In its 26th year, the Singapore Food Festival (SFF), is on 12 to 28 July 2019 with a total of 20 event partners offering a myriad of dining concepts and gastronomic experiences.

Fathom Asia has launched a range of self famils in conjunction with ground operator Asia DMC, giving agents the opportunity to have an indepth experience of several destinations at discounted rates.

Singapore Tourism Board, together with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Destination Asia (Singapore) and Air New Zealand, recently hosted a group of Kiwi incentive and events organisers on a famil to Singapore.

A recent Taiwan famil tour was an eye opener for Rijuta Gawri, marketing manager at Travel Managers Group.

Despite India being a hot topic of discussion at this week’s TRENZ 2019, New Zealand’s major annual tourism showcase, direct flights between the two countries still appear to be some way off.
Adrian Littlewood, chief executive of Auckland International Airport, says the company has a team working with the outbound industry in India but direct flights into the airport are ‘not imminent’.

Though Chongqing may not be a top of mind name for New Zealand travel agents it is actually one of the most visited (though often briefly) destinations in China.
The ‘small port of only 30 million people’, as described by John McGough, Auckland-based national sales manager with CTS, is the place of boarding or disembarkation for popular Yangtze River Cruises through the Three Gorges area.

Six product managers from New Zealand and Australian travel wholesale agencies were invited by the Macao Government Tourism Office to view all the latest product of the Asian region at the 7th annual Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo (MITE) at The Venetian Macao – this year extended to celebrate Macao’s 20th anniversary as a Special Administrative Region.

Exotic Holidays’ seven-day Enchanting Taiwan tour from $1811 per person twin share travels Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Taroko, Taipei.

Rahul Sharma, of Exotic Holidays, is currently hosting a group of agents on a Philippines educational in conjunction with Philippine Airlines. The eight day tour includes Manila, Boracay, Cebu & Bohol.

Six Senses has opened its first three lodges in Bhutan – in Thimpu, Paro and Punakha, reports World Journeys.

Adventure World Travel (AWT) has released its 2019-20 Asia portfolio, which includes responsible wildlife options and and opportunities to discover the lesser explored areas in China and Cambodia.

Japan has plenty of life in it yet as a travel destination out of New Zealand and agents should get familiar with the opportunities it provides for their clients, says the founder of Wendy Wu Tours.

New Zealand travel agents need to be knowledgeable on Indonesia beyond Bali – to add value and variety for their clients and also potentially generate repeat business and increased expenditure.

Back-Roads Touring has released its Asia Small Group Tours brochure for 2019-20, with four tours ranging from eight to 13 days.

Significant savings can be had on more than 80 Wendy Wu tours departing April to July this year across all of the company’s destinations.

The trade is being urged to help get 1000 Kiwis to Xi’an in September next year around a key event in the China New Zealand Year of Tourism 2019 programme.
CTS Tours, along with co-hosts Air China and Air New Zealand, welcomed nearly 200 agents to a launch of its 2019 brochure and promotion around the 10 September 2019 extravaganza in Xi’an. The agents also had dinner at Spice Alley and watched the City of 100 Lovers musical comedy at SkyCity Theatre.

New properties, brands and renovations are giving agents more to sell when it comes to Centara Hotels & Resorts, a select trade group heard this week.
The company hosted about a dozen agents to lunch at Cable Bay Vineyards on Waiheke. The annual thank you to trade partners comes at a time when Centara is looking to double its portfolio over the next five years, dramatically expand its millennial-targeted Cosi collection and introduce a new luxury brand.

Come 2 November next year, all going well for the All Blacks, all eyes will be on Yokohama and the Rugby World Cup final.

Excite Holidays has launched its latest campaign and brand new video series in conjunction with Singapore Tourism Board, plus a supporting agent incentive.
The series explores the best of Singapore launching with three videos showcasing the top spots for nightlife, shopping and dining, in an eventual six-part series. The series includes interviews with key tastemakers in Singapore, including designers and Michelin-starred chefs, who give insight into their experience and what they believe makes this city-state incredible. The videos will be housed on Excite Holidays’ agent hub,

Forget the perceptions that Japan is expensive and crowded, that’s just Tokyo, says Michinori Yamasaki, executive vice president of JNTO RWC2019 and Tokyo Olympic 2020 Games Projects.

There’s something in the water in Japan. The most popular holiday for all Japanese people is visiting hot water springs.

A Japanese destination promoted at a function in Auckland late last week has received the thumbs up from Joanne Hooper, of Active Asia.
The prefecture of Ishikawa, and particularly its capital Kanazawa, was represented by a trade delegation who promoted culture, accommodation, food and beverage (saki anyone?) and craft. Hooper, who attended the event, says she was recently in the region and recommends it for clients seeking a different side to Japan. ‘It is beautiful. It has one of the best gardens in Japan and a great castle. It is also easy to get to by

New Zealanders should embrace opportunities to explore the regions beyond Tokyo, as they follow the All Blacks in their Rugby World Cup pool games in Japan next year.

Some 50 travel agents attended a function at Stamford Auckland yesterday to hear about a relatively undiscovered part of Japan.

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas will open its first property in India by the end of 2018, reports World Journeys.

Embracing and selling Indonesian destinations beyond Bali presents new opportunities for the Kiwi travel trade, says a leading hotel executive visiting New Zealand this week.

Next Tuesday’s Emirates – Marriott International Bali Breakfast Workshop still has a few spots left for interested travel agents and brokers.

World Journeys travel designer Dorothy Chambers has returned from hosting a group of travel agents to India in conjunction with Cathay Pacific.

Wendy Wu Tours is adding six itineraries for solo travellers and will be detailing them in a special flyer being sent to travel agents soon.

A group of travel agents have returned from an educational trip to Myanmar with World Journeys and Malaysia Airlines.

Williment Travel has added some star quality to the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens next April with former All Blacks captain, Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, hosting its Hong Kong Highlights tour.

Exotic Holidays is promoting 11- day, 10-night bike tours in Hpa-An, Myanmar (Burma).

The high speed rail system connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong will start on 23 September.

Nobody is pretending high end clients are forgoing the comforts of life, but the general feeling at this week’s Luxperience event in Sydney was that authentic personal experiences trump opulence for many modern luxury travellers.

Sri Lanka has introduced a new system enabling tourists to obtain refunds of 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) payments for goods they purchase from shops in the country.

Ja Ba Moi is a Taiwanese greeting which could be translated something like ‘have you eaten, and if not let’s do so now’.

Increasing business to business connections between the Kiwi travel trade and Philippines suppliers remains the key to further success out of this market, according to the Philippine Department of Tourism.

Following the worst flooding in Kerala in nearly a century, World Expeditions is urging travellers to be part of the recovery by visiting now.

Exotic Holidays is promoting a tour based around the Vietnamese Brocade Art Festival that is being held from 27 to 30 December 2018.

Excite Holidays has announced the launch of part two of its campaign, Thailand: Open to the New Shades, which kicked off yesterday in conjunction with the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Exotic Holidays is promoting a 10-day, nine-night itinerary that includes a kampung (village homestay) experience.

Quang Binh provincial authorities have approved the operation of a trial ecological tour to explore Vom and Gieng Vooc caves through to 15 January, 2019, advises Exotic Holidays.

Akaryn Hotel Group has introduced a series of monthly health and wellness workshops at its luxury city hotel, akyra Thonglor Bangkok.

Holiday makers and business travellers alike are increasingly looking for wellness and relaxation programmes in Asia, says one of the region’s leading destination management companies (DMCs).

CTS Tours and China Eastern Airlines invite agents to a Friendly Shandong Confucius Culture & Shanghai Famil.

Exotic Holidays is offering a number of seven night Maldive packages.

Exotic Holidays is offering a 12-day tour in Japan with the Mt Takasaki Wild Monkey Park as a highlight.

New Zealand travel agents have the opportunity to attend an indepth educational session with some 20 Vietnam suppliers at a trade event in Auckland next week.

The latest Exotic Holidays India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives 2018 / 2019 is available now.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has launched a new addition of the Hong Kong Travel Trade Manual (TTM) for 2018-19.