Enjoy a bird's eye view of Lake Eyre in South Australia with a scenic helicopter ride
AAT Kings has launched a series of Small Group Tours to give travellers a more intimate and personalised experience as they access remote regions and enjoy premium service.
Group sizes are limited to 24, and tours start in South Australia this September, heading to places such as South Australia’s outback, Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, and Eyre Peninsula.
Enjoy a bird’s eye view of Lake Eyre in South Australia with a scenic helicopter ride
A selection of small group departures will also be available on 2025/2026 such as the Perfect Tasmania, a two week exploration of the great outdoors from stunning beaches to glacial lakes, and New Zealand’s Southern Spirit tours across its scenic south island including a Dark Sky experience, views of Franz Josef Glacier, and Milford Sound cruise..
The full suite of Small Group products will then roll out across the AAT Kings’ 2026/2027 season, available to book from July 2025. Additional destinations including Northern Territory and Western Australia will be included at a later date.
Each Small Group tour will include unique accommodation options, such as Wilpena Pound Resort nestled within the heart of South Australia’s breathtaking Flinders Ranges. A range of optional activities will also be available, and can be added to itineraries such as a charter flight over Tasmania’s pristine South West Wilderness, or authentic culinary experiences at Dunedin Craft Distiller.
Each of these tours will provide access to remote destinations and integrate AAT King’s Make Travel Matter ethos, to contribute sustainability and positively impact local communities.
Examples of additional itineraries which will be added to the Small Group Tours product as part of the 2026/27 season include the Tasmania & Flinders Island Explorer, Untamed New Zealand, and an Outback Icons tour.
AAT Kings is offering savings of up to A$2,000 (US$1,298) per couple on select Small Group tours booked July 8. For more information, visit AAT Kings.
A new direct flight between Dubai in the UAE and Vietnam’s Danang, operated by Emirates, is expected to boost luxury visitation from the affluent Middle East region – as well as Europe and the Americas where the airline connects with – to the Asian coastal city.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Danang, there were more than 13,000 visitors from the Middle East as of April 2025. This figure represents 0.73 per cent of Danang’s total international visitors.
Sun World Ba Na Hills offers a diverse range of performances and attractions throughout the year
With the new Emirates route now in operation, Middle Eastern arrivals are expected to rise sharply, potentially adding trillions of Vietnamese dong in tourism revenue to the local economy.
Tran Chi Cuong, vice chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, said the new Emirates service will reduce the travel gap between Danang and major global markets such as the Middle East, Europe, North America and Africa. It also helps to strengthen tourism development and opens new avenues for trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
Danang is ready to welcome affluent travellers – it has 111 four and five-star hotels, many of which carry international labels that are favoured by Middle Eastern elites. There are also 16 tourist sites to provide visitors with varied entertainment.
Danang also has an advantage in golf tourism, thanks to three international-standard golf courses, and in halal tourism, as the city has nearly 30 restaurants and eateries offering Halal-certified or Muslim-friendly cuisine.
Sun Group believes it can contribute to Danang’s appeal among affluent Middle Eastern visitors. Its tourism portfolio includes top destinations like Sun World Ba Na Hills and its iconic Golden Bridge as well as the renowned Ba Na Hills Golf Club, which was designed by golf legend Luke Donald. Two restaurants at Sun World Ba Na Hills – Halal Indrapura and Bharata Restaurant – are also halal-certified.
Nguyen Vu Quynh Anh, deputy CEO of Sun Group and CEO of Sun Hospitality & Entertainment Group, said: “In addition to high-end services, it is the understanding of culture and the ability to offer culturally refined experiences that allow us to fully meet the needs of these highly discerning guests.”
Three content creators specialising in Muslim travel and lifestyle have become the first beneficiaries of a new project that facilitates collaboration between NTOs and travel influencers and contributes to more Muslim travel content.
The Halaltrip Content Creator Tank provides a platform for relevant content creators to pitch their storytelling ideas to a select group of destination marketers, with the best contenders winning an all-expense-paid trip that will enable them to produce their next set of content about Muslim-friendly travel.
Content creator Nur Amira Rahmat makes her pitch at the Halaltrip Content Creator Tank
For the first edition, applicants were invited to submit an online application showcasing their work and audience demographics as well as a short video pitch outlining their proposed content idea, unique narrative style, relevance to Muslim-friendly travel, and destination showcase should they be selected. Submissions were then reviewed by a committee of five industry experts who considered creativity, storytelling, audience engagement, and alignment with HalalTrip’s values.
The exercise attracted over 20 submissions, and six top content creators were eventually shortlisted. Two were selected to pitch to one sponsor destination in the finals.
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Sarawak Trade & Tourism Office Singapore, and Spain Tourism Board were sponsor destinations. Celest Quek, Putrie Rozana and Irene Valencia – representatives from the NTOs respectively played judges in the finals.
Nurul Amira Rahmat, who manages the Instagram and Tiktok channels @asingaporeanabroad, won the pitch to Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore.
Zakky Hirza Aulia, who manages the Instagram and Tiktok channels @hirzq, won the pitch to Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Siti Nur Sabrina Yusri, who manages the Instagram and Tiktok channels @snsby, won the pitch to Spain Tourism Board.
Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, said NTO interest in the inaugural Halaltrip Content Creator Tank was encouraging.
“I see a possibility of us conducting the Halaltrip Content Creator Tank twice a year, instead of just once,” he said, adding that support can be drawn from the many NTOs that CrescentRating is working with on developing halal tourism.
He added that the three NTO representatives supporting the first edition were very enthusiastic. Due to the high quality of contenders, the representatives had hoped to award both contenders an all-expense-paid trip.
“It is a tough choice, but there must only be one winner for each sponsor destination. I am sure the NTO will look at other ways to collaborate with the other contender,” he said.
Fazal recalled that the winner selected by Spain Tourism Board had donned a traje de flamenca – a dress traditionally worn by flamenco dancers – while Sarawak Trade & Tourism Office Singapore’s top choice had performed a Sarawakian dance during her pitch.
A spokesperson from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Southeast Asia office told TTG Asia that there is “strong value in partnering with halal tourism influencers to authentically engage Muslim travellers — a key and growing market”.
The spokesperson said: “These influencers help showcase Hong Kong’s growing range of Muslim-friendly experiences through culturally relevant and trusted storytelling. Our support for the HalalTrip Content Creator Tank reinforces our commitment to inclusive tourism, enabling us to extend our reach, deepen community trust, and further establish Hong Kong as a welcoming and vibrant destination for Muslim travellers.”
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Southeast Asia office is no stranger to engagements with regional travel influencers. It conducts “continuous engagement and meaningful connections all year round”, shared the spokesperson.
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Southeast Asia office intends to invite more influencers to Hong Kong to showcase the city and “expand our reach to their audiences”.
Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2025, held from June 4-6, has achieved Carbon Neutral Event Self Declaration status, marking a major milestone in Thailand’s commitment to sustainable tourism and environmental responsibility.
To achieve this status, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) partnered with the Provincial Electricity Authority to monitor and calculate carbon emissions generated at the event’s venue, the Royal Park Rajapruek. All emissions were fully offset through the Carbon Knox Declaration platform, positioning TTM+ 2025 as a leading example of low-impact tourism events in the region.
Cooked meals that were not served at TTM+ 2025300 were donated to the Wat Don Chan Orphanage and the Northern School for the Blind in Chiang Mai
The event succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 669.84 kgCO₂eq – equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of 47 trees – and diverted 1,080.63kg of waste from landfill through a comprehensive sorting and recycling system. Waste was categorised into 555kg of general waste, 425kg of food scraps, and 100.63kg of recyclable materials.
TAT also collaborated with Central Tham and Recycle Day to manage waste responsibly. Organic waste was sent to Chiang Mai University for biogas production, while PET plastics and other recyclables were delivered to appropriate processing centres.
In support of the event’s zero food waste strategy, surplus cooked meals that had not been served were distributed to nearby communities. A total of 300 food and water packages were delivered to the Wat Don Chan Orphanage and the Northern School for the Blind in Chiang Mai, extending the positive impact of the event beyond its environmental goals.
TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, stated that sustainability is the foundation of all TAT initiatives.
“TTM+ is not only a vital international tourism business platform but also a direct reflection of TAT’s mission to drive responsible tourism that benefits both people and the planet. The Carbon Neutral Event Self Declaration at TTM+ 2025 is a clear demonstration of that vision in action,” she stated.
Guides are excellently versed and weave tales of Cambodian history and culture, as well as modern-day life, into each stop
Graze through the capital city
Snack on deep-fried bugs
It is often said that food sits at the heart of culture and serves as a gateway to truly discovering a destination. Urban Forage’s tours certainly embody this philosophy, offering a variety of adventures that take guests way off the well-trodden trail, introducing local life in the Cambodian capital through food. And there’s no better way to get to scratch beneath the surface and get a true taste of Cambodia than through its cuisine.
We opted for a tour that combines foraging for both street food and art, offering an immersive experience that goes far beyond sampling street snacks and hitting tourist-centric galleries. We started off at a community on the outskirts of Boeung Kak Lake, home to a web of back alleys flanked by tin-roofed homes, mom and pop shops and small communities: a great introduction to local life away from the hum of the capital.
This nondescript area also comes with a lot of recent history, as told in the pieces of urban art that adorn the sides of buildings and walls. As we ambled along the narrow streets, our guide – the extremely informative and entertaining Jackson – pointed to colourful wall memorials depicting Khmer characters, while others paid a subtle nod to the area’s turbulent past. In the early 2010s, the lake – once Phnom Penh’s largest – was filled in, displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
Having worked up an appetite, we jumped in our tuk tuks – complete with free flow soft drinks, water and beer, to begin our grazing tour of the capital. The next three hours saw us navigate the capital’s bustling main streets to sample some classic – and some not-so-classic – flavours.
We savoured flavoursome freshly-cooked noodles at a street-side restaurant, where Jackson introduced us to the owner and the age-old techniques used to make the steaming hot dish, before stopping at street carts spilling over with deep-fried bugs; think tarantulas, crickets and scorpions.
We perched on small plastic chairs gathered around roadside tables and joined groups of locals savouring made-on-the-spot coconut cakes before exploring local markets, passing stalls selling coils of live snakes and writhing eels. We were introduced to what was dubbed the best street food stall for skewered meats, made all the more mouth-watering when combined with a blend of Khmer herbs.
Finally, stuffed, we rounded out the tour at a typical Cambodian night spot for more food – red ant and beef salad, fish amok, papaya salad and heaps of seasoned veg. Then, we had beer and karaoke – the only way to cap a truly Cambodian experience.
Verdict This is an excellent immersion into daily life in Phnom Penh through food and art. Each of the vendors and eateries have been carefully selected, and each show a different side to Cambodia’s cuisine and culture.
The guides are excellently versed and weave tales of Cambodian history and culture, as well as modern-day life, into each of the stops. The group size is also purposely kept to about six to ensure an intimate experience, with different tour options available.
Rate: Tours start from US$35 per person Website: www.urbanforage.co
Amari Bangkok has appointed Michel Scheffers as its new general manager.
Scheffers has been a key leader within ONYX Hospitality Group, most recently serving as area general manager Southern Thailand, overseeing Amari Phuket and Amari Vogue Krabi.
He has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
Yen Dang has been appointed Alma Resort Cam Ranh’s director of sales and marketing (DOSM).
In her new role with Alma, Yen will oversee sales and marketing strategy and initiatives for the resort’s key segments, and report to Alma’s chief commercial officer Frederic Savoye.
The Vietnamese national joins from Mercure Danang French Village Bana Hills, where she was also DOSM.
Her other roles include DOSM at Movenpick Resort Cam Ranh, the cluster director of sales at Mercure Vung Tau and ibis Styles Vung Tau, the DOSM during the pre-opening of Melia Cam Ranh Bay, and director of sales (wholesales) at Novotel Phu Quoc Resort.
Findings from the Klook Travel Pulse study that point at increased attention to personal transformation during travel as well as growing online searches for destination activities have formed the foundation for the OTA’s first global brand campaign, The Best You.
The campaign encourages travellers to discover experiences that take them closer to what they aspire to. It features Japanese personality Marie Kondo, who gained global popularity for her tidying method, and is now finding joy through new travel experiences.
Klook’s global brand campaign, The Best You, encourages travellers to discover transformative experiences
Said Marcus Yong, vice president, Global Marketing, Klook: “This fundamental shift (in travel behaviour) presents a massive opportunity for Klook to define and lead the global experiences category. We’re not just observing this trend; we’re driving it.”
To connect travellers with diverse experiences globally, The Best You campaign was designed to resonate across digital formats and platforms, much like how the travellers gather and come across information that may inspire their next trip.
“We know the traveller’s journey isn’t a straight line. It’s a complex, often messy, path influenced by countless touchpoints, from quick social scrolls to major out-of-home campaigns, and authentic endorsements from local creators,” said Yong.
“This isn’t just about big hero moments; it’s about micro-moments – content designed for scrolls, swipes, shares, and direct search intent.”
Using blended emotional storytelling, Klook has tailored its messaging to resonate with travellers of all ages, whether it is Gen Z explorers looking for their next adventure, parents looking for family-friendly fun, or the older generation.
So far, the campaign has reached over 215 million travellers, clocked nearly 200,000 hours of campaign content watched, and seen strong uplifts in branded search volume, direct traffic, and organic app installs.
The campaign also benefits Klook’s travel providers. By cultivating a brand that prompts travellers to explore activities focused on self-discovery, wellness, and personal growth, this drives new demand towards those that offer experience-based activities.
Yong added: “We’re continuously innovating to bridge the gap between our customers and these experiences. We’ve introduced platform features that integrate social videos directly onto our destination pages, inspiring discovery and making it easier to visualise experiences, ultimately driving more action.”
Christchurch Airport has taken another step forward in its sustainability journey, becoming the first airport in the world to adopt a new high-tech emissions tracking platform that will aid its climate action.
A key part of Christchurch Airport’s sustainability journey has been tracking and reducing its own on-the-ground airport operational emissions.
Christchurch Airport now uses the PACE Airports platform to track flight emissions in detail
Traditionally, flight emissions data has been gathered annually, and split into categories such a domestic, regional and international. With the advanced PACE Airports platform, Christchurch Airport can read emissions generated from flights in greater detail, allowing data-led conversations and longer-term transition requirements for airline partners.
The platform delivers up-to-date emissions data covering over 99 per cent of commercial flights worldwide, tracking more than 370,000 individual routes, and utilising over 10 billion flight data points. The system calculates emissions down to the type of engines an aircraft is using and can be tailored to local conditions.
Claire Waghorn, sustainability transition leader at Christchurch Airport, said: “Our key focus on this sustainability journey has been reducing our own operational emissions and then seeking to support our wider sector reductions. The insight from this platform offers us data to consider the aviation-related emissions across the entire airport operations.”
Christchurch Airport is the first airport in the world to adopt the PACE Airports platform, which is developed by Fexco, an Irish global fintech and financial services company. The platform is currently used by leading banks and aviation financiers to track aviation-related emissions across the global aviation sector.
Vietnam’s Phu Quoc is cementing its place as a leading luxury island destination, thanks to the growing number of high-end properties that offer the wellness and relaxation getaways affluent travellers are seeking.
Sriram Kailasam, general manager of Regent Phu Quoc, which celebrated its third anniversary in April, said since the property opened its doors, Phu Quoc has seen “significant” changes in tourism trends.
Regent Phu Quoc attracts travellers with seasonal experiences
“One of the most notable developments has been a surge in airlift to the island, combined with its visa exempt status, which has greatly boosted visitor numbers,” he said. “Travellers are increasingly seeking authentic experiences that enable them to connect with the local culture and environment while enjoying top-notch hospitality.”
In the three years the property has been open, Kailasam has noted a growing demand for luxury wellness retreats, adventure activities and culinary experiences that showcase regional flavours. Additionally, travellers are seeking more flexible booking options and personalised services.
Kailasam added that one of Regent Phu Quoc’s greatest achievements in the last three years has been that nearly 25 per cent of its guests are repeat visitors.
“In just three years, we have successfully hosted two buyouts for international organisations and have nearly 25 per cent of our guests returning, which indicates that we’re on the right track.”
He said this has been driven by its loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, which offers tailored benefits, such as room upgrades, flexible check-in and check-out and bespoke itineraries. Each season, the property also introduces different programmes. For example, the Monsoon Programme focuses on wellness.
“These unique seasonal experiences help foster a deep connection with our guests, ensuring that each visit is truly memorable,” Kailasam said.
However, he said one of the biggest challenges is Phu Quoc’s limited connectivity to Europe and the Middle East through full-service airlines, which is “essential for a destination like Phu Quoc, and for luxury resorts”.
“On a positive note, we have seen an increase in regional connectivity through low-cost carriers, making it easier for travellers to reach us quickly and efficiently,” Kailasam added.
