Oasia Resort Sentosa and its first spa destination Oasia Spa are celebrating their first anniversary in the month of September with a line-up of programmes and promotions.
The Oasia Resort Sentosa’s Zen-cation Anniversary Package offers guests an opportunity to embark on an all-rounded wellness journey inclusive of the Oasia Signature Day Retreat for two, access to any of the Wellness Programme Takeover activities, fitness kit and a two-night stay in the hotel’s signature Junior Suite.
Enjoy a pampering experience with Oasia Spa’s Signature Day Retreat
Booking is available from till September 27 for stays between September 1 and 30. Prices start from S$1,440 (US$1,030).
For Oasia Spa, the Day Retreat comprises a personalised body scrub, 30 minutes Dry Skin Brush and Body Exfoliation, 105 minutes Oasia Signature Massage, and a three-course Wellness Set Meal. The first 50 guests to book a Day Retreat will receive an exclusive Oasia Spa’s Oil Gift Set.
In collaboration with JI Academy, the three-day Art of Mindfulness Wellness Retreat is only available on September 9-11 and 16-18, and starts from S$1,530 for single occupancy and S$1,830 for double occupancy. The package includes a two-night stay in a Junior Suite, daily breakfast for two, three-day curated experience by JI Academy, complimentary wellness activities and amenities, and more.
As of August 25, travellers to Indonesia will no longer need to show a negative Covid-19 test result in order to travel within the country.
While the Indonesian government has lifted this regulation, travellers are still required to follow certain rules. According to the Indonesia Covid-19 Task Force circular letter, international travellers aged 18 and above must be fully vaccinated, while those below 18 are exempted.
Travellers to Indonesia will no longer need to show a negative Covid-19 test result
Indonesian travellers aged 18 and above returning from overseas travel or travelling within the country must have taken booster shots. Those who have taken two shots may enter or travel within the country after taking a booster shot at the airport.
In the meantime, Indonesians between six and 17 years old must show proof of two vaccine certificates while children below six travelling with eligible adults are exempted from the vaccination regulation.
Travellers who cannot take vaccines due to health issues may still travel without a PCR test but need to show a medical certificate from a government hospital stating that the individual is exempted due to medical reasons.
Travellers are still required to download and use their Peduli Lindungi Application to travel within the country.
Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DoT) will partner the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on a tourism job fair this September to alleviate the ongoing manpower crunch.
The Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso! National Tourism Jobs Fair “will help our fellow Filipinos find jobs while helping the accommodation and services sector address workforce shortages, resulting in the continued recovery of the tourism industry as a whole”, remarked Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.
The job fair will help Filipino workers and their families by providing tourism employment opportunities in the Philippines and abroad
The event will launch during the Hotels Supplier Show on September 22 to 24 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Mall of Asia Complex. It will be a multi-month campaign that concludes in May 2023, coinciding with the 50th Founding Anniversary of the DoT.
Through its Regional Offices, the DoT will coordinate with concerned DOLE Regional/Field Offices and Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) in Local Government Units for the conduct of the job fairs; collect relevant job posting information from participating establishments; ensure credibility of all participating employers; and, monitor the submission of job fair reportorial requirements of participating establishments.
The DOLE will provide appropriate assistance on the conduct of DoT sponsored job fairs; ensure monitoring and supervision of all job fairs sponsored by the DoT as organised by concerned PESO pursuant to applicable DOLE guidelines; and, screen the requirements of all participating entities.
Aside from employment opportunities within the country, Frasco also recently announced that overseas hospitality career opportunities will be made available to Filipinos in a separate job fair in coordination with the Department of Migrant Workers and DOLE.
She said: “Providing tourism employment opportunities in the Philippines and abroad is important because this will help the thousands of Filipino workers and their families who were displaced or repatriated because of the pandemic. For new graduates and others seeking a career in tourism, this will also open new doors for economic prosperity.
“Overall, the goal is to balance the need for services of the accommodation sector with the needs for employment of tourism workers, that would lend stability to the tourism industry.”
The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) launched the Experience Macao, Unlimited Caravan Roadshow Series as part of its efforts to bring travellers to Macau from the Greater Bay Area to propel tourism and economic recovery.
Starting from Zhuhai on August 28, the Caravan Roadshow Series will run over nine weekends from August to December across nine Guangdong cities – Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Foshan and Dongguan.
The first of the Caravan Roadshow Series brought to Zhuhai a kaleidoscope of travel experiences and festive vibes that Macau has to offer
As a commitment to tourism exchange and cooperation with different Mainland provinces and municipalities to widen the range of tourist markets, MGTO invited six integrated tourism enterprises to run promotional booths, including the Economic Development Bureau of Executive Committee of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the tourism offices of Zhongshan and Zhuhai, as well as OTAs.
The first roadshow of the series brought to Zhuhai a kaleidoscope of travel experiences and festive vibes that Macau has to offer, showcasing events and festivals, gastronomy, sports, wedding and travel photography to leisure travel as well as outdoor interactive zones.
Running concurrently with the Caravan Roadshow Series is the 10-day event, 7th Macao International Lotus Calligraphy Art and Ink Painting Exhibition Touring in the Greater Bay Area – Zhuhai, in celebration of the Macao Lotus Flower Festival, held at the Hengqin Branch of China Red Sandalwood Museum.
Under the brand-new theme My Treat for You, See You in Macao, MGTO continues to partner with airline, e-commerce platforms and OTAs to release special offers on air tickets, hotels and more to Mainland visitors throughout the year, with hotel discount coupons distributed to visitors on Trip.com, Meituan, Fliggy, Qunar, Ly.com and Zhixing App.
Targeting different themes and market segments while in sync with the year-round calendar of festive holidays and events, various partner platforms also provide a diversity of Macau travel offers, from buy-one-get-one-free air tickets to special offers on shopping, dining and attractions.
Monster Day Tours has recently been awarded by the DesignSingapore Council to conduct a tour showcasing three design concepts recognised by the President*s Design Award.
The award is Singapore’s highest honour for designers of all disciplines and recognises the significant achievements of people who make a difference in the lives of Singaporeans and the global community.
Bynd Artisan creates a meaningful narrative that preserves the homegrown brand’s heritage and craft
Enabling Village is where guests can explore a one-of-a-kind village that was repurposed to become an inclusive space that connects people with disabilities and the wider society, maximising the potential for a socially successful environment.
The Pinnacle@Duxton redefines what public housing can be in a densely populated city for a sustainable future, where views, connectivity, air and light flow were all taken into consideration, including the lush environmental deck.
Bynd Artisan puts home-grown master craftsmen in the spotlight as they share traditional ways of book-binding and leather crafting, opening up an avenue for a collaborative process between the craftsmen and their customers.
The pandemic has redefined travel, with travel trends showing how the past two years have not only changed how people travel, but why. Hilton’s latest survey revealed that the line between work and personal trips has become increasingly blurred – with vacation time increasingly being added to work trips. This signals a need to establish new rhythms of rest and reconnecting, emphasising why now, more than ever, it matters where you stay.
The survey was conducted with nearly 6,000 respondents across Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India.
With vacation time increasingly being added to work trips, many feel the need to disconnect in order to focus on their well-being
“Our study shows that work trips are not only extended for extra down-time, but leisure travel also needs to be flexible and connected enough to allow for an element of remote working or working from anywhere,” said Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Hilton, Asia Pacific.
“More than ever, this puts the spotlight on the stay itself and what the hotel experience can offer in totality. When you need to produce an inspiring presentation while on the move, it matters where you stay – the environment, food, amenities make all the difference.”
Blurring lines between work and life
The rise of remote working during the pandemic has accelerated an always-on culture, resulting in a greater want and need among employees to disconnect from constant video conferencing and the incessant ping of messaging apps. 43% of Indonesian and Malaysian travellers say they want to disconnect from work, but among them 95% and 81% still spend some time working while travelling with family.
Employed respondents from Singapore (66%) and Australia (64%) cannot seem to switch off their work mode, despite saying they would like to. There is also the added stress of guilt associated with responding to work emails while on vacation, according to over half of the respondents in Indonesia (59%), Australia (58%), Malaysia (57%), and Singapore (54%), as well as 55% of Thai respondents who travel with younger family members.
Remote working from stunning locations
At the same time, there is emerging preference among travellers to make the most of the remote working flexibility that more companies are now offering. Across the region, gainfully employed respondents would choose to do some form of work while travelling, with India (98%) ranked at the top, followed by Thailand and Indonesia (95%), Malaysia (81%), Singapore (65%), and Australia (64%).
This corresponds with extended stays at hotels, and Hilton’s booking data recorded an increase of up to two days in the average length of stay from 2019 to 2022 in Asia-Pacific – with Singapore and Bangkok taking the lead at five and four days, respectively.
Switch on, switch off
Switching off? It matters where you stay. While travelling has always been an avenue for adventure, there has been a renewed desire among respondents to stay in and wind down — rather than to head out for more strenuous activities.
Across all Asia-Pacific markets surveyed, respondents chose sitting by the pool or the beach, booking a relaxing spa treatment, and taking a nap as among their top preferred activities to do if they had time to themselves on vacation.
Whether this is a mindset nurtured from years of multiple lockdowns, or fatigue from the stressors and uncertainty of the pandemic, it is clear that well-being is a priority for the 2022 traveller in order to be freed from the pressure of being always switched-on.
This highlights the importance of considering where you stay — where guests are taken care of to afford them the freedom to focus on what matters: whether it is to work, relax, or enjoy the best of both worlds.
WTS Travel and partners will develop a sustainable resort at Singapore’s Changi Village, converting upcycled decommissioned public buses into guestrooms.
Tentatively named The Bus Resort, the property will reside on a vacant state land next to Changi Village’s hawker centre, and aims to revitalise tourism in the area and help both domestic and international tourists discover a part of Singapore steeped in history, culinary specialties and sports activities.
An artist’s impression of The Bus Resort, where decommissioned public buses will be transformed into guest rooms (Photo: WTS Travel)
The Bus Resort is scheduled to open in 2Q2023.
Through this resort, WTS will showcase how city and natural elements can be sustainably integrated in the reconstruction of buses into guestrooms, providing a unique getaway experience that appeals to a growing segment of eco-conscious travellers. Not only will the project showcase the possibilities of upcycling and creative ideas for sustainability, it will also create employment opportunities.
WTS travel managing director, Micker Sia, said: “This is an incredible opportunity for Singapore, WTS Travel and partners (LHN Group and Sky Win Holding) to showcase how tourism, nature and environmentalism can come together for the benefit of our community.
“Through the execution of creative ideas, we can upcycle existing resources and create unique and exciting new experiences for both locals and tourists.”
The Bus Resort will occupy over 8,600m² and feature 20 rooms, with an Events and Experiences Centre for activities such as Pilates, yoga and other mindfulness-focused experiences.
It will plug into the Changi Village ecosystem of F&B, retail stores and attractions and contribute to the precinct’s culture and ecosystem as a place to enjoy wellness and recuperate away from the city life.
Officiating the ground-breaking ceremony was Maliki Osman, minister in the prime minister’s office, second minister for education & foreign affairs and grassroots adviser for East Coast GRC GROs (Siglap), who commented that the project “demonstrates an innovative way to create exciting experiences while also upcycling”.
“We hope to see more such developments which bring value to the community while also serving our longer-term goals of a green and vibrant East Coast,” he added.
Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers introduces a new family staycation staycation package. The Family Funtastic Staycation Package is designed to allow parents to connect with their children by playing the in-room games together as well as enjoying the amenities by the hotel.
The package starts from HK$2,188 (US$278) and includes one-night accommodation, daily breakfast for two adults and one child, afternoon tea set for two at Sky Lounge, in-room tent, fun games which are available to bring home, dining credit, and more.
The Family Funtastic Staycation Package features an in-room tent and a ball pool
Thailand is seeing a steady tourism revival, with nearly two million foreign visitors coming on shore in the first six months of this year.
As of August 5, international flight and hotel searches are up 164 per cent and 111 per cent respectively compared to the start of the year, noted Sojern.
Thailand’s tourism is steadily recovering with almost two million foreign visitors in the first six months of 2022
All global regions demonstrate positive uplift in the lead-up to Thailand’s high season from November, with Thailand on its way to meeting its goal of expected tourism revenue of up to US$65 billion next year as compared to the US$62 billion achieved pre-pandemic in 2019.
Following the government’s classifying of the country as a green zone for Covid-19 in July, businesses, entertainment venues and tourist attractions have eased and eliminated pandemic-related restrictions. In response, travellers have been quick to return.
Based on flight bookings from the last 60 days, the top five origin countries are Thailand (domestic), Singapore, South Korea, the US and the UK, with India, Australia, Germany, Vietnam and Japan making up the remaining top ten.
The Indian government’s move to withdraw the five per cent Tax Collection At Source (TCS) levied on foreign tour agencies buying packages from Indian companies has drawn stakeholders’ approval.
Tour packages for neighbouring destinations like Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives are often purchased through Indian tour operators, but the TCS plus another five per cent Goods and Services Tax have made these products pricier and less attractive.
The Indian government has removed the five per cent Tax Collection At Source levied on foreign tour agencies buying packages from Indian companies; Himalayas pictured
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) had contested the TCS, filing requests with the government to withdraw the tax and issuing appeals to the finance ministry, citing the disadvantage it brought to its members.
According to Rajiv Mehra, president, IATO, the TCS eroded “precious foreign exchange as the business was going to other countries”.
In March 2022, the Indian government relaxed TCS conditions, waiving collection from overseas tour packages sold to non-residents of India.
Lally Mathews, managing director, Divine Voyages, said the full removal of TCS will “encourage travel bookings from Indian tour companies”.
“Considering the setbacks that small and medium tour operators have suffered because of the pandemic, we need such positive support from the government,” he added.
