Singapore’s domestic tourism push gets US$233m boost
To jumpstart its tourism sector, the Singapore government will set aside S$320 million (US$233m) in credits to encourage its citizens to participate in the SingapoRediscovers domestic tourism campaign, said deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday.
The credits, dubbed SingapoRediscovers Vouchers, support the nine-month, S$45 million campaign launched last month by Singapore Tourism Board, Enterprise Singapore and Sentosa Development Corporation to drive local spend on tourism and lifestyle offerings.
During his ministerial statement, Heng said: “Our foreign visitor arrivals have dried up because of the travel restrictions, but we are determined to support our tourism sector by encouraging local tourism. Local consumption will not fully make up for (international) tourist spending, but I hope Singaporeans will take the opportunity to explore our local culture and heritage, nature, art and architecture.”
He added that the Ministry of Trade and Industry will provide more details in September.
The SingapoRediscovers campaign will focus on partnering local communities to help citizens discover hidden gems; curating precinct-based tour itineraries; as well as collaborating with hotels, tour operators, attractions and precincts to develop new experiences and promotions.
In addition, Heng also announced a slate of new measures worth S$8 billion to support businesses that have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. These include extending wage support by seven months up to March 2021, from the current August 2020.
Businesses in the aviation, aerospace and tourism sectors, which were the heaviest hit by the pandemic, can receive the maximum wage support of 50 per cent.
Oakwood enters alliance with Country Garden to launch Beluxs brand in China
Oakwood has joined forces with Country Garden Commercial and Culture Tourism Group to co-develop a new serviced apartment brand, Oakwood Beluxs.
The duo targets to open 100 Oakwood Beluxs branded properties across 50 cities in China by 2030.
Oakwood Beluxs has been created to appeal to “well-travelled citizens of the world” with “a desire for a sustainable, smart and personalised sanctuary”. Strategically located in upscale precincts, the hotel brand will exude artful sophistication rooted with a sense of culture.
The brand’s first properties will be set in Southern China, according to Oakwood CEO, Dean Schreiber.
Formerly established in 2005 as a business management team of Country Garden Holdings, Country Garden Commercial and Culture Tourism Group was integrated and officially incorporated in 2018 to manage Country Garden’s commercial and cultural tourism assets. Currently, the company’s portfolio spans across 1,156 cities in China, Malaysia, the UK, Australia, India and Thailand; and has built strategic alliances with over 1,000 brands.
US$24m booster shot for South Korea’s tourism industry
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) have earmarked 29 billion won (US$24 million) for an accommodation-centric discount coupon programme, as part of efforts to boost the tourism industry reeling from the impact of Covid-19.
Under the scheme, one million discount coupons will be distributed to accommodations – including hotels, resorts, guest houses and motels – across the nation from August 14, reported The Korea Times.
Of these, 200,000 coupons offer 30,000 won discounts for accommodations costing under 70,000 won, while the remaining 800,000 coupons offer 40,000 won discounts for those more than 70,000 won.
Citizens are entitled to one discount coupon each when they book accommodations via 27 online platforms, including Yanolja, Interpark, Gmarket, 11st and Myrealtrip, according to the report.
The coupons are valid for use during the off-peak travel season of September and October, it added.
However, the report cited officials from some travel agencies as lamenting that the programme is not effective in helping them to ride out the crisis.
An unnamed official from a Seoul-based OTA was quoted as saying that the company will suffer “a deficit” by joining the programme, as participating travel agencies have to shoulder 10,000 won per coupon.
In response, a culture ministry official told The Korea Times that four times as many discount coupons for accommodation costing more than 70,000 won have been issued, as compared to those under 70,000 won, adding that this will ease the burden on travel agencies.
The programme is expected to stimulate domestic consumption amounting to about 567 billion won, according to the official.
Singapore works to preserve mindshare among Indian travellers
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with India-based travel platform Tripoto to launch a microsite within Tripoto’s website, as part of efforts to keep Singapore top-of-mind among Indian travellers even as Covid-19 travel restrictions prevail.
Designed as a one-stop guide for Indian travellers, the microsite boasts content encouraging them to “Rediscover Singapore Now, Travel Later”. Besides being able to virtually experience Singapore’s attractions like Sentosa and Gardens By The Bay in the Singapore@Home section, users can also try their hand at whipping up Singapore delicacies like kueh dadar and chwee kueh with the stay-at-home recipes.
To appeal to kids, there is also a Fun@Home series of interactive games with Merli, a character illustration of Merlion, Singapore’s most famous icon. The microsite also links to STB’s website containing its latest Covid-19 travel advisory information for visitors and tourism businesses.
GB Srithar, regional director – India, Middle East & South Asia, STB, said: “Although travel restrictions are still in place, it is important for destination brands to continue with engaging consumers creatively and staying connected. Over the last few years, the STB has increasingly used digital marketing in our destination promotion efforts. We are happy to collaborate on this endeavour – a first-of-its-kind microsite by a National Tourism Organisation on the Tripoto’s platform.”
This marks the second collaboration between STB and Tripoto, following the travel web series Trails 2 Passion – Singapore Redefined in 2019, which showcased the experiential exploration of Singapore by actors Naveen Kasturia and Veer Rajwant Singh.
India was the third-largest visitor source market for Singapore in 2019, with 1.42 million visitors, after China and Indonesia. A recent global survey conducted by Blackbox Research, Dynata, and Language Connect showed that Singapore is the top outbound destination for Indians when it comes to post-pandemic travel.
Travelodge hotel to open within Sydney’s Westmead precinct
TFE Hotels will be building a new Travelodge hotel that will form part of the multi-million-dollar West Grove development in Sydney’s western suburbs, under a partnership with Drill Management.
Slated to open in 2023, the 100-room hotel will sit at the gateway to Westmead’s Health Precinct – Australia’s largest health and biomedical research precinct – targeting both the hospital and medical industries as well as nearby corporates.
The hotel’s proximity to the Westmead Hospital will also provide a midscale accommodation option for patients and their families.
Designed by Chada studio, the hotel will feature contemporary interiors throughout including the rooms, sixth level lobby, eatery and bar. Construction on the hotel is expected to start in 2021.
Central design features of the West Grove development include a lush landscaped courtyard space activated with restaurants, cafes and bars.
AirAsia’s charter flights to boost Malaysia’s medical tourism
AirAsia is set to grow its medical tourism business by providing charter flight services from Indonesia, giving patients and medical tourists from Indonesia greater access to medical treatments and health services in Malaysia.
On August 14, AirAsia welcomed its first international medical charter flight from Medan into Penang International Airport. The next medical charter flight from Indonesia will be from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur on August 24.
The medical charter service will be expanded to other cities in Indonesia and soon develop into an end-to-end service offering under the AirAsia.com platform.
AirAsia.com CEO Karen Chan said that the carrier is committed towards connecting people to their critical needs amid Covid-19 travel restrictions.
“These are stressful times for families with members suffering from chronic illnesses that require specialised medical treatments. AirAsia is working closely with medical institutions and government authorities to ensure inbound patients have a seamless travelling experience from Indonesia to Malaysia,” she said.
She added that the airline will continue to work with strategic partners like Island Hospital in Penang, and with the full support of Malaysia Healthcare Travel.
According to Chan, Indonesia as a country accounts for the highest inbound healthcare tourists arriving into Malaysia.
Hyatt’s first UrCove hotel slated for October opening
Hyatt Hotels Corporation’s first UrCove property in Shanghai is now accepting reservations, ahead of its October opening.
The new hotel brand was created under a joint venture of Hyatt and BTG Homeinns Hotels Group, one of China’s largest hospitality groups.
The UrCove (pronounced as “your cove”) brand, which will be largely based in China, has been specifically designed to meet Chinese business travellers’ preferences and growing expectations for a seamless travel experience in the upper-midscale market.
The first UrCove hotel, UrCove Shanghai Jing’an, located in the prime location of the Jing’an Temple shopping and business area in Shanghai, is expected to open on October 1, 2020, and is currently accepting guest reservations via Hyatt channels as well as Homeinns channels.
World of Hyatt members booking an eligible UrCove stay through Hyatt channels can earn and redeem points, while guests booking through Homeinns channels can participate in BTG Homeinns Club, Homeinns Hotels Group’s loyalty programme.
Ascott allows guests to Work in Residence
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has transformed selected apartments into conducive work suites which are now open for bookings, as part of its Work in Residence initiative at participating properties worldwide.
These self-contained work suites are available at over 60 participating properties across more than 10 countries. Ascott’s Work in Residence offers fully-furnished and well-equipped work suites that enable guests to check-in and start work with minimal disruptions. Larger apartments with separate living and dining areas, kitchen and individual bedrooms are also available for project groups.
Guests can choose from daily, weekly or monthly packages. Depending on the length of use and location, the work suites come with a dedicated workstation, regular housekeeping, complimentary coffee and tea or complimentary parking at selected serviced residences. Nespresso coffee machines are also available in selected apartments.
Telecommuting essentials such as high-speed WiFi, wide-screen monitor, webcam for videoconferencing and Bluetooth speakers with microphones are available on demand. To enhance the work-stay experience, task lights, wireless charging stand for tablets and mobile phones, power plugs and USB charging ports, as well as a stationery kit are provided for guests. A range of services are also available, including food delivery, grocery shopping, printing, concierge and book-a-chef for in-room dining.
The launch of Work in Residence follows Ascott’s successful pilot in countries such as Australia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey.
Agoda rolls out day use option for South Korea hotels
Agoda has launched a beta version of its day use feature across hotels in South Korea, giving guests the option of booking a room for just a few hours.
Currently available at 7,000 hotels across South Korea, the new feature provides guests who do not require a full night’s stay with more flexible booking options, while helping hoteliers maximise room occupancy.
To book a day use room, Agoda users can start by searching for any destination in South Korea on the Agoda mobile app, select the “day use” tab, enter the check-in date, and browse a wide range of properties across the country, including in cities such as Seoul, Jeju Island, Busan, Daegu and Incheon.
Day use rates are available for two- to ten-hour blocks, depending on the hotel’s availability. Users can select from available check-in timeslots before 23.00.
South Korean users can look forward to a full roll-out of the day use feature in the next few weeks. Agoda said that it will work with accommodation partners to increase the selection of day use rooms, as well as look to expand the day use offering in other destinations in the coming months.
The Indonesian government is still considering whether to give Bali the green light to reopen to international visitors in September.
The travel ban on foreigners that the central government has set since April to curb the spread of coronavirus is likely not to be revoked by then, although the Bali administration has made known that the island is ready to receive international tourists from September 11.
Reopening the country to international tourists is a “very positive” move, but the government is seeking the right timing to do that, said state-owned enterprises minister Erick Thohir, who is also chairman of the national economic and Covid-19 recovery committee, during a web press conference on August 15.
He said that although Indonesia really needs foreign tourists, the government doesn’t want new Covid-19 clusters to emerge again.
According to a recent meeting among related ministers, including foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi and coordinating minister of maritime affairs and investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, safety remained the highest priority. Although the country was striving to get its economy back on track, the government did not want to go back to square one after its painstaking efforts to stem the Covid-19 spread, shared Erick.
“The reopening of destinations to foreign tourists is still under review. The vaccine may be available early next year,” Erick said.
Meanwhile, the country’s plan to establish travel bubbles hasn’t been burst. But the government is now exploring the possibility to include only Bali – or the island along with tourist destinations in other provinces – for the travel bubble scheme aimed at reviving its tourism industry.
The decision not to open the country as a whole is still under review, according to Hari Sungkari, deputy of infrastructure and destination development at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
“It could be that the travel bubble will not involve a foreign country and the whole of Indonesia. It could be country A with Bali only, or country A with Bali and another region,” he said in a web press conference. “Or the bubble could be even smaller, that is, a point-to-point (travel bubble), in which (a destination) in a foreign country is (paired) with a destination in Indonesia.”
With talks for the project still underway, Hari expects that Indonesia will reach travel bubble agreements with partner countries only by year-end.
As travel bubbles will also require travellers to adhere to health and safety protocols, Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation will give them a fast track to enter its property, The Nusa Dua in Bali, said its director of business and development, Edwin Darmasetiawan.
Besides Bali, other tourist destinations that the government will propose for the travel bubble scheme were not disclosed by Hari. Ng Sebastian, owner of Incito Vacations, expressed hopes that the government would choose smaller islands, such as Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Belitung in Bangka Belitung Islands, and Bintan in Riau Islands.
The Covid-19 crisis has made the government’s target of attracting 18 million foreign tourists this year an impossible goal, said Hari. According to the government’s forecast, the number of foreign tourists in Indonesia will drop to around 2.8 to four million this year, from 16.1 million visitors in 2019.
Hari projects that the country would only realise its 18 million foreign tourist arrival target in 2024 or 2025, and that domestic tourism would recover to pre-pandemic levels only in 2023.