Starfish Travel Corporation Team

The Murray River Paddlesteamers company announced for the first time the launch date and other details of the new, luxurious $6.75 million vessel, which will offer year-round, all-inclusive, overnight cruises on the Murray River from Echuca in Victoria. Construction has begun on Australia’s first five-star river ship, PS Australian Star. The 38-guest ship PS Australian Star, which will be constructed in Mildura utilising Australian components and manpower, is already being built on the site. Murray River Paddlesteamers has stated that the smaller, older, 16-passenger PS Emmylou, which now conducts overnight excursions on the Murray, will be replaced by the PS (Paddlesteamer) Australian Star, which will start operations from Echuca in April 2025. Stretching 35m, the deluxe PS Australian Star, the largest paddlesteamer in the Southern Hemisphere and the only wood-fired, five-star accommodated paddlesteamer in the world, will be Australia’s first five-star river cruise experience. It will be possible for passengers to combine two trips on the PS Australian Star to make a longer seven-night cruise. The ship will offer cruises lasting three and four nights. All-inclusive prices, which will be made public in July, will include rail transfers from Melbourne, daily shore excursions, a shoreside campfire meal, and beer and wine with dinner. This spring, reservations for Australian Star will go on sale. The Regional Tourism Investment Fund of the Victorian Government has provided $2.25 million to assist the unusual vessel, which is expected to draw upscale, high-yield tourists from all around Australia and the rest of the globe. The three-deck PS Australian Star will be 60% bigger than PS Emmylou and feature more modern amenities like the panoramic Hopwood Lounge, numerous outdoor relaxation areas, the company’s first elevator for easy access to all levels, and the Cadell Restaurant that offers a different fine-dining menu every day that emphasises local, seasonal produce. Additionally, PS Australian Star will have 19 sleek, contemporary staterooms with deck access, river views, ensuite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, plush bedding, TV entertainment systems, seating areas, and desks. There will be two suite-style cabins, one with a Queen bed and the other with a King bed, that are roomy and have their own outside decks. A first for Murray River Paddlesteamers, all other staterooms will have queen beds that may be divided into twin beds in 16 of the cabins. Additionally, two of the cabins will be accessible to visitors with physical limitations. The ship will be powered by a retro, restored 1907 Richard Garrett & Sons wood-fired steam engine and will have a contemporary, energy-efficient hybrid diesel/steam propulsion system. PS Australian Star, according to Murray River Paddlesteamers Director Craig Burgess, will change overnight river cruising in Australia and bring Victoria new high-yield domestic and foreign tourists as well as profitable tour group business. “PS Australian Star will offer the ultimate in river cruising luxury when she sails along the Murray for the first time in 2025, ushering in an exciting new era for tourism in Australia,” Mr. Burgess added. Australians enjoy boating and appreciate the Murray River, but many yearn for amenities and comforts seen on European rivers. She has already generated a lot of interest, and we anticipate strong demand when we begin selling tickets this spring, ” he added. “The support of the Victorian Government has been pivotal in this project, bringing the construction of this wonderful new ship forward by several years.” * Murray River Paddlesteamers will provide travel agencies a 10% commission along with bonuses for making additional reservations. Source: traveldailynews

SG – Singapore Chinese mainland May Day travel trends are revealed by top travel service provider Trip.com Group, with significant domestic and international booking increases. Before the epidemic, Chinese tourists abroad were one of the most important consumer segments driving worldwide tourism income. China’s tourism sector is back on track to expand and recover after three difficult years. The popularity of the May Day holiday has grown along with a rapid rise in the number of people travelling both domestically and internationally. Over the same time period in 2019, international flights during the holidays recovered to about 40%, and searches increased by more than 60%. Compared to the period of time marked by the Chinese New Year (January 21–January 27). According to data from the Ctrip website, over the May Day vacation, flight reservations from the Chinese mainland to nations in Southeast Asia soared by 91%. Bookings for flights to Korea and Japan both rose by 120% and 204%, respectively. Bookings for long-haul flights to Europe have increased by more than 40%. The top 10 most-booked international destinations for the May holiday were Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with nine out of ten searches made by Chinese mainland travellers to these destinations surpassing the 2019 level. Many young people travelling in the post-2000 era were leaving the nation for the first time. On the Ctrip site, consumers between the ages of 18 and 23 most frequently ordered first-time trips to Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur. The May Day holiday has ushered in the first wave of outbound tourist growth this year, driving recovery and local service capabilities, according to Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group. Chinese travellers may soon look for destinations outside of APAC and resume long-haul travel to EMEA and the Americas as capacity continues to rise. To secure capacity and protect the pending travel demand seen from Chinese mainland customers, we continue to collaborate with international partners. Chinese mainland cities are still putting a lot of effort into promoting tourism to increase domestic demand and consumption. A broad variety of gorgeous locations collaborated with Trip.com Group’s Ctrip platform to offer VIP services and unique activity packages to guests on May Day. Bookings on the Ctrip platform for domestic hotels, flights, and scenic location tickets for the May Day holiday had surpassed the level from 2019 as of April 19. Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, Xi’an, Wuhan, and Shenzhen made up the top 10 cities. More than 80,000 domestic flights were conducted over May Day this year, with the average daily level increasing by almost 15% compared to the same period in 2019. This is according to statistics from Ctrip’s FlightAi market analytics platform. More and more consumers are choosing to travel over the holidays by escaping the city and enjoying the countryside. According to Ctrip statistics, on May Day, the total amount of orders for rural tours surged to 242% of what they were during the same time period in 2019 and the percentage of orders from travellers staying in the countryside for more than three days grew by 230%. Trip.com Group’s Country Retreats had a 261% year-over-year growth in total order volume. For excursions of the countryside, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Hangzhou have emerged as the most energetic cities. Most significantly, post-00s represented over 34% of rural trip orders on May 1 this year, surpassing post-90s and post-80s, and for the first time serving as the backbone of rural tourism. Since the pandemic, digital consumer patterns have changed, and Trip.com Group is emphasising the importance of its user-centric, all-in-one platform and its distinctive content and product offers. The “Super World Trip” livestream series was created by Trip.com Group with the goal of promoting short-haul travel to Chinese mainland consumers and boosting tourism-related goods in strategic locations. With more than 20,000 lodging nights sold, the first livestream held in Thailand had a gross retail value of RMB 40 million. Tokyo and Hong Kong have also attempted to replicate this achievement, with GMV reaching RMB 23 million and RMB 30 million, respectively. Chinese consumers have been unable to travel for a considerable amount of time, but it is evident that customers want to travel once more, according to Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group. Through a diversified approach to content marketing, we continue to digitalize and adapt to the changing needs of consumers to deliver excellent consumer choice. Source: traveldailynews

Twelve years have passed since Air New Zealand’s last uniform change, and the big Kiwi airline is now seeking for a replacement. The airline will discontinue its “iconic” green, pink, and black uniforms, and plans to revamp the appearance of its cabin staff are now being worked on while it looks for a new designer. The carrier’s aesthetic has developed throughout the years, beginning with the first uniforms created in the 1950s by Australian store David Jones and continuing with those created in the 1960s by Dior. In 2011, Dame Trelise Cooper, a fashion designer from New Zealand, created the current outfit. At the time, it received some mixed reviews, with some claiming that while the designs matched Air New Zealand’s tradition, the colour selection was dubious. But that was in the past, and the big carrier is currently searching for a brand-new appearance. Leanne Geraghty, the chief customer and sales officer of Air New Zealand, stated that Ms. Cooper’s “iconic and much-loved design” has done them well and that, after a “incredible tenure,” it is time to transfer the torch. The Air New Zealand uniform, along with the Koru [on its distinctive emblem], is one of the airline’s most significant brand assets, she told news.com.au. It is time to review our uniforms after 12 years with our recognisable Trelise Cooper designs to make sure they complement our newly revealed upcoming cabin experience. The search for the airline’s new designer has started, according to Ms. Geraghty. Since 2011 a lot has happened, so it felt like the proper time to update our uniforms so that they would continue to accurately represent our company, our employees, and New Zealand. “Our present uniform is well-known across the world, and we want to capitalise on that recognition while also coming up with something fresh and innovative. We’re interested in seeing the styles and looks that individuals asked to participate in the process will exhibit. The uniform upgrade involves a competitive pitch process involving Kiwi designers. According to her, airline uniforms must meet specific specifications, so in addition to designing something that aesthetically represents Air New Zealand, utility, comfort, safety, and sustainability will be crucial factors. Aotearoa will come to life in the uniforms our people proudly wear every day, she said, adding that this is only the beginning of an exciting journey of creativity and innovation. According to Kiri Hannifin, chief sustainability officer of Air New Zealand, upgrading the uniform gives the airline a chance to assess the sustainability of its work attire. Supporting a circular economy is a part of our commitment to sustainability, she added. “The decreased life cycle implications of the textiles we employ are a key component of the brief. The key is incorporating new ideas, particularly those related to textile recycling. As part of this change, Air New Zealand will also be updating its requirements for grooming. All New Zealand designers are eligible to submit an expression of interest, which must be received by Sunday, May 14. Selected designers will then be contacted to participate in a competitive pitching process. In 2025, Air New Zealand plans to introduce new uniforms. Source: escape

When you go home after a vacation, one of the most annoying things is to find out you have a sizable roaming cost. When you travel, it may frequently be one of the most expensive aspects, and if your journey lasts many weeks, it’s simple to build up hundreds of dollars. However, Sydney Airport has made an unexpected new move and unveiled its own data product, Tripsim, which will enable travellers leaving Australia to use in multiple countries. The cost of an international bundle varies according to the amount of the data package and the location. For instance, if a visitor needs 20GB of data and is staying in Europe for 30 days, the cost is $44.99, or $1.50 a day. The cost of a 10GB package for their vacation, though, would be $29.99, or $1 per day. It is contrasted to Telstra, which charges $10 per day for 1GB of data, with unlimited calls and SMS, and Optus, which charges $5 for 5GB per day, depending on region. It’s the first time Sydney Airport has provided such a product, according to Mark Zaouk, executive general manager of commercial at Sydney Airport. The T1 international terminal serves millions of Australians annually, and Mr. Zaouk remarked, “We’re proud to deliver a new, reasonably priced product to help them stay connected while travelling abroad.” Tripsim may be utilised in more than 150 countries and eliminates the need to change phone numbers or exchange actual SIM cards, both of which can be inconvenient when travelling. According to Michael Brown, head of commercial analytics at Sydney Airport, “it’s easy to install and offers an affordable way for Australians to use their devices while abroad without the hassle of switching out SIM cards and phone numbers.” Especially for families that travel with numerous devices, the eye-watering roaming charge you receive when you return from a great international vacation can rapidly dim your post-vacation radiance. Tripsim is a creative and affordable option that, in our opinion, will revolutionise the way Australians travel abroad. By entering their destination and departure dates, travellers may compare routes on the website. Tripsim is open to everyone, not only those travelling via Sydney Airport and Australians departing Any city may join up online from abroad, Mr. Brown continued. Source: escape

TORONTO – Hostaway is the first vacation rental property management software (PMS) to include an artificial intelligence capability on its platform that is powered by ChatGPT. All PMS & channel management customers will now have the choice to utilise AI inside Hostaway to enhance their listings and boost bookings without increasing their duties. Data-driven automation is essential to achieve efficiency while upholding the highest standards expected of professional managers and hosts, as increased visitor expectations increase the pressures on short-term and vacation rental operators. The new AI tool from Hostaway will change listings to make them more enticing and interesting. Additionally, it will ensure brand consistency across listings by adapting the professional tone and style to each operator’s audience and brand, from formal to friendly and everything in between. In addition to saving time, this new technology makes postings more visible in a way that some managers would find difficult to accomplish on their own. The Hostaway team has been enhancing its award-winning platform for the past year, and the launch of its first AI augmentation is only the most recent change. In order to help customers stay competitive, grow revenue, and provide best-in-class stays, the firm upgraded its Guest Portal last month. This gave property managers the ability to upsell to guests before and throughout their stay. In addition to interfaces with nine booking channels, such as Homes & Villas by Marriott International, Hopper, and Amadeus, Hostaway introduced a website builder, completely configurable rental agreements, and centralised financial reporting in 2022. More than 150 integration partners already work with Hostaway. “We are thrilled to introduce this feature to our platform, easing the burden on our customers by providing them with the tools they need to elevate their listing descriptions and increase bookings,” said Sabre Kordestanchi, Co-Founder and COO of Hostaway. We take pleasure in being able to react swiftly to changes in technology and the larger travel sector. This is only the start of many improvements we anticipate making as AI transforms both visitors’ and property managers’ experiences. Source: traveldailynews

The 100 million tourist goal that Saudi Arabia established as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project will be increased.The figure was first established in 2016 when the Vision was originally presented, however by 2022, the Kingdom had received 77 million domestic visitors and 16.5 million foreign visitors, for a total of 93.5 million visitors. In 2022, Dubai, which has traditionally been the region’s tourism powerhouse, will welcome 14.5 million foreign tourists. The CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), Fahd Hamidaddin, predicted that after the 100 million milestone was nearly attained eight years early, the goalposts will be moved. At the Arabian Travel Market, he told reporters, “The target is too low and it will increase,” adding, “Today, that target no longer works. Domestic tourism was always an element of that aim from the beginning. We had no idea how strongly domestic tourism would react when it was set. We all anticipated a decline in numbers following Covid, yet the opposite has happened. Domestic viewers weren’t aware they had all of this at their doorstep a few years ago. Before, they concentrated on Jeddah and Riyadh, but nowadays, people are more daring. The same thing will occur when foreign tourists arrive. Hamidaddin stated that he wanted overseas travel to account for 60% of tourism. Saudi Arabia’s hotel supply exceeds Dubai’sAccording to projections from the international real estate consultant Knight Frank, Saudi Arabia is preparing for a significant development of its hospitality sector that would add up to 315,000 hotel rooms by 2030. According to Knight Frank’s research, this expansion will result in a hotel room inventory that is higher than the 140,000 rooms that are now available in Dubai. When asked if there are now too many hotels in Saudi Arabia, Hamidaddin responded, “My concern right now is a lack of airlift and lodging. Based on the current pace, we won’t be confronted with the overstock problem. According to Knight Frank, the country’s fast expansion of hospitality-related services has a substantial impact on domestic tourism, which the firm predicts will play a big role in the development of the Kingdom’s hospitality industry. The business will need to look more broadly and include establishments like upscale glamping sites and youth hostels in order to serve this growingly significant part of the market. With giant projects like NEOM driving the supply chain, Saudi Arabia is poised to become one of the world’s top tourism destinations. Kingdom’s employment economy has reached a turning point.The epidemic was a turning moment to highlight KSA’s new luxury supply, according to Hamidaddin in response to a query on the increase of luxury in the country and how that supply will affect the sector. The STA chief remarked, “We were fortunate to have Covid. Saudi Arabia was first discovered by force and afterwards by choice. Due of their limited alternatives under the Covid, wealthy people who had yachts and jets travelled to Saudi. Hamidaddin reminded the table, using data from the WTTC, that one out of every five new employment created over the previous ten years had come from tourism internationally. One in four employment will be like this in the upcoming ten years. “While so many industries are suffering from automation, tourism is not. Tourism benefits both our community and our economy. “The world came to Saudi Arabia for oil in the 1920s; in the 2020s, it will come for tourism. The new oil is tourism. Source: breakingtravelnews

Thailand – The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023, Thailand’s premier B2B travel industry show, will be held from May 31 to June 2 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. Pre- and post-tour programmes will feature meaningful travel experiences from all five regions of Thailand. “This year, the TTM+ 2023 will continue to highlight the Thai tourism industry’s ongoing efforts towards a meaningful travel direction through the promotion and development of high value and sustainable tourism,” stated Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor. This year’s TTM+, the country’s top tourism exhibition, will demonstrate how we are improving demand and sustainability standards while utilising the 5F soft-power pillars of food, film, festivals, fights, and fashion to uphold travellers’ trust in Thailand as a top travel destination. The TTM+ 2023 has been designed to highlight travel goods, services, and experiences that advance Thai cultural values for a memorable travel experience in keeping with the marketing campaign “Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters.” It also fits with TAT’s plan to use innovation and technology to create value, turn Thai tourism into “Smart Tourism,” and hasten the transformation of Thailand’s tourist ecosystem into one that is high-quality and sustainable. Over 850 people are anticipated to attend this year’s TTM+, including 100 local and international media, 400 sellers from all five regions of Thailand, and 350 buyers from 50 different countries. Buyers come from both developed markets like Western Europe, the United States, Australia, and ASEAN as well as emerging countries like Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa. Opening ceremony, Thailand product update, TTM Talk for buyers and media, onsite appointment session, welcome reception, and product update on the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) are among the scheduled events for TTM+ 2023, which runs from May 31 to June 2, 2023. Along with a networking lunch and a business networking happy hour, there are buyer/seller appointments. On May 30 and 31, there are three pre-tour programmes, and on June 3-5, there are six post-tour programmes. Additionally, all tour programmes are designed in accordance with the TAT’s meaningful travel direction, emphasising experience-based tourism activities and showcasing Thai cultural values through the 5F soft-power foundations of the monarchy. On the same dates and at the same location as TTM+ 2023, TAT is also sponsoring the Amazing Thailand Culinary City event. Source: traveldailynews

A swarm of bees decided to assemble on the end of one of the plane’s wings, delaying a Delta trip. Fog. Ice. Passengers indignant. You starting your vacation late is put above the airline’s financial interests… There are several factors that might cause a flight to be cancelled. However, a recent American news story is so outlandish that you might find it difficult to believe. Due to a bee colony that has established itself on one of the wing tips of the aeroplane, a Delta flight leaving Houston has been delayed. Anjali Enjeti, a traveller, recorded the story for the benefit of online viewers while she waited at the airport’s boarding gate. My aircraft departing Houston is delayed because bees have gathered on the tip of one of the wings, she said in the thread’s opening statement, which has had 2.6 million views as of this writing. Until the bees are taken out, they won’t let us board. But how in the world will this take place? When we take off, won’t they leave the wing?’” Ms. Enjeti stated: “Intel from other passengers confirms the plane pulled into the gate and suddenly a mass of bees congregates on the wing.” Despite the fact that you may assume the plane must have been there for a while for this to happen. As you may guess, when other travellers learned that their flight would be delayed, they weren’t exactly joyful. Ms. Enjeti said on Twitter that first they were informed a beekeeper had been contacted to remove the bees before learning he would not be coming because he “isn’t allowed to touch aeroplanes.” The same justification applies to “pest control is not allowed to spray planes.” Additionally, it appears that the airport lacked a hose to spray the bees with water, and the fire department was unable to respond. Ms Enjeti claims that airport staff attempted to get rid of the bees by blowing car exhaust on them. Apparently, the bees were “not impressed.” Different Twitter users who were following the thread expressed varying degrees of sympathy for the bees (and the patience of the airport authorities). “The bees have swarmed and need to be safely relocated,” one person remarked. They shouldn’t be pulled into a jet engine at all costs. You surely don’t see anything like that every day! I’m delighted they’re also concerned about the health of the bees. Another person commented: “This entire conversation is absurd! Total waste of time and resources for everyone. Not going to affect boarding, and they’re going to get off somewhere down the runway. And if they DO manage to lift off, full altitude will take care of the rest. The answer was ultimately fairly straightforward. The bees went away when the Delta crew chose to offer the gate to a different flight and the pilot switched on the aircraft to move it out of the way for a different flight. According to Ms. Enjeti, “Omg y’all. The whole flight crew left the plane. Delta made the decision to assign another flight our gate. THE BEES LEFT as soon as our plane’s engine started up! Delta only needed to turn the plane on. Eventually, their “bee plane” met the travellers at a new gate and made it safely to its intended destination. “I’ve arrived in Atlanta!” Informing her fans of her crazy day, Ms. Enjeti remarked. Happy to be at home and on solid footing. Our pilot was outstanding and did a fantastic job updating us. The crew was likewise outstanding. The bees must have had a great time mocking us all, in my opinion. Source: escape

The Indonesian government is considering imposing a possible “tourist tax” on tourists travelling to Bali as the island’s population continues to grow. The popular vacation spot will charge visitors up to $150 to enter, according to the Australian Financial Review. This week, the government and President Joko Widodo were debating the proposal, according to tourism minister Sandiaga Uno. The fee, according to Bali Tourism Board Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, will prevent Bali from being perceived as a “cheap” vacation spot. However, opponents of the proposal argue that stronger enforcement of already-existing laws is necessary to keep law-breaking tourists in check. According to Komang Artana, vice-chairman of the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association, foreigners travelling on tourist visas are not permitted to work for hire in Indonesia, yet some take co-nationals on spontaneous tours or rent out their motorcycles. The idea comes as Indonesia keeps up its crackdown on visitors who act badly. The Indonesian government had deported 93 foreign nationals from Bali as of mid-April, the majority as a result of visa or permission infractions. With 24 tourists sent home, Russians made up the largest contingent. Nigeria came in second with seven guests, followed by the US and Australia with six each. According to the AFR, there are currently 101 deportees scheduled for 2023, only six of whom are Australian citizens. Balinese tourism has also increased as a result of refugees from the continuing war in Europe. Source: 9news

After a wave of shark attacks, swimming has been prohibited at a popular tourist destination in the Pacific for a year.Swimming is not permitted within 300 metres of the Noumea shoreline, according to the municipal council of Noumea, New Caledonia.On one beach, swimmers are permitted in a monitored area while lifeguards are on duty. On Lemon Bay, swimming is permitted between 8.45 am and 4 pm, but only up to 20 metres from the shore.As the council gets ready to put shark nets on the beaches, the ban will still be in effect.After an Australian tourist drowned while swimming off Chateau-Royal beach in Noumea in February, there was a swimming ban imposed. Sydney father Chris Davis was attacked by a four-meter tiger shark while swimming around 150 metres offshore. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he passed away at the site. It was the second assault in a short period of time at the same site. The council observes that even when swimming is prohibited, beachgoers are still welcome to enjoy the sand. On beaches outside of the Noumea council area, swimming is permitted. One of Australia’s closest neighbours is New Caledonia. The island, a former French colony, is currently a territory recognised as a part of Overseas France, and it has senators and members in the French parliament. Source: 9news