ITB Asia news 2024 - Day 1

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I SPECIAL FEATURE I NATURE & ADVENTURE TOURISM I Japanese island Hokkaido, a paradise for nature lovers and adventure travellers With seven national parks and a host of special adventure tours led by certified guides, Hokkaido is an ideal destination for fans of the great outdoors and has brought its rich tourism offer to ITB Asia 2024. Hokkaido, Japan’s northern-most island, is blessed with magnificent natural landscapes. An island as big as the surface area of Austria, Hokkaido has no less than seven national parks including the majestic Daisetsuzan mountain range, lake Toya, the active volcano Mount Usu, the beautiful lakes and mountains of Akan, the UNESCO World Heritage site Shiretoko, and the newly designated national park, Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi. With its rich natural environment, Hokkaido is gaining more and more recognition as an adventure travel destination. This September, Hokkaido began promoting special tours supervised and accompanied by its certified adventure travel guides. There are five key experiences on offer, including cycling on Rishiri Island, a cape Kamui night tour on Shakotan Peninsula, trekking in Toya- Usu Geopark, winter biking on the approach to “the phantom bridge” over Taushubetsu river, and forest walking with the Ainu cultural experience in Biratori. To enable visitors to make the most of these experiences and travel through the island’s natural landscapes safely, the Hokkaido local government launched the Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide qualification system in 2023 whereby certified guides are required to meet the standards of international qualifications in order to conduct these tours STAND G 039 An experiential attraction, Sentosa Sensoryscape blends nature, architecture, and technology across 30,000 square metres to awaken all six senses. Exhibiting at ITB Asia again this year, Sentosa has a varied offer of attractions for visitors from all over the world. Earlier this year, Sentosa Island launched Sentosa Sensoryscape, a landmark attraction that connects guests from Resorts World Sentosa in the north to Sentosa’s golden beaches in the south through an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Nestled at the heart of Sentosa, Sensoryscape unfolds across 30,000 square metres, inviting visitors to experience the island's rich biodiversity through an array of sensory gardens – Lookout Loop, Tactile Trellis, Scented Sphere, Symphony Streams, Palate Playground, and Glow Garden. Sensoryscape is a verdant connector, which combines nature, architecture, Sentosa Island launches Sentosa Sensoryscape, an immersive sensorial journey and technology to stimulate all the senses, including the sense of imagination. Each of Sensoryscape’s gardens is enriched with immersive and audiovisual experiences, inspiring visitors of all ages and pushing the boundaries of traditional parks and landscape design to create unique spaces that blend stunning architecture with nature. Visitors can also look forward to a night-time spectacle, the ImagiNite experience. Unique in Southeast Asia, this experience lets visitors become immersed in a nature-inspired soundscape enlivened by interactive digital light art and augmented reality. From Symphony Streams' enchanting underwater worlds to Lookout Loop's light beam dance, the tangible is seamlessly fused with the virtual throughout the experience. The ImagiNite augmented reality offerings can also be experienced through the ImagiNite mobile app. Sensoryscape, the first milestone in the Sentosa-Brani Master Plan aimed at integrating the two islands, opens up new opportunities for curated events and brand collaborations. As a part of Sentosa Development Corporation’s (SDC) efforts to collaborate with partners to elevate experiences on the island, the organisation is partnering with Samsung Electronics Singapore to heighten the photographic experiences of guests at Sensoryscape STAND F 027 10 ITB ASIA NEWS • WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER 2024 itb-asia-news.com

I SPECIAL FEATURE I TRANSPORT I Transsib Voyage to relaunch private train tours on Trans- Siberian Railway in 2025 At ITB Asia 2024, Transsib Voyage is announcing the return of its exclusive private train tours on the Trans-Siberian Railway starting in 2025, offering new opportunities for travel agents and tour operators. The Siberia-based Destination Management Company (DMC) is set to provide tailored journeys that combine luxury, comfort, and unique experiences along the world's longest railway. The relaunch will feature all-inclusive packages that cover accommodations, meals, and guided excur sions, aiming to offer a seamless adventure for travellers. Exclusive itineraries are designed to highlight the best of Siberia and beyond, including visits to Lake Baikal, cultural landmarks, and vibrant cities along the route. The private train is equipped with modern amenities, cosy compartments, and an elegant dining car, catering to groups of all sizes. For travel professionals, Transsib Voyage emphasises enhanced flexibility through customisable packages. This allows agents to tailor experiences to their clients' needs, from private tours to specially arranged cultural events. The company highlights the advantages for B2B partners, offering enhanced control over the travel experience and the potential to deliver memorable, hassle-free journeys. At ITB Asia 2024, travel agents and tour operators can visit Transsib Voyage on their stand to get detailed information on the tours and discuss how these journeys could fit into their clients’ portfolios STAND L 032 © Air India Unififi Cloud enhances airline connectivity ahead of ITB Asia 2024 Unififi Group has expanded its airline content distribution capabilities, offering travel agents and online travel agencies (OTAs) greater access to flight options. Unififi Cloud now connects to over 540 airlines through four Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and has direct connections with more than 40 airlines via New Distribution Capability (NDC) and API integrations. This development enables travel professionals to provide customers with a broader selection of flights, competitive pricing, and additional services. The integration of Singapore Airlines' NDC content, available on Unififi Cloud since 2022, allows agents to access exclusive fares and personalised offers. "Our goal is to empower our partners with transparent and efficient solutions," said Afra Wang, COO and Cofounder of Unififi Group. "By expanding our direct airline connections, we help travel agents and OTAs meet the evolving needs of travellers." As the industry adopts NDC under the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Airline Retailing Maturity (ARM) standard, Unififi Cloud facilitates more personalised and flexible travel options. This can lead to improved customer satisfaction and streamlined operations through efficient API integration. Travel agents and OTAs attending ITB Asia 2024 can learn more about Unififi Group's solutions on their stand. The company will demonstrate how its platform can assist travel professionals in navigating an increasingly competitive and technologydriven market STAND T 139 ITB ASIA NEWS • WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER 2024 11