Celebrity Life

Representing Princess in Southeast Asia since 1994, Boat Lagoon Yachting is also a distributor of Jeanneau and Sacs, and a Burgess representative. Vrit Yongsakul explains why the dealership invests so much in bringing new models to Asia and how it’s able to offer clients a 360-degree service.

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A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore was scrapped a day before its planned 22 November launch after the former announced a sudden spike in coronavirus cases.

The decision is both a blow to the two cities' battered tourist industries but also for other countries who had been hoping the scheme might be a model to replicate during the pandemic.

The two financial hubs have both suffered comparatively mild outbreaks with strict social distancing and border measures imposed soon after the pandemic first emerged. But with small populations and a heavy dependence on links to the outside world, they have been hard hit as the global economy collapsed.

Desperate to help their key tourism and aviation sectors, they came up with the plan allowing limited, quarantine-free travel between the cities as long as visitors test negative for Covid-19.

[caption id="attachment_212146" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Singapore. (Image: Hu Chen/ Unsplash)[/caption]

The travel corridor was set to kick off on Sunday morning. But on Saturday, Hong Kong announced the scheme would have to be delayed for two weeks following a sudden rise in coronavirus infections. "In the light of recent surge of local cases we have decided, together with the Singapore government, to defer the air travel bubble's launch by two weeks," commerce secretary Edward Yau told reporters.

After weeks of single-digit infections, Hong Kong health authorities have begun reporting a sudden uptick in cases in recent days. On Saturday they recorded 36 local coronavirus cases. Crucially, 13 were from unknown transmission sources, prompting fears the city has a new wave of out-of-control infections.

Vaccine crucial

Both Hong Kong and Singapore agreed that seven straight days of five or more unknown transmission cases would be enough to halt the travel bubble.

But Saturday's double-digit spike was enough for authorities in both cities to postpone the travel bubble. "This is a sober reminder that the Covid-19 virus is still with us, and even as we fight to regain our normal lives, the journey will be full of ups and downs," Singapore transport minister Ong Ye Kung wrote on his Facebook page.

Shukor Yusof, an analyst with aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, said that travel bubbles are fraught with challenges. "Although widely supported by aviation bodies, bilaterally agreed air corridors is not the answer to the crisis," Shukor told AFP.

"There is no solution until the vaccine is available to all. The more airlines swim against the COVID tide, and try to beat the odds, the worse it will become. Best to endure, stay put, refine the business model and conserve cash," he added.

[caption id="attachment_212430" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Hong Kong. (Image: Nikada/ iStock)[/caption]

Neither Hong Kong nor Singapore have domestic air routes to fall back on. So flagship carriers Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific have been hit especially hard.

Singapore is a major market for Hong Kong's tourism industry with more than 450,000 arrivals from the city-state recorded in 2019, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Hong Kong was among the top 15 visitor sources for Singapore last year, with nearly half a million arrivals, official data showed.

The planned travel bubble, which could still go ahead if infections drop, is strict. A maximum of 200 residents from each city will be able to travel on one daily flight to the other, with only those who have been in Singapore and Hong Kong for two weeks and tested negative allowed to board.

Arriving passengers will have to test negative again, and all the health checks could add substantial extra cost to a trip.

Coronavirus tests in Hong Kong cost around HK$1,500 at a government-approved laboratory or hospital, and in Singapore the price is around S$200 (HK$1,155).

(Main image: Swapnil Bapat/ Unsplash; Featured image: Guo Xin Goh/ Unsplash)

The post Amid a Surge in Covid-19 Cases, the Hong Kong-Singapore Travel Bubble Has Been Postponed appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Marine Italia represents Azimut in several regions and is among the builder's top dealers due to big sales of large models in Hong Kong.

The post Marine Italia leads Azimut in Asia appeared first on LUXUO.

The "travel bubble" agreed between Hong Kong and Singapore will be opened on November 22, both cities' governments announced today, in a rare piece of good news for the pandemic-battered tourism industry.

A quota of 200 residents from each city will be able to travel on one daily flight to the other, Hong Kong's commerce minister Edward Yau told a press conference.

Only those who have been in Hong Kong or Singapore for two weeks and tested negative for Covid-19 will be allowed to board, he added.

The travel corridor offers a glimpse into how places with less severe outbreaks might be able to safely restart some travel.

[caption id="attachment_211314" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Singapore. (Image: Swapnil Bapat/ Unsplash)[/caption]

Passengers arriving in Hong Kong will have to test negative again at the airport to avoid quarantine, while those arriving in Singapore will have to download a contact-tracing app. The daily flights will be operated by Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

If either city reports a daily average of more than five new cases from untraceable sources over a week, the travel bubble will be suspended for two weeks, Yau said. He added that if no spike in cases was reported, the flight quota between the two regional aviation hubs would be increased to two per day from each city from December 7.

[caption id="attachment_212144" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The "travel bubble" agreed between Hong Kong and Singapore will be opened on November 22, both cities' governments said Wednesday. (Image: Anthony Wallace/ AFP)[/caption]

Singapore transport minister Ong Ye Kung said the arrangements would be "as close at it gets to pre-Covid travel".

Singapore is a major market for Hong Kong's tourism industry with more than 450,000 visitor arrivals recorded in 2019, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Internet searches for travel-starved Hongkongers jumped more than four times after plans for the travel bubble were announced last month, leading to a spike of more than 50 percent in ticket fares, according to online travel firm Expedia.

(Main and featured image: Hu Chen/ Unsplash)

The post Need a Holiday? The Hong Kong-Singapore Travel Bubble Launches on November 22 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Southeast Asia dealer Boat Lagoon Yachting announces strong Princess Yachts orders in 2020.

The post Princess Yachts enjoys sales success in Southeast Asia appeared first on LUXUO.

Southeast Asia dealer Boat Lagoon Yachting announces strong Princess Yachts orders in 2020.

The post Princess Yachts enjoys sales success in Southeast Asia appeared first on LUXUO.

For the month of November, Maserati has partnered with Capella Singapore to create a Maserati-themed staycation.

The post Go on a la dolce vita staycation with Maserati and Capella Singapore appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

For the month of November, Maserati has partnered with Capella Singapore to create a Maserati-themed staycation.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Time to start planning your next trip to Singapore.

Hong Kong and Singapore have agreed "in principle" to set up a travel bubble allowing residents to move freely between the two financial hubs as long as they test negative for the coronavirus.

The announcement, which came yesterday, is a rare moment of good news for a tourism industry battered by the pandemic and offers a glimpse into how places with less severe outbreaks might be able to safely restart some travel.

The two cities released joint statements announcing the deal which they said would be implemented within weeks. "This milestone arrangement will help revive cross-border air travel between the two aviation hubs, in a safe and progressive way," Hong Kong's government said.

[caption id="attachment_211313" align="alignnone" width="1024"] With the new Travel Bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, it won't be long before you get to visit the latter's famed Gardens by the Bay. (Image: Roslan Rahman/ AFP)[/caption]

"I think it's a significant step, a small step but a significant one because both Hong Kong and Singapore — we are regional aviation hubs, even global aviation hubs," Singapore transport minister Ong Ye Kung said.

Ong said he hoped the travel bubble could be "a model and a template for us to forge more such relationships and partnerships".

Shares in Hong Kong's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific which, like all airlines, has been hammered by the coronavirus closed more than six percent up on Thursday. Singapore Airlines was trading up a more muted 0.5 percent.

Singapore is one of major source markets of Hong Kong's tourism industry with over 450,000 visitor arrivals recorded in 2019, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

[caption id="attachment_211312" align="alignnone" width="1024"] View of Hong Kong Island from The Peak. (Image: Bady Abbas/ Unsplash)[/caption]

No quarantine on arrival

The joint statement said there would be no limit on what type of travel will be allowed between Hong Kong and Singapore, meaning tourists will be as welcome as business travellers.

Those travelling between the two hubs will need to have a negative coronavirus test result and travel on dedicated planes. They will not need to quarantine for a period of time on arrival. No transit passengers will be allowed on board the travel bubble flights.

Both governments "look forward to the resumption of travel between both cities, with the necessary safeguards in place to ensure that public health concerns of both sides are addressed," the joint statement said.

[caption id="attachment_211314" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Singapore. (Image: Swapnil Bapat/ Unsplash)[/caption]

Industry groups welcomed the announcement and said they hoped similar bubbles would be formed. Jason Wong, Hong Kong's Travel Industry Council, said the arrangement -- though welcomed -- wouldn't save the city's tourism industry that has been largely paralysed by the epidemic.

"We would most love to have similar schemes with destinations like Japan, Thailand and South Korea," Wong told AFP. "Hopefully having the first one would help Hong Kong to convince more partners."

Public health experts cautiously welcomed the Singapore Hong Kong travel bubble but cautioned corridors only worked for those places that have got a handle on the disease.

(Main and featured image: Swapnil Bapat/ Unsplash)

The post You May Soon be Able to Travel Between Hong Kong and Singapore Without Quarantine appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

How Sofi Sui managed to retain all her staff even when the business dropped by 90 per cent.

The post 4 business and life lessons from restaurant operator Sofi Sui on surviving a pandemic appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

How Sofi Sui managed to retain all her staff even when the business dropped by 90 per cent.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.