Post-quake Turkey remains open to tourism
The massive earthquake that struck Turkey in February may not have led to country-wide destruction but it has resulted in some cancellations by worried travellers.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the country’s central and southern regions – along with northern and western Syria – is said to be the deadliest in Turkey’s modern history due to its massive death toll of 48,000.
Turkey tourism sellers who turned up at ITB Berlin 2023 were eager to inform buyers and media representatives that the majority of their country is still safe to visit.
Aylin Ozsavas, CEO and owner, Fuego Travel, said 10 per cent of her bookings were cancelled as result of the news of the disaster. She emphasised that the media focus showered on the earthquake “is not good for Turkey and the travel sector”.
While Akay Travel Service has escaped from cancellations, spokesperson Alp Sargin told TTG Asia that that the number of reservations following the earthquake has declined slightly.
Sargin said: “The world has to know that the earthquake did not affect all of Turkey. Turkey has 81 cities, and there are many with no fault lines underneath, all of which are perfectly safe to visit.”
Ozsavas echoed: “We have so many other places to visit, like the Black Sea region, and Antalya.”
She added: “Tourism is incredibly important to Turkey, and we need tourists to return (so that some of the money) will flow towards the earthquake-hit region and help with its rebuilding.”
Ecehan Dolgun, spokesperson for Kusadasi Municipality, said the destination has suffered a handful of cancellations due to the earthquake. Fortunately, cruise ships have maintained port calls at Kusadasi, a major cruise port in the destination that serves as a jumping off point for travellers visiting Ephesus in Izmir Province.
Pointing to the map, Dolgun stressed: “Kusadasi is located very far away from the earthquake area. It’s on the western side of the country, nearer to Greece. It is very safe to visit.”
Injourney revamps to develop destination-focused tourism
Indonesia’s state-owned tourism holding company, Injourney, is revamping its strategy to enhance the Indonesian tourism ecosystem’s appeal to international tourists.
In a significant shift, the company will move away from marketing-oriented tourism development to destination-focused tourism development.
Injourney integrates all state-owned company subsidiaries related to tourism, with members such as Angkasa Pura I and II airport management, Hotel Indonesia Group, Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation, Borobudur Temple Tourism Park, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, and Sarinah Department Store.
Speaking at the Indonesia Tourism Outlook event in Jakarta, Dony Oskaria, the president director of Injourney, said the company’s new approach shifts the government’s focus from marketing to developing tourist destinations that offer unique experiences.
“In the next five years, there will be (more) destination developments, especially in super-priority destinations such as Danau Toba, Mandalika, Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, as well as in Bali,” he added.
For instance, Injourney plans to construct a 43-hectare medical tourism destination in Sanur, Bali which will comprise an international hospital, botanical garden and beach resort.
The international hospital will collaborate with renowned medical institutions worldwide, including the Mayo Clinic, a surgery clinic and retirement home, both from South Korea, a fertility clinic from Australia, and feature immunology technology from Japan.
Dony said that 1,000 hotel rooms and a convention hall which will “be the biggest hall in the Sanur area” will also be built.
Injourney is also revitalising several tourist attractions – the Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) in East Jakarta will become the Indonesia Opera, an amusement park representing Indonesia’s cultural diversity in a more interactive way and gives insight into the daily life of the indigenous people.
Furthermore, Injourney is shifting its paradigm on tourism products to focus on creating more content through sports events, culinary festivals, cultural festivals, and business events, as compared to the previous angle on natural beauty and cultural diversity. Examples include the F1 Boat Race on Lake Toba and the MotoGP held in Mandalika.
The company is also changing its mindset from an operations-based company to a service-based company, particularly at airports, where waiting time counts as a form of service, and the spirit of hospitality should reflect that of the Indonesian people.
Koho Surf rides the wave to expansion in South-east Asia
Koho Surf, a Thailand-based water sports activity provider, has quickly positioned itself as a leader in its field and is drastically expanding operations just six months after launching.
Falling under the umbrella of Destination Group, Koho Surf started life on Phuket’s Kata Beach in August last year. Since then, it has opened in five other Thai destinations, with its latest venture slated to open in Khao Lak this April.
Koho Surf has also spread its wings to Indonesia, opening in Gili Trawangan, with another centre set to open in Bali’s Kuta beach in April, and further locations like Sri Lanka by August.
Being under Destination Group, Koho Surf has been able “to open at their properties and offer a package of experiences that include water activities and accommodation of all types – from backpackers to independent travellers and families”, shared general manager Iza Pająkowska.
As well as surfing, the operator offers snorkelling, diving, stand-up paddle boarding and sea safaris, and has crafted camps and activities geared towards families. It also plans to incorporate yoga into its agenda in the near future.
“We’re very close to nature and sell experiences to open-minded people who want to travel and explore responsibly,” Pająkowska said, adding the company works closely with locals and advocates responsible water adventures and the importance of keeping the beach and sea clean.
In addition to South-east Asia, Koho Surf is exploring expanding into Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil, with Destination Group currently researching suitable locations and properties to open.
Chroma Hospitality unveils new campaign
Filipino-owned Chroma Hospitality – comprising three brands Crimson Hotels & Resorts, Quest Hotels, and Timberland Highlands Resorts – has launched a new campaign entitled The Time is Now to encourage travellers, both leisure and for business events, to visit the
Philippines.
The campaign dishes out travel perks for bookings made during the campaign period, which runs for a year.
Chroma Hospitality’s vice president sales and marketing, Carmela H Bocanegra, told TTG Asia that in line with the campaign, the group will reopen Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan in Cebu, after a pandemic-induced closure. It will greet guests with redesigned facilities and a new Japanese restaurant. The property’s event facilities will also be revamped later this year.
Prior to the pandemic, the resort welcomed 30 per cent domestic guests, and 70 per cent from South Korea, China and Russia. This year, Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan will focus on western European markets such as France and Germany.
“Aside from roadshows, we are working with local wholesalers and TUI, and are trying to appoint a GSA here in Europe,” said Bocanegra.
Further on in 4Q2024, Chroma will open its first property under its new brand, Grafik – the 256-key Grafik Baguio in Camp John Hay. The sustainability-focused hotel will feature three F&B outlets, a spa, and meeting facilities.
Fusion Hotel Group launches new properties in Vietnam
Fusion Hotel Group (Fusion) is expanding its portfolio with three new Vietnam properties set to open this year – Fusion Resort & Villas Danang, Fusion Suites Hanoi and HIIVE Binh Duong.
Having started with a single property in Vietnam in 2008, Fusion has since expanded its current footprint to 16 hotels throughout Vietnam and Thailand.
HIIVE Binh Duong is a 172-key hotel centrally located in a leading Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park and within the greater Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area. It will house meeting facilities and co-working spaces, golf simulator, fitness centre, and sports bar.
Beachfront resort Fusion Resort & Villas Danang will offer 242 rooms, including 85 private villas, as well as dining, entertainment, and wellness facilities where guests will get to enjoy a daily complimentary treatment.
Early in 2024, Fusion will debut in Vietnam’s capital with 238-key Fusion Suites Hanoi, which features a full spa facility and Japanese-style onsen, along with the brand’s signature restaurant. Part of a mixed-use development and high-end shopping mall, the hotel is located near tourist attractions, including the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace.
Aside from Vietnam, Fusion’s CEO Peter Meyer said the group is looking to further expand in Thailand as well as in South-east Asia.
Singapore’s Mandarin Oriental closes for transformation
After 35 years of operations, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore has temporarily closed its doors on March 7 to undergo a six-month transformation. It will re-open later in September.
The hotel’s multi-million-dollar transformation is set to take place across all fronts, including a complete redesign and refitting of the hotel’s interiors, from the grand lobby and the rooms to the F&B venues.
During the six-month transformation, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore’s social media platforms will share content honouring the legacy of the hotel, feature new and long-term employees, regular peeks into the hotel transformation process and the release of early hotel room, dining and spa bookings, all ahead of its re-opening.
Bhutan Airlines joins Amadeus GDS platform, launches in-flight entertainment
Bhutan Airlines has joined Amadues’ global distribution system (GDS) as well as launched its new in-flight entertainment (IFE) system to provide passengers with a seamless travel experience.
The Amadeus GDS platform, which connects travel agents and online booking platforms to the airline’s inventory, will make it easier for travellers to book flights and access real-time information on flight schedules, availability, and pricing.
Initially, tickets will be issued only by 4,000 travel agents in India, such as MakeMy Trip, Yatra, Clear Trip, and Via.com on Amadeus’ platform, Bhutan Airlines will join the IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) for other countries, thereby enabling its flight tickets to be issued globally.
The airline’s new wireless IFE system will be available on all flights, offering a wide selection of regional and international movies, documentaries, TV shows, music, podcast, magazines and games, and live flight tracking – passengers will be able to access the IFE system through their personal devices.
Editor’s note: In the original post, Bhutan Airlines was erroneously identified as the national carrier of Bhutan. This has been corrected.
New immersive light and sound show at Ayers Rock in Australia
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia (Voyages) is set to launch Wintjiri Wiru, a fully-immersive light and sound show at Ayers Rock Resort in May. It will combine ancient Anangu storytelling with light, laser, projection and drone technology.
Wintjiri Wiru (beautiful view out to the horizon in the local Anangu language) will bring to life a chapter of the Mala ancestral story which sits between Kaltukatjara (Docker River) and Uluru. Voyages has consulted and collaborated closely with the Anangu custodians of this chapter of the Mala story to obtain approval to bring Wintjiri Wiru to life.
Through choreography and visual artistry, the drones depict aspects of the Mala story accompanied by a narration in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara languages, and a soundtrack with traditional inma recorded with members of the local Anangu community.
Visitors will be able to view the show on a sustainably-built platform atop a desert dune with panoramic views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta nestled on the horizon.
Two Wintjiri Wiru sound and light shows will run every night from May 11.
The signature experience is a three-hour Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner priced at A$385 (US$253) per pax. Inclusive of return resort transfers, it comprises welcome cocktails and canapés, followed by a gourmet dinner hamper before the show.
Priced at A$190 per pax, After Dark is a shorter, one hour-long experience which includes light refreshments followed by the show.
For more information, visit Ayers Rock Resort.
Cambodia’s sports lure
Cambodia is pushing sports tourism as part of its Visit Cambodia Year 2023 campaign as it gears up to host the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) for the first time in May.
Prak Vuthy, director of the Ministry of Tourism’s overseas marketing and promotion department, said the games would serve as a catalyst to promote sports tourism nationwide.
“This year will see Cambodia host the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, which is a big thing for Cambodia,” he remarked.
Both events are expected to attract between 250,000 and 500,000 international tourists.
The SEA Games will take place from May 5 to 17, followed by the ASEAN Para Games 2023 from June 3 to 9.
Prak added that Cambodia annually hosts many sporting events that attract visitors from across the globe, including the Angkor Half Marathon in December and Ultra-Trail Angkor in February, and various international cycling events as well.
He added that Cambodia’s southern coastline is also perfect for water activities, including sailing and yachting, with more sports-driven itineraries being drawn up.
Following the completion of renovations to its guestrooms and suites, Island Shangri-La has now launched a series of unique themed experiences for families.
The newly renovated rooms and suites are available from HK$4,800+ (US$611.50) per night, which includes a complimentary hotel credit of up to HK$2,000 (depending on room type) and a free upgrade to a themed experience.
For more information, email reservations.isl@shangri-la.com.