Xiamen Airlines establishes Doha links
Xiamen Airlines will launch regular flights between Beijing Daxing and Doha on October 20 and between Xiamen and Doha on October 31.
The service commencement will coincide with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Qatar. It also marks an important initiative by Xiamen Airlines in supporting China’s Belt and Road initiative, further closing the distance between the two countries.
The daily Beijing-Doha service will depart from Beijing at 18.30 and arrive in Doha at 22.45; the return service will leave Doha at 02.00 and arrive in Beijing at 15.20.
The Xiamen-Doha service will fly twice a week, departing from Xiamen at 00.05 and arriving in Doha at 05.00; the return flight will leave Doha at 19.30 and arrive in Xiamen at 07.55 the next day.
Both routes will be operated on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, offering first class, business class and economy class seats.
Disney Cruise Line names first ship bound for South-east Asia
Disney Adventure will be the name of the Singapore-bound vessel that Disney Cruise Line will designate for the first time for South-east Asia come 2025.
In a press statement, Disney Cruise Line said “the name evokes the spirit of exploration”, and promises to “take families on a fantastical voyage across a sea of Disney, Pixar and Marvel stories, venturing into realms representing every corner of the Disney world – and beyond”.
The name was announced by Disney Cruise Line’s president Thomas Mazloum at the Destination D23 Event in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Disney Adventure’s future in South-east Asia was first revealed in March this year by both the cruise company and the Singapore Tourism Board.
The ship will be a new-build, weighing 208,000 gross tons. It is under construction at the MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft.
Taitung reinforces slow tourism appeal in Hong Kong market
The Transportation and Tourism Development Department of Taitung, Taiwan is in Hong Kong this week to fire up travel interest and explore charter flight arrangements to boost access between the two points.
The eight-member delegation, led by director Jessie Chiang, comprises hoteliers and travel agents. Hong Kong is the first stop for this initiative. Across September 6 to 9, the delegation will provide Hong Kong trade partners with tourism updates.
A Slow travel in Taitung campaign is aimed at Hong Kong consumers, designed to show off the destination’s pollution-free appeal, long coastline, two offshore islands, seven indigenous ethnicities, stargazing opportunities, and versatile festivals such as Taiwan International Balloon Festival. It is hoped that Hong Kong residents will be encouraged to stay on longer in Taitung for their holidays.
Kingdom Travel’s business manager, Joy Huang, shared that visitors from Hong Kong can now explore the Palan tribal site of Ulivelivek, located 15km from Taitung city, through a new itinerary. There are half- and full-day tours, good for smaller groups with six to 12 people.
Heidi Ouyang, assistant general manager of Formosan Naruwan Hotel & Resort Taitung, told TTG Asia that “Taitung has lots to offer” so much so that the usual duration of two to fours days taken by Hongkongers is not enough to experience the best of land and sea programmes.
Taitung tourism players also hope to inform Hong Kong travel trade partners that accommodation options have expanded and improved. There are now 1,502 keys under boutique guesthouses, while existing hotels have undergone varying degrees of renovation. The five-star 292-room Formosan Naruwan Hotel, for example, has just kicked off a phased refurbishment this month and targets to complete in mid to late 2024.
Chiang told TTG Asia that the Hong Kong market accounted for 60 per cent of Taitung’s international arrivals pre-pandemic, but direct flights are now lacking between the two points.
She hopes that discussions about potential charter flights can lead to services materialising by mid-2024.
Taitung authorities currently incentivise airlines to establish charter flights between Taitung and Hong Kong, with a subsidy of HK$69,500 (US$8,866) given per flight should passenger numbers exceed 50. Additional perks may be given for charter flights that serve more than 20 travellers who stay in legal hostels or hotels for two nights.
Malaysia Airlines expands reach with new routes, increased frequencies
Malaysia Airlines is set to bolster its presence in India, offer more options for travel within Australia, China, and South-east Asia, and enhance the overall traveller experience.
The flag carrier will expand its services to India with the launch of three new routes. Starting on November 8, 9, and December 1, travellers can access flights between Kuala Lumpur and Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram, and Ahmedabad, respectively. These will be served by Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, featuring 160 seats, with 16 allocated to Business Class.
This expansion brings the airline’s point-to-point connectivity from Kuala Lumpur to India to a total of nine key hubs, including New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kochi.
Group managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group, Izham Ismail, expressed the airline’s commitment to the Indian market, emphasising the convenience these new routes will offer to travellers. He also revealed that the airline is aiming to restore its pre-pandemic capacity in the Indian market by the end of the year.
Starting from December, Malaysia Airlines will also ramp up services from Kuala Lumpur to Australia’s Melbourne and Sydney. Flights to Melbourne will rise from 14 to 15 per week, while Sydney will see an increase from 14 to 16 flights per week.
Services to Greater China’s Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong will also be scaled up, alongside services to Indonesia’s Jakarta, Thailand’s Bangkok and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.
At the same time, Malaysia Airlines has introduced two new products, MHsports and MHcruise, to elevate the traveller experience.
MHsports caters to groups of five or more people travelling for sporting events. It offers an array of perks, including special fares, an extra 10kg baggage allowance, flexible date and time changes, and the convenience of extending one’s journey with a flexible return date. Customers can also enjoy the flexibility of changing their travellers up to 24 hours before departure, complimentary pre-selected seating, and advance check-in.
MHcruise offers special discounted fares tailored for selected travel trade players to seamlessly integrate with their cruise packages. Designed for a wide spectrum of travellers, MHcruise also includes special fares for children under 12 years old, an extra 10kg baggage allowance, preferential fares on both Business and Economy Class seats, and the freedom to choose one-way or return trips to various destinations within the Malaysia Airlines network.
Oceania Cruises unveils inaugural season sailings for Allura
Oceania Cruises has published the inaugural season sailings for its newest ship, Allura, which will join the fleet in summer 2025.
The 26 sailings will span more than 92 destinations on various seven- to 34-day voyages, and will open for sale on September 14, 2023.
As the line’s second 1,200-guest Allura Class ship, Allura will boast standard staterooms measuring at 27m2, larger than many entry-level suites on some ultra-luxury cruise lines.
Her maiden voyage will be a seven-day journey from Athens to Istanbul, departing on June 8, 2025. She will also call at iconic cities and lesser-known gems such as Cádiz, Cagliari, Messina, Palma de Mallorca, Palermo and Cinque Terre for her opening European season, and will feature overnight stays in Istanbul, Monte Carlo, Quebec City, Montreal and New York.
From her summer season in the Mediterranean, Allura will sail to Canada and New England for an extended season in North America before her premiere winter season in the Caribbean.
Complementing exquisite destination itineraries is a promise of The Finest Cuisine at Sea, where guests will dine at five speciality dining venues, including new signature restaurants Ember and Aquamar Kitchen, at no extra cost; and enjoy innovative and surprising cocktails served by master mixologists at the Founders Bar. It is said to be the only major cruise line to boast two master chefs of France.
Other highlights include a new onboard Crêperie, serving freshly made crêpes and waffles to order in the morning and a decadent array of gelatos in the afternoon; a new social hub, atop the ship, offering sweeping views of the seascape and a perfect nook for quiet reflection; an expansive Culinary Centre, and an accompanying Chef’s Studio, where epicurean secrets will be shared by the talented onboard chef Instructors; various onboard enrichment programmes; and hundreds of immersive shore excursions and tours to choose from on each sailing.
Service is thoughtfully curated, with two crew members for every three guests, and one chef for every 10 guests, ensuring 50 per cent of crew members are dedicated to culinary experiences.
Frank A Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises, said: “Excitement is already building in advance of Allura’s debut. This beautiful new addition to our family embodies the dynamic and dazzling future of Oceania Cruises. Allura heralds the ultimate evolution of our onboard experience, and her inaugural season is designed to entice curious world travellers, to allow them to reconnect with well-loved favourite destinations and discover new ones for the first time.
“Allura will continue the evolution of the Oceania Cruises experience. At their inception, our ships Marina and Riviera were heralded as two of the most beautiful and perfect cruise ships ever built; Vista, and now Allura, carry forward this vision, building on and embodying the evolution of perfection. We cannot wait to welcome Allura to the fleet.”
Costa Serena to homeport in Port Klang this January
Hwajing Travel & Tours is partnering with Costa Cruises on a pilot charter service that will see Costa Serena being homeported in Port Klang, Selangor for three special sailings in January 2024.
This will be Costa Serena’s maiden voyage to Malaysia.
Kenny Cheong, managing director of Hwajing Travel & Tours, disclosed at a recent press conference that the inaugural voyage will be a three-day/two-night roundtrip commencing on January 17 from Port Klang, with a stop in Penang.
Subsequently, there will be a four-day/three-night voyage departing from Port Klang on January 19, encompassing Penang and Phuket, and concluding back at Port Klang. The same voyage will be offered on January 22.
Guests onboard Costa Serena will be treated to the Sea Venice Carnival experience, during which guests will “don masks and immerse themselves in an authentic Venetian experience”, shared Cheong.
Hwajing Travel & Tours will be the sole retailer of these special sailings.
Malaysia’s minister of transport, Anthony Loke, who was present at the press conference, expressed the government’s enthusiasm for more international cruise liners to select Port Klang or Penang as their homeport, as cruise passengers tend to spend three times more on shore than regular travellers.
Loke said both Port Klang and Penang make great cruise homeports as their terminals are located close to international airports, allowing them to support fly-cruise tourism.
Wyndham deepens Indonesian presence through Indonesia Hospitality Group
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has inked three new agreements with Indonesia Hospitality Group that will drive further expansion of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand in the country.
This follows an earlier signing with Indonesia Hospitality Group that led to the launch of Howard Johnson by Wyndham Pekalongan in February this year.
In a press statement, Wyndham said the signings “timely” as Indonesia’s tourism and hospitality industries are predicted to grow by US$21.9 billion between 2022 and 2026, as determined by Technavio. Furthermore, these sectors were also noted by Technavio to progress at a CAGR of 11.81 per cent during the forecast period with a six per cent year-over-year growth rate from 2022.
The expanded partnership will result in the opening of Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kedoya Jakarta, Howard Johnson by Wyndham LA Hub South Jakarta, and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Treepark Tangerang.
The brand prides itself on warm and honest guest experiences, offering owners an ideal franchise opportunity to reach travellers seeking mid to upper-midscale accommodation.
Matt Holmes, vice president of business development South East Asia & the Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “Indonesia has and always will be an integral market for Wyndham’s Asia-Pacific growth strategy, particularly so with the rapid rise in international and domestic tourism numbers. In deepening our partnership with Indonesia Hospitality Group and tapping on its in-depth understanding of the local market, we are excited to be growing our presence across Indonesia with the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand offering to achieve greater milestones.”
Nathania Putri Budidjaja, director, Indonesia Hospitality Group, welcomed the partnership, noting that travel demand for Indonesia has surged since the full reopening of borders across Asia-Pacific.
“As such, these are exciting times for Indonesia Hospitality Group as we partner Wyndham Hotels and Resorts to introduce Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand in Indonesia,” Nathania said.
Philippine Airlines partners LinkedIn to boost staff learning opportunities
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has forged a partnership with LinkedIn to boost its new corporate learning space, The PAL Multiversity, and build a high-performance culture for its staff that is anchored on driving customer-centricity, profitability and growth.
The PAL Multiversity is designed to equip the airline’s workforce with vital skills for a fast-changing and competitive business environment, in line with a strategic corporate shift from routine training to holistic talent development.
Through LinkedIn’s intelligent skill-building platform, PAL will offer all employees free access to more than 21,000 expert-led online learning courses, including an estimated 60 new courses per week on some of the most in-demand business, technology, and creative skills.
“The pandemic taught us that we need to be agile. We at Philippine Airlines began our journey of digital transformation by strengthening one of our core assets, our people, through the development of programmes to prepare them for the demands of the future,” said PAL vice president for human capital, Jo-Ann D Maluenda.
“With The PAL Multiversity powered by LinkedIn Learning, we opened up a wealth of opportunities for learning and empowerment, helping us to build a powerhouse team that will take excellence and creativity to a new level.”
Atul Harkisanka, LinkedIn head of growth markets and country manager for the Philippines, stated that “PAL and major airlines around the world are doubling down on their investment to strengthen their workforce agility” as they sought to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Harkisanka added that LinkedIn hopes to “help PAL leverage our AI-powered talent attraction, engagement and retention tools and resources, as well as real-time insights of the industry and economy to achieve its business goals”.
Besides skills-building, PAL will have access to comprehensive talent insights and data to help make more informed hiring decisions and develop employer branding to attract strong candidates to save time and generate better leads with smart filters and recommendations for the airline’s crucial hiring decisions. The airline will utilise tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter and LinkedIn Talent Insights.
The partnership also includes advisories on global best practices, support for implementation and enablement, and continuous customer success.
Most tourist markets undeterred by Fukushima nuclear water release
Japan’s release of treated water from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant into the ocean has caused concern among some potential travellers from China, South Korea and other neighbouring markets, but bookings from most countries are largely unaffected, say inbound agents.
The water became contaminated following damages to the plant during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, and was subsequently filtered but still contains tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Operator TEPCO began diluting the water and releasing it on August 24, following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s conclusion that the diluted water met international standards, despite objections raised at home and abroad.
A representative of an inbound travel agency that declined to be named said TEPCO’s move has already resulted in some cancellations by Chinese tour groups for Japan’s autumn leaves season. Other Chinese tour groups that were due to book had changed their country destination, the spokesperson added.
Still, most markets have shown no intention of changing their plans and pent-up demand for Japan remains high.
“We don’t expect the upcoming autumn peak season to be affected at all. In fact, this autumn is looking like one of our busiest ever, on a par with 2019,” James Munday, spokesperson of travel agent of InsideJapan Tours, told TTG Asia.
And, although there have been “a few concerns from a handful of customers” about trips to Fukushima, Munday said his company has seen no cancellations for travel to Japan and “would be surprised to see any,” adding that the company “will continue to promote the Tohoku region to those who want to discover a quieter Japan”.
Naomi Mano, president and CEO of high-end inbound travel firm Luxurique, also told TTG Asia that her clients have so far expressed “no concerns” about the release of the water.
Trade players outside of Japan share similar optimism about demand for the destination.
Hellen Xu, CEO of Panorama JTB Tours Indonesia, said enquiries and bookings for Japan are still streaming in, and none of her clients have cancelled.
“Japan recently organised the Japan Travel Fair (in Jakarta), and the show was a hit,” said Xu. “Japan is our second biggest destination after Europe, and as we have projected earlier, bookings for the rest of the year is very good.”
Xu said bookings for the 2024 sakura season are not yet established, but some dampened demand could be expected since the Muslim fasting month and Lebaran holidays would be just a month away. Instead, she expects Indonesian bookings for Japan to look good in 2H2024.
Apple Vacations Malaysia’s co-founder and group managing director, Koh Yock Heng, said winter tour bookings with fixed departures to Hokkaido and Tohoku regions this December has seen a small two to three per cent cancellation so far.
“We understand that seafood may be a concern for some (travellers), but we provide a variety of menu options that include chicken and beef, as this will also cater to different preferences and dietary requirements,” he said.
Japan, meanwhile, is trying to mitigate any potential damage to inbound markets.
During its participation in Malaysia’s leading outbound consumer travel event, MATTA Fair, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) distributed brochures produced by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to reassure potential visitors that it was safe to consume Japanese seafood.
A source from JNTO Kuala Lumpur office told TTG Asia that there were few tour cancellations reported by agent partners in Malaysia, indicating continued travellers’ confidence in Japan’s safety measures.
Taichiro Ishida, marketing manager, Suruga Market!ng & Tour!sm Bureau, told TTG Asia that Japan is taking responsibility for the outcomes of choosing to use nuclear power as an energy source, and is doing what is needed to ensure a safe release of waste water.
He believes that “most tourists will (continue to visit Japan)”.
A JNTO spokesperson said the Japan Tourism Agency will support the promotion of blue tourism and the charms of the ocean in regions rumoured to be polluted by water discharge, such as Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki prefecture, and will work on countering these rumours.
Commenting on the water release, Taro Kono, state minister of consumer affairs, told reporters that he hoped Chinese visitors to Japan who eat sushi and sashimi would “return home and say ‘Japanese seafood is delicious’”.
Videos in Chinese that promote the safety of Japanese seafood are being planned, according to Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency. – Additional reporting by Mimi Hudoyo, S Puvaneswary and Rachel AJ Lee
Taman Wisata Candi (TWC) Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko, the state-owned company that manages the temples, has set new regulations for visitors looking to explore the archeological site of Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Indonesia.
The new regulations include limited tickets for sale, pre-set visiting sessions, and a sale period of no more than a week ahead of the intended visit. These are aligned with the Indonesian government’s policy of imposing stricter visitor controls at the temple, with no more than 1,200 people allowed each day or 150 per session.
From hereon, tickets are only sold online and open for sale seven days before the intended visit; a maximum of 10 tickets may be purchased in a single transaction.
Visitors can choose from one of eight hour-long sessions, between 09.00 and 17.00.
Jamaludin Mawardi, general manager of the Borobudur Unit of TWC Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko, said visitors are welcome to purchase an additional session for longer visits, and can do so with the help of a guide and subject to ticket availability.
He said the new regulations are being tested until October, and improvements will continue to be made.
“There will be a special landing page for tour operators on the website, including a special quota plan for ASITA (Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies) Yogyakarta members using voucher codes,” Jamaludin added.
Indonesian travel trade players welcome the new regulations, especially as the sole online sales channel will remove ticket brokers, and are offering ideas for system improvements.
Monas Tjahjono, managing director of Monas Tours & Travel Surabaya, said TWC should make the sale of tickets transparent, so that visitors to the site can see the number of tickets available for sale in real time. This is important since tickets are very quickly snapped up, as soon as the online purchase slot is opened.
The temple’s online ticketing system could also take a leaf out of airlines’ book, where sales are open every day throughout the year and which allows visitors to see ahead tickets that are available for sale.
She then urges TWC to reduce website downtime.
Meanwhile, Trianto Sunarjati, director at Travel Help Indonesia, opined that the reservation system needs to be separated for the public and travel operators, so that the latter could purchase more tickets for tour groups.
However, ASITA vice chairman Budijanto Ardiansjah voiced concerns for the sudden regulations change “in the middle of the year, during the high season”.
As group bookings have been confirmed since last year, travellers worry if they would still be allowed into Borobudur Temple, while tour operators are concerned about cost increment and affected earnings.
Budijanto hopes that destinations or attractions that are the main tourist draws, such as Borobudur Temple, will consult tourism industry players when making decisions.
“Keep in mind that tourism is a future business, where business obtained today is the result of last year’s actions,” he stated.
Budijanto also suggested a dual online and offline ticketing system during the trial period, to allow tour operators to try for tickets manually should they fail to secure online tickets.