Cairns will receive its first direct connection from China when China Southern Airlines begins its thrice-weekly flights from Guangzhou on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft this December, following the airline’s recently launched flights to Sydney and Adelaide.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) chair, Max Shepherd, said: “Established under the Queensland Government’s A$33.5 million (US$25.7 million) Advance Queensland: Connecting with Asia initiative, this will be the first direct year-round service from mainland China to Cairns.”

Cairns Esplanade

Growth from China continued for the year ending March 2017, delivering 218,000 visitors to Tropical North Queensland, an 8.8 per cent increase which represented more than half of Queensland’s 406,000 Chinese holiday visitors.

The Guangzhou-Cairns service will provide a substantial opportunity to build on the growth in arrivals from the region’s top source market, said Shepherd. Offering a total of 33,852 seats, this new sector is projected to inject A$30.8 million in overnight visitor expenditure for the region in the first year and A$90 million over three years.

“TTNQ developed the concept for Australia’s Tropical Resort Holiday Destination two and a half years ago as a catalyst for the introduction of direct flights to Cairns,” Shephard said, adding that the region has since been seeking to position itself as not just a group holiday but also mono destination for the burgeoning Chinese FIT market.

Cairns Airport CEO Norris Carter expects the service will “open up (the) Canton Route for travel between Europe and Cairns”, and marks a welcomed news for the region in the 2017 China Australia Year of Tourism.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is offering a total of S$1 million (US$726,467) to Singapore-based businesses for innovative marketing campaign ideas that feature the Singapore story.

Successful applicants of the Marketing Innovation Programme will each receive a dollar-for-dollar matching award of up to S$300,000 (excluding GST), to amplify the distribution of the campaign.

Applicants will be evaluated by a panel of STB and industry representatives, against a set of evaluation criteria such as innovativeness, potential to drive tourism outcomes and feasibility.

Open to businesses from both travel and non-travel industries, applications for the programme closes on August 31.

STB director of marketing partnerships and planning Jacqueline Ng told TTG Asia: “We hope to double the reach and impact of these campaigns amongst our target audience. This will help us to boost destination awareness of Singapore and… bring the destination to life in the minds of potential visitors.”

The board listed five target customer segments: working adults aged 25-34 years (Early Careers) and 40-49 (Established Careers), families travelling with children aged 12 and below (Families with young kids), seniors aged 55 and above (Active Silvers), and Business Event Visitors comprising MICE delegates.

“Each of the different customer segments has varying needs and interests. For example, family travellers view their holidays as time to bond with their children,” explained Ng. “Meanwhile, millennial travellers are more likely to be interested in experiencing different cultures and tasting a variety of local cuisines, and are also looking for opportunities to meet new people and connect with locals.”

Ng added: “The programme aims to inspire a culture of innovation and experimentation in marketing, and encourage marketers in Singapore to reimagine, disrupt and set new benchmarks for destination marketing.”

Following Royal Caribbean Cruises and Genting Cruise Line‘s plans to develop the country’s cruise infrastructure, the Philippines has also caught the eye of Japan Cruise Lines (JCL), which will make the Philippines a regular port of call in its cruise itinerary for 2018.

“We are happy to announce that we will be deploying the Pacific Venus to the Philippines next year. We hope to receive the usual support for the safe and enjoyable stay of our passengers,” said senior managing director, Kenji Yoneda, on the sidelines of the 2017 Philippine Business Mission to Japan last week.

Pacific Venus

With a capacity of 600 passengers, JCL’s Pacific Venus has been bringing predominantly Japanese tourists to Philippines. It first called at Puerto Princesa and Manila in November 2015, and Bohol, Boracay, Manila and the Hundred Islands in November 2016.

Department of Tourism’s (DOT) secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo said: “I am confident that more international cruise operators will find our country lucrative as we go about implementing key measures such as the development of port and shore-side infrastructure, facilitation of business entry and offering more exciting shore excursions, among others.”

Cruise tourism is one of the nine product portfolios identified in the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plan to enhance the competitiveness of the country as a tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific.

Latest statistics show that international cruise calls to the Philippines have been growing at an average rate of 27.8 per cent over the past four years, from 56 calls in 2014 to 70 calls in 2015 and 72 calls in 2016. This year, the Philippines projects over 100 port calls, bringing in an estimated 122,000 cruise passengers.

Dusit Thani Bangkok will officially hold its last day of operations on April 16, 2018, bringing to a close Dusit International’s flagship property in its current format since its inception on February 27, 1970.

A series of special events and promotions are created to commemorate the hotel’s 48^th anniversary and heritage.

The current Dusit Thani Bangkok

For stays at the hotel made via www.dusit.com before December 31, 2017, guests will receive Dusit Best Rate Guarantee, a free upgrade to the next room category upon availability, complimentary early check-in after 06.00 and late check-out until 18.00, and one daily BTS ticket per person.

Meanwhile, for bookings made by August 31, 2017 for stays before October 31, the hotel is also offering its Superior Room, including complimentary upgrade to a Dusit Room (60m² executive suite with living room) upon availability, for the price of 4,800 baht (US$141) per night inclusive of breakfast for two.

As well, all couples who have held a wedding reception at the hotel since its opening are entitled to enjoy the Wedding Memories promotion, which includes a complimentary three-course set lunch or dinner, a copy of the Thai Way of Life: The Dusit Cookbook, and a privilege card offering 27 per cent off food (a la carte and international buffet) from now through April 15, 2018.

The new Dusit Thani Bangkok will rise in 2022 as part of a new mixed-use development built in partnership with Central Pattana.

Riu Hotels will open a four-star Riu Plaza hotel in Madrid, resulting from a conversion of the Edificio España building purchased from the Baraka Group.

The 650-key property will occupy 24 of Edificio España’s 27 floors, with the rest given over to retail. The hotel will offer 1,800m² of space for events with an open-plan room measuring 1,500m² with six-metre-high ceilings. It will also have two restaurants, a rooftop swimming pool next to the Sky Bar and an additional 900m² of space for events.

Edificio España building

“It had always been part of our strategic plan to open a Riu Plaza hotel in Spain and this opportunity in Madrid, in such an unbeatable location and emblematic building, surpasses all expectations,’ say Carmen and Luis Riu, CEOs of RIU Hotels.

RIU currently has six Riu Plaza hotels around the world. The first opened its doors Panama City in 2010 and has since been joined by the Riu Plaza Guadalajara in Mexico, Riu Plaza Miami Beach and Riu Plaza New York Times Square, Riu Plaza Berlin and more recently, Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin.

The Singapore Food Festival (SFF) 2017 will return for its 24th edition with a robust programme running from July 14 to 30.

Themed Savour Singapore in Every Bite, the festival will feature up to 20 gastronomic experiences tailored to four main foodie profiles – the modern cuisine-loving Gutsy Gourmand; the Traditional Taster; the Culture Craver; and the Art Addict.

STREAT is returning for its third year in 2017 as STB’s anchor event. This year, the pop-up restaurant will be helmed by Peranakan chef Malcolm Lee of Michelin-starred restaurant Candlenut, and Wild Rocket’s chef Willin Low, recognised as the founder of Mod-Sin cuisine. Together, they will present contemporary interpretations of local classics through a three-course modern Peranakan Tok Panjang menu.

The pair will also work together to curate a selection of nine stalls, each helmed by young “hawkerpreneurs” and chefs. Participating vendors include established names like New Ubin Seafood, Peranakan Khek and Whampoa Prawn Noodle.

Other events include the Hawker Wine Safari, which 
will pair artisanal wines from Australia and New Zealand with hawker fare from 2016 Bib Gourmand eats.

The 50 Cents Fest: Those Years 那些年 will be back by popular demand at 
Chinatown Food Street, featuring 1980s hawker favourites (e.g. Hakka abacus seeds, Hokkien rickshaw noodles) and entertainment from the era like live xin yao performances. Prices start from just S$0.50 (US$0.36).

Among the various workshops and classes at SFF 2017 are a series focused on pairing kuehs with teas, coffees and cocktails, as well as a food photography workshop. In addition, The Heritage Town Festival will kick off with a Tok Panjang meal and a lesson in ondeh ondeh making.

Singapore Airlines will showcase local flavours with the roll-out of 
the Popular Local Fare menu on selected flights, featuring 18 local favourites 
like laksa, Hainanese pork chop rice, and beef rendang with turmeric rice.

Another notable event is Project Plait: Inheritance, a food-meets-dance collaboration between Jiakpalang’s executive chef Nixon Low and dancer-choreographer Naomi Tan.

For more information, visit www.singaporefoodfestival.com.