LATest e-bulletin August '25

Gabriele Di Terlizzi
Aug 6
10 min read

Look at the endless innovative touring products developed by LAT. From slow tourism to tours aways 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 Changi, an Economic Lifeline ③ Kuching Footloose ④ Wildlife within Reach ⑤ Many Good Reasons to Work with LAT ⑥ Singapore blends comfort and nature ⑦ Indonesia shuts Mount Rinjani ⑧ Singapore, Sands breaks ground ⑨ Singapore Oceanarium

The person, whether lady or gentleman, who takes no pleasure in reading a good book must be intolerably stupid.

Jane Austen

Changi, an Economic Lifeline

On May 14, as hundreds gathered at Changi Airport to mark the groundbreaking of Terminal 5, Engineers, architects, and project managers from around the globe—many of whom had previously collaborated at the terminal developments—had returned.

It felt like a grand reunion of the world’s airport builders, commented Yamaguchi, a senior adviser at Takenaka, one of Japan’s leading construction firms and the architect behind Terminal 4, completed in 2016. Takenaka has played a pivotal role in shaping Changi’s infrastructure for over 40 years, ever since Singapore’s iconic aviation hub first opened its doors.

Yet the ceremony was far more than a sentimental gathering. It underscored Singapore’s enduring strategy of nation-building: mobilizing international expertise to deliver complex, high-stakes projects with exacting standards. A decade after Yamaguchi’s last involvement, Changi is now embarking on its most ambitious expansion to date—a multibillion-dollar undertaking designed to safeguard Singapore’s long-term global connectivity.

For the city-state, Changi is far more than just an airport. In a land-constrained nation with limited domestic demand, the airport is a strategic engine of growth—enabling trade, attracting investment, and facilitating the free movement of people and goods. It is a critical economic artery.

Changi directly supports approximately 200,000 jobs and contributes nearly 5% of Singapore’s GDP. It underpins key sectors such as tourism, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.

Changi is the lifeline of Singapore. Without a thriving, competitive airport, the country cannot survive. The importance of Changi to Singapore’s existence cannot be overstated.

This dependence was starkly revealed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With no domestic aviation market to buffer the impact, border closures brought Singapore’s air traffic to a near halt. Passenger volume plummeted from 68.3 million in 2019 to just 11.8 million in 2020, and a mere 3.1 million the following year.

Changi Airport Group (CAG) saw its revenue drop by 78% in the fiscal year ending March 2021, and it posted a second consecutive annual loss thereafter. The broader national economy shrank by 3.8% in 2020—its deepest recession since independence in 1965.

LAT Customer Service Contact Number Update

Effective 1st June 2025, all previous LAT customer service contact numbers have been deactivated.

We have now consolidated our text and voice support into a single contact number:

📞 ‪+62 361 6208838

Please update your record accordingly.

Latest Updates & Insights

We have launched a dedicated News page to share updates about our work, new products, destination highlights, and industry events. Here you’ll find curated news covering product launches, cultural festivals, hotel openings, and special activities for FIT, groups, and MICE.

Stay connected to discover what’s new and what’s coming next.

Kuching Footloose

When British adventurer James Brooke sailed up Borneo’s Sarawak River in 1841, he came upon a charming riverside settlement. Struck by its natural beauty and strategic location, he asked a local man for the name of the place. The man replied, “Kucing” — Malay for “cat.” According to local lore, Brooke may have simply been pointing at a passing feline, unintentionally naming the city after it.

The tale has its skeptics — after all, the local word for cat is pusak, not kucing. Some believe the name might instead derive from “Cochin,” a colonial city in India’s Kerala state. Regardless of its true origins, Kuching today stands as one of Borneo’s most inviting cities, with a unique past shaped by the Brookes — a British dynasty that ruled Sarawak as personal sovereigns, the “White Rajahs,” from 1841 until 1946.

Just 15 minutes from the airport, Kuching’s city center spreads along the south bank of the Sarawak River, with its heart beating at Jalan Main Bazaar — a walkable stretch lined with heritage shophouses, leafy promenades, and the Chinese Heritage Museum. These streets tell stories of a multicultural city forged by waves of settlers, particularly Chinese migrants who helped shape its 20th-century economy.

Across the river, sunset cruises offer a scenic introduction to the city, and if you’re lucky, you might spot a crocodile lazing on the muddy riverbanks.

The best way to explore Kuching is on foot. Start with the alleys and arcades that branch off Main Bazaar into New Chinatown, rebuilt in the 1920s after the devastating Great Kuching Fire of 1884. This area stretches to Jalan Padungan and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, offering a tranquil blend of heritage and commerce.

Carpenter Street, running parallel to Main Bazaar, is a cultural gem. It houses two remarkable Chinese temples: Hong San Si (1840) at one end and the Teochew Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple (rebuilt after the fire) at the other. Across the street, the temple’s old opera house now serves as the Lau Ya Keng hawker center — a top spot to sample Sarawak laksa, a sweeter, curry-infused take on the classic Malaysian dish.

Kuching wears its feline name proudly. At least seven cat statues dot the city, from the beloved Family Cat Statue at the Padungan roundabout to the metallic “Kucing Transformers” near India Street — a whimsical piece made from scrap metal by local students. The waving white cat at the Chinatown arch even dons festive clothes during Chinese New Year.

Don’t miss the nine bronze cats lounging along the waterfront, courtesy of the Kuching Cat Museum, housed atop Siol Hill. Proudly claiming to be the world’s first of its kind, the museum showcases everything from cat figurines to feline folklore.

Kuching’s rise is inseparable from the Brooke dynasty, whose colonial regime was surprisingly welcomed by many locals at the time. In the 19th century, Sarawak was a rugged land of feuding tribes and roaming crocodiles. The Brookes built forts, established order, and brokered peace among indigenous groups.

Fort Margherita, built in 1879 by Charles Brooke to defend the city, now hosts a fascinating museum exploring a more nuanced view of colonialism. The entry fee is 20 ringgit (around $4.45).

Nearby, the elegant Old Court House complex (1871) is a beautifully preserved colonial structure with colonnaded walkways and stylish eateries like Commons. Adjacent lies the Ranee Museum, curated by the Brooke Trust, offering insights into Sarawak’s past and the extraordinary life of Ranee Margaret, wife of the second rajah.

Just west is Jalan India — a covered shopping street teeming with souvenir vendors. At its edge stands Masjid India, the oldest mosque in the city, built in 1863 by Tamil Muslim traders. A short stroll leads to the gleaming golden dome of the newer Kuching Mosque.

Just a kilometer from the riverfront lies the Borneo Cultures Museum — Malaysia’s most impressive cultural institution. Opened in 2022, this five-story marvel replaces the 1881 Sarawak Museum (currently closed) and offers a masterfully curated dive into Borneo’s heritage.

Exhibits span indigenous beliefs, Silk Road trade, ritual dances, and natural history. Allocate a half day to take it all in — it’s essential for understanding Sarawak’s complex tapestry.

Kuching shines on the cultural calendar too. Each June, it hosts the Rainforest World Music Festival, one of Asia’s top global music gatherings. The 2024 edition drew a record 26,000 attendees. Held at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a replica tribal settlement beneath Mount Santubong, the event combines concerts with workshops and cultural showcases.

October brings the Borneo Sonic Music Festival, spotlighting international K-pop, EDM, and hip-hop acts at Sarawak Stadium. That same month, the What About Kuching Festival fills the city with free community-driven arts, performances, and street culture.

Wildlife Within Reach

Kuching is uniquely positioned among a constellation of national parks, making it a launchpad for wilderness adventures. Closest to town is the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, just 22 km away and reachable by bus, rental car, or guided tour. Visitors can witness semi-wild orangutans descending from the trees to feed at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Further afield is Bako National Park, accessed by boat through mangrove estuaries. The park teems with rare wildlife — from flamboyant proboscis monkeys to bearded pigs and flying lemurs. Overnight stays in park lodges enhance the chance of rare sightings and allow time for scenic hikes to hidden beaches.

Another natural gem is Gunung Gading National Park near Lundu, where the massive, foul-smelling rafflesia — the world’s largest flower — blooms only briefly. The Sarawak tourist office at the Old Court House can advise on timing and transport.

See the many offers from LAT to explore Kuching and Sarawak State.

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

Singapore blends comfort and nature

When travelers think of resort destinations in Asia, names like Bali and Phuket usually come to mind long before Singapore. But that perception is beginning to shift. Two prominent hotel groups are helping showcase a more tranquil, nature-immersed side of the city-state — one that blends luxury with lush, green sanctuaries.

This April, Banyan Group — the Singapore-based hospitality company behind the renowned Banyan Tree brand — opened its first hotel in its home country: Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree. Nestled within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the resort is surrounded by dense tropical rainforest and overlooks a serene reservoir. The area, in northern Singapore, also hosts iconic attractions such as the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, and Bird Paradise.

With its secluded location and immersive design, the resort offers guests an escape into nature. Accommodations range from standard and family rooms to uniquely styled “treehouses” — pod-shaped elevated villas offering sweeping views of the forest and water. The resort also features full spa services to complete the retreat experience.

Banyan Tree’s first-ever hotel opened in Phuket in 1994, and today the group manages nearly 100 properties across 23 countries. The company had long bypassed its home turf to focus on expanding its global footprint — and due to the scarcity of nature-friendly sites in highly urbanized Singapore.

That changed in 2014 when then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled plans to transform Mandai into an eco-tourism hub. The government-linked Mandai Wildlife Group spearheaded the initiative, developing new parks and accommodation options to reimagine the district as a full-fledged nature destination. Banyan Tree was selected to develop the resort on a 4.6-hectare site, helping to turn Mandai from a day-trip destination into a place where visitors could linger and recharge.

Another high-profile entrant is Raffles Sentosa Singapore, opened in March by Raffles Hotels & Resorts. This new property marks Singapore’s first all-villa resort, with each of its 62 private villas featuring a personal swimming pool. Located on the resort island of Sentosa, just south of the mainland, the retreat offers seclusion mere minutes from the city center.

Raffles Sentosa targets the luxury segment and has already seen steady booking demand.

These developments align with the Singapore Tourism Board’s goal to grow annual tourism revenue to SG$50 billion by 2040 — a 70% increase from 2024 levels. Rather than focusing on sheer visitor numbers, Singapore is shifting its strategy to encourage higher per-capita spending by enriching its offerings, particularly in the premium travel segment.

Key to this effort is creating compelling alternatives to traditional city experiences like shopping and casinos. With nature-forward luxury resorts now part of the landscape, Singapore aims to redefine itself as a place not only for business travelers and urban explorers, but also for those seeking serenity, wellness, and refined relaxation.

Still, challenges remain. Positioning Singapore as a luxury destination won’t be easy, especially with the city-state's proximity to globally beloved resort hubs like Phuket, Bali, and Boracay — all of which offer tropical beaches, expansive grounds, and lower operating costs.

Yet, with Mandai’s immersive rainforest retreat and Sentosa’s villa enclave, Singapore is making a confident play to diversify its appeal — transforming itself from a stopover city into a destination in its own right.

HIGHLIGHTS

Indonesia shuts Mount Rinjani

With the recent climbing accidents, including a fatality and multiple falls along Mount Rinjani’s extreme Lake Segara Anak route, the Rinjani National Park Authority has temporarily closed the Pelawangan Sembalun–Segara Anak trail from July 18. All six routes on the mountain will be fully closed for 10 days from August 1 to allow for corrective measures.

Singapore, Sands breaks ground

Sands has broken ground on its new US$8 billion resort development in Singapore, marking a major expansion of its footprint in the region. The event on July 17 was officiated by prime minister and minister for finance Lawrence Wong, minister for sustainability and the environment and minister-in-charge of trade relations Grace Fu, Sands co-founder Miriam Adelson, Sands chairman and CEO Robert Goldstein, and Sands president and COO Patrick Dumont.

Singapore Oceanarium

The newly redeveloped oceanarium is designed not merely as an attraction, but as an immersive institute of learning — a space where curiosity meets conservation. More than showcasing marine life, it aims to educate visitors of all ages about the rich and fragile ecosystems beneath the waves, from the earliest prehistoric organisms that first inhabited our oceans to the endangered species now teetering on the brink of extinction. By deepening our understanding of these underwater worlds, the oceanarium encourages a sense of stewardship. Awareness is the first step toward preservation — because if we fail to protect what remains, the living creatures we marvel at today may one day exist only behind glass, as relics of what once was.

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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