AIRBNB said Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, it enjoyed a record 2022, including its first annual profit, and it continues to see strong demand for travel carryover into the new year despite economic uncertainty and high inflation. The San Francisco-based company said it earned US$319 million in the fourth quarter, up from $55 million a year […]
Tag: travel
Travel to Japan in demand among Filipinos
SINCE it opened its borders to leisure tourists and eased its travel requirements in October 2022, Japan has been enjoying increasing arrivals from the Philippines. In 2022, there were 126,900 Filipinos who visited Japan. Specifically in the fourth quarter, Japan logged 14,775 Filipino arrivals in October; 21,700 in November and a whooping 40,000 in December. […]
Senate leader pushes for PHL-Japan military agreement; Marcos asks for easing of travel advisories
THE PHILIPPINES’ Senate leader is pushing for a military agreement with Japan, which will broaden ongoing exchange programs on maritime and emergency response operations. “Japan is already offering vital support to our coast guard, not just through vessels and equipment but also through other capacity-building opportunities such as training,” Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri […]
House panel extends travel tax exemption for EAGA-bound travelers from Mindanao, Palawan
A HOUSE panel approved on Wednesday a resolution that will renew the travel tax exemption for passengers departing from Mindanao and Palawan going to any destination within the special economic group covering Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The House East ASEAN Growth Area committee approved House Resolution No. 454, which extends by five […]
FREED GROUP announces addition of Connexus Travel, Hong Kong’s first registered travel agent, to the FREED GROUP family
HONG KONG, Jan 31, 2023 – (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) – FREED GROUP (“FREED”), an award-winning digital and smart merchandising solutions company, has announced that its Co-founder & CEO, Mr. Abel Zhao, has acquired Connexus Travel Limited (“Connexus Travel”, formerly Swire Travel), a leading regional travel management company headquartered in Hong Kong. After the acquisition, […]
Connexus Travel Appoints Eric Lau as General Manager
HONG KONG, Jan 18, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Connexus Travel Limited (“Connexus Travel” or “Connexus”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Lau as its new General Manager, effective immediately, to drive digital transformation and the growth of its corporate travel business in the region, as well as global expansion. In his role as […]
Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA)’s NusaTrip Opens Regional Office in Singapore to Service Booming Rebound in Southeast Asia Travel Market
SINGAPORE, Jan 4, 2023 – (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) – NusaTrip, Indonesia’s first IATA-certified online travel agency (OTA) and the travel vertical of Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA), today announces the opening of its first regional office in Singapore and first office outside of Indonesia. The office opening positions NusaTrip as the travel platform of […]
Congressman seeks review of travel, transport allowance for local government workers
THE GOVERNMENT should update the travel and transportation allowance rates for civil servants in local governments, a move that could help boost the tourism sector, a senior legislator said. House Ways and Means Chair Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Interior and Local […]
Travel + Leisure Co. supports program for endangered turtles in Bataan
WYNDHAM PHOTO AMERICAN firm Travel + Leisure Co. has teamed up with the Pag-asa Pawikan Protection and Conservation Center (PPPCC), a group that protects marine turtles in the town of Bagac in Bataan. Under the partnership, Travel + Leisure’s employees have adopted nests in the organization’s turtle hatchery, where each nest has 40-120 eggs, the […]
Holiday bookings up between US, Cebu
TOURISTS are indeed returning with a vengeance. A recent study by Trevolution Group revealed that travel reservations made between the United States and Cebu, Philippines in December 2022 and January 2023 have already reached 70 percent of the reservations made during the same period in 2019-2020. “The first quarter of the year is traditionally the […]
CAAP beefs up security at airports for holiday travel surge
THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has increased security at airports in anticipation of the surge of travelers during the Christmas and New Year holidays. In a statement on Sunday, CAAP said it has coordinated with government agencies operating at airports, including the Office of Transportation Security and the Philippine National Police Aviation […]
Korea invites more tourists from Cebu; KTO hosts MICE seminar, weekend program
THE Korea Tourism Organization Manila Office (KTO Manila) recently hosted a weekend of events in Cebu, reminding Cebuanos of Korea as a top-tier tourist destination. On Nov. 18, the Korea MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) Seminar was held at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. During the afternoon session, KTO Manila hosted outbound travel agencies and […]
Body names PH as ‘world’s leading tourism destination’
THE global recognition for the Philippines as a preferred tourism destination continues to keep coming. Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco announced on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, that the Philippines had been named the World’s Leading Country Tourism Destination at the Uzakrota Global Travel Awards 2022 by Turkish travel organization Uzakrota. The Philippines […]
Global traveler survey: Int’l travel is back
AS THE World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) opens its 22nd Global Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a new global consumer survey has revealed that the appetite for international travel is now at its highest point since the start of the pandemic. According to the survey of more than 26,000 consumers from 25 countries, conducted […]
Society Pass (Nasdaq: SOPA)/ NusaTrip Collaborates with Periksa.id to Promote Indonesia’s Wellness, Health, and Medical Tourism Recovery Strategy
SINGAPORE, Nov 22, 2022 – (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) – Nusatrip, the Indonesia-based Online travel agent (OTA) and travel platform of Society Pass Incorporated (“SoPa”) (Nasdaq: SOPA), Southeast Asia’s (SEA) leading data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem, today announces an official partnership with Periksa.id, a Jakarta-based leading health-tech solutions company, to enable and introduce flight […]
DoT says 3.8M visitors logged by northern Luzon regions
THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DoT) said a total of 3.8 million domestic and foreign visitors have been logged this year in the north Luzon area as of Nov. 18, signaling the continuing revival of the local tourism industry. Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina G. Frasco, speaking during the recent North Luzon Travel Fair held in […]
Japanese gov’t to ease travel restrictions imposed during pandemic
JAPAN’S strict border restrictions will be loosened next month, the prime minister announced Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, allowing tourists to easily enter for the first time since the start of the pandemic.In a news conference at the foot of Central Park in New York, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said independent tourists would again be welcomed […]
Travel agencies project ‘strong’ recovery
THE Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) are projecting a “strong recovery” for the tourism industry due to pent-up demand. “I can say now is that the comeback of tourism is really strong. I can see the thirst from people to still travel even though we are experiencing global crises such as oil price hikes,” PTAA […]
Espina: Celebrations 3
Indeed, more events continue to accentuate business and industry.Civic clubs and the Academe added more seminars, inauguration and product launching. Festive weddings, anniversaries, entertainment concerts and birthday parties gathered a larger crowd.The yearly Pasigarbo sa Sugbu brought back street dancing where towns competed for best performances. The huge Abellana grounds and bleachers were filled with […]
Tourism industry understaffed for ‘revenge travel’
By Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson, Reporter THE tourism industry is struggling to staff up for the wave of “revenge travel,” with many employees from businesses that shut down having moved on to other jobs, the travel agency industry association said. “The biggest problem is we lack frontliners. The travel agencies that closed (saw their) […]