TTG Asia will be taking a break from December 19 after a fruitful year. We look forward to coming back stronger on January 9, 2017, and to continue bringing you the most breaking news in the travel trade.
The entire TTG Asia Media team wishes all readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Phu Quoc
As Vietnam looks to capitalise on the rising visibility of its beaches in recent years, efforts to market the southern island of Phu Quoc have been met with limited success in Singapore, according to agent feedback at a Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) roadshow last week.
When Vietnam Airlines launched flights between Singapore and Phu Quoc in July 2014, Gloree Travels’ sales and marketing director Serene Lim was among the group of Singaporean agents who enjoyed the short-lived service before it was terminated in October 2015.
While agent feedback on the destination was positive, Lim said the Phu Quoc service was “not quite in demand” as its twice-weekly frequency afforded few options for travel dates and duration.
Today, she observes that the destination continues to appeal more to European travellers. “Many Singaporeans still like shopping and affordability, and Ho Chi Minh City offers more options for that,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Le Thu Ha, representative of the travel industry management department of VNAT, highlighted to Singaporean agents at the roadshow that the country boasts “over 100 beach locales such as those in Danang, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc”.
She added: “There are further plans for flights from Singapore to (beach destinations) such as Danang and Phu Quoc island.”
Of the beach destinations highlighted, only Danang currently enjoys direct connections from Singapore, whereas transits are required to get to Cam Ranh International Airport (closest to gateway to Nha Trang) and Phu Quoc International Airport.
Mongkok, Hong Kong
A shifting market preference for online bookings and independent travel has significantly transformed the Hong Kong travel agency landscape, leading to a change of ownership for several established operators in recent months.
Inbound travel agency Associated Tours has closed shop after over 40 years in operation following the passing of its major owner. It has been taken over by Gray Line Tour in November 2016, with six full-time staff joining the company.
Gray Line managing director, Michael Wu, told TTG Asia: “Associated Tours has sold its coach business to Kwoon Chung Bus while we take up its longhaul MICE and inbound travel as these are the missing links for us.
“With dwindling group tours, burgeoning FITs and OTA trends, traditional agents face even more competition. Given limited resources, it’s hard for SMEs agents to compete,” Wu remarked.
“As the business environment keeps changing, traditional agents like us have to create new ideas in order to generate higher turnover.”
Meanwhile, tailor-made tour specialist Concorde Travel, which was established in 1978, has joined forces with the Jebsen Travel Group since last month.
Said Concorde’s managing director Graham Elsom: “Joining Jebsen allows Concorde Travel to leverage the Jebsen Travel Group’s extensive travel industry portfolio and access the best deals.”
The entire Concorde team has been absorbed by Jebsen, while Elsom will act as travel consultant and business development advisor. The name Concorde Travel, however, will cease to exist.
London-based B2B accommodation wholesaler Travellanda has appointed Maing Fong as its GSA in Myanmar, in a strategic move to expand its distribution in a key emerging market.
Maing Fong has since rebranded as Travellanda Myanmar and will act as the exclusive selling agent for Travellanda in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, access to Travellanda’s White Label System will enable Maing Fong to instantly build its business without the need to develop its own technology.
Arzu Sutcu, head of online at Travellanda, said: “Myanmar is an important market for us… Our team will be providing any necessary support and technology to help grow this region.”
Lin Myat Tun, CEO of Maing Fong (Travellanda Myanmar), said: “The competitive product range and technology they have provided us with will allow us to further increase our footprint within the region.”
Mario Hardy
PATA has signed an MoU with the Fiji-based South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) to promote and develop sustainable tourism across the Pacific island destinations.
The partnership will grant the SPTO access to PATA’s online data platform, PATAmPower, which provides tourism related data including on international arrivals.
In return, SPTO will be encouraging destinations to provide all relevant statistical information to enable PATA’s Strategic Intelligence Centre to provide analysis of trends and long-term forecasts.
“We continue to encourage tourists to visit lesser-known destinations and are looking forward to working with SPTO in promoting further the importance of sustainable tourism development,” said PATA CEO Mario Hardy.
“There are endless possibilities for leisure, adventure and cultural tourism throughout the South Pacific, and our partnership with the SPTO will raise awareness about these destinations in many influential source markets.”
SPTO’s chief executive Christopher Cocker said: “We have a common goal of promoting the Pacific Islands and providing our respective members with benefits and services which will be enriched if we, as regional tourism bodies and associations, share our expertise and experience, and work together.”
Regional carrier SilkAir will take over two of parent Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) services in April, as part of the SIA Group’s route optimisation drive.
SilkAir’s thrice-weekly services will replace SIA’s SQ466/SQ467 flights, while SIA will continue to operate its daily night flight SQ468 and return flight SQ469.
The new service to Colombo, MI428, will be scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a same-day return flight operating as MI427, similar to the current SIA timing.
The Colombo services will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft with business and economy class cabins, extending the SilkAir network to 53 destinations across 15 countries.
Rosewood Phuket
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is launching a new integrative wellness concept, Asaya, for debut at Rosewood Phuket in April 2017.
The brand fuses alternative therapies, lifestyle and nutrition coaching, educational wellness programming, fitness activities and healing treatments, with an overarching dedication to ingredients and design.
Wellness sessions will begin with a meeting with lifestyle coaches, nutritionists and therapists, who will tailor treatments to help guests fulfil specific goals.
Another feature is the option for group treatments in the private Signature Suites or Villas, which will provide treatment areas, hydrotherapy zones, and indoor and outdoor social spaces.
As well, visitors may choose to extend the wellness experience with a stay in an overnight Asaya Suite with separate sleeping, living and therapy areas.
Asaya will also offer a variety of indoor and outdoor fitness activities, from yoga and tai chi to high-impact activities such as spinning, boxing and bootcamp. A partnership with Technogym will allow Asaya to incorporate wellness and social uses into its fitness centres.
Niamh O’Connell, Rosewood’s group vice president – guest experience and wellness, said: “Recognising the gaps that exist in the luxury hotel spa arena, we created a concept that will help establish a foundation of well-being, offering fluid and flexible solutions to individual needs and evolve with the guest along their lifelong wellness journey.”
After its Phuket debut, the Asaya brand will be introduced at Rosewood Hong Kong when it opens in 2018, as well as other Rosewood properties around the world.
Raini Hamdi
Senior Editor
I’d say it’s more stupid than daring. We were hiking in the Swiss alps in summer, but due to bad weather conditions, made a swift change and went to the French Alps resort Courchevel, not realising it’s not a summer destination. There were few tourists, shops were mostly closed and only one or two cable cars worked.
Despite my intuition telling me not to hike, we went up 2,738m via a cable car to La Saulire and thought we’d hike down from there. I was fully-equipped with my hiking gear, yet I fell and injured myself badly. The lessons for me were: to listen to my intuition and never leave home without doing proper research on a place.
Karen Yue
Group Editor
The bravest thing I did this year was to press on with my 12-day trip to South Korea in November with my fevered 23-month-old boy, and to trust my instinct that he would be well by the third day.
I was confident that we would do just fine, as South Korea is a modern country with advanced medical services. All we needed to do was take things nice and slow, and have a list of accessible hospitals with 24-hour emergency departments at my fingertips. So I tossed out my precise and ambitious travel itinerary, and took each day as it came.
True enough, my boy recovered by the third day and we got to see and do most of the things we had planned for in Busan, Gyeongju and Seoul.
Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Editor, TTG Asia
I was worried about travelling alone with my baby daughter when she took her first flight at five months old.
But having flown with her alone a couple of times since, it’s no longer a concern. I’ll make sure to pack her comfort books and treats along in the carry-on bag, wipe down the area around our seat and tether her to me with the infant seat belt at all times.
That said, I still dread it whenever she poops at 30,000 feet in the sky. Trying to remove a soiled diaper and clean a wriggling toddler within the confined space of a tiny aircraft toilet is no easy feat – I just pray there’s no turbulence when I have to do that!
Paige Lee Pei Qi
Assistant Editor, Singapore
Skydiving. I still can’t believe I actually checked this off my bucket list – all 15,000 feet of it, in the picturesque Queenstown in New Zealand. I flew above the Wakatipu Basin before leaping out of the aircraft and plunging into the skies surrounded by dramatic mountains and lakes.
During the initial 60 seconds of free fall at 200km/hour, it felt like my stomach was turned upside down. The only way I could protect myself was to ensure I was covered by insurance, and thankfully I didn’t have to utilise any of it.
S Puvaneswary
Editor, Malaysia/Brunei
Exploring the Dark Cave of Batu Caves in Selangor with a group of people. The half-day tour took me through seven chambers, some so small I had to wiggle my way through an opening and through the chamber.
It was dark inside, and on a few occasions I shone my torchlight on the ground and saw what looked like millions of active, fat cockroaches scuttling about!
I stuck with the group throughout this adventure. I also made sure I wore a pair of track shoes with good grip.
Mimi Hudoyo
Editor, Indonesia
I did not partake in many adventures this year, but one of the most daring things I did was trekking to the Cunca Rami Waterfall in Flores.
While the trail was quite flat and easy, the route passing through the river to the waterfall was slippery and quite treacherous.
I brought a waterproof bag and wore trekking shoes. However, my best protector was the wise local guide who led us on safe paths, choosing steady stones to step on.
Rachel aJ Lee
Sub Editor
Travelling solo. While I believe that I’m an independent millennial, I couldn’t help but feel a tad apprehensive about whether I can be friends with myself on the journey.
Still, the trip was an empowering one as it allowed me to explore a new destination unfiltered by anyone else, and challenge my own fears and insecurities.
While on the road, I protected myself by keeping in constant contact with my family and friends, ensuring they know my general location. In the rare event something happens, they will have an easier time locating me. I also never travel without travel insurance.
Yixin Ng
Sub Editor
One of the more imprudent things I’ve done recently is attempting to explore the beautiful island of Phu Quoc on a scooter. If being accident-prone and an inexperienced rider weren’t enough to make a recipe for disaster, choosing the monsoon season for the misdemeanour did the rest. Fortunately enough, the only casualty in this was a sandal that I lost to the rain-pelted dirt track while trying to get my scooter unstuck.
Travelling with more seasoned riders (who clearly made better footwear choices) as well as making frequent rest stops ensured we stayed safe during the ride.
Rosa Ocampo
Correspondent, Philippines
Travelling to the Philippine island of Siquijor on a whim. I took the four-hour drive via southern Cebu to the ferry that brought me to Dumaguete. I then hopped on a tricycle that led me to another ferry that finally brought me to the island known for witchcraft and white magic.
I returned to Cebu from Dumaguete, sailing 11 hours on board a rickety ship. In comparison to the rest of the adventure, the sleeping quarters on the ship were forgettable.
Prudence Lui
Correspondent, Hong Kong
I signed my daughter up for the 10-month Ashoka Tree Youth Personal Growth Programme, which aims to improve the mental wellness of youth through Buddhist theories and the practice of Chanwuyi at Tsz Shan Monastery.
This required the full participation of parents. I’d never taken this kind of course before, and the toughest part for me was the Shaolin Kung Fu session. The first lessons taught just the basic moves but those already left me with sore feet and back. I asked around for advice on how to remedy this but was told there’s no shortcut and practice makes perfect.
Caroline Boey
Senior Correspondent, China & Special Projects
In Kunming, I couldn’t get a cab back to the hotel after an interview at a travel agent’s office. It was rush hour and raining. I saw two young men who looked like they were using a ride-hailing app and asked them to help get me a car too. I kept asking if it was safe and they reassured me. I was hoping to get into the first car and not be left stranded on the road. The car for me came shortly and it turned out to be the first day for the driver who happened to be an off-duty cop.
Chadamas Chinmaneevong
Correspondent, Thailand
I am afraid of heights and would feel wobbly whenever I get too far above ground.
I was again reminded of this phobia when I visited the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai. My daughter and husband were eager to try the canopy walkway, the longest of its kind in the country at 400m in length and 20m above the ground.
Never compromising when it comes to caring for my child, I had no other choice but to step forward hand-in-hand with my little daughter, only to be hit by a feeling of vertigo. But the tiny hand I was holding and the smiling face of my little angel were a good cure. I had enough strength to keep walking, making sure to never look down. Mother Nature was kind enough to give rain, which cut short the canopy walk to less than 100m.
Michael Sanderson
Correspondent, Thailand
In the eighth month of my wife’s pregnancy, we grabbed our last chance for a couple’s getaway and headed to Kanchanaburi on the cheap tourist train. Neither of us had been on it before, and we weren’t exactly prepared for the cramped sideways seating or the slowness of the journey. And it was unseasonally hot. Pretty as the scenery was, by the time we got out to the waterfalls we were sweaty and uncomfortable.
An hour before departure, we had enough, hauled our luggage from the train and lugged it to a bus. We arrived in Kanchanaburi city, had iced coffees and relaxed. After seeing the train pass through two hours later, we felt glad we chose to travel our own way.
Marissa Carruthers
Correspondent, Cambodia
I have spent a lot of time in the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia this year. While the remote and expansive jungle is stunning, it comes coupled with several dangers. Dengue and malaria mosquitoes are common; scorpions, snakes and scary spiders live there; and access to medical care is non-existent.
I always ensure I have a good first-aid kit, strong DEET repellent, up-to-date health insurance and that my friends know my itinerary.
Rebecca Elliott
Correspondent, Australia
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the most daring traveller but I did give indoor skydiving a go during a trip to the Gold Coast in June this year.
The team at iFly Gold Coast provided pre-flight training and a protective flight suit, helmet and goggles in preparation for entering the wind tunnel and a qualified instructor guided me through the minute-long flight.
Rohit Kaul
Correspondent, India
The most daring thing I did this year was river rafting in Rishikesh, a city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. This got my adrenaline pumping and was overall a very enjoyable experience.
Apart from booking the trip with a reputed company, I followed all the instructors’ advice on dos and don’ts. As a non-swimmer, I was extra cautious throughout the expedition.
Feizal Samath
Correspondent, Sri Lanka/Maldives
In Dubai earlier this year, I visited the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa, a standard must-do for any travel writer. I had visited it last year too but my interest was piqued again after the observation deck was moved up by a few floors.
However, this time, when I looked out the window on the 148th observation deck, I instantly felt my feet wobble. I have a fear of heights so why on earth, I wondered, did I have to visit this twice.
Trying to avoid a medical emergency, I gulped down water and food, and was the first to wait outside the elevator for the return ride before staggering out almost on all fours. No more Burj Khalifa for me!
Julian Ryall
Correspondent, Japan
Close to where my parents live, in a small town at the foothills of the French Alps, there is what locals called the Sky Park, with ladders, ropeways, death-slides and other hair-raising obstacle courses.
We have been going to this part of France for years and I’d never wound up the courage to give the most challenging route a go. But as my parents are moving back to the UK, this was my last chance.
Being afraid of heights, I listened intently to the instructors’ advice, wore the obligatory hard hat and made doubly sure that the carabiners attached to my harness were securely on the safety line at all times.
The course required me to leap a couple of metres into a net and then ride a surfboard (honest!) way above the forest floor, but I made it, a few scrapes and bruises notwithstanding.
This article was first published in TTG Asia December 2016 issue. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.
Tan Shin Hui, executive director, Park Hotel Group, Singapore
Airplane turbulence makes me feel very uneasy. I try not to travel to typhoon-prone cities during the monsoon season. Still, turbulence is unpredictable so when it hits, I try to distract myself by watching a movie and talking to someone. Oddly, sometimes I find lifting up the windows and looking outside the aircraft rather calming. – Raini Hamdi
(Right: Tan Shin Hui (centre) in a relaxed moment celebrating last New Year’s Eve with friends)
Saraid Carey, hotel manager, Grand Hyatt Erawan, Thailand
For me, it will be disastrous if my credit card isn’t working and disrupts my shopping pattern when I travel. On a recent trip to New York City, I realised while at the checkout that the card had expired in 2015, so it was back in the cab for me to the hotel to get another card from my safe.
Fear is not a word I that I associate with travel; yes, I am mindful of laneways, time of day and certain cities, but I see myself as a very fortunate individual who works to experience life – travel is my escape, which includes for me the bliss of longhaul flights with no interruptions to catch up on all that needs my attention and leave little time for me. – Raini Hamdi
Angeline Ondaatjie, managing director, Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka
The most obvious fear is the risk of being raped or physically harmed. There are certain destinations I wouldn’t visit on my own as I feel the safety fears will overshadow the travel experience. Having said that, I’ve travelled alone to places like Ukraine, Seoul, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, etc. And to Armenia and Azerbaijan, I’ve travelled with a female guide.
When travelling alone, I pick a hotel in a safe area, pre-arrange the ride from the airport to the hotel and book tours or guides from reputed agencies ahead of time so I don’t have to rely on ad-hoc plans. As for the destination, I usually do some research and learn of common local scams and risks from TripAdvisor and other review sites. – Feizal Samath
Sujata Raman, managing director, Abercrombie & Kent Australia
Having to queue and share the experience with a large crowd is my greatest travel fear. You can overcome this by actively sourcing a reputable travel company that can arrange fast-track entry and/or VIP access to the must-see sights and special attractions.
After-hours visits are also possible in many places when the crowds have left. It’s amazing what someone with the right connections can do. – Rebecca Elliott
Neelu Singh, CEO & director, Ezeego1, India
While I love exploring new places around the world, the pre-departure fear of leaving my city and my loved ones behind is always at the back of my mind, especially when I am travelling alone to far-flung destinations. The fear of flying off and not able to come back to my family and friends bothers me most times.
There is a lot of comfort when I travel with someone. But when I travel solo, I try my best to distract myself from this fear by reading books or researching various destinations. – Rohit Kaul
Ha Lam, co-founder, Triip.me, Vietnam
My innermost secret fear is loneliness. I know the media is reporting crazy things but I strongly believe that I can still find kindness in people and that for me is the weapon to overcome my fear.
My team and I do our best to create a better world for our next generation to live safely in and to be proud of. – Raini Hamdi
Pornthip Hirunkate, managing director – Thailand, Destination Asia
I fear losing my luggage during connecting flights, so I pack an overnight bag with all the necessary items including work clothes and toiletries so I can still conduct my business meetings the next day without any hassle.
And to avoid losing my travel documents, I always keep soft and printed copies of them. I also make copies of all my credit cards and store emergency numbers on my smartphone.
As well, I never travel without medical cover – I have annual international health insurance coverage, as you never know if you might get sick in a foreign country. – Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Julia Maeda, marketing manager, Walk Japan
The fear of not experiencing the ‘real’ place, eating authentic local food, buying genuine local products and properly understanding what I am seeing is probably my greatest fear when travelling. I want to leave a place feeling that I have gained a better understanding of its people and culture.
To overcome this, whenever possible, I will seek insider tips and recommendations from friends and contacts who know the place well, spend time researching the place and read avidly about ‘authentic’ travel experiences and travel blogs. – Kathryn Wortley
Gracie V Geikie, director/principal consultant, Place Borneo Group of Companies, Malaysia
My innermost fear when travelling is to not have a backup in case I lose my phone. My phone stores all the necessary information and key contacts to call when I need urgent help. – S Puvaneswary
Maricon B Ebron, deputy COO, international promotions department, Philippine Tourism Promotions Board
I have no fear when it comes to travelling. I’m so adventurous that I’ve been to North Korea and even wanted to take the train to Russia. But I’m always cautious and avoid places that are too risky to visit. – Rosa Ocampo
This article was first published in TTG Asia December 2016 issue. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.
Travel insurance offers two types of benefits for a terrorist event scenario: financial and medical coverage. While both options are often included in one plan, this is not always the case. In addition, not all plans cover terrorism, so it is important to choose coverage carefully.
Financial coverage
Financial protection provides reimbursement for non-refundable trip costs if a traveller cancels a trip due to terrorist activity. This is important if the trip represents a large financial investment for the traveller because it will help him or her recover money already paid for the trip.
This benefit typically allows insured persons to cancel or interrupt their trip if a terrorist attack results in complete cessation of travel services and if the event occurs at the traveller’s destination.
In the second situation, the plan will likely require that the event occurs within a specified distance of the destination, such as 50 miles. It also limits the covered time period to a stated number of days before departure, such as seven to 30 days.
Medical coverage
Medical expenses for injuries related to a terrorist event are covered if the traveller is not a participant in the event and if the event occurs in a covered location. Destinations with a travel warning or a high likelihood of terrorist events may not be covered, likewise if a traveller remains in a country after being warned to leave.
Emergency travel assistance
Most travel insurance plans include 24/7 emergency assistance, which is a key service for any traveller who is concerned about terrorism. In this type of crisis situation, an experienced team can help an insured person navigate through complicated medical and travel scenarios.
Checking if terror attacks are covered
The best way to ensure there is coverage is to review the policy and ask questions, obtaining specifics for benefits provided.
You can also search the policy using “Ctrl +F” for terror and read each instance of the word. Pay special attention to the exclusions in the policy; if terrorism is listed as excluded, it is not covered.
Review the definition for terrorism as well and understand that some plans will require the US government to deem an event a terrorist incident before coverage is provided. Finally, verify that your destination is covered.
To travel or not
When travelling, there is no way to predict if a terrorist event will occur, but by purchasing an insurance plan with terrorism coverage, travellers can arm themselves with a layer of financial and medical protection and emergency assistance services. All of these components can be crucial in helping a traveller successfully deal with a terrorist event.
Jim Krampen, co-founder and chief revenue officer of international travel insurance company Seven Corners, US, has over 25 years of experience in the industry.
This article was first published in TTG Asia December 2016 issue. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.
Article written by Jim Krampen.
