In the news: Wellness tourism in Asia, beacons at Hong Kong airport, paperless flight operations for AirAsia
Wellness tourism on the rise in Asia
Increasing number of people travelling for wellness holidays. (Image credit: Shutterstock)
Is anyone surprised that Bali tops the list of the top 15 destinations with hotels that are perfect destinations for wellness tourism? Guess the answer is “no”, as any traveller who has been to the “Island of the Gods” and tastes all its charms will attest to it as the perfect place for wellness tourism.
This brand of tourism is described as travelling to seek improved health and well being through physical and spiritual activities.
Bali’s popularity is revealed by travel search engine, Wego, and its travel review partner, TrustYou, in its listing of the top 15 destinations with the best hotel reviews for wellness throughout Asia for Q1 2015.
“Bali has a reputation for perfecting the wellness retreat combining specialised luxury spas, using unique traditional and natural therapies. Its growing popularity is reflected in the number of airlines now offering direct flight connections from as far away as Dubai, as well as an expanding portfolio of spa resorts,” said Joachim Holte, chief marketing officer of Wego
Ubud, the island’s famed arts and cutlure centre, is also on the list at the 13 spot scoring 85.7%, for being a “hub for seekers of rejuvenation and a renewed life balance.”
Cambodia also shines with both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at number two and three with 88.19% and 87.82% respectively.
Maldives, with its luminous and luxury came in fourth with 87%, Hong Kong with its contemporary and traditional Chinese therapies took fifth place, and Hanoi in sixth position.
Shanghai, Hoi An, Beijing, Jaipur and Osaka followed scoring 86%, which shows the diverse spread of wellness tourism, with each destination offering a variety of options for and their own take on traditional spa therapies. Seoul is at 14th position (85.35%).
India, which has its own history of health and wellness traditions through Ayurveda therapies and yoga, features three times in the top 15 with Jaipur and New Delhi (12th/86.11%) and Mumbai (15th/84.73%)
Holte said new markets are rising from within the spa and wellness category, including medical and cosmetic tourism, to meet increasing travellers’ demand for health and wellness holidays as well as their diverse tastes.
“The travel industry and all its supporting businesses are benefiting from this lucrative segment, which is growing almost 50% faster than overall global tourism rates, according to the Global Spa & Wellness Summit.”
The Global Spa & Wellness Economy Monitor values wellness tourism at US$3.4 trillion, a number that is expected to continue to grow exponentially each year.
“Wellness tourism is no longer a niche industry and has made a solid impact on global tourism overall,” added Holte.
Hong Kong airport leads the way with beacon technology
Beacons deliver relevant airport information directly to passengers’ mobiles devices. (Image credit: SITA)
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and SITA are carrying out trials of beacons to provide key information directly to passengers’ mobile devices to enhance their airport experience.
SITA Lab, the technology research team for SITA, has installed more than 50 beacons in Terminal 1 at HKIA.
Beacon technology triggers the display of location-relevant information on devices at the right time and in the right situation.
With beacons, airports and airlines can provide passengers with indoor directions, walk times to gates, lounge access and alerts about boarding. Knowing where a passenger is before sending information enables more effective communication.
For the trial at HKIA, SITA is using best-in-class interactive maps to guide passengers along typical pathways between public transport points, check-in counters, immigration, Automated People Mover, boarding/arrival gates and baggage claim areas.
The user-friendly maps display key information on passengers’ mobile phones or tablets, and the time it will take to get to the gate. They also provide information about shops, restaurants and retail offers.
SITA said beacons can help reduce congestion and bottlenecks, improving the passenger flow in airports by giving passengers accurate and timely information, leading to smoother boarding and more on-time departures. As passengers know how long it will take to get to the gate, they can spend in the retail area, which is good news for the airport’s tenants.
Ilya Gutlin, SITA president, Asia-Pacific, said: “Beacon technology is a win-win for passengers, airlines and airports. Clearly knowing where you are, and how long it will take to get to the next stage of your journey makes the experience much more relaxing. Everyone benefits when passengers are enjoying themselves.”
AirAsia to go paperless for flight operations
All smiles at the signing ceremony (L-R in black): Airbus’ Didier Lux with AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes and Aireen Omar.
Asia’s largest low cost carrier, AirAsia, is the first airline to sign on Airbus e-flight folder app, which will pave the way for paperless flight operations for the airline.
The airline’s group CEO, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, inked an agreement with Airbus at the Paris Air Show earlier this week, making it the launch customer for the Airbus “Smarter Fleet” electronic Flight Folder (eFF).
eFF is a comprehensive software application that allows pilots to access their briefing package on-board the aircraft, or from home, the hotel, or the crew briefing room.
It also has enhanced capabilities to manage electronic forms such as the post flight journey log and air safety reports. It is interconnected with the airline environment delivering briefing packages and automatically archiving data.
“With the latest solutions being offered by Airbus, we can reduce paper in the cockpit, enhance overall efficiency and ensure that we maintain the very highest standards of safety and operational excellence,” said Fernandes.
The AirAsia Group is one of Airbus’ largest customers worldwide. It has placed orders for 571 aircraft include 475 A320 Family aircraft for the pan-Asian short haul fleet, and 96 widebodies (86 A330s and 10 A350 XWBs) for operation by long haul affiliate AirAsia X.
* Feature image credit: (female holiday-maker): Shutterstock
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