Tourism could be leveraged to improve international relations with North Korea (DPRK), said UNWTO secretary general Taleb Rifai during a joint presentation with the DPRK Embassy on the country’s tourism potential in Madrid last week.

“It is a country that is a hostage of the news. The more people travel to DPRK, the better this world will become. We need to reposition our conception. Travel opens our minds, hearts and eyes. It helps break down stereotypes,” he urged.

Pyongyang

However, Rifai’s plea came before the death this week of Otto Warmbier, the American student who was returned to the US in a coma after being imprisoned in DPRK for 17 months. The tragedy once again put tourism to North Korea under international scrutiny and is likely to thwart the renegade state’s tourism aspirations.

According to North Korean ambassador Kim Hyok Chol, who led last week’s presentation, DPRK’s rising tourism awareness is evident from a new tourism college that opened in Pyongyang in 2014, which is now undergoing the auditing process for UNWTO educational accreditation.

DPRK is also making an effort at improving access, such as offering more border crossings with China. As well, visa waits have been halved to two or three days, while applications made via embassies have been reduced to one week.

Kim pointed out that while inbound flights to DPRK are currently restricted via China and Russia, more direct flights are likely once tourism takes off. The country has around 20 state travel agencies that can organise tours for foreigners.

Young Pioneer Tours, which organised travel to North Korea for Warmbier, announced that it will no longer book US citizens on its tours.

The Kerala state government will reverse a ban imposed in 2014 that restricted liquor sale to five-star hotels, rejuvenating tour operators’ confidence in the comeback of affected markets such as the UK.

The relaxed rules would provide the industry a much-needed fillip as tourists were shying away from the destination after the ban, according to Kapil Goswamy, managing director, Trans India Holidays.

Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala state

“A majority of tourists in Kerala stay in three- or four-star hotels. This segment started to choose Goa (over Kerala) since easy availability of alcohol is a factor when choosing a holiday destination.”

According to some tour operators, tourists staying in five-star hotels amount to less than 10 per cent of arrivals to the state.

Trans India Holidays last season saw a decline in visitors from the UK, its largest source of international visitors, which could in part be attributed to the alcohol restrictions, Goswamy added.

Others such as Dipak Deva, managing director, Destination Management, Sita, TCI and Distant Frontiers, opined that the removal of the ban will send a positive message to international markets.

“Holidaymakers can go ahead with their travel plans in Kerala without having any second thoughts,” he said.

Qatar Airways took top honours as the world’s best airline in the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, beating last year’s winner, Emirates, and perennial favourite Singapore Airlines.

The Doha-based carrier’s win comes in turbulent times as Qatar battles a travel blockade imposed by its estranged neighbours, prompting Qatar Airways group CEO Akbar Al Baker to attribute the award “not to me, not to my airline, but to my country”.

Akbar (middle) celebrates the win; photo credit: Qatar Airways

In second place this year is Singapore Airlines, followed in order by All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines and Garuda Indonesia.

Asian airlines dominated the overall top 10 but were in the minority in the LCC category – which saw AirAsia, Norwegian and jetBlue Airways, easyJet and Virgin America in the top five. Jetstar Airways placed sixth, AirAsiaX seventh and Indigo 10^th.

Meanwhile, the best airline economy class accolade went to Thai Airways, while Qatar Airways also bagged the world’s best business class award. Singapore Airlines got the winning votes for the best business class seats and Garuda Indonesia retained its title for the world’s best cabin staff.

The Tanjung Puting Destination Management Organisation has launched the Staying with the Dayak community-based tourism programme at the recent Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2017.

Under the supervision of Swisscontact, the programme was created to introduce new attractions and extend travellers’ length of stay in the destination.

Sekonyer River entering Tanjung Puting Nature Park

The Staying with the Dayak programme brings visitors to Tanjung Puting National Park and includes a traditional welcome ceremony by the Dayak Tomun tribe and a stay in a guest house or long house, followed by trip to Lamandau Regency located three hours away.

Soraya Ragil Dien, programme officer destination development and marketing of Swisscontact, said the organisation has been working with the local community for years to create the product.

“The local community has developed one guest house with three rooms for FITs, but a number of local people have let their long houses to be managed as accommodation for tourists.”

Activities vary from cooking classes using local produce, basket weaving lessons as well as hunting and spearfishing with the locals.

There is also jungle trekking for beginners and adventurers (including an overnight stay in the jungle).

The package starts from 5D/4N with two days in Tanjung Puting and three days in Lamandau.

Before commencing the second phase of its restoration, Raffles Hotel will jointly run a tour and exhibition with Singapore’s National Heritage Board.

Through A Last, Lingering Look at an Icon tour, guests will be introduced to the history of the 130-year-old colonial hotel, whether through reminiscing its former beachfront or visiting rooms that once welcomed famous guests.

Raffles Hotel

The exhibition will include a recreation of the accommodation of one such guest, writer and Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling, who stayed at the hotel in 1889. The recreation is based on Kipling’s recorded remarks of his stay in his travel log.

Crockery and menu used for historical events such as the Coronation of King George VI will further give guests a glimpse into the past.

The exhibition and tour is curated by the Preservation of Sites and Monuments and guided by its volunteers. Tickets are priced at S$12 and include a delectable souvenir.

Tours will depart at 14.00 daily from August 1 to 12, with additional slots on Singapore’s National Day on August 9 ((10.00 and 11.30) and weekends (10.00 and 17.00). The tour is available to guests and members of the public, with spaces limited to 12 per tour.

Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes.

Scoot’s off to Athens
Scoot has begun flying to Athens, the only LCC that offers a direct flight between South-east Asia and Greece. The flight is also the airline’s first to a European destination and maiden longhaul flight.

Operated on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the 11.5-hour flight takes off from Singapore every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 02.45, and arrives in Athens on the same day at 08.45. Return flights will depart Athens at 11.30 and arrive in Singapore at 03.55 the following day.

In addition, Scoot has plans to add five new routes in the next year, including one extra longhaul destination.

Hainan Airlines links up New York and Chongqing
Hainan Airlines will introduce flights between Chongqing and New York on October 20 this year, becoming the first non-stop service between western China and New York.

The new service will depart Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport on Wednesdays and Fridays at 22.00, and arrive in John F Kennedy International Airport at 00.50 the following day.

Return flights depart John F Kennedy International Airport on Thursdays and Saturdays at 02.50, and arrive in Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at 06.35 am the following day.

Kazakh national carrier starts flights to New Delhi
Air Astana will start direct flights from Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, to New Delhi, on July 2. The service will be operated thrice weekly utilising both the Airbus A320 and Embraer 190 aircraft.

On Mondays and Thursdays, flight KC 241 will depart Astana at 07.20 and arrive in New Delhi at 10.55, with the return flight КС 242 departing New Delhi at 12.00 and arriving in Astana at 17.00.

On Sundays, flight KC 249 will depart Astana at 20.35 and arrive in New Delhi at 00.10 the following day, with the return flight КС 250 departing New Delhi at 01.10 and arriving in Astana at 06.10.

Tianjin Airlines launches two routes from China to Moscow
Tianjin Airlines has started flying from two Chinese cities – Tianjin and Chongqing – to Moscow. Both flights utilise an A330 aircraft that offers 18 business class and 242 economy class seats.

GS7956 will depart Moscow at 16.50 on Tuesdays and arrive in Tianjin at 05.20 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while return flight GS7955 will depart Tianjin at 09.20 and arrive in Moscow at 12.35 on Thursdays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, GS7942 will depart Moscow at 14.30 on Wednesdays and arrive in Chongqing at 04.00 on Thursdays and Sundays, while return flight GS7941 will leave Chongqing at 09.40 and arrive in Moscow at 13.30 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The airline will also launch new flights from Tianjin to Xi’an to London, and from Chongqing to Melbourne later this year.