Amanpulo, a luxury beach resort in Palawan, Philippines, introduces a new adventure, The Golden South Sea Pearl, which takes guests beyond the bounds of Pamalican into the Palawan archipelago to explore the birthplace of the eponymous national gem.
Guests are invited to discover the story behind these living gems and the intricate art and science of how it has come to possess their unique lustre amid the pristine waters that produce them.
Amanpulo’s The Golden South Sea Pearl experience takes guests beyond the bounds of Pamalican into the Palawan archipelago
A chartered helicopter will bring guests on a 45-minute flight across the archipelago to Taytay, Palawan, for an exclusive visit to the pearl farm of Jewelmer to witness the processes with a guided tour of the oyster hatchery and laboratory for pearl grafting and harvesting, alongside an opportunity to witness the local divers in their daily trips to the underwater farm.
After the tour, a speedboat will take guests to a secluded beach for a Filipino-style picnic lunch and the option to snorkel around the bay’s untouched coral garden.
Reservations for the tour are required at least five days in advance.
Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed a new agreement with Anda Beach Resort Co. to continue managing Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi for another 10 years.
The resort features a 43m-long swimming pool complete with a swim-up bar, waterslide and direct pool access rooms. Other facilities include a children’s pool, spa, fitness centre, steam room and three dining venues.
Centara Hotels & Resorts will continue managing Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi for another 10 years
Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi is about 20 minutes from Krabi Town and a 45-minute drive away from Krabi International Airport. It is also near to beaches Nopparat Thara and Ao Nang.
Indonesian stakeholders have noticed that its camping sector has immense potential to grow further, and are calling for the government to provide financial aid to help manage pandemic-related losses.
This is because nature tourism is in demand around the world, opined Bobobox’s CEO Adistyana Damaranti, which is why “both camping and glamping” is increasingly more popular among Indonesia’s domestic tourists.
Camping is increasingly more popular among Indonesia’s domestic tourists and has potential to grow further
In response to this trend, Bobotox developed Bobocabin, small cabins located in picturesque, nature-dense locations around Indonesia such as Lake Toba, North Sumatra, and Cikole, Lembang.
Moreover, occupancy at the seven Bobocabins throughout Indonesia has hovered above 90 per cent until the end of the year, said Dennis Depriadie, senior business development executive at Bobobox.
Aside from Bobocabin’s rapid expansion, many other camping and glamping sites are springing up, shared Adistyana.
Heni Smith, secretary general of PUTRI and CEO of The Lodge Group, agreed, stating that the company has also noticed camping tourism has increased, based on the popularity of its camping grounds.
Occupancy at The Lodge has also doubled that of 2020, buoyed by the domestic market, where Heni shared that the company’s focus will continue to be on the massive Indonesian domestic market.
Furthermore, according to market intelligence platform ReportLinker, the camping and caravanning sector is expected to reach US$101 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 9.9 per cent, up from the current US$69 billion in 2022, where Indonesia is one of the countries covered in a global market report.
However, funds are running low or have run out during the pandemic, prompting Heni and Redita Utomo, CEO of Merapi Park, to indicate that government assistance is very much needed to support this growing segment.
Utomo shared that when Merapi Park was closed during the pandemic, maintenance still had to continue. As such, even though the park has reopened, there are no funds left for marketing and promotions.
Similarly, Heni added that there were hardly any funds left in the tank, as money to maintain operations for The Lodge had run out during the pandemic.
When enquiries to the government were put forth, Irvan Chandra, an investment readiness assistance coordinator of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, stated: “The deputy for Industry and Investment at MoTCE can facilitate industry players to financing, either bank or non-banking.
“As directed by the minister, we must spur the growth of the tourism industry as a whole. (While the government’s) focus is on the five super-priority destinations, but it does not rule out (tourism) expansion in other destinations.”
The Chedi Katara, Qatar
The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort offers guests a palatial escape and is located in Katara Cultural Village, a 30-minute drive from Hamad International Airport.
The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort provides easy access to theatres, concert halls, exhibition galleries, mosques, restaurants, shops, a park, and an open amphitheatre.
The beachfront property offers 59 rooms and suites, as well as 32 villas. Facilities include a pool, spa, restaurants, lounges, event spaces, and a fully-serviced private beach.
Wink Hotel Danang Centre
Wink Hotel Danang Centre, Vietnam
Wink Hotel Danang Centre has opened in the heart of Danang City’s prime downtown entertainment district.
The 244-room social hub will feature a sky lobby, the 24/7 Wink Bar, and the Grab & Go area for purchase of snacks, drinks and supplies. There is also a coworking space on the 20th floor, gym, laundromat, and a men’s boutique salon.
The hotel’s Wink Guides will be on hand 24-hours a day through WhatsApp, Zalo or in person to offer their recommendations and favourite spots to ensure that every guest gets the most out of the city.
KAI Izumo
KAI Izumo, Japan
Located at the westernmost tip of the Shimane peninsula and Izumo Matsushima islands, KAI Izumo boasts views of the Hinomisaki Lighthouse and vast Japan Sea.
Nearby attractions such as Hinomisaki Shrine and Izumo-taisha Shrine, this hot spring ryokan allows guests to enjoy cultural experiences related to the Myths of Izumo and hot springs.
Just a three-minute walk from Hinomisaki Lighthouse bus stop, the ryokan features 39 rooms and has a restaurant, library, shop, lounge and public bath.
Le Méridien Hong Kong, Cyberport
Le Méridien Hong Kong, Cyberport, China
Le Méridien Hong Kong, Cyberport has reopened after an 18-month long complete redesign and renovation. Its 170 guest rooms and suites have been completely updated and come with bathroom amenities, a large fridge with freezer, microwave, robot vacuum, storage spaces and the Kara Smart Fitness Mirror with in-built virtual trainers and workout programmes.
Embracing sustainability, the hotel has replaced plastic water bottles in guestrooms with a highly-certified UVC water purifier, along with in-room glasses and jars made from recycled glass.
Onsite facilities comprise an outdoor swimming pool, fitness hubs, function rooms, F&B, waterfront park, outdoor lawn and more.
The brand’s Unlock Art Programme also provides guests complimentary access to an eSport gaming venue just a stroll from the hotel to delight both kids and adults.
A green-certified resort on Langkawi Island, Cottage By The Sea by Frangipani Langkawi, has recently established itself as the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Hospitality, with support from Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Owner and operator, Anthony Wong, has developed an efficient system to clean polluted water, including raw sewage and waste cooking oil into potable water in four days, as well as desalination using a special bio-engineered constructed wetland – all without using any energy.
From left: Tourism Productivity Nexus’ Rohizam Md Yusoff, United Nations Development Programme’s Niloy Banerjee, Anthony Wong, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners’ Shaharuddin M Saaid, and Langkawi Development Authority’s Azmil Munif Mohd Bukhari
This system has been recognised by the government of Malaysia and is included in the 12th Malaysia Plan.
Wong is also a consultant for an ongoing water treatment project in the tourist hubs of Pantai Tengah and part of Pantai Chenang. Funded by the state government to treat wastewater, the hubs are deploying the same system Wong has developed.
Wong shared: “Access to clean water is a perennial issue with islands all over the world. We are ready and willing to share our know-how on creating clean potable water with governments in South-east Asia and elsewhere, as well as with the private sector and non-governmental organisations.”
Wong has also developed a train-the-trainers programme, and intends to reach out to ASEAN Tourism Association to send interested members for training.
The Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Hospitality was recently launched at the Sustainable Hotels in the Tropics: The How of achieving the UN 17 SDG & Climate Change, Circular Economy, Sustainability, Water & Food Security conference.
At the conference, Wong also launched his publication documenting over 200 green practices that have been implemented at the resort. Sustainability measures have been deployed throughout the resort, from the rooms, restaurants, landscape and facilities that include a fully-operational organic farm.
According to Wong, Cottage By The Sea by Frangipani Langkawi saves over 30 per cent of operational costs through these sustainable practices.
Conference attendees, including UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network vice-president for Asia, Woo Wing Thye, representatives from LADA, academia, hoteliers and non-governmental organisations were also taken on a guided tour to see for themselves the green practices implemented at the resort.
Scott Dunn’s recent annual year-end guest survey reveals that appetite for international travel has returned among the luxury and ultra-high net worth travellers in Asia, although a notable portion remains somewhat cautious.
While 46% say they cannot wait to get on a plane and go abroad, 31% prefer to take a more measured approach to travel, remaining cautious about potential travel disruptions in the new year. On top of that, 19% also wish to venture out, but not too far from home, reflecting a somewhat measured approach.
Luxury travel guests look to experience culture, food and drink, local life and people
Many travellers are also tired of pandemic-related travel restrictions and are looking forward to their long-awaited freedom to travel. All respondents (100%) said that they will take at least one trip next year, an 87% increase from 2022 – 71% are looking to take a minimum of two trips next year, while 22% wish to travel four or more times in 2023.
An emerging trend among the luxury guest segment serviced by Scott Dunn is slow travel – the highest preference among guests would be to take a one- to a two-week vacation in a single destination, highlighting their preference to fully explore and discover a location.
The top three things that luxury travel segment guests are looking for while on holiday are cultural experiences, food and drink, and experiencing local life and people. This reflects a desire to truly connect with and discover the destinations that they are visiting, rather than visiting as a more traditional and disconnected tourist.
Discovering a new destination took the top spot as a reason to venture out in 2023, followed by ticking off bucket list destinations in second place, and rediscovering favourite places in third. In contrast, ticking off bucket list destinations only came in fifth last year, behind rediscovering favourite places, signifying that more luxury travellers are truly looking to travel out of their comfort zone and visit new, unexplored places.
From March 26 to October 29 next year, Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be making several changes to its network frequencies across East Asia and South-east Asia, Australia, and the US, supporting the strong projected demand to these destinations.
Four weekly services between Singapore and Busan will start from June 2, 2023, while a fourth service between Singapore and Seoul will be added from June 1, 2023.
Singapore Airlines will make several changes to its network frequencies to support the strong projected demand to destinations
From May 1, 2023, SIA will increase the flight frequencies between Singapore and Osaka from four-times-weekly to a daily service, bringing services to Osaka to 14 times weekly.
SIA will operate a daily service between Singapore and Hong Kong SAR beginning March 26, 2023, on the A380 aircraft, and reinstate the daily service between both destinations on the Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft from October 1, 2023. This will see SIA operating four daily flights to Hong Kong SAR.
SIA will also increase the flight frequencies of SQ876 (Singapore to Taipei) and SQ877 (Taipei to Singapore) from four times weekly to a daily service from March 26, 2023. SQ878 and SQ879 between the two cities will also increase from three times a week to a daily service from May 31, 2023. This will bring the weekly services to Taipei up to 14 times weekly.
A fifth daily service will be added for Singapore and Bangkok from October 1, 2023, while a fourth daily service between Singapore and Phuket will commence from March 26, 2023.
These changes will result in SIA’s flight frequencies reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels in multiple destinations across East Asia and South-east Asia by March 2024.
For Australia, Melbourne will also get a new daily A380 service starting on May 16, 2023, while Sydney will add a second daily A380 flight from May 17, 2023.
Further afield to the US, SIA will continue to operate two daily non-stop services to New York – flights SQ24 and SQ23 between Singapore and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as SQ22 and SQ21 between Singapore and New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport.
Flights SQ36 and SQ35 between Singapore and Los Angeles will operate thrice weekly, instead of a daily service, from March 26, 2023. Customers will continue to have the option of two existing daily flights to Los Angeles via the non-stop service SQ38 and SQ37 between the two cities, or flights SQ12 and SQ11, which serve the Singapore-Tokyo (Narita)-Los Angeles route.
Meanwhile, the thrice-weekly service between Singapore and Seattle will remain from June 27, 2023.
Flights SQ52 and SQ51 that serve the Singapore-Manchester-Houston route will operate thrice weekly instead of four times weekly from March 28, 2023. Instead, a new twice-weekly service between Singapore and Manchester will be launched on April 2, 2023.
Lodging specialist Ascott has launched its refreshed hospitality brand, Somerset, as part of Ascott’s Brand360 strategy, a groupwide exercise to strengthen its expanded brand portfolio through sharpened brand stories and introduce signature experiences and programmes unique to each brand.
“The Somerset brand was refreshed to meet travellers’ growing expectations for sustainability, while at the same time ensuring they can immerse themselves in a truly inclusive, harmonious experience,” said Tan Bee Leng, managing director for brand & marketing, Ascott.
Somerset Baitang Suzhou in China has its lobby wall adorned with high wooden bookshelves that serve as trellises for plants to be displayed
“Somerset has been most popular among our guests travelling with families, because of its flexibility to cater to different travel purposes – from long-stay relocations to short-stay vacations. We hope to curate a stay where all families across generations can share happy moments, build lasting memories and create positive impact.”
Highlights of Somerset Brand Signatures include the Somerset signature scent, signature lobby wall feature, and Somerset associates, known as “the Guardians”, who are custodians of the brand’s commitment to being inclusive and sustainable, and ready to extend help to guests.
There is a range of Signature Themed Suites that are curated with family and eco-friendly themes in mind, such as Jungle, Forest, Arcade and Tatami depending on the property.
The Eco Play Area caters to young guests with biophilic elements and play features powered by solar and kinetic energy, and the Eco Gym includes energy-saving or power-generating gym equipment and technology.
In addition, the Somerset Sustainability Passport Programme encourages guests to be part of the green travel movement by rewarding them with discounts and perks when they make sustainable choices.
This announcement follows Ascott’s recently-announced Ascott CARES having been conferred Recognised Standard status by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
In 2023, Ascott, Oakwood, and The Crest Collection brands will also be rolling out new brand signatures and programmes.
The G20 Summit contributed to Bali’s economic growth in the third quarter of 2022 and provided a multiplier effect on the tourism industry at all levels.
At a media briefing, Sandiaga Uno, minister of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, stated that Bali’s economy in 3Q2022 experienced significant growth of up to eight per cent year-on-year as compared to three per cent the previous quarter.
Income from the tourism and creative economic sector is expected to reach the target of US$1.7 billion
He added that holding the G20 Summit in Bali delivered a strong impetus to the recovery of Indonesia’s tourism sector – the number of domestic and international travellers at the summit activities and meetings reached 20,559 people, and arrivals to Bali has now hit an average of 24,009 daily.
Direct spending stood at US$575 million, which he attributed to F&B, attractions, ground transport, telecommunications, shopping, accommodation and flights. Other organiser expenditures included PCOs, venues, vendors and government, as well as reception and marketing.
Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) reported that occupancy last year was only around 20 per cent – it has now reached nearly 70 per cent. About 80 per cent of staff shortage due to the pandemic lay-offs has also been filled.
Sandiaga said: “We project that the hotel occupancy rate in Bali will remain high, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.”
The minister is optimistic that the income from the tourism and creative economic sector can reach the target of US$1.7 billion this year, not only from the contribution of the G20 Summit, but also various other international events in Indonesia this year.
According to G20’s website, the G20 Summit is projected to contribute up to 7.4 trillion rupiah (US$533 million) in GDP (gross domestic product), including an increase in domestic consumption of up to 1.7 trillion rupiah.
Sandiaga commented that the event was a promotion to “meet the target of 3.6 million international tourist arrivals with a total foreign exchange earning of US$1.7 billion”.
“G20 has had the maximum and direct impact on society, such as increasing foreign tourists from 1.8 million to 3.6 million and also (creating) 600,000 to 700,700 new jobs supported by good performance in the culinary, fashion and craft sectors,” noted Nyoman Shuida, expert staff for Utilization of Maritime Resources at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.
The summit was attended by 17 heads of state, three foreign ministers, nine invited countries and 10 international organisations. Data from G20’s website showed the summit events absorbed a budget of 674 billion rupiah and reaped a return on investment of up to 552,000 billion rupiah for the country.
With the recovery of inbound tourism well underway, Japan’s tourism sector is providing English training for staff, many of whom have seldom been able to use the language in their workplace since 2020.
Inbound tourism dropped 99 per cent in May 2020 from a year earlier as the government introduced strict border controls that were finally fully lifted in October this year.
Japan’s tourism sector is stepping up English training for staff so they can converse with international visitors
Since then, JR East has been helping staff at its Omiya branch in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, to brush up on their English via training at Omiya Bonsai Art Museum.
As bonsai is the main tourism draw of Omiya – a city home to Omiya Bonsai Village, Bonsai Restaurant Omiya and Fuyoen – staff are learning how to converse with international visitors on the basics of bonsai, in addition to reviewing how they give directions and explain train ticket purchases in English.
At Hilton Tokyo, where staff have been taking part in video call lessons and using other online learning tools since the start of the pandemic, in-person lessons are being reintroduced.
Before Covid, staff enjoyed regular classroom teaching in English, with private lessons available for key members to cover English use on the telephone, in emails and so on, Shannon Fujimaki from learning and development at Hilton Tokyo told TTG Asia.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is also equipping their National Licensed Guide Interpreters with new information on the elements of Japan that are expected to be most popular among travellers post-lockdown.
“With an eye on the post-Covid era, we are implementing a programme to train interpreter guides who can meet the diversifying needs of foreign visitors,” said a government spokesperson.
“Repeat visitors and individual travellers have strong demands for an understanding of Tokyo’s arts, culture, traditional performing arts and industries, as well as for unique regional experiences.”
The new guides will be trained using in-person lectures and simulated tours over 12 days between November 2022 and February 2023.
