Keeping the passion for local culture alive

August 28, 2018

Four years ago when Ho Ho Go Experience was launched to offer in-depth local cultural tours, traditional operators were sceptical about the niche product.

It did not help that founder Ling Ho was an outsider without any trade network and experience. Unlike ordinary tours, Ho’s involve a fair bit of walking – and sometimes sweating too.

Yet this was just the kind of tours that Hong Kong needed, Ho said.

Ho Ho Go Experience offers walks as well as foodie, lifestyle and private tours that bring participants closer to local life.

“From the start in 2015 I found the city’s tour product development at a crossroads and lacking high quality and personalised tours. Having enjoyed various insightful tours overseas, I decided to establish one here in Hong Kong,” she recounted.

“Tourism is a window to a city, and Hong Kong abounds in local neighborhood experiences and resources that not many tourists ever see.”

Ho’s company prides itself on employing passionate guides with in-depth local knowledge and insights.

Once, a Taiwanese girl chose a Yau Ma Tei tour but turned out to be the sole participant. Rather than follow customary business practice and cancelling the tour, Ho decided to proceed with the one-person tour.

“I later found out she had earlier joined a similar tour for free but the guide hardly answered her questions. That’s why she didn’t mind to pay and learn about the neighborhood,” Ho recounted.

“I always treat clients as friends as they come all the way from other parts of the world and are willing to spare few hours on our tours. Therefore, we must give them back something good. I hope international visitors remember such cultural characteristics even when they are back home and know that Hong Kong has a soul.”

Ho opined that new ideas tend to get copied swiftly. Rather than simply following trends, she continues to seek out local flavour and the “soul” of Hong Kong at the heart of tours, all the while adding new, unusual stops in her programmes.

When it comes to the eat and play theme, for example, she takes participants on a six-hour journey comprising a hiking route to Lai Chi Wo in Taipo with abandoned villages along the way.

For the two-hour Choi Hung Public Housing Estate, participants are brought close to the pulse of everyday life in Hong Kong, visiting areas enjoyed by locals.

Ho said: “Today, even traditional tour companies offer cultural tours. Two years ago I asked the Hong Kong Tourism Board how many tour operators there were like Ho Ho Go and the answer was two. Today, there are many agents claiming to provide such experiences.”

With more tour companies offering cultural tours, Ho says a priority is to stay away from crowds and keep tours intimate. Ho Ho Go Experience’s downtown tour takes a maximum of 15 people, and a student helper is assigned for every five participants.

UNWTO highlights reveal world’s top travel markets and destinations

By TTG Asia

August 28, 2018

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Japan entered the world’s top 10 destinations in terms of tourism earnings in 2017, among the highlights in UNWTO’s most recent report.

International tourist arrivals grew 7% in 2017, the highest increase since 2010, UNWTO’s Tourism Highlights shows. Growth in arrivals was mirrored by a strong increase in exports generated by tourism, which reached US$1.6 trillion in 2017, making tourism the world’s third-largest export sector.

China leads outbound travel spend, while Russians re-enter the ranking of top 10 spenders

Among the top markets and destinations in the world, Spain rose to become the world’s second most-visited destination in terms of international arrivals, after France.

In terms of tourism earnings, Japan entered the top 10 in 10th place after six straight years of double-digit growth. Meanwhile, Russia re-entered the top 10 of world spenders at eighth place.

The new Tourism Highlights report also illustrates that China continues to lead global outbound travel, having spent US$258 billion on international tourism in 2017. This is almost one-fifth of the world’s total tourism spending in 2017, which stood at US$1.3 trillion, some US$94 billion more than in 2016.

Available data for early 2018 has since confirmed international tourism’s continued strong growth, with a year-on-year increase of 6% in arrivals between January and April.

Asian travellers lead the family travel surge: Agoda

By TTG Asia

August 28, 2018

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New school semesters may already underway after the mid-year break, but that doesn’t mean families are packing away their travel gear just yet.

In fact, new research from Agoda revealed seven out of 10 families globally take at least two family vacations a year, with Asian travellers taking more than twice as many family trips as their Western peers (five trips a year versus two).

Asian families take more trips together compared to those in Europe, Agoda’s survey shows

The Agoda Family Travel Trends 2018 survey, conducted by YouGov, found that just 18% of travellers globally take only one family holiday a year, while over 34% have taken more than five family trips in the past year.

Asia dominates this multi-holiday trend with 77% of travellers from Thailand and 62% from the Philippines claiming to have taken five or more family breaks in the past year. Conversely, only 7% of British travellers took more than five family trips, with the UK also most likely (34%) to take only one.

A four- to seven-night stay is the most popular duration for family holidays globally but there are large variances across markets.

In the UK, a four- to seven-night stay made up 41% of family travel in the past year, compared to only 20% of family travel for Thais. Instead, family vacations of more than 14 nights are taken by almost a third of Thais but only 11% of Malaysians. Vietnamese, Malaysian and Chinese families are most likely of all travellers to take one- to three-night vacations.

The study also found that Asian travellers engage in more multi-generational and extended family trips. Thais (66%) and Indonesians (54%) were most likely to have included grandparents in their holiday plans. This trend is also reflected when looking at extended family members with Thais and Indonesians most likely to include siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles in their vacation plans.

While 35% of global travellers have taken a holiday with grandparents, respondents from the UK and Australia are the least likely to have done so, with only 13% and 20% of embarking on them respectively.

It is not just family members that the Americans, British, Australians and Chinese don’t travel with, they are also the least likely travellers to go away with other groups of friends, with only 22% of Americans, 23% of Brits, 26% of Australians and 27% of Chinese having done so in the past year.

Meanwhile, almost half (48%) of travellers from the Philippines tie up with a group of friends for some of their vacations, closely followed by Vietnamese and Malaysian family travellers at 43% and 40%.

Hotels are still the most popular accommodation for families, followed by holiday homes, B&Bs and all-inclusive resorts. Cost, safety and activities were the top global considerations for when planning family holidays compared to holidays with non-family or alone.

When it comes to travel motivation, travellers globally look forward to quality family time (68%) the most on family trips. Relaxation (66%) and trying new things (46%) came out as second and third preferences.

British and Singaporeans are the most adventurous on family trips. Exploring new cultures as a family travel experience is most popular among these two groups (48% and 46% respectively). Chinese and Thai travellers are the least likely to investigate new cultures on their trips, (both 29%).

When examining anxieties relating to family travel, concerns about falling sick (36%), the standard of accommodation (21%) and family disagreements (16%) ranked highest for family travellers globally.

Brits seemingly have the least worries when it comes to family holidays, with nearly a third (27%) saying that they have no concerns at all.

A first look at Lotte Hotel Seoul’s new Executive Tower

By TTG Asia

August 28, 2018

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Lotte Hotel Seoul will open its Executive Tower on September 1 after a revamp spanning guestroooms and facilities.

The number of rooms in the Executive Tower have been adjusted from 373 to 278, not only to expand the service space of Deluxe Room, but also to enhance the facilities.

Lotte Hotel Seoul's revamped Executive Tower

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The Royal Suite, said to be the largest of its kind in South Korea, also received a 4.1 billion won refresh. It now boasts Beautyrest Black, the largest bed available in the country; the C. Bechstein grand piano in the living room, one of the top three pianos in the world and is worth approximately 50 million won; and a private fitness area with equipment from Italy’s TechnoGym.

One of the additions to suites is a “clothing management device” called Styler, installed in a Lotte Hotel for the first time.

Among the service enhancement are Valet Box in suites that will save guests the trouble of requesting laundry service, and packing and unpacking assistance on request.

Lotte Hotel Seoul said it also features the largest club lounge (15^th floor) in South Korea and private meeting rooms. In addition, Le Salon (16^th floor), a luxury lounge exclusively for Executive Lounge customers, offers breakfast, light snacks, afternoon tea, and happy hour and bar services. One highlight of the lounge is the Live Station, offering beverages made on the spot as well as authentic French-style Gueridon service.

For F&B, two Michelin-star restaurant Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul (35^th floor) will make a return.

Pierre’s Bar, transformed into a luxury French boutique space, will carry 10 new signature cocktails and various single malt whiskeys. Pierre Bar is also introducing its new PG Bar Membership. Available in two tiers, Gold and Platinum, the PG Bar Membership entitles holders to single malt whiskey and champagne drinks depending on the membership level. Additional benefits such as 30 per cent discount on snack dishes and free Keeping Box service are also included. Sales are limited to 30 members.

Phan takes up Onyx’s VP operations role in Greater China

By TTG Asia

August 28, 2018

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Onyx Hospitality Group has appointed Phan Ing Pai as vice president, operations – Greater China. Based in Shanghai, Phan will report to Gina Wo, senior vice president & head of Greater China.

He will be responsible for leading the operations team in the Greater China region, providing support to all operational properties across the region and ensuring all properties are in line with the group’s established operational standards. Phan will also work closely with the sales & marketing team by offering commercial support to the property teams, ensuring optimum hotel performance and business returns.

Prior to joining Onyx, Phan was area general manager, North China for Frasers Hospitality.

He has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and serviced apartments industries and a deep understanding of the Chinese market. Phan has spent the past 14 years in China, where he also held senior level positions with Swiss-Belhotel International.

Sustainable tourism pioneer marks 25th anniversary

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena

August 27, 2018

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Willem_Niemeijer_drum — Khiri Travel founder and CEO Willem Niemeijer celebrates the milestone with a spirited bang of the drum

DMC Khiri Travel last Friday evening marked its silver anniversary with a cocktail party in Bangkok, with company employees, travel industry leaders and guests gathered at The Glass House, Nai Lert Heritage House to celebrate the positive impacts the Bangkok-based DMC has made in many aspects of its business and operations over the last 25 years.

The celebration featured traditional Thai puppetry by Joe Louis Theatre, a ‘memory lane’ display featuring photos and memorabilia that marked Khiri Travel’s transformation over time (including the original table when the company was still a one-room office), and staff dressed in traditional attire from its eight countries of operation.

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A panel discussion entitled The Next 25 Years in Travel also saw industry veterans Mario Hardy, CEO of PATA; Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council; and David Keen, CEO of QUO; together with Willem Niemeijer, CEO of Khiri Travel, presenting different viewpoints about overtourism, authentic travel, elephant riding and plastic usage, among others.

Sustainability has been a key theme for Khiri Travel since it was founded by Niemeijer in Bangkok in 1993 to arrange travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia at a time when the Mekong region was opening to tourists.

A quarter century later, responsible travel remains at the core for Khiri Travel which has now grown in a DMC with 230 employees and 17 offices across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The sustainable tourism pioneer has a long history of giving back, with guests at the anniversary event encouraged to support the trio of projects initiated by its charity arm, Khiri Reach: help for the victims of the recent Lombok earthquakes, clean water wells in Myanmar, and a children’s foundation in Vietnam.

Integrity, inclusion and respect for local culture will continue to define Khiri’s commitment to responsible travel as the company expands further. “We’re always looking at sustainable long-term growth for Khiri,” said Niemeijer.

“Khiri Travel will continue to support the sustainable development of travel beyond Asia’s hubs,” he remarked. “As a CEO, the joy for me is when we work with local people at grass roots to help them realise their hopes for their families and communities. For me, this will not change in the next 25 years.”

Kerala tourism a washout after devastating floods

By Rohit Kaul

August 27, 2018

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Kerala-floods — PATHANAMTHITTA, INDIA - AUG 17:People watch the rescue process in the flooded area on August 17,2018 in Pathanamthitta,Kerala, India. Kerala was badly affected by the floods during the monsoon season

The tourism sector of Kerala, already reeling under pressure in the wake of the Nipah virus outbreak in the state, received another jolt when the recent torrential rain resulted in floods.

“Kerala, which is generally one of the hotspots for both domestic and international tourists, has had a bad time these last few months. First it was the Nipah virus (though it was confined to certain parts of North Kerala) that affected the domestic tourism season of May and June, and now it is the devastation caused by the floods,” said Kapil Goswamy, managing director, Trans India Holidays.

Kerala has been badly affected by the floods during the monsoon season

“During the monsoon season (July, August and September), Kerala normally gets a good number of domestic tourists, a small number of international tourists, and a significant number of Ayurveda or wellness seeking international tourists. The last month or so have unfortunately, been a washout for tourism, and even though the situation is improving now, it will be a few months before we see any upswing in tourism numbers,” he added.

Access to many of the tourism destinations like Munnar, Idukki and Periyar has been severely affected because of the worst floods in a century in the state. Kerala’s busiest and biggest airport in Kochi has been shut from August 16 and will be opened on August 29.

GDP generated by the state is expected to fall to 6.5-7 per cent from the budgeted 7.6 per cent this fiscal year, according to a report by Care Ratings. The tourism and hospitality sector contributes 40 per cent of the state’s GDP.

“The ongoing floods will have a deep impact on the tourism business to Kerala and everybody will wait for the situation to improve. The tourists who had booked their tours for the coming few months will definitely either change the destination or postpone their visit. This all depends on the situation after the flood water recedes and the situation becomes clearer,” said Arun Anand, managing director, Midtown Travels.

Tour operators have already started receiving cancellations. “From international markets we are experiencing cancellations from travellers booked during the months of late September to November, and from the domestic market there are hardly any queries for travel to Kerala during the coming months. All of us in the tourism industry hope that Kerala recovers soon,” added Goswamy.

Despite the devastation wrecked by the floods, Kerala-based EM Najeeb, senior vice president, Indian Association of Tour Operators, remains positive for the coming inbound season prospects.

“Our expectations are still high and our outlook of a productive season is intact despite many challenges. The tourism industry feels that the season would go normal without much damage, unless there are last-minute cancellations closer to the season,” he said.

Some tour operators see an opportunity to combine Kerala with neighbouring states in their tour packages. “The situation in Kerala calls for a greater innovation and efforts to sell the destination. We have to include other states or innovate with itineraries and ensure to convince international tourists to place their trust in this region, but we are determined to sell Kerala and support are partners there,” said Rajat Singhal, director, Leisure World Tours.

In Singapore, tourism receipts plateau despite growing arrivals

By TTG Asia

August 27, 2018

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While international visitor arrivals into Singapore grew by 7.3% year-on-year to reach 4.6 million in 1Q2018, tourism receipts dipped marginally with declines seen in shopping, accommodation and F&B expenditure, according to the Singapore Tourism Board’s 1Q report.

The destination’s top five visitor-generating markets in the quarter were China (0.9 million), Indonesia (0.7 million), India (0.3 million), Malaysia (0.3 million) and Australia (0.3 million). Combined, they accounted for 54% of total arrivals.

Tourists spending less on shopping, F&B and accommodation

China (+10%), India (+22%) and Indonesia (+4%) registered the largest absolute year-on-year growth, while Germany (-7%), Australia (-3%) and the Philippines (-4%) posted the largest declines.

Tourism receipts for 1Q2018 were down 0.5% to S$6.7 billion (US$4.9 billion). While sightseeing, entertainment and gaming (+6%) and other tourism receipt components (+22%) grew, shopping (-9%), accommodation (-13%) and F&B (-16%) declined.

Gazetted hotel room revenue for 1Q2018 however was up 8.5%, coming in at an estimated S$1 billion. Average occupancy rate was 86.1%, a 1.4 percentage point increase.

Average room rate increased 2.3% to S$222 while revenue per available room increased 4% to reach S$191 in 1Q2018.

HKTB rides new high-speed rail to promote multi-destination travel

By TTG Asia

August 27, 2018

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POWERPNT_2017-07-25_13-40-09 — A train of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. Photo: GovHK

With confirmation that the long-delayed Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail service will be operational on September 23, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is intensifying efforts to promote the city as part of multi-destination itineraries.

Along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, the line running between Guangzhou Nan and Shenzhen Bei opened in December 2011, and completion of the Hong Kong extension was originally scheduled for 2015.

A train of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link. Photo: GovHK

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, recent agreements that transferred operating rights to MTR Corporation were accompanied by the announcement that travellers will get direct access from the West Kowloon station to 44 locations across the border, up from 20 announced earlier.

Peter Lam, chairman of the HKTB, said: “The commencement of the high-speed rail will reinforce Hong Kong’s position as China’s southernmost gateway by connecting Hong Kong to the mainland’s national high-speed rail network.”

The development is allowing HKTB to step up its ongoing efforts to promote multi-destination travel. Leveraging the tourism resources along the rail line, more business opportunities could emerge for the travel trade in Hong Kong and mainland, Lam remarked.

“Riding on the commencement of the high-speed rail, the HKTB is in discussion with the travel trade in Hong Kong and the mainland to launch tourism products featuring the high-speed rail, such as rail-cruise products jointly developed with cruise companies; as well as high-speed rail tours,” said Lam.

Anantara’s private jet experience takes flight

By TTG Asia

August 27, 2018

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MJETS_Gulfstream_V_-_Interior — Interior of MJets' Gulfstream V private jet

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, in partnership with MJets, has launched private jet experiences taking guests from Bangkok to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The new offering combines private jet transportation with stays at the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas and Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka.

Larger groups will cruise in the Gulfstream V jet, with a three-zone cabin environment for working, dining, entertaining and resting. Amenities including shower facilities, fully reclining beds, entertainment systems and two flight attendants.

Interior of MJets’ Gulfstream V private jet

Cessna Citation X, which carries up to eight passengers, has features including fully reclining body club seats, entertainment systems and one flight attendant.

Upon touching down at Colombo International airport, guests are transported via private limousine to a private ocean-view villa at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle on Sri Lanka’s southernmost shore.

Activities at the resort range from Aryurvedic wellness journeys to surfing and personalised spa experiences. After dining on sustainably sourced cuisine, brought from farm to cliff side table by a private chef, guests may also take a class in Sri Lankan cuisine.

From here, guests have the option to jet off to the Maldives. At Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, they will stay in overwater villas, which feature a two-tiered deck with shaded swinging daybed, dining area and ocean hammocks above, and a lower deck that steps into the lagoon.

Day-time activities include diving, snorkelling with mantas and whale sharks and enjoying the aquamarine lagoon of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. At night, guests can stargaze in the only observatory in the southern Indian Ocean.

The Anantara Private Jet Experience can be tailored to suit each guest or scaled to accommodate larger groups.

Keeping the passion for local culture alive

UNWTO highlights reveal world’s top travel markets and destinations

Asian travellers lead the family travel surge: Agoda

A first look at Lotte Hotel Seoul’s new Executive Tower

Phan takes up Onyx’s VP operations role in Greater China

Sustainable tourism pioneer marks 25th anniversary

Kerala tourism a washout after devastating floods

In Singapore, tourism receipts plateau despite growing arrivals

HKTB rides new high-speed rail to promote multi-destination travel

Anantara’s private jet experience takes flight

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