The post Love birds flock to sun and sand this Valentine’s Day appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

This winter, things are heating up as Americans favor warm-weather destinations to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Not only are desert-cities and island hot-spots receiving love this season, but holiday bookings overall have increased by 42% compared to the previous year, according to Allianz Partners USA’s 2025 Top Valentine’s Day Destinationsreport.

After reviewing more than 1.6 million itineraries* for roundtrip flights departing U.S.
airports between Friday, February 7 and Thursday, February 13, with a return date between Friday, February 14 and Tuesday, February 18, the travel insurance and assistance company noted that 77% of the itineraries are for domestic travel and 23% are for international trips. The data also revealed travelers’ top picks for a romantic getaway in honor of the sweet holiday.

Those planning stateside getaways are sweet on the nation’s sun-filled locations, with Phoenix taking the top spot after coming in at #4 last year, followed by Orlando and Las Vegas rounding out the top three spots, respectively. Meanwhile, others are packing bags for trips to Miami, New York City, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu and Seattle.

International jetsetters continue to have eyes for Mexico, with Cancun, San Jose del Cabo, and Puerto Vallarta earning the top three spots on the international roster. A mix of tropical getaways and global capital cities round out the remaining destinations with travelers heading to London, Punta Cana, Montego Bay, Paris, Mexico City, Liberia (Costa Rica) and Oranjestad (Aruba).

“Love is in the air this year, with travel reaching new heights for Valentine’s Day itineraries,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “For those embarking on ‘bae-cations,’ it’s important to consider purchasing travel insurance to aid in a seamless trip, with pre-paid travel investments protected from covered unpredictable events like trip cancellations or interruptions, travel delays and baggage loss.”

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies, hotel companies, cruise lines and directly to consumers.

 

 

 

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The post Agoda reveals fourth installment of its Eco Deals programme at ASEAN Tourism Forum appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Agoda unveiled the fourth installment of its Eco Deals programme at the recently concluded ASEAN Tourism Forum in Malaysia. 

This new development further strengthens Agoda’s ongoing partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 

Aligned with the forum’s theme Unity in Motion: Shaping ASEAN’s Tourism Tomorrow, the initiative aims to safeguard wildlife and protect critical habitats across Asia.

Under the Eco Deals initiative, Agoda pledges to donate USD 1 to WWF for every booking made at participating hotels.

That said, Agoda has set itself an ambitious 2025 donation target of US$1.5 million, surpassing last year’s goal of US$1 million. 

Aside from Southeast Asian nations, the Eco Deals programme also includes Japan and Korea, expanding to a total of 10 markets. 

What will the funds be used for?

Funds raised through the Eco Deals programme will support a wide range of conservation projects, including:

• Japan: Wetland restoration
• Korea: Spoonbill protection
• Malaysia: Tiger conservation
• Philippines: Whale shark protection
• Thailand: Elephant conservation
• Vietnam: Saola protection
• Indonesia: Ecosystem restoration
• Laos PDR: Urban wetland development
• Cambodia: Ranger support

Bookings under the program will be available from 20 January to 19 December 2025.

Making positive impact

Through Eco Deals, participating hotels offer customers discounts of up to 15 percent while receiving an Eco Deals badge and increased visibility on Agoda’s platforms, including social media and in-app promotions. 

Dedicated landing pages on Agoda’s website provide a seamless booking experience for travelers looking to make a positive environmental impact.

Agoda chief commercial officer Damien Pfirsch said: “Eco Deals 2025 represents our commitment to preserving Asia’s natural beauty while ensuring affordable travel for future generations. By expanding our impact to 10 markets and launching the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund, we’re creating meaningful opportunities for hotels and businesses to contribute to sustainability.”

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The post Direct flights between Philippines and India hinted at for 2025 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The much-anticipated direct flights between India and the Philippines are expected to take off within this year.

During the celebration of India Republic Day in Taguig City on Monday, 27th January, Indian ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain remarked on how bilateral relations could grow this year in light of the likely commencement of direct flights between the two countries in the next few months.

India’s flag-carrier Air India and low-cost carrier IndiGo are being eyed to cater the non-stop flights.

Welcoming initiatives

This comes just as the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) rolled out new measures to tap into Indian outbound tourism as it recalibrates to meet targets amid a decline in Chinese arrivals.

The Philippines previously launched the e-Visa system for Indians nationals and is also working to come out with an action plan specific to the India-Philippine tourism relations.

At the same event, tourism secretary Christina Frasco said flights between Manila and New Delhi are indeed possible in 2025 based on the feedback from ongoing negotiations.

Frasco said: “The reports given to me emanating from the Department of Transportation is that there is a very big possibility that it will be within this year and that the flight will land in Manila.”

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The post IATA: global air cargo sector saw significant growth in 2024 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for full year 2024 and December 2024 global air cargo market performance.

According to the report, full-year demand for 2024, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), increased 11.3 percent (12.2 percent for international operations) compared to 2023. 

Full-year 2024 demand exceeded the record volumes set in 2021.

Meanwhile, full-year capacity in 2024, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 7.4 percent (9.6% for international operations) compared to 2023. 

Full-year yields, however, averaged 1.6 percent lower than 2023 but 39 percent higher than in 2019.

IATA director-general Willie Walsh said: “Air cargo was the standout performer in 2024 with airlines moving more air cargo than ever before. Importantly, it was a year of profitable growth. Demand, up 11.3% year-on-year, was boosted by particularly strong e-commerce and various ocean shipping restrictions. This combined with airspace restrictions which limited capacity on some key long-haul routes to Asia helped to keep yields at exceptionally high levels. While average yields continued to soften from peaks in 2021-2022 they averaged 39% higher than 2019.

Year-end movement

December 2024 brought the year to a close with continued strong performance. 

Global demand was 6.1 percent above December 2023 levels (7.0 percent for international operations). 

Global capacity was 3.7 percent above December 2023 levels (5.2 percent for international operations). 

Cargo yields were 6.6 percent higher than December 2023 (and 53.4 percent higher than in December 2019).

Air cargo performance by region

• Asia-Pacific airlines saw 14.5% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in 2024, the strongest among the regions. Capacity increased by 11.3% year-on-year. December year-on-year demand increased 8.4% and capacity increased 6.3%.
• North American carriers saw 6.6% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in 2024, the lowest of all regions. Capacity increased by 3.4% year-on-year. December year-on-year demand increased 5.3% and capacity increased 2.1%.
• European carriers saw 11.2% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in 2024. Capacity increased by 7.8% year-on-year. December year-on-year demand increased 5.1% and capacity increased 3.7%.
• Middle Eastern carriers saw 13% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in 2024. Capacity increased by 5.5% year-on-year. December year-on-year demand increased 3.3% and capacity increased 0.2%.
• Latin American carriers saw 12.6% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in 2024. Capacity increased by 7.9% year-on-year. December year-on-year demand increased 10.9%, the highest of all regions and capacity increased 8.4%.
• African airlines saw 8.5% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in 2024. Capacity increased by 13.6% year-on-year. December year-on-year demand decreased by -0.9%, the lowest of all regions and capacity increased 1.8%.
• Trade Lane Growth: International routes experienced exceptional traffic levels for the 17th consecutive month with a 7% year-on-year increase in December. Airlines are benefiting from rising e-commerce demand in the US and Europe amid ongoing capacity limits in ocean shipping.

Moving forward in 2025

With regard to its forecast for 2025, IATA estimates growth to moderate to 5.8 percent, aligned with historical performance. 

According to Walsh: “Economic fundamentals point to another good year for air cargo, with oil prices on a downward trajectory and trade continuing to grow. There is no doubt, however, that the air cargo industry will be challenged to adapt to unfolding geopolitical shifts. The first week of the Trump administration demonstrated its strong interest in using tariffs as a policy tool that could bring a double whammy for air cargo: boosting inflation and deflating trade.”

Several factors in the operating environment should be noted:

• Global trade in goods grew by 3.6% annually in 2024.
• In December, both the manufacturing output Purchasing Managers Index or PMI (49.2) and new export orders PMI (48.2) were below the critical threshold represented by the 50 mark, indicating a decline in global manufacturing production and exports.
• US headline inflation, based on the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by 0.2 percentage points to 2.9% in December. In the same month, the inflation rate in the EU increased by 0.2 percentage points to 2.7%. China’s consumer inflation fell by 0.1 percentage points to 0.1% in December, marking the fourth consecutive year-on-year decline and reinforcing concerns about an economic slowdown.

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The post New Direct Flights to Bali: TransNusa Connects Perth to Denpasar appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

West Aussies have reason to celebrate as they welcome an exciting new travel option to their favourite holiday destination. TransNusa, the only Premium Service Airline in Asia Pacific, is set to launch direct flights between Denpasar and Perth starting 20 March 2025.

A Testament to Perth’s Leisure Market

Kate Holsgrove, Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer at Perth Airport, expressed enthusiasm about welcoming TransNusa to Perth, highlighting the significance of the leisure market. “The introduction of TransNusa to Perth will provide a new option for our passengers to visit the popular holiday destination of Bali in 2025. The Airbus A320 service will provide more than 127,000 seats into this popular market per year,” said Holsgrove. She added that with a flight time of just over 3 ½ hours, it’s easy to see why Perth residents have a love affair with Bali and why they return regularly.

Expanding Travel Choices

TransNusa Group CEO, Datuk Bernard Francis, introduced the new international route to provide passengers with additional travel choices. He noted that the Bali-Perth international route is a golden route, with the highest number of tourists in Bali almost every year coming from Perth. The demand for this route is significant, and the airline aims to meet this demand with its Airbus A320, which offers a comfortable 174-seat configuration with about 30 inches of legroom.

“Our passengers will enjoy check-in baggage of between 15kgs to 30kgs, depending on the product purchased, over and above the 7kgs limit offered as a hand carry,” Francis explained. The highest package, FLEXI-PRO, includes additional services such as 30kgs of free baggage, free seat selection, free food and drinks, and priority check-in and boarding.

Flight Schedule and Future Plans

Initially, TransNusa will operate three scheduled flights a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Starting from 12 April 2025, the frequency will increase to four times a week with an additional flight on Tuesday. By 1 June 2025, the airline plans to operate daily flights to accommodate growing demand.

Following the inaugural flight, TransNusa’s service will arrive at Perth Airport’s Terminal 1 International at 12:50pm and depart at 1:35pm.

Book Your Tickets

Passengers can book their TransNusa flight tickets at transnusa.co.id or through any secure online travel agent.

With the introduction of TransNusa’s direct flights, Perth residents now have a fantastic new option to visit Bali, making travel to this beloved holiday spot more convenient and enjoyable. Get ready to explore Bali in comfort and style with TransNusa!

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The post W Koh Samui treats guests to a Fusion of Iron appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Lovers of Japanese cuisine are in for a feast as W Koh Samui presents prizewinning culinary masters at its Fusion of Iron this February.

Scheduled for Sunday, 2nd February, the event is a four-hands dinner presided over by Iron Chef champion Seiya Masahara and Takayasu Ono, resident Japanese chef at W Koh Samui’s NAMU.

The dinner begins at 6:00pm.

A delectable fusion

Meticulously crafted with precision and passion, Fusion of Iron features an eight-course set menu that will beguile guests with experimental dishes served alongside familiar flavours of Japan. 

Each dish tells diners a story through the delicate flavours of the sea, as well as the boldness of premium Japanese ingredients. 

Highlights of the menu include Iwate A4 Wagyu and yuzu citrus grilled barracuda.

This set menu is complimented by four small-batch sakes with very unique flavor profiles. 

Some of the sake is available only in New York, Singapore, and Thailand, while the fourth is considered a rarity thanks to its unique ageing process.

All spirits served at Fusion of Iron are delivered by the Sake Merchant and GOEN.

 

Meet the chefs

Winner of the original Japanese televised cooking competition Iron Chef, Seiya Masahara, is the esteemed chef at Hakkei Onsen Ryokan in Japan and Odashi Hakkei in Bangkok. 

He is renowned for his traditional Kaiseki-style cuisine, which draws on the very fundamentals of Japanese cooking, such as dashi stock-making, to create heartwarming and authentic dishes.

Joining him in the kitchen for the event is Takayasu “Taka” Ono (Taka), a native of Kamakura, a seaside city south of Tokyo known for its unique cuisine which includes delicacies like shirasu, (raw young anchovies and sardines) and an extensive array of wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets.)

Taka’s upbringing in this culinary-rich environment profoundly influenced his style in the kitchen.

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The post Japan reports 36.78 million foreign arrivals in 2024 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency reported on Friday, 24th January, that foreign arrivals hit a record high of 36.78 million in the past year.

The total is considerably higher than the pre-pandemic high of 31.19 million last seen at the end of 2019.

Authorities say that arrivals numbers rose due to the weakened yen, as well as an increase in international flight services following the relaxing of pandemic restrictions.

Of the 2024 total, 33.36 million came to Japan as tourists or on business, while around 170,000 were students on academic visas.

Other trends

Approximately 150,000 foreign individuals came into the country on technical internships, reflecting a decrease of 19 percent from 2023’s numbers.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign arrivals holding visas for specialised skilled workers rose by 48 percent to approximately 60,000.

South Koreans made up the majority of Japan’s foreign arrivals for 2024, numbering 8.63 million.

Taiwan came in second with 5.69 million, Mainland China in third at 5.49 million, and the United States in fourth with 2.67 million.

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The post Cunard set to celebrate 185 years of ocean travel with its collaborative “Sea of Glamour” appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

As it marks 185 years of ocean travel, Cunard is calling on the public to help preserve precious moments in Sea of Glamour, a new physical exhibition curated by renowned British photographer Mary McCartney.

The cruise line invites guests, employees, and celebrities to share their unforgettable images from on board its ships. 

These contributions will form part of the exhibition, which makes its debut at Liverpool’s famous Liver Building in May of this year.

Cunard president Katie McAlister emphasised the importance of this initiative: “For 185 years, our ships have been at the heart of unforgettable moments for millions of guests and crew. This is a chance to celebrate those memories and the stories they tell. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help Mary McCartney create something truly unique: an exhibition that brings Cunard’s incredible history to life for everyone to enjoy.”

Encompassing nearly two centuries at sea

The exhibition will feature a stunning collection of photos of Hollywood icons, musicians, politicians, and royalty from the Cunard archives, alongside newly curated images from the public to form a timeline of iconic moments that will immerse visitors in the magic of nearly two centuries of transatlantic travel.

Mary McCartney will take the final photograph for the exhibition herself, capturing a portrait of Queen Anne’s Icons in Liverpool on the day it opens. 

This unique image will offer a fresh, captivating perspective on Cunard’s iconic link to Liverpool.

That said, the Sea of Glamour will become a global exhibition, set to travel the world on board the Cunard fleet to celebrate the 185th Anniversary.

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The post Global Cruises makes its Asian debut appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Cruise experience firm Global Cruises announced that it has commenced operations in Asia.

Global Cruises’ first-ever Asian port of call is Singapore where it offers an unparalleled portfolio of experiences designed to showcase the very best of this dynamic destination.

Beyond Singapore, the cruise line’s Asian portfolio extends to other incredible ports, including Benoa (Bali), Keelung, Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Busan, Jeju, Incheon, Bangkok / Laem Chabang, Phuket, Ha Long, Penang, and Manila. 

These destinations promise a diverse array of cultural, historical, and scenic adventures, ensuring every cruise guest can discover something extraordinary.

Curated tours for memorable experiences

Global Cruises’ Singapore debut included a carefully curated selection of tours and activities that cater to every kind of traveler. 

Guests were offered the line’s iconic #SelfieTour, designed to capture unforgettable moments at the city’s most renowned landmarks, ensuring memories that last a lifetime. 

Those seeking authentic and traditional experiences found themselves immersed in the Authentic Chinese Tea Tasting which offered a variety of handpicked teas at the oldest and largest teahouse, celebrating a time-honored cultural practice.

Another highlight was Global Cruises’ signature “How Was It Built?” Tour which uncovered the captivating stories behind Singapore’s architectural marvels and its ingenious urban planning. 

Additionally, the Cultural Treasures and Green Escapes provided an exceptional experience, transitioning from the vibrant daily scenes of Singapore to the tranquil ambiance of its natural sanctuaries. This journey is a perfect showcase of the city’s rich cultural heritage and lush landscapes.

Each of these experiences was meticulously designed to provide cruise guests with the perfect blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and picture-perfect moments, all delivered with a touch of luxury that elevates every journey, while maintaining the authenticity of the destination.

Singapore marks the beginning of an exciting journey for Global Cruises in Asia. 

With the continent’s reputation as a hub for the most avid travelers, the firm plans to offer more unique experiences that celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of Asian destinations.

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