Boeing predicts demand for 4,500 new planes in SE Asia over next two decades

February 17, 2020

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is expecting airlines in South-east Asia to need 4,500 new airplanes over the next 20 years, valued at US$710 billion at list prices, with single-aisle airplanes continuing to be the main driver of capacity growth in the region.

This growth will help to stimulate the demand for commercial aviation services, which are forecasted to be worth US$785 billion between 2019 and 2038.

Boeing forecasts that South-east Asia needs 4,500 new aircraft in next 20 years

“Three countries from South-east Asia – Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia – made the top 10 list of countries that added the most airline seat capacity since 2010. Vietnam has experienced the strongest growth out of the three at nearly 15 per cent per year, followed by Thailand and Indonesia at approximately 10 per cent, respectively,” said Randy Tinseth, vice president of commercial marketing at Boeing.

“With an expanding middle-class, in a market that continues to liberalise, coupled with a strong domestic, regional and international tourism sector, South-east Asia has become one of the world’s largest aviation markets,” he said in a statement.

While single-aisle airplanes dominate the forecast, Boeing believes this region will also require a significant number of widebody airplanes, in terms of value and the number of units.

The demand is driven by airlines adapting to the evolving business environment and new longhaul expansion opportunities.

Widebody airplanes will make up 19 per cent of new airplane deliveries, enabling carriers in the region to serve new international long-range city pairs.

Along with the strong demand for aircraft, Boeing has predicted the region will need 182,000 commercial pilots, cabin crew, and aviation technicians to fly and to maintain the fleet across South-east Asia. This demand is projected based on a mix of new airplane deliveries, annual aircraft utilisation rates, crewing requirements by region, and regulatory requirements.

Worldwide, Boeing projects the need for 44,040 new commercial airplanes valued at US$6.8 trillion, and demand for aftermarket services totalling US$9.1 trillion over the next 20 years.

Banyan Tree plants flag in the Bahamas

By TTG Asia

February 17, 2020

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Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has partnered Island Developers to launch the Banyan Tree brand’s first property in The Bahamas.

Located just 48 nautical miles and a 20-minute seaplane ride from Miami, Banyan Tree illa Bahamas is set on 16ha of Atlantic Oceanfront and Bimini Bayfront properties.

Banyan Tree illa Bahamas will be the hotel group’s first property in the Bahamas

The eco-conscious resort will consist of 50 keys and 54 luxury residences, exclusively offering the first, authentic Maldives-style overwater bungalows in the Caribbean. As well, hotel suites will include private terraces and plunge pools.

From unique culinary pop-ups to curated music series, and oceanside meditations at the Banyan Tree Spa, illa Bimini will bring a host of authentic experiences to the secluded tropical region.

Hot air balloon rides, exclusive tours among National Museum of Australia’s new offerings

By TTG Asia

February 17, 2020

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The National Museum of Australia (NMA) has unveiled three new visitor experiences, where guests can admire the NMA’s dramatic architecture from a private hot air balloon above Canberra, and explore the iconic collection up-close on a private tour of the galleries and storage houses.

The experiences will be on offer via Cultural Attractions of Australia (CAMD), one of the segments represented under Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences programme.

National Museum of Australia rolls out three new experiences

Of the three new experiences, the In, Above And Behind The Scenes package (A$2135/US$1,435 per person; minimum two people per booking) includes a hosted hot air balloon tour of the NMA’s architecture and surrounds, an exclusive tour of the Museum with a curator before opening hours, a champagne breakfast on the deck at the lakeside cafe, a gift from the guest’s experience, and private transfers.

The second-tier package, Out To The Shed (A$349 per person/minimum two people per booking), includes an exclusive tour of the NMA’s “off display” collection in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum’s purpose-built storage facilities, lunch in the Museum’s cafe, and private transfers.

The Big Histories package (A$125/minimum two people per booking) includes an exclusive tour with an expert to explore the NMA’s most iconic objects, including Phar Lap’s heart, Holden prototype, the Enterprise paddle steamer and Australia’s dinosaurs; as well as an Australia grazing platter and local beer or wine on the cafe deck.

All three experiences are bookable through the CAMD and NMA websites for travel from April 1, 2020.

Radisson adds third hotel to Bangladesh portfolio

By TTG Asia

February 17, 2020

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Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) continues its expansion in South Asia with the signing of its first hotel in Khulna, the third largest city in Bangladesh.

Scheduled to open in 3Q2023, Radisson Hotel Khulna is nestled in a prime location 2.5km from the centre of this port city.

Radisson to open its first hotel in Khulna come 3Q2023

Radisson Hotel Khulna will feature 150 rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, a bar and coffee lounge, a swimming pool, fitness centre, and a spa. Meeting and event facilities will include a large and divisible ballroom, a pre-function area, meeting rooms and a boardroom.

Currently, RHG operates two hotels in Bangladesh, namely, Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, and Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View.

Philippines lifts travel ban on Taiwan tourists; flights resume

By TTG Asia

February 15, 2020

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The temporary ban on Taiwan has been lifted by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases after it established that Taiwan has been implementing “very strict and excellent protocols” in handing outbound travellers.

The ban on arriving Taiwanese citizens, along with citizens from China, was put in place on February 11, as the Philippines sought to limit the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak within her borders.

Cebu Pacific moves swiftly to resume affected flights to Taipei

The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomes the lifting of the travel ban.

Tourism secretary Bernadette-Romulo-Puyat commented: “(This) is highly assuring and we hope that the nCov crisis would soon be resolved, worldwide. Ultimately, the recovery of all affected countries is a universal prayer, especially that tourism is an inclusive and sustainable business for and of the people.”

Along with the termination of the travel restriction, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air will resume flights between Manila and Taiwan.

The Task Force underscores the need to review on a regular basis the precautionary measures taken by the Philippines’ tourist source markets, and to implement stricter protocols to contain Covid-19.

Taiwan is the country’s fifth largest tourist source market, raking up an impressive double-digit growth of 37 per cent for its 305,570 arrivals in January to November 2019.

All preventive and precautionary measures have been put in place by the national government to contain the spread of the COVID-19. The guidelines in handling guests in tourism enterprises during this global emergency are being implemented in hotels and resorts around the country and facilities are equipped with infrared thermometers and more hand sanitizers.

Meanwhile, the ban on tourists coming from China and her Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the 14-day quarantine for Filipinos coming from the said places is still in effect.

Embracing quiet charms

By Pamela Chow

February 14, 2020

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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.

Boeing predicts demand for 4,500 new planes in SE Asia over next two decades

Banyan Tree plants flag in the Bahamas

Hot air balloon rides, exclusive tours among National Museum of Australia’s new offerings

Radisson adds third hotel to Bangladesh portfolio

Philippines lifts travel ban on Taiwan tourists; flights resume

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

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