Batik Air will launch six weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Auckland, New Zealand from August 24.
Operating via Perth, Australia in both directions, the flights will depart Kuala Lumpur at 10.55 and arrive in Auckland at 04.55 the next morning, while return flights will depart Auckland at 07.00 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 15.30.
Due to daylight saving time changes in Auckland from September 24, the flights will arrive and depart one hour later.
teamLab SuperNature Macao, a permanent interactive art experience at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo, has officially opened on May 26, marking the launch of the landmark project presented by The Venetian Macao and Tokyo-based international art collective teamLab.
Located at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo, teamLab SuperNature Macao is an extremely complex, three-dimensional interactive space with varying elevations that spans over 5,000m² and is comprised of eight-metre-tall works by art collective teamLab.
Visitors can change the nature of the works in real time, directly affecting artwork spaces through synergistic interaction that can never reoccur or be replicated – making no two visits the same.
From June 1, three new artwork spaces – Floating Flower Garden: Flowers and I are of the Same Root, the Garden and I are One, and Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life – and En Tea House, will be opened to elevate the visitor experience.
In addition, the Light Sculpture series will reveal its major renewal, and Autonomous Abstraction, Continuous Phenomena from the Universe to the Self will replace the existing Life is the Light that Resonates in the Dark.
For more information, visit teamLab SuperNature Macao.
The Music Run will make a much-anticipated return to Singapore after five years, in collaboration with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) Asian Open weekend on August 19 to 20.
Held at the Marina Bay area, The Music Run will feature its signature five-kilometre fun run as one of the events staged alongside the PTO Tour’s women’s and men’s race events.
Adding to the open-to-all five-kilometre fun run format will be a pumping soundtrack featuring everyone’s favourite hits to ensure that everyone has a place at the PTO Asian Open weekend.
With a strong following across Asia, The Music Run has previously staged events in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, China, Taiwan, and most recently, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur.
Registration for The Music Run will open officially on June 1.
For more information, visit The Music Run.
Four Seasons Explorer is setting sail to one of the world’s last remaining frontiers beginning later this year. Hidden in a remote part of the Pacific is Palau, home to more than 340 emerald islands and a variety of marine life.
The island also keeps the 4,000-year-old Palauan culture alive, sustained by the local knowledge of 20,000 traditionally-minded people.
Referred to as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World, Palau provides a haven for divers and snorkelers, as well as opportunities for cultural immersions ranging from insights into the rich Palauan dance tradition and exploration of WWII sites to visiting the Badrulchau Stone Monoliths, and marvelling at the cave paintings of Ulong Island, and more.
Reservations for the Palau experience with Four Seasons Explorer in late 2023 are now being confirmed. Meals are included onboard the vessel.
For more information, email Four Seasons Explorer.
Over May 19 to 21, eyes of the world will be on Hiroshima as it hosts the G7 Summit, and the Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau (HCVB) is hoping the exposure of the global event will inspire an uptick in inbound travellers to the city.
Indeed, as early as September 2022, at international travel event Tourism Expo Japan, representatives of HCVB commented that “Hiroshima, as a cosmopolitan city, welcomes the G7 Hiroshima Summit and looks forward to welcoming (international visitors)”.
The unveiling of the famed “floating” otorii (grand gate) of Itsukushima Shrine on Hiroshima’s nearby island of Miyajima in late 2022, after more than three years of painstaking restoration work, is expected to be a major draw. At 16.6m tall and weighing 60 tonnes, the gate is a symbol of Hiroshima, attracting 4.7 million visitors in 2019, according to Miyajima Tourist Association.
Also adding to the prefecture’s appeal is the increased number and range of hotels available. These include the luxury Japanese- and Western-style Kyukamura Taishakukyo, which opened in February 2023, as well as the popular Fav Hotel and international brand Hilton Hiroshima, both of which launched in autumn 2022.
The biggest change in Hiroshima since the outset of the pandemic, though, is in adventure travel, defined by the Japan Adventure Tourism Organisation (JATO) as “trips that consist of two or more of the three elements of activity, nature and cultural experience”.
In 2023, more arrivals to the prefecture are expected to take part in adventure tourism than ever before, thanks to recent local efforts, buoyed by national support. In autumn 2022, the Japanese government named adventure travel as one of its three focus areas – along with sustainable travel and luxury travel – to entice travellers back to Japan. Officials are banking on post-lockdown visitors seeking out trips that are slower, longer and more connected to nature or offer unique outdoor and cultural activities.
And the travel trade in Hiroshima has been busy preparing for the arrival of these travellers.
Takeo Tamamoto, director of the MICE promotion department at HCVB, said there are many new tours and activities that cater to travellers who want to enjoy the local area’s culture and scenery.
A popular option is an early morning hike up Mount Futaba, according to Taeko Abe, supervisor of the creative tourism department at HCVB. After setting off from the city centre, participants call at Hiroshima Toshogu, a shrine dedicated to the god of peace and where residents fled in search of water following the 1945 atomic bombing. On reaching the summit, a bento breakfast made with local, sustainable ingredients is served and enjoyed against the backdrop of the city, Seto Inland Sea and Miyajima.
Food and drink activities are also booming. Tokyo-based company ByFood offers guided tours around Hiroshima by day or night. Guests get to try the region’s unique and renowned dishes, such as okonomiyaki pancakes and oysters. Hiroshima produces more than 60 per cent of Japan’s oysters, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Leading local alcohol maker Sakurao Brewery and Distillery also recently launched a tour and tasting package to showcase its whiskey and craft gin.
And, as Hiroshima is known locally as a City of Water, thanks to the six rivers that flow through it, the past few years have seen growth in water-based activities, too.
Hiroshima-based Magic Island offers SUP tours that pass by the city’s two world heritage sites: Itsukushima Shrine and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Hall.
Companies are also maximising Hiroshima’s advantageous position beside the Seto Inland Sea and its many islands.
Tokyo-based company Heartland Japan’s tours include walking part of the Tobishima Kaido, a 100km route connecting Kawashiri, Kure and Shimo-Kamagari via a series of bridges, and an island homestay incorporating cycling and sailing on Etajima.
Local company Setouchi Reflection Trip, meanwhile, offers a range of airborne activities including a 50-minute seaplane tour over the area’s coasts and islands. It is also possible to take an eight-minute or 17-minute helicopter ride to view the city’s famous sites such as Hiroshima Castle and the Peace Memorial.
Indeed, “momentum for adventure tourism promotion is increasing in Hiroshima and the surrounding area”, according to JATO. June 2022 saw the establishment of the Hiroshima Adventure Tourism Association (HATA), designed to revitalise the prefecture’s tourism industry “through promotion and awareness of adventure tourism”.
HATA offers a five-day adventure tour under the theme of Hiroshima’s story woven through time, which aims to tell the story of the city’s “origin, reconstruction, passion and future” via cycling, river trekking, hiking and sea kayaking.
“Hiroshima has many places and activities that have the potential to change lives and the world,” said HATA chairman Toshiro Yoshihara, noting that the association aims to make “physically and mentally adventurous products” for visitors to enjoy and for the revitalisation of the area.
In February 2023, AdventureConnect, a national event organised by JATO, Adventure Travel Trade Association and HATA, was held in Hiroshima for the first time, marking the prefecture’s continued rise in Japan’s adventure tourism sector.
The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is organising its 68th annual convention in Colombo, Sri Lanka from July 6 to 9. The convention is likely to draw about 400 to 500 delegates, including media representatives.
The event is supported by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators.
The opening ceremony of the convention will take place at Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall while business sessions will be conducted in two hotels – Cinnamon Grand Colombo and Shangri-La Colombo.
The theme of the convention is Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives and will focus on promoting regional tourism besides positioning Sri Lanka as a preferred destination among Indian outbound travellers.
“Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has been resilient in spite of the economic challenges. India has now once again become the number one international source market for Sri Lanka and we hope that the island nation will receive more Indian tourists post our convention,” said TAAI’s president Jyoti Mayal at a virtual media conference on the event.
Sri Lanka received 19,915 Indian tourists in April alone, and 66,347 Indian tourists between January and April 2023.
India follows after Russia as Sri Lanka’s second biggest source market.
Apart from the convention, TAAI will be organising pre- and post-fam tours covering destinations including Bentota, Galle and Kandy. TAAI has partnered with four airlines including Sri Lankan Airlines, Air India, IndiGo and Vistara, to offer special round trip fares for its attendees, with prices ranging from 16,000 rupees (US$194) to 30,000 rupees.
“We want to promote experiential travel to Sri Lanka from India. These fam tours will help our members to understand different products on the same lines that they can promote among their clients,” added Mayal.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and Mori Trust Co. have signed a partnership agreement to open Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street in late 2024.
The hotel will be Japan’s fifth Hotel Indigo when it opens, continuing the growth of the brand that already includes hotels in Hakone Gora, Karuizawa and Inuyama, along with the upcoming Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya, which is scheduled to open later in 2024.
Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street will offer around 70 rooms, and is located in Nagasaki’s Minami Yamate area, which was once a settlement home to foreign consulates and residences.
The hotel’s story will be “Travelling through Time and Space: Japanese, Chinese and Dutch Labyrinths”, highlighting Wakaran (Japanese ‘Wa’, Chinese ‘Ka’ and Dutch ‘Ran’), where Western and Eastern customs and cultures have intersected.
Abhijay Sandilya, managing director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, said: “The signing of Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street demonstrates the ongoing momentum for the Hotel Indigo brand in this market, as it continues to welcome travellers from around the world with unique and fascinating stay experiences that only Japan can offer.”
“We are very pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to open new Hotel Indigo in the historic Minami Yamate area of Nagasaki, (where) we are actively promoting the preservation of traditional buildings. In the future, Nagasaki is expected to attract domestic and foreign tourists and tourism consumption, and we hope that we will be able to continue to provide our guests with history and culture through accommodation, and to disseminate new value,” added Miwako Date, president and CEO of Mori Trust Co..
Hotel Indigo is a lifestyle boutique hotel brand built around neighbourhood stories, incorporating the character of the city and its unique history and culture into every detail of the hotel. The brand currently has 270 open or pipeline hotels worldwide.
Vietjet has added four new aircraft to its fleet in May, marking the airline’s upcoming intercontinental flight network expansion.
The new aircraft includes three A321neos and one A330, which feature fuel savings, emission reduction and environmental protection to help modernise Vietjet’s fleet, enhance operational efficiency as well as reduce operating costs.
Vietjet plans to expand its fleet of 87 aircraft, including nine Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, in 2023.
In addition, the airline aims to operate 139,513 flights with 25.7 million passengers onboard, with its targeted consolidated revenue for 2023 at over 50,178 billion dong (US$2.14 billion) while after-tax profit is set at 1,000 billion dong.
Growing in fleet size will also support the flight network expansion plan. The airline has recently announced a series of new services from Vietnam to Japan’s Hiroshima and India’s Kochi, as well as restoring flight operations to Phuket, Hong Kong, Daegu among others.
Location
Occupying the entire expanse of the South Ari Atoll, a protected marine reserve as well as one of the largest islands in the Maldives, Lux* South Ari Atoll presents not only the destination’s iconic soothing colours of nature but also abundant space to do everything or nothing at all, and more importantly, opportunities to support marine conservation.
To access the luxury resort, I came through Velana International Airport and got whisked off to the comfort of Lux* South Ari Atoll’s private lounge within the seaplane terminal. Thereafter, a half-hour seaplane ride placed me right at the doorstep of breezy paradise. I’m giving it extra points for having its own jetty, allowing guests to disembark with ease.
However, holiday vibes truly begun at the seaplane lounge, where interior design and facilities hinted at what was to be expected at the resort. Little ones got their own PLAY zone, while the grown-ups got to explore ethically sourced, freshly brewed coffee at the chic black-and-white Café Lux bar, a signature of all Lux* resorts.
Accommodation
The resort offers a variety of room types, from Beach Pavilions to overwater villas. Families are very much welcomed here, and can be accommodated in two-bedroom Family Beach Pavilions, Family Lagoon Pavilions, or the presidential Lux* Villa.
I spent my nights in the Romantic Pool Water Villa, which rises on stilts over crystal clear waters. This 110m² of space includes a spacious sun deck furnished with a hanging bird’s nest swing, two sun loungers, a private pool, and steps that lead right into the lagoon.
For guests hoping to catch up on their favourite films and dramas during their vacation, they will delight at the drop-down projector screen.
I love that I could spot the first rays of the sun from the sun deck, and the villa’s proximity to the main hub of the resort and yet is isolated enough that I hear only the sounds of the sea.
A great way to enjoy the resort is by taking up the fuss-free, all-inclusive option, which grants guests access to six quality restaurants all day (extra charge only applies to signature menu items); discounted dining at two speciality restaurants, Umami Japanese restaurant and Allegria Italian restaurant); complimentary minibar that is replenished daily; use of fitness facilities and non-motorised water sports equipment, and access to yoga and fitness classes.
Facilities
The resort is like Mary Poppin’s magic carpet bag. I see on its map an incredible listing of facilities – eight restaurants, five bars, a 15-room spa with four special overwater treatment villas, Yoga Grove, gym, water sports centre, library, herb gardens, tennis courts, two shared swimming pools, two dedicated play zones for children and teens, and the Junk Art Studio & Gallery.
And yet, all these plus guest accommodation are so well planned that the island does not feel congested.
On my sunrise runs every morning down the 1.8km length of the island, I discovered many picturesque nooks, and quiet sections of shoreline with inviting overwater swings and hammocks. This alone was mentally refreshing for me.
And should I desire an action-packed resort retreat, Lux* South Ari Atoll will certainly impress. It curates a roster of daily activities – some complimentary to guests, such as the Tree of Wishes Ceremony and a fun facial walk-through using Lux* Me Spa’s vegan products; and some with an extra charge attached, such as spotting whale sharks and coral planting with a marine biologist.
One activity that gets many guests out of their beds early in the morning is the Message in a Bottle treasure hunt. Gardeners hide up to 25 bottles across the island before sunrise, and within each bottle is a voucher for a prize, which could be a cute plush toy, bottle of wine or a romantic dinner for two.
Our hosts on this media programme signed us up for whale shark spotting and coral planting with a marine biologist, and the activity gave me good insights to the marine ecosystem and the efforts taken by conservation organisations and responsible resorts to minimise existential challenges faced by local marine creatures. Although the whale sharks played coy with us that morning, the cruise out to sea was very relaxing and provided us plenty of time to socialise.
On the second evening, we were taken in by a jolly Maldivian mother who was bent on plumping us up with traditional homecooked favourites. Named Amaa’s Kitchen, this is a new guest experience that is delivered in a manicured herb garden that supplies produce to the resort’s kitchens. Amaa – which means mother in local tongue – first welcomed us with handmade snacks and fresh coconut juice under a majestic banyan tree lit with fairy lights. Through a translator, she got to know us better and then gifted us with tales of her growing up days. Later, as she begun to cook, we were invited to join her and see how traditional cooking methods are still utilised today.
Throughout our stay, we also kept busy with a wine appreciation course at East Bar, a sunset cruise on a traditional Dhoni boat, early morning floating yoga, cooking class, and latte art class within the roasting room at Café Lux.
Looking back, my favourite activity had to be floating yoga. It was conducted on floating mats tethered to the sand bed. I have never done yoga before, much less on a wobbly mat over water. The activity demanded both mental and physical focus in order not to fall into the water, and I laughed internally with exasperation when the master urged me to surrender my earthly worries as I stretched and bent into positions alien to my muscles. And then, there came an unexpected sliver of liberation when I settled into the Warrior Pose and gazed out into the still surface of the sea that mirrored the azure skies. This memory gives me goosebumps.
I met an elderly couple who joked that they came with the intention to do nothing at all, but ended up putting their names down for a number of educational activities. They said the resort was like a summer camp for adults, and I had to agree.
F&B
I learnt that F&B is a big part of parent company, The Lux Collective’s DNA, and that commitment is demonstrated through eight restaurants and five bars at Lux* South Ari Atoll.
The menu at every restaurant is different, which makes mealtime an attraction in itself. To add even more variety, the resort organises themed dining events on different days, such as Burger Shack Buffet at Veli Bar over lunch hours, and Maldivian Night dinner and live performances at MIXE.
Proof of the pudding is in the eating, and how well I have eaten! The quality of food is impressive. In a few short days, I discovered the wonder of honeycomb butter (made in-house, like most of the food items served on property) at East Market, relished the natural sweetness of grilled seafood at Senses, found my favourite poke bowl at the laid-back Lagoon Bar, and devoured every morsel of our massive Italian feast at Allegria.
For those with a sweet tooth, the resort has an ice-cream man who cycles around every afternoon with his ice box, offering free cones to anyone. Failed to catch him? No problem, as all-inclusive guests can enjoy unlimited icy treats every day at ICI ice-cream parlour. More than 30 different flavours are made in-house, and different ones are featured daily.
It is also worth noting that the resort is the first Vegan Welcome Hotel in the Maldives certified by Vegan Welcome, a hotel cooperation for purely vegetarian and vegan hotels, bed & breakfasts establishments and event venues. Some 30 per cent of items on the resort’s menu are vegan options, and these healthy eats are aligned with The Lux Collective’s Keen on Green programme that marries sustainable food sourcing with attention to wellness.
Service
I love how Lux* South Ari Atoll provides resort necessities – pretty cotton kaftan, chic paper fan, sturdy flip-flops, and roomy beach tote, making it possible for anyone to fly over with just their swimwear – or not, because you can also choose to shop for some really cool outfits at the resort’s boutique.
Guests can pick up a bicycle to help them get around, or hop on one of the electric buggies that criss-cross the island numerous times daily.
Friendly greetings are dished out in spades here, and many are happy to come and chat with you and share ideas of what else you could do on the island.
Verdict
Lux* South Ari Atoll can well be the perfect resort for everyone, not just couples celebrating love. It makes a wonderful retreat for anyone longing to regain precious me time, as well as for large, extended families wanting to bond through fun. It is perfect for introverts, as there are so many scenic and serene spots where you’d find nobody else for hours, but also for extroverts eager to make new connections through shared activities.
Contact details
Website: http://www.luxresorts.com/en/maldives/hotel/luxsouthariatoll
Far East Hospitality has launched its Your Family Moments campaign, entailing a multitude of family-friendly guest touch points during stays across the group’s eight serviced residences in Singapore.
Properties include Adina Serviced Apartments Singapore Orchard, Far East Plaza Residences, Oasia Residence Singapore, Orchard Parksuites, Orchard Scotts Residences, Village Residence Hougang, Village Residence Robertson Quay, and Village Residence West Coast.
Kids will feel welcome with bedrooms done up in a colourful and playful design. From fun and games with activity books, kid-friendly baking sets and Play-Doh to customised duvets, fun-sized furniture and more, families are invited to create memorable experiences at Far East Hospitality’s serviced residences.
Upon arrival, families will receive a welcome kit, consisting of a kid’s activity pack with colouring book, colour pencils, stickers and snacks; a family baking set complete with aprons and wooden baking tools; a rainbow stacker game; and plushies of mascots Berry and Peary.
Most Far East Hospitality Serviced Residences are pet-friendly, so furry family members can join in the family moments during the stay. Pets are gifted with a welcome kit upon arrival, packed with herbal pet shampoo, a toy, litter bag and a pet key chain and pen for their human.
Open for bookings from now to December 15 for stays between June 1 and December 31.
For more information, visit Far East Hospitality.
