Travel News

Speaking to journalists from India and Sri Lanka yesterday, Sukanya Sirikanjanakul, Executive Director, ASEAN South Asia and South Pacific Region, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), expressed the hope that the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023 will aid the tourism industry in recovering more quickly from the losses it sustained as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. She claimed that 370 purchasers attended the 2023 edition of TTM+. Sukanya stated, “In the previous edition, the number was 250. She added that Amazing Thailand Culinary City will improve the Kingdom’s reputation from a gastronomic standpoint. She stated that 11 million foreign visitors came to the country last year when discussing inbound tourism. “We already reached the number of 10 million international tourists this year from January through May 30,” said Sukanya. In response to a query from TravelBiz Monitor, she stated that Thailand has always valued its relationship with India. Speaking of the 2023 goal, she stated, “In 2019, we had 40 million visitors from throughout the world, of which 2 million were from India. We have maintained the target at 2 million from the Indian market since we are still recuperating from the losses brought on by the pandemic. We will exert every effort to meet this goal, Sukanya declared with assurance. She further mentioned that 600,000 Indian visitors traveled to Thailand between January and May. She exclaimed, “This is very encouraging.” TAT is actively courting the Indian wedding and MICE markets. Sukanya stated, “MICE movement is very good from India, particularly from the cities of Delhi and Mumbai.” She claimed that in terms of sustainability, they are largely concentrating on the supply side. Another area of interest for TAT is sports tourism. To draw additional tourists who aren’t interested in golf, they are now working on this. “We have intentions to host the Indian cricket team here in the future. We are concentrating on enhancing the infrastructure in this direction, Sukanya noted. Source: travelbizmonitor

The world’s premier lifestyle and luxury LGTBQ+ travel industry event, PROUD Experiences, is being organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions) from June 5-7 in Los Angeles, and Internova Travel Group will once again serve as the event’s lead sponsor. A burgeoning market within the travel and tourism sector, LGBTQ+ travellers pre-pandemic represented more than $218 billion globally. One of the biggest travel service firms in the world, Internova, and the more than 100,000 travel advisors it employs across the globe are equal to the task of designing experiences for this picky demographic of tourists. Executive Vice President of Partner Relations for Internova, Albert Herrera, stated: “Partnering with occasions like PROUD Experiences helps us better understand the LGBTQ+ traveller. It improves our connections with travel vendors, guarantees that we are booking trips to locations where members of the LGBTQ+ community will feel safe and welcomed, keeps us informed about the newest, most exciting activities and locations around the world, and provides the support and resources travel advisors across all of our brands need to deliver exceptional service to their clients. More than 180 travel vendors from seven continents, including more than 60 new exhibitors, will be present at the sold-out event. They include independently owned hotels like Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France as well as well-known hotel chains like 21c Museum Hotels, Six Senses, and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Tahiti, Visit Buenos Aires, and Santa Monica Tourism are some of the new locations. Attending the event and participating in more than 30 one-on-one meetings will be buyers from more than ten different nations. The effectiveness of authentic engagement with LGBTQ+ travellers, the significance of attracting, elevating, and working with diverse voices in an inclusive environment, all-women panels highlighting the necessity of creating safe and welcoming spaces in the culinary, wellness, and sporting worlds, establishing an LGBTQ+ strategy, and assisting suppliers create an inclusive LGBT supply chain are just a few of the topics covered in masterclasses led by American and international speakers. For those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is all too common. Leaders from the travel and leisure industries are brought together by PROUD Experiences to network, share expertise, and conduct business. The conference includes interesting, informative seminars and raises every issue surrounding LGBTQ+ travel. According to Simon Mayle, event director for PROUD Experiences, “This will be the largest gathering of industry professionals meeting to do business together in support of the LGBTQ+ traveler. We’re thrilled that Internova Travel Group is joining us once again as headline sponsor.” LGBT+ individuals are setting the standard for post-pandemic travel, and Internova travel consultants are essential allies in meeting their requirements. Source: traveldailymedia

Emirates SkyCargo has increased its fleet of freighters by two Boeing 747-400Fs, demonstrating its firm belief in the world cargo market in the face of recent volatility. Emirates, the largest international airline in the world, expects to add 15 more freighters to its fleet through announced orders and its freighter conversion programme. Additionally, new passenger aircraft deliveries, beginning with Airbus A350s in late summer 2024 and followed by 777-Xs the following year, will increase belly-hold capacity. With a fleet of over 300 wide-body aircraft, including 777s, 777-Fs, 747-Fs, A350s, and A380s, Emirates SkyCargo intends to quadruple its current capacity over the next ten years, add over 20 new destinations to its cargo network, and provide even more flexibility and services to its clients. While the current market instability may cause others to hesitate, Emirates SkyCargo is moving on with our goals at full speed, according to Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo. The worldwide air freight market is predicted to grow by 3-5% during the medium to long term. The possibility for Emirates SkyCargo is obvious when you consider the economic activity taking place in markets around the Gulf, West Asia, and Africa, as well as Dubai’s aim to quadruple its foreign commerce, where multi-modal logistics will play a significant role. While we wait for the delivery of 5 new 777Fs in 2024 and 2025 and 10 777-300ERs to roll out of our conversion programme over the following 5 years, the 2 new 747-Fs that we have leased will provide us immediate capacity. Even these extra planes, in our opinion, won’t be enough. By that time, the MRO will be ready to grow our freighter conversion programme swiftly and effectively if necessary. The two Boeing 747-Fs, which were obtained on a long-term wet-lease arrangement and are now being deployed to Chicago three times a week and Hong Kong nine times a week, are a complement to Emirates SkyCargo’s current fleet of 11 Boeing 777 freighters. “The new aircrafts mean we can amplify the connectivity with the main Emirates network and expand our freighter network,” he continued. We now have additional flexibility to better service our various customers thanks to the new fleet mix. Emirates SkyCargo is also making investments to advance digitisation and technological innovation, as well as to create new goods. Our goal is to be the market leader in providing specialized solutions that are quick, dependable, adaptable, and effective. There will be more thrilling developments. Pay attention. The world works better with Emirates SkyCargo, according to a brand-new creative advertising campaign that the company unveiled this week. The commercial illustrates how crucial its logistics business is to connecting people and goods around the globe, whether that be through life-saving healthcare, fresh fruit, flowers, pets, or valuables, using real-world scenarios. Source: traveldailymedia

With a magnificent consumer display accessible to the general public this June at Outernet London, Destination NSW is resuming activities in the UK tourist sector. Sydney and the greater New South Wales region are eager to welcome UK visitors to see the state in all its splendor with the debut of an epic multimedia display intended to transport visitors “down-under” as part of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030. Visitors to the immersive display, which is open to the public and is free, will get a sneak preview of the finest of Vivid Sydney 2023, including light installations that will be projected on some of Sydney’s most famous structures, including the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and other attractions. Visitors will leave the exhibit feeling inspired to start planning their next vacation and with the potential to win a trip to New South Wales thanks to a partnership with Travelbag. The exhibit is accompanied by magnificent footage of Sydney’s bustling downtown, New South Wales’ glittering coasts, and the culturally rich outback. Vivid Sydney 2023 will take place in Sydney, Australia, from Friday, May 26, to Friday, June 17, and will feature more than 60 light installations and artwork projections along an 8.5 km (5.3 mi) Light Walk, including the largest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as major music performances and talks. As part of Vivid Sydney’s Global Storytellers series, Jennifer Coolidge and White Lotus creator Mike White are also expected to make an appearance. The exhibition is on display in the “world’s largest LED screen deployment” in the Now Trending room at Outernet, London’s most immersive entertainment area. Source: traveldailymedia

The only safety and product rating website in the world, AirlineRatings.com, has named Air New Zealand as their airline of the year for 2023. For the seventh time since 2013, Air New Zealand has been recognised for its several award-winning in-flight innovations, including the SkyNest economy beds, operational safety, environmental leadership, and employee motivation. For the top slot, Air New Zealand edged out Singapore Airlines, Korean Airlines, Etihad Airways, and previous winners Qatar Airways (2021, 2022). Twelve important factors, including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offers, and staff interactions, are combined with major safety and government audits in the AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, which are judged by five editors with a combined 180 years of industry experience. www.AirlineRatings.com “In our objective analysis,” stated editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas, “Air New Zealand came out on top in many key areas, though it was a very close scoring for the top five.” Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa / Swiss, SAS, TAP Portugal, All Nippon Airways, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, British Airways, Jet Blue, JAL, Vietnam Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Hawaiian, KLM, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines are among the top 25 premium airlines. “Air New Zealand’s commitment to excellence in all facets of its business starts at the top with outstanding governance and one of the best executive teams in aviation through to a workforce that is consistently delivering on the airline’s strategy and customer promise.” “Like many airlines across the world, Air New Zealand experienced significant interruptions during and after the pandemic, as well as significant difficulties this year due to storms and cyclones. The airline has handled itself nicely. “Our editorial team was impressed by the airline’s commitment to the economy passenger and on long hauls offers more comfort options than any other airline,” Mr. Thomas stated. While Qatar Airways won Best Business Class and Best Catering for the fourth consecutive year, Air New Zealand won Best Economy Class. Best First Class went to Singapore Airlines, and Best Cabin Crew went to Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic. Emirates won the awards for Best In-Flight Entertainment and Best Premium Economy, while Qantas won the award for Best Lounges. Source: traveldailymedia

As the Indonesian archipelago works to replant or preserve carbon-rich coastal areas that have been destroyed by human activity, tourists are learning about the advantages of mangroves. Connie Sihombing, a 50-year-old Jakarta resident, paddles her kayak through murky waters and the arching roots of mangrove trees without minding that she can hear cars or planes soaring above. She spoke to a protected mangrove forest along the northern coast of the nation’s capital and stated, “I’ve been far, yet I had no idea that close to home lay this intriguing and beautiful park. As urban expansion or seafood farming replaces what was once a natural barrier against increasing sea levels and saltwater intrusion, mangroves in Indonesia, a country with more than 17,000 islands and kilometers of coastline, have decreased to roughly 4.1 million hectares (10.1 million acres). According to Indonesia’s Mangrove and Peatlands Restoration Agency (BRGM), the nation lost 700,000 hectares of mangroves just last year. Along with government initiatives, Indonesia hopes that “ecotourism,” which involves visitors exploring, planting, and caring for the forests, would help people recognise the value of these areas as carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots. “Many people and corporations level these mangrove forests, then develop a tourist destination above it by building artificial beaches out of sand. According to Muhammad Saleh Alatas, owner of The Mangrove Paddling Centre, which arranges trips in Jakarta’s mangroves, “that goes against the preservation of nature.” Environmental experts argue that in order to repair the harm done to mangroves and other wetlands, more space is needed than the 98-hectare Angke Kapuk Nature Reserve Park now has. According to Muhammad Ilman, director of Nusantara Nature Conservation Agency, even though government financing has increased over the previous five years, assistance from commercial groups and non-governmental organizations is still required. Source: theprint

Today, Garuda Indonesia (GA) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) revealed their intentions to form a joint venture that would strengthen their existing partnership, boost travel options for passengers between Singapore and Indonesia, and increase passenger capacity between the two nations. The planned joint venture will operate flights between Singapore and Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya, pending regulatory permission. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the two airlines signed in November 2021 will be expanded upon by this. In order to provide consumers with more seamless flight connection between the two nations and beyond, it would be possible for Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines to coordinate schedules between Singapore and Indonesia. The airlines will also investigate putting new ideas into practice, such as shared fare items and corporate programme alignment to improve the value proposition for customers. “With the existence of more than a decade of collaboration between these two national flag carriers, this joint venture agreement, as a further milestone of the partnership expansion initiative, will undoubtedly strengthen the commitment between the two carriers at the same time, delivering a seamless and beneficial flying experience to both of our customers across the globe,” said Irfan Setiaputra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Garuda Indonesia. The joint venture agreement is also a component of our efforts to enhance the performance of our business through our network strategy by partnering with our strategic airline partners, particularly Singapore Airlines, to optimize our network. With this initiative, the two airlines have agreed to look into additional benefits for their respective clients, enabling them to take advantage of a variety of flight schedules and higher-quality services across the networks of Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines. “Additionally, this deepening relationship may strengthen traveler flows between Indonesia and Singapore, making it simpler for foreign tourists to plan their remarkable South East Asia journey — visiting Singapore’s uniqueness, exploring Indonesia’s multiculturalism, and taking in the stunning scenery that awaits across its islands.” The long-standing collaboration between Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines would be strengthened by this joint venture, according to Goh Choon Phong, chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines. It demonstrates our steadfast commitment to expanding the aviation markets in Singapore and Indonesia, enabling deeper interpersonal and commercial ties and elevating both nations as popular tourist destinations in the region. Even more advantages will be provided to our customers, such as increased network connectivity, improved travel convenience, and more fare possibilities. Source: traveldailymedia

On June 7-8, 2023, Travel Meet Asia (TMA) will be held with Malaysia as its primary aim. For the first time since 2019, the event in Kuala Lumpur will take place live. The show offers a venue for members of the travel industry to enter new markets, learn about the sector, and investigate the opportunities the area has to offer. In the leisure, MICE, and corporate travel segments of this year’s TMA, exhibitors from over 20 destinations, including the Maldives, Phuket, Miami, Western Australia, Singapore, Jordan, Iceland, India, Georgia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Indonesia, UAE, Gold Coast, Cambodia, and Malaysia, will be showcasing their goods and services to over 200 attendees. TMA has a reputation for having a wide customer base; this year’s edition will feature around 50% of visitors from Malaysia and other Southeast Asian nations, with the other visitors representing a global clientele. The region’s travel market will be revived in 2023 thanks to intense business networking and matching, discussing and exchanging views at conference panels, and direct B2B interactions at TMA. More than 30 eminent business speakers from around the world will be participating in TMA 2023. On important subjects related to the themes of Market Overview and Trends, Travel & Destination Marketing, Hotels & Alternative Accommodations, MICE & Corporate Travel, Travel Technology, and Transportation & Logistics, conference attendees will exchange knowledge and industry insights over the course of the two days. The keynote address, “Redefining Travel in an Ever-Changing World,” will be given by Cleland Robertson, Country Director for Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda. Other conference highlights include Richard Soo’s presentation of “MICE Reimagined – The New Growth Indicators and Opportunities Ahead” at MEP Meeting & Exhibition Planners, Fazal Bahardeen’s overview of “Growing Asia’s Halal Travel Market” at CrescentRating & HalalTrip, and “Hotel Leaders’ Fireside Chat: Building Resilience in the Hospitality Industry” with Datin Christina Toh, President of Malaysia Tourism. Source: traveldailymedia

The partnership will allow Air Partner to extend its cargo footprint in key APAC countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand. By collaborating with Worldwide GSA, Air Partner aims to leverage the regional expertise and established network of the Air Logistics Group, enabling seamless coordination and operational support for cargo charters throughout the APAC region. Worldwide GSA will act as Air Partner’s first representatives in the region, facilitating increased access to Air Partner’s comprehensive range of solutions. As the charter-desk for the Worldwide GSA group in APAC, Air Partner will leverage its expertise and industry-leading capabilities to deliver efficient and tailored cargo charter services to customers across various industries. Renowned as the ‘factory of the world’, the APAC region has consistently showcased remarkable resilience within the air cargo industry, even in the face of economic uncertainties. The recent reopening of China’s economy has further bolstered the region’s economic outlook and witnessed a surge in cargo traffic. In light of this dynamic period, Air Partner is enthusiastic about expanding its client base across a comprehensive range of solutions. The partnership aligns with Air Partner’s strategy to continue to grow its presence in the region, having recently expanded its office in Dubai as part of its plans to double its workforce in the Middle East. Commenting on the partnership, Pierre Van Der Stichele, Vice President of Air Partner’s Global Cargo division at Air Partner, said: “Our collaboration with Worldwide GSA will enable us to strengthen our presence in key markets and provide our customers with enhanced access to our solutions. With the support of Worldwide GSA, we are confident in delivering seamless logistics solutions to meet the growing demand for air cargo services in the region.” Maggie Goh, CEO of Worldwide GSA group, said: “At Worldwide GSA, we are committed to delivering exceptional air cargo solutions to our customers. Our partnership with Air Partner aligns perfectly with our mission, enabling us to enhance our offerings and expand our reach in key APAC markets. Together, we will deliver a new standard of excellence and innovation in cargo charter services.” Source: traveldailymedia

To encourage travel to the city, the San Francisco Travel Association has launched “Always San Francisco,” its largest-ever global marketing and advertising campaign. The multimillion dollar advertising effort targets meeting organizers and leisure visitors in significant home markets and important international markets. It is the first campaign using television advertising for the destination marketing company. The “Always San Francisco” campaign features famous landmarks that people associate with San Francisco, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and Lombard Street, as well as ones that highlight the city’s vibrant neighborhoods and the variety of visitor experiences. San Franciscans Lady Camden of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame, Sirron Norris, Mae Powell, Michael O’Konis, Chinatown lion dancers, chefs from Michelin-starred Angler, dancers from the acclaimed AXIS Dance Company, and others make cameo appearances in the campaign to represent the talent and inclusivity the city champions. “This is the largest campaign San Francisco Travel has ever launched due to the incredible support from the City and County of San Francisco, Visit California, and other stakeholders,” said Joe D’Alessandro, President and CEO, San Francisco Travel. “Tourism is essential to the city’s economic recovery, and ‘Always San Francisco’ is designed to drive increased visitation by showcasing the real-life San Francisco experience that people love and long for.” San Francisco Travel’s Lynn Bruni-Perkins, CMO, remarked, “The campaign captures the emotional thrill travelers experience here. San Francisco will forever remain the same. Although it is always changing, San Francisco’s atmosphere never changes. You will always remember its breathtaking beauty, recognisable sites, a wide variety of people, and extraordinary moments. San Francisco Travel worked with local and San Francisco-connected musicians to reinterpret Judy Garland’s beloved rendition of the iconic “San Francisco” song for its ad video in order to complement the strong and inspirational picture. “We tapped into San Francisco’s legendary local music scene to reimagine the song,” said Bruni-Perkins. “We chose a soundtrack that matched the campaign’s energy and uplifting message.” The outcome is a stunning artistic effort that embodies San Francisco.Campaign assets will appear in high-impact media, such as linear TV (traditional TV), connected TV (CTV), and digital out-of-home (DOOH) in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Houston. Source: travelbizmonitor