Explorer Dream gets infection prevention certificate

July 7, 2020

Genting Cruise Lines (GCL) has revealed that Dream Cruises’ Explorer Dream is the world’s first cruise ship to receive the Certification in Infection Prevention for the Maritime industry (CIP-M) by global healthcare and classification body DNV GL.

The CIP-M certification of Explorer Dream comes ahead of the cruise ship’s resumption of sailings in Taiwan from July 26, 2020.

Explorer Dream receives DNV GL’s infection prevention certificate as it prepares to resume Taiwan sailings

Explorer Dream will homeport in Keelung to operate a series of round-trip cruises, including a two-, three- and four-night itinerary to Penghu, Matsu and Kinmen islands, as well as Hualien in Taiwan.

Dream Cruises will be the first cruise line in the world to begin sailing after the global cruise industry was shut down due to the pandemic.

The CIP-M certification programme, which utilises DNV GL’s expertise in infection risk management, is paving the way in introducing new safety and preventive measures tailored for the maritime industry.

GCL said in a press statement that CIP-M “is based on proven hospital standards and measures against infection risk and further tailored for cruise ships by experts from various fields including the maritime industry”.

The cruise company said that it is working with DNV GL to get CIP-M certification for all its other cruise ships “in the near future”.

Bali tourism operators get safety nod prior to reopening

By Kurniawan Ulung

July 6, 2020

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As Bali prepares to welcome domestic tourists back, tourism players in the destination are required by authorities to obtain health and safety accreditation, as part of efforts to regain traveller confidence.

According to Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, vice governor of Bali, the Bali administration plans to reopen the island’s tourism facilities to local Bali residents on July 9, followed by Indonesian travellers on July 31.

Bali ramps up safety measures ahead of domestic travellers’ return; tourists at Seminyak Beach in Bali pictured

Prior to resumption of business, all tourism facilities, including hotels, restaurants, attractions, transports, and travel agencies, have to obtain certification to ensure compliance with health and hygiene protocols, he said in a statement on June 29.

A circular rolled out by Bali Tourism Agency on June 25 stipulates that tourism players looking to obtain a health and safety certification to resume operations must meet the following requirements: implementing a cashless payment system, providing hand sanitisers and thermo guns, checking the temperature of staff and visitors, declining visitors without a mask, and providing physical distancing markers.

The certification initially also required travel-related companies to conduct rapid tests for all staff on the company’s dime, but was scrapped following outcry from industry players.

Wisnu Arimbawa, managing director of Good Day Tour, said: “The fact that a rapid test costs at least 250,000 rupiah (US$17) for one person and the result would be valid for a maximum of 14 days posed an issue for travel agencies. I cannot imagine how big the expenditure will be when the result expires and we have to take the test over and over again.”

Tjokorda stressed that Bali has to apply strict health and safety measures, and punishment has to be meted out on fraudulent business players who fail to obey the protocols, not ruling out permit revocation for offenders.

Fransiska Handoko, general manager of Risata Bali Resort and Spa and government relations director of Bali Hotels Association, has, however, pointed out that the government’s circular lacked technical guidance on health and safety measures to be taken by trade players.

To ensure that hotels and resorts across Bali have adhered to safe management measures, Bali Tourism Agency head I Putu Astawa said he has formed a verification team of about 100 members to undergo spot checks during the certification process. The members hail from various associations, including the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies and the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurant Association.

The officers in the verification team will assess the readiness of the association members with regards to the new protocols.

“(Tourism players who manage to pass the health and safety accreditation) will sign a pact of integrity. After that, we will give them the certificate,” said Putu, adding that officers will check if measures are indeed taken onsite.

Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council to hold second virtual summit

By TTG Asia

July 6, 2020

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Following the success of the first virtual Resilience Council summit, the Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council will move to conduct its second series which will look into how destinations are dealing with new challenges and opportunities arising from the pandemic.

The second summit on July 8 will be held in partnership with Jacobs Media Group and FINN Partners.

There will be eight webinars available to access throughout the day, including sessions on Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Each panel will take an in-depth look into what is working and how each destination differs in their approach to recovery following the crisis.

A strong line-up of speakers will include PATA’s Mario Hardy; Jamaica minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett; Beautiful Destinations’ Jeremy Jauncey; Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s Raki Philips; and Intrepid Group’s James Thornton.

The virtual destination summit is one of a series of activities presented by Finn Partners and the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council, and is part of a succession of initiatives which include the launch of the Finn Partners Travel Recovery and Resilience Think Tank, a unique collection of some of the world’s best thinkers in health, technology, travel, sustainability, media and culture.

Laguna Phuket certified safe destination

By TTG Asia

July 6, 2020

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Banyan Tree Group’s integrated resort, Laguna Phuket, has been awarded the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certificates by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

The certificates were conferred upon the resort’s seven deluxe hotels and golf course by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn and the new Phuket governor Narong Woonchiew at an award ceremony held at the Angsana Convention and Exhibition Space. The event was attended by representatives from the Phuket Tourist Association, hospitality professionals and local media.

Reps from Laguna Phuket’s seven deluxe hotels and golf course receiving the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration certificates from TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn and Phuket governor Narong Woonchiew

Banyan Tree Holdings executive vice president and Laguna Phuket managing director, Ravi Chandran, said: “Now reopened with enhanced protocols for safety and trust, we have launched #StaySafeWithLagunaPhuket to promote our destination as a safe sanctuary. Among the first in Thailand to receive the SHA certificates, we are uniquely placed to ensure total safety within our destination.

“All hotels in Laguna Phuket have implemented global safety programmes while the non-hotel resort facilities and services have enhanced safety measures. This makes Laguna Phuket the biggest and most inclusive destination resort that is fully certified – the safest destination to welcome our guests.”

Last month, the group launched the SafeSanctuary Programme in partnership with Bureau Veritas to co-develop a proprietary label and certification system comprising over 40 new safety protocols, which was rolled out across all its properties including Laguna Phuket.

TripAdvisor enhances listings with travel security features

By Pamela Chow

July 6, 2020

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With cleanliness becoming the most important consideration in travel planning, TripAdvisor has enhanced its existing ratings and review system through its new Travel Safe features, which include user reviews on safety measures, health and hygiene checklists for hotel and restaurant owners, as well as a safety precautions search filter.

David Vu, associate director, APAC commercial strategy & operations, told TTG Asia that Travel Safe was created in response to a recent study by TripAdvisor, which found that of the consumers thinking about future travel, 92 per cent said cleanliness is the most important factor in selecting accommodations; 84 per cent said sanitisation certificates are important when booking a travel experience; and 79 per cent said it is important to publicly display compliance to government safety standards.

TripAdvisor’s Travel Safe Tools allow users to find health and safety information about hotels and restaurants; a technician sanitising a hotel room using steam and ozone amid Covid-19 pictured

Nearly three-quarters regarded a checklist of safety measures on TripAdvisor listings as being very or extremely helpful.

Vu said: “Consumer expectations are changing and there is now a clear demand for more detailed information about the cleanliness and sanitation practices at individual businesses. Sixty-five per cent of travellers will not travel until they see physical changes at businesses that make them feel safer.”

To produce the hygiene checklists for hotel and restaurant owners, TripAdvisor roped in experts from world health and safety organisations and backed it up with consumer research on safety measures that matter most.

Further, to ensure health and safety measures are indeed taken by properties, TripAdvisor has added a verification element that requires guests to provide specific information based on their experience of visiting the property. Should guest feedback reveal that properties have not complied with the promised measures, TripAdvisor would correct the information published for travellers’ consumption.

TripAdvisor’s Travel Safe features offer one-stop solution for travellers: Vu

When asked if TripAdvisor would bring its Travel Safe checklists and reviews to other tourism services on its platform, such as tours and attractions, Vu said: “More than 70 per cent of TripAdvisor listings fall into hotels and restaurants, but we will continue to expand the feature to other important travel verticals.”

Vu believes that the Travel Safe checklists and reviews will offer convenience to consumers in their travel research, as they no longer need to consult multiple sites for information. “Now, they can easily view a list of sanitation procedures, get validation from real travellers, and ask questions online to the business owner,” he said.

Luxury travel set to rebound in 2021: ILTM

By TTG Asia

July 6, 2020

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ILTM — Holiday Weekend relaxing in luxury with tropical Jungle villa resort luxurious swimming pool Bali , Indonesia

The global luxury travel market is expected to rebound within a year, with most wealthy travellers planning their next vacation in 2020, according to a survey by the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM).

The survey, which polled over 1,000 personal travel advisors worldwide, aimed to understand the key drivers and early travel trends of wealthy consumers, as countries around the world start to ease lockdowns.

Pandemic isn’t stopping luxury travellers from satisfying their wanderlust in 2020; *couple* enjoying a *luxurious* holiday in a villa resort in Bali, Indonesia pictured

Two-thirds (64 per cent) of those surveyed said they had taken travel bookings from their clients amid Covid-19, with more than 50 per cent of those bookings due to take place before December 2020.

Some 72 per cent of concierge companies received substantial bookings. Of the air travel already booked, 39 per cent is domestic and 27 per cent is longhaul trips.

More than 50 per cent of all the planners and agents surveyed said they were confident the industry will rebound within a year. Of those yet to take a booking, 72 per cent anticipate a climb in bookings within three months.

The way luxury consumers travel are also set to change, with 59 per cent respondents saying that luxury automobile travel have emerged as their clients’ preferred choice for their first holidays.

Brittney Magner of Royal Travel & Tours in the US commented: “My clients are in contact constantly to ask what is open and what is safe – they are keen to go where and when they can as soon as possible. As the luxury travel market rebuilds outside the US, many of my clients are flying domestically, but also driving to explore their own country in the most affluent way.

“These first trips will be closer to home as families start to come together again, and the research also showed a preference for private villas too. Shorter trips were also preferred, meaning there could be more of them as the opportunity to ‘catch up’ occurs. The use of private jets is also high up on preferences so that their trips can be taken at short notice and allows for group travel to be within their own family and friends.”

The survey also found that of those considering other kinds of travel, 25 per cent are looking at river, sea and international cruises.

High-end travellers are also opting to spend their first leisure trips with family – more than half having already booked family travels, with almost 73 per cent planning to stick closer to home.

Greece, Italy, the Maldives and the Caribbean have emerged as hot options among the affluent.

Top choices for respondents’ next leisure trips are beach escapes, family travel, private villas, natural wonders, road trips, cruises, cultural and unique excursions/experiences.

At the same time, over 20 per cent showed preferences for sustainable and conscious travel, with health and wellness related itineraries coming in as a first choice.

Philippine travel agents plagued by refund demands

By Rosa Ocampo

July 6, 2020

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Travel agents in the Philippines have been left high and dry fielding refund demands from angry customers, after those in general community quarantine areas were allowed by authorities to resume operations.

The approval, which came last week from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), stipulates that the agencies’ operations are to be limited to a “skeleton workforce and primarily to do administrative works such as processing of refunds and payments to suppliers”. The IATF-EID was acting on the recommendation of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Philippine tour operators left helpless by customers demanding refunds amid travel slump; security guard in front of the closed Antipolo Cathedral during the pandemic-induced lockdown pictured

However, in an open letter to the public, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) highlighted that travel agents “still cannot generate income to sustain even minimal skeletal operations without travel demand and with zero revenues”, and are unable to refund customers as they have yet to receive refunds from similarly situated partners.

As such, PTAA wrote that “a lot of our member travel agents have been insulted, harassed, cursed and threatened by clients (demanding refunds) following the announcement (of the IATF)”.

It continued: “While the government has allowed travel agents to operate, the problem and issue remain the same. Travel agents are still waiting for refunds from suppliers such as the airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators, and travel consolidators.

“The IATF announcement did not change or hasten this refund process in any way. Without receiving the amount from our suppliers, we are hindered from returning these to you as well.”

These customers have been requesting their refunds from as early as March or April, according to the PTAA letter.

It added: “Most of our key people have been working hard from home processing refunds and coordinating with suppliers remotely to make sure you get your refunds back as soon as possible.”

M’sian trade laments high airfares posing barrier to travel

By S Puvaneswary

July 6, 2020

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MAS — Malaysia Airlines aircraft tail logo at KLIA, Sepang, Malaysia.

Tourism players in Malaysia warn that expensive domestic flights could deter holidaymakers, even as the government urges airlines to reduce their fares, following a public outcry over sky-high ticket prices.

Senior minister (security cluster), Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was quoted by The Star as saying on Friday that airlines should lower their airfares to levels before the movement control order (MCO), as they are now allowed to operate at full capacity.

Malaysia’s government urges carriers, including Malaysia Airlines, to lower fares amid public uproar over sky-high ticket prices

He said: “In the beginning, we understood ticket prices were high because the airlines could not accept full seating capacity due to social distancing measures. The maximum capacity they could accept was just 66 per cent. But now, we have allowed airlines to operate at full capacity without social distancing measures.”

Last month, during a meeting held by the Ministry of Transport with the country’s three biggest airlines – Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Malindo Air – the airlines had explained the need to ensure bookings were stable and consistent before prices could be normalised to pre-Covid-19 levels.

The government has allowed airlines to operate at full capacity since June 10, when the recovery movement control order was enforced.

Adam Kamal, general manager at Suka Travel and Tours, said high airfares and limited number of flights have made it difficult to promote Sabah, Sarawak and Langkawi to people from the Klang Valley.

“Due to the high airfares, we are currently giving priority to destinations which is accessible by road from Kuala Lumpur.”

Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager, New Asia Holidays Tours & Travel, shared that flight bookings made one month in advance from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu is at least 50 per cent higher than the period before the MCO was enforced.

“This is not helping domestic tourism. If prices are not lowered to pre-pandemic levels, people will restraint from travelling locally,” he added.

On the other hand, Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa managing director, Anthony Wong, said that the high flight prices are understandable. He explained: “(The airlines) have to survive also, and demand for air travel is poor. It may not be so economical to lower airfares (now). The market is such that only those who can afford it are travelling for the time being.”

Hotel staycations set to resume in Singapore

By TTG Asia

July 3, 2020

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Hotel-Staycation — Beautiful Singapore city view at window in Hotel, Marina bay,Singapore

Singapore’s hotels can now catch a breath of relief as the government has allowed applications for the reopening of accommodations for leisure stays, as well as of recreation areas for children within the hotel premises.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced on July 3 that hotels wishing to resume these activities must comply with the latest requirements for Safe Management Measures found in the country’s Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

Hotels in Singapore can now apply to the government to resume staycations; view of Singapore’s cityscape from window of a hotel in Marina Bay, Singapore pictured

These measures have been enforced as part of the country’s second phase of reopening, and STB, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Enterprise Singapore, and Ministry of Health have updated them specifically for hotels. They include allowing natural ventilation during working hours, establishing assessment of every visitor for symptoms of Covid-19 before entry, as well as adapting procedures to facilitate contact tracing.

According to the advisory, these plans must now be “tailored to the specific nature of operations in each hotel, and potential risk factors arising from localised factors such as the hotel’s physical premises and layout, environment, scale of hotel and typical guest behaviour”.

On top of these measures, hotels must also adhere to a separate suite of tailored guidelines in order to be assessed by STB. Each application must indicate how the property will achieve a series of set outcomes, such as the ability to limit occupancy to no more than one person per 10m²of public space; to stagger timings for guests to occupy the lobby and guest facilities, as well as employees in the back-of-house; and to implement rigorous cleaning and disinfecting regimes.

Tan Yen Nee, director, hotel and sector manpower, STB, said: “Our key priority now is to support our hotel industry in resuming more activities, while ensuring the safety and well-being of all guests and staff. We hope that guests will enjoy the various hotel offerings, and adhere to the safe management measures when visiting hotels.”

The reintroduction of staycations is a long-awaited lifeline for the hospitality players in Singapore, who have only been able to welcome locals back into their dining establishments.

Kwee Wei-Lin, president, Singapore Hotel Association, said: “With global travel restrictions still in force, domestic tourism will give a much-needed financial boost to hotels in Singapore. As we gradually prepare for the return of international travellers, staycations will pave the way to better the financial health of our industry.”

The Safe Management Measures under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 can be found on agc.gov.sg, while the application procedure for hotels can be found on stb.gov.sg.

Save 50% at IHG’s hotels in Thailand

By TTG Asia

July 3, 2020

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Kimpton-Maa-Lai-Bangkok — Kimpton Maa Lai Bangkok, Lobby

InterContinental Hotels Group is offering half-priced stays at its properties across Thailand for reservations made for stays through March 31, 2021.

The Perfect Thailand Getaway package, which is available for bookings made before July 31, 2020, includes 50 per cent off room rates and complimentary breakfast. Guests also enjoy the flexibility of having full cancellations up to one day before their stay, with no deposit required.

As the price war heats up in Thailand, IHG halves room rates at its properties across the country, including Kimpton Maa Lai Bangkok (above)

Participating properties include Staybridge Suites Bangkok Thonglor; Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin Resort; InterContinental Hua Hin Resort; InterContinental Pattaya Resort; Holiday Inn & Suites Rayong City; and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, which is slated to open on October 1, 2020.

Explorer Dream gets infection prevention certificate

Bali tourism operators get safety nod prior to reopening

Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council to hold second virtual summit

Laguna Phuket certified safe destination

TripAdvisor enhances listings with travel security features

Luxury travel set to rebound in 2021: ILTM

Philippine travel agents plagued by refund demands

M’sian trade laments high airfares posing barrier to travel

Hotel staycations set to resume in Singapore

Save 50% at IHG’s hotels in Thailand

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