In the news: TripAdvisor reveals travellers’ choice destinations, BCD enters Cambodia, Pad Air for Malaysia Airlines, it’s Asia for Singapore travellers on year-end vacations
Da Nang, Vietnam, is the destination of choice for travellers in 2015
Da Nang, a destination on the rise (Image credit: TripAdvisor)
Southeast Asia is the preferred holiday getaway for travellers, as destinations in the region dominate the awards for places to see next year in TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise
The rapidly developing Da Nang in Vietnam is named top destination on the rise in Asia and the world. Its neighbours of Sihanoukville in Cambodia takes the second spot in both Asia and the world, while Ao Nang in Thailand ranks third in Asia and fourth in the world.
The awards highlight 52 spots around the world, which have seen the greatest increase in positive feedback and interest from the TripAdvisor community year-on-year.
Award-winners were determined using an algorithm that primarily measured the year-on-year increase in positive TripAdvisor traveller review ratings on accommodations, restaurants, and attractions, across destinations worldwide. (Full list below)
Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor, said: “The TripAdvisor community has helped surface some unheralded destinations across the globe that are receiving rave reviews from travellers worldwide. From the beaches of Southeast Asia to the citadels in Europe, these award-winners offer highly-rated options for accommodation, restaurants and activities to inspire those planning their vacations for the new year.”
Travellers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise – Asia
- Da Nang, Vietnam – 122 hotels, 203 restaurants, 74 attractions
- Sihanoukville, Cambodia – 53 hotels, 197 restaurants, 61 attractions
- Ao Nang, Thailand – 87 hotels, 157 restaurants, 78 attractions
- Naha, Japan – 102 hotels, 1,059 restaurants, 82 attractions
- Malé, Maldives – 38 hotels, 89 restaurants, 24 attractions
- Baku, Azerbaijan – 92 hotels, 51 restaurants, 213 attractions
- Leh, India – 51 hotels, 53 restaurants, 52 attractions
- Kandy, Sri Lanka – 50 hotels, 73 restaurants, 75 attractions
- Yerevan, Armenia – 50 hotels, 279 restaurants, 73 attractions
- Rishikesh, India – 40 hotels, 68 restaurants, 66 attractions
Travellers’ Choice Destinations on the Rise – World
- Da Nang, Vietnam – 122 hotels, 203 restaurants, 74 attractions
- Sihanoukville, Cambodia – 53 hotels, 197 restaurants, 61 attractions
- Limassol, Cyprus – 60 hotels, 337 restaurants, 83 attractions
- Ao Nang, Thailand – 87 hotels, 157 restaurants, 78 attractions
- Bodrum City, Turkey – 115 hotels, 385 restaurants, 101 attractions
- Naha, Japan – 102 hotels, 1,059 restaurants, 82 attractions
- Hurghada, Egypt –182 hotels, 229 restaurants, 162 attractions
- Kazan, Russia – 44 hotels, 1,081 restaurants, 217 attractions
- Manaus, Brazil – 40 hotels, 935 restaurants, 141 attractions.
- Eilat, Israel – 65 hotels, 88 restaurants, 65 attractions
• Click here for the complete list of the award winners, reviews and traveller photos of the Destinations on the Rise.
BCD Travel ventures into Cambodia through tie-up with Tonle Travel
Tonle Travle’s Tui Rutten: Partnership with BCD Travel adds value to business travel programmes.
Global management company, BCD Travel, is expanding its footprint in Asia Pacific with a new partner, Tonle Travel, which specialises in corporate travel and inbound tours.
The partnership between the two companies caps a working relationship of more than four years.
BCD Travel said its presence in Cambodia reflected the country’s strategic importance to global business as a trading and logistics hub for the Indochina region.
Vinay Chhaya, vice president of operations in Asia Pacific for BCD Travel, added: “The partnership with Tonle Travel allows us to enhance our service offering and grow our presence in a key emerging market.”
Tui Rutten, managing director of Tonle Travel, said: “Cambodia’s robust economic performance continues, with 7.5% anticipated real growth in 2015, and rising foreign direct investment. This growth in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors has resulted in increased demand for quality corporate travel management solutions.
“By partnering with BCD Travel we can add immediate value to our Cambodian customers’ business travel programmes, and foster new business development growth.”
Greg O’Neil, BCD Travel president for Asia Pacific noted that the solid economic outlook in Asia would provide opportunities for the company to expand its presence throughout the region.
“This new partnership sends a clear message: As a global player in the business travel market, we’re committed to helping corporate customers and their travellers travel smart and achieve more— wherever they need to be.”
This partnership marks BCD Travel’s 18th market in Asia Pacific.
Malaysia Airlines equips its A330 fleet with iPad Air
The iPad Air for MAS pilots on the A300 fleet. (Image credit: TkKurikawa:iStock)
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is going the paperless way with its initial move of equipping the flight deck crew on its A330 fleet with Apple’s iPad Air.
The tablets are installed with electronic navigation charts from Lufthansa Systems and integrated Airbus Flysmart application. The interactive electronic information contains all required routes and airports, presented in a convenient manner for pilots, from take-off to landing.
According to MAS, the move would pave the way for a paperless cockpit solution to increase operational efficiency and enhance safety of flight operations.
Captain Izham Ismail, MAS’ director of operations, added the airline was a forerunner in Asia Pacific to provide such electronic solutions in the flight deck.
“The system application enables simplified flight preparation without compromising safety. It is important that we harness on current technology and valuable innovation to increase our pilots’ situational awareness.”
He added the applications also allow for better access for pilots and quick retrieval of flight information. “Documents can be retrieved electronically and easily as opposed to searching for specific information in thick hard copy manuals.”
The airline also benefits from increased safety due to the simplified crew’ flight preparation and increased situational awareness.
It’s Asia over Europe for Singapore travellers on year-end holidays
Bangkok is the most popular destination in Asia. (Image credit: gh19/iStock)
Regional travel features highly on the list of Singapore travellers heading for their year-end vacation, with Asia as the top destination.
According to the latest finding from Hotels.com, travellers from Singapore are shunning a European getaway and opting for regional holidays, with eight out of the top 10 destination searches on Asia.
London and Paris were the only two European cities completing the top 10 list for 2014.
Bangkok is the most popular Asian destination in 2014, replacing Hong Kong that took a two-step tumble from its top position to third place. Japan is also proving to be popular, with Tokyo up two spots to second placing.
Hotels.com said the most interesting finding was from Singapore itself, with local searches for hotels in the republic coming in the sixth position for two consecutive years (see chart below).
Katherine Cole, regional director at Hotels.com, said: “2014 has seen the growing popularity of staycations and Singapore is at the fore of this trend. The republic is high on the radar as locals increasingly look to a nearby hotel for a quick weekend respite with family and friends. With numerous festive hotel promotions, year-end events and countdown parties in the pipeline, Singapore is the destination to be for Christmas and the New Year.”
The data also revealed that apart from Bangkok other destinations in Thailand. such as Krabi and Chiang Mai, are emerging as hot spots for 2015. The Thai capital, however, continues to be the top choice for Singapore travellers.
Searches to Krabi for December spiked a whopping 67% year-on-year, whilst Chiang Mai saw a 45% increase.
Cole expects to see even greater demand for Thailand from Singapore travellers in the coming year, as Thai authorities increase their efforts to attract tourists back to the country post-coup.
“On the other hand, Japan is the perfect regional destination to experience a white Christmas without the hassle of long-haul travel. With the depreciating Yen, this also makes it one of the best periods to visit the country,” she added.
• Featured image credit (Ao-Nang, Thailand): TripAdvisor
