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TAT ties the knot with Traveloka

BANGKOK, Thailand, 28 May 2024: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Traveloka, a leading travel platform in Southeast Asia have, t signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to enhance the travel platform’s commitment to Thailand’s tourism industry. 

Both parties will collaborate to promote inbound and domestic tourism, including secondary destinations.

Traveloka co-founder Albert Albert (left) and TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool (right) sign the MoU.

The MOA provides the legal framework for Traveloka to collaborate with the TAT on dual marketing campaigns, sustainability initiatives and travel insights. This agreement also allows Traveloka to collaborate directly with the TAT head office in Bangkok and all domestic and overseas offices. This will further strengthen Traveloka’s support of the Thai travel industry through its extensive reach and expertise.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said: “This MOA marks a strategic collaboration with Traveloka, our long-term partner who has been supporting us in promoting secondary cities and inbound travel. The agreement will enable us to expand the scope of our partnership. In addition, this enhanced partnership with Traveloka will help solidify Thailand’s position as an industry leader in moving towards experience-based and sustainable tourism.”

“Traveloka is very pleased to support the policy to drive tourism for sustainable economic growth. From January to March, the campaign ‘Unveiling Thailand’s Treasure,’ in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), was highly successful in showcasing the potential of lesser-known tourist destinations to a wider audience. According to last year’s statistics, Traveloka saw an increase in domestic market sales, both in flights and accommodations, especially during Chinese New Year and Songkran festivals in Bangkok and its vicinity, as well as in major tourist provinces like Chiang Mai, Songkhla (Hat Yai), and Udon Thani. This reflects the continued demand for domestic travel, signalling positive growth for the local economy,” said Traveloka Co-Founder Albert Albert.

The recent joint campaign, ‘Unveiling Thailand’s Treasure,’ in which Traveloka played a crucial role, was successfully implemented in Q1 of this year. This collaboration extends TAT’s ongoing efforts to promote secondary cities and emerging destinations across Thailand.

TAT’s campaign has broadened the spectrum of tourism activities, spanning economic advantages to emerging destinations. It also promotes the exploration of secondary cities, uncovering ‘Hidden Gems’ that bring a fresh and interesting dimension to travel itineraries.

Traveloka witnessed a significant demand in the domestic market, especially as the lunar new year and Songkran holidays approached. Bangkok Metropolitan emerged as the leading domestic source city, followed by Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, and Udon Thani. Utilising these data-driven insights will enable both parties to identify customer’s travel needs and aspirations while collaborating to promote sustainable tourism practices that contribute to the well-being of local Thai communities.

Iberojet ready to fly to Bangkok

SINGAPORE, 28 May 2024: Spanish low-cost airline Iberojet promotes its new service on Facebook, starting on 30 May between Madrid and Bangkok.

According to the airline’s Facebook promotions, sales officially opened on 24 May, but reservations remained closed just days before the launch date end of May. However, a Skyscanner search on the evening of 27 May showed the direct flight Madrid-Bangkok is now open for bookings every Thursday throughout June. You can select a roundtrip fare of USD570 for June travel dates. Skyscanner transfers you to the airline’s website, where the reservation process continues, allowing you to close the deal with a credit card debit.

Advance timetable data shows the airline has scheduled the first departure from Madrid to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving the Spanish capital late Thursday on 30 May and returning from Bangkok on Friday.

The airline flies A350-900 aircraft mainly to destinations in the Caribbean and Central America, from Spain to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and identifies Bangkok as its first destination in Asia. It will mark the first time a Spanish airline has served the Thai capital with a scheduled service rather than charters. Initially, it plans to fly just once a week, but advance timetable analysts say it will increase to twice-weekly flights in early October this year. 

As it stands now the Iberojet schedule is as follows:

Flight E9845 will depart Madrid at 2145 on Thursday and arrive in Bangkok at 1515 plus day.
Flight E9846 will depart Bangkok at 1915 on Friday and arrive in Madrid at 0315 plus a day.

Based on the airline’s website, the oneway fare starts at  EUR250, and the return fare starts at EUR495.

Thai Vietjet recruits cadet pilots

BANGKOK, 27 May 2024: Thai Vietjet Air Joint Stock Company Ltd (TVJ) is gearing up for a substantial fleet and network expansion to meet the increasing demand for air travel.

As part of its expansion plan, Thai Vietjet will take delivery of up to 50 new aircraft in five years, starting in early 2025.

Woranate Laprabang CEO Thai Vietjet.

To respond to the future job demand for professional pilots for such an aggressive fleet expansion, Thai Vietjet, in close collaboration with Bangkok Aviation Centre Public Company Ltd (BAC), will soon launch a new recruitment campaign for cadet pilots, a comprehensive training programme to develop qualified professional commercial airline pilots.

Under Thai Vietjet’s cadet pilots programme, BAC will be responsible for Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training, while Thai Vietjet will handle aircraft type rating training. Upon successfully completing the whole training programme, students will be guaranteed employment as first officers in Thai Vietjet’s ranks.

Under the recently signed Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between Thai Vietjet and BAC, both will jointly design and create a rigorous selection process and stringent quality monitoring system to ensure the production of the highest-quality professional commercial airline pilots.

Thai Vietjet Chief Executive Officer Woranate Laprabang said: “We are proud to work with BAC to create an opportunity to produce more professional pilots to meet the high demand in the future and enable aviation enthusiasts to realise their flying career ambitions through this exciting programme.”

Thai Vietjet’s upcoming Sky Career Festival in Bangkok this coming June is the launch venue for the first round of trainee recruitment.

Langkawi hosts sports fishing event

LANGKAWI, 27 May 2024: The Langkawi Satun Fishing Thru Andaman 2024 event held from 17 to 19 May attracted 210 top anglers from Malaysia and Thailand, further cementing its position as an important calendar event for Southeast Asia’s angling community.

The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) hosted the prestigious tournament in partnership with the Tourism & Sports Department of Satun Province.

Photo credit: LADA. Satun’s team wins the top prize.

Royal Appearances 

The tournament was graced by Tunku Mahkota Kedah, Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Sultan Sallehuddin, and Che Puan Nur Julie Ariff, adding a touch of royalty to the competitive event.

Spectacular Catches

Anglers vied for the best catches, including Giant Trevally, Grouper, Red Snapper, Barracuda, and other prized species.

Stunning Venues

The competition commenced in the beautiful locale of Satun, Thailand, and concluded with an electrifying weigh-in event in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Winners and Prizes

Top Team: The Pran Tah-Le team from Thailand emerged victorious, winning the MYR20,000 prize money for the Heaviest Fish Team category with a remarkable 48.2 kg catch. Their captain also secured MYR1,500 for the best captain category.

Runner-Ups

LADA’s Welfare and Sports Club from Malaysia claimed second place with a 35.7 kg catch, earning MYR5,000. The Public Works Department team followed closely, taking third place with a 33.5 kg catch and receiving MYR3,000.

Why This Event Mattered

Cultural Exchange: The tournament showcased incredible fishing talent and fostered unity and camaraderie between the Malaysian and Thai communities.

Economic Boost: Event tourism benefits the region and local businesses and enhances the profile of Langkawi and Satun as prime sports fishing destinations. It also illustrates the potential for tourism cooperation between Langkawi and Thailand’s southwest provinces bordering the Andaman Sea and close to Malaysia. 

Role of Sports in Tourism
Langkawi has been actively developing sports events to boost sports tourism. Here are some key strategies adopted by LADA:

Established Events: Langkawi already hosts successful annual events like the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (sailing) and the Ironman Triathlon, attracting international competitors and spectators.

Strategic Partnerships: Collaboration between government bodies and tourism authorities plays a role in securing sponsorships and promoting these events effectively.

Variety of Sports: The focus is on a broad range of sports to cater to different interests, including water sports (sailing, regattas), cycling (Ironman), and potentially fishing tournaments like the recent Langkawi Satun Fishing Thru Andaman.
For more information on LADA, visit https://www.lada.gov.my/en/ and www.naturallylangkawi.my

CentaraThai1 members gain dining perks

BANGKOK, 27 May 2024: Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced its new strategic partnership with Central Restaurants Group (CRG), a leader in Thailand’s food chain industry. 

The partnership will further enhance the benefits offered to CentaraThe1 members. They can now exchange their loyalty points for cash vouchers and other perks redeemable at Central Restaurants Group outlets across Thailand.

Photo credit: Centara. Second from left Chatchai Unahabhokha and third from left Tom Thrussel.

This innovative partnership aims to provide Centara guests with unparalleled flexibility and added value to their membership experience.

For example, CentaraThe1 members who redeem 900 points via https://centara1card.com/reward will receive a CRG cash coupon worth THB100. These vouchers can then be used at a wide range of popular restaurants, including Mister Donut, Auntie Anne’s, Pepper Lunch, Chabuton, Cold Stone Creamery, Yoshinoya, Tenya, Katsuya, Arigato, and Terraces de Bangkok.

“This partnership with Central Restaurants Group underscores our commitment to enriching the Centara member experience, adding value to our customer offerings and strengthening the CentaraThe1 loyalty platform,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts Vice President – Brand, Marketing & Digital Tom Thrussell. “By offering the option to redeem points for cash vouchers and special menu items at CRG outlets, our guests have a greater choice than ever before when it comes to spending points – from hotel experiences to retail, from airlines to restaurants and beyond.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Centara Hotels & Resorts to offer an exciting new dimension to the CentaraThe1 loyalty programme,” said Central Restaurants Group Head of Strategy, JV, and Channel Management Chatchai Unahabhokha. 

“Through this partnership, we look forward to welcoming CentaraThe1 members to our diverse portfolio of restaurants, where they can create unforgettable memories while indulging in an array of unique dining options.”

CentaraThe1 members can also access additional benefits, including movie tickets, spa and massage treatments, buffet vouchers, and more. Anyone interested in a CentaraThe1 membership can sign up for free in less than a minute at www.centarathe1.com.

For more information about this offer, visit https://centara1card.com/reward

Steady recovery for airline connectivity

SINGAPORE, 27 May 2027: Connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region, which has faced significant challenges, is rebounding swiftly during the first quarter of 2024, ForwardKeys’ Director of Intelligence & Marketing, Olivier Ponti, reports in the research company’s latest Asia Pacific Travel Trends analysis.

Chinese outbound travel during the recent Labour Day holiday indicates a 16% decrease compared to the levels recorded in 2019, but that is likely to be replaced by a positive trend by year-end, fuelled by the relaxation of visa policies, which has notably enhanced Chinese travel to numerous destinations. 

Photo credit: ForwardKeys. China outbound is still off the 2019 pace by minus 16%.

“Data revealed a 212% surge in travel from China to Kazakhstan, with notable increases to Singapore, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and the Maldives. However, Thailand’s slower recovery is attributed to ongoing safety concerns,” Ponti noted in the Q1 review.

As of the first quarter of 2024, the region’s seat capacity recovery is just 13% shy of 2019 levels. Notably, the Asia-Pacific outpaced global seat capacity growth, registering a seven-percentage point increase compared to the global average of three percentage points between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. 

As seat capacity gradually rebounds, fares have shown a consistent downward trend since 2023 despite remaining higher than 2019 levels due to limited capacity and strong demand. This trend was particularly evident during significant events such as Chinese New Year and major concerts in Singapore. 

For example, Taylor Swift’s concert in Singapore in early March led to a 17% increase in travel from Southeast Asia, contrasting with a 27% decline in the rest of the month.

It doesn’t get more exclusive than this

SINGAPORE, 27 May 2024: ÀNI Private Resorts, the world’s first private resort collection offering exclusive retreats for a single group of guests, has appointed Lena Wantjer as Vice President of Sales.

The group has resorts in Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Dominican Republic, and Anguilla. ÀNI offers exclusive retreats in the earth’s most beautiful and far-flung corners, from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia. Each ÀNI destination is designed exclusively for a single group of guests, accommodating up to 20 or 30 guests across 10 to 15 suites.

Wantjer’s pivotal role in developing strategic sales plans and overseeing the global sales teams will help further solidify ÀNI’s position as a leading luxury resort operator.

She joins ÀNI Private Resorts, having held management positions in renowned hospitality organisations, such as Ennismore, Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts, Emirates Palace, The Arch London, One&Only Resorts and Kempinski Hotels.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lena Wantjer to the ÀNI Private Resorts team as our new Vice President of Sales,” said ÀNI Private Resorts CEO Yeshi Phuntsho. 

Founded in 2010, the group currently offers four resorts located in Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Dominican Republic, and Anguilla boasting panoramic ocean views and pristine natural settings.

Two properties in Asia

ÀNI Thailand Koh Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay is an all-inclusive private resort on the east coast of Koh Yao Noi Island that accommodates groups of 12 to 20 guests who have the resort to themselves for their stay.  

ÀNI Sri Lanka is a 15-suite property at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, a 30-minute drive from Mawella Lagoon, where seaplanes land after a 35-minute flight from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo.

Steam trains clickety-clack for tourism

DANANG, Vietnam, 27 May 2024: Indochina Rail Tourist Service and Wafaifo Optimisers have signed a management agreement for Wafaifo Optimisers to manage the Revolution Express steam train, a new tourist experience in central Vietnam. 

The trains will chug along the track from Danang to Hue starting during the last quarter of 2024 or early 2025.

The Revolution Express will traverse the train line along coastal mountains [pictured] adjacent to the Hai Van Pass in central Vietnam twice a day.

Two original steam locomotives from the 1960s have been restored to working condition. The locomotives will pull two fully appointed retro-styled carriages that can seat up to 57 passengers each, a custom-made kitchen carriage, and a baggage carriage.

The locomotives date from the pre-independence era and were built locally in Vietnam based on the French Mikado design. Vietnam Railways’ few remaining steam engineers have painstakingly restored them using original parts.

The Revolution Express will make a daily return trip between Danang City and the former royal capital of Hue. Each journey will traverse the scenically remarkable Hai Van coastal mountain range and stop at Lang Co, adjacent to a beautiful lagoon and beach.

Indochina Rail and Wafaifo Optimisers signed the partnership agreement on 20 May in Danang in central Vietnam. Indochina Rail’s Chairman Michael Gebbie and Wafaifo Optimisers’ Managing Director, Pieter van der Hoeven, and Commercial Director, Mikkel Krantz, represented the two parties. 

Highlights of the trip will include themed dining at the three railway stations on the route: Kim Lien (Danang), Lang Co, and Hue. Each station will have its own menus and entertainment schedules for guests arriving on the Revolution Express.

The train stations will feature restaurants and retail outlets and are designed to attract other VNR (Vietnam National Rail) passengers travelling between Danang, Lang Co, and Hue.

In Hue, the original train maintenance building is being refurbished as the Station Restaurant. The venue will have an imperial-era ambience that reflects the history of Hue, the last bastion of the dynastic era in Vietnam.

In Lang Co, the restaurant will be themed to mark the independence that Vietnam enjoys today. In addition to a full restaurant, food carts will be on the station platform, offering homemade ice cream, freshly squeezed fruit juices, Vietnamese coffee, and newly pressed sugar cane. Regular VNR-run trains all stop at Lang Co station for passenger refreshments. 

Plans for the third restaurant at the station on the outskirts of Danang have yet to be developed. One option is to adopt a design theme, which could have a colonial connotation.

Wafaifo Optimisers will market, book, and cater for the Revolution Express and its stations. In the third quarter of this year, the company will also open its urban resort in the heritage city of Hoi An.

The provisional schedule for the Revolution Express is:
0900 depart Kim Lien Station Danang going north via the Hai Van pass.
1015 arrive at Lang Co station. (Guests can disembark or board the Revolution Express here).
1130 depart Lang Co for Hue Station.
1300 arrive Hue Station.
1400 depart Hue Station.
1530 arrive Lang Co Station.
1630 depart Lang Co Station.
1745 arrive Kim Lien Station in Danang.

Doha sightseeing flights take off

DOHA Qatar, 27 May 2024: Qatar Airways’ destination management company, Discover Qatar, is launching ‘Discover Doha by Air’, using a light aircraft.

Each air tour can accommodate up to eight passengers in a Cessna 208 Caravan, a single-engine light turboprop utility aircraft designed with large windows for aerial viewing. 

Discover Qatar Senior Vice President Steven Reynolds, said: “Guests are invited to embark on an unforgettable journey around Doha’s skies, soaring above remarkable landscapes and cultural treasures, in the Cessna 208 Caravan. At Discover Qatar, we continuously work to curate our offerings to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.”

With a flight duration of 45 minutes, the aircraft will take off from Doha International Airport Premium Terminal, first flying over Al Thumama Stadium, Aspire Zone and Education City and then move towards Lusail Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium and Thakira Mangrove Forest. The journey will continue with flybys over Pearl Island, Al Safliya Island, Katara Cultural Village and West Bay. Before reaching the airport, the aircraft will fly over the Corniche, National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art and Stadium 974 for a grand finish.

Bookings are now available for the first tour, scheduled for Thursday, 27 June 2024. Prices start at QAR710 for adults and children over two years of age and are free of charge for children under two years of age. 

Seats can be reserved for morning and afternoon tours from Thursday to Monday. Guests can also conveniently pair their air tour with Discover Qatar return airport transfers to and from Doha International Airport Premium.

The scenic flights are also available for passengers transiting for six or more hours at Hamad International Airport with a starting price of QAR 850, including private return transfers between Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport Premium Terminal.

About Discover Qatar
Discover Qatar is the Destination Management Company (DMC) for the Qatar Airways Group.

Firefly starts flights to Nanjing

KOTA KINABALU, 27 May 2024: Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Aviation Group, recently re-introduced twice-weekly flights between Sabah’s state capital, Kota Kinabalu and Miri in Sarawak and plans to expand to Nanjing in China this June from its Kuala Lumpur hub.

Photo credit: Firefly.

Flights from KK to Miri

Flight FY2500 departs Sabah’s state capital at 1120 and arrives in Miri at 1215.
Flight 2501 departs Miri in Sarawak at 1255 and arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 1340.

The revived domestic service aims to improve air links between Sabah and Sarawak, focusing mainly on business travellers on the BKI-MYY-BKI route. The airline operates flights twice weekly, on Wednesday and Friday, using a retrofitted Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which has 189 seats in a single economy class cabin configuration. 

Flight schedule for KK-Miri flight

Flights to China

Meanwhile, Firefly has confirmed it will open a new direct route between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Nanjing, China, starting this June.

Using a Boeing 737-800, the airline will fly the route twice weekly starting 20 June and increase to three weekly flights one week later. Flights are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, effective 29 June.

Flight FY3842 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 1740 and arrive in Nanjing at 2315.
Flight FY3843 will depart Nanjing at 0015 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 0545 plus days.