The Touristly team

MALAYSIAN travel startup Touristly, first launched in June 2015, will be incorporating its platform with several companies within the Tune Group after securing investment from Kuala Lumpur-based incubator and accelerator Tune Labs.

Platforms such as AirAsia’s Travel 3Sixty, Tune Hotels, Tune Protect and AirAsia BIG will be integrated with Touristly’s activities planning functions, which are focused on Asia-Pacific destinations.

“We are very excited to be part of the Tune Group family as it complements our services for travellers and tourists. After a traveller books their flights and accommodation, the natural next step is to plan the holiday itinerary itself and this is where we come in,” said Aaron Sarma, founder and CEO of Touristly.

“We currently offer 7,000 deals in over 70 destinations and we will be working to grow our base to shadow AirAsia and AirAsia X’s 120 destinations. This will be in favour of completing the travel experience for anyone who flies with the airline.”

Touristly already integrated with AirAsia BIG earlier in March, which allowed users to earn AirAsia BIG Points when they use the travel platform to create and book their holiday itineraries.

“Touristly provides the Tune Group with a neat stepping stone to extend its presence along the travel and hospitality chain,” added Gareth Lim, co-managing partner of Tune Labs.

“AirAsia travellers, BIG Loyalty members, and Tune Hotels guests will now have easy access to a one-stop platform to plan, book, and purchase holiday activities – at a compelling price point consistent with Tune Group’s unique selling point – and share their travel experiences throughout Asia.”

ASEAN delegates marking the launch of ATPRS onstage

STATE NTOs jointly launched the ASEAN Tourism Professional Registration System (ATPRS) at an event held in Jakarta yesterday.

The event is part of a two-day conference held from August 8 to 9 to herald the launch of the platform and for stakeholders of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) initiative, which resulted in the ATPRS, to get better acquainted with the programme.

The ATPRS, which is still work in progress, is a web-based platform to facilitate the registration of tourism professionals and industry stakeholders in order to match individuals seeking jobs in travel with potential employers.

South-east Asian states first agreed upon the formation of the ATPRS as part of the MRA-TP, designed to facilitate the free movement and employment of qualified and certified tourism professionals among ASEAN countries.

Indonesia’s minister of tourism Arief Yahya said that while there are greater opportunities ahead for tourism in South-east Asia, “competitiveness and the availability of qualified human resources” is a growing challenge.

He added that the establishment of MRA-TP does not only fulfill the promise of ASEAN leaders to formulate non-restrictive arrangements stipulated within the ASEAN Tourism Agreement signed in 2002, but also supported the enhancement of tourism by improving service standards within the region.

“By implementing the initiative, I would expect that tourism not only bring a more holistic improvement to people’s life in South-east Asia, but also achieve a people-centered, people-oriented ASEAN,” he said.

Clan VI

BOUTIQUE cruise operator Burma Boating has added four new yachts to its fleet, including new flagship the Clan VI, bringing total boat count to 10.

The 40m-long Clan VI will cruise Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, offering both scheduled itineraries and private charters, starting October. The yacht can accommodate groups of up to 10.

Between November 2016 and May 2017, Clan VI will sail seven-night cruises from Kawthaung in Myanmar’s south to the historic port town of Myeik, crossing the entire Mergui Archipelago.

The 800 mostly-uninhabited islands had been off-limits to foreigners since Myanmar’s independence and only opened to tourism recently. It remains one of the planet’s most unspoilt destinations. There are currently no hotels operating in the area.

Burma Boating also announced a new scheduled cruise from Thailand to India’s Andaman Islands. The 12-night trip will operate between February and late April next year.

People walking and shopping at Kasturi Walk, Kuala Lumpur

THE Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia has approved the issuance of 50 licences for temporary Mandarin speaking tour guides to accommodate the influx of Chinese tourists during the summer holiday period.

The licences were granted on August 5 and are effective until October 15.

Uzaidi Udanis, president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), described this as a “good problem” to have as it meant that Chinese demand for Malaysia is back.

He further revealed that MITA will work with institutions of higher learning to encourage more young Malaysians who can speak Mandarin to take up tourist guide courses as a long-term solution to Malaysia’s lack of Mandarin speaking guides during the peak travel periods.

This is also the first time there was a need for temporary Mandarin speaking tour guides since the MH370 incident in 2014, added Mint Leong, Deputy President 2 of MITA.

Meanwhile, Jason Ow Yeang, managing director of Columbia Leisure said he had to reject a number of group bookings in July due to the lack of guides.

“Demand from Chinese tourists have been exceptional. We’re easily seeing a 30 per cent year-to-date increase. Demand is back to the levels of three to four years ago,” he said.