TAIWAN - Breakthrough Achieved for Chinese Tourists to Visit Taiwan

People-to-people exchange across the Taiwan Strait has witnessed a major breakthrough with the inauguration of China’s “Cross-Strait Travel Exchange Association” yesterday (Aug. 17), paving the way for Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan.

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MALAYSIA - Lures investors

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been cleaning up after his predecessor. The result? An influx of big-spending foreign companies. At a construction site next to Malaysia's southern port of Tanjung Pelapas near Singapore, giant contract manufacturer Flextronics Intl. is spending $280 million on a 1.2 million-sq. ft. factory. This will include production lines relocated from China by the Singaporean concern.
Wasn't Malaysia supposed to get smoked by China as an investment destination? Earlier in the decade, that seemed a real possibility. Under the rule of strongman leader Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia had a problematic image among foreign investors.

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BALI - Coral Reefs Under Threat

According to page-one report in the Indonesian language Bali Post, 23/19% of Bali's natural reef has been destroyed. According to the report, of an estimated 61.13 square kilometers of remaining natural reef surrounding the Island only 50.05 kilometers remain. Moreover, of the remaining reef 69.81% (34.93 square kilometers) is in poor condition; 21.45% (10.73 square kilometers) is in satisfactory condition and only 8.74% (4.37 square kilometers can be termed in excellent shape.

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BALI - Shifting Sources of Bali’s Arrivals

Bali by the Numbers: Europe Staging a Comeback, ASEAN a Major Market Force and Asia Pacific Down Badly for Jan-July 2006. European arrivals are still down -8.8% for January-July 2007 from one year before. European arrivals are showing definite signs of growing strength, far ahead of the pace demonstrated in 2003 after the first Bali bombing.

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INDONESIA - Government Must Revitalize National Tourism

The Indonesian Think Tank on Tourism (Masyarakat Pariwisata Indonesia – MPI) have called on the Indonesian Government to urgently revitalize the tourism sector of the national economy and correct the perceived lack of coordination by the Department of Culture and Tourism.

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CHINA - Tries to Teach Manners to Chinese Tourists

The Chinese government has issued guidelines on manners for its citizens traveling at home and abroad, saying poor behavior by Chinese tourists is damaging the country's image.

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AVIATION - Open skies bring 10 EU carriers to KLIA

Malaysia has confirmed it will be the second country in Asia, after Singapore, to sign the EU-Asia civil aviation 'horizontal agreement'. It will allow European airlines to operate flights between Malaysia and any EU member state. "The agreement is expected to result in a flurry of up to ten carriers applying for landing rights at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport," said the head of the EU commission delegation.

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ASIA - Tourism continues to pose problem in Southeast Asia

It is being felt that in nations such as Thailand, child sexual exploitation builds on a long-standing and vast prostitution industry and thrives where law enforcement is weak or corrupt. That sex with young teens is not a strong taboo in some Asian cultures makes fighting the problem more difficult. Poverty-stricken Cambodia in recent years has become new frontier for pedophiles for this very reason.

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INFRASTRUCTURE - India builds the “most challenging railway project on earth”

The 900-kilometer project will link the Himalayan foothills to the Kashmir Valley.
"The railway will integrate the restive region with the rest of India," said Vinoo Mathur, general manager of Northern Railway, which will operate the line. The completed railway line will also bring with it the promise of economic changes from reviving the area's once-thriving tourist industry, destroyed by armed Muslim militants against Indian rule in 1989.

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DEVELOPMENTS - Space is the new limit

Space tourism, a trip 62 miles into the boundary of space, is about to blast off for the common millionaires following offers from the founders of three leading space tourism companies.
Eric Anderson, whose company Space Adventures is the only one which has sold a space tourism package to five space tourists at a cost of US$20 million each for an eight-day trip, recently announced plans to build a spaceport each in the United Arab Emirates and in Singapore.

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CHINA - Beijing rushes to complete new Beijing airport to city subway

Keeping its promise to improve infrastructure by the start of the 2008 Olympics, Beijing is rushing to complete its new subway line to link the airport to the city center.
The new 17 mile-subway line, pegged to cost US$675 million, is scheduled to be completed by April 2008, before the start of the 2008 Games, according to news reports.

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DEVELOPMENTS - Diethelm Travel Asia to launch operations in India

Diethelm Travel Asia has confirmed plans to enter the India in-bound tourism arena. Delhi will be the starting point for the company and operations are expected to begin within the first quarter 2007.

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developments - COMING SOON TO AN AIRPORT NEAR YOU: RACIAL PROFILING

Talk has surfaced in the U.K. about racial profiling of Muslims at airports. What next? Subways, restaurants, hotels and convention centres, too? Think very deeply about its full implications on the travel and tourism industry. If global travel groups don’t have a policy perspective on this, they had better start crafting one – and fast.

>>For the full article, mail to: sprangers.r@nhtv.nl

MALAYSIA - Uncertainty in Lebanon results in tourists inflow

The uncertain situation in Lebanon is proving to beneficial for Malaysia as more and more travelers from the Middle East are opting for the Southeast Asian country. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said, “Previously, during the summer season, we (Malaysia) normally faced stiff competition in drawing Middle-East tourists because they preferred to holiday either in Beirut, Istanbul or Cairo.”

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DUBAI - Nakheel appoints main contractor for Marina Residences & Town Houses, The Palm Jumeirah

Shimizu Corporation, a leading international general contractor, signed the agreement with Nakheel to construct the basements, superstructure, architectural works, interior finishings and landscaping of the high-end condominium which is at the tip of the trunk on The Palm Jumeirah.

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TIBET - Surging tourism in Tibet leads to illegal ticket sales

A surge in tourism in Lhasa, following the launch of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on July 1, has led to illegal ticket sales. For hundreds of tourists confronted with a "sold out" sign at the gate of Potala Palace, the only way of getting a close look at the world-famous cultural relic is to turn to ticket touts.

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PHILIPPINES - DoTC lists funding sources for projects worth P305.37B

THE Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) has listed general funding sources for airport, seaport and rail projects worth P305.369 billion to be completed in 2010, with almost one-third to come from public-private sector initiatives.

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MALAYSIA - Too close for comfort

THE long stretch of beach in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, is no longer safe for swimming with many water scooters zooming around dangerously.

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THAILAND - tourism troubles

Even after the catastrophic Tsunami of 2004, tourism has remained of paramount importance to the economy of Thailand. However, with the boom comes consequences, and people are concerned about the environmental, social and economic impact on the country of one of the economy’s main drivers. Thailand’s northern town of Chiang Mai has felt the tensions between the need to create wealth and jobs, and the desire to look after the essence of what makes people trek to the country in the first place, more than most.

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CHINA - is becoming a friend in Asia — while the U.S. sleeps

With the United States preoccupied with war and nuclear threats in the Middle East, China is emerging as the great new power of 21st century East Asia — and pulling longtime American allies into its embrace. Economically, China is both the fastest-growing trade partner for most countries in the region and the one they believe will play the biggest role in their future.

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MALAYSIA - RM74 Mln To Enhance Tourism Infrastructure In Perak

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said three projects worth RM7.2 million had been confirmed and the tender-bidding process would begin next year."Among them is the construction of facilities at the Pulau Pangkor jetty terminal costing RM4 million," he told reporters at the end of his one-day visit to the island.

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THAILAND - King's palace turns village into tourism hub

Once a simple fishing village, Hua Hin has evolved into one of Thailand's bustling tourism gems thanks largely to the presence of a revered resident: King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Just a few hours drive from Bangkok, Hua Hin is an alternative to Pattaya, a nearby beach resort best known for its thriving sex tourism, as visitors, especially Thais, find the lack of the party vibe here to be a selling point.

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VIETNAM - Tourism industry prepares for WTO integration, specialisation

Vietnam's tourism sector is preparing to develop its services globally with the country on the brink of entering the WTO. Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) speaks to tourism experts about preparations for integration.

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VIETNAM - Hoi An to found fund for tourism development

The ancient town of Hoi An will found a fund for tourism development in order to re-invest and support the making of tourism products and promote tourism activities. The project has been set up by Hoi An Trade and Tourism Department. The fund will be raised with money contributed by hotels and guesthouses owners.

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BALI - Tsunami Warning Signs Posted on Bali's Beaches

As part of a tsunami awareness program now underway, the government is providing public information pamphlets and erecting large signs on major beaches in Bali.

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AVIATION - AirAsia reports 18th consecutive quarterly profit

The world’s lowest cost carrier, AirAsia, has maintained its profitable run in the three months ended 30-Jun-06, with a 143% year-on-year increase in net profit, boosted by a tax exemption from the Malaysian Ministry of Finance, while revenue rose 21% and average load factors reached a record 83%.

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FIJI - landowners seek to stop major tourism development

A group of indigenous landowners in Fiji have filed a court injunction to stop one of the country's biggest tourism developments after the Native Lands Trust Board allegedly made payments based on forged documents.

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DEVELOPMENTS - Climate change to drive radical changes in global tourism

In less than 25 years climate change will have a radical impact on the global travel industry, according to the Holiday 2030 report launched by Halifax Travel Insurance.
Changes in the global climate have already seen Britons encounter searing heat, stinging jelly fish and wildfires at their favourite Mediterranean resorts this summer.

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CHINA - Shanghai starts work on Disneyland site

Authorities in Shanghai are paving the way for a new Shanghai Disneyland by relocating residents currently occupying the site, according to latest reports from China.
Despite losing to Hong Kong to build the first Disneyland park in China, Shanghai, seen as China's economic and financial center, were not dismayed and wooed Disney to ward off other domestic competitors and add it to the city's appeal as an international metropolis.

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INDIA - Andaman & Nicobar to open up 15 islands for hospitality industry

The tourism ministry has given the Andaman and Nicobar administration the green signal to open up 15 islands for the hospitality industry with a clear-cut emphasis on eco-friendly and hi-end hotels and beach resorts. By the year-end, tenders will be invited for about five islands, while by the year 2008, all the 15 would be open, after the mandatory procedures are completed.

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BALI - Has Bali lost its “paradise island” tag?

Earthquake, bombings, SARS, the Avian Bird Flu…its not an easy when such dreadful list haunts the nation with one calamity following one after the other. Tourism in Indonesia has been victim of several such incidents over the past few years. The image of Bali as a “paradise island” and “island of the gods” is wholly inappropriate under the current circumstances, says a report in Jakarta Post.

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PHUKET - Destination Properties Appoints Alila Hotels To Manage New Lifestyle Resort In Phuket

Situated on the west coast of Phuket at the heart of the island’s famed ‘Millionaire’s Mile’, this 4.25 rai development will comprise 200 sea-facing rooms and will be managed and maintained to international luxury standards by ALiLA Hotels & Resorts.

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FIJI - chamber of commerce backs medical tourism plan

There is support from the Fiji Chamber of Commerce for a proposal to develop medical tourism in the country.The chamber's president, Taito Waradi, says discussions are under way with the Apollo Group, a large healthcare company in India which operates 45 hospitals and a number of clinics.

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INFRASTRUCTURE - Bangladesh may join Trans-Asian Railway network

Bangladesh is likely to join the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) network by signing an inter-governmental agreement to this effect in the South Korean city of Busan in November next.The government has taken an initiative for signing the multinational pact under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) after finding the TAR route layout suitable for the country.

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TASMANIA - tourism turns to online marketing

The Tasmania state government has launched an online portal, offering free use of software and training to the tourism industry in its bid to boost the state's tourism marketing efforts. The Internet booking system, Book Tasmania, was launched by Paula Wriedt, state tourism minister at the Tourism Council's 2006 Tasmanian Tourism Conference, held at Iveresk recently.

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AVIATTION - Pressure on Australian government growing to drop protectionist attitude for Qantas

The development comes at a stage when the pressure on the Australian government is growing to open up Australia’s international airline routes to more competition and not to put the interests of Qantas before the nation’s tourism industry and airports. Following the Australian government’s rejection of Singapore Airlines’ application to gain access to the Australia-US route in February, and the indecision over whether to grant several Middle Eastern and Asian airlines additional flights into Australia, Qantas is accused of being protected at the expense of others, reported Sydney Morning Herald.

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INDIA - LCCs get thumbs up for growth

At a time when the burgeoning low cost carrier market in India is evoking bullish sentiments, testimony of such positive mood has been affirmed by Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). The association has stated that the LCC market share in India will reach 70 percent by 2010, making it one of the world’s leading LCC markets in terms of total market penetration. “Full service carriers are, on average, bleeding a remarkable 1.5 percentage points of market share every month to LCCs. We do not expect this rate to slow in the short term, given the profile of current fleet orders.

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CAMBODIA - Cambodia and Vietnam to cooperate in eco-tourism

In a two-day meeting with leaders of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, the Cambodian Tourism investigation corps, led by Mr. Thong Khon, Tourism Ministry Secretary of Cabodia, showed their interest in the province’s scenic beauty, infrastructure and tourism services, especially marine eco-tourism and the provincial mysterious caves.

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VIETNAM - Top hotels capitalize on growing tourism industry

The hotels in the list of Top 10 Hotels 2005 announced by the Vietnam Tourism Association late last month are chasing in on the growing tourism of Vietnam, even in a present time considered as low season for the hotel industry.

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INDONESIA - Theme park revival

JAKARTA’S main tourist attractions, Ancol Jakarta Baycity and Indonesia in Miniature Park (Mini Indonesia), are being revitalised to draw more visitors.The former has all the thrills and spills of a theme park, while Mini Indonesia gives visitors an overview of the world’s largest archipelago in one afternoon.

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DEVELOPMENTS - Remaking PATA conference

The curtains have closed on the PATA Annual Conference, the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry’s oldest and biggest conference. What does it take for this industry to have a prestigious summit and can PATA pull off this dream? Raini Hamdi analyses.

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PHILIPPINES - is hot again

The Philippines is making a major comeback in European wholesaler brochures.
Blue Horizons Travel and Tours CEO, Mr Patrick Blum, said Kuoni Switzerland and Meier’s Weltreisen would be featuring basic Philippine programmes for the next season, from November onwards.

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VIETNAM - Foreign resort developers eye central region potential

Banking on the fact that Vietnam's tourism is coming of age, foreign investors have targeted the coastal provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Quang Nam, and the central city of Da Nang for large scale projects.

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BALI - Pecatu Indah Resort to jumpstart an ailing Bali

Pecatu Indah will include luxury hotels, an international standard 18-hole golf course, a convention center, shopping malls, exclusive residential areas containing magnificent homes in a variety of Balinese styles and sizes ranging in land area from 165sqm to 4,000sqm, a theme water park, a world-class hospital and a school on the site.

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THAILAND - Up and Coming in the Kingdom

In this month’s focus we take a look at three areas of particular interest. One was previously overshadowed by Samui, the other is bouncing back from a tsunami, and the last is the last resort for those who are finding Pattaya just a little hard to bare…

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SINGAPORE - Next job for S'pore: Making its own Mice

Expansion does not always mean looking beyond our shores. For the Mice (meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions) industry, the next lap of growth will land squarely on the shoulders of homegrown industries, after the initial emphasis on drawing events from abroad.

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BALI - Traditional Water Rights Must be Maintained

Educator and Former Top Tourism Official Sees Bali's Traditional Culture Under Threat from Diminishing Role of 'Krama Subak' System. The authority of the Krama Subak, or Bali's traditional water distribution councils, is increasingly under threat from national irrigation legislation. The national legislation - which prioritizes water rights in the order of the needs of humans, animals and finally plant agriculture is a reversal of the age-old primacy given by the Krama Subak to agriculture.

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AUSTRALIA - considers China to be a “golden opportunity” for its tourism industry

In a major development, Australia is set to sign a deal with China to attract millions of Chinese holidaymakers Down Under. The details are expected to be released soon.
Considering projections related to Chinese outbound tourism, with an estimate of 100 million Chinese heading overseas on holidays by 2025, Australia is keen on capitalizing on this huge market, and is expected to sign an agreement with China.

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ASIA - Asian tourism on road to recovery after tsunami, UNWTO says

Eighteen months after the Indian Ocean, tourism in the affected areas has rebounded, according to the latest report from United Nation's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
International tourist arrivals grew by an average of 8 percent between January to April for tourist destinations in the Asia Pacific region. Maldives recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals (97 percent increase), followed by Thailand (29 percent) and Sri Lanka (25 percent).

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BANGKOK - Pictures of Suvarnabhumi - Bangkok International Airport

Pictures from Bangkok's new International (and domestic) Airport - Suvarnabhumi. Located some 35 kilometres from Bangkok's city centre. The airport which will officially open at 3am on 28 September 2006 is a much more pleasant airport to visit than Bangkok's current Don Muang, which is itself already over capacity.

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AVIATION - Low-cost carriers ready to capitalize on new ASEAN agreement on visa exception

The recent signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Framework Agreement on Visa Exception (FAVE) is being termed as a “boon for the tourism industry as well as for dreams of regional unity.”

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DEVELOPMENTS - Confronting change in the tourism industry

Travel and tourism are highly changeable industries. Too few tourism professionals, however, think about change, not only the changes that are occurring in their industry but also the changes that are taking place in their own offices, their staffs, and communities.

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KOREA - Overseas Visitors Say Korea Is Boring

Recently, the Bank of Korea stated the main reason for the last half year’s (January – June) balance of current accounts going into the red for the first time in nine years is the tourism balance, which has been in the red for 60 months running.

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LAO - Rides Economic Good Times Thanks to Mining, Tourism and Hydropower

The Lao economy is enjoying robust growth as it benefits from investment in the mining and hydropower sectors as well as tourism. But economic reforms, poverty reduction and persistent corruption remain challenges for the government.

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SINGAPORE - Four groups file disclosure forms for Sentosa integrated resort bid

Four groups including US gaming giant Harrah's Entertainment have submitted disclosure forms ahead of bids for a second Singapore casino licence, the Singapore Tourism Board said Monday.

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DUBAI - strengthens position as cruise ship hub in region

One of Dubai's many ambitions is to become the regional hub for cruise ships, considered essential if Dubai wishes to retain its position as a leading tourist destination in the region.

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AVIATION - Australia’s inbound tourism to get a major boost as Jetstar gets ready for Asian connections

Budget airline Jetstar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, is to commence its overseas services by flying to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, and the Indonesian resort island of Bali from later this year.

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INFRASTRUCTURE - Vietnam plans 880-km express railway project

Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) has shared its plans to build the first-ever 880-km express railway within a five year period beginning 2010. The initiative is being taken in order to meet the demand of increasing passenger and cargo transport between big cities including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh, Nha Trang and Vung Tau.

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AVIATION - China goes on airport building spree

China's National Development and Reform Commission has approved the construction of four civilian airports worth an estimated US$200 million, according to latest news reports.
Two airports, Kangdin and Leshan airports, will be built in Sichuan province,Tengchong airport in southwest China's Yunana province and Daqing in Heilongjiang province in northeast China.

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THAILAND - Underwater park ready for divers

PHUKET: Sculptures worth 4 million baht have been placed on the seabed at a depth of 15 meters close to Koh Racha Yai, and are being promoted as a special “must see” site for divers in the coming high season.

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BALI - by the numbers: A Market-by-Market Look at Arrivals in the First Half of 2006

Total arrivals January-June 2006 totaled 552,573. This total is -19.79% less than arrivals during the same period in 2005, but a full +44.12% ahead of arrivals for January-June 2003, the previous year also impacted by a terrorist attack.

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AVIATION - 81% Boost in Passenger Volume for Tiger Airways since moving to Budget Terminal in Singapore

“We have seen passenger volume jump by more than 80% in the three months since we started operating at the Budget Terminal. Our load factors have also grown by an average 21% while our capacity has increased by more than 50%. This shows that our move to the Budget Terminal has paid off in terms of higher growth for Tiger Airways in all areas,” said Tiger Airways CEO, Tony Davis.

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MALAYSIA - Bringing everyone over

Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is confident that even more people will come to Sabah particularly now that low-budget carrier AirAsia has chosen to develop Kota Kinabalu as its latest hub.

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INTERVIEW - Senior Advisor, Pro-poor Sustainable Tourism, SNV-The Netherlands Development Organisation, Vietnam

SNV is a Netherlands-based, international development organisation active in more than 30 countries from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, with more than 700 advisors working with approximately 1,300 organisations. SNV’s services combine technical advice with capacity building and institutional development support to organisations and governments in developing countries to reduce poverty and support sustainable development.

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VIETNAM - Few foreign tourists return

With persistent problems such as a shortage of hotel rooms, poor human resources with poorer language skills, poor strategy in marketing and planning has slowed down the development of Vietnam tourism. This also means that it could be difficult for the country to achieve the targets set for the industry in the future.

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PALAWAN - Tourists arrival in Puerto Princesa seen to rise 15%

The City Tourism Council (CTC) here is optimistic it will meet its 15-percent target increase in tourists arrival this year from 120,000 in 2005.CTC president Felisa Torres said from January to May this year, it already registered 45,000 domestic and international visitors.

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PHILIPPINES - Durano tours around Palawan, sees it as RP’s top destination in 10 yrs

In the next ten years, Palawan will become the top destination of our country,” Tourism Secretary Joseph H. Durano predicted during a four-day working visit of Palawan which centered on the Sustainable Environmental Management Project – North Palawan (SEMP-NP).

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PHUKET - to be tourism risk management model

The Australian Government is to work with the Ministry of Sport and Tourism in Phuket to develop better tourism risk management practices. Ian Kean, executive director of APEC International Center for Sustainable Tourism (AICST) was on the island recently to outline the plans.

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PHILIPPINES - Tourism to drive Philippine economy

A record number of foreign tourists, which reached 2.6 million arrivals in 2005, has made tourism the engine of economic growth in the Philippines.
The Philippine government is promoting tourism as its economic driver due to the loss of markets by its manufacturing sector, especially its electronics products, as a result of stiff competition from China.

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DEVELOPMENTS - First Six Poverty Alleviation Projects Approved for Funding by ST-EP Foundation

Funding has been approved for the first six tourism projects aimed specifically at helping to reduce poverty to be supported by the ST-EP Foundation. ST-EP, "Sustainable Tourism - Eliminating Poverty", is an initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) launched in 2002 at the Johannesburg Summit.

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AUSTRALIA - sees tourism future in Asia

Tourism Australia is seeing the fruits of their concerted drive to woo tourists from the Asian continent. Figures released show despite the country attracting less visitors form Japan and South Korea, other Asian countries have made up for the loss of visitor numbers.

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AUSTRALIA - MCVB Targets Asian incentive market

Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) will open two new representative offices in Asia next week. “Our representative offices located in Singapore and Hong Kong will market Melbourne to the Asian corporate incentive markets.

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