In March 2022, following two years of extensive restoration, the Kingdom of Bhutan will reopen the historic and sacred Trans Bhutan Trail for the first time in 60 years. The trail will be officially inaugurated by His Majesty the King of Bhutan, whose vision it was to restore the ancient route for tourism, adventure and connection. From April 2022, international tourists will be able to walk the trail for the first time, simultaneously providing economic benefits to rural communities along the way. 

Slojourn Studio has welcomed Resplendent Ceylon’s three properties – Cape Weligama, Ceylon Tea Trails, and Wild Coast Lodge – to its portfolio of travel clients.

Slojourn will oversee the group’s sales, marketing and representation in New Zealand and Australia. Sri Lanka has opened its borders to international travellers who are able to prove they have been vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival and can produce a negative Covid-19 PCR report within 72 hours of embarkation.

Scenic has a new nine-night river cruise on the Mekong River and new Scenic Freechoice experiences, with the release of its new 2022 and 2023 South East Asia itineraries.

Adam Burke, Scenic journey designer, says while the locations guests explore onshore are similar to the seven-night cruise, they will see a greater diversity of the riverside landscape. ‘Scenic Spirit sails in the afternoon with more time to absorb the essence of Vietnam and Cambodia, and additional time to relax on board.’

Moves are afoot within Cambodia’s tourism industry to work towards a possible reopening of borders for fully vaccinated international travellers by November this year.

The Cambodian tourism ministry recently announced that fully vaccinated international tourists with proof of their inoculation could be allowed into Cambodia as soon as November 2021.

Cambodia is also considering lessening or removing the 14-day quarantine policy for fully vaccinated tourists, barring certification showing a negative Covid test 72 hours before travel and another negative Covid test upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport.

Wendy Wu Tours has a new 2022-23 Japan interactive digital brochure, also featuring Taiwan and South Korea.

It features the operator’s range of fully inclusive group tours including its Classic range covering the essential highlights of Japan as well specialised itineraries. Also featured are immersive Go Beyond tours and dedicated solo departures on popular itineraries with additional inclusions such as free chauffeur transfers and airport lounge passes (selected cities).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports the Royal Thai Government has endorsed issuing a Covid-19 vaccination certificate in the kingdom, while approving shorter quarantine periods for international arrivals. Both measures took place late last week until further notice.

Agents with clients who are thinking of travelling to popular Asian destinations in 2022 should be aware that a number of tours are already starting to sell out, says Paul Dymond, New Zealand based managing director of Wendy Wu Tours.

The company has just launched a Year of the Ox festival sale, with savings of up to $2400 per couple on itineraries in Japan and other destinations in 2022. The tours can be secured with a $99 deposit per person, with no more to pay before departure and a number of other flexible features.

Travel agents and brokers have the opportunity to learn about Oita, the ‘hottest place’ in Kyushu, Japan, this month. They also have the chance to win a wide variety of prizes, such as traditional pottery, gift cards and more.

On 17 February, JTB will take agents on an hour long ‘webinar adventure’ to Oita and show them a different Japan to the one they know already.

Thai Airways’ scheduled flights between New Zealand and Thailand have been suspended until further notice. Flights will be subject to the adjustment of Government policies to reopen the borders for unrestricted international travel. Passengers with flights cancelled by THAI are entitled to claim an extended travel validity until December 2022.

In co-operation with the Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington and Thai Consulate General, THAI will continue to operate repatriation flights from Auckland to Bangkok for both Thai passport holders and non-Thai passport holders permitted to enter Thailand.

The New Zealand Aviation Coalition (NZAC) is welcoming Singapore’s decision to open its border to Kiwis from September 1.

Singapore announced on August 21 that it will not require anyone who has been in New Zealand for 14 days before their flight to go into self-isolation on arrival.

Instead, travellers will undergo a Covid-19 test at the airport, and only be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore after receiving a negative test result.

Justin Tighe-Umbers, executive director of the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand (BARNZ), says the move by Singapore is indicative of what is starting to happen around the world.

‘The world is working out how to live with COVID-19,’ he says. ‘New Zealand will lose international connectivity with airlines pulling out unless it keeps abreast of what its competitors are doing and considers the implications. Once airlines pull out it will be extremely hard to compete to get them back and that will have major impacts for the price of tickets for travellers and for exporters relying on air freight.’

Meantime, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed Singapore’s announcement on the easing of border measures for entry into the country. It is urging other states in the region to look at ways to resume international travel safely, including through the implementation of travel bubbles.

‘COVID-19 has dealt a massive blow to the airline industry and the road to recovery is going to be long and slow,’ says Conrad Clifford, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific. ‘Our latest forecast indicates that travel demand will not return to 2019 levels until 2024, a year later than previously expected. Key to the recovery is the opening of borders and the lifting of travel restrictions and measures such as quarantine.’ He says Singapore’s announcement is positive and a step in the right direction. ‘We hope to work closely with the government so that Singapore’s aviation industry can restart safely while mitigating the possibility of COVID-19 transmission. And we urge other states in the region to look at ways to resume international travel safely.’

This week’s Journey Through Japan incentive winners are Shari O’Connor from Helloworld and GT Rodgers from Travel Professionals.

Taiwan Tourism is hoping its face to face reconnection with key members of the travel trade will be followed up by a reopening of borders between the nation and New Zealand in the not too distant future.

Taiwan Tourism hosted small groups of agents to two sessions on Wednesday at Kawau Kitchen near Auckland Airport, with a total of about 25 agents taking part in the workshops

Centara Hotels & Resorts will launch a dedicated kids spa inspired by the the adventures of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.

The experience is for children aged 15 years and under to enjoy candy-themed spa treatments, manicures, pedicures, get creative by mixing their own lotions and potions or even hold parties.

This is the ideal time to rethink Hong Kong’s position in the global tourism market and elevate service standards, says Hong Kong Tourism Board’s chairman Dr YK Pang.

In a recent web conference, Pang pointed out that the tourism landscape would be reshaped in the post pandemic world. ‘We will see a shift in preference and behaviour among travellers – the public health conditions of

Thai Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, has invoked an emergency decree across the nation, effective from now to 30 April 2020.

Philippine Airlines has released a statement reiterating that currently the Philippines remains free of the Covid-19 Coronavirus.

World Journeys has few places left on its two small group hosted journeys Cherry Blossom Japan departing on 24 March and 8 April this year.

The Travel Concierge Sri Lanka has teamed up with its partner to offer exclusive complimentary hot air balloon experiences for guests from New Zealand travelling between February and April 2020.