Norwegian Cruise Line releases peak number of itineraries for sale
Eager to help customers make up for lost vacation time, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has opened for sale the most itineraries at once in its 55-year history, with sailings from 35 departure ports, including new homeports for the company.
On offer now are cruises to Australia and New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific region as well as to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Alaska, the Caribbean through to October 2024, and Hawaii up to December 2025.
Highlights include new-to-brand homeport destinations, Haifa in Israel and La Romana in Dominican Republic, via Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Sky.
Norwegian Epic will make her debut in Haifa come November 2022, offering 11- and-12-day Mediterranean open-jaw sailings to and from Haifa and Civitavecchia in Rome, Italy. This itinerary will also feature 17 hours of port time in Ashdod, Israel allowing guests time to tour Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Norwegian Sky set off with a series of seven-day roundtrip Southern Caribbean cruises from La Romana, from January 8, 2024 through April 22, 2024, making NCL the only major cruise company sailing the region with no sea days.
Closer to home, Norwegian Spirit will return to Australian and New Zealand waters, offering 12-day itineraries that depart from Sydney and Auckland. More Asian deployments will soon be announced.
“We are proud to be able to provide our guests with an even greater selection of sailings and the best value at sea to help them plan an unforgettable cruise vacation,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of NCL.
“So many travellers have been looking to make up for lost time and now we’re providing them with unique itineraries to check off those bucket-list destinations they may have longed for over the last year and a half. These port-rich itineraries allow our guests more time to explore unique destinations like a local and indulge in the cultural experiences around them.”
India’s delay of international flight resumption amid Omicron casts uncertainty over inbound recovery
The Indian government announced on Wednesday (December 1) its decision to postpone the resumption of scheduled international flights due to the emergence of the new Omicron variant, causing a setback for the expectant tourism industry hoping for a recovery.
A circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that the central government is currently monitoring the global coronavirus situation in the wake of the emergence of the Omicron variant.
“International scheduled flights are key for the recovery of inbound tourism. The industry has long been demanding scheduled flights to resume to create a positive impact in international markets,” said Naveen Manchanda, president, Indian Association of Travel and Tourism Experts.
“Also, it will help to make prices of tickets competitive as they are presently on the higher side because of limited flights,” he added.
Scheduled international flights have remained suspended in India since March last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government had recently announced that scheduled international flights will resume on December 15 after many months of delay, a move which would bring much-needed respite to inbound tourism stakeholders.
“We were in high hopes of receiving clients that usually visit us in December. But since the cost of flights has increased and the number of fights have reduced, they will have a negative impact on our expected revenue for the winter months,” said Abhilash K Ramesh, executive director of Kairali Ayurvedic Group, which caters to the wellness segment.
India has allowed special international flights to operate in the country under the government’s Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020.
Meanwhile, some tourism stakeholders are hoping that domestic demand will tide them through the virus crisis. Manish Goyal, founder, Stotrak Hospitality, said: “The deferment of scheduled international flights will certainly delay the recovery of inbound tourism. However, we expect to sustain the trade based on domestic travel for the time being.”
Tembo Beach Club & Resort, Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, and more
Tembo Beach Club & Resort, Thailand
Tembo Beach Club & Resort, a plantation-style resort, sits on Koh Samui’s Bangrak Beach on the island’s north coast. Life at Tembo (which means ‘elephant’ in Swahili) revolves around the pool, where guests can relax on the terrace or on the beach, or enjoy a cocktail at the swim-up bar. Beachside tapas and small bites are available throughout the day, complemented by a choice of cocktails and mocktails, wines and beers.
Tembo Restaurant features a Mediterranean and Asian-inspired menu, and also houses Journey, a 12-seat dining space slated to open in early 2022 that will feature a regularly changing menu of international dishes. The resort also has a deli, bakery, lifestyle boutique and a spa (opening soon). Guests can select from nine double bungalows (seven king-size beds and two twin-bed rooms) and a beachside villa, which has its own private garden. All rooms have balconies or terraces, internet-ready flat screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities, Indian cotton bathrobes, safety boxes, jasmine-scented amenities, ceiling fans and air-conditioning.
Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands, Australia
Located on the Docklands waterfront in Melbourne, the Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands features 189 guestrooms, each fitted with a 55-inch LCD TV, work surface, walk-in shower, and bar fridge. The hotel is nestled within the retail, leisure and entertainment precinct, The District Docklands on Waterfront Way. Guests can pick from four F&B venues, including Archer’s, a restaurant serving Australian cuisine with fresh produce from local farms. Ada’s in the hotel lobby is a space where guests can work, socialise or relax with light snacks, soft drinks, and cocktails. Laneway café Corsia serves premium and locally roasted coffee from St Ali, and a European-inspired menu of light meals by day, switching to espresso martinis and local wines by night. Adjacent to the rooftop infinity pool, Sunset House is a bar looking out to sweeping views across Melbourne. The hotel also offers a fitness centre as well as five function and meeting spaces, with more than 371m² of event space available.
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik; India
Nestled at the foothills of the Pandav Caves, just off Nashik Mumbai highway, Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik is spread over 42,000m² and features 224 rooms, including 18 suites with private balconies. Guests can choose from five room categories including superior room with pool view, superior room with hill view, deluxe room, premium suite and deluxe suite. With over 5,000m² of event space, the hotel offers four indoor venues – Godavari Ballroom, Varuni, Tharuni and The Living Room – that can host up to 2,400 pax and three outdoor venues – Godavari Lawns, Varuni Terrace and Amphitheatre – which can host up to 2,500 pax. The hotel features four dining selections – The Smoked Vine, serving international cuisine; The Tuscan Room, inspired from Italy’s traditional culinary culture; Le Bistro, an Indo-Parisian eatery; and The Orient House, specialising in Chinese cuisine. Hotel amenities include a spa, 24-hour fitness centre, hair and beauty salon, an outdoor pool with a temperature-controlled jacuzzi, along with an ASB squash court and Pilates room.
The Ritz-Carlton, Harbin; China
The opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Harbin marks the brand’s debut in the northeast China’s winter wonderland. Centrally located along the city’s Songhua River, the luxury hotel is integrated within an upscale mixed residential and retail development in one of Harbin’s tallest buildings. The hotel offers 368 guestrooms, including 31 suites.
Four F&B venues include all day-dining restaurant Manor 54 and Cantonese fine-dining restaurant King Wong Heen. The Lobby Lounge serves afternoon tea alongside a cookie bar trolley as well as handcrafted drip coffee exclusively available at the hotel. There are also two bars, including signature bar Flair, serving creative cocktails and boutique spirits paired with South-east Asian-inspired tapas. In addition to six treatment rooms, the Ritz-Carlton Spa also offers wellness areas such as steam rooms, saunas, a heated indoor swimming pool and a fitness centre.
The hotel features a total of 3,500m² of event space, including a Grand Ballroom equipped with three build-in LED screens. On the 56th floor, the hotel’s Sky Gallery has four multi-functional meeting rooms for private events. For wedding ceremonies, the sunlit Chamber has river views and direct access to an outdoor lawn, together with two bridal rooms.
IHG hires Adeline Phua as development director for SE Asia and Korea
IHG Hotels & Resorts has appointed Adeline Phua as director, development for the South-east Asia and Korea region.
In this newly-created role, Phua will be supporting the strategic growth of IHG brands in South-east Asia, focusing on its luxury and lifestyle portfolio, and establishing a China desk to facilitate cross border investments and cooperation for the region.
Phua brings 16 years of global experience in hospitality strategy, planning, development, ideation and concept creation, feasibility, valuation, investment and asset management across China, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
Based in China for the last 13 years, she joins IHG from an Asia practice of a Swiss cross border real estate investment and hospitality advisory firm based in Shanghai where she was founder and partner. Prior to that, she was senior director at Starwood’s Greater China development team and partner at HVS in Asia Pacific, first based in Singapore and then moving to Shanghai in 2009 to establish their China practice.
Report highlights most visited destinations by travellers from at-risk African countries
Qatar, the UAE, the UK and Ethiopia were the destinations most visited between November 1-23 by travellers from the eight southern African countries currently designated as most at risk due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19, according to air ticketing data from ForwardKeys.
The eight African countries are: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The data supports calls from many people objecting to immediate travel restrictions imposed on travel to and from these African countries.
Based on arrival numbers, the countries most visited are Qatar and the UAE, each with 12 per cent of travellers from the at-risk countries. The UK and Ethiopia are next, each with seven per cent.
The top ten airport hubs most used by those travellers were Doha, with 22 per cent; Addis Ababa, 15 per cent; Dubai, 13 per cent; Lusaka, six per cent; Johannesburg, six per cent; Nairobi, six per cent; Frankfurt, four per cent; Amsterdam, three per cent; Paris, three per cent; and London Heathrow, two per cent.
ForwardKeys said that such flight data could reduce the need for Omicron travel bans. Insights vice president, Olivier Ponti, said: “We are acutely aware of the dreadful damage done by Covid-19 to people’s health, but also of the damage done to countries’ economies by the measures governments have felt compelled to take in response to it.
“We believe that the best policies to control the spread of the virus should be based on facts, not fear; and if blanket bans on travel can be avoided, that must be a preferable strategy. Fortunately, travel data can help by telling policy makers exactly where people from the at-risk areas went and where they connected.”
Indian hoteliers brace for Omicron impact on bookings as international, state restrictions set in
Changes to India’s border regulations arising from Omicron fears are worrying hoteliers, who have only recently begun to see a pick up in business.
While Leisure Hotels Group has yet to see any Omicron impact on bookings and reservations, director Vibhas Prasad said the new travel restrictions “will definitely affect traveller sentiment and that may have an impact on demand”.
A New Delhi-based hotelier who requested anonymity, told TTG Asia that his hotel has seen a few bookings being postponed to a later date.
Indian hoteliers are also concerned about latest state border restrictions. As of December 1, foreigners are barred from entering Sikkim state in northeast India. The state government of Maharashtra has also made it mandatory for all travellers to carry an RT-PCR test report 48 hours prior to departure, irrespective of their vaccination status.
MRG Group’s group general manager – hospitality, Akshay Shetty, said these state travel curbs could eventually dampen demand from domestic tourism markets.
India tightens border rules for some countries over Omicron concerns
India has reimposed Covid-19 restrictions for international travellers arriving from “at-risk” nations including Singapore from Wednesday (December 1), due to concerns over the Omicron coronavirus variant.
According to the health ministry, the countries categorised as “at-risk” are the European countries including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.
Under the latest guidelines, travellers arriving from these countries are required to submit a self-declaration form and their travel history for the previous 14 days, as well as a negative PCR test result taken 72 hours prior to departure, on the Air Suvidha portal before their journey.
Travellers from “at-risk” countries will also need to take a Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival at the airport, and will have to wait for the result.
Those who test negative will have to undergo home quarantine for seven days and then self-monitor for another seven days, in addition to a test on the eighth day of arrival.
All positive samples will be sent for genome sequencing at designated INSACOG labs to identify the variant, and passengers will be admitted into isolation facilities.
Singapore tightens border measures
Travellers entering Singapore will face stricter rules from 23.59 on December 2 as the city-state attempts to buffer against the spread of the new Omicron variant.
The Straits Times reported that while no Omicron cases have been detected locally, the Ministry of Health said the pre-emptive measures are needed for Singapore to assess the implications of the new variant. Such measures will also help to reduce the risk of importation of the virus.
Under the new requirements, air travellers arriving on the quarantine-free Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme must undergo supervised, self-administered antigen rapid tests at a Quick Test Centre on days three and seven of their arrival.
Previously, such travellers would only need to take a Covid-19 swab test prior to their departure for Singapore, and upon arrival.
All air travellers entering, transferring or transiting through Singapore must also have tested negative in a pre-departure test within two days of leaving for Singapore.
Third, all travellers must take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival. This will affect non-VTL travellers entering Singapore who are not from Hong Kong, Macau, China and Taiwan.
These tightened restrictions will be in place for four weeks, and are subjected to review and possible extension.
This announcement follows on the heels of the government’s decision to indefinitely postpone planned VTLs for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Australia halts border reopening over Omicron fears
Australia has halted border reopening plans to students and skilled workers, sparked by concerns over the new Omicron variant.
Initially slated to reopen on December 1, the date has been delayed at least two weeks.
Australia’s borders have been closed to most non-citizens for more than 20 months, with the exception of fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family, as well as fully vaccinated green lane travellers from New Zealand and Singapore.
The reopening to travellers from Japan and South Korea will also be paused until December 15. The plan was to open borders to visitors from these two countries on December 1.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison indicated that the temporary pause will allow the country to gather the necessary information to better understand the variant, the efficacy of the vaccine, the range of illness, and the level of transmission.
Australia has so far, detected five cases of the Omicron variant.
Elsewhere in Asia-Pacific, Japan has also temporarily suspended entry for all foreign visitors for at least a month while Indonesia has extended quarantine-on-arrival requirements.
Cardamom Tented Camp in Cambodia has witnessed the return of a herd of nine elephants to its conservation area, after an absence of five years, as well as a large group of smooth coated otters.
Evidence of the elephants’ return have been captured inside the 18,000-hectare forest concession, which the camp protects, with help from Wildlife Alliance and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF).
The group of 15 to 18 otters were spotted by lodge manager Allan Michaud, and they have made Cardamom Tented Camp the centre of their territory.
Guests often see otters, macaque monkeys, kingfishers and hornbills from their boat when they travel to the camp, which is only accessible by river. The camp has created a new 4km trail, a continuation of an existing one, which now allows adventurous guests to take an 8km guided walk through the forest and return via kayak, with rest options at the main ranger station in each direction.
Part of the income collected by Cardamom Tented Camp is used to fund 12 forest rangers who protect the area from loggers, poachers and river sandbank dredgers.