The event aims to help travel players to reimagine travel
The Digital Travel APAC Virtual Summit will be returning this year on June 1, 2021, and will address the latest travel developments.
Senior tourism leaders such as Singapore Tourism Board’s director, digital & content, marketing group, Georgina Koh; Tourism New Zealand’s head of strategy Emil Petrov; Minor Hotels’ chief commercial officer Michael Marshall; and Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s vice president, digital & loyalty marketing, Hsu Ching Tan are among those speaking at the online event.
The event aims to help travel players to reimagine travel
These speakers will be sharing what they are doing differently to reposition themselves this travel season, and how they are rethinking the “how” and “why” we travel as the future of travel is no longer the same, due to the constant changes in government regulations and travel restrictions.
The one-day conference promises more than 10 hours of virtual networking as well as closed-door live interactive roundtables.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is preparing to ramp up marketing efforts in its key source markets, and hopes to relaunch mega events in physical formats to prepare for tourism recovery.
The plans were revealed by HKTB executive director Dane Cheng at the Board’s annual Tourism Update event on Tuesday (May 18). During the online event, Cheng discussed tourism trends and shared details of the HKTB’s latest strategic plans with around 2,700 trade representatives from Hong Kong, mainland and overseas.
At the HKTB’s Tourism Update event, YK Pang (left) and Dane Cheng appealed to everyone in tourism-related industries to take part in the vaccination programme
Cheng told the representatives the HKTB was preparing to step up promotions and would launch a new round of the Hong Kong Neighbourhoods campaign. In addition, the HKTB also hopes to relaunch mega events in physical formats.
Cheng said: “As well as driving local tourism through the Holiday at Home platform, the HKTB has maintained Hong Kong’s international profile with a succession of promotional campaigns throughout the pandemic.
“The global economy has started to rebound with Asia predicted to recover sooner and the Mainland expected to outperform other markets in economic growth. Combined with the gradual easing of the pandemic situation in Hong Kong, this makes it a good time for Hong Kong to further raise its profile. As cross-border travel gradually resumes, the HKTB will launch the Open House Hong Kong platform to conduct large-scale promotions in our source markets.”
The HKTB has, in recent years, launched two promotions, Old Town Central and Sham Shui Po, under its Hong Kong Neighbourhoods campaign, offering in-depth experiences to visitors.
To tie in with the opening of M+ visual culture venue in late 2021, the HKTB will focus its next promotion on the West Kowloon Cultural District and its surrounding area in the next quarter by revamping the promotions on the authentic local cultural aspects of the neighbourhood to help boost interest from visitors as travel resumption draws closer.
If the pandemic situation in the city remains under control, the HKTB also hopes to relaunch mega events that Hong Kong people can initially take part in. The first event to return in a physical format will be the Hong Kong Cyclothon, and the HKTB is studying the feasibility of extending its route to the Hong Kong Section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to add to the event’s appeal.
For other mega events to be conducted in a hybrid format, new elements of interests will be added to maintain Hong Kong’s global visibility. The HKTB will also continue to lobby for international large-scale business events and meetings to be hosted in Hong Kong.
Noting that the pace of global tourism recovery will be determined by how the pandemic unfolds and the vaccination rate worldwide, the HKTB is appealing to tourism workers to take part in the vaccination programme and help Hong Kong achieve herd immunity as soon as possible.
At the event, representatives from leading Mainland and Hong Kong brands also shared their insights at two forums titled “Seize the Business Development Opportunities in the Mainland and Greater Bay Area” and “Global Hong Kong Brands Gear Up for the Recovery”. Guests at the forums discussed the way forward for tourism and the preparation works.
With over 7,000 islands, the Philippines’ diverse natural wonders make it a sought-after destination for all types of traveler. From adrenaline-junkies to adventure seekers just out exploring the world, discover the multitude of water activities that await you in the Philippines.
DIVING Palawan, Cebu, Batangas
Anticipate the best memories of your entire dive life by exploring the breathtaking underwater scene of the Philippines. Marine biodiversity? Head to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Wreck dives? Go to Coron, Palawan. Muck diving or blackwater diving? Drive to Anilao, Batangas. Shark enthusiast? See thresher sharks at the Monad Shoal in Malapascua Island or the whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon. Meanwhile, you can just free dive or snorkel to witness the world-renowned Sardine Run in Moalboal, Cebu.
photo credit: GAPS SABUERO
SURFING Siargao, Baler, La Union
Surfers of all levels flock to Siargao Island for its world-famous Cloud 9, ride plenty of lefts and rights in Baler, or go for consistent quality surf with swells that can reach up to 3 meters in San Juan, La Union.
photo credit: CALOY LLAMAS
ISLAND HOPPING Caramoan Islands
Discover the Philippines’ Secret Paradise in Caramoan Islands, which remain beautifully unspoiled and unexploited. Get loads of your vitamin sea supplement while hopping each island which boasts of white sand, lagoons, caves and rugged limestone cliffs.
WHITEWATER RAFTING Cagayan de Oro
Feel the rush of adrenaline with a wet and wild whitewater rafting adventure in Cagayan De Oro. Take on a thrilling three-hour course of rapids with varying grades to suit beginners and experts. Definitely a must-try Philippine adventure with your family and friends.
photo credit: ERWIN LIM
CANYONEERING Kawasan Falls in Badian, Cebu
Experience the adventure of a lifetime with canyoneering in Cebu. Take a leap off cliffs as high as 30 feet, swim the rapids or enjoy the lush scenery as you float through the canyon. Whether it’s your first time canyoneering or not, extreme fun is definitely guaranteed!
Exhilarating adventures are not just plenty; your health and safety remain a top priority in this country too. The Philippines is a recipient of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp! As a globally recognized ‘safe travels’ destination, traveling to the Philippines can be safe and fun in the new normal.
Get the most out of your upcoming vacation and fly to the Philippines soon! From water, land or high-altitude adventure, this Southeast Asian destination has it all. To guide your travel plans, visit www.philippines.travel now.
The Vietjet website has been refreshed with a new look that will enhance the user experience and offer more service selections.
The new website, vietjetair.com, provides more comprehensive services and products integrated into one platform. Flight tickets, essential services such as check-in baggage, seat and food selection, priority check-in, bus ticket, travel insurance, and more, are available for purchase with ease.
Customers can also search for information about itineraries, flights, fares, special offers, and pay by online payment methods including credit/ATM card, e-wallet, QR code, and Vietjet Skyclub.
In the coming days, Vietjet will also integrate hotel products, entertainment programmes, travel packages inclusive of air tickets and hotel reservations, financial services, duty-free shopping, and more, into the platform.
Planeterra has launched the Around the World Challenge to raise funds for community tourism enterprises that have been deeply impacted by the pandemic.
From May 17 to 26, participants can take part in the challenge of collectively travelling the globe by walking, running or cycling 10km a day, while raising funds for communities. Registration is US$25 per person.
During this 10-day period, Planeterra highlights community tourism enterprises in different regions around the world, including India, Bolivia and Rwanda, as well as those destinations’ cuisine, culture and more.
Planeterra’s goal is to raise US$40,087, which will go towards helping its community partners access learning, training and support for their enterprises through the Global Community Tourism Network.
Donations will go towards training sessions, increasing community mentorship, and infrastructure improvements to help keep community enterprises open and making impact for years to come.
“Planeterra just launched the Global Community Tourism Network last week, having more than doubled our community partnerships since December; and we now work with communities in over 65 countries,” said president of Planeterra, Jamie Sweeting.
“We thought it was the perfect time to highlight these new community partners, and help Planeterra support them as they prepare to recover and the world prepares to travel again.”
In addition, Planeterra aims to raise US$3,000 to support its team and community partners in Delhi as India battles with a worsening Covid crisis. To meet this goal, the NPO has pledged to match the first US$1,500 raised during the Around the World Challenge. Planeterra’s partners in Delhi operate a female-led taxi service and provide shelter and support to the city’s homeless youth.
Spain’s NH Hotels will make its foray into the Middle East region later this year with the launch of NH Dubai The Palm.
Currently in the final stages of development, the new-build 533-key property will open its doors in December.
Rendering of the lobby in NH Dubai The Palm
Located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, NH Dubai The Palm will be part of Seven Hotel & Apartments, a mixed-use development consisting of a hospitality tower and a residential tower.
The 14-storey property will offer 227 guestrooms and suites, in addition to 306 serviced apartments. Facilities will include several restaurants and bars, gym, rooftop infinity pool, three spa treatment rooms, a kids’ club and four meeting rooms. There will also be a large multi-purpose space for co-working, with access to the gym and showers.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s tourism and sports bureau has signed a MoU with Tencent Cloud to revitalise Seoul’s inbound tourism in the post-pandemic era and build a smart tourism ecosystem.
Both parties plan to create a Seoul travel app for Chinese tourists as well as a smart tourism solution through Tencent Cloud’s artificial intelligence technologies in Weixin Mini Program. The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s tourism and sports bureau will promote the digitalisation of its tourism services via Tencent Cloud to strengthen the competitiveness of Seoul tourism and enhance its service quality.
Seoul inks deal with Tencent Cloud for smart tourism solution; Deoksugung Palace in Seoul pictured
Through customised Seoul tourism information and services for Chinese tourists using Tencent Cloud’s cloud computing and AI technology, the bureau aims to boost Chinese visitor numbers to South Korea post-Covid.
The one-stop Seoul city travel app for Chinese tourists links the city’s online and offline public and private tourism services. With customised travel products and services, the app will provide a variety of information including hotel reservations, car rentals, tourist maps and GPS, online shopping, tourist ticket purchases, visa issuance and tax refunds.
Restaurants and attractions in Seoul can also be found using the real-time AI recommendation function, making travel much more personalised and convenient by scanning the Weixin QR code after purchasing an online ticket and entering tourist attractions without the wait.
In addition, Tencent Cloud will also build a Mini Program, leveraging Weixin’s user pool of 1.2 billion monthly active users and digital marketing service capabilities to connect local merchants and Chinese tourists in Seoul. Through it, travellers can also use hotel favourites, weather information, tourist attraction search and travel guides, discount coupon downloads, travel directions and travel tax refund services.
The two parties will also promote mid- to long-term exchanges and cooperation measures for the early recovery of Seoul tourism. Apart from helping foster Seoul tourism start-ups, Tencent Cloud is also set to participate in various marketing activities such as creating better tourism infrastructure, tourism advertisement and influencer activity support.
The MoU marks Tencent Cloud’s second Korean tourism revitalisation project following its collaboration with Incheon Tourism Organization for smart tourism solutions last month.
Saudi Arabia-based Seera Group has formed a partnership with Klook to boost the digital transformation and growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.
The partnership, which was announced at the Arabian Travel Market 2021 in Dubai, sees Seera becoming the exclusive partner of Klook in Saudi Arabia. The two entities will work to create a one-stop digital platform with end-to-end content and inventory management solutions that will support tourism and leisure activity providers in Saudi Arabia and provide a range of product offerings to travellers.
At the Arabian Travel Market 2021, Seera Group’s Majed Alnefaie (left) and Saudi Tourism Authority’s Fahd Hamidaddin announce partnership with Klook to promote Saudi Arabia tourism
With the partnership, activity providers in the Kingdom will be able to connect with global marketplaces and tour distributors, enabling them to build their business, which will not only drive domestic tourism, but also elevate Saudi Arabia’s footprint on the global tourism map. The platform will also showcase tours and activities operated by Discover Saudi, Seera’s integrated DMC.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “For our partners across the Saudi tourism ecosystem, finding smart ways to connect with travellers enhances their ability to offer unique Arabian experiences to everyone eager to explore the destination.
“This platform will empower our innovators, disruptors and new generation of tourism professionals to reach out to the world, tell their stories and build their businesses.”
Majed Alnefaie, acting CEO of Seera Group, said: “Our partnership with Klook builds on the strong leadership commitment to deliver the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to build the Kingdom’s tourism sector, diversify the economy and create long-term economic value.”
He added: “(The partnership) will address current gaps in the tourism supply chain, particularly, in terms of online content for tours and activities, the limited technological strengths of suppliers and low awareness (among) local and global travellers on the Kingdom’s offering.”
Seera will add value to the partnership by leveraging its extensive knowledge of the Saudi market, as well as localised content creation, including Arabic-first content, and will offer valuable guidance to promote the Kingdom among travellers from around the world.
Further, Almosafer, Seera’s flagship consumer travel brand that offers online travel planning, will build a digitally-enabled activities and tour marketplace to serve its Saudi customer base with a seamless booking solution across its omni-channel offering.
On its part, Klook will support tourism operators in Saudi Arabia to digitise their businesses. With Klook’s new merchant Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions, tour activity providers in the Kingdom will have the necessary digital tools and knowledge to build, manage, and scale their business.
Saudi travellers will also be able to access Klook’s global network of travel and leisure offerings, said Ethan Lin, CEO and co-founder of Klook.
As part of the Kingdom’s plans to increase inbound tourism in line with Vision 2030, the partnership will also tap into Klook’s audience in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, with Klook’s presence in Malaysia and Indonesia, the company will be able to meet the demands of travellers for Hajj and Umrah as they explore the Kingdom beyond their pilgrimage.
Hong Kong will tighten travel and quarantine restrictions for travellers from seven countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Japan, starting from Friday (May 21).
The government said on Monday that unvaccinated travellers from the three countries, alongside Italy, Argentina, Kenya and the Netherlands, will have to serve a 21-day quarantine at designated hotels and present a negative Covid-19 test result taken 72 hours before departure. They will also be required to undergo four Covid-19 tests during this period.
Hong Kong tightens border rules for travellers from seven countries; a quiet Terminal 1 at HKIA pictured
Vaccinated travellers must serve a 14-day quarantine at government-designated hotels, and undergo three tests during this period. They will also need to self-monitor for another week, with compulsory tests on the 16th and 19th day. They must also show proof of vaccination and a negative Covid-19 test result prior to taking off for the city.
Non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed in these places will not be allowed to enter the city.
Previously, travellers from Singapore to Hong Kong were only required to quarantine for seven days in a designated hotel, with two tests.
Hong Kong has also tightened restrictions for arrivals from Taiwan due to the surge in cases there, according to a South China Morning Post report.
The launch of the air travel bubble (ATB) between Singapore and Hong Kong which will allow for quarantine-free travel between the two cities will be deferred for a second time, following a spike in Covid-19 cases in Singapore.
The decision to delay the ATB 10 days before its launch on May 26 was made during a meeting on Monday (May 17) between Singapore’s transport minister S Iswaran and Hong Kong’s secretary for commerce and economic development Edward Yau, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) said in a statement on Monday.
A recent rise in Covid-19 community cases in Singapore has put the city-state’s travel bubble with Hong Kong on hold yet again
“Both sides remain strongly committed to launching the ATB safely. However, in the light of the recent increase in unlinked community cases, Singapore is unable to meet the criteria to start the Singapore-Hong Kong ATB,” it said.
MOT added that the two cities will decide on the new launch date of the ATB towards the end of phase two (heightened alert) in Singapore, which is slated to end on June 13.
Both cities had said the ATB would be suspended when the seven-day moving average of unlinked community cases in either Singapore or Hong Kong increases to more than five.
As at Sunday, Singapore reported 38 community cases, bringing the seven-day moving average of unlinked community cases to nearly five.
The ATB was first planned to take off on November 22, but a surge in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong put the plan on hold.
Planeterra has launched the Around the World Challenge to raise funds for community tourism enterprises that have been deeply impacted by the pandemic.
From May 17 to 26, participants can take part in the challenge of collectively travelling the globe by walking, running or cycling 10km a day, while raising funds for communities. Registration is US$25 per person.
During this 10-day period, Planeterra highlights community tourism enterprises in different regions around the world, including India, Bolivia and Rwanda, as well as those destinations’ cuisine, culture and more.
Planeterra’s goal is to raise US$40,087, which will go towards helping its community partners access learning, training and support for their enterprises through the Global Community Tourism Network.
Donations will go towards training sessions, increasing community mentorship, and infrastructure improvements to help keep community enterprises open and making impact for years to come.
“Planeterra just launched the Global Community Tourism Network last week, having more than doubled our community partnerships since December; and we now work with communities in over 65 countries,” said president of Planeterra, Jamie Sweeting.
“We thought it was the perfect time to highlight these new community partners, and help Planeterra support them as they prepare to recover and the world prepares to travel again.”
In addition, Planeterra aims to raise US$3,000 to support its team and community partners in Delhi as India battles with a worsening Covid crisis. To meet this goal, the NPO has pledged to match the first US$1,500 raised during the Around the World Challenge. Planeterra’s partners in Delhi operate a female-led taxi service and provide shelter and support to the city’s homeless youth.
Interested parties can register here.