Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-30)

THE RECENT eruption of Mount Bromo in East Java has sparked another wave of cancellations and slowed new bookings for tour operators in Indonesia, who are still reeling from the impact of disruptions caused by Mount Merapi.

The Ministry of Transportation has said that the Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport in nearby Malang will remain closed until December 4 due to volcanic ash from Bromo. As a result, Garuda Indonesia and two other domestic carriers have moved their Jakarta-Malang services to Surabaya's Juanda Airport.

The eruptions that have occurred since end-October have had a tremendous impact on the travel trade, according to Floressa Wisata Bali managing director Paul Edmundus Tallo.

Said Tallo: “The three-day Singapore/Kuala Lumpur-Surabaya-Bromo package is popular among our neighbours. They come just to visit the mountain. Now that Bromo is erupting, a series of bookings we have received has been cancelled. This comes up to around 100 pax. It may look small, but it is meaningful for us during low season.”

Alfa Ariantours managing director Yanto Sudjianto said: “The two tourist icons in Java, Mount Bromo and Borobudur Temple, are not in prime conditions for visiting. Travellers are taking a wait-and-see approach before making a new booking.”

- Full report in TTG Asia, December 3

Gracia Chiang, Singapore (2010-11-30)

INDIA- and UK-based online wholesaler for land arrangements Pearl Travels is developing a new Affiliate Partnership Program (APP), which will see DMCs and groundhandlers coming together to cross-sell each other's products.

Executive director Jayesh Ashar said Pearl Travels already had an online booking engine that featured a range of products from hotels and apartments to city tours and airport transfers, but a virtual global network would help it “compete against large companies rather than fighting the battle alone”.

His company specialises in FIT tailormade itineraries and MICE, with main markets being the Middle East, India, UK and North America.

“To realise the full potential of the system we have to offer a global product range to our 8,500 agents worldwide,” said Ashar.

The APP will involve only one partner per country, allowing the agent the exclusive rights to supply its local products to the network and to sell Pearl Travels' products in its local B2B market.

The average monthly cost for a five-year contract is US$1,100, which includes leasing of the online booking engine, a training programme and technical support.

With already one APP partner in Egypt, Ashar said he was looking to recruit at least 15 partners by 2015.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-30)

THE NEWLY-MINTED Malaysia Tourism Federation aims to become a platform for national and state tourism-related organisations to collaborate on direction-setting and proposing of policies for the industry.

Registered on November 18, the federation's president Joshua Peter Tan said its role was to serve as an umbrella body to bring stakeholders together to dialogue on tourism issues. It also hopes to run tourism-related conferences and provide human capital training for the travel trade.

He said: “We also want to work closely with the tourism ministry and state tourism bodies to ensure continued sustainable growth of Malaysia’s tourism industry.”

Tan's immediate task is to recruit members from national and state tourism associations across all segments such as the hotels, travel and tour operators, tourist guides and transport operators.

An inaugural meeting is planned for mid-December and there are plans to establish a full-time secretariat.

Tan expects the Federation, which will be officially launched in January next year, to eventually be a member of international travel trade associations such as the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the ASEAN Tourism Association.

Berlin (2010-11-30)

TRAVEL demand from India, Brazil and Switzerland is likely to be strong in 2011, with countries such as the US and France recording weaker sentiment.

According to a survey compiled by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin, 49 per cent of Brazilians intended to travel in 2011, with 21 per cent wanting a holiday similar to the one they took in 2010.

Indians were also enthusiastic about travel for next year, with 43 per cent of respondents saying they were planning one or more trips and 33 per cent considering trips similar to those they had last year.

By contrast, 32 per cent of Americans were intending to travel less next year and 16 per cent said they were unlikely to travel in 2011.

Among the European nations, the French stood out with 20 per cent of respondents who said they had no travel plans for next year.

This figure was only eight per cent for the Swiss, who were the most eager to travel among European citizens. Some 47 per cent of respondents planned to take as many trips in 2011 as they did this year, with 32 per cent believing it was possible they would travel more in 2011.

Singapore (2010-11-30)

CRUISE players operating in the region are reporting a surge in volume this year, while Singapore-based travel agents who sell cruise packages are singing the same tune.

Companies such as Star Cruises and Silversea Cruises have noted a 30 per cent hike in passenger numbers for the first 10 months compared to the same period last year, while major outbound travel agent Chan Brothers said it sold 40 per cent more cruise packages this year, according to a report in Singapore's The Straits Times.

This has been attributed to the pick-up in the economy as well as a growing awareness of the merits of an all-in-one package.

Star Cruises' senior vice president for sales Michael Goh said people “have discovered the convenience of freestyle cruising without needing to lug their luggage around and to pack and unpack at each destination”.

Goh added that longer cruises were gaining popularity, a trend also noted by Chan Brothers' senior manager Annie Yeo.

CTC Travel's senior vice president for marketing and public relations Alicia Seah also observed that cruises were increasingly being offered by companies as incentive travel, although the bulk of its customers were still older travellers.

Prudence Lui (2010-11-30)

RIDING on strong demand for travel into Macau, South Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air will make its foray into the Chinese SAR with the launch of five weekly services this week.

For the first 10 months of this year, the South Korean market demonstrated the highest growth out of all source markets, with a total 271,161 visitors. This is a 62.4 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

HS Travel, director of business development – Macau, Chasty Kwan, said: “The market has grown in recent years, and the new service will definitely push up the arrivals. Some of our South Korean clients have also been arriving via Hong Kong due to their multi-destination travel patterns.”

A 180-seat Boeing 737-800 will leave for Seoul at 2:50am every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Return flights depart at 11pm, arriving in Macau at 1:50am the next day.

Other than Jin Air, only Air Macau flies to Seoul with 11 weekly flights.

Karen Yue, Tokyo (2010-11-29)

NEW Delhi-based Cox & Kings is planning to develop Indian traffic to Japan by targeting MICE and religious groups.

The agency's vice president for international projects Apul Choudhary said: “Outbound demand for Japan has been weak, largely because of the impression that Japan is very expensive. Volume can influence prices, and by developing demand through specialised groups such as these, we hope to secure better rates that will in turn allow Cox & Kings to attract more Indians to Japan. This is a chicken-and-egg situation.”

A single MICE group could consist of 200 to 500 people, and would provide good leverage for rate negotiations, said Choudhary.

He singled out Central Japan as being suitable for MICE, as it has a good selection of hotels, event venues and attractions as well as direct flight access from India. Kyoto, on the other hand, is a popular destination for Buddhist groups.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-29)

SILKAIR'S thrice-weekly flights between Singapore and Pekanbaru from February next year could provide some respite for the surging travel demand from the city-state as well as create new opportunities for the Sumatera region.

MarinTur executive director Ismail Ali said: “We know there is a bottleneck in Singapore to enter Indonesia, so this could ease it a bit.

“The new flight is a good opportunity for the travel trade in Indonesia to make Pekanbaru another gateway for Sumatera overland tours, and on to Java-Bali, provided the local and central government will promote it.”

The city's established role as a base for international oil companies and the pulp and paper industry also presents promising prospects for corporate travel and airfreight, said the airline.

Chief executive Marvin Tan said: “We see good prospects for continued growth in air traffic between Singapore and Indonesia and believe that the launch of our eighth Indonesian destination will further boost travel between the two countries.”

SilkAir will operate services between Singapore and Pekanbaru on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays beginning February 28, subject to regulatory approvals. It currently flies to Balikpapan, Lombok, Manado, Medan, Palembang, Solo and Surabaya in Indonesia.

Vientiane (2010-11-29)

THE LAO National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH) is seeking a private sector investor for a 3,700m² riverfront plot in downtown Vientiane suitable for a 75- to 100-room, four-star hotel.

The Lao government is offering the selected partner exclusive terms including land-use rights for 40 years and special zoning privileges, said Peter Semone, chief technical advisor of LANITH. The hotel's annual land rental fee will be used to underwrite a portion of LANITH's operating expenses.

LANITH, a purpose-built teaching facility slated for completion in 2012, is part of a 8.5 million euro (US$11.2 million) development project between the Lao and Luxembourg governments to strengthen human resources in Laos' hospitality and tourism sector.

When fully operable, LANITH will accommodate as many as 400 full-time students in its two-year diploma programme. It will also offer a variety of industry training programmes.

Said Semone: "The partner will be able to enter the burgeoning Vientiane hotel market, earn a healthy return on investment, and do something positive for poverty alleviation and the development of human resources in Laos' tourism sector.”

Non-binding registrations of interest are being accepted until January 14, 2011. Shortlisted candidates will then be required to submit extensive proposals.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-29)

YTL Hotels will expand its portfolio to 16 by early next year with the opening of one hotel each in Japan and China.
 
The Green Leaf Niseko Village in Hokkaido, which YTL acquired last year, is slated to open on December 14 after renovations. The property will be comparable to those in ski destinations such as Aspen, Vail and St. Moritz, which is the sister city of Niseko, said YTL Hotels executive vice president, Laurent Myter.

Over in Shanghai, guest suites at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel will open in March 2011. The heritage property is located on Nanjing Road at the famous Bund intersection, overlooking the Huangpu River.

Myter also revealed that YTL had two island resorts under construction in Sabah, one in Pulau Gaya and another in Pulau Tiga. These are scheduled for completion in 2012 and will be owned and managed by YTL.

Geneva (2010-11-29)

INTERNATIONAL air traffic has continued to post strong growth, with passenger demand showing a 10.1 per cent year-on-year increase for the month of October.

For North American airlines in particular, October represented the fastest growth rate for the year, with a 12.4 per cent passenger demand increase over the same month last year. European carriers also showed a 9.6 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger demand, significantly better than the 8.6 per cent growth reported for September.

However, improvements in demand continue to be met by a cautious approach to capacity expansion. Over the first 10 months of the year, passenger demand grew by 8.5 per cent but capacity only expanded by four per cent. Forward schedules indicate a continuation of this trend.

Said the International Air Transport Association director general and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani: “As we approach the end of 2010, growth is returning to a more normal pattern. Passenger demand is five per cent above the pre-crisis levels of early 2008, while freight is one per cent above.

“Airlines appear to be managing capacity in the upturn with a good deal of prudence. And cost control continues to be a main theme for airlines everywhere.”

Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-26)
MALAYSIAN travel agents and tour operators are being encouraged to charge a consultation fee for services rendered to customers from January 1.
To facilitate that, the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) has introduced an Agency Consultation Fee guideline. Fees range from RM30 (US$9.60) for each FIT enquiry or quotation, to RM500 for clients wanting consultation on MICE business.
However, the fees are only recommended rates and companies can tweak them according to what they feel reflects their level of service. The fees will also be absorbed as part of the payment if a client eventually decides to do business with the agency.
In a press release, MATTA said it was important to charge clients who sought help in planning elaborate tour itineraries as these required time and expertise.
Said MATTA vice-president, outbound, Jeffri Sulaiman: "It is also to elevate the quality of service as consumers would expect service to be of high quality since they are paying for it. We should be competing on service rather than on price and volume."
MATTA's decision comes shortly after a move by Hong Kong's Travel Industry Council to introduce a similar directive from November 1 (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 28).

Air access hinders Japan’s inbound ambition

THE LACK of direct international flights into emerging Japanese cities has been pointed out as the stumbling block in Japan's aim of achieving 25 million visitors by 2019.

Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau tourism promotion department inbound specialist Yuji Sakamoto said: “This target is difficult to achieve, but not impossible. If Japan wants to grow visitor numbers...more direct flights into Hiroshima and other Japanese cities are needed.”  Other than the main gateways of Tokyo and Osaka, several Japanese cities are served by direct flights from only China, Taiwan and South Korea, which are the country's top international source markets.

Akane Toyama, representative of Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau, said: “When Hong Kong started direct flights to Okinawa three years ago, arrivals from Hong Kong boomed. It is now one of Okinawa's key source markets.”   On the flip side, South-east Asian arrivals to Okinawa were low because of a lack of direct air access, Toyama added. 
Singapore-based Euro-Asia Holidays product & business development manager Bibiana Soh said she had difficulty in selling up-and-coming destinations such as Gifu due to flight accessibility.

In response, Japan Tourism Agency director of international tourism promotion division Yasuto Kawarabayashi would only say that the new international terminal at Haneda Airport would help bring overseas tourists into the rest of Japan, as 70 per cent of the airport's flights were domestic services. 

US demand for Japan still soft

Karen Yue, Tokyo (2011-11-26)

WEAK consumer confidence among Americans and a strong Japanese yen continue to impact inbound travel from the US to Japan.

Honolulu-based E.S. International tour manager Samuel Kwok said: "Bookings for Japan this year are still flat. The American economy is not recovering as well as we hope it will, and the Japanese yen is appreciating. Travellers don't feel confident about spending that much on travel, especially when there are cheaper destinations such as Florida, or Thailand and Vietnam in Asia." Alaska-based ITC Incorporated president Yoshi Ogawa said he managed to maintain strong demand for Japan by specialising in high-end education and cultural immersion tours.

Said Ogawa: "My tours take travellers to Japanese destinations few travel agents offer, such as Hakodate and Hiroshima. They are also targeted at niche segments such as students with parents who are willing to pay for a unique learning experience, so money is no problem." Japan Tourism Agency director of inbound tourism promotion office Masahide Katsumata noted that the appreciating yen would affect American demand for Japan, but believed that mid-priced hotels in Japan would continue to make the destination affordable for budget-conscious travellers. In 2009, Japan received 700,000 arrivals from the US, the country's third largest source market.

In Brief

Garuda Indonesia's operations are back to normal after problems caused by the recent implementation of a new IT system were resolved. As of yesterday, up to 195 flights departed smoothly from Soekarno-Hatta for domestic and international destinations. Garuda has been asked carry out full investigations and an audit, and to report its findings to the public.

JTA seeks larger 2011 budget

THE JAPAN Tourism Agency (JTA) has appealed to the government for more money to be spent on promotion efforts targeting Asian source markets, especially South Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

These four markets were Japan's top Asian sources in 2009.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily at the opening of the annual Visit Japan Travel Mart in Tokyo, JTA international tourism promotion division director Yasuto Kawarabayashi said: “The government has been very supportive of growing the tourism industry so far, which it has singled out as one of the key pillars to aid national economic growth, so we hope the increase in budget will be approved.”

The tourism budget was ¥8.65 billion (US$104 million) this year, up from ¥2.85 billion in 2009, said Kawarabayashi.

The 2011 budget will be announced by end December.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-25)

VOLCANIC activity at Mount Bromo in East Java was milder yesterday, just one day after the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre put the volcano on eruption alert status.

The volcanic activity in the area, popular with both domestic and foreign tourists for the views at sunrise from the volcano to the Sand Sea below, has so far forced authorities to introduce a restricted zone of three kilometres from the crater.

Even though caldera visits and horse riding activities are out of the question, travellers can still watch the sunrise from an alternative viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan, said Aneka Kartika Surabaya operations manager Adjie Wahjono.

Panorama DMC managing director Rocky Praputranto, who expected impact to be minimal since it was shoulder season, said there had been no cancellations so far.

Bangkok (2010-11-25)

THE INAUGURAL ASEAN e-Travel Mart, organised by the Tourism Technology Association (TTA) and ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), will take place March 23-25 in Bangkok.

ASEANTA chairman Felix Cruz said: “Our objective is to bring buyers and sellers within the industry together, united by a commitment to greater technology integration in tourism.”

Participants will be able to create new trade partnerships and connect their websites or IT systems to view real-time inventory, prices and dates for faster bookings.

Travel industry operators looking for new business platforms will also be able to learn how to effectively distribute their products and services through the latest electronic platforms.

“Organisations should be striving towards better profits through smarter use of technology,” said TTA president Apichai Sakulsureeyadej.

Haneda aims for 30,000 more daily flights

TOKYO International Air Terminal (TIAT), which manages Haneda International Airport, wants to add 30,000 daily flights within the next three years.

The airport currently handles 30,000 flights during the day and 30,000 after midnight.

TIAT vice president corporate planning, Yoichi Hirai, said negotiations were underway for more flights from Mainland China, Japan's third largest source market.

Japan and Mainland China are now linked by four daily flights each from Beijing and Shanghai.

Manila & Singapore (2010-11-25)

PHILIPPINE-based South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) will begin services using aircraft leased from Tiger Airways in the region next month, under a partnership programme signed four years ago (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 3, 2006).

Using an initial fleet of two Airbus aircraft leased from Tiger, SEAIR services will start December 16 with daily flights between Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark Field, Philippines and Singapore.

The flights will increase to twice daily from December 20, with additional routes to be added over the coming months.

Seats on the flights will be marketed and distributed using Tiger’s Internet booking system.

“With this collaboration with Tiger Airways, we will be able to serve more international visitors to the Philippines by offering more destinations with low fares,” said SEAIR president and CEO Avelino Zapanta. “The introduction of these new jet services will create a welcome boost to the Philippines tourism industry.”

Singapore (2010-11-25)

QANTAS’s A380 aircraft will resume services from Saturday, starting with its five-weekly QF31 flight from Sydney to London via Singapore.

The move follows extensive engine inspections by Qantas, engine-manufacturers Rolls-Royce and Airbus.

“Together with the engine and aircraft manufacturers and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Qantas is now satisfied that it can begin introducing A380s to its international network progressively,” said the airline in a statement.

Qantas suspended its A380 services after an engine exploded on QF32, operated by an A380, en route from Singapore to Sydney two weeks ago.

“As more A380s become serviceable, Qantas will assess when and how best to deploy them, consistent with its conservative operational approach over the past weeks,” Qantas said.

Qantas has six A380 aircraft in its fleet.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-11-25)

SINGAPOREANS are staying longer in Central Hokkaido, with total room nights from Singapore growing 30 per cent between 2008 and 2009, according to Asahikawa Touring Promotion Council chairman Nobuo Nishinome.

A total of 25,000 roomnights from Singaporeans were registered in 2009, with an even higher figure expected this year, he said.

Nishinome also expects arrival numbers from Singapore to register growth.

“Total inbound numbers to the whole of Hokkaido have so far grown 200 per cent year-on-year, so Central Hokkaido can expect equally good growth out of Singapore and other source markets by the end of this year,” Nishinome said.

He attributed the sharp growth in arrivals this year to the return of travellers' confidence, which was affected by the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic last year.

Melbourne (2010-11-25)

MELBOURNE Airport has exceeded 27 million annual passengers for the first time, after experiencing the highest passenger totals on record for the month of October.

The airport handled more than 2.5 million passengers last month, with international passengers increasing 14.3 per cent over the same month last year to reach 532,046.

This follows a passenger increase of 11.8 per cent in September as compared to the same period last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 20).

The strong international performance was driven by increased travel to and from Asia, with Malaysian passport holders up 42.7 per cent, Thailand up 41.9 per cent, Taiwan up 27.3 per cent, India up 14.6 per cent and China up 14.5 per cent.

International travel by Australian passport holders also increased 16 per cent over last October.

Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff said: “More airlines are flying to Melbourne Airport due to our 24-hour curfew-free operations, highly competitive pricing, single terminal precinct and proximity to the Central Business District.”

Among them are Air India and Royal Brunei Airlines, which will launch services in the coming months.

Ollie Quiniquini, Singapore (2010-11-24)

A LITTLE over a week after launching Pilipinas, Kay Ganda! (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 16), the Philippines has dropped its new brand campaign, which came under heavy criticism after its November 15 launch.

The brand campaign spurred a heated public debate over its use of the vernacular and its lacklustre appeal compared to slogans of other Asian countries. No less than Philippine President Benigno Aquino III expressed his displeasure over the campaign.

There were allegations of plagiarism as similarities were spotted between the brand's logo and that of Poland’s. The Department of Tourism also had to pull the plug on its revamped website after bloggers noted that its URL was too close to that of a porn site.

Tourism undersecretary for planning and promotions Vicente Romano has assumed full responsibility for the misstep and resigned from his post yesterday.

In his resignation letter, Romano said: “We made it clear that the November 15 event was simply a preview... I now realise a consultation process is long and arduous, and my attempt to fast-track (it) is one of the reasons why it failed.”

Romano added he wanted to have an advertising campaign up and running by the first quarter of 2011.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-24)

PROBLEMS due to an IT glitch in its new operation control system (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 23) have not prevented Garuda Indonesia from signing an agreement to join the SkyTeam airline alliance in Jakarta yesterday.

“Joining SkyTeam is a long-term development strategy for Garuda Indonesia,” said Garuda president and CEO Emirsyah Satar. “For years, we have been upgrading our services and actively forging co-operation with SkyTeam member airlines with this objective in mind.”

Implementation of the new system last week was a requirement for Garuda to become a full member of the alliance, but a glitch in the crew rotation system had resulted in flight cancellations and delays since Sunday.

Satar expected operations to return to normal Thursday.

Garuda’s entry into SkyTeam would greatly expand the alliance’s presence in South-east Asia, adding 30 destinations to the network, said SkyTeam chairman Leo van Wijk.

“Welcoming a member that covers a considerable part of South-east Asia definitely illustrates our expansion plans,” he said.

Singapore (2010-11-24)

ONE in four consumers across the Asia-Pacific is looking to get their passport stamped and leave for a vacation in the coming six months, according to the findings from a MasterCard survey.

The survey was conducted over two months starting mid-September, and involved 10,502 respondents from 24 markets across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Japan ranked as the most popular destination for travellers in the region, followed by China and Australia, while respondents from Hong Kong (58 per cent) were keenest on taking a trip.

The survey also revealed consumers’ continued interest in traveling to destinations nearby, with 88 per cent of would-be-travelers in Asia-Pacific saying they were looking to explore close to home.
 
“It is encouraging to see most markets maintaining a strong appetite for travel, especially with continued interest for trips to destinations within the region,” said Yunsok Chang, group executive, Global Products and Solutions, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-24)

ORIGINALLY scheduled to open its doors next month (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 3), W Retreat & Spa Bali-Seminyak will now open early 2011 instead.

“W wants to make sure all components are implemented correctly to get the opening right,” explained general manager Craig Seaward. “We are experiencing a bit of a delay and are pushing to open end of February.”

The first W Retreat in Indonesia, the resort would focus mainly on attracting tourists from Indonesia, apart from other regional and international markets, said Seaward.

“Bali has become a preferred destination for Indonesians for years now, and we find that they, particularly the Jakarta and Surabaya markets, are into anything new, exciting and more contemporary, so this is the market that we are concentrating heavily on,” he said.

With the rest of the guests set to come from Russia, Australia, France, the UK and the rest of Asia, Seaward said he was targeting between 48 and 50 per cent occupancy in the first year of operation.

Bernie Rosenbloom, Vientiane (2010-11-24)

LUANG Prabang room rates are to remain stable despite the expected rise in tourist arrivals during the current high season from October to March and the opening of several top-end hotels.

The town has 2,800 rooms, up from last year's 2,703. Alila opened 23 suites in October, while Luangsay Residence, Le Palais Juliana, and Shinta Mani are slated to open by early next year.

Asian Trails Laos managing director Philippe Conod said: “Room rates are now stable for the first time after increases over the past five years.”

According to Conod, this high-season’s rates run from US$40-60 for standard rooms, to US$80-100 for superior and US$120-180 for first-class rooms.

Amantaka general manager Gary Tyson also expected rates for the high season to remain unchanged.

Bangkok (2010-11-24)

VIETNAM Airlines (VNA) will introduce a new daily flight between Narita and Danang via Ho Chi Minh City from December 15.

The move comes shortly after it announced plans to operate 46 charter flights between Hong Kong and Danang from November 26 to May 3 (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 15).

The Narita-Ho Chi Minh-Danang route will run until end March next year, after which VNA will fly direct without a stopover.

The Vietnamese national carrier will operate on both routes using a 184-seat Airbus A321 aircraft.

Danang International Airport currently handles only direct regional flights from Singapore with SilkAir’s four-weekly service.

Singapore (2010-11-24)

THE ALILA Bangalore, set to open in February, has branded itself as the city’s first ‘business lifestyle’ resort, and will cater to travellers looking for an equal measure of accessibility to business amenities and leisure options.

Located within the city’s business district, Alila Hotels & Resorts’ first Bangalore property follows hot on the heels of the launch of the Alila Diwa Goa in December 2009.

There will be 101 studio rooms, 12 SOHO Suites with separate living area and guest bathroom, seven Leisure Suites with over-sized daybeds on the balcony and two 506m2 Alila Residences for families and longer stays.

The hotel will feature an events centre with Lakeview Ballroom, two meeting rooms and a library. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is also available for all guests throughout the hotel.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-23)

GARUDA Indonesia is putting off reservations until November 24 while it rectifies a technical problem which has resulted in flight cancellations and delays since Sunday.

The airline had installed a new US$1.5 million system last week to integrate all its airline activities involving some 81 airline units, 580 pilots, 2,000 cabin crew and 2,000 flights per week.

However, a glitch in the crew rotation system during the switch has resulted in six flight cancellations on Sunday, four yesterday and 13 today.

Garuda president and CEO, Emirsyah Satar, said the new system was one of the requirements for joining the SkyTeam alliance. The airline is scheduled to sign an agreement this afternoon to join SkyTeam, with other CEOs of member airlines in attendance.

The incident has been an embarrassment for the airline and has also caused a headache for corporate travellers and their travel management companies.

PanTravel general manager Fahri Kurniawan, said: “It is very unfortunate that the affected routes are important business destinations such as Medan, Batam, Surabaya, Semarang and Palembang.”

“Some companies have policies to use only Garuda (for safety reasons). However, they cannot ruin work schedules because of this, so we need to find seats in other airlines even though they may not meet the companies’ safety requirements.”

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-23)

AS tipped by TTGmice last month, Malaysia's tourism ministry is introducing a two-year subvention programme from 2011 worth RM100 million (US$32.3 million) to help the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) attract more international conventions.

In order to qualify, conventions must comprise at least 20 per cent international delegates and chalk up a minimum of 1,000 roomnights.

MyCEB, CEO, Zulkefli Sharif said the programme included both financial as well as non-financial aid such as on-site support, event marketing and delegate boosting.

Said Zulkefli: “The subvention programme will provide a significant boost to Malaysia’s business tourism industry. Besides supporting the nation’s bid for international meetings, it will also help to stimulate growth in business tourism arrivals and foreign exchange earnings.”

Malaysia aims to grow business tourism arrivals from five per cent of overall tourist arrivals in 2009 (1.2 million) to eight per cent by 2020 (2.9 million).

Anthony Wong, group managing director, Asian Overland Services Tourism & Hospitality group, said: “This is just what we need to compete on a global level to attract more international meetings to Malaysia.”

Gracia Chiang and Karen Yue, Shanghai (2010-11-23)

SHANGHAI hotels are facing swift and deep drops in rates of up to 50 per cent now that the World Expo has concluded.
 
China Comfort Travel outbound sales department representative, Zhou Wei, said international five-star hotels “would suffer the most” because they were the ones that targeted international Expo-goers”, while mid-range local hotels would not see rates dropping as substantially because “they would continue to see demand from domestic travellers”.

Indeed, a director of sales of an international luxury hotel said her rates had plunged from RMB3,000 (US$452) a night to a mere RMB1,500 now. In contrast, local Mandarin Hotel director of sales, Michael Li, said its two three- to four-star properties were seeing rates of between RMB350 (US$53) and RMB400 now, compared to RMB500 during the Expo.

For some, the return of MICE business – which went elsewhere when planners found it hard to book rooms or obtain government permits to hold their events during the Expo – is helping to stem a drastic fall.

The Oriental Riverside Hotel of Shanghai International Convention Center sales manager, George Fang, said the five-star hotel had fortunately not seen such a huge drop in rates due to strong MICE demand for the month of November.

Shanghai China Travel International Asian & Pacific department, sales chief, Caroline Li, however, said she expected the slide in rates to continue into 2011 as demand tapers off and more hotels open.

- Full report in TTG Asia, December 3

Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2010-11-23)

THE CONTROVERSIAL Navi Mumbai airport has finally received a formal environmental clearance this week.

The modern, greenfield airport will be completed by 2015 with an initial capacity of 10 million passengers, and would be able to handle 40 million passengers by 2030.

It will be developed through a public-private-participation model, with a private party holding 74 per cent and the state-owned City and Industrial Development Corporation and Airports Authority of India having 13 per cent each.

The site at Navi Mumbai, the planned satellite town of Mumbai, is situated 32km away from the existing airport at Santacruz.

Two weeks ago, an environmental committee had approved a revised proposal by its developer after changes were made to ensure there would be no diversion of rivers and minimal impact on mangroves. Recommendations were then submitted to the environment minister (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 12).

India's civil aviation minister Praful Patel said :“This is very important for the civil aviation growth of the country and the economy of Maharashtra and the entire country.”

Karen Yue, Shanghai (2010-11-23)

HONG KONG-BASED Gloria Hotels & Resorts is undergoing a restructuring that will see a substantial amount of new capital being pumped into the company and its portfolio swell to 70 hotels within the next five years, up from 30 now.

The chain’s vice president of sales & marketing, Clarence Wong, declined to detail how much the capital injection is worth, but said it was sufficient to support Gloria’s potential move into owning and leasing properties, and acquiring other successful hotel management companies eventually.

Gloria has also introduced two new brands – e-inn, an economy brand, and Merlin, a boutique brand. The first e-inn will open in Changsha, Hunan province in 2012, while the first Merlin will open in Shanghai early next year.

At least six other openings are scheduled for 2011. “The first-tier cities are too congested with hotels, so we have chosen to establish our presence in second- and third-tier cities,” Wong said.

There were also plans to grow beyond Mainland China, he added, pointing to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand as potential hotspots. Properties in these destinations will likely take on the chain’s five-star brand, Gloria Grand Hotels.

Gracia Chiang, Shanghai (2010-11-23)

SINGAPORE’s older tourist attractions are employing new tactics to win back Chinese tourists lost to the two Integrated Resorts (IRs), Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands.

Besides a recent tie-up with China UnionPay to enable cardholders to obtain admission discounts, Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) – which manages Jurong Bird Park, the Night Safari and Singapore Zoo – is looking to launch tactical promotions in conjunction with charter flights from China next year.

Since the opening of the IRs earlier this year, WRS has observed a three to four per cent drop in Chinese visitors from April to October.

WRS assistant manager of sales and marketing, Travel, International & MICE, Valerie Lim, said: “Due to time and budget constraints, if agents throw in an IR into the itinerary, something has to go out.”

Similarly, S’pore Discovery Centre senior marketing executive, Henry Lai, said the record number of arrivals to Singapore this year had not translated to an increase in numbers at the attraction. This is a reason why the centre participated at the China International Travel Mart last week, its first in several years.

Singapore agents also noted that the popularity of the IRs with Chinese tourists was at the expense of other local attractions.

Bestlink Travel managing director Mike Eng said: “The way it’s going, we may reach a point where people forget the other attractions Singapore has.”

Gracia Chiang, Shanghai (2010-11-23)

THE EASTERN Malaysian state of Sabah is taking travel agents from Hong Kong and China on familiarisation trips of less-discovered places such as Sandakan and Tawau, in a bid to promote destinations beyond the capital city Kota Kinabalu.

It is starting by leading a five-night fam trip for Hong Kong agents this week. This will be followed by similar fam trips for agents from China.

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) senior marketing manager, Tay Shu Lan, said the number of arrivals from China (including Hong Kong and Macau) totalled 74,557 for the first nine months of the year, up from 66,887 over the same period last year.

A key reason for the spike was a TVB TV series called Born Rich, which was partly shot in Sabah, said Tay. The Cantonese drama was aired late last year.

However, Tay pointed out that some 90 per cent of Chinese visitors were still heading only to Kota Kinabalu, a trend that STB hopes to change by promoting other destinations known for special interests such as diving, wildlife and agro-tourism.

Malaysia-based Mayflower Acme Tours manager of international sales for Greater China inbound, K.M. Lam, noted the company was receiving an increasing number of enquiries for Sabah.

Lam said: “During key holiday seasons such as China’s National Day and Chinese New Year, demand is higher than supply.”

Singapore (2010-11-23)

THE INTERCONTINENTAL hotel brand will debut in Malaysia in February next year, replacing the Nikko Kuala Lumpur.

The 473-room hotel is located at Jalan Ampang in the heart of the Malaysian capital's business, shopping and entertainment district.

The property is slated to embark on a 30-month refurbishment, which will take place in three phases.

“Malaysia was one of the few South-east Asian countries that saw an increase in visitor arrivals in 2009, a trend that has continued to date this year. This is a hotel market that has potential for long-term growth, especially in view of Malaysia’s target of reaching 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020,” said Jan Smits, managing director of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Asia Australasia.

Together with the recent signing of the Holiday Inn Express in Kota Kinabalu, IHG will have all its key brands operating in Malaysia when the Holiday Inn Express opens.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-22)

JOGJAKARTA'S Adisutjipto Airport reopened on Saturday after the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation lifted its Notice to Airmen, following the reduction in Mount Merapi's volcanic activity.

While Merapi remains in alert status, authorities have narrowed down the restricted zone from a radius of 20km to between 5km and 10km.

AirAsia has resumed flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jogjakarta, and Garuda Indonesia will initially operate two of its eight daily flights between Jakarta and Jogjakarta and one of its twice-daily flights from Bali.

Garuda Indonesia vice president of corporate communications Pujobroto said: "The flights will reopen in stages. For safety reasons, Garuda will only fly during the day, as it is difficult to monitor if there is volcanic ash at night."

In the meantime, Jogjakarta's popular attraction, Borobudur Temple, has partially opened up to level two, but the monument is still undergoing a thorough clean-up.

The whole complex is expected to be fully open in a couple of weeks, according to Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko Temple Park Management marketing manager Agus Canny.

"As for the park, which is under our management, we have reopened it since November 16."

Sirima Eamtako, Pattaya (2010-11-22)

HOTELS in Pattaya are seeing the rise of new markets in Asia and the Middle East against a decline in European markets.

Sunshine Hotels and Resorts marketing and sales vice president Vinit Chidchanognarth said the group saw a decline of almost 10,000 roomnights from German-speaking markets compared to last year.

“The number of guests has not declined, but the length of stay has dropped from about three weeks to 14 days, due to the currency situation.”

Vinit added that Russia was currently a key source of tourist arrivals for Pattaya while South Korea and Iran were new markets.

Marriott Resort and Spa saw new visitors from Eastern Europe and the Middle East this year, said general manager Somsak Tanruengsri.

“Next year’s performance for Pattaya hotels will depend on the Thai political and currency situations,” he said.

Going into 2011, rates would likely see some increment as supply in the four- to five-star hotel categories stabilised, said Pullman Pattaya Aisawan general manager Philippe Delaloye. 

Delaloye said: “Pattaya welcomed 800,000 new upscale roomnights last year, but only about 120,000 are slated to be added this year, with none expected for next year.”

Sirima Eamtako, Hat Yai (2010-11-22)

MORE MICE events are being held in Hat Yai even as local companies start to buy into domestic travel.

Bunchai Punturaumporn, CEO of lingerie-maker Sabina, said the company rescheduled one of two annual three-day/two-night staff events, usually held in Bangkok or Hua Hin, to Hat Yai in February.

This will be Sabina's first event outside Bangkok and its vicinity, and the company intends to hold events in other parts of Thailand. In addition, Sabina's two other annual incentive trips to East Asia will also be held in domestic locations from next year.

Similarly, G J Steel executive director Isra Akrapitak said his company was also encouraging more trips to Hat Yai and its surrounding areas, as it was seeking to expand in southern Thailand.

Billion Mesh Industry deputy managing director Penny Phumitharanon, however, would not commit yet to a Hat Yai trip. The company had already rescheduled its annual incentive trip from China to Chiang Mai in January.

Said Penny: “It is challenging to convince VIPs to see incentive in domestic travel so we need a destination that can offer luxury accommodation.”

Sirima Eamtako, Pattaya (2010-11-22)

U-TAPAO Pattaya International Airport is expected to draw more regular international flights once its one billion baht (US$33.35 million) expansion is completed in 2013.

Work is scheduled to begin next year and will involve a new terminal to hold 1,500 passengers, up from 400 currently.

The existing 3,500m runway and apron for 49 aircraft will not be upgraded as they can already accommodate all types of aircraft.

Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) committee member Thongyoo Suphavittayakorn said the upgraded airport would attract flights from Pattaya’s key markets – Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), India, South Korea and China.

Lao Airlines launched a new twice-weekly service from Vientiane this month, while Bangkok Airways already operates domestic flights to Koh Samui and Phuket.

The airport also receives charter services from CIS countries, including one flight every 10 days by Air Company Scat. Vladivostok Air will operate 10 flights from December 26 to January 24 while, at press time, another charter operator was seeking permission to operate a twice-weekly winter service from South Korea.

Paris (2010-11-22)

AIRASIA'S longhaul affiliate AirAsia X will launch services from Kuala Lumpur to Paris on February 14.

The airline will field four flights a week on 327-seat Airbus A340s to the French capital, its second European destination after London.

AirAsia Group CEO, Tony Fernandes, said: “The route will open up affordable access between Malaysia and Europe for both ASEAN and European communities. The opportunity for French and Europeans to explore the ASEAN region has never been greater.”

AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman-Rani, said: “We have always been enthusiastic in venturing into a new European country since we launched London. The establishment of this new route is a significant achievement for us and is a reflection of our commitment to expanding our international operations further.”

Bangkok (2010-11-22)

THAI AirAsia is making Chiang Mai its newest regional hub in Thailand, about a year after it had given Phuket similar status.

The low-cost carrier will launch two new routes from January 24 out of Chiang Mai – one daily flight each to Hat Yai and Singapore.

It will deploy its new Airbus A320 aircraft, scheduled to arrive in January, on the Chiang Mai routes.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-19)

THE INDONESIAN Ministry of Culture and Tourism has appointed Manado, North Sulawesi the venue for ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2012.

Manado won the venue bid over Lombok and Palembang in South Sumatera, said Indonesian minister of culture and tourism Jero Wacik on the sidelines of a meeting with ASEAN member countries' ambassadors on Wednesday.

“After verifying the readiness of the three candidates, especially in accommodating the TRAVEX, Manado was the most suitable among them,” Wacik said. “Besides, Palembang is already hosting the ASEAN Games this year, and Lombok already has different events on the agenda.”

ATF 2012 will not be Manado’s first international event. It hosted the World Ocean Conference and Coral Triangle Initiative Summit in 2009 at the Novotel Manado Golf Resort and Convention Centre, which can accommodate up to 2,500 delegates.

Manado now has 11 three-to five-star hotels with a total of 1,443 rooms.

Go China, go, go, go

OVERSEAS tour operators who attended the first Go China Summit preceding China International Travel Mart (CITM) said they walked away with fresh perspectives that will change the way they package and market China.

Buyers who took the opportunity to connect with local Chinese suppliers during pre-scheduled appointments over two days in Suzhou, noted that their clients’ destination preference was changing from the “usual suspects” such as Beijing and Shanghai to regions that capture the “real” beauty of China.

Special-interest tours encompassing wine, culture, history and mountain biking were also sought after, as these were more experiential and gave deeper insight into a destination.

Catherine Evans, owner of Tours of Exploration, Canada, said she met many “small, localised operators” who had risen to a point where they were able to receive inbound visitors for their region – important in helping China inbound tourism to mature and diversify.

East Tours director of e-Travel Toronto, Robert Lyall, said Chinese suppliers were themselves eager to do business with operators who wanted to offer unique China programmes. “I noticed an eagerness to work with special-interest operators in order to distinguish themselves from the competition,” he said.

– Full report in TTG Asia

Canadian agents expect China ADS windfall

CANADIAN agents handling inbound tourists from China are anticipating a huge growth in arrivals next year, in view of the country’s new Approved Destination Status (ADS) and increasing air capacity into North America.

China granted Canada ADS in June, and the first group of Chinese visitors arrived in August.

Tour East Holidays travel counsellor Alva Chan said the Ontario-based company, with offices in Shanghai and Beijing, was planning to open a Guangzhou branch by next year. Chan said Tour East is expecting between 100 and 150 Chinese groups a year, up from 50 to 70 groups in the past.

Anton Cheng, president of Tin Bo Travel Service, also based in Ontario, said the full benefits of obtaining ADS would probably only be seen around April next year, after Canada’s chilly winter had passed.

British Columbia-based TPI Silkway vice president Henry Yau pointed out that air accessibility, which had previously been hindering growth, was being rectified with new flight launches and increasing frequency.

Hainan Airlines will launch a thrice-weekly Beijing-Toronto service on November 27, while Air Canada will double its flight frequency between Chinese and Canadian cities to four flights a day from this winter season.

- Full report in TTG Asia

Shanghai eyes premier MICE hub status

SHANGHAI is looking to beef up its MICE facilities, as it sets its sights on being Asia’s conventions and exhibitions hub.

Just last year alone, the city hosted 771 large-scale meetings with around 1,000 delegates each, said Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration chairman Dao Shu Ming. Total exhibition space in Shanghai will eventually reach 150,000m², with a new 60,000m² exhibition centre currently being built near Hongqiao Airport.

With the expansion of train networks, accessibility has also improved, making Shanghai an attractive destination for international mega-events, said Dao.

Looking ahead, Dao said the city had also identified trends in travel demand.
Visitors from Europe, for example, were showing a growing interest in Chinese culture. Shanghai, which already has 100 museums, will see how it can further develop products suited for this market. Asian visitors, on the other hand, were keen on mini-vacations of shorter lengths, he added.

A post-Expo Shanghai must offer high-quality tourism products, Dao said. “Tourists from Shanghai who go to Japan have almost no complaints because of the high quality of service they provide. We cannot afford to have zero-fare tours anymore.”

Brian Higgs, Singapore (2010-11-19)

SINGAPORE was luxury tour operator Insight Vacations’ second highest growing market in the world, after the US, this year.

“Singapore is a very important market for us,” said Insight Vacations CEO/president John Boulding at the launch of their 2011 Europe and Britain programme yesterday. “Singaporean travellers are becoming more sophisticated and discerning, and more are choosing to go on escorted coach touring.”

Twenty-five new itineraries have been added to the Europe and Britain brochure for 2011, including highlights such as the nine-day Best of Tunisia and 16-day Treasures of the Balkans tours.

Insight has also expanded its Select Choices range, started last year, from 10 to 18 itineraries, with a choice of over 15 European cities to include in a tailormade sightseeing package more commonly associated with FITs and self-drive tourists.

“In its first year of operation, Select Choices sales far exceeded our expectations, especially within the Singapore market, which accounted for over 50 per cent of the Asian clientele on these itineraries,” said Insight Vacations regional director Asia, Robin Yap.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-19)

THE MALAYSIAN Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) has set up a service counter in the Kuala Lumpur International Airport arrival hall to help inbound members serve their guests better.

Inbound tourists with difficulties at the airport such as not being able to locate their tour representatives can approach the service counter for help, said MATTA vice president inbound A Aruldas.

The counter service will also be able to assist in providing alternative airport transfers in the event of delays.

Thirty-five inbound players who are MATTA members have already subscribed, for a quarterly fee, to the service launched on November 17.

Hong Kong (2010-11-19)

SHANGRI-LA Hotels and Resorts will open the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, the group's first property in Europe and a Parisian heritage landmark, on December 17.

Built in 1896 as the private home of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's grand-nephew Roland Bonaparte, the building is listed with the French heritage institution Monuments Historiques.

“Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is honoured to have been entrusted the preservation of this significant part of French heritage,” said Alain Borgers, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Paris.

The flagship hotel will offer 81 rooms including 27 suites, making it the most intimate of all Shangri-La Hotels worldwide.

Forty per cent of the rooms and 60 per cent of the suites feature unobstructed views of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine below, with nearly half of all rooms offering balconies and terraces that allow guests to take in the sights and sounds of the “City of Lights”.

Dubai (2020-11-19)

DUBAI-based Jumeirah Group is to open its first resort in the Maldives – Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in February, with the second property, Jumeirah Vittaveli, to open a month after.

The Dhevanafushi is situated in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, 400km south of capital city Malé.

The intimate all-suite resort comprises 22 island villas as well as an exclusive water village called the Hermitage Collection, which features 16 ocean villas separated from the main island for discerning travellers wanting to experience remote luxury.

The villas range in size from 200m² to 600m² and offer direct access to the beach and 24-hour butler service.

The resort also has three restaurants, a bar with a variety of culinary options, a Talise Spa with over-water treatment rooms and extensive sports and leisure facilities.

The Vittaveli, a five-star deluxe family resort, is located in the South Malé Atoll.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2010-11-18)

THE INDONESIAN government will lift the exit tax for Indonesian outbound travellers as of January 1.

The policy, in place since January 2009, means Indonesian passport holders unable to produce personal tax numbers upon departure have to pay a fiscal tax of 2.5 million rupiah (US$277) when travelling overseas by air, and one million rupiah by sea.

Directorate General of Taxation director of outreach and public relations Iqbal Alamsyah said: “The lifting of the fiscal tax shows that the government cares and provides easy access for Indonesians to travel overseas.”

“With outbound travel from Indonesia growing steadily, this will boost traffic even higher,” said RajaMICE.com CEO, Panca Sarungu. “Without the tax, outbound traffic can grow by up to 50 per cent or more next year.”

The removal of the exit tax will not have much impact on corporate travel though, said Multy Holiday Travel managing director Rudy Techrisna. “Most corporate travellers have personal tax numbers by now,” he said.

CITM 2011 dates brought forward

NEXT year’s China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Kunming has been brought forward to October 27.

Apart from the better weather during that time of year, host province Yunnan is embarking on a slew of venue and tourism product improvements to give delegates a warm welcome.

Renovations have started on the Kunming International Convention & Exhibition Centre, where CITM 2011 will be held. The eight function halls and public dining areas will be given a fresh look, while a ballroom that can accommodate 700 guests will be built. Security features of the venue will be enhanced.

The Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration is also developing a range of new products to capture niche markets such as health, golf, conventions and exhibitions, self-driven and cultural tourism.

China’s tourism on the rise

CHINA’s tourism sector has performed well so far this year, said China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) chairman Shao Qiwei.

The Shanghai World Expo, which ended October 31, played a strong role in China’s tourism success, he said.

Inbound tourist numbers reached 99.8 million as of September, a year-on-year growth of 6.2 per cent, while China gained US$33.7 billion in inbound foreign exchange income over the same period, 15.8 per cent higher than last year.

On the outbound travel front, some 42.3 million Chinese have travelled outside China, a year-on-year increase of 20.7 per cent. Domestic travel numbers had also grown 10.1 per cent, with 1.6 billion Chinese citizens travelling within the country.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-11-18)

CHINESE travellers are back in droves to Thailand, after a successive three-month drop in arrival numbers from March to May following the political riots in Bangkok.

The rebound started in June and numbers have been growing steadily, with the number of charter flights in this fourth quarter tipped to grow 200 per cent year-on-year for Phuket and 20 per cent for Bangkok.

The country’s largest Chinese tour operator CCT Group expects mainland arrivals to surpass 100,000 per month from December to March.

CCT chairman Vichit Prakobgosol, also president of the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association (TCTA), said Thailand would be welcoming more than 100 charter flights from China during Chinese New Year 2011 alone.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects total Chinese arrivals to exceed 900,000 this year, but the TCTA expects this figure to surpass one million, and grow further to 1.3 million visitors next year.

While Bangkok and Pattaya remain the key Thai destinations for Chinese tourists, Phuket has been gaining popularity and Koh Samui earmarked as a destination for high-end travellers.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-18)

BRUNEI plans to appoint marketing representatives for China/Hong Kong and Australia/New Zealand by year-end.

The move by Brunei is in response to a 31 per cent increase in Chinese air arrivals to the country during the first half of this year, said Brunei Tourism director of marketing and promotion Jean Christophe Robles Espinosa.

The increase in air arrivals to 10,157 passengers over the first half of 2009 is mainly due to Royal Brunei Airlines’ reinstatement of four weekly direct flights to Shanghai on March 28, after a two-year suspension.

Inbound agents handling the China market are reaping rewards from the reinstatement of flights. PJ Majestic Tours & Travel managing director Peter Chieng noted a 40 per cent improvement in business this year. Freme Travel Services inbound & MICE division manager Sugumaran Nair recorded a 20 per cent increase.

Raini Hamdi, Hong Kong (2010-11-18)

THE BOARD of Directors of Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels has approved a complete renovation of guestrooms at The Peninsula Hong Kong. The last significant room redesign at the hotel was in 1994, coinciding with the tower extension.

The renovation is to be carried out in two phases from January 2012 to April 2013, and will cost around HK$350 million (US$45.1 million). The hotel will remain open for business throughout.

Asked if the redesign would keep up with younger luxury travellers of today, The Peninsula Group COO, Peter Borer, would only say: “The Peninsula should never become trendy. It should always stay at the centre of hospitality, where the principle values are practised to high levels.”

Borer gave the examples of The Peninsula Shanghai, which “is far from modern” but captures the grandeur of Shanghai, and The Peninsula in Tokyo, slightly more contemporary but still “timeless”.

– Full report in TTG Asia soon

Sim Kok Chwee, Singapore (2010-11-18)

SHARJAH-based low cost carrier (LCC) Air Arabia will operate daily flights to Kuala Lumpur via Kathmandu starting December 16, its first foray into South-east Asia.

Granted full fifth-freedom rights between Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur, Air Arabia will operate an Airbus A320 on the route. The LCC cannot follow the usual point-to-point model due to the distance between Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur.

Air Arabia, the first and largest LCC in the Middle East and North Africa, will take delivery of 44 A320s between 2010 and 2016.

Singapore (2010-11-18)

THREE lucky voters who pick the winner of the inaugural Our Productivity Story competition will each walk away with a 32GB Apple iPAD.

Organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Singapore Chapter with the support of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, companies across Singapore's travel and tourism industries were invited in September to pitch their most impactful productivity success stories.

Evaluated by a panel of industry judges, three of the best essay entries were then chosen as finalists based on the creativity of their productivity effort, clear measures of effectiveness and value of positive impact contributed.

Dynasty Travel, Grand Park Orchard and Royal Plaza On Scotts were selected as the three finalists, and have turned their stories into compelling videos that illustrate their pursuit of productivity success.

The winner of the S$15,000 (US$11,500) top prize will be determined based on the number of votes received on the PATA Singapore website. The second- and third-prize winners will take home S$10,000 and S$5,000 respectively.

Anyone from the industry and general public can vote at www.patasingapore.org.sg/pata_new/comp_video_voting.php

Voting closes at midnight on November 30.

Singapore (2010-11-18)

IN TTG Asia e-Daily, November 16, the story “IAAI demands commission from LCCs” reported that the association had won a case in a Kerala high court on March 5 to obtain five per cent commission on gross fares from 16 zero-commission airlines including Jet Airways.

Jet Airways has been paying commission to agents but its LCC Jetlite, also an IATA carrier settling through BSP, has not.

Ollie Quiniquini, Singapore (2010-11-16)

THE PHILIPPINES has replaced its WOW Philippines brand with Pilipinas, Kay Ganda! (Philippines, So Beautiful).

The new brand campaign, launched last night in Manila, highlights the hospitality of the Filipino people, which tourists often cite as one of the most impressive elements of the destination.

The Department of Tourism will initially invest US$7 million to roll out the brand internationally, said undersecretary Vicente Romano. TV commercials on international cable channels will kick off the brand's international debut in February. Around US$2 million of the promotional budget will be spent on new media campaigns.

Romano said: “It will not be a one-size-fits-all approach, although we will have an omnibus campaign to promote the country. Down the line, we will have market-driven campaigns.”

He added that the Philippines had taken a leaf from the books of destinations such as Spain and Poland that use the vernacular in their branding, even if this puts the country in stark contrast with the English brands and campaigns of its Asian neighbours.

“If you want to rise above the clutter then you must do something radically different, especially if you have a limited promotional budget,” he said.

– Read more in TTG Asia, November 19

Jakarta (2010-11-16)

THE OPENING of Jogjakarta’s Adisutjipto Airport, expected to take place yesterday evening, has been delayed until November 20 due to continued volcanic activity from Mount Merapi.

Announcing the extension of its Notice to Airmen which declares the airport closed to airlines, Indonesian Ministry of Transportation director general of air transportation Herry Bakti Gumay said: “Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency shows that Mount Merapi is still highly active. This is not safe for flights.”

Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2010-11-16)

THE IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) has demanded that low-cost carriers (LCCs) operating in the country abide by a high court ruling upholding agents’ right to commission from all airlines.

The association had won a case in a Kerala high court on March 5 to obtain a five per cent commission on gross fares from 16 zero-commission airlines including Jet Airways. Airlines have however been resistant to efforts by both the IAAI and Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) India to get them to pay up.

IAAI president Biji Eapen said: "The DGCA's order mandates payment of commission by all airlines to travel agents. We are requesting that budget airlines plying the air space in India start paying commission.”

The association has sent out letters to all LCCs operating in India demanding commissions, with a general deadline to commence payment by December 1.

Another high court judgment on October 14 ordered the DGCA to enforce the rules within two months.

The IAAI has even approached Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and compel the 16 airlines to abide by the rules of the country.

Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2010-11-16)

THE SCHEME of Airport Charges in Hong Kong will be extended another year to encourage airlines to introduce new routes to enhance regional connectivity.

A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said: "The scheme aims to extend the existing New Destination Incentive Arrangement to December 31, 2011.”

Under the arrangement, the Hong Kong Airport Authority will continue to offer airlines a 75 per cent rebate on landing charges for flights between Hong Kong and a new destination for the first six months after the route is launched, and a 25 per cent rebate over the following six months.

In light of the positive news, Air Pacific will start an additional Nadi-Hong Kong-Nadi route commencing December 13, bringing the total number of its flights in this sector to three a week.

“This additional flight will give Air Pacific’s customers a wider choice of connecting flights in Hong Kong for Asia, the Middle East, the UK and Europe,” said Air Pacific regional general manager Asia, Watson Seeto.

Jet Airways is also set to launch new routes from Hong Kong to Seoul and other Indian destinations in the coming year, with daily flights from Hong Kong to Milan via Delhi starting December 5.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-11-16)

CENTRAL Hokkaido has halted all promotions in Chinese markets due to increased political tensions arising over the arrest of a Chinese boat captain by the Japanese coast guard in September.

The Chinese boat captain, whose vessel had collided with a Japanese coast guard vessel near disputed islands in the East China Sea, was later released without charges.

The incident resulted in disrupted official and non-official exchanges between Japan and China, as well as protests by nationalistic elements in both countries.

However, Asahikawa Touring Promotion Council chairman Nobuo Nishinome said Chinese tourist arrivals were expected to only weaken slightly over the furore. “Most of the Chinese tourists to Central Hokkaido are wealthy people who visit Japan independently,” he explained. “Their travel plans are not influenced by political disputes like this.”
 
Nobuo did admit seeing fewer middle-class Chinese travellers to the area though, because “they tend to visit Japan through group tours, which are regulated by the Chinese government.”

China is presently Central Hokkaido's fourth largest source market after Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong/Singapore.

Rahul Khanna, Yangon (2010-11-16)

MYANMAR’s hoteliers have reported a surge in room bookings for Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake during the current high season from October to March compared to last year.

In Yangon, Chatrium Hotel had received more bookings from business and corporate travellers, said sales and marketing director May Myat Mon Win, who expected occupancy for the season to grow by 20 per cent over last year.

Park Royal Hotel sales director Susie Moe Aung reported similar results and anticipated an 18 per cent growth this season.

At Inle Lake, Golden Island Cottage manager Khun Maung Ngwe believed more tourists were flocking to Myanmar this year as the country was “still a new destination for many people.”

“There are many tourists who have never visited Myanmar even though they have been to other Asian countries many times,” she said.

Sentiments were the same elsewhere. Hotel Red Canal in Mandalay received more bookings for October till December, while Ayeyar River View Hotel in Bagan is seeing a 20 per cent growth in occupancy, especially from November to February.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-11-15)

VIETNAM Airlines’ (VNA) 46 direct charter flights between Danang and Hong Kong starting next week are expected to provide fresh interest in Vietnam's central coastal region.

VNA and Vietlink International Tourism Company signed a contract to operate the flights on a twice-weekly basis, using a 184-seat Airbus A321, from November 26 to May 3 next year.

Danang Tourism Promotion Centre director Nguyen Xuan Binh said the flights came after a successful trial last year. “Vietnam Airlines is expecting to operate this route on a regular basis,” he said.

VNA and Vietlink have launched promotional campaigns, trained more Cantonese-speaking guides and staged fam trips for Hong Kong agents and media.

“Furama Resort Danang hopes to receive more meetings and incentives from Hong Kong, where we have received many enquiries that failed to materialise due to the inconvenience of flight connections,” said the resort's executive assistant manager Nguyen Duc Quynh.

He said Danang was not new to the Hong Kong market as Pacific Airlines, now partner of Jetstar Pacific, had serviced the route eight years ago.

The resort is mulling the reopening of its Hong Kong sales office while working with Vietlink to offer packages for leisure and MICE groups.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-11-15)

JTB Destinations has tied up with fellow Singapore-based outbound agencies Universal Travel Corporation, Airelated Travel Services and Ik Chin Travel to charter a Singapore Airlines flight to Okinawa, Japan next March.

JTB Destinations' first-ever charter to Okinawa will be able to accommodate some 300 passengers. Tour packages will go on sale tomorrow through the four agencies.

Kazunori Sakata, JTB Destinations' director and general manager, said Okinawa compared to the other cities in Japan, was relatively unknown to Singaporean travellers because of a lack of direct flights. To get there, Singaporeans would have to transit in Taiwan.

Sakata said: “We hope to grow interest in Okinawa among Singaporeans through this charter and in turn, show the Okinawa tourism board that it is worthwhile to visit Singapore with a trade-targeted roadshow like what the other Japanese tourism boards have been doing. If this project proves successful, we will organise more charters to Okinawa in the future.”

Jakarta (2010-11-15)

JOGJAKARTA'S Adisutjipto airport is expected to reopen after 18.00 local time today after being closed for more than a week due to volcanic ash from an erupting Merapi.

The airport closure has affected businesses in the city, including tourism, which contributes some 20 per cent of Jogjakarta's income.

Adisutjipto Airport general manager Agus Adrianto was quoted by detiknews.com as saying: “We are tracking the NOTAM (notice to airmen) which says the airport is closed to airlines and is planning to open after 18.00 today.”

Skies in Jogjakarta were clear and there were no signs of volcanic ash since this morning. Adrianto  expected the weather conditions to remain so that the NOTAM could be lifted.
NOTAMs are issued by the Ministry of Transportation.

Singapore (2010-11-15)

ONLY a small proportion of over one million Chinese luxury tourists are looking to travel beyond Asia-Pacific.

A Market Probe Asia-Pacific report based on 300 respondents from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou had 71 per cent of respondents saying they planned to visit Asia-Pacific regions, compared to 23 per cent for Australia and New Zealand, 21 per cent for Europe, and 18 per cent for the US and Canada.

“Overseas travel is relatively new for Chinese tourists,” said Roger Thomas, managing director of Market Probe Asia-Pacific. “Hence, Chinese tourists tend to be more conservative with their choice of destination, and may start off with going to nearby countries where they are more comfortable with the language and cuisine.”

Thomas, however, believed that this would change as Chinese confidence in overseas travel increased and the international travel trade became more comfortable with handling this market segment.

He said: “Overseas tourist authorities then have to work a lot harder to give Chinese tourists what they want.”

The report also found that Chinese luxury tourists were last-minute holiday-makers with most booking holidays only a month in advance, and that online travel agents were a major distribution channel, especially for the Shanghainese.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-15)

TOURISM Malaysia will focus largely on promoting niche products such as ecotourism and volunteer tourism next year, the latter being identified as a new market segment.

Volunteer tourism, targeting senior citizens looking for a combination of travel and volunteer work, would involve placing such tourists with organisations where their interests lie, said Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general (marketing) Amirrudin Abu.

This will include working with local communities or on animal rehabilitation programmes to protect endangered species.

Looking to attract more high-yield tourists, the NTO will also market niche activities such as angling, golf and scuba diving.

In addition, homestay programmes will continue to be promoted in support of rural communities. Introduced in 1995 to elevate the socio-economic standing of rural populations, the programme now has 138 homestays licensed by the Tourism Ministry.

Brian Higgs, Singapore (2010-11-15)

THE MALAYSIAN state of Perak wants to tap the growing number of Singapore visitors to the country by working with travel agents to develop packages and organising fam trips.

Tourism Malaysia’s Singapore director Zalizam Zakaria said: “About 98.8 per cent of the visitors to Perak are FITs, so we are increasing advertising efforts and working closely with travel agents to produce packages.”

Zalizam said the NTO would give more attention to Perak next year. “With 2012 being Visit Perak Year, this will be the first time Tourism Malaysia will actively promote Perak to Singapore tourists.”

A new heritage trail covering the southern portion of Perak’s capital Ipoh was launched at the Perak Seminar & Travel Mart last week. Other measures previously rolled out include free weekly guided tours and more direct flights via low-cost carrier Firefly.

Perak state executive councilor and tourism committee head Datuk Hamidah Osman said: “Even though the infrastructure and products are already there, Perak is still not as popular as other Malaysian states. We just need to highlight information about the different places to go and where to eat.”

Tourist arrivals from Singapore to Malaysia grew by 15 per cent to 12.7 million in 2009.

Zurich (2010-11-12)

KUONI Destination Management has had a record year for its Asia-Pacific MICE business, with the company expecting to host more than 15,000 visitors from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

In a release yesterday, the Swiss-based DMC said incentive travel growth out of South-east Asia had been very favourable for the company.

Kuoni recently secured a 1,100-person incentive group from Amway Malaysia travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai in end-November. It will be handling all arrangements for the eight-day stay, with the highlight being an 'Arabian-Bollywood' night at the Atlantis The Palm hotel.

Last month, Kuoni also handled three incentive groups of 320 Muslim travellers in Zurich, sent by Malaysian healthcare company Hai-O.

The company said it was able to compete with local specialists for Asia's meetings industry business due to its global network.

“Our sales organisation is able to translate and transfer cultural differences, expectations and requirements from the source market to the destination, which is a key driver for our success in the highly competitive Asian MICE markets,” said Reto Kaufmann, head of sales for MICE, South Asia.

Kuoni expects the South-east Asian MICE market to continue to recover in 2011.

New Delhi (2010-11-12)

MUMBAI may finally get a new international airport after an environmental committee approved this week a revised proposal by its developer.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was quoted by local media this week as saying: “The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests has given its okay to the Navi Mumbai airport project."

Progress on the airport had been stalled due to concerns about the environmental impact of the new development.

Among the changes that will be made are relocating the non-aeronautical facilities and reducing the distance between the two runways. This will ensure that there is no diversion of the Gadhi and Ulwe rivers and minimal impact on mangroves.

In a visit to India in September, International Air Transport Association director general and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani, had called for a consensus.

“By 2016, stop-gap measures may take capacity up to 40 million. But where is Mumbai’s 100 million passenger plan? The clock is ticking and a conclusion is urgently needed.”

The EAC has submitted its recommendations to environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who is expected to make a formal announcement soon.

Singapore sells exhibition potential at UFI Congress

SINGAPORE is hoping to showcase its exhibition-hosting capabilities with the 77th UFI Congress, which opened on November 10 with a record number of participants.

UFI, an association of the world's exhibition industry players, last held the annual event in Singapore in 1994. The four-day congress sees 475 delegates descending on Marina Bay Sands, with nearly 300 of them being senior-level representatives.

“I am confident that foreign UFI members will be encouraged to set up operations here,” said Edward Liu, president of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), which is managing the congress. Liu added that drawing foreign exhibition players into Singapore was one of SACEOS' objectives.

Singapore Tourism Board assistant chief executive, industry development (II) group, Melissa Ow, said many of the delegates were surprised at how Singapore's infrastructure had developed in the last five years.

UFI president Manfred Wutzlhofer said: “This is a unique chance for Singapore to demonstrate what it can do.”

Coffee fair confirmed for Macau

SEOUL-BASED K. Fairs has resumed planning for Cafe Show Macau, a new trade exhibition that will be attended by international suppliers of coffee and coffee-making equipment, coffee associations and buyers from the Asian F&B and hotel sector.

The event will be held at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel in either May or June next year, and is expected to draw 1,000 to 2,000 delegates.

Initially planned for 2009, the exhibition had to be put on hold when the global financial crisis hit.

K. Fairs president, S K Hong, told TTG Asia e-Daily the Korean won had devalued by some 60 per cent during the crisis, making it unprofitable to proceed as planned.

“The economy is now stable and it is time we get on with the event. Venetian has agreed to support us by getting buyers from Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and I expect a good turnout.”

More push needed for green exhibitions in Asia

A LACK of teamwork among countries and the absence of strict guidelines are being cited as reasons why Asian exhibition industry players still lag behind their Western counterparts when it comes to sustainability issues.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily on the sidelines of the 77th UFI Congress, MCI Stockholm office sustainability services manager Michael Luehrs said there was “a lack of clear green leaders” in Asia, though countries like Taiwan, South Korea and Japan were more committed to sustainability efforts.

“In the West, many destinations come together to push for sustainability. Not here in Asia,” Luehrs said.

S K Hong, chairman of Korea Exhibition Organizers Association, said Asia was “honestly not very active” in organising sustainable events.

For example, his decision to do away with carpets in exhibition halls had met with some resistance initially.

Singapore Exhibition Services chief executive Stephen Tan felt bolder measures were needed.

“Perhaps a relevant authority could make it a requirement to stop carpeting the aisles in exhibition halls or (mandate the) use of only sustainable materials in building booths.”

Bernie Rosenbloom, Vientiane (2010-11-12)

LAO Airlines launched a twice-weekly service between Vientiane and U-Tapao (Pattaya) on Sunday, less than a month after it started a thrice-weekly Vientiane-Pakse-Ho Chi Minh City route.

The airline also plans to increase before year-end its Vientiane-Bangkok flight frequency from twice daily to three or four a day, and its domestic Vientiane-Xieng Khouang service from thrice weekly to daily.

Meanwhile, the airline placed a pair of new 70-seat ATR 72-500s into service this week to replace two ATR 72-200s on existing routes, said Lao Airlines president Sengpraseuth Mathouchanh.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-11-11)

BANGKOK-based SI Tours and Hanoi-based Vietnam Vacations have entered into a strategic partnership from November 1.

SI Tours CEO, Suwart Jitjomnongmate, said both companies would cross-sell Thailand and Vietnam products to overseas partners using a comparative pricing system as well as launch more combined two-country tour programmes.

“We plan to expand this partnership to cover the Indochina region, with possibly Cambodia being the third destination,” he said.

Vietnam Vacations director Tran Thanh Phong said the move would strengthen sales and product offers through SI Tours’ B2B network. Both companies had previously shared a business relationship of almost 10 years, he added.

Vietnam Vacations was established in 2002 and handles European clients, many of whom are contributed by SI Tours.

SI Tours, an inbound tour operator for 37 years, was re-registered in 1996 to become a partner of Netherlands’ Fox Vakanties, but lost the account to Buffalo Tours Thailand from April 1 (TTG Asia, March 5, 2010).

Suwart said though passenger numbers for this year would not match the levels experienced during the tie-up with Fox, he expected to enjoy a 30 per cent increase in business from Poland, which is expected to account for 60 per cent of business.

Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2010-11-11)

INDIAN low-cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet will purchase 60 new aircraft to support its aggressive expansion into domestic and international markets.

The airline is expected to sign a contract with Bombardier to buy 30 Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft by month-end. Delivery will begin in June 2011.

CEO Neil Mills said: “We are looking at an aggressive addition to our fleet to double it by end-2013 from the current 22 aircraft.”

He added that the company would deploy the new aircraft for tier-two and tier-three cities in India.

The carrier, which launched its first international flights to Nepal and Sri Lanka in October, had also previously placed an order for 30 Boeing next-generation 737-800s, with deliveries commencing from 2014.

India's aviation industry is growing at a fast pace after its recovery from the global economic slowdown. From January to September, domestic airlines carried a total of 37.32 million passengers, a growth of 18.5 per cent compared to 31.49 million in the corresponding period last year.

Singapore (2010-11-11)

MERITUS Hotels & Resorts will mark its foray into new markets in 2011 with a global brand campaign showcasing Asian hospitality.

The Singapore-based chain is expected to open its flagship property in Europe in 2011, and new projects are in the pipeline for South-east Asia and China.

The campaign focuses on Asian grace, warmth, and care, and kicks off with a series of advertisements depicting the iconic Meritus Ambassador in a contemporary setting, dressed in a red cheongsam (traditional Chinese dress).

"Our service philosophy is inspired by the virtue and richness of our Asian heritage," said Michael Sengol, CEO of Meritus Hotels & Resorts.

Singapore (2010-11-11)

JETSTAR Airways has resumed evening services from Australia to Bali today, albeit with some delays due to the impact of Mount Merapi's volcanic activity.

The low-cost carrier had previously cancelled or re-scheduled flights that arrived at or departed from the popular holiday destination at night.

This included flights from Sydney, Darwin and Singapore.

"Safety is Jetstar's number one priority and the airline has put a range of measures in place to ensure safe operations," the airline said on its website.)

JETSTAR Airways has resumed evening services from Australia to Bali today, albeit with some delays due to the impact of Mount Merapi's volcanic activity.

The low-cost carrier had previously cancelled or re-scheduled flights that arrived at or departed from the popular holiday destination at night.

This included flights from Sydney, Darwin and Singapore.

"Safety is Jetstar's number one priority and the airline has put a range of measures in place to ensure safe operations," the airline said on its website.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-11-11)

THE RITZ-CARLTON, Millenia Singapore has completed the first phase of its guestroom overhaul, the first major guestroom renovation undertaken since its opening in 1996.

Rooms on 16 floors have been given a new layout and interior decor, while white marble flooring and rain showers have been installed in bathrooms, among other changes.

The final phase of renovation, which will involve the remaining 13 storeys of guestrooms, suites and the club lounge, will begin on November 18 and finish by January.

Meanwhile, the hotel has transformed its tennis courts into an event space, complete with marquees, for 250 people. The hotel’s spokesperson said the change was to meet rising client demand for outdoor event space.

The new venue hosted its first event – the hotel chain's own Asian roadshow – on Tuesday evening.

Mimi Hudoyo, Jeju (2010-11-11)

JEJU is positioning itself as a MICE destination that is not only green but sustainable.

At the opening of the 2nd Jeju International Green MICE Week, MCI sustainability services advisor Michael Luehrs said: "In the last 10 years, there has been interest in going green, and green meetings have become a brand. Today, the international trend is that green meetings have rapidly become sustainable events.”

According to Luehrs, many destinations and suppliers have introduced green initiatives but very few have taken a strategic approach towards sustainability. To accelerate this process, destinations needed to take the lead. He cited Jeju as a positive example where efforts had been made to preserve the natural environment.

Jeju Tourism Organisation president Park Yung-Soo said Jeju was developing smart grid MICE products to make the island a green destination.

South Korea is working on promoting smart grid technology, which is now being tested in Jeju. The nationwide project will involve the production of hybrid vehicles and the use of renewable energy sources.

Jeju also continues to develop the Jeju Olle walking trails, which will cover the whole island in three years’ time.

Karen Yue, Singapore (2010-11-10)

FASCINATING Holidays’ tours targeting Muslim consumers have been growing in demand.

“We have seen a 50 to 60 per cent increase in the number of Muslim travellers since we started these tours in April,” said the agency's president and CEO, David Teo.

The tours to destinations that Muslim travellers would not typically consider, such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, require additional research to identify halal restaurants and attractions that would appeal to them, said Teo.

“For instance, our tours to Tokyo include a stop at a historical mosque that was built by a Turkish community,” he said.

Teo added that the agency's Muslim tours were also sold to other travel agencies.

Bangkok (2010-11-10)

THAI AirAsia will launch a new direct four-weekly service between its Phuket regional hub and Bali from December 17.

Both Phuket and Bali are popular destinations among Australian travellers, and the new route is expected draw more Australians into Phuket.

CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said the low-cost carrier aimed to attract long-stay travellers with low airfares, starting from 1,490 baht (US$50.40).

Singapore (2010-11-10)

CHINESE carrier Juneyao Airlines is looking to expand beyond mainland China, with its first international flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong on December 10.

It is also looking at new routes to Japan, South Korea and destinations in South-east Asia.

Juneyao is the second privately-owned Chinese carrier to receive authorisation for international routes. It has signed a closed agreement with Abacus International to distribute its flights on the latter's GDS.

Singapore (2010-11-10)

AUSTRALIAN-based StayWell Hospitality Group (SWHG) is marking its entry into South-east Asia with the launch of its flagship Park Regis property in Singapore.

Located in the Central Business District, the upscale 203-room Park Regis Singapore will officially open on November 16.

Catering to both business and leisure travellers, the hotel has a range of amenities such as an outdoor lap pool, a gymnasium, a business centre, and meeting and conference rooms. There are also several dining options, including an all-day dining restaurant and a rooftop bar. All rooms come with interactive TV, interactive phone and Wi-Fi broadband.

“We see enormous growth potential for this brand in South-east Asia and are confident that the debut of our new hotel in Singapore will help pave the way for more properties to come in future,” said Simon Wan, CEO of SWHG.

The Group currently manages more than 10 Park Regis hotels, mostly in Australia, and has new properties under development in Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, scheduled to open early next year.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-10)

THE THIRD edition of B2B travel show Malaysia Tourism Expo will take place in May 2011 in Langkawi.

Organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), the event, held in Malacca in 2007 and Kuala Lumpur in 2008, allows ASEAN buyers to meet local suppliers.

Kedah MATTA chairman Pishol Ishak said a meeting had been scheduled for mid-November to discuss the venue and logistics with various government agencies.

Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-10)

THE MALAYSIA Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) launched the Malaysia Business Tourism Green Programme yesterday in support of the government’s commitment to offset carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.

As part of the programme, event delegates contribute a minimum of US$10, which will be channelled to the Forest Research Institute Malaysia’s tree-planting efforts as well as other tree-planting initiatives across the country.

“Our target is to plant 1,000 trees by 2011 year-end,” said MyCEB’s CEO Zulkefli Sharif.

The programme was launched at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the venue for the World Congress of Accountants 2010 (WCOA).

WCOA, which runs from November 8 to 11, is the first international congress to support this initiative. WCOA co-hosts, Malaysian Institute of Accountants and International Federation of Accountants, have pledged to contribute to the planting of at least 200 trees.

WCOA is the largest international congress in Malaysia this year with 6,043 delegates. Nine international association meetings are taking place this month. These events are expected to attract over 10,000 conference delegates to Malaysia and inject in excess of RM62 million (US$20 million) in terms of international visitor expenditure, said Sharif.

S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2010-11-09)

FIREFLY, wholly-owned by Malaysia Airlines, will soon compete head-on with AirAsia for budget travellers on domestic and regional routes.

Next year, it will acquire six Boeing 737-800 aircraft, able to fly up to six hours without refueling, to fly to capital and secondary cities within ASEAN, with plans to grow the fleet to 30 by 2015.

Operating from the main terminal building of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Firefly managing director Eddy Leong said the B737-800 aircraft would have the “lowest operating cost in Malaysia”, which would translate into competitive airfares.

At press time, Firefly had confirmed only domestic routes from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

Bangkok (2010-11-09)

THAILAND’S Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to seek 1.5 billion baht (US$50.62 million) in funds during today’s Cabinet meeting to revive tourism in areas affected by floods.

The recent floods affected 47 Thai provinces, with many parts of 17 provinces still under floodwaters, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s flood watch.

MoTS permanent-secretary Sombat Kuruphan said damages caused by the floods were estimated at about 20-30 billion baht.

Kuruphan said the proposed budget would comprise 960 million baht for tourism promotion, focusing especially on domestic travellers, and 540 million baht for product rehabilitation and support.

“The requested amount is sound when compared to the overall tourism receipt of about one trillion baht a year,” he said.

The ministry will also seek the Cabinet’s approval on stimulus measures including the extension of tourist visa fee exemptions introduced last year, as well as encourage local government agencies and state enterprises to hold meetings, seminars and trainings in areas affected by the floods.

Rahul Khanna, Yangon (2010-11-09)

VIETNAM Airlines’ new service between Ho Chi Minh City and Yangon will begin on November 15.

Operating three flights a week on the route using Airbus A320 planes, Vietnam Airlines will also increase the frequency and capacity of its Yangon-Hanoi service, launched in March.

Vietnam Airlines’ Yangon office general manager Cao Xuan Phu said: “Our route between Yangon and Hanoi is already a success, but we hope the new route will be even more successful because Ho Chi Minh City is the business hub of Vietnam.”

Raini Hamdi, Bangkok (2010-11-09)

UK tour operator David Kevan has launched his fourth company, Chic Locations, but remains as director of Surreal Holidays, the Thai-owned UK operator with offices in Berkshire and Bangkok (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 25).

Kevan is joined at Chic by his former colleagues at Western & Oriental UK, Marie-Helene Rodriguez and Darshi Chohan.

Kevan, partner and product person of Chic, told TTG Asia: “I had intended leaving tour operation earlier in the year to concentrate on varied and lucrative consultancy work. However as the months passed, I saw increasing opportunities for a niche specialist, highly personalised and going back to basics in terms of marketing.”

“You have so many companies (in the UK) which are in some disarray following takeovers or are just being phased out altogether as brand identities.”

Chic has launched a 132-page brochure with 188 featured hotels in The Caribbean, The Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Asia.

Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2010-11-09)

DUSIT International eyes a better 2011 performance, with CEO Chanin Donavanik saying revenue is expected to grow by more than 10 per cent over this year, barring recurrence of the Thai political crisis.

The group had suffered a loss of about 400 million baht (US$13.4 million) during the protests, with the Dusit Thani Bangkok alone suffering a loss of about 200-300 million baht in revenue, he said.

Chanin added that the group initially forecasted 20 per cent year-on-year growth for 2010, but with the protests in Bangkok between March and May a key factor affecting Thailand’s tourism, eventual 2010 gross sales revenue is estimated to reach three billion baht, about seven to 10 per cent lower than in 2009.

Singapore (2010-11-09)

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group  (IHG) has reached an agreement with RB Capital Hotels to manage South-east Asia’s largest Holiday Inn Express hotel in Singapore.

The S$300-million (US$233.3 million), 500-room hotel is IHG’s second Holiday Inn Express signing in the country in just months.

Jan Smits, managing director, IHG Asia Australasia, said: “There is great growth potential for international mid-tier, select service hotels in Singapore, where we are seeing rising demand from both corporate and leisure markets for such focused service lodging options. The Holiday Inn Express will address this need for quality, value-based hotels. “

Located in the Central Business District and close to nearby retail, dining and entertainment attractions along the Singapore River, the hotel is expected to open in the second half of 2013.

“Our relationship with RB Capital Hotels has given us the opportunity to bring Holiday Inn Express to one of Singapore’s most prominent and popular areas for both corporate and leisure travellers visiting Singapore,” said Jan.

Bangkok (2010-11-09)

ONYX Hospitality Group has been appointed by the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MDTC) to manage the Herathera Island Resort from December 1.

Set on Addu, the southern-most atoll in the Maldives, the 273-villa resort features three natural lagoons, a turtle hatchery and a 4km beach, the longest of any resort within the archipelago.

“We are thrilled that our first international management agreement is in such a renowned tourist destination as the Maldives,” said Peter Henley, ONYX Hospitality Group CEO.

Over the next year, the resort will undergo significant upgrades including enhancements to the beach and villas, as well as the addition of numerous sports and children’s facilities. The resort will then be re-launched under the Amari brand of the ONYX portfolio and positioned as a leading destination in the Maldives for family holidays.
 
MTDC CEO Mohammed Mihad said: “We are focused on further developing the southern part of the Maldives. The re-launch of Herathera under new management will play a significant part in this.”