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Tag: UNESCO

  • AirAsia expands Penang hub

    AirAsia expands Penang hub

    Travellers flying out of Malaysia’s northern hub Penang can now book AirAsia newest flights to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, China.

    AirAsia will launch a Penang- Chengdu service 8 March with three weekly direct flights.

    AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said: “Penang is one of our largest secondary hubs in Peninsular Malaysia, to which we flew more than 2.4 million guests to the island last year. This is our first route from Penang to Mainland China, and we are confident this additional route will continue to boost visitor arrivals into Penang, and vice versa.”

    Members all-in fares from Penang to Chengdu start from MYR99*, available for booking on airasia.com and the AirAsia mobile app until 19 January 2020, for travel between 8 to 28 March 2020.

    Return flights with three-day, two-night hotel stays starting from as low as MYR332** per person are also up for grabs through SNAP on airasia.com.

    Best known as home to the adorable giant pandas, Chengdu is a thriving city with many natural, cultural and historical sights. Some of the must-visit attractions include the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jinli Ancient Street and the Leshan Giant Buddha and Wenshu Monastery.

    Named by UNESCO as a “City of Gastronomy”, many popular Chinese dishes such as Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken originate from the region. Travellers can also choose to unwind by enjoying aromatic tea at any of the local teahouses.

    Chengdu is also a gateway to the western territories of China, including Tibet, which its capital Lhasa is home to the historical centre of Tibetan Buddhism and famous Potala Palace; as well as the Unesco World Heritage Site Jiuzhaigou, one of the most scenic places in China.

    Besides Chengdu, AirAsia currently flies to 12 destinations from its Penang hub, namely Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Surabaya, Jakarta, Medan, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Melaka, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

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  • AirAsia to Launch Flights Between Bangkok and Ahmedabad

    AirAsia to Launch Flights Between Bangkok and Ahmedabad

    AirAsia is to launch flights between Bangkok and Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat state and India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City. The airline will operate the route four times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, from 31 May 2019.

    AirAsia Thailand CEO, Santisuk Klongchaiya, said, “India is a strategic market that is fast becoming an important contributor of inbound tourists for AirAsia Thailand. To fully leverage on this, we plan to regularly introduce routes connecting the two countries, focusing particularly on India’s burgeoning metros. Thailand’s own worldwide fame for hospitality should attract travellers from Ahmedabad, which is the capital of Gujarat state and India’s fifth most populous city.”

    According to Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand welcomed 1.5 million Indian visitors in 2018, up 12% on the previous year.

    Thai AirAsia has recorded a load factor of up to 87% on its India routes, with passengers travelling between Bangkok and existing destinations in India increasing 7% year-on-year. Indian nationals made up 85% of passengers on those routes.

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  • Starbucks Coffee Japan aims to blend in

    Starbucks Coffee Japan aims to blend in

    Starbucks Coffee Japan is aiming to blend in with its first cafe in Uji, Kyoto, giving it a local tea culture theme.

    The branch of the US coffee chain will be opened by the front gate of Byodoin temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on March 31.

    It will occupy a space along the front approach to the temple, offering customers a view of the Ujigawa promenade. The 142 sqm outlet will have 41 seats inside and 19 outside.

    Starbucks Japan

    A gable roof will match local custom, and decor features will be related to Uji tea culture.
    Another cafe and a parking lot stood on the site until last year.

    Ten years ago, Starbucks had a 19 sqm outlet in the 587-year-old Forbidden City in Beijing, but protests led to the Seattle-based company closing it.

  • Red Bull apologises to Indonesia over offensive ad

    Red Bull apologises to Indonesia over offensive ad

    Red Bull has publicly apologised for shooting a commercial in which an athlete performed acrobatic stunts across one of Indonesia’s ancient holy temples, an official said Thursday.

    Red Bull has issued an apology in Indonesia’s national newspapers admitting it shot an advert at the 9th-century Borobudur temple “without permission from the appropriate authorities”

    The energy drink manufacturer issued an apology in national newspapers admitting it shot the video at the 9th-century Borobudur temple “without permission from the appropriate authorities”.

    The video — in which a famous “free running” athlete is shown jumping between the temple’s stone stupas — triggered outrage in Indonesia, where Borobudur is a revered Buddhist site and national icon.

    In one scene, the athlete is seen walking past a sign clearly stating “No Climbing” in both English and Indonesian before performing acrobatics throughout the UNESCO-listed heritage site.

    The video was shot secretly despite the crew having been issued a warning by temple guards, Borobudur Conservation Agency head Marsis Sutopo told AFP.

    “They must have shot again while our guards were not looking,” he said.

    The video, uploaded online on March 18, sparked outrage within Indonesia and prompted the government to threaten a legal suit against Red Bull.

    Authorities later issued a warning to the drink company after determining no physical damage had been incurred.

    Red Bull met with government officials in early June and agreed to place formal apologies in national newspapers.

    “We want to set an example because we painstakingly try to conserve this historical site,” education ministry official Hilmar Farid told AFP.

    “It was obvious as there was a “No Climbing” sign there too.”

    Red Bull have also been asked to shoot a new video explaining the importance of protecting holy sites, Farid added.

  • Uniqlo Indonesian batik collection for good cause

    Uniqlo Indonesian batik collection for good cause

    Japanese apparel company Uniqlo has launched a special collection of items featuring traditional motifs of Indonesian batik, a heritage included on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity in 2009.

    As part of a second program in the Uniqlo Factory Worker Empowerment Project, a portion of sales is be allocated toward helping with education for employees working in parent company Fast Retailing‘s affiliated factories in Indonesia. The special collection is available at five stores in Japan and on Uniqlo’s website.

    The batik patterns are part of Uniqlo’s LifeWear concept of offering clothes for a better life for everyone, every day. The collection of eight items includes men’s and women’s shirts as well as summer dresses. The batik patterns are original motifs jointly developed by Uniqlo and a designer recommended by the Indonesian Batik Foundation.

    The empowerment project was introduced last year, the first supporting female workers in sewing factories in Bangladesh through a women’s line featuring traditional Bangladesh clothing motifs. This sold in 14 markets worldwide, with a portion of sales being used for educational programs in such areas as nutrition, hygiene and health management.

    The education project is expected to run for about three years, and reach around 12,000 people.

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