Travel and Tourism Recovery from global pandemic, future growth and development 

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has identified investments as one of the key priorities for the world travel and tourism industry recovery, for its future growth and development. The time is now for innovative and new solutions, going beyond the old school ways of traditional investments. Probably an underestimated and underrated force of economic growth and progress for the world economy, with tourism and green investments, they can be a force of change and example for the world, as we battle climate change, as well as many other challenges that the world is facing ahead. 

This is a collective effort by the whole world, for the whole world. We, as a world united together, can only be stronger and better adapt to face the looming key climate challenges ahead.  

TGH Photography exploration with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II

I have been actively exploring locally in Singapore with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II, producing local visual storytelling using TGH Photography x Canon EOS R6 Mark II Explorer Series Production. From wildlife, arts, heritage, culture, community events, conferences, wedding and portraiture shoots with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II, the photography adventures had been diverse and interesting.  

However, I realised that I am not doing enough on the sustainability and environment segments that I had written down earlier to work on more in-depth. Therefore, I would make and set aside the time for more nature, outdoors and environmental photography and awareness with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II for Q4 2023, and to balance out my photography work, documentation and visual storytelling next year 2024 and beyond.

Sustainability, Environment, Social, Governance and Responsible Travel

The areas of sustainability, environment, social, governance and responsible travel have gained priority and importance for the whole world, not just pertaining to certain industries. Everyone in this world has a part to play, no matter how big or small. 

Being one of the co-hosts of #TTOT Travel Talk on Twitter community chat, I had been networking with like-minded travellers and travel industry professionals around the world every Tuesday. We learnt from each other, exchanging notes, tips and practices on the world travel and tourism industry during our regular #TTOT Travel Talk on Twitter community chats. The topics of sustainability, environment, social, governance and responsible travel are some of the key messages that the #TTOT community are advocating strongly.   

As I am making a comeback into travel photography and travel visual storytelling on World Tourism Day 2023, the areas on sustainability, environment, social, governance and responsible travel would have more focus and feature. 

Making a comeback into travel photography and travel visual storytelling

On World Tourism Day 2023, I am making a comeback with more travel visual storytelling and travel photography content. It’s been a few years since my last trip overseas, the global pandemic situation doesn’t help. A sector that I tried to enter, I wasn’t successful, met with a number of obstacles that I would not go into detail. I am working on my travel visual storytelling and travel photography content again, finding my own travel journey, building up networks and opportunities.  

My travel writing style has evolved as well, it’s time for a new era of TGH Travel Visual Storytelling version 2.0.

The post World Tourism Day 2023 – Tourism & Green Investments appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

The Kärcher Klean!Star car wash gantry was officially launched at Esso Lorong Chuan. This automated car was gantry relieves existing labour shortage, its state-of-the-art system offers consistent and thorough cleaning with efficient use of manpower. You might think car washing waste a lot of water, however this is something different, this with Kärcher Klean!Star system is big on sustainability as it recycles up to 85% of all the water used during each wash.

Vincent Sim, Managing Director of Kärcher Singapore said: “We are proud to have this opportunity to bring the automated car wash back together with Esso Singapore. Kärcher’s Klean!Star car wash gantry will help to tackle manpower shortage and reduce costs by recycling up to 85% of water used during each car wash.”

Lim Xu En, Retail Sales Manager, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, said: “At Esso, we believe in continuously improving our offers for customers. By partnering with industry leaders like Kärcher on projects like this automated car wash, we hope to give our customers good value while doing our part for the environment.” ExxonMobil has a network of service stations across Singapore under the Esso brand.

Kärcher Klean!Star Auto Car Wash

Kärcher Klean!Star auto car wash can save water by recycling up to 85% of all the water used during each wash. Drivers and motoring enthusiasts can view part of the filtration system located beside the auto car wash gantry. 

The wastewater from the car wash is funnelled through a filtration system, and stored in a tank that can be used during the initial round of washing before freshwater is used to complete the wash. The car wash can be also draw power from solar panels installed at the station. 

This entire car wash is timed to be under five minutes, with simple drive-in instructions to help drivers move their car into the washing position. This would also mean less labour is required to run the system, helping operators to save on labour costs.

Kärcher Klean!Star is fitted with an array of sensors that is used together with specifically foamed polyethylene brushes to contour to the shape of different vehicles from sedans to vans, providing a thorough clean car wash without scuffing the vehicle exterior. 

Kärcher Klean!Star car wash gantry was awarded the Green Good Design Award in 2019. This is the world’s oldest design award that acknowledges products, services, programmes, ideas, and concepts, which contribute to a healthy and sustainable world.

Kärcher Klean!Star Auto Car Wash Locations

The Kärcher Klean!Star automated car wash is now available at Esso Lorong Chuan, there are two additional locations coming soon by the end of 2022. 

Car owners and motoring enthusiasts in Singapore, keep a lookout for more updates on more Kärcher Klean!Star auto car wash locations opening up in 2023! The time is now for a return of the auto car wash in Singapore with Kärcher Klean!Star! Let Kärcher Klean!Star auto car wash give your car a good pampering, wash, clean, dry and care!

* Information courtesy of Kärcher and Gloo *

** A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R10 Explorer Series Production **

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Going back in time to 2021, there was a period during Q3 when I was at a very low point, I wasn’t in a good shape, my mental health and well-being was probably at the bottom of that rabbit hole that I spiralled myself downwards into. 

The above photo was shot on 24th September 2021 by fellow photographer friend Ryan Cheng. A picture speaks a thousand words, on the state of my mental health and well-being during that period. My article on World Mental Health Day 2021 translates them into a pretty lengthy article if you like to know more.

A year has passed, my situation has definitely improved from that dark and down period in 2021, putting aside the normal routine high stress and pressure in running my own photography business in a swinging up and down economic cycle. I am not writing as much in this article (I try to not write as much), as compared to my 2021 article whereby my photography and visual story telling allowed me to unleash (rant) a lot of my thoughts, feelings and emotions at that point in time.

In a period of crisis, there are lessons to be learnt, for you to take note, be mindful and improve on. There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is a beautiful rainbow at the end of this storm. One of the bright sparks/rainbow omen that appear for me, is that my second photography zine (publishing soon) is based on my photography therapy journeys that I embarked during my route to recovery. 

Today on 10th October 2022, World Mental Health Day 2022, I am continuing to spread the message on taking care of your personal mental health and well-being. Please visit and check out this article my alma mater University of Queensland (UQ). “What the health: How do we maintain a healthy headspace”, published by UQ Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, is a good read.    

Be aware and mindful of your personal mental health and well-being. Take good care and be safe as we rebuild a new future of living and work in a post global pandemic world. 

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Special Theme Q2 2022 – Fully Restarting Tourism 

Why such a theme “Fully Restarting Tourism”? This was a follow up from my June 2021 article on “When Can We Restart Tourism”, at that particular period in time, the world was still caught in between opening up and managing the global pandemic situation.

Fast forward three quarters into Q2 2022, the global pandemic situation is under better control and getting more stable, although the world is not of the woods yet. We can start to see more countries opening up their borders and restrictions, the activities have started to kick in, with tourism organisations ramping up their publicity, awareness and marketing campaigns, along with many other industry players from the travel, tourism aviation and hospitality industries. 

That’s how I personally view it, “Fully Restarting Tourism”, finally! However, my personal analysis are that while we are absolutely delighted in fully restarting tourism, this is not an immediate change/recovery. Things and changes are going to take a bit of time to get up to speed, from both demand and supply side of things, my personal estimation is that it would start to peak in Q3 (June school holidays) or Q4 2022 (year end school holidays, year end Christmas festive season). 

Call for media pitches from travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries 

For my special theme Q2 2022 – Fully restarting tourism. I am inviting a call for media pitches from travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality industries around the world, not just from Singapore or from regional countries.

Whether you are travel industry players with forecasts and insights, destination travel and tourism marketing companies/agencies, travel stories for your community tourism. For the Singapore market, I am open to discussions/collaborations with inbound tourism or outbound tourism industry players too.

The deadline for my pitches is 30th June 2022. This special theme “Fully Restarting Tourism” would be my key topics for Q2 and Q3 2022, with a possible extension into Q4 2022, depending on how the world travel and tourism industries move during the next few months. 

Wanderlust Dreams, Hopes, and Plans

During this period, I hope there would be opportunities opening up again either for travel photography/writing assignments/commissioned work. However, I won’t mind familiarisation media trips too if that opportunity arises. 

I have a number of countries that I would like to visit again soon. For short haul travel trips, I might start off with regional countries Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. As for long haul travel trips, I would visit Japan first before planning other countries with Europe likely my next destination. 

For all fellow travel writers, photographers and wanderlusts, I think it is safe to say that we are fully restarting tourism. 

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Canon’s latest refillable ink tank printers feature high ink volumes combined with improved page yield to offer low-cost printing. For easy maintenance, the new G Series includes a drip-free, hands-free ink refilling mechanism, and a user-replaceable maintenance cartridge design to ensure minimum downtime and maximum productivity for homes and businesses. 

Whether you are a photographer, small home business, content creator or student, having a all-in-one multi-function home printer would be very useful and essential as WFH might be a norm in the future of work or new hybrid working/studying environment in the very near future.

Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore said: “With more people working and studying from home, they will need printers that deliver maximum productivity and cost efficient printing. With easy maintainability, users can be assured of minimal downtime. We have also seen a significant rise in printer sales in the last six months, and our G series is set to meet this increased demand.” 

More Ink, More Performance, More Pages 

Right out of the box, the new Canon G series includes enough ink to last a long time for most users. The black-only documents page yield has been improved by 26% (1) compared to existing G series models, with the new models delivering up to 7,600 pages with one black ink bottle. Page yield for colour documents has also been improved with the new models capable of printing 7,700 pages with one colour ink bottle. For businesses and homes with high print volumes, this increased page yield presents a more economical choice. 

The printers are suitable for both general use and photo printing, with crisp and sharp text in text documents and line drawings through the dedicated use of pigment black ink, and automatic switching to only dye-ink colour channels when there is a need to produce borderless glossy photos up to A4 sizes. 

Drip-free, Hands-Free Ink Refilling Process 

To avoid unintended filling of coloured inks into the wrong tank openings, the new Canon G series features new ink bottle designs, with outlet nozzles that fit only in the respective colour tank well openings. Ink filling is fast, drip-free, and hands-free, allowing users to complete the entire unboxing and setup process in just minutes, while maintaining a mess-free workstation. 

An integrated ink tank design also keeps the printer footprint compact, while providing clear visual indication of remaining ink levels. 

Always Up and Running 

The user-replaceable maintenance cartridge design of the new Canon G series coupled with the automatic reset of the internal ink counter prolongs the printer lifespan well beyond conventional printers and ensures users can continue to use the printer with minimal downtime. 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G3060 and G3020 All-in-One 

These multi-function printers feature print, copy as well as scan functionalities, and are designed to boost productivity for home and small office environment. A 2-line LCD panel makes it easy to navigate printer settings and view the printer’s status information. Businesses with substantial daily printing requirements can benefit from higher document print speed of up to 10.8 ipm mono and 6.0 ipm colour for the PIXMA G3060. 

With its wireless capabilities, users can print and scan from their iOS and Android mobile devices through the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app that allows users to fine-tuned control all the printer settings and parameters. There is also direct printing from mobile devices making it even easier for users to print, iOS users can use AirPrint, while Android users can use Canon Print Service plugin there is available on the Google Play Store.

They are also compatible with Google Assistant enabled and Amazon Alexa enabled devices, by issuing voice commands to the printers via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, users can print a wide range of items such as documents, message cards and shopping lists. With these virtual assistants, users can improve their productivity and empowered to complete a wide variety of tasks at any one time.

There is the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint Editor app for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac OS platforms, this is the perfect go-to app for all ID photo requirements, custom photo layouts, calendars and postcard printing needs.

There is also PosterArtist Lite by Canon that is free for download, users can make use of more than 1,300 pre-loaded templates, photos and clip art to design a wide range of flyers, posters suitable for different businesses. 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G2020 All-in-One 

As an all-in-one, the PIXMA G2020 features both print and scan functionality. It comes with a 2-line LCD panel similar to the one on the PIXMA G3060 and G3020, which allows for easy operation and fuss-free adjustment of printer settings. 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G1020 

For students and home users who will only need to print documents, the PIXMA G1020 is the most affordable print-only option within the new G series line-up and also features improved page yields compared to the previous generation model. 

Pricing and availability 

The new G series printers are now available from Canon authorised dealers at the following recommended retail price:

Product Specifications 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G3060 

Easy Refillable Ink Tank Wireless All-In-One for High Volume Printing 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G3020 

Easy Refillable Ink Tank Wireless All-In-One for High Volume Printing 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G2020 

Easy Refillable Ink Tank All-In-One for High Volume Printing 

PIXMA Ink Efficient G1020 

Easy Refillable Ink Tank for High Volume Printing 

Notes:

(1) , (3) & (4) When printing in Economy Mode

(2) Only available in Navy colour

* Information and pictures courtesy of Canon Singapore and GLOO PR *

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