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In this issue: ① Quote of the month ② Myanmar Rapidly Changing ③ Bali Saka Museum ④ So Many Good Reasons to Work with LAT ⑤ Malaysia, Bird Watching ⑥ Scoot flies Subang ⑦ Malaysia, Niah Caves UNESCO Site ⑧ Singapore Passport ⑨ Singapore Malaysia oversight of social media
"There are tiny moments of happiness and they are the ones during which you forget the bad things. Happiness is made up of moments of forgetfulness."
Antonio de Curtis
Myanmar Rapidly Changing
We know it's the beginning of August, and many of you are shaking off the sweat and stress from the peak season bookings. Now, you're likely enjoying a well-deserved break, spending quality time with family and friends, and readying yourselves for some respite from it all.
Nevertheless, we want to report on the developments in Myanmar. While we approach the situation with caution due to the fragmented and contrasting perspectives of many stakeholders, we believe there are positive signs that could pave the way for the final removal of the brutal military elite.
The gist of it all is that ethnic militias and pro-democracy groups are scoring victories against the governing junta. Resistance forces—comprising hundreds of factions, many with competing aims—have won a series of victories over the army, which controls the government. The defeat of the junta is no longer unthinkable. Yet, victory for the resistance, fragmented as it is, could plunge Myanmar into even greater chaos. So, after more than three years of fighting, what's happening?
On October 27th, 2023, the Brotherhood Alliance—a resistance coalition of three ethnic militias representing the Rakhine, Kokang, and Ta’ang peoples, with links to China’s security services—launched an offensive. They eventually seized strongholds in the region of Mandalay and in Chin, Rakhine, and Shan states from the junta.
The Brotherhood’s success seems to have inspired other resistance groups to redouble their efforts. Now, only 14% of Myanmar’s territory and 33% of its population, mostly in cities, are under stable junta control. The Arakan Army (AA), a rebel force composed of members of the Buddhist majority in Rakhine aiming for self-determination, has taken at least nine of the state’s 17 townships and most of the land bordering Bangladesh. However, the AA has been accused of war crimes against the Rohingya, a Muslim minority also persecuted by the government.
The territory held by the resistance includes much of Myanmar’s border regions. Of the 51 towns on international borders, the junta has total control of only one: a town with 7,000 residents near the foothills of the Himalayas. The resistance fully controls 11 of the 18 towns on the Chinese border and 90% of two more. Legal trade flows into and out of Myanmar are increasingly constricted, weakening the economy and, therefore, the junta.
Fighting in border areas has enabled trade of another sort: smuggling of drugs, gems, and timber. In December, Myanmar became the world's biggest opium producer, according to the UN. Production jumped by more than a third in 2023. Estimates suggest that drug smugglers last year exported between 58 and 154 tonnes of heroin, with a wholesale value of $835 million to $2.2 billion. Myanmar is also a significant producer of methamphetamines and ketamine and has become a centre for global cyber-scams. While the world has largely overlooked this conflict over the past three years, it cannot ignore its effects.
We hope this overview provides some insight into the complexities and potential outcomes of the current situation in Myanmar.
Bali Saka Museum
Saka Museum in Bali is the only place in Indonesia to be listed in the top 100 of Time Magazine's 2024 World's Greatest Places. Located within the Ayana Estate Bali complex in Jimbaran, the museum officially opened its doors in March 2024. It offers a unique showcase of Balinese art and cultural heritage, spanning from centuries past to the present.
Visitors to the two-story museum can explore an impressive collection of Balinese cultural artifacts, including ancient statues, palace doors from the 1700s and 1800s, wooden Balinese calendars, and manuscripts written on lontar (palm leaves). The museum also features a collection of gamelan and other traditional musical instruments, along with a theatre room where videos about Balinese culture are screened.
One of the main attractions of the museum is its display of 10 large ogoh-ogoh statues. These statues, typically used during Nyepi Day (the Balinese Day of Silence), represent mythological spirits and are paraded through the streets by locals on the eve of the holiday. The ogoh-ogoh at the Saka Museum are particularly notable for combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, allowing them to move like robots.
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 small boutique island hotels strategically located
LAT Indochina subsidiary operating in Thailand and Vietnam
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
Malaysia, Bird Watching
The Fraser's Hill International Bird Race this year attracted a total of 130 teams from 15 countries, including participants from as far away as the U.S. and U.K. Bird races like this have been gaining popularity across the region, with Malaysia alone hosting nine other annual events besides Fraser's Hill, the country's oldest.
Participants, including photographers equipped with powerful telephoto lenses, document sightings of various bird species. The collaborative nature of these events often leads to teams sharing information about their surprise discoveries, significantly increasing the likelihood of spotting rare species due to the many eyes on the lookout.
During this year's Fraser's Hill event, racers recorded sightings of lowland bird species such as the green broadbill, dusky broadbill, chestnut-backed scimitar babbler, and white-crowned hornbill. The appearance of these species at higher altitudes suggests changes in the climate of their original habitats, prompting many birds to relocate.
Bird races are intensive weekend events that draw participants of all ages and backgrounds. These events not only create awareness about birds and their habitats but also raise funds to support long-term conservation efforts. Bird races can be a powerful tool to advocate for nature in a way that appeals to a broad audience.
This year marked the 40th anniversary of the Fraser's Hill Bird Race. The winning team, Swire All Stars, documented an impressive 164 species in just 12 hours. In comparison, last year's race, held at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, attracted over 350 participants and recorded 160 bird species during a 24-hour event.
The growing interest in birdwatching and photography has led to the launch of several new bird races in recent years. Notably, the Panti Bird Race in Malaysia in April and the Vietnam Bird Race in Tram Chim National Park in May were new additions in the first half of 2024. More debut events are planned for the latter part of the year.
HIGHLIGHTS
Scoot flies Subang
Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, will be among the first carriers in more than two decades to operate international jet services from Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB), better known as Subang Airport. The airline has confirmed plans to launch a route on Sept. 1 using Airbus A320 aircraft. Flights from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) will be offered daily, departing SIN at 11:55 a.m. and returning at 2:10 p.m.
Malaysia, Niah Caves UNESCO Site
Malaysia has once again achieved global recognition with the Niah Caves complex in Sarawak being officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The recognition was granted during the 46th World Heritage Committee Session held from July 21 to 31 in New Delhi, India.
Singapore Passport
Singapore is once again the world’s most powerful passport, according to latest Henley Passport Index ranking, breaking away from the shared top spot with five other countries earlier this year. The city-state also sets a new record score, with its citizens now enjoying access to 195 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain drop to joint-second place, each with visa-free access to 192 destinations, and an unprecedented seven-nation cohort, each with access to 191 destinations without a prior visa.
Singapore Malaysia oversight of social media
Malaysia and Singapore are broadening their oversight of some of the most popular social media, messaging platforms and market sites in order to curb surges in online scams and harm against minors. Malaysia plans to license social media sites like Facebook, X and TikTok and messaging services like WhatsApp. Neighbouring Singapore last month required designated social media and online marketplaces to actively detect and take action against scams and malicious activities.
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 four boutique island hotels in Indonesia, in Lombok, Bali, Sulawesi and Papua.
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.
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