TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Monday, 13th April 2026
Page 671

Summer Fun in Switzerland

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Brought to you by Switzerland Tourism

Are you thinking about an energetic summer holiday? Do you need to reenergize in unspoiled nature? Or are you looking for adrenaline-rush activities? Look no further. Switzerland is a huge playground for outdoor lovers whether you simply want to relax by exploring the great outdoors or if you are seeking summer thrills for an adventure. Here are some recommended summer activities in Switzerland – on the ground, in the water and up in the air:

Swiss Travel System
Swiss Travel Pass

You can count on the Swiss Travel System for its reliability and extensive public transportation network to get around Switzerland, including places in high altitudes. With the Swiss Travel Pass, you simply hop on and off any means of public transport hassle-free for unlimited times within the pass duration. More time spent doing what you love with less planning time! Even better, the pass also includes some free mountain excursions and discounts on many others which is one of the great money-saving benefits of being a pass holder.

▸ Swiss Travel Pass | Switzerland Tourism

Lake Lucerne Region
Summer Toboggan Run upon Fräkmüntegg

Get into the groove on Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan run – 1,350 metres of tempo and top-notch fun. The racy ride down the long shiny steel channel begins on Fräkmüntegg (1,415 metres altitude). Plenty of cool curves, dragon caves and in-built jumps make every toboggan run an unforgettable fun experience.

▸ Summer Toboggan Run upon Fräkmüntegg | Switzerland Tourism

Titlis
Titlis glacier excursion

The excursion up to Titlis – the only accessible glacier in Central Switzerland – is a real treat. At 3,020 m, as there is a variety of things to experience in addition to the breathtaking view. On the summit, a 360° panoramic view of majestic Alpine peaks and the surrounding glaciers are sure to amaze you. Discover the Trübsee Adventure at the intermediate station Trübsee for more attractions such as zip lining, rowing and kayaking.

▸ Titlis glacier excursion | Switzerland Tourism

Jungfrau – Interlaken
Paragliding above Interlaken

For paragliding fans, Interlaken has long been known for its excellent flying opportunities and nearly year-round good conditions. There is a wide range of unique opportunities for paragliding and seeing extraordinary views of the lakes and mountains. As a passenger, no previous experience is required. You are given a few instructions and then a few steps later, you take off with your pilot. Getting a bird’s eye view of the unique Jungfrau panorama will make you forget everything else for a while!

▸ Paragliding above Interlaken | Switzerland Tourism

Schilthorn
Trümmelbach Falls

Loud thundering and roaring in the interior of the mountain, gurgling, foaming and churning water: these are the Trümmelbach Falls. They are Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls and are located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, often called the valley of 72 waterfalls. The hike on mainly flat land leads from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg, past water gushing from vertical rock faces that are several hundred meters high.

▸ Trümmelbach Falls | Switzerland Tourism

Vaud – Lake Geneva Region
Paddleboarding among Lavaux

The terraced vineyards of Lavaux, along the shores of Lake Geneva, are some of the most stunning natural sights in Switzerland. Extending over 800 hectares, the vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage site that can be enjoyed not only through hikes, bike tours, but also by water. Aside from Lavaux, paddlers can also enjoy the unique views of the Swiss and French Alps. You may definitely savour local wines after the paddle while enjoying the majestic views of the lake.

▸ Paddleboarding among Lavaux | Switzerland Tourism

Matterhorn Region
Cycling through the vineyards of Martigny to Leuk

This route is a trip through the wine-growing region of the canton of Valais. The 82-km trail winds up and down through cultivated vineyards and historic locations. You find yourself climbing through the beautiful terraced vineyards on quiet back roads with stunning views over the Rhone valley. Small wine producing villages along the route offer wine tasting mostly without appointment. With around 40 types of grapes grown in the Valais, you are spoiled for choice.

▸ Cycling through the vineyards of Martigny to Leuk | Switzerland Tourism

Zermatt
Hiking in Zermatt five-lake trail

The five-lake trail is a magnificent hiking tour through the mountains of Zermatt: three of these mountain lakes reflect the Matterhorn. Each of the five lakes – Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee and Leisee – has its own unique characteristics. You can enjoy a swim at Leisee, or enjoy the beauty of the alpine flora at the banks of Grindjisee. Offering unique views of the many peaks, the hiking route is extremely diverse.

▸ Hiking in Zermatt five-lake trail | Switzerland Tourism

Glacier Express
Travel across the Alps with the world’s slowest express train

The Glacier Express offers a journey for the sense – from Engadine right to the Matterhorn. On its relaxing drive from dazzling St. Moritz to equally sophisticated Zermatt, the Glacier Express delights travelers with scenic attractions and technical state-of-the-art achievements. With its panoramic windows, the Glacier Express opens up unobstructed views of unique landscapes. Excursion tips include exploring the “Grand Canyon” of Switzerland between Ilanz and Reichenau or Corvatsch, a paradise for hikers and skiers.

▸ Travel across the Alps with the world’s slowest express train | Switzerland Tourism

Asian travel appetite holds strong against rise of Covid infections

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Fresh waves of Covid-19 infections are rolling across the world, impacting several countries that are both important tourism source markets and destinations, such as Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and the US. Despite urgent headlines spotlighting the infection trends, travel companies say travellers are pressing ahead with their plans.

Pascal Gekko, vice president, international accommodation, Traveloka, told TTG Asia that travellers are not deterred by the global resurgence of Covid-19 cases.

Despite headlines around the world spotlighting the resurgence of Covid-19 infections, travellers remain undeterred and still make travel plans

“There is still a strong appetite for travel, and we have been seeing a steady uptick of bookings on our platform. We have not seen higher cancellation rates, while weekly traffic and transactions on our platform remain uniform,” detailed Gekko.

Traveloka continues to see a “significant number of travellers who have made plans for the September and December holidays”. Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand top the list of destinations booked by customers for the rest of the year.

Chan Brothers Travel, one of the leading outbound travel specialists in Singapore, also reports an absence of impact on forward bookings.

Even with South Korea tightening its on-arrival PCR testing requirements from July 25 to curb the spread of Covid infections, with a test now needed within 24 hours instead of 72 hours, the agency’s spokesperson Jeremiah Wong said customers booked for the popular North Asian destination would not be troubled.

“This change will not affect our customers as we have always arranged for them to do their PCR test upon arrival at the airport. Our tour leaders will be fully assisting and guiding customers on our group tours through the process as well,” said Wong.

Gekko believes that the pandemic has reshaped consumer behaviour. Not only are travellers bearing higher expectations of travel as a holistic experience, they are also more resilient and largely undeterred by the various challenges present today.

“We have observed that travellers are taking into consideration the unexpected and equipping themselves with the necessary information and preparation. Rising airfares, for example, have encouraged travellers to book their flights earlier and opt for flexi flights, instead of last-minute fixed bookings in the pre-pandemic days,” he said.

As travellers persist with upcoming plans, they continue to be cautious about health guidelines, and are opting for suppliers that can deliver on safety and flexibility promises.

Chan Brothers Travel maintains its Travel Safe Travel Smart initiatives that highlight safety and hygiene protocols such as ensuring there are no more than 25 or 30 travellers per tour group.

Traveloka keeps its safe travel page regularly updated with current travel safety requirements and offers flexibility within its products and services to take the stress of travel planning off its customers. Refundable options are available for flights and hotels, and customers can also choose to pay later or upon check-in. A round-the-clock customer support team is on standby for unexpected situations.

“While we move towards travel in a post-Covid-19 world, it is important to note that the situation remains fluid and regulations may change easily, disrupting travel plans,” Gekko said.

When asked which of the numerous obstacles that continue to batter travel and tourism’s recovery, from airport disruptions to extreme weather in some regions, are the biggest disruptors of travel confidence among customers, Wong pointed out a few stemming from demand outstripping supply.

“Rising airfares caused partly by limited seat inventory is being scrutinised now. Due to global travel resurgence, there is also the issue of limited room inventory – case in point, the unique igloo accommodation, which is one of the highlights of Northern Lights tours,” he said.

“Other than these, if governments around the world revert to stricter travel rules, testing measures and border restrictions, travel sentiment among Singaporeans will be affected,” he added.

Singapore’s Formula 1 unveils entertainment line-up

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Singapore GP, organiser of the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022, has lined up a power-packed race weekend to keep spectators engaged within the Circuit Park.

Big names in this year’s programme include Black Eyed Peas, The Kid LAROI, TLC, Suede, Marshmello, Westlife, and Green Day, along with a mix of local and international artists from all over the world who will deliver a total of 100 hours of entertainment. Some 92 performances across nine stages, 79 roving acts and an array of art installations and activities are also part of the line-up.

Singapore’s Formula 1 ticket holders will enjoy on-track action, activities and performances, as well as food and beverage

International acts like Swedish-Gambian singer/songwriter Seinabo Sey, Malaysian reggae band Salammusik, Israeli electronic music project Garden City Movement, Singaporean singer/songwriter INCH, and more, will be featured across the three-day weekend race.

Singapore GP will also be shining the spotlight on local artists including 8EyedSpud, Adeline Loo of It Takes Balls, HAFI, Koh Dawn, Lee Wei Lieh of Very Small Exhibition, and Paper Carpenter. They will display their works at curated experiential zones within the Circuit Park. These zones offer a host of interactive activities, entertainment as well as food and beverage.

All tickets to the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2022 will allow fans to enjoy on-track action as well as activities and performances in Zone 4 of the Circuit Park – valid tickets will be required to access the relevant zone for each day.

Three Asian passports are most powerful in the world

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Japan, Singapore and South Korea possess the most powerful passports in the world, according to the latest results from the Henley Passport Index, which is based on exclusive and official data from IATA.

Japan holds the number one spot on the index, with a record-high visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 193, while Singapore and South Korea come in joint-second place, with a score of 192.

The most powerful passports in the world are Japan, Singapore and South Korea according to Henley Passport Index

Despite the unmatched and unprecedented worldwide access afforded to the citizens of these three nations over the index’s 17-year history, international passenger demand in the Asia-Pacific region has only reached 17 per cent of pre-Covid levels, according to IATA’s latest statistics, having hovered below 10 per cent for most of the past two years.

This figure is far behind the global trend where markets in Europe and North America have recovered to around 60 per cent of pre-crisis travel mobility levels.

EU member states dominate the rest of the top ten spots on the latest ranking, with Germany and Spain in joint-third place, with access to 190 destinations visa-free.

Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg follow closely behind in joint-fourth place with 189 destinations; while Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden share fifth place with visa-free access to 188 destinations worldwide.

Both the UK and US have dropped down a rank, to sixth and seventh position, respectively.

The UAE passport, which now sits at 15th place on the ranking, with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 176, has been the biggest climber on the index over the past decade. In 2012, it sat at 64th place on the rankings, with a score of just 106.

According to the latest Henley Private Wealth Migration Dashboard, the UAE has also become the focus of intense interest among affluent investors and is expected to see the highest net influx of HNWIs globally in 2022, with a forecast net increase of 4,000 – a dramatic increase of 208 per cent versus 2019’s net inflow of 1,300 and one of its largest on record.

Exclusive research conducted by Henley & Partners reveals that top-ranking passports have almost regained pre-pandemic levels of access. By comparing the current level of travel freedom with the most severe Covid-related restrictions imposed over the past few years, results show that UK and US passport holders now have unrestricted access to 158 destinations around the world – as opposed to just 74 and 56 destinations, respectively, at the height of the pandemic in 2020. Japanese passport holders enjoy unrestricted access to 161 destinations, as opposed to only 76 in 2020.

The study also determined a strong correlation between a nation’s passport power and its peacefulness.

Henley & Partners noted that all of the nations occupying the top 10 spots on the Henley Passport Index can also be found in the Global Peace Index’s top 10 ranking. Likewise, for the bottom ranking nations.

Korean hanbok lifestyle named national intangible cultural heritage

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South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) has designated the wearing of hanbok, a traditional Korean outfit, and the cultural conduct associated with it, as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Worn during rituals, ceremonies and recreational events, the hanbok embodies South Korean identity and values, while hanbok lifestyle refers to a series of cultural practices – ranging from making the clothes and wearing them to the specific etiquette for its use.

Dressing up in hanbok while touring heritage locations around South Korea is a popular activity among tourists

Ancient relics and records, dating back to 57BC, show people on the Korean Peninsula had already been wearing hanbok.

CHA said in a release: “(Hanbok) has been passed down through generations in the country for such a long period; there are historical relics and documents proving this; studies of the attire abound in a variety of fields including its history, aesthetics, design, technique, marketing and education; the clothes are still worn in important family and ritual events; and traditional knowledge on hanbok lifestyle has lived on.”

India’s A Travel Quest debuts transformational journeys

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India-based travel specialist, A Travel Quest, is rolling out a series of private transformational journeys for small groups, beginning with a gastronomy trip to Peru and an adventure excursion to the Arctic.

The curated journeys will centred around five key focus areas – Art & Culture, Wildlife, Gastronomy, Adventure and Offbeat. Each pillar will offer two or three fixed departures every year led by an expert, influencer, or celebrity in that space. Travellers can choose to join these curated journeys, which take in 10 to 12 participants, or request for a customised option.

Shah: today’s luxury consumers are seeking out transcending experiences

For a start, the series in 2022 to 2023 will feature a 10-night Peru with Chef Prateek Sadhu journey and a seven-night Arctic Expedition – Lofoten & Svalbard Islands programme.

Scheduled from November 2 to 12, 2022, the Peru with Chef Prateek Sadhu journey will take travellers through the culinary wonders of Peru, calling at destinations such as Lima, Paracas and Sacred Valley, and Cusco.

The Arctic Expedition – Lofoten & Svalbard Islands will comprise two departures – March 15 to 22 and April 7 to 14, 2023. The intimate polar expedition will dive into the untouched Arctic wilderness of Svalbard and Lofoten, and cross the Arctic Ocean to the last few islands before the North Pole.

Pritish Shah, founder and CEO of A Travel Quest, said: “The experience economy has boomed over the recent years and today’s luxury consumers are seeking out transcending experiences.”

Besides these intimate group trips, the company will launch a 2023 series built upon various upcoming festivals and events.

Best of Gold Coast to be spotlighted in South Korean reality show

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Gold Coast and wider Queensland will come under the spotlight when South Korea’s new reality TV series, Bucket List Travel to Australia, goes on air later this year.

Produced by Seoul Broadcast System, the show will follow five South Korean celebrities as they explore the destination’s offerings, from Gold Coast’s 52km of beaches and Wonder Reef to World Heritage-listed rainforest, native wildlife, and other unique tourism experiences.

Gold Coast and wider Queensland will be in the spotlight on South Korea’s new reality TV series, Bucket List Travel to Australia; Wheel of Surfers Paradise pictured

Bucket List Travel to Australia will air in a prime-time slot in South Korea later this year and is expected to generate more than US$40 million in publicity to profile Queensland destinations.

Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said: “Pre-Covid, South Korea was our sixth largest market for international holiday visitors and we saw steady loads when Jetstar commenced direct services between Seoul and Gold Coast.

“We know South Koreans have an affinity with nature, blue skies, and a relaxed lifestyle which are all attributes of a Gold Coast holiday.”

She commented that after two years of border closures, Bucket List Travel to Australia will highlight the Sunshine State’s attractions and “keep the Gold Coast top-of-mind for future travel considerations”.

In 2019, around 34,000 Koreans visited the Gold Coast, and spent almost 280,000 nights in the destination.

Prior to securing the series, Destination Gold Coast – together with Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Economic Development Agency and Tourism Tropical North Queensland – had recently organised a five-day tourism mission in South Korea and Japan, meeting with airlines and trade partners to reacquaint them with the Gold Coast.

Trip.com’s summer bookings show resurgence of traveller confidence

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As consumers around the world plan a summer of revenge travel in the wake of easing restrictions, Trip.com data reflects the global travel recovery trend with data from its booking sites across Europe and Asia and the results showing the rise of summer holiday bookings as travellers become more confident in a post-pandemic world.

Wednesdays are the most popular days
For summer 2022, the data shows Tuesday through Thursday are the peak days for browsing flights and hotels, with Wednesday as the most popular day overall for flight searches, and Saturday being the quietest.

Summer holiday bookings in Europe and Asia are on the rise as travellers become more confident in a post-pandemic world

From June to September, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the UK markets saw July 1 as the most popular day for flight departures. It was also the most popular hotel check-in date that users searched for on Trip.com’s sites in the UK and Thailand.

Hotel booking window extended by up to a week
During the pandemic, the booking window for hotel stays had fallen from 20.3 days (June 2019 data) to 6.1 days in Asia. Flights saw a similar trend, with the booking window on Trip.com’s European sites falling from 22.2 (in 2019) to 13.4 days in June 2021.

For 2022, Trip.com’s data signals a return to pre-pandemic trends, with booking windows once again rising. In Europe, the window for hotel reservations in June 2022 matched pre-Covid levels at 14.2 days; booking windows for flights extended to 14.2 days from 6.4 days of June 2021. Similar trends are evident across Asia, with booking windows for flights rising to 16.4 days in June 2022 from 6.1 days in June 2020.

However, booking windows still remain shorter than pre-pandemic in the region, as restrictions remain across many nations and districts.

City-centric European summer holidays high on the agenda
Airlines and hotel chains have reported bookings and occupancy levels rising to pre-pandemic numbers for the first time this spring, with Trip.com’s European sites seeing an average monthly growth in traffic of around 10% between April and July, further underlining the increased demand for summer getaways.

While many choose beach holidays over city breaks this year, data shows that city-centric summer holidays are still high on the agenda for Europeans wanting to visit attractions, culture, food and new experiences in Europe’s most enticing cities.

Trip.com’s European data also reflects the vast increase in short-haul travel demand for  June 1 to 31 August 2022 versus the same period in 2021, and that short-haul trips are 27 times more popular than longhaul and proves that most travellers still prefer to stay closer to home.

Customers book longer trips post-pandemic
European customers travelled for longer during 2020 than they did previously, with the average trip length in June 2019 being 6.2 days, rising to 8.8 days in 2020 and back down to 6.6 days in June 2022.

Asian travellers, on the other hand, are travelling for an average of 7.6 days in 2022, an increase on the average of 6.6 days in June 2019, but a decrease on 2021’s average of 8.7 days. 

Local travel rebounds well in Asia
In Asia, countries and regions that have relaxed their travel restrictions have seen an impressive market performance, particularly those in South-east Asia. Overall in the APAC region, bookings increased by 21% in May and by a further 7.8% in June.

The most popular destination among APAC users was Singapore, where it saw a 42% year-on-year increase in hotel bookings in June.

Thailand saw a slight dip in April but following the Songkran Festival, overall bookings have tripled when compared to June 2021, with a 17% rise in bookings compared to May 2022.

While Thailand continues to attract customers from the UK and Asia-Pacific, the country’s recovery has mainly been driven by domestic travel, with domestic flights in June increasing 2.6 times year-on-year.

Japan and South Korea saw sharp growth in 2Q2022, with South Korean outbound flights increasing by 16 times year-on-year and June outbound flight bookings up 31% compared to May. South Korea eased travel restrictions in early June, so an upward trajectory in bookings is expected.

Japan also eased its border restrictions in June, with a large spike in bookings following the news. In May, flight searches to Japan on Trip.com’s global sites were 7.5 times as popular when compared to the same period in 2021.

Asian dance festival makes Singapore comeback this December

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ZoukOut dance festival will emerge from its three-year hiatus for a December comeback at Singapore’s Siloso Beach Sentosa, this time partnering with Coachella producers AEG to elevate the event’s experience.

Positioned as Asia’s only dusk-to-dawn dance festival, ZoukOut 2022 will be themed as Futuristic City of Dreams and “take party-goers on a journey that transcends time into a future of make-believe”.

ZoukOut dance festival returns this December

Organisers said the event on December 2 and 3 will bring in leading local, regional and global acts across a festival ground with a food village, experience booths, custom installations, roving acts and spectacular stage designs.

Launched in 2000, ZoukOut was named twice by the Singapore Tourism Board as the Best Leisure Event Experience in the city-state.

ZoukOut’s last edition in 2018 attracted 20,000 people in attendance.

Ticket prices and programme details have yet to be released at press time.

New hotels: Aki Hong Kong – MGallery, Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre and more

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Aki Hong Kong – MGallery

Aki Hong Kong – MGallery, Hong Kong
Located in Wanchai, Hong Kong, AKI Hong Kong – MGallery boasts 173 rooms, including 20 signature Japanese-style tatami rooms.

A 10-minute walk from the shopping district of Causeway Bay and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, other nearby accessible landmarks are the Hong Kong Arts Centre, Tamar Park, Wanchai Heritage Trail, and F&B outlets of Lockhart Road.

Aside from the TANGRAM restaurant and Uncle Ming’s Whiskey Bar, the hotel also features a petite garden, co-working space, gym, and lobby lounge.

Hotel staff can arrange entrance to the popular horseracing event in Happy Valley for guests to experience the spirited and social atmosphere of the racecourse.

Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre

Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, Australia
Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre in the riverside suburb of North Quay offers guests a retreat with local neighbourhood experiences.

The 212-key hotel features Japanese restaurant Izakaya Publico; 1603, a contemporary speakeasy-inspired bar; and Tuk Nook for that cup of java and pastries.

Radisson Resort Goa Baga

Radisson Resort Goa Baga, India
Radisson Resort Goa Baga sits in the heart of North Goa, just 800m from Baga Beach and 39km from Dabolim Airport.

Attractions within proximity include the Chapora Fort, Fort Aguada, Saturday Night Market, nightclubs, and beaches like Baga and Calangute.

Accommodation choices range from superior and premium rooms to suites with pool and terrace. The hotel also offers 24/7 in-room dining, Wi-Fi, restaurant, bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, and over 185m² of indoor event space.