The post Philippine Department of Tourism launches Philippine Dive Experience appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) launched the first Philippine Dive Experience programme on Thursday, 28th November.

25 diplomats from over a dozen countries were invited to the town of Anilao in the Southern Luzon province of Batangas to experience the area’s exceptional underwater landscape.

The Philippine Dive Experience draws inspiration from the DOT’s flagship program the Philippine Experience, except this time it is to market and elevate Philippine diving as a unique and purposeful experience by incorporating heritage and conservation activities.

Going for a sustainable and meaningful diving experience

Tourism secretary Christina Frasco remarked: “In that we are pushing for the sustainability of diving by ensuring that it has a conservation component: a coastal cleanup, and also an education component.”

Through the new programme, the DOT aims for diversification, to place the Philippines as one of the best known diving destinations in the world that offers an enriching, meaningful, and purposeful experience.

Frasco said the idea behind the initiative is to allow foreign visitors to rediscover the Philippines not just from the lens of fun and adventure, but also for all the other reasons to love.

Boosting infrastructure

The DOT has been stepping up its promotion of dive tourism and has made efforts to improve facilities for visiting divers, including through the installation of hyperbaric chambers in key dive sites.

To date, its infrastructure arm the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has placed five hyperbaric chambers in Mabini, Batangas; Mandaue, Cebu; Panglao, Bohol; and Puerto Princesa and Coron in Palawan.

An additional five hyperbaric chambers are also up for installment in Catarman, Camiguin; Dauin, Negros Oriental; Daanbantayan, Cebu; and Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

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The post Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 frenzy appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Abu Dhabi is solidifying its status as a premier cultural and social hub in the Middle East, a reputation exemplified by the upcoming 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix from December 6-8 at Yas Island. This globally renowned event not only enhances the city’s profile as a leading tourism destination but also brings substantial economic benefits, drawing an influx of international visitors, particularly from Europe.

With accommodation rates expected to soar by up to 170% compared to the previous week, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 is set to attract global motorsport enthusiasts, boosting international arrivals and reinforcing the city’s global tourism standing. Notably, visitors from the UK, Italy, and Germany —collectively representing 15% of total attendees— are anticipated to play a significant role in this surge.

“Data shows that over 15% of visitors to Abu Dhabi during Grand Prix week come from the UK, Italy, and Germany, underscoring a strong and growing European interest in UAE destinations,” shares Mirko Lalli, CEO and founder of The Data Appeal Company – Almawave Group. “For destinations like Abu Dhabi, which are rapidly evolving on the global stage, having detailed insights into major events is transformative. It allows the DMO not only to design events that influence tourists’ travel decisions but also to strategically extend the peak season. Moreover, a deep understanding of traveler behavior and preferences empowers the destination to elevate the visitor experience and sharpen future marketing strategies. In today’s competitive tourism landscape, data-driven insights are no longer optional—they’re fundamental to staying ahead.”

Attendance, accommodation rates and spending forecast

Projected attendance for the event aligns with last year’s numbers, estimated at 170,000 people. According to Data Appeal and its data partner PredictHQ, the total predicted spending for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix exceeds $179 million (USD), with accommodation accounting for 85% of the total predicted event spend, restaurants making up 14%, and transportation comprising 1%. This data highlights the dominance of accommodation expenses, revealing significant demand for lodging during the event, while dining and transport account for smaller portions of the expenditure.

Accommodation prices in Abu Dhabi are expected to be 85% higher during the race week compared to 2023 and 58% higher than the previous week. The average rate during the event is forecasted at 1,798 AED (450 euros).

An analysis of hotel rates across major online travel agencies reveals that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix surpasses other significant events, including ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference) and IDEX (International Defence Exhibition & Conference), in driving accommodation price increases and boosting tourist numbers.

Accommodation rates for the Grand Prix peak at 2,646.2 AED (approximately 668 euros), reflecting a rise of up to 170% compared to the previous week. This surge notably exceeds the price increases seen during ADIPEC (+3%) and IDEX (+15%), with the Grand Prix having a more sustained impact on hotel rates.

European fans boost tourism amid stable flight volumes

The top five countries for incoming flights during the Grand Prix week include a decline in visitors from India, the U.S., and Russia, but a strong increase from the UK (+28% compared to the prior week) and Italy, which has replaced Qatar in the rankings.

These statistics reflect the consistent interest from European markets, with the UK, Italy, and Germany forming the top three, accounting for 15% of visitors (2023 data). Enthusiasts of teams like Ferrari, Williams, and McLaren are especially prominent.

Accommodation Insights: Luxury vs. Visitor satisfaction

While premium areas like Saadiyat Island (home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi), Yas Island, and Al Maryah Island showcase the highest average accommodation rates, they do not necessarily align with top visitor sentiment scores.

Areas such as New Shahama, Madinat Al Riyad, Al Falah, and Al Raha Beach score highest in visitor satisfaction (97 to 99/100), highlighting a preference for less congested and more spacious options.

Top-rated attractions, dining, and hotels during the 2023 Grand Prix

During the 2023 Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi’s top attractions received excellent visitor feedback. The Louvre Abu Dhabi stood out with a sentiment score of 93/100, showcasing its cultural significance and appeal. Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi followed closely with a 92/100 sentiment, drawing families and entertainment enthusiasts. Ferrari World Yas Island, known for its thrilling rides and automotive heritage, maintained a strong sentiment score of 90/100, highlighting its popularity among motorsport fans.

Dining options during the Grand Prix showcased a preference for local flavors, fresh seafood, and grilled meats. The highly acclaimed Gandofly Seafood Restaurant achieved the top sentiment score of 99.1/100, praised for its menu and quality. Nasr Restaurant and Grill Muroor also impressed with a score of 99/100, while Phosphorus Kadoura Seafood Restaurant secured a notable 98/100, underlining its reputation for delicious and well-prepared dishes.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi during the event offered a mix of luxury and value, catering to diverse guest preferences. Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island led the list with a sentiment score of 95/100, favored for its luxury and proximity to major attractions. Al Raha Beach Hotel also drew high praise with a 90/100 sentiment, offering premium services near key sites. For those seeking quality at more moderate prices, Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan was a popular choice, earning an 89/100 sentiment score.

 

 

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The post Bangkok takes first place among Brand Finance Global City Index’s easiest places to get a visa appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Bangkok took first place in this year’s roster of the easiest places to get a visa according to the annual Brand Finance Global City Index.

The yearly Global City Index is considered the most comprehensive global survey of city perceptions.

The Thai capital climbed up a rank from last year, highlighting its accessibility for international visitors.

According to Brand Finance managing director for the Asia Pacific Alex Haigh: “Bangkok’s improvement in our Global City Index reflects its status as a vibrant, accessible, and strategic city in the ASEAN region. The city’s strengths in affordability, openness, and business potential are clear indicators of its appeal for both residents and investors.”

How the world sees Bangkok

The 2024 results are based on a survey of over 15,000 respondents across 20 countries, offering a detailed look at how the world’s leading city brands are viewed. 

Respondents were asked to rate 100 cities on Key Performance Indicators: Familiarity, Reputation, and Consideration, indicating how strongly these cities are perceived as places people would want to live, work, study, visit, retire, and invest in. 

In addition, respondents chose from 45 attributes grouped under seven pillars, including Culture & Heritage or Business & Investment, that they associated with city brands. 

A prominent global position

The report reveals that Bangkok has secured a prominent position, ranking 50th overall among the world’s top city brands. 

The city also ranks 18th for ‘familiarity’, reflecting its global recognition as a popular destination.

Bangkok also shines in the Liveability pillar, ranking 4th as an ‘affordable city’ for housing, education and overall cost of living. 

The city also holds the 45th place for an ‘appealing lifestyle’ and 34th for ‘nice weather’, making it a desirable location for those seeking quality living at affordable rates.

As a hub of diversity, Bangkok ranks 9th for being ‘diverse and multicultural’ (up 13 ranks), and 13th for being ‘open and welcoming’ (up by eight ranks).

It is also recognised as a ‘fun city’ (25th) and ‘friendly’ (34th), with a ‘strong sense of civic pride and identity’ (56th).

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The post Taiwan promotes itself as Muslim-friendly destination appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The Taiwan Tourism Administration is now promoting Taiwan as a Muslim-friendly travel destination.

The TTA held its “Taiwan Muslim-Friendly Tourism B2B Networking Event” familiarisation trip on 27th November at the Fullon Hotel Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf.

The event was organised jointly with the Crown Coast Union and Great Northeast Tourism Union, both of which are committed to enhancing the Muslim-friendly environment in their regions, with several businesses already certified.

Welcoming regional neighbours

The event attracted 26 travel agencies from Malaysia, alongside Taiwanese travel agencies, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and souvenir providers with Muslim-friendly certifications or strong interest in serving Muslim travelers. 

This gathering aimed to foster collaboration opportunities in the international tourism market.

The familiarization trip for Malaysian Muslim travel agents was organized by the Taiwan Tourism Administration, Kuala Lumpur Office, which invited 26 Malaysian travel agencies to experience the tourism appeal of northern and central Taiwan. 

To facilitate interaction between Taiwanese and Malaysian agent friends, the Crown Coast and Great Northeast Tourism Union actively participated in the networking event. 

Booths were set up for discussions, attracting over 20 tourism providers from northern Taiwan. 

The event also featured three-minute presentations from some Taiwanese participants, introducing their Muslim-friendly services and products. 

During the discussions, both parties explored ways to align Taiwan’s diverse tourism resources with the needs of Malaysian Muslim travelers. 

The event fostered meaningful dialogue, establishing a solid foundation for future collaboration in the Taiwan-Malaysia Muslim tourism market.

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The post Wonderful Indonesia Sales Mission makes its way to China appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry conducted the Wonderful Indonesia Sales Mission in two key Chinese cities on the 20th and 24th of November.

Events held in Nanjing and Shanghai were geared towards drawing in tourists to meet the country’s 14.3 million international tourist arrivals target for this year.

Deputy minister for marketing Ni Made Ayu Marthini remarked in a statement: “China’s rapidly growing economy and businesses have placed the country as one of the most crucial markets for Indonesia’s tourism.”

Marthini added that the Indonesian government is eyeing the arrival of up to 1.5 million Chinese tourists before the end of this year

Current statistics

Citing ministry data, Marthini highlighted that a total of 935,643 tourists from China traveled to Indonesia during the period covering January to September 2024.

That said, China ranks fourth in the list of countries contributing the most to Indonesia’s foreign tourist count, only trailing behind Malaysia, Australia, and Singapore.

On average, Chinese tourists stay in Indonesia for 10.71 days and spend US$1,333 each per visit.

Tying up with key businesses

Likewise, the ministry’s marketing director for the Asia-Pacific Wisnu Sindhutrisno explained that the mission helped Indonesian business players connect with potential partners in China.

He said that the ministry endorsed Indonesia’s five super-priority tourism destinations: North Sumatra’s Lake Toba, Central Java’s Borobudur Temple, West Nusa Tenggara’s Mandalika, East Nusa Tenggara’s Labuan Bajo, and North Sulawesi’s Likupang.

The ministry also promoted travel packages, including a trip to Bali plus some nearby destinations, such as Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, Lombok, Borobudur Temple, Mount Bromo, and Ijen, as part of the sales mission.

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The post Greater Bay Airlines lauds commissioning of Hong Kong’s Three-Runway System appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) took part in the commissioning of the Three-Runway System of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) earlier today, 28th November. 

The landing of a GBA aircraft, flying all the way from Zhoushan, on the North Runway, paralleled with the take-off of two other airlines’ aircraft respectively from the Centre Runway and South Runway, marked this commemorative moment of Hong Kong’s aviation history.

GBA chief executive Liza Ng expressed her deepest congratulations to the HKIA on the commissioning of the Three-Runway System.

Ng said: “As the youngest airline in Hong Kong, GBA is committed to building a stronger fleet and a wider network to meet the rising demand of our customers, enhance the city’s connectivity to the world and help strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub, leveraging on Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world.”

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The post Pavilion Kuala Lumpur teams up with Alipay+ and Tourism Malaysia for Malaysia Year-End Sale appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur teamed up with Alipay+ and Tourism Malaysia for the highly-anticipated return of the nationwide Malaysia Year-End Sale (MYES).

The event kicked off on 21st November and will run until 31st December 2024.

The annual retail tourism event is back after a four-year hiatus and celebrates Malaysia as a premier shopping destination.

MYES gives travellers an enhanced shopping experience with exciting deals, enticing discounts, and irresistible sales.

Significant contribution

The MYES campaign is expected to significantly contribute to Malaysia’s tourism revenue during the year-end travel season. 

According to Edward Yue, general manager for Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand for Alipay’s parent company Ant International, travel plays an important role in driving shared prosperity as global consumers visit businesses big and small.

Yue said: “Our goal is to help more Malaysian businesses benefit as tourism in Malaysia thrives. Through our collaboration with Pavilion KL and key industry partners, we aim to deliver a seamless and rewarding shopping experience to tourists, strengthening Malaysia’s appeal as a global tourism and shopping destination.”

Supported by shopping mall operators, hotel associations, travel agencies, airlines, KTMB, and other local tourism industry players, the MYES initiative aligns with the national sales campaign slogan, “MY Priceless Experience,” promising a valuable and enriching experience for all visitors.

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The post Etihad Airways calls for memories over merchandise this Black Friday appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Etihad Airways has revealed its Black Friday advertising campaign, taking a bold departure from traditional promotions at this time of year.

Transforming the year’s biggest shopping event into an invitation to create meaningful and memorable travel experiences, the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad, is encouraging people to take an alternative look at how to take advantage of the special offers of the season.

With staggering discounts of up to 20 per cent on many of the airline’s routes for a limited time from 27 November, the message to wanderlust travellers and those looking for their next holiday or break away, is clear.

Travellers can choose from multiple destinations for travel from 15 January to 31 May 2025.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We’re hoping people will look at this Black Friday with fresh eyes, so instead of just buying more stuff, we’re encouraging them to create memories, explore new horizons and enjoy the enriching experience that only travel provides.”

Etihad’s creative campaign will be featured across a wide range of media and social channels as well as a collaboration with amazon.ae, reminding shoppers of the option to invest in a unique immersion with experiences that last a lifetime.

Travellers with Etihad Airways can look forward to an elevated travel experience whether flying in Economy, Business, First or Etihad’s exclusive three-room suite in the sky, The Residence.

Etihad’s renowned hospitality means guests will enjoy delicious meals with menus designed and curated by in-house chefs, an extensive range of inflight entertainment through E-BOX, complimentary Wi-Fi chat packages on select aircraft, and a comfortable cabin environment.

At Zayed International Airport, guests flying in premium cabins and eligible Etihad Guest members can enjoy hospitality at the impressive Etihad First and Business class Lounges or refresh at the new Etihad Spa by Be Relax.

 

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