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BA’s return to Bangkok up in the air

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 25 July 2022: British Airways has dropped plans to revive direct flights to Bangkok from its London base this coming October, having informed tour operators the suspension will continue to the end of March 2023 at the earliest.

The news has prompted officials at Thai Airways International to consider offering charter flights to UK tour operators to ensure there are enough flights to meet leisure travel demand between the UK and popular Thai destinations; Bangkok and Phuket.

Earlier, TTG Media UK said continuing the suspension of BA flights to Thailand during the winter timetable from October 2022 to March 2023 had dealt a blow to tour operators hoping to use BA flights to serve their holiday clients during the winter peak season.

However, at the weekend, THAI officials were exploring options to offer charter flights to tour operators planning to sell holiday packages to Thailand during the winter.

British Airways announced earlier in the year that it would resume direct flights from Heathrow to Thailand by late October but has since decided to extend the suspension possibly until March 2023.

Last week, British Airways announced that 10,300 flights would be cancelled between now and the end of October. According to a Times report, the airline has already taken close to 1,000 flights off its schedule for July, affecting up to 170,000 passengers.

UK holidaymakers can still buy flights on the BA website but that will involve a stop in Doha in Qatar, where they will transfer to a Qatar Airways flight to either Bangkok or Phuket.

Thai Airways International and EVA Air are the only airlines offering direct flights from Bangkok to Heathrow London.

Thailand will also lose another service out of London to Bangkok offered by Singapore’s low-cost airline Scoot. It has been flying from its Singapore base to Gatwick London with a stop in Bangkok in both directions since March. Popular with budget travellers, the Gatwick – Bangkok – Gatwick sectors will drop out of its website’s booking options on 17 August but should be bookable at the end of October.

Cathay Pacific resumes more flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 25 July 2022: Cathay Pacific’s June traffic figures continued to reflect the positive impact following adjustments to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements in Hong Kong, notably the circuit-breaker mechanism, effective from 1 June.

Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Ronald Lam said: “As sentiment for travel continued to improve, we resumed more flights to more destinations. We deployed additional passenger flight capacity – about 170% more than we did in May – to meet the demand. However, we still only operated about 11% of our pre-pandemic capacity. Load factor increased to 67%, and on average, we carried more than 5,000 passengers daily.

“The additional flights we operated helped provide greater connectivity for our transit passengers, notably from the Chinese Mainland. We also saw increased demand for flights between the UK and Australia and between the US and the Philippines. As is typical for June, demand for student travel into Hong Kong was strong, and our flights from the UK averaged high load factors of 93%. We also resumed flights to Auckland in June, which saw good demand not only to and from Hong Kong but also between New Zealand and the UK as well as India. On the other hand, our flights to the Chinese Mainland remained limited by capacity restrictions relating to anti-pandemic measures there.”

Cathay Pacific carried 150,077 passengers last month, an increase of 269.2% compared to June 2021 but a 95.2% decrease compared to the pre-pandemic level in June 2019.

The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 320.2% year-on-year, but were down 91.7% versus June 2019. Passenger load factor increased by 45.3 percentage points to 67%, while capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs), increased by 36.2% year-on-year, but decreased by 89.3% compared with June 2019 levels. In the first six months of 2022, the number of passengers carried increased by 113.5% against a 26.6% decrease in capacity and a 129.8% increase in RPKs, as compared to the same period for 2021.

Outlook

Lam commented on the business outlook: “Looking ahead, we welcome the Hong Kong SAR Government’s recent decision to suspend the circuit-breaker mechanism effective 7 July, which will help provide customers with far greater certainty and confidence when flying to and transiting via Hong Kong. We are also encouraged that the Government is considering possible adjustments to the number of days inbound travellers will need to spend in designated quarantine hotels after arriving in Hong Kong. We continue to actively add back flight capacity as we work to rebuild our hub and network.

“On the passenger side, we expect travel sentiment to improve over the coming months. Assuming current travel and operating restrictions at the time of this report remain unchanged, we anticipate we will be able to operate up to about a quarter of our pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity levels by the end of the year. The pandemic situation remains highly dynamic, and we will need to remain agile with regard to managing our flight capacity.

“We have enjoyed improved cash performance since the further adjustments in the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements came into effect on 1 May. We expect that the anticipated capacity increases will continue to positively impact our monthly operating cash burn, so we are targeting to be operating cash generative going forward.”

Indian travel agents meet in Sarawak

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING 22 July 2022: The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Convention 2022 is scheduled to be held in Sarawak for the first time from 20 to 23 September.

Around 700 TAFI members from India are expected to attend the TAFI Convention 2022 hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Tourism Malaysia (TM), Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Business Events (BE) Sarawak.

Themed “Build Back Better” to strengthen the tourism industry and move towards a resilient economic recovery, the convention will highlight sustainability, advanced greening efforts, conservation and responsible tourism during its sessions.

Recently, the TAFI managing committee visited Kuching to conduct multiple site inspections and visit the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

During the meeting, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stated his hope that the convention would be a catalyst to entice more visitors from India to Sarawak in the near future.

“The TAFI Convention’s theme this year, ‘Build Back Better’, is very much aligned with our post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 with Sarawak’s aspiration to empower the community and to ensure a sustainable environment, post-Covid. We look forward to organising this event with TAFI, with the sustainability factor at the convention’s heart,” he added. 

TAFI president Ajay Prakah said: “The Indian market is growing, and they are constantly looking for newer destinations, products and experiences, and Sarawak has a great potential to become a popular destination in the Indian market because today’s generation is concerned about the planet, conservation and sustainability. With the support of Tourism Malaysia, Sarawak Tourism Board and Business Events Sarawak, I think we will have a wonderful convention and look forward to it.”

Representing the Travel Trade in India, TAFI is a progressive and vibrant association with a nationwide membership base of 1,400 members and growing. Most TAFI members are IATA Accredited agents and contribute to more than 75% of the outbound business in India.

For more information visit: www.sarawaktourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sarawak Tourism Board)

Big savings on Thailand hotel stays

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 22 July 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is offering travellers a chance to enjoy big savings with the Centara Pre-Purchased Nights deal for hotels and resorts across Thailand.

From now to 15 October 2022, guests can pre-purchase 12 nights which will remain valid for one year and can be redeemed at participating Centara Grand, Centara, Centra by Centara, and COSI hotels and resorts.

Special bulk discount rates start from just THB 825 per room per night and include free daily breakfast for two people, while up to two children can stay for free. Centara The 1 members can enjoy an additional discount of 5% on top of the already reduced price and can also purchase the package with points or a combination of cash and points. Buyers can also enjoy a 0% interest credit card payment plan for three months.

The pre-purchased nights can be used on consecutive nights or on separate trips and can even be shared with friends and loved ones. Guests can redeem pre-purchased nights at any hotel within the same pricing tier and are perfect for a dynamic city escape or a family getaway on a secluded island.

The discounted rates can be used across 39 Centara hotels and resorts across Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin and Udon Thani. Tiers start at THB825 per night for COSI hotels, with Centra by Centara hotels available for THB1,325 per night, Centara properties for THB1,908 per night, Centara Grand for THB3,325 per night, and Centara Grand suites and villas at THB5,575 for each night.

This special deal can be purchased at https://www.centaradeals.com/en/evoucher-bulk

TAT: 2023 visitor arrivals could pass 30 million

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 22 July 2022: Based on the high scores Thailand achieves in the must-visit destination charts, the country is optimistically targeting 30 million tourists in 2023 or approximately 80% of the 39 million tourist arrivals recorded in 2019

The latest forecast on recovery came from the Tourism Authority of Thailand at the close of its annual marketing plan event held earlier this week.

“By 2023, TAT expects Thailand to generate total tourism revenue of THB1.73 trillion with THB970 billion from the international market and THB760 billion from the domestic market (for base case scenario) and THB2.38 trillion with THB1.50 trillion from the international market and THB880 billion Baht from the domestic market (for best case scenario). This represents about 80% of Thailand’s tourism performance in 2019,” the Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn told a media gathering at the close of the marketing plan event.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released details of its Action Plan for 2023, which closely resembles the agency’s earlier Corporate Plan 2023-2027.

The core commitments focus on achieving high value and sustainable tourism growth. High value is interpreted as striving to achieve a  higher yield for the travel experience that will improve the country’s tax receipts and foreign exchange earnings after three years of minimal earnings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

TAT will continue to use the “Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters” as the communication strategy for the international market.

TAT will also promote all points of entry into Thailand via land, water, and air to reactivate more than 80% of the regional air capacity achieved in 2019. It will focus on signing partnerships with airlines to encourage and support them to start new routes or add more flights to Thai destinations.

Bhutan hikes daily tourist fee

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TTR WEEKLY
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BHUTAN, 22 July 2022: Travel costs to Bhutan will include a hefty fee increase to enter the landlocked mountain kingdom starting 23 September.

Bhutan’s tourism council confirmed it would raise the compulsory Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for tourists from USD65 per person per night to USD200. The media statement justified the massive hike, saying the new fee would fund “activities promoting carbon-neutral tourism while building a more sustainable tourism sector.”

It includes paying for measures to offset the carbon footprint of tourists and upskilling workers in the sector.

Indian tourists will continue to pay the previously stipulated fee of INR1,200 (USD16), but it is up for review and possibly an increase later this year. Indians, Bangladeshis, and Maldivians used to be exempt from the daily fee requirements due to reciprocity agreements between governments. However, that changed in July 2020.

At the same time, the Minimum Daily Package Rate (MDPR) will be removed. The rate refers to the minimum sum all tourists pay for an all-inclusive package tour to Bhutan.

The MDPR has often limited the tourist experience in the past, as travellers could only choose packaged tours provided by tour operators. Effective 23 September, tourists can engage service providers directly without any minimum price requirement.

In its media statement, the Tourism Council of Bhutan said the tourism sector would undergo a revamp, focusing on three key areas; infrastructure and services, the travel experience and the environmental impact.

“Covid-19 has allowed us to rethink how the sector can be best structured and operated so that it not only benefits Bhutan economically but socially as well while keeping carbon footprints low. In the long run, our goal is to create high-value experiences for visitors and well-paying and professional jobs for our citizens,” said Foreign Minister of Bhutan and Chairperson of the Tourism Council of Bhutan Tandi Dorji.

Revised standards for service providers, including hotels, guides, tour operators, and drivers, are among the slew of changes. They will soon be subjected to a more robust certification process before they can engage tourists. Employees will be required to participate in skilling and reskilling programmes, where necessary, to boost service quality.

“Our strategy for revamping the tourism sector brings us back to our roots of ‘High Value, Low Volume’ tourism, where we meet the needs of tourists while protecting our people, culture, values, and environment. Tourism is a strategic and valuable national asset that impacts not only those working in the sector but also all Bhutanese. Ensuring its sustainability is vital to safeguarding future generations,” said the Tourism Council of Bhutan director general Dorji Dhradhul.

Malaysia hosts Thai travel agents

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 22 July 2022: Tourism Malaysia hosted a Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) travel agency fam trip earlier this week to help kickstart the return of Thai travellers to neighbouring Malaysia.

The four-day, three-night fam trip included visits to Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands and Melaka from 18 to 21 July for the 97 TTAA members, tour operators and media.

Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Art meets TTAA travel agents who joined the familiarisation trip.

During the trip, they toured the country’s administrative centre in Putrajaya. They met the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, who hosted a dinner for the delegation in Kuala Lumpur.

YB Dato’ Sri Nancy said: “Thailand is one of Malaysia’s essential short-haul markets. In 2019, we welcomed 1,884,306 arrivals from Thailand, and almost 70 percent of Thai tourists were repeat travellers, who came to Malaysia for holiday, shopping, and to visit friends and relatives.”

ASEAN countries have been the major contributors to Malaysia’s international tourist arrivals. Since the country’s border reopening on 1 April 2022, Tourism Malaysia has organised several ‘Fam Trips’ for the Singapore and Indonesian markets to promote Malaysia as the preferred destination in this region.

BElong in Penang returns to London show

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TTR WEEKLY
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GEORGETOWN, Malaysia, 22 July 2022: Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin, officiated ‘The Meeting Show London’ 2022 to relaunch the island’s BELong in Penang Campaign.

The BElong in Penang Campaign aims to infuse optimism and enthusiasm in the Penang business events industry while laying the groundwork for the state to continue funding hybrid domestic and international clients and events.

According to Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, Yeoh Soon Hin, to reclaim the trust of tourists, the state needed a strong standard operating procedure (SOP) that ensured their safety while visiting Penang. The state’s first ‘responsible tourism’ campaign was introduced in  2020 and continues to help to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the island state.

“The resumption of cross-border travel last April has undoubtedly been aiding the economic recovery while reinforcing the state’s viability and efficiency in the face of an ever-changing global scene. Reopening international borders will revitalise the tourist industry and transform it into a thriving economic sector. It will resurrect other enterprises in the industry and provide new business opportunities,” said Yeoh.

The BElong campaign’s concept revolves around three key messages, notably:
Uncompromising hospitality at the heart of Penang’s business events;
Making Penang ready for the return of tourists, business event travellers and organisers;
Ensure all required safety and hygiene measures are in place.

The campaign sends a positive message that Penang has been open for business since April 2022. It maintains destination awareness and increases destination confidence in health and safety measures for corporate events, driving interest in hosting future events in Penang.

How inclusive is our travel content?

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 22 July 2022: Consumers are paying attention to how inclusive current travel offerings are when searching and booking, according to new data released Thursday by Expedia Group Media Solutions.

Only 54% of consumers said they had seen options that are accessible to all abilities, and just 52% have seen options that are inclusive of all types of travellers.

A travel brand’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and accessibility influences consumers’ purchasing decisions, with seven in 10 consumers saying they are willing to pay more when making a travel choice that is more inclusive to all types of travellers. Furthermore, 78% of consumers said they’d made a travel choice based on promotions or ads that they felt represented them through messaging or visuals.

The Inclusive Travel Insights Report: Understanding Traveler Values & Opportunities for Marketers builds on the recent findings about environmentally responsible travel highlighted in the Sustainable Travel Study, revealing that people are increasingly seeking ways to have more meaningful and conscientious travel experiences.

“At Expedia Group, we understand the importance of not only practising inclusion within our teams and across our brands but also empowering our travel advertising partners to do the same,” said Expedia Group Media Solutions senior director of brand marketing Jenn McCarthy. “Our findings show that consumers today pay close attention to whether travel brands authentically demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, diversity, and accessibility. A better understanding of how people perceive and value inclusive travel will help foster more inclusive and diverse travel experiences for all.”

Accessibility in Travel

  • 92% of consumers agree that it’s essential for travel providers to meet the accessibility needs of all travellers.
  • Older generations are more likely to believe that accessibility is very important when making travel decisions, among 54% of Baby Boomers and Generation X, compared to 49% of the general population.

Diversity in Travel

  • 7 in 10 consumers would choose a destination, lodging, or transportation option that is more inclusive of all types of travellers, even if it’s more expensive.
  • 78% have made a travel choice based on representation in travel advertising, promotions, or ads they felt represented them through messaging or visuals, and for Millennials, this figure is the highest (84%).

Local Culture and Community Engagement

  • 64% of consumers are interested in learning more about travel options that support local cultures and communities.
  • More than 2 in 5 consumers have purchased from local communities and/or minority groups while travelling in the past two years, while 46% visited local cultural or historical sites.
  • Nearly two-thirds of consumers would choose a travel option that supports local cultures and communities, even if it was more expensive.

Key Marketing Takeaways

  • Be thoughtful in representing a variety of perspectives and assemble diverse imagery, recognising that diversity can include races, genders, ages, families, couples, abilities, activities, and more.
  • Use inclusive, welcoming, and respectful language across all marketing and travel listings while also highlighting amenities and accessibility for travellers of all backgrounds and all abilities.
  • When using video, feature closed captioning and subtitles and use legible fonts and contrasting colours to ensure content can be read by all.  

For additional global insights on how consumers feel about inclusive travel and the opportunity for travel brands to welcome all travellers equally, download the full Inclusive Travel Insights Report.

Emirates grows its own veggies

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 21 July 2022: The world’s largest vertical hydroponic farm, Bustanica, has opened its doors backed by an investment of USD40 million.

The facility is the first vertical farm pioneered by Emirates Crop One, the joint venture between Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), one of the world’s largest catering operations serving more than 100 airlines, and Crop One, an industry leader in technology-driven indoor vertical farming.

Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, the 330,000 sqft facility is geared to produce more than 1,000,000 kilogrammes of high-quality leafy greens annually while requiring 95% less water than conventional agriculture. The facility grows over 1 million cultivars (plants) at any point in time, providing an output of 3,000 kg per day.

Bustanica is driven by powerful technology – machine learning, artificial intelligence and advanced methods – and a highly specialised in-house team that includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists and plant scientists. A continuous production cycle ensures the produce is super fresh and clean and grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals.

Passengers on Emirates and other airlines can look forward to forking these delicious leafy greens, including lettuces, arugula, mixed salad greens, and spinach, onboard their flights from July. Bustanica is not just revolutionising salads in the sky – UAE consumers will soon be able to add these greens to their shopping carts at the nearest supermarkets. Bustanica also plans to expand into the production and sale of fruits and vegetables.

The farm’s closed-loop system is designed to circulate water through the plants to maximise water usage and efficiency. When the water vaporises, it is recovered and recycled into the system, saving 250 million litres of water yearly compared to traditional outdoor farming for the same output.

Bustanica will have zero impact on the world’s threatened soil resources, an incredibly reduced reliance on water and year-round harvests unhampered by weather conditions and pests. Consumers buying Bustanica’s greens from supermarkets can eat it straight from the bag – even washing can damage the leaves and introduce contaminants.

About Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC)

Emirates Flight Catering is one of the world’s largest catering operations. Offering airline, events and VIP catering as well as ancillary services including laundry, food production and airport lounge food & beverage, EKFC is a trusted partner for over 100 airline customers, hospitality groups and UAE government entities. Each day, the company’s 11,000 dedicated employees prepare an average of 200,000 meals and handle 210 tonnes of laundry.

About Crop One Holding Inc.

Crop One Holdings Inc. (Crop One), headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, is an established and experienced vertical farming leader with continuous commercial operation exceeding six years. Leveraging new technological and biological advancements, Crop One has built a scalable, global model to bring fresh, local produce to previously ungrowable environments.

For more information on the airline visit: www.emirates.com.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

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