Anjali Chandra has been promoted to the position of president, Travel Corporation Asia (TCA).
In her new role, Chandra will assume responsibility for the TCA brand, while maintaining her role as managing director of global groups at The Travel Corporation (TTC).
Chandra has 23 years tenure with TTC, initially managing the Australian Groups Desk for Insight Vacations for many years before taking on her elevated global groups role based out of London in 2014.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism has drafted a national strategy for cruise tourism, which will serve as a roadmap for the sustainable growth of the segment in the country.
The draft strategy aims to promote India as a preferred destination for cruise tourism – coastal, ocean and river cruises. It identifies the current challenges and focus areas, and highlights that a sub brand, Incredible Cruises in India, will be developed to better position India as a cruise tourism destination.
“The national strategy will help to attract investments and facilitate the development of cruise terminals, infrastructure, and services. This will not only enhance the overall cruise experience but also attract international cruise lines to consider India as a desirable destination,” said Jurgen Bailom, president and CEO of Waterways Leisure and Cordelia Cruises.
“One of the key potential benefits of promoting India as a cruise destination is the opportunity to tap into a vast market of global travellers who are seeking new and exotic experiences. India’s diverse destinations like Mumbai, Goa and Lakshadweep have immense appeal to international tourists,” he added, sharing that Cordelia Cruises began operating a service out of Chennai to Sri Lanka last month.
As per the draft, the ministry will work with port authorities and state governments to coordinate the development of international year-round cruise terminals in order to cater to large and mega sea cruises. In addition, development of river cruise tourism around heritage sites, religious places and wildlife sanctuaries will be encouraged.
The ministry will be reaching out to international cruise liners and river cruise liners to include Indian ports and terminals as part of their route planning or for home porting in India.
Raj Singh, founder & chairman, Antara Luxury River Cruises, remarked: “A national strategy drafted by the government in consultation with the cruise industry will help resolve problems for all kinds cruises.
“Taxation, permits and licenses will become much easier to manage while safety regulation will also become much more serious. The government involvement will encourage stakeholders to come onboard and invest in making rivers, shore operations and seaports offer superior quality and safer services.”
Upcoming is the Silversea’s World Cruise in 2026 which will include stops in Cochin and Mumbai. Additionally, Costa Cruises has announced that its ship, Costa Serena, will home port in Mumbai from November 8, where it will sail from Mumbai to Goa and Lakshadweep.
Trip.com Group and Tourism New Zealand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote New Zealand as a key tourism destination in Asia-Pacific.
This partnership marks the first pan-regional collaboration for both sides.
As part of the collaboration, both parties will launch a series of joint marketing campaigns to attract tourists from Asia-Pacific to New Zealand. The markets include mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia.
The agreement will also involve the creation of appealing and attractive travel itineraries and experiences to meet specific visitor needs, positioning New Zealand as a destination of choice for travellers.
Data from Trip.com Group’s Ctrip and Trip.com platforms show a keen interest in travel in Asia-Pacific, including New Zealand. Searches for flights to the destination have seen a significant increase of nearly 560 per cent year-on-year, and the volume of bookings was up over 570 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Trip.com Group’s vice president of destination marketing & strategy alliances, Edison Chen, said: “We look forward to collaborating with Tourism New Zealand to leverage our resources and deep data insights to boost New Zealand tourism development, fully optimising the travel experience for tourists in New Zealand.
“With the resurgence of international travel post-pandemic, this collaboration could not be better for both parties involved.”
René de Monchy, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, shared: “Through the partnership, Tourism New Zealand aims to provide Asia-Pacific travellers with more convenient booking methods, personalised itinerary planning, and comprehensive service support.
“We look forward to welcoming travellers to deeply explore the beautiful landscapes and unique culture of Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as experience our manaakitanga.”
A regional survey by Marriott International has coined a term to describe a new generation of travellers set to disrupt the industry over the next few years – Native Explorers.
It recognises a tribe of affluent millennial and Gen Z travellers in Asia-Pacific who are bucking the trend by traveling in reverse order to generations before them.
The survey across Australia, China, Japan, India, Singapore, and South Korea was commissioned to better understand the attitudes of affluent millennial and Gen Z travellers and help luxury brands meet their evolving aspirations.
While their predecessors may be saving up for more costly longhaul travel later in life, Native Explorers are already well-travelled at a younger age, with one in four notching up no less than two continents outside of Asia-Pacific by the time they hit 26.
Despite having the means, Native Explorers claim they will be spending their travel dollars closer to home for at least the next two years, as 85% believe that they have yet to fully discover all the region has to offer.
With their sights firmly set on holidays closer to home, Native Explorers rank Japan (52%), South Korea (42%), and New Zealand (39%) as their top three travel destinations. They are also seeking out the new in familiar hotspots such as Australia (39%) and Thailand (32%) through a culture-centric lens.
Although one in four Native Explorers would prefer to beat the jet lag and pick nearby, fuss-free holidays, their sense of adventure shouldn’t be underestimated: 43% look for nature escapes and wellness experiences and 36% are looking for hidden cultural gems they have yet to discover.
“Globally, we’re seeing an undeniable shift among travellers towards more meaningful, one-of-a-kind experiences in both new and familiar destinations. This is particularly evident in Asia-Pacific from our findings on Gen Z and millennials’ travel patterns and behaviours,” noted Bart Buiring, chief sales & marketing officer, Marriott International Asia-Pacific
Luxury defined by authentic connections and experience, with craft still key
Native Explorers are redefining what luxury travel means – from elusive and exclusive to meaningful connection and experiences. As they transition towards understated and authentic holidays, one in three respondents (37%) called out human connection, genuine hospitality, and being part of a community as critical components of luxury travel.
Majority (58%) believe once-in-a-lifetime experiences and pinch-me moments are what make the luxury travel experience. Top picks include VIP access to sold-out concerts of their favourite artists (52%) and exclusive culinary workshops with celebrity chefs (36%).
Craftsmanship remains crucial to luxury travel, with over 50% believe service excellence and state-of-the-art facilities are key tenets. Personalisation remains a key deciding factor in choosing a luxury hotel, with 32% expecting bespoke services such as a dedicated travel advisor, and 32% preferring to stay with hotels that offer tailored itineraries and customised amenities.
Explore destinations through luxury hotel comforts
Caught between their desires to discover and luxuriate, nine in 10 respondents prefer to explore the destination with assistance from their luxury hotel, rather than research and hire a local guide of their own. Almost half (45%) prefer to sample local cuisine through the property’s gourmet dining, 39% want to experience the local culture through the hotel’s curated programming, and 34% are keen to try local wellness rituals available at the hotel spa.
Native Explorers’ thirst for cultural discovery extends to their accommodation choices, with a majority (76%) of respondents opting for hotels and resorts with destination-inspired concepts. Brand affinity remains key for Native Explorers with approximately one in three opting for destination-inspired abodes under an established luxury brand.
To meet these reimagined travel desires, Marriott International has plans to take its portfolio of eight luxury brands to the region’s most popular travel spots such as Sydney and Bangkok and emerging destinations like Fukuoka, Japan and Jiuzhaigou, China.
“With young affluent travellers in Asia-Pacific gravitating towards under-the-radar holidays and culturally-rich itineraries, we’re expanding our luxury portfolio in the region’s most sought-after destinations like Nara, Sydney and Jiuzhaigou in China with a target of opening 12 properties in 2023 alone,” said Buiring.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and AHG Hotels & Resorts have signed a management agreement to develop the 300-key Holiday Inn Resort Kasauli in India.
Overlooking a valley within the Shivalik Hills, the new hotel will be located within one of Kasauli’s largest and most prominent resort areas, offering convenient access to the city centre, prime tourist spots, and the Chandigarh-Shimla highway.
The town is also famous for its dense forests and floras, panoramic views of the snow-clad Himalayan mountains, colonial architecture, and pleasant climate.
Once opened, Holiday Inn Resort Kasauli will feature an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge and bar, gym, swimming pool, and a 2,300m2 meeting room.
Korean Air is deploying the new Airbus A321neo aircraft on its daily Seoul Incheon-Phnom Penh service starting July 1, and is the first Asian airline to feature Airbus’ Airspace cabin on an A321neo.
The A321neo is a new aircraft type and the airline’s first narrow body aircraft to have fully lie-flat seats in Prestige Class (business class), a feature normally found exclusively on wide-body aircraft. The cabin comprises eight Prestige Class seats and 174 economy class seats.
The SkyTeam carrier’s Airspace cabin will include customisable lighting system, audio/visual Bluetooth pairing, larger overhead bins, and more.
The airline is slated to receive a total of 30 A321neo aircraft by 2027. It will also be deploying these aircraft on other routes to South-east Asia as well as routes to China and Japan.
Royal Caribbean International is set to return to China in April 2024, and vacationers can now book four- and seven-night vacations on Spectrum of the Seas as it sails from Shanghai to popular destinations like Fukuoka, Okinawa, Nagasaki and Osaka, Japan.
Specially designed for Asia and travellers of all ages, Spectrum of the Seas features a line-up of restaurants and entertainment with regionally-inspired menus and shows, like Hot Pot, Teppanyaki and Sichuan Red, as well as karaoke lounge Star Moment, Showgirls in the Royal Theater and Silk Road in the one-of-a-kind Two70.
The adventure seekers can try out activities like skydiving on the RipCord by iFly, the all-glass observation capsule, as well as bumper cars and sports in the indoor activity space SeaPlex.
For larger families, they can choose to live it up at the two-level Ultimate Family Suite that accommodates up to 11 people and features an in-suite slide.
For more information, visit Royal Caribbean International.
Pradyot Rana has been named general manager for Shinta Mani Mustang – A Bensley Collection, which opens in Nepal on August 1.
With a strong background in luxury hospitality and his vast knowledge of the region and creating bespoke unique guest experiences in remote locations, Pradyot will manage all aspects of operations at the property.
He was previously at Tiger Tops Nepal where he held the position of project and business development manager.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has appointed Martin Gwee as director, South-east Asia.
He will lead the development and implementation of the HKTB’s marketing strategies in South-east Asian markets in his new role.
With extensive marketing experience, industry connections and keen understanding of the evolving needs and preferences of South-east Asian travellers, Gwee first joined the HKTB in 2016 and is currently director, marketing for South-east Asia.
A growing appreciation for winter sports and a strong desire for holidays in the great outdoors and colder climes have fired up intense interest in winter and ski holidays among Asian travellers, especially those from tropical zones.
Expedia data shows ski holiday bookings last winter season (December 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023) out of Asia have climbed to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels (December 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020). With ski resort bookings showing an average duration of three nights at least, Expedia believes travellers are staying on longer to ski.
Luxury travel specialist, Scott Dunn, told TTG Asia that Asian enquiries and bookings for ski vacations have spiked 250 per cent in the last ski season, compared to the previous season in 2021/2022.
Koo Ying Ying, Europe travel specialist, Scott Dunn, said the intense interest could be due to travel restrictions being lifted, allowing Asians to get back to planning their long-overdue winter fun.
Asians are also drawn to wintry landscapes, like Lapland and Iceland, and the chance to chase down aurora visions.
“Snow has always been a really strong pull factor for guests from Asia, especially (those living in) tropical climate,” said Koo. “Post-pandemic, we also see that more guests are craving fresh air and longing to be in the great outdoors. The snowy mountains are the perfect place for this, and they also present a very different type of landscape compared to what most of us are accustomed to, which is another factor we think has led to this spike (in winter travel demand).”
When asked if Olympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022 and Pyeongchang 2018 could have fired up Asian interest in ski holidays, Rachael Harding, CEO for East and South Asia & Pacific at Club Med, said any major events on the world stage could influence consumer behaviour. Through the two Winter Olympics, winter sports as well as the host country are cast into the spotlight.
“The fact that Asia had two Winter Olympics in recent years certainly put the region on the map as a winter playground (and inspired people to see Asia as an option) for mountain holidays,” Harding told TTG Asia.
She added that the games had also created a new pool of young athletes and led to more ski associations opening up in various countries across Asia.
“A big case is the formation of the Ski and Snowboard Association of Thailand in 2016. Thailand is now our most aggressive market to rebound,” she said.
That said, Club Med mountain resorts have seen “this consistent trend for quite some time”, where ski business now contributes a third of total business compared to just 10 per cent in 2015.
Demand is growing year on year and “completely outstripping the capacity that we have”, remarked Harding.
Scott Dunn expects strong bookings to continue into the 2023/2024 season. “We’ve just opened bookings for the next ski season and there is already a healthy level of interest and bookings, especially from big families and groups of friends,” shared Koo.
She believes that customers are moving fast to secure availability and rates “because key dates – such as the Lunar New Year, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and Easter – get booked up very quickly”.
Not only is ski travel demand returning fast, Koo said traveller profiles are also getting younger.
“Traditionally, we often see families with older children, between 12 and 19 years old. Now, we see a trend of younger families with children aged four to 10 exploring ski holidays,” she said.
Asians are open to snowy adventures all over the world. Expedia noted that Niigata, Japan; Zermatt, Switzerland; Banff, Canada; and Haute-Savoie, France are top ski destinations among Asian travellers. Among Scott Dunn’s customers, France and Italy are hot favourites, while Canada and Switzerland are gaining popularity. New Zealand makes a fine choice too, according to Koo, as it has a great ski season between June and September.
Slopes and more
With seven ski mountain resorts in Asia and 13 elsewhere in the world plus three more set to open, Club Med has established itself firmly in the space of winter vacations. However, Harding said the mountains are not just for winter sports enthusiasts.
“The mountains are a beautiful place to escape the city. There is fresh air and the resorts offer a holistic wellness experience. We have a lot of activities that don’t involve skiing and they lean into our different target audiences,” she said.
At Club Med Val d’Isère, the company’s first Exclusive Collection mountain resort in the heart of the French Alps, guests not into snow sports can spend their winter vacation learning how tomme de Savoie and Avalin cheese are made, exploring the old village of Val d’Isère, reclaiming their health at the yoga studio and gym, wining and dining through multiple F&B outlets on property, and joining in artistic events.
Easier vacations
Recognising that winter holidays are a little more complex to plan, Expedia has in recent years been working with ski resorts to provide packages and deals for customers, all to make ski holidays more accessible for international travellers. Ski packages may include room nights, breakfast, barbecue, ski lift and gear rental, shared an Expedia spokesperson.
Scott Dunn’s travel specialists are trained to guide customers on their ski needs and propose the best destination and property based on their preferences. For adventurous guests, these travel specialists may even suggest heli-skiing and glacier hiking. The agency also boasts its own ski concierge team that will help customers secure lessons, passes, restaurant bookings, and transfers once the holiday booking is confirmed.
“We are also able to plan flight routings and itinerary suggestions to visit nearby European cities before or after a ski trip,” said Koo, adding that pre-departure calls and briefings are provided to ensure guests are well-prepared for their winter break.
For families, Scott Dunn offers two Explorers Kids Clubs in the French Alps – one in Val d’Isere and the other in Courchevel. In Val d’Isere, for example, families can engage a nanny to pick the children up from the hotel in the morning, and help them with ski passes, lessons, attire and equipment.
“This equals less fuss, and allows parents to enjoy themselves on the slopes knowing that their kids are well taken care of,” said Koo.
Scott Dunn Explorers Kids Club also curates other activities, besides winter sports, to keep little ones engaged for days.
