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Emirates’ India flights back on track

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 29 March 2022: Emirates will resume pre-pandemic flight frequencies to destinations in India starting 1 April 2022.

The airline will offer 170 weekly flights to nine cities in the country. The move comes on the back of the decision by the Indian government to restore international flights to and from the country in line with established bilateral agreements from the end of March 2022.

Emirates flights to India

  • Mumbai- 35 weekly flights
  • New Delhi- 28 weekly flights
  • Bengaluru – 24 weekly flights
  • Chennai- 21 weekly flights
  • Hyderabad- 21 weekly flights
  • Kochi- 14 weekly flights
  • Kolkata – 11 weekly flights
  • Ahmedabad- 9 weekly flights
  • Thiruvananthapuram- 7 weekly flights

Emirates has also brought back its customer-favourite Airbus A380 on a daily basis between Dubai and Mumbai in March 2022. Emirates flight EK 500/ 501 is operated by the iconic double-decker aircraft.

Customers travelling on Emirates across all classes of travel can enjoy an unparalleled flying experience with spacious cabins and signature service. During their flight, Emirates customers can savour regionally inspired meals and more than 4,500 channels of content on its award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ice.

Customers travelling in First and Business Class with Emirates from Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi can avail of complimentary chauffeur drive service to the airport and on arrival at select locations within the airline’s global network. Customers travelling in premium cabins and Emirates Skywards members in select membership tiers will also have access to Emirates’ exclusive lounge experience in Dubai and select airports worldwide.

Emirates continues to lead the industry with innovative products and services and recently took its customer care initiatives further with even more generous and flexible booking policies, which have been extended to 31 May 2022. Keeping the health and well-being of its passengers as a top priority, Emirates has introduced a comprehensive set of safety measures at every step of the customer journey.

www.emirates.com

(Your Stories: Emirates)

THAI rebuilding post-Covid network

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 29 March 2022: Thai Airways International is reinstating flights to 34 destinations worldwide according to the airline’s Summer Flight Programme active from 27 March to 29 October 2022.

Flights are back on routes to four ASEAN cities with services to Manila, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but notable exceptions exist. THAI will no longer serve Vientiane in Laos, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Yangon in Myanmar, as well as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam. Mekong region destinations will be served by THAI’s low-cost airline THAI Smile using A320s. In Bangkok, travellers arriving on TG flights will need to transfer to THAI Smile at Suvarnabhumi Airport. If they are Star Alliance passengers, the transfer will be reasonably seamless but could be more complicated when flying airlines that are not partners with THAI Smile.

As far as the summer timetable goes, THAI is not serving any of its Mekong region neighbours, including Kunming in China. The latter is due to the ongoing Covid lockdowns and the closure of China’s outbound travel market, TG is not scheduling any services to China in the summer timetable, except for Hong Kong.

Flights supporting Phuket Sandbox

1. Bangkok – Phuket – Frankfurt (vv): three flights per week every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

2. Bangkok – Phuket – London – Bangkok: three flights per week every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

3. Bangkok – Phuket – Sydney – Bangkok: three flights per week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

4. Bangkok – Phuket – Copenhagen – Bangkok: twice-weekly flights every Tuesday and Thursday, during 27 March – 30 April 2022.

5. Bangkok – Phuket – Stockholm – Bangkok: twice-weekly flights every Wednesday and Friday, during 27 March – 30 April 2022.

Intercontinental

1. Bangkok – London: 11 flights per week; daily flights by TG910; and four flights per week every Tuesday, Wednesday,Friday and Sunday by TG916 starting 29 May 2022.

2. Bangkok – Paris: daily flights.

3. Bangkok – Zurich: daily flights; and five flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday during 26 March – 4 July 2022.

4. Bangkok – Brussels: twice-weekly flights every Wednesday and Friday; and three flights per week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday starting 2 July – 30 August 2022.

5. Bangkok – Frankfurt: daily flights; and four flights per week every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by TG922 starting 25 June 2022.

6. Bangkok – Munich: daily flights.

7. Bangkok – Copenhagen: five flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; and daily flights starting 5 July 2022.

8. Bangkok – Stockholm: five flights per week every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

9. Bangkok – Sydney: four flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

10. Bangkok – Melbourne: four flights per week every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Regional

1. Bangkok – Tokyo (Narita): daily flights.

2. Bangkok – Tokyo (Haneda): daily flights, starting 1 July 2022.

3. Bangkok – Nagoya: five flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

4. Bangkok – Osaka: daily flights.

5. Bangkok – Manila: daily flights.

6. Bangkok – Seoul: daily flights.

7. Bangkok – Taipei: four flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; and daily flights starting 1 July 2022.

8. Bangkok – Hong Kong: daily flights.

9. Bangkok – Singapore: daily flights; and four flights per week every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by TG409 starting 1 July 2022.

10. Bangkok – Jakarta: three flights per week every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and daily flights starting 1 July 2022.

11. Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur: four flights per week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and daily flights starting 1 July 2022.

12. Bangkok – Dhaka: daily flights.

13. Bangkok – Chennai: five flights per week every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and daily flights starting 2 July 2022.

14. Bangkok – Bengaluru (India): five flights per week every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and daily flights starting 2 July 2022.

15. Bangkok – Delhi: daily flights.

16. Bangkok – Mumbai: daily flights.

17. Bangkok – Lahore: twice-weekly flights every Tuesday and Friday.

18. Bangkok – Islamabad: twice-weekly flights every Monday and Friday; and every Monday and Wednesday starting 1 May 2022.

19. Bangkok – Karachi: twice-weekly flights every Tuesday and Friday; and daily flights starting 1 May 2022.

Sabah Tourism trains rural communities

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUDAT, Sabah, 29 March 2022: Rural communities are being encouraged to upgrade their skills and acquire digital marketing expertise to promote their tourism products or attractions.

State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said digital marketing is the way forward to promote businesses in this technology-driven era.

“For the tourism business, internet marketing is more important than ever before, as clients can instantly find out about the latest deals, greatest pricing, and must-visit places.

“To be competitive in today’s tourism market, digital marketing is becoming a need, and rural tourism players must embrace the need to equip themselves with information technology (IT) knowledge,” he said at the digital marketing training for Kampung Tajau Laut community here, on Saturday.

Joniston also hoped that the government would expedite the installation of telecommunications towers in strategic areas, particularly in places with a strong potential for tourism development.

Twenty villagers participated in the digital training workshop conducted by Hello Sabah under the Sri Pelancongan Sabah, a subsidiary of the Sabah Tourism.

Joniston said Sabah Tourism had made a determined effort to raise knowledge of digital marketing and provide basic training to educate Tajau Laut community about the importance of social media and how to live and work in this digital world.

“There is a lot of tourism potential in Kampung Tajau Laut that could be turned into community-based tourism. We need more of this rural tourism destination in our state to provide visitors with a unique experience.

“With the reopening of our international border soon, rural communities must prepare to accommodate visitors. Hence, social media plays a critical role in introducing a new place or product to prospective visitors,” he added.

From how to open a business email account to how to set up a professional Instagram account, the digital marketing workshop teaches the rural community about everything they need to know about how to use social media to promote their products and reach a wider audience.

The product does not necessarily have to be tied to tourism; it could also be related to food or crafts. Participants are also taught how to use e-booking services on www.hellosabah.com – a dedicated platform for marketing Sabah’s rural tourism products.

For more information on Sabah visit http://www.sabahtourism.com/

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board

Philippine readies for 1 April reopening

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 29 March 2022: The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) announced at the weekend that it’s all systems go for the country’s much-awaited reopening to fully-vaccinated tourists from all countries starting 1 April 2022.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat says the department is optimistic that the recent simplifying of entry requirements will see more foreign nationals visiting the Philippines starting 1 April.

Travellers will no longer need to complete the Entry Exemption Document (EED) – provided they comply with applicable visa and immigration laws, rules, and regulations. 

Imposed during the pandemic, the EED has been the first requirement for foreigners from visa-required countries to enter the Philippines. Foreigners could then acquire a short-term 9(a) visa to enter the country. But beginning 1 April, there is no longer any need for an EED before foreigners apply for visas.

Puyat believes it will encourage more foreign nationals to visit the country and, in turn, help bring back revenues to tourism businesses and boost the economy.

“We thank our colleagues in the IATF-EID and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as well as our public and private sector partners who have been working with the DOT since the onset of the pandemic to ensure that the country’s reopening is carefully planned and carried out with health and safety in mind,” Puyat said.

The DOT chief pointed out that the new IATF-EID guidelines will restore in particular the country’s English as a Second Language (ESL) sector, as it will enable foreign nationals to travel to the country visa-free or use their 9A visas and apply for their special study permit upon entering the country.

“Visitors who come for our education tourism – ESL in particular – stand to benefit from this development. It will grant foreign nationals who wish to study in the country an interim process to remotely secure their visas,” added Puyat.

According to Puyat, local ESL schools, mainly in the country’s leading destinations for ESL such as Baguio and Cebu, have already expressed their readiness to accept foreign students and commitment to follow IATF-EID guidelines, as well as introduce additional measures that will ensure the safety of educators and students. During the pandemic, the DOT has continually promoted the country as a hub for ESL and piloted initiatives such as the Master Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) to upskill and certify teachers from all over the country.

Data from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed that Special Study Permits (SSP) applications have continuously increased prior to the pandemic. From 22,561 in 2013, SSP applications in 2018 have reached 59,428. SSP is issued by the BI for foreigners who wish to engage in short-term study in the Philippines.

DOT clarified that under the latest resolution, foreign travellers will still be required to be fully vaccinated and to undergo pre-departure RT-PCR or antigen testing.

Puyat noted that with these developments, the Department is optimistic that better tourism numbers could be seen in the coming months.

“As we move towards a more relaxed entry regulation for foreign tourists, the DOT sees a brighter perspective for the country’s tourism industry in the near future. We will ensure that this transition will be done in careful accordance with the prescribed health and safety measures,” Puyat said.

Airlines reinstate flights to India

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TTR WEEKLY
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DELHI, 29 March 2022: India’s commercial airlines resumed international services on 27 March after being grounded for more than two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A few flights operated during the two years, mainly repatriation flights and those established under strict travel bubble arrangements. For all intents and purposes, international commercial flights remained grounded as India went into two years of lockdown and restrictions.

The Dubai-based Emirates was fast off the mark inaugurating flights to nine Indian cities right from day one. Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have already revised their summer timetables. At least three Indian airlines will fly holidaymakers to Thailand’s Phuket island starting next week.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, IndiGo will add 505 weekly flights to its summer timetable. Air India is flying 360 weekly flights, followed by low-cost arm AI Express with 340 flights. SpiceJet has announced 130 flights, Go First 74, and Vistara 56. Indian airlines will be flying to 43 cities globally with 1,466 scheduled services.

Of all foreign airlines serving India, Emirates remains the firm leader with 170 flights, followed by Oman Air with 115, Qatar Airways at 99 and Etihad at 80.

From Europe, British Airways will fly 49, Lufthansa 32, and KLM 18. Singapore Airlines is back with 65 weekly flights (103 including Scoot).

Thai Airways International will relaunch services to Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.

IATA returns to Qatar for AGM

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TTR WEEKLY
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GENEVA, 29 March 2022: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has confirmed the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit will take place from 19 to 21 June 2022 in Doha, Qatar, hosted by Qatar Airways.

This will be the second time that the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders will be held in Qatar, the first being in 2014.

Originally, the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit were planned for the same dates in Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China, hosted by China Eastern Airlines. The decision to change the venue reflects continuing Covid-19 related restrictions on travel to China.

“It is deeply disappointing that we cannot meet in Shanghai as planned. In the meantime, we are pleased to be returning to the dynamic aviation hub of Doha and the warm hospitality for which Qatar Airways, our host airline, has become famous. This year’s AGM will be an important opportunity for aviation leaders to reflect on the shifting political, economic, and technological realities facing air travel as the industry’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic gathers pace,” said IATA’s director-general Willie Walsh.

Centara makes holidays easy to book

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 24 March 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, invites travellers to immerse in an exciting city and tropical beach destinations with seven-night experiential stays in Thailand.

The “Thailand Rediscovered” packages offer travellers the chance to enjoy a full or half board meal plan in Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, or Bangkok, complete with a choice of activities for guests to immerse in the local culture and experience more of the destination.

Since March 2022, fully vaccinated travellers have enjoyed the freedom to rediscover the Kingdom following a government policy of a negative RT-PCR test result on Day 1 of arrival. On Day 5, all travellers are required to upload self-administered ATK test results on the MorChana app. Gust arriving from overseas can include the Test & Go add-on with their bookings.

Rediscover Thailand offers are available to book and stay from now until 31 October 2022. Rates start from THB 44,605++ for a 7-night stay for two guests, and CentaraThe1 members enjoy 15% savings.

Phuket Rediscovered

Enjoy the ultimate island experience with a 7-night stay at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket and Maikhao Dream Villa Resort and Spa, Centara Boutique Collection. At Centara Grand Beach Resort, relax in the privacy of a pool suite or pool villa, and enjoy the comforts of a full-board stay and a choice of activities, which can include a spa indulgence, Muay Thai or Thai cooking classes. Further north along the sunset coast, Maikhao Dream Villa Resort invites guests to fully unwind with a half-board offer in a choice of 1- to 3-bedroom pool villas, enhanced with complimentary Thai dessert cooking and yoga classes, plus daily paddleboard and kayak rentals to reconnect with nature. From THB 52,500++ net.

Krabi Rediscovered

Nestled within its secluded bay with exclusive access by the resort’s private boat, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi offers the ultimate 7-night beach escape enhanced with a full-board meal plan and roundtrip airport transfers. Spend carefree days on the white sands of Pai Plong Bay, then rejuvenate at the resort’s tranquil spa. Explore the striking cliffs and limestone islands of Krabi on a complimentary excursion tour with a choice of Phi Phi Island Trip, Four Islands Trip, or Hong Island Trip. From THB 63,000++ net.

Hua Hin Rediscovered

Experience the legendary seaside charm of Thailand’s best-loved beach town with a half-board stay in a pool villa, complete with private roundtrip transfers to and from Bangkok. At Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, learn more about the storied history of the classic colonial-style beach resort with a Hotel Heritage Tour, and enjoy the bygone age of elegance with an exquisite afternoon tea set. A Thai cooking class invites guests to share a taste of the destination with loved ones long after the stay. From THB 75,000++ net.

Pattaya Rediscovered

Immerse in a world of wonders with a full-board stay at Thailand’s favourite family resort destination – Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, a Lost World-themed resort featuring a jungled water park with pools, waterfalls, water slides, and a lazy river. At the beachfront resort’s new The Lost World Adventure Land, families enjoy an expansive three-level playground complete with slides, trampolines, and digging pit, as well as aerial courses and obstacle courses in the sky. From THB 97,650++ net.

Bangkok Rediscovered

Immerse in the sights and sounds of Bangkok with a full-board stay in the heart of the city at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, complete with roundtrip airport transfers. After a full day exploring the city’s best shopping, guests continue living the high life with complimentary chilled bubbly at one of the world’s highest alfresco Champagne bars atop the hotel. For relaxation, travellers unwind with an aromatherapy spa treatment or enjoy an extended soak in their Club Suite bathtub overlooking the city skyline. From THB 69,300++ net.

Thailand Rediscovered makes it easy to book holidays in Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, and Bangkok. Stay anytime from now until 31 October 2022.

More details on package inclusions can be found at https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/thailand-rediscovered

Visit Maldives joins Brussels Travel Fair

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TTR WEEKLY
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BRUSSELS, 28 March 2022: Visit Maldives joined the in-person Brussels Holiday Fair 2022, 24 to 27 March 2022.

The Brussels Holiday Fair is the leading national tourism fair in Belgium, serving the travel trade and travel consumers for more than 60 years.

Four industry partners joined MMPRC at the Brussels Travel Fair.

After a two-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the show returned, attracting 350 exhibitors and 800 sub-exhibitors.

Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) that operates under the Visit Maldives brand-led travel firms and resorts from the Maldives to conduct meetings and network with key members of the travel trade community during the show week.

The Maldives has welcomed 219 travellers from Belgium up to 12 January 2022 and with markets opening again, the agency is organising media familiarisation trips and social and digital media campaigns.

The Maldives has also eased travel restrictions imposed on tourists. Earlier this month, the Maldives ended the need to present a Covid-19 PCR negative result upon arrival for fully vaccinated travellers. It also lifted on 13 March the national public health emergency declaration, imposed in response to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. It opens the way to ease travel restrictions further.

Late last year, the Maldives secured the title World’s Leading Destination at the 2021 World Travel Awards, the second consecutive year that the Maldives had successfully earned this prestigious title.

Bid to reopen Southeast Asian cruises

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 March 2022: Cruise holidays in Southeast Asia will make a comeback, starting with sailings from Singapore to Phuket in Thailand, possibly by November if talks between health officials from the two countries succeed.

According to the Strait Times, talks are ongoing between the Singapore embassy in Thailand’s first secretary Alexander Lim and Thai authorities to reach an agreement on resuming cruises between Singapore and Phuket.

A Bangkok Post report last week suggested cruise passengers would need to show only an antigen rapid test (ART) result taken within 24 hours of departure. All cruise passengers would have to be fully vaccinated or have other certifications to show why they did not need to be vaccinated.

Thai health officials fear the infection risk could be higher for cruise passengers, but cruise lines have adopted robust health protocols to ensure potential risks are equivalent to airline travel.

However, it is likely that passenger numbers will be capped, although plans have yet to be approved by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

In pre-pandemic 2019, cruise lines from Singapore ferried more than 250,000 international passengers to Thailand in 110 sailings, roughly a fifth of cruise ship calls to Thailand that year.

The close links between the two ports make the lane particularly important as Singapore seeks to resume port calls for cruise vessels to re-anchor its regional cruise hub status.

STB reiterated that it is working with several other ASEAN countries to resume port calls, aimed at restarting later this year cruises from Singapore to popular ports in Southeast Asia and ultimately Hong Kong.

In 2020, Singapore had just 410,000 cruise ship passengers, compared with 1.8 million in 2019. All port stops are still not allowed. It forced cruise lines to settle for cruises to nowhere last year. However, that is no longer a solution as borders reopen in Southeast Asia and airlines resume flights to popular destinations.

(Source: The Straits Times, Bangkok Post)

Original Straits Times report: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-phuket-vaccinated-cruise-lane-could-start-by-third-quarter-of-2022

Expedia sees flight searches double

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 March 2022: Singaporeans’ holiday searches doubled in the three days leading up to Singapore’s announcement last Thursday that established a new Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) that kicks in 1 April 2022.

Outbound flight searches on Expedia.com.sg saw destinations like Stockholm (+270%), Perth (+50%) and Zurich (+50%), indicating significant growth in demand. It made them the top trending destinations among Singaporean travellers over the last seven days.

Additionally, with the relaxation of border measures such as the removal of on-arrival testing and the vaccinated travel pass application (VTP) for general inbound travel to Singapore, Expedia also expects inbound travel demand to rise, with the US, UK and Australia remaining as the top three inbound markets quarter on quarter on Expedia.com.sg.  

“The decisive move by the Singapore Government to ease travel-related measures for both inbound and outbound travellers spells positive news for the travel and tourism sector. Over the past few months, Expedia has seen demand for international travel grow significantly with the establishment of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs).

“The removal of on-arrival testing, application of the VTP and the VTL flight requirements are impactful milestones that will improve the traveller experience and instil confidence among our travellers. We believe that travel deprived Singaporeans will be excited at the prospect of travelling freely the way they did pre-COVID times. Expedia looks forward to playing a key role in supporting the travellers’ needs at every phase of their travel journey,” said Expedia Group Asia Head of public relations Lavinia Rajaram.

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