VIETNAM - sea being ‘cut into small bits’

VietNamNet Bridge, 28/06/2007

Vietnam’s sea is now being cut into small bits, commented Pham Tu, Vice Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), at a recent workshop titled “Nature – tourism resources” held on June 15 in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province.
The number of foreign visitors coming to Vietnam increased from 1.5 million to 3.6 million from 2002 to 2006. During this time, sea tourism accounted for 70% of the total revenues of the tourism sector. As the number of tourists rises, the number of coastal tourism projects is also on the rise.
With nearly 1 million sq.km of sea, Vietnam’s sea tourism potential is huge. However, Vietnam’s sea is being polluted. Ha Long Bay, Lang Co Lagoon and Nha Trang Beach are the most typical examples.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Qatar team to visit Vietnam

GulfTimes.com, 1 July, 2007

THE Qatari Investment Agency will send a delegation to Vietnam this month to inquire into projects on urban development and the development of tourist sites and luxury resorts, Vietnamese press reports said yesterday. Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc has just concluded his trip to Qatar and Kuwait that ran from June 22- 27 and was aimed at securing investment from the oil rich states. Phuc visited Qatar and Kuwait at the invitation of the Kuwaiti finance minister and the Qatari minister of finance and economy and was charged with carrying out agreements signed by the Vietnamese prime minister and the Kuwaiti prime minister and the Qatari deputy prime minister during their recent Vietnam visits.

>>Full article

SABAH - steers harder

TTGmice.com, June 2007

Having experienced a slight drop in MICE events from 536 in 2005 to 451 last year, the Sabah Tourism Board is stepping up measures to bring up the numbers again.The fall in numbers was due in part to a reduction in the number of flights. Since May 15, 2006, the number of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flights between Tokyo, one of the emerging source markets, and Sabah’s state capital of Kota Kinabalu, fell from thrice- to twice-weekly. As such, the board plans to focus on Asian markets with direct air links to Kota Kinabalu this year.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Undersea jewel

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

ALOR islands may not be on the regular tourist map, but this could improve in a couple of years thanks to improved air accessibility and government support.Last year, TransNusa started five-weekly Alor-Kupang flights. Together with Merpati Nusantara Airlines’ twice-weekly services, the new flights have opened up the islands even more.Kupang, the province’s capital, is served by many domestic airlines connecting with key cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar. TransNusa has three flights from Bali via Waingapu.The waters around Alor islands are good for diving, fishing and snorkelling. Turtles, reef sharks, whales, marlin, napoleon wrasse, giant trevally and barracuda are just some of the underwater inhabitants.Groups of dolphins can often be seen passing between Alor Kecil island and Kepa island, Pura island, Kalabahi Bay and near Terewang island.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - hotels start new round of upgrades

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

Another round of hotel refurbishments begins in Singapore just as several properties emerge from under the dust sheets. The 20-year-old Pan Pacific Singapore has started its S$14 million (US$9 million) refurbishment, scheduled for completion in January 2008.Main works include refitting all 775 rooms and suites with new furnishings, interior fixtures and flatscreen TVs.Two floors of deluxe rooms will be converted to Executive Business Floors, increasing the inventory from 126 to 171 Executive Business rooms and suites. Hotel Royal at Queens began a 15-month refurbishment in June. When completed, there will be 223 rooms, up from 215. All rooms will have flatscreen TVs and new furnishings. The refurbishment will be done floor by floor, with about 20 rooms taken off the inventory at any one time.Director of sales and marketing, Mr George Lim, said: “Not only will the integrated resorts be coming up but there are also new hotels opening in the next few years.”

>>Full article

JAPAN - Midtown set to steal the scene

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

Tokyo has a major new tourist area following the completion of a massive urban redevelopment project.Tokyo Midtown covers 10 hectares and includes the city’s tallest skyscraper, a luxury hotel, two new museums and scores of shops and restaurants. It is less than a kilometre from the popular Roppongi Hills area.The capital’s first Ritz-Carlton property occupies the top nine levels of the development’s highest building, with a total of 248 rooms beginning on the 45th floor. Its presidential suite is said to be the most expensive in Japan at US$20,000 a night. Introductory rates for standard rooms start at about US$473.

>>Full article

CHINA - Parting the waters

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

Where once there was a desert, today there is a flood. China’s rapidly growing spa scene provides a wellspring of new alternatives. Natasha Dragun reports.“Business is booming. We don’t have enough therapists, and we don’t have enough rooms,” spa director of the newly-opened CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel Beijing, Ms Pansy Chong, tells TTG Asia. Ms Chong’s sentiments ring true for many in the industry. They are overwhelmed by the attention and interest being paid to the many modern international spas emerging around China in recent years. Today, the development is still quite formulaic: outlets are centred in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, and predominantly located in international five-star hotels.

>>Full article

MARKETS - Generation 'S'

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

Call them seniors or the silver segment. They have always been a lucrative niche to tap, and the world’s population is ageing. Many in the age group today have better health and better access to choices, thanks to the Internet. Mak Ying Kwan looks at the mindset change needed to cater to this market.SENIOR travellers run the gamut, from well-off retirees willing to spend generously on overseas holidays to those with more limited means who travel on a budget.This means there are opportunities for everyone in the tourism industry, from luxury hotels to limited service accommodation facilities, from travel agents offering customised, top-end packages to those selling seat-in coach tours.

>>Full article

CHINA - New road to Everest

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

The Chinese government has announced plans to build a paved road from the foot of Mt Everest to Base Camp at 5,200m above sea level on the Tibetan side of the mountain. With construction starting this week, local authorities are predicting the 108km road will be completed as early as November. According to the authorities, the new road would follow the route of an existing dirt path up the mountain. The aim of paving the road, they said, was to smooth the path for the Olympic Torch, which is expected to reach the 8,849m summit of Mt Everest in May 2008 as part of the longest, and arguably most ambitious torch relays in Olympic history – covering 137,000km across five continents in 130 days.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Ecotourism to create jobs, lure investments

mb.com.ph, July 3, 2007

The Department of Tourism (DoT) expects its ecotourism program to generate, not only jobs and livelihood, but also investments in the countryside.
DoT Secretary Joseph Ace H. Durano based this projection on the way Donsol and other emerging ecotourism destinations have begun attracting tourists, creating a demand-driven market for investment ventures in tourism facilities and infrastructure.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Concern for rice terraces

Manilatimes.net, July 03, 2007

Local villagers were joined by tourists in a rice granary in the middle of the rice field where a mumbaki (native spiritual priest) performed harvest prayer rites in one of the world’s heritage sites, the Ifugao rice terraces.
More Filipinos are now becoming part of the uphill bid to preserve and bring back the natural grandeur of the Ifugao rice terraces not by just taking pictures of the terraces but also by experiencing the culture that built the terraces more than 200,000 years ago.
Close to 30 visitors from as far as Palawan, Bohol, Batangas, Manila and Baguio joined the Bfoto’ Ad Majajaw tour over the weekend, which is part of year-round tour organized by the “Pochon” of the Save the Ifugao Terrace Movement (SITMo), a nongovernmental organization group advocating for the preservation of the terraces and the rich culture of the villagers.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - sustainable growth benefits tourism

Dailytravelnews.com, June 27, 2007

The previously poor image of the Philippines is now being challenged as current President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s economic reforms, as well as her strong stance on crime and corruption, has transformed the country into a thriving democracy which is welcoming foreign visitors with open arms and a uniquely Filipino sense of hospitality. Philippine history has been marred by economic difficulties which have prevented Asia’s only English-speaking country from truly capitalizing on its significant tourism advantages.Under the Arroyo administration, the Philippines enjoyed a sustained positive growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP) since 2001, with GDP up from 3% in 2001 to 5.4% in 2006, and a GNP growth increase of 2.7% in the same time period. Inflation, a major impediment for many developing countries, remains low in the Philippines at 2.6% as of February 2007.

>>Full article

THAILAND - New airport near its limits

Bangkokpost.com, June 28, 2007

While Suvarnabhumi Airport soldiers on, shrugging off criticism and impressing us as we gaze through an aircraft window at the hectares of twinkling lights below, airline managers are still not buying the story.
Bundled together, airlines serving Bangkok make their voice heard through the local Board of Airline Representatives and they have not been slow to remind the Airports of Thailand that it needs to bite the bullet on "phase two expansion."
Leading the charge is the BAR president, Brian Sinclair-Thomson, who bravely laid the airline cards on the table at a media session at the Foreign Correspondents Club, earlier this month.

>>Full article

CAMBODIA - sees tourism boom in first five months of ‘07

e-travelblackboard, June 29, 2007

It seems more and more travellers are discovering the wonders of Cambodia, with the ports recording just below 20% growth in the first five months of the year when compared to 2006.
Siem Reap was still the most popular entrance port, with a market share of 65.26% of total arrivals. The 553,873 trips into Siem Reap represent a lift of a little over 57% when compared to 2006 figures.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia join forces to develop tourism

Vietnam Net bridge, 29/06/2007

Dinh Hai, director of Quang Nam's Department of Tourism, told the Daily that the tourism authorities of Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, Champasak and Quang Nam would sign the deal on the sidelines of a tourism festival.
The four-day Quang Nam - Heritage Road Festival 2007 kicked off on Wednesday in the World Heritage-listed town of Hoi An.
The four provinces, Hai said, will jointly market tourism products and promote their World Heritage sites. "We have special tourist attractions - World Heritage sites, so we want to join hands to introduce them to attract tourists," he said.
The UNESCO-recognized World Heritage sites are Hoi An and My Son in Quang Nam, Luang Prabang and Wat Phou in Luang Prabang, and Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.

>>Full article

HAWAII - Building Partnerships with Asia

Hawaii reporter, 1-7-2007

As part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s efforts to transform the state’s economy from one over dependent on land development to one based on the innovation capacity of Hawai‘i’s residents, Governor Lingle recently completed a 13-day trip to Indonesia and Japan to strengthen Hawai‘i’s links in the Asia-Pacific region and to increase the ability of our residents and businesses to successfully compete in the global marketplace.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Asia Pacific Region continues to Lead World Tourism Growth

Asiatraveltips.com, 2 July 2007

The year 2007 has started on a higher than expected note for global tourism. From January through April, international tourist arrivals worldwide rose by over 6% to 252 million, representing an additional 15 million arrivals as against the same period in 2006, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.
Asia and the Pacific (+9%) achieved the strongest growth, followed by Africa (+8%), the Middle East (+8%) and Europe (+6%). Although arrivals to the Americas (+4%), showed the slowest growth rate among the world regions during the first four months of 2007, this performance is nevertheless very positive as the region doubled the 2007 forecast growth (+2%).

>>Full article

ACCOMMODATION - Malaysian five-star hotels: Where are the tourists?

eTN, 3-7-2007

Despite the reported increase in tourist figures in the first quarter of Malaysia's VMY 2007 campaign, five-star hotel operators are asking: where are the tourists staying?Tourism Malaysia figures show 4.8 million tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 9.8 percent compared to the same period in 2006. However, the increase is not reflected in occupancy rates of the country's five-star hotels.Explaining the mystery, Malaysian Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan said tourists are now choosing to stay in cheaper hotels and service apartments. "Homestay programs are also getting good response."

>>Full article

BALI - Economic Data Reveals that Bali's Poor Getting a Smaller Share of the Benefits of an Expanding Economy

Balidiscovery.com, (6/30/2007)

Significant improvements in the economy of Bali are widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor and bringing few improvements in the living condition of the Island's poor.

According to the head of the consumer spending section of Bali's Central Statistic Bureau (BPS), Didik Nursetyohadi, "the poor are enjoying the fruits of development, but not to the degree of the rich."

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Tourism: A Major Contributor to the Economic Growth

ForImmediateRelease.Net, June 29, 2007

The Tourism Industry has once again proven to be a major contributing factor in the consistent growth of the Philippine economy. With arrivals increasing and revenues rising, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is pleased that its efforts have vastly improved the country’s economic landscape, and that it has helped in generating jobs and business opportunities for Filipinos back home. DOT enjoins all Filipino communities in the United Kingdom to be part of the ever-widening effort to project the beauty of our country and attract more visitors to our sun-kissed, friendly shores.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - A Creative Approach to Funding Tourism Promotion

Balidiscovery.com, (6/30/2007)

The Indonesian Tourism Council(DEPARI) have asked Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism to use Presidential Instruction No. 16 of 2005 to overcome the current impasse in promotion funding leading up to "Visit Indonesia Year 2008."According to the Chairman of DEPARI, Iqbal Alan Abdullah: "The Minister of Culture and Tourism has the ability via Presidential Instruction No. 16 of 2005 to accumulate funds for promotion working with related government departments. We do not think that a lack of funding from the legislature can be used as a reason for failing to launch 'Visit Indonesia Year 2008'."

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - India, Pakistan to discuss group tourism

The Hindu, 29-6-2007

India and Pakistan are in talks about strengthening their tourism ties.
ISLAMABAD - A proposal to permit group tourism between India and Pakistan, and increasing the number of religious shrines that pilgrims from either country can visit on the other side, are on the agenda for the two-day talks between the two culture secretaries that will begin here on Thursday.Permit for touristsAt present, India and Pakistan do not permit tourists from either country, but both sides recently included group tourism among proposals to liberalise their respective visa regimes.

>>Full article

AUSTRALIA - tourism told eco and indigenous tourism key for foreign visitor growth

eTN, 2-7-2007

A tourism body in Australia is saying Australia should look into eco and indigenous tourism if it wants to increase its foreign visitor traffic.
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has said developing indigenous and eco tourism product and experiences are the major keys for the Australian tourism industry to increasing international visitor growth over the next decade. This development comes as the latest Tourism Forecasting Committee (TFC) figures recently revealed that 8.8 million international visitors were predicted to come to Australia annually by 2016, an average increase of 4.9 percent per year. By comparison, Australians traveling overseas were predicted to increase by an average 5.2 percent to 8.1 million trips.

>>Full article

THAILAND - to be major hub for int’l meetings and incentive travel

Asia News Network, 02-07-2007

After successfully establishing itself as one of the finest leisure travel destinations in the world, Thailand has now embarked on a journey to promote the country as one of the major hubs for international corporate meetings and exhibitions in the ASEAN region.
The fresh effort is expected to further increase the number of incoming tourists to Thailand and generate thousands of additional employment opportunities.
Talking to journalists at a press meet organised in Bangkok on Friday, Nipat Dithipen, deputy director general of Thai Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) said: “We have set a deadline of 2011 to make Thailand a major hub for international corporate meetings and incentive travel in the ASEAN region. We hope we will be able to fulfill our commitment within that period.”

>>Full article

INTERVIEW - Exotic Tourism with a Twist: Travelling Through the 'Axis of Evil'

alternet.org, 2-7-2007

Tony Wheeler traveled to Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan and found that the media's image of the countries has very little to with what daily life is like in those places.
It's been a hectic day for Tony Wheeler. He missed his morning flight from Portland; he almost didn't make it on the next flight, and now his luggage has been lost.

>>Full article