AVIATION - Jetstar takes Tiger by tail

Herald Sun, May 29, 2007

QANTAS offshoot Jetstarhas fired its first shot for control of the budget travel market by offering a new bonus system to undercut Virgin Blue and soon-to-launch Tiger Airways.The strategy is based on rewarding loyal Jetstar passengers with vouchers which they can use to offset the cost of future travel.
Under the new arrangement, customers can claim double the difference between the cost of competing fares if they are offered an online fare lower than Jetstar's fare.
Both flights must be on the same day and take off within an hour of the other.
The new reward plan is among a raft of major changes aimed at improving Jetstar's 15 per cent share of domestic travel.
The new strategy, which was outlined to the market last week by Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon, also involves plans to add a frequent flyer program to Jetstar services next year.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - National airlines, travel watchdog team tie up to boost tourism

thanhniennews.com, May 28, 2007

Vietnam Airlines pledged to take the initiative in tourism promotion activities by the industry and as well support cargo goods and tourist delegations organized by VNAT.
The handshake deal also targets to market Vietnam tourism in and out of the country via market research, public media-based advertisement, participation in international tourism affairs and organization of Vietnamese events abroad with the particular focus on potential markets.
In the shorter-run, the unlisted carrier will provide free-of-charge transport service of publications related to the country’s tourism to Vietnamese embassies in Russia, France, Germany, Japan and China.

>>Full article

CAMBODIA - replaces tourism minister for further sector development

People's Daily Online, May 17, 2007

Cambodian National Assembly here on Thursday approved the appointment of former secretary of state Thong Kon to replace Lay Prohas as tourism minister for further development of the sector.
During the assembly, 84 voted for, eight against, nine invalid and six in abstention for the team of Thong Kon as minister from the major ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Nhiek Kim Chhon as secretary of state, namely deputy minister, from the co- ruling Funcinpec Party, said President Heng Samrin.
Only 107 of the 123 parliamentarians attended the vote, he added.
Hun Sen said upon the approval that the reshuffle was made to address some irregularities at the ministry to strive for further development of the mushrooming industry.
"We want to reform to achieve development and reduce poverty and the tourism sector is expected to contribute to the economic growth in large scale," he told reporters.

>>Full article

BALI - A Look at January-April Arrivals to Bali 2000-2007

Balidiscovery.com, (5/27/2007)

As reported on balidiscovery.com, total foreign arrivals during the first four months of 2007 totaled 472,082 - representing an improvement of +38.38% over the same four months in 2006 and the strongest start to any year on record. Bali's Top 4 Source Markets and the PRCThe graphics presented in this installment of Bali by the Numbers examining Bali's top four source markets for the first four months of each year from 2000 - 2007 show:

Japanese arrival figures have recovered completely improving +57.53% in the first for months of 2007 (107,254) as compared to the same period in 2006. Japanese arrivals during the opening months of 2007 performed at near-record levels.•

Australia arrival numbers, while improving +56.65% for January-April 2007 as compared to 2006, still lag some -35.49% behind the first four months of 2005.

>>Full article

BALI - Despite Record Setting Foreign Tourist Arrival Numbers, Many Businesses Complain that Business is Bad

Balidiscovery.com, (5/26/2007)

While the Bali-based survey suggested an average overall length-of-stay (LOS) of 9.87 days, this figure is down markedly from the 11.71 day LOS recorded just a few years ago. That the actual length of stay may be even lower is suggested by the overwhelming preponderance of Bali visitors who opt for a 7-day visa-on-arrival as opposed to the next alternative of a 30-day visa. This is consistent with other results from the survey which show that North Asian and East Asian visitors are staying on the Island for only 6.83 days while ASEAN visitors spend an even shorter period of 5.10 days in Bali. Overall, 55.20% of all visitors to Bali stay for less than 7 days.Spending LessWhile regional airlines championing "Now Everyone Can Fly" have largely lived up to that promise, the amount of money left in Bali by regional travelers on perhaps their first trip abroad is much less than more seasoned travelers of yesteryear. One local hotelier said that requests for three or four people sharing a single room are increasingly common and these customers leave the hotel to purchase their meals from local street vendors or dine on food items purchased from local supermarkets.

>>Full article

BALI - Developers In Over Their Heads?

Balidiscovery.com, (5/27/2007)

A controversial suite development planned by PT Bali Unicorn (BUC), located on the seaside near Canggu at a local estuary, has caused vehement protests by local citizens who claim the developer violated property lines, zoning rules and desecrated a sacred area reserved for prayer and ceremonies. Large protests by thousands of local Balinese from surrounding villages eventually caused the Government to call a halt to ground work for the project and issue an order demanding the developer rebuild and restore the damaged shoreline and bottom lands of the delta.

The project, owned by the same parties who have developed the Discovery Mall Complex in South Kuta, saw contractors using heavy earth-moving equipment to reclaim land by filling in natural lagoons for the construction of suites and supporting structures. Fearing floods and the disturbance of areas held sacred by the Balinese, thousands descended on the project in April threatening sterner action if the project was not immediately halted.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Transportation & Cleanliness are Fundamental to Bali

Balidiscovery.com, (5/26/2007)

Indonesia's former Minister of Culture and Tourism, I Gede Ardika, has labeled transportation as one of the most fundamental challenges facing Bali tourism in the future. Speaking to the Indonesian-language Nusa Bali, Ardika described Bali's current transportation system as "stagnant." Ardika explained, "Bali must develop rapid mass transportation – such as electric trains, an expansion of the airport and the development of an international cruise port."

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Changing Demographics May Change Bali's Character

Balidiscovery.com, (5/26/2007)

A recent article in the Indonesian language Nusa Bali suggests that the increasingly large share of domestic travelers coming to Bali may play a determining role in the future face of the Island. According to the article, domestic travelers, who now represent more than half of all visitors to Bali, are complaining that Bali's tourist objects are becoming "monotonous." The newspaper quoted a visitor from Surabaya, Suryo Pratomo, who was able to purchase a 3 night/4 day package at a local 5 star hotel for his family for only Rp. 5 million (approximately US$ 568). While Pratomo admitted Bali was still a popular location for a family get away, he reflected the opinion of many domestic tourists who eschew traditional Balinese culture in favor of more modern pursuits. "Bali needs family tourism objects such as 'Dunia Fantasi' (editor: a popular amusement park in Jakarta) or 'Disneyland'." he suggested.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - New rules to lift RE market

Asia Property Report, May 28 2007

A draft regulation to allow foreigners to buy homes in Vietnam, when put into effect, is likely to drive up demand and prices on the high-end property market, according to Ngo Tri Long, deputy director of the Institute for Market and Price Research under the Ministry of Finance.

"The demand for accommodation will rise significantly among foreigners working in Vietnam, especially for luxury homes," said Long, a member of the regulations drafting team.

Do Thi Loan, general secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, said that the price of a quality home in a good location and with all ownership papers in good legal order will keep rising.

>>Full article

INDIA - Tamil Nadu gets boost

TTGindia.com, May 20 2007

Tamil Nadu Tourism’s tourism development is on a roll with many public and private sector investments coming up in the state. Government of Tamil Nadu special commissioner, tourism, and Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation chairman and managing director, Mr Sanwat Ram, told TTG India: “The budget for tourism for the financial year is US$10 million.
We plan to focus our investment on infrastructure development and enhancing tourist amenities at the state’s many tourist attractions.” Additionally, the state is spending US$11 million each at Thanjavur, Madhurai and Kanyakumari on infrastructure development. Sound-and-light shows at Thanjavur and Kanyakumari are being constructed at an additional US$3.3 million and US$5.5 million respectively.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - Change or be squeezed out

TTGasia.com, May 25 - 31, 2007

STB deputy CEO- International Operations, Mr Quek Swee Kuan, in an interview following an STB industry conference last week, said the message that agents would have to change their business strategy – ie, come up with the right packaging to target the right customer segment – was not blatantly pushed, “however, hopefully they are smart to hear the message and even if they don’t listen, the market forces will tell them”.

He said: “There are those who don’t want to go high-yield, and will continue with the mass market to the extent they can get rooms at the rate the customers are prepared to pay. But the reality is, with the increase in prices, they would have to target different market segments. They run businesses; they will know how to address these changes.”

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Large Sporting Events Play Important Part in Tourism Development

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 24 May 2007

The 2007 China (Qingdao) International Forum on Tourism & Olympics, hosted by UNWTO and the Chinese National Tourism Administration (CNTA), this week underscored the importance of large sporting events as an increasingly important part of today’s tourism supply and for their potential to foster sustainable development.

The Chairman of CNTA, Shao Qiwei, opened the “pre Olympics” Tourism Conference with a commitment that the 2008 Beijing Games would be fully linked to the progressive tourism strategies of China in which service and quality are key components.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Resort rates increasing

TTGasia.com, May 18 - 24, 2007

ROOM inventory at Philippine resort destinations is increasing, but meanwhile it is still a sellers’ market.According to the Department of Tourism, Cebu City and Mactan have a total of 8,395 rooms; Boracay, 4,077; and Palawan, 2,428.S

Some 3,000 new rooms are scheduled to open this year alone. Additions over the next two years include the 616-room Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort and Spa in Cebu, the 150-room Microtel Mactan and the 217-room Shangri-La Resort and Spa Boracay.

>>Full article

AVIATION - Virgin Galactic to name Asian agents

TTGasia, May 18 - 24, 2007

DUBAI – Virgin Galactic will appoint one retail agent each in Hong Kong and Taiwan within the next two months to sell tickets on its SpaceShipOne and hopes to appoint agents in South-east Asia and the rest of Asia by next year. Singapore and India are the next priorities.Head of astronaut sales, Ms Carolyn Wincer, told TTG Asia the commission for agents was up to five per cent. Each ticket is priced at US$200,000.Asked what it took to sell space tickets, Ms Wincer, interviewed in Dubai, where Virgin Galactic has appointed Sharaf Travel to handle sales in the Middle East, said agents must have “a proven database of high net worth individuals, good track record of getting new clients and must be passionate about this industry”.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Japan agrees to lend B84bn for transit

Bangkokpost.com, May 10, 2007

The Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) has given the green light for an 84-billion-baht loan to Thailand to finance three new mass-transit projects in Bangkok, according to Pongpanu Svetarunvra, the director-general of the Public Debt Management Office. ''Within the term of the current government, we can begin ground work for at least one new mass-transit route for certain,'' Mr Pongpanu said.
The government plans to invite tenders for construction of the new Red and Purple lines over the next several months, while work on the Blue line is expected to begin early next year.
Sansern Wongcha-um, the deputy transport minister, said contracts for the Bang Sue-Taling Chan phase of the Red line would be awarded in June, followed by bidding for the Purple line in August.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - boom brings soaring prices

The Straits Times, 23-05-2007

The cost of everything - from petrol to pork to property - has surged alarmingly in Viet Nam as the national economy continues to boom and investment floods in.
But the downside is a worrying rise in prices, especially of fuel and food, which has hit consumers hard.
Earlier this month, petrol prices rose again, the second hike since March and the third in less than a year.
Officials said the increases were due to a rise in global oil prices combined with the government's desire to gradually remove petrol subsidies.
The result has been a price rise of more than 20 per cent so far this year.
Naturally, the fuel price hike has had a knock-on effect and the costs of other products, including basic commodities such as rice, vegetables and fruit, have shot up.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Investing in Bintan

Asia Property Report, May 18 2007

Bintan island is best known as Singapore’s most convenient resort destination, but the Indonesian island is now set to incorporate luxury residences following the launch of the Banyan Tree Residences in Bintan and the release of the masterplan for the Lagoi Bay mixed-use development. Bintan is less than an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore and just 35 minutes from neighbouring Batam island.

>>Full article

AVIATION - Foreign airlines circle for Viet Nam landing

Vietnam news agency, (21-05-2007)

With the entry of many foreign airlines on the cards, the Vietnamese skies seem set for fierce competition.
Australian flag carrier Qantas said last month it had signed an agreement to buy 30 per cent of Pacific Airlines, Viet Nam’s second carrier. The 30 per cent, the maximum allowed under Vietnamese law, will cost it US$50 million.
Qantas’s chief financial officer Peter Gregg said the Australian airline would help Pacific reposition itself as a budget carrier both internationally and within Viet Nam. Qantas will have representation on Pacific’s board.

>>Full article

ACCOMMODATION - Starwood to manage Two New Hotels in Halong Bay, Vietnam

ASIA Travel Tips.com, 21 May 2007

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has reached an agreement with Royal International Corporation to develop two hotels in the World Heritage site of Halong Bay, Vietnam - Sheraton Halong Bay Resort and the Four Points by Sheraton Halong Bay. The 160-room Four Points by Sheraton hotel is expected to open in early 2008 and the 300-room Sheraton Halong Bay Resort will open in 2010. The Four Points by Sheraton Halong Bay will also be the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel to open in Vietnam. Starwood currently operates Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers and Sheraton Hanoi Hotel in Vietnam.

>>Full article

CHINA - Golden Harvest for Chinese Tourism

CNTA, 16-may-2007

179 million domestic travellers spent CNY73.6 billion (US$9.6 billion) during China (PRC)'s 20th Golden Week holiday, May 1-7.
Traffic results released by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) showed a 22.7% jump in domestic trips and a 25.8% leap in spending over the same period in 2006.

Over its 20-year history the Golden Week holidays have accounted for a combined 1.81 billion trips and generated CNY744 billion (US$97 billion) for the national economy said Mr Zhang Xiqin, who is National Holidays Ministerial Level Coordination Office Executive Director as well as CNTA Vice Chairman.

The 2007 numbers show 45.86 million overnight stays at hotels and 133 million day trips. The transportation sector reaped CNY4.69 billion (US$610.5 million) in sales, while 39 key cities tallied CNY29.1 billion (US$3.8 billion) in tourism revenue. Retailers enjoyed 17.9% more sales and restaurants 10.9% more business than last year.

INDIA - Buddhist sites to turn into hot spots

timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 10 May, 2007

Kalachakra, the mega Buddhist event held in Amaravati last year, has left the AP tourism department chanting 'Buddham Saranam Gachami'. The event had attracted Buddhists from across the world and the state tourism department wants to make the best use of the state's newfound Buddhist identity. The department is now all set to project Andhra Pradesh as India's key 'Buddhist Tourism' destination. Tourism department officials say that the state has 152 Buddhist sites and about 17 of these have been identified for development or are already being developed. The state archaeological department, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the tourism department are jointly working on this initiative.

>>Full article

PHUKET - to accommodate a marina for mega-yachts

Phuketgazette.net, May 22, 2007

Following reports that a man-made island was ready to be built off the east coast of Phuket to accommodate a marina for mega-yachts, the marketing manager at Royal Phuket Marina [RPM] clarified that the project is still in the early planning stages and faces many obstacles before it can become a reality. RPM Marketing Director Wilaiporn Titimanaaree told the Gazette that developer Gulu Lalvani will hold a press conference at RPM on May 25 to announce his plan, which envisions a 6.6-billion-baht marina, luxury hotel and villa complex on reclaimed land about three kilometers off Phuket’s east coast.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Iloilo airport opens in June

manilastandardtoday.com, may 14 2007

The P8.759-billion Iloilo Airport Development Project, the first and largest of the 16 airports that are under development in the Central Philippines tourism super region, will officially open next month.
Presidential Management Staff director general Cerge Remonde, who heads the government’s Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force, said the airport was completed in March, but its commercial operation was set in June, after the election period.
Central Philippines, the tourism super region, covers 27 provinces in Southern Tagalog (including Palawan), Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

>>Full article

ACCOMMODATION - Government Determined to Collect Taxes from Bali's Illegal Villa Sector

Balidiscovery.com, (5/12/2007)

According to the Indonesian-language Bali Post, Bali's Governor has issued a circular memo (No. 556.2/1590/I/Dispara) addressing steps to give a clearer legal and business standing to the hundreds of villas operating commercially in Bali.According to the Bali Post, one of the clauses in the subject memorandum calls for commercial villas to be classified as "non-star hotels" and begin paying taxes on levels equivalent to local hotels. Currently, all guests staying at star-rated hotels have a 21% tax and service charge added to their bill for accommodation and other services purchased during the course of their stay.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Conversion of Puerto Princesa into highly-urbanized city

Bayanihan.org, May 02 2007

Conversion of Puerto Princesa into highly-urbanized city to boost tourism, agricultureThe proposed conversion of Puerto Princesa City into a highly-urbanized city will further spur economic development in the entire province of Palawan.
"We can expect more investments to come in, particularly on the city government's economic policy direction that focuses on tourism and agriculture," said City Administrator Agustin Rocamora in an interview by the Philippines News Agency.
Rocamora, also a lawyer, said with infrastructure now put in place, Puerto Princesa is now ready to become a highly urbanized city.He stressed the conversion was based on the Local Government Code that requires a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants and P50 million income.
Rocamora explained that once declared as highly-urbanized city during a plesbiscite in the coming May 14 elections, the city will be independent from the provincial government of Palawan in terms of administrative supervision.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - More than Half of All Air Passengers to Bali Generated by Indonesia's Domestic Market.

Balidiscovery.com, (5/5/2007)

The total number of domestic airline passengers nation-wide in Indonesia decreased -9.69% in the first three months of 2007, totaling 6.119 million as compared to the 6.775 million in the same period in 2006. The downturn in domestic passengers may be due to a collective fear of flying following the a series of air disasters during the first three months of the year and negative government safety warnings affecting all Indonesian domestic carriers.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - maps out ‘Super Tourism Region’

eTN, Apr 25, 07

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has mapped-out an ambitious three-year plan to develop the Central Philippines as a “Super Tourism Region.”
Central Philippines spans over nearly 100,000 square kilometers and covers Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and Caraga. Tourists have been frequenting this region for its beaches. According to the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), seven of the country’s 10 most visited beaches are found in Central Philippines, specifically in Cebu, Alkan, Negros Occidental, Sorsogon, Samar, Palawan and Romblon including Boracay Island, known around the world for its pristine, long white sandy beaches.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Dubai's Emaar to invest in leisure project

People's daily online, April 30, 2007

Emaar Properties, one of the world largest property firms by market value, will invest more than 600 million U.S. dollars to build resort in island of Lombok of eastern Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province, chairman of the company Mohamed Alabbar said Monday.

Allabbar said that the development of the projects would start next year but an international air port had already started.
All the works were planned to be finished in 2009, he said.
They will invest more than 600 million U.S. dollars to build resort in Lombok island, Alabbar told a joint press conference.
Indonesian Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said that the chairman of the company promised to bring about 2 million tourists per year when all the projects are delivered.

>>Full article

THAILAND - remains Top Destination in Asia Travel Intentions Survey

ASIA Travel Tips.com, 24 April 2007

Visa International Asia Pacific (Visa) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have released the ‘Asia Travel Intentions Survey 2007’ which reports that of those intending international travel in the next two years, 52% were considering Asia as their next travel destination. This is a 9% increase on the previous year’s survey results and an 18% increase over the results in 2005.

>>Full article

ACCOMMODATION - Hotel Developments in Australia

ASIA Travel Tips.com, 30 April 2007

The high price of land and spiralling construction costs have helped to keep some developers out of the Australian hotel market in recent years. Across Australia, the number of hotel rooms under construction has decreased to the lowest level since Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels commenced the National Hotel Development Register in 2003.
“New hotel room supply is now expected to increase on average by 1.4% per annum to 2010, based on projects currently under construction or deemed likely to proceed,” said Mr David Gibson CEO Asia Pacific, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

>>Full article

BALI - How to Finance the Bali Tourism Board

Balidiscovery.com, (4/28/2007)

Money, or more precisely the lack thereof, continues to plague efforts by the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) to launch an effective tourism marketing organization for the Island. Repeated efforts in the past by the tourism stakeholder organizations that comprise the BTB to seek financial support from Bali's Government have all come to naught.

>>Full article

Vietnam needs to have specific airports for low cost air carriers

Vietnamnetbrigde, 23/04/2007

It is now the right time to think of setting up specific airports to serve low cost air carriers, especially as regional budget airlines, including Vietnam’s Pacific Airlines, are booming.

The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) has asked the Prime Minister to assign it to run the project on upgrading Gia Lam airport into one specifically designed to serve domestic and regional low cost flights and air taxis.

>>Full article

BALI - An Academic Look at Bali's Villa Sector

Balidicovery.com, (4/21/2007)

The Indonesian language Bali Post, recently published the results of a research project conducted by 17 students at Bali's Hotel & Tourism Institute (STP) examining Bali's villa sector. Their survey, limited to villas in the Badung Regency of Bali covered 624 villas including 3,958 rooms.Some of the results from the student's research project, include:• 54% of the villas surveyed were commercial operations, 25% were private villas and 21% were being used on a mixed commercial-private basis. • 45.2% of the villas were owned by Indonesians (both Balinese and non-Balinese), 39.4% were owned by foreigners, and 15.4% were jointly owned by Indonesians and foreigners. The survey showed that most foreign-owned villas were built on land owned by Indonesians.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Visayas tourist spots lure Thais

SUNSTAR.COM.PH, April 16, 2007

INSTEAD of viewing each other as competitors, Cebu and Phuket, Thailand can work together in luring more international tourists to the Asean region, a Thai official said. “Cebu and Phuket are not competitors, because the market of global tourists is too big. We can help each other by developing our respective tourism industries and invite more visitors,” said Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Asha Dvitiyananda.

But despite the similarities, she said tourism stakeholders in Cebu and Phuket need to extensively develop their marketing and advertising efforts and address the changing preferences of tourists.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - island set for makeover as tourism paradise by 2020

Tanhnhiennews.com, April 3, 2007

Vietnam plans to turn Phu Quoc island off its southern tip into a major tourist and economic hub by 2020.
In a decision announced Monday setting out the plan, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said this would create an impetus for the country’s tourism development.
A meeting to unveil the PM’s decision Monday heard that the country’s largest island would have 18,000 hotel rooms, attract 2 to 3 million tourists a year – with foreigners accounting for 35 to 40 percent –and earn annual revenues of $771 million from tourism services.
The development of tourism on Phu Quoc island would also provide jobs for more than 110,000 people, heard the meeting organized by the Vietnam National Administration for Tourism (VNAT) and Kien Giang province where Phu Quoc is situated.

>>Full article

MALAYSIA - Penang steps up tourism-related projects

Theedgedaily.com, 03-04-2007

The Penang state planning committee (SPC) has given the green light to developers and investors of tourism related projects to start work immediately upon obtaining planning permission from the local government.
State tourism development committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said developers of such projects, which include hotels, motels and theme parks, could now fast track their work before submitting their building plans to the local authorities.
“Sometimes, the process of obtaining the building plans may take up to 12 months.
“This policy has been approved by the SPC last week and they are now working on fine tuning the definition of tourism related products,” he said.
Teng was speaking to reporters in Penang on April 2 after the arrival of the two

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - $3 billion in tourism revenues expected this year

The Philippine Star, april 10, 2007

The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects an increase of $3 billion in revenues this year with the anticipated growth in foreign arrivals that officials said would spur more investments in the industry.
Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano said Saturday the department is expecting international arrivals to hit 3.1 million this year, 100,000 higher than its three-million target last year.
"This should translate to $3 billion in tourism receipts. This growth in arrivals will support ongoing expansions and new investments," Durano told The STAR.
In 2006, international tourism receipts from 2.84 million visitors to the Philippines totaled $2.7 billion or about P135 billion.
Durano said in February alone, foreign arrivals rose by 11 percent compared to figures in the same period last year.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Tourism faces climate destruction

Reuters, Friday, April 06, 2007

COLOMBO: Enjoy your exotic Asian beach or skiing holidays while you can. In coming decades, warmer weather, rising seas, more intense storms, even changes in ocean currents will literally wipe some idyllic destinations off the tourist map, experts say. Thousands, and possibly millions, of jobs could be lost.

Tourism accounts for 35 per cent of the Maldives’ annual GDP of around $800 million. But the Indian Ocean island chain, on average just 1.5 metres above sea level, risks disappearing within generations if sea levels rise in line with the UN climate panel’s predictions.
Experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meeting in Brussels on Friday issued the bleakest UN warning yet about the impacts of global warming.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Strong Start to National Tourist Arrivals for 2007

Balidiscovery.com, (4/7/2007)

639,900 Arrivals in January, February 2007 as Indonesia Move Towards Targeted 6 Million Foreign Visitors for 2007.

The Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia reports that foreign tourist arrivals via the Nation's 15 main international gateways increased 13.59% totaling 639,900 during the first two months of 2007. Arrivals during the same period in 2006 achieved 563,499.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Wooing an elusive market

manilastandardtoday.com, march 31, 2007

Seven thousand one hundred seven islands must be pretty tough to sell, especially to tourists 10,000 km. away.
But with patience, perseverance and a little creative promotion, things are finally looking up for Philippine tourism and travel officials courting the European market.
In the past year alone, tourist arrivals from the region have increased by 8 to 9 percent (most of these arrivals coming from the German and British market, with Russia showing a surprising growth). Because of this, tourism officials are expecting an influx of European arrivals by 2010.
“More than half of the world’s tourists are in Europe. The European market is a desirable market for several reasons,” points out Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab, deputy minister of the Department of Tourism.
“One, they are an affluent market. Two, they take long vacations and are big spenders. Most important of all, they respect the environment and are well-behaved visitors when traveling in a foreign land.”

>>Full article

THAILAND - Time for 'Greater Phuket'

Bangkokpost.com, April 02, 2007

Despite the sea change that taken place over the past few months, foreigners are still interested in investing in the greater Phuket area, which aside from the popular resort island also covers Phangnga and Krabi.
However, foreigners now realise that they are going to need legitimate Thai partners with substantial means, says Bill Barnett, the managing director of C9 Hotelworks.
While technically this has always been the case, there is now expected to be a shift in emphasis toward larger Thai companies making investments in resort destinations. Mr Barnett mentioned the Central group and the listed developer Raimon Land as examples.
Heavyweight foreign investors, says Mr Barnett, are only interested in big Thai corporations and not medium and small ones because they want some muscle proportionate to their investment.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - A travel boom

Manilatimes.net, March 22, 2007

A tourism boom is taking place. The Philippines will receive between 3.2 million and 3.5 million visitors this year. That will be the highest on record. In 2006 the country could have attracted 3 million tourists, but there were not enough hotel rooms to accommodate them.

Philippine carriers are all refleeting, expanding at an unprecedented rate and making them among the youngest in the world in terms of age of their planes.
Philippine Airlines is buying six Boeing 777-300 on top of 20 Airbuses it had previously ordered to bring its fleet to 42 from the present 32 (the old planes will be replaced) by 2012.
Cebu Pacific plans to acquire 20 more planes, a firm order for 10 Airbus A320 planes for delivery in 2010 to 2012, plus options for another 10 for delivery between 2011 and 2013.

>>Full article

BALI - Changing Market Mix for Bali Tourism

Balidiscovery.com, (3/25/2007)

In an attempt to see how the complexion of Bali's inbound tourism is changing, this installment of Bali by the Numbers compares the general international market mix for the combined months of January and February for 2000 and 2007.A side-by-side comparison of the same two month period separated by eight years shows:• Total Arrivals increased only +15.81% over the span of 8 years. That translates into an annual average growth rate of just under 2%, far below the average growth recorded by competing destinations across the region.

>>Full article

CAMBODIA - mulls over restricting access to Angkor Wat Temple

eTN Asia, 23-03-2007

Cambodian officials are reportedly mulling over measures to restrict tourist access to Angkor Wat Temple, in an effort to prevent its further deterioration.
The ravages of nature over time and the water table have taken a toll on the UNESCO listed World Heritage site, putting some at risk and further weakening their “structural integrity,” said experts from UNESCO.

Once a sleepy village, Siem Reap, where the site is located, is now a town booming with hotels, restaurants and continues to attract new investments in tourism.
Officials estimate that up to a million tourists visited the Angkor Wat temple complex in 2006, an increase of about 40 percent over the previous year.

>>Full article

ACCOMODATION - Accor opens 300th Hotel in Asia Pacific

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 20 March 2007

Accor has opened its 300th hotel in the Asia Pacific region with the launch of the Grand Mercure Xidan Beijing in China.
The re-branding of Grand Mercure Xidan Beijing follows a record 2006, during which the group’s Asia Pacific hotel network grew by an impressive 21%, adding 53 hotels in 12 countries. Main countries for growth were China, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Short-haul Travel to dominate Tourism in Asia for next 10 years

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 13 March 2007

Short-haul travel within Asia Pacific is more popular than ever, with 90% of all outbound departures from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Macau, going to destinations within the region, according to research from Euromonitor International. Not only does the short-haul market dominate departures in Asia, it is also growing rapidly, with departures up by 20% between 2000 and 2005, compared to long-haul’s growth rate of 12% over the same period.
The popularity of short-haul travel in Asia is set to intensify further over the next ten years, thanks to a combination of positive factors fuelling growth, according to Euromonitor, who is speaking on the future of short-haul v long haul travel in Asia Pacific at the Travel Distribution Summit Asia 2007 being held in Singapore.

>>Full article