‘We are very prepared’: Hotels, attractions look forward to Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble
SINGAPORE: Hotels and attractions in Singapore are looking frontward to welcoming foreign guests following the relaunch of a long-awaited air travel bubble with Hong Kong, which they described equally a "positive footstep forward" for the battered tourism manufacture.
Merely the impact will likely be a "more qualitative" one, instead of a big boost to visitor numbers, with the air travel bubble set to brainstorm cautiously, some players said.
The much-delayed air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong is set to take off on May 26, authorities announced on Mon (Apr 26). There volition be one flight a day in each direction and capped at 200 passengers per flight for the first 2 weeks.
Stricter weather will also be in identify. This includes travellers having to remain in Singapore or Hong Kong in the concluding 14 days prior to deviation, excluding whatsoever fourth dimension spent in quarantine or stay-home notice.
READ: Singapore, Hong Kong to relaunch travel bubble on May 26
Hong Kong likewise requires its residents to be fully vaccinated before departing on the flights, with some exceptions made for children and those not suitable for vaccination on medical grounds.
Under the travel bubble, there are no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirements for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.
The tourism boards of both cities have welcomed the new launch date and stressed that travellers can expect a "safe, yet delightful" experience.
Special gifts are likewise in shop as part of a collaboration between both tourism boards, such as a limited-edition reusable face up mask for the first batch of travellers under the air travel bubble.
For the offset month, those flying on designated air travel bubble flights tin also expect a special inflight bill of fare featuring local favourites from both cities curated past Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, the tourism boards told CNA.
READ: Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble: What you lot demand to know earlier booking a flying
Dr Pang Yiu Kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said the air travel bubble will likely concenter "those who travel for family visits or other essential reasons" at the early stage while leisure travellers "will return successively".
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will work closely with trade partners in Hong Kong, such as travel booking platforms, travel agents and airlines "to drive consideration and travel via articulation campaigns and deals to Singapore", said its chief representative and executive director of Greater China Juliana Kua.
POSITIVE Pace, BUT Affect MAY Exist SYMBOLIC
Dr Kevin Cheong, chairman of Association of Singapore Attractions, said operators of local tourist attractions are "very prepared" to open up their doors to strange visitors given the safe management measures that are in identify for virtually a year.
The air travel bubble is a "much-needed boost" for the battered tourism sector only the impact may be "more qualitative, rather than quantitative, at the onset", he added.
"Attractions in Singapore can easily accommodate x,000 people a day, which means about 40 flights. We are starting with ane to two flights a day so it's not going to move the needle," said Dr Cheong.
"But in terms of qualitative and symbolic impact, the travel bubble is an extremely important step."
READ: Launch of Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble attracts travellers, flights 'selling fast'
He added that people want to travel just are still afraid. If the Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble gets nether way and is managed well with no repercussions on the number of infected cases, it will be a booster to travellers' confidence and the reputation of both cities.
Only before that, allure operators will demand more details such equally whether additional safe measures will be needed when entertaining foreign travellers.
"We are very prepared for the travel bubble. Our protocols are very much in place and so information technology'south a matter of giving u.s.a. more specific details of how this travel bubble will exist operationalised to protect our guests and staff," said Dr Cheong, adding that the association will piece of work with STB and tour operators.
For hoteliers, the air travel bubble is a "positive step frontward given the slow recovery of the tourism industry", said the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) president Kwee Wei-Lin.
READ: SIA welcomes Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble relaunch; daily flights to start in June
With international tourism accounting for more than 90 per cent of acquirement amidst local hotels prior to the pandemic, the industry continues to struggle until borders reopen in a prophylactic and meaningful way, she added.
"Over the by few months, nosotros accept seen success from pilot hybrid MICE events and more recently increment in capacity for wedding ceremony receptions, all of which have boosted our confidence and competency in welcoming international guests to our hotels," said Ms Kwee.
"SHA is confident that all our hotels in Singapore are now skillful and well-equipped to deliver our renowned hospitality excellence in the new era of travel … Looking across the Singapore-Hong Kong travel, we hope that more air travel bubbles will soon be established for vaccinated travellers in a safe and responsible way."
OFFERS AND Free ROOM UPGRADES
Among the hotels that responded to CNA's queries, Thousand Hyatt Singapore said information technology is already in impact with several of its regular guests who "are looking forrard to being on the kickoff flight to Singapore".
"Any successful travel bubble formed volition be a significant move that volition help to ameliorate sentiments about international travel and boost confidence in travelling safely," said hotel manager Parveen Kumar.
K Hyatt Singapore is planning to have "offers that will non only be applicable for the current Hong Kong-Singapore air travel bubble, just too for whatsoever additional gradual resumption of cross-border travels with other cities".
That said, information technology also recognises that travellers volition not only exist looking at promotions when they start planning to travel once more.
Instead, they volition be looking at "travelling to and staying at places and brands they can trust for their safety", said Mr Kumar, who noted that Grand Hyatt Singapore has its own cleanliness guidelines to ensure the safety of its guests and employees.
Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore is looking into "creating short stays for business concern travels and working with industry partners with a stiff presence in Hong Kong", said regional general manager Roy Liang who oversees Oakwood's hotel properties in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
The hotel's guest profile is made up of a combination of long and short stays by both business concern and leisure travellers from various geographical regions, including Hong Kong.
"The travel chimera is a sign that air travel is gradually resuming and we may expect a slight influx of international concern travellers… Leisure travellers may still take a cautious approach and commence travelling when vaccination plans are close to completion in the dwelling land and country of visit," said Mr Liang.
Also expecting some form of positive impact, Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa said travellers from Hong Kong who book its Luxury Voyage bundle for a minimum of 3 nights volition get a complimentary room upgrade.
"The reopening of travel between Singapore and Hong Kong for leisure volition definitely affect Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa positively," said general manager Piotr Kupiec.
"Being located strategically inside Sentosa, we are positive that Hong Kongers would look frontward to staying with u.s.a. to visit local tourist attractions within the isle."
Asked if it is concerned that the air travel bubble could see changes over again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Kupiec said hotels in Singapore have had to transform and innovate amidst the pandemic so as to concenter the local crowd.
For the hotel itself, experiences catering to different demographics, ranging from families, couples, singles and even those who need an alternative to working from home, have been curated over the past year.
"Should the travel chimera postpone again, Sofitel Sentosa has a range of packages that have been curated for the local staycationers and upcoming local B-Leisure (business and leisure) guests," he said.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/hotels-attractions-prepared-singapore-hong-kong-travel-bubble-178591
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