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Traveloka partners with Hong Kong

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 10 April 2024: Traveloka, a travel platform specialising in Southeast Asia, is partnering with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to showcase Hong Kong to Southeast Asian travellers.

Hong Kong’s tourism sector has steadily climbed since the reopening of international borders. Data released by HKTB showed that in 2023, international tourists arriving in Hong Kong surged to 34 million, marking a 60-fold increase compared to the same period in 2022. 

Over 3.7 million visitors came from Southeast Asian and East Asian countries.

Traveloka president Caesar Indra expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with HKTB, stating, “Hong Kong is among the popular destinations on our platform, with sales of flight tickets to the city almost quadrupling in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.”

Hong Kong Tourism Board Regional Director, Southeast Asia Liew Chian Jia said: “Partnering with Traveloka is pivotal for us as it further unlocks the tourism potential to Hong Kong and helps us understand consumers better. We aspire for this collaboration to not only attract more travellers from  Southeast Asia to explore the charms of Hong Kong but also to contribute positively to the aviation and hospitality industries in the region.”

Hong Kong’s must-visit attractions

Hong Kong is home to renowned attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Ngong Ping 360, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Hong Kong.

For outdoor sports enthusiasts, Hong Kong offers trekking experiences with stunning scenery, including Dragon’s Back and Lamma Islands. Foodies will find Hong Kong a gastronomic heaven, with the all-time favourite local cuisine such as dim sum, roasted goose, and BBQ meats never further than a block away. 

Culture lovers can join in year-round festivities such as the Dragon Boat Festival in June and Mid-Autumn Festival in September. Fortune seekers and devotees can also visit renowned temples in Hong Kong to seek blessings, including the famous Wong Tai Sin Temple, Che Kung Temple, and Man Mo Temple, as part of their itinerary.

From now until 12 May 2024, travellers can enjoy Hello Hong Kong Campaign deals on the Traveloka app. Bargain offers span flights, hotels, and travel activities in one app to deliver tailored itineraries and seamless trip planning.

Emirates boosts flights for Eid Al Fitr

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TTR WEEKLY
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Sea of cloud

DUBAI, UAE, 9 April 2024: Emirates is expanding its schedules across the region with 19 additional flights during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holiday period.

This year, more than 150,000 customers are expected to fly with the airline during Eid Al Fitr across the region, with additional flights planned from Jeddah, Kuwait, Beirut and Amman.

Emirates has added seven extra flights to Jeddah since 7 April for the peak travel period through 13 April. The additional flights give Emirates customers more flexibility to venture out to popular destinations like Dubai, London and the Maldives or visit family and friends in Colombo and Karachi. 

In Kuwait, Emirates is layering on six extra flights until 20 April, catering to the significant travel demand during that time to popular leisure gateways like Dubai, Bangkok, and Osaka, as well as providing the opportunity for travellers to head home to Chennai, Hyderabad, Sialkot and Peshawar.  Emirates’ flight schedule to Bahrain will also expand to 22 weekly flights starting 2 May to meet increased demand for travel to/from the Kingdom.

With families coming together to celebrate after the Holy Month, the airline will also be adding four additional flights to Amman and two additional flights to Beirut scheduled to accommodate more travellers.

Upholding Eid traditions and keeping in with its proud Middle Eastern heritage, the airline will serve a specially crafted Eid menu for customers on flights departing from Dubai. Favourites like chicken biryani, lamb kibbeh labanieh, machbous, and vanilla and rose mousse cake will be served onboard, among other savoury and sweet dishes.For flight information and bookings visit www.emirates.com.

Royal Cliff hosts junior tennis championship

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TTR WEEKLY
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PATTAYA, 9 April 2024: The AssetWise Junior Tennis Thailand Championship, a leading tennis event for young athletes in Asia, will be held from 3 to 5 May 2024 at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group’s Fitz Club sports facility. 

The tournament, for children up to 14 years, allows participants to accrue points for their national ranking/standing in Thailand. AssetWise Public Company Limited, Yonex, and Technifibre sponsor this prestigious event.

Royal Cliff Hotels Group CEO and ITF Masters Champion Vitanart Vathanakul is spearheading the initiative to establish Pattaya as a premier tennis destination. 

“We are thrilled to contribute to Pattaya’s reputation as a leading city for competitive sports, particularly tennis. Our tournament offers young athletes a perfect platform to display their skills and compete against their peers in a nurturing and supportive atmosphere,” he explained. “The event is crafted to embed the principles of discipline, teamwork, and healthy competition among children from an early stage while refining their technical abilities. We aim to nurture and develop future talent for Thailand to compete on the ATP circuit.”

Additionally, on 3 May, the Royal Cliff will host a tennis clinic offering tips and valuable techniques presented by professional coaches and partake in warm-up exercises. Participants can take on the challenge of competing against Vitanart Vathanakul in a super tie-break format. Winners will receive a special prize. 

In addition to the competitive play, the tournament features a variety of activities and social gatherings to entertain players and their families over the weekend. Food stations will offer snacks, beverages, fruits, ice creams, and other refreshments. Medical staff and support services will be available for players throughout the event. The venue will also provide game zones for children to engage in creative activities, including arts and crafts, while waiting for their matches. A massage zone will also be available, offering a range of treatments from skilled therapists.

Registration for the tournament is now open, and interested parents and players can sign up at www.royalcliff.com/aswj. Special room rates are offered to all tournament entrants, and bookings can be made on the website (use promo code ASW24) or by contacting us at 038-250421 ext. 2820-24 or [email protected]. We encourage everyone to sign up early to secure their spot in the tournament and avoid disappointment.

Fitz Club – Racquets, Health & Fitness, an elite sports centre under the Royal Cliff banner, has been a preferred choice for renowned ATP players such as Paradorn Srichaphan, Danai Udomchoke, Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov, Denis Istomin, among others. These players have previously conducted tennis camps at this facility. With tennis courts on par with those at the Australian Open, Fitz Club is a go-to for top-tier players aiming to acclimate themselves to grand slam tournament conditions. Besides tennis, the club boasts a rich history of hosting various sports events, including Junior and Senior Tennis contests, Squash championships, and Table Tennis duels.

For more information on the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Fitz Club, please visit www.royalcliff.com and www.facebook.com/fitzclub or send an email to [email protected]. 

Discover Shanghai in less than 24 hours

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 9 APRIL 2024: International passengers with layovers at Shanghai Pudong International Airport for over eight hours can join Trip.Com Group’s free layover city tours, which will launch on 15 April.

Introduced by Trip.com Group, the ‘Shanghai Express’ tours will be offered to international travellers eligible for China’s 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy and those holding a 24-hour temporary entry permit issued by the airport border inspection.

“As visa-free transit policies open up new avenues for international travellers to explore China, Trip.com Group is excited to unveil this innovative programme for those with just a short stopover,” said Trip.com Head of Marketing Han Feng. 

Explore Shanghai between flights

Upon passing customs at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, travellers join the tours at the Trip.com Group currency exchange counter on Island A in the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 for in-person registration. 

A professional guide will be available at the counter one hour before the start of each tour to assist with the registration process. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Travellers will be able to choose from several tour timings. Each free tour accommodates a maximum of 10 travellers and lasts five to six hours, including transportation from and back to the airport.

Free tour options

Shanghai Highlights City Tour (0900-1400): A tour of classic Shanghai highlights, including exploring traditional Chinese architecture in the Yu Garden and viewing Shanghai’s iconic and futuristic skyline at the Bund.

Strolling Under the Trees Citywalk Tour (1600-2200): This tour is for romantics and urban history lovers. It includes a city walk through the old villas and charming cafes along the beautiful Wukang Road, an immersive visit to the Yu Garden, and a stroll along the historic Bund.

Huangpu River Cruise Sightseeing Night Tour (1800-2300): Experience the city that never sleeps, including a breathtaking night view of the Bund aboard the Huangpu River Cruise and a deep dive into the bustling Yu Garden at night.

Each tour, led by English-speaking guides, includes transportation, tickets, e-sim cards, and team insurance. If space permits, those seeking to travel light may store their luggage at the airport or on the shuttle bus.

The International Air Transport Association reveals that transit numbers have increased, with over 330,000 travellers experiencing layovers in mainland China last December alone. This represents a monthly growth of 47%. International airports in mainland China, particularly in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, have been hubs for international flights to and from the Asia Pacific.

Currently, nationals from 54 countries are eligible for the 72/144-hour transit visa-free policies in 23 cities across mainland China. They can apply for visa-free transit at border inspection in designated city ports as long as they hold valid international travel documents and interline tickets to countries or regions with confirmed dates and seats.

Additionally, foreign nationals with international connecting flights within 24 hours can transit through nine designated airports in mainland China without immigration procedures. Those interested in exploring the local city within this timeframe may obtain a 24-hour temporary entry permit by presenting their passports and connecting ticket flights, and filling out the Temporary Entry Card.

The Shanghai Express Tours are set against the backdrop of Trip.com Group’s various initiatives to support international travellers in discovering the beauty of China with ease as the country relaxes visa requirements.

With visa-free entry extended to Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg on 14 March, China is now visa-free for eligible travellers from 15 countries.

Trip.com Group witnessed a triple-digit year-on-year rise in international travel bookings to China in the first two months of 2024. Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu drew the most attention from global travellers, with theme parks like the Shanghai Disney Resort and historic sites like the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum capturing significant interest.

IATA reports strong travel demand

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 9 April 2024: Passenger demand rises 21.5% in February, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports its latest data released at the weekend.

Total demand*, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), was up 21.5% compared to February 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), was up 18.7% year-on-year. 

The February load factor was 80.6% (+1.9 percentage points compared to February 2023).

International demand rose 26.3% compared to February 2023. Capacity increased 25.5% year-on-year, and the load factor improved to 79.3% (+0.5ppt on February 2023).

Domestic demand rose 15.0% compared to February 2023; capacity was up 9.4% year-on-year, and the load factor was 82.6% (+4.0ppt compared to February 2023).

(*Note: February 2024 was a leap year with one extra day compared to February 2023. This slightly exaggerates growth in both demand and capacity to the positive.)

“The strong start to 2024 continued in February, with all markets except North America reporting double-digit growth in passenger traffic,” said IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh. “There is good reason to be optimistic about the industry’s prospects in 2024 as airlines accelerate investments in decarbonisation and passenger demand shows resilience in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Politicians must resist the temptation of cash grabs with new taxes that could destabilise this positive trajectory and make travel more expensive. In particular, Europe is a worry as it seems determined to lock in its sluggish economic recovery with uncompetitive tax proposals.” 

Regional Breakdown – International Passenger Markets

All regions showed double-digit growth for international passenger markets in February 2024 compared to February 2023. For the first time, demand for international services exceeded pre-pandemic levels (+0.9% compared to February 2019). However, this is skewed by February 2024 being a leap year with an extra day compared to February 2023.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 53.2% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased by 52.1% year-on-year, and the load factor rose to 84.9% (+0.6ppt compared to February 2023), the highest among all regions. 

European carriers saw a 15.9% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 16.0% year-on-year, and the load factor was 74.7% (flat compared to February 2023).

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 19.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 19.1% year-on-year, and the load factor rose to 80.8% (+0.4ppt compared to February 2023).

North American carriers saw a 16.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 17.6% year-on-year, and the load factor fell to 77.7% (-1.1ppt compared to February 2023).

Latin American airlines saw a 21.0% year-on-year increase in demand, an 18.6% increase in capacity, and a load factor of 84.2% (+1.7ppt compared to February 2023).

African airlines saw a 20.7% year-on-year increase in demand, and capacity was up 22.1% year-on-year. The load factor fell to 74.0% (-0.8ppt compared to February 2023).

THA flies five daily to Tokyo

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 9 April 2024: Thai Airways International added its third direct roundtrip flight on the Bangkok – Tokyo Narita route last week.

Flight TG640 departs Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport at 2210 and arrives at Tokyo Narita International Airport at 0620 plus a day.
Flight TG621 departs Tokyo Narita at 1050 and arrives in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi at 1520.

Celebrating the return of TG641 on the Tokyo Narita – Bangkok route.

The airline schedules three flights daily from Narita International Airport to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

TG641 departs Narita at 1050  (A330-300 aircraft).
TG643 departs Narita at 1200 (Boeing 777-300ER)
TG 677 departs Narita at 1725 (Boeing 778-300ER)

In addition to the three flights daily on the Tokyo Narita-Bangkok route, the airline also flies the Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Bangkok route twice daily. It gives the airline five daily frequencies between Bangkok and Tokyo.

TG600 departs HND at 1300 (A350-900)
TG682 departs HND at 2245 (A350-900)

With five roundtrip flights daily, the Bangkok-Tokyo route is now a major source of passenger and cargo uploads. The average fare on the Bangkok – Tokyo route is USD620 (roundtrip fare, economy).

Competition is tough, with JAL, ANA, THAI, Thai AirAsia X, and Viva Macau all flying nonstop from Tokyo to Bangkok.

AirAsia X flies to Xi’an from KL base

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 9 April 2024: AirAsia celebrated another milestone as the only airline connecting Kuala Lumpur to Xi’an with the inaugural flight D7 346 departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport last Friday.

The flight departed KLIA (Terminal 2) at 1905 on 4 April and landed at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport at 0030 (local time) on 5 April.

Xi’an is AAX’s fifth destination in China, following Beijing (Daxing), Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Chengdu (Tianfu), further reinforcing the airline’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Chinese market.

AirAsia X CEO, Benyamin Ismail said: “We are pleased to announce the resumption of services to this iconic city in China, making AAX the sole airline providing direct connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Xi’an. As Malaysia-China’s economic cooperation is growing significantly and strengthening with visa-free initiatives, this route will be popular for leisure and significantly enhance tourism and trade opportunities between both nations.

“We eagerly anticipate further expansion of our footprint in China and look forward to supporting the government’s vision of welcoming five to seven million tourists from the country this year and bolstering tourism efforts for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.”

In celebration of this milestone, AAX will offer special promotional fares from 15 to 21 April 2024, starting at MYR488, valid for travel until 31 March 2025. The promotional flights are available for booking via airasia.com and the AirAsia MOVE app (formerly known as airasia Superapp).

MATTA: Monopoly hurts tourism busienss

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 5 April 2024: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) hails the ending of the Puspakom* monopoly as a vital step in transforming the tourism sector and congratulates YB Anthony Loke, Minister of Transport, for the “decisive move”.

The industry has long been plagued by inefficiencies related to the licensing of tourism vehicles, which has greatly impacted the industry and caused hardship and frustration amongst tourism vehicle operators.

This significant development marks a new era in the transportation industry, promising numerous benefits for stakeholders and consumers. MATTA recommended the following actions.

Improved Services and Benefits: The entry of various enterprises into the inspection services market marks a paradigm change that promotes healthy competition. More competition will result in a wider variety of service options, increased service quality and shorter wait times.

Improved Efficiency: The availability of multiple inspection providers will encourage service providers to streamline operations and provide timely, efficient service.

Innovation: New entrants to the market may bring greater innovation and technologies that will transform the inspection process, making it faster, more accurate, and more user-friendly. Embracing cutting-edge technologies would speed up inspections and increase overall customer satisfaction.

However, strict regulatory monitoring is essential to maintaining compliance with industry standards and safety regulations. With the expansion of inspection service providers, modernised regulatory frameworks are required to ensure the integrity and dependability of inspections. Government oversight will be critical in ensuring a level playing field and sustaining industry best practices.

“By liberalising such essential services, the Minister has taken the right step in helping transform the tourism industry and perhaps many others for the better. MATTA has also submitted many proposals over the years to the Ministry designed to ensure our tourism industry remains competitive, and we hope that the Minister will be able to address some of these very shortly,” said MATTA President Nigel Wong.

“In light of this bold move, we are also hoping that the Ministry of Finance and the Royal Malaysian Customs will look into the issue of the high insurance premiums for tourism vehicle operators and the lack of luxury vehicle permits for tourism, which puts us at a disadvantage when positioning Malaysia as a luxury tourism destination,” he added.

*Puspakom, appointed by the government in 1994, undertakes all mandatory inspections of commercial and private vehicles.
Puspakom’s monopoly on commercial vehicle inspection services expires on 31 August 2025. It will continue to offer inspections for 15 years from 1 September 2024 but bids will be opened to allow competing services ending the monopoly.

Norwegian summer flights to Spain

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TTR WEEKLY
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MUNICH Germany, 9 April 2024: The Scandinavian low-cost airline Norwegian is expanding its flights from Munich effective this week. 

In addition to its three Scandinavian destinations of Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen served from Munich it has resumed flights to Alicante and Malaga in Spain effective 1 April. 

The airline suspended the flights during the Covid pandemic.

Under the airline code D8, Norwegian Air Sweden – one of several subsidiaries of the Norwegian Group – will offer a late-morning flight every Monday and Friday to the Spanish port city of Alicante, known for its beautiful beaches, nightlife, narrow streets and colourful houses.

Picasso’s birthplace, Malaga, is famed for its miles of beaches and warm climate—two reasons why it is very popular with German vacationers. Flights to the city in Andalusia depart Munich at 1040 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

In addition to these Spanish destinations, Norwegian serves Oslo five times a week, Copenhagen three times a week, and Stockholm twice a week from Munich.

Emirates readies for Eid al Fitr celebrations

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI UAE, 5 April 2024: Marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Eid al Fitr is expected to begin on 10 April, and Emirates will honour the occasion with an array of regional flavours onboard, traditional Eid dishes in the lounges, and new Arabic movies and TV series on ice.

Eid flavours onboard Emirates

From 10 to 13 April, economy-class customers departing Dubai will be treated to the flavoursome favourites of Eid, including chicken biryani with crunchy fried onions, raisins, and cashew nuts or tender lamb kibbeh labanieh with vermicelli rice and rich laban sauce. Eid-themed desserts include a halwa brownie with cardamom sauce and chocolate mousse topped with batheeth crumble.

Premium economy and business class customers can sample traditional chicken mashwi el jeder, with a spiced sauce, chickpea hashwa and ghee rice tossed with potatoes, or savour a fish matfy in a spiced tomato sauce and indulgent butter rice. Desserts include a fragrant pistachio and hibiscus namoura with raspberry curd or a luscious vanilla and rose mousse cake.

First-class customers can experience crafted dishes like hammour matfy, in Emirati style spiced tomato sauce with basmati rice, or braised beef short ribs machbouse with fragrant rice and a local spice blend, or succulent lamb kebabs marinating in spicy tomato butter. Eid desserts include vanilla and rose mousse cake with pistachio anglaise and fresh berries or a warm orange blondie served with white chocolate and vanilla cream tart drizzled in caramel sauce. All passengers will also receive a mini treat with their meal wishing them ‘Eid Mubarak,’ a sweet pumpkin Asseda, with an additional almond apricot tart for premium economy, business and first-class customers.   

In the A380 onboard lounge, a selection of Emirati pastries and Arabic coffee awaits. Customers can also help themselves to a decadent slice of pistachio cake with cream cheese or aromatic saffron and cardamom cake.

Emirates Lounges serve Eid favourites

In the Emirates, Lounges of Dubai on 10 April, first-class customers can explore a wide selection of options, including Arabic coffee, jallab and kamarruddin juice, hot and cold Arabic mezzeh, lamb ouzi or Arabic mixed grill followed by sweet treats of kunafa, kathayef and bassbousa. In business class lounges, there will be classic chicken khabsa and a range of tempting desserts available throughout the day like date mammoul, baklava pecan rolls and saffron bassbousa. Emirates first and business class guests are invited to the old-fashioned ice cream cart in the lounge to enjoy homemade Baklava and Arabic coffee ice cream, made especially for Eid celebrations.

Entertainment for Eid on Emirates ice

Various entertaining content will be available on the award-winning ice for those travelling over Eid al Fitr, from up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment and more than 2000 movies worldwide. This includes more than 100 Arabic films, including new releases – Amakor, El Saf El Akheer and Al Masafa Sefr, and up to 285 Hollywood movies with Arabic subtitles, including new releases Napoleon, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Wish, Ferrari and Killers of the Flower Moon. There are 46 channels of Arabic TV series, including Chef Bel Beit, Lo’bat Al Hayah and series from  Shahid including Batn El Hout, Seeb Wa Ana Aseeb and El Ghareeb. Emirates customers can also enjoy 15 Arabic podcasts and audiobooks, The Holy Qur’an, and more than 500 channels of Arabic music, including pop, classics, Khaleeji, Maghrebi and Arabic fusion.
For flight information and to make a booking visit www.emirates.com.

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