Discover new experiences at Anantara Resorts in Sri Lanka

January 31, 2023

Two Anantara properties in Sri Lanka are inviting holidaymakers to dive into new experiences centred on spirituality and cultural pursuits.

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort situated along Sri Lanka’s southern coast is featuring an all-inclusive three-day Sanjeewana Ayurvedic Journey where guests will embark on an immersive programme combining spa therapies, beach walks with the resort’s Nature Guru, temple meditation and bonfire mindfulness sessions under the guidance of a monk and a yogi, as well as Sri Lankan cooking classes and wood-oven baking sessions. The Sanjeewana Ayurvedic Journey is priced from US$1,111 and includes a room for two and daily meals.

Experience the Sanjeewana Ayurvedic Journey at Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka

Located only an hour from the Bandaranaike International Airport, Anantara Kalutara Resort is offering a stay package starting from US$248 per night for two, which includes daily breakfast and up to 15 per cent savings on activities. Guests can also enjoy a Ceylonese dinner featuring locally-caught seafood, Ceylon teas and traditional desserts while seated in a rustic treehouse perched above the river with the exclusive Treehouse Dining experience, priced from US$60 per person.

Both offers are valid for stays until October 31, with additional savings available to GHA Discovery members.

For more information, visit Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort or Anantara Kalutara Resort.

Tourism Australia promotes Karen Saw to country manager Malaysia

By TTG Asia

January 31, 2023

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Karen Saw has been promoted to country manager Malaysia, where she will take the lead in driving Tourism Australia’s local market strategy.

In her new role, Saw is responsible for aligning the marketing and promotion of Australian tourism in Malaysia with Tourism Australia’s strategy, driving tactical conversion with aviation and distribution partners to target leisure consumers and business events opportunities, as well as working closely with key stakeholders to develop products and experiences that drive tourism growth into Australia from Malaysia.

She joined Tourism Australia in 2009, and was most recently business development manager.

China’s reopening to boost tourism in Asia-Pacific

By S Puvaneswary

January 30, 2023

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Chinese-group-in-Takayama — Japan braces ; A Chinese tour group visiting Takayama pictured

Chinese outbound travel to Asia-Pacific countries is expected to reach close to 2019 arrival numbers by the end of the year and reach new heights beyond 2019 levels from 2024 onwards – adding momentum to the tourism recovery in the region.

Haiyan Song, associate dean at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, shared a three-year visitor forecast by the university in partnership with Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) using econometric models and expert panel adjustments.

China’s outbound travel will boost the tourism recovery in Asia-Pacific; a Chinese travel group visiting Japan pictured

Based on the forecast, Chinese outbound travel to Asia-Pacific will reach close to 2019 levels which is 61.8 million Chinese travellers by end-2023, and exceed 2019 levels in 2024 by 133.5 per cent if there are no or few barriers to travel, and grow further in 2025 to 152.5 per cent over 2019.

Based on the severity of barriers to travel such as government policies, inflation and air capacity among others, the forecast of growth in 2025 over 2019 is lower at either 121.7 per cent or 96.5 per cent.

Song named Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Thailand and South Korea as the top five beneficiaries of Chinese outbound travel in 2025, similar to Chinese outbound travel in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

The major beneficiaries of Chinese outbound travel in the short term are short- and medium-haul destinations, shared OAG’s regional sales director, Mayur Patel. He noted that outbound travel from China is expected to ramp up from the second quarter especially around the Labour Day public holidays.

He also expected Chinese and Asian airlines to build their capacity over the coming months, resulting in more inbound and outbound travel to/ from China.

Both Song and Mayur were speakers in a webinar organised by PATA on January 26 entitled How would the opening of China impact on demand for tourism.

Another speaker, Caroline Bremner, head of travel research, Euromonitor International, opined that while Asia-Pacific was slower to open up after the height of the pandemic, the reopening of China will bring travel and tourism back in the region.

She said: “It’s really exciting to see how that’s going to develop going forward, especially as more capacity is put in the market.”

She also cautioned that the slowing down of the global economy and high inflation will impact consumers, and the rising costs of ground and air travel will pose a challenge to tourism businesses in general.

Chinese arrivals return to top 10 spot for the Maldives

By TTG Asia

January 30, 2023

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Within a week of resumption of direct air connectivity between China and the Maldives on January 18, Chinese tourist arrivals to the destination jumped to the top 10 source markets for the year.

The first flight carrying Chinese tourists to the Maldives since 2020 was operated by Beijing Capital Airlines from Beijing.

Chinese tourists on the first flight to the Maldives were met with a welcome reception and gift pack

Since then, China has swiftly risen to the eighth top source market spot, with 2,727 arrivals as of January 22. This number is expected to rise further as nations around the world prepare for an influx of Chinese travellers during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

On January 28, China Southern Airlines resumed flying once a week from Guangzhou to the Maldives.

Other airlines to begin direct flights to the Maldives include China Eastern Airlines flying twice weekly from Shanghai starting from February 4, and Hong Kong Airlines from Hong Kong in May.

Utah woos India with new training platform

By Rohit Kaul

January 30, 2023

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Utah Office of Tourism has stepped up its trade and consumer efforts in India by organising its first standalone tourism missions in the market from January 16 to 20, covering the cities of Mumbai and New Delhi.

With the pandemic situation improved, the tourism body aims to engage with Indian travel trade and media, as well as create awareness about the destination.

Bremer: travel agents here are ready to expand beyond East and West Coast of the US

Plans for the market include working with social media influencers, strengthening digital presence with OTAs, hosting fam trips for travel agents, and launching B2B as well as B2C marketing campaigns.

Rachel Bremer, global markets director, Utah Office of Tourism, shared: “Our interactions with travel agents have been positive. Travel agents here are ready to expand beyond East and West Coast of the US and sell more immersive and outdoor products, like Utah.”

In February, it will also introduce a new training platform, Utah Specialist Academy, for Indian travel agents, giving them an opportunity to be certified as Utah specialists and promote experiences like road trips, skiing and national parks to the Indian market.

Apart from leisure, luxury, and visiting friends and relatives, it is also targeting the Indian business events segment.

“We are looking to host incentive groups of 50 to 100 pax in strength. We have some interesting lodges that can host archery or horse riding for team-building activities. Incentive groups can also enjoy hiking in our national parks,” added Bremer.

China resumes issuing visas to Japanese citizens

By TTG Asia

January 30, 2023

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China will resume the issuance of ordinary visas for Japanese citizens travelling to the country, effective January 29.

This decision was made after Japan had lodged a protest to China over the suspension of visas for Japanese citizens, asking Beijing to reverse the action.

China will resume issuing visas for Japanese citizens entering the country

China had stopped issuing visas for Japanese nationals this month in response to Japan’s toughened Covid-19 border control rules for China-outbound travellers entering Japan.

Singapore makes history as first-ever Asian stop for G4D Tour

By TTG Asia

January 30, 2023

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Singapore will host the first-ever G4D Tour (Golf for the Disabled Tour) event in Asia this year, and is the third of eight stops announced for 2023 as part of the tour’s expanded global schedule.

Organised by Vantage Pointe, G4D Tour @ Singapore Classic will take place on February 6 to 7 alongside the DP World Tour’s Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.

The first-ever G4D Tour event in Asia will be held in Singapore this February

Launched in 2022 with an initial seven-event schedule, the G4D Tour sees the world’s leading golfers with a disability compete on the same course, the same week, as professionals on the DP World Tour.

The 2023 season will see additional uplifts to the G4D Tour, including the introduction of a season-long Order of Merit to crown the Number One player.

Teeing off at Laguna National will be four-time winner Kipp Popert from England, and veteran Australian Geoff Nicholas, among others. Golfers making their G4D Tour debut in Singapore include Ireland’s Aiden Grenham and England’s Oliver Hirst-Greenham.

Popert will also lead a clinic with youths from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore.

Each G4D Tour event is open to amateurs and professional players of all eligible impairments, men and women. The European Tour group pays the expenses of players as they travel around the world, to ensure that the tour is open to all players regardless of their financial circumstances.

Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour group, said: “The G4D Tour has been a tremendous success since it launched earlier this year. We have seen unprecedented numbers of golfers with a disability enquire about playing on the Tour and getting a World Ranking, thanks to the ability for these inspirational players to play Tour level courses next to the best players on the DP World Tour.”

He believes that “golf has the potential to be the most inclusive sport in the world and the G4D Tour is a major step in realising this ambition”.

G4D Tour @ Singapore Classic is not open to the public, however, tickets are required for entry to the Singapore Classic from February 9 to 12 with single sessions priced at S$25 (US$19), and a four-day event pass for S$80.

Singapore Airlines launches new global brand campaign

By TTG Asia

January 30, 2023

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Singapore Airlines’s (SIA) latest Welcome to World Class campaign follows its cabin crew around top destinations – Singapore, Auckland in New Zealand, Barcelona in Spain, Mumbai in India, and Shanghai in China – as they discover varied and personal experiences with people and cultures.

The new global brand campaign will run on television, print, digital, out-of-home, and social media platforms.

Singapore Airlines’s new campaign shows its cabin crew discovering experiences from around the world

SIA’s executive vice president commercial, Lee Lik Hsin, said: “This campaign highlights our unwavering commitment to deliver a world-class travel experience, no matter the duration of the journey.”

Meet manta rays at Intercontinental Maldives

By TTG Asia

January 30, 2023

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With the success of its first Manta Retreat in October last year, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is launching the second Manta Retreat this March.

In collaboration with the resort-based Manta Trust organisation, guests of the resort will experience the magic of meeting these underwater giants up close while learning and exploring the research on these marine animals and their habitat.

Get up close with manta rays at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort this March

This year’s Manta Retreat will take place from March 9 to 13, during the Maamunagau Manta Season, when young manta rays gather in the resort’s lagoon just a few minutes away from shore.

The fee is US$1,950 for an adult and US$1,350 for children between 10 and 11 years old. Activities included are three manta ray snorkelling trips, house reef night snorkelling experience, sunset dolphin cruise, on-hand educational workshops and excursions to learn more about manta rays, plankton, turtles, coral restoration and more.

Guests participating in the Manta Retreat are eligible for a 25 per cent discount on their stay for bookings of five nights and more.

For more information, visit InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort.

Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne appoints new GM

By TTG Asia

January 30, 2023

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Tom Pieter Van Tuijl is the new general manager of Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne.

With over 20 years of extensive experience in the luxury hotel management industry, he will be responsible for the strategic management and operation of the resort.

Prior to joining Centara Hotels & Resorts, he was general manager of FLC Hotels & Resorts, where he was responsible for FLC SamSon Beach & Golf Resort and FLC Halong Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort.

Discover new experiences at Anantara Resorts in Sri Lanka

Tourism Australia promotes Karen Saw to country manager Malaysia

China’s reopening to boost tourism in Asia-Pacific

Chinese arrivals return to top 10 spot for the Maldives

Utah woos India with new training platform

China resumes issuing visas to Japanese citizens

Singapore makes history as first-ever Asian stop for G4D Tour

Singapore Airlines launches new global brand campaign

Meet manta rays at Intercontinental Maldives

Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne appoints new GM

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