Taipei promotes its bleisure appeal ahead of IMEX America and ITB Asia, as well as the upcoming World Master Games in March 2025
The Taipei City Government will be showcasing its unique blend of modernity and tradition at IMEX America and ITB Asia this October, demonstrating how the city provides both a dynamic urban experience and opportunities for relaxation and wellness.
Taipei is increasingly recognised as a premier bleisure destination, encouraging business travellers to extend their stay, and explore the city’s rich culture, world-class cuisine, scenic beauty, and diverse activities tailored to both business and leisure visitors.
A major highlight of Taipei’s presence at IMEX America and ITB Asia will be the promotion of the upcoming World Master Games, an international sports event set to take place in Taipei from May 17 to 30, 2025.
This prestigious event will feature 35 sports disciplines, both modern and traditional, and is expected to attract around 40,000 sports enthusiasts from around the world. The World Master Games will seamlessly integrate culture, tourism, and international exchange.
As a top choice for event organisers in Asia, Taipei offers a vibrant atmosphere with a variety of festivals and events, all conveniently located near the main exhibition venues. With its efficient transportation network, including a world-class metro system and an international airport close to the city centre, Taipei provides unparalleled accessibility for international travellers.
For more travel information and in-kind support from Taipei City Government, contact MICE One-stop Service by email: micetour@gov.taipei or call: +886 2 2720 8889 (#2104/#2105).
In celebration of World Tourism Day 2024, UN Tourism has brought sector leaders from every global region together around a common vision and commitment to building a “peace-sensitive sector”, recognising its potential to build bridges and foster understanding.
The official celebration in Tbilisi, Georgia welcomed almost 500 participants from 51 different countries, including 13 tourism ministers.
UN Tourism’s Zurab Pololikashvili says there is no tourism without peace
Reflecting its firm commitment to the day and its theme of Peace and Tourism, the host country was represented by prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze as well as seven other ministers, showcasing tourism’s cross-sectoral importance.
UN Tourism secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “without peace, there is no tourism”.
He said: “I call on all of you to help build a peace-sensitive tourism sector, one that plays a key role in building peace and ending conflicts, provides tourism stakeholders with tools to realise this potential, promotes tourism education as peace education, and links tourism to other peace building initiatives”.
Ministers representing Georgia, Uzbekistan, Sierra Leone and Bahrain made clear how peace and security are the foundations for prosperity, providing examples from their own countries and personal travels of how tourism connects people and promotes understanding. Key takeaways include the important role of tourism in combatting disinformation and mistrust, and the essential need to ensure the benefits tourism delivers are enjoyed fairly and equally across societies.
To complement the public sector view, the September 28 event also featured a private-sector panel. The dialogue explored the private sector’s potential and responsibility, and to leverage its strengths and capabilities to promote peace and stability through tourism, and how it can work with the public sector to achieve these essential goals. From the field of entrepreneurship and digital innovation, panellists highlighted the potential for tourism to rebuild post-conflict and create resilience against future shocks.
Natalia Bayona, executive director of UN Tourism, set out the case for tourism investments as key to both growth and peace and opportunity. She said: “We have seen time and again how tourism can transform post-conflict regions, provide employment and foster entrepreneurial initiatives. The private sector must remain committed to using its resources to build peace and create opportunities in emerging and vulnerable regions.”
In line with World Tourism Day’s theme this year, Tourism and Peace, TTC Tour Brands – Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver & Contiki – has committed donations to nature-based solutions partners GreenWave and Rainforest Rescue with every booking made between September 27 and October 4, 2024.
Donations will go to GreenWave’s Kelp Farming Project and Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Project. The Kelp Farming Project focuses on supporting regenerative ocean farms through sustainable practices that restore marine ecosystems, support economies and global food systems, and draw down carbon. The Daintree Project is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Daintree Rainforest, one of the world’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, through reforestation and conservation efforts.
Bookings made this week with Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver & Contiki will result in TTC Tour Brands donating to its nature-based solutions partners GreenWave and Rainforest Rescue
TTC Tour Brands hopes to ensure that the power of travel can be enjoyed by future generations.
“At TTC Tour Brands, responsible tourism isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a promise. We want to ensure that the joy of travel can be experienced by future generations. Our longstanding partnerships with GreenWave and Rainforest Rescue reflect this commitment. By focusing on carbon removal, we are going beyond simple offsets, working towards real environmental change.” said Mae Cheah, managing director of TTC Tour Brands, Asia.
“Every guest and every booking plays a role in protecting our planet’s future,” she added.
Travel advisors can be confident about making a positive impact when they choose TTC Tour brands for their clients, not only this week, but all year round. Every TTC Tour Brand itinerary includes at least one Make Travel Matter Experience, which directly connects guests with local communities and cultures while advancing at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
In addition, parent firm The Travel Corporation’s five-year How We Tread Right sustainability strategy acts as a blueprint to addressing the impact of its business, offices and trips – all anchored to advancing the UNSDGs.
Cheah said: “Our commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of our operations, from the tours we design to the projects we support. So, when our travel advisor partners work with us and their clients join us on tour, they can feel good in the knowledge that they are making a real difference. The donations we’re making for each booking this week are our way of saying thank you to our travel advisor partners, guests and our suppliers, who both support our sustainability journey and make it possible.”
Travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys will launch in October a 36-month forecasting solution that is specifically tailored to brands and retailers located in airports. Said to be an industry-first, the tool will help brands and retailers to optimise strategy, enhance long-term marketing, and plan growth with precision.
Powered by self-learning and machine learning AI models, the solution continuously improves, offering duty-free retailers and other airport businesses an evolving tool to make smarter, more accurate strategic decisions.
ForwardKeys’s new forecasting tool will aid brands and retailers located in airports
Unlike traditional forecasts, which extrapolate from historical data, ForwardKeys combines up-to-the-minute booking data with its proprietary air capacity projections to deliver a more dynamic and responsive outlook.
It boasts global coverage spanning 4,750 airports and 900 airlines, and will differentiate domestic and international traffic.
The new tool complements ForwardKeys’ more granular 12-month forecast, which remains valuable for optimising day-to-day operations and reacting quickly to short-term shifts in traveller behaviour in a dynamic market.
Marina Giuliano, vice president, travel retail at ForwardKeys, said in a press release: “Our clients can now enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making up to three years into the future, which was not possible before. These forecasts enable brands and retailers to adapt strategy to the specific preferences and habits of different customer groups. Updates on market changes ensure decisions are always based on the freshest data available.”
ForwardKeys underscored the importance of accurate forecasting for the travel retail industry, as it faces rapid changes due to external factors like fluctuating market conditions and passenger flow disruptions.
With September marking Korean Air’s 35th year of flying to Indonesia, the airline has expressed intentions to deepen its presence in the market. Starting next month, Korean Air will boost its services between South Korea and Indonesia.
Its direct Seoul Incheon-Denpasar Bali service will be increased from 11 times a week to twice daily starting October 20. Operating throughout the winter season, which ends March 25, 2025, the service will be flown on the new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. The aircraft will replace the current B777-300ER and B787-9 on this route, allowing Korean Air to boost seat capacity by 45 per cent.
Korean Air celebrates its 35th year of flying to Indonesia this month
Speaking at a media roundtable in Jakarta last week, Tae Seok Lee, Korean Air’s Indonesian country manager, said: “Increasing our Bali service and bringing in our newest wide-body aircraft shows our commitment towards growing demand and staying competitive on this important route.”
Latest Statistics Indonesia data shows that South Korea is Bali’s fifth largest international inbound tourism market.
Lee said South Korean travellers valued Bali’s strong appeal.
“The island’s unique blend of centuries-old cultural traditions and world-class leisure facilities attracts a diverse range of visitors, from cultural enthusiasts to vacationing families,” he remarked.
“We see great potential in Bali’s continued growth as one of the top destinations for South Korean travellers.”
Passengers on the new B787-10 will have both Economy (289 seats) and Prestige Class (36 seats) to choose from. It is also the first aircraft to offer the airline’s new business class product.
The B787-10 Prestige Class, known as Prestige Suites 2.0, features lie-flat seats with a 46-inch (117cm) pitch and a width of 21 inches, 23.8-inch personal 4K monitors for inflight entertainment, as well as wireless charging pads and powerful 60W USB-C charging ports.
The one-two-one configuration provides easy aisle access for all Prestige-Class passengers.
Besides Bali, Korean Air also flies daily to Jakarta from Seoul Incheon International Airport, operated on Boeing 777-300ER.
Lee added that travellers from Indonesia often flew onwards to other destinations from the airline’s hub at Seoul Incheon Terminal 2.
Meanwhile, Lee said details for the 2025 summer season would be finalised at a later date.
SingHaiyi has appointed the Hyatt Regency brand to managed its new property in the Maldives, with the all-villa resort set to open as Hyatt Regency Samarafushi Maldives in late 2027.
This will be Hyatt Hotels Corporation’s third property in the destination, joining Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa and Alila Kothaifaru Maldives.
From left: High commissioner of Republic of Maldives to Singapore Mohamed Luveiz, SingHaiyi’s Gallent Tang and Raymond Chia, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation’s Andrew Mensforth
Located 25 minutes away from Valena International Airport in Malé by speedboat, the resort’s prime location is expected to be a large draw for sun-seekers, culture lovers and marine enthusiasts seeking an accessible yet tranquil retreat. The North Malé Atoll is close to the capital and known for its proximity to popular diving and snorkelling sites where manta rays and hawksbill turtles are frequently spotted. Prime surfing destinations like Pasta Point and Sultans will also be accessible from the resort.
David Udell, group president, Asia Pacific, Hyatt, said: “The Hyatt Regency brand is rooted in a culture of bringing people together and fostering a spirit of community. For more than 55 years, it has inspired Hyatt guests to seek personal connections and professional collaborations in more than 40 countries around the globe.”
Gallant Tang, executive director of SingHaiyi, added: “With plans to be SingHaiyi Hospitality’s second property in the Maldives, Hyatt Regency Samarafushi Maldives will enhance our strategic presence in the destination. We have selected Hyatt because of its established reputation and leadership in the hospitality industry. We are excited to collaborate with Hyatt to develop a resort which will embody the elements of the Hyatt Regency brand that guests appreciate.”
The celebratory mood at TTG Asia Media has flowed on to Bangkok where the company hosted a cake-cutting ceremony for its Golden Anniversary during its 33rd TTG Travel Awards gala dinner.
The occasion was graced by Chen Hong, major shareholder and chairman of TTG Asia Media, who acknowledged the company’s accomplishment in the travel and tourism industry under the leadership of managing director Darren Ng.
TTG Asia Media’s major shareholder and chairman Chen Hong (second from left) is joined by members of the company’s heads of department Chimmy Tsui (first from left), Darren Ng, Pierre Quek and Karen Yue
“TTG achieving 50 years is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the company’s commitment to our partners and the industry as a whole,” said Chen.
Addressing Ng, Chen said: “Your leadership and dedication has been instrumental in bringing TTG to where it is today. In your decades at TTG, you have led the company to great success even through challenging periods.”
Chen also expressed gratitude towards the company’s staff. “Your efforts have helped TTG Asia Media become a leader in the travel trade media and events industry. Without your hard work and dedication, this success would not have been possible,” he said.
Chen, who had earlier visited TTG Asia Media’s IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific double-bill trade event at the Bangkok Convention Centre CentralWorld last week, said he was “pleased to see that this exhibition has grown through the years, once again proving that everyone is working as one, overcoming difficulties and paving the way to the future”.
Chen concluded his encouraging speech with a vision of the future, where he sees TTG Asia Media remaining humble, continuing to work collaboratively with its peers, and staying focused.
Birthday wishes have also streamed in from readers and industry colleagues following that evening.
Soon-hwa Wong, CEO for Asia Tourism and PATA ambassador for Greater China, expressed on social media: “Congrats team TTG Asia Media for 50 glorious years of sharing travel news and insights to keep all of us updated and informed.”
Eileen Quek, assistant director, sales (international) with Constellar, wrote: “What a fabulous milestone and achievement! To many more amazing years of growth, success and partnership!”
With shopping on trips sliding out of favour among new-age travellers, Hong Kong has found power in its calendar of festivals and events to encourage travellers to stick around and spend while satisfying the growing appetite for unique experiences.
Speaking to TTG Asia, Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said Hong Kong’s focus on creating outstanding festivals and events has shaped the destination’s reputation as a lively city.
Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival in October 2023 featured music performances and coincided with Halloween celebrations
Cheng said: “Hong Kong has many traditional festivals that remain genuine and celebrated by the locals. Hong Kong also has lively celebrations for other non-Chinese festivals such as Halloween and Christmas. Alongside these festivals are fascinating events like the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament and Art Basel.
“Many of these are organised in clusters, so that people who fly to Hong Kong to participate in them can also experience many other things. Therefore, while Hong Kong is not a new destination, people have come to recognise that Hong Kong still feels new because there is always something fresh and interesting to do.”
Cheng said HKTB teams are always looking to outdo themselves when it comes to delivering these popular festivals and events.
“Events in Hong Kong must do better every year, otherwise those in other destinations will catch up,” he remarked.
Citing the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival as an example, Cheng said efforts have been made to elevate the event throughout its 12-year existence.
“The team is constantly testing out new things. The festival does not only feature wine; it showcases different kinds of alcoholic beverages and we are introducing non-alcoholic drinks too. The event brings in a wide spectrum of cuisine and restaurants, not just the Michelin-star types. The team has recently added an entertainment element, so now the festival gets a carnival vibe,” he explained.
He expressed pride in the fact that Hong Kong’s festivals and events are supported by the local community.
“There’s nothing in this world that you can invent only for tourists. Experiences and events must be supported by the local community to be successful,” he emphasised.
He added: “With the exception of superstar concerts, which tend to attract 50 to 60 per cent of audience from outside of the host country, the majority of events must first gain the love of locals. Our Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival enjoyed a fantastic turnout last year – the first one since Hong Kong’s reopening. It drew 140,000 visitors, out of which about 10 per cent were tourists from China, the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.”
Other high-profile festivals and events in Hong Kong attract a larger population of visitors. Overseas visitors tend to make up about 30 to 40 per cent of the attendance at the extravagant Chinese New Year parades while the tourist population stands at 40 per cent for the Hong Kong Sevens. Thirty per cent of attendees at both the Hong Kong Winterfest and the Hong Kong Cyclothon are from abroad.
Hong Kong’s festival and events potential will likely be elevated with the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park next year. It has capacity for 50,000 people attending a sports event, and up to 60,000 people at a concert.
Cheng opined that Hong Kong’s festivals and events also add an interesting dimension to corporate event programmes, as attendees can join in during their free time. This corresponds with the trend of business travellers seeking quality leisure time during their trip.
The Indonesia Tourism Industry Association (GIPI), with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE), will launch its inaugural Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2024 from October 2 to 4 at Swissôtel PIK Avenue in Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 (PIK 2), North Jakarta.
Aimed to be a private-sector led annual event in Jakarta, WITF is set to serve as a marketplace for the tourism industry around the world to meet with their counterparts from across Indonesia.
WITF 2024 will be held at PIK Avenue located in Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jakarta, pictured (Photo: Okim Komariah Dahlan)
Hariyadi Sukamdani, chairman of GIPI, commented: “By uniting all of Indonesia’s tourism potential in one event, we believe that WITF 2024 will make a significant contribution to national economic growth.”
In this first edition, WITF was able to achieve its target of 150 sellers, while international buyers totalled more than 190, surpassing the target of 150.
The buyers come from 38 countries in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia as well as South-east Asia, with some sponsored by Garuda Indonesia, Emirates Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
“We have also invited some corporate buyers to visit the show as some sellers also provide business events products,” he added.
According to data from the committee, sellers come from the western tip to the eastern-most province of the country, Papua.
Budi Tirtawisata, chairman of the WITF 2024 committee, shared that thanks to the GIPI members, who hail from 36 various travel related associations, along with the wide range of destinations represented, the event “presents a wide variety of products ranging from hotel and travel companies to recreational and theme parks, transportation companies and travel technology companies”.
As for the venue choice, Budi explained: “At PIK 2, there are several hotels nearby and some others near the airport. Besides, PIK 2 is also an upcoming destination (near) Jakarta.”
In addition, event delegates will get a chance to tour the facilities at PIK 2 before the opening dinner on October 2.
In parallel with WITF 2024, the MoTCE will also organise the 2nd South-east Asia Tourism Business Events Forum (SEABEF) on October 2-3 at the same location, of which about 400 participants are expected to attend. Under the theme The Transformative Impact of Sustainability on The Business Events Industry, SEABEF 2024 will bring up pressing issues like sustainability, human development, technological information and destination leveraging.
International speakers at the forum will include Waikin Wong, regional director of Asia Pacific at ICCA and Mark Cochrane, regional Asia Pacific director of UFI.
American Express has released an Amex Trendex on shopping, travel and entertainment trends shaping the upcoming holiday season.
The global index is based on a survey of consumers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the US, which showed that regardless of who the holidays are spent with, the festive spirit is alive with plans for travel, special activities and gift giving.
Me-cations are gaining popularity among Australian adults who wish to focus on themselves
According to the Amex Trendex, 68% of Australian adults travelling this holiday season are doing so to visit family. Me-cations are also popular for Australian, with over half of the Australian adults surveyed (59%) travelling to focus on themselves. This increases to 60% among Gen Z and 67% among millennials.
Additionally, 58% of Australians plan to travel with family, 42% with their partner or significant other, and 22% with friends.
While me-cations are one of the top items on Australians’ holiday wish lists, almost one-third (30%) of Australians plan to host a holiday party or gathering this year, which increases to 33% among the Gen Z age group.
Furthermore, Australians are planning to spend more on travel (38%), hosting (25%), entertainment or experiences (21%), and gift shopping (17%) this holiday season compared to 2023. In fact, 74% agree they would rather share a fun experience or trip with friends than exchange gifts.
Among Australians gifting experiences this holiday season, top gifts include entertainment experiences such as concert tickets or sporting events (59%), F&B experiences such as a cooking class, wine class or dinner reservation (51%), and luxury experiences like spas or manicures (45%).
Corinne Ng, vice president and general manager of travel and lifestyle services, American Express APAC, said: “With less than 100 days until Christmas, Australians are embracing the spirit of giving this holiday season and prioritising meaningful moments. That could be gifting themselves time away, travelling to visit family, hosting events with friends and family, or taking the time to find a sentimental gift.”
The Indonesia Tourism Industry Association (GIPI), with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE), will launch its inaugural Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2024 from October 2 to 4 at Swissôtel PIK Avenue in Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 (PIK 2), North Jakarta.
Aimed to be a private-sector led annual event in Jakarta, WITF is set to serve as a marketplace for the tourism industry around the world to meet with their counterparts from across Indonesia.
Hariyadi Sukamdani, chairman of GIPI, commented: “By uniting all of Indonesia’s tourism potential in one event, we believe that WITF 2024 will make a significant contribution to national economic growth.”
In this first edition, WITF was able to achieve its target of 150 sellers, while international buyers totalled more than 190, surpassing the target of 150.
The buyers come from 38 countries in the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia as well as South-east Asia, with some sponsored by Garuda Indonesia, Emirates Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
“We have also invited some corporate buyers to visit the show as some sellers also provide business events products,” he added.
According to data from the committee, sellers come from the western tip to the eastern-most province of the country, Papua.
Budi Tirtawisata, chairman of the WITF 2024 committee, shared that thanks to the GIPI members, who hail from 36 various travel related associations, along with the wide range of destinations represented, the event “presents a wide variety of products ranging from hotel and travel companies to recreational and theme parks, transportation companies and travel technology companies”.
As for the venue choice, Budi explained: “At PIK 2, there are several hotels nearby and some others near the airport. Besides, PIK 2 is also an upcoming destination (near) Jakarta.”
In addition, event delegates will get a chance to tour the facilities at PIK 2 before the opening dinner on October 2.
In parallel with WITF 2024, the MoTCE will also organise the 2nd South-east Asia Tourism Business Events Forum (SEABEF) on October 2-3 at the same location, of which about 400 participants are expected to attend. Under the theme The Transformative Impact of Sustainability on The Business Events Industry, SEABEF 2024 will bring up pressing issues like sustainability, human development, technological information and destination leveraging.
International speakers at the forum will include Waikin Wong, regional director of Asia Pacific at ICCA and Mark Cochrane, regional Asia Pacific director of UFI.