ASTINDO establishes new consortium to boost inbound tourism
The Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASTINDO) has formed an inbound and domestic division to strengthen inbound and domestic performances and increase the business of its members.
Led by seasoned industry professional Heben Ezer, the division is now focusing on product development, with Jakarta tour packages as its pilot project.
The development of the Jakarta project comes after a series of roadshows held by ASTINDO and the Jakarta tourism office, where five travel agents who participated in the roadshow agreed to create a consortium called JakASTember.co.
Speaking to TTG Asia, Heben said: “Jakarta has a lot to offer in terms of history, entertainment, festivals, culinary delights and more. As such, the city is more than just a hub – it is the centre of everything, and this strong appeal must be promoted.”
The newly launched JakAstember.co has various tour packages available, such as daily tours in Jakarta, urban city tours, sports and entertainment tours, as well as wellness packages. “Many people think that wellness is (available only) in Bali. In fact, the wellness research centre of Indonesia is in Jakarta, and what we offer (to visitors) is experiencing the best wellness treatment with the experts,” added Heben.
For example, the Etnowellness Nusantara package offers treatments with the Etnaprana concept, a massage technique developed by the Indonesia Wellness Spa Professional Association that is based on the heritage of traditional Indonesian tribes, such as Betawi, Batak and Bugis.
Fenny Rumondang, director of Sida Travel and one of the JakASTember.co founders, said that there was also a stem cell and secretome package – the consortium is in collaboration with Kalbe Farma, the first and only pharmaceutical industry that has a stem cell research and production laboratory, as well as several clinics and hospitals in Jakarta.
Furthermore, JakASTember.co is working with the Kereta Api Indonesia railway company to create an overland Java trip via trains. It plans to design ready-made Java packages with stopovers at major cities like Bandung, Cirebon, Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya, as well as tailor-made packages.
The consortium is also in discussion with Pelayaran National Indonesia, the national sea transportation service, to come up with cruise packages.
Worldwide travel disrupted by global IT outage
Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia are among the regions affected by a global IT outage impacting airlines and businesses.
The disruption, linked to Microsoft’s Windows and cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, is causing delays and a shift to manual check-in processes at airports.
At Singapore’s Changi Airport, check-in for some airlines is being handled manually by airport staff, who are prioritising those with upcoming flights. Long queues were reported at Terminal 1 for Scoot flights, as self check-in machines were unavailable. To ease the wait, passengers are being offered snacks and water.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific airline has also reported issues with self-service check-in facilities at Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers are advised to check in online or via the mobile app and get their boarding pass before heading to the airport.
Over in Malaysia, passengers at Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah are reportedly facing difficulties checking in luggage for AirAsia flights. Additionally, the live feed of the stock exchange in Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia KLCI, is currently disrupted.
Travellers in Melbourne and Sydney are also facing delays due to the global IT issue. Some airlines at both airports are experiencing disruptions to their check-in procedures. Passengers flying out of these airports are advised to allow extra time for check-in and to contact their airline directly for the latest flight status information.
Sydney Airport has also activated contingency plans, deploying additional staff to terminals to assist with the increased passenger flow.
Cambodia’s Cardamom Tented Camp brews new conservation initiative
Cardamom Tented Camp ecolodge in Cambodia has launched its own beer with the tagline Your Beer Keeps the Forest Standing, where profits go towards conservation work at Botum Sakor National Park.
The Cardamom Mountains Steam beer, now available at the ecolodge, help fund the conservation work of 16 forest rangers who protect 18,000 hectares of surrounding lowland evergreen forest in Cambodia’s largest national park.
Since opening in 2017, the camp has operated with the slogan Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing. Camp manager Allan Michaud shared: “Now it’s the turn of beer drinkers to take one for the team and do their bit for conservation.”
The hybrid Steam beer was selected by Michaud after tasting sessions with Yuki Aotani, founder of Flowers microbrewery in Phnom Penh. The slightly hoppy beer – already a hit with camp guests – is 5.2 per cent strong and sells in 330ml bottles for US$4.50 at the lodge’s small riverside restaurant – the Steam beers sold at the camp are in previously used 330ml bottles given to the brewery by the camp.
Each month a percentage of income from beer sales and guest stays help forest rangers reduce illegal poaching, land grabs and riverbank sand dredging. This summer the camp added two new Wildlife Alliance forest rangers bringing the total to 16 now on patrol.
Cardamom Tented Camp also sells locally made Ibis beer – profits from which are used to protect the rare Ibis bird in Cambodia – and craft beers made by the Stonehead brewery, also in Phnom Penh.
With illegal hunting down by a factor of about 90 per cent over the last seven years or so, sightings of rare wildlife such as Asian elephants, silver langurs, smooth-coated otters and leopard cats have increased in the lowland forest around Cardamom Tented Camp.
Keeping it local is important for Michaud, who said: “With local Khmer dishes also on our menu, we make it easy for our guests to enjoy food and drink that reflect the best of Cambodia.
“Almost everything we do at the camp helps conservation of the forest and supports local suppliers.”
Small Luxury Hotels of The World partners The MRS Group of Hotels in India
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has teamed up with The MRS Group of Hotels, a leading Indian hospitality group known for its boutique hotels, as a move to expand into the vibrant Indian subcontinent.
This partnership allows The MRS Group of Hotels to leverage SLH’s global distribution network and marketing capabilities, showcasing their unique offerings to an international audience.
The MRS Group of Hotels currently encompasses brands such as Suryagarh in Jaisalmer, Narendra Bhawan in Bikaner, and Mary Budden Estate in Binsar, all three of which will join SLH’s collection. Each hotel serves as a gateway to India’s heritage, offering thoughtfully designed experiences that authentically reflect the character of their locations.
In addition, Hilton Honors members can now earn and redeem points for SLH stays and enjoy exclusive benefits, including free Wi-Fi and a guaranteed member discount – Gold and Diamond members will enjoy space-available room upgrades and continental breakfast for up to two guests.
Karan Singh Vaid, president of The MRS Group of Hotels, shared: “This alliance not only highlights our dedication to reimagining hospitality in India but also amplifies our mission to offer travellers thoughtfully designed experiences that are rooted in our rich heritage and distinctive service.”
“The MRS Group of Hotels’ brand philosophy aligns perfectly with our conscious travel journey towards sustainability and conservation. We are looking forward to sharing their bespoke experiences through our story-telling channels and global distribution networks,” added Mark Wong, senior vice president Asia Pacific of SLH.
WTTC reveals 24th Global Summit theme and line-up
This year’s WTTC Global Summit aims to be a game-changer, setting the course for a dynamic and sustainable future in Travel & Tourism, when industry trailblazers and international government officials from across the globe converge in Perth (Boorloo) from October 8 to 10.
Under the theme Ancient Land: New Perspectives, the Global Summit will spotlight Australia’s rich cultural heritage and natural wonders, emphasising innovation and sustainable growth.
Hosted by Tourism Western Australia (TWA), the 24th edition will welcome top leaders from the world’s leading Travel & Tourism businesses as speakers, including renowned wildlife conservationist and TV presenter Robert Irwin, son of Steve Irwin.
Top business leaders set to speak include Greg O’Hara, Certares founder and senior managing director and WTTC chair; TripAdvisor CEO Matt Goldberg; American Express travel president Audrey Hendley; Diriyah Company group CEO Jerry Inzerillo; JTB corp chair of the board Hiroyuki Takahashi; and Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton, among many others.
The event will bring together government representatives from around the world, offering a platform for industry leaders and officials to exchange insights, discuss best practices, and explore innovative strategies to drive the resilience and growth of the Travel & Tourism industry.
“The leading industrialists in Travel & Tourism who are shaping our sector and countries’ economies will be at WTTC’s Summit in Perth. Their insights and leadership are crucial as we shape the future of Travel & Tourism,” shared Julia Simpson, president & CEO of WTTC.
“Western Australia, with its stunning natural beauty and deep commitment to sustainability and cultural diversity, is the perfect backdrop for this event. Hosting the Global Summit in Perth enables us to pioneer new ideas for tourism while honouring the rich traditions and ancient heritage of the land.”
PATA announces Gold Award 2024 winners
PATA has revealed the winners of the 2024 PATA Gold Awards, with Hong Kong Tourism Board selected as the Grand Title Winner in the Marketing category for its Hello Hong Kong Recovery Campaign and Intrepid DMC Nepal as Grand Title Winner in the Sustainability and Social Responsibility category for its More Intrepid Women for Nepal campaign.
TTG Asia Media was also named the Business Article winner under the Marketing category for TTGmice’s Going green story, authored by Caroline Boey and Karen Yue.
This year’s 20 winners across two broad categories, namely Marketing, and Sustainability & Social Responsibility, were selected from over 100 entries submitted by 47 travel and tourism organisations and individuals.
The winners will be celebrated at the upcoming PATA Travel Mart 2024, to be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand on August 28. In addition, all winning entries will be featured in the 2024 PATA Gold Awards booklet, to be published in August, and throughout PATA Travel Mart 2024.
Since its inception in 1984, the PATA Gold Awards honour organisations and individuals for their achievements and commitment to advancing tourism, and is sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), marking 29 consecutive years of collaboration.
PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid said: “We have witnessed tourism professionals putting more creativity and passion into their work to enhance the tourism economy. I would like to extend my gratitude to all the applicants and judges who have dedicate their time and efforts into making the PATA Gold Awards a possibility.”
Aviation roundup: Scoot, Qantas and more
Scoot to launch flights to Subang
Scoot has introduced a new flight route to Subang, Malaysia, effective September 1.
The new daily flights, to be operated on Scoot’s Airbus A320 aircraft, will provide customers with an alternative option to travel between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and beyond to the rest of Scoot’s network.
Booking for flights to and from Subang are now available.
Flight schedules are subject to government and regulatory approvals or changes.
Qantas takes off for Paris
Qantas has introduced flights to Paris with its new Perth-Paris service.
The route will cut around three hours off the current fastest travel time between the two cities and is the longest non-stop flight to France from anywhere in the world.
Flights will initially operate four times per week over the busy European summer and Olympic and Paralympics before moving to three services per week from mid-August.
The new service will be operated on the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which has been specially designed for longhaul travel, with all passengers benefitting from large windows, high cabin humidity and mood lighting.
AirAsia to add two new routes to Ningbo from Malaysia
AirAsia is launching two new routes from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu to Ningbo, in Zhejiang province. This marks the airline’s 17th destination in China, operated by AirAsia Malaysia.
Travellers can fly directly from Kuala Lumpur to Ningbo starting August 1, or from Kota Kinabalu to Ningbo from August 2. Both services will operate three times a week.
Judd Rabbidge helms as GM of Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort
Minor Hotels has appointed Judd Rabbidge as the new general manager of Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort.
An Australian national, he brings a wealth of experience to his first general manager posting. Most recently, he served as the hotel manager at W Sydney, overseeing the pre-opening phase of the world’s largest W Hotel.
Discova welcomes Nicoline Dolman as regional contracting leader
Nicoline Dolman has been appointed as Discova’s regional contracting leader.
She will lead the contracting team in Asia to deliver a market product range for the region that drives business growth.
Based in Bali and originally from the Netherlands, Dolman brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from working in the hospitality and travel industry for well over a decade.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has designated 2025 an “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year”, targeting a 7.5 per cent increase in tourism revenue compared to 2024, striving to exceed its all-time-high of 39 million foreign visitors and propel over 205 million domestic trips, boosting the number of seven-digit markets to 13 in 2025.
TAT’s 29 branches worldwide will work together to tap global subcultures with high disposable income, and 23 markets with potential to drive over 80 per cent of the income from international tourists.
“Strategies include leveraging Thailand’s newfound popularity as a filming destination to draw fandoms, promoting active outdoor experiences to new generations from the US and Canada, and targeting high-spending lifestyle travellers, such as DINKs (double income, no kids) demographics and LGBTQ+ communities, particularly from Germany and Switzerland,” shared TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
Wellness tourism will be a focal point for Russian visitors, and luxury travel services will be marketed to Arab tourists, along with efforts to attract repeat visitors with “deep knowledge of Thailand” who are inclined towards longer trips of 12-18 days, potentially generating up to 30 per cent of inbound revenue.
The shorthaul market revival strategy features a two-pronged approach: attracting younger travellers and leveraging technology for content marketing.
“Since 2019, Thailand’s shorthaul markets have experienced double-digit growth, with the exception of China. We will create a new image of Thailand, especially for younger travellers, to ensure they return in the future – especially for the Chinese, Japanese, Taiwan and Hong Kong markets,” shared Kiatphaibool.
She added: “We will create a memorable image of the country for our ‘future customers’, including children travelling with their parents, by creating travel experiences that align with the interests and activities of the younger generation. Partnerships with international schools and educational institutions in Thailand will also be promoted.”
Kiatphaibool emphasised other dynamic strategies like leveraging content marketing in the beauty and lifestyle niches for Chinese women, partnerships with local malls for South-east Asia shopping enthusiasts; targeting high-income Malaysians and Chinese with extended overland tours, fly and drive groups from Singapore, rail and caravan trips from southern China to northern Thailand; and celebrating 50 years of China relations through diverse exchanges and special promotions like Nihao Month and special deals for Chinese passport holders.
“We will host activities at the government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people levels between the two countries,” stated Kiatphaibool.
The TAT is equally committed to stimulating domestic travel by boosting domestic seat capacity and flight routes, along with the launch of the Tiew Tan Tee Sook Tan Tee (Immediate Happiness from Immediate Travel) campaign designed to inspire spontaneous travel among locals.
“We will cater to high-spending domestic niches like pet owners by promoting pet-friendly accommodations and the LGBTQIA+ community with inclusive travel options. Additionally, showcasing local festival experiences year-round aims to attract Thai outbound travellers to travel domestically instead,” said Kiatphaibool.