AAT Kings has launched two new Short Break tours for 2024, allowing travellers to enjoy time-efficient travel experiences in the Northern Territory.
AAT Kings Short Breaks range from two to five days, and provide a blend of iconic sights, local culture immersion as well as opportunities to forge new connections, all while being led by AAT Kings’ knowledgeable Driver Guides.
Explore Australia’s Northern territory with AAT Kings’ two new Short Break tours
The first new Short Break is the three-day Kings Canyon and Uluru tour, where guests embark on a journey to witness the vibrant colours of the outback sunset against the majestic backdrop of Uluru. They will delve into the rich red ochre landscape, home to unique flora, fauna, and ancient Aboriginal rock art, as well as experience the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, offering sweeping views and geological formations. The inaugural departure is scheduled for May 15.
Next, immerse in the wonders of the Australian outback with the comprehensive four-day Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta tour. Witness the sunset at Uluru while indulging in sparkling wine, followed by a sunrise experience at Kata Tjuta. Traverse valleys and canyons as guests uncover the geological marvels, rich history, and cultural significance of the region. This second Short Break will depart on its inaugural journey on May 7.
AAT Kings is now offering a five per cent discount for bookings by February 29.
Johor is attracting heightened tourism interest since the crowning of its sultan as Malaysia’s new king, and being named the host city for the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in 2025.
Johor’s sultan Ibrahim Iskandar was sworn in as the new Malaysian king on January 31 and now holds the title of Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The sultan, of British-Malay descent, will reign for the next five years, and many in the tourism industry are expecting renewed interest in Malaysia and Johor with his appointment.
Many in the tourism industry are expecting renewed interest in Malaysia and Johor with the new king’s appointment
The king has extensive business interests and, no doubt, aims to see them prosper. He actively supported the recent establishment of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and is on record to rekindle interest in the stalled high-speed railway (HSR) between the two countries.
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) is currently under construction with a completion date of late 2026. Meanwhile, the luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express has recommenced services that will introduce Johor to high-end travellers, some of whom could also choose to holiday in Johor’s high-end resorts, such as those at the integrated tourism development at Desaru Coast.
For ATF 2025, Johor will be hosting the event next year. While the venues for the meetings and the travel exchange have yet to be finalised, general manager of Doubletree by Hilton Johor Bahru, Andreas Justkowiak, said: “We are excited with the outlook for tourism in Malaysia, especially with hosting ATF 2025 and Visit Malaysia Year 2026. In Johor, we are excited about the launch of the highly anticipated RTS Link, serving 10,000 passengers per hour each way.”
Chris Loo, managing director of Enjoy Holiday Tour, said: “The royal presence should lead to a surge in visitors eager to explore Johor’s cultural heritage and partake in related events associated with the new monarch, thereby positively impacting the state’s tourism industry.”
Arokia Das Anthony, executive director, The Essence of Asia Tours & Travel, shared that his company is coming up with new itineraries to include a photo stop of the royal palace in Johor as there is interest from the Indian market.
Christian Gerart, general manager of Anantara Desaru Coast, pointed out that the king is very progressive and cares deeply about development, and he is optimistic that investments will flow into Johor.
He said: “In anticipation of robust growth in Johor, we have just launched our three-bedroom residence after the success of our beach residence, and this latest package includes breakfast, spa, minibar and airport transfers. Being a part of the Anantara branding, sustainability is very important, and we support Rewild Desaru, a fund for establishing green corridors to ensure safe migration of animals within Desaru, and have developed guest-participation programmes.”
Many expect the new king to take an active, hands-on role in the nation’s governance. He has been quoted as saying that the economy must recover and Malaysia’s prosperity must be prioritised.
The Taiwan Tourism Administration is restarting its marketing and promotional activities in India after a three-year hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The authority organised its destination seminars in New Delhi and Mumbai recently – the first of travel trade activities after the pandemic. Taiwan Tourism Administration has also opened its Taiwan Tourism Information Centre (TTIC) in Mumbai. The centre will act as a one-stop-point for information related to travel and hospitality in Taiwan.
Cheng: our first focus is to reach pre-pandemic tourist arrival numbers in the Indian market
“Our first focus is to reach pre-pandemic tourist arrival numbers in the Indian market. Our promotional activities will focus on various products and experiences for both leisure and MICE segments. We are planning to organise fam trips for travel agents and media later this year. Also, a training programme for travel agents is in the pipeline,” shared Joseph Cheng, director, Taiwan Tourism Administration & Taiwan Visitors Association, Singapore office while speaking to TTG Asia at the New Delhi leg of destination seminars.
From January to November, the tourist arrivals from India to Taiwan stood around 30,000, a 70 per cent recovery compared to 2019. The Taiwan Tourism Administration is also in the process of hiring a PR agency in India to help grow outbound numbers from India, especially the MICE market.
“Metro cities like New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai will be our focus for tapping the MICE segment. We are also in talks with China Airlines and EVA Air to begin direct flights between the two destinations,” added Cheng.
An official from China Airlines, who wished not to be named, told TTG Asia that the carrier may look to operate direct flights between New Delhi and Taipei once there is an availability of aircraft.
Some of the destinations Taiwan is looking to promote in India include Taipei, Taoyuan City, Kaohsiung and Tainan. Presently, the top inbound source markets for Taiwan are Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Further East will return to Bali this year from November 4 to 7, gathering and connecting the very best figures in the industry to help shape the world’s most exciting market for luxury travel.
Further East will take place on a Bali beachfront in Seminyak, which has hosted every edition since 2018. It will also focus on how to use regenerative travel, rather than mere sustainability, to draw visitors and empower communities for decades to come.
Further East will once again be held in Bali this year from November 4 to 7
Featuring only exhibitors from the Asia-Pacific region, organisers This Is Beyond – curators of shows including PURE Life Experiences, L.E/Miami and We Are Africa – remind attendees of their regenerative potential. Serge Dive, This Is Beyond’s founder and CEO, said: “By connecting them with our top buyers and media attending from every corner of the planet, we can bring everyone to the Asia-Pacific region, capturing what’s so extraordinary about these cultures. Because that’s what they deserve.”
Over 50 per cent of exhibitor spaces have been confirmed for Further East 2024, and buyer and press applications will be opening very soon.
“We only select the risk-takers and change-makers,” Dive explained. “The Asia-Pacific region is home to more new luxury hotel openings, year on year, than anywhere else on earth. Many of them join us in Bali. Buyers know they are meeting true originals here.”
The show will retain its intimate sense of doing business differently with sunset drinks, five-star meals, pre-scheduled appointments, exclusive evening events and enough time to recharge in the tropical heat.
Dive shared: “We’re seeking to spark connections between our Further Easters that last for life. To inspire and immerse them in what’s possible. It’s part of the Eastern tradition – sharing ideas and moments that bring us closer, because everything changes constantly, and we need each other to keep up.”
Applications are officially open for Further East this year.
Club Med has joined as a member of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA).
This collaboration not only cements Club Med’s commitment to industry-wide environmental sustainability, but also enables SHA to leverage Club Med’s experience in sustainable development and innovation.
Club Med is now a member of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance; Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek, pictured
For over 60 years, Club Med has championed sustainable practice with 70 per cent of new or majorly renovated resorts since 2018 being built to globally recognised BREEAM standards.
Most of Club Med Resorts are Green Globe certified, guaranteeing sustainable best-practices, while its Bye Bye Plastic programme, aimed at eliminating single-use plastic from its resorts, further underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, SHA, said: “Club Med’s sustainable credentials are widely acknowledged in the industry, and their innovation and sustainable practices will undoubtedly contribute to our five-year strategy to realise Net Positive Hospitality.”
Gregory Lanter, chief development, construction & property officer, Club Med, added: “Joining the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance signifies our commitment to fostering sustainability in the hospitality sector. We look forward to actively contributing to the alliance’s initiatives and engaging with industry colleagues to exchange insights and best practices.”
Sotetsu Hotel Management Co. and Hi Metta Karuna Panya Co. will launch their newest hotel located in the bustling city centre of Bangkok, Thailand on April 9.
Sotetsu Grand Fresa Bangkok will mark the third international branch of Sotetsu Grand Fresa and the first-ever Sotetsu Hotel in Thailand by the Japanese hotel brand.
Sotetsu Grand Fresa Bangkok will open in April this year
Sotetsu Grand Fresa Bangkok offers adjoining rooms, extra sofa bed to accommodate three people, as well as Grand Twin Rooms that include a washing machine and a microwave for extended stays.
The new hotel is just a five-minute stroll to the Asok BTS Station and the Sukhumvit MRT Station, and is approximately 53 minutes away via the Airport Rail Link (ARL) and BTS to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. It is also about 57 minutes to Don Mueang International Airport via the SRT Red Line (SRT) and MRT.
Nearby Sotetsu Grand Fresa Bangkok are luxury shopping malls and office buildings. The renowned EmQuartier and EmSphere shopping malls are only one BTS station away, while the iconic Siam Paragon is four stations away.
Guests can also take the subway to the Chao Phraya River to see the Grand Palace and the three great Buddhist temples—Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun.
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand has introduced its new Spa and Wellness Getaway Programme set in the pristine countryside, away from hustle and bustle of busy city life.
The resort comprises 45 rooms, with the 19 Heritage Railcar Suites and Villas housed in previously abandoned heritage train carriages from the 19th century that have been meticulously and exquisitely restored. Also on the train are the Back on Track Spa (with four treatment suites), Tea Carriage and popular Planet Trekkers Kids Club.
Enjoy wellness treatments at Back on Track Spa, located on the Heritage Railcar
The Wellness Getaway Programme features a four-day-three-night stay in the One Bedroom Heritage Railcar Suite, afternoon tea, daily breakfast (including one picnic breakfast at Khao Yai National Park), private yoga sessions, 60-minute Foot Massage, 60-minute Aromatherapy Massage, 90-minute spa treatment, Private Hermit Art and Stretching class, and more.
Outings include Khao Yai National Park, Ban Tha Chang Natural Spring, Khao Yai Thieng Windmill.
The Spa and Wellness Getaway is priced at 68,000 baht (US$1,900) and is available until December 20, 2024. Additional nights are available from 13,000 baht inclusive of breakfast for two.
The Indonesian government is planning to establish an Indonesia Tourism Fund (ITF) to support the promotion of tourism and nation branding via international activities, such as sports events, concerts, and business events.
Allotted and managed aside from the marketing budget of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE), this fund is also meant to encourage tourism development in super priority tourist destinations, such as Lake Toba, Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.
The Indonesia Tourism Fund would support bids for international major events, like the 33rd ICM Triennial Congress held in June last year, pictured
In the initial stage, two trillion rupiah (US$128.6 million) will be disbursed by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). MoTCE will then need to propose the amount of annual funding, which will later be approved by the president.
Sandiaga Uno, minister of tourism and creative economy, said the fund would support bids for international major events targeting for launch in 2H2024.
“Events are the most effective strategy for promotion – (they increase) the number of quality tourist visits, and have a big impact on the economy,” said Sandiaga, citing the success of hosting international events such as the G20 Summit, the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and MotoGP Mandalika – the last of which had an estimated economic impact of over eight trillion rupiah.
He explained that the management of these funds would either be handed over to Indonesian Journey (Injourney), a state-owned company in the aviation and tourism industry, or another fund management institution established by the MOF.
“We are currently finalising the scheme, financing mechanism and (determining) the management institution. Currently the government is working on a legal basis, including waiting for the ratification of a presidential regulation regarding the fund,” said Sandiaga.
In response, Pauline Suharno, secretary general of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI), hopes that the tourism fund will be impactful to the industry.
However, Pauline said information about the fund has yet to flow to tourism industry players, as none of them have been “invited to discuss it”.
“If the government sees that tourism is important and generates foreign exchange, its should immediately have a dialogue with the industry and see interests from our perspective,” she remarked.
Ndang Mawardi, CEO of Inspiro Group, stressed the importance of clarity in the allotment, accountability and audit of the fund, and urged key performance indicators be set for events. This way, “the impact on society can be projected”.
Raty Ning, chairman of the ICCA Indonesia chapter, expects to see standards and criteria being set to qualify events for funding.
She pointed out that it is vital to choose large-scale events in order to “have the biggest multiplier effects”.
Ndang also hopes that the use of tourism funds will be more developmental in nature – such as for tourism innovation, service excellence and sustainability training and projects.
Silversea has expanded the role of cruise industry veteran Massimo Brancaleoni who becomes senior vice president, global sales & revenue.
With almost 30 years of experience in the global cruise industry, Brancaleoni has held executive positions for international organisations in Europe and Asia. He joined Silversea in January 2023 as senior vice president, global sales.
Prior to joining Silversea, he held the role of senior vice president, worldwide sales, at Costa Cruises.
Now midway into snow season, Japan’s tourism professionals are confident of seeing full recovery of the winter season based on pent-up demand.
This year marks the first time since the pandemic that winter sports operators have enjoyed a full lead up to the snow season, which runs from mid-December to early April. Additionally, 2.73 million international travellers arrived in Japan in December 2023, an 8.2 per cent increase on December 2019, resulting in renewed optimism.
Winter activities in Japan are seeing a rise in international demand
“Japan’s borders reopened six weeks before the 2022-23 ski season was due to start. With consumer confidence dented and so little time to book, the 2022-23 season recovery was modest,” Lindsay Colbert, managing director of Hokkaido-based travel agent Japan Ski Experience, told TTG Asia. “Demand which had been building up since 2020 was unleashed by the time bookings opened for the 2023-24 season, and bookings quickly exceeded pre-pandemic levels.”
William Ross, creative director of Dancing Snow, which offers backcountry tours, snowshoeing and ski hiking in Niigata Prefecture, is also seeing an uptick in international demand. Bookings are coming from both long-established country markets such as Australia, and newer country markets including the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, Sweden and the UK, he told TTG Asia.
Colbert also reports a “noticeable change” in the number of travellers from the US, while Nagano Prefecture, another of the country’s top winter sports destinations, is welcoming more visitors from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, according to independent tour guide Peter Carnell.
With new markets and strong rebound, agents and operators are eyeing opportunities for growth.
“Many post-pandemic travellers to Japan ski resorts are looking for new and exciting experiences, as evidenced by increasing numbers of first-time visitors, more non-skiers or snowboarders in resort and an increase in demand for more off-the-beaten-track destinations,” said Colbert.
“Both travellers and tour operators are looking for new destinations and activities” to help alleviate overtourism, added Carnell.
Prior to joining Silversea, he held the role of senior vice president, worldwide sales, at Costa Cruises.
The Taiwan Tourism Administration is restarting its marketing and promotional activities in India after a three-year hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The authority organised its destination seminars in New Delhi and Mumbai recently – the first of travel trade activities after the pandemic. Taiwan Tourism Administration has also opened its Taiwan Tourism Information Centre (TTIC) in Mumbai. The centre will act as a one-stop-point for information related to travel and hospitality in Taiwan.
“Our first focus is to reach pre-pandemic tourist arrival numbers in the Indian market. Our promotional activities will focus on various products and experiences for both leisure and MICE segments. We are planning to organise fam trips for travel agents and media later this year. Also, a training programme for travel agents is in the pipeline,” shared Joseph Cheng, director, Taiwan Tourism Administration & Taiwan Visitors Association, Singapore office while speaking to TTG Asia at the New Delhi leg of destination seminars.
From January to November, the tourist arrivals from India to Taiwan stood around 30,000, a 70 per cent recovery compared to 2019. The Taiwan Tourism Administration is also in the process of hiring a PR agency in India to help grow outbound numbers from India, especially the MICE market.
“Metro cities like New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai will be our focus for tapping the MICE segment. We are also in talks with China Airlines and EVA Air to begin direct flights between the two destinations,” added Cheng.
An official from China Airlines, who wished not to be named, told TTG Asia that the carrier may look to operate direct flights between New Delhi and Taipei once there is an availability of aircraft.
Some of the destinations Taiwan is looking to promote in India include Taipei, Taoyuan City, Kaohsiung and Tainan. Presently, the top inbound source markets for Taiwan are Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.