SilkAir has announced it will commence direct flights between Singapore and Cairns from May 30 2015 aboard its latest Boeing 737-800 aircraft, subject to regulatory approvals.
Customers can expect a full service flight, with fares including inflight meals, baggage allowances of 40kg and 30kg for Business and Economy class respectively, and check-in for connecting customers to or from other SilkAir or Singapore Airlines points via Singapore.
Cairns will be the airline’s second Australian destination after Darwin, which was launched in 2012, with SilkAir planning to operate the Cairns service three times weekly on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Outrigger Enterprises Group has announced the appointment of Paul Cutler as the new director of sales and marketing for Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji, and Castaway Island, Fiji, with Cutler to be based in the new Outrigger Sydney office.
Cutler takes up the position following his recent position as Australia-based sales and marketing manager for Fiji’s Nanuku Resort and Spa, with much of his employment experience focusing on Asia-Pacific properties.
Additionally, Petero Manufolau has been appointed to the role of director of sales for the Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji, with Manufolau well known in the hospitality industry for his various senior positions in sales and marketing throughout Fiji, including at The Warwick.
Insight Vacations’ Signature Year continues with the release of its 2015-16 India, Bhutan & Nepal brochure, which includes six Insight Gold journeys that for the first time are both all-inclusive and feature a range of Signature Events for guests to experience.
Additionally, seven Mini Stays have been created, including a seven-day Essence of India tour, with new Signature Events featuring experiences such as dining under the stars at Samode Palace, a restored ancestral residence of the royal family.
On Tuesday November 4, AFTA announced that the Tasmanian Parliament passed the Travel Agent Repeal Bill 2014, making it the last state government to repeal the act and remove the out-dated licensing program that added significant business costs to Tasmanian-based travel distributors.
The decision came after extensive consultation with industry, consumers and governments, with consumers also encouraged to seek an ATAS accredited travel agent in the new operating environment.
“Tasmania is now aligned with the rest of Australia which removes confusion and allows the new accreditation scheme and other travel related business practices to be fully rolled out,” AFTA’s CEO Jayson Westbury said.
Avalon Waterways has named best-selling US author Diana Gabaldon and Canadian singer-songwriter Jann Arden as the Godmothers of its newest Suite Ships, which are set to launch in 2015 and will double the ships and departures on the Seine and Rhone rivers.
Gabaldon will christen Avalon Tapestry II at a ceremony on the banks of the Seine at Les Andelys in France on March 24 2015, while Arden will christen Avalon Tranquility II at a ceremony by the Rhine in Strasbourg in April.
At 100-metres, both ships have just 64 cabins and give Avalon Waterways a total of 10 Suite Ships in an overall European fleet of 15 vessels.
Tourism Malaysia’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen addressed the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF) in Macau earlier this week, confirming that the Malaysian government is committed to the ongoing development of cruise tourism.
According to Man Sri Ng, “Malaysia is developing and upgrading our hubs for cruise tourism, and the Government is fully supportive of making Malaysia the main cruise tourism playground of the East.”
She also reiterated the ASEAN member states’ commitment to improving tourism infrastructure in the region as part of the ASEAN Economic Community integration, saying that cruise tourism presented a significant opportunity to attract more tourists to ASEAN.
Cruise tourism is one of several key focus areas in Malaysia’s tourism development plans, and efforts to grow this segment have resulted in the establishment of advisory committee Malaysia Cruise Council (MCC), with plans also underway to develop the Straits Riviera in Malaysia, comprising six primary ports and sustaining more attraction of larger ships.
Last week, United Airlines launched the inaugural MEL-LAX service on board the new 787-9 Dreamliner from Australia, with the airline inviting key travel agency partners to an annual recognition dinner to celebrate the milestone.
The event was held at Quay Restaurant, and was hosted by United’s senior vice president for worldwide sales Dave Hilfman and Boeing regional director of marketing North America Ken Price, who both travelled to Australia on the inaugural flight.
GlobalCARS have extended its earlybird savings until February 28, 2015.
The deal applies to more than 40 models of Citroen vehicles all equipped with A/C, ABS system, airbags, anti-theft central locking, electric windows and power steering.
