In 2023, the Chinese are welcoming in the Year of the Rabbit,
regarded to be a year of hope. For the travel industry across Asia, 2023
also represents a momentous year when travel will be picking up full
speed with borders now fully open. With a fresh start and a clean slate
ahead, Travel Weekly Asia speaks to four travel association heads on what
their expectations and hopes are moving into the new year.
Steven Ler, president, National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS)
What your's biggest hope for the travel agent community in the Year of the Rabbit? The
second half of 2022 gave travel agents a much needed insight into the
sentiments of “revenge travellers”, which continues into 2023 and leads
us up to a strong recovery for the start of 2023. I hope this strong
momentum continues.
We have seen new travel trends emerging of travellers' desires and
expectations for vacations. There's also an increasing number of
customers looking for travel agencies to plan their holidays, as seen in
NATAS fair, SQ TTF fair and agents own travel fairs.
Travellers are curious to experience new places and cultures, thus
travel agents should explore creating itineraries with new destinations
for 2023. NATAS has been working with several NTOs to provide new
insights and support for our members to explore.
I hope our agents continue to engage and provide strong service to
all customers. Customers value our service and knowledge to provide them
with good travel experience.
New Year message to travel industry and partners
I am cautiously optimistic for 2023, given the unknown recession and
how it may play out. However, this may be overcome with China's opening
and also a strong demand to travel given the last 2.5 years of
restriction. Hence, it's my advice to all travel agents to get to know
and take care of your customers to build loyalty.
Pauline Suharno, chair, ASTINDO
What your's biggest hope for the travel agent community in the Year of the Rabbit?
Firstly, I hope the Year of the Rabbit will be a year full of peace and
stability, free of threats to the travel industry. I hope for serenity
and tranquility ahead of us, especially as Indonesia goes into a
political year in 2023, and for there to be no more domestic and
international disruptions.
Secondly, I hope that customers will understand the role of the
Indonesian travel agents and more travellers will start using Indonesia
travel agents' services to book their vacations.
New Year message to travel industry and partners To all travel sector players, here's wishing you health, peace, happiness, and prosperity!
Michelle Taylan, chair, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) Travel Tour Expo
What your's biggest hope for the travel agent community in the Year of the Rabbit?
As we enter 2023 and as the PTAA 30th Travel Tour Expo approaches, I
wish to see continued success and rapid improvements in the Philippines'
tourism industry.
I am optimistic that the travel industry will once again regain be in
an enviable position as one of the main economic drivers of the
Philippines; providing lots of business opportunities, generating
employment, becoming a top foreign exchange earner and spurring
infrastructure development.
Your New Year message to travel industry and partners
Happy Chinese New Year to all travel agencies and partners! Let us
never forget all what we have learnt and experienced throughout the
years. Keep striving for improvement and betterment. May 2023 be filled
with opportunities, fortunes, and great productivity.
Margaret Heng, executive director, Singapore Hotel Association
What your's biggest hope for the Singapore hotel industry in the Year of the Rabbit?
I look forward to welcoming the Year of the Rabbit with hope for peace
and prosperity. After that fateful Chinese New Year in 2020, I wish that
we never have to experience a similar episode and tourism will flourish
beyond 2019 levels soon. More urgently, I hope that the rabbit
symbolises rapid growth for the hotel workforce so that we can recruit
more talents rapidly to elevate guest experiences.
New Year message to travel industry and partners
On behalf of the Singapore Hotel Association, I would like to extend
our heartiest congratulations to all hoteliers and industry peers for
emerging stronger together. May the joy of travel and spirit of
adventure prevail in the Year of the Rabbit and bring more visitors to
Singapore. Here’s wishing all readers of Travel Weekly Asia a very
healthy, happy and peaceful Lunar New Year!
Bali Hotels Association's Fransiska Handoko and Phuket Hotels Association's Bjorn Courage.
Bjorn Courage, president, Phuket Hotels Association
What's your biggest hope for the Phuket hotel industry in the Year of the Rabbit? Last year was all about recovery from Covid and the tourism industry was still undergoing many Covid measures. In 2023, we're now seeing a clear reopening of borders and travel is at full swing. Our peak season in Phuket has without a doubt passed many records, even from pre-Covid period. We can only hope that tourism continues to move onwards and upwards from here on!
New Year message to travel industry and partners The past is the past, here’s to strong 2023 trading!
Fransiska Handoko, chair, Bali Hotels Association
What's your biggest hope for the Bali hotel industry in the Year of the Rabbit? We look forward to the future with renewed optimism, as we continue to focus on sustainability in tourism and build a thriving industry together with our partners and stakeholders towards greater achievements.
New Year message to travel industry and partners May the year of Rabbit be a year of joy and prosperity in abundance to the travel & tourism industry!