Laguna Phuket scores on sports tourism with three volleyball tournaments
Laguna Phuket integrated resort will deliver three major international beach volleyball tournaments before the year is out, further solidifying its reputation as a destination for sports tourism.
The AVC 2021 Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships was held November 23 to 27, drawing athletes, coaches and officials from 10 countries in Asia-Pacific. Organised in partnership with the Sports Authority of Thailand – Phuket province, Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA), Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and PPTV HD, the occasion highlighted the ability of Laguna Phuket to stage exceptional events and accommodate international visitors for safe, seamless and salubrious seafront stays.
The FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championship is ongoing this week, and the FIVB Beach Volleyball U20 World Championship will follow on from December 14 to 16. Both events feature 28 male teams and 28 female teams from 48 countries and five continents.
The three events were hosted at Angsana Laguna Phuket.
Sports tourism has helped to put Phuket on the global map in recent years, and it will play a key role in the island’s recovery in the post-pandemic era.
Notable sports events hosted in the destination include the Asian Tour golf tournaments, the Laguna Phuket Marathon and Laguna Phuket Triathlon – the latter two will return in 2022.
Ravi Chandran, CEO of Laguna Resorts & Hotels, said: “Phuket is a global hub for sports tourism. With the island’s outstanding infrastructure, year-round outdoor climate and world-class hospitality, we have proved that we can stage any size of event, from small groups of active travellers to major international competitions.
“Laguna Phuket is at the heart of this sector, so we are delighted to have been able to welcome the AVB and FIVB back to the island for these important tournaments. I am confident that this will help to kickstart the recovery of Phuket’s tourism industry in 2022 and beyond.”
Hello again, elephants and otters!
Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has witnessed the return of a herd of nine elephants to its conservation area, after an absence of five years, as well as a large group of smooth coated otters.
Evidence of the elephants’ return have been captured inside the 18,000-hectare forest concession, which the camp protects, with help from Wildlife Alliance and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF).
While it is uncertain if the elephants are on a long migration or looking for a new home, GTAEF’s John Roberts said the herd is very much welcomed in the forests and grasslands, where there is “zero harassment”.
The group of 15 to 18 otters were spotted by lodge manager Allan Michaud, and they have made Cardamom Tented Camp the centre of their territory.
Guests often see otters, macaque monkeys, kingfishers and hornbills from their boat when they travel to the camp, which is only accessible by river. The camp has created a new 4km trail, a continuation of an existing one, which now allows adventurous guests to take an 8km guided walk through the forest and return via kayak, with rest options at the main ranger station in each direction.
Part of the income collected by Cardamom Tented Camp is used to fund 12 forest rangers who protect the area from loggers, poachers and river sandbank dredgers.
Norwegian Cruise Line releases peak number of itineraries for sale
Eager to help customers make up for lost vacation time, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opened for sale the most itineraries at once in its 55-year history, with sailings from 35 departure ports, including new homeports for the company.
On offer now are cruises to Australia and New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific region as well as to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Caribbean through to October 2024, and Hawaii up to December 2025.
Highlights include new-to-brand homeport destinations, Haifa in Israel and La Romana in Dominican Republic, via Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Sky.
Norwegian Epic will make her debut in Haifa come November 2022, offering 11- and-12-day Mediterranean open-jaw sailings to and from Haifa and Civitavecchia in Rome, Italy. This itinerary will also feature 17 hours of port time in Ashdod, Israel allowing guests time to tour Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Norwegian Sky set off with a series of seven-day roundtrip Southern Caribbean cruises from La Romana, from January 8, 2024 through April 22, 2024, making NCL the only major cruise company sailing the region with no sea days.
Closer to home, Norwegian Spirit will return to Australian and New Zealand waters, offering 12-day itineraries that depart from Sydney and Auckland. More Asian deployments will soon be announced.
“We are proud to be able to provide our guests with an even greater selection of sailings and the best value at sea to help them plan an unforgettable cruise vacation,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of NCL.
“So many travellers have been looking to make up for lost time and now we’re providing them with unique itineraries to check off those bucket-list destinations they may have longed for over the last year and a half. These port-rich itineraries allow our guests more time to explore unique destinations like a local and indulge in the cultural experiences around them.”
Malaysia’s on and off Omicron travel ban worries tourism players
Malaysia’s tourism stakeholders have voiced out against the federal government’s decision on December 2 to ban travellers from 26 countries from joining the Langkawi Tourism Bubble.
The announcement came after Omicron variant infections were reported in the affected countries, which include the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The health ministry said in a statement that the move was part of prevention and control measures to curb any possible spread of Omicron infection.
A day later, however, the government backtracked and announced that only eight countries – South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Malawi – would be imposed with travel bans.
Tourism stakeholders expressed concern that such “flip flop stands” could jeopardise the nascent recovery of Langkawi’s tourism industry.
Anthony Wong, secretary, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners, said the government’s flip flop decisions on the countries under the travel ban gave confusing signals to the international travel trade and the travel community.
He added: “International travel trade and the travellers will lose confidence in the destination.”
Wong, who is also the managing director of Cottage by the Sea by Frangipani Langkawi, said the property’s year-end holiday bookings from Europe have been affected by the discovery of the Omicron variant, which has also derailed the property’s marketing and promotional efforts.
Some agents from overseas have made cancellations, he shared.
Mint Leong, managing director, Sunflower Holidays, said that while she supported the government’s move to beef up border security amid Omicron’s emergence, she agreed that flip flop decisions would dent international travellers’ confidence in Langkawi and cause them to choose another destination.
She urged the government to take a firm stand and prioritise the health of its citizens.
She said: “If a decision had been made to issue a travel ban on the 26 countries to minimise the risk of the Omicron variant from entering the country through Langkawi, then the government should stick to it. It should not bow to any pressure and overturn its decision within 24 hours.”
Mega Water Sports & Holidays’ director of sales and marketing, Sharmini Violet, emphasised that tourism players in Langkawi are operating under strict safety measures and the destination is ready to continue to welcome international travellers safely.
“I hope the government would not make any rash decisions to close our key winter markets in Scandinavia and other European countries due to the small numbers of Omicron infections recorded in those countries,” she said.
Marriott to establish presence in Nagasaki come 2023
Kyushu Railway Company has signed Marriott International on for the management of its hotel in Nagasaki, Japan, which will be part of a 13-storey mixed-use development and connected to the new Nagasaki Station.
The 200-room Nagasaki Marriott Hotel is expected to open in 2023. It will be the first Marriott International property in Nagasaki, and the ninth hotel under the Marriott Hotels brand to enter Japan.
Karl Hudson, area vice president, Japan, and Guam with Marriott International, said: “This signing further underscores Marriott International’s commitment to expand its presence in Japan and we look forward to providing travelers with more opportunities to create inspiring connections and moments of self-discovery while traveling in Japan.”
Facilities at Nagasaki Marriott Hotel will include several distinct culinary dining outlets, the brand’s signature M Club executive lounge, a fitness centre, and a customisable function room for business or social gatherings.
RedDoorz’s performance inches closer to pre-Covid levels
Indonesia’s massive population, a successful national vaccination drive and easing of Covid-19 restrictions have allowed hotel room demand to spike in the country, bringing RedDoorz’s bookings closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Sharing the company’s business update at a media briefing in Jakarta, Adil Mubarak, vice president of operations, said average room occupancy had risen 20 per cent last year to 57 per cent this year.
He expects the number to rise to 70 per cent next year.
“I feel that Indonesia will be more open in 2022, with the G20 Summit taking place then. I am optimistic about the opportunities in 2022 and it will be a good year for us,” he remarked, adding that RedDoorz will be expanding its brand portfolio and pushing for greater technology innovation to meet higher targets.
The company aims to transact 1.6 million rooms per month, leveraging on its new brands SANS Hotel and Sunerra Hotel.
There are now 23 SANS Hotel properties, up from just three in January 2021, with plans to operate 100 by the end of 2022.
Sunerra Hotel, which was launched in June 2021, will welcome its second property in December, in Indonesia’s Batam.
Adil shed light on a new Urbanview brand, scheduled for launch in January 2022.
Besides leveraging its expanding brand presence, RedDoorz will also boost business through improved traveller confidence by way of its RedDoorz HyginePass certification programme as well as staff training.
Accor Australia partners Year13 to attract new blood
Accor has partnered with Year13, Australia’s largest digital platform for high school leavers, to inspire young residents to explore career opportunities within the hospitality industry.
Activated through a variety of social media, video and editorial content pieces on Year13 channels, the strategic partnership seeks to inspire and support Gen Z to consider meaningful and rewarding careers that fit within their passions.
Accor Pacific senior vice president talent & culture, Sarah Derry, said: “Through our partnership with Year13, we are hoping to lure great young talent to our workforce that will enrich the tourism industry’s future forever. It allows us to harness Year13’s purposeful, influential and trusted connection with young Australians to highlight the many opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and fast-tracked career pathways at Accor. We pride ourselves on our multi-generational workforce and we see Gen Z as a highly impactful generation with an extremely important voice.”
Year13 co-founder, Will Stubley, said: “We are so excited to partner with Accor to inspire Gen Z to enter an industry that is thriving back to life as Australia re-opens.”
To attract young Australians and nurture them into the leaders of tomorrow, Accor has redesigned its talent attraction strategy, launching Work Your Way at Accor earlier this month.
Singapore imposes daily tests on VTL travellers, tightens border further
All travellers entering Singapore on Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) must now take daily Covid-19 tests for seven days from the point of arrival, a new measure that will be enforced for four weeks until 11.59 on January 2, 2022.
The decision on December 3 follows an end-November announcement to tighten border controls in an attempt to buffer against the spread of the new Omicron variant.
The new testing requirement will mean that VTL travellers will have to fulfil a pre-departure test, an on-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, self-administered antigen rapid tests (ART) on days 2, 4, 5 and 6, and supervised ARTs at designated centres on day 3 and day 7 of their visit.
The health ministry requires all VTL travellers to test negative on their self-administered ART before going out for activities.
At the same time, travel restrictions on countries have been extended. Since 11.59 on December 4, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria within the last 14 days have been denied entry.
The health ministry will apply the new restrictions for four weeks, and review their necessity after.
Seven countries – Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and Poland – have been placed in Category 3 on December 6. Travellers from this category must take a Covid-19 test two days before departure for Singapore, an on-arrival test and another before the end of their 10-day stay-home notice at a declared place of accommodation.
Trafalgar crafts bespoke mini group tours for Singapore market
Groups of 12 or more travellers can explore destinations in a safe bubble made possible by Trafalgar’s customised mini group tours, which come complete with a dedicated On-Road Team – including a travel director and driver – trained in physical distancing, hygiene and medical protocols, as well as destination expertise and local knowledge.
Aimed at Singapore residents looking to take advantage of the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with families and friends, the private trip can be crafted on a wide array of destinations with little or no surcharge on the original itinerary price.
Travellers can choose from over 300 award-winning group tours offered by Trafalgar, covering destinations such as Spain, Ireland and Hungary.
Trafalgar has updated its vaccination policy, requiring all guests to be fully vaccinated for guests’ peace of mind. In addition, the company’s wellbeing director will ensure that the establishments and locations to be visited comply with local health and safety protocols.
In the event of travel advisory changes, Trafalgar also offers free cancellation and booking changes.
With Queensland fast approaching 80 per cent of residents being fully vaccinated, the Australian state has decided to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated interstate travellers from Covid-19 hotspots from December 13 at 1.00 – four days ahead of initial schedule.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told local media that “nominating a time and date provides travellers and business with certainty to make their plans”.
Fully vaccinated interstate travellers can arrive by road or air, and must provide a negative Covid test in the previous 72 hours. They will not need to serve quarantine.
Fully vaccinated International arrivals must provide a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure for Queensland, and fulfil a test on arrival. These travellers are required to serve a 14-day home or hotel quarantine.
Travellers no longer have to wait two weeks to be considered fully vaccinated; one is enough. However, all travellers from hotspots must get a test on day 5 after their arrival.
Vaccinated border zone residents will also be allowed to move freely across the border without the need for a PCR test.
Unvaccinated residents will continue to face travel restrictions.
“We will live with Covid – but on our terms,” Palaszczuk said.
Only fully vaccinated people will be permitted to enter pubs, clubs, cinemas, festivals and theme parks in Queensland from December 17.