6.3.2019 TTG Show Daily ITB Berlin 8
Report Destinations
Top 2019
picks for
SE Asia
Inbound travel agents from South-east Asian
contries pick the hottest adventure, nature and
culinary attractions that are on their radar this year
BRUNEI by S Puvaneswary
Chang Ming Vui
Managing director, BruVacation
Adventure Diving is a new activity pro-
moted by Brunei Tourism. We work close-
ly with dive operators to promote diving
off the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait
districts, which are all home to a number
of shipwrecks and a healthy fish popula-
tion, which makes for beautiful underwa-
ter scenery. These dive sites are not crowd-
ed, hence appealing to tourists from Asia
and Europe.
Sugumaran Nair
Inbound manager,
Freme Travel Services
Nature Visitors who like sea sports
should try stand-up paddleboarding
(SUP) on Lugu Lake with SUP Surfari,
the only SUP provider in Brunei. The
80-minute session, with lesson and eco
tour components, is led by a professional
SUP instructor, and is safe and suitable
even for non-swimmers. Tourists will
get a full safety briefing and learn about
SUP’s history, equipment, and differ-
ent strokes for kneeling and standing.
You might also be able to spot hornbills,
monkeys and jungle creatures in a serene
environment.
CAMBODIA by Marissa Carruthers
Miles Gravett
General manager, Khiri Travel Cambodia
Adventure What’s happening at Car-
damom Tented Camp in Koh Kong is
exciting for nature lovers. It’s a perfect
balance of badly needed conservation ef-
forts and tourism. With some efforts be-
ing put into marine conservation, diving
in Cambodia is also getting better. Addi-
tionally, kayaking down the Mekong
River is a magical once-in-a-
lifetime experience.
Andy Brouwer
Production and research consultant,
Hanuman Travel
Nature There is a new elephant experi-
ence at Phnom Tamao with Wildlife Alli-
ance. Entitled Elephant Keeper for a Day,
participants get to work with elephant
keepers and learn about elephant care.
Steve Lidgey
General manager, Travel Asia a la Carte
Culinary Cambodian cuisine is becom-
ing more popular. Many restaurants, such
as the recently opened Pou Kitchen & Café
in Siem Reap, provide new interpretations
of authentic Khmer cuisine.
LAOS by Marissa Carruthers
Stefan Scheerer
General manager, Khiri Travel Laos
Adventure Khammouane Province is
opening up for adventure, with activities
such as kayaking through cave forma-
tions, while the Bolaven Plateau is suitable
for trekking, waterfalls and Jeep safaris.
Linh Le
Group managing director, Asia DMC
Nature In the Bolaven Plateau, we offer
a jeep tour integrated with kayaking in
4,000 Islands. Guests will be able to en-
joy the year-round beautiful vegetation in
Southern Laos.
Virginie Kury
General manager, Asian Trails Laos
Culinary Paste is a new restaurant in Lu-
ang Prabang. It is owned by a Michelin-
star chef from Bangkok, Bee Satongun,
and her husband Jason Bailey.
Sapa’s enduring beauty is seen in
its landscapes and culture
Chin State is a popular destination for trekking in Myanmar
MALAYSIA by S Puvaneswary
Ken Lau
CEO and founder, Adventoro
Adventure Kedah in (Peninsular Malay-
sia’s) north-west is a new adventure des-
tination thanks to improved air links as
well as the upgraded facilities at Langkawi
airport. Among Kedah’s offerings we are
promoting to adrenaline junkies and mil-
lennials is paragliding on Mount Jerai. It
offers scenic views of paddy fields, and a
birds’-eye view of the Straits of Melaka
and its offshore islands.
Manfred Kurz
Managing director, Diethelm Travel Malaysia
Nature Samadhi Belum, set within the
Royal Belum Rainforest in Perak, will of-
fer 55 luxury tents when it opens in late
2019. I’m looking forward to the opening
as it will offer Malaysia’s first luxury tented
camp experience set within a 130-million-
year-old rainforest, which is also a pro-
tected area. Our clients are mainly Euro-
peans and Americans, and they will love
the concept of being close to nature, while
not sacrificing on comfort.
Arokia Das Anthony
Director, Luxury Tours Malaysia
Culinary Plane in the City is a new prod-
uct introduced by TwoSpicy Entertain-
ment Live. The 90-minute fine dining
experience revolves around a Boeing B737
aircraft, and allows guests to take pictures
and selfies in the cockpit, or walk on the
wing of the plane. The Western-style cui-
sine served is prepared by Le Méridien
Kuala Lumpur and guests can choose be-
tween a three- or four-course meal.
MYANMAR by Marissa Carruthers
Sammy Samuels
Founder, Myanmar Shalom Travels
Adventure Caving adventures in Hpa-An
and hiking or trekking in Chin State are
becoming popular. Trekking around Hsi-
paw and Keng Tung are places to watch
out for in 2019 and beyond.
Min Than Htut
Founder, Pro Niti Travel
Nature For nature, there are exciting
things happening in southern Myanmar.
In particular, the coastal towns of Myeik,
Kawthaung and Dawei, which are also
great gateways to the many untouched is-
lands in the south.
Edwin Briels
General manager, Khiri Travel Myanmar
Culinary Cooking classes, food tastings
and discovering the flavours of tribal food
in Kachin, Wa, Shan and Rakhine. The
first episode of Myanmar Masterchef was
a huge success and has led to an increased
awareness in Myanmar food.
PHILIPPINES by Rosa Ocampo
Gia Fortun
Marketing director,
Fiesta Tours and Travel
Adventure Masungi Georeserve in Ri-
zal is popular among millennials due
to its panoramic views and easy access
from Manila. Millennials are also into
mountain climbing on Mounts Ma-
colod and Pulag, as well as surfing in
Siargao, La Union and Zambales. Ad-
venture travel also encompasses the
Visayas and Palawan.
Jordan Mamaril
Tours and PR manager,
Regent Travel Philippines
Nature Ecotourism is the next big thing
as travellers look for new destinations,
and the government gets serious about
developing sustainable and responsi-
ble tourism. We’re looking at Quirino
Province in the north. It’s raw, with vast
natural offerings like nature parks, caves,
mountains and rapids. The local govern-
ment is also keen on promoting it for na-
ture tourism.
Other destinations to look out for are
the untapped nature resort of Dakak in
Dapitan; Isla de Gigantes, a pristine island
in Iloilo; as well as Dumaguete which is
the jumping-off point to several destina-
tions in Negros and Siquijor.
JP Cabalza
Inbound manager,
Corporate International Travel and Tours
Culinary Quality restaurants – from
the private dining halls of Bale Dutung
and Denlim’s Kitchen to the carinderia-
style Mila’s eatery – sprouting in Pam-
panga lend credence to the province’s
sobriquet as the Philippines’ culinary
capital.
Pampanga has also crafted exotic dishes
including sisig or sizzling pork cheeks, ears
and brain served with liver sauce; crab fat;
fermented rice with fish or shrimp paste;
and deep fried farm-raised frogs. And we
haven’t included to-die-for desserts in the
list.
To satisfy the increasing demand, we
offer standalone culinary tours or, for
tourists to Bataan or Subic, we combine
it with a meal in one of Pampanga’s res-
taurants.
SINGAPORE by Pamela Chow
Daniel Tan
Founder, Let’s Go Tour Singapore
Adventure Sentosa’s upcoming develop-
ments will be interesting. We have been
having discussions with the companies
operating some attractions there, as we’ve
realised that tourists who choose bicycle
tours usually also want to try something
different. We might have synergy and are
looking into cross-promoting.
Jane Goh
Xperience director,
Xperience Singapore Events & Travel
Nature 2019 will see the opening of Flo-
ral Fantasy at Gardens by the Bay, which
will have four themed garden land-
scapes, plus a 4D multi-sensorial ride.
It should be interesting to see another
part of the gardens transformed. In the
National Orchid Garden, the Tan Hoon