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VOL 43, ISSUE 01, 20-26 January 2020 NEWS FOR ASIA’S TRAVEL PLANNERS Daily NEWS UPDATES at www.ttrweekly.com
MEKONG DESTINATION HAPPY HOLIDAYS Myanmar adds MATTA boosts We wish all our to visa-on-arrival Indian ties to readers a Happy list. promote tours. Chinese New Year. PAGE 6. PAGE 8. MTF 2020 shifts dates THE Mekong Tourism Office will international aviation gateway, while dawn and drops you off at Bagan’s unpack its conference goodies earlier Bagan famed for its 3,800 ancient river jetty on the doorstep of the this year as the dates for the annual temples and pagodas relies entirely four-star Aye Yar Riverside Hotel, the Mekong Tourism Forum in Bagan, on domestic services from Mandalay official MTF venue, during the late Myanmar, move to 28 to 29 April. (a 30-minute flight) and Yangon ( one- afternoon. Traditionally, the forum adopts hour and 20 minutes). The more than 150 International delegates who annually head for the MTF to network and talk tourism strategies, will need to book direct flights to either Yangon or Mandalay to connect with domestic services to Bagan. It will bump up the cost of attending the MTF by just over USD100 to USD195 roundtrip. From Mandalay airport, they can transfer to domestic flights on Air KBZ with the lowest roundtrip fare quoted at USD108. Unfortunately, the flight departs Mandalay for Bagan’s Nyaung-U airport at 0700 which mean you have to overnight in Mandalay adding to the hotel bill. A more feasible alternative is to connect with the MAI flight to Nyaung-U that departs at 1800. The fare will set you back USD131 roundtrip. Travelling via the Yangon gateway a mid-May time slot but this time There is talk of upgrading encounters the same challenge. The around the host, the Ministry of Bagan’s airport to international lack of seamless connections between Hotels and Tourism, shifted the event status to promote tourism. Still, international flights and domestic by more than a week to escape the the country’s airlines fear it could services to Bagan may force you to threat of rain. inflict considerable losses on what stay overnight in Yangon. The late It wasn’t the only revision for the is a prime revenue-earning route. afternoon domestic flight to Bagan Mekong region’s top event the other Bangkok Airways has been associated could cost as much as USD195 about being the decision to relocate the with moves to gain access to Bagan USD20 more than an early morning forum venue from Mandalay to Bagan from its base in Bangkok. departure. after UNESCO added the ancient In its favour, Bagan has fascinating Aye Yar Riverside Hotel serves as town to its World Heritage list. transport alternatives to air travel, the conference hotel, and according Jens Thraenhart, executive having a fleet of riverboats that offer to MTCO executive director, Jens director MTCO overnight cruises from Mandalay on Thraenhart construction of the Mandalay the country’s second- the Irrawaddy River. There is even a conference hall at the hotel is almost largest city after Yangon is an daily ferry that departs to Bagan at complete. EDITOR’S POST We could start by attending only those travel shows that offer a carbon offset programme in the registration. It would need to be as easy as ticking Showtime: Tick the a box on a registration page, and companies would need to authorise the additional travel expense on carbon credit box behalf of their staff. This week, close to 800 travel and hospitality executives flew to Brunei to attend the ASEAN Tourism Forum for no other good reason than they fear their trade buddies might forget them if they give Mulling over where I should travel this year, it a miss. It’s a weak argument as they have at least particularly conferences and travel trade shows, I another 50 events lined up in the year to enjoy buddy tumbled on a travel association telling its members reunions. We have Facebook and trade show friends they can now buy carbon credits from its “Neutral with whom we exchange hail and hearty greetings, Together” programme. but at a trade show, back slaps, hugs and pecks on The US-based Adventure Travel Trade Association the cheek punctuate our greetings. It’s called face-to- (ATTA) programme rolled out 1 January claiming to be face networking. How many pecks on the cheek do the first of its kind for the adventure travel industry. you get in a year if you are on the travel show circuit? Just how many travel associations have carbon A more pertinent question would be how many offsetting programmes in Asia, I wonder? trade show delegates buy carbon credits? Probably I have to admit in all the decades of travel, I have very few. Like so many trade shows, the ATF is already never paid a cent for a carbon offset. I suspected a carbon emission disaster from end-to-end when you carbon offsetting was simply a speculative venture consider the mountains of paper, plastic, food and that sold trees planted on an imaginary plot of land in booth decoration waste. Sustainable tourism might some obscure part of northeast Thailand. be a show theme, but it certainly is not practised I checked out the list of reliable carbon offsetting by the ATF organisers who are more comfortable agencies. They are mostly registered in the US and with what critics call “green lies” and no one is in a promise your dollar donations will help to fund trusted hurry to conduct an audit on a show’s impact on the projects to appease your carbon transgressions. environment any time soon. One project close to home caught my attention. It Instead, trade show organisers concentrate provides eco-drinking water filters in Cambodia while on revenue streams and boosting profit. Paper is another supported a wind farm in northeast Thailand. consumed to produce non-news show dailies when Tourism’s global carbon emissions stand at around there are perfectly acceptable alternatives in the 8% of which airlines generate 40%, while the damage digital age. ITB Asia saw three dinosaur print dailies caused by the tourism industry going about the circulating at the show last October (one official, two business of selling travel is minuscule in comparison. clandestine) when delegates were happily glued to Still, we can make a difference if travel and hospitality their mobile phones reading the same news online. companies voluntarily pay a carbon offset when they Why do we accept this money grasping nonsense in assign staff to attend a travel show or conference. the digital era?
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TTR Weekly is a controlled circulation newspaper for the travel industry specialising in Thailand and the Mekong region. Published every Wednesday, alternatively in English, the publication is distributed free to travel agents. Available on subscription outside this qualifying category. Published by Ross Publishing Ltd.
Managing editor: Don Ross: [email protected]
EDITORIAL: [email protected] MARKETING: [email protected] Tel: +66 82 829 6455 PRODUCTION: [email protected] Editor: Don Ross Content editor: Danai Stephen Ross Creative director: Danai Stephen Ross Publishing director: Lars Magnusson Graphics: Suradej Chatsomsiri, Kamolapat Sriveriwan
Ross Publishing Ltd. 92/347 Moo 2, Lak Hok, Muang, Pathumtanee 12000 Tel: (66) 2004 8223, (sales: (66) 82 829 6455). Fax: (66) 2006 5100 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.ttrweekly.com TTR WEE KLY | 20-26 JANUARY 2020 EVENTS 3 PATA summit still on track PATA goes ahead with plans to host wildlife and the environment at the political differences to present a united its annual summit this March in the moment. When things have settled, I effort to tackle the crisis. UAE despite growing hostilities in am sure that Australia tourism will rise The New South Wales state the Middle East. again, and PATA and its members will government has announced it has be here to assist recovery.” approved emergency funding of AUD1 As the US and Iran continued to Travel industry organisations are billion to help rebuild towns destroyed exchange threats in early January, joining other industries to donate by bushfires. The funding is in addition the Pacific Asia Travel Association millions of dollars for the relief effort, to the AUD2 billion announced by the claimed the ongoing sensitive situation while Australians have set aside federal government. in the Middle East should not deter the association from hosting its annual summit in the region in March. Less than three months away, it will be difficult for the association to switch to another destination if hostilities escalate. PATA will host the flagship event, that draws around 500 of its members worldwide, 31 March to 3 April, in Ras al Khaimah, the United Arab Emirates. Commenting on the crisis in the Middle East, PATA CEO Mario Hardy told TTR Weekly: “I don’t expect the current tension to impact on our events in 2020, but I do believe that should tensions escalate, it will impact on the price of oil which in turn will affect the aviation industry. “This could lead to a reduction in the growth of tourism due to higher PTAA promotes travel show costs being passed to the traveller. The Philippine Travel Agencies will offer discounts of up to 70% on Additionally, geopolitical tensions Association will host the 5th cruises, hotels, theme parks, and create uncertainty with investors and International Travel Trade, Expo 2 to 4 airline fares. travellers, which results in a wait and February, a B2B event held at the SMX The organisers said there would see an attitude that isn’t good for the Convention Center, Mall of Asia in be strong continency of destinations global economy.” Pasay City. keen to promote Meanwhile, Australia one of PATA’s Friday, travel from the founding country members faces an PTAA president Philippines. They unprecedented bushfire crisis that Ritchie Tuaño will include shows no sign of abating as summer announced Australia, Bhutan, heat and winds intensify putting at details at a press Cambodia, risk lives and the economy that relies conference last China, Czech heavily on tourism. Friday according Republic, Dubai, PATA’s CEO said Australia’s to a Philippines France, Iceland, decision to stop all tourism marketing News Agency India, Indonesia, campaigns was the right approach report. Israel, Istanbul, while the nation deals with the The trade Japan, South natural disaster that has claimed 27 event will be Korea, Myanmar, lives demolished thousands of homes followed by the 27th Travel Tour North America, Sarajevo, Singapore, and killed an estimated half a billion Expo, 7 to 9 February, also at the Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, the United domestic animals and wildlife. same venue but concentrating on Kingdom, the United States, and Since September, bushfires have retail sales to travel consumers. Vietnam. PRODUCTION: [email protected] destroyed more than 10.3 million The expo will feature 1,000 The PTAA travel expo is the Creative director: Danai Stephen Ross hectares nationally. booths from more than 400 exhibitors country’s largest annual expo on Graphics: Suradej Chatsomsiri, “Australia has to concentrate on from the travel agency and tourism travel and tours, expecting more than Kamolapat Sriveriwan protecting its citizen, cultural assets, enterprise industry. The B2C event 100,000 visitors. 4 TRENDS 20-26 JANUARY 2020 | TTR WEEKLY THE PLACE TO BE
Something magical happens when you find the place you truly Thailand faces a reality belong, where you’re welcomed like family no matter where you go and cared for sincerely with a gracious Thai touch. check in 2020 This is the essence of Centara Hotels & Resorts. Whether your clients are planning a family beach holiday or an The Tourism Council of Thailand urban getaway, you can rest assured that clients will be well concedes the 10% increases in taken care of, with activities and facilities families love, and annual tourist arrivals could be a a Kids’ Club supervised by caring staff, so children are well shade too ambitious going forward. looked after and parents can enjoy some alone time too.
THAILAND is scaling back its tourism THAILAND • MALDIVES • OMAN • QATAR • SRI LANKA • VIETNAM forecasts to around 5% ditching earlier optimism that eight to 10% increases were still possible in a country that is now one of the top destinations worldwide based on sheer arrival PATTAYA, THAILAND volume. According to a Reuters report, Thursday, the Tourism Council of Thailand president Chairat Triratanajaraspon conceded the days of the 10% annual increases could be over partly due to a strong baht that is making the destination more expensive when compared with its neighbours. Europe will probably record a very outperforming as far as overall security The baht has strengthened from marginal growth or a flat no-gains, no- goes. It is also seen as making the THB31.64 to the USD in January 2019 losses trend for the foreseeable future. right moves to raise its poor road to THB30.27 in January 2020. But the strong baht is not the only safety ranking to put some distance Last year, the TCT president factor that could impact on tourism between its fatal accident score, and noted the country notched up 39.7 flow to Thailand. Competition is that of Thailand considered one the million visits a headcount that reflects heating up with Vietnam exceeding worst worldwide. In the meantime, all foreign arrivals including those 18 million visits in 2019 and is now Thailand should enjoy a strong on annual work or retirement visas positioned as a destination that will turnout of Chinese visitors during as well as overland trips from Laos, challenge Thailand in the long-run. the Chinese New Year this month. Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia. At It is making headway with a Overall, the Tourism Authority of the start of 2019, the country’s Ministry better security and safety rating Thailand estimates 1.1 million tourists of Tourism and Sports set a target of 40 than Thailand. A recent SOS survey will holiday in the country during the million. on travel risk showed Vietnam festival 24 to 30 January up 1.5%. But simple arithmetic rules suggest that expecting 10% annual growth rates even when annual volumes STR: China hotels head for growth reach 40 million could be overly ambitious. Growth rates are bound to KEY Mainland China hotel markets in the development pipeline. fall as the volumes hit mega levels. should report performance growth As the international trading centre It is quite likely that excluding a in 2020 despite a challenging and comprehensive transportation major boost in output trends in the macroeconomic environment, hub of China, Guangzhou is expected China market, that supplies more than according to the latest forecast from to show RevPAR growth of 3.4% 10 million visits a year, a 5% annual STR and Tourism Economics. with substantial increases in both growth is now the norm or even a At the market level, Beijing should occupancy and ADR. slightly ambitious expectation going continue on its growth trajectory Hangzhou is set to see its run of forward. with a forecasted increase of 3.7% in performance growth end in 2020 During the last three years, the revenue per available room (RevPAR). (RevPAR: -2.4%). Among key markets annual growth rate in tourist arrivals Average daily rate (ADR) is expected in Mainland China, Hangzhou should averaged less than 10%. to continue to grow (+1.8%) after a see the largest increases in supply 2018 38,277,300 +7.54% strong 2019 in the metric. (+4.1%) and demand (+4.7%). 2017 35,381,210 +8.57% After a challenging 2019, Chengdu Following three years of occupancy 2016 32,588,303 +8.91% is forecasted for ADR growth of 1.4%. declines caused by the impact of TCT says Chinese visitors could The market is projected to report the new supply, 2020 is expected to be reach 11 million in 2020 while output country’s second-largest supply growth Shanghai’s year of recovery. RevPAR from the higher yield markets of rate (2.8%) with close to 18,000 rooms growth is expected to reach 2.5%.
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THAILAND • MALDIVES • OMAN • QATAR • SRI LANKA • VIETNAM
PATTAYA, THAILAND
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26540_CHR_Ads_FP_TTR-Weekly_B2B_Re01.indd 1 22/1/2563 BE 18:47 6 MEKONG 20-26 JANUARY 2020 | TTR WEEKLY Myanmar adds nations to visa-on-arrival list
Myanmar gears up tourism 1 January the government had said: “We do hope that all these promotions and offers visa- introduced visa-on-arrival (VoA) for an new regulations to ease access to on-arrival travel for five more additional five countries. Myanmar, will lead to more travellers nationalities. The latest eligible countries are from around the world to discover the Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, unique Myanmar culture, nature and MYANMAR has eased visa regulations Luxembourg and New Zealand. most of all the diversity and hospitality to draw more tourists to the country The VoA facility will be available of the people.” this year according to Union Minister to travellers from these countries for a Myanmar Tourism Marketing for Hotels and Tourism U Ohn Maung. three-year trial period. has invited travel journalists and In a statement at the weekend, Commenting on the news, Instagrammers to visit the country and distributed by the Myanmar Touriism Myanmar Tourism Marketing is organising a raft of complementary Federation, he noted that effective chairperson May Myat Mon Win media trips for publications that are prepared to write promotional stories in exchange for hosted travel. A visa on arrival will be issued only to those arriving by airline through Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International airports. It costs USD 50 and is valid for a stay of 30 days with no provision to extend the stay. Visitors are allowed to exit Myanmar at any international border checkpoint. Last October the country included Itala, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Russia and Australia to the visa on arrival list. Chinese tourists were granted a visa on arrival at Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport for one year, effective from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2019. It has since been extended to 30 September 2020. Vietjet expands Asia flights Vietjet has unveiled seven new routes and Hanoi – Kagoshima, will be departing from Can Tho at 1240 and as it expands its international flight launched this year. arriving in Taipei at 1710. The return network. With 10 direct routes now flight departs from Taipei at 1810 and Five new routes link Hanoi, connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh arrives in Can Tho at 2055. Flights Danang and Ho Chi Minh City to City and Danang to Tokyo, Osaka, started on 12 January. multiple destinations in Japan, and the Nagoya, Fukuoka and Kagoshima, The Can Tho – Seoul (Incheon) commencement of two new routes the new flights will boost commercial route will operate three return flights connecting Can Tho with Seoul and and leisure travel and should help to per week starting 16 January 2020. Taipei. increase Japanese tourist arrivals to The flight will depart from Can Tho The announcement identifying five more than 1 million in 2020. at 1650 and arrive in Seoul (Incheon) new routes was made by the airline, Vietjet has also inaugurated its first at 2355. The return flight will take off 13 January 2020, during the Vietnam- two international services connecting from Seoul (Incheon) at 0230 and land Japan Bilateral Tourism Promotion Can Tho, the hub city of the Mekong in Can Tho at 0620. Conference, which welcomed more Delta region, with Taipei in Taiwan and Vietjet currently operates seven than 1,000 delegates from Japan. Seoul in South Korea effective 12 to 16 domestic routes and two international The five new routes, Hanoi – January. routes from Can Tho International Nagoya, Ho Chi Minh City – Nagoya, The Can Tho – Taipei route Airport. More international routes are Da Nang – Nagoya, Hanoi – Fukuoka operates four return flights per week planned for later this year. there’s magic in MedallionClass Let OceanMedallion™ revolutionise your cruise vacation.
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The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week with the national travel associations in India. The agreement with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) and Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) will focus on boosting two-way travel between the two countries during Visit Malaysia Year 2020. MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok tourist source market, and work with and explore the feasibility of charter Liang commented: “Malaysia is ready airlines to add new routes and increase flights to meet market demand,” he to welcome tourists from India for flight frequencies for scheduled flights concluded. Visit Malaysia 2020 and this MoU is a winning collaboration for MATTA with the TAAI, TAFI and OTOAI, Ubod luxury resort rebrands which augurs well for tourism in both countries.” AFTER nearly two decades under “Hendra Hadiprana defined MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok GHM management, the once-private Indonesian luxury hotel design as we Liang, TAAI president Jyoti Mayal, family estate of Indonesian architect, know it today,” said Tanah Gajah’s GM TAFI acting president Pradip Lulla Hendra Hadiprana, returns to family Deasy Swandarini. “He was the man and OTOAI general secretary Shravan management and has now been behind several upscale hotels and Bhalla. rebranded Tanah Gajah. resorts across Indonesia. Although it MATTA will encourage member was at Tanah Gajah, his companies to introduce new itineraries home, where he really and tour packages to boost visits from groomed his passion for India. Visits from India increased design, and where we plan from 600,311 in 2018 to an estimated to continue his story.” 750,000 in 2019, an increase of 23.2%. Tanah Gajah’s local Travel from India should boom roots will be strengthened now Malaysia has opened visa-free with the renaming of key travel for 15 days after the government facilities on the property extended the Electronic Travel to reflect its origin. The Registration and Information (eNTRI) restaurant is now ‘The system to both travellers from India Tempayan’, named after and China. the large traditional Nationals from India and China earthenware jars that can travel freely to Malaysia without The 20-key property, located in decorate the restaurant. applying for a visa as long as they pre- the hill town of Ubud relaunched as an “Sometimes evolving means register with eNTRI system. independent resort last week dropping returning to the place where you first MATTA is also backing proposals the brand The Chedi Club for a new began,” added Swandarini. “With to increase air connectivity, develop identity ‘Tanah Gajah, a resort by the change, we’re honouring where new tourism products and improve Hadiprana’. we came from and using that as an options for travellers from both India Tanah Gajah was built in the 1980s inspiration to fine-tune what’s in place and China. as a holiday home for the legendary and expand on what works to create “MATTA will continue to support Indonesian architect and transformed something truly extraordinary.” the government and Tourism Malaysia into a resort in 2004 under GHM GHM announced the change in a in developing India as a stronger management. statement on its website late last year. Enjoy Free Wifi, Light Refreshments and Parking Coupons!*
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CONCORDE HOTELS & RESORTS KUALA LUMPUR | SHAH ALAM | SINGAPORE 10 YOUR STORIES 20-26 JANUARY 2020 | TTR WEEKLY Chinese New Year bookings strong
AirAsia reports a booking jump for Chinese New Year flights despite virus scare in Wuhan and rising fuel costs due to the Middle East crisis.
AIRASIA says its average load factor on routes to China during the upcoming Chinese New Year has soared to 90% despite concerns over a virus epidemic in Wuhan. The airline also emphasises its fuel hedging policy, securing at 60.2 USD per barrel for up to 73% of total fuel use to mitigate against fluctuations. Asia Aviation and Thai AirAsia chief executive officer SantisukKlongchaiya said bookings for Chinese New Year, 24 to 31 January, have grown satisfactorily, especially Mueang Airport and Phuket Airport and its capital and is exercising a policy on routes to China, which now have to implement checkpoints and to safeguard against swings in aviation a load factor Average of 90% and are quarantines for international travellers, fuel prices. expected to reach a targeted 95 to 98% checking, screening and monitoring as For 2020, the airline has insured at the same time assuring news of an per safety standards,” Santisuk said. Brent crude oil at an average of USD epidemic in Wuhan has yet to impact On the fluctuating fuel price 60.2 per barrel for up to 73% of its total travel to and from Thailand. resulting from tensions in the Middle fuel supply, enabling it to be confident “Following the news, the airline East, Santisuk indicated Thai AirAsia that any fluctuations in oil price will has been cooperating with Don had in place measures to manage risks have minimal effect. Chubb and Grab insure travel CHUBB, a publicly traded property destination globally. affordable insurance products that and casualty insurance company, To celebrate the launch, the first better meet the everyday needs of and Grab has launched a new travel 20,000 customers can purchase Travel Southeast Asians as we enter the insurance product. Cover at a discounted price of just consumer insurance market. Travel Cover claims to be a SGD1 per day until 29 February for “Our customer research shows simple and rewarding way for users trips within the Asia Pacific region. that many individuals were uninsured to purchase travel insurance anytime, Travel Cover will be rolled out to other when they travel, and we are uniquely right up till the moment of departure. Grab markets in Southeast Asia in the placed to address this gap. Travel Users who purchase Travel Cover coming months. Cover is an example of how we are are able to save their travel profiles on Chubb Singapore country leveraging GrabInsure’s platform the Grab app, making future purchases president Scott Simpson said: to deliver innovative ‘on-demand’ easy and convenient. Additionally, “Outbound travel from Singapore insurance products. We will continue Grab users will be rewarded with is thriving, reaching 10.4 million to work closely together to expand discounts for each repurchase departures by air and sea in 2018[1]. the product offering and address the of Travel Cover. The product is At the same time, smartphone users different consumer needs across the distributed by GrabInsure Insurance are projected to hit 4.65 million this region.” Agency, Grab Financial Group’s year. Our partnership with Grab allows [1] Department of Statistics insurance platform. us to develop more customer-centric https://www.tablebuilder.singstat. Starting Monda, a new insurance insurance solutions that align with the gov.sg/publicfacing/createDataTable. tile was added to the Grab app, varied lifestyles of consumers.” action?refId=15301 allowing Singapore-based customers Grab’s head of Insurance Tom [2]Smartphone users https:// to purchase Travel Cover from Duncan said: “Our mission with www.statista.com/statistics/494598/ just SGD2.50/day for travel to any GrabInsure is to provide access to smartphone-users-in-singapore/
12 YOUR STORIES 20-26 JANUARY 2020 | TTR WEEKLY The “Huat” of Travel during Lunar New Year Falling on 25 January this Travellers can also count on enthusiasts born in the year of the year, Chinese New Year or the certain lucky numbers to get the best Dragon are encouraged to regularly Spring Festival is one of the most out of their travel experience. Grand update their loved ones on their important events in the Chinese Master Tan has shared at least one location and status throughout the calendar and is celebrated by many lucky number ranging from 2 to 10 trip, while those born in the year of across the world. for each Chinese zodiac. Using this, the Goat are reminded that kindness travellers can select their lucky seats begets kindness and being kind would THE auspicious period is a time on the plane by pre-booking their seats help attract benefactors even when for colourful processions, seasonal on row numbers that end with their overseas. markets and lively lion dances, as respective auspicious numbers. To ensure that the trip is stress-free friends and family members meet up, Furthermore, certain activities en and smooth, those born in a Snake exchange Mandarin oranges and feast year have been on festive dishes. While celebrations warned to control are centred on gatherings and food, their food intake, and the holiday is also steeped in age-old to not over-indulge tradition and ceremony, with rituals to when travelling honour familial ancestors and invoke while those born in good luck and fortune for the year a Monkey year have ahead. been advised to stay To help celebrants maximise their alert to ensure they chances for a prosperous year ahead, aren’t duped by any Emirates partnered with Way Fengshui overseas sellers.* Group, Singapore’s first private limited fengshui firm to curate a series of fun Bringing good travel predictions based on the 12 fortune when Chinese Zodiacs for the Year of the travelling Rat. Grand Master Tan Khoon Yong’s As a global airline, predictions range from lucky places to Emirates celebrates visit, the best period to travel, to best events from all over activity on flight and travel partners the world. Travellers to help travellers boost their travel looking to plan their luck in the coming year. According to next adventure the predictions, the months of April, based on the travel September and November are the predictions by Grand most auspicious months for travel for route to destinations can attract more Master Tan Khoon Yong need not look all Chinese zodiacs. However, those good luck as well! When travelling via any further! With Emirates’ expansive born in the year of the Rat and Horse air, jet-setters born in the year of the network and connectivity, travellers are advised to take extra precaution to Horse and Dog are advised to occupy can cover all corners of the world with ensure a risk-free and smooth journey. themselves by watching a movie or the vibrant and dynamic city of Dubai While each Chinese zodiac has two, while those born in the year as its hub. its own set of characteristics, Asian of the Ox are encouraged to start a Emirates operates 28 flights a countries, especially China, Indonesia conversation with the people around week to Dubai from Singapore, where and Japan, are popular and lucky them as they might benefit from these passengers can connect onward to destinations for most travellers. interactions in the future. Europe, the Americas, the Middle For travel-lovers born in the year of For travellers born in the year of East and Africa. The airline provides the Rat, Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Horse and the Tiger and Pig, taking a nap should travellers with direct connections Rooster, heading northwest to different be at the top of their agenda so they to more than 150 destinations in 85 destinations in the United States is can muster all the energy they need countries and territories, including recommended this year – including for the trip. 43 destinations in Europe; 17 in the to destinations such as New York and Additionally, Grand Master Tan also Americas; 23 in Africa; 13 in the Florida. Various destinations in the provided some useful travel tips and Middle East; and 17 in South Asia. European continent will also bring luck warnings to heed for each Chinese Visit: www.emirates.com/sg. to all Chinese zodiacs, except those zodiac to maximise their luck during born in the year of the Tiger. their adventures. For instance, travel Click for full report.