KOTA KINABALU, 13 April 2022: Firefly
celebrated its inaugural flight from Penang to Kota Kinabalu on Monday, with 85
passengers on board.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was greeted
with a water cannon salute as it touched down at the Kota Kinabalu
International Airport Monday evening.
Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment
Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin and his assistant minister cum Sabah Tourism Board
chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai were present to welcome the passengers.
They were accompanied by the state’s
tourism ministry permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Yusrie Abdullah @ Yantis
Goduan; Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman; Malaysia
Airport Berhad (Sabah) acting senior general manager Kamaruzzaman Razali; MASWing chief operational officer Captain
Nasaruddin A. Bakar; and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board deputy chairman Datuk
Seri Dr Anil Jeet Singh Sandhu.
According to Jafry, the launch of Firefly’s
new Penang-Kota Kinabalu route should increase tourist arrivals to Sabah,
especially since Penang is close to Langkawi, which receives international
flights.
“The state government thanks Firefly
for choosing Kota Kinabalu as its destination route. I hope that cooperation
between the state government and Firefly will be strengthened further to boost
the state’s tourism industry.
“This Firefly route has unquestionably
made Sabah more accessible to Malaysians and visitors alike. As such, I invite
everyone to visit Sabah and immerse themselves in the state’s numerous
fascinating attractions and culture,” he said.
Jafry added his Ministry is committed to
working with all airlines in the country and welcoming more direct flights to
Sabah in the future.
Meanwhile, Nasaruddin stated that Firefly
will operate a daily flight between Penang-Kota Kinabalu and Kota
Kinabalu-Penang until 24 April.
From 25 April onwards, the airline will
operate two flights daily on each route.
“The response has been very promising
and encouraging, especially during the festival and holiday seasons. The
Penang-Kota Kinabalu route is currently priced at MYR119 until 27 April.
“Pricing will change depending on
supply and demand, so we encourage passengers to book their flight early and
keep browsing for the best deal,” he said.
Firefly is a subsidiary company in the Malaysia Aviation Group, which also includes Malaysia Airlines and MASwings.
SINGAPORE 13 April 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced Tuesday the return to service of Pride of America, the only cruise ship to sail Hawai’i year-round.
NCL’s Pride of America, the fifteenth ship in its fleet to
return to service, sails weekly seven-day, roundtrip voyages from Honolulu,
providing guests nearly 100 hours of port time and the ability to explore four
islands in a week’s span. The itinerary includes overnights in Maui and Kauai,
allowing for more immersive experiences on land and unforgettable sights of the
Nāpali Coast. NCL has two remaining ships that will be returning to service,
both in early May, which will complete the Company’s Great Cruise Comeback.
“Being the only cruise line to sail year-round from Hawai’i,
we’re thrilled to be back at last,” said Norwegian Cruise Line President and
Chief Executive Officer Harry Sommer. “Pride of America will once again offer
thoroughly immersive itineraries and deeply authentic experiences that support
business and tourism in Hawai’i while providing travellers with everything they
seek from a vacation in paradise.”
“Hawai’i is one of the most popular destinations
amongst our Asian guests, for a good reason. With Hawai’i cruises recommencing
this week and sailing throughout the year, our award-winning itinerary aboard
Pride of America is the ideal escape for Asian travellers who can’t wait to set
sail again,” said Braydon Holland, NCL Senior Director, Asia. “No one
does Hawai’i like NCL, and now that international travel is back on the agenda,
cruisers can also take advantage of incredible savings of 70% on the second
guest and our popular five bonus offers.”
Pride of America set sail on 9 April and is available to
book through December 2025. Weekly voyages depart Honolulu every Saturday.
NCL’s fleetwide redeployment continues in partnership with local governments and is guided by the robust protocols of the company’s Sail Safe Health and Safety programme, which at its cornerstone requires that all guests ages twelve and over, as well as all crew, must be fully vaccinated to embark on all NCL voyages for the foreseeable future. Guests who are eleven years of age and under are welcome aboard unvaccinated, and it is the responsibility of the guest’s guardian to be aware of any local protocols and travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing. Working with the leading experts of the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council, the robust protocols will be regularly evaluated and modified as needed, making science-based decisions to protect guests, crew and the destinations it visits. As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.
As protocols evolve and additional information becomes available, updates will be published at www.ncl.com/sail-safe.
For more information about the company’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call NCL Hong Kong at +852 800 901 951 or visit www.ncl.com.
BANGKOK, 12 April 2022: S Hotels & Resorts Pcl, the
flagship hospitality arm of Singha Estate Pcl, expects a return to robust
growth this year, forecasting record-high revenue of THB8.5 billion in 2022.
That would double the YoY growth compared with 2021, which closed with THB4.5 billion in revenue. In a media statement on its 2022 financial objectives, the group said it would become the second-highest revenue earner among Thai hotel operators listed on Thailand’s stock exchange.
Driving direct bookings is now the priority in 2022. The
company forecasts the revenue contribution from direct bookings will increase
from an average of 10% in previous years to 30% of all booking revenue in 2022.
“We foresee increasing demands in the hospitality business,
including our properties in the five top leisure destinations, particularly in
the UK and The Maldives, whose contributions are accounted for 44% and 28%,
respectively,” said S Hotels & Resorts Pcl Chief Executive Officer Dirk De
Cuyper,
“In the UK, experts project the revenue per available room
or RevPAR to return to the pre-pandemic level of 2019; while the upside to
restore 2022 RevPAR to pre-Brexit level is expected from MICE (Meetings,
Incentive Travel, Conventions, Exhibitions) activities, around 50% of which
containing in-person components, setting at hotels.
“The Maldives also sees strong demand thanks to the return
of visitors from Europe and the Middle East. In addition, the Maldivian
government expects the estimated tourist arrivals to the Maldives in 2022 to
increase from the same period last year by 21%, reaching 1.6 million visitors.”
“Tourism growth is also expected in other destinations, such
as Fiji, Mauritius, and Thailand, as Covid-19-related travel restrictions in
each market begin to ease. We, therefore, are confident that the macro trends
will significantly contribute to our revenues, considering we have an average
of 30% repeat guests in our hotels.”
Group expansion opportunities focus on resort projects at
coastal locations in the Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean,
requiring an investment of around THB4.5 billion to fund acquisitions and
triple its portfolio by 2024.
HONOLULU, 12 April 2022: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort has unveiled its new A’o Cultural Center and a renewed commitment to Hawaiian heritage all part of a USD80 million transformation, which is nearly complete.
The A’o Cultural Center at the lobby level features a collection of art pieces such as a model outrigger canoe, paddles, conch shells and traditional feather lei. The adjacent Herb Kane Lounge has also been updated with a new open-concept design and a conceptual woven map of the Hawaiian Islands by renowned rope artist Marques Hanalei Marzan.
Mural artist Kamea Hadar in front of his mural “Through the Past is the Future” which is part of a new Hawaiian cultural experience available at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort.
“Both the lounge and cultural centre are places where guests can begin to make meaningful connections with some of the most profound aspects of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance,” said Markus Krebs, general manager of the property.
At the centre, guests can find out about Outrigger’s long-standing partnerships with the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and the Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawaiiloa, a non-profit dedicated to the perpetuation of Hawaiian canoe building traditions.
“The centre also serves as a new place from which to explore the property’s newest artistic features and original works created by cultural practitioners who are on the leading edge of contemporary Hawaiian art and design,” said Krebs.
For example, the centre features a virtual exhibit designed by digital artist Kari Kēhau Noe picturing the legendary sailing canoe Hōkūle‘a. Through immersive projection, visitors are given the impression that the model of Hōkūle‘a is sailing on moving seas. As the canoe sails, various elements of the art of Polynesian navigation are highlighted, providing an engaging and educational experience.
The sail of the canoe model is made from pieces of the actual sail 32A that Hōkūle‘a used on its worldwide voyage from 2013 to 2017. A model of the sailing canoe Hawaiiloa, which was expertly restored by artist Ka‘ili Chun, is at the centre on loan from Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawaiiloa.
“The Aʻo Cultural Center exhibits show the genius of Polynesian wayfinding for visitors to the Outrigger,” said the society’s CEO and world navigator Nainoa Thompson. “It is part of Outrigger’s support of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and our mission.”
In 1975 Hawaii’s first voyaging canoe in 600 years, Hōkūleʻa, launched into the waters off Oʻahu island, realising a dream long-held by the society’s co-founder Herb Kawainui Kāne.
“Today, the rebirth of the Herb Kāne Lounge and Aʻo Cultural Center at Outrigger Reef is a fitting tribute to Hawaii’s rich voyaging past and its bright future,” said Thompson.
The cultural centre will also serve as the hub for guests to engage in a spectrum of Hawaiian cultural activities. Led by Outrigger’s veteran cultural director Luana Maitland (pictured above), hotel guests will be able to glean from her vast knowledge of the arts of Hawaii and participate in hula lessons, try their hand at Hawaii’s official instrument, the ukulele and make a lei or kukui nut kupe‘e bracelet, and more.
The resort has also resumed its quarterly O Ke Kai – “Of the Sea” – series with the Friends of Hōkūleʻa and Hawaiiloa. These gatherings will be a unique opportunity for guests to meet navigators and canoe builders, hear storytelling and enjoy hands-on demonstrations of traditional tools and artefacts.
Through the Past is the Future – a Mural by Kamea Hadar.
Adjacent to the cultural centre is an original mural by Hawaii artist Kamea Hadar (pictured right). Known for his large-scale portraiture, Hadar’s piece I Ka Wa Ma Mua, Ka Wa Ma Hope (Through the Past is the Future), depicts a traditional wa‘a, or sailing canoe, being crewed by children.
The next generation depicted are children of influential Hawaiian figures of the last century, including Hana Kakinami, great-granddaughter of Native Hawaiian writer, poet and cultural historian John Dominis Holt IV; La‘iku Blankenfeld, the grandson of PVS navigator Bruce Blankenfeld; Steel Scott, the great-grandson of Elmer Scott, who founded Scott Hawaii in 1932; and Kawena Kamakawiwo‘ole, the grand-niece of the great musician and songwriter Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole. Hadar’s own daughter, Nova Hadar, is also pictured at the steering paddle of the wa‘a.
“We as parents and elders do not yet know where our keiki [children] will arrive or even the nature of the canoe they will be sailing, but we do know that like in a wa‘a the next generation is all in this together,” said Hadar. “This mural illustrates this traditional, yet forward-looking perspective.”
Herb Kāne Lounge & Eia Hawaiʻi, He Moku, He Kānaka – a Sculpture by Marques Hanalei Marzan.
The legacy of the late artist, historian and founding member of PVS, Herb Kawainui Kāne, has been featured throughout the resort for decades and has now taken on new life in the renovated Herb Kāne Lounge, featuring earth-tone textures and an updated, modern design. The lounge includes four original paintings from Kāne and faces an expansive mural of a traditional sailing canoe that runs the length of the check-in desk.
A unique work by fibre artist Marques Hanalei Marzan is also featured in the lounge. The sprawling piece called Eia Hawaiʻi, He Moku, He Kānaka (Here in Hawaii, an island, a people), is an intricate woven sculpture of the Hawaiian Islands that stretches across the lounge.
It speaks to the interconnectivity of communities across Hawaii. It also recognises the ancestral ties and enduring relationships to Oceania. The work is inspired by Marshall Islands navigational stick charts which were used to teach oceanic seafaring practices and the knot-making skills of Hawaii.
True to the Outrigger name, the hotel’s connection to the ocean and care for the marine environment is incorporated in many layers. Upon arrival, visitors walk through the iconic canoe hale entrance. There, guests encounter Kalele: a 100-year-old outrigger canoe restored by the Friends of Hōkūleʻa & Hawaiiloa. A stone pathway carved with Hawaiian phrases will then lead guests alongside a bubbling waterway – symbolic of the life-giving streams and springs that Waikiki was named after.
In keeping with Outrigger’s commitment to ocean and reef conservation, the hotel also partnered with marine scientist and artist Ethan Estess. His sustainable sculpture Coming Home, which stands prominently at the resort’s entrance, is a partnership with Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research. Estess collected mounds of discarded fishing nets that were repurposed into this colourful mural of Diamond Head, which is to inspire individuals to be more sustainable and consume less single-use plastics.
As an embodiment of Outrigger’s commitment to conservation efforts through Outrigger’s ZONE (OZONE), US$3,000 was donated to The Center for Marine Debris Research, after the mural was unveiled.
Outrigger also worked with the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum to curate art pieces in the guest rooms and throughout the resort that honour Hawaii’s past and lend a residential feel to the property.
The first phase of Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort’s USD80 million transformation was completed in April 2021. It included renovated guestrooms and the reimagined Kani Ka Pila Grille restaurant. The second phase of the property, including the Diamond Head Tower, Waiola Wellness Wing and Coral Kids Club is slated to be complete by autumn 2022. The anchor restaurant, Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, is expected to open by the end of 2022.
Malama Hawaii Ecotourism Option To take the Hawaiian experience outdoors, Outrigger has added an ecotourism option for guests visiting Hawaii by participating in the “Malama Hawaii” campaign, an initiative of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB).
Malama in the Hawaiian language means “to take care”.
By booking Outrigger’s “Malama Hawaii Experience,” guests can participate in a hands-on, two-hour voluntourism activity at Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve a 45-minute drive from Waikiki.
On the trip, guests immerse themselves in community service and cultural learning, including the importance of caring for the upland ʻahupuaʻa streams as they feed the loʻi down the valley.
HONG KONG 12 April 2022: Boutique hotel collection Ovolo
announces the promotion of Dave Baswal to the post of chief executive officer,
allowing founder and executive chairman Girish Jhunjhnuwala to focus on
branding, development, and strategic growth of the business.
The appointment comes as Ovolo prepares for the next phase
of its evolution, with plans to expand into new markets as the hospitality
industry recovers from the impacts of the pandemic.
With 20 years of experience in hospitality, finance and real
estate management, Baswal has been instrumental in Ovolo’s growth during the
pandemic and in building a strong team aligned around the group’s core values.
“Dave Baswal personifies the very best of Ovolo –
someone with the passion for constantly improving the guest experience, the
creativity to innovate new services, and the business acumen to deliver strong
performance,” said Girish Jhunjhnuwala.”Most importantly, he shares
the same people-centric ethos that is at the very heart of Ovolo, delivering
happiness to our guests, our teams, and our stakeholders.
Jhunjhnuwala started his journey in real estate 20 years ago
and launched Ovolo Hotels in 2010. He calls the latest development the perfect
time to evolve the group under reinvigorated leadership.
Ovolo currently has 13 hotels and 12 restaurants across Hong
Kong, Australia and Indonesia and is looking for expansion opportunities across
the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the US.
SINGAPORE, 12 April 2022: Jetstar Asia celebrated its return to Danang as flight 3K541 took off from Singapore’s Changi Airport Sunday evening after a two-year pause.
Jetstar Asia will operate two weekly services to Vietnam’s central coastal city with two-way quarantine-free flights now available between the two cities.
To mark the restart of the service, Jetstar Asia offers special one-way fares to Danang starting at SGD95 for travel from 19 April to 22 November 2022 bookable at jetstar.com.
First introduced in November 2015, the Jetstar Asia service carried more than 200,000 passengers between Singapore and Danang before flights paused in March 2020 due to the global pandemic.
Jetstar Asia CEO Bara Pasupathi said the airline was excited
to expand the Jetstar Asia network in Vietnam following the resumption of passenger
services to Ho Chi Minh City last month.
“Danang has always been a key destination for our
customers, not only for its beautiful sandy beaches, charming towns and
incredible food but as one of the country’s largest cities. It is also an
important destination for business travel,” said Pasupathi.
“As border measures continue to relax, it’s great to be
able to offer convenient international travel once again, and we expect to see
customer confidence and demand recover quickly.
“We’re excited to bring back our reliable on-time
performance, great value and exceptional customer service to Da Nang and look
forward to working closely with our partners to promote this incredible
destination.”
Danang Tourism Promotion Center director, Nguyen Thi Hoai
An, said they highly appreciate the efforts of Jetstar Asia to relaunch the
Singapore – Danang flight right after Vietnam is fully opened for international
tourists.
“Singapore is one of the important flight hubs to connect Da
Nang to the rest of the world, facilitate oversea travellers to come to Da Nang
and open avenues for business exchange,” she noted.
“We hope that international tourism in Danang will soon
bounce back along with the proliferation of international flights. As important
partners, we will join hands to promote Jetstar’s flights and contribute to
aviation and tourism recovery”.
The new service 3K541 departs Singapore at 1855 and arrives
in Danang at 2035. The return service, 3K542, departs at 2115 and arrives in
Singapore at 0100 on the following morning.
Jetstar’s Fly Flexible policy offers customers who book
flights before 30 June 2022 a ‘fee free’ date change when travelling before 31
August 2023. Jetstar also has extended credit vouchers for use until at least
31 December 2022 for flights up to the end of 2023.
BALI,
12 April 2022: Holidays in Bali have so much to offer. From their famed beaches
and surf to highland trekking to learning about the Balinese culture, it
suffices to say that there’s something for everyone.
We’ve also got you covered if you’re thinking about some fun-filled water adventures that don’t involve going to the beach.
Bali Wake Park & Aqualand
Bali Wake Park first opened its doors in 2015 and brought wakeboarding boat-free – a first in Bali – to adrenaline junkies. Built around a 5-hectare lake, this cable wake park operates state-of-the-art full-size cable systems and lets you choose to wakeboard, kneeboard, waterski, or surf. Beginners can get their taste of riding, while the pros can hone their tricks on a series of slides and obstacles spread across the lake.
Photo credit: @robin2hood / Instagram
Photo credit: @chou_rman / Instagram
Aqualand was added in 2018,
making them one of the largest aqua parks in Asia. Within the perimeter of the
wake park, inflatables over 8 metres high lets you run, jump, slide and splash
your way at this mega playground on the water. Challenge your friends on the
obstacles, or simply bring out the child in you. Kids will have a blast
bouncing on and off too!
You can easily spend an entire
day there and recharge your batteries at the Cable Café or chill in their
infinity pool and unwind at the Pool Bar with your favourite cocktail as you
watch others having fun.
White Water Rafting
For some serious adrenaline
rush, take the entire family down the rapids with a white water rafting
adventure down Ayung River! While the littlest kids might not be suitable, your
child as young as five can join the tour with Mason Adventures. Known for being Bali’s longest
raft tour (12 km of river rapids), they are known for their professional
services and for taking great care of all their guests, young and old (65 years
old!), down class 2 and 3 rapids. Go on a wet and wild ride, and don’t forget
to look around and soak in the scenic views as you go along!
Photo credit: Mason Adventures
Largest Free-form Swimming Pool in
Bali
Spend the day at Hard Rock Hotel Bali, at Bali’s largest free-form
swimming pool! Not staying at the hotel? Grab yourselves a Day Pass to chill with loved ones. Kids
will enjoy their time at the Kids Waterpark, going down the slide over and over
again. Adults can do that too at the bigger slides at the main pool! Rent
yourselves a cabana by the pool and take breaks from the sun.
Photo credit: @bali_nyamuk / Instagram
The price for the Day Pass can
be fully redeemed for food & beverages at Splash Bistro, their poolside
eatery that serves up wood-fired pizzas, burgers, pasta, and a kid-friendly
menu, to fuel you up for the day.
Call up in advance as there may be blackout dates.
Odyssey Submarine Cruise
Thinking about water-fun
adventures without actually getting wet? Go on a Bali Submarine Cruise with
Odyssey Submarine! Without the need to be a swimmer or diver, you can now
explore the beauty of the underwater world in a safe and comfortable environment.
The submarine dive takes place in the eastern part of Bali at Amuk Bay
Karangasem as the bay is known to have a deep-sea trench with the underwater
scenery kept natural and untouched.
Photo credit: @_dheaaprillia_ / Instagram
Photo credit: @umidwipayani / Instagram
The submarines are
battery-powered to reduce any external stresses to the marine environment, and
each trip carries 36 passengers in an air-conditioned cabin, bringing you down
to 30 metres – as deep as where divers go – so you can enjoy the sights of reefs,
and marine creatures like a diver does but kept dry. For families with younger
kids, this is definitely an activity in Bali to consider that will bring the
wonders of marine life right before your child. The tour includes hotel
transfer (it takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to drive from Kuta), a 45-minute
dive, and lunch, so definitely cater at least half a day for it!
Book early and save more on your Bali Escape. The package includes complimentary breakfast, a spa voucher worth IDR200,000 net and more! Click here to find out.
This article is brought to you by Hpaper Online – a travel publication by HPL Hotels & Resorts. For more travel guides, subscribe to Hpaper Online for more, and you will receive exclusive discounts just for email subscribers.
SINGAPORE, 12 April 2022: Sabre Corporation, which powers
global travel booking channels, has signed a new agreement with Japan-specific
luxury travel platform and business-to-business membership portal Bear Luxe
Japan.
Inspired by the companions who accompanied aristocrats on their Grand Tours in the 17th to 19th centuries, who were known as Bear-leaders, Bear Luxe Japan is a global network of luxury travel designers and leading Japanese luxury hotels in Japan. It aims to develop and deliver a luxury travel ecosystem to enable the international market to access the rich traditions and culture of Japan.
The new relationship expands Sabre’s footprint in Japan
while opening up further access for Bear Luxe member hoteliers – primarily
consisting of independent Japanese luxury hotels – through the Sabre SynXis
hospitality platform and Bear Luxe Japan’s international reach to the luxury
travel market.
“The absence of connectivity with the international luxury
travel market has long been an industry-wide dilemma for Japanese luxury
hotels. The anticipated partnership will be a game-changer in bridging the
market gap,” said Bear Luxe co-founder
and chief operating officer Hiro Miyatake.
With this agreement, Bear Luxe hospitality members will be
linked to hundreds of thousands of travel agents across the world through the
Global Distribution System (GDS) connectivity solutions powered by Sabre
SynXis.
The new alliance will also enable the Bear Luxe platform to
drive direct bookings, increase engagement and trigger conversions through the
deep retail focus of the Sabre SynXis Booking Engine. Sabre’s corporate booking
tools will provide Bear Luxe with the ability to connect with corporate travel
buyers. Meanwhile, SynXis Voice Agent will elevate the call centre experience
for potential guests, equipping Bear Luxe agents with the tools they need to
minimize call handling times while increasing opportunities for ancillary
sales.
“We’re thrilled that Bear Luxe has selected Sabre as its
trusted, strategic technology partner in Japan,” said Sabre Hospitality
Solutions global managing director, Frank Trampert.
“We look forward to supporting them in their endeavours to
open up further domestic, regional and international markets to Japanese
hoteliers while helping visitors to experience the unique characteristics
Japanese destinations have to offer.”
BANGKOK, 12 April 2022: The Tourism Authority of Thailand is hosting the ‘Amazing Songkran 2022 Celebrations’ at 10 temples in Bangkok and the ‘Songkran Music Heritage Festival 2022’ in Ayutthaya and Songkhla, as well as supporting Songkran festivities elsewhere in Chiang Mai and Samut Prakan.
The Songkran Festival,
a nationwide holiday that runs from 13 to 15 April, will convene under
Covid-19 guidelines that highlight the traditional and cultural aspects of the
festival and ban rowdy parties.
TAT confirmed it would focus on the centuries-old origins
and traditions of the Thai New Year, a time when family comes first, respect is
paid to seniors, and people visit the temples to take part in ceremonies.
Marking the end of a 12-month cycle when the sun moves into
April and there was traditionally a gap between rice harvesting and planting,
Songkran in Thailand is officially observed as a three-day national holiday
from 13-15 April, although celebrations can go on for longer – up to a week in
some places.
Songkran 2022 festivities hosted by TAT
Amazing Songkran 2022 Celebrations at 10 temples in Bangkok
namely, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Wat Rakang, Wat Suthat, Wat Kalayanamit, Wat Prayun,
Wat Ratchanatdaram, Wat Mahathat, Wat Saket (Phu Khao Thong), and Wat
Ratchabophit.
From 13 to 15 April, TAT has arranged special festivities at
Wat Saket and Wat Ratchabophit, including traditional culture and performances,
such as, Khon masked dance, Thai-style antiphon singing, and Thai puppet show,
as well as demonstrations of authentic Thai dessert making and fruit carving.
Songkran Music Heritage Festival 2022 from 12-21 April, in
Ayutthaya and Songkhla.
TAT has selected Ayutthaya’s Wat Phra Ram and Songkhla’s old
town as venues for the ‘Songkran Music Heritage 2022’ to enhance local and
international awareness of both locations’ historical and cultural
significance.
Water Festival by Thai Beverage Plc (ThaiBev) in six Thai cities
13-15 April 2022, at nine historic piers along Bangkok’s
Chao Phraya River, namely Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Prayun, Wat Kalayanamit, Wat
Rakang, Maharaj Pier, Lhong 1919, SookSiam at ICONSIAM, and Asiatique the
Riverfront.
13-15 April 2022, at Lanna Ancient House, Charoen Prathet
Road, Chiang Mai.
13 April, 2022, at Inthayongyos Road, Mueang Lamphun.
13-14 April 2022, at Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, Udon
Thani.
13-14 April 2022, at Wat Chaisi, Mueang Khon Kaen.
11-12 April 2022, at Phuket’s old town.
During the Songkran Festival, 13 to 15 April, the government
announced a ban on water splashing, powder smearing, and foam parties at
Songkran locations and in public areas. The sale and consumption of alcoholic
beverages are also prohibited at the event locations.
SINGAPORE, 12 April 2022: Singapore joins the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), to consolidate the country’s current sustainability efforts under the Singapore Green Plan 2030 (SGP2030).
The move sees Singapore cementing its position as a
sustainability performance improver and changemaker, alongside destinations in
the region such as Bangkok and Sarawak. Other cities participating in the
GDS-Index include Gothenburg, Copenhagen, and Glasgow.
The GDS-Index is a sustainability benchmarking and
improvement programme for destinations around the world. It is used to assess
the current social and environmental performance of a destination annually and,
in turn, drive improved performance. The GDS-Index is a collaborative
partnership between ICCA, ICCA’s Scandinavian Chapter, IMEX, ECM, and MCI
Group.
Building on Singapore’s identity as a City in Nature,
Singapore’s participation in the GDS-Index is aligned with the vision and
targets of SGP2030, which has charted Singapore’s ambitions and targets over
the next 10 years, strengthening Singapore’s commitments under the UN’s 2030
Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement. The commitment supports
Singapore to be a more sustainable urban destination and positions it to
achieve its long-term net-zero emissions aspiration as soon as viable.
STB became a Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)
member in October 2021 and strongly supported local tourism businesses in their
sustainability journey.
“Sustainability is a key priority for Singapore tourism because it is vital to our future, and travellers have become increasingly aware of the impact of their consumption,” said STB chief executive Keith Tan. “Becoming a leading sustainable urban destination requires a long-term commitment from both the government and industry. That is why Singapore’s participation in the GDS-Index is important. It focuses our collective efforts and helps us track our progress as a City in Nature, where large experiences come with small footprints.”
