Category: Latest Travel News

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, June 23, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Peter Semone, PATA Chair called on delegates of the PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching Sarawak, Malaysia for more actions on sustainability.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with PATA, we are a not-for-profit membership association founded in 1951 that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research, and innovative events to its member organisations, which includes government, state and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world.

The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism of the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally.

This year we are delighted to be working with the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau to organise this event and we are honoured to be here to support them in the responsible development of the travel and tourism industry in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Which is what brings us here for the PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023., under the theme ““Sustainability in Action”.

The event gathers the top minds in destination travel for inspiring and insightful discussions on some of the major issues in marketing and managing tourism growth to discuss new opportunities to promote sustainability within the industry.

Alongside the conference and B2B adventure travel trade show over the next two days, yesterday’s technical tour provided a culturally immersive experience that allowed the delegates the opportunity to explore the various attractions and offerings of Sarawak.

I am proud to note that we have brought together 14 dynamic speakers from such organisations as the World Tourism Organisation, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Asian Ecotourism Network, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, Intrepid Travel, Expedia Group Media Solutions and Sojern, as well as Audra Morrice, Masterchef Asia/and Singapore Host & Judge, to name a few.

Through this event, we hope to provide our delegates with an engaging and insightful programme that will touch on such topics as “Sustainability in Action”, “Climate Action Strategies for Destinations & Operators”, “Recalculating the Measurements of Success”, “Tourism’s Role for Development”, “The Power of Gastronomy Tourism for Destinations”, “Setting Your Sustainability Goals and Executing them”, “Leveraging New Trends in Sustainable Forms of Tourism” and “Using Digital Marketing to Drive Sustainability”.

Everyone at PATA hopes that by bringing together such a dynamic group of speakers, we can highlight the need to discuss, analyse and share various ideas with both the public and private sector to plan, build and promote a sustainable tourism industry.

I would like to once again thank our hosts not only for their help and support for this event but their commitment to the promotion of a responsible travel and tourism industry.

With their support and the support of our sponsors and supporters, we have brought together 272 delegates from 28 destinations to Sarawak for this event, with delegates having travelled from all corners of the world, including Australia, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (ROK), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and USA.

As travel and tourism becomes a greater contributor to the economic well-being of each destination, plans for the responsible development and sustaining those elements generating growth must be taken into consideration. It is through these partnerships with the public and private sector that help build and promote a sustainable tourism industry.

Bangkok, Thailand, June 22, 2023/ TOP25RESTAURANTS / Experience a unique fusion of flavours when “South America meets Southeast Asia” at Restaurant Resonance. From Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th July, three gifted chefs will collaborate for a special six-hand dinner that promises to lead you on a journey of gastronomic discovery. Renowned Peruvian chefs, Jorge Muñoz and Francesca Ferreyros, together with our own Chef Shunsuke from Japan will present a sensational 10-course tasting menu in the intimate and stylish setting of Restaurant Resonance.

Drawing inspiration from the country’s long and rich culinary traditions, the cuisine of Peru has been reimagined by young, bold, and creative chefs and is currently hailed as one of the world’s most exciting food trends. One such chef is Jorge Muñoz. While at Patka restaurant in Barcelona, Chef Jorge worked alongside Chef Kioko Ii from Japan to create a tasting menu inspired by Nikkei cuisine, a harmonious synthesis of two food cultures that grew out of Japanese immigration to Peru in the nineteenth century. In 2014, Patka was awarded a Michelin star, and received a “Best International Restaurant” award from Spain’s ABC newspaper. From 2019-2022, he was Executive Chef at Astrid y Gastón, the restaurant credited with starting the modern Peruvian food movement. It also ranked No.1 in Latin America’s inaugural ‘50 Best Restaurants’ list and was a recipient of the prestigious ‘Art of Hospitality Award’. Following his return to Peru, Chef Jorge is now focused on a new venture in the capital city, Lima.

Joining Chef Jorge will be Chef Francesca Ferreyros, owner-chef of the renowned restaurant, Baan in Peru. In 2015, she moved to Spain to join the team at the three Michelin star, El Celler de Can Roca which is described by the esteemed guide as an ‘exceptionally high-calibre restaurant’. She then spent several years in Bangkok working at the internationally acclaimed two-Michelin-star restaurant, Gaggan. During her time in the city, her approach to cooking was strongly influenced by Thai cuisine. Upon returning to Peru, she led the team at the legendary Peruvian restaurant, IK. Today, Chef Francesca is considered one of the most important young talents on modern Peruvian food scene. At her restaurant Baan, she skillfully combines elements of Thai cuisine with the indigenous ingredients and cooking techniques of Peru and the Amazon.

Our own Chef Shunsuke has also absorbed international influences cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants in Copenhagen and Tokyo. Here at Restaurant Resonance, Chef Shunsuke delights diners with his “Boundless Cuisine” concept – a changing menu of beautifully executed contemporary dishes that reflect his global experience, love of seasonality, and purity of flavour.

The collaboration between the two gifted Peruvian chefs and Chef Shunsuke is a recipe for a memorable evening of fine dining. At Restaurant Resonance, the 10-course tasting menu will delight and surprise diners with inventive dishes. Chef Jorge’s dishes will be created on the day of the dinner in response to his visit to the local market. Highlights from Chef Franscesca will include a Thai crispy flower with yellow curry manjar blanco and coconut ice cream, while Chef Shunsuke will serve a buckwheat crepe with anago fritto, grilled eggplant and summer pickled vegetables.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience a unique fusion of flavours when “South America meets Southeast Asia” from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th July at Restaurant Resonance!

Dining options include:
10-course tasting menu: THB 6,900++
6-glass wine pairing for an additional THB 4,500++
6-glass tea pairing for an additional THB 1,500++

Reservations for the exclusive evening are available at 5p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

Restaurant Resonance
108/4 Sukhumvit 65
Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana
Bangkok 10110

Restaurant Resonance is conveniently located in one of Sukhumvit’s most vibrant and fashionable districts. The contemporary restaurant features a stylish minimalist interior, allowing diners to relax and focus on exquisite flavours and artistry of Chef Shunsuke Shimomura’s seasonal tasting menus. Tea pairings are available when booked one or two days in advance. Restaurant Resonance is open Tuesday to Friday, 6 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, 12 – 2.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The elegant space is also available for exclusive parties and events.

Goa, India, June 22, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / In an historic first, the world’s two leading Travel & Tourism organisations representing the global public and private sectors agreed to work together across a number of key objectives.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed today by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations (UNWTO) at the G20 Ministerial meeting (Goa, India), focused on advancing public-private sector cooperation at the global level whilst promoting job creation, talent development and business opportunities around the world.

Strong public-private partnerships are the foundation to transform tourism and build resilience

Together, WTTC and UNWTO will promote tourism in the global and national agendas while working to progress skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient Travel & Tourism sector. The two parties will also foster community empowerment and inclusion and collaborate around crisis preparedness, management, and recovery, building on the lessons learned from COVID 19 pandemic.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “Through the signing of an historic new MOU, WTTC and UNWTO embark on a new chapter of collaboration together, uniting our expertise to pave the way for a prosperous future for the Travel & Tourism sector.

“Together, we can create a powerful synergy that will shape the global landscape, opening doors to endless opportunities and benefiting travelers, businesses, and destinations alike.”

Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary-General, underscored that “we are only stronger if we work together to respond to the interconnected challenges facing our sector. Strong public-private partnerships are the foundation to transform tourism and build resilience, and consolidating our partnership with WTTC will achieve exactly what we need – joining efforts to build a better future through tourism.”

The MOU was signed by WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvil, alongside representatives of the public and private sectors.

Sarawak, Malaysia, June 22, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023 (PDFM 2023), with the theme “Sustainability in Action”, officially began on Wednesday, June 21 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, attracting 272 delegates from 28 destinations.

The event, organised in collaboration with destination partners, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau, brought together delegates from the public and private sectors for inspiring and insightful discussions on some of the major issues in marketing and managing tourism growth as the travel and tourism industry looks for new opportunities to promote sustainability within the industry.

Delegates travelled from all corners of the globe including Australia, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (ROK), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and USA.

“The PATA Destination Experience Forum and Mart 2023, under the theme “Sustainability in Action” is extremely relevant as the industry begins its road to recovery. Climate change and over-tourism are existential threats to Pacific Asia’s visitor industry. Coming out of COVID, there are really only two options: ignore the environmental and social consequences of mass tourism in a business-as-usual manner; or seize the opportunity to recalibrate how we measure tourism success and account for its invisible burden. As we look towards the future, we need to take concrete actions and avoid the mistakes of the past,” said PATA Chair Peter Semone.

“It is this type of collaboration with our destination partners, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts of Sarawak, the Sarawak Tourism Board, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau, that epitomizes the fundamental nature of PATA’s mission in acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. We as an industry must work together to create a better future for all by achieving long-term sustainability in conjunction with long-term growth and profitability.”

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Sharzede Datu Hj Salleh Askor said,” Sarawak is the perfect venue for PDMF 2023 in highlighting on Ecotourism, Gastronomy Tourism, Adventure Travel as these themes are very much aligned with Sarawak’s tourism philosophy that emphasises on Responsible Tourism, gastronomy and sustainability in its effort in making Sarawak a preferred eco-tourism destination, in the region.”

“I am happy that all delegates will have an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with Sarawak’s tourism industry stakeholders as well as from around the region to understand more on the importance of adopting sustainable practices, such as waste reduction, recycling, and responsible resource consumption, to minimize the negative environmental footprint of tourism while enhancing the overall visitor experience,” she added.

On Wednesday, June 21, delegates had the opportunity to join one of three different routes where they could fully experience the destination’s responsible tourism, ecotourism, and gastronomy tourism offerings that highlighted Sarawakian culture, heritage, and history.

During the conference on Thursday, June 23 and June 24, delegates will hear from a diverse line-up of experts from such organisations as World Tourism Organization, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Asian Ecotourism Network, the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, Intrepid Travel, Expedia Group Media Solutions and Sojern, as well as Audra Morrice, Masterchef Asia/and Singapore Host & Judge, to name a few.

From climate action strategies to digital marketing, the broad yet critical topics provided a clearer direction for the industry to embrace the new era of travel with greater responsibility and convert their plans into action.

Topics include ‘Sustainability in Action’, ‘Climate Action Strategies for Destinations & Operators ‘, ‘Recalculating the Measurements of Success’, ‘Tourism’s Role for Development ‘, ‘The Power of Gastronomy Tourism for Destinations ‘, ‘Setting Your Sustainability Goals and Executing them’, ‘Leveraging New Trends in Sustainable Forms of Tourism’ and ‘Using Digital Marketing to Drive Sustainability’.

Over these two days, buyers and sellers will also have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one networking and contracting opportunities during the table-top tradeshow to explore potential collaborations and business opportunities.

For more information about the event, visit www.pata.org/pata-destination-experience-forum-and-mart-2023 or email events@PATA.org.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research, and innovative events to its member organisations, which including government, state, and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts, and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 21, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO’s Member States came together for the 35th meeting of its joint Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia to assess the major challenges to tourism development in the region for the years ahead.

UNWTO’s Members from Asia and the Pacific met as recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on tourism in the region steadily accelerates. According to UNWTO data:

• Worldwide, twice as many people travelled internationally in the first three months of 2023 than in the same period of 2022, taking global tourism back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels.
• For Asia and the Pacific, however, international arrivals got back to 54% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the quarter.
• Recovery across the region is expected to accelerate following the re-opening of China to tourism. China was the world’s biggest tourism source market in 2019. Reflecting the significance of the moment, a high-level delegation from UNWTO visited China in February to mark the official re-opening.

Asia and the Pacific plays a key role in the state of our sector. It is a top source market, a hub of tourism innovation and home to many of the world’s leading businesses and most exciting destinations

“It is no exaggeration to say that, over the past year, all eyes in global tourism were on Asia and the Pacific,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “Asia and the Pacific plays a key role in the state of our sector. It is a top source market, a hub of tourism innovation and home to many of the world’s leading businesses and most exciting destinations.”

Demonstrating Cambodia’s strong political support for UNWTO’s mission, Prime Minister Hun Sen met with the Secretary-General to discuss the steady acceleration of tourism in the region after the pandemic, while emphasizing the sector’s vital importance for sustainable development of tourism in the country and across the wider region.

UNWTO welcomed a participation to the joint Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia Joint Commission, including 15 Ministers, Deputy Ministers of Tourism and Ambassadors, and with 25 countries represented. The Meeting was held in conjunction with the 55th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP), the 59th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for South Asia (CSA), the UNWTO Conference on International Code for the Protection of Tourists and the UNWTO Affiliate Members Roundtable.

Asia and Pacific Members Support UNWTO Priorities

Member States were provided with an overview of UNWTO’s achievements guiding tourism forward, based on its Programme of Work and current priorities including:

• Education: Of the 300 education programmes certified by UNWTO’s Ted.Qual initiative, 160 are offered in Asia and the Pacific, to help tourism professionals grow in their careers. To support youth empowerment, UNWTO is also launching national versions of its Students League, with China currently developing its own edition.
• Investments in Tourism: Fostering the implementation of sustainable investment frameworks for the promotion of tourism investments and job creation in a post-pandemic world was one of the main objectives of UNWTO’s Executive Training Programme in the Republic of Korea last November. And in Phnom Penh, UNWTO invited Members to join the 2023 World Tourism Day celebrations (27 September), to be held around the theme of “Green Investments”.
• Sustainability: UNWTO announced that the Batanes Tourism Observatory in the Philippines has become the newest member of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), with an institution in Japan set to follow soon.

Advancing the International Code for Protection of Tourists

Ahead of the Commission meeting, UNWTO held a special conference on its International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT). Here:

• Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia became the newest signatories to UNWTO’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists.
• UNWTO’s Member States across the Asia and the Pacific region adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration on the ICPT, promoting its implementation to ensure clear, transparent and efficient frameworks to protect tourists as consumers to foster confidence in travel.

Affiliate Members Roundtable

Under the theme “Public-private cooperation at the core of tourism sustainable development”, discussions focused on the importance of finding mechanisms to reinforce the dialogue between all tourism stakeholders and showcased tangible examples of initiatives and projects implemented by Affiliate Members to foster sustainable practices in the tourism sector.

Looking Ahead

In line with UNWTO’s statutory obligations, Members from East Asia and the Pacific nominated China, Indonesia, Japan and Republic of Korea to represent the region on the UNWTO Executive Council.

The two Commissions for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia also agreed that:

• The 36th Joint Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the UNWTO Commission for South Asia will be held in Cebu, Philippines in 2024.
• World Tourism Day 2025, to be held around the theme of “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” will be hosted by Malaysia.

Bangkok, Thailand, June 20, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Members of the award-winning Best Western Rewards® program are encouraged to gift points to friends and family for milestone trips around the world. With a season filled with celebratory milestones, BWH Hotels’ award-winning loyalty program – Best Western Rewards (BWR®) – is excited to announce its new “Gift of Travel” program. With the Gift of Travel program, BWR loyalty members can provide travel experiences to their loved ones at any BWH Hotels (BWH) property around the globe by gifting rewards points to other BWR members for momentous trips.

These gifts will allow their loved ones to embark on amazing journeys, whether it be a cross-country road trip or a celebratory adventure. BWR members can extend the “Gift of Travel” in one of two ways:

• Gifting a Free Night: BWR members can gift a one-night stay to immediate family members through the “Gift a Free Night” option in their BWR account.

• Redeeming a Best Western Gift Card: BWR members can redeem their points for a Best Western Gift Card and gift that to friends and family. Members can access this option in the redemption section of their BWR account.

“The Gift of Travel program allows globetrotters of all ages to celebrate life’s most cherished moments through travel. By allowing our valued BWR members to use their points – which never expire – towards free nights or gift cards for loved ones, it has never been easier to gift experiences that will undoubtedly last a lifetime,” said Larry Cuculic, President and CEO, BWH. “By choosing one of our hotels around the world for their travels, our loyal guests will enjoy the exceptional hospitality they have come to know and love.”

BWH properties deliver exceptional experiences and exceed guest expectations with every stay and are located in some of the world’s most notable locations. Whether it’s experiencing popular amusement parks to celebrate a graduation, visiting world-class wineries to honor an anniversary, or finding respite on famed beaches during a honeymoon, the Gift of Travel program allows guests to enjoy amazing journeys almost anywhere in the world. Below are curated suggestions for unique accommodations at popular attractions around the globe designed to inspire vacationers to travel.

Best City Getaways to Celebrate a Milestone Birthday
• New York, New York
o Best Western Plus Soho Hotel
• Sydney, Australia
o Aiden by Best Western @ Darling Harbour
• Bangkok, Thailand
o Vib Best Western Sanam Pao

Best Hotels Near World Renowned Wineries for Anniversary Travel
• Alsace, France
o Best Western Hotel & Spa Le Schoenenbourg
• Ochsenfurt, Germany
o Best Western Hotel Polisina
• Penn Yan, New York
o Best Western Plus Vineyard Inn & Suites
• Auckland, New Zealand
o Best Western Newmarket Inn & Suites
• Cape Town, South Africa
o Best Western Cape Suites Hotel

Best Romantic Beachside Getaways for Honeymooners
• Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France
o Ilot du Golf, BW Premier Collection
• Zakynthos Island, Greece
o Zante Park Resort & Spa, BW Premier Collection
• West Yarmouth, Massachusetts
o Aiden by Best Western @ Cape Point
• Lahaina, Hawaii
o Best Western Pioneer Inn

Hotels Near Amusement Parks for Graduation Trips
• Disneyland Paris
o Best Western Hotel Grand Parc (Chanteloup En Brie, France)
• Disneyland / Disney’s California Adventure
o Hotel Lulu, Best Western Premier Collection (Anaheim, CA)
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom / Magic Kingdom
o SureStay Plus by Best Western Orlando Lake Buena Vista (Orlando, FL)
• Disneyland Tokyo
o Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka (Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo)

In addition to the Gift of Travel, this summer BWR members who stay two nights (two one-night stays or one two-night stay) at any BWH property in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean, will earn a $50 Best Western gift card; members can take advantage of this promotion twice to earn up to $100 in gift cards during the length of the promotion. The promotion runs from May 22, 2023, to September 4, 2023. For more information on BWR or to sign up, please visit bestwestern.com/rewardsrush1.

About Best Western Rewards® (BWR®):
BWR is the award-winning loyalty program for Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, a vibrant hospitality company with 19 distinct brand offerings in over 100 countries and territories worldwide. With hotels across every segment from economy to luxury, it is easy to earn BWR points through hotel stays or everyday purchases with the BWR co-branded credit card. With points that never expire, BWR’s more than 50 million members have access to exclusive rates, rich rewards and incentives. Rewards earned through BWR can be redeemed for free nights, gift cards or charitable donations that make a long-lasting impact for the benefit of those in need. BWR’s Pay with Points program provides added flexibility, allowing BWR members to use earned points to lower the cost of their hotel stay. Regardless of destination or travel purpose, BWR has the exclusive perks to thank and reward its most valued guests.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 19, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia have become the newest signatories to UNWTO’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists. At the same time, UNWTO’s Member States across the Asia and Pacific region have adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration on the Code, promoting its dissemination and implementation across the region as a fundamental tool to ensure clear, transparent and efficient frameworks to protect tourists as consumers to foster confidence in travel.

A landmark for tourists’ protection

The International Code for the Protection of Tourists is the first ever legal instrument designed to create internationally recognized standards for the protection of tourists at the international level.

• The Code was created by UNWTO with the active participation of more than 100 countries, international organizations, tourism experts and private sector stakeholders.
• It was formally adopted at the 24th UNWTO General Assembly (December 2021). Member States were invited to apply it at the national level.
• The Code provides greater legal clarity to States through a common and harmonized framework on how to assist tourists in emergency situations and help them develop laws, regulations and policies for the protection of tourists as consumers.

People want to feel safe and protected when they travel and UNWTO has led the way in creating the first legal tool that will help restore trust in travel

New Signatories

Member States of both UNWTO and the United Nations are encouraged to adhere to the Code:

• Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia are the latest national-level signatories. They join Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Moldova, Myanmar, Paraguay, Portugal and Uruguay.

“People want to feel safe and protected when they travel and UNWTO has led the way in creating the first legal tool that will help restore trust in travel,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “The number of countries joining this initiative to incorporate it into national legislations keeps growing and we are proud to welcome Cambodia, the Maldives and Indonesia as the newest signatories.”

Sharing Best Practices

Within the framework of the 35th Joint Meeting of the Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific and the Commission for South Asia (Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 15-17 June), a conference on the International Code provided a platform for regional tourism leaders to share insights, best practices and lessons learnt on how this legal tool supports tourism recovery and trust after the severe crisis caused by the pandemic. The Conference

• Counted on unprecedented high-level participation of delegations from Asia and the Pacific countries, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Ministers of Tourism from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives and the Philippines and Vice Ministers of Tourism of China and Iran
• Benefitted from the participation of Uruguay as “Champion of the Code” and a leader in the assistance to tourists in emergency situations. .
• Offered expert insights on how the Code closes existing gaps in legal frameworks and contributes to greater international harmonization.
• Underscored the need to promote closer public-private links to better coordinate responsibilities when assisting tourists and protecting consumer rights.

Phnom Penh Declaration

The “Phnom Penh Declaration on the International Code for the Protection of Tourists” was adopted by the Member States of the Asia and the Pacific region before the conference and officially launched under the high patronage of the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia. The Declaration:

• Reaffirms the commitment of the Asia and the Pacific region to strengthen cooperation to improve the assistance available to international tourists in emergency situations.
• Underlines the need to promote closer linkages between governments, tourism service providers and other tourism stakeholders for a better protection of tourists as consumers.

The Declaration reflects Cambodia’s commitment to assist tourists in emergency situations, as shown in February 2020 when rescuing more than 1,000 passengers stranded at sea on the MS Westerdam cruise ship.

Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, June 19, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The 9th Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2023 has just completed successfully with a press conference attended by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, accompanied by the vice Governor of Bali, tourism stakeholders, private sectors, associations, exhibitors, buyers and sellers on Saturday, 17th June 2023 at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua, Bali.

For the last few days, during the Travex, BBTF received the positive responds from government officials, stakeholders buyers and sellers as well as exhibitors who expressed their appreciation for BBTF 2023. This brought confident to the committee to stay committed continuing the legacy of BBTF as the Indonesia’s leading international travel fair as an annual event. “We are hoping for support that brought bigger all buyers and sellers together in 2024 to build partnership, good business and making a positive impact to Bali and beyond Indonesia.” Prof. Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, the Vice Governor of Bali commented to encourage all stakeholders to collaborate.

“BBTF is proud to take part in the growth of tourism in Indonesia with continuous trust and full support from Bali Government, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Stakeholders together to bring the potential of Indonesia from Bali and at the end contribute an increasing of foreign earnings.” the Head Committee of BBTF 2023 stated.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno encourages BBTF as a platform to promote quality and sustainable tourism, aiming to grow as the largest travel trade event in the region. He announced also the good news that Indonesia is chosen as part of the executive to design the world tourism by UNWTO. Indonesia will focus on 4.4 million employments and sustainable tourism.

This year the Minister highlighted the significant growth with the participation of BBTF and expected to enhance the MICE sector and creative economy-based tourism and can contribute to achieving Indonesia’s tourist arrival targets for 2024.

Next year the ministry are optimistic to get more top buyers worldwide that represent the full spectrum of tourism at all levels including Tour operators, Travel agencies, Event and Tourism companies, Public institutions & organizations, Domestic and foreign MICE, and Corporates to meet diversity of sellers from Travel and Tourism in Indonesia; Travel Bureau, Tourist attractions, Hotels and Restaurants, Health & Wellness industries, Marine Tourism, Tourism Villages and corporate travel representatives as well as regional’s new destinations. “We hope to see more participations, and we encourage provinces all over Indonesia, regencies and associations to take opportunity to be part of BBTF 2024.” The Minister added.

“For that reasons Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) will return for the 10th year in June 13 – 15, 2024 with the theme of ‘Exploring & Experiencing Sense of Indonesia’s Beauty’, expecting a qualified market place for global buyers to meet national and international sellers in Bali,” I Putu Winastra, the Head Committee of BBTF 2023 and Chairman of ASITA Bali chapter announced the theme for 2024 that outlined Indonesia as a whole.

“Inspired by the 10. Ten is a symbol of success and achievement associated with good luck and prosperity especially in the business sector. So, we choose the color of Gold for next year theme that also represent Wisdom, Royalty, Victory, and Devotion for success. Let’s face the challenges together. Being resilience and optimistic for the future of Tourism Indonesia.” Putu Winastra added.

BBTF committees extend their gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wonderful Indonesia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Bali, Bali the Island of God, Bali Tourism Board, and DPD ASITA Bali, as well as the event sponsors; Marriott International, BICC, Westin, Qatar Airways, Hatten Wine, Tri Jeevawasa Kusuma, Akasa Kintamani Coffee, BIMC Siloam, UHA, Biznet, AVB, Eco Bike Coffee, and Proteam, Local crew, Politeknik Pariwisata Bali, Darmawan & Associates (D&A).

BBTF Official Hotel partners: the Apurva Kempinski Bali, Sol by Melia Benoa Bali, Grand Mirage Resort & Thalasso Bali, Infinity8 Bali, Bali Tropic Resort & Spa, Courtyard by Marriott Bali Nusa Dua Resort, Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa, Le Meridien Bali Jimbaran, The Ritz – Carlton Bali, The Laguna Resort & Spa Nusa Dua, Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort, Vouk Hotel & Suites Nusa Dua.

Post tours to all buyers to various destinations supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Buleleng Tourism Office, The Mentawai Islands Regency, West Sumatra Provincial Government, Plaga Eco Park, KBA Tur, D’Umah Bali, BSM Tour. And in addition to all our media partners such as TTG Asia, Bali.com, Travelindex Media, Guo Ji Ri Bao, and all international, national, and local media that support and strengthen the positioning of BBTF as Indonesia’s leading International Travel Fair.

For more information about BBTF 2023, please visit the website https://www.bbtf.co.id/

See you at BBTF 2024 – “Exploring & Experiencing the Sense of Indonesia’s Beauty”.

Denpasar, Bali, June 16, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The 9th Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) TRAVEX was officially inaugurated by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster who has a deep concern for the tourism Industry, accompanied by the representative of the ministries, local government officials, tourism stakeholders, private sectors, associations, exhibitors, buyers and sellers today on 16th June 2023, at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua.

“In line with our country envision to be the market place that create a platform for the growth and development of tourism in one event, BBTF presents the theme of reconnecting quality and sustainable tourism that is relevant on today’s market expectations”, I Putu Winastra the Head committee of BBTF and the Charmian of Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali chapter stated. He further announced that BBTF this year have 350 buyers from 51 countries that facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Republic of Indonesia and welcomed 230 sellers from 5 countries that are not only from Indonesia but also from Italia, China, Malaysia and America.

“The growth of quality and sustainable tourism in Bali is depending on how we are all respond and taking these opportunities after pandemic. Cultural tourism, health and wellness tourism are bearing high potential of tourism economic activity. Let’s demonstrate its capacity by promoting best practices that give good impact to environment and local community.” Wayan Koster stated on his opening remark.

Press conference speakers:
1. The Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy – Vinsensius Jemadu, Deputy of Tourism Products and Event Organization
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Ambassador Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, Adviser to the Minister on Sosio Cultural Affairs and Indonesian Overseas
3. Chairman of Bali Tourism Board – Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana
4. Tourism Malaysia, Junus Bin Suhid – Director of Tourism Malaysia Jakarta
5. General Manager the Westin Resort Nusa Dua – Sander Looijen
6. President Director of PT Pertamina Bina Medika, IHC – Drg. Mira Dyah Wahyuni, MARS

“Indonesia has so much potentials that we can explore deeper from cruising business to diversity products such medical tourism, wellness, ecotourism to MICE tourism. BBTF is one of the best platforms to promote. Events lead to recovery – the more events and festivals, faster the recovery. The government will encourage one village one event, to ensure community involvement in preserving the local wisdom and culture.” Vinsensius Jemadu, Deputy of Tourism Product and Event Organization Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Republic of Indonesia stated about Indonesia products. He projected Bali as “Luxurious Affordable” destination that should not be positioning as cheap.

Ambassador Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, the advisor to the Minister on Socio Cultural Affairs and Indonesian Overseas added her comment about the Ministry Foreign Affair’ first time participation at BBTF that the event will be supported bigger next year after the learning experience at BBTF 2023. By inviting the ambassadors from various countries, we can encourage more participation of buyers that are willing to learn more and do business with Indonesia.

As mentioned, this year for the first time also the state-owned enterprise – Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC) joined BBTF presenting the forthcoming project that is scheduled to open in mid-2024. “Bali International Hospital (BIH) under the management of IHC in collaboration with Mayo Clinic will bring a promise of Medical Tourism. BIH is located at the special economic zone Sanur – with the supported of Ministry of Health, BIH will soon be able to welcome the Diaspora of Indonesia back home in Bali as well as state-the-art medical equipment and medicines.” drg. Mira Dyah Wahyuni, MARS, the President Director of PT. Pertamina Bina Medika, IHC commented in relation to health tourism.

Other important speakers in the panel during press conference have contributed the same understanding on the importance of collaboration toward the success of tourism sector. Junus Bin Suhid the Director of Tourism Malaysia mentioned the appreciation and learnt on how BBTF bringing the added values in networking opportunities.

“Creating the continuous awareness will not only strengthens relationship between buyers and government officials but also commitment in creating a thriving and sustainable tourism industry.” Ni Made Ayu Martini, Deputy for Marketing Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy added to close the press conference.

For more information about BBTF 2023, please visit the website https://www.bbtf.co.id/

About BBTF
BBTF is an annual event with the intention to establish a benchmark for travel & tourism events and destinations in Indonesia. Supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, BBTF holds B2B events and aims at advancing the tourism industry through business sessions and direct promotion, as best practices in MICE and Leisure Management. Together with exhibitors and buyers from numerous countries around the world, BBTF facilitates Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSA) and business sessions for buyers and sellers to negotiate on their long-term leisure and corporate travel needs. Corporations, travel agents, hotel & resort chains, cruise operators, convention planners, venue operators and travel buyers can leverage the two and half days of business-to-business sessions to enhance their respective brands in the Indonesian and Asia Pacific markets.

In addition to the B2B sessions, the travel fair features an extensive program of activities for all delegates. From the fantastic networking events, to the inspirational knowledge program, the business of meetings has never been so rewarding. Bali is chosen as the venue because it is the gateway to Indonesia’s archipelago for global travelers and the island contributes up to 40% of all visitors to the nation each year.

Organized by the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali chapter in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and other stakeholders, this year BBTF is pleased to welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs joining for the first time and willing to connect Indonesia’s potential to the world. Another highlight will be the contribution of the South Bali Badung Regency, with diverse destinations putting Bali on the map of quality tourism. After having successfully conducted the world recognized G20 in Nusa Dua, Bali is now ready to meet new market demands. This annual event is led by a passionate committee and supported by members of ASITA, public sector, and local government in order to promote and facilitate the development of tourism business in Indonesia and Bali in particular.

Sofia, Bulgaria, June 16, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Wellness and health tourism stands ready to offer significant benefits for destinations worldwide – but will need coordination, investments and a skilled workforce to fully deliver on its potential. That was the key takeaway message as leaders from the public and private sectors met for the UNWTO Conference on Education and Skills in Medical and Wellbeing Tourism in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Health and Wellbeing Tourism: Growing in Size and Relevance

In organizing the conference within the framework of its 68th Regional Commission for Europe, UNWTO made clear the growing importance of health and wellbeing tourism as a pillar of growth and opportunity.

• UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili joined Ilin Dimitrov, Minister of Tourism for Bulgaria, in opening the conference, applauding Bulgaria for identifying the potential of health tourism for economic diversification
• Participants in the conference included Deputy Ministers of Georgia and Lithuania, other high-level government representatives from Czechia and Ukraine, Vice-Chair of the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament and, representing the private sector, the leaders of the European Spa Association, as well as expert academics and figures from leading business groups.
• Reflecting the growing importance of this part of the tourism sector for destinations everywhere, participants joined from across Europe, as well as from China and the United States.

Health tourism helps destinations diversify, creating jobs, supporting businesses and extending these benefits to rural communities

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Health tourism helps destinations diversify, creating jobs, supporting businesses and extending these benefits to rural communities. However, this part of our broad sector is especially reliant on skilled workers. As tourists’ expectations rise, so too must the level of service destinations can provide.”

Key Challenges: Education and Skills

In line with one of UNWTO’s priorities for the sector as a whole, the conference focused on the vital importance of education and training in health and wellbeing tourism.

• A panel discussion welcomed expert inputs from leading academics, as well as private sector stakeholders.
• Main takeaways included making training attractive, accessible and empowering so as to encourage workers to return to the tourism sector following the loss of personnel experienced during the pandemic. Speakers also emphasized the importance of government support for the tourism sector, with particular reference to investing in health and wellbeing infrastructure and in training personnel.
• UNWTO updated participants on its leading role in advancing tourism education, including through the creation of a first Undergraduate Degree in Sustainable Tourism Management, and innovation competitions designed to find new ways of identifying and supporting new talent.

Recognizing the growing importance of health tourism in Europe and globally, UNWTO prioritizes the work in this field on acknowledging cultural and regional differences in taxonomy and understanding, implementing regulatory and ethical measures, measuring the impact of health tourism at national and domestic levels, promoting investments and cooperation, ensuring harmonized data collection, considering technological advances, involving governments to foster public-private collaboration, and generating knowledge at the intersection of tourism and health.

Masterclass for National Tourism Stakeholders

To conclude the conference, national stakeholders benefitted from a Masterclass focused on identifying the ‘destination Unique Selling Point’, with the cases of Czechia and Slovenia showcased as examples of effective marketing. The masterclass was followed by an interactive discussion.

Heath and Travel & Tourism

In the wider context of health and tourism, UNWTO has been working closely with the World Health Organization to coordinate the measures and messaging throughout the pandemic. Recognizing that health, travel and tourism are deeply interconnected in the globalized world, UNWTO is currently establishing the UNWTO Global Working Group on Health and Travel & Tourism with the aim to draw the lessons from the COVID crisis to generate greater resilience within travel and tourism and to ensure preparedness in the face of future threats.