Asian male with face mask protection againts Coronavirus or Covid-19 or Covid19 look at flight schedule board at the airport , Corona Virus and health protection concept
Many Chinese travel agencies expect a gradual recovery of China outbound tourism in six to 12 months, according to a recent report by ITB China which examined the planned travel behaviour of the Chinese in the coming post-Covid recovery phase.
The 2020 China Market Recovery Special Edition is based on a survey among 200 Chinese outbound travel agencies and travel companies, including interviews with several industry experts.
Majority of Chinese travel agencies surveyed in ITB China’s latest study expect China outbound tourism to recover in six to twelve months
Asked about the recovery of the Chinese outbound travel market, 43 per cent of those surveyed expect that outbound travel will recover within the next nine to 12 months. Some 33 per cent think it might take six to nine months, whereas 20 per cent believe it will take three to six months. Only four per cent expect to see a recovery within the next three months.
Eduardo Santander, executive director of the European Tourism Commission, said: “China was hit first and should therefore be one of the first countries to recover, which would prove to be positive for European-Chinese tourism cooperation. By the time Europe can go back to normal, China might be ready for longhaul travel again. We expect the European travel industry to recover in 2021.”
In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, Chinese travel operators and outbound travel agencies have been gearing up for recovery by restructuring their operations, engaging in internal employee training programmes as well as maintaining close external communication with partners and customers.
The survey revealed that even with the suspension of business during the outbreak, travel agencies and travel-related companies have proactively and consistently communicated with their customers. Some 66.5 per cent of the respondents communicate with stakeholders weekly, while 16.5 per cent share updates every two weeks, and 17 per cent communicate on a monthly basis.
James Liang, Trip.com group chairman, said: “Different measures taken by different countries and territories will hinder international travels, which will impose certain pressure on short-term upward tendency. However, in the long run, the industry is extremely resilient and any irreversible change is highly unlikely.”
Emirates has launched a new online platform that will allow its travel trade partners around the world to have easy access to the airline’s full range of products.
Specifically tailored for each trade partner, the Emirates Partners Portal is a one-stop shop showcasing the carrier’s latest products, services and policies, while also providing technical support.
Emirates’ new platform reshapes the way the carrier delivers information to its trade partner community
The portal also offers a range of functions including self-service tools and support, and in-built automation of business processes, all aimed at delivering efficiency for travel partners, as well as providing transparency and clarity on the status of transactions.
Emirates’ CCO, Adnan Kazim, said in a statement: “This is a bespoke platform which is unique in the industry, and it allows us to offer a truly personalised experience based on our partners’ profiles and needs. We invested in listening to our agents and partners, and then we built the Emirates Partner Portal to address their needs whether for information, training or technical support.”
The portal is designed “to offer unmatched flexibility and empower (Emirates’) travel partners so that they can confidently provide even better services to their customers, and help them to fly better with Emirates,” he said, adding that its launch comes at an especially critical moment in the industry, where the need for the most updated travel information is an essential business enabler.
Built on the latest technology, on NDC/IATA standards, the portal will provide access to Emirates’ rich content, alongside critical operational updates, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The platform will be available in multiple languages. Registration and enrolment is quick and secure, and linked to each agent’s Emirates registered identification.
Hotel and F&B operators in Indonesia are underwhelmed by the government’s partial waiver of tax obligations, calling for more financial relief and incentives to aid the tourism sector ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hariyadi Sukamdani, chairman of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA), bemoaned the government’s stimulus packages for their ineffectiveness in helping hoteliers tide through the ongoing crisis.
Restaurants and hotels urge the government for more support; a closed cafe in Canggu, Bali amid the pandemic pictured
For hotels and restaurants, a 30 per cent waiver on corporate income tax, for example, was not helpful enough as they still had to shoulder the balance, while continuing to suffer losses, he said. Instead, IHRA members are hoping the government will completely waive the monthly tax.
“The pre-employment card programme is also ineffective because it benefits new job seekers instead of existing workers,” he said, hoping that the government would give the latter cash aid.
Hariyadi shared that hotels and restaurants were likely unable to pay land and building tax which is due in August, hoping that the government would waive it this year.
Most hotels and restaurants have run out of working capital reserves by now to resume operations, according to Hariyadi. He, therefore, urged the government to grant the members working capital worth 21.3 trillion rupiah (US$1.4 billion) to help tide their businesses through the next six months.
Their fiscal woes is worsened by electricity and gas bills that hotels and restaurants still have to foot, despite reduced consumption, due to the minimum charge payable, said Hariyadi. He hopes that the government would get the State Electricity Company to retract the minimum spend requirement, and bill companies for their actual usage instead.
Elsewhere, Denon Prawiraatmadja, chairman of Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (INACA), beseeched the government to absorb the Covid-19 testing costs of air travel passengers to incentivise people to fly again, as well as restore full operational capacity for airlines from the current 70 per cent in order to aid the sector’s recovery.
He also asked the government to provide financial relief for INACA members, such as waivers of parking fees, discounted aviation fuels, and tax relaxation on aircraft spare parts.
As well, Denon called on the government to coordinate regulations, citing overlapping information in circulars issued by health ministry, transportation ministry and Covid-19 task force.
He also urged greater consistency in health and safety protocols across regions to avoid traveller confusion and subsequent aversion to travel. One region, for example, required travellers to take a Covid-19 rapid test, while another, a Covid-19 swab test.
“Another challenge is how the government is going to take action against violations committed by stakeholders in the aviation industry,” he said, adding that strict adherence to health and safety protocols is important in restoring travellers’ confidence in air travel.
Meanwhile, speaking at a webinar on tourism recovery, Wishnutama Kusubandio, Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, assured the travel industry that the government was working to provide them with more financial support.
He said that he had presented the trade’s request for a complete waiver of corporate income tax during a meeting with finance minister Sri Mulyani and that the appeal “is still being processed”.
The annual Singapore Food Festival (SFF) will go virtual for the first time this year, and its offerings extend beyond just online cooking classes.
Taking place across two weekends – August 21-23 and 28-30 – SFF 2020 will bring Singapore’s culinary gems to life in the form of online and offline food tours, live and in-person masterclasses, chef collaborations, food bundles and limited-edition food merchandise.
Passion Gao Siew Dai will be one of the exclusive items on sale during this year’s Singapore Food Festival
On its virtual food tours, local TV personality Chua Enlai will take participants through the historical Tanjong Pagar, Chinatown, Katong and Joo Chiat precincts to discover stories behind popular eats, heritage food businesses and lesser-known food gems.
Physical guided tours of these destinations will also be offered over the two weekends, conducted by local tour guides. More details will be announced.
SFF 2020 will also feature exclusive merchandise. These include a range of T-shirts under Uniqlo’s UTme!, featuring eight limited-edition designs of popular hawker dishes such as laksa, kueh tutu and nasi lemak, by local illustrator Mandy Kew.
Other merchandise include Passion Gao Siew Dai, a beer exclusively developed by craft brewery Brewerkz for the festival; Chicken Rice Pretz, a collaboration between Glico and Wee Nam Kee; bakery Cedele’s prawn otah cookies and Violet Oon’s signature Sambal Bajak and Goreng Chilli.
To bring culinary flavours to participants at home, the event will have 17 free-to-view live masterclasses, featuring award-winning chefs such as Cheryl Koh of Tarte by Cheryl, Julien Royer of three Michelin-starred Odette, as well as bartending honchos Colin Chia and Charmaine Thio of speakeasy bar Nutmeg & Clove, ranked #32 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020.
Selected masterclasses will also be available in person at restaurants, while participants can opt to purchase ingredient boxes and have them delivered to their doorstep.
Mobile marketplace Shopee will also host food bundles for delivery that feature tantalising dishes demonstrated in the live masterclasses. As well, social media app Snapchat will launch foodie-themed filter lens on August 21.
SFF 2020 is a highlight under the recently launched SingapoRediscovers campaign, which seeks to encourage rediscovery of Singapore’s local offerings and stimulate domestic demand.
Why
We are in the midst of a Microsoft Teams meeting, and our companions at the other end of the video call are loud, boisterous… and very, very distracted. They aren’t paying attention to what we are saying, and are instead caught up in their own constant chatter. They also happen to be a bit wet having just come out of the shower. Not that any of that matters to us, as these leggy African beauties are a sight to behold. All 65 of them.
It isn’t every day that we get to hang out with a flock of flamingos. Or have the chance to grill a keeper for some fun flamingo facts.
That is now possible, thanks to Wildlife Reserve Singapore’s (WRS) Hello From The Wild Side programme, a host of online offerings that include virtual encounters with its feathered residents. This initiative was launched amid the closure of the group’s four zoological parks during the country’s circuit breaker. While all the parks have since reopened (except Night Safari which will reopen on July 30), the popularity of its virtual initiative has led WRS to expand its menu of online offerings.
See toco toucans up-close during a virtual hang-out with them as part of WRS’ new virtual offerings
What
Hello From The Wild Side now includes the option to purchase personalised video greetings featuring select animal personalities, and a private behind-the-scenes session with Singapore Zoo’s Asian elephants.
As part of its refresh, guests can have virtual group meetings with the double yellow-headed amazon, scarlet macaw and toco toucan (Jurong Bird Park); as well as great horned owl, Asian small-clawed otters, and white raccoon (Night Safari). That is on top of the original cast: capybara and great white pelican (River Safari), African penguins (Singapore Zoo), as well as oriental pied hornbill and white cockatoo (Jurong Bird Park).
How
Our virtual meeting on a Friday afternoon was with the Bird Park team, featuring a quartet of avian beauties: the double yellow-headed amazon, scarlet macaw and a pair of toco toucans, with a surprise appearance from the supermodels of the wild.
Taking us into the colourful and cacophonous colony of feathered fowls is the chirpy and wildly animated Lynn from the animal presentation team.
We hear our first guest before we see him – Quincy, a loud and talkative double yellow-headed Amazon parrot, a native to the forests of South America. Parrots like Quincy, we are told, are adept at mimicking skills. He can utter the words “welcome to parrot paradise”, mimic a cat’s meow, and even do a rousing rendition of Singapura, Sunny Island. We also learn that parrots like Quincy require a lot of time and attention, can create quite a ruckus, and live up to 80 years old.
Our next close-up encounter is with another South American native: Ippy, a long-tailed scarlet macaw, which tongue wiggled and somersaulted his way into our heart. As one of WRS’ Go Green for Wildlife ambassadors, Ippy even schooled us in the importance of recycling with a charming demo involving three types of bins and litter – and a pint-sized stool.
Our next guests are no stranger to the limelight, having graced cartoons and cereal boxes. Meet the big-beaked Mr and Mrs Axle, a pair of wildly popular toco toucans, which are the largest in the toucan family. The husband-and-wife duo quickly get busy munching on their treats comprising a mix of assorted fruits, eggs, and chicken – “for a well-balanced diet”, we are told. Despite their oversized bills, we found out that they are incredibly agile, via a performance involving one nicely fielded morsel of grape.
A behind-the-scenes take of Quincy during filming for WRS’ new Hello From The Wild Side programme
These interactive sessions would be a hit with parents with young kids, friend groups, or remote teams for teambuilding activities.
As opposed to an in-person trip, these virtual sessions offer the opportunity to interact with the keeper and learn more about these critters. It also affords an up-close look at the animals, albeit via a screen. It was almost surreal seeing the toco toucans in such close proximity in real-time, and we were entranced by their cartoonish-looking bills.
While these sessions are non-exclusive, they are limited to only three user profiles at any time. Alternatively, participants can opt for a personal session by booking out all three slots for that timing and invite up to five friends to join in the call. Part of the funds raised through these interactive sessions is channelled towards supporting ongoing efforts by WRS to care for and protect wildlife and habitats across South-east Asia.
Verdict
All in all, the 20-minute session was equal parts entertaining and educational, and we walked away with newfound knowledge on feathered fowls – some fun to know, some hard to swallow.
Like when we learnt how many parrot owners end up giving up their pets at the Jurong Bird Park due to the birds’ high maintenance. Or how the number of toucans in the wild is shrinking due to poaching and deforestation, driving home the importance of supporting local conservation efforts.
Turns out, staging a show with animals in real-time can make for pretty good comedy, thanks to their penchant for going off-script. To wit, Lynn’s repeated attempts at getting Quincy to say hello is met with stony silence, while earnest appeals for him to mimic a rooster’s crow sees the fowl letting loose a series of shrill whistles instead.
One of the flamingos’ favourite pastime is to “play with the carpet” whenever they are brought out on stage at the Pools Amphitheatre in Jurong Bird Park, according to our host-keeper
We were, perhaps, most delighted by a surprise appearance from the flamingo family as our session drew to a close. During an interactive Q&A session with the host, we received a crash course on flamingos: These pink beauties are not au naturel, but get their colour from their diet which contains beta carotene. They love to shower. Sometimes, they stand on one leg even when they are sleeping. And, yes, flamingos fly. But, like airplanes, they require a long runway to run a few paces to gain speed before taking flight.
Rate: S$100 (US$72.50) for a 20-minute session with all animal groups for virtual meetings, except oriental pied hornbill and white cockatoo (S$50 for a 10-minute session) Contact:
Website: www.wrs.com.sg/en/hello-from-the-wild-side
Centara Hotels & Resorts is offering promotional packages at its hotels and resorts in select destinations, including Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Middle East.
The Stronger Together offer includes free half-board dining for stays of four nights or more. Global customers can book now for stays anytime before March 31, 2021, with free modification and cancellation.
A night’s stay at the Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives now costs US$520
Participating outlets in Thailand include Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, and Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi – all with starting rates from 3,120 baht per night.
At Centara Villas Samui and Centara Grand at CentralWorld, rates start from 2,240 baht per night. Guests who stay at Centara Grand from now until July 31 will also get 2,800 baht of hotel credit to spend on F&B or spa treatments, as well as early check-in and late check-out.
Elsewhere, guests can fork out US$80 for a night’s stay at the Centara Sandy Beach Resort Danang, or US$72 per night to staycation in Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka.
Over in the Maldives, rates at the Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives start from US$520 and US$420 per night, respectively.
For travellers in the Middle East, a stay at Centara Muscat Hotel Oman will set you back OMR23 (US$59) per night, while a night at the Centara West Bay Residences & Suites Doha will cost you QAR340 (US$93).
The Stronger Together promotion is available to all new and existing members of Centara’s loyalty programme, CentaraThe1.
Medical waste,Virus mask and plastic garbage on sunset sea coast,people play on beach,coronavirus covid19 pollution
The pandemic has sparked a surge in plastic waste, as usage of disposables like face masks and sanitiser bottles continues to rise, with some coronavirus waste even making its way into the oceans. As such, a group of global bodies has released a set of key recommendations on how the tourism sector can continue fighting plastic pollution while tackling public health and hygiene challenges amid the pandemic.
The guidelines released by the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, led by the UNWTO and the United Nations Environment Programme, in collaboration with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, aims to spur industry stakeholders to address the root causes of plastic pollution amid these challenging times.
Coronavirus waste such as plastic masks and disposable gloves is polluting the environment and posing a threat to marine life as some waste ends up in the ocean
When not properly disposed of, products such as gloves, masks and sanitiser bottles can end up polluting the natural environments around major tourist destinations, said UNWTO in a press statement.
The Recommendations for the Tourism Sector to Continue Taking Action on Plastic Pollution During Covid-19 Recovery detail how reducing plastic footprint, increasing supplier engagement, closer collaboration with waste service providers, and ensuring transparency on the actions taken, can significantly contribute to the responsible recovery of the tourism sector.
UNWTO secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, said: “As the tourism sector restarts, we have a responsibility to build back better. Not managing the transition into the new reality we are facing, including the strong focus on health and hygiene measures, in a responsible manner may have a significant environmental impact, which is why this renewed commitment is vitally important.”
UNEP economy division director, Ligia Noronha, added: “We need to take a science-based approach and support governments, business, and local communities to ensure we are taking the most effective measures to protect hygiene and health without creating pollution and causing harm to our natural environment. These recommendations addressing hygiene and disposable plastic can support tourism sector stakeholders in their efforts towards a responsible recovery.”
Already, major global tourism companies Accor, Club Med, and Iberostar Group have committed to fighting plastic pollution by signing up to the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, alongside more than 20 signatories including major industry players and supporting organisations.
The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative unites the tourism sector behind a common vision to address the root causes of plastic pollution. It enables businesses and governments to take concerted action, leading by example in the shift towards a circularity in the use of plastics.
As more people look to greater personalisation and less crowded, off-the-beaten-track destinations for their next socially distanced getaway, the Covid-19 pandemic is fuelling the growth of Japan’s micro-tourism market.
“The new travel trend will be focused on simplified itineraries with limited locales and activities to minimise exposure to Covid-19,” said Mark Wong, senior vice-president Asia-Pacific at Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Remote, off-the-beaten-track destinations gain traction amid pandemic; Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse pictured
“Our reservations team has become like a travel concierge desk for our guests. And we are also partnering with local experiential travel providers to curate activities that are off-the-beaten-track,” he added.
Travellers are also opting to stick to one accommodation for the entire duration of their trip.
In a recent survey by the brand, 90 per cent of respondents said they would feel “more comfortable” in a small independent hotel at present, prompting SLH to launch its Stay Small initiative to promote its properties, which each have a collection of 50 rooms on average.
Greater demand for simplified itineraries with limited activities in the new normal: Wong
Sub-campaigns include Stay Small, Stay Local, to push staycations and weekend getaways; and Stay Small, Stay Longer, which promotes regional itineraries.
Hoshino Resorts is tapping domestic demand by targeting people living within a 30-60 minute drive from their properties, with the lure of meals, hot springs and relaxation in a private space.
Jiseon Lee, the company’s area manager of global marketing, said that there is rising awareness among Japanese consumers to keep “travel closer to home and in a safe place.”
Lee said that micro-tourism can help support Japan’s hard-hit tourism industry by improving collaboration between nationwide and regional companies, while showcasing the unique aspects of localities. Kai Nagato, the group’s hot-spring resort in Yamaguchi, for example, is decorated entirely with local crafts such as hagi glass and tokuchi washi paper.
“(Our efforts) can help not only the tourism industry, but also the local economy, since developing and offering content will lead customers to come back to the region (in the future),” she said.
Sean Brecht, managing director of luxury DMC Discover Shikoku, agreed that current demand is focusing “largely around the themes of exclusivity, privacy, and limited interaction with appropriate social distancing”.
He said that his company is well-poised to meet the demand given that privacy and separation have always been key to its operation.
New normal travel concept, Happy traveler asian woman with mask and camera sightseeing in Wat Pak Nam Khaem Nu temple, Chanthaburi, Thailand
As the tourism industry starts to get back on its feet, Asian travellers have shown more confidence about travelling in the new normal, as compared to their Western counterparts, according to a recent global study.
Jointly conducted by social research agency Blackbox Research, data provider Dynata, and language partner Language Connect, Unravel Travel: Fear & Possibilities in a Post Coronavirus (Covid-19) World examined the sentiments of more than 10,000 people across 17 countries regarding travel in a post-Covid-19 world.
Asian countries like India, Thailand, China, Indonesia, and Singapore are more eager than their Western counterparts to resume travel; Asian tourist in Wat Pak Nam Khaem Nu temple in Chanthaburi, Thailand pictured
As part of the study, countries are measured on a travel confidence score, by considering two indicators: how comfortable a person is to travel internationally in the next 12 months, and how well-prepared they feel about their country reopening its tourism and leisure activities.
With a score of 76, India and Thailand are tied for top place with the most citizens confident of travelling in the new normal. Asian countries dominated the list of countries that scored above the global average of 61, including China (69), Indonesia (65), and Singapore (64). France, Germany, and Denmark also rated above the global average.
At the other end of the spectrum, Japan rated the most cautious with a score of 40, followed by the Philippines (43), and Hong Kong (50). Other countries that scored below the global average included Sweden, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, and the US.
Blackbox Research COO, Saurabh Sardana, said that each country’s score reflects a balancing act between a number of different considerations – the perceived importance of tourism to a country’s economy, national management of Covid-19 cases, and even past experiences of similar epidemics. Notably, New Zealand’s low case achievement has led to the country’s more cautious attitude towards international travel.
He added: “The scores revealed that a number of countries have had their confidence towards travelling severely battered, which can be attributed to the negative reporting on Covid-19 cases. For them, sustained control in Covid-19 numbers domestically and globally is needed before they begin revisiting international travel as a lifestyle priority.
“Meanwhile, with a significant part of Asia having experienced similar epidemics, it is not surprising that Asian travellers would be more resilient and optimistic about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Despite countries like India and Indonesia recently seeing a higher number of cases, their reputations as tourism powerhouses means it will be hard for them to neglect the travel industry in the long-term.
“When it comes to navigating travel in the new normal, we foresee people living in Asia will have the highest pent-up demand for travel, but tourism boards and the travel sector need to re-evaluate and reimagine their whole approach towards future travel experiences in order to be sustainable in the future.”
Overall, international leisure travel in the short-term is off the schedule for most people, with 44 per cent of respondents still keen to avoid international vacations. Notably, Japanese (32 per cent), Filipinos (42 per cent), New Zealanders (43 per cent), and Australians (52 per cent) are least eager to take longhaul trips.
However, the study also revealed that aspirations for regional travel has led to emerging travel trends in destinations. Australia and Japan emerged as the two most popular destinations for Asian travellers, while Spain is on the top of the list for European travellers given that its Covid-19 cases saw a downward trend in June.
The countries whose tourism appeal took the biggest hit during the pandemic are China, Italy, and the US. Sardana attributed this phenomenon as a reflection of what has been reported in international and mainstream media on each country’s Covid-19 crisis management.
Sardana noted: “The travel sentiment to countries like the US and China also gets severely impacted by key events such as Black Lives Matter protests, foreign worker visa freeze, and Beijing’s second wave of infections. This has a compounding effect which inevitably has taken a toll on their international standing as a tourism destination. What this means is that they have their work cut out for them to reposition themselves to attract tourists post-Covid-19.”
In order to win over future travellers, tourism boards and travel operators need to keep safety during travel at centre stage, with travellers willing to pay a premium for such assurances, according to the study. Globally, 80 per cent are willing to pay more for safer accommodation, while 74 per cent are open to paying a higher premium for travel insurance in exchange for protection against pandemics.
Meanwhile, contactless travel will be the new benchmark for travellers – 76 per cent of respondents indicated that their preferred travel destinations will be countries that offer more reliable contactless experiences. Travellers are also looking to minimise contact during transfers as much as possible – an overwhelming 66 per cent prefer to travel in their own vehicles for road trips between cities or countries, compared to travelling on a plane (18 per cent), rented or private-hire car or taxi (nine per cent), and buses and trains (seven per cent).
In response, Sardana said: “Governments will need to play a key role in messaging and ensuring travellers’ safety, as well as empowering the tourism industry through investment in new technology and innovation that would ensure a seamless, contactless travel experience that is sustainable. The first movers will cash in on the pent-up demand as borders open.”
In terms of what the future of travel looks like, the study found that e-boarding passes (44 per cent), touchless lavatories (43 per cent), contactless journeys from airports to hotels (40 per cent), no middle seats in transportation (36 per cent), and digital health passports (35 per cent) are some of the new ideas on global travellers’ wishlist.
Sardana concluded: “What the study has shown us is that the pandemic has unequivocally shifted how we see travel, and in order for travel industry players to stay relevant, they need to change the way they approach every aspect and touchpoint in the traveller experience, emphasising safety and rebuilding trust.
“Halting travel has had devastating social and economic implications – a majority of our respondents recognise that the tourism industry plays an important role to their country’s economy. In order for the travel industry to emerge from this crisis stronger and more resilient, they need to also recognise that Covid-19 will not be the last global health crisis, and beyond rebuilding an industry that caters to new needs, preferences, and expectations, it needs to reconsider its fundamental approach towards travel experiences.”
Why
We are in the midst of a Microsoft Teams meeting, and our companions at the other end of the video call are loud, boisterous… and very, very distracted. They aren’t paying attention to what we are saying, and are instead caught up in their own constant chatter. They also happen to be a bit wet having just come out of the shower. Not that any of that matters to us, as these leggy African beauties are a sight to behold. All 65 of them.
It isn’t every day that we get to hang out with a flock of flamingos. Or have the chance to grill a keeper for some fun flamingo facts.
That is now possible, thanks to Wildlife Reserve Singapore’s (WRS) Hello From The Wild Side programme, a host of online offerings that include virtual encounters with its feathered residents. This initiative was launched amid the closure of the group’s four zoological parks during the country’s circuit breaker. While all the parks have since reopened (except Night Safari which will reopen on July 30), the popularity of its virtual initiative has led WRS to expand its menu of online offerings.
What
Hello From The Wild Side now includes the option to purchase personalised video greetings featuring select animal personalities, and a private behind-the-scenes session with Singapore Zoo’s Asian elephants.
As part of its refresh, guests can have virtual group meetings with the double yellow-headed amazon, scarlet macaw and toco toucan (Jurong Bird Park); as well as great horned owl, Asian small-clawed otters, and white raccoon (Night Safari). That is on top of the original cast: capybara and great white pelican (River Safari), African penguins (Singapore Zoo), as well as oriental pied hornbill and white cockatoo (Jurong Bird Park).
How
Our virtual meeting on a Friday afternoon was with the Bird Park team, featuring a quartet of avian beauties: the double yellow-headed amazon, scarlet macaw and a pair of toco toucans, with a surprise appearance from the supermodels of the wild.
Taking us into the colourful and cacophonous colony of feathered fowls is the chirpy and wildly animated Lynn from the animal presentation team.
We hear our first guest before we see him – Quincy, a loud and talkative double yellow-headed Amazon parrot, a native to the forests of South America. Parrots like Quincy, we are told, are adept at mimicking skills. He can utter the words “welcome to parrot paradise”, mimic a cat’s meow, and even do a rousing rendition of Singapura, Sunny Island. We also learn that parrots like Quincy require a lot of time and attention, can create quite a ruckus, and live up to 80 years old.
Our next close-up encounter is with another South American native: Ippy, a long-tailed scarlet macaw, which tongue wiggled and somersaulted his way into our heart. As one of WRS’ Go Green for Wildlife ambassadors, Ippy even schooled us in the importance of recycling with a charming demo involving three types of bins and litter – and a pint-sized stool.
Our next guests are no stranger to the limelight, having graced cartoons and cereal boxes. Meet the big-beaked Mr and Mrs Axle, a pair of wildly popular toco toucans, which are the largest in the toucan family. The husband-and-wife duo quickly get busy munching on their treats comprising a mix of assorted fruits, eggs, and chicken – “for a well-balanced diet”, we are told. Despite their oversized bills, we found out that they are incredibly agile, via a performance involving one nicely fielded morsel of grape.
These interactive sessions would be a hit with parents with young kids, friend groups, or remote teams for teambuilding activities.
As opposed to an in-person trip, these virtual sessions offer the opportunity to interact with the keeper and learn more about these critters. It also affords an up-close look at the animals, albeit via a screen. It was almost surreal seeing the toco toucans in such close proximity in real-time, and we were entranced by their cartoonish-looking bills.
While these sessions are non-exclusive, they are limited to only three user profiles at any time. Alternatively, participants can opt for a personal session by booking out all three slots for that timing and invite up to five friends to join in the call. Part of the funds raised through these interactive sessions is channelled towards supporting ongoing efforts by WRS to care for and protect wildlife and habitats across South-east Asia.
Verdict
All in all, the 20-minute session was equal parts entertaining and educational, and we walked away with newfound knowledge on feathered fowls – some fun to know, some hard to swallow.
Like when we learnt how many parrot owners end up giving up their pets at the Jurong Bird Park due to the birds’ high maintenance. Or how the number of toucans in the wild is shrinking due to poaching and deforestation, driving home the importance of supporting local conservation efforts.
Turns out, staging a show with animals in real-time can make for pretty good comedy, thanks to their penchant for going off-script. To wit, Lynn’s repeated attempts at getting Quincy to say hello is met with stony silence, while earnest appeals for him to mimic a rooster’s crow sees the fowl letting loose a series of shrill whistles instead.
We were, perhaps, most delighted by a surprise appearance from the flamingo family as our session drew to a close. During an interactive Q&A session with the host, we received a crash course on flamingos: These pink beauties are not au naturel, but get their colour from their diet which contains beta carotene. They love to shower. Sometimes, they stand on one leg even when they are sleeping. And, yes, flamingos fly. But, like airplanes, they require a long runway to run a few paces to gain speed before taking flight.
Rate: S$100 (US$72.50) for a 20-minute session with all animal groups for virtual meetings, except oriental pied hornbill and white cockatoo (S$50 for a 10-minute session)
Contact:
Website: www.wrs.com.sg/en/hello-from-the-wild-side