Sri Lanka has imposed islandwide travel restrictions, similar to a curfew, for a 77-hour period, which started from 23.00 on Thursday (May 13), in a bid to contain a surge in Covid-19 cases.
While the government has dubbed it as “travel restrictions”, the move is akin to a curfew and lockdown of the country which will last till Monday (May 17), 04.00. However, all essential services are allowed to continue operations, and international borders remain open, tourism officials said. The decision affected Sri Lanka’s minority Moslem community who celebrated the Ramazan festival on Friday.
Sri Lanka imposes travel restrictions across the country to fight a third wave of the coronavirus
The move is in response to a surge in Covid-19 cases, with the daily tally hitting 2,386 as at 13.00 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to 132,527 with 869 deaths. This is compared to 969 cases reported on April 23, which was then the second highest daily toll on record.
The spike was triggered by crowds thronging local markets and malls during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period in mid-April, as well as commuters travelling in crowded buses and trains to their hometown during that week.
The government has announced a ban on all state and private events, meetings, and parties to curb the spread of the infection. Public gatherings such as exhibitions, conferences, indoor and outdoor events, carnivals, musical shows and processions are also prohibited.
Enquiries and bookings from Asian markets have swept quickly onto shore for Norwegian Prima, the first of six ships under Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class, mere days after its debut in 2022 was leaked early this week.
Described as a “game-changer for NCL”, Norwegian Prima is a premium cruise product that promises outstanding itineraries in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Northern Europe, 36 per cent more wide-open spaces than on the massive Breakaway Class ships, thoughtful design that brings guests closer to nature as well as their surroundings, and a variety of new experiences supported by a high staff-to-guest ratio of 1:3.
An artist’s rendering of Norwegian Prima, which will set sail in 2022
High-end cruisers are offered The Haven by Norwegian, an exclusive and centralised suite complex that spans eight decks. Other accommodation options are built to stand out too – Norwegian Prima boasts the largest suites at sea as well as largest-ever staterooms among new cruise ships.
To allow guests to connect with the outdoors and the sea, Norwegian Prima pioneers the Ocean Boulevard concept, which wraps around deck eight and provides wide-open, innovative waterfront facilities for guests to explore, such as The Concourse sculptured gardens; the Infinity Beach with two infinity pools that are set close to the water line; and two Oceanwalk glass bridges that impart the feeling of walking over water. In addition, three dining venues on the Ocean Boulevard will offer indoor and outdoor seating.
Yet another new concept to launch on Norwegian Prima is the upscale open-air marketplace, named Indulge Food Hall. Eleven venues come together to deliver favourite cuisine from all over the world, such as Southern American comfort food and barbecue from Q Texas Smokehouse; Spanish-inspired street food from Tapas Food Truck; and Indian dishes and vegetarian food options from Tamara.
Nicholas Lim, general manager, sales Asia, told TTG Asia that introducing and opening for sale Norwegian Prima’s 2022 itineraries this week provided a valuable trigger for fresh sales pitches NCL’s travel agent partners could take to their cruise customers.
“There is incredible pent-up travel demand across Asia, and we know that cruise fans are looking for new products to experience when travel is possible again. In fact, Norwegian Prima is the cruise product that many Asian cruise fans are waiting for – a contemporary, premium product that answers the desire for social distancing; luxurious accommodation in staterooms and suites that are comparable to some of the best city hotels in the region; plenty of Instagrammable locations across the ship; and a superb F&B collection that answers a range of dining desires, from casual to fine-dining needs,” Lim elaborated.
“We are also very proud that we are able to bring a new product to market in such challenging times. It demonstrates our confidence in the brand and in travel and tourism recovery,” he added.
Lim revealed that a booking from South-east Asia has been secured “and more are on the way”. Intense enquiries have also come in from China, Hong Kong and Japan.
“While our travel agent partners are unable to experience Norwegian Prima now on a fam trip (due to travel restrictions), we are not sparing any expenses to bring them up to speed with the product. We have training and product webinars lined up, and we are putting Norwegian Prima details out on social media channels to drive consumer interest,” said Lim.
When asked if any of the future Prima Class ships would be deployed first to Asia, recognised as a growing and critical market for international cruise lines, Lim said there could be an opportunity for that to happen as more Prima ships join the NCL fleet.
NCL will launch a new Prima Class vessel every year from 2022, with the last coming to market in 2027. The Prima Class fleet will expand NCL’s capacity by 47 per cent.
Singapore has moved to tighten Covid-19 restrictions to stem a spike in Covid-19 community cases, with social gatherings limited to two people and dining-in banned from this Sunday (May 16) until June 13.
Eateries and hawker centres will only offer takeaways and deliveries during this period to prevent the risk of transmission, said the Health Ministry on Friday (May 14). Households will also only be allowed to receive two distinct visitors a day, from five previously.
Singapore to ban dining-in at eateries and hawker centres from May 16 to June 13
All attractions that have received prior approval to operate at 50 per cent capacity will have to reduce this to 25 per cent, while museums and public libraries will also operated at a reduced capacity of 25 per cent.
Indoor and outdoor shows may proceed with up to 100 people with pre-event testing implemented, or up to 50 people without testing. Attendance at cinemas will be capped at 100 people with pre-event testing, or up to 50 people without testing. The cap of two persons per group applies, and food and beverages cannot be sold or consumed in the cinema.
Working from home will remain the default at workplaces, and employers must ensure that staff who can work from home do so.
The stricter measures are in response to the Changi Airport cluster, which has become Singapore’s largest active Covid-19 cluster on Thursday (May 13), with a total of 46 cases confirmed.
Education minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19, was quoted by The Straits Times as saying in a virtual press conference that the stricter measures are necessary as there may be hidden cases among those who have recently visited Changi Airport that have leaked out into the community. He further noted that unlinked cases have also been on the rise.
Activities that will also be banned include strenuous indoor exercise classes and sports, as well as facials and saunas.
Weddings receptions will not be allowed, but solemnisations may continue for up to 100 people with pre-event testing, or 50 people without testing.
A lower cap of 50 people will also have to be observed at congregational and other worship services, with the cap going up to 100 people with pre-event testing implemented. Occupancy limits for malls and showrooms will also be reduced to 16m² per person of gross floor area, from 10m² per person previously.
Regional tourism players are shaking up their marketing strategies post-Covid, predicting multi-country holidays will be traded in for slow travel in a single destination when tourism resumes.
“Multi-destination travel has always played a large role for travel in the region,” said Ruben Derksen, Exo Travel Thailand’s director of product and digital.
Multi-country vacations predicted to lose lustre as post-pandemic travellers look for leisurely-paced trips
He cited typical 14-day itineraries from longhaul destinations taking in the cultural heritage sites of Luang Prabang in Laos, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Chiang Mai in Thailand before a few days on a Thai beach.
But he said while demand for multi-destination travel will prevail, the practicalities of moving from one country to another will make it unappealing to many tourists.
He added: “If countries allow vaccinated travellers to freely move between destinations, without quarantine on arrival and extensive paperwork, then the proportion of multi-destination travel could remain as it was. If not, then it’s feasible to think we’ll see a focus of travel within individual countries. People are, after all, on holiday and they won’t want to put themselves through any difficulties.”
This sentiment is being felt throughout the industry, as new itineraries and marketing strategies are drawn up to sell countries as single-destination packages.
Ronni Dalhoff, managing director of Diethelm Cambodia, said slow travel will be the new norm. In addition to sticking to one country, he predicts travellers will seek to restrict their movement within the destination.
“People will want to minimise the risk of anything happening,” he remarked. “They won’t be moving around too much.”
To cater to this predicted shift in demand, Vietnam-headquartered LUX Travel DMC has launched DMCs within each of the 10 South-east Asian countries, with each seen as a single destination. Additionally, in Vietnam, it is only selling north, central or south Vietnam tours, as opposed to the usual country combinations.
Pham Ha, CEO and founder, said: “People will want to slow down and choose one destination to feel it and focus on their travel experiences. They will discover, explore, relax, indulge and immerse themselves in local culture and nature.”
Derksen said this presents the opportunity for travel operators to get creative with tours and curate itineraries that dig deep into the essence of destinations.
He added: “Slow travel is better for the environment and allows people to enjoy more time absorbing the beauty of the destinations they travel through. Hopefully, this will (encourage) them to go more in-depth in each country, and explore mind-boggling beautiful destinations.”
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has become a signatory of The Future of Tourism Coalition with the global mission to place destinations at the centre of recovery strategies.
PATA CEO Mario Hardy said: “While decades of growth before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic have been celebrated by the travel and tourism industry, it has also placed many destinations at risk – environmentally, culturally, socially, and financially.
PATA joins The Future of Tourism Coalition to chart a more sustainable direction for tourism post-Covid
“As the industry looks towards recovery, it must realign around a strong set of principles in order to bring about long-term sustainable and equitable growth. We encourage all of our members, partners, and affiliated organisations and businesses to show their support and become part of the movement by joining as a signatory to this initiative.”
The Coalition was formed in 2020 by six global NGOs including the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel International, Tourism Cares, and the Travel Foundation.
Since then, nearly 550 organisations have signed up to the Coalition’s 13 Guiding Principles, which place destination needs at the centre of tourism’s new future.
Those Principles call for signatories to: see the whole picture, use sustainability standards, collaborate in destination management, choose quality over quantity, demand fair income distribution, reduce tourism’s burden, redefine economic success, mitigate climate impacts, close the loop on resources, contain tourism’s land use, diversify source markets, protect sense of place, and operate business responsibly.
The Coalition will support the industry by providing the tools, guidance and collaboration to ensure a stronger path forward and encourage signatories to sign on and share their perspectives and experiences to collectively work towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
Interested travel and tourism stakeholders can join as signatories here.
Qantas has pushed back its plan to restart international flights to late-December, after the federal government announced the delay of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout to the Australian population.
The national carrier had previously targeted to resume international services in late-October, after the government said all Australians would be fully vaccinated by then. But that plan has now been upended by a significant delay in the government’s vaccine programme, coupled with recent spikes in Covid-19 cases in countries such as India.
Delays in vaccine rollout in Australia has foiled Qantas’ plan to restart international flights in October
The government is now planning for the larger reopening of Australia’s borders in mid-2022.
Qantas said in a statement on its website that it would push back its planned resumption of international flights from end-October to late-December. However, the airline added that in the meantime, it plans to “take advantage of pockets of tourism and trade opportunity as they emerge”.
Services between Australia and New Zealand operating under the trans-Tasman travel bubble which begun last month will not be affected.
“We remain optimistic that additional bubbles will open once Australia’s vaccine rollout is complete, to countries who, by then, are in a similar position, but it’s difficult to predict which ones at this stage,” the airline said.
Qantas is reaching out to customers who have made bookings for international flights between October 31 and December 19, however, it noted that such bookings were “relatively low” due to “recent levels of uncertainty”.
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has embarked on a large-scale business transformation strategy in view of the evolving needs and behaviour of the travel market.
Besides aiming to grow its network from 180 airport lounges to over 500 by 2024-25, digitisation will also be a key part of its transformation, with an additional US$5 million to be allocated for that purpose.
Entrance and reception area at DragonPass x Plaza Premium Lounge at the Changsha South High-speed Railway Station
According to PPG CCO Bora Isbulan, things are changing expectedly fast and Covid-19 has sped up digital transformation.
He said: “We see that there are major gaps in the industry, so it’s vital to refine and align our strategy and resources to (meet evolving demands and) to make sure that we can fulfil the needs of users.
“The aim is to create a more digitally-connected global journey, not just one product (lounge) but various end-to-end services i.e. Smart Traveler loyalty programme, to let people plan their journey at their fingertips. In that regard, we will spend US$5 million to transform and invest in technology and management capabilities.
“We will spend another US$5 million in the next 18 months to transform our operations in PPG. This will ensure well-connected end-to-end solutions for not just B2B but also B2C (consumers).”
PPG founder and CEO, Song Hoi-see, opined that behavioural changes within a dynamic market created an impetus for change and for PPG to diversify and provide a holistic range of services.
He said: “We have to reshape the service solution in the market with more direct and interactive customer contact. From there, we will know their individual profile in order to deliver consistent, high-quality services.”
In January, PPG made its foray into high-speed railway (HSR) lounges in China by rolling out one at the Changsha South High-speed Railway Station, with another two to open in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in 2Q2021.
Song shared that this is just the beginning, with PPG planning to expand to various other stations.
“In China, train stations are very crowded and we observed that businessmen want a quiet place to work and get away from the crowd. The best solution is a lounge so we set up one at Changsha,” he said.
“In fact, the HSR is being fully utilised by businessmen travelling from one city to another. Even airlines are worried about direct competition from it. A lot of businessmen want more comfortable, secure and safe spaces when they are travelling, especially during the pandemic.”
The RMB$3 million (US$465,000) DragonPass x Plaza Premium Lounge, which is PPG’s first HSR lounge, is a collaboration with DragonPass, a global digital platform for premium travel services. It is targeted at businessmen who frequently travel for work, and other affluent travellers.
It distributes digitally a wide range of premium travel services including lounge access, limousine transfer, fast-track access, meet and assist, dining, valet parking, baggage porterage and advanced medical services.
Facilities and services at the 700m², 290-seat lounge include a nursing room; dedicated playroom; zoning for privacy and social distancing purposes; seating and dining areas; and dining experience with Smart Order, a contactless food ordering system accessible via smart mobile devices.
Indonesia’s hospitality and lifestyle company Artotel Group has formed a strategic partnership with Singapore’s Far East Hospitality (FEH) as it seeks to plant its flag in Singapore and several other countries.
Under the partnership, the two parties will collaborate across operations, cross-branding exposure, and training to strengthen their respective businesses across markets.
Artotel partners FEH to expand its presence in Southeast Asia; Artotel Thamrin Jakarta studio room pictured
As affiliated brands, Artotel Group will work with FEH to expand its presence in South-east Asia at a regional level, introducing Artotel’s hospitality brands to FEH’s network. For FEH, the partnership will allow the group to enhance its presence in Indonesia and gain meaningful market share. In Indonesia, Artotel will represent FEH brands through the group’s distribution channels and ecosystem.
In terms of business growth, both sides will prioritise one another in partnerships and new business opportunities within select jurisdictions of interest. Artotel Group and FEH will also conduct training exchanges to share industry best practices and increase internal knowledge and expertise across markets.
Eduard Pangkerego, COO, Artotel Group, said: “We are facing the challenges of competing with the international brands, which have strong networks and infrastructure. (With the pandemic,) we cannot just sit still and lament the situation. This (partnership will help us get) the right momentum to prove that we are strong.”
Arthur Kiong, CEO of FEH, said: “Singapore and Indonesia are key inbound markets for our respective tourism sectors. As such, we see strong synergies for both countries. Artotel Group also has a network in Indonesia where we do not have a presence in.
“From a brand architecture perspective, it fits into a niche segment which we are currently not represented. Amid discussions to explore a ‘travel bubble’ between both countries, we look forward to leveraging our combined portfolio to appeal to both domestic and regional markets.”
Eduard said the alliance will allow Artotel Group to offer clients the luxury brands, which the group did not have.
Artotel currently has 29 properties in its pipeline across Indonesia, which will bring the total number of properties under the Artotel brand to 50.
FEH operates a combined portfolio of more than 16,500 rooms under its management across 100 hotels and serviced residences in eight countries. The group has also continued to forge ahead with local and regional expansion plans, with two properties opening in 1Q2021 and more in the pipeline this year.
Tourism players in the Maldives are fearful that a recent surge in Covid-19 cases might affect the island nation’s tourism which has shown a remarkable recovery in arrivals since reopening its borders last July.
Germany, the Maldives’ fourth highest source market, raised its travel advisory last week to “high-risk” from “risk” for the Maldives due to a sharp increase in the number of Covid-19 cases there.
Maldives tourism rebound may be derailed by a recent rise in Covid cases
Last Wednesday (May 5), the number of daily cases rose to 734 from 318 a week ago. On Sunday, the daily caseload was 590, with a total of 34,724 cases and 83 deaths.
Most of the cases are in the capital city of Male and other islands populated by locals, while tourism resorts haven’t been affected. The islands where cases have been detected are not visited by tourists, as they arrive at the international airport on another island and are then whisked by speedboat or seaplane to their resort destination.
“The high-risk classification (of the Maldives) by Germany could see some cancellations,” said the manager of an agency servicing German tourists, adding that it could also affect arrival figures from Europe if the number of Covid-19 cases continue to rise. “The problem here is that insurance premiums are high when travelling to risk-averse countries,” he said.
An industry source said that his property has not seen any cancellations of bookings by German guests so far.
He further shared that in recent weeks, there has been a surge in white-collar workers from India using the Maldives as a 14-day quarantine facility before flying to a third country to work or stay there.
“Generally, those from India have to seek a 14-day quarantine in a country outside India before they can travel to the Middle East, the UK, the US or other countries,” he said.
While restrictions have been placed on Indians travelling to other destinations due to an uncontrollable surge in the number of Covid-19 cases there, there is no restriction for Indian tourists arriving in the Maldives. Like any other tourist, they only need to show a valid negative PCR test result upon arrival, and are not required to serve quarantine.
However, since April 27, travellers from India are not permitted to stay at tourist facilities in inhabited islands.
The number of arrivals in the Maldives in the first four months of 2021 was 389,770 – higher that the 2020 figure of 382,760, but lower than the 2019 figure of 646,092. India was the largest source market, followed by Russia, Ukraine and Germany. However, Russia has since overtaken India as the Maldives’ largest source market, with Indian visitors reducing in numbers.
Update: The Maldives has since banned travellers from across South Asia from entering the island nation from Thursday (May 13) in a bid to curb the recent spike in Covid-19 cases. These restrictions apply to travellers originating from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, according to a statement by the Maldives Immigration. It added that the new restriction will also apply to travellers who have only transited through South Asia.
DayAway, a new luxury hotel experience platform, aims to help luxury properties in Singapore optimise and monetise their under-utilised ancillary space – such as F&B, spa, gym and MICE facilities – for daytime use by non-hotel guests.
Targeting Singaporeans and expatriates who enjoy the finer things in life, DayAway is a B2B2C platform based in Singapore which works with its hotel partners to curate highly-experiential daytime packages.
Recently soft-launched in April 2021, DayAway’s partners already include some of Singapore’s most esteemed hotels. These comprise the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Hotel & The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, Intercontinental Singapore and Fairmont Singapore, with 30 more hotels to be announced shortly.
The visionary behind DayAway is marketing and branding expert Martha Waslen, who moved to Singapore in 2011 and was instrumental in the success of beauty platform Luxola (which was acquired by Sephora).
“Over the last year, my family often walked the grounds of our favourite hotels in Singapore as a diversion and I noticed all these beautiful pools, gyms, restaurants and bars were empty,” said Waslen.
“Hotels have been trying to increase revenue generated by this kind of ancillary inventory for nearly a decade, but either lacked the technology to sell these spaces effectively or the marketing channels to engage with the local community. DayAway is the win-win solution to filling these gaps and supporting the hospitality industry while offering exciting new daytime experiences for its guests.”
DayAway’s experiences are carefully curated and exclusive to the platform. Its Sling and Swim experience (S$100; US$75) at Raffles Hotel Singapore includes a complimentary Singapore Sling, three hours of pool time, S$20 credit at the hotel’s exclusive Pool Bar, and gym access.
DayAway’s Suite Day for Mom experience (S$648) at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore is available this month only and includes six-hour access to a loft suite with Marina Bay views, a three-tier afternoon tea service for four, and preferential spa and dining rates.
Aside from Waslen, DayAway’s expert team includes chief technology officer Duy Nguyen, who brings with him years of experience working for InterContinental Hotels Group and has extensive expertise delivering technology solutions for the hospitality industry.
DayAway’s advisory panel includes industry heavyweights such as Daniel Pristavec, a key figure who built Airbnb’s global success from the ground up; and Roger Egan III, co-founder and CEO of Redmart; and renowned key players from the travel industry.
Fresh off closing an initial round of US$350,000 in seed funding, Waslen also credits Singapore as the key catalyst in her entrepreneurial journey: “Singapore’s startup scene is incredibly fast-moving, hungry for innovation and welcoming to entrepreneurs with world-class business ideas.”
Aside from cultivating local partnerships, DayAway is swiftly expanding into international markets to establish a vast combined global footprint.
A lower cap of 50 people will also have to be observed at congregational and other worship services, with the cap going up to 100 people with pre-event testing implemented. Occupancy limits for malls and showrooms will also be reduced to 16m² per person of gross floor area, from 10m² per person previously.