NATAS celebrates 35th Anniversary with donation drive and new Airline Exhibitors at NATAS Travel Fair 2014

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) celebrates 35th Anniversary and SilkAir 25th Anniversary at its latest national Travel Fair held at Singapore Expo Halls 3, 5 and 5A from 28 February to 2 March 2014 with a donation drive and new Airline Exhibitors.  NATAS has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1979 when it began with 82 members to over 400 members this year.

During the travel fair, the public can donate any amount to Community Chest at the donation boxes located at NATAS ticketing booths to celebrate NATAS 35th Anniversary together. NATAS are working with Community Chest to donate 35000 Singapore Dollars to three non-profit organizations  linked to Community Chest, namely Pathlight School, Rainbow Centre - Margaret Drive School and THK Epic Centre @ Choa Chu Kang.

NATAS Travel Fair 2014 is smaller in scale than the edition last year as a result of the bankruptcy of one of its former members Five Star Tours. However, it has attracted new Airline Exhibitors and younger Travel Agent Exhibitors.

The new Airline Exhibitors are Air Greenland, SilkAir and Ethiopian Airlines.

Air Greenland, the national airline of Greenland, is evaluating the Southeast Asia market's response to tourism and travel in Greenland through its Greenland Travel packages at booth 3H67A. In recent years, some Singaporean travellers have explored the world to as far as Greenland and the Arctic region. Working hand-in-hand with Japanese travel firm JTB, Universal Travel and Singapore Airlines, Air Greenland hopes to attract more Singaporeans to visit Greenland via Copenhagen. Air Greenland does not fly to Singapore directly.

At NATAS Travel Fair 2014, Air Greenland distributes three different travel programs for departures in March, May and September 2014 via Copenhagen. Air Greenland has daily flights from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq, the gateway to Greenland. Air Greenland says Greenland is home to the enormous Inland Ice Cap and a trip to the Ice Cap offers great opportunities to spot musk oxen and reindeer. See the biggest Ice Fjord with the most number of icebergs in Ilulissat, Greenland, via a domestic flight of Air Greenland from Kangerlussuaq. Hotel bookings start from 7495 Singapore Dollars per person!

Air Greenland distributes its Greenland tour itineraries, limited number of Greenland Travel scenery postcards and pens to visitors.

At the Singapore Airlines booth 4H19, SilkAir celebrates its 25th Anniversary and welcomes the public with its Boeing B737-800 flight deck simulator demonstrations, a preview of the new cabin interiors via large digital displays, free refreshment tries, distributions of free goodies through preferred SilkAir Facebook "like" selections, SilkAir e-newsletter sign-ups and row-the-spin wheel contests. Collectibles such as Silkwinds February 2014, SilkAir's umbrellas, water tumblers, travel power adaptors (Star Prize) and Summer 2014 Timetables marking the 25th Anniversary of SilkAir, Singapore Airlines' gamecards and A380 aircraft models (Star Prize) are distributed. There are special fare promotions as well.

Ethiopian Airlines has the tallest booth in NATAS Travel Fair at 4H05. Marking its successful launch of flights to Singapore from Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines distributes travel brochures, Singapore flight schedules, Ethiopian Holidays magazines, its official inflight magazine Selamta January/February 2014 and pens in a backdrop of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft model and African travel decorations. Fare promotions include an unbelievable one-way fare to Johannesburg via Suvarnabhumi and Addis Ababa from 945 Singapore Dollars, taxes included!

Ticket sponsor and partner of NATAS Travel Fair, Etihad Airways, distributed fare brochures, hardcopies of Etihad Inflight February 2014, pens and announced new flight services to destinations for this year such as Zurich, Yerevan and new frequencies to Sao Paulo for the World Cup 2014 via Abu Dhabi in June 2014.

At the World Travel Awards in 2013, Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi is the first airline in the world to win thr prestigious "World's Leading Airline" award for the fifth straight year and the "World's Leading Airline - First Class" award for the sixth year running.

For more information or booking enquiries, visit Etihad booth 3H58, call 6818 5555 or visit www.etihad.com/en-sg.

British Airways, another ticket sponsor and partner, markets its new A380 flights to Singapore from London which will be launched in October 2014 offering the public chances to win free round-trip tickets to London on its A380 aircraft.

Airlines exhibiting at NATAS Travel Fair 2014 include Air India, China Airlines and Eva Air with their brochures and flight schedules under their national tourism board booths.

Younger travel agents such as Lopoko Travel and Pelican Travel Net exhibit at the travel fair too. Pelican Travel Net from Japan distributes useful Visitors' Guides to cities such as Fukuoka and Kagoshima.

The three large national tourism pavilions are Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, China, Brazil, the Philippines and Mexico.

As usual, every 500 Singapore Dollars spent at NATAS Travel 2014 gives visitors chances to win attractive prizes including business class tickets to Zurich and  Chongqing sponsored by Singapore Airlines and SilkAir respectively. Subequent prizes include air tickets to Australia, China, India, Japan, Laos, the Maldives, Thailand and Turkey and hotel stay vouchers plus many more prizes in the NATAS Grand Draw at 8 pm on 2 March.

Luxurious tent accommodation next to Banteay Chhmar Temples of Cambodia

Press Release : Khiri Travel Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan                / KUCINTA SETIA Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Bangkok, 27 February 2014 -- Khiri Travel has introduced luxury tented accommodation right alongside the Banteay Chhmar temples in a remote corner of Cambodia. The initiative is being done with cooperation from the local community who are involved with tent setup, maintenance and providing hospitality. It also has the support of the Global Heritage Fund (GHF) and the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.  The aim of GHF's Banteay Chhmar Conservation Training Project is to save the last great Angkorian temple complex in Cambodia that remains largely unstudied and unprotected.  Banteay Chhmar temples were built in the late 12th or early 13th century. Khiri Travel has entered a partnership with the local community and is working to build a sustainable business for the local villagers. The aim is to help them learn additional skills, which bring much needed extra income. The initiative is fully supported by the villagers. The Banteay Chhmar temples are listed for potential inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The custom-designed tents are high quality Gore-Tex and allow substantial comfort including toilet facilities. There are two tents. Each one can sleep two people in comfort. Villagers cook on site using as many local ingredients as possible. "The tents are erected right alongside the temple ruins," said Jack Bartholomew, General Manager of Khiri Travel Cambodia.  "Guests get an authentic, away-from-it-all Khmer cultural experience. I think it's a very peaceful, low impact and rewarding way to enjoy Khmer heritage and give back to the local community," he said. Banteay Chhmar is a 3.5 hour 4WD drive from Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. Khiri recommends the tented camp as an ideal stopover on an overland journey from Bangkok or Khao Yai national park in Thailand to Siem Reap, or vice versa. Training of the local community is ongoing. Travel agents wishing to book the tents for guests with a slightly adventurous streak should email sales.cambodia@khiri.com. Source : ScottAsia Communications

Fukuoka welcomes its first international budget flight from 10 April 2014

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Fukuoka, Japan, welcomes its first international budget flight from Hong Kong on 10 April 2014. In June 2014, it welcomes its first budget flight from Singapore and Suvarnabhumi on 27 June.

On 10 April 2014, Hk express, Hong Kong's low-cost airline, launches Asia's first budget flight to Fukuoka at 1.05 pm and arrives in Fukuoka at 5.20 pm under flight code UO636. At 6 pm, flight UO639 leaves Fukuoka for Hong Kong and touches down in Hong Kong at 8.35 pm. A recent one-way promotion fare on the Hong Kong-Fukuoka route starts from 580 Hong Kong Dollars which is less than 110 Singapore Dollars.

On 26 June 2014, according to Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun, Jetstar Japan operated by Jetstar Asia begins its long-haul flight to Fukuoka from Singapore via Suvarnabhumi. At 10.50 pm, a Jetstar flight 3K509 leaves Singapore for Suvarnabhumi, transits in Suvarnabhumi for two hours to pick up Bangkok passengers before departing at 2.10 am for Fukuoka and arrives in Fukuoka at 9.30 am on 27 June. One hour later, the outgoing Jetstar  flight 3K510 leaves Fukuoka at 10.30 am, transits in Suvarnabhumi for another two hours before touching down in Singapore at 6.40 pm on 27 June. One-way promotion fare starts from 219 Singapore Dollars.

Flights to Fukuoka by Hk express and Jetstar are operated by their Airbus A320 aircraft on a daily basis. Jetstar Japan also operates budget flights to Fukuoka via Osaka.

Hunnu Air begins direct service to Paris from Ulaanbaatar on 9 June 2014

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Hunnu Air, Mongolia's largest private airline, begins Mongolia's first direct flight to Paris from Ulaanbaatar on 9 June 2014 using its Airbus A319 aircraft and later its newly-acquired Airbus A330 aircraft.

On 9 June, Hunnu Air flight MR8201 departs from Ulaanbaatar at 7.40 am and arrives in Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport at 1 pm. 1 hour 20 minutes later, flight MR8202 launches its first flight from Paris for Ulaanbaatar at 2.20 pm and touches down in Ulaanbaatar at 7.05 am on 10 June.

In November 2013, Hunnu Air announced that it will begin its first long-haul flight to Paris in mid-2014, which will follow by Singapore by end of 2014 or early 2015 or by 2016.

In June 2014, Hunnu Air will resume twice-weekly flights from Ulaanbaatar to Shanghai-Pudong on 7 June.

Before June 2014, Hunnu Air flies from Ulaanbaatar to Hong Kong, Suvarnabhumi, Manzhouli, Hailar, from Choibalsan to Manzhouli and Hailar, and operates an extensive domestic flight network in Mongolia. With the additions of Paris and Shanghai to its route network, it will fly to six international airports from 9 June.

AirAsia flies to Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu from Singapore starting April 2014

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

AirAsia launches direct flights to Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu from Singapore in April 2014.

On 21 April 2014, AirAsia flight AK914 departs from Singapore at 9.10 am for Kota Bharu and arrives in Kota Bharu at 10.30 am before taking off for Singapore at 11.40 am, touching down in Singapore at 1 pm under AK915.

The inaugural AirAsia flight to Kuala Terengganu from Singapore begins on 22 April 2014. On that day, flight AK902 takes off from Singapore at 9.10 am and touches down in Kuala Terengganu at 10.35 am. One hour later, flight AK903 departs for Singapore from Kuala Terengganu and arrives in Singapore at 1 pm.

AirAsia Airbus A320 flights to Kota Bharu take place four times per week while there are three flights per week to Kuala Terengganu. For further information, please visit www.airasia.com.

Singapore hosts first EU-ASEAN Aviation Summit today

Report Edited by : Gan Yung Chyan

                          / KUCINTA SETIA

Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The inaugural EU-ASEAN Aviation Summit, which takes place from 11 to 12 February 2014 in Singapore in conjuction with the Singapore Air Show, is set to boost bilateral tourism between the two blocs. It is hosted by the Government of Singapore.

The one-and-a-half day summit  addresses key issues such as removing barriers to single aviation markets, new business opportunities, aviation safety, air traffic management, and the way forward in EU-ASEAN aviation relations.

Among the sessions, EU aviation experts will show how the creation of a single aviation market, as exists in Europe, would act as a major spur to rapid intra-ASEAN aviation growth.

The Summit intends to serve as an important platform to deepen the strategic aviation dialogue between ASEAN and the EU, with the aim is to conclude a comprehensive air transport agreement between the two regions in the near future. A clearer way forward for EU-ASEAN aviation collaboration and its priority areas are expected to be among the Summit's outcomes.

"I believe cooperation, partnership and the easing of regulations will follow on from the summit," said Mr Tran Phu Cuong, Deputy Director General, International Cooperation Department, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), who is also Chairman of the ASEAN Tourism Marketing and Communication Working Group.

Policy makers and senior industry executives from the public and private sectors will attend, including airlines, regional airline associations, airports, air navigation service providers, and manufacturers.

Over 11 million Europeans visited ASEAN in 2012, up from 9.8 million in 2011. ASEAN expects about 12 million for 2013, when the final numbers are received.

Europe is responsible for 11% of all international visitors arrivals to ASEAN, which draws most of its arrivals from neighbouring markets such as China, India, Japan and Korea.

The EU-ASEAN Summit is being organised jointly by the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), represented by the ASEAN Air Transport Working Group and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Source : ASEAN Tourism, Bangkok.

Organic quinoa salad now available in Singapore

Heritage Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                             / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The use of quinoa (精糯, jingnuo in Singapore Chinese), "the mother of all grains", in foods of Singapore has increased in almost the past 10 years ever since the journalist of this report self-published and produced the second book ASIA.PERU Exports in 2005.

Now besides multi-grain bread variants that contain quinoa as one of the ingredients which one can find in NTUC Fairprice and neighbourhood grocery stores, consumers who have never tasted quinoa before can eat organic quinoa salads in Singapore.

Available in Morsi & Sorsi Italian cafe by Chef Lino Sauro at 51 Telok Ayer Street at a dining cost of 10 Singapore Dollars, organic quinoa salad does not taste bitter as quinoa's coating of saponins had far been removed before tonnes of quinoas were sold to Singapore. Gluten-free, higher in protein than brown rice and rich in calcium and iron, quinoa is one of the official staples of the NASA astronauts. It is the staple of South Amercians who live in the Andes mountainous region covering Peru, Bolivia and Chile. It is easily digestible.

Ingredients of organic quinoa salad :-
- organic quinoa
- almond
- cucumbers
- red pepper
- green pepper
- carrot slices

For further information on quinoa's history in Singapore, Asia and South America, please refer to ASIA.PERU Exports, which is available as a reference book in all National Library branches of Singapore and the Embassy of Peru Commercial Section in Singapore.

Thanks to Morsi & Sorsi for introducing this unique salad to diners in Singapore. 

Hong Kong Express Airways unveils new livery and announces new route to Seoul-Incheon

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Hong Kong Express Airways or Hongkong Express has been renamed Hk express. On 20 January 2014, it unveiled its new future livery showing the iconic skyline of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on its tail as its aircraft logo and new name "Hk express" along the aircraft's body. Its aircraft spotting the new livery which symbolize the energetic and can-do spirit of Hong Kong and the airline's new name will be officially launched on the low-cost airline's new route to Seoul-Incheon on 30 March 2014.

On 30 March, Hk express flight UO618 departs for Seoul-Incheon from Hong Kong at 7.20 am and arrives in Seoul-Incheon at 11.55 am before taking off from Seoul-Incheon at 1.15 pm and touching down in Hong Kong at 4 pm under flight UO619. The new route will be operated on a daily basis.

According to Andrew Cowen, the Deputy CEO of Hk express, the airline plans to launch further new services to 11 more destinations in Asia by end of 2014 and add further more than 10 Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet.

Hongkong Express currently Hong Kong's first low-cost airline owned by HNA Group flies from Hong Kong to Taichung, Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka, Kunming, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

The amended Air Services Agreement between Singapore and the Philippines on 8 February 2014

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The first amended Air Services Agreement between Singapore and a foreign country in 2014 is signed on 8 February. The Philippines and Singapore have agreed to allow increases in the number of seats on flights between Manila and Singapore, as well as expand fifth freedom rights between the two countries today.

The new agreement increases the number of seats to around 16,800 on the Manila-Singapore route per week for each country. The current number of seats is 13,800 per week for each country.

According to Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla, the agreement also expands the fifth freedom rights of both countries, by adding China for Singapore upon the requests of low cost airlines Tigerair and Jetstar, and India for the Philippines as Philippine Airlines would like to fly to other Indian cities via Singapore. 

Philippine Airlines currently flies direct to Delhi from Manila.

Fifth freedom rights refer to the airline's right to fly passengers to a third country from a country with which an airline's resident country has an outstanding air services agreement.

Garuda Indonesia Explore Jet in Penang Airport

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Garuda Indonesia has recently rebranded its Bombardier CRJ 1000 NextGen aircraft as "Explore Jet". The aircraft currently flies within Sumatra and from Medan to Penang. Sayacinta - Airpost captured the shots of Explore Jet below arriving at Penang International Airport in the afternoon of 3 January 2014.