BANGKOK, 29 April 2024: Spa Cenvaree, located in the Centara Grand at CentralWorld, is delighted to introduce its latest wellness offering – the exquisite Moroccan Hammam treatment. This immersive, premier spa experience offers a blissful escape into tranquillity, promising complete relaxation and rejuvenation.
Priced at THB4,955 net for a lavish 75-minute session, the Moroccan Hammam treatment is an ideal retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you’re looking to indulge in some much-needed self-care or treat a special someone to an unforgettable spa day, this treatment is designed to impress and pamper.
The treatment commences with the application of a deeply cleansing and purifying black soap renowned for its detoxifying properties. This is followed by a traditional full-body Kessa glove exfoliation, gently removing dead skin cells to reveal a radiant, luminous complexion beneath. The Moroccan Hammam experience culminates in a luxurious skin moisturisation using Argan oil, celebrated for its hydrating and nourishing benefits. This final step leaves your skin feeling impeccably smooth, silky, and deeply replenished.
Embrace this opportunity to pamper yourself or surprise a loved one with an unforgettable spa escape.
To secure your personalised Moroccan Hammam experience, contact Spa Cenvaree at 02-100-1234 Ext. 6511 or via email at [email protected]
HONG KONG, 29 April 2024: The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) confirms provisional visitor arrivals for March registered 3.4 million visits, representing a 40% increase yearly.
Cumulatively, a total of 11.23 million visitor arrivals were recorded in the first quarter of this year (January to March), representing 1.5 times year-on-year increment and a 5% increase from the fourth quarter of 2023, reflecting the continued and gradual growth of visitor arrivals.
Full details of March 2024 visitor arrivals will be released on 30 April.
TOKYO, 29 April 2024: All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Air India have entered into a commercial agreement marking the beginning of a codeshare partnership that will connect Japan and India.
Effective 23 May, the partnership between the two Star Alliance members will enhance flight selection, allowing passengers to fly to their desired destinations more easily by combining flights across the two airlines into a single ticket.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer Air India (left) and Katsuya Goto, Executive Vice President of Alliances and International Affairs. (right).
Last week, ANA started applying its “NH” code to Air India’s flights between Narita and Delhi, and Air India added its “AI” code to ANA’s flights between Haneda and New Delhi and Narita and Mumbai.
“We look forward to building this strategic partnership with Air India, as it is a significant step towards furthering stronger air connectivity and enhancing customer experience between Japan and India,” said Katsuya Goto, Executive Vice President of Alliances and International Affairs. “This collaboration is a testament to ANA’s commitment to improving the air travel experience for all of its travellers. We hope this will lead to a seamless travel environment between our two nations.”
The two airlines are considering expanding their cooperation by adding additional destinations shortly.
Codeshare flights are available for sale through the airlines’ respective websites and reservation systems.
“This codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways marks an important step forward in connecting India and Japan,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer Air India. “This collaboration broadens our network connectivity and offers our guests seamless travel experiences and a wider choice of flights between the two countries. We look forward to a successful collaboration with ANA and exploring further avenues for cooperation in the future.”
Air India operated by ANA Tokyo Haneda – Delhi Tokyo Narita – Mumbai
HONG KONG, 29 April 2024: Huangshan Tourism Group, which operates “the loveliest mountain of China”, announced its partnership with Alipay, the leading digital payment and lifestyle service platform, to launch the “International Visitor Friendly Scenic Spot” initiative.
The initiative aims to enhance the travel experience of global visitors in China ahead of the May Day holiday.
The “International Visitor Friendly Scenic Spot” initiative is the first of its kind in China to help global travellers visiting Huangshan, China to enjoy convenient payment options, including card, mobile payment and cash, as well as claim tailored digital red packet to enjoy shopping discounts and check travel guide and tips in 16 languages.
Huangshan Tourism Group will also collaborate with Alipay to launch local Hui culture experience tours and activities for international tourists.
“The beautiful scenery of Mount Huangshan and splendid Hui culture are must-have experiences when travelling in Huangshan. We hope to enhance global travellers’ experience through digital solutions on the Alipay platform,” said Jiajia Li, vice president of the Alipay business group at Ant Group.
An increasing number of overseas tourists are visiting China given the expansion of the country’s visa-free policy and continued recovery of international flights. Official data showed the number of foreign nationals visiting China in the first quarter of 2024 increased more than three times year-on-year.
Huangshan is the top tourist attraction for international visitors to Anhui Province. After China and Singapore enacted the mutual visa-free policy in February 2024, visa-free travel between the two countries saw the transaction volume via Alipay from Singaporeans visiting Huangshan increase by over 400% year-on-year during the first week.
China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China, has been guiding banks and mobile payment companies to take measures to optimise payment experience for international visitors.
Recent data from Alipay shows that in March 2024, the number of transactions made by international tourists using Alipay in the Chinese mainland increased by nearly 10 times compared to last year, and the number of transactions increased by eight times year-on-year.
Alipay enables international visitors to pay merchants across China after downloading the app and linking an international credit or debit card from Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover®, and Diners Club International®.
Beyond providing a secure mobile payment service, Alipay collaborates with industry partners to offer various travel services to global tourists to enhance their travel experience in China. These easy-to-access services include online translation, car-hailing, public transport, hotel booking, and train ticket booking, all of which are available on Alipay’s homepage.
In addition to using Alipay to pay like a local in China, international tourists can also use their home e-wallet while travelling around China. These home e-wallets include AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), MPay (Macao SAR, China), Touch ’n Go eWallet (Malaysia) and Kakao Pay (South Korea), Hipay (Mongolia), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC (Singapore), Naver Pay (South Korea), Toss Pay (South Korea), TrueMoney (Thailand), and NayaPay (Pakistan).
About Alipay Alipay has evolved from a trusted payment tool to an open platform that connects businesses, institutions, service providers, and other partners with consumers. Alipay enables partners from various industries to offer safe and convenient payment options. It also allows partners to communicate and deliver different digital services to their customers in China through Alipay mini-programmes, lifestyle accounts and other tools. The Alipay platform has connected over 80 million businesses with more than one billion consumers.
MANILA, 29 April 2024: The Department of Tourism (DOT) reports that the Philippines welcomed 2 million international visitors from 1 January to 24 April, and tourism revenue for the first three months was close to PHP158 million.
Tourism receipts for Q1, 2024 reached PHP157.62 billion, which translates to an estimated 120.70% recovery rate from the PHP130.59 billion revenue gained from the same period in 2019 or the milestone year for Philippine tourism before the global lockdowns.
Based on the Department’s tourist arrival data from 1 January to 24 April 2024, the country welcomed 2,010,522 international visitors. Of these, 94.21%, or 1,894,076, were international visitors and 5.79%, or 116,446, were overseas Filipinos. This is 15.11% higher than the international arrivals recorded in the same period last year, pegged at 1,746,630.
South Korea maintains its spot as the Philippines’ top source market in terms of inbound visitor arrivals, with 27.19% or 546,726, followed by the US, which delivered 315,816 (15.71%), China, with 130,574 (6.49%), Japan, with 123,204 (6.13%), and Australia, with 88,048 (4.38%). Canada, Taiwan, the UK, Singapore, and Germany ranked sixth to 10th, respectively.
“The Department of Tourism sees a positive trajectory for the country’s international tourist arrivals this year. We are glad that the collaboration, collective effort, and hard work are materialising into figures that benefit the entire industry,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said. We are hopeful that with more investments in tourism infrastructure, a much-needed increase in connectivity, and improvements in air, land, and sea infrastructure and accessibility, the numbers can further increase.”
This year, the country is targeting 7.7 million international visitors, almost reaching the pre-pandemic record-breaking achievement in 2019 that closed with an estimated 8.26 million inbound visitor arrivals.
“Guided by the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028, we are confident that we will reach our industry goals not only in terms of attracting visitors to the country but also, ultimately, giving more employment to Filipinos. We are also grateful to our partners from the public and private sectors for continuously helping the DOT realise its goals towards sustainable tourism development,” the tourism chief concluded.
MANILA, 29 April 2024: Philippine Airlines will resume flights between Clark International Airport and Basco on the Batanes Islands starting 2 July, following a long pause since 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using an 86-seater De Havilland Dash-400 aircraft, the airline confirmed it would schedule four flights weekly: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, departing Clark late morning for the one-hour and 25-minute flight.
Photo credit: Philippine Airlines.Philippine Airlines will use an 86-seater De Havilland Dash-400 aircraft for the Clark-Basco flights.
Basco is located on Batan Island, the second largest in the Batanes archipelago, the northernmost province of the Philippines. The island group is located approximately 162 km north of the Luzon mainland and about 190 km south of Taiwan (Pingtung County). On a clear day, Taiwan is just visible. (Wikipedia)
Flight PR 2688 will depart Clark at 1100 and arrive in Basco at 1235. Flight PR 2689 will depart Basco at 1300 and arrive in Clark at 1435.
“We are delighted to revive our Clark-Basco service commencing in the third quarter of 2024. Convenient connectivity is essential for travellers who wish to experience our island destinations,” PAL president Stanley Ng said in a quote from the Philippine News Agency.
Direct daily flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila are already serving Basco.
According to the website ‘Region 2 Fun,’ Batanes welcomed 50,207 tourists in 2019, both foreign and local. More recent statistics on visits are not available for the remote chain of islands.
The only alternative to flying there is to take a 20-hour sea voyage on a ferry from Port Irene in Cagayan Valley. Tour operators recommend a four-day, three-night visit to the island. The best time to visit is between December and May.
Batanes ranks high as a potential tourist destination but with some caveats. Here’s a breakdown of its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths
Unique and Breathtaking Beauty: Batanes boasts stunning scenery with rolling green hills, dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and historic lighthouses.
Rich Cultural Heritage: The Itvatans, the indigenous people of Batanes, have a distinct culture and traditions reflected in their way of life, handicrafts, and cuisine.
Unspoiled and Serene Ambiance: If you’re looking for a tranquil escape from crowded tourist destinations, Batanes offers a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path experience.
Weaknesses
Limited Accessibility: Batanes’ remoteness can be a challenge. Flights are limited, and while ferries are an option, they take a significant amount of time.
Accommodation Constraints: Tourist infrastructure is still developing, with limited accommodations, especially high-end hotels.
Carrying Capacity Concerns: Batanes’ ecosystem is fragile. Uncontrolled tourism development could strain resources and damage the environment.
Batanes’ popularity is on the rise. Social media has played a role in showcasing the island’s beauty, attracting more tourists. However, compared to other tourist destinations in the Philippines, it remains a niche destination due to the challenges and high transport costs.
Why Clark – Basco flights are important
Accessibility: Batanes’ isolation makes air travel the primary mode of transportation for tourists and locals alike. Flights from Clark bridge the gap, making this idyllic island paradise accessible to a wider range of visitors.
Tourism: Batanes’ breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and off-the-beaten-path ambience have transformed it into a sought-after tourist destination. Flights from Clark fuel this growth by bringing in visitors who contribute to the local economy.
Business and Commerce: Air connections between Clark and Basco facilitate business exchanges and commerce between the mainland and the island. This fosters economic activity and development in Batanes.
Community Links: These flights serve as a vital link for the Batanes community, enabling residents to travel for work, education, medical care, or simply to connect with loved ones on the mainland.
SINGAPORE, 29 April 2024: Changi Airport Group (CAG) honoured its airline partners for strengthening and growing the Singapore air hub at the Changi Airline Awards 2024 held at the Fullerton Hotel on 25 April.
More than 280 representatives from 80 airlines and aviation partners attended the 17th edition of the annual awards presided over by Chee Hong Tat, Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance.
Changi names its 2024 Airline Awards winners.
In acknowledgement of the airlines who were instrumental in driving Changi Airport’s growth in passenger and air freight traffic in 2023, a total of 24 awards were presented across the following categories — Top Airlines by Passenger and Cargo, Top Airlines by Absolute Passenger Growth and Absolute Cargo Growth, Best Airline Marketing, and Partner of the Year.
Partner of the Year
The Partner of the Year award was presented to China Eastern Airlines for its significant efforts in expanding Changi’s connectivity to China. In 2023, the airline launched four new links, including a new-to-Changi route from Beijing Daxing International Airport, making Changi Airport its first Southeast Asia point. The other new-to-airline direct links are Hefei, Nanjing and Hangzhou. With the increased services, China Eastern operated 52 weekly services between Singapore and China as of December 2023.
To mark the launch of the new route to Beijing Daxing International Airport, China Eastern hosted a trade event, securing media coverage across prominent news outlets in both Singapore and China, as well as collaborated with CAG on a joint marketing campaign to stimulate travel demand, featuring exclusive deals for its passengers. The airline also proactively leveraged its social media platforms to showcase Singapore’s tourism offerings through engaging content.
Wu Qiwei, General Manager of China Eastern Airlines Singapore, said: “Over the years, China Eastern Airlines has fostered a spirit of close collaboration with Changi Airport. Together, we have worked hard to achieve recovery of the aviation market between China and Singapore. With the deepening of economic and trade ties between our nations and increased personnel exchanges, Singapore remains a vital hub in China Eastern Airlines’ international network. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Changi Airport and our partners in Singapore for their steadfast support of China Eastern Airlines.”
Top carriers at Changi
The top five passenger carriers for 2023 were Singapore Airlines, Scoot, AirAsia Berhad, Jetstar Asia Airways and Qantas Airways. Singapore Airlines continued to top the list with the highest cargo volume, followed by FedEx Express, Scoot, Aerologic and China Airlines.
Automation key to the future
Amid strong growth, with passenger traffic crossing 100% of pre-Covid-19 levels in the first quarter of 2024, Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive Officer of CAG cautioned that manpower shortage would be a major challenge for Changi Airport and that automation was the key to resolving it in the long-term.
“We have done deep automation in the last few years, and we are now on the cusp of a new phase with the launch of document-free travel by the end of this year. Using your biometrics as the key to identity verification, we reduce the need for passengers to present travel documents at many touchpoints repeatedly. The improvement will be transformational. By challenging the conventional norms in our business, we hope to take a step closer to our vision of an airport of the future,” Lee concluded.
Changi Airline Awards 2024 Recipients
1) Partner of the Year 1. China Eastern Airlines
2) Top 5 Airlines by Passenger Carriage (in order of merit, based on passenger carriage in 2023) 1. Singapore Airlines 2. Scoot 3. AirAsia Berhad 4. Jetstar Asia Airways 5. Qantas Airways
3) Top 5 Airlines by Cargo Carriage (in order of merit, based on cargo carriage in 2023) 1. Singapore Airlines 2. FedEx Express 3. Scoot 4. Aerologic 5. China Airlines
4) Top Airlines by Absolute Passenger Growth (By Region) (based on the airline’s home region by absolute passenger growth in 2023)
5) Top Airlines by Absolute Cargo Growth (in order of merit, by absolute passenger growth in 2023) 1. Cathay Cargo 2. Scoot 3. British Airways 4. Air France 5. Thai Airways
6) Best Airline Marketing (Voted by guests at Changi Airline Awards event) 1. Turkish Airlines
MIRI Sarawak, 26 April 2024: Sarawak Tourism Board enters a new chapter this week after reopening its Visitor Information Centre in Miri.
The entire complex was officially unveiled to the public on Wednesday. Its upgrade signifies a new look and purpose for visitors and the Miri community.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Tourism YB Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew officiated at the reopening ceremony featuring a symbolic flower planting and cultural performances.
Restoration of the gardens aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which focuses on Sustainable Cities and Communities. It highlights the creation of green public spaces while improving urban planning and management in an inclusive manner, which further contributes to the Sarawak Tourism Board’s (STB) commitment and efforts in advocating responsible tourism and sustainability.
Deputy Minister Sebastian shared: “The inauguration of the enhanced Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in Miri is a special occasion as it not only unveils a revitalised look and purpose for this space but also underscores our commitment to ensuring that visitors have access to information, recognising it as the invaluable currency of travel.
“The establishment of the Visitors Information Centre (VIC) in Miri was a vital necessity, recognising its fundamental role in driving tourism for Sarawak, serving as a vital hub for information and guidance for enriching experiences and reinforcing Sarawak’s appeal as a premier destination.”
STB Chairman YB Dato Dennis Ngau added: “Today marks a milestone for Miri as we unveil the freshly upgraded Visitors Information Centre (VIC) in Miri, embarking on a journey to create unforgettable moments for our visitors.”
“The transformed Visitors Information Centre (VIC) in Miri provides information and actively engages stakeholders, facilitating discussions and exchanges on various tourism matters. These efforts help emphasise Miri’s significance as one of Sarawak’s primary entry points, contributing to its positioning as the Gateway to Borneo,” Dennis concluded.
As Miri remains the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Mulu National Park, the purpose of the VIC caters to the increasing number of tourists visiting the Miri division. The upgraded centre aims to create a vibrant space for visitors and the local community, welcoming various events and activities.
For the last 27 years, VIC Miri has served the increasing number of tourists visiting Miri division as Miri is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage, the Gunong Mulu National Park.
The garden surrounding the revamped VIC Miri adds vibrancy not just for the visitors but also the local community.
Central to the park’s identity is its representation of Miri’s diverse and multiracial communities. The space is now open for community activities, including music and heritage showcases.
A standout addition to the area is the magnificent Sape Sculpture, standing tall at 3.2 meters. This new landmark adds character to the garden and the city of Miri itself, becoming the one and only Sape structure in the entire city.
DUBAI, UAE 26 April 2024: On Thursday, 18 April, at around 1900, the first ball was bowled to start an international women’s cricket match between Ireland and Thailand at The Sevens Stadium.
It was the first match played at the stadium after it successfully reopened just two days after heavy rains caused major flooding across its pitches and high winds damaged other areas across its facilities.
Prioritising the resumption of sporting activities to support local communities, the team at the Sevens Stadium, along with their suppliers and partners, collectively joined hands a day after the rains to quickly restore and rehabilitate damaged areas at the venue. Cleaners, landscapers and other partners helped the Sevens Stadium teams clear waterlogged areas and debris and revive pitch lawns. The durability of structures across the stadium withstood high winds sustained minimal damage, and were quickly restored for public use.
The Sevens Stadium reopened, with most of the site able to accommodate cricket, rugby, football matches, and other sporting activities. Food and beverage venues were ready to welcome guests.
Over the next four days, the stadium hosted over 136 hours of training sessions and fixtures across eight sports pitches and cricket ovals. This is in addition to the Gulf Open Cup, an international youth football tournament, a corporate touch rugby tournament for 350 people, of which 85% of participants came from outside the UAE, multiple 11v11 football club matches, two international women’s cricket matches from four countries, senior men’s, women’s, boys and girls semi-final rugby fixtures, and regular local team cricket matches. Regular mini and youth rugby practice matches resumed on Saturday and Sunday, with over 2,500 people attending onsite.
Since reopening, over 5,500 people have entered the Stadium. Another 7,000 will attend community-based sports events this upcoming weekend, including the Youth Football League (YFL), Dubai Amateur Football League (DAFL), Japanese Football Club Dubai Blue matches and training, DASSA School Rugby Finals, Dubai Hurricanes and Exiles training, netball matches, and over 20 local T20 cricket matches.
The Sevens Stadium actively contributes to Dubai’s sports scene, hosting a dynamic community sports calendar at its various courts, fields and pitches, including cricket, football, rugby, netball, and other sports. The Stadium is a best-in-class choice for local and international events and teams looking for world-class facilities in Dubai and across the region.
For Emirates flight information and to make bookings, visit www.emirates.com.
SINGAPORE, 26 April 2024: Singapore tops the best cities in Asia for expats to work and live, ahead of Bangkok (2nd) and Chiang Mai (4th) in the Asia chart and third (shared with Basel Switzerland) in the global ranking.
It scores high for cleanliness, safety, and interesting cultural excursions. It’s also just a two-hour, 40-minute flight from Bangkok, Thailand, A busy route served by low-cost and full-service airlines. There are also direct flights to Phuket island for a change of vistas and lifestyle.
According to the language learning platform Preply, over 26% of those learning a new language online are doing so due to relocating to a new area. With emigration becoming an increasingly popular choice amongst students, families, and working professionals, this begs the question – which cities worldwide are the best for expats to move to in 2024?
To find out which cities worldwide and in Asia are best for expats looking to relocate, Preply has ranked 60 of the most popular destinations based on nine relevant relocation metrics. These include the average monthly cost of living as an expat, salary, and safety scores.
The top 10 cities in Asia for expats to work and live
Places to live in Singapore for expats
With 1.23 million expats and migrant workers living in Singapore in 2022, Preply has also investigated which areas of Singapore are the most affordable and the most expensive to rent a one-bedroom condo to help those packing their bags and making a home in Singapore.
The town of Ang Mo Kio has the best rent value. With a household income of USD5,499 and rent costs averaging USD1,268 per month, the percentage of income spent on rent is 23%, the lowest figure overall.
Second-placed Sembawang, going up in accommodation costs, has a higher monthly household income (USD8,499). The average rent cost is almost double that of Ang Mo Kio (USD2,329), resulting in a slightly higher income percentage (27%).
In third place is Yishun, with 28% of income used, followed by Punggol in fourth (29%) and Choa Chu Kang in fifth, with 30% of average income spent on rent.
Global Expat Index 2024: The world’s top 10 cities for expats to work and live
About Preply Preply is an online language learning marketplace, connecting tutors to hundreds of thousands of learners in 180 countries worldwide. More than 40,000 tutors teach over 50 languages, powered by a machine-learning algorithm recommending the best tutors for each learner. Founded in the US in 2012 Preply has grown from a team of three to a company of over 600 employees with offices in Barcelona, New York, and Kyiv.
Methodology and Sources To reveal the best cities for expats, language learning platform Preply created the global expat index ranking 50 cities around the world on their suitability for relocating to live and work based on the following 10 metrics: Average monthly cost of living as an expat; Average monthly salary (after tax); Estimated tax on $50,000; Internet speed (Mbps); Safety city index (0-100, 100 being the safest); Visitor return rate; Average monthly cost of co-working space and percentage of salary spent on a co-working space; Cleanliness (dirty and untidy score, Higher = worse); Hours needed to learn the dominant language in the city.
