The Indonesian travel industry has lost one of its top inbound specialists with the passing of Freddy Rompas, general manager inbound of Pacto on May 8.
Freddy lost the battle to cancer, leaving behind two daughters, a son and Thor, an Alaskan Malamute. He was 57.
He was a familiar face among international tour operators due to his active participation at tradeshows and sales missions representing Pacto since 2002, and with Accor Group earlier on.
The funeral will be held on May 11 at noon, at Taman Mumbul Cemetery, Bali.
6G is coming and hyperconnectivity will give rise to extended reality (XR), and it will not only have to be mobile-first strategies but artificial intelligence (AI)-driven, with new travel businesses offering digital natives experiences and products that are sustainable, safe and people-centric.
This is a current reality, said Caroline Bremner, head of travel research and senior industry manager, travel, Euromonitor International, who spoke at recent PATA webinars on innovation and next-gen technology enabling travel recovery.
Bremner: hyperconnectivity from 6G will lead to XR, holograms, digital twins and truly immersive experiences in real time
Bremner cited the October 2021 board meeting of a Japanese citizen group of virtual reality (VR) users being conducted on the NosVR Metaverse platform where they participated and voted as avatars. Use of the platform contributed to diversity, inclusion, empowerment and equality as the true gender and age of members were not known, she explained.
AI is also being used to combat over-tourism. Bremner said the October 2021 launch of the Venice Smart Control Room is restricting certain cruise vessels with barriers and turnstiles, deploying big data, AI, machine learning and IoT to monitor and alleviate bottlenecks.
She noted: “AI is used to monitor real-time data 24/7 – collected from sensors – on pedestrians, vehicles and gondolas. The key to success is interoperability across different organisations along with connecting with nationwide schemes once they are up and running.
“By 2030, there could be almost 500 billion connected machines, including wearables, vehicles, drones, appliances, robots and smart sensors, and hyperconnectivity from 6G will lead to XR, holograms, digital twins and truly immersive experiences in real time.”
Bremner stated that innovation pillars for the path ahead will have to be “digital – business transformation to deliver the consumer experience; sustainable – to address climate change, creativity and transparency; safe – provide contactless, self-service and seamless experiences; and people-centric – to empower, be inclusive and renewable”.
XR refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions generated by computer technology and wearables. It includes representative forms such as augmented reality, mixed reality, VR and the areas interpolated among them.
Japan’s restrictive stance against leisure travellers may ease as early as this month, as the government voiced plans to welcome a limited number of group tours from overseas by end-May on a trial basis.
The decision will hinge on the state of Covid-19 infections following the peak Golden Week domestic travel season, which ran from April 29 to May 5.
Japan may welcome a limited number of group tours from overseas by end-May on a trial basis
The news is a ray of hope for travel and tourism providers who have been feeling the pain of lost revenue from international arrivals, which numbered a record high of 31.9 million in 2019, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
Under the government’s new plan, all tourist arrivals will be part of package tours with fixed itineraries that must be submitted so their movements can be tracked and contact tracing can be carried out if required.
Visitors will also have to meet certain criteria, including proof of three Japan-recognised Covid-19 vaccination shots, thereby effectively keeping some countries with other vaccination programmes locked out.
However, tourism players are concerned if the reopening would benefit all of Japan since demand and supply for tours remain highest in well-known destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
Speaking in London on May 5, Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida said the relaxation of Japan’s border controls would be reviewed and carried out “in stages” alongside consultation with public health experts, with further easing in June. The goal is international arrival protocols on a par with other G7 nations, he said.
Should Covid-19 cases in Japan remain manageable, the government plans to raise the cap on the number foreign arrivals, currently 10,000 people per day, in the coming months to accommodate more international tourists.
The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) of the Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) has reopened 50-year Mount Data Hotel in Bauko, Mountain Province to help jumpstart sustainable tourism and ease the accommodation shortage in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
A pit stop for tourists going to and from Baguio City, Sagada, Banaue, and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cordillera rice terraces, the iconic hotel has been spruced up through a 40 million pesos (US$754,091) renovation project during the pandemic and will be included in DoT’s marketing efforts.
Revitalised Mount Data Hotel to revive Mountain Province’s tourism potential
At 2,195m above sea level boasting chilly weather all year round and set amid a 7.7-hectare ground of lush pine trees and vegetation, Mount Data Hotel has 22 spacious rooms with veranda; two dorms each with a 10-pax capacity; two conference rooms; a restaurant; a coffee shop and bar; and sun terrace.
A reopening introductory rate is pegged at US$75.
Jetro Nicolas Lozada, TIEZA assistant chief operating officer, said the next phase of the hotel’s development will be to build facilities and introduce activities for families and business events, including villas, a convention centre, playgrounds, and hiking trails.
Lozada also said that within Bauko are several attractions which can be developed for tourism, including strawberry and other farms, caves as well as the biodiversity of the protected Mount Data National Park.
Mount Data Hotel was built by TIEZA to encourage tourism, and became part of Philippine history when it hosted the September 1986 Mount Data peace accord between then president Corazon Aquino and the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army that led to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Hong Kong Airlines has partnered with Chu Kong Passenger Transport to launch the Leisure Pass, a code-sharing sea-to-air service that connects Hong Kong International Airport with six major ports in the Greater Bay Area.
China ports that benefit from the Leisure Pass include Shenzhen Shekou, Shenzhen Fuyong, Guangzhou Lianhuashan, Guangzhou Nansha, Zhongshan and Dongguan Humen.
The Leisure Pass offers fast and convenient transfer services
Passengers will enjoy one-stop booking for ferry and air tickets through a travel agent in China, and be exempted from the Hong Kong International Airport Air Passenger Departure Tax.
The Leisure Pass promises fast and convenient transfer services for cross-border travellers in the region, with the shortest ferry journey taking only 30 minutes between Shenzhen Shekou and Hong Kong International Airport SkyPier, compared to other services that take around two hours.
Leisure Pass holders will also enjoy one-stop check-in and baggage drop at their departing ferry ports before boarding the high-speed ferry for the Hong Kong International Airport SkyPier. Once there, they can board their Hong Kong Airlines flights directly to their final destinations, bypassing additional immigration and customs formalities or check-in procedures.
At the initial stage, the Leisure Pass will only be eligible for the service from Shenzhen Shekou to Hong Kong. The remaining services will be launched once pandemic preventive measures are lifted.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed its first hotel on the New South Wales (NSW) South Coast, with the Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina slated to open in 2025.
This is IHG’s second hotel with Oscars Group.
Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina will open in 2025
Located in Shellharbour and close to Wollongong, just 1.5 hours’ drive from Sydney, Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina will include a man-made in-shore harbour and a 270-berth marina, as well as a vibrant town centre featuring a supermarket, retail outlets, restaurants, library, community centre, and parklands.
The 181-key Crowne Plaza will showcase the brand’s new hallmark design innovations and trademark features, three F&B outlets including a café, chic restaurant and bar, extensive meeting and events space, and an outdoor pool.
Matt Tripolone, managing director, IHG Hotels & Resorts Australasia & Pacific, said: “We’re thrilled to be extending our reach across regional NSW with the addition of this stylish, design-forward hotel on the NSW South Coast, highlighting the increasing demand for contemporary new hotels in regional NSW.”
Damien Cameron from Oscars Group added: “We are passionate about the South Coast of NSW and are excited to be growing our presence in the region, particularly as development plans for Shell Cove and the Marina take hold. We look forward to working with the local community and welcoming guests to this stunning new hotel in 2025.”
Travellers with furkids can take a stylish five-star vacation at The Slate in Phuket, Thailand, where four-legged friends are welcomed in luxurious private pool villas.
Travelling pooches will get their own beds and bowls, a gourmet menu, pet-sitting services and more.
The Slate Phuket gets friendly for pooches
The resort’s new dog-friendly policy allows up to two dogs to stay in a private pool villa, as long as they are accompanied by the owner. Each pup will be also be given a signature badge for its leash.
Daily doggie treats will be provided and pups will even have their private pool to cool off in.
All dogs should be relatively quiet and under control, free from fleas or ticks, with vaccinations up-to-date, and be kept on a leash when not in the villa. Poop bags will be provided to owners who must take care of their pets’ mess.
Other services available at additional costs will include upgrading to a gourmet menu, veterinary services, as well as dog walking and sitting services.
Human guests will enjoy daily afternoon tea and in-villa breakfast, curated arrival treats, complimentary minibar items, roundtrip airport transfers, kids’ and family activities, and more.
The Australian Government is heavily investing in tourism, where on March 22, 2022, it announced a A$60 million (US$44.7 million) funding boost in tourism. Tourism Australia will also receive a coffer boost of A$45 million over the next two financial years to help bring international guests back to regions hit hardest by international border closures.
A third round of funding – part of a previously-implemented Consumer Travel Support Program – was also released in March 2022. This provides A$75.5 million in targeted support and is open to eligible travel agents and tour providers who are supporting consumers to rebook their travel using existing Covid-related travel credits.
Glen Helen Gorge in the Northern Territory is one of many natural wonders in Australia
When asked how business looked like at the start of 2022, regional general manager, South & South-east Asia, Tourism Australia, Brent Anderson told TTG Asia: “All the indications we received have been positive. Our recent insights show that monthly flight searches and bookings to Australia rose with news of the return of international travel.”
For example, the top performing market during the week ending March 20, 2022, was Singapore, which showed a 93 per cent increase when compared to the same week in 2019.
Although searches from other top markets such as the UK, Germany and India were not as dramatic, Anderson indicates that “recovery won’t happen overnight”.
He remains optimistic that the industry is “heading in the right direction”.
Carolyn Smith, general manager of the new Courtyard by Marriott Melbourne Flagstaff Gardens, shares the same optimism.
“It’s going to take some time for the industry to rebuild and return to pre-Covid levels of trade, but we’re very optimistic and buoyed by the positive signs that traveller confidence is growing.”
Help is also available at the local level, Smith shared, stating that the Victorian government and City of Melbourne are also offering attractive incentives, including travel and dining rebates, to encourage visitors back to the city for work and play.
Currently, forward bookings for the hotel look healthy, thanks to several other major events and sporting spectacles on the calendar. In fact, all rooms were sold out during the F1 Grand Prix period from April 8 to 10.
To stay top-of-mind in key markets, Tourism Australia has been rolling out fresh marketing campaigns, as soon as borders reopened on February 21, 2022.
Anderson said the existing Come and Say G’Day – Australia is Yours to Explore campaign, which launched in Singapore ahead of Australia’s reopening, will be rolled out in other Asian markets such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Greater China “as travel reopens”.
Meanwhile, the Come and Say G’Day – Don’t Go Small. Go Australia campaign will run in Western markets including Germany, France, Italy, Canada, the US and the UK.
“These campaigns are just the first step in a long-term strategy to restart tourism to Australia, with further investment in tourism marketing campaigns internationally to come in 2H2022,” said Anderson.
When asked for Australia’s projected recovery for 2022, he told TTG Asia: “Based on the travel patterns to destinations that have opened before us, we expect that inbound travel will recover quickly up to about 40 to 50 per cent.”
The United Nations General Assembly met on May 5, 2022, where it held a first-ever session dedicated to tourism and its role in inclusive recovery and growth.
The high-level debate was convened by the president of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, in collaboration with the UNWTO.
Shahid: tourism is especially critical for small islands and developing states
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “now is the time to build resilient and peaceful societies, and tourism can help make this happen. Tourism is a leading provider of opportunities because it is based on people, builds bridges and helps create a better tomorrow for people everywhere”.
UN deputy secretary-general and chair of the Sustainable Development Group, Amina J Mohammed, noted: “Every part of the United Nations system, including the World Tourism Organization as its specialised agency for the sector, can leverage tourism to help us achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – from inclusive growth to gender empowerment and biodiversity protection.”
Shahid also emphasised the importance of tourism, particularly for small islands and developing states.
“We face a critical opportunity to not only reboot tourism, upon which so many are dependent for their jobs and livelihoods, but to transform it to make it more resilient, more sustainable and more responsible,” he said.
A Fireside Chat, chaired by CNN International anchor Richard Quest, reflected the challenges faced through tourism’s recovery, addressing how best to reconcile potential trade-offs between the need for economic growth and creating jobs with advancing efforts for overall sustainability.
The debate featured a special roundtable discussion focused on tourism with an emphasis on inclusivity. This was followed by another roundtable discussion on accelerating the climate-friendly transformation of tourism, with the concluding third roundtable discussion focused on re-invigorating investments in tourism.
The debate also laid the foundations for the potential inclusion of tourism as a topic of annual debates or thematic sessions within the UN General Assembly.
Sabre Corporation released a new global travel industry study, Mapping Travel’s New Normal, which identifies prominent shifts in travel.
Across 20 countries in EMEA, APAC and the US, the wide-ranging study involved both quantitative and qualitative research with over 500 decision-makers from airlines and travel agencies – the study highlighted the different areas of focus as both sectors seek to capture opportunities for recovery and for future growth, including technological investment priorities by global regions.
Sabre’s new global travel industry study identifies prominent shifts in travel (Photo: Sabre)
Participants were questioned about the impact of the pandemic on their customers and their businesses, as well as the implications for the future of the travel industry.
The findings saw more than a third of airline and agency leaders indicating their positive outlook of travel returning to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, with a further third believing it will happen in 2025 or beyond. 82% of airlines executives surveyed responded that they expect the combination of business and leisure to be even more prominent post-recovery.
Responses on “revenge travel” had 68% of travel leaders forecasting a higher spend from consumers on their future travel plans, and that travellers are considering more decision factors before committing to a trip.
More than half of agencies surveyed stated they are spending more time researching new tools, services and technologies; this is a particular area of focus in APAC, for 71% of responding agencies.
92% of travel agencies surveyed indicated that they want the support of travel technology partners to create a more seamless experience in terms of shopping, booking and fulfilment, while 89% responded that they want useful tools to personalise travel.
96% of airlines surveyed expect enhanced possibilities to offer growth opportunities and improved customer service and satisfaction scores.
Sabre’s senior vice president of airline global sales and accounts, Darren Rickey, said: “One thing that struck us as we were carrying out the research was the unprecedented pace of change in the past few months.
“This of course presents an enormous opportunity, but it also puts strains on travel businesses who must adapt their plans, processes and operations to address these potential changes,” he added.
Key trends identified by surveyed agencies include the importance of organised and connected trips to cut through travel complexities for customers; the ongoing prominence of domestic and regional travel and the challenges (and opportunities) for business travel recovery.
Major trends identified for airlines participating in the survey include increasing consumer bookings protection, the growth of “bleisure” as a catalyst for potential corporate travel recovery, and offering more sustainable flight options to meet customer demands.
Airlines are also focused on increasing domestic and regional routes, and how new product formats (organised and connected trips) can help optimise recovery opportunities while creating increasingly personalised experiences for travellers.
“Our latest Sabre research has highlighted a degree of optimism across the travel ecosystem,” said Andy Finkelstein, senior vice president, global agency sales and corporate solutions, Sabre.
“However, it also suggested that not all travel leaders may be ready for these potential changes if they happen quickly. The survey indicates that there is a clear need for agility, transformation and collaboration so that travel agencies, airlines and other industry players can ensure they are in a position to identify these changes, strategise for future growth opportunities and improve the experience for the traveller.”
