What About Kuching 2022 returns with strong arts and culture line-up
The annual What About Kuching Festival (WAK2022) will break out of its two-year pandemic-induced hiatus with a fourth edition this October.
Endorsed and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, WAK2022 has seen strong support from potential programme collaborators.
Donald Tan, founding festival director of the WAK festival series, said: “At the close of proposal submission on July 31, WAK2022 received 69 proposals from 59 different collaborators covering 111 events of various genres including music, theatre, dance, arts and crafts, gastronomy, literary and culture, and not forgetting sporting events and eco-based adventure activities.
“We are very pumped up to see the amount of support we are getting, not only in terms of numbers but also the very high, world-class quality genres. We will now be closely engaging all collaborators to discuss further details and tighten the loose ends so we are all fully ready.”
WAK2022 is expected to bring a variety of events and activities to Kuching throughout October, making the Malaysian city and the larger Sarawak state even more exciting for visitors.
The final line-up will be announced in September.
Tan hopes WAK2022 will entice visitors who had missed out on some of Sarawak’s most iconic events earlier in the year, such as the Rainforest World Music Festival and Borneo Jazz Festival.
“WAK2022 will be your best opportunity to experience and be immersed in our rich culture and heritage, while satisfying your craving for musical, theatre and fine arts performances as we present both the old and the new. Gastronomy will be a big part of the festival too,” he added.
New hotels: InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula, Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort and more
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula, Australia
InterContinental Sorrento Mornington Peninsula is the new centrepiece of The Continental, an 1875 landmark site that comprises new restaurants, bars and a wellness centre.
The hotel’s 108 rooms and suites offer seaside vibes, with penthouses to be unveiled later this year. Guests booking premium rooms and above will receive a complimentary in-room bar.
The Mediterranean pool deck offers views of Sorrento and Port Phillip Bay, while two restaurants, a beer garden, front bar, and speakeasy venue provide F&B variety.
Close to the hotel are various lifestyle options, such as golf courses, restaurants, wineries, hot springs, beaches and a shopping strip.
Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, Thailand
The newly-renovated Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort now boasts 44 premium category rooms, with the remaining 102 superior rooms to open later in November.
All rooms in the resort offer a balcony or terrace, and guests in premium rooms enjoy exclusive Voyager 47 Club Lounge access with all-day non-alcoholic drinks, afternoon snacks and evening cocktails.
Facilities include Edgewater beach club with three pool zones and a kids’ water slide, fitness centre, kids club and game room.
An all-day dining restaurant and a fourth swimming pool will open later this year.
QT Newcastle, Australia
The 104-key QT Newcastle is housed within a heritage building on Hunter Mall, boasting stunning views of the harbour, Christ Church Cathedral and beyond.
Dining options include the signature Jana Restaurant & Bar and Scott’s.
A highlight of QT Newcastle is Rooftop at QT, where guests can enjoy a tipple while admiring the surrounds.
DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City, Malaysia
Located a 10-minute drive from i-City Convention Center and offering easy access to the city’s prime manufacturing hubs and recreational destinations, DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City is an ideal hotel for both leisure and business guests.
The 300-room hotel offers a spa, fitness centre, pool, and 1,600m² of event spaces. F&B options include Makan Kitchen, Tosca Italian restaurant, Axis Lounge, and The Koffee.
China resumes quarantine-free travel with Macau
China has reopened her borders with Macau on August 3, facilitating quarantine-free travel between the two lands once more.
It marks the end of a six-week border closure that was put in place when community Covid infections emerged in Macau.
People entering Zhuhai from Macau will now need to show a negative PCR test result obtained within 24 hours and inform community representatives in the location where they will stay of their travel history. They will also need to take a second test within 48 hours of entry to China and avoid public transport and social events within the first three days of their arrival.
Indonesian tourism players agree to stop strike
Activities in Labuan Bajo and Manggarai Barat Regency have returned to normal after the tourism businesses and individual tourism workers agreed to cease their protest as of August 3.
The decision was made after the tourism workers, who belong to 19 local travel-related associations, had a discussion with the Manggarai Regional government and other related authorities.
Shana Fatina, president director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Agency (BOP), said her office monitored the destination’s development and activities in a number of facilities, such as the airport and seaport, had resumed as per normal.
“Basically, everyone has agreed to keep the safety and security in Labuan Bajo intact and lifted their declaration to strike issued on July 30. (Activities) have started again as of August 3,” Shana said in a statement.
While the travel industry workers have accepted the increase on the new tariff, they will independently monitor the performance of Flobamor, which manages the tourism operation at the Komodo National Park, to make sure that everything is on target and run according to plan.
Vietnam records uptake in tourist demand from India
Vietnam may be a relatively new destination for the Indian market but is seeing strong travel demand – the number of visas issued daily by the embassy in India has grown 24 times compared to the pre-pandemic period.
At the Outbound Tourism Summit organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) last week in New Delhi, Vietnam’s envoy to India, Pham Sanh Chau, said: “Prior to the pandemic we used to issue 250 visas per day in India. However, recently we issued 6,000 visas in a day.”
Four years ago, direct air connections were absent between the two countries. Indian travellers had to take connecting flights from Singapore or Thailand to access Vietnam.
Direct flights and Indian travellers’ desire to explore new destinations in proximity are some of the reasons behind this spurt in demand, opined Pham.
In light to rising interest in Vietnam, the destination will also court Indian weddings and business events.
Presently, three Indian cities – New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata – have direct connectivity to Vietnam via Vietjet. The airline recently announced plans to offer more direct connections to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in 4Q2022.
Rajeev Kale, president & country head, Holidays, MICE, Visa with Thomas Cook (India), said: “Vietnam is seeing an uptick (in interest) not just from corporates, but also families, young professionals, millennials and couples. Indians are open to a shift in destinations to those that offer convenient short-haul access and (are) easier on the wallet.”
According to travel consultants, outbound travel sentiment in India is at an all-time high after the Covid-induced lull. However, Schengen visa processing delays in India at present are pushing Indians to favour alternative, less cumbersome destinations like Vietnam.
“Reopening of air travel has resulted in (an) uptick in consumer confidence and we are witnessing significant travel appetite. Given the current visa challenges for Europe, our internal data indicates definitive uptick for our closer to home and easy visa destinations – with demand up by 30 to 35 per cent month-on-month,” said Daniel D’Souza, president & country head – Holidays, SOTC Travel.
Go for a jungle picnic at Anantara Desaru Coast
Have a one-of-a-kind vacation at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas with its new jungle explorer package, Jungle Picnic.
Available to all resort guests, Jungle Picnic is an opportunity for nature-lovers and those looking for a break from urban rush to discover the richness of Malaysia’s biodiversity in Panti Forest Reserve while enjoying a gourmet meal in a secret location.
Spot over 25 species of mammals, including the White-handed Gibbons, Pig-tailed Macaques and Banded Langurs, and over 100 species of birds, particularly the Rail Babbler – an enigmatic, ground-living species that is hard to spot in the wild.
Guests will be picked up at the resort at 06.30 and driven to Panti in a car, where they first ride in an open pick-up truck to explore the wildlife, before hiking to a secluded picnic spot in the jungle to indulge in a full gourmet picnic prepared by the Anantara team.
The Jungle Picnic is priced at US$130 for two persons, including transfers.
For more information, visit Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.
Radisson Hotel Group expands portfolio in Vietnam
Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) will boost its portfolio of properties in Vietnam by adding 30 properties by 2025. The group currently operates four properties in the country, with six more in the pipeline.
Tapping into Vietnam’s rapidly rebounding tourism industry, RHG has launched a business unit and representative office in Ho Chi Minh City. This dedicated office will offer expert on-the-ground support to owners in Vietnam, developing long-standing relationships based on trust, responsibility, and accountability.
RHG’s revitalised brand architecture, which now encompasses nine distinct brands ranging from midscale to luxury, will allow its partners to cater to the specific requirements of various guest segments.
Along with a defined brand architecture with clear segmentation and a robust global network, RHG can customise its development strategy and partnerships to suit the unique needs of its owners and investors, while also creating outstanding options for its guests.
In addition, RHG remains committed to its corporate responsibility targets of being net-zero by 2050, and is driving eco-sensitive operations and creating sustainable experiences to help owners achieve greater efficiencies.
Commenting on the plans in Vietnam, Ramzy Fenianos, chief development officer, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Vietnam is a dynamic destination that has offerings for all types of travellers.
“Looking ahead, we expect visitor numbers to increase significantly in the coming months and we look forward to working with our partners to bring new experiences to life for travellers from around the region and globally.”
Anantara’s new management personnel for Thailand resorts
Serge Cuypers has been appointed as the new general manager of Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas.
Bringing over 22 years of experience in high-profile international luxury hospitality properties to the role, Cuypers has been a part of the Anantara family for years – his most recent position was general manager of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort since 2021.
Meanwhile in Chiang Rai, Arnaud Béril will head Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort as its new resort manager.
Prior to his new role, Béril was director of operations (executive assistant manager) with Avani+ Samui Resort and the newly-opened Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club.
The Datai Langkawi sets the stage for photography workshops
The Datai Langkawi presents The Photography Workshop, led by three distinguished personalities in their field of expertise: award-winning photographer SC Shekar, Langkawi naturalist Irshad Mobarakand, and digital imaging expert Wesley Wongto.
The three-day photography workshop will be held from October 26-30, and guests can explore the beauty of Langkawi and learn how to capture its magic with their lenses from these experts.
The exclusive package includes a four-night stay in a Canopy Deluxe room, daily breakfast, three lunches, two dinners, three photography excursions, and return airport transfers.
Rates star from 7,150 ringgit (US$1,604) per person on a double basis, and 10,700 ringgit per person on a single basis. The workshop is open for intermediate level photographers and applicants will go through a screening process.
For more information, visit The Datai Langkawi.
Tanah Gajah Ubud, an art-steeped resort in Bali, is looking to spark creativity among its guests with new hands-on art classes led by the very Indonesian artists whose work adorns the property.
The bespoke three-hour private painting sessions are held at Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana, with an award-winning local artist. Several painters, whose collections have been featured at the Hadiprana Gallery and are on display throughout the property, are available for the lessons. Guests have the option to choose an artist whose painting-style resonates with them.
Tanah Gajah and the Hadiprana family have long held a deep connection to Indonesia’s art scene. The property was once the former private estate of noted Indonesian designer and art collector, Hendra Hadiprana. A pioneer in Indonesia’s art scene, the family’s late patriarch opened Indonesia’s first art gallery in Jakarta sixty years ago.
When Tanah Gajah became a resort, much of the collection Hadiprana assembled over three decades remained. His array of stone-carved sculptures, paintings from local artists, and ancient vases has long drawn art lovers to the secluded Ubud property.
Classes are available upon request, and are priced at 1,500,000 rupiah (US$104) excluding service charge and taxes, with additional sessions offered at half the initial price.
The hotel also works with a local egg painting artist for guests interested in this Balinese craft.
For little ones, the resort has carved out a new art room, offered as part of club benefits. Families can book the space and make use of art supplies for children to paint freely or on colouring books that introduce Balinese cultural elements, from costumes to villages. Guest’s personal butler will be on hand to explain the significance of each image.
For more information visit www.tanahgajahubud.com