Appointed as a Warm Up Vacation hotel by the Indonesian government to receive inbound travellers during their initial days in the country, Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana has crafted a short-stay package titled Welcome Back.
The package includes airport transfers, personal butler service and complimentary drinks and afternoon tea, along with other resort amenities and Wi-Fi access. Personal hand sanitisers, face masks and disinfectant are also provided in each villa.
Guests can choose to stay on at Tanah Gajah, a Resort by Hadiprana at the end of their compulsory Warm Up Vacation period, or continue their journey to a sister property
Prior to check-in, the villa undergoes a UV light treatment.
After the three-night stay, guests can choose to stay on or continue their journey with Hadiprana with a stay at Dua Dari, a Residence by Hadiprana, which consists of four residences in a jungle valley overlooking the Petanu River.
The Welcome Back package is valid until June 30, 2022, with prices starting from 9,100,000 rupiah nett (US$640).
AirAsia Thailand will recommence international flights from Don Mueang, Phuket and Hat Yai airports, servicing 18 routes to seven countries in Asia.
A total of 38 flights per week will be operation next month, with plans to reinstate up to 81 flights per week by May 2022 in support of Thailand’s economic recovery.
AirAsia Thailand resumes flights to seven countries in April
The return to service is aligned with Thailand’s reopening policy.
AirAsia Thailand chief executive officer Santisuk Klongchaiya said: “We chose to resume routes to countries that share Thailand’s reopening policy so that our guests can travel without having to worry about quarantine. The routes cover South-east Asia and South Asian countries, and we are working closely with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and relevant agencies to attract visitors to Thailand while maintaining and adhering to public health measures.
“With foreign travelers being able to travel throughout Asia, we’ll be leveraging the AirAsia domestic network, helping to generate revenue to all of the nation’s regions.”
ARTOTEL Group has launched Gamer Asylum rooms, targeting gamers, at its Bali property.
These concept rooms within ARTOTEL Sanur Bali feature the latest gaming gear and 24/7 complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for guests to play without limitations. Personalised to the guests’ needs, each room will include a fully-equipped gaming computer, gaming chair, headset and preloaded popular games.
ARTOTEL Sanur Bali presents the first-ever gaming concept rooms
The new concept was inspired by the gaming ban in China, which limits the number of hours for online gaming. With the Gamer Asylum rooms, ARTOTEL Group hopes that ARTOTEL Sanur Bali can be an asylum for all gamers who wish to enjoy their hobby without restrictions.
The Gamer Asylum rooms are priced at four million rupiah (US$279.50) for 3D2N or seven million rupiah for 8D7N. Rates include daily breakfast for two, complimentary late check-out until 14.00, and 15 per cent discount on laundry services.
Industry opinion leaders at the virtual 10th ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA) Tourism Forum on Tuesday have reiterated the importance of moving away from a heavy reliance on traditional longhaul markets as travel and tourism resumes, and to focus on strengthening intra-ASEAN travel instead.
The need to focus on regional markets is emphasised by the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on Asia’s tourism performance. Russia’s invasion has resulted in surging crude oil prices that have pushed up longhaul airfares and prices of goods, ultimately dampening people’s travel and spending appetites.
South-east Asia tourism recovery needs the facilitation of intra-ASEAN travel
Speaking at the Unlock the borders & Reboot ASEAN Tourism webinar, Imtiaz Muqbil, executive editor, Travel Impact Newswire, said: “Who knows how long this current recovery phase is going to last, depending on what happens in Europe over the next few days. I think intra-ASEAN tourism will be absolutely critical for the future of this region.”
Imtiaz said the South-east Asia region enjoys good air connectivity and both full-service and low-cost carriers cater to different budgets. With the exception of Myanmar, the rest of ASEAN member countries are “pretty much at peace”.
In 2019, intra-region travel contributed 51.7 per cent of tourists arrivals within South-east Asia. In the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, this dropped to 9.19 per cent.
Imtiaz believes that the focus of tourism reboot in ASEAN should be on driving the tourism numbers up to a comfortable level.
Agreeing, moderator Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran, who is also ATRA honorary treasurer, called on ASEAN policymakers to develop policies that will further boost intra-ASEAN travel.
Fellow panellist, Pham Ha, CEO & Founder, Lux Group, Vietnam, shared that initiatives should be developed to inculcate a sense of pride in citizens to be part of the ASEAN community, and to encourage them to travel and learn about the diverse heritage and culture in the region.
Indonesia’s move to increase the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services from 10 per cent to 11 from April 1, 2022 is met with dismay from tourism stakeholders, who fear that higher travel costs will hamper business recovery as well as raise operating costs.
The government said the increased value-added tax was needed to boost state revenue and support economic recovery. The VAT will be increased to 12 per cent on January 1, 2025.
Indonesia will increase the value-added tax to 12 per cent on January 1, 2025
Sudarsana, general manager for business development and marketing communications at Santika Indonesia Hotels and Resorts, told TTG Asia that the VAT increment was poorly timed, as it comes just as the travel and tourism industry was “starting to breathe”.
Indonesia has in recent weeks eased more border restrictions, with the latest adjustments implemented on March 7 to allow quarantine-free entry to Bali, Batam and Bintan as well as an expanded Visa-on-Arrival programme for nationals of 23 countries arriving by air and sea.
Sudarsana said the one per cent tax increment would result in a worrying rise in daily operational costs for hoteliers, as many of the necessary consumables, such as ingredients and toiletries, are subject to VAT.
He noted that hotels have lowered room rates to stimulate demand during the pandemic, and it would be hard for them to raise prices to accommodate higher operational expenses.
Hasiyanna Ashadi, managing director of Marintur Indonesia, said the higher VAT would not only burden tour operators but also travellers. She reminded the government that travellers’ purchasing power has declined under the economic strain of the pandemic.
She fears that travellers would rather spend their money on other destinations.
Putu Winastra, chairman of Bali chapter of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA), hopes the government would postpone the VAT hike, as the tourism industry on the island has yet to reach full recovery.
Over the last two years, ASITA members in Bali have been bleeding from the pandemic and a lack of financial support from the government.
“We have been paying taxes to the government but we did not get any support when we needed it most. And now, we have to face a higher taxation,” Putu lamented.
In anticipation that Australian federal and state governments will soon welcome the return of cruising, Princess Cruises has scheduled Coral Princess to return to service in June 2022.
Coral Princess will begin with roundtrip Brisbane itineraries ranging from three- to 12-days in duration, and be positioned to Sydney come August for a new 12-day voyage calling at Queensland and the Conflict Islands in Papua New Guinea.
Majestic Princess (pictured in Singapore) will sail roundtrip from Sydney on a new Queensland voyage in February 2023
It will then resuming the previously announced Australia and New Zealand programmes for the 2022/2023 season.
Additionally, Majestic Princess will sail roundtrip from Sydney on a new Queensland voyage in February 2023. Full details will be announced on March 17, and these Australia cruises will go on sale from March 23.
Beyond Asia-Pacific, Princess Cruises has new deployment plans for the US. Ruby Princess will return to homeport cruising in Galveston, Texas this December, while Diamond Princess will return to San Diego this September. Royal Princess will also move to San Francisco for the West Coast 2022/2023 season, with roundtrip cruises to Hawaii, Mexico, and the California Coast. These cruises will go on sale from April 7.
Meanwhile, the cruise line is cancelling previously published itineraries through April 2023 on Diamond Princess; on Royal Princess to Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific; Ruby Princess Panama Canal sailings in February 2023; and select voyages on Majestic Princess in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific from February 2023 to May 2023. Guests affected by these cancellations will be notified.
Confidence from a high vaccinated and boosted population has spurred the New Zealand government to lift border restrictions earlier than expected, with visitors from visa-waiver countries welcomed into the country from May 1.
Fully vaccinated Australians will be allowed to enter sooner, from April 12, without needing to isolate upon arrival.
New Zealand’s reopening will help to resuscitate the country’s tourism industry; Mount Cook pictured
All travellers must provide negative pre-departure tests and undertake two antigen rapid tests within the first week of arrival.
Earlier in February, the government’s decision was to progressively reopen to Australians by July and to all other tourists by October.
Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said at a press conference today that the country is “ready to welcome the world back”.
Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins and immigration minister Kris Faafoi stated in a press release that the latest reopening decision was about “gearing up in manageable steps to fully reopen as safely as possible to enable us to live with Covid but not be overwhelmed by it”.
Australian company World Expeditions has acquired a majority holding in US-based tour operator, Adventure Travel West, to support its expanding client base in the US.
Based in Denver, Colorado, Adventure Travel West operates multi-day, small group active holidays in the Western US National Parks and Hawaii, including hiking, active sightseeing, adventure, wildlife, and off-road adventures. Adventure Travel West is also committed to sustainable travel and incorporates Leave No Trace principles across all its itineraries.
World Expeditions has acquired Adventure Travel West for tours in North America
Paving the way for World Expeditions’ expansive reach into North America, World Expeditions CEO, Sue Badyari, said: “We’ve been impressed by the quality and the variety of Adventure Travel West’s offering, the professionalism of its management and the calibre of its guiding team over many years.
“North America’s vast National Parks and little-known wild spaces make the West an inspiring backdrop for active adventures, and Adventure Travel West has an impressive array of authorised permits to operate guided walks in the renowned national parks of Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia Kings Canyon, Grand Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante and Vermilion Cliffs to name a few,” she added.
This acquisition fits World Expeditions’ strategy to expand its operations up north, stemming from its long-time presence in Canada where the Ottawa office was established in the late ’90s with the Great Canadian Trails brand, and the recent launch of North America Active featuring a range of cycling and walking holidays.
“The buy-in of Adventure Travel West builds on this presence and will help us realise our goals of further expanding our ranges in several of our product areas. We will also be crafting some charity challenge programs to support our charity partners across the globe, through Huma, our charity brand,” said Badyari.
The World Expeditions Travel Group comprises 17 brands, including New Zealand’s Adventure South, Trail Journeys and Great Walks of New Zealand, as well as the Tasmanian Expeditions, Blue Mountains Adventure Company, Australian Walking Holidays, World Youth Adventures, and Australian Cycle Tours in Australia.
SINGAPORE - APRIL 13: Marcos Moneta of Argentina dives to score a try on day one of the HSBC Rugby Sevens Singapore at the National Stadium on April 13, 2019 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images for Singapore Sports Hub)
Singapore will host the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens on April 9-10, in a step towards the return of large-scale live events in the country.
The tournament, to be held at the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub, will welcome top rugby sevens players from 16 countries such as Fiji and New Zealand.
HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens returns in April (Photo credit: HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens)
Singapore will be the fifth of nine tournaments in the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022, with Dubai hosting the earlier two events in November and December last year.
Fans of the sport will be able to catch the action live, and organisers are working closely with relevant authorities to adhere to Singapore’s safe management measures. Tickets that were purchased for the 2020 edition remain valid for the 2022 event.
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series director Doug Langley said: “All stakeholders are working hard in partnership to deliver a spectacular, safe and secure event and the players and teams are looking forward to getting back on the pitch and showcasing the speed, skill and thrills of world-class rugby sevens in Singapore.”
After more than four years, Jetstar Asia has resumed its Singapore to Perth services, with the first flight taking off for Perth on March 11.
Moving forward, Jetstar Asia will operate four-weekly services to the Western Australian capital.
Jetstar Asia has resumed its Singapore to Perth services
This is the airline’s third Australian destination following the relaunch of flights from Singapore to Darwin and Melbourne.
Singaporeans were one of the largest group of visitors to Perth pre-pandemic, and now with quarantine-free travel, Jetstar Asia’s CEO Bara Pasupathi, expects the route to be well received.
Pasupathi said: “While we have operated a handful of services over the past two years to support business needs in Perth, Jetstar Asia is very excited to officially add Perth back into our schedule.”
Jetstar Asia currently operates services to 11 destinations in South-east Asia and Australia.
Singapore will be the fifth of nine tournaments in the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022, with Dubai hosting the earlier two events in November and December last year.
Fans of the sport will be able to catch the action live, and organisers are working closely with relevant authorities to adhere to Singapore’s safe management measures. Tickets that were purchased for the 2020 edition remain valid for the 2022 event.
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series director Doug Langley said: “All stakeholders are working hard in partnership to deliver a spectacular, safe and secure event and the players and teams are looking forward to getting back on the pitch and showcasing the speed, skill and thrills of world-class rugby sevens in Singapore.”