Intrepid Travel, through its corporate social responsibility arm Intrepid Foundation, is calling upon the world to send aid to those severely impacted by the 28th March earthquake.

Homes, businesses, and schools have been destroyed by the massive tremors, but responders struggle to bring aid where it matters, as many roads remain blocked and the bulk of national communication systems are down.

In light of such circumstances, donations to the Myanmar Earthquake Appeal will help provide immediate emergency relief and critical assistance for the worst-hit communities in the country.

Also, Intrepid will match all donations up to AU$100,00 to bring as much relief as possible to quake victims.

Hitting close to home

Regional general manager for Southeast Asia Mike Stewart said: “My friends and colleagues are reporting catastrophic damage in Myanmar, a country that holds a special place in my heart.”

Stewart lived and worked in Myanmar for a couple of years, around 2011 when it was just emerging from military rule and reopening to the world.

He said: “The country’s progress was palpable, and it was an exciting time to be there. But as we all know in recent years, Myanmar has slid back into violence, and the situation has become increasingly dire.”

Stewart pointed out that, just before the quake hit, he spoke to Intrepid’s staff in the capital city Yangon.

He remarked: “They were struggling with electricity blackouts lasting up to eight hours a day, and one, is also without access to water.”

This bleak state of affairs has been exacerbated by the destruction wrought by the disaster.

Time to reach out and help

As of noon on Sunday, 30th March, Myanmar’s military junta has reported 1,644 fatalities due to the earthquake, 3,408 injured, and 139 missing.

Biheng Zhang, general manager of the Intrepid Foundation, declared that now is the time for the global community, especially fellow professionals in the travel and tourism sectors, to step in and provide support.

Zhang said: “The impact of the earthquake in Myanmar is severe. Although we’re not currently travelling in Myanmar, the country continues to hold a special place in Intrepid’s heart. I appeal to our global travelling community: those who’ve been to Myanmar in the past or who have simply visited the region. Your support at these times can bring critical aid to the thousands of families at a time they need it most.”

Learn more about Intrepid Foundation’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal via https://www.theintrepidfoundation.org/t/myanmar-earthquake-appeal.

Donations may be made online through the aforementioned website.

The Meetings Show Asia Pacific made a successful return to Singapore for 2025, solidifying its reputation as a key anchor event for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry within Asia and the Pacific. 

Building on the  momentum of its debut last year, this vibrant second run brought together  MICE professionals from in and around the region on 16th and 17th April at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

The Meetings Show was made even more exciting by the presence of close to 300 dynamic exhibitors, a strong Hosted Buyer Programme, as well as a number of curated knowledge sessions that presented key insights regarding the industry.

The event was held concurrently with the first-ever Business Travel Show Asia Pacific, another gathering that drew in professionals from the field of corporate travel, along with senior buyers and preeminent suppliers for a highly insightful conference.

In total, the joint conventions welcomed 1,773 attendees from over 72 countries,  including 347 hosted buyers. 

Exhibitors and buyers alike were enthusiastic about the high  quality of engagement and meaningful connections made throughout the show floor. 

The 2025 edition of The Meetings Show recorded growth of around 35 percent over its debut year, reflecting  broader participation, richer programming, and deeper regional involvement.

On enduring relevance and support

Northstar Travel Group chief executive Jason Young remarked during the opening of the dual event: “For more than 80 years, our brands  have been the trusted voice of the travel and tourism industry. Our market-leading events and media products are relied upon by the most important professional audiences that drive the US$2  trillion travel market across the MICE, corporate and leisure segments. We truly embrace our role  as the champion of travel.”  

Young added that the geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties have made travel more important and more essential than ever before because it brings communities  together and makes business happen.

He said: “That’s why we are here: to bring communities together and to make business happen. We couldn’t be more bullish and excited  about the opportunity that The Meetings Show Asia Pacific brings.” 

Ong Huey Hong, assistant chief executive of the industry development group and chief sustainability officer of the Singapore Tourism Board, likewise expressed her enthusiasm over the event.

She said: “It is with great pleasure and excitement that we get to witness not only  the growth of the second edition of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, but also the inaugural launch of BTS APAC in  Singapore. The co-location of the two events will form an even stronger gateway to quality  connections and insightful sessions tailored to the meetings and corporate travel sectors.” 

Ong further pointed out that Singapore aims to triple its MICE tourism receipts by 2040 despite the uncertainty regarding the global economy at present.

She added: “It is too early to determine the impact on our business; in the meantime, we will continue working towards our target by building on our leadership position and unwavering commitment to excellence. We have a robust pipeline of events  leveraging the range of vibrant industries in Singapore, and will refresh our hardware and software  to support this growth.” 

Police security operations in the Philippine capital remain in full effect as vacationers return to Manila following the Holy Week holidays.

According to Maj Gen Anthony Aberin, chief of the Philippine National Police’s National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO), inspections at major air and sea ports as well as bus terminals and railway stations will continue along with staff deployment in key urban areas.

He said: “Metro Manila is bracing for a wave of returning travelers. We will be there in the streets to deliver safety and security services to the people.”

Aberin pointed out how assistance desks will remain open alongside the heightened presence of visibility patrols and local government forces.

In light of the wave of returning travellers, the public has been urged to stay vigilant and cooperative, and should not hesitate to report suspicious individuals and / or activities to established hotlines and aid desks.

As of Palm Sunday on 13th April, the PNP placed all its units throughout the Philippines on heightened alert, deploying more than 65,000 uniformed personnel to ensure a safe and peaceful observance of Holy Week. 

Devasom Khao Lak introduced its Artist in Residence programme today, 21st April, as a means of fostering artistic collaboration, cultural sustainability, and community engagement.

This unique residency invites local, national, and international artists to stay, create, and share their craft through curated exhibitions, workshops, and interactive experiences.

Guests are, thus, invited to engage with the artists and experience the magic of artistic creation firsthand.

Through initiatives such as the Artist in Residence program, the luxury beachfront resort continues to honour its commitment to support the arts whilst fostering meaningful connections between artists and the community.

In doing so, Devasom Khao Lak continues to elevate artistic dialogue, inspire creative exploration, and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage. 

Three key concepts

The programme seeks to focus on three vital aspects; namely:

• Artist Engagement: Artists from diverse backgrounds will participate in immersive creative projects, showcasing their work through exhibitions, workshops, and interactive sessions that engage both guests and the local community;
• Cultural Sustainability: By supporting artistic diversity and promoting Thai art and culture on a global stage, the initiative enhances Thailand’s cultural reputation while preserving its rich heritage; and
• Supporting Local Artists: Strengthening the connection between the resort and its surrounding community, this program provides a platform for local artists to thrive and contribute to a growing artistic landscape.

Meet the artist

Devasom Khao Lak will make it a point to welcome artists whose work spans music, performance, and craftsmanship.

First among these is Ecuadorian artist Pepe Adrian, the founder of Ceremonial Pacha.

Adrian’s focus is on the preservation of pre-Columbian ceramic instruments in light of his specialisation in the field of ethnomusicology.

He has mastered the ancient whistle bottle technique, fusing tradition with innovation. 

As a Devasom Artist in Residence, he will craft an exclusive ceramic masterpiece for Devasom Khao Lak, offering guests an immersive artistic journey.

Sustainability officials at aviation manufacturer Airbus pointed out that Thailand has the potential to produce up to five million tonnes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) per annum.

Company chief sustainability officer Julie Kitcher remarked on this at the Airbus Industry Outreach event held in Bangkok, Thailand last 11th April.

Kitcher said: “Thanks to its strong agricultural sector, Thailand has rich potential as a producer of SAF, with extensive feedstocks including molasses, agricultural waste such as rice straw and rice husk, corn cobs and leaves, and manure. It’s extremely encouraging to see Thailand’s ethanol industry considering SAF production. It is also very encouraging to see this ‘industry cooperation’ approach as this mindset will be needed in developing and validating data such as Life Cycle Assessment data for new feedstocks.”

Thailand’s place in the global SAF sector

Several projects are already under development to produce SAF from used cooking oil, such as that announced by Bangchak, as well as PTT Global Chemical’s initial foray into SAF via a co-processing pathway.

At the same time, Airbus executives note that alcohol-to-jet fuel derived from ethanol holds great promise here too.

It should also be noted that Thailand’s strategy to increase the number of electric vehicles on its roads nationwide will reduce demand for bioethanol in the road transport sector, freeing up more for use in SAF.

Kitcher said: “At Airbus, we look forward to working with the Thai government and SAF producers to help develop the industry.”

She added that there were two critical challenges that Thailand needs to address if it is to succeed as a primary source of SAF for the global aviation sector.

What needs to be done?

The first of these two issues is the need to pull new SAF technologies through their first stages of development, as these are the points where developmental and financial risks are at their highest.

Kitcher said of this: “We are also working to support SAF projects here in south-east Asia and Thailand. For example, we signed a memorandum of understanding with CP last year to explore the potential of SAF production from agricultural waste. We are also keen to help bring other new feedstocks on-stream here, too.”

The second issue that needs to be dealt with involves gaining a thorough understanding of the various feedstocks here.

According to Kitcher: “What we’ve learned at Airbus is that it’s not simply enough to understand the potential production capacity of a given feedstock. You also need an in-depth understanding of its location, accessibility and the costs of collecting and transporting it. Thailand has already made strong progress in gathering valuable data and information about where the country’s feedstocks are located.”

Keeping this in mind, policymakers play a key role when it comes to developing the Thai SAF industry.

Also, attaining success will require a high level of coordination between different stakeholders and the setting out of a clear ambition and roadmap.

Kitcher pointed out that the swift publication of a national SAF roadmap, including a 1 percent blending target for 2026, would provide potential producers and investors with the clarity they need.