Guidelines unveiled for Langkawi’s reopening to domestic tourists
Malaysia’s tourism minister has announced guidelines for domestic travellers visiting Langkawi under the new tourism bubble plan that will take effect from the country’s National Day on September 16.
Nancy Shukri, minister of tourism, arts and culture, said on Thursday that only fully vaccinated adults will be allowed to cross state borders to travel to Langkawi. Those under the age of 18 will have to be accompanied by their parents who must both be fully vaccinated.
Additionally, those travelling by road to Langkawi must use transportation provided by local tour agencies from their point of origin to the ferry jetty terminal in Langkawi. That regulation, however, will not apply to those travelling by road from Kedah mainland or the nearby state of Perlis as well as those flying into Langkawi.
Travellers must also apply for a police permit to travel to Langkawi. To obtain these permits, they must show supporting documents such as flight ticket, ferry ticket, hotel receipts or travel package receipts.
Activities allowed in Langkawi include beach and water activities; special interest activities such as golfing, scuba diving, cycling, angling and yachting; academic tours; as well as eco-tourism activities such as bird watching, caving, mountain climbing, white water rafting and jungle trekking. Visits to museums, art galleries, cultural heritage centres, theme parks and family entertainment centres are also allowed.
Nancy also said the tourism bubble in Langkawi will be closely monitored and the ministry will obtain feedback from the local communities to be evaluated and submitted to the National Security Council for consideration and further action, such as the reopening of more tourist destinations.
According to Nancy, more than 85.8 per cent of the local population in Langkawi have been fully vaccinated, and by the time tourism opens on the island, that number would have increased to more than 90 per cent.
Sharmini Violet, director of sales and marketing at Langkawi-based Megawater Sports & Holidays, shared that she could now start targeted marketing of her products and services to locals. She said: “The announcement made it very clear as to who is eligible to travel to Langkawi and what is needed to travel. Earlier, the SOPs had not been made known, which made planning a weekend getaway in Langkawi impossible.”
Uzaidi Udanis, president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, expressed hope that other tourist islands, such as Redang and Tioman, where most of the local communities have already been vaccinated, will also soon be opened to domestic tourists similar to the Langkawi tourism bubble, before the start of the annual year-end monsoon season. He said: “At least tourism stakeholders will be able to enjoy a little bit of business.”
Thai AirAsia to undertake crowdfunding as part of fundraising strategy
As part of its innovative fundraising strategy, Thai AirAsia has launched a crowdfunding campaign that allows retail investors and the general public to invest in the company and support its journey to recovery.
The debenture is now available for subscription through the Peer Power investment platform at peerpower.co.th. The low minimum requirement for investment will enable retail investors to actively participate in the drive, AirAsia said in a statement.
The airline added that it is confident of strong support from the investing public towards the campaign, drawing from positive signals from the airline’s restart of domestic flights, with 11 routes to be brought back into service from September 3.
Thai AirAsia CEO, Santisuk Klongchaiya, said that throughout the Covid-19 situation, Thai AirAsia continued to receive strong support from those outside the company who have remained confident in its growth potential and wish to support it so that it can quickly return to pre-pandemic health.
“We thank everyone for all of their support throughout this difficult situation. This crowdfunding campaign will be another avenue for people to show their support,” he said. “We are touched by the positive response that we have received so far that shows how much support and confidence the public has in AirAsia, which is just as important to us (in) overcoming this crisis.”
The campaign marks Thai AirAsia’s first foray into the new and increasingly popular funding alternative, which was recently approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Proceeds from the crowdfunding campaign will allow Thai AirAsia to shore up its short-term stability. It will be concurrently maintaining its existing funding plan, which consists of a capital raising and a business restructuring of Asia Aviation.
Tourism industry cheers Indonesia’s plan to host two major sporting events
The Indonesian government plans to host two major sporting events in the coming months as a first step towards reopening the country.
The National Games, set to take place from October 2-15 in Papua; and the World Superbike, slated for November 12-14 in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara; will be the first crowd-pulling events in the country since the pandemic outbreak, with only vaccinated visitors permitted entry.
Papua Tourism application has been launched to introduce and promote attractions around the sports venues, while the development of Mandalika Circuit for World Superbike is 93 per cent complete.
According to Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the Mandalika developer, the construction of race track and heliport is almost completed, while hotel rooms for participants and visitors are mostly ready.
Sandiaga Uno, minister of tourism and creative economy, said: “President Joko Widodo has approved (for the events to go ahead on condition that the pandemic is under control) and we will go all out to prepare the industry and regulations (beforehand).”
The announcement of the events comes as a ray of hope for the beleaguered travel industry.
Awan Aswinabawa, chairman of NTB chapter of ASTINDO, saw World Superbike as an opportunity to sell eco-tourism tour packages, which the association members had prepared earlier to cater for post-pandemic travellers. “We will sell packages highlighting (nature) combined with cultural activities and sports programmes such as yoga, trekking, snorkelling, and skin diving,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bahriyansyah, secretary general of ASITA, said that his association had also communicated with ITDC to seek business opportunities by crafting bundle packages, which include event tickets.
Doing so would not only present a lifeline to the association members, but at the same time, help the government promote the events, he added. Bahriyansyah also expected the government to synchronise the Papua Tourism application with the industry players’ products and services.
“Indonesians’ interest in Papua is big, but the lack of detailed information on accommodation facilities and transportation in Papua is the problem. We can help (solve this issue),” he said.
Awan hoped that the government would recruit local industry players as members of the events’ organising teams as he believed their experience in serving international visitors would contribute to the events’ successes.
Hong Kong’s first city-centre ocean experience opens at Plaza 88
Cube O Discovery Park, Hong Kong’s first marine experience destination in the city centre, has opened at the Plaza 88 shopping mall in Tsuen Wan.
Covering an area of over 929m², the attraction will feature a combination of real marine life displays and interactive multimedia games, in addition to a variety of recreation, education and dining opportunities.
Cube O is the first project in Hong Kong from Cube Oceanarium, an aquarium brand; and is the result of a collaboration between an aquarium architect, an aquarium aquaculture operation team, a senior marine conservation consultant and a technical consultant.
Cube O is divided into several themed zones with different attractions including Hong Kong’s first acrylic window projection. This integrates views of real marine life with projected light and shadow effects. There is also a mixed reality jellyfish classroom, a playhouse for children and a dining area.
The interactive multimedia technology will also enable visitors to observe the marine life up close and learn more about nature, environmental protection and sustainable patterns of living.
At the jellyfish research institute, visitors can learn how jellyfish develop from babies into adults, and find out more about jellyfish ecology and the characteristics of different jellyfish species. In addition to watching jellyfish feeding, visitors will also be allowed to contact them from a safe zero-distance and thus get closer to the ocean.
The interactive multimedia games will further boost the overall experience, as visitors can “become” small fish, swimming under the protection of a jellyfish in an ocean exploration tour.
In the MR jellyfish classroom, visitors can become “guardians of the ocean” and rescue a stranded green sea turtle. The rescue operation follows real turtle rescue procedures. Visitors who participate will be able to learn about the work of professional conservationists, think about the effect of human beings on the ocean and gain a sense of mission with respect to marine conservation.
Elsewhere, the children’s playhouse features Hong Kong’s first ocean-themed play space where children can gain marine knowledge while having fun with mastering physical challenges.
The park has invited a head chef and his team from a local five-star hotel to prepare a selection of delicacies. In addition, Corner Cone, a famous Asian ice cream brand, has prepared a range of limited-edition ocean-themed ice creams specially for the Cube O.
Emirates rolls out new Expo 2020 Dubai campaign starring Chris Hemsworth
Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates is inviting visitors to experience Expo 2020 Dubai in a new global campaign fronted by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth.
The campaign illustrates the ultra-futuristic themes and experiences in store at Expo 2020 Dubai when it opens its doors on October 1.
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation and Expo 2020 Dubai director general, said: “Expo 2020 Dubai will be one of the greatest must-see events in the world. In addition to impressive marquee pavilions that immerse visitors in the themes of mobility, sustainability and opportunity, and 191 amazing country pavilions, there will also be an unforgettable celebration of music, art and culture with a packed entertainment programme, unique culinary experiences, and much more. It’s truly shaping up to be an event not to be missed.”
Hemsworth said: “In 2019, I partnered with Emirates and Expo 2020 Dubai to help bring awareness to what is a really important event for the world. We all have the power to shape a better future, and the last year-and-a-half has shown us that the possibilities are endless when we put our minds together. At Expo 2020 Dubai, the world will come together in the spirit of collaboration to provide real-life solutions that will benefit future generations.”
Conceptualised and filmed pre-Covid in time for the original opening date of Expo 2020 Dubai, the ad aims to convey the energising spirit of innovation, creativity, and the drive to create a better future – all key themes of the global event. Taking a layered approach to storytelling, the ad is supported by a myriad of computer-generated imagery animations and visuals to illustrate what the event would look like, as it was filmed while the Expo 2020 site was still under construction.
In the ad directed by two-time Oscar-winning director Robert Stromberg, Hemsworth transports viewers from the beaches of Dubai to the Expo 2020 Dubai site, bringing to life the event’s flagship mobility, sustainability, and opportunity pavilions, alongside the participating country pavilions.
Emirates is the premier partner and official airline of Expo 2020 Dubai, running from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
DOT, partner agencies work to boost Philippine food tourism
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has inked a MoU with a trio of other government agencies to boost the promotion of Filipino culinary tradition and the country’s unique food tourism experiences.
The MoU signing between DOT, the Department of Agriculture, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement, is aimed at driving up preservation and promotion of Filipino culinary traditions to ensure transmission to future generations and to support food tourism stakeholders such as farmers and agri-communities.
The agencies will also collaborate to infuse food tourism in the celebration of the Filipino Food Month every April.
“As we look forward to every annual celebration of Filipino Food Month, we would like to use this as a platform to promote travel for a taste of a place in order to get a sense of a place,” tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in her opening remarks during the virtual signing ceremony.
A DA-NCCA-DOT-PCHM Technical Working Group shall be formed and will conduct quarterly meetings to ensure the smooth implementation of the activities and responsibilities enclosed in the MOU.
DOT has been tasked to include its food and gastronomy tourism-related activities in the calendar of events for the Filipino Food Month. The department will also provide support to promote the Filipino Food Month through information dissemination via its platforms and networks.
Romulo-Puyat pledged the DOT’s full support and cooperation in the initiative, underscoring the immense potential of Filipino food in tourism prior to the pandemic.
“Our own internal studies in the DOT have revealed that prior to the pandemic in 2019, inbound tourists spent 22.4 per cent of their total expenditures on food and beverage items. For domestic tourists, eight per cent was devoted to F&B expenses and a big chunk of shopping expenses were also spent on foodie treats,” she said.
Further, the DOT chief also highlighted the department’s ongoing efforts in harnessing the potentials of food tourism by formulating regional tourism circuits with food and farm experiences as the centerpiece of itineraries.
She added that the DOT is also conducting food tourism resource inventories and mapping of key food tourism destinations in the country as well as facilitating capacity-building programmes to equip community stakeholders.
World’s tallest observation wheel set to open in Dubai next month
Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel sited at the heart of lifestyle destination Bluewaters in Dubai, is set to open on October 21.
Standing at over 250m high, Ain Dubai represents another addition to Dubai Holding’s entertainment portfolio and supports Dubai’s long-term vision to strengthen its global position as a key tourism hub.
From dining in the sky and exclusive celebration packages to bespoke corporate and event offerings, Ain Dubai brings over 19 customisable experiences available both day and night.
Offering views of Dubai’s iconic landmarks from indoor, air-conditioned cabins and a huge range of entertainment, the experiences are split into three main categories: observation cabins, social cabins and private cabins, with experiences starting with one rotation of approximately 38 minutes, up to two rotations of approximately 76 minutes.
The observation cabins provide the perfect platform for 360-degree views of Dubai, while the social cabins feature beverage-inclusive packages. Visitors can also step into a premium cabin for the VIP treatment or get the best social vibes at the Sky Bar cabins.
Meanwhile, the private cabins provide full exclusivity, with celebration packages available for birthdays, engagements, weddings, business functions, and more. The private cabins can also be customised to cater for all sorts of events, from intimate celebrations to cultural festivities.
First Curio Collection by Hilton resort to launch in Vietnam
Hilton has signed an agreement with Vietnamese real estate developer Sun Group to launch a new resort under Curio Collection by Hilton in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Set to open in 2023, the 197-key La Festa Phu Quoc, Curio Collection by Hilton will represent Hilton’s first resort in the country, joining three other Hilton-managed hotels in Vietnam including Hilton Hanoi Opera, Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi and Hilton Da Nang.
Located 20km from the Phu Quoc International Airport, the resort will sit within the Sun Premier Village Primavera, a local tourist attraction which reflects elements of the iconic Amalfi town of Italy.
Facing the island’s popular Kiss Bridge and within close proximity to the Gondola Cable Car station, the resort will feature bold Mediterranean-inspired architecture and join an array of restaurants, bars and entertainment facilities in the vicinity. Guests at the resort will enjoy direct access to the beach.
The resort will also feature an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge and a bar. Leisure amenities will include a pool, fitness centre, spa and kids’ club.
Destinations beef up attraction lineup to entice visitors
Destinations in Asia are coming up with new products and experiences as part of their post-pandemic tourism recovery strategies.
Azerbaijan, which is now open to fully vaccinated travellers from 29 countries, is focusing on developing its ecotourism and heritage potentials; while Nepal is expanding its destination focus from adventure tourism to cultural and entertainment to cater to different types of visitors.
Speaking at PATA Travel Mart Forum last week, Florian Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board, said that there are a lot of ongoing renovation and restoration works at cultural and historical sites, such as Khinalig, the highest village in Azerbaijan, which is on the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Being home to 80 per cent of the world’s mud mountains, the country aims to highlight that attraction with a Mud Volcano Visitor Centre project. “It will be an experience centre where travellers can not only look at the volcanoes but also zipline over them or drive off-road around them,” Sengstschmid said, adding that new hiking trails are being built around the area to cater to different types of visitors.
A new e-learning platform dubbed Azerbaijan 101 has also been launched to engage overseas travel companies with live events, virtual fam trips and various learning courses, according to Sengstschmid.
Nepal, whose government is finalising the entry policy to welcome fully vaccinated travellers without quarantine and reinstate visa-on-arrival, is focusing on products which are different, available year-round, and suitable for all groups.
Dhananjay Regmi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board, said: “Nepal is divided into three ecological zones. In the past, we focused on (the adventure zone of) the Himalayan mountains. Now, we are also (promoting hilly) Pahad in the middle areas and Terai (low lands).”
Pahad highlights include hill stations and mid-hill cultural trails, while Terai boasts wildlife, culture and entertainment centre. “We are also reviving the camping treks in the less dense Eastern and Western regions, like the Khaptad-Badimalika Region trek, by prioritising on the lost trails,” Regmi said.
Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore has launched the Bike & Chill stay package targeting both experienced and leisure cyclists keen on indulging in a day of cycling revelry, complete with bike privileges to boot.
The hotel’s close proximity to the Marina Bay and Coastal Park Connector bike trails makes it the perfect pit stop for guests’ cycling adventures around the city-state.
Partnering with active lifestyle tenants located within the same mixed-use development of Downtown Gallery with cycling concept stores aplenty, the Bike and Chill bundle pack that comes alongside every stay package booked will feature vouchers from tenants including cycling wear shop A-Cycle as well as active lifestyle concept store The Big Country.
Guests who book the package will be able to choose their preferred apartment category. Other inclusions are bicycle parking in an allocated bicycle shed within the hotel property, uncapped utilities, as well as a choice between a S$70 (US$52) dining credit for use at SE7ENTH or by the pool deck terrace or one-way bike transfer (up to two bikes only).
Rounding up the perks are round-the-clock concierge and technician services, and access to outdoor infinity pool and fitness centre.
The Bike & Chill package is valid for reservations and stays until December 31, 2021, with rates starting from S$270++ per night for Studio apartments.