Discova has appointed Mike Chan as its new regional general manager for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand in South-east Asia.
He will engage in close collaboration with these four destinations for a comprehensive understanding of the business.
Chan previously served as the company’s country manager for Singapore and Malaysia, and has over 20 years of work experience in the travel industry with an extensive knowledge of the region.
Air travel demand has topped 99 per cent of 2019 levels, revealed the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based on its November 2023 air travel performance data.
Total traffic in November 2023 (measured in RPKs) rose 29.7 per cent compared to November 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 99.1 per cent of November 2019 levels.
International traffic rose 26.4 per cent versus November 2022. The Asia-Pacific region continued to report the strongest year-over-year results (+63.8 per cent) with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year. November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5 per cent of November 2019 levels.
Domestic traffic for November 2023 was up 34.8 per cent compared to November 2022, while total November 2023 domestic traffic was 6.7 per cent above the November 2019 level.
Growth was particularly strong in China (+272 per cent) as it recovered from the Covid travel restrictions that were still in place a year ago.
As for international passenger markets, Asia-Pacific airlines had a 63.8 per cent rise in November traffic compared to November 2022, which was the strongest year-over-year rate among the regions. Capacity rose 58 per cent and the load factor was up 2.9 percentage points to 82.6 per cent.
Middle Eastern airlines saw an 18.6 per cent traffic rise in November compared to November 2022. November capacity increased 19 per cent versus the year-ago period, and load factor fell 0.2 percentage points to 77.4 per cent.
“We are moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year for air travel. Economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. International travel remains 5.5 per cent below pre-pandemic levels but that gap is rapidly closing – and domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April,” said Willie Walsh, director general, IATA.
He also highlighted on the need to ramp up Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
“In parallel to aviation’s recovery, governments recognised the urgency of transitioning from jet fuel to SAF for aviation’s decarbonisation. Airlines agreed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and every drop of SAF ever made in that effort has been bought and used. There simply is not enough SAF being produced,” said Walsh.
“So, we look to 2024 to be the year when governments follow-up on their own declarations and finally deliver comprehensive policy measures to incentivise the rapid scaling-up of SAF production.”
Read the full report here.
Following the earlier announcement on January 7 that it would be cancelling an average of 12 flights a day through January and February, Cathay Pacific has now finalised the planned cancellations as well as contacted affected customers with alternative arrangements.
This decision was made by the airline so as to prevent flight cancellations for the upcoming Chinese New Year peak travel period between February 7 and 18.
Alex McGowan, chief operations and service delivery officer, Cathay Pacific, commented: “I would like to extend a sincere apology to our customers affected by recent travel disruptions. Over the Christmas and New Year period, we underestimated the number of reserve pilots we would need. Our people (had) worked round the clock to minimise the impact.
“Given our January pilot rosters were already set in mid-December, the lack of adequate reserve levels persisted into January. In order to stabilise the current operation, we needed to cancel further flights across the first two weeks of January. Cancellations peaked at 27 flights on January 7 and will be fewer over subsequent weeks.”
Cathay Pacific assures all customers booked to fly during the Chinese New Year peak travel period can travel as planned.
Thai Airways will recommence its daily non-stop service between Bangkok and Perth from March 27.
The daily service will be operated on a B787-8 aircraft.
The resumed service also provides an additional flight option for visitors from the UK and continental Europe, which are priority markets for Western Australia.
Macao Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) mascot Mak Mak led celebrations at Macau International Airport yesterday evening as Air Macau’s first flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia arrived with Malaysian travel trade and media representatives along with other passengers.
The new service is expected to increase airlift between Macau and South-east Asia, thereby boosting the diversity of visitations as Macau steps up promotions in international visitor markets.
The arriving delegation will participate in a four-day fam trip.
MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, who was also present at the landmark event, said Air Macau’s direct flight will enable more Malaysian and international visitors to be attracted to Macau’s breadth of tourism appeal.
Exchange and cooperation will be enhanced in tourism, culture and commerce between the two destinations.
Malaysia is Macau’s first largest international tourism source market. Along with Air Macau’s operations, the destination has 17 direct flights per week between the two lands.
Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
Baillie Lodges flagship property Southern Ocean Lodge has reopened on the south coast of South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.
The property features 23 luxurious suites along the coastline boasting uninterrupted views of the Southern Ocean and rolling coastal wilderness. All guest suites feature private decks, an EcoSmart fireplace and sink-in bathtub. The new Ocean Pavilion offers a single four-bedroom owner’s residence or two separate two-bedroom suites, suitable for families and friends travelling together.
Facilities include a wet-edge pool, hot and cold plunge pools, spa, sauna, and gym.
The Tokyo Edition, Ginza, Japan
The Tokyo Edition, Ginza is situated in the heart of one of Tokyo’s most desirable destinations, with the shopping and entertainment district, as well as several Michelin-listed restaurants in Japan, all just outside the hotel.
Its 86 guestrooms comprise 10 spacious suites with separate living areas, entry-level rooms, and The Penthouse Suite that has an open-plan living room, dining area, and a fully equipped pantry kitchen.
The boutique hotel also has facilities such as a gym, lobby bar, rooftop bar, and brasserie.
Veriu Collingwood, Australia
Located in the Collingwood Arts Precinct in Melbourne’s inner city is the new 95-key Veriu Collingwood, an apartment hotel accommodation.
The property offers suite accommodation that includes kitchen facilities, in-room laundry facilities, balconies (in most) and fast Internet connectivity. There is also a rooftop pool and bar which boasts incredible views across the city, conference and meeting facilities, secure parking, restaurant, and gym.
Just a short walk from the hotel is the vibrant Smith Street, home to some of the city’s most popular restaurants, coffee, bars and vintage stores. Guests will also find it easy to get to Melbourne’s CBD and attractions like the Melbourne Museum, the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Cricket Ground via the bus services and train lines nearby.
Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park, Malaysia
Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park is a 180-room urban oasis overlooking Bukit Nanas and flanked by KL Forest Eco Park.
It features a restaurant serving up local cuisine as well as a steakhouse. There is also a fitness centre, outdoor pool, lobby library, and event venues.
Many of the items in the guestrooms will also be available for purchase, including hand-woven baskets, which will be sold in support of the Penan community, a nomadic indigenous people from East Malaysia.
To celebrate the new year, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa has lined up a range of family-friendly adventures.
For the first time in Danang, Le Petit Chef will take the stage in the resort from January 15 where diners are led by the famous tiny chef for an evening of gastronomy blended with immersive 3D cinema. Prices for Le Petit Chef start at two million dong (US$82) per adult.
The resort has also launched The Arena, a new social space where the entire family can have fun in, including arcade machines featuring perennial favourites like Pac Man, racing games, shooting games, air hockey, exclusive PlayStation 5 and even a board game room. The fun family space is open daily from 09.30 to 18.00.
From now to February 29, save 15 per cent on accommodation at Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa with bookings of three nights or more, valid for stays between January 8 and December 20.
For more information, visit Hyatt Regency Danang Resort & Spa.
Fathimath Thaufeeq has been appointed as chief executive officer and managing director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
She brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having held key positions at Oilbiz, Jalboot Maldives, and Waste Management Corporation Limited. She was most recently the human resources consultant at Mile & Associates.
The visa-free travel scheme for Chinese tourists entering Thailand, launched in September 2023, has become a permanent arrangement after lawmakers signed a deal to implement a two-way, visa-free arrangement between the two nations.
The reciprocal legislation will go into effect on March 1 this year. The Thai government expects the development to increase the number of Chinese arrivals by up to 57 per cent.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has intensified its courtship of Chinese tourists over the past year, with the most recent initiative being an eight-day fam trip for the market’s top influencers in late-December 2023.
In a show of top-level support for the Chinese travel market, Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin personally led a welcome ceremony in September to greet the first group of tourists arriving from China at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport under a temporary tourist visa exemption scheme.
However, Thai travel industry stakeholders are not convinced that the slashing of red tape will be enough to acquire the government’s target of 8.2 million Chinese arrivals in 2024. Even with visa-free travel for Chinese tourists operating for a quarter of the year, the number of Chinese tourists in 2023 topped out at just 3.5 million.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) told the Bangkok Post that the new paperwork was not enough, as seat capacity between the two countries was still half of pre-Covid volume. Cheewarattanaporn also expressed concerns about the ongoing struggles of the Chinese economy, which has caused more Chinese consumers to travel domestically; expensive airfares are also contributing factors to the possible travel shortfall.
Lek, an independent travel agent in Bangkok who works mainly with business travellers, thinks it is too early to judge the effect of the reciprocal legislation.
“Once we have seen the behaviour of Chinese travellers during the coming Chinese New Year, usually a very busy period for Chinese-Thai travel, we will better understand how the year will pan out. If we don’t get a spike by then, I don’t have much hope for the rest of the year,” she said.
The Seoul Hiking Tourism Center will open its second branch situated in Buam-dong at the base of Bugaksan Mountain in March.
Fashioned in the traditional Korean hanok style, the second branch commenced its trial operation on November 20 last year, and features equipment rental on the basement floor, tourist information services on the first floor, and a lounge on the second floor. The lounge provides diverse experiential programmes, showcasing the charm of hanok to tourists from both domestic and international backgrounds, in conjunction with urban hiking tourism in Seoul.
The first branch (in operation since September 2022) is located in Ui-dong and offers a range of services to enhance the mountain climbing experience such as guided hiking tours in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese, equipment rental, shower and changing facilities, baggage storage, photo zone, and lounge.
Both centres are designed for environmentally-conscious foreign tourists, and aim to facilitate convenient mountain climbing without the need to transport bulky luggage and equipment overseas.
Within the center’s diverse functions, equipment rental takes centre stage. Both foreign tourists and their local companions can conveniently rent hiking essentials such as shoes, jackets, complete attire sets, gloves, sticks, and winter crampons. Visitors can also utilise coin lockers to store their belongings, pick up hiking gear, and embark on an enjoyable hiking experience.
The centre operates from 09.00 to 18.00 and is closed on Tuesdays and public holidays.
