Cape & Kantary Hotels has appointed Urs Aebi as general manager of Cape Fahn Hotel, Koh Samui.
He joins Cape Fahn Hotel, Koh Samui from Selina Serenity Rawai Phuket where he was also general manager.
Armed with his skills in accounting and cash-flow management, Aebi looks forward to working with the local team and suppliers to offer unrivalled service and facilities, as well as maintain the high standards of the hotel.
The China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) and Check-in Asia (CA) will be running a webinar on Chinese Outbound Tourism in the Year of the Water Rabbit in 2023 on January 17, 2023 at 09.00 GMT.
This webinar will run in conjunction with the launch of an e-handbook that addresses the reopening of China and the next wave of Chinese outbound travellers. Titled 88 Practical Ways to Prepare for the New Wave of Chinese Visitors, the e-handbook was written by COTRI’s founder and director Wolfgang Georg Arlt and CA’s CEO Gary Bowerman, with the assistance of research expert Rong Zheng.
Anita Chan, CEO of Compass Edge, a hospitality and online solution provider, will participate in the discussion on their latest insights and practical advice for adapting to the shifting demands and expectations of post-pandemic Chinese visitors.
Other discussion topics will include continuous research of travel and consumer trends across China over the past three years to help tourism stakeholders and governments, F&B, retail, journalists, public relations and marketing agencies, prepare for the new wave of Chinese visitors.
According to Bowerman, Chinese society – including the behaviour and demands of consumers and travellers – has changed dramatically in the past three years.
“These changes, both large and less pronounced, will influence the mindset and behaviour of Chinese travellers,” he said.
Arlt noted: “Many millions of Chinese are eagerly waiting for the moment when they can travel overseas once again for business, education, health, family reunions and leisure. Many new opportunities will emerge for travel providers offering customised services for carefully targeted market segments.”
He continued: “That said, tough challenges await travel operators planning to revive previously successful engagements with the Chinese outbound market. We are about to enter a radically new era of tourism, and this will require innovative new strategies.”
The authors said travel players “should prepare thoroughly for each individual segment because the scale of China’s outbound travel recovery could be faster and more diversified than anticipated”.
This is because many travellers are motivated to travel abroad as soon as possible for business trips, business events, education, health, VFR and “a long-coveted overseas vacation”, despite high air ticket prices and possible visa complications.
Thirty-two destinations from all around the world have been named as Best Tourism Villages 2022 by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) out of the 136 villages put forward for consideration by 57 UNWTO Member States.
The accolade recognises rural destinations that are embracing tourism as a driver of development and new opportunities for jobs and income, while preserving and promoting community-based values and products.
The villages were evaluated based on a set of criteria covering nine areas: cultural and natural resources; promotion and conservation of cultural resources; economic sustainability; social sustainability; environmental sustainability; tourism development and value chain integration; governance and prioritisation of tourism; infrastructure and connectivity; and health, safety, and security.
The flagship project of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme, the Best Tourism Villages initiative comprises three pillars: Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO; Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Upgrade Programme; and Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO Global Network.
Twenty villages will enter the Upgrade Programme, which benefits villages that do not fully meet the criteria to receive recognition. They will receive support from UNWTO and its partners in improving elements of the areas identified as gaps in the evaluation process.
All 52 villages will also become part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Global Network created in 2021 – gathering a total of 115 villages from the five continents. The network provides a number of benefits including onsite and online training, sharing of good practices and international brand recognition and awareness.
List of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO 2022
Zell am See, Austria
Wagrain, Austria
Puqueldón, Chile
Dazhai, China
Jingzhu, China
Choachí, Colombia
Aguarico, Ecuador
Angochagua, Ecuador
Choke Mountains Ecovillage, Ethiopia
Mestia, Georgia
Kfar Kama, Israel
Sauris-Zahre, Italy
Isola del Giglio, Italy
Umm Qais, Jordan
Creel, Mexico
El Fuerte, Mexico
Ksar Elkhorbat, Morocco
Moulay Bouzerktoune, Morocco
Lamas, Peru
Raqchi, Peru
Castelo Novo, Portugal
Pyeongsa-ri, South Korea
Rasinari, Romania
AlUla Old Town, Saudi Arabia
Bohinj, Slovenia
Rupit, Spain
Alquézar, Spain
Guadalupe, Spain
Murten, Switzerland
Andermatt, Switzerland
Birgi, Turkey
Thái Hải, Vietnam
Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen, Japan
Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen is a hot spring ryokan in Unzen Onsen, Nagasaki Prefecture and stands in a hot spring area notable for Unzen Jigoku, and is an hour by car from Nagasaki Airport.
Featuring 51 signature rooms, of which 16 have private outdoor baths, guests can relax and gaze into the outside views of Unzen Jigoku from their after-bath area. There is even a public hot spring available, and the hotel utilises geothermal energy to warm up regular and hot spring water, and for its air conditioning.
For dining, guests can enjoy a full-course kaiseki dinner that takes full advantage of the local food culture in a semi-private dining room.
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, Thailand
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort has unveiled 19 suites and villas housed within repurposed heritage railcars recovered from around the country.
Each railcar is designed to enhance the sense of uniquely Thai locality and are named after a different destination. Set around a lake, the 47m2 suites are elevated for a train-like experience, complete with a bed, bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. All rooms come with outdoor spaces (balcony, terrace, or a private plunge pool).
Also situated in repurposed railcars are the new spa, French bistro, and cocktail bar.
Le Méridien Seoul Myeondong, South Korea
Le Méridien Seoul Myeondong is lifestyle hotel offering 200 guest rooms and suites which feature spacious bathrooms with rain showers, working areas and LCD televisions.
F&B options comprise the hotel’s all-day restaurant La Palette Paris and deli Le Moulin. Guests can also indulge in an afternoon tea at the Lumière Lobby Lounge & Bar, which serves cocktails at night.
Onsite facilities include a rooftop indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, and meeting venues.
jüSTa Grand View Resort & Spa, India
Set amid an apple and cherry orchard and overlooking snow-capped mountains, the newly-opened jüSTa Grand View Resort & Spa is located in the town, Manali.
The resort boasts 36 rooms and features an all-day multi-cuisine restaurant, spa, gym, board room, and a lush green lawn with views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges.
La Vie Hotels & Resorts has appointed Shankar Sreekumar as its head of South & South-east Asia.
Based at La Vie’s regional office in Bangkok, Thailand, Shankar brings with him almost two-decades of experience in the hospitality industry, having held numerous operations-focused roles.
He was most recently director of IHG’s centre of excellence, new hotels, AMEA.
Centara Hotels & Resorts has appointed Rutjiret Ananphong as general manager of Centara Ubon.
Having been a part of Centara Ubon’s pre-opening team since August 2022, she will continue to oversee and direct all aspects of operations when the hotel officially opens next year.
Bringing with her over 20 years of experience, she was previously general manager of COSI Krabi Ao Nang Beach.
Resorts World Cruises (RWC) celebrated a new milestone with its maiden voyage to Surabaya on the Genting Dream with over 3,500 passengers from her dual homeports in Singapore and Malaysia (via Port Klang).
In addition to Surabaya as a destination, the ship will also visit North Bali as part of RWC’s special Indonesia cruise itinerary to celebrate the year-end holiday period.
Guests disembarking at Surabaya can explore many of the city’s famous landmarks – the Four Faced Buddha monument; Putuk Truno Waterfall or Mount Penanggugan in Tretes; and enjoy shopping at Pasar Genteng and Tunjungan Plaza.
In Bali, passengers can visit the Kekeran Rice Terrace or go diving in the pristine waters of Menjangan Island.
The Genting Dream offers many choices of onboard accommodation, and provides a variety of offerings that are inclusive as part of the cruise fare and package – complimentary all day-dining, international stage performances, a 1,000-seat capacity Zodiac theatre, water park, rope courses and ziplines, a rock climbing wall and more.
Travellers from Indonesia can also explore the various FlyCruise options to Singapore or Malaysia to embark on a series of two-night and three-night cruises to popular destinations such as Penang, Phuket, and Kuala Lumpur.
Michael Goh, president of RWC, said: “Indonesia remains an important cruise market with huge potential both as a destination and source market for the FlyCruise sector… we (will) continue to work closely together to revitalise the cruise and tourism sector in Indonesia and across the region in a post-Covid era.”
Cosmos Hotel Management Co. has launched five Mimaru apartment hotels in Tokyo and Osaka, bringing the total number of Mimaru properties in Japan to 25.
New hotels in Tokyo include Mimaru Suites Tokyo Nihombashi and Mimaru Tokyo Ikebukuro, which recently opened in September and November respectively. Mimaru Suites Tokyo Asakusa is set to launch on December 22.
In anticipation of Expo 2025, two new properties have opened in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi with access from airports – Mimaru Osaka Shinsaibashi East and Mimaru Osaka Shinsaibashi North.
Mimaru has diverse themed rooms to make the Japan experience even more memorable, like the Pokemon Room, the Ninja Room, as well as a Premium Party Room furnished with a sushi counter and an Ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock print).
Mimaru is a neologism from the Japanese phrase “minna de tomaru” which means “stay together”. The brand’s hotels are located in the popular urban areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, each featuring easy accessibility, accommodation for large groups on extended stays, spacious rooms, stocked kitchens, living/dining area, and laundromats.
In addition, Mimaru staff members are able to communicate smoothly in Japanese and English, and some can even speak Chinese, Spanish, and Korean.
Rounding up the Travel Spark by TTG’s 2022 video series is an episode centred on the Philippines’ festivals and tourism developments.
Arnold T Gonzales, acting head of the MICE department, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, fronts the episode. Not only does he detail the Philippines’ rich cultural tapestry and unique festivals that provide memorable discoveries for travellers, he also sheds light on the various new developments for tourism and business events taking shape across the Philippines, and introduces the support system in place for investors keen to play a part in the country’s tourism progress.
Travel Spark by TTG is a programme that aims to spark off travel and events ideas. Past episodes can be found on the TTG Asia Media YouTube channel.
With cruise calls at Surabaya and Semarang rejected while Jakarta and Bali were accepted, Indonesian cruise-related players expressed concern with the inconsistency of the application of port policies by the Indonesian port authorities.
The issue was brought up during the Indonesia Inbound Tour Operator Association (IINTOA) meeting with the cruise-related stakeholders in Jakarta recently.
On November 17, the Viking Orion made a call on Jakarta with three suspected and quarantined passengers on board. Next, the ship tried to enter Semarang on November 18, but local port authority declined its entry and so did Surabaya’s port authority.
The ship then sailed directly to Bali where she spent three nights on the island instead of its original one night.
Similarly, the MS Regatta – originally scheduled for Semarang and Bali – was rejected because of a couple of quarantined passengers.
Jongki Adiyasa, general secretary of IINTOA, said: “We want certainty. With this cancellation, land operators in the affected cities who have prepared bus rentals, paid restaurants for deposits and (other things in the excursion itineraries) lost the business (because) the suppliers (didn’t) want to return the deposits.”
Jongki was also concerned that with this experience, cruise operators would lose confidence in Indonesia and create a loss for the overall cruise industry in the country.
Pitria Kartikasari, branch manager, Tanjung Wangi Subholding of Pelindo Multi Terminal port operator said: “We received information that (apart from) the Viking Orion and MS Regatta, the National Geographic was also declined entry in Surabaya.”
Pitria explained that for Pelindo, the loss was the revenue from services and the potential non-tax revenue that deposits into the national income, of which the value varies from port to port. For example, in Semarang, it was around 500 million rupiah (US$32,000), not to mention the potential loss from the shore excursions.
Such an issue should not have happened as the Indonesian government already has a regulation in place, whereby all crew and passengers on ships departing from overseas ports have been vaccinated thrice and are in good health. In the event they are tested positive for Covid, the destination port can conduct a health screening, quarantining those unwell and allowing only the healthy passengers to leave the ship.
Related government agencies had agreed in a meeting that the port authorities should use the Covid-19 Task Force Circular No. 25 of 2022 on Healths Protocols for International Travels as the first reference to avoid inconsistent policies between ports in the country.
Itok Parikesit, coordinator of product and promotion of nature tourism of Indonesia at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, shared that it was also agreed that “the first port of entry (becomes) the reference for the next”, meaning that if the first port allows the ship to dock even with a Covid case, “the subsequent ports should also approve”.
Passengers in close contact with those quarantined are also advised to take the antigen test and receive clearance from the cruise doctor before leaving the ship for excursions.
