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Journey into Silence: The Serene Beauty of Nyepi, the Balinese New Year

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Bali, Indonesia, January 31, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Bali is renowned for its stunning landscapes and fascinating culture. The Balinese practice their unique form of Hinduism, with rituals of worship and cleansing structured by their lunar calendar, the Saka. Their ceremonies are often grand and magnificent, accompanied by lively celebrations. However, one stands out as perhaps the most beautiful of them all – Nyepi, the Balinese New Year, a day of silence and introspection.

Chaos Before the Quiet
The night before Nyepi is far from quiet. Streets are filled with the joyous and vibrant energy of the ogoh-ogoh parades. Villages and communities spend weeks preparing garish monsters made of cloth, tinsel, and papier-mâché, representing malevolent spirits, demons, or negative forces. These heavy statues are hoisted on bamboo rafts through the villages with shouts, chants, and the clanging of gongs until they meet their final fate in a massive cleansing bonfire. The next day, Bali undergoes a remarkable transformation as Nyepi, the day of silence, unfolds.

A Day Like No Other
The usually lively streets and beaches fall into an unusual stillness. No planes land in paradise, as the airport closes and planes stand idle on the runway, perhaps taking a pause to reflect on the year ahead alongside the rest of Bali. No fires are lit, no lights are turned on, and only a few hushed words are spoken. All that can be heard is birdsong and the wind rustling the palms.

Nyepi for the Visitor
The Balinese stay home, meditate, pray, and perform rituals. The sense of calm and introspection also permeates into the resorts, where tourists pause their travels to relax and reflect in silent camaraderie, engaging in a candlelit card game or two. Unfortunately, an ill-advised trend has emerged on social media, where tourists sneak out to take selfies on the empty streets, considered highly offensive to the Balinese.

Silent Night
As the day of silence comes to a close, Nyepi night is a final treat. With minimal light interference, the island’s skies become an astronomical canvas, displaying a breathtaking array of stars. This allows you to experience the Milky Way as it is seen only in the most remote of places.

Experiencing Nyepi
Nyepi is a rare and memorable experience for visitors. In the unspoiled North Bali, The Damai Resort offers guests a unique opportunity to experience this fascinating ritual in an immersive setting centered around sound and silence. The renowned sound healer and yogi, Akiko Kigarashi, will host sessions with her famous brass singing bowls – hauntingly beautiful vibrating bowls that emit moving soundscapes resonating within your body. For more information, contact The Damai Resort.

About Damai, Bali’s Gourmet Retreat
The Damai Resort is Just a few hours from the airport, but light years away from the crowds. Just 14 private villas with views of the surrounding spice plantations and Java’s distant volcanoes – and a prize winning restaurant, that for three decades have been one of Bali’s leading restaurants. The Damai is also home to North Bali’s best spa.

Journey into Silence
Stay at the Damai Resort, accommodation for 4 or 5 nights in a luxury Pool Studio or Pool Villa
– return transfer at any point in Bali
– 1×3 course Balinese dinner menu
– 1×60 minutes Balinese massage
– 1x morning dolphin tour
– 1x private yoga
– 1x singing bowl
– 1 time free laundry
– daily fresh Damai jamu during breakfast
To book The Silent package at The Damai Hotel, please contact
reservation@thedamai.com or via Whatsapp + 62 877 88841008.

About Akiko Igarashi
Aikiko is a sound healer, reiki practitioner and yogi with a rich background hosting retreats worldwide, Akiko founded the Shima Healing Institute in 2015, offering ancient Eastern holistic courses.

Drawing from her diverse expertise, Akiko has been a Reiki instructor for nearly two decades, a Qigong practitioner, a Yoga therapist and a Tibetan Singing bowl Master for the last 10 years, brings a harmonious blend to guide you back to a tranquil state of well-being.

 

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Completes Gastronomy Tourism Project for Ubud

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UNWTO Completes Gastronomy Tourism Project for Ubud - VISITBALI.orgUbud, Bali, Indonesia, December 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has concluded the Gastronomy Tourism Project, designed to make Ubud, Indonesia, a global hub of sustainable gastronomy tourism. Within the framework of Indonesia’s annual Tourism National Coordinative Meeting, the project’s final report was presented to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, and to the Gianyar Regional Government.

The UNWTO Gastronomy Tourism Product Development Project in Ubud was developed with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy with the aim of growing gastronomy tourism as a pillar of cultural and gastronomic heritage and boost the local economy, create jobs and drive sustainable and inclusive development. Launched in 2018, it was put on hold during the pandemic, returning at the start of this year. The project was divided into three phases:

  • Phase 1: Analysis and diagnosis: inventory and evaluation of gastronomy resources, analysis of demand indicators, market study, online positioning and influencers in gastronomy tourism
  • Phase 2: Technical design: conformation of the development of the Gastronomy Tourism experience in Ubud, including governance, communication and positioning models
  • Phase 3: Development of the business plan: definition of indicators for measuring the impact and the outcomes of the project, design and format of the gastronomy experiences, business model and a communication plan for key source markets

As part of the project final visit, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will host a workshop for local stakeholders from both the public and private sectors in Ubud to discuss the outcomes of the project. The workshop will welcome participants from regional and local Destination Management Organizations, as well as representatives of gastronomy-related businesses and academia, to discuss an action plan and the way forward to turn Ubud into a global hub of sustainable and authentic community-based gastronomic experiences. The workshop will also focus on the next steps, such as the creation of a Gastronomy Tourism Club to support a structured governance model.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Half of all Global Destinations Now Offer Digital Nomad Visas

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Half of all Global Destinations Now Offer Digital Nomad Visas - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, November 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The number of destinations offering Digital Nomad Visas has risen significantly over recent years, with almost half now offering visas for at least one year.

According to a new analysis by the World Tourism Organization covering 54 destinations, the rise in Digital Nomad Visas (DNVs) has gone hand-in-hand with an increase in digital nomads, with destinations in all regions working to meet the market trend.

Destinations Welcoming Digital Nomads

The UNWTO Brief examines the DNV programmes in seven areas: Application process, Duration of visa, Taxation, Insurance, Accommodation, Minimum income requirements and criminal records check. The brief  looks at the background and current state of digital nomadism trends and provides an analysis of existing DNVs worldwide in five regions. Key findings include:

  • 47% of destinations offer visas for up to one year.
  • 39% of destinations exempt digital nomads from tax payments.
  • 17% of destinations do not have minimum income requirements.
  • 76% of destinations have online applications for DNV programmes.
  • 80% of destinations process applications within one-month period.
  • Only 6% of destinations have no visa fees for application.

Embracing the future of work

A DNV allows individuals to live and work in a foreign country while maintaining employment or conducting freelance work for employers or clients in their home or another country. With this visa, digital nomads can continue their professional pursuits while embracing the opportunity to immerse themselves in the host destination’s unique lifestyle in line with much of the trends of the future of work. Furthermore, destinations use DNV to attract professionals from creative and technology areas to stimulate these areas nationally.

Flexibility and digital access key

At the same time, the UNWTO Brief highlights the key considerations for destinations when offering or expanding their DNV programmes:

  • Digitalization of destination: Due to the importance of well-connectivity and productivity, the host destinations tend to invest in robust digital infrastructure. High-speed internet, co-working spaces, and comfortable accommodations are available to facilitate optimal remote work conditions.
  • Balancing Work and Lifestyle: By offering a flexible visa framework, host destinations empower digital nomads to create the work environments while immersing themselves in local culture and lifestyle.
  • Future Impact Assessment: The brief underscores the importance of establishing impact assessment for  DNV programmes as a new mechanism.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Cross Hotels & Resorts Ushers in New Era of Luxury in Bali

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Cross Hotels & Resorts Ushers in New Era of Luxury in Bali - VISITBALI.orgBali, Indonesia, November 2, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Cross Hotels & Resorts has unveiled its latest triumph, an exciting hotel management agreement with PT. Grha Swahita (BIP Group) that will see Cross Paasha Bali Seminyak become part of an exclusive portfolio on 1st January 2024. Nestled at the heart of Seminyak, this gem of a property promises beachside bliss by day and an electrifying nightlife scene after sunset.

Brimming with modernity and a contemporary vibe, the 99-key hotel oozes unadulterated charm, creating an ambiance of serenity and relaxation. The low-rise property offers a variety of gorgeous 55-square-meter suites spanning three floors, while a further 10 suites with stunning views are located on the upper floors. For the ultimate vacation, the expansive 110-square-meter Penthouse Suite has ocean views and is perfect for families and small groups.

“This momentous signing is a pivotal milestone in our continued pursuit of excellence in Indonesia, especially Bali. Seminyak is a beacon of natural beauty, and I am confident this hotel will elevate the stylish beach town to new heights. This partnership embodies the shared vision between Cross Hotels & Resorts and PT. Grha Swahita, thus I anticipate remarkable success on the horizon,” declared Harry Thaliwal, CEO of Cross Hotels & Resorts.

As Cross Hotels & Resorts continues to build its presence across the Asia-Pacific region, it is unwavering in its commitment to a new corporate vision, one that charts a path towards becoming ‘APAC’s Hotel Management Operator of Choice’, offering owners a revolutionary alternative to conventional chains. This signing becomes Cross Hotels & Resorts’ 8th jewel in Indonesia’s hospitality crown.

With its unwavering commitment to empower owners in key markets, Cross Hotels & Resorts remains leagues ahead of the competition with its unique management formula. In stark contrast to larger, unwieldy chains, Cross Hotels & Resorts grants owners the flexibility to harness a selection of cherished lifestyle brands that resonate with local patrons and international travelers.

Suzanna Tanojo, Principal of PT. Grha Swahita (BIP Group), extolled the partnership, affirming, “Our quest was to unearth a hotel management provider that shared our vision, and in Cross Hotels & Resorts, we’ve found the ideal ally. Cross boasts a formidable global reach, and we place our faith in their specialization. What truly sets them apart is their unwavering dedication to F&B development—a defining factor in our decision-making process.”

Cross Hotels & Resorts continues to attract hotel owners with innovative strategies that boost ancillary revenue and empower GMs to break from tradition to maximize property growth. With its unique approach, Asia-Pacific’s brand leader is reshaping hotel management by redefining the landscape. This reaffirms Cross Hotels & Resorts as a pioneer in the future of the Asia-Pacific’s hospitality sector.

The current portfolio of Cross Hotels & Resorts boasts 28 hotels across four countries, represented under six distinctive brands: Cross, Cross Vibe, Away, Lumen, Cross Collection, and Kaura, and includes destinations in Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam.

About Cross Hotels & Resorts
Cross Hotels & Resorts is an international hotel management company wholly owned by the ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). FCTG is one of the world’s largest and progressive travel companies, incorporating diverse worldwide distribution, in destination travel experiences such as transport and touring as well as hotel management solutions. Cross Hotels & Resorts also delivers owner services all the way from the very early sourcing and planning stages of a development, through technical services during build, to pre-opening services and finally professional ongoing hotel management.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2023 Unveiling Quality and Sustainable Tourism

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Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2023 Unveiling Quality and Sustainable Tourism - TRAVELINDEX - VISITBALI.orgDenpasar, Bali, June 10, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / In an era marked by increasing cultural awareness, quality tourism, environmental concerns, and a growing desire for responsible travel, BBTF presents the theme of the 9th BBTF 2023 in relevance to these global market trends with: “Reconnecting to Quality & Sustainable Tourism”.

Our commitment to promote and preserve destinations has received a positive response from all stakeholders, including major national and international players who have renewed their confidence in the BBTF ability to generate a productive impact and support their market development.

“We have just closed the online registration with a great achievement of 230 sellers from 5 countries. This year we have China, Italia, Malaysia and America with of course majority Indonesia based companies. We are pleased to welcome 337 buyers from 51 countries, in accordance with this year’s target” I Putu Winastra, the head committee of BBTF 2023 and Chairman of ASITA Bali chapter stated.

The event will be held on June 14th-17th, 2023 at Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) in the presence of Qatar Airways and buyers from Europe, the Middle East, ASEAN, Australia, America and Asia, that all together will strengthen the positioning of BBTF and the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies – ASITA Bali chapter. The trust of key market players in our organization is also expressed by the attendance of reputable hotel operators such as Marriott International group, Hyatt group, Archipelago group, Accor, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Cross Hotel, Bali Villa Association (BVA), Ubud Hotel Association (UHA), Swiss-Belhotel International among many other high-ranking companies and associations as sellers.

This year some new integrated industry from state-owned enterprises will join BBTF for the first time together with a series of Indonesian exciting exhibitors such as Regions of Bali, Yogyakarta (DIY), DKI Jakarta, East Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau Islands, West Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), South Sulawesi and West Sumatera.

In response to market demand, BBTF will showcase and promote sustainable tourism products for a responsible future. Further, particular focus is also being given to health, emphasizing the current growth of the wellness and medical tourism industry as well as community-based tourism.

Business contracts to be generated within one year during our B2B event are estimated to reach IDR 8.5 trillion in 2023, showing a 63.5 percent increase compared to the IDR 5.2 trillion produced in 2022. A very promising progress that hopefully will keep on growing in months ahead.

This year, BBTF committee presents some top speakers and invites stakeholders on a tourism seminar prior to the tradeshow. Opportunities and challenges of quality and sustainable tourism, and health tourism business development will be discussed. New learnings on sustainable tourism practices will be reviewed too, as experiences that can create positive ripple effects, benefiting not only the environment but also the local economies and communities that rely on tourism revenues.

“BBTF is taking proactive steps to ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for the tourism industry – this year we invite Indonesian goverment officials to open the event. The chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR-RI) together with the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.” commented I Putu Winastra – referring to the brief agenda of this forthcoming annual Indonesia’s leading international travel fair.

For more information about BBTF 2023, please visit the website https://www.bbtf.co.id/

About BBTF
BBTF is an annual event with the intention to establish a benchmark for travel & tourism events and destinations in Indonesia. Supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, BBTF holds B2B events and aims at advancing the tourism industry through business sessions and direct promotion, as best practices in MICE and Leisure Management. Together with exhibitors and buyers from numerous countries around the world, BBTF facilitates Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSA) and business sessions for buyers and sellers to negotiate on their long-term leisure and corporate travel needs. Corporations, travel agents, hotel & resort chains, cruise operators, convention planners, venue operators and travel buyers can leverage the two and half days of business-to-business sessions to enhance their respective brands in the Indonesian and Asia Pacific markets.

In addition to the B2B sessions, the travel fair features an extensive program of activities for all delegates. From the fantastic networking events, to the inspirational knowledge program, the business of meetings has never been so rewarding. Bali is chosen as the venue because it is the gateway to Indonesia’s archipelago for global travelers and the island contributes up to 40% of all visitors to the nation each year.

Organized by the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali chapter in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and other stakeholders, this year BBTF is pleased to welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs joining for the first time and willing to connect Indonesia’s potential to the world. Another highlight will be the contribution of the South Bali Badung Regency, with diverse destinations putting Bali on the map of quality tourism. After having successfully conducted the world recognized G20 in Nusa Dua, Bali is now ready to meet new market demands. This annual event is led by a passionate committee and supported by members of ASITA, public sector, and local government in order to promote and facilitate the development of tourism business in Indonesia and Bali in particular.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PATA and Visa’s Workers Programme Concludes in Bali

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PATA and Visa's Workers Programme Concludes in Bali - TRAVELINDEX - VISITBALI.orgBangkok, Thailand, April 4, 2023 / TRAVELIDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Visa are delighted to announce the completion of the Informal Workers Programme in Bali, Indonesia. The programme was created in 2021 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support one of the most important – but often overlooked – stakeholders in the tourism industry: the informal workers. Having been successfully implemented in Bangkok, Thailand, PATA and Visa came together to expand the programme in another important destination in Southeast Asia: Indonesia.

The programme took place in Bali throughout March, and April and will continue in Jakarta in May. On International Women’s Day, March 8th, the first capacity building session began in Bali, at Kedonganan Beach, south of the island. The session was attended by 24 informal workers, including street food sellers, freelance photographers, parking attendants and fishermen. Participants learned about basic principles of service delivery, cross-cultural communication, and health and safety standards.

In the following days, the informal workers received training on business skills, financial management, business marketing and communication. They also learned the basics of mobile photography to better promote their services and products online.

The Informal Workers Programme in Indonesia is developed by PATA and Visa and implemented by our valuable member Wise Steps Consulting. Wise Steps is a consulting firm that works on national and regional projects to support sustainable development and responsible tourism.

According to PATA Chair Peter Semone, “We are delighted to be collaborating with Wise Steps again following the successful development and implementation of the Tourism Destination Resilience Programme. PATA sees great value in building the capacity of informal workers in Indonesia and across the Pacific Asia Region. After all, tourism is everybody’s business and with improved skills, livelihoods of marginalized people can grow.”

About the training programme in Bali, Riko Abdurrahman, Country Manager, Indonesia at Visa, adds, “Visa is proud to provide digital literacy and financial education specifically tailored to the needs of informal tourism workers, such as tour guides and transport drivers, who are an integral part of Bali’s tourism industry. As travel and tourism continue to accelerate post-COVID-19, our partnership with PATA will help enable individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive and deliver on our purpose to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.”

Pavnesh Kumar, PATA’s Sustainability and Social Responsibility Programme Head, who attended the programme in Bali, noted, “We are very excited to be able to assist in the recovery of the tourism sector in Bali by empowering these crucial players in the industry, which are the informal workers. It is also great to see that despite all challenges faced during this time, the informal workers are enthusiastic about learning new skills and reinventing themselves for the post-COVID tourism era.”

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, which includes government, state and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism of the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Emirates to Launch First A380 Service to Bali

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Emirates to Launch First A380 Service to Bali - TRAVELINDEX - AIRLINEHUB.comDubai, UAE, March 27, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, will deploy its signature A380 aircraft to Bali starting from 1 June 2023, marking a milestone in Indonesia’s aviation history as the first scheduled A380 service to the country.

The new 2-class Emirates A380 service will replace one of the two daily services to Bali currently operated by a 2-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline’s debut A380 flight EK368, will depart from Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 03:25 hrs, arriving in Denpasar International Airport (DPS) at 16:35 hrs local time. The returning flight, EK369, will depart Bali at 19:40 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 00:45 hrs local time. All times are local.

Highlighting the deployment of the world’s largest passenger aircraft to Bali, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Emirates A380 is synonymous with our fly better promise and world-class products and services, and we’re excited to offer our travellers the opportunity to experience its uniqueness and unmatched beauty on flights to and from Bali. Needless to say that we’ve been working closely with our partners at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport to ensure our A380 operations will be seamless and smooth. We’d like to thank the authorities and our partners for all their support.

Bali continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in our network and strategic markets in Southeast Asia, and the Emirates A380’s debut in Indonesia underscores our long-standing commitment to its travel and tourism sector. We look forward to driving more inbound traffic to the island, while also offering leisure and business travellers more opportunities to connect to Dubai and beyond to cities across Europe and the Americas through Emirates’ extensive global network.”

Faik Fahmi, President Director of PT. Angkasa Pura I, said, “The scheduled operations of the Airbus A380 in Indonesia will be a historic moment for Indonesian aviation and Angkasa Pura I. We welcome the Emirates A380 service, which will operate in early June, and are honored to be the first airport operator to receive regular commercial flights of the aircraft in the country. This is the result of well-established coordination, synergy, and cooperation between Angkasa Pura I as the airport operator, Emirates, and the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia as the regulator. We hope the A380 operations in Indonesia, especially Bali, will have an increasingly positive impact on the tourism and economy sectors, and will further allow more opportunities for cooperation and investment in other sectors of the industry in Indonesia.”

Emirates launched a non-stop daily service from Dubai to Bali in 2015, adding to its scheduled flights to Jakarta which began in 1992. The airline has so far operated more than 49,000 flights and carried over 9 million passengers between Indonesia and Dubai. Emirates currently serves Indonesia with 28 weekly flights to both Bali and Jakarta, and offers increased connectivity to 29 more domestic cities via the two gateways through its partnership agreements with both Garuda Indonesia and Batik Air.

On a two-class Emirates A380 aircraft, passengers are offered 58 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 557 generously pitched seats in Economy Class. Customers traveling to and from Bali can look forward to enjoying Emirates’ spacious and comfortable cabins; signature products that offer travellers the best experiences in the sky like the Onboard Lounge, as well as regional cuisine including a number of Indonesian dishes. ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system offers more than 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment with a wide selection of Indonesian content.

Emirates continues to expand its A380 network to meet increasing travel demand globally. The airline’s flagship aircraft is currently deployed to 41 destinations, including Dubai and is likely to expand to nearly 50 destinations by the end of the summer.

About Emirates
The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies. We inspire travelers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Female General Manager of Boutique Resort in Bali Chosen by Cornell University

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Female General Manager of Boutique Resort in Bali Chosen by Cornell University - TRAVELINDEX - VISITBALI.orgBali, Indonesia, March 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Ms. Swandarini was the only general manager from Indonesia and the only woman selected. The GM of a boutique Bali resort, Tanah Gajah a Resort by Hadiprana, was selected by Cornell University for the General Manager Program, which brings together hotel general managers from around the world. With twenty spots available Deasy rose above strong worldwide competition and became the only candidate from Indonesia chosen and the only women leader in the group.

After getting underway in 2021, the talented group completed the program this February with a five-day in-person session at Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York.

“This has been a great opportunity to connect with and learn from talented general managers and leaders from around the globe,” said Swandarini. “This was also a proud achievement for Tanah Gajah, as the program gave an opportunity for our property, a small independent hotel brand, to gain the attention of global hospitality professionals.”

Swandarini, who grew up on the island of Bali, has spent most of her life and all of her hospitality career between its numerous tourism hotspots. Raised in the south of the island near Kuta, known for its surf and nightlife, and Seminyak, associated with high-end resorts and dining, the Bali-native was exposed to the tourism industry from a young age.

Her first role was on the pre-opening team at Ritz-Carlton Bali, when she was just 21 years old. After a decade with Ritz-Carlton Swandarini stepped into her first GM role. It was 2006 and the upper ranks at hotels were still male-dominated, and mainly by expats.

“Even now, with an increasing number of women in management roles, people are still sometimes surprised I’m a general manager. Growing up in Bali males were defined as leaders,” explained Swandarini. “Overall it’s still a bit of a struggle locally for women as people still hold onto this concept.”

In spite of this, Swandarini has managed to work her way up the corporate ladder.

“I hope that my involvement in Cornell’s General Manager program inspires other women to pursue more management positions,” she added.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Hosts Dialogue Between Private Sector and G20 Ministers

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WTTC Hosts Dialogue Between Private Sector and G20 Ministers - TRAVELINDEXBali, Indonesia, October 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / WTTC Members and G20 Ministers gather in Bali as part of the Tourism Ministerial meeting under the Indonesian Presidency. Public-private collaboration is critical to achieving a full recovery of the sector; said WTTC President & CEO. The Travel and Tourism private sector was invited to the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting today, when the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) addressed the Group of Twenty in Bali, Indonesia.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

During her speech at the critical meeting, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said that while Travel & Tourism is recovering following more than two years of pain, enhanced collaboration between the public and private sector is needed now more than ever if we are to achieve a full recovery and ensure a sustainable future.

Simpson told Ministers that Travel & Tourism is central to the world’s economic recovery as it is set to grow at double the speed of the global economy over the next 10 years.

As the current holder of the G20 Presidency, Indonesia is focussing on the need to create a more inclusive and sustainable foundation for growth, carrying the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”.

The Tourism Ministers have focused the conversation on a “People-Centred recovery” that will benefit communities and SME’s.

WTTC’s latest research shows that while COVID-19 had devastating effect on Travel & Tourism, the future looks bright with the creation of more than 126 million jobs globally over the next decade.

According to the research, two thirds of these jobs will be created in G20 countries, producing 82 million Travel & Tourism jobs by 2032.

However, while travellers are beginning to discover the world once again and demand is on the rise, WTTC says challenges remain.

During her address to G20 leaders, Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Travel & Tourism is seeing green shoots of recovery. The world, with some exceptions, is travelling again.

“However, the recovery could be hampered by economic headwinds. Rising energy prices, cost of living, labour shortages, airspace restrictions, and, of course, climate change, all threaten the full of recovery of our sector.

“In order to unlock its full potential and achieve the long-awaited recovery, the public and private sector must join forces and collaborate more than ever. This historic meeting gives us the best platform to establish public-private collaboration, which will help us build back a better, stronger, and more resilient Travel & Tourism sector.

“Finance Ministers should take note that this is the sector that will turbo charge economies following the worst economic shock of the modern age, creating 126 million new jobs.”

During the meeting, Ministers and business leaders discussed policies that have the support of the Travel & Tourism sector, and which practises have been the most effective in nurturing the workforce, protecting communities and the environment, and ultimately working towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

The Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Korea, United States, Canada, Spain and Indonesia took part at the dialogue, joined by the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

WTTC’s Members attending this meeting were Arnold Donald, Carnival Corporation; Rajit Sukumaran, IHG CEO of Southeast Asia, Shirley Tan, CEO Rajawali Property Group, Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer VFS Global, Sven Leirvaag VP Amadeus, Andrea Grisdale, IC Bellagio CEO, Beth Potter CEO Tourism Industry Association of Canada and Korea; Steven Liew, Airbnb Regional Director, representing different industries and regions.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO at G20: Putting People & Small Enterprises at Centre of Recovery

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UNWTO at G20 Putting People & Small Enterprises at Centre of Recovery - TRAVELINDEXBali, Indonesia, September 30, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO, the G20 Indonesian Presidency and the G20 Tourism Working Group have collaborated over the past year to deliver the G20 Guidelines on Strengthening MSMEs and Communities as Agents of Transformation in Tourism on the occasion of the G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting in Bali.

The Guidelines provide guidance for key policies that can create resilient and sustainable MSMEs and communities spanning five key pillars:

  1. Human Capital
  2. Innovation, digitalization and the creative economy
  3. Women and youth empowerment
  4. Climate action, biodiversity conservation, and circularity, and
  5. Policy, governance and investment

They also draw up over 40 cases studies from G20 members and guest countries focused on the promotion of MSMEs and communities

MSMEs and communities, the backbone of our sector, need strong support to be agents a people centred transformation

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Accelerating positive action

Addressing the G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Our sector has now recovered almost 60% of pre-pandemic levels. However, we are falling behind in our efforts to reach the climate action goals of the Paris Agreement. We are also behind in progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. “

“Tourism can help us get back on track. But we need to speed up. And we need to scale up. MSMEs and communities, the backbone of our sector, need strong support to be agents a people centred transformation” he added.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, Sandiaga Uno said “I am truly delighted that the G20 Tourism Working Group is able to adopt the G20 Bali Guidelines. The Guidelines embody a number of policy best practices in the five main lines of actions. These lines of actions are essential to put the holistic wellbeing of our people at the heart of tourism recovery. We do not wish for tourism to just simply rebound, we need it to be better in serving the needs of our communities by creating good jobs, empowering the marginalized and safeguarding our planet, which our guidelines aim for.”

“I earnestly applaud UNWTO as the key institutional partner of our G20 presidency for steadfastly working together with us to continuously improve the Guidelines,” the Minister added.

Skills, inclusion, sustainability and governance

The Guidelines focus among others on:

  • developing targeted policies based on social dialogue and multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote vocational education and training, skills development, and lifelong learning of the tourism workforce by engaging industry and technology partners;
  • stimulating entrepreneurship including through tourism business incubation and promoting the creation of decent jobs in tourism;
  • strengthening linkages between the tourism sector and local communities by encouraging partnership with local suppliers;
  • bridging the innovation gap and promoting responsible innovation;
  • developing guidance for MSMEs to enable them to tap into digitalization, improve their products and boost their productivity through the creative economy;
  • ensuring equality and non-discrimination, with particular attention to young people in vulnerable situations, promoting the application of gender-equality and equal opportunity principles for all youth in tourism including equal remuneration for work of equal value, equal participation and equal treatment;
  • implementing, within respective national policy, more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices; and
  • Improving tourism data, including the use of big data, the implementation of international statistical standards and the development of adequate methodology for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism as evidence-based policy-making as well as facilitating data sharing including through public-private partnerships.

Research developed for the guidelines by UNWTO with G20 countries highlights the need to address challenges for MSMEs of lack of access to finance, lack of access to market intelligence, market uncertainty, the volatility of the workforce, changing consumer trends and needs and low levels of innovation.

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For communities, the most relevant challenges include the uncertainty of the market and changing consumer trends, leakages (revenue generated by tourism in the community which does not stay in the community), lack of education and skills, lack of adequate infrastructure and governance and excessive dependence on tourism.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

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