Norwegian Cruise Line returns to Asia

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October 23, 2023

SINGAPORE, 23 October 2023: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) celebrated its long-awaited return to Asia on 20 October as Norwegian Jewel set sail from Tokyo and commenced its extensive six-month season of voyages in the region.

As the first ship in the NCL fleet to return to Asia in over three years, Norwegian Jewel will offer 16 immersive, port-rich itineraries, visiting 11 countries and sailing from nine different departure ports, including Bangkok (Laem Chabang) Thailand; Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) Malaysia; Singapore; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Bali (Benoa), Indonesia; Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan; and for the first time in NCL history Seoul (Incheon), South Korea.

Cruises range in length from 10 to 14 days with an average of less than two sea days per sailing, inviting guests to enjoy up to 13.5 hours in iconic destinations like Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, as well as extended overnight stays in places that come alive at night, such as Phuket, Thailand; Osaka, Japan; and Bali (Benoa), Indonesia. The brand will also make its first calls to Manila, Boracay, Palawan and Salomague, Philippines; Bintan Island, Indonesia; and Hualien, Taiwan.

“Yesterday was a celebratory moment, as we returned to Asia with Norwegian Jewel’s arrival to Tokyo,” said Norwegian Cruise Line president David Herrera. “We pride ourselves in delivering the best vacation experience and providing endless opportunities for our guests to explore the world…including Asia! This region delivers some of the most intriguing history, cuisine, and culture for travellers to discover, and we are thrilled to deliver a diverse selection of port-rich voyages. This market is important to us, and we are committed to servicing it long-term.”

Fujiyoshida, Japan at Chureito Pagoda and Mt. Fuji in the spring with cherry blossoms.

Firmly underlying the brand’s commitment to Asia, both as a source market and destination, NCL will have a record four ships deployed in the region during the 2024/25 season, providing travellers with unrivalled choice. In addition to Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Spirit, Sun and Sky will also visit the area’s most diverse ports, allowing guests to explore iconic and less-discovered destinations, including Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia.

Norwegian Sun Debuts in Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific and Asia

Making its premiere, Norwegian Sun will offer a six-month Asia Pacific season, including 13 exotic itineraries from October 2024 to April 2025, four of which have never been offered before, including three departures from Melbourne, Australia and an Auckland, New Zealand – Bali, Indonesia, sailing in March 2025. Departure ports include Melbourne and Sydney, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Honolulu; and Papeete, French Polynesia, with itineraries showcasing the sublime scenery of each bucket-list-worthy destination.

Norwegian Spirit Returns to Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific and Asia

After an incredibly successful maiden season, Norwegian Spirit will return to Australian and New Zealand waters for its second consecutive season from December 2023 through March 2024 for a series of popular open-jaw sailings between Sydney and Auckland. It will then sail several repositioning cruises in the South Pacific before returning to the region for a series of 14 Asia voyages during an eight-month season from September 2024 to April 2025, departing from Manila, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul.

Norwegian Sky Sails a Series of Exotic Itineraries in Asia, Asia Pacific and Africa

Norwegian Sky’s four-month Asian season features seven sailings departing from Manila, Philippines; Singapore; Taipei, Taiwan; Tokyo; and Port Louis, Mauritius between December 2024 and March 2025. Sailings range from 10 to 17 days and include several country-immersive voyages to discover fascinating destinations such as the Philippines and Japan.

For guests looking to immerse themselves in the destination fully, select sailings can also be combined with a three-night/four-day land exploration with one of NCL’s Cruise Tours in Tokyo, Taipei and Singapore.

For a complete list of NCL’s Asia itineraries, click here.

For more information about the company’s award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries or to book a cruise, call Hong Kong at +852 800 901 951 and Southeast Asia on +65 3165 1680 or visit www.ncl.com.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 56 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionised the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 19 contemporary ships sail to 400 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize.

Taste of THAI Tales

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 23, 2023

BANGKOK, 23 October 2023: Thai Airways International launched an exclusive inflight menu curated by Chef Bo at last week’s “TASTE OF THAI TALES” event presided over by the airline’s Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri at THAI’s head office.

The extensive new menu delivers a unique culinary experience curated by Chef Duangporn (Bo) Songvisava, declared Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2013. She appeared in Netflix’s Chef’s Table Season 5 alongside THAI Catering Chef Suchat Nanta, who demonstrated the preparation at the TASTE OF THAI TALES event.

Destined to be a major talking point, the national airline hopes to tap the massive following of passengers who love Thai food and expect the national airline to serve up the best Thai treats. The menu is designed to enhance the passenger inflight experiences through the six Ayatana senses: sight, taste, smell, hearing, touch, and feeling. Inspired by Thai culinary culture, Chef Songvisava, the owner of the Food Trust BKK (Bo Lan), selected local ingredients to blend with an international menu in designing these inflight meals, which have been available on THAI Royal First and Royal Silk classes on flights to Europe, Australia, and Japan since July 2023.

All Day Dining

Roll series:

1. Thai-Northern Curry Sausage in a Sweet Potato Bun, topped with Sauerkraut, Pickled Ginger, and crispy pork crackling.

2. Meatball with Spicy Tamarind Sauce in a Sweet Potato Bun, topped with Pickled Cucumber, Shredded Cabbage, and Semi-Dried Tomatoes.

3. Grilled Honey Pork with Holy Basil and Chili in a Sweet Potato Bun, topped with a Soft-Boiled Egg and Fried Chili.

4. Chicken Satay in a Sweet Potato Bun with Shredded Cabbage, Pickled Cucumber, and Green Chili.

Pie Series:

1. “Hung Lay” Pork Curry Pie with a Pickled Garlic and Ginger Skewer.

2. “Khao Soi” Chicken Pie with Pickled Cabbage, Lime Wedge, and Chili Oil.

Main Dishes: (*starting in 2024)

1. Lamb Cutlets in Red Curry with Green Banana, served with Thai jasmine Rice, five-spice braised Soft-Boiled Egg, Stir-Fried Green beans, and Thai Grilled Sweet Corn.

2. Prawns in Red Curry with Pineapple (Gaeng Khua), served with Thai jasmine Rice, Thai Turnip Omelet, and Stir-Fried Aubergines with Sweet Basil.

Ochazuke Breakfast Series:

1. Thai Jasmine Rice in “Tom Nok Mhor” Style Soup with Smoked Fish.

2. Thai Jasmine Rice in “Tom Klong” Style Soup with Smoked Fish and Thai Herbs.

3. Tapioca Pearls in Clear Soup with Young Coconut and Thai Basil, topped with Shredded Chicken, Poached Tiger Prawns, and Onsen Egg.

Heritage Series:

1. Thai Rice Vermicelli Noodles with Prawn and Peanut Sauce (Sen-Mee Nahm Prik).

When introducing the ‘Taste of THAI Tales’ initiative, the airline president, Chai Eamsiri, said THAI was striving to introduce new products and services for optimal passenger satisfaction.

“As the national carrier, THAI is honoured to strengthen the position of Thai food as a form of national soft power for global recognition, as well as to support local ingredient manufacturers.”

More Thai Smile flights migrate to THAI

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 23, 2023

BANGKOK, 23 October 2023: More flights served by Thai Smile are migrating to the Thai Airways International network ahead of the shutdown of the low-cost subsidiary.

By early 2024, all Thai Smile’s flights should transfer to the parent THAI as part of the group’s restructuring and recovery plan.

Thai Airlines International (TG) resumes flights to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Hanoi (HAN) and Kathmandu (KTM) with A320s effective 29 October through to the end of the winter timetable on 30 March 2024

Flight details were posted on TG’s social media.

Ho Chi Minh City

TG550 BKK 0745 – SGN 0915 Daily
TG551 SGN 1015 – BKK 1140 Daily
TG556 BKK 1735 – SGN 1905 Daily
TG557 SGN 2010 – BKK 2135 Daily

Hanoi

TG560 BKK 0745 – HAN 0935 Daily
TG561 HAN 1035 – BKK 1225 Daily
TG564 BKK 1730 – HAN 1920 Daily
TG565 HAN 2025 – BKK 2215 Daily

Kathmandu

TG319 BKK1015 – KTM 1225 Daily
TG310 KTM 1330 – BKK 1815 Daily
TG309 BKK 2005 – KTM 2305 Daily (Starts 1 December 2023)
TG310 KTM 0005 – BKK 0450 32A Daily (Starts 2 December 2023)

Meanwhile, flights increase on routes to Chengdu and Kunming in China from three to five a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) during the airline’s winter timetable from 1 December 2023 to 30 March 2024.

Bangkok – Chengdu

TG618 BKK-TFU Dep 1005 Arr 1400
TG619 TFU-BKK Dep 1515 Arr 1730

Bangkok – Khunming

TG612 BKK-KMG Dep 1055 Arr 1405
TG613 KMG-BKK Dep 1520 Arr 1635

Abu Dhabi is back on the BA route map

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 23, 2023

SINGAPORE, 23 October 2023: British Airways will launch daily flights to Abu Dhabi in the spring of 2024, following a four-year hiatus.

Bookings opened for the new flight on 19 October, with the first flights scheduled for 20 April 2024, serving the UAE’s capital year-round from London Heathrow and using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Famous for its towering architecture, rich culture, desert landscapes, magnificent beaches and world-class attractions, this Middle Eastern metropolis is enjoyed by those looking for an eclectic mix of culture, relaxation and adventure. BA already flies to neighbouring Dubai, offering three daily flights from Heathrow.

British Airways offers return fares from UKP449 in World Traveller (economy) and UKP1,999 in Club World (business class), bookable on 12 November 2023 to support launch sales. Executive Club Members can purchase Reward Seats from UKP100 + 50,000 Avios.

British Airways director of network and alliances, Neil Chernoff said: “Abu Dhabi is a unique destination that is making a very welcome return to our network. With a blend of beach, city and desert, it has everything our customers are looking for in a Middle Eastern trip, and we look forward to welcoming them back on board as we grow our footprint in the UAE.”

Abu Dhabi Airports chief commercial officer Maureen Bannerman said: “We’re delighted to welcome British Airways back to Abu Dhabi International Airport, adding to the growing list of leading carriers set to use Terminal A as their operational base in Abu Dhabi. A luxurious new gateway to Abu Dhabi, Terminal A will open to the public from 1 November, offering state-of-the-art facilities for passengers and airlines.”

CX reports a strong September recovery

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 23, 2023

HONG KONG, 23 October 2023: Travel sentiment remains strong as Cathay Pacific gears up for the next holiday wave, according to the airline’s latest traffic figures for September 2023, released at the weekend.

Cathay Pacific carried 1,542,144 passengers last month, an increase of 480.1% compared with September 2022. The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 316% year-on-year. Passenger load factor increased by 11.2 percentage points to 83.7%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 260.4% year on year. In the first nine months of 2023, passengers carried increased by 1,099% against a 546.7% increase in capacity and a 736.8% increase in RPKs, as compared with the same period for 2022.

The airline carried 119,963 tonnes of cargo last month, an increase of 15.3% compared with September 2022. The month’s cargo revenue tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 16.9% year-on-year. The cargo load factor decreased by 5.3 percentage points to 61.1%, while capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres (AFTKs), increased by 26.9% year on year. In the first nine months of 2023, the tonnage increased by 20.1% against a 77.7% increase in capacity and a 53.8% increase in RFTKs, compared to the same period for 2022.

Regarding the results, chief customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau said: “As we exited the busy peak summer months for passenger travel, we saw increased student traffic in September ahead of the start of the new school year, particularly in the UK. To cater for the strong demand, we increased the frequency of our flights between Hong Kong and the UK in September, with our services from Hong Kong achieving load factors of 98%.

“In addition to student traffic, there was a notable increase in outbound passenger travel from Hong Kong during the last week of September, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays. We also saw strong demand from the Greater Bay Area and the rest of the Chinese Mainland for travel to Hong Kong and destinations beyond the holiday period.

“Meanwhile, demand for Hangzhou was elevated with the Asian Games. Cathay Pacific was proud to carry many athletes, spectators and officials to attend this incredible sporting occasion. It has also been great to see more conferences and exhibitions in Hong Kong, stimulating demand for premium cabins as we near the traditional business travel peak.

Cargo

“On the cargo side, September marked the start of the traditional peak period, and demand strengthened across most of the network compared with the previous month. Capacity also grew as passenger services were added on some key cargo routes.

“E-commerce remained a bright spot, particularly on the Americas trade lanes. Our mail business continued gaining momentum, with several post offices worldwide adopting our newly launched Cathay Mail solution to improve customer experience.

Outlook

“Looking ahead at the coming months, on the travel side, we will continue to increase capacity as much as is feasible to provide more choice and flexibility for our customers. Earlier this month, we resumed our Chicago passenger service, which received a very encouraging response from our customers. With the next holiday period not until Christmas, we will remain agile to capture demand, including connecting traffic via the Hong Kong hub.

“For cargo, loads are expected to build over the next two months, reflecting the year-end demand, and we have been adding freighter capacity on our transpacific routes to cater for this. Our intermodal sea-air feeder services from Dongguan will continue to grow, providing customers a cost-effective option to move freight from the Greater Bay Area to the Hong Kong hub and onto our global network.”

The Cathay Group, on 11 October 2023, announced that shareholder approval had been granted to proceed with a proposed capital reduction, which, when completed, will facilitate the Group to buy back 50% – HK$9.75 billion – of the preference shares held by the Hong Kong SAR Government before the end of this year, and the remaining 50% by the end of July 2024, subject to market conditions and the Group’s business operations at the relevant time.

Vietjet launches five new routes

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 23, 2023

HANOI, 23 October 2023: Vietjet has scheduled a new daily service from Hanoi to Hong Kong (China) starting 22 December 2023 as part of a recently announced schedule that adds flights to five international destinations.

The additional international routes will connect Hanoi to Hong Kong (China), Phu Quoc to Taipei (Taiwan, China) and Busan (South Korea). New flights from Ho Chi Minh City are scheduled to Adelaide and Perth (Australia).

Hanoi to Hong Kong

The flights from Hanoi will depart at 0855 and arrive in Hong Kong at 1150. The return flight will depart Hong Kong at 1250 and arrive in Hanoi at 1350. This is Vietjet’s fourth route from Vietnam cities to Hong Kong following the resumption of services from Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Phu Quoc.

Phu Quoc to Busan

Daily flights from Vietnam’s holiday island, Phu Quoc, to Busan (South Korea) will start on 10 December 2023. The flight will depart Phu Quoc at 1:15 and will arrive in Busan at 0805. The return flight will depart Busan at 0855 and arrive in Phu Quoc at 1240.

Phu Quoc to Taipei

The airline will reconnect Phu Quoc to Taipei (Taiwan) starting 17 January 2024 with four flights weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The flight will depart Phu Quoc at 0825 and arrive in Taipei at 1300. The return flight will depart Taipei at 1400 and land in Phu Quoc at 1650.

HCMC to Perth and Adelaide

Flights connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Perth and Adelaide will operate from 21 November 2023, with five return flights per week departing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

The flights from Ho Chi Minh City take off at 0635 (local time), land in Perth at 1420 (local time), and continue to Adelaide, arriving at 2110 (local time) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

In the opposite direction, the flights depart from Adelaide at 0725 (local time) and land in Perth at 0855 (local time). Flights depart from Perth at 0955 (local time) and land in Ho Chi Minh City at 1540 (local time).

THAI rolls out winter flight schedule

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 23, 2023

BANGKOK, 23 October 2023: THAI Airways International will operate flights to 51 cities worldwide during the winter timetable from 29 October 2023 to 30 March 2024, a significant boost in serving international destinations — eight in Europe, eight in India and six in China.

In addition to reinstating destinations post-Covid pandemic and increasing flights to meet growing travel demand, THAI has taken over all of Thai Smile’s regional routes to phase out the low-cost subsidiary’s operations by early 2024.

THAI introduces a new daily service to Istanbul, Türkiye, effective 1 December. It also includes new endeavours such as flights to Gaya, the gateway to Bodh Gaya, a revered site (Mahabodhi Temple Complex), the signature destination of seasonal Buddhist heritage tours of India and Nepal. The take-over of Thai Smile routes will see THAI flying to Siem Reap (home of the Angkor Wat Historical Park) for the first time starting 1 December, landing at the new airport Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI),

Intercontinental routes

Europe

1. Bangkok – Munich: daily flight.

2. Bangkok – Frankfurt: twice daily flights.

3. Bangkok – Istanbul: daily flight, starting 1 December 2023.

4. Bangkok – Stockholm: daily flight.

5. Bangkok – Copenhagen: daily flight.

6. Bangkok – Zurich: daily flight.

7. Bangkok – Paris: daily flight.

8. Bangkok – London: twice daily flights.

Australia

9. Bangkok – Melbourne: twice daily flights.

10. Bangkok – Sydney: daily flight.

Asia

1. Bangkok – Sapporo: daily flight.

2. Bangkok – Tokyo (Narita): twice daily flights.

3. Bangkok – Tokyo (Haneda): twice daily flights.

4. Bangkok – Nagoya: daily flight.

5. Bangkok – Osaka: twice daily flights.

6. Bangkok – Fukuoka: daily flight.

7. Bangkok – Manila: daily flight.

8. Bangkok – Seoul: triple daily flights.

9. Bangkok – Taipei: daily flight. (*increased to twice daily flights from 1 January 2024)

10. Bangkok – Kaohsiung: daily flight.

China

11. Bangkok – Hong Kong: triple daily flights. (increased to four flights per day from 1 February 2024)

12. Bangkok – Beijing: six flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (increases to daily flight from 1 December 2023)

13. Bangkok – Shanghai: daily flight.

14. Bangkok – Guangzhou: daily flight.

15. Bangkok – Chengdu: two flights weekly every Tuesday and Thursday. (increased to five flights weekly every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1 December 2023)

16. Bangkok – Kunming: three flights every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. (Increases to five flights weekly every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday from 1 December 2023)

Southeast Asia

17. Bangkok – Siem Reap: daily flight, starting 1 December 2023.

18. Bangkok – Phnom Penh: twice daily flights.

19. Bangkok – Vientiane: twice daily flights.

20. Bangkok – Ho Chi Minh: twice daily flights.

21. Bangkok – Hanoi: twice daily flights.

22. Bangkok – Singapore: triple daily flights. (increased to 35 flights weekly from 1 February 2024)

23. Bangkok – Jakarta: twice daily flights.

24. Bangkok – Denpasar: daily flight.

25. Bangkok – Penang: daily flight.

26. Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur: twice daily flights.

27. Bangkok – Yangon: twice daily flights.

South Asia/ Middle East

28. Bangkok – Ahmedabad: daily flight.

29. Bangkok – Mumbai: 11 flights weekly.

30. Bangkok – Delhi: 22 flights weekly.

31. Bangkok – Bengaluru: daily flight.

32. Bangkok – Hyderabad: daily flight.

33. Bangkok – Chennai: daily flight.

34. Bangkok – Gaya: daily flight, starting 1 December 2023.

35. Bangkok – Kolkata: daily flight.

36. Bangkok – Dhaka: twice daily flights.

37. Bangkok – Kathmandu: daily flight. (increased to twice daily flights from 1 December 2023)

38. Bangkok – Lahore: five flights weekly every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

39. Bangkok – Islamabad: four flights weekly every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

40. Bangkok – Karachi: five flights weekly every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

41. Bangkok – Jeddah: three flights weekly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Saudi Tourism taps JCB cardholders

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 20, 2023

TOKYO, 20 October 2023: Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and JCB International (JCB) signed a historic agreement last week that should boost tourism to Saudi Arabia by reaching out to JCB cardmembers globally.

Saudi Tourism Authority president of Asia Pacific markets Alhasan Aldabbagh said: “This is a great opportunity for our tourism industry, as it will offer more convenience and security for Japanese travellers and other Asian tourists who prefer cashless payment channels. We believe this collaboration will enhance the appeal of Saudi as a destination for international visitors and support our vision of becoming a leading global tourism hub.”

The partnership with JCB should unlock various opportunities for cooperation between Saudi and Japan. Notably, Japan is one of the 57 countries eligible for Saudi’s e-visa and visa-on-arrival, with special benefits such as a free one-night hotel stay for tourists flying onwards on the national airline SAUDIA as part of Saudi’s 96-hour Stopover Visa programme.

Other initiatives include the Japanese language VisitSaudi.ja portal featuring joint marketing campaigns with leading travel trade partners to promote the country to Japanese holidaymakers. They can take advantage of special hotel offers from local destination management companies (DMC) and tap attractive holiday deals, inviting them to discover the true home of Arabia on their terms.

JCB International resident and CEO Yoshiki Kaneko expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “This is a great chance for us to promote exciting travel experiences to Saudi for our cardmembers. Like Japan, Saudi is a unique destination, with fascinating nature, culture and history.”

He added, “We’ve been working closely with the leading local banks in Saudi such as SNB, Alinma Bank, Riyad Bank, ANB, and Bank Al Jazira on merchant and ATM enablement to ensure JCB’s 154 million card members enjoy a seamless experience in Saudi.”

This partnership signifies an important step in enhancing tourism, facilitating travel, and fostering greater cultural exchange between Saudi and Japan.

About Saudi Tourism Authority

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), established in June 2020, is responsible for marketing Saudi’s tourism destinations worldwide and developing the destination’s travel programmes, packages and business support. Its mandate includes developing the country’s assets and destinations, hosting and participating in industry events, and promoting Saudi’s destination brand locally and overseas.

STA operates 16 representative offices worldwide, serving 38 countries.

Find out more about Saudi’s tourism at the Visit Saudi website: https://www.visitsaudi.com/.

About JCB

JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and, since 1981, expanded worldwide and established a network of 43 million merchants worldwide. JCB Cards are issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 154 million card members.

(SOURCE: JCN Newswire)

Sabah holidays beat the winter blues

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 20, 2023

SAMARKAND Uzbekistan, 20 October 2023: Uzbekistan families and holiday-makers searching for a unique winter escape need to look no further than Sabah, famed for its pristine landscapes, beaches, island resorts, and warm sunny weather.

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai highlighted the trend among Uzbeks who typically gravitate towards destinations like Bali, UAE, Egypt, Vietnam, and Thailand to avoid the harsh winter between November and January.

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai leads the STB board of directors and management team to a meeting with Tourism Malaysia director (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan/Tajikistan Region) Nor Shazly Azmi (4th left), along with various Uzbek travel agents and airline representatives.

“Yet, they are yearning for fresh and sunny destinations to explore. When it comes to Malaysia, Langkawi is the destination they’re most familiar with,” he explained.

Joniston received feedback during an engagement session with the Tourism Malaysia director (Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan/Tajikistan Region) Nor Shazly Azmi, and various Uzbek travel agents and airline representatives earlier this week during a UNWTO event hosted in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The participating agencies included Air Samarkand, Aeronautica Commercial, Air Marakanda, Asia Luxe Agency, and Ammy Travel.

With Uzbek travellers showing a strong preference for beach destinations and tropical islands, Joniston said Sabah’s captivating landscapes, pristine waters, lush rainforests, and rich wildlife heritage make it an alluring choice.

Air Samarkand expressed interest in exploring direct flights from Samarkand to Kota Kinabalu during the engagement session.

In response, Joniston proposed initiating a familiarisation trip for agents and engaging social media influencers to pique interest in Sabah among the Uzbek citizens.

He also stressed that the Sabah Tourism Board is actively working on promoting the state through travel agencies and online platforms, sharing information about the best attractions, accommodations, and experiences available, among others.

Joniston, who is Sabah’s Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister, led a delegation of STB board members and management staff to the 25th UNWTO General Assembly held in Samarkand City.

During the event, Joniston met with the Japan Travel Bureau, Traveloka, the World Federation of Travel Guide Associations, and the International Federation of Camping, Caravanning, and Autocaravanning.
For more information on travel to Sabah visit: www.sabahtourism.com.

Centara’s Love Isaan Flash Sale

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TTR WEEKLY

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October 20, 2023

BANGKOK 17 October 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is thrilled to announce the exciting conclusion of its Love Isaan promotion with a special week-long Flash Sale. Guests who book from today to 23 October 2023 for stays through 29 December 2023 will enjoy a host of exclusive perks, including 30% off flexible rates, plus an additional 15% discount for CentaraThe1 members at Centara Korat, Centara Ubon and Centara Udon.

In addition to these savings, guests can choose from an array of modern rooms and suites across all three properties, each offering exciting dining experiences, outdoor swimming pools, modern MICE facilities and event spaces, and convenient access to nearby Central shopping centres and local landmarks.

From its awe-inspiring temples and breathtaking landscapes to vibrant festivals and renowned local fare, Thailand’s northeast is a captivating destination for families, solo explorers, couples and business travellers alike. Whether discovering the historic ruins of Korat, indulging in the shopping delights of Udon Thani’s bustling markets, or immersing yourself in the serene natural beauty of Ubon Ratchathani’s lush mountain ranges, Centara is The Place to Be in Isaan.

To take advantage of the Love Isaan – Flash Sale, guests must book directly through the Centara Hotels & Resorts website before the offer ends on 23 October 2023. CentaraThe1 members enjoy an extra 15% discount when logged into their member account at the time of booking, and new members can sign up for free now to take advantage of this amazing extra saving at www.CentaraThe1.com

For more information on this very limited-time offer and to make a booking, visit: https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/isaan-flash-sale

Norwegian Cruise Line returns to Asia

Taste of THAI Tales

More Thai Smile flights migrate to THAI

Abu Dhabi is back on the BA route map

CX reports a strong September recovery

Vietjet launches five new routes

THAI rolls out winter flight schedule

Saudi Tourism taps JCB cardholders

Sabah holidays beat the winter blues

Centara’s Love Isaan Flash Sale

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