Vaccinate SIDS to kickstart tourism recovery, urges UNWTO
The UNWTO is calling for the international community to show solidarity with SIDS (small island developing states) by ensuring they have access to Covid-19 vaccinations.
With tourism a leading employer and economic pillar for many of the SIDS, the UN agency has stressed that pledges to ensure ‘nobody is left behind’ in the recovery phase of the crisis must be backed up with firm actions.
Given the relatively small size of the populations of the SIDS, the cost of mass vaccinations will be minimal compared to the potential benefits of restarting tourism, UNWTO said in a statement. It added that given tourism’s wide value chain and proven ability to create opportunity for all, the impact of rolling out mass vaccinations and allowing tourism to restart, will go beyond economic benefits.
UNWTO secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili said: “By sharing vaccines with SIDS, the international community can help accelerate the restart of tourism in these leading destinations. Due to the size of the populations of the SIDS, the cost of mass vaccinations will be small, but the benefits will be significant. It will restore confidence in visiting SIDS, allowing the many social and economic benefits of tourism to return.”
Pololikashvili was speaking after a meeting with Dario Item, ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Spain, at the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid. One of the 38 SIDS, Antigua and Barbuda is a top tourism destination and is looking to the restart of tourism to protect businesses and jobs and economic growth at both the national and local level.
According to UNWTO data, prior to the start of the pandemic, tourism accounted for more than 30 per cent of total exports in the majority of the 38 SIDS. In some countries, this proportion has risen as high as 90 per cent. The significance of tourism makes these destinations especially vulnerable to falling tourist numbers, making the timely restart of the sector of vital importance, concluded UNWTO.
Two seasoned hoteliers join Novotel Manila team
The Novotel Manila Araneta City has welcomed two hires, Maria Manlulu-Garcia as its general manager, and Darwin Labayandoy as resident manager.
Manlulu-Garcia is the very first female general manager for an Accor property in the Philippines. She embarked on her hospitality career in 1992, and began as a front office agent who rose to become rooms director of the Ramanda Portland in the US.
She then returned to the Philippines to take up the post of general manager at the Pico De Loro Country Club and Pico Sands Hotel, Batangas. After which, she moved to Indonesia to become Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua’s executive assistant manager, and eventually worked her up to its resident manager in 2016 and hotel manager in 2019.
She will be supported by Darwin Labayandoy, who has been promoted from director of rooms to resident manager at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.
Labayandoy has 25 years of hospitality experience under his belt, and prior to joining Novotel Manila Araneta City, he held key positions at Dusit Hotel Nikko and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.
Bali speeds up vaccine rollout, eyes July reopening to foreign tourists
The Indonesian government is speeding up vaccination efforts in Bali in hopes of achieving herd immunity quicker and reopen the island’s borders to international travellers under a free Covid-19 travel corridor by mid-year.
Speaking to the media at the Bali Investment Forum held in Bali last Friday (March 26), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, coordinating minister of maritime affairs and investment, said that the government is striving to vaccinate 1.8 or nearly two million people in Bali by April, and another one million people by May, with hopes of achieving herd immunity in July.
A group of foreign ambassadors attended the Bali Investment Forum to witness the implementation of the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability (CHSE) protocols in the destination, in a bid to show that the island stands ready to welcome back tourists and investors.
With president Jokowi hoping to see the reopening of international borders by June or July, Bali has selected three green zones, namely, Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, to receive international tourists from countries that have forged travel corridor agreements with Indonesia.
Sandiaga Uno, minister of tourism and creative economy, told TTG Asia that his office will monitor the foreign visitors’ movements in the three green zones digitally and physically to minimise their potential contact with people outside the zones.
“The focus is to ensure that the travellers conduct their activities within the three zones,” he said, adding that there would be checkpoints on the sites.
Sandiaga explained that the travel corridor used a point-to-point concept that would link Bali to certain countries, and during a trial run, the island might first welcome chartered flights to test and evaluate the system.
The minister also expects that the foreign tourist visits will be organised by travel companies so their staff can help monitor their clients’ movements within the green zones.
Commenting on the plan, Ricky Setiawanto, secretary general of the Indonesia inbound Tour Operator Association, said: “What we have suggested to the government is to create attractions and activities within the green zones to keep travellers entertained during their stay, although their movements are limited to just the zones.”
Examples he cited include traditional dances, handicraft-making demos, and cooking classes. Ricky said: “They do not have to be compulsory itineraries in the holiday package, but attractions and activities that are available to travellers should they be keen.” – Additional reporting by Mimi Hudoyo
Philippine’s tourism revival hits roadblock amid renewed restrictions
Domestic tourism in the Philippines is expected to fare worse this year compared to 2020, as metro Manila and four surrounding provinces are placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) – the highest of the four levels of lockdown – starting today (March 29), after just a week of implementing stricter quarantine measures.
While only metro Manila, and the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan – collectively dubbed as the NCR Plus – are under ECQ, tourism nationwide has been affected as the Department of Tourism has banned hotel staycations countrywide except for destinations under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) – the lowest level of quarantine. Additionally, airlines have already cancelled a number of domestic flights.
The NCR Plus areas will be under ECQ until April 4, subject to weekly reviews; with strictures including 18.00 to 05.00 am curfew, limited public transport, skeleton staff for most industries and offices, and no public gathering of any kind.
“You can write off Philippine tourism this year, which is going to be worse off than last year,” hospitality consultant Jerome de la Fuente told TTG Asia.
“It will not be revived because daily Covid-19 infections are shooting up to nearly 10,000, triggering this latest round of lockdown, and so the people’s confidence to travel isn’t there anymore,” he added.
“Health and safety protocols are in place, yet the infections are increasing. Unless the government rushes vaccination, the people’s confidence (to travel) will not return. But there’s not even enough vaccines yet for health and medical frontliners.”
Being under ECQ brings the country back to square one, back to a year ago at the onset of the pandemic.
For hoteliers like Margie Munsayac, vice president sales and marketing of Bluewater Resorts, “changing policies on quarantine and lockdowns will always be a big challenge to our industry”. Munsayac is part of a group of tourism players from the private and public sectors who have sought to revive tourism with ongoing marketing and promotions of Cebu and Bohol in the Visayas, including hefty discounts.
“Stability of policies would always be a big factor for marketing traction. And once again, the tourism sector catering to the leisure market will be on a standstill for NCR Plus”, said Munsayac, adding that “other destinations outside NCR Plus will likewise be affected”. “It would be a blessing if travellers would rebook, but a good percentage will really be cancelled trips,” she said.
“But we do understand the need for the stricter quarantine guidelines, which us tourism stakeholders fully support. We are just hopeful that when (travel restrictions lift), Filipinos will be more vigilant in the basic health protocols and will feel once again confident and safe to travel and support tourism,” said Munsayac.
De la Fuente suggested starting a Save Philippine Tourism campaign as a way to revive the country’s economy. He lamented that the industry is “on our own”, expressing disappointment in the government’s “apathetic attitude”, unlike other countries like Singapore and Thailand whose governments understand the value and contribution of tourism to their economies, and have supported the industry with initiatives such as substantial bailout packages during the pandemic.
Vietnam Airlines resumes international flights
Vietnam Airlines operated its first international commercial flight with a service from Taiwan to Danang last Thursday (March 25), following a months-long hiatus to curb the spread of Covid-19.
More than 200 passengers were onboard the flight, with travellers required to present a negative Covid-19 test result obtained 72 hours prior to departure, reported VnExpress International.
Upon arrival, they had to undergo a second round of testing, in addition to a 14-day mandatory quarantine at their own expense. Additionally, they will be required to take a third Covid test six days later.
They also had to install the Bluezone app that shows if a person has come into close contact with a Covid-19 patient, said the report.
Vietnam suspended all international flights in March last year as part of efforts to keep Covid-19 at bay, with only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers allowed in, under stringent conditions.
New marketplace aims to connect luxury travel brands with India’s affluent travellers
Travel curator Luxury Tribe will stage the world’s first virtual marketplace to connect luxury travel brands with India’s high-net-worth travellers from May 26-28, 2021.
Organised by World Travel Magazine, Luxury Tribe is a by-invitation-only, exclusive three-day event which offers selected participants a line-up of pre-scheduled meetings, networking sessions and expert-led conferences.
At Luxury Tribe, exhibitors will have the opportunity to meet with Indian luxury travel buyers, destination wedding planners, pre-qualified luxury travel agencies and senior travel designers exclusively representing high-net-worth clients.
Successfully harnessing ultra-affluent and discerning Indian travellers requires a solid understanding of their unique preferences and needs.
Luxury Tribe’s ILLUME conference, which is hosted by thought leaders in luxury travel marketing, will provide these key insights mapping out perspectives for the next 24 months and more. ILLUME’s panel discussions and speaker-led sessions are tailored to equip participants with ready strategies for successfully acquiring – and growing – their affluent Indian customer base in 2021 and beyond. Participants will be able to seamlessly navigate the virtual innovative 3D exhibition floors and facilities efficiently to engage with like-minded industry leaders.
Exhibitors at Luxury Tribe will include international luxury hotel brands, DMCs, jet and yacht charters, airlines, bespoke shopping destinations, tourism boards, and independent boutique hotels.
Each exhibitor may sign up to 30 stringently matched, 1-to-1 pre-scheduled appointments, along with unlimited access to all ILLUME conferences, networking sessions, as well as wellness lounge & café. Post-event, attendees will receive exclusive ILLUME video recaps and intel briefings, as well as invites to follow-up meetings and exclusive discounts.
Costa Cruises names new president and CCO
Costa Cruises has made two leadership appointments in preparation for the resumption of its cruises and its long-term growth.
Mario Zanetti has been promoted to president of Costa Cruises, taking a role that had been temporarily filled by Michael Thamm, group CEO, Costa Group & Carnival Asia.
In his new position, Zanetti will oversee Costa as a unique brand across the world, including Asia, with the aim of guiding Costa to strengthen its leadership in Europe, South America and Asia, and ensure profitable and sustainable growth in the long-term.
Zanetti started his journey with Costa back in 1999 in the revenue management unit. In 2017, he was named president of Costa Asia; and since July 2020, he has been back in Genoa, as chief commercial officer (CCO) of Costa Cruises Europe.
Meanwhile, Roberto Alberti has been appointed CCO of Costa Cruises, a position previously held by Zanetti. Alberti will be responsible for the overall commercial operations, including sales, revenue management and marketing worldwide, reporting to Zanetti.
With a career in Costa Cruises spanning over 15 years, Alberti worked his way up through various positions in Italy and abroad. In 2016, he joined the CEO Office, reporting to Thamm. After the position of vice president strategic development, in 2019, he was appointed senior vice president and chief strategy officer of the Costa Group, contributing to the definition of a sustainable development plan, the global source market strategy and brand positioning.
Both Zanetti and Alberti will be based in Costa Cruises headquarters in Genoa.
Hate matters: Anti-Asian Hate is influencing travel intentions
Shall we take a moment to talk about the Anti-Asian Hate movement that is raging in the US? On the surface, it seems to have a distant relation to travel and tourism since these hate crimes are mostly aimed at the resident Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
However, look just a little deeper and you will realise it has a significant effect on travel and tourism.
When I did a profile interview late last year with Olivier-Henry Biabaud, CEO of TCI Research, who founded the Resident Sentiment Index model to help destinations gauge and benchmark the level of tourism support they have in their community, he told me that residents are the face of a destination, and it only takes a minority of angry residents who lash out against tourists and tourism to establish a bad reputation for the destination, which will be long and pricey to repair.
Of course, Olivier was then commenting specifically about destination residents who are opposed to the concept of tourism in their backyard, and not racism-fuelled hate crimes. But for Asian consumers across the globe watching news about the US’s Anti-Asian Hate movement and taking in social media posts by AAPI citizens who are coming out with their own stories of abuse, there is little difference. Many would wonder if their skin would attract the same treatment should they go to the destination as tourists.
This consideration will resurface when they make their travel plans for the future.
That’s not just my imagination – a recent survey by Dragon Trail International on Chinese traveller sentiments found that friendliness towards Chinese travellers ranked first as a travel decision influencer by 65 per cent of respondents. That consideration outranks other critical factors such as zero confirmed Covid-19 cases, the absence of mandatory quarantines, flight resumption and personal access to a Covid-19 vaccine.
The same study, conducted from February 22 to March 3 this year, also found that more than 80 per cent of respondents rated the US as unsafe.
Unfriendliness to travellers can come in a wide spectrum, from a lack of understanding about their unique needs, such as dominant language and diet, to petty and deliberate negligence by service staff, and to severe and possibly fatal attacks.
Many people who have visited, studied or lived in the US as well as AAPI citizens have come forth with their own positive experiences of hospitality and friendship, in hopes of highlighting the presence of a welcoming majority.
Unfortunately, these messages are drowned out by bad news, which gather the most social media momentum.
With travel in a pandemic era, and even in the post-vaccination era, so much more tedious to arrange, how many consumers would risk ruining their rare leisure trip with a possible unfriendly experience? Unlike the AAPI community who has to live with and battle the problem at home, the Asian travelling community has a choice of where they want to holiday.
And they will likely pick somewhere safe, welcoming, and worth their time and money.
Karen Yue is group editor of TTG Asia Media. She sets the editorial direction for the company’s stable of travel trade titles and platforms, and produces content for them as well.
ATTA names new president
Veteran tour operator, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, has been elected as the new president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).
Sisdivachr, who previously served in the position from 2011-2014, had beat Mingkwan Metmowlee, president of ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), to win the election on Thursday (March 25).
In a speech after his win, Sisdivachr pledged to take urgent action to save Thailand’s tourism industry, with aims of reopening the country to international tourists by 3Q.
To that end, he will work with airlines to launch a digital Covid-19 vaccine passport to lure foreigners back to the country, as well as continue appealing to the government for financial aid to help tour operators impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, he will work with the private sector to train the tourism workforce, create marketing tools, and develop new products and services for tourists.
Sisdivachr said: “My aim is to save Thailand’s tourism industry and reclaim the country’s position as top tourist destination on the global map.”
IHG Hotels & Resorts, which recently signed the 50th property under its voco brand, aims to grow to 200 voco hotels across the globe within the next decade.
voco Brisbane City Centre, the brand’s latest signing and 50th hotel globally, which will overlook the Brisbane River and the city’s best cultural institutions, is scheduled to open this year.
In addition, there are several other voco openings in the Australasian pipeline, including voco Melbourne Central, which is on track to open this August; and voco Auckland City, which is slated to open later this year. As well, voco Sydney Central and voco South Melbourne are set to open in 2022 and 2025, respectively.
Amid the pandemic, in 2020, IHG reported an increase in conversion activity globally, with 25 per cent of the company’s signings as conversions – and 13 per cent of those for the voco brand.
Growth for the brand continues across the Middle East with the signing of voco Jeddah North in Saudi Arabia in December 2020, and the first all-suites for voco signed in Doha, Qatar.
The brand will also make its debut in Vietnam soon with the voco Ma Belle Danang property, located next to the beachfront along the main thoroughfare of the coastal city.
Over in Greater China, IHG’s first voco signing in Wuhan is a conversion property, which will officially open as voco Wuhan Xinhua this year, after renovations.
In 2021, China will also open two voco hotels in Nanjing – one is a new-build property located in the Garden Expo; the other one is converted from the heritage Nanjing Oriental Pearl Hotel in a prime downtown location.