Lessons from WiT Africa, Part 1: From Cape of Good Hope to the promise of youths, mobile and payments
“NDC adoption is slower than two elephants making babies”, among some of the more colourful quotes at the first WiT Africa
“Isn’t it wonderful to wake up to views like these?” said Farai, our driver, taking the very words from my mouth as we weaved through the coastline from Llandudno to [...]
Letter from Cape Town: Of diamonds, dassies and naked surprises
As the Singapore Airlines flight came in for a landing in Cape Town Monday morning and I watched the beautiful vistas of the Western Cape unfold before my eyes, the first question that popped into my head was, “Why has it taken me so long?”
I first came to South Africa when I was still living [...]
I have a dream: Travelling with dignity and humility
How tech can play a role from armchair travel to the physical journey
I’ve now come to an age when my mother needs a wheelchair for travelling. Day to day, she lives a fairly normal active life but travelling, that’s another proposition.
Travelling is a highly physical activity – those lon [...]
SITA invests in Indicio to lead in digital identity
SITA has confirmed its strategic investment in Indicio, participating as the lead investor in the company’s Series A funding round.
It did not disclose the amount but said “the investment in Indicio, the global market leader in decentralised identity technology, cements a long-standing partners [...]
Bolder and better funded: Takaya plans global growth path for Reiwa
Former Relux founder takes lessons from India’s startup scene
Fresh from his first trip to India, Takaya Shinozuka, founder of Japanese online travel company, Reiwa Travel, is blown away by the dynamism of the market and the ambition of the travel startup founders he met.
“I spent five days, [...]
Swept up by Swiftie, and blame AI for everything
In my neighbourhood in Tanjong Rhu, Singapore, there’s an undercurrent of excitement leading up to this weekend. Actually, forget undercurrent. There’s an over-the-top buzz happening because, well, Taylor Swift starts her six-day concert run this Saturday at the National Stadium, across the rive [...]
HalalTrip makes bid to go after next generation Muslim travellers
After 15 years of building CrescentRating, Fazal takes plunge into consumer waters
After launching CrescentRating in 2008 to rate hotels, and building up a solid research, advisory and consultancy business around halal travel, founder Fazal Bahardeen is ready to plunge into the competitive waters o [...]
Why Thailand picked two communities for its first “Amazing Organic” trips
Ban Bang Rong, Phuket and Mae Tha, Chiang Mai showcase for local efforts to protect communities through organic farming and sustainability practices
As part of efforts to support the Organic Tourism movement in Thailand, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been promoting “Amazing Organic Trip� [...]
Reviving intangible heritage: Chris Ong’s mission to restore soul to Penang through rituals and artefacts at Seven Terraces
“Material heritage can be acquired, what was missing was the living culture”
In Penang, the eighth day of Lunar New Year known locally as “Pai Ti Kong” – prayers to the Jade Emperor – is celebrated with much gusto and fervour by the Hokkien clan, which is the dominant Chinese community. [...]
Excuse me, did you hear my clone speak Mandarin? A new cry in the age of AI
I was sitting at dinner to usher in the eighth day of Lunar New Year, an auspicious time in Penang, when immediately after the first course of tossing “yusheng” and shouting for prosperity, the conversation turned to AI.
I mean, we had just witnessed the most elaborate and magnificent ceremon [...]
