MALAYSIA - Langkawi cashes in

TTGasia.com, Dec 14 - 20, 2007

THE tourism industry in Langkawi is pinning its hopes on its new Geopark status to capture the imagination of leisure and meetings and incentives travellers seeking a unique beach destination in South-east Asia.The trade is banking on more tourist traffic coming from Singapore via Kuala Lumpur in 2008 with the deregulation of Singapore-Kuala Lumpur flights to allow low-cost carriers to ply the route. The anticipated boost in traffic is expected to spill over from the Malaysian capital to secondary destinations.In 2008, all infrastructure and tourism projects are directed towards enhancing and promoting the Langkawi Geopark. An important project on Tuba Island is the provision of access and a viewing gallery at Wang Buluh Cave. “The people of Tuba Island are getting excited about the projects coming into their backyard, including a coastal rural road that would provide a scenic drive and also potentially attract fishing enthusiasts,” Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) general manager, Datuk Kamarulzaman Abdul Ghani, said.

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THAILAND - Hotels aid Pattaya evolution

TTGasia.com, Dec 14 - 20, 2007

BUOYED by its proximity to one-year-old Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s main gateway, Pattaya is seeing a burgeoning number of new hotels while existing properties are being upgraded. Pattaya is having a renaissance, the trade says.Amari Hotels and Resorts sales and marketing vice-president, Mr Duncan Webb, said the overall outlook for Pattaya as a destination now was light years away from what the beach resort was 10 years ago. He added it had become an established beach resort with international standards and the destination was continually evolving with new developments.The once small fishing village, which began its transformation to a beach resort in the 1960s, had a negative image for many years. But the city administration has been working hard to erase its sleazy image, in a bid to transform the beach resort into a family- and business-focused destination.

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MALAYSIA - Malaysia, Iran venture

TTGasia.com, Dec 14 - 20, 2007

Tourism stakeholders in Malaysia and Iran want to set up a joint committee to promote tourism related activities between the two countries and curb illegal practices among agents. Bumiputra Travel Agents Association president, Mr Syed Razif Al Yahya, and 14 other travel agents from his association met with Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization general-director of Foreign Tourism Development, Mr Mohammad Ali Pakseresht, early last month in Tehran, where the latter had, in principle, agreed to a joint committee. Mr Syed Razif said he would meet Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor this week, to moot the idea of having tourism ministry officers in the committee to give it effective enforcement powers to curb bad practices among travel agents in Malaysia.

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THAILAND - Bookings hit the roof for south Thailand

TTGasia.com, Dec 14 - 20, 2007

Thailand is seeing unprecedented confirmed bookings to Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi this high season.Tour operators told TTG Asia Phuket and Khao Lak in particular, devastated by the December 2004 tsunami, were seeing an absolute turnaround and Krabi was hot on their heels.Diethlem Travel Asia chief operating officer, Mr Richard Brouwer, said: “For us, the absolute winners are Phuket and Khao Lak; hotels are full and right now, some have even stopped selling.”In terms of clientele, Mr Brouwer said Khao Lak was a gathering place for Germans and Scandinavians while Phuket enjoyed a mix of tourists from every market worldwide.Stockholm-based TUI Nordic product area manager for Italy and South-east Asia, Ms Lin Wessblad, said her company saw about 6,000 clients booked for Phuket per month this high season from October 2007 to April 2008. Krabi and nearby Koh Lanta were also doing very well in terms of volume at about 3,000 clients a month.

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VIETNAM - Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels inks second deal in China Beach, for 2007

Jones Lang LaSalle , 14 December 2007

As exclusive advisor to Magnum Asia Limited, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels (the “Firm”) is pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition of a 39-hectare prime beachfront site in Danang to US-based Kor Realty Group LLC (“Kor”). This deal marks the Firm’s second transaction this year on world-famous China Beach, Vietnam’s premier resort destination and one of the region’s most promising tourism markets.
Mr Craig Collins, Managing Director Investment Sales Asia, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, together with Ms Heng Sue Lin, Vice President, negotiated the transaction on behalf of Magnum Asia Limited.
Lining over 750 metres of pristine coastline, the spectacular beachfront site is slated for the development of Viceroy China Beach, a boutique luxury hotel. Each of the Viceroy properties of the Kor Hotel Group are renowned for their legendary locations, distinct style, and unique design.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Cambodia and Thailand sign single tourist visa deal

Reuters, 17 december 2007

Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Monday to allow foreign tourists to enter on a single visa.
"This means a tourist can get a visa either for Thailand or Cambodia and can visit the two nations," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said after signing the agreement with visiting Thai counterpart Nitya Pibulsonggram.
The deal was the first of a hoped for series also involving Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, he said.
"We want to see the five countries become one tourist destination," Hor Namhong said.

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THAILAND - Forum to boost arrivals to Chiang Mai

Tourism Authority of Thailand, 17th December 2007

A recent forum in Thailand Chiang Mai was aimed at giving much-needed exposure to the vast range of high-quality products emerging in Northern Thailand and support the growing number of international airlines mounting flights to the city known as the “Rose of the North.”The Tourism Authority of Thailand together with the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association organised the Chiang Mai Tourism Forum 2007 during 6-9 December, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Chiang Mai Hotel.TAT invited over 120 buyers from East and Southeast Asian countries, to meet with 50 local sellers representing golf courses, spas, boutique hotels, shopping plazas, hospitals, and restaurants in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas in the north of Thailand.

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PHILIPPINES - October tourist arrivals up by 8% despite blast

manilastandardtoday.com, Dec 13, 2007

Foreign tourists ignored the negative news and advisories about the Philippines in October, as they continued to arrive in record numbers in the country, which now has a $4-billion international tourism market.
The statistics division of the Department of Tourism said international visitor arrivals in the Philippines rose 8 percent to 241,745 in October from 223,818 a year ago, despite the Oct. 19 blast that hit a major shopping mall at the financial center of Makati.
This brought the total foreign arrivals in the first 10 months of the year to a record 2.508 million, up 8.6 percent from 2.31 million a year earlier.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Russia-Asean draft projects

sunstar.com.ph, December 17, 2007

THE Russian Government expressed last Friday strong interest in tapping the huge potential of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc, particularly in relation to trade and tourism. Representatives of the Russian federation and Asean member countries converged for the sixth Asean-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee in Cebu last Dec. 13 to 14. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Comprehensive Program of Action (CPA) to promote the Asean-Russia cooperation from 2005 to 2015. Discussions on priority areas for cooperation included culture, tourism, energy, disaster management, counter terrorism, and science and technology.

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CHINA - Luxury hotel goes from five stars to no stars

chinaview.cn, 2007-12-13

A luxury hotel that lost millions of yuan to a swindling manager has become China's first five-star hotel to lose its star status after a re-evaluation by China's tourism authority.
The Shenzhen Grand View Hotel, in south China's Guangdong Province, has admitted that its facilities and services failed to meet five-star standards, but vowed to try to win back its five stars.
The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has begun re-evaluating the star ratings of Chinese hotels, which used to enjoy permanent star status.
The CNTA initiated re-evaluations of star hotels last year, and hundreds of hotels, with four-star status or below, were blacklisted. It said the re-evaluations of star hotels would be conducted every five years.

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THAILAND - courting Chinese tourists after 12% drop-off

Bangkokpost.com, December 17, 2007

Thailand hopes to welcome about 1.3 million Chinese tourists next year, about a 10% increase from one million visitors estimated in 2007, the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Beijing reports.
The number of Chinese arrivals visiting Thailand has been falling since last year due to Thailand's political problems and the bombs in the capital, drawing 12% fewer Chinese visitors in the first 10 months to 655,154, down from 747,067 in the same period of 2006. Total Chinese visitors would have zero growth this year.
But TAT hopes that its marketing campaigns together with explanations about the real situation in Thailand would bring back tourists from China.

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BALI - Hotels Aiming to Reduce Energy Consumption by 40% Within One Year

Balidiscovery.com, (12/15/2007)

The energy conservation program, dubbed Switch off, Unplug, Enjoy – Energy Efficient Bali, was launched on board Greenpeace's fabled Rainbow Warrior docked at Bali's Benoa Harbor.The program, based on a survey conducted by Greenpeace among 15 hotels in Nusa Dua in November 2007, outlines the steps than can be taken by hotels to reduce energy consumption and preserve the world's natural environment.The program which has been strongly endorsed by Indonesia's Minister for the Environment, Rachmat Witoelar, is aimed at all hotels, guest houses, restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues in Bali. Socialization of the program will be done through a series of educational seminars conducted among tourism industry members.

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SRI LANKA - tourism recovers from earlier slump

eTN, Dec 13, 2007

Tourism has staged a turn around from November, with a robust arrival gain of 20% for the month. The drop-in arrivals peaked in May this year to 40% after the LTTE attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport and the subsequent curfew imposed on night flights.
Since September this year, a recovery was seen with a strong turn into a positive last month. Arrivals for November was 45,102 compared with 37, 591 for the same month last year. With the current boost Sri Lanka tourism got with the Barmy Army of nearly 7,000 fans currently enjoying the cricket test matches.

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TAJIKISTAN - New player on the tourist bloc

eTurboNews Dec 13, 2007

On the Great Silk Route, Tajikistan jumps on the tourism bandwagon of destinations in Central Asia, having become one of the newest members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) during the General Assembly in Cartagena, Colombia.
Mountainous, the landlocked country is bordered by Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east. If anything, tourism in Tajikistan takes pride in these grand mountain ranges including Karakorum, Kunlun and Hindukush which represent the most unique about the country.

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SINGAPORE - New Tourist Pass offers Unlimited Rides on Singapore’s Public Transport System

Asiatraveltips.com, 13 December 2007

The Singapore Land Transport Authority and the Singapore Tourism Board have launched the Singapore Tourist Pass (STP) and a Public Transport Guide for Tourists (The “Travel with Ease” Guide) – two new initiatives aimed at enhancing the visitors’ experience when commuting on Singapore’s public transport system.
The Singapore Tourist Pass, produced by EZ-Link in collaboration with LTA and STB, is the only pass in Singapore that offers tourists unlimited rides on Singapore’s public transport system with the option of a 1-Day, 2-Day or 3-Day pass for just Sin$8 per day. With the STP, travelling on Singapore’s MRT, LRT and basic bus services becomes a cost-effective and convenient way for tourists to explore Singapore and enjoy the best the city has to offer.

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CHINA - Travel Agencies Adjusting Products To New Holiday Policy

Chinahospitalitynews.com, December 11, 2007

On December 7, the State Council of the People's Republic of China approved in principle the modification of legal holidays in China.
The focus is on one-day holidays by adding Tomb Sweeping Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival. As the result of that, there will be five short holidays.
Many travel agencies say will unveil a series of new products as short-haul tours between 4 and 6 days to adapt to the new holiday policy. Zhang Xiaoqing, manager of marketing department of Beijing Jiedajiaqi International Travel Service, told local media that although May Day Golden Week has been reduced to one day, except for Tomb Sweeping Day, the other four short holidays (plus May Day) are possible to be new prime times for traveling.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Survey launched to set up sea tourist route

VietNamNet Bridge, 11/12/2007

A delegation left Rach Gia port in southern Kien Giang Province on December 10, starting a trip to survey a sea tourist route linking Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.The delegation, including 162 representatives from the three countries’ travel administrations and agencies, will call at tourist sites in Kep, KoKong and Shihanoukville of Cambodia and Thailand’s Trat and Chanthaburi provinces and Pattaya resort city, to assess local tourism potential and then propose orientations to tap the advantages.At every destination, the delegation will work with local authorities on tourism development and host exchanges between visiting and local enterprises.

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VIETNAM - Doing business successfully in Vietnam

Bangkokpost.com, December 08, 2007

As Thai businessmen continue to look at Vietnam as a destination to invest, experts warn that doing business in the country that is just opening up its doors can be a double-edged sword.
Doing it right means you have hit a jackpot but landing on the wrong footing can send shivers through your business. As one who has been involved with Vietnam for a long time, I am writing this as a piece of advice for all entrepreneurs who are looking at Vietnam as their investment destination.
Doing business in Vietnam can be easy or difficult, depending on the nature of your product, your business skills, and your awareness of its culture, working and consumption habits and laws.

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THAILAND - High-end tourists targeted

nationmultimedia.com, December 10, 2007

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association have just concluded the four-day Chiang Mai Tourism Forum 2007, held in a bid to attract more high-end international visitors.The TAT invited more than 120 buyers from East and Southeast Asia to meet 50 local sellers representing golf courses, spas, boutique hotels, shopping plazas, hospitals and restaurants in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas.

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BRUNEI - Tourist Arrivals Surpass ’07 Target

Brudirect.com, 8-12-2007

Tourist arrivals in the first 11 months of the year rose considerably from last year, even exceeding the country's target for all of this year, a government official told The Brunei Times yesterday.
"Our tourism sector is doing very nicely," said Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohammad, director of the Brunei Tourism Development Department.
"For this year alone there were 176,000 tourists, our target was a seven-per cent increase but now we see there is a ... (bigger) increase from last year when there were 120,000 tourists coming in."

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CAMBODIA - S Korean, Chinese tourists most frequent in Siem Reap of Cambodia

chinaview.cn 2007-12-08

Most of the foreign tourists coming to Siem Reap, where the renowned Angkor Wat is situated, were from South Korea and China in October, Chinese-language newspaper the Commercial News reported on Saturday.
The percentage is unclear, but they just shared the majority, the paper quoted a report from the provincial tourism authority assaying. Meanwhile, altogether 170,180 people visited Siem Reap in October, it said. Among them, 86,833 were foreigners, a 22.15 percent increase over the same period last year, and 83,347 Cambodians, a rise of 50.93 percent, it said.

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UAE -Dubai expects over 200,000 cruise tourists for 2007-2008 season

ameinfo.com, 10.12.2007

Dubai welcomed six cruise ships at its state-of-the-art cruise terminal since the start of cruise season in October.
Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, Executive Director for Heritage and Cruise at the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said the cruise tourism season had a good start and several cruise ships from various parts of the world are expected to visit the emirate until the end of the season in April.
The ship-shaped cruise terminal, opened in 2001, measures 3300 square metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously on a 335-metre quay The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002 certification and also the world's only cruise facility run by the government tourism body, DTCM. The Dubai cruise terminal is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously.

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INDONESIA - Is Bali Losing its Cultural Compass?

Balidiscovery.com, (12/8/2007)

Speaking at a seminar held in Bali on December 2, 2007, Indonesia's former Minister of Culture and Tourism. I Gede Ardika warned that Bali was increasingly disassociating itself from its traditional values.Quoted by the National News Agency Antara, Ardika delivered an address entitled - "Bali's Tourism: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges for Nature and the Balinese People" – in which he said that the people of Bali were increasingly upset by the new attitude that considers all things are permissible in pursuit of private goals.

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INDIA - Punjab plans mega eco tourism project

travelbizmonitor.com, 10-12-2007

Department of Tourism, Punjab is planning a major eco tourism initiative and will implement the proposed project by creating a special Directorate or Society under the Forest and Wild Life Department or Punjab State Forest Development Corporation (PSFDC). This development comes in the wake of the Eco Tourism Policy for Punjab drafted recently by the state Forest Department. The proposed mega project with an outlay of an investment Rs 128 core and time frame of about eight years from next financial year includes eco site development, creating environment parks, setting up interpretation centres, creating infrastructure, accommodation, facilitation centres, chalking out trekking routes, expansion of lake at Chhatbir Zoo and introduction of toy train, procuring equipment like boats, vehicles etc., setting up information booths at strategic locations like airports and bus stations and brand building and promotion campaigns.

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KOREA - North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il Boosts Mount Baekdu Inter-Korean Tourism Project

(eTN) 10-12-2007

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has given warm encouragement to local workers developing Mount Baekdu, the highest point on the peninsula that will be opened to South Korean tourists next year, the North's broadcaster said Saturday.
South and North Korea agreed to open a direct flight route between Seoul and the North's Mount Baekdu during their second summit in October. The inter-Korean tour, set to start in May, is organized by South Korea's Hyundai Group.
Kim "expressed his gratitude to officials and workers who have wholeheartedly supported the development of the Mount Baekdu area," the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, monitored in Seoul, said, naming technicians, researchers and factory workers involved in the project.

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VIETNAM - welcomes year's 4 millionth foreign tourist

(eTN) 7-12-2007

Vietnam on Thursday greeted its four-millionth visitor of the year, celebrating a milestone for the tourism sector as it is seeking to position itself as a leading Southeast Asian travel destination.
US citizen Michael Davis Magidson was surprised to be greeted with flowers by women wearing traditional au dai dresses and conical hats as he stepped off a Vietnam Airlines flight at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport.
"We look forward to seeing your beautiful country," said Magidson at a ceremony to mark his arrival on flight VN 830 from Bangkok, which meant the sector had achieved its annual target several weeks ahead of time.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Battleground Bali: Developing countries take on industrialized countries

eTN Asia/Pacific , 9-12-2007

Australia, China and Malaysia are questioning whether Canada is trying to "rewrite" history by putting the burden of emissions control on poorer countries as the climate change conference in Bali becomes a battleground between the developing countries and industrialized countries.
China, which has been accused as the planet's worst polluters along with the United States, has accused Canada of targeting poorer countries over mandatory emission control cuts.
"I just wonder of it is fair to ask developing countries to take on binding targets," said Su Wei, a member of China's delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, ahead of the arrival of ministers for environment from 180 countries next week.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau Meet For Tourism Cooperation

Chinahospitalitynews.com, December 5, 2007

The tourism authorities from the three places agreed in the meeting to set up a rotation of chairmanship system under the Guangdong - Hong Kong – Macau Tourism marketing cooperation framework, with the Guangdong Provincial Tourism Bureau assuming chairmanship in 2008, while Hong Kong Tourism Board and Macau Government Tourist Office will be the chairman for 2009 and 2010, respectively.
In addition, the three places have reached consensus to strengthen promotion in overseas markets, in particular, to develop more multi-destination itineraries of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau for the East Asian and Southeast Asian markets.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Lame ‘US$ effect’ on Asia

TTGasia, Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2007

In fact, some Asian destinations quote in US dollars, so their values are equally good, according to operators, although in cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, rates have risen sharply with their greater focus on the corporate rather than leisure market.That said, Asia’s beach resorts’ share of the UK market may be diluted by the Caribbean, where prices are in US dollars, air lift is good and consumer image is positive.
Thus far, however, UK Far East specialists all report strong forward bookings for 2008, with all destinations doing well, except Malaysia, which is struggling due to a lack of direct flights and a lack of new products.

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DUBAI - Tourism Vital for Dubai

koreatimes.co.kr, 3-12-2007

Tourism is already a crucial part of Dubai's economy, and is becoming of increasing importance of all of the other emirates, and is projected to rise over the next decade at well above the global growth rate.
The industry already provides nearly 12 percent of total employment in the country, or nearly 300,000 people, and jobs in this sector are expected to increase to over 375,000 by 2016.
This, in turn, has fuelled growth in the country's aviation industry, with particular success stories being the two main national airlines, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad, as well as the low-cost carrier Air Arabia, each of whom have added numerous new destinations to their networks during the course of 2007.

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SINGAPORE - Changi Airport Terminal 3 gears up for opening

stbpassport.com, Dec 7th 2007

Come 9 January 2008, Changi Airport, consistently rated one of the world's best airports, will have its brand new Terminal 3 open for operations.
At a cost of S$1.75 billion, the Terminal 3 will add a capacity of 22 million passengers a year, bringing the total capacity of Changi Airport to 70 million passengers.
From 12 November to 9 December 2007, the public is being given a sneak preview of the terminal with some shops already open and offering discounts to entice visitors.
Meanwhile, the Civil Administration Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced recently that four more airlines, in addition to Singapore Airlines, will operate from the new terminal. They are China Eastern Airlines, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways and United Airlines.

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SINGAPORE - Mandai to be transformed into nature-based destination

stbpassport.com, Dec 7th 2007

Plans are afoot to transform the Mandai area,where the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are located, into one of Asia's top family destinations.
Leveraging on these two internationally acclaimed world-class attractions, Mandai is envisioned to be transformed into a unique animal and nature-themed experience comprising quality nature-themed attractions, accommodation and lifestyle offerings that embrace the rich biodiversity of the area, and encourage longer-term conservation of the natural environment in Mandai.

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THAILAND - Investors line up for Phuket projects

Traveldailyasia.com, 12/4/2007

Foreign investors have revealed plans to spend about Bt6 billion in hotels in Phuket and other major tourist destinations in Thailand over the next three years.
The Nation reported that at least four international investment companies from Singapore and Malaysia and some Thai operators had confirmed big investment plans in Phuket last week.
According to the report, the main focus of their interest is Phuket but others such as Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Ayutthaya and Koh Samui are also in their radar screen.
Fong Wiai Leong, a partner in Kuala Lumpur-based investment consultancy Devonshire Development Capital, was quoted saying that said the group was planning to invest in "lifestyle hotels" in Phuket, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai with a total budget of more than US$100 million.

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BRUNEI - Ready to engage

TTGasia.com, Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2007

ROYAL Brunei Airlines (RBA) resumed thrice-weekly services between Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuching, Sarawak on December 1, and the year ahead looks bright for the tourism industry in Borneo.There are better rural air services in Sabah and Sarawak since Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, MASWings, took over the Borneo routes from October 1. This has given travel agents and the tourism boards of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei confidence to promote Borneo jointly as a single destination through The Wings of Borneo tour packages. Targeted at the longhaul European market, it was launched at the recent World Travel Mart in London. Three travel agents are involved – Sunshine Borneo Tours in Brunei, Seridan Mulu Tours & Travel Services in Sarawak and Borneo Eco-Tours in Sabah.

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VIETNAM - Phan Thiet beckons with beach allure

TTGasia.com, Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2007

MOST travel agents do not know of Mui Ne or Phan Thiet, but they should as this area is being discovered by international tourists, mostly Europeans and Russians.But more travellers from Asia, Australia and the US are being drawn to Mui Ne’s long stretches of deserted beaches, impressive landscape and delicious food. Mui Ne is about 15 minutes by car from Phan Thiet, the capital city of Binh Thuan province in central Vietnam. Access is by road or train as there is no commercial airport close by. The drive north from Ho Chi Minh City on Highway One should take about four hours.

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TAIWAN - targets three promising sectors

TTGasia.com, Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2007

To increase foreign arrivals, Taiwan’s Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) announced it would ramp up promotions to market sectors with especially promising growth potential, including medical tourism, the Japanese market and MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions).

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VIETNAM - lines up sea tourism hub

Asia Property Report - December 04 2007

The central province of Binh Thuan has been asked to combine economic restructuring with human resource development and job placement to tap into sea and tourism-based industries.Working with Binh Thuan leaders on December 3, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said the province, which boasts 52,000sq.km of sea and 92km of coast, should also make a determined effort to protect the environment, preserve cultural identity and manage social affairs efficiently and effectively.

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NEPAL - Tourist arrival up by 17.6 pc

nepalnews.com, Dec 4 2007

The number of visitors coming to Nepal by air in November has registered a healthy growth of 17.6 percent compared to the same month last year.
According to the data released by the Immigration Office, the total number of visitors to Nepal in November reached 34,480 with major tourist generating non-Asian markets showing encouraging growth.
The data shows that the major European markets have recorded average growth of 46 percent in this month, with UK (56.9%), Germany (42%), France (50.8%), Spain (27.9%), the Netherlands (48.4%) and Switzerland (69.2%), showing growing consumer confidence for travel to Nepal and a positive sign for Nepalese travel trade.

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PHILIPPINES - Pests, migration threaten 2,000-year-old rice terraces

(AFP) December 4 2007

After putting his seedlings to bed in the world-famous Banaue rice terraces in the northern Philippines, farmer Gabriel Balicdon works as a tourist guide and buys rice from the grocer.
Built by Ifugaos -- illiterate mountain farmers and woodcarvers -- at about the same time the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China were being constructed, the terraces look like giant staircases leading to the clouds.
But now migration, the lure of easy tourist money and a plague of giant earthworms imperil the 2,000-year-old structures that follow the contours of the Cordileras mountains.
The flooded terraced paddies that draw nearly 100,000 tourists a year have since 2001 been on the "endangered list" of the UN's World Heritage sites.

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THAILAND - Dream destination taking shape in Bang Saray

Bangkokpost.com, 3 December 2007

Thailand's money-spinning tourism industry could get a major boost when the first phase of The Beaches, a major destination resort and spa development at Bang Saray Bay, is completed in three and half years.
This project is positioned to have something for everyone _ a water-themed park, man-made private beaches, a kilometre-long boardwalk lined with shops and restaurants, and even villas over the water, taking their inspiration from the Maldives. All this grandeur will be very 21st century, with the whole site being served with super high-speed Internet and a cashless payment system.

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CAMBODIA - River Dolphins in bid to renew Northeast Cambodian economy

traveldailynews.com, December 04, 2007

The last 80 or so river dolphins in the Mekong River are at the heart of an ambitious development programme to tackle poverty and attract tens of thousands of visitors to two of the poorest provinces of Cambodia. The Mekong River Discovery Trail Project will draw visitors to view the endangered fresh water dolphin which lives in 10 deep water natural pools in a 190-km stretch of the Mekong River, mostly between the quiet provincial capitals of Kratie and Stung Treng.

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THAILAND - Medical Tourism Creates Thai Doctor Shortage

eTN, Dec 3 2007

Millions of people come to Bangkok for medical care. They get everything from face-lifts to heart-bypass operations. These medical tourists have helped boost the Thai economy, but there's a downside. Doctors in Thailand have become so busy with foreigners that Thai patients are having trouble getting care.
When medical tourists come to Bangkok, they usually go to places like Bumrungrad Hospital. It's a private facility, downtown, near the fancy hotels. It has a sushi bar, interpreters who speak Arabic and Mandarin, and VIP suites with marble bathrooms.
Most Thais can't afford it. They're more likely go across town to Siriraj Hospital, along the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

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SINGAPORE - Vietnamese tourists keen on Singapore

eTN, Dec 3 2007

The city-state is fast becoming the destination of choice for Vietnamese tourists drawn by its reputation as a safe, cosmopolitan city, published data said on Sunday.
Vietnam charted the highest visitor-arrival growth in September with 16,000 visitors, a 24.3 per cent hike over the corresponding period a year earlier.
The absolute number is small given the overall figure of 766,000 visitors for that month, according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) data in The Sunday Times.
Most were from Indonesia, China, Australia, India, and Japan.
"Vietnamese visitors are becoming more travel-savvy," Chang Chee Pey, the STB's regional director for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) was quoted as saying.

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BALI - Meeting Seeks a World Consensus to Prevent a Global Melt Down

Balidiscovery.com, (12/1/2007)

While Bali prepares to host leadership delegations from more than 189 countries at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), it's worthwhile to re-emphasize here how vitally important the meetings and declarations hammered out between December 3-14th will be to the people of the world.Lest we be in doubt as to what's at stake, the words of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who say that the Earth faces a real scenario more terrifying than any science fiction movies should serve as a haunting reminder of what must be achieved in Bali.

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BALI - No Strings Attached

Balisdiscovery.com, (12/1/2007)

Tempo Interaktif reports that the State Power Board (PLN) have asked the people of Bali not to engage in their favorite pastime of kite flying during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) set to take place in Nusa Dua from December 3-14, 2007.PLN officials told the press that they have forwarded their request to village chiefs across the island because they are worried that kites may interfere with the electrical distribution system.The extremely large kites flown by many village associations are often held aloft by wires that when they accidentally come in contact with high voltage lines can act as conductors causing short circuits.

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INDONESIA - Seeking Continental Advice

Balidiscovery.com, (12/1/2007)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has instructed Garuda Indonesia to seek an European-based consultant in order to enhance the quality and standards of aviation safety. The instructions to hire a foreign consultant comes as something of a surprise from the man who, in the past, has made no secret of his preference for local consultants.An interview with the Vice President published in the Bali Post on December 1, 2007, provides background on Kalla's call for the urgent hiring of an European aviation consultant.
The Interview: Jusuf Kalla

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BALI - Tourists encounter frightened dolphins

eTN, Dec 5 2007

The management of the dolphin watching business has also been criticized. "Can you imagine, during peak season hundreds of boats head out to sea in the same direction to watch the dolphins," said Made Rudita, the head of the Catur Karya Bhakti Sraga group in Kalibukbuk.
Once dolphins are spotted, the boats race to get into the best position. Many people are satisfied by the experience, but others return from sea complaining the dolphins were chased and cornered by the boats.

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SINGAPORE - to double park visitor numbers through 'quality real life experience' of nature

eTN Asia/Pacific, 27 Nov 2007

Singapore Tourism plans to transform its newly planned 30-hectare nature reserve park into Asia's top nature park.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has said it is planning to transform a 30-hectare site in the Mandai region into Asia's top nature spot to add to its present world-renowned Night Safari Park and Singapore Zoo.Admitting Singapore's land-locked size cannot offer what some of its neighbors can offer in the region, Singaporean Trade and Industry Minister S. Iswaran, Minister said Singapore is instead offering an immersive experience. "We have to compete on the quality and nature of the experience," he said. "If you are looking for an immersive experience, tropical rainforest in a natural setting, I think we can do quite a bit."

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KOREA - Universal Studios, Partners to Build Park in Incheon

Bloomberg.com, Nov. 27 2007

Universal Studios, owned by General Electric Co., and partners will build a $3.1 billion theme park in South Korea, its third resort in Asia, the nation's Gyeonggi provincial government said.
The resort, to be built in partnership with Posco Engineering & Construction Co., will be located near Hwaseong, south of Seoul, and open in 2012, the provincial government said in a statement today.
The development will join Universal parks in the Japanese city of Osaka and a planned resort in Singapore. Entertainment and gambling companies, including Walt Disney Co. and Las Vegas Sands Corp., have expanded in Asia to take advantage of rising disposable incomes.

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CAMBODIA - seeks $3bn investments in power plants

Bangkokpost, 24 November 2007

Cambodia's economy, which relies on garment exports and tourism, may grow 9.7% this year, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Nov 7. Companies such as Club Me'diterrane'e SA and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc are planning to build hotels to tap the country's rising tourist arrivals.
Poor Infrastructure "Cambodia has very low labour costs that can even compete with China," said Van Sou Leng, chairman of the Cambodian Garment Manufacturers Association, a trade group. "Investors are cautious to invest here because of poor infrastructure such as electricity, roads and ports."

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay gears up for 1 million tourists

The news today, November 20, 2007

The Aklan provincial government is undertaking several preparations for its plan to welcome one million tourists to arrive in this resort island in the year 2010.

Nieven Maquirang, Caticlan-Cagban Port Administrator, said Gov. Carlito Marquez already instructed him to coordinate with the Provincial Engineer's Office to map out plans to ensure the one-million-tourists target will be realized.

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AVIATION - Get ready for cheap S’pore-KL flights

Traveldailyasia.com, 11/26/2007

Finally, the cost of air travel between the capitals of Singapore and Malaysia are to become more affordable – and reasonable – as low-cost carriers were given the green light to launch limited flights on the route. From February 1 next year, the 30-year monopoly on the route held by the national carriers of both countries - Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines – end.
LCCs would be allowed to operate four flights daily - two from each side – initially but by December 1 next year, there will be full liberalisation, allowing airlines to operate as many services as they want. “It will also bring both countries closer to ASEAN’s goal to remove all restrictions on passenger flights between ASEAN capitals by December 2008,” a statement from Singapore’s transport ministry said at the end of two-day talks between air transport officials from both sides.

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THAILAND - Koh Phangnan sees condos on horizon

Property Report Thailand - November 07 2007

Koh Samui’s property market has boomed in recent years with developers and ex-pats rushin for slice of the tropical pie. So rapid is the expansion that attention has already been placed on the environmental impact caused by such a flurry of construction. The desire for real island living has propmpted development opportunities further a field on neighbouring Koh Phangnan, with a number of projects already setting the standard.
Koh Phangan gained popularity with young partygoers and the alternative lifestyle fraternity, thanks mainly to its monthly full moon celebrations. However, much of the original island charm survives and this is behind what may become a boutique development boom.

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THAILAND - Koh Yao expands its horizons

Asia Property Report - November 26 2007

Koh Yao may be experiencing a growth spurt. The remote, idyllic setting has been a well-kept secret hideaway for a few lucky travellers in the past but those days seem to be gone. With the number of developments on the island kept below the amount you could count on one hand, the island has been able to captivate visitors with it astonishing beauty and local charm. Now, word is getting out and with the addition of some well-known names in the resort industry the question is, can this island become a “branded” winner while retaining its beauty and without outgrowing the magic that sets it apart?

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INDONESIA - Aceh invites tourists to see Sharia law in action

adnkronos.com, 26 Nov 2007

Corporal punishment is carried out in Aceh for crimes including the sale or consumption of alcohol, gambling or meeting a person of the opposite sex, that is not your husband, wife or family member, in a private place.
Tourism authorities in Indonesia's Aceh province hope that its practice of Sharia or Islamic law will attract visitors. "We invite international tourists to visit Aceh to observe how an Islamic community lives and how the Islamic code of Sharia is applied," said Cipta Hunai, an Aceh tourism official, in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

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INDONESIA - Chinese tourists visiting Bali up 131 percent

thejakartapost.com, 26 Nov 2007

The number of Chinese tourists who visited Bali in the first ten months of 2007 was more than 69,400 or up 131 percent from the same period last year, a tourism operator said.
The figure put China in the sixth place after Japan, Australia, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia in terms of foreign tourists visiting the resort island, Tjok Gde Agung said Tuesday.Tjok said he was pleased with the rising number of Chinese tourists visiting Bali and asked the government and tourism operators to work hard to attract more Chinese tourists.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - During economic downturn, in Asia we trust

forimmediaterelease.net, November 25, 2007

Companies expecting to dance across Asia and forge a successful business by applying blanket distribution models or successful European and US models, will either fail miserably or cost themselves needlessly. Distributing travel products across a region as economically, politically and culturally diverse as Asia is a tremendously complicated proposition. Add Australia, New Zealand and the other islands of the Pacific into the mix as well, and suddenly the recipe grows increasingly murky.The allure of the Far East from overseas investors is still alive and extremely healthy however. What began with India and China now looks likely to continue further South-East into Vietnam and the Philippines, where internet penetration is slowly but surely making inroads. Internet penetration is widely accepted as a measure of a country’s financial stability and prosperity, so with around 20% of both countries populations now internet capable their industries are ripening.

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CAMBODIA - To Get New Airline

aero-news.net, 26 Nov 2007

The Cambodian government signed a joint venture agreement with two Indonesian companies Friday, to form a new national airline to exploit the country's growing tourism industry.
The new Cambodian airline, with no name at this time, is expected to begin flying in six months, according to The Associated Press. Cambodia's previous flag carrier, Royal Air Cambodia, went bankrupt five years ago.The joint-venture agreement was signed between Cambodia with Rajawali Group and PT Ancora International. The Indonesian partners' businesses include cigarettes, cement, telecommunications, hotels, resorts, extractive minerals and airlines, according to officials with both companies.

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BALI - 70 Bali Travel Agencies to Be Axed?

Balidiscovery.com, (11/24/2007)

BisnisBali reports that 70 Bali travel agents may soon be expelled from the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASITA) as a precursor to the companies' eventual closure by the Indonesian government.The Chairman of ASITA-Bali, Al Purwa, announced that the 70 "unhealthy" travel agents are being given 3 months to get their house in order or face expulsion from the trade organization. Said Purwa, "We will ask ASITA headquarters to revoke the memberships of the 70 Bali members who are no longer healthy." The 70 companies, according to Purwa, have not responded to repeated attempts by ASITA-Bali to make contact and do not take an active role as a member of the organization.

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AUSTRALIA - AirAsia X and Tourism Queensland sign Cooperative Marketing Agreement

Asiatraveltips.com, 22 November 2007

AirAsia X and Tourism Queensland have signed an agreement to collaborate globally to promote travel on AirAsia X’s international services and to develop international tourism to Queensland, Australia.
Under the Cooperative Marketing Agreement, both parties have agreed to implement activities to promote international tourism to Queensland with the Gold Coast International Airport as the primary gateway, using AirAsia X’s international services. Joint marketing activities will be undertaken in various international markets such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China and other South East Asian markets as deemed appropriate by both parties, to support the Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast route operated by AirAsia X.

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HONG KONG - Tourism Board voted Best Asia Pacific Tourist Board

Asiatraveltips.com, 22 November 2007

The Hong Kong Tourism Board UK office has been voted Best Asia Pacific Tourist Board in the British Travel Awards 2007. The awards invited both industry professionals and the public to cast their votes.
HKTB Chairman The Hon James Tien said that the Board was greatly honoured by the accolade. “Since our UK office in London came into existence in 1972, we’ve been working closely with the British travel trade to promote Hong Kong,” he remarked. “Our recent strategy is to position Hong Kong as a hip and trendy destination, and winning the award shows how positively our promotions have been received by the UK travel trade and consumers.”

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CHINA - Survey: Tourists in Shanghai struggle to get satisfaction

xinhuanet.com, 20 Nov 2007

Shanghai's tourism industry still has considerable room for improvement, a survey conducted by the city's consumer rights watchdog has revealed.
The Shanghai Commission of Consumers' Rights and Interests Protection invited volunteers from surrounding provinces to rate their Shanghai experiences in terms of traffic, shopping, catering and accommodation. Their verdicts led the group to conclude some tourism-related services were not satisfactory. The survey involved 46 volunteers from six cities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces during August and September, said the commission.

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HAWAII - Big Island cruise ship visits to drop, eliminating jobs

the.honoluluadvertiser.com, 20 nov 2007

Cruise ship port-of-calls to the Big Island are expected to drop by nearly a third next year, depriving the isle of hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tourist revenue.
The average passenger spends about $100 per day on land, buying souvenirs, going on tours and eating off the boat.By the end of this year, 469 cruise ship calls are expected to generate upward of $94 million in visitor expenditures, fueling 1,223 jobs, the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism says.

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MALAYSIA - Penang’s polluted beaches keeping tourists away

The star.com.my, November 14, 2007

Polluted beaches is the main reason why tourists from Europe and Australia are avoiding the state in favour of Bali and Phuket.
State Tourism Development Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said he was informed of the matter by the management of Malaysia Airlines during a meeting on Monday.
“The number of tourists from these regions has been steadily declining over the past decade.
“Tourists come to the state for the surf and sand but they usually return home disappointed.
“We are even losing out domestically to Pangkor and Langkawi,” he told reporters after a press conference on the Penang Career and Entrepreneur Expo 2007 yesterday.
He said RM10mil had been allocated for the rehabilitation of Batu Ferringhi.

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AUSTRALIA - Aussies looking to cash in on China tourism boom

Malaysia Sun, 18th November, 2007

As China integrates with the global economy, its tourism industry is expected to boom in the next five years. The World Tourism Organisation forecasts that by 2020, China will be one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, overtaking traditional destinations such as France, Spain and the United States.By that time, it is estimated that China will receive 145 million visitors, 33.5 million of which will be foreigners. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has registered a 9.8% increase in the number of Australians travelling to China*, and this number is expected to increase over the next two decades.

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CHINA - Travel Firms Bank on Jump In Getaways When Holidays Shift

online.wsj.com, November 19, 2007

China's government may give its citizens at least six more vacation days next year, and analysts say the extra leisure time likely will boost China's already flourishing travel-and-tourism sector.
Travel operators are betting on a shift to shorter, more frequent trips by rolling out new vacation packages, a sign that they believe the government will push through the holiday proposals soon.
Analysts say the biggest travel companies are the ones most likely to benefit from the overhaul because they have the scale and network to respond to the heightened demand for road trips and weekend getaways.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Asean Leaders Agree to Form EU-Style Bloc by 2015

Bloomberg, Nov. 20 2007

Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will today agree to eliminate trade barriers for goods and services in an attempt to create a European Union-modeled economic community by 2015.
The 10 members of the group will adopt an Asean Economic Community Blueprint aimed at eliminating trade barriers, the leaders will say in a declaration obtained by Bloomberg News.
Member nations say integration, styled after the EU without a common currency or passport-free travel, is essential for the group as it competes with China and India for exports and investments.

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MALAYSIA - medical tourism on upward trend

Theedgedaily.com, 19-11-2007

“SJMC today receives referrals from the UK on a weekly basis. The momentum is starting,” Thomas said.
“Prior to (1985), people had to go to the UK or Australia for specialised care. Today, there is little reason to refer a patient outside of Malaysia and quite the opposite, people are being referred to Malaysia for nearly every possible procedure needed,” Thomas said.
OBG said Asia attracted over 1.3 million visitors annually for medical tourism and was expected to generate more than US$4 billion (RM13.27 billion) a year in revenues by 2012. “Within five years, Malaysia is expected to bring in US$590 million per annum in medical tourism receipts,” it said.
OBG said while Malaysia was still catching up with countries such as Singapore, Thailand and India, the authorities believed Malaysia could provide state-of-the-art facilities at affordable prices to compete in this growing field.

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CAMBODIA - Coast of Utopia

Travel.nytimes.com/2007/11/18

As peace and a measure of prosperity have come to Cambodia, the government has identified the southern coast as a key to diversifying tourism — which for years has almost entirely been focused on Angkor — and travel agents have begun suggesting a few days on the beach as part of their Cambodia packages. The highway from the capital, three and a half hours away by car, has been paved with American aid money and is now safe and easy to navigate, even at night. (When I used to drive it, soldiers with AK-47s would step out onto the road to stop the cars, already slowed to a crawl by craters and washed-away pavement, to demand money and cigarettes.

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CAMBODIA - Doubts surround Cambodia's plans for a stock exchange

The Associated Press, November 19, 2007

Last month, the Senate passed a law on the issuance and trading of stocks and bonds in the latest move to prepare Cambodia for establishing its first stock market by 2009.
Finance Minister Keat Chhon says the country needs a stock market to diversify the way businesses raise money. So far, beyond international aid for development projects, most financing has come from banks. But he acknowledges that it will take some time for Cambodian entrepreneurs and the public to accept the idea of a stock market - particularly the requirement that all companies' bookkeeping would be open to scrutiny.

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MALAYSIA - Sustainable tourism: Malaysia 'buys' home for landing turtles

eTN, 19 Nov 2007

The Malaysian government, through its Fisheries Department, has purchased an island that will be turned into a home and sanctuary for landing turtles, which have long been an attraction for tourists, in what is believed to be the largest nestling population in Malaysia. Costing an estimated US$2.5 million, the 2.8ha Upeh island, off the coast of Malacca together with the beaches along the mainland had long been the favorite landing sites in Malaysia for the hawksbill turtle.

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PHILIPPINES - Group to build RP’s first seven star hotel

Philippine Star, October 8, 2007

A joint partnership of Filipino and Chinese businessmen will build the country’s first seven star hotel possibly in The Fort or in the reclaimed area in Roxas Boulevard.“The seven star hotel will be similar to the one in Dubai,” Susan Barlin, co-founder of the CEO Club Philippines, said in an interview.The project dubbed as the Pentominium, will be a combination of retail outlets, offices and penthouses.The 35-story luxury hotel is an exclusive hotel given that the occupants will mostly be members of the CEO club. “They will use the hotel whenever they visit here either for a vacation or business,” Barlin explained.

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THAILAND - Don Muang airport for international flights

Traveldailyasia.com, 11/20/2007

The Airports of Thailand (AoT) was told to submit plans on the Suvarnabhumi airport expansion and the use of Don Muang to the government before the December 23 Thailand election.
''We are rushing to seek cabinet approval for the overall framework, but not going into budgets or any investments,'' Thailand's Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um was quoted saying. With the number of people using Suvarnabhumi airport approaching the annual capacity of 45 million passengers, the new airport needed an additional terminal as well as other buildings, he was quoted saying. As part of the plan, the AoT must conduct a study and initiate plans to shift some international airlines back to the old airport.

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PHILIPPINES - Europeans rediscover Philippines

Traveldailyasia.com, 9/11/2007

Now, the biggest travel wholesalers in Germany and France have started carrying the Philippines again,” said Durano. He added that the country now stands an equal chance with Maldives in attracting divers. Jose Clemente III, President of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association said the country has now become more competitive and appealing than some of its South East Asian neighbours. This he attributed to the Philippines still remaining unexplored, “specially to many jaded tourists who have been to traditional places like Thailand and Bali several times”.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Next stop: Halal tourism

Traveldailyasia.com, 11/19/2007

"Halal tourism has the potential to develop into one of the most resilient forms of tourism," said Parita Chitakasem, Asia Pacific and Australasia Travel and Tourism Manager for Euromonitor International.
She said tourism revenue in the Middle East is expected to double to almost US$51 billion and domestic tourism by over 80 percent to reach US$24 billion in 2011.
"Most of this growth stems from Middle Eastern travellers, underlining the need for tailored Halal tourism products and services that are developed within the region and cater to this dynamic local market," she said.

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INDONESIA - Bali to build new cruise ship port

Traveldailyasia.com, 11/19/2007

Putu Ardana, head of the Bali Transportation Office, said the project is expected to be completed in 2009, according to a Jakarta Post report.
He added that the port would be designed to accommodate large-scale single or double-deck cruise ships measuring 360 metres by 50 metres.
"The completion and operation of the port will constitute the first cruise ship port in Indonesia," said Nengah Parwata, a transport official at Karangasem in Labuan Amuk where the port is being built. Putu said the infrastructure currently being built included office buildings, a berth, terminal, health and security posts, immigration office and other supporting facilities.

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PHILIPPINES - Banyan Tree Expands to the Philippines

media.banyantree.com, 14 November 2007

Singapore Main-Board listed Banyan Tree Holdings Limited (“Banyan Tree” or the “Group”), a leading developer, designer and operator of top tier resorts, hotels and spas worldwide, today announced its new venture in the Philippines. Tree and its partner, Mr Salvador B Zamora II, a prominent businessman in the mining and real estate industries, have entered into a joint venture to develop and operate luxury resorts on Dinaran Island in the Philippines.

The uninhabited island, which has an area of about 55 hectares, is surrounded by stretches of white-sand beach. Located south of Manila in Palawan Province, Dinaran Island is just 15 minutes away by speedboat from the thriving town of Coron. Visitors can reach Coron through daily scheduled flights of approximately one hour from Manila to Yulo King Ranch Airport in Busuanga, which is the adjourning town to Coron.

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HONG KONG - Brand lessons from an 80-year-old

TTGasia.com, Nov 16-22, 2007

IS the world better off with fewer hotel brands, or more hotel brands?
There are at least 47 well-known brands in the global hotel industry today and still, there are not enough! During the recent Horwath Hotels Investment Conference Asia-Pacific at Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong, I listened with incredulity to global hotel chain CEOs saying more brands were needed. Indigo to me is a jazz number (as in the popular Blue Indigo). Soon it will be plastered on hotels as the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) pushes its expansion. A Pullman to me is a train car. Soon, it will be the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) hotel brand of the Accor group, as the Crowne Plaza is to IHG.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - reports of 2007 closing strongly

TTGasia.com, Nov 16-22, 2007

The closing months of 2007 are quite positive for us. Our occupancy rate is 76 per cent and our average room rate is 2,500 pesos (US$54).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched many promotional campaigns together with airlines and agents and has staged various international tourism roadshows. The increase of flight frequencies and the introduction of direct international services into Thailand play a vital role in boosting the number of visitor arrivals.

India’s heritage and culture continues to attract visitors. Niche segments such as adventure tourism in the Himalayas and wellness and spiritual tours are also on the upward trend. Medical tourism is growing even faster than leisure tourism.

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INDIA - Kerala improves tourism facilities

TTGasia.com, Nov 16-22, 2007

KERALA is adding new infrastructure and festivals to draw tourists, and authorities have been allotted a budget of US$7.63 million to do so in the current financial year.

International tourist arrivals increased by 20.05 per cent from January to June 2007, compared to the same period last year.The state is spending US$1.27 million to develop 10 “town squares”. Kerala Tourism director, Mr Sanjay Kaul, told TTG Asia: “Town squares with sufficient open space at important centres will act as tourism nodes.” He said tour operators could utilise the spaces to assemble and move to different tourist attractions.

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HONG KONG - Hotel crunch

TTGasia.com, Nov 16-22, 2007

WHILE hoteliers elsewhere would moan in the face of new competition, Hong Kong properties performed well the first seven months of this year despite a jump in room inventory, from 43,866 rooms at the end of 2005 to 51,742 rooms by July 2007.Projected inventory by the end of 2007 is 55,174 rooms, which translates into an increase of 26 per cent in two years.According to the Hong Kong Hotel Association (HKHA), the swelling number of rooms has had such limited impact on occupancy, there was only a slight two percentage point decline from January to July 2007 to 83.4 per cent, versus 85.4 per cent in the same period last year.Meanwhile, average hotel room rates rose robustly by 11.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.

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UAE - Dubai targets 1.4 Million British Tourists by 2010

Asiatraveltips.com, 14 November 2007

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is targeting to attract 1.4 million visitors from the highly-promising UK and Ireland markets by the year 2010, up from the present nearly 700,000 tourists, according to Mr. Ian Scott, who took over as the new Director of DTCM's Representation Office for the UK and Ireland last month.
Last year, nearly 700,000 British guests stayed with Dubai's rapidly-expanding hotels and hotel apartments, making the UK and Ireland the top source market for the emirate's booming tourism industry. Presently, about 200 tour operators are featuring Dubai in the holiday packages in this prime European market.

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INDIA - plans to create a splash in the cruise market

easier.com, Novermber 13 2007

India is gearing up to relaunch itself as a major cruise destination.
Ports selected for upgraded cruise facilities include Mumbai, Mormugao (the port city of Goa); Cochin in Kerala, New Mangalore on the southwest coast and Chennai on the east coast.Speaking at World Travel Market, Leena Nandan, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, said: “Cruise operators are more than ever searching for new destinations and itineraries and India’s reputation as an enchanting, exotic and historical destination lends itself ideally to becoming a major port of call.”

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AVIATION - IATA puts damper on Southeast Asia open skies

eTN Asia/Pacific , November 13 2007

Amid the euphoria of low-cost carriers being granted new landing rights in the ASEAN region, the International Air Transport Association is saying the region is still a long way from liberalizing the aviation industry.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has dampened the euphoria felt by air passengers in ASEAN member countries with the recent agreement by the Malaysian and Singapore governments to allow “limited” low-cost flights by warning that Southeast Asian nations are still a long way from liberalizing the aviation industry."I think there is a long way to go," said Mike Barclay, regional vice president of IATA. "Regulations still obstruct carriers in the region, hampering the industry's growth."

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Urbanization: how will it impact on tourism?

T o u r i s m S c a n, Vol. 4 Issue 10 November 2007

Twenty-one major cities are reported to be in most danger of rising sea levels, one of the effects of climate change, as a recently released report by the Worldwatch Institute announced. According to the Associated Press, the most vulnerable cities will count at least an 8-million population by 2015. Cities identified as "highly vulnerable" i.e. in danger by climate change effects, while housing a total of 10% of the world's population are: New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Bangkok, Jakarta, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai,
Cairo, Mumbai and Karachi, according to Australia's News.com. Unplanned and chaotic urbanization is taking a huge toll on human health and the quality of the environment, contributing to social, ecological, and economic instability. Of the 3 billion urban dwellers today, 1 billion live in “slums,” defined as areas where people cannot secure key necessities. An estimated 1.6 million urban residents die each year due to lack
of clean water and sanitation as a result.

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VIETNAM - to develop sea tourism infrastructure

Vietnamnetbridge, 13/11/2007

An official from the Travel Department of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said the conference was initiated given an increase in cruise ship arrivals and would be attended by leading tourism officials, experts and travel companies.
Currently, the tourism authority does not have a strategy in place for developing sea tourism interns of promoting the sector and building the necessary infrastructure.
Since 2002, Vietnam has received more than 300,000 cruise ship visitors. The SARS outbreak in 2003 caused many potential tourists to travel elsewhere, but with the number of visitors growing in recent times, the tourism authority expects visitor arrivals by sea to recover soon.

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NEW ZEALAND - China to become New Zealand's 3rd largest tourism market by 2013

xinhuanet.com, Nov 13 2007

China will become New Zealand's third largest market in terms of inbound tourists after Britain and Australia by 2013, said Ed Sims, group general manager of Air New Zealand.
To meet growing demand, Air New Zealand would increase the number of its aircraft flying to the Chinese mainland to four by 2013, including two Boeing 777s and two 787s, said Sims.

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THAILAND - Regional resort competition rising

Bangkokpost, November 12, 2007

While there is no denying that Phuket is at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to the region-wide resort property market, Thailand should watch the economic benefits it is obtaining from foreign investment because neighbouring countries are offering better terms.

In any case, Phuket remains the most successful regional resort market, followed in succession by Samui where CBRE has just opened an office, Pattaya and Hua Hin. Also emerging rapidly are Danang in central Vietnam and Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia. While Thailand's tourism reputation and infrastructure are quite enviable, Mr Simister noted that rival destinations are not only getting the tenure issue right, but some have improved their infrastructure as well. The facilities in Langkawi are excellent, he notes.

Vietnam is also becoming very interesting to property investors, even though Bali in many ways is seen as Phuket's most obvious competitor. However, Mr Simister believes that while the Indonesian resort island has seen a resurgence, it is now viewed as an area of minority interest.

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UAE - Dubai to host Global Travel & Tourism Summit in April 2008

Asiatraveltips.com, 12 November 2007

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has confirmed that Dubai will be the host state of the Global Travel & Tourism Summit taking place on April 20-22, 2008.
At the official launch last week, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group and Geoffrey Kent, Chairman of WTTC and Chairman & CEO of Abercrombie & Kent signed an accord establishing a public-private partnership.

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INDONESIA - Can Bali Say 'No' to Casinos?

Balidiscovery.com, (11/10/2007)

Highly controversial plans to open a casino in Bali at the location of the former Bali Cliff Resort surfaced recently with reports in the local press that local law enforcement officials and lawmakers were reportedly "studying" such a plan.According the Radar Bali, Nengah Netra, a Balinese living in Ungasan, not far from the Bali Cliff Resort, says he has been appointed to establish an integrated international entertainment business in Bali by a local company PT. Lumba Indocas Jaya. The Company, which reportedly holds a "principal agreement" issued by the former Regent of Bandung in 2001, sought to form a cooperative venture with the Bali Cliff Resort that would offer electronic games of bridge, baccarat, black jack, poker, slot machines, roulette, keno and Internet Sports games in Bali.

>>Full article

BALI - Government Explores Ways to Allow High-Rise Buildings

Balidiscovery.com (11/11/2007)

Steps are underway that, if successful, will pave the way for the construction of high-rise buildings in Bali. Current regulations in force prohibit the construction of buildings that stand higher than 15 meters, the approximate height of a tall coconut tree.The Chief of Bali's Provincial Planning Board (BAPPENDA) Drs. Made Adijaya and the Head of Bali's Public Works Department Nyoman Sudiana told the Bali Post that a change in the current policy would be "studied" starting from 2008 as a means of relieving increasing land pressures on the Island.

>>Full article

BALI - Running out of Runway

Balidiscovery.com (11/10/2007)

PT Angkasa Pura I, the managers of Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport, surprised a meeting of local planners and regency officials on November 5, 2007 when they revealed current airport development plans only contemplate a runway extension sometime after the year 2025.Quoting Angkasa Pura's aviation consultants, the current thinking is that Bali's single runway of 3,000 meters in length and 45 meters in width "is sufficient to land a Boeing 747 carrying 400 passengers and a full load of fuel."

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INDIA - eyes $6.5 bln funding for medical tourism

reuters.com, Nov 7 2007

India is trying to simplify procedures for foreign investors to invest in Indian hospitals and hotels, the tourism minister said on Tuesday, forecasting $6.5 billion flowing into the sector in the coming years.
"The biggest deterrent for foreign investors is the unavailability of a single window clearance system," Ambika Soni said, adding the government was working on simplifying processes. She said the government was in talks with three international firms to set up 1,000-bed hospitals in New Delhi and adjoining areas.

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AVIATION - Tiger Aviation to establish New Low Cost Airline in Korea

Asiatraveltips.com, 6 November 2007

On Monday, Tiger Aviation CEO, Tony Davis and Incheon City Mayor Ahn Sang-Soo, signed a letter of co-operation to establish a new Korean low fare airline called Incheon Tiger Airways.
Tiger Aviation and Incheon Metropolitan City will now commence work on the required approvals from the central government necessary to secure the appropriate traffic rights. Incheon City and Tiger Aviation will establish a joint venture company to form the new airline.

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AVIATION - Tourism Players Want A Say In BIMP-EAGA Air Links

Bernama.com.my, Nov 3 2007

Tourism players want their input considered when airlines initiate air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).The call follows the disclosure that a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, FireFly, is considering serving the sub-region.Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Wee Hong Seng said Saturday such feedback would help create a win-win situation for the airline industry as well as the BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the four participating countries."We need to promote two-way traffic for both inbound and outbound tourists, otherwise the load may not be enough for the airlines to be viable in this sub region," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Value Chain Tourism Forum held in conjunction with the Third BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange 2007 here.

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AVIATION - Tourism Players Want A Say In BIMP-EAGA Air Links

Bernama.com.my, Nov 3 2007

Tourism players want their input considered when airlines initiate air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).The call follows the disclosure that a Malaysia Airlines subsidiary, FireFly, is considering serving the sub-region.Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) president Wee Hong Seng said Saturday such feedback would help create a win-win situation for the airline industry as well as the BIMP-EAGA stakeholders in the public and private sectors of the four participating countries."We need to promote two-way traffic for both inbound and outbound tourists, otherwise the load may not be enough for the airlines to be viable in this sub region," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Value Chain Tourism Forum held in conjunction with the Third BIMP-EAGA Travel Exchange 2007 here.

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PHILIPPINES - MMDA chair eyed as Boracay consultant

Thenewstoday.info, 2007/11/05

Amid growing concerns of unregulated development and pollution threats in Boracay, officials and business owners on the island are eyeing to tap Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Bayani Fernando as development consultant for the island.
Fernando met with Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling and officials of the Boracay Foundation Inc. on Friday to discuss the possibility of his helping the island, according to BFI president Nenette Graf.
BFI is a group of owners or resorts, restaurants and other businesses on the island.
Graf said that the local government unit of Malay town, where Boracay is located, and the BFI have requested Fernando to act as consultant to the Malay development council.

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TAIWAN - Tourism threatens one of East Asia's top diving spots

Reuters.com, Oct 31 2007

A tropical island off the coast of Taiwan has become a victim of its own success as pollution caused by a recent spike in tourism threatens its reputation as the best diving spot in East Asia.The aptly named 15-square-kilometre Green Island, an hour's ferry ride from Taiwan's main isle, is fast losing its luster due to garbage and excrement dumped into its azure waters and shrinking reefs plundered by coral-robbing tourists."The water is not as clear as it used to be," a dismayed Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu told Reuters after surveying Green Island by boat in October. "That's what happens when a place chooses to grow."

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SAMOA - Why tourism is important to the islands

Islands Business, November 2007

Tourism expenditure flows through the economies of the Pacific and benefits a diverse range of supportive sectors. In 2004, it was estimated that the tourism sector resulted in US$375 million worth of purchases of materials and supplies from within the local economies with a further US$274 million in other costs, including areas such as financial services and insurance. Therefore, every US$1 million of visitor expenditure generates around $660,000 in local wages/salary payments and other purchases that are made from local economies in the region. Tourism therefore contributes significantly to the improvement of livelihoods in the Pacific.

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