KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) — The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has launched the “GO TOKYO Gourmet” website to promote Tokyo’s diverse food attractions to audiences in Japan and overseas through curated articles and videos.
In a statement, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said the website aims to deepen visitors’ interest in Tokyo’s food culture and encourage them to visit the Japanese capital to experience its cuisine firsthand.
Tokyo’s culinary appeal is defined by its breadth, spanning traditional dishes rooted in the Edo period, globally influenced cuisines, locally sourced ingredients shaped by the city’s natural environment, and high-quality restaurants led by acclaimed chefs from Japan and abroad.
Beyond dining recommendations, the website highlights the depth of Tokyo’s food culture, exploring its history and traditions from the Edo period to the present day, as well as the creativity and perspectives of food professionals who shape the city’s culinary landscape.
The platform also provides practical information to enhance dining experiences, including guidance on enjoying Japanese food, insights into local services and dining etiquette, updates on food-related events, and links to restaurant reservation sites, including options catering to vegan and halal preferences.
Content on the site features chefs appointed as Tokyo Tourism Ambassadors, chefs active in the capital, food specialists, and other leading figures who offer insights into the richness and evolution of Tokyo’s food culture.
In addition, dedicated sections explore Tokyo’s food heritage rooted in Edo, iconic local dishes, and the evolution of dining culture, alongside popular food experiences among travellers, such as ramen, rice balls, convenience store gourmet offerings, and the city’s distinctive vending machine culture.
(HKTB provides satellite live feed and social media livestreaming of countdown in Central. Details on pages 2-5)
HONG KONG, Dec 24 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced that this year’s New Year Countdown will take place at the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central. The event will feature a brand-new format combining live performances by renowned singers and a light show, aiming to spread positive energy and heartfelt blessings. Additionally, HKTB has introduced a variety of countdown activities across Hong Kong on its website to make it easier for both locals and visitors to participate and welcome the New Year with new hopes.
A novel countdown showcase combining music and lights
From 11:30 pm on New Year’s Eve to 00:10 am on New Year’s Day, the event will feature a thrilling line-up of music performances. Headlining the event will be internationally acclaimed group Air Supply, performing a selection of their timeless classics, on top of live appearances by renowned local artists Jay Fung and Cloud Wan. There will also be performances from a children’s choir and the Hong Kong Police Band, setting the stage for the countdown moment.
The walls of eight iconic buildings participating in the Immersive Light Show in Central will welcome the New Year with light projections of a giant countdown clock and seasonal patterns. These buildings will present a three-minute light performance, themed “New Hopes, New Beginnings”, sending blessings to both the on-site audience and viewers worldwide as we welcome the New Year.
This year’s countdown event is fully supported by Hongkong Land, the partner for Winter Wonderland in Central.
Large screens will be set up in Chater Garden and Edinburgh Place with live broadcasts of the performances and countdown. Additionally, an outdoor live projection will be displayed at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. A giant countdown clock will be shown on the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, building anticipation as midnight approaches.
The New Year countdown will be broadcast live on a number of media channels, including the official HKTB website, DiscoverHongKong.com, HKTB’s social media channels (Facebook & YouTube). HKTB will simultaneously broadcast the event via satellite to audiences around the world to welcome 2026.
HKTB one-stop website showcases countdown activities across the city
On New Year’s Eve, various countdown activities will take place across the city, including the “New Year’s Eve Countdown Party Moment” in Hong Kong Disneyland, and for the first time, a special countdown concert in West Kowloon Cultural District, as locals and visitors celebrate the arrival of 2026. HKTB’s one-stop travel information portal provides a list of various countdown activities in Hong Kong to help the public plan their itinerary.
Reference images of Hong Kong New Year Countdown are available for download at the link above.
Post-event video footage and photos of Hong Kong New Year Countdown will be available for download from 1 January 2026, 03:00 Hong Kong Time (31 December 2025 GMT 19:00).
Information of Social Media Livestreaming and Satellite Live Feed of “Hong Kong New Year Countdown”
31 December 2025, 23:25-24:17 Hong Kong Time (GMT 15:25-16:17)
2. Details of Satellite Feed for Broadcasters:
Live feed time
31 December 2025, 23:35-24:10 Hong Kong Time (GMT 15:35-16:10)
Signal testing time
31 December 2025, 20:00-20:15 Hong Kong Time (GMT 12:00-12:15)
Technical support
Tel: (852) 2888 1944/ (852) 2883 2867
For RTMP live streaming signals or other technical support related to live broadcasts and live streaming, please contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board to arrange the necessary services.
Asia Sat 5, 100.5 degrees East (covering Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, CIS and Australia)
Programme Name
New Year Countdown Event
On-air Date and Time
GMT: 31 Dec 2025 15:35 – 16:10
Satellite
Asia Sat 5（100.5°EAST）/ C-band
Transponder
TXP C9V 9_4V (9MHz)
Uplink Frequency
6218.5 MHz (Horizontal)
Downlink Frequency
3993.5 MHz (Vertical)
Symbol rate
7.2 Msps
FEC
3 / 4
Video Format
High Definition 1080i/50 4:2:0
Aspect Ratio
16 : 9
Modulation
DVB-S2 / 8PSK
Pilot
on
Roll off
0.2
Encoding Bit Rate
14.0Mbps (MPEG4 H.264)
Encryption
NIL- Free to Air
Audio assignment
1
Program Mixing (L Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
2
Program Mixing (R Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
3
Program Mixing (L Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
4
Program Mixing (R Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
IntelSat 19, 166.0 degrees East (covering Asia-Pacific region with reach to the Western United States)
Programme Name
New Year Countdown Event
On-air Date and Time
GMT: 31 Dec 2025 15:35 – 16:10
Satellite
IntelSat 19（166.0 °EAST）/ C-band
Transponder
TXP 12C Slot D (9MHz)
Uplink Frequency
6178.5 MHz (Vertical)
Downlink Frequency
3953.5 MHz (Horizontal)
Symbol rate
7.2 Msps
FEC
3 / 4
Video Format
High Definition 1080/50i 4:2:0
Aspect Ratio
16 : 9
Modulation
DVB-S2 / 8PSK
Pilot
on
Roll off
0.2
Encoding Bit Rate
14.0Mbps (MPEG4 H.264)
Encryption
NIL- Free to Air
Audio assignment
1
Program Mixing (L Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
2
Program Mixing (R Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
3
Program Mixing (L Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
4
Program Mixing (R Stereo) (MPEG1 Layer II)
IntelSat 34, 55.5 degrees West (covering the Americas)
An average of 39,000 seats per day operate on the world’s top route
Key findings:
14.4 million seats were scheduled between Jeju (CJU)-Seoul Gimpo (GMP) in 2025.
Asia Pacific dominates, accounting for 9/10 of the top routes globally.
Hong Kong (HKG) – Taipei (TPE) continues to be the busiest cross-border route.
Jeddah (JED) – Riyadh (RUH) is the fastest growing top ten route YoY: +13% seats vs 2024.
LONDON, Dec 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —OAG, the leading data platform for the global travel industry, today revealed its ranking of 2025’s Busiest Airline Routes. The analysis is powered by OAG’s Global Airline Schedules Data and provides an overview of global route performance and trends.
Jeju to Seoul Gimpo is the busiest airline route of 2025 with 14.4 million seats scheduled, a modest 1% increase versus 2024. There is room yet for growth on this route, which is still 17% short of regaining its capacity level of 2019. Seven carriers operate on this intensely competitive route.
The second and third placed routes are both in Japan: Sapporo New Chitose (CTS) – Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Fukuoka (FUK) – Tokyo Haneda (HND) with 12.1M and 11.5M seats respectively.
The top ten comprises entirely of domestic flights, and Asia Pacific dominates with 9 out of 10 being in the region. The one route outside of Asia Pacific is fifth placed Jeddah (JED) – Riyadh (RUH), which has seen the fastest growth of any top ten route. 9.8M seats on JED-RUH represent annual growth of 13%. Fourth placed Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh (SGN) also grew by 4% YoY and tenth placed Shanghai (SHA) – Shenzhen (SZX) has seen capacity increase by 5% to move into the top ten from its eleventh spot last year.
Focusing on cross-border flights, Hong Kong (HKG) – Taipei (TPE) is the busiest route of 2025 with 6.8M seats followed by Cairo (CAI) – Jeddah (JED) with 5.8M seats and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Singapore Changi (SIN) with 5.6M.
OAG’s Chief Analyst, John Grant commented: “The importance and scale of these routes cannot be underestimated and highlights the strength of emergent markets around the world. For Asia Pacific to be home to nine out of the ten largest routes in the world, all of which are domestic, is a remarkable indication of how these routes have recovered in recent times and their significance to the airlines operating those sectors.”
Find global and regional rankings of the world’s busiest airline routes in 2025 and methodology on OAG’s website.
About OAG
OAG is a leading data platform for the global travel industry offering an industry-first single source for supply, demand, and pricing data.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) — Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life Vision Realization Program has released a new report detailing key insights and progress in transforming the Kingdom’s quality of life, based on extensive surveys of residents, citizens, and visitors.
Titled Cities of Possibility: The Evolution of Quality of Life in Saudi Arabia, the report highlights how advancements across the Kingdom are reshaping economic, social, and cultural life while enhancing urban liveability, according to a statement.
Focusing on five major cities, namely Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar, Madinah, and Abha, the report introduces a new approach to measuring quality of life, built around four interconnected pillars: Prosperity and Opportunity, Personal and Social Growth, Lifestyle and Recreation, and Sustainable and Safe Foundations.
It details how improvements in liveability, inclusion, and well-being have translated into measurable economic outcomes as Saudi Arabia develops future-ready cities with higher standards of living for all.
The report quantifies substantial gains, including a rise in women’s workforce participation to 36.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing the Vision 2030 target of 30 per cent. Investment licences grew 67 per cent year-on-year, placing the Kingdom 13th in the 2025 Kearney FDI Confidence Index.
Life expectancy increased from 74 to 79 years, and Saudi Arabia ranked second highest among G20 nations on the 2024 ICT Development Index.
Significant improvements in lifestyle, recreation, safety, and mobility are driven by strategic national investments, including US$1 trillion in tourism and leisure, expanding access to dining, culture, sports, and entertainment. (US$1=RM4.07)
Building on these achievements, Saudi Arabia has sponsored the global Quality of Life Initiative (QOLI), providing a unified, internationally recognised, data-driven framework that helps local governments measure and enhance well-being in their communities.
The Saudi Quality of Life Program continues to serve as a strategic enabler of Vision 2030, focusing on improving urban liveability and enriching lifestyle offerings across the Kingdom.
Hilton and Explora Journeys announce an exclusive collaboration as part of the debut of Hilton Honors Adventures.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) — Hilton and Explora Journeys, the ultra-luxury ocean travel brand of MSC Group, have unveiled an exclusive partnership that brings high-end cruising into Hilton’s global loyalty ecosystem, marking Hilton’s first major expansion into luxury ocean travel.
Hilton president, global brands and commercial services, Chris Silcock said the partnership creates the perfect moment to introduce Hilton Honors Adventures, opening new ways for members to explore iconic and lesser-known destinations through elevated experiences.
Meanwhile, Explora Journeys president, Anna Nash said this partnership unites two brands committed to thoughtful travel, meaningful connection, and deep discovery.
She added that the collaboration blends the freedom of ocean travel with personalised, well-being-focused hospitality.
Central to the collaboration is the debut of Hilton Honors Adventures, a new extension of Hilton’s award-winning guest loyalty programme focused on immersive, adventure-driven travel, according to a statement.
Beginning summer 2026, Hilton Honors members will be able to earn and redeem Points on Explora Journeys’ voyages spanning the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and beyond. Explora Journeys currently operates two ships, with plans to grow its fleet to six vessels by 2028.
To mark the launch, Hilton Honors members can access a limited-time preview offer through June 7, 2026, featuring exclusive benefits on all Explora Journeys itineraries, with 16 curated sailings highlighted for added value and early access ahead of full Points integration.
The initiative builds on Hilton Honors’ reach of more than 235 million members worldwide and complements its portfolio of over 9,000 properties, including more than 1,000 luxury and lifestyle hotels, while extending loyalty benefits into fast-growing experiential travel segments.
With ocean travel gaining momentum among travellers seeking slower, more immersive journeys, the Hilton-Explora alliance positions both brands at the intersection of luxury hospitality, experiential travel and loyalty innovation.
