From left: Air Liquide Korea's Guillaume Cottet; Airbus Korea's Fabrice Espinosa; Incheon International Airport Corp's Jeon Hyoung-wook; and Korean Air's Lee Soo-keun at the MoU signing
Airbus, Air Liquide Korea, Korean Air and Incheon International Airport Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the use of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector in South Korea.
The collaboration will also study the development of South Korean domestic airport infrastructure to support the deployment of hydrogen-powered commercial aircraft. This partnership reflects a shared ambition to drive the emergence of an aviation sector dedicated to supporting the South Korean government’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
From left: Air Liquide Korea’s Guillaume Cottet; Airbus Korea’s Fabrice Espinosa; Incheon International Airport Corp’s Jeon Hyoung-wook; and Korean Air’s Lee Soo-keun at the MoU signing
Anand Stanley, Airbus president Asia-Pacific, elaborated in a press release: “Under the MoU, Airbus will provide characteristics of hydrogen-powered aircraft ground operations, as well as aircraft characteristics and fleet energy usage. Together, we will prepare a roadmap to first develop hydrogen usages at and around Incheon Airport and then build scenarios to support the deployment of hydrogen ecosystems connected to other (South) Korean airports.”
The partnership will also focus on carrying out studies aimed at defining and developing the required liquid infrastructure at Incheon Airport to prepare for the arrival of the first hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Each partner will leverage their expertise to define the potential opportunities that hydrogen offers. Air Liquide will bring its expertise in mastering the entire hydrogen value chain (production, liquefaction, storage and distribution), in particular, liquid hydrogen supply, while Korean Air will provide expertise on ground aircraft operations and aviation management and operations.
Lastly, Incheon International Airport Corporation will provide an airport development plan outlook, along with air traffic characteristics and distribution among terminals.
Come February 14, India will toss out mandatory quarantine and pre-arrival Covid PCR tests for all international travellers coming into the country.
In place of a pre-arrival negative PCR test result, the new requirement only calls for international travellers to submit their primary vaccination schedule completion certificate. This exemption is available to vaccinated travellers from 82 countries that also extend quarantine-free access to Indian nations. Such countries include Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, the US and the UK.
India removes more barriers for international travel into the country; Indira Gandhi International Airport pictured
The announcement, made yesterday on February 10, is met with jubilation across India’s tourism and hospitality industry, with stakeholders confident that the move will send a positive signal in international travel markets.
Gaurav Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group, told TTG Asia that he was glad to see the exit of mandatory quarantine, as the requirement had “resulted in many international travellers avoiding India”.
He now hopes that the government would resume scheduled international flights “as soon as possible to make the most of the relaxation of earlier curbs”, adding that “a significant improvement in inbound tourist arrivals this year” could be expected with both ease of entry and air accessibility in place.
Vishal Lonkar, general manager, brand development, Renest Hotels & Resorts, expects the new waivers to spur international business and leisure travel to India.
“We hope that our properties in Bangalore and Kolkata, which are near the international airport, will gain (business) momentum,” he added.
India’s easing of border restrictions would see the return of travellers from shorthaul markets first, opined Lally Mathews, managing director, Divine Voyages, as “travellers in Covid times have reservations about travelling long distances”. He added that inbound recovery would be more prominent in the next inbound season, starting October.
Latest findings from global air travel analytics firm, ForwardKeys, reveal that domestic travel within South-east Asia in the Lunar New Year (LNY) week is edging towards pre-pandemic levels, while intra-regional travel recovery is disrupted by Omicron.
The study looks at all air tickets issued as of January 29, 2022 for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, where there are LNY public holidays. Comparison is made between domestic travel during this year’s festive period from January 29 to February 6 and 2019’s February 2 to 10.
Lengthy LNY public holidays in Vietnam and pent-up travel desire in Malaysia push festive domestic travel traffic up the charts
Despite spiking Omicron cases within local communities, domestic flight bookings within Malaysia and Vietnam have returned to almost 95 per cent and 108 per cent of 2019 levels respectively.
ForwardKeys’ Asia-Pacific vice president for sales, Bing Han Kee, said the numbers were uplifting, and demonstrated the yearning to reunite and unwind when local conditions allow for travel.
Domestic travel in Indonesia and the Philippines, however, are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Explaining the results, Nan Dai, ForwardKeys’ insights expert, said: “Vietnam’s high numbers are probably because the country has one of the longest Lunar New Year public holidays among her South-east Asian neighbours. Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnamese New Year) holidays stretch over nine days this year while (most of the LNY holidays elsewhere) are just one to two days.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s strong domestic traffic over the first week of LNY celebrations is likely due to pent-up travel demand, according to Dai, as the country had only permitted interstate travel in October last year, after more than 90 per cent of the adult population is fully vaccinated.
Aiding an improved LNY travel mood is the absence of intensified Covid restrictions in most South-east Asia countries, remarked Kee.
He said: “Most of the South-east Asia countries have (chosen instead to) maintain moderate restrictions or ease restrictions prudently until the end of the festive period. This year’s Lunar New Year will see a big improvement in terms of celebrations with loved ones, compared to the previous two challenging years. Pent-up celebrations in this part of the world is translating into domestic travel back home as well as staycations.”
A deeper analysis of flight bookings for travel within South-east Asia reveals the disruptive impact of the unfolding Omicron wave on intra-regional travel recovery.
Flight bookings for South-east Asia into Singapore lag far behind pre-pandemic levels, standing at 34 per cent of 2019’s performance. Similar sluggish trends are observed out of South-east Asia into the Philippines at 28 per cent, Malaysia 20 per cent, Indonesia 15 per cent, Thailand eight per cent, and Vietnam seven per cent.
However, when comparing the same period against pre-Omicron outbreak (January 29 to February 6, 2022 versus December 18 to 26, 2021), the trends are more encouraging, with South-east Asia into Malaysia flight bookings peaking at 90 per cent of pre-Omicron outbreak levels, the Philippines 86 per cent, Singapore 84 per cent, Indonesia 58 per cent and Thailand 43 per cent.
Dai said: “Thailand was among the first in South-east Asia to reopen to international visitors but tourism performance is not recovering as strongly probably due to the suspension of the quarantine-free Test & Go programme from December 22, resuming only on February 1. Until then, inbound travel was only possible via the Sandbox Programme which requires visitors to stay for a minimum of seven days in stipulated Thailand destinations.”
Kee concluded that intra-regional travel within South-east Asia was heading for a rebound, but recovery is being hampered by Omicron.
Air India in Hong Kong has withdrawn its January 11 verbal instruction to ticketing agents that only the American Express credit card will be accepted as the Form of Payment (FOP).
This follows Hong Kong’s Society of IATA Passenger Agents (SIPA) seeking “formal notice” and clarification from the airline on January 17.
Hong Kong’s Society of IATA Passenger Agents said sincerity was lacking in Air India’s remedial efforts
Air India replied on February 4 that “the concerns are appreciated and escalated to the highest level” and that “it is pertinent to note that due to an urgent development, certain decisions were taken at appropriate level to safeguard Air India’s interest”.
Air India also expressed “regret” for inconveniences and assured ticketing agents of a “continuous and mutual beneficial relationship with us”.
While SIPA acknowledged Air India’s position, association chairman Tommy Tam said the unprecedented action and “very poor handling of the communications surrounding this dramatic halt of the IATA BSP reporting/remitting process” had frustrated members.
Tam also pointed out that “no effort was made to seek the understanding of agents” or “any hint given that this was a temporary measure pending a resolution”.
SIPA also expressed disappointment that Air India delegated the serious matter to subordinates “who gave no assurances or comfort to agents, implying “Air India has scant regard for its IATA agency customers and places little or no value on our members’ support”.
A senior SIPA member commented: “Given Air India’s transition to new owners, this unprecedented action should have been better managed. Tata’s biggest challenge is the indifferent staff culture both in India and abroad.”
He continued: “Air India needs to reach out to IATA agents, sincerely apologise for this nonsense and build bridges especially, in the face of stiff competition from IndiGo, Spice Jet, Vistara and Cathay Pacific plus sooner or later, Greater Bay Airlines.”
Aiden Darling Harbour, Australia
The inaugural opening marks the debut of the Aiden by Best Western brand in Australasia.
Rooms within the 88-key property in Pyrmont boast locally-made furnishings as well as complimentary Wi-Fi and chromecasting. Some rooms also boast private open-air balconies.
In the ground floor lobby and Wayfarer’s Bar & Café, guests can discover the hotel’s signature botanical fragrance from candles handmade by Pyrmont local Em Cook, while enjoying croissants from Pyrmont’s PiOiK Bakery, Staves Beer brewed next door in Glebe, wine from an all-Australian list, and bottled Aiden by Best Western signature cocktails mixed with local spirits.
Lyf one-north Singapore, Singapore
Positioned as a coliving property, the 324-key Lyf one-north Singapore in the city-state’s research and innovation hub offers One of a Kind studios with ensuite bathrooms as well as Level Up lofts that can accommodate two.
A range of vibrant and green social spaces both indoors and outdoors are available here. At Meet, an outdoor amphitheatre, guests can gather for live performances. They can break a sweat in an exercise class at To-Gather, a flexible outdoor activity area, or take a Dip at the 25-metre outdoor lap pool complete with a BBQ pit for an intimate get-together.
Events and market fairs are planned at Hangout, the property’s rooftop social clubhouse and terrace. Huddle & Collab convertible function rooms are suitable for a variety of events, from mini brainstorm sessions to larger-scale business functions.
Alongside these social spaces, lyf one-north Singapore will feature the brand’s signature communal spaces. There are Connect social zones for coworking and collaboration, as well as a Bond social kitchen for guests to prepare and share meals. There are also a gym and laundromat on-site.
Dafam Enkadeli Thamrin Jakarta, Indonesia
The 50-room mid-scale Dafam Enkadeli Thamrin Jakarta is a Muslim-friendly property, with praying outfits and necessities in guestrooms and a dedicated praying room in the lobby.
Other facilities include a restaurant serving an Indonesian and international menu, while corporate planners may avail three meeting rooms with a capacity of between 50 and 150 people or the rooftop outdoor venue.
The hotel is located on Jalan Sunda, off Jakarta’s main business district of Jalan Thamrin, close to offices, shopping centres and restaurants.
OMO5 Otaru, Japan
Located a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station, OMO5 Otaru by Hoshino Resorts offers 92 rooms across two buildings. The south wing is a renovation of the former Otaru Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while the north wing is a new-build.
Amenities on-site include the OMO Cafe & Dining, public bath and sauna. Guests are provided with the GO-KINJO Map, an original map of the neighbourhood with activity recommendations by staff members, and have the option of joining a Local Guide Tour that will take them on a morning walk at the Rinyu Morning Market.
Historical Monuments Humayun's Tomb reopened to the public after Three Months in Delhi, Security guard mask, lock down coronavirus COVID 19
New research by Australia-based Compare the Market has identified Hong Kong as the destination most affected by pandemic-induced border closures, quarantine rules and the threat of infection, with a 75 per cent decline in tourism industry performance from 2019 to 2020.
Hong Kong travel and tourism sector contributed just three per cent of GDP in 2020, compared to 12 per cent – or US$45 billion – in 2019.
India’s tourism industry held up best among other Asian destinations; Humayun’s Tomb pictured
In the study’s ranking of the best and worst tourism performers, Ireland came off second worst with a 71.4 per cent decline in tourism year-on-year, while Fiji rounded out the top three with a decrease of 65.9 per cent in domestic and international travel.
Of the 45 countries observed, 23 saw their travel industry’s contribution to the national GDP cut in half in a single year, if not more.
Most island nations analysed, such as Fiji, the Bahamas, the Maldives and the Philippines, were able to keep their industry contributions to the national GDP above 10 per cent despite a slide in tourism performance.
On the other end of the scale, Brazil’s tourism industry was the least affected, going from 7.7 per cent in 2019 to 5.5 per cent in 2020.
India emerged second-best with a total decline of 31.9 per cent year-on-year, while Chile’s tourism industry went from being worth 9.9 per cent of the national GDP in 2019 to 6.6 per cent in 2020.
New Zealand, the US and Australia were among those that were able to minimise the damage of the pandemic and keep the decline under 50 per cent. Compare the Market acknowledges the surprising outcome of these countries, as they were among the first to implement restrictions on global air travel by early February 2020.
Domestic tourism might have helped to dampen the effects of suppressed international travel traffic, although domestic campaigns were also hampered by interior border closures, explained Compare the Market.
The Japanese government will extend Covid-19 restrictions in Tokyo and 12 prefectures for another three weeks in response to daily record-breaking Covid-19 infections across the country.
Japan will extend Covid-19 restrictions to curb rising infection numbers, fuelled by the Omicron variant
News reports on February 9 state that prime minister Fumio Kishida would add one more prefecture to the list of regions facing quasi-emergency measures, including restrictions on the business hours of eateries.
Japan’s international borders have been shut for two years, and several states of emergencies were declared throughout the country’s fights against the pandemic.
The Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines have launched Virtual Destination Videos and 360° VR Experiential Tours, as part of their SmarTourism initiative.
TPB’s chief operating officer Maria Anthonette C Velasco-Allones said the digitalisation push is a product of their drive “to do better amid the trying times”.
The new Virtual Destination Videos and 360° VR Experiential Tours allow viewers to travel vicariously to the country’s tourist spots and activities
“It’s not only a teaser for our foreign guests so they can get a good glimpse of our country in the new normal; it’s also a gift to our kababayans and OFWs who have been wanting to come home. And it’s a way to experience the Philippines vicariously and a guide to making every minute of your travel experience count,” she said.
The Virtual Destination Videos series is spearheaded by the DoT and supports TPB’s It’s More Fun With You campaign, which welcomes both domestic and international travellers back to Philippines. Content invites the audience to look forward to travelling safely in the country after the long hiatus.
The virtual videos showcase the best-of-the-best in Boracay, Palawan, Baguio/Cordillera, Manila, Pampanga/Zambales, Pangasinan/La Union, Ilocos Norte/Ilocos Sur, Bohol, Cebu, Bukidnon/Camiguin/Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo/Guimaras, Davao, Batangas, Tarlac/ Bataan, and various UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Besides allowing viewers to travel vicariously to the country’s tourist spots and activities, the web-based 360° virtual reality tour serves as a marketing tool for travel agents, helping them to promote Philippines digitally, as well as improve their destination knowledge.
The virtual reality tour is accessible via www.tpb.pcitech.com.ph/map, where the regions of Ilocos and Calabarzon can be viewed currently.
“Technology plays an essential role in promoting destinations, attractions, and activities here in our country. By leveraging on it, we have found new opportunities amid the crisis and new ways to tell the world that, hey, the Philippines is alive and well, worthy to see and explore, and remains as beautiful and fun as ever,” said DoT secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during the launch event.
Marriott International expects to open nearly 100 properties in Asia Pacific this year, with the greater aim of opening its 1,000th property in the region by late 2022.
With leisure demand expected to outpace business travel, Marriott will be strengthening its presence in several leisure destinations such as Jeju with the opening of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in May 2022, while W Sydney is expected to open in late 2022.
A rendering of a Ritz-Carlton Reserve that will open in China’s Jiuzhaigou this year
With wellness and well-being another key traveller trend, the company’s wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, is expected to celebrate two new debuts in Yokohama and Cam Ranh in 2022.
Meanwhile, luxury demand will boom in Greater China, a key market for the company’s growth, accounting for more than half of the company’s luxury openings in Asia-Pacific this year. Ritz-Carlton Reserve will be debuting its first rare estate in Jiuzhaigou valley, while other slated luxury openings include JW Marriott Hotel Changsha and W Macau – Studio City.
Also in Greater China, Four Points by Sheraton expects to continue its growth with five openings this year, while Moxy Hotels anticipates making landfall Suzhou and Xi’an.
Outside of Greater China, the company expects to debut its AC Hotels brand in South Korea with AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam, and in Australia with AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank. In Japan, Fairfield by Marriott has six new properties in locations such as Nara, Hokkaido and Hyogo, in the pieline.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s reiteration of the region’s adherence to a “dynamic zero” regime on February 8 has intensified worries for local tourism players, who have had their business disrupted once more by Omicron infections since January 7.
All local tourism activities, such as Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Spend-to-Redeem Local Tours programme as well as cruises to nowhere, have been suspended.
Continued Covid restrictions in Hong Kong are hampering hospitality recovery
Holiday World Tours, managing director, Paul Leung, told TTG Asia that business had started to pick up in late-2021, thanks to the return of cruises. “Now, everything is halted. We are not sure what the future holds. Perhaps nothing will materialise before June,” Leung lamented.
While there is the Come2HK travel scheme that allows quarantine-free entry for non-Hong Kong residents coming from China’s Guangdong province or Macao, Leung said Hong Kong travel agents have benefited very little from it.
The situation would continue to be tough for tourism and MICE players well into 2023, even if all barriers were lifted tomorrow, opined Destination China, general manager and owner, Gunther Homerlein.
He said: “It is the perfect storm of all bad press Hong Kong received prior to Covid – during the political strife – and during the pandemic. Hong Kong has not yet had a chance to reposition herself.”
Arrivals to Hong Kong went from 55,912,609 in 2019, when the destination experienced social unrest, to 3.57 million and 91,000 in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Homerlein said local tour operators might have made some money, “but most of us who specialise in international business had little or nothing”.
“There is noting that has been done by the government or Hong Kong Tourism Board to help, support or give the industry hope,” he remarked.
Referencing the SingapoRediscovers voucher programme by the Singapore government and the Singapore Tourism Board, Homerlein said: “It was a well directed and managed programme that allowed the industry not only to thrive, but survive. It also encouraged the development of a lot of very good new products.”
Among hotels, Hong Kong’s stance on Omicron has resulted in banquet business losses. Dine-in services after 18.00 have been banned since mid-January.
A spokesperson with Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong said the property has responded with a relaunch of its Dinner Box Buffet and In-room Safe Buffet, both of which have been popular with guests. These will remain available until March 4.
For now, Hong Kong’s SME agencies will continue to receive financial aid from the government. The fifth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, announced on January 14, commits about HK$3.6 billion (US$470.9 million) to supporting initiatives such as the Green Lifestyle Local Tour Incentive Scheme and payouts to eligible tour service coach drivers, travel agency staff and licensed agents.
The sixth round of subsidy, confirmed by chief executive Lam on February 8, will amount to HK$26 billion.
Come February 14, India will toss out mandatory quarantine and pre-arrival Covid PCR tests for all international travellers coming into the country.
In place of a pre-arrival negative PCR test result, the new requirement only calls for international travellers to submit their primary vaccination schedule completion certificate. This exemption is available to vaccinated travellers from 82 countries that also extend quarantine-free access to Indian nations. Such countries include Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, the US and the UK.
The announcement, made yesterday on February 10, is met with jubilation across India’s tourism and hospitality industry, with stakeholders confident that the move will send a positive signal in international travel markets.
Gaurav Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group, told TTG Asia that he was glad to see the exit of mandatory quarantine, as the requirement had “resulted in many international travellers avoiding India”.
He now hopes that the government would resume scheduled international flights “as soon as possible to make the most of the relaxation of earlier curbs”, adding that “a significant improvement in inbound tourist arrivals this year” could be expected with both ease of entry and air accessibility in place.
Vishal Lonkar, general manager, brand development, Renest Hotels & Resorts, expects the new waivers to spur international business and leisure travel to India.
“We hope that our properties in Bangalore and Kolkata, which are near the international airport, will gain (business) momentum,” he added.
India’s easing of border restrictions would see the return of travellers from shorthaul markets first, opined Lally Mathews, managing director, Divine Voyages, as “travellers in Covid times have reservations about travelling long distances”. He added that inbound recovery would be more prominent in the next inbound season, starting October.