LATest e-bulletin April '25

Look at the endless innovative touring products developed by LAT. From slow tourism to tours away from crowds, from an agile system of modular scheduled departures in different languages to arts, architecture, outdoor, experiential, culinary food and education packages, just to name a few!

All our offers are strictly carbon contribution @ LAT Climate Contribution, all emissions being calculated and offset by projects in cooperation with Climate Partners.

In this issue: ① Quote of the month ② Integrated Tourism ③ Game Changers? ④ So Many Good Reasons to Work with LAT ⑤ MH 370 ⑥ Tanah Merah Ferry ⑦ Volcano of Flores ⑧ Singapore, from Raffles to Lady Gaga

First and foremost, wonder about yourself

Integrated Tourism is Boosting Communities in Indonesia.

Sustainable tourism development is creating new opportunities for communities in Indonesia, focusing on initiatives that benefit both people and the environment.

The Indonesia Tourism Development initiative is helping communities in Lombok and Lake Toba improve their livelihoods through projects that combine infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.

This joint effort focuses on making the most of Indonesia’s extraordinary natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage, ensuring that tourism growth supports local communities while protecting the environment.

In areas like Lombok and Lake Toba, projects are upgrading infrastructure, expanding access to essential resources, and empowering local entrepreneurs. Through training and capacity-building programs, local communities are better equipped to ensure that tourism generates long-term benefits — preserving both their cultural identity and natural surroundings.

With their unique landscapes and vibrant traditions, Lake Toba and Lombok have strong potential as world-class tourist destinations. However, both regions face challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, and the need for tourism development that directly benefits local communities without depleting natural resources.

These initiatives form part of broader efforts to foster sustainable tourism across Indonesia, aiming to create a balanced approach that respects the environment, preserves local culture, and empowers communities to lead their own development.

By integrating infrastructure improvements with environmental and cultural preservation, the project is guiding key tourism developments in regions such as Gili-Senggigi, South Beach, Mataram, and Rinjani. This integrated model ensures that tourism growth aligns with long-term sustainability goals for both local people and the environment.

Notable infrastructure upgrades include the Pemenang-Bayan-Sembalun road and enhanced water supply systems in Senaru, Sembalun, and Mandalika. These improvements not only support tourism but also help protect the natural resources that attract visitors to the region.

By the end of 2024, projections indicate that these developments could positively impact 1.6 million people in Lombok alone, reinforcing sustainable development efforts across the island and setting a model for tourism-driven community empowerment in Indonesia.

LAT actively participate in the development of local communities, contributing to projects for climate contribution, education and employment. Visit us at LAT Responsibility.

LAT Customer Service Contact Number Update

Please be informed that, effective 1st May 2025, our text and voice contact numbers will be consolidated into a single number:

New Contact Number: 📞 +62 361 6208838

To ensure a smooth transition, our existing contact numbers will remain operational until 31st May 2025 and will be deactivated on 1st June 2025.

Please update your records accordingly.

Game Changers?

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Trip.com Group have unveiled Technology Game Changers: Future Trends in Travel & Tourism at ITB Berlin, spotlighting the innovations set to revolutionise the industry.

This groundbreaking report explores 16 transformative technologies shaping the future across four major trends: Digital Technologies, Financial Technologies, Future of Mobility, and Breakthrough Innovations.

Travel Reinvented

This new report suggests that by the end of the decade, AI agents won’t just automate travel searches and bookings – they could match human intelligence across many tasks, transforming Travel & Tourism as we know it.

Quantum computing could soon be solving problems beyond our wildest thinking. From optimising global air traffic in real-time with unprecedented efficiency, to unlocking the next frontiers of space travel and deep-sea tourism, bringing both closer to reality.

Supersonic flight is set to make a spectacular comeback, more than twenty years after Concorde retired. Boom Technology and United are gearing up to carry passengers at blistering speeds within the next four years.

Meanwhile, smart cities with driverless cars and advanced air mobility won’t just reshape today’s top destinations – they’ll open doors to places once thought unreachable, redefining the tourist experience for the travellers of tomorrow.

The Travel & Tourism sector is in the midst of a digital revolution. From AI-driven personalisation to advancements in aviation sustainability, innovation is reshaping how we explore the world.

As travellers turn to social media, streaming platforms, and cutting-edge tech to inspire and book trips in real time, platforms like Instagram are shifting from selling products to selling experiences. Meanwhile, technology is unlocking new adventures off the beaten track.

With innovation accelerating at an extraordinary pace, businesses embrace these advancements today will be the industry leaders of tomorrow

Travellers today expect planning and booking to be intuitive, efficient, and hyper-personalised. Provided they know who they are and what they want.

Key insights from the report include:

Super Apps Redefining Seamless Travel – A survey of 8,000 travellers found 97% want a single platform integrating flights, hotels, activities, and payments, for a frictionless journey.

Greener Travel Takes Off – From Virgin Atlantic’s first-ever 100% sustainable fuel transatlantic flight, to Port Miami’s expansion of shore power, the Travel & Tourism sector is advancing towards a more sustainable future.

Driving Industry Transformation

The report underscores the critical need for investment in digital skills and regulatory frameworks to unlock the full potential of these technologies.

With 91% of travel businesses planning to increase their tech investments, the industry is on the brink of its most significant transformation since the dawn of the Internet.

So Many Good Reasons to Work with LAT

Established in 1991

Independently owned and operated

Purely B2B with travel industry partners

Online booking engine with immediate

confirmation of hotels, tours and transfers

Skilful Contents Provider and Technology user

Knowledgeable and efficient reservations personnel

Long and proud association with the MICE industry in all Lotus destinations

Fully committed to Sustainability and CSR

Climate Contribution for all packages and services on offer

Extensive selection of scheduled group departures and innovative product lines Direct access to a vast pool of local professional contributors

Owns 5 small boutique island hotels strategically located and one luxury sailing yacht

Multilingual guides in all destinations

Operations offices throughout its destinations

Centralised bookings and payments for multi destination tours 24/7 assistance with interactive voice response available in four languages

LAT Application with UpToDate itineraries and info for guests. Downloadable from Apple and Play Stores

TATTLER

MH370

Malaysia has agreed to terms and conditions of an agreement with exploration firm Ocean Infinity to resume the search for the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, its transport minister said on Wednesday.

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777, was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew when it vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014 in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries.

The decision will enable commencement of seabed search operations in a new location estimated to cover 15,000 sq. km in the southern Indian Ocean, based on a "no find, no fee" principle, minister Loke Siew Fook said.

Ocean Infinity will receive $70 million if the wreckage is successfully located, he said.

The government in December said it had agreed in principle with Ocean Infinity's proposal to resume the hunt for MH370. The firm had conducted the last search for the plane that ended in 2018 but failed on two attempts.

Those followed an underwater search by Malaysia, Australia and China in a 120,000 sq. km area of the southern Indian Ocean, based on data of automatic connections between an Inmarsat satellite and the plane.

A ship that will look for the missing plane was deployed to its Indian Ocean search zone late last month, ship tracking data showed, even though a deal had yet to be signed with the government.

It was not immediately clear how long the search contract with Ocean Infinity would be. Loke had previously said it would cover an 18-month period.

HIGHLIGHTS

Tanah Merah Ferry

The Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT), operated by Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC), has officially reopened after a year-long renovation — enhancing travel efficiency between Singapore, the Riau Islands (Indonesia), and Johor (Malaysia). Key upgrades include 15 new self-service kiosks for passport scanning, boarding pass, and luggage tag printing, 6 automated baggage drop counters (up from 4 previously), automated lanes to speed up passenger clearance, Improved passenger flow designed to cut waiting times significantly.

Volcano of Flores

Volcanic activity at Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara has reduced over the weekend, but the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) is urging continued vigilance while local tourism stakeholders are maintaining caution. Lewotobi Laki-laki’s eruption on March 20 had resulted in seven flight cancellations from Australia to Bali, and five delayed services from Australia, Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur on the same day. A Singapore-Lombok flight was cancelled on March 21. Domestic flights between Bali and Labuan Bajo were also impacted, although no airport was shut down during the period.

From Raffles to Lady Gaga

Singapore has reported a significant increase in hotel bookings as fans from Asia and around the world secure accommodation for Lady Gaga’s Asia tour dates in Singapore, scheduled from May 18 to 24 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Singapore, the only Asian stop on Lady Gaga’s tour, is seeing a surge in travel interest, highlighting its growing reputation as a key event tourism destination that attracts visitors from across the region.

Our whole product for free and independent travellers, groups and MICE are based on a Climate Contribution programme. This means that part of the greenhouse gas emissions that will be generated are offset by projects in collaboration with Climate Partner, one of the leading climate protection solution providers for companies.

The arising emissions are being compensated by supporting a third-party certified geothermal energy project in Darajat, Java (Indonesia). The project helps to meet the growing demand for electricity in Indonesia. By increasing the share of renewable energy, the dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity decreases, and about 705,390 tonnes of CO2 emissions are saved per year.

For over thirty years, Lotus Asia Tours Group has provided services and assistance to travellers the world over, specialising in the design and implementation of corporate events, activities, incentive tours and motivational travel, targeted at FIT, GIT and MICE markets, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indochina. The group also operates five boutique island hotels in Indonesia, in Lombok, Bali, Sulawesi, Papua and Maluku, as well as a seven-cabin luxury sailing yacht.

To learn more about our brand please head to our website, or contact us directly; we look forward to hearing how we could help make your next trip, tour or event memorable and successful.

Corporate Office D-5-4 Megan Avenue 1, 189 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia T: +60 (0)3 21617075 · F: +60 (0)3 21617084 · E: latgroup@lotusasiatours.com

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