STB introduces Tcube platform to accelerate digital transformation

April 7, 2021

The Singapore Tourism Board has unveiled Tcube, an innovative space at Tourism Court that aims to help tourism stakeholders better their digital capabilities to reimagine visitor experiences and achieve sustainable operations.

On the reason for launching Tcube, or the Tourism Technology Transformation Cube, Ong Huey Hong, executive director industry technology transformation, shared: “We want to grow tourism companies into transformative leaders to compete better. We want to cultivate a community of innovators to chart new courses. And we want to facilitate partnerships between like-minded stakeholders to spur innovation through pilots and experimentation.”

Support will be provided through a three-step framework: learn, test, and build.

The Learn phase will be facilitated by STB’s Tourism Transformation Index, a self-assessment tool with recommendations on relevant programmes to support digital transformation. Stakeholders will be able to gain insights into cross industry trends and applications through leadership conferences and case studies to help them develop new capabilities and implement digital practices for their businesses.

After learning, the Test phase will be facilitated by STB’s Singapore Tourism Accelerator programme, launched in 2019 to help tourism businesses source for innovative solutions to address business challenges. There, stakeholders will be able to bring their ideas to life through experimentation.

There will also be programmes with consultancy services for high-level digital transformation roadmaps, as well as design-thinking workshops to prototype user-centric solutions. Additionally, tourism stakeholders will have the opportunity to engage in innovative projects such as running proof-of-concepts and pilots. These initiatives will help businesses to de-risk while testing new concepts and ideas.

From there, stakeholders will be guided to the final step. The Build phase will be supported by a suite of smart services, including the Tourism Information and Services Hub – a resource platform allowing tourism businesses globally to connect, access and share Singapore tourism information – and the Singapore Tourism Analytics Network which provides actionable insights on visitor data. Tourism stakeholders will also have access to a library of ready-to-use 3D assets, as well as AR standards.

Wong Ming Fai, STB’s chief technology officer, said: “Technology and transformation are no longer nice to have, but imperative to survive and thrive now, and also, in the new post-Covid environment. With Tcube, we brought together existing resources to make it easier for (tourism stakeholders) to access (them), (as well as) provide a physical space for people to meet, be inspired, and to collaborate.”

Sri Lanka eases quarantine rules for vaccinated tourists

By Feizal Samath

April 7, 2021

0

Sri Lanka is relaxing quarantine rules for inoculated tourists arriving into the country, in a move which tourism operators hope will provide a much-needed boost to the industry.

Since the reopening of the international airport on January 21, 2021 after a 10-month pandemic closure, some 9,630 tourists have visited Sri Lanka in that period ending March. Industry officials estimate there should be at least 160,000 visitors a month for hotels to break even.

To boost visitor arrival numbers, Sri Lanka relaxes quarantine regulations; tourists strolling along Galle Fort in February 2021 pictured

According to Sri Lanka Tourism chairperson Kirmali Fernando, tourists who have received both doses of the vaccine two weeks before arriving in the country, will be required to take a PCR test on arrival, and another on the seventh day. Following after, they will be allowed to travel freely across the country. Officials say discussions are underway to allow vaccinated tourists to undergo just one PCR test during their stay.

For non-vaccinated tourists, a PCR test is required on arrival, and another on the seventh day of their stay. Guests must also be confined to one hotel for the first 14 days of their stay, if they are not departing before that.

Health officials say the daily number of Covid-19 cases are decreasing in Sri Lanka. As of Tuesday (April 6), 93,595 cases have been reported, with 581 deaths.

On Monday, all schools across the country reopened; while shops, offices, restaurants and hotels resumed operations, with capacity limits for public functions in hotels.

“With Covid-19 cases coming down, hopefully, quarantine regulations will be further relaxed. There is an expectation that lockdowns in Europe will also be lifted and we are hopeful of more arrivals after July,” said Hiran Cooray, chairman of the Jetwing Symphony group of hotels.

In the absence of foreign tourists, hotels have been dependent on local travellers who have been filling rooms during weekends, lured largely by the attractive discounts of between 60-70 per cent.

Cooray said that locals frequenting hotels during weekends have helped keep hotels afloat in terms of paying staff salaries and other amenities. Hotels are also gearing up for a staycation boom this upcoming weekend due to the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays.

Tourist Hotels Association president Sanath Ukwatte is also hopeful that European tourists will return in substantial numbers by July. “One of our concerns is that Indians (Sri Lanka’s largest source market) are still not travelling to Sri Lanka (while they are going to the Maldives),” he said.

Visitors from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Germany, the UK and China formed the bulk of foreign arrivals in Sri Lanka up to March 2021.

Cebu Pacific deploys strategies to future-proof business

By Rachel AJ Lee

April 7, 2021

0

While the Covid-19 pandemic has posed the greatest challenge to the world’s airlines, Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has taken steps to beef up its balance sheet and restore the airline back to post-pandemic health.

In March, the airline signed a 16 billion pesos (US$330.6 million) 10-year term loan facility with a syndicate of Philippine domestic banks. The money will be used to strengthen CEB’s balance sheet, and provide the airline with the “long runway” it needs for gradual recovery, its vice president for marketing & customer experience, Candice Iyog, told TTG Asia.

Cebu Pacific works with local authorities to transport Covid-19 vaccines into the Philippines

On top of this, CEB is also in the midst of “executing a business transformation plan, that involves acceleration of various digital solutions” to ensure the airline can emerge from Covid-19 in a stronger position, shared lyog.

Plans include rightsizing the network to capitalise on domestic-driven recovery, as well as optimising its fleet through the use of NEO aircraft which have better fuel efficiency and range capability. The airline’s cargo operations also continue to grow, and existing aircraft will be utilised to respond to the increased demand.

When asked if fares will rise once travel returns, owing to capacity limits to allow for social distancing, lyog said: “Our low fares are here to stay. We still hold seat sales regularly during this period, as we believe leisure trips are something we can all look forward to once the situation improves.”

The airline has also permanently removed change fees, giving passengers the “much-needed flexibility” during this time due to the “fluidity of the situation”, added Iyog. Aside from unlimited rebookings, CEB also offers a travel fund option with a two-year validity, should passengers prefer to have a further date out.

In January, CEB joined a growing list of airlines worldwide to push out Covid-19 insurance for its passengers across all its flights. For 270 pesos, CEB Travelsure provides coverage for hospitalisation and medical expenses up to US$20,600 for passengers who test positive for Covid-19.

lyog: Vaccination rollout and creation of a globally-recognised vaccine passport critical for travel restart

Additionally, Iyog pointed out that as Philippines’ largest carrier, CEB’s role is “critical in ensuring the recovery of the industry”.

The airline is working with the Department of Tourism to boost local tourism with the Juan Love campaign, which spotlights scenic spots, thrilling activities and native delicacies, alongside local businesses. As well, CEB is coordinating with the government to transport vaccines, provide passenger flights for stranded individuals, and offer humanitarian aid.

But Iyog, along with CEB’s president and CEO Lance Gokongwei, strongly believes that the Covid-19 vaccine passport is “an absolute necessity” to rebuild traveller confidence post-pandemic.

Iyog concluded: “The number one priority for governments around the world is to vaccinate as many of their population as possible, and work together to create a single vaccine passport, that is recognised in every country.”

Thailand seeks travel bubble with Singapore

By TTG Asia

April 7, 2021

0

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports is exploring plans to open up a travel bubble with Singapore.

Tourism and sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn was quoted by a Nation Thailand report as saying that the discussions would take place within this week with the Embassy of Singapore.

Thailand to begin travel bubble talks with Singapore this week as it looks to revive its battered tourism industry

“We have acknowledged that Singapore has previously run the travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand. If Singapore agrees to run the scheme with Thailand as well, we would probably be able to receive tourists from Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Singaporeans,” the minister said. The travel bubble is expected to kick off on October 1.

Phiphat added that plans were also underway to establish travel bubbles with other low-risk South-east Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Laos. In addition, he also said that his ministry is looking at courting back Chinese tourists, once China lifts travel restrictions on outbound travel.

Singapore moves tourism recovery and reinvention forward with more initiatives

By Karen Yue

April 7, 2021

0

Singapore’s tourism industry will receive further training and business development funding, as well as digital transformation support from the government, as it continues on its road to recovery.

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) will get a S$68.5 million (US$51.1 million) injection and extended support levels for the Business Improvement Fund and the Training Industry Professionals in Tourism grant until end-March 2022. The total value of TDF is now at S$848.5 million.

Minister for trade and industry, Chan Chun Sing, unveils new initiatives to set Singapore’s tourism sector up for long-term success

In addition, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will kick off next week the second season of the SG Stories Content Fund to encourage tourism firms, content creators and individuals to craft authentic Singapore stories to inspire tourist visitation.

Further, in line with Singapore’s push for digital transformation among local businesses, STB will launch the Tourism Technology Transformation Cube – known as Tcube – this afternoon. Tcube is said to be a go-to resource for tourism businesses desiring a digital transformation, where they will get to meet like-minded tourism stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange, test innovative ideas through proofs-of-concept and pilots, and access tools to build and scale sustainable business models.

These initiatives were revealed at this morning’s Tourism Industry Conference, an event held once every two years to bring the local travel and tourism community together to review past achievements and deliberate on the way forward.

In his welcome address, Singapore minister for trade and industry, Chan Chun Sing, noted that the country’s tourism sector was “still in the thick” of its gravest challenge since the 2003 SARS pandemic, and that “recovery remains uncertain”.

“In the near term, there will still be headwinds. But we remain committed to supporting our tourism sector, to help businesses and workers build new capabilities, and break new ground,” said Chan.

He added that the challenge for Singapore’s tourism sector lies not in recovery this year or the next, but in how it will prepare for long-term success and reinvent global travel.

“We are not waiting for a full reopening. Singapore is prepared to disrupt the status quo, transform our products and services, and harness our capabilities to capture the next lap of growth ahead,” he remarked.

Taking stock of how Singapore’s tourism businesses have redefined tourism during the global travel disruption, STB chief executive Keith Tan said Singapore has been successful in establishing travel lanes and resuming some high-profile public and business events such as the ONE Championship events in 2020 and recent Geo Connect Asia 2021. He also commended tourism stakeholders for being proactive in pivoting quickly to new ways of securing revenue, such as through the domestic tourism market.

“This period may well be one of the most fertile periods in the Singapore tourism sector, with new products, experiences and bundled packages being launched weekly,” Tan said.

Moving forward, Tan bid tourism players to maintain their creativity while building up resilience and preparedness for inevitable future crises.

One of the ways to be ready for the future is through digital transformation, said Tan, who went on to explain that Tcube will support tourism businesses through a three-step Learn-Test-Build approach.

The Learn phase will be facilitated by STB’s Tourism Transformation Index, a self-assessment tool that will lead to recommendations on relevant programmes to support digital transformation.

The Test phase is facilitated by STB’s Singapore Tourism Accelerator programme, launched in 2019 to help tourism businesses source for innovative solutions to address business challenges. The Singapore Tourism Accelerator programme may be extended until September 2023.

The Build phase is supported by a suite of smart services, including the Tourism Information and Services Hub, and Singapore Tourism Analytics Network.

Tourism stakeholders can also expect continued support in their move towards Augmented Reality content, through STB’s efforts to build up a library of free 3D assets over the next three to four years.

Mapping out even more support from STB, Tan revealed that the organisation is working with the National Trades Union Congress to draw up a Tourism Sector Capability Development Roadmap; establishing more partnerships with overseas entities to maintain Singapore as a top-of-mind destination among international travellers; and extending the Marketing Partnership Programme to support domestic and international marketing efforts.

Pandemic accelerates technology adoption in end-destination industry

By Rachel AJ Lee

April 6, 2021

0

The Covid-19 pandemic brought with it massive job and revenue losses for the tourism industry, but it has also helped to accelerate the adoption of technology in touring businesses.

Arival’s CEO, Douglas Quinby, shared during a session titled What’s Next in Experiences: The Outlook for Tours, Activities & Attractions at ITB Berlin NOW: “In 2019, tourism activity was a small percentage of business booked online, as opposed to other portions such as flights and hotels. In comparison, it’s well over 50 per cent for flights, but this industry is catching up.”

The end-destination industry – tours, activities, attractions, events, and experiences – is a US$254 billion dollar industry, and the third largest in travel and tourism. This industry was profoundly affected in 2020, and represented only a quarter of total sales in 2019.

“This acceleration from offline to online has never been seen before. There was a large attraction in Europe which in 2019, only had an online share of one per cent (one in a 100 tickets were booked online). But in 2020, with the imposition of government restrictions, it had to switch to 100 per cent online bookings,” said Lukas C C Hempel, founder and CEO of Bookingkit.

“What couldn’t be changed in 10 years, changed in 10 weeks,” he remarked.

This shift in technology has also benefited consumers. Quinby elaborated: “Travellers now want to make sure the tour is running or the attraction is open (as we are still in the midst of the pandemic) before booking, and that health and safety measures are being followed.”

Indoor attractions had to shift their model from an open ticket to a timed entry, and implement capacity limits. These days, most indoor attractions possess an advanced booking model where there’s a time entry and limit, to manage visitor numbers and keep to social distancing requirements.

Dominique Sidley, global trade strategy director at Merlin Entertainments, revealed: “Some of our attractions like the London Eye were already challenged by capacity. So we had to offer ticketed times, where the model was extended to our major cities. We don’t insist on the time ticketing for our outdoor attractions like theme parks as the capacity is broader.”

“We also used the lockdown to accelerate our digital integration programme. So most of our regions now are pretty much voucher-free.”

Aside from the acceleration of adopting technology for online bookings, Quinby predicted that self-guided tours via a mobile app will gain more ground in the future. While this is not a new phenomenon, as startups and platforms with city discovery apps have been around for the past decade, it will be in line with the increased demand for small groups or self-guided travel.

On the point of small groups, Brad Weber, president & CEO at Gray Line Worldwide, added: “There’s been a lot of interest in private groups, and we’ve partnered with a lot of our local attractions, as well as restaurants to offer options such as private dining experiences. We’ve got a lot of such product development initiatives (in this regard) that are underway.”

Enabling travel without fear

By TTG Asia

April 6, 2021

0

In a recent interview, the director of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shared that personal and leisure travel will likely return during the second half of this year. And I’m sure I don’t just speak for myself when I admit to a little cry of joy at the prospect of being able to cross borders once more.

But before rushing to book your next flight, there’s another reality that travellers of 2021 and beyond must face before embarking on new adventures – one of which I’m sure we’re all acutely aware of. According to Sabre’s APAC Travel Sentiment Survey, health and safety is now would-be travellers’ top concern – and rightly so.

It goes without saying that travel and tourism businesses will need to implement the right measures to reassure, protect, and gain the trust of customers as we slowly return to the skies and the seas.

And data will be critical in helping us achieve this.

Supporting vaccination efforts
First and foremost, vaccination against Covid-19 is indisputably one of the main strategies for travel to resume. And in the high-tech and data-driven era we live in now, companies like Lenovo are constantly innovating and designing new tools and solutions to assist medical professionals.

From developing precision medicine for customised treatments, to accelerating human gene analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High Performance Computing (HPC) provide much-needed support to researchers all over the world. Specifically to Lenovo, our Genomics Optimization and Scalability Tool (GOAST) has already effectively sped up the processing of a human genome from what was previously 150 hours to just 48 minutes. This greatly improves efficiency as scientists race to develop vaccines to combat Covid-19.

Making processes safe and secure
But even with vaccines in place, there’s not yet enough data to suggest how long they might be effective and how much they can cut transmission rates – not to mention the potential for outliers. So, particularly in the early days, to mitigate risks, minimising interhuman contact in travel must continue to be a top priority to ensure safety.

For countries to reopen and welcome visitors, new technology can be adopted at various checkpoints for smooth, seamless, and safe travel. For instance, AddFor, Lenovo’s AI solutions partner provides smart solutions like: FEVERCheck, which measures body temperature without contact; FACEFind, which uses biometrics for identification and access into restricted areas; and SOCIALdistancing, a real-time tool that automatically calculates the distance between individuals and reports violations of regulations.

Closer to home, facial and iris scans are quickly replacing fingerprints as the main mode of identification, doing away with traditionally high-touch machines. Keen to secure the nation’s position as an aviation hub, the Singapore government continues to invest in more on-arrival testing and biosafety systems, and the adoption of these contactless scans show no sign of slowing down.

Enabling seamless travel across borders
Smart travel in the post-pandemic world will entail seamless data sharing across borders. As frequent travellers seek entry into various countries, vaccinated and regularly tested individuals may soon be exempted from serving quarantine. With data sharing agreements in place, tech can enable easy identification of these eligible travellers – potentially improving the experience for both individuals and businesses like airlines and accommodation.

Elevating the future travel experience
Of course, everything we’ve discussed so far looks at that which is imminent – but if applied innovatively, data can allow us to safeguard and enhance the travel experience of tomorrow. By harnessing and effectively using technology, travel businesses will have opportunities to deliver next-level services to stand out from the competition.

For example, whether it is offering travel packages tailored to specific interests, the use of helpful voice assistants, or smart features that automatically set up guest rooms according to their preferences, travellers in the future stand to benefit from even more personalisation.

As travel looks to not just recover, but to grow and thrive post-pandemic, it is clear that data and tech will continue to play integral roles in strengthening the industry. Be it personalisation to elevate experiences, or smart solutions that make checkpoints safer, the potential that technology offers is limitless. With the adoption of new and ever-improving innovations, the world may indeed come out of this crisis better prepared to weather future storms – potentially never needing to close our borders again.

Trans-Tasman travel bubble to start on April 19

By TTG Asia

April 6, 2021

0

Australian and New Zealand flags_640 — New Zealand and Australia's travel bubble is now a reality after months of deliberation

Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is set to begin on April 19, revealed New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern during a news conference on April 6.

Arden said that conditions for starting the quarantine-free travel have been met, but cautioned people that they need to be prepared to have their travel plans changed at short notice, including landing and going into hotel quarantine.

New Zealand and Australia’s travel bubble is now a reality after months of deliberation

Ardern also outlined three responses if a case was detected in Australia: continue, pause or suspend the bubble.

She said that if there was a case linked to a quarantine or border worker who was contained quickly, it would be likely that the bubble would continue.

A pause might be put in place if there was a localised outbreak that led to a short lockdown, like the recent one in Brisbane.

But if there are a number of community cases with an unknown source then the NZ government will suspend the bubble temporarily.

The travel bubble would restrict travellers from certain areas in the event of an outbreak in Australia and is expected to run on a state-by-state basis.

Several Australian states have opened their borders to New Zealanders since last October, but it has been a one-way arrangement due to sporadic outbreaks in other Australian cities.

Since the pandemic began, Australia has recorded about 29,400 Covid-19 cases and 909 deaths, while New Zealand has had just over 2,100 confirmed cases and 26 deaths.

Cross Hotels & Resorts debuts in Japan with seven-hotel deal

By TTG Asia

April 6, 2021

0

Cross Hotels & Resorts entered the Japanese market in a master franchise agreement with AB Accommo Company.

The franchise agreement currently includes plans for seven properties with a total of 844 keys within four years in locations such as Okinawa and Hokkaido.

A guestroom at the Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort

The inaugural property, located on Kouri Island, will be called Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort. Kouri is an island connected to the main Okinawa island by a two-kilometre sea bridge. Set to open in July 2021, the boutique beachfront property will offer guests views across the East China Sea.

“Japan is another milestone in our international expansion. Japan has one of the largest increases in international tourist arrivals in addition to very strong domestic travel… We are extremely excited to introduce our brands to Japan and about this strategic partnership with AB Accommo,” said Jens O. Reichert, chief development officer, Cross Hotels & Resorts.

AB Accommo manages 26 hotels, and has a proven track record of cooperation with some of the leading investors and developers in Japan. Meanwhile, Cross Hotels & Resorts operates 21 hotels across three brands – Cross, Cross Vibe and Away – in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Sabre introduces new airline storefront with “shelves”

By S Puvaneswary

April 6, 2021

0

Sabre_s_new_Airline_Storefront_screenshot — A screenshot of the new airline storefront

Sabre has rolled out its new airline storefront, an industry-first capability that makes it easier to comparison-shop complex airline offers in the indirect channel.

The new airline storefront delivers initial shopping results that include airlines’ complete product lines. It eliminates confusion caused by different fare naming conventions and organises a broad set of inventory across multiple airlines to enable improved comparison shopping.

A screenshot of the new airline storefront

This move is a step towards Sabre’s vision to create a new marketplace for personalised travel.

The new airline storefront capabilities are available via Sabre’s shopping APIs, which travel retailers can leverage to build a bespoke storefront and enhance their customers’ experience.

Kathy Morgan, vice president, offer sourcing, Sabre Travel Solutions, explained in an online media briefing that the new airline storefront provides a framework for “shelves” on which airlines can display content side-by-side to help drive more informed decisions.

“Shelves” are defined by specific attributes such as exchangeability, refundability and baggage allowance that qualify the product for placement on a shelf.

She added: “For airlines, the new airline storefront supports differentiation and more merchandising opportunities in the indirect channel, with flight search results displaying several product offerings for an individual flight.”

Wade Jones, chief product officer for Sabre Travel Solutions, noted: “Airlines have invested in differentiating their brand in a number of ways. While this creates greater choice for travellers, it also presents a challenge – it’s easy to understand the cost, but harder to understand what the experience will be. Sabre’s new airline storefront not only empowers airlines to effectively market their unique product in the indirect channel, it also helps travel buyers communicate the total offer value.”

Sabre has partnered with multiple agencies such as Fareportal, the travel technology company powering CheapOair.com and OneTravel.com; and Espressamente Viaggi, part of TravelMatic, a travel technology company in Italy, to test the new storefront capabilities.

Initial pilot results demonstrate the ability of the new airline storefront to deliver a broader set of upsell opportunities with more transparency into each fare.

In a press release issued by Sabre, Werner Kunz-Cho, CEO of Fareportal, commented: “Our customers demand choice paired with convenience and simplicity – this is not always the case with today’s airline shopping experience. Consumers want to compare products and offers quickly and efficiently, just as they do in a shop. That’s exactly what Sabre’s new airline storefront delivers: it allows us to group products for easy comparison, just as a supermarket arranges similar products on the same shelf. Ultimately, this modern retailing enables us to deliver an enhanced traveller experience that centers around offer value.”

Mimmo Christofaro, CEO at TravelMatic, shared: “In today’s world, travel agents are under increasing pressure to ensure that travellers receive the offer that is right for them based on their specific needs and preferences. As a result, we require a solution that allows for quick and easy comparison across offers to help drive more informed decisions. Sabre’s new airline storefront makes all relevant content available in the initial shop and, as such, we are able to increase agent efficiency and encourage upsell.”

STB introduces Tcube platform to accelerate digital transformation

Sri Lanka eases quarantine rules for vaccinated tourists

Cebu Pacific deploys strategies to future-proof business

Thailand seeks travel bubble with Singapore

Singapore moves tourism recovery and reinvention forward with more initiatives

Pandemic accelerates technology adoption in end-destination industry

Enabling travel without fear

Trans-Tasman travel bubble to start on April 19

Cross Hotels & Resorts debuts in Japan with seven-hotel deal

Sabre introduces new airline storefront with “shelves”

Tried and Tested

Disney Adventure

What to Buy Now

Reconnect by the sea with Banyan Tree Samui