GENOVA, Italy 4 March 2024: Costa Cruises has confirmed changes to its sales organisation in North America following the departure of Ruben Perez after 40 years leading Costa’s North American sales team as its Americas GM.
“We are sincerely grateful to Ruben for his recognised contribution to the Costa brand over the years… His managerial skills have been pivotal to leading the North American team over the past years,” stated Costa Cruises president Mario Zanetti.
Effective 1 March, the North American market will be served through a new sales organisation led by Erik Jaramillo, who has been promoted to head sales at Costa North America. Jaramillo has been part of Costa in various positions for many years and has developed vast experience, having joined the cruise line in 1996.
In parallel, the Costa North America sales department will be reinforced by introducing Yeniss Palacio, Priscilla Reyes and Becky Tate. They join Costa Cruises as business development managers, reporting to Jaramillo.
SINGAPORE, 4 March 2024: Saudi Arabia received applause from UN Tourism and the World Travel & Tourism Council for welcoming over 100 million tourists in 2023, but it drops to 27 million if you exclude domestic visits.
The two global association heavyweights noted that the accomplishment significantly surpassed the previous target set for 2030, positioning Saudi Arabia as an emerging global tourism powerhouse.
Based on the latest data, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism announced it had achieved the milestone seven years ahead of the initial goal. The government has now raised the target to 150 million tourists by 2030.
When counting both domestic and international travellers, the country’s tourism sector has made significant qualitative leaps, reaching 106.2 million in 2023. This represents a remarkable increase of 56% compared to 2019 and a substantial 12% surge compared to 2022.
When the domestic travel data is excluded, the country’s international visitor count reached 27.4 million, showing a substantial 56% increase from 2019 and an impressive 65% rise compared to 2022.
Tourism has proven to be a significant contributor to the nation’s economy, with domestic and international tourists spending over 250 billion riyals in 2023. This expenditure represents over 4% of GDP and 7% of the non-oil GDP, reflecting tourism’s crucial role in diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy.
Serving as the country’s first Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb, commented: “This announcement demonstrates the scale of our transformation since the National Tourism Strategy was launched five years ago. We are committed to aligning with top-tier international experiences and practices. This approach contributes to shaping a prosperous future for our tourism industry, improving the quality of life, and bolstering the Kingdom’s position on the global tourism map”.
PHNOM PENH, 4 March 2024: Lao Airlines officially announced a new direct flight from Vientiane, Laos, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at a media briefing last week. The service will start on 19 March.
The airline is already fielding fares on popular booking websites, with a roundtrip fare starting at USD236. But it will face competition from Vietnam Airlines, which flies daily between Vientiane and Phnom Penh, quoting fares of USD295 using the larger A321.
Photo credit: Lao Airlines. Khamlar Phommavanh, director-general of Lao Airlines.
The Lao national carrier will initially fly the route three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday using A320 aircraft, according to Lao Airlines director-general Khamla Phommavanh, who briefed the media at the presentation, saying if traffic demand improved, then the airline would increase flights.
“To support and facilitate tourists and business travellers who need to travel to and from Phnom Penh to the Vientiane capital, our team has studied the feasibility of connecting the capital, Vientiane and Phnom Penh carefully and recognised there is enough demand from tourists and business people for direct flights post Covid pandemic.”
Flying Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the service will depart Vientiane at 0835 and arrive in Phnom Penh at 0955. The return flight from Phnom Penh will depart at 1050 and arrive in Vientiane at 1210. Flight time is one hour and 20 minutes using an Airbus A320 aircraft.
SINGAPORE, 1 March 2024: Travel Meet Asia introduces an early bird rate for its trade visitor pass, lopping off 20% until midnight on 28 June 2024.
Travel Meet Asia will happen from 3 to 4 July 2024 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Jakarta, Indonesia. TMA was launched by Messe Berlin (Singapore) in 2019 at regional locations in Asia. Originally organised as a conference and networking event, TMA has become a full-fledged B2B trade show with exhibitions, conferences and networking opportunities for the travel trade.
The upcoming B2B event will welcome local and international leisure, MICE and corporate travel buyers, supported by the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO). An estimated 500 attendees will network and hold business discussions with 200 Indonesian buyers
Following its success last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the stage is now set for a TMA gathering in Jakarta in July as TMA paves the way towards ITB Asia 2024, Asia’s premier travel trade show scheduled for October in Singapore.
Travel Meet Asia provides exhibiting opportunities for NTOs, Convention Bureaus, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Hotel Groups, Airlines, Transportation Services and Travel Technology. Through a personalised business matching system, they will establish valuable connections with Indonesian buyers, ensuring 100% pre-scheduled guaranteed meetings with buyers.
For more information, visit www.travelmeetasia.com/sponsorship. Booth prices start from USD2,250, offering exhibitors a range of options, from shell scheme booths to customisable raw spaces. To learn more and secure your participation, visit www.travelmeetasia.com/exhibitor.
BANGKOK, 1 March 2024: Osaka is considered the culinary capital of Japan — a haven of gastronomy where residents and international visitors can savour world-class cuisine. This captivating city is raising the bar for dining even higher with a collection of eight world-class restaurants and bars at Centara Grand Hotel Osaka.
Rising 33 storeys in Namba, Osaka’s most vibrant entertainment and retail district, this five-star urban landmark transports diners on a multi-sensory journey of discovery as talented chefs fuse premium ingredients and a spirit of innovation to craft exquisite cuisine in atmospheric venues. Centara is a leading hotel group headquartered in Thailand and rooted in Thai culinary heritage.
Here is a selection of the hotel’s most unmissable dining experiences.
Suan Bua: Sizzling Thai Street Food
Chef Sompong at Suan Bua
At Suan Bua, diners’ taste buds are escorted to the bustling streets of Southeast Asia with stylish interiors and a genuine tuk-tuk in the heart of the restaurant! All ages can savour authentic Thai street food, including fresh salads, spicy soups, sizzling stir-fries, colourful curries and more, crafted by Chef Sompong, who hails from Thailand, and his talented team.
Don’t miss: Tom Yum Goong Naang. Thailand’s national dish is a wonderfully fragrant, spicy, sour soup featuring river prawns, lemongrass, chilli, and mushrooms.
Kunsei Kitchen: Osaka’s Most Spectacular Smokehouse
Kunsei Kitchen is perched on the 33rd floor, overlooking Osaka’s skyline.
Discerning diners can elevate their epicurean adventure at Kunsei Kitchen, the 33rd-floor smokehouse restaurant that frames sparkling skyline views. Within this stunning setting, Chef Asano, who has worked at some of the world’s leading restaurants, uses exquisite ingredients to craft contemporary dishes accompanied by fine wines and smoked cocktails. The omakase menu is a highly exclusive experience that blends tradition with invention.
Don’t miss: Seasonal Fish with Smoked Broth. Kunsei Kitchen’s menu changes with the seasons to showcase the finest ingredients in their prime – including the freshest fish.
WhiskeyNova Steakhouse: Elevating the Epicurean Arts
Japanese Beef Sirloin at Steakhouse WhiskeyNova
Osaka’s most exciting and immersive new steakhouse, this dazzling 32nd-floor restaurant, transports guests to a world where American comic book culture meets Japanese retro art. Amidst this vibrant ambience, diners can indulge in expertly prepared cuts of meat, from succulent dry-aged beef to perfectly grilled wagyu. Every meal can be paired with a curated selection of fine wines and whiskeys, all set against breathtaking city views.
Don’t miss:Japanese Beef Sirloin Steak. Wonderfully tender and cooked to perfection, this is a meat lover’s dream. Enjoy it with WhiskeyNova’s signature steak sauce.
Smoke & Spin: Feel the Spirit of the City
Savour afternoon tea with spectacular views at Smoke & Spin.
Step into Centara Grand Hotel Osaka’s rooftop oasis at Smoke & Spin, where panoramic city views unfold. Designed with the theme of a baseball park, this inspiring venue is the ultimate setting for afternoon tea during the day. Then, as night falls, this spirited lounge transforms into a vibrant hub of activity where guests can feel the energy of Osaka and sip expertly crafted cocktails until 0200.
Don’t miss: Strawberry Afternoon Tea. This sublime selection is presented on an elegant tree stand and features 17 sweet & savoury bites, focusing on fresh strawberries.
Guests can also discover Crudo Deck, the breathtaking rooftop restaurant where diners can soak up panoramic views, sip in a world of science fiction at Automata, the cutting-edge cocktail bar with self-service technology, or grab light refreshments on the move at Platform 2, the bright lobby lounge.
JAKARTA, 1 March 2024: Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Tourism and Creative Economy is resuming promotions in India following its return to the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) hosted in New Delhi in mid-February.
Presenting the latest Wonderful Indonesia to India’s travel market on the sidelines of SATTE Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno touched on the importance of India’s outbound travel market, noting that Indian travellers to Indonesia reached 606.439 in 2023, with a growth of 125.8% from the previous year. India ranks the 6th top outbound travel market for tourists visiting Indonesia, while in Bali, Indian visitors ranked the second highest in 2023.
Bali is now top of mind for Indian outbound tourists. Still, promotions this year in the Indian market will focus on five “super priority destinations beyond Bali such as Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.
The marketing focus will also shift to present Indian travel agents opportunities to sell niche market travel such as weddings, honeymoons, family, and MICE travel.
KUALA LUMPUR, 1 March 2024: Asia Pacific Airlines enjoyed a solid start to 2024 with positive passenger traffic trends during January, according to preliminary traffic figures released Thursday by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)
Overall, the region’s airlines carried 27.0 million international passengers in January, a 49.4% increase from the previous period in 2023.
Traffic recovered to reach 82% of 2019 pre-Covid levels. As measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), demand rose by 48.3% year-on-year, reflecting robust regional travel demand. Available seat capacity expanded by 51.3% year-on-year, while the international passenger load factor fell by 1.6 percentage points to an average of 79.9% for the month.
Meanwhile, January saw a continuation of growth in air cargo markets, propelled by demand related to the festive Lunar New Year season. International air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), recorded a strong 22.5% year-on-year increase for the month, extending the rebound seen in the last quarter of 2023. Nevertheless, growth in offered freight capacity continued to outpace demand, driven by the ongoing recovery in belly-hold capacities of international passenger operations. For the month, offered freight capacity rose 25.8% year-on-year, leading to a 1.6 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 57.5%.
Commenting on the results, AAPA director general Subhas Menon said: “The year started positively for Asia Pacific airlines, as both international air passenger and cargo markets saw robust growth, supported by the Lunar New Year festive period timing. A rise in leisure travellers boosted travel demand, while cargo markets benefitted from heightened demand for air shipments ahead of the festive period.”
Looking ahead, he noted: “The upcoming year looks broadly positive for Asian carriers, given the renewed optimism on the global economic outlook. However, as capacity restoration progresses, airlines face intensifying competition. In addition, the cost environment remains challenging, as inflationary pressures remain amid ongoing supply chain issues. Nevertheless, airlines remain proactive in seeking new growth opportunities while maintaining the highest safety and customer service standards.”
LANGKAWI, 1 March 2024: Tourism Malaysia hosted Routes Asia 2024’s Networking Evening at Resorts World Langkawi, pledging to support airlines with matching grants to establish more direct flights to Malaysia.
As a milestone for the country’s MICE segment, Routes Asia 2024 sets a precedent as Malaysia prepares to host next year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2025, followed by Visit Malaysia Year in 2026.
Photo credit: Tourism Malaysia.
These important events will lead to a surge in tourist arrivals over the next three years. Tourism Malaysia has introduced matching grants awarded to airlines that are prepared to invest and introduce new direct and charter routes to attract more flights between important source market countries and Malaysia.
“Tourism Malaysia is eager to collaborate with international airlines and tourism agencies to enhance air accessibility, frequency, and seat capacity to Malaysia via the International and Charter Flight Matching Grant (GSPC). We truly look forward to having more carriers designate Malaysia as their preferred destination,” said Tourism Malaysia director-general Manoharan Periasamy
As the host country of the 20th edition of Routes Asia, Langkawi Island in northern Malaysia welcomed close to 1,000 airline and airport industry executives from 60 countries for the three-day event that concluded on 29 February. Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and Tourism Malaysia co-hosted the three-day event in collaboration with the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA).
Malaysia recorded 20.1 million international tourist arrivals and MYR71.3 billion in tourist receipts in 2023. This year, Malaysia aims to woo 27.3 million arrivals with MYR102.7 billion in tourism revenue.
SINGAPORE, 1 March 2024: A celebration is underway as Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess sets sail on 28 February on the cruise ship’s maiden voyage from Rome.
The new 177,882-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess, tagged “the next-level Love Boat”, introduces an innovative new ship platform designed exclusively for the world’s most iconic cruise brand.
An engineering marvel, Sun Princess officially started its inaugural cruise season with a 10-day Grand Mediterranean cruise roundtrip from Rome, taking guests to Naples, Italy; Crete, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus); Athens, Greece; Sicily, Italy; Mallorca, Spain; and Barcelona.
Sun Princess debuts new eye-catching experience venues, including The Dome, a groundbreaking geodesic, glass-enclosed structure at the top of the ship inspired by the terraces of Santorini.
Sun Princess offers an extraordinary cruise experience with not-to-be-missed culinary, entertainment and diverse accommodations. More than 1,500 cabins have balcony views, and Sun Princess’ re-imagined staterooms include exceptional suites and new Cabana Mini-Suites with extra space for secluded outdoor relaxation.
The Greatest Foodie Destination at Sea
Sun Princess presents 30 restaurant and bar venues with an unprecedented collection of celebrity collaborators, high-end ingredients and culinary experiences.
Spellbound by The Magic Castle: Blending the captivating world of magic with culinary art and mixology create an innovative dining experience steeped in magic and adventure.
Kai Sushi by Makoto: Reshaping traditional sushi with a creative approach, the Master of Edomae-style sushi, Chef Makoto Okuwa, brings his 25 years of experience with a new concept crafting playful, exquisitely presented dishes paying tribute to Japanese traditions.
Love by Britto: A high-end boutique restaurant with the most romantic view from the ship celebrating love and art from world-renowned artist Romero Britto.
The Butcher’s Block by Dario: A new speciality pop-up restaurant from the world’s most famous butcher, Dario Cecchini, guests enjoy perfectly prepared beef and steak, including Cecchini’s signature cuts.
The Catch by Rudi: An exceptional dinner concept from Chef Rudi Sodamin showcases delectable treasures from the sea.
Entertainment & Retail Space
The Princess Arena is the most technologically advanced theatre at sea, offering original productions. At night, The Dome astonishes audiences with acrobatic Cirque Éloize performances while the Piazza dazzles with a retractable stage and immersive Champagne Waterfall.
Sun Princess also features the cruise line’s largest casino, two-story Lotus Spa, and an expanded retail environment with over 200 premium brands.
The first-ever family activity zone, Park19, offers multi-generational fun from the top deck. Within decks 19, 20 and 21, guests can experience everything from the Sea Breeze, a glider ride that offers panoramic views of the ocean and breathtaking ports of call, to the Coastal Climb, an engaging climbing structure where guests can enjoy the views.
HONG KONG, 1 March 2024: Once Resorts World One’s seasonal homeport deployment in Southeast Asia ends on 3 July, when the cruise ship will sail back to Hong Kong to commence its new summer homeport deployment from 12 July to 6 October 2024.
Resorts World Cruises will offer a variety of cruises from its Hong Kong homeport.
Eight six-day/five-night Okinawa Cruises departing Sundays to Naha and either Miyakojima or Ishigaki in Okinawa, Japan;
Five six-day/five-night Vietnam cruises to Hanoi (Halong Bay) and Danang with a port of call at Sanya in China.
Three-day/two-night weekend cruises departing Hong Kong on Fridays for those seeking that short getaway on the open seas.
“Resorts World One will have an exciting deployment these coming months, as she will leave Hong Kong for Southeast Asia at the end of May 2024. However, Hong Kong remains an important cruise hub, and we are delighted that Resorts World One will return in early July to launch its new season itineraries for vacationers departing from Hong Kong,” Resorts World Cruises president Michael Goh.
