Kochi Regional Airport and Kochi City currently under construction.

Now, Singapore is next on the agenda, shared Yuka Minami, manager, Tourism Shikoku. She said: “We are currently focusing on the Singapore market. In August 2019, we joined JNTO to exhibit at the NATAS Travel Fair, and we have found that Singaporeans like food experiences such as soba noodle-making and yuzu fruit-picking.

“Over the next two years, we plan to return to Singapore’s travel fairs again in August or September.”

Minami added that Tourism Shikoku also plans to step up participation in global tradeshows such as Visit Japan Travel Mart, as well as trade outreach events in England and France. Other than Asian visitors, the bulk of longhaul visitors to Shikoku currently hail from English-speaking markets such as the UK and the US.

Meanwhile, Kochi is slowly turning its strength as a popular domestic holiday destination towards attracting more international travellers, particularly from Singapore, said Taichiro Oogi, staff, department of inbound tourism, Kochi Visitors & Convention Association.

Last year, the Kochi Prefectural Government joined hands with travel and fitness companies to craft hybrid tours for FITs and interest groups from Singapore. It struck a collaboration with Singapore agency Royal Wings Travel to develop two 7D6N free-and-easy tours to encourage in-depth exploration of the east and west regions of Kochi.

These unguided itineraries – which can be tweaked according to preference – include three-star hotel reservations; train tickets; local businesses and attractions; as well as maps and tourist information, compiled within a travel guidebook. The tours were launched at an Experience Kochi travel and food fair in October in Singapore, where they were sold by agencies Pegasus Travel Management, Siam Express and JOYOJ.

The Kochi Representative Office also joined hands with Singapore-based ABCDE Fitness on a marathoner package that includes flights, accommodation at the new Mont Bell Mountain Lodge, warm-up sessions with a local running group, passes for the Kochi Ryoma Marathon in February 2020, private tours and workshops, and a dinner party with local residents.

Such creative collaborations are essential to attracting visitors today, said Takanori Asai, deputy director of the Kochi Representative Office in Singapore. He expressed: “It has become really hard to promote a destination through traditional means, so we’ve had to come up with new ways to promote Kochi.”

Cancellations flood Asia cruise sailings amid Covid-19 outbreak

By Pamela Chow

February 14, 2020

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The ongoing Covid-19 crisis has brought Asia’s cruise schedules to a standstill, as major cruise lines are axing their sailings or diverting their vessels away from the region for the remaining season.

Celebrity Cruises informed TTG Asia that, as of February 13, it has cancelled the rest of Celebrity Millennium’s season in Asia. The ship will be repositioned to the US three months earlier than originally planned.

Major cruise lines are cancelling their sailings from Singapore amid coronavirus fears

“Up until today, we did not intend to cancel the remaining season, however, due to continuous and unpredictable changes in travel restrictions and port closures, we feel this is the best decision for the health and safety of all,” said a spokesperson of Celebrity Cruises.

Additionally, Celebrity Constellation’s debarkation and embarkation in Singapore on March 17 has been rerouted to Dubai. Affected bookings will be refunded and the company will also provide flight reimbursement for guests.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean has cancelled two Quantum of the Seas voyages due to depart Singapore tomorrow (February 15) and February 24. A spokesperson of the cruise line said: “The Singapore market remains of great importance to us and we look forward to returning there very soon.”

Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess, which was due to sail from Singapore on Thursday, was cancelled a day prior to its departure.

This wave of cancellations follows as the Westerdam, a luxury liner operated by Holland America Line under Carnival Cruises, has been refused entry into the port of Japan, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand, leaving 2,257 passengers and crew adrift.

Coronavirus travel setback spreads beyond China; flight bookings from APAC stall by 10.5%: ForwardKeys

By TTG Asia

February 14, 2020

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The travel setback caused by the coronavirus outbreak has now spread beyond China, with other parts of the Asia-Pacific region experiencing a 10.5% slowdown in outbound travel bookings for March and April, excluding trips to and from China and Hong Kong, according to a study by ForwardKeys.

As of February 9, the setback looks likely to be most marked in North-east Asia, where outbound bookings for March and April are 17.1% behind where they were at the equivalent moment last year. Bookings from South Asia are 11% behind; from South East Asia are 8.1% behind, and from Oceania, 3% behind.

Coronavirus travel slump spreads from China across Asia, with APAC travel bookings nosediving for March and April: ForwardKeys

By comparison, the all-important Chinese outbound market is much more severely affected. Currently, bookings for March and April are set to be just 55.9% of what they were at the equivalent point in 2019.

Forward bookings to Asia-Pacific are 58.3% behind; bookings to Europe are 36.7% behind, to Africa & the Middle East are 56.1% behind, and to the Americas are 63.2% behind.

Looking backwards over the three-week period following the imposition of government travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus outbreak, outbound travel from China has fallen by 57.5%.

Travel to all parts of the world has been severely down, with the Americas worst affected in relative terms and Asia-Pacific in absolute terms. Travel to Asia-Pacific, which receives 75% of the Chinese outbound market, was down by 58.3%; travel to Europe was down by 41.7%; travel to Africa & the Middle East was down by 51.6%, and travel to the Americas was down by 64.1%.

Olivier Ponti, vice president insights, ForwardKeys, said: “The world’s largest and highest spending outbound travel market, China, is in severe difficulty; cancellations are growing by the day and the trend is now spreading to surrounding countries.

“On the brighter side, however, we are not seeing a slowdown in travel outside the Asia-Pacific region; so this is a moment to fill the void by studying alternative origin markets and focusing promotional efforts on them. We will be monitoring the situation carefully because in a disease outbreak like this, travel trends can change quickly; and different markets are likely to respond differently.”

New sustainable lodge in Myanmar eyes longhaul travellers

By Marissa Carruthers

February 14, 2020

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A new sustainable lodge is aiming to lure more longhaul travellers to Myanmar’s untouched coastline, while giving back to the community.

Lalay Lodge opened its doors in January in the remote fishing village of Maung Shwe Lay in Rakhine State, offering visitors a slice of tropical beach paradise combined with a glimpse into authentic rural Burmese life.

Lalay Lodge

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In line with the values of conscious travellers, the nine-room resort was designed by Australian architect, Mary Lou Thompson, using natural, locally-sourced materials to blend in with its surroundings.

All 15 staff have been recruited from the village and undergone hospitality training. They are headed by an English-speaking general manager, who is also the only foreign employee.

As part of its sustainable pledge, the lodge has launched a coral reef protection programme and set up a waste collection system for the 1,500 villagers. It also uses solar power and no single-use plastic, and reuses grey water.

Edwin Briels, Lalay Lodge co-owner, said: “Involving communities is what tourism should be all about.”

Briels, who is also managing director of Khiri Travel Myanmar, has been organising day trips to the village, which sits a combined one-hour tuk tuk and boat cruise from Thandwe (Ngapali) airport, for the last seven years.

He said: “My local business partner (for the lodge) told me that if you’re born in a community like this and don’t want to be a fisherman or farmer, then there are no proper jobs. That’s why we started.”

Briels predicts the majority of guests will be longhaul travellers from Australia, Europe and America. They will also tap into regional visitors wanting to experience traditional Asian village life.

Added Briels: “It’s really good for communities to have jobs in their own area and building small lodges is one way to do this. Tourists don’t want to go to only the big attractions; they want to explore more of the countryside and do off-the-beaten-track activities. It’s really about village life, which is amazing in Myanmar.”

Currently, the average stay at the lodge is three nights, with management working with DMCs and FITs through online platforms, such as Booking.com and Agoda.

High-tech botanical garden to bloom in Tokyo’s Inari

By Kathryn Wortley

February 14, 2020

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Japanese leisure and entertainment giant Yomiuri Land is set to open a high-tech botanical garden which will allow visitors to soak up floral wonders year-round instead of only during bloom seasons.

Hana Biyori, which will sit adjacent to the Yomiuriland amusement park in west Tokyo’s Inari area, will launch on March 14.

Hana Biyori

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Visitors to the 40,000m² facility will be able to immerse themselves in a world of flowers and digital art. Displays will be equipped with projection mapping and imaging technology to show flowers in full bloom year-round.

The 1,500m² greenhouse will house 300 suspended flower “chandeliers,” the largest arrangement of its kind in the Kanto region, as well as a flowerbed over 20m long and 2m high. Outside, the garden will feature more than 130 tree species and 17,000 flowers every season.

Yusuke Okutani, a planning and advertising executive at Yomiuri Land, told TTG Asia that the move was driven by the desire to take on new challenges and keep offerings fresh and relevant to increasingly discerning travellers.

“Leisure needs have diversified along with changing customer needs. It is an era where bold ideas are not bound by the inevitable. Nothing can surpass the beauty of fresh flowers but recent innovations in digital technology have made possible a fascinating concept beyond imagination,” he said.

Japan’s flowers and foliage are a big draw for international tourists, resulting in annual booms in arrivals during the cherry blossom season and autumn foliage season. The spring and autumn seasons are therefore big business for the trade, with flower-related tours, events, activities and experiences.

With Hana Biyori offering year-round floral appeal, it is poised to become a new highlight for inbound visitors. Okutani hopes to attract particularly active seniors, extended families, as well as women in their 20s and 30s.

Hana Biyori is part of Yomiuri Land’s Super Amusement Park Vision, which promises “a fusion of nature and entertainment unlike anything seen before”. Other efforts include the renewal of Goodjoba with digital elements. The amusement park offers fun and experience of Japanese craftsmanship at four factories (automobile, food, fashion and stationery), and will reopen on March 6.

Boutique hoteliers are still mistaken when it comes to technology

By TTG Asia

February 14, 2020

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The demand for boutique hotels around the world continues to increase, according to a recent report by industry analyst Market.us global.

Major players like Marriott International and Hyatt aggressively market themselves for a bigger share of this valuable market. They have bought out others, scaled down existing properties within their portfolio, and rebranded to give their properties that authentic boutique feel that travellers are looking for.

What sets the boutique chains apart from the smaller independent operators, located in towns and cities in every country, is their access to technology which gives them the edge when it comes to delivering an all-round authentic experience. Tools like data analytics and related sources provide an integrity and promise that many independents struggle to compete with.

The tide is turning, however. The travel tech industry, which larger chains have enjoyed for years, is shifting, allowing smaller hotels to operate on a much more level playing field. There are tools out there that are affordable to the independents, providing a much needed boost in this market. Tools that are giving boutique hotels the opportunity to compete with the big chains while maintaining their unique bijou charm.

Being boutique means that you are flexible, with the freedom to implement new tools. Technology can help you manage guest experiences and problem-solving while your guests are with you. It’s the promise of a personalised, attentive hotel stay for visitors.

Apps available today (like Alexa for hotels) are able to use local knowledge which will enhance hotel guests’ stay by providing them with information on where the local markets or best street food are, and so on. As a boutique hotel, this tech maintains your authenticity because it’s more commonplace among the majority of visitors. They use it every day and it’s very affordable.

While apps offer a relatively cheap means of improving the guest experience, the real challenge for small hotels this year is how to improve hotel management. This is the engine that drives everything, and if you get that right, then the other hotel operations – marketing, sales and customer services – will fall into place.

Hotel property management systems (PMS) schedule and manage daily operations, enabling hotels to handle front office workflow (booking, guest check-in & checkout, etc). This helps hotel staff to better coordinate the operational functions across all the departments by streamlining operations, saving man-hours and serving guests.

Revenue Management Systems (RMS) automate your analytics, determine the right price for your rooms to maximise revenue and profitability. Put simply, a good RMS will enable you to sell the right product at the right time for the best price across the most effective channels.

Multilingual chatbots will boost your room sales. This smart technology provides a potential customer with a direct mode of communication to the hotel, who can answer any questions a prospective guest might have before they make a booking. Prospective guests are able to make an informed decision, and far less likely to book with a direct competitor.

All great stuff but well over budget, right? Wrong.

A New Ecosystem

For small hotels, finding the right software fit is critical, but more importantly, it has to be affordable. Large hotel chains have been using these systems for years and many boutique hotels, with limited budgets, have been playing catch up ever since.

For most small hotels, these stand-alone systems have been out of reach.

What we are moving towards now, however, is a new ecosystem, where tech companies and booking platforms like VLeisure are forging key partnerships that allow them to share this technology. These industry collaborations are making sales and distribution processes a level playing field for all hotels, regardless of their size and budget. This tech is no longer exclusive to large hotels with deep pockets. So, a PMS and an RMS is now a reality, and not a pipe dream.

The Future Is Bright

The more travel businesses like ours work together with tech providers, the greater the opportunity for independent properties to tap into these resources.

Unlike the retail industry, which is seeing more independent stores disappear from the high street, the travel industry is offering new opportunities for small hotels to thrive and compete. It’s the next stage of the boutique renaissance. Keep your ear to the ground because the future is bright for small hotels.

Heritage Line takes luxe cruising experiences to Upper Mekong

By TTG Asia

February 14, 2020

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Vietnamese boutique cruise operator Heritage Line has started accepting bookings for sailings on its new 10-berth ship Anouvong, which will be the first luxury boat to ply the Upper Mekong River in Laos upon its launch later this year.

The boat, which features eight staterooms and two suites, will plot a course from the Golden Triangle at the Thailand/Laos border in the north-west, through the royal city of Luang Prabang, and down to the Lao capital, Vientiane.

Heritage Line Anouvong plots a course along the Mekong River in central and northern Laos

The cruise operator offers two journeys: The shorter three-night sailing leaves Luang Prabang and heads to the town of Huay Xai on the Laos/Thailand border (or vice versa); while the longer journey, spanning seven or nine nights, charts a course between the Laos/Thailand border at Huay Xai and Vientiane.

The shorter trip includes a visit to the village of Huay Palang to meet ethnic Khmu tribes and other highlights such as Pak Ou Caves, which is home to 4,000 sacred Buddhist statues.

The longer alternative embraces sightseeing along remote river areas and various activities such as kayaking through calm, shallow stretches and a gourmet banquet on a river sandbank, as well as a full discovery of Luang Prabang.

Anouvong is expected to begin sailings on September 29, 2020. It is now open for bookings over the next few months through any travel agents or directly with Heritage Line. Bookings made before March 31 will enjoy a 10 per cent discount on the three-night journey.

New hotels: Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, Wanderlust, and more

By TTG Asia

February 14, 2020

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Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, Thailand
Avani Hotels & Resorts has opened the Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, marking the brand’s first entry into Thailand’s resort town of Krabi. Centrally located, the property offers 178 guestrooms and villas, the latter boasting a pool and relaxation area. On-site facilities include five F&B venues, a spa, a swimming pool, a gym, as well as indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

Wanderlust, Singapore
Following a complete facelift, the reimagined Wanderlust, the latest flexible living concept from 8M Collective, is now open for bookings. Embracing the select service model, Wanderlust offers a range of flexible rate packages and services depending on the desired length of stay. Amenities include complimentary laundry service, fully furnished pantries and common spaces.

The 29-key Wanderlust offers a range of room categories, from the Loft category, which features a lofted double bed to accommodate a separate living space, to the Wanderlust Room, which has a double bed and cosy fittings. The majority of rooms feature a kitchenette.

The property features an open-air terrace, a dipping pool, a Mama Shop that offers an array of locally sourced brands and staples, as well as a restaurant and bar helmed by Michelin-star-chef Rishi Naleendra, which is opening in April 2020.

Fusion Suites Vung Tau, Vietnam
Fusion’s newest and third-suite style property, Fusion Suites Vung Tau, has risen in southern Vietnam’s popular coastal playground. Located in the heart of Vung Tau, the 19-storey hotel features 171 suites and apartments, a spa, a rooftop infinity pool, an all-day dining restaurant, a roof-top bar, and market stalls in the lobby. Wellness services and facilities include a spa, yoga and meditation, a fitness studio, a Jacuzzi, and a rooftop pool.

Travelodge Ipoh, Malaysia
Travelodge Hotels Asia has ramped up its expansion in Malaysia with the debut of its fourth hotel, Travelodge Ipoh, which opens after a rebranding and refurbishment of the former Heritage Hotel Ipoh. The 268-key hotel offers rooms in five categories: Superior, Deluxe, Premier, Family Deluxe and Family Suite. The hotel offers two meeting rooms, three ballrooms and a grand ballroom, plus a self-service laundromat, a gym, a kids’ play area, a multi-functional communal and dining space.

JW Marriott Sanya Haitang Bay, China
Located on a 21.8 km-long shoreline, the JW Marriott Sanya Haitang Bay is JW Marriott’s second resort on Hainan island and 18^th hotel in Greater China. The property offers 142 guestrooms and 18 villas, ranging from 68m² to 667m², and each featuring private balconies.

Hotel facilities include an all-day open-kitchen restaurant, a lounge, a health club featuring over nine different-sized pools, and a spa. As well, guests can avail themselves of more than 3,490m² of meeting space, 7,980m² of outdoor lawn, flexible seating solutions and comprehensive business facilities.

Malaysia to roll out tourism stimulus package soon

By S Puvaneswary

February 13, 2020

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The Malaysian government will be handing out a stimulus package to boost the economy and cushion the business fallout from the coronavirus outbreak by either end February or early March.

The move was announced by finance minister Lim Guan Eng following a three-hour meeting with local tourism industry players on Monday. The finance ministry has also scheduled further meetings with local businesses.

Malaysian government plans stimulus package as the Covid-19 epidemic takes toll on the tourism industry; Pangkor Island in Malaysia pictured

Earlier, Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad said the impact of the coronavirus outbreak had been felt most keenly by the tourism industry.

The Malaysian Association of Hotels reported total cancellations of 95,972 room nights, amounting to RM40 million (US$9.6 million) loss in revenue from January 26 to February 9.

Its CEO, Yap Lip Seng, shared: “We are tracking cancellations from our member hotels and the number is growing every day. Most cancellations are up to the end of February, with the majority originating from China. There are also cancellations from local Malaysians, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, (South) Korea and other countries. People are afraid to travel and that is a problem, despite the situation in Malaysia being well under control and we remaining safe for tourism.”

So far, out of the 18 positive Covid-19 cases recorded in Malaysia, 12 were China nationals while six were Malaysians.

The South Korean government has advised its citizens against travelling to Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand, in addition to China, due to the outbreak, reported Korean news agency Yonhap.

This will have a negative impact on arrivals from South Korea, which is among Malaysia’s biggest tourist source. For the first nine months of 2019, arrivals from South Korea increased by 9.7 per cent over the corresponding year to 508,080 tourists. The average length of stay of South Koreans was 6.5 nights and the per diem expenditure was RM728 (US$175.90).

On its part, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) will hold a travel fair targeted at the domestic market, in a bid to offset the shortfall from Chinese tourists and to meet consumer demand.

MATTA president Tan Kok Liang said the tourism fair, which is supported by Tourism Malaysia, will be held on April 4 and 5 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Airlines, hotels and major attractions taking part in the fair are expected to roll out irresistible offers to entice visitors.

As a quick fix to overcome the current slowdown, the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association is also focusing on domestic tourism by organising a week-long e-travel fair in late March.

The Philippines’ travel ban on Taiwan doesn’t make sense

By Rosa Ocampo

February 13, 2020

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The Philippines has placed a ban on arriving Taiwanese citizens as a precaution against the transmission of Covid-19 within the country.

The move would have been defensible if it were for public health and safety, like the travel ban imposed on China – where the coronavirus had originated from – and its special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have suspended flights to and from Taiwan amid Covid-19 fears

The government’s reasons for the Taiwan ban is because the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Taiwan as being part of China and that the Philippines ascribes to the One China policy.

Note that the travel ban originally included just China, Hong Kong and Macau. Like an afterthought, Taiwan was lumped with the three more than a week later.

Jojo Clemente, president of the Tourism Congress of the Philippines, who hoped and implored the immediate overturn of the travel ban for Taiwan during the Congressional hearing on February 12, told me that the move was unnecessary since Taiwan “has its own safety protocols and probably quite stringent as well”.

As the government sticks to its lame excuse in including Taiwan in the travel ban, nowhere did it mention that Taiwan poses a health risk. Because it’s not a health risk, unlike China.

Put it this way: The 18 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Taiwan are much lower than those in say, Singapore and Japan, but the Philippines have not banned the others from entering the country.

The Philippine government’s reasoning is defective. And rightfully so, an indignant Taiwan wants the lifting of the travel ban.

Banning Taiwanese to the Philippines – which also means that Filipinos cannot go to Taiwan particularly as local airlines have stopped flying to Taipei, has grave repercussions to the tourism industry which is already hurting from numerous cancellations, rebookings, refunds, etc. due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Clemente noted that Taiwan is the Philippines’ fifth biggest inbound market so “closing that market will impose further hardships on an already battered industry”.

He is concerned that “a prolonged travel ban for no other reason than geopolitics may cause long-term damage for the tourism industry”.

It’s unthinkable what the economic ramifications are going to be for the Philippines should Taiwan discontinue its visa-free policy for Filipinos or worse, stop the flow of domestic helpers, factory workers and imports from the Philippines.

The free flow of travel is more beneficial to the Philippines than to Taiwan and halting it albeit temporarily is therefore more critical to the former.

The Philippines has a penchant for mixing politics and tourism, always with disastrous results, as even recent history had shown.

Time to heed the lessons from the past. Time to right the wrong. And it can do so beginning with the lifting of the travel ban on Taiwan, pronto.

Embracing quiet charms

Cancellations flood Asia cruise sailings amid Covid-19 outbreak

Coronavirus travel setback spreads beyond China; flight bookings from APAC stall by 10.5%: ForwardKeys

New sustainable lodge in Myanmar eyes longhaul travellers

High-tech botanical garden to bloom in Tokyo’s Inari

Boutique hoteliers are still mistaken when it comes to technology

Heritage Line takes luxe cruising experiences to Upper Mekong

New hotels: Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort, Wanderlust, and more

Malaysia to roll out tourism stimulus package soon

The Philippines’ travel ban on Taiwan doesn’t make sense

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