Headquartered in Singapore, where majority of the population are Chinese, Lunar New Year is a HUGE event in the Lion City. Our office is closed after 12.30 tomorrow and reopens on Tuesday February 20.
Therefore, there will be no daily news (eating pineapple tarts, oranges and other auspicious foods are far more pleasurable anyway). News will resume Monday, February 19 (yes, even though the office reopens only on Tuesday – we’re mad about news, that’s why).
Seriously, have a paws-perous Lunar Year of the Dog, will you?
From all of us at TTG Asia, here’s wishing you a peaceful, prosperous and happy lunar new year.
Families and young professionals on the tourism radar
As the country attains record highs in visitor arrivals and tourism receipts for the second consecutive year in 2017, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is training its sights on families and youths from emerging and longhaul markets to sustain the growth in inbound traffic.
Tourism receipts rose by 3.9 per cent to S$26.8 billion (US$20.2 billion), largely driven by growth in visitor arrivals across all top 10 markets and higher visitor arrivals from high-spending markets such as China, South Korea, the US and the UK, according to STB.
Visitor arrivals climbed 6.2 per cent to 17.4 million, with Vietnam, China, India and longhaul markets showing considerable growth last year.
Families and young professionals on the tourism radar
Visitor arrivals from Vietnam – of which some 50 per cent were from Ho Chi Minh and 20 per cent from Hanoi – entered Singapore’s top 10 arrival markets for the first time with a 13 per cent increase from 2016 to 2017.
This market, which numbers 531,000, largely comprised leisure group travellers, shared Chee Pey Chang, assistant chief executive, STB.
“The Vietnam economy is fast expanding. There is a growing middle class and people are starting to embrace travel as a must-do lifestyle choice,” noted Chang.
STB will look to “deepen (its) penetration of the Vietnam market”, which favours Singapore for weekend getaways and its event draws, he continued.
Meanwhile, China overtook Indonesia to become Singapore’s top source market for visitor arrivals, and India posted the highest growth rate at a 16 per cent over 2016.
Outside of Asia, longhaul markets such as the US, UK and Australia registered record highs. The US jumped by nine per cent and two positions to reach the ninth source market, and the UK and Australia rose by six and five per cent respectively.
These trends were bolstered by increased flight connectivity with Singapore, especially encouraged by competitive fares via LCCs such as Norwegian, Scoot and Vietjet, said Chang.
He shared that to further cultivate these source markets, STB is looking to target families as well as two younger traveller segments – in the “established careers” and “young careers” stages – with its digital and marketing campaigns.
These include collaborations with private companies such as Lyft and Pandora in the US.
It also plans to intensify multimedia engagements, such as through Eric Khoo’s film Ramen Teh and the upcoming Crazy Rich Asians movie produced locally.
A 1,001-key hotel being built in Boracay – set to become the country’s biggest – is creating some unease within the trade about potential damage to the island, which is already reeling from flooding, water contamination, mass tourism among other concerns.
Double Dragon Properties announced the construction of its “eco-friendly greenenergized” Hotel 101 Resort-Boracay, part of the 150ha Boracay Newcoast estate that will also include other hotels, residential condominiums and villages, a golf course and commercial facilities.
Crowded beaches already a concern in Boracay
Jojo Clemente, president, Tourism Congress of the Philippines, expressed concerns over the impacts this large-scale hotel will have on Boracay’s carrying capacity.
“Personally, I think Boracay should be given time to ‘heal’ itself as we have already seen problems that have arisen especially during peak periods. To build a mega infrastructure like Hotel 101 may strain the island more,” said Clemente.
“It’s an investment first and foremost, and we cannot fault Double Dragon for that. It will create jobs, revenues and more capacity. Moreover, if they plan to develop it in an environmentally-friendly way, that is very welcome. Hopefully, they can implement that to relieve the sustainability issue that would inevitably arise,” he added.
Simon Ang, managing director Let’s Celebrate Life Travel & Leisure, is appalled that the hotel project “will seal the coffin” for Boracay.
Artist impression of the Double Dragon development (photo credit: Double Dragon)
“Hotel 101 should have had more conscience,” Ang remarked, as he questioned “the kind of people that they pull in and how these people treat the environment”.
“Boracay is not alone in the conundrum of urban resort tourism,” said Bill Barnett, managing director of consultancy C9 Hotelworks. “The Philippines is simply tracking a trend of Chinacation in all of Asia’s resort markets.
“What is more worrying aside from the sheer size of Hotel 101 is that the average length of stay for Chinese is short, say 2.2 to 2.3 days, so the stress on airports, ground handling and more important tourism attractions is enormous,” said Barnett.
He further pointed out that Chinese travellers do not want to spend their holidays in hotels, and demand days packed with activities, which “likely means Boracay needs more demand generators versus just its famed beaches”.
At press time, Double Dragon did not respond to TTG Asia‘s queries about its mega Boracay project.
There is a ring in the name of India. The sounds of bells, conch shells, religious chanting, put you on a transcendental high. The roar of the tiger, song of the nightingale and dance of the peacock are part of a truly mesmerizing ambience. The humming of industrial activity and futuristic development reveal a buoyant economy. Add to this the call of vibrant and colorful costumes, decorations, festivities, lilting music, folklore renditions, handcrafted artefacts, puppetry, and you have an incredible wonderland that is India.
India covers an area of 32,87,263 sq. km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. The total length of coastline of the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is 7,516.6 kms.
Its geographical features give it a seasonal quality quite different from what one may have witnessed any where else. In fact the monsoons, or the rainy seasons, summer and winter are on of a kind.
Visit India and feel its symphony in diversity; strike the right cords for a perfect sojourn.
Tokyo has come out tops in a ranking of Chinese New Year (CNY) destinations for Asian travellers in 2018, overtaking Bangkok which has held the title for the last two years, according to agoda.
Other destinations that slipped down the rankings include Singapore and Chiang Mai, which respectively fell from third place in 2016 to eighth this year, and seventh to 12th.
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka made top 10
Japan took three of the top 10 spots, with Kyoto making an entry for the first time and Osaka moving up from ninth place in 2016 to third this year.
Although Tokyo is attracting the most travellers from across Asia, agoda’s booking data showed 70 per cent of Japanese choosing to go overseas for CNY, with Bangkok, Seoul and Pattaya their top overseas picks. Those choosing to travel locally are heading to Tokyo, Osaka and Okinawa.
Singaporeans favour nearby South-east Asian destinations, which make up eight of the top 10 destinations year on year. Batam Island, Bangkok and Johor Bahru have held the top three spots for CNY travel since 2016. Tokyo ranks seventh for Singaporeans, followed by Taipei in eighth place.
Looking at Malaysians travelling this CNY, agoda noted a marked preference for celebrating in their own backyard, with eight out of the top 10 hot spots domestic destinations. Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang have held the top three spots since 2016.Thailand is the only foreign country to make the top 10 in 2018, with Bangkok and Hat Yai coming in fourth and fifth respectively.
Similarly, a majority of Indonesians (65 per cent) opt for holidays at home. The top three domestic destinations this year are Bandung, Bali and Yogyakarta. For those seeking adventure off-shore Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Tokyo are the top international destinations.
Meanwhile, for mainland Chinese travellers, Hong Kong wrestles back the top spot from Bangkok which slipped to third place in the market this CNY. Thailand’s popularity among Chinese travellers is notable, with three destinations – Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket – making an appearance in the market’s top five.
Artist impression of new Marvel attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland (photo credit: Disney, Marvel)
Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar magic abound as Disney Parks and Resorts announces new attractions around the world at the D23 Expo Japan 2018.
After the Iron Man Experience was launched in Hong Kong Disneyland, it was yesterday announced that an entire Marvel-themed area is now on its way to the park. Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Bob Chapek, revealed that the second new Marvel attraction will invite guests to “team up with Ant-Man and The Wasp to fight Arnim Zola and his army of Hydra swarm bots”.
Artist impression of new Marvel attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland (photo credit: Disney, Marvel)
More larger-than-life superhero adventures await, with Chapek sharing that the Marvel Super Hero universe will come to Paris’ Walt Disney Studios Park, and the existing Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be reimagined featuring Iron Man and Avengers.
Fans in Japan also got a peek into one of the rooms that will open at Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel in 2020, while buzz builds around Star-Lord and his fellow Guardians of the Galaxy making their way to Epcot.
In Japan, Tokyo Disney Resort is looking forward to its biggest expansion since the opening of Tokyo DisneySea. The first-ever attraction inspired by Big Hero 6 will launch at Tomorrowland at Tokyo Disneyland, and a Beauty and the Beast-themed area will be added to Fantasyland.
The Fantasyland expansion will also include the first full-scale, live entertainment theatre at Tokyo Disneyland, while Toontown will see a new design studio where guests can meet Minnie Mouse. At Tokyo DisneySea, guests will soon be able to experience a version of Soarin’, one of the most popular attractions across all Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
More details on the hyped Star Wars-themed hotel concept have also been revealed. The hotel will combine a luxury resort with an authentic Star Wars story at Walt Disney World Resort, and Chapek yesterday announced this will be connected to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney has also dubbed 2018 the “Year of Pixar” at Disney parks, with Toy Story Land opening at Shanghai Disney Resort in April, and at Walt Disney World Resort this summer.
Disney announced yesterday that Pixar Pier will open at Disney California Adventure on June 23, including the Incredicoaster and a future attraction themed to Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out. Fans also learned that a new Incredibles float will join Paint the Night this June. The popular parade returns to the Disneyland Resort – this time to Disney California Adventure – when Pixar Fest launches on April 13.
Just in time for the 20th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a new, family-friendly show will debut April 22, featuring Russell and Dug from Disney•Pixar’s Up, as they discover species of birds from around the world.
Singaporeans transiting at Schiphol Airport, and soon more airports in Europe, will not be required to clear security checks
As part of the first One Stop Security (OSS) arrangement between Europe and an Asian nation, Singaporeans will no longer have to go through security checks when transiting at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, reports the Singapore’s Straits Times.
Under OSS, passengers, their checked luggage and hand-carry items will not be screened at the point of transit.
Singaporeans transiting at Schiphol Airport, and soon more airports in Europe, will not be required to clear security checks
The plan is to progressively add other airports such as London and Frankfurt to the scheme, according to the Straits Times.
Singapore’s Ministry of Transport signed the arrangement with the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of European Commission (EC DG-MOVE) on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow last week.
Apart from facilitating transit for passengers and improving efficiency for airlines, MOT said the move also “affirms the commitment between Singapore and the European Commission to strengthen international co-operation (and) enhance civil aviation security as well as passenger, airline and airport facilitation in line with relevant international standards”.
Global travel management company American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has announced that it will acquire Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) PLC, a global B2B services company specialising in travel management.
The combined acquisition is expected to accelerate growth by utilising complementary footprints and solutions to provide additional benefits to clients; combine two advanced travel technology and development platforms to create better products and services to serve clients and travellers; deliver synergies through cost savings and scale benefits; and maximise efficiencies across the business.
The combined American Express Global Business Travel and Hogg Robinson Group would create a powerhouse in corporate travel
Doug Anderson, CEO of American Express GBT, said in a statement: “The complementary geographical footprints of each company will improve the global scale and reach of our business, enabling us to achieve efficiencies across a best-in-class platform and accelerate growth. The technology roadmaps of each business provide a powerful platform from which to drive future innovation.
“We will deliver a superior client and traveller experience through fully-integrated travel management solutions, including booking and expense management products.”
The acquisition is conditioned on receipt of antitrust and other regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2Q2018.
Miki Travel’s Asia Division last week organised a party in Manila for Philippine travel agents and awarded its outstanding partners in outbound travel to Europe. The Japan-based DMC also presented a lifetime achievement award to Adam’s Express Travel president and founder, Mamerto Banatin, for his contribution in tapping tours to Europe.
Raffles Cambodia has appointed Oliver Dudler as cluster general manager of the Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh and Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap.
Prior to joining Raffles Cambodia, Dudler was with Raffles & Fairmont Makati Manila.
The Swiss national brings with him over 20 years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry. Previous appointments include management roles with The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Beijing and The Peninsula Manila.
