Holistica, the destination company recently formed by Royal Caribbean Cruises and privately-held ITM Group, has appointed Carlos Torres de Navarra as CEO.
Navarra, who has 20 years of experience in port and destination development, will report to the Holistica board and will be based in Miami, Florida.
“Carlos’ excellent reputation of building relationships and delivering on strategic and commercial initiatives makes him an ideal candidate to deliver on Holistica’s mission,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “We are thrilled to have him on board to meet the needs of coastal communities, local governments, and land, sea, and air travellers (while) helping design the future of destinations globally.”
Prior to joining Holistica, Navarra most recently served as vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation, and previously, as vice president of strategic and commercial port development for Carnival Cruise Line.
Prior to that, he spent seven years with Royal Caribbean Cruises as assistant treasurer and was involved in the company’s business development, liquidity and capital planning, financial risk management, acquisitions, as well as port development.
Small-group adventure operator G Adventures has introduced its first animal welfare policy, developed in consultation with World Animal Protection, the Jane Goodall Institute, and the World Cetacean Alliance.
The company’s new policy, which supersedes the animal welfare guidelines introduced in 2015, comes on the back of greater attention on such concerns in the travel industry. Last week, Airbnb added ethical animal experiences to its tour line-up while TripAdvisor also announced its decision to end ticket sales to attractions that breed captive marine animals, showing that global travel businesses are now placing a greater emphasis on animal welfare.
G Adventures introduces new animal welfare policy alongside a video educating people how to interact with wildlife in a way that does not harm animals; Zimbabwe Matoba National Park Safari pictured
Alongside the new policy, G Adventures has launched a video entitled ‘Wildlife has the right to a wild life’ to educate people to interact with wildlife in a way that does not harm animals or put people, both locals and travellers, in danger.
The video reminds viewers about basic animal welfare such as not taking pictures with wild animals that may have been sedated, or riding elephants which will have been harmed to carry humans, said the company.
It also introduces the strengthened aspects of the policy, such as not feeding animals or having any physical contact with them, and addresses the consumption of endangered species by travellers.
World Animal Protection’s campaign manager Melissa Matlow said that they have “advised G Adventures on their animal welfare policy and to help them identify harmful tourist activities to ensure no animals are mistreated” and that the companies will continue working together “to end animal cruelty and keep wildlife in the wild where they belong”.
Jamie Sweeting, vice president of social enterprise and responsible travel, G Adventures, says the policy replaces the company’s existing animal welfare guidelines, and acknowledges the operator is taking things to the next level across the business.
“With the launch of the new policy, we’re actively educating travellers and holding our staff around the world accountable for reporting issues via a new task force we have set up internally. The animal welfare policy will be built into our traveller conduct policy, and into our staff contracts. We want people to not just abide by the policy, but to monitor the behaviours of others and alert us when they see anyone who might be causing, often unintentionally, harm to the animals we share our planet with,” said Sweeting.
The new policy is one of G Adventures’ many “G for Good” commitments, and builds on the Global Welfare Guidance for Animals In Tourism which were announced in 2015 by ABTA UK, and based around the Five Freedoms – freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, pain, freedom from injury or disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and being free of fear and distress. G Adventures is also feeding into the updating and revision of the ABTA Guidance which will launch later this year.
Dutch company SkyNRG has launched its Board Now programme, which will enable companies to reduce their business air travel emissions as well as contribute to the development of a new production facility for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The programme is reportedly the world’s first-of-its-kind that enables companies to contribute directly to the development of SAF and actively paves the way for the energy transition in the aviation sector. Organisations such as PwC and Skyscanner have already signed up to the programme.
SkyNRG rolls out its Board Now sustainable aviation fuel programme
Organisations that join Board Now commit themselves to the purchase of SAF for a period of five years, which will reduce their business air travel CO2 emissions and contribute to the development of a new production facility.
Their investment will be used by SkyNRG to cover the price difference between SAF and conventional jet fuel. The coalition that participates in the Board Now programme ensures a substantial purchase of SAF that will be produced by Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of SAF in the Netherlands’ Delfzijl, which will annually produce 100,000 tons of SAF.
This translates into a CO2 reduction of over 270,000 tons a year for the aviation industry. SAF can provide for a CO2 reduction of at least 85 per cent, compared to conventional jet fuel.
“With the support of renowned organisations participating in Board Now that make a choice for sustainable business travels and an investment in SAF, we are able to accelerate the energy transition in aviation,” said Theye Veen, managing director at SkyNRG.
“We are looking forward to inspire other international organisations as well to follow in the footsteps of our launching members and partners”.
SkyNRG’s independent Sustainability Board advises on whether the fuel meets the highest sustainability standards. The Board includes representatives from WWF International, the European Climate Foundation, the Solidaridad Network and the University of Groningen. Furthermore, the sustainability of the chain and related products are ensured through certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, the highest possible certification standard for sustainable fuels.
Air France KLM’s Gijs van Popta (second from left) and Wouter Gregorowitsch (third from left)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which is the world’s first airline still operating under its original name, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2019.
This year also marks the airline’s 95 years of service between the Netherlands and Indonesia. Jakarta was KLM’s first intercontinental destination when a Fokker F-VII arrived in the city – then called Batavia – on November 24, 1924, after a 55-day journey, with 21 stops along the way.
KLM's 100th anniversary
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Air France KLM’s Gijs van Popta (second from left) and Wouter Gregorowitsch (third from left)
KLM’s first test flight departing Amsterdam to Jakarta on Oct 1, 1924
KLM 100 years – Celebrate the Future exhibition tour
Wouter Gregorowitsch, country manager Air France KLM Indonesia, said: “KLM started flying (a test flight with three crew members on board) to Indonesia only five years after it was established, and from 1930, it started scheduled passenger flights between the two countries.”
KLM is currently the only European airline connecting Indonesia, with daily services on the Amsterdam-Jakarta route via Kuala Lumpur and the Amsterdam-Bali route via Singapore, using its biggest fleet of Boeing 777-300ER.
To celebrate its centennial anniversary, the airline recently organised a two-day KLM 100 years – Celebrate the Future exhibition at the Erasmus Huis Jakarta on October 5 and 7.
Gregorowitsch said: “The exhibition gives visitors a unique insight into KLM’s history and future and its pioneering role in the aviation industry. Indonesia is a special destination in KLM’s large network as it is our oldest intercontinental destination.
“Our anniversary is also a moment to look ahead to the next century, because we want to set the standard to tomorrow’s aviation. We want to keep connecting the world but with attention to the surroundings.”
Wharf Hotels has appointed Michael Ganster as general manager of Niccolo Chengdu.
Ganster joins Niccolo Chengdu from the Fairmont Beijing, where he spent seven years as general manager.
Originally from Austria, Ganster has a wealth of hospitality experience spanning over 20 years with companies including Hilton, Raffles, Dusit International and Fairmont Hotels, in hotels located in China, Europe, Middle East, Thailand, the UK and the US.
He takes over from Adriano Vences, who has since taken up the leading role at The Murray, Hong Kong a Niccolo Hotel.
Two mega lifestyle events set to take place in Hong Kong later this month have been cancelled in light of the safety risk posed by ongoing anti-government protests, further shaking visitors’ confidence in the city and dealing another blow to travel operators and suppliers.
The cancellation of the annual Hong Kong Cyclothon and Wine & Dine Festival, both organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), will see a total of three major events called off in the city since protests started in June over the now-shelved extradition bill.
The annual Hong Kong Cyclothon and Wine & Dine Festival have been cancelled; Wine & Dine Festival 2018 pictured
The Cyclothon race that was slated to take place on October 13 was expected to draw about 10,000 participants, while the Wine & Dine event was projected to attract a 140,000-strong crowd, according to the South China Morning Post.
Holiday Inn Golden Miles’ general manager Gerhard Aicher said: “These are big and popular events for Hong Kong and our industry. We are sad to see that these events have been cancelled which will affect businesses negatively as both events enjoy huge popularity among local residents and visitors. However, with the current unrest, the safety of the participants, exhibitors and staff members are more important and take priority.”
Gray Line Tours’ managing director Michael Wu also expressed dismay over the cancellation of the international events, as they are a major draw for tourists to visit the city. “Without them, they have no reason to come. Indeed, security is a priority for travellers, as safety, which was once our cornerstone, has been shaken up now. I personally believe outdoor events are riskier than indoor ones as it’s not easy to control and protect stakeholders in an extensive venue.”
According to W Travel’s managing director Wing Wong, these two mega-events draw incentive groups from South-east Asia and the cancellation would send a negative message to international travellers that it is not safe to visit the city. “Though (the cancellation of the events is) a big setback, the trade understands their (safety) concerns. It’s not just visitors – I also heard that some overseas exhibitors are hesitant to come as well,” he said.
He added: “The newly-introduced anti-mask law would help alleviate the disruption as it stops a certain number of protesters from going to unlawful assemblies and causing disruption.”
Sincere International Travel Service’s managing director Charles Ng echoed a similar sentiment. “It’s a pity that the city lost a big business opportunity and we are heartbroken to see a series of incidents which ultimately have had a chain effect on other industries. We fully understand tourists’ worries and the enforcement of the anti-mask law last weekend is a good move (that will ensure greater security),” he said.
Despite the overall sentiment of disappointment, Travel Industry Council’s executive director Alice Chan pointed out that the majority of the traders understood and support the decision. “The risk of holding outdoor events of such a (massive) scale is too big, given the current situation. The major blow (to the tourism industry) was brought on by the violent protests, not the cancellations. The travel trade’s biggest concern is when the protests will end,” she said.
“It is a great pity that the two mega events had to be cancelled, although they would not be able to draw that many visitors under the current circumstances. The HKTB’s decision is a prudent and wise one, given the scale and venue of the two events. Nevertheless, it is important that the cancellations should not be perceived as Hong Kong being unsafe for all types of events and activities.”
Last Saturday, it was also announced that the venue of the 2020 Hong Kong Formula E-Prix would be switched to Marrakesh in Morocco.
On Friday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam invoked an emergency law that banned protesters from wearing face masks, in a drastic move to stem escalating violence within the city in recent weeks. It is the first time the Emergency Regulations Ordinance has been invoked in 52 years.
In defiance of the anti-mask law, however, several thousand Hong Kong protesters went on a violent rampage on Saturday, bringing the city to a standstill as subway services were suspended and shopping malls were shut down, reported various media outlets.
Thai Airways International’s (THAI) president has rebuffed claims that the airline has run into liquidity problems after deputy transport minister Thaworn Senneam expressed concerns over the national flag carrier’s financial health.
According to Thaworn, THAI reported losses amounting to over six billion baht (US$197 million) in 1H2019 and he foresees that the airline runs the risk of chalking up net losses of over 10 billion baht by year-end, said a report by Bangkok Post.
Thai Airways says it has not lost its financial liquidity
“THAI is now in crisis. Its financial status is in a critical condition,” the report quoted Thaworn as saying.
In response, THAI president Sumet Damrongchaitham said that the company has “sufficient cash flow circulation to manage its current and future business operations”, and contrary to recent news report, has not lost financial liquidity.
Sumet said that from 2013 to 2018, the company has successfully managed its debts, and have since reduced its debts by approximately 48 billion baht.
The company regularly issues reports on its loan debt and financial health to the regulatory agencies, namely, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Finance, and Public Debt Management Office – all of which have acknowledged the reports without raising any alarm, he added.
The company’s debt request of 32 billion baht for fiscal year 2020 will go towards its investments, to refinance or as working capital in business, as payment for operational expenses, to revamp equipment, and for aircraft maintenance, according to Sumet. He added that the amount does not include the airline’s plans to procure 38 new aircraft valued at 156 billion baht, which is pending approval from the relevant unit.
Earlier on, THAI had submitted a loan request for 50.8 billion baht to the Finance Ministry to boost liquidity, according to the Bangkok Post. If the loan is approved, 32 billion baht will be set aside as working capital while the rest would be earmarked to boost the airline’s cash flow, the report quoted a source at the ministry as saying.
Sumet said that as of the end of June 2019, the company’s cash and revolving credit line accounted for 13.4 per cent of the total estimated revenue for this year, which showed that the company had sufficient funds to “proceed with normal business operations”.
Direct air connections and the changing perceptions of Palau and The Marianas as simply diving destinations are top-of-mind concerns for the two destinations in the Pacific Ocean, as they look to sustain their traditional visitor source markets while seeking out new prospects.
Palau share similar top inbound markets – primarily North Asia – of China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan, most of which with direct connections to both destinations.
Tourism authorities say direct air connections key to growing tourism for Palau (pictured above) and The Marianas
Speaking to TTG Asia at the recent PATA Travel Mart in Nur-sultan, Kazakhstan, Priscilla Iakopo, managing director, Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), shared: “The reason why we focus on these Asian countries is because we have direct flights to major ports, as well as the short amount of flight time of between three to 3.5 hours.”
New source markets are clearly on the cards for MVA, with Iakopo indicating The Marianas will be participating in ITB Asia for the second time this year to woo “South-east Asian markets like Singapore and Malaysia”.
Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), chairman, board of directors, Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, has the same sentiments: “One market we would really love to have direct flights to is Singapore. They are the type of customer we want, but the challenge is that this market wants direct flights. The last thing a Singaporean wants to do is to stop somewhere else and shorten their already limited vacation time.”
Should direct flights from Singapore take off, they would also help to open Palau up to the European markets, Tmetuchl said.
Hence, both tourism authorities agreed that the most important thing now was to grow more direct connections, which would in turn help to bring in new source markets.
“The Marianas signed an agreement last year with Skymark Airlines – a domestic Japanese carrier – for a direct flight between Tokyo and Saipan. Saipan is also the first international flight on its network,” Iakopo revealed.
Similarly, Tmetuchl hopes that direct flights out of Narita, also operated by Skymark, will be able to start by March 2020. He added that South Korean LCC T’way Air currently has some scheduled charters coming up in 2020, with the possibility of daily flights in the future.
In South-east Asia, Vietjet will commence twice-weekly direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Palau on September 20. While the target is naturally the Vietnamese outbound market, Tmetuchl hopes that Chinese travellers will also use that route.
Both tourism authorities also see the need to diversify their offerings beyond dive tourism, which is just but one sector in the destinations.
“The divers will find their way here anyway. We want to diversify our markets to families and honeymooners – and we’re missing out on this market due to the lack of direct connections,” Tmetuchl said.
He added that PVA is also working to develop other attractions such as community-based tours and cultural experiences, in order to “balance out” the destination’s diving offerings.
For The Marianas, new marketing initiatives include promoting sports tourism such as marathons and water sports, according to Iakopo. “We are also exploring ecotourism, as people are increasingly concerned about sustainable tourism,” she said.
Other initiatives include developing a regional marketing scheme with other Micronesia islands to exhibit together at Asian tradeshows.
“For instance, we exhibited together with Guam and The Marianas at Asia Dive Expo in Singapore. It was a success, and we replicated it at the Taiwan International Tourism Expo. We’re currently in talks for another Micronesia booth at the upcoming International Travel Fair (also in Taiwan) this November,” Tmetuchl revealed.
A more defined marketing message needs to be relayed to showcase the diversity across the destinations though, Tmetuchl stated. “We are all very unique destinations. Each set of islands is different. We have different cultures, languages and food!”
The Myanmar government has granted visa-on-arrival (VoA) for visitors from six more countries, namely, Australia, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain and Switzerland, as part of its efforts to open up the country to foreigners and attract travellers from longhaul markets.
Passport holders of those nationals can apply for a VoA for US$50 at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International Airports, starting from October 1, 2019.
Myanmar offers VoAs to six more countries to attract travellers from longhaul markets
Japanese, South Korean, Hong Kong and Macau tourists were granted visa-free entry last year. Indian and mainland Chinese nationals were also granted VoAs into Myanmar in a move to attract more Asian tourists into the country. In 2Q2019, Myanmar saw an increase in the number of arrivals from nationals who had visa-free or VoA access to the country.
Myanmar Tourism Marketing’s chairperson May Myat Mon Win said: “We do hope that all these new regulations to ease access into Myanmar will lead more travellers from around the world to discover the unique Myanmar culture, nature and most of all, the hospitality of the people.”
UK is a popular longhaul destination among outbound travellers hailing from Singapore and Indonesia; London's Westminster Bridge pictured
Europe remains the most aspirational holiday spot among longhaul destinations for South-east Asian holidaymakers, according to the latest research from the European Travel Commission (ETC).
The South-East Asian Outbound Travel Market report, which aims to provide a thorough analysis investigating the potential of this market for European tourism, is based on primary research among potential visitors to Europe, with a focus on four key markets, namely, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
UK is a popular longhaul destination among outbound travellers hailing from Singapore and Indonesia; London’s Westminster Bridge pictured
The research found that first-time travellers who visit multiple destinations on their trip prioritise countries that are perceived to be more “prestigious”, such as France, Italy and Germany. The ease of borderless travel between countries, backed by a well-developed tourism infrastructure, adds to Europe’s appeal as a continent with “unity in diversity”.
Just as European destinations are united in diversity, so too are the tourism interests amongst the four markets. Specific exploration of passion-related or interest-based travel themes among South-east Asian travellers establishes Europe’s competitive advantage on slow adventure, culture and history, nature, city life and local gastronomy – the top five travel themes considered as the “main reason for travel”.
The report found that longhaul travellers from South-east Asia are mainly young couples and families. But evidence points to the rise of solo travellers, especially financially independent working women, in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. Group travel with friends and/or family also remains popular in this market, with travel parties usually consisting of two to four people. This trend is larger in Malaysia and Indonesia, where multigenerational travel is more common than in Singapore and Thailand.
As for age and frequency of travel, the travelling class tends to be between 21 to 54 years old, with evidence suggesting that South-east Asians undertake an average of two to three holidays overseas, with one longhaul trip typically lasting 10 to 21 days.
In terms of accommodation preferences, family travellers prefer four-star hotels across all four key markets, with a larger proportion of Singaporeans opting for five-star hotels, and some cost-conscious Malaysian and Thai travellers choosing to stay in budget accommodation. When deciding where to stay, OTAs like Expedia, booking.com and Agoda are increasingly being used.
South-east Asian travellers are mostly city enthusiasts, therefore travel itineraries that incorporate these interests are expected to appeal to both first-time and repeat visitors to Europe.
For Singaporeans, destination choices vary significantly as they are more likely to tick one or more destinations off their bucket list each time they travel overseas, with traditional holiday destinations such as the UK, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland proving to be the most popular.
In Malaysia, preferences have undergone noticeable change over the years, with Central/Eastern destinations enjoying more travellers from this market in recent years, while demand for Turkey and the Balkans is also rising, due to their Muslim-friendly environment.
For Indonesians, the evergreen destinations in Europe are the UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands and Turkey, while in Thailand, Europe commands the largest share of longhaul travel, with the traditional Western European destinations most popular.
Europe is perceived as an expensive holiday destination which appears to be the main barrier to travel to the continent for South-East Asian travellers. Limited air connectivity, especially from Malaysia and Indonesia, and the need to apply for a Schengen visa for Indonesia and Thailand citizens are mentioned as some of the key deterrents for travel to Europe from these markets.
