The weakened ringgit against the Singapore dollar along with improved access at the shared border have resulted in more bookings and bigger spend by Singapore travellers.
Zulkifli Rahman, director of sales and marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, told TTG Asia that bookings from Singapore were particularly strong during the recent long weekend that featured the Labour Day and Hari Raya public holidays, as well as on weekends in May. Forward bookings for June weekends are also faring well.
He said: “We see more Singaporean families. In the past, they used to go for standard rooms; these days we see them going for junior suites or the villas.”
Another five-star hotel that is seeing increased bookings from Singapore leisure travellers is G Hotel Kelawai in Penang.
The hotel’s director of sales and marketing, Christina Tan, said driving demand for leisure travel to the hotel this month and next month is the ongoing durian season in Penang. The island of Penang is known to have the best durian harvest in the country and, for durian lovers from down south, this is reason enough to travel.
Sharmini Violet, director of sales and marketing for Mega Water Sports & Holidays, said the strong Singapore dollar has prompted many clients to book the more expensive signature four-hour Dayang Bunting Island Hopping by jet ski tour.
Group sizes are increasing too, from one jet ski for two people previously to two or three jet skis seen with the advance bookings from Singapore.
After a two-year hiatus, Myanmar resumed the acceptance of tourist e-visa applications on May 20.
At this initial phase of reopening, Myanmar will maintain pandemic protocols including vaccine certification, PCR testing and local medical insurance through Myanmar Insurance.
Travellers must be fully vaccinated and present proof of a second Covid dose at least 14 days prior to arrival. They must also provide evidence of a negative PCR test result obtained no more than 72 hours prior to departure, and purchase a travel insurance policy with Covid 19 coverage.
An on-arrival ART is compulsory. With a negative result, travellers can continue with their travel. Positive cases must be isolated in a designated government hospital or hotel which is covered by the health insurance.
Proof of return ticket from Myanmar and hotel booking must be attached to the online visa application.