Asian Trails staff boost blood bank
To honour Indonesia’s 77th Independence Day on August 17th, 2022, our Bali-based team held a group blood donation. This corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity was conducted in collaboration with Palang Merah Indonesia (the Indonesian Red Cross Society) and 101 Hotel Bali Oasis Sanur. The entire office, along with business partners and local residents, participated and the collective effort supplied 50 bags of blood. This is now stored in the central hospital’s blood bank for those in need. Asian Trails’ staff members are pictured during the donation session. Our CSR initiatives Asia-wide to date include wildlife protection, the supply of potable water for those in drought-hit areas and support for educational systems in marginalised communities.
Justin primed to share extensive China knowledge
Asian Trails’ China is pleased to welcome on-board Justin Culkin as our new Business Development Manager. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Justin has called China his home since 2010. With a distinctive record of sales and marketing positions in Beijing and Yunnan, Justin will use his solid experience and local knowledge to share the wonders of China with customers. An avid adventurer with a sustainable eye in offering the authentic and diverse side of the country, Justin’s own words perhaps indicate best why joining Asian Trails’ China office is a personal match made in heaven: “I enjoy meeting and bringing people together, thrive off building trust and relationships – but most importantly, I achieve fulfilment by creating value for people.” We wish Justin all the best during this exciting time of resurgence in travel and tourism.
Mathias to focus on supreme service delivery
Asian Trails is pleased to announce the appointment of Mathias Ziolkowski who has joined our Indonesia head office in Bali as Service Delivery Manager. Mathias is responsible for our service quality on the ground and the supervision of our group of representatives to ensure that guests are always in good hands. Mathias from Germany, has years of experience in the travel industry and destination management in several countries, including Slovakia, Greece, Spain, Dominican Republic, Italy, Portugal and the Maldives. We wish him lots of success and satisfaction in his new role.
Laos’ tourist site entrance fees hike
Like the rest of the world, Laos has not been spared post-COVID-19 inflation. Since May 2022, when the country’s borders reopened after the two-and-a-half year pandemic-enforced lockdown, Laos has enjoyed resurgence in its travel and tourism sector, with popular tourist sites regaining tourist foot traffic. However, the recent rising cost of living caused by factors such as surging energy prices and intervention to cover past COVID support has caused an increase in entrance fees to popular attractions nationwide. Landmark sites such as Kuang Si Waterfalls, 29-km south of Luang Prabang and That Luang, Patuxai, Ho Phra Keo and Wat Sisaket in the capital Vientiane have seen their entrance fees triple, compared to March 2020.
Laos health scheme safeguards tourism
The new LaoSafe health and hygiene programme for the tourism and hospitality sector has taken on extra significance post-pandemic. Officially endorsed by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, this three-step programme of training, assessment and certification includes a set of health and hygiene standards for different sub-sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry. This includes accommodation providers, food and beverage venues, tour guides and drivers. Supported by the Luxembourg Development Agency and Switzerland as part of the Skills for Tourism project (LAO/029), the initiative has increased visitor confidence in tourism service providers after the two-and-a-half year lockdown. At the time of publication of this edition of Trailblazer, over 50 restaurants, 60 hotels, 500 tour guides, 180 drivers and two airlines have been certified. For further details, access: https://bit.ly/3bXCdjh