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.

>>Full article

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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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - UN studies sustainable religious tourism

bangkokpost.com, November 5 2007

With millions of people now on the move for ''religious tourism,'' the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has begun to turn its attention towards studying and analysing the issues related to its sustainability.
The growth of interest in the Buddhist circuit is one aspect of this phenomena which covers two kinds of travellers: those who travel specifically for religious purposes such as a pilgrimage and those who travel for other purposes but include visits to religious monuments as part of their trip. Last week, UNWTO with the support of the Spanish government, organised an ''International Conference on Tourism, Religions and Dialogue of Cultures'' to expand the level of discourse into areas that have long been neglected because they were considered too politically and culturally sensitive.

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TAIWAN - looking to generate more medical tourism

taipeitimes.com, Novermber 5 2007

Taiwan is to promote medical services to generate medical tourism to the tune of NT$7 billion (US$215.52 million) within three years, an official said yesterday.
Wu Ming-yen, chief executive officer of an international medical services project, was speaking after a team, comprised of the Taiwan Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research and 20 prestigious hospitals, announced the inauguration of a project management center.

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ACCOMMODATION - Six Senses to launch New Brand

Asiatraveltips.com, 5 November 2007

Six Senses has commenced rebranding their Evason Hideaway properties to Six Senses Hideaway. The group says the rebranding is in response to market surveys which showed that 'Six Senses' - a group brand that has thus far been reserved for the Six Senses Spa division - enjoyed high global recognition and was indicative of the lifestyle experiences offered by the group's boutique resorts.
The first Six Senses Hideaway is a fifty-six private pool villas new-build that opened November 1, 2007, on the Thai island of Yao Noi, just beyond Phuket in picturesque Phang Nga Bay.

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INDONESIA - Shrinking Market Share in ASEAN

Balidiscovery.com, (11/3/2007)

While precise arrival figures for foreign tourist arrivals to all of the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are difficult to come by, currently available figures do suggest that Indonesia, when viewed as a part of all-ASEAN arrivals, is losing market share.

Against a backdrop of generally improving arrival numbers in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has lost 24.59% of its relative market share from 2002 to 2006
• In the same period of 2002 to 2006 total ASEAN arrivals increased +29.08% to 56.73 million.
• In the period of 2002 to 2006 Indonesian arrivals decreased -3.1% to 4.87 million.
• Indonesia has the dubious distinction among ASEAN nations of having lost the largest amount of market share over the subject 4 year period declining -24.97%.
The only other ASEAN countries to lose market share were Brunei (-5.61%), Thailand (-1.5%) and Singapore (-0.6%).

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BALI - Conflict Between Sanur Community and Local Resort Developer Resolved

Balidiscovery.com, (11/3/2007)

The recent destruction of two Balinese temples in Sanur by a Resort developer has been the source of community protests that saw the investor accused of disregarding local religious values and disturbing the natural balance on Bali. According to the Bali Post, the investor in the proposed Sanur project - PT Restu Maharani have finally agreed with community demands to completely rebuild the two Pura or temples they demolished on October 1, 2007. At a prolonged community meeting held on November 1, 2007, an agreement between the Investor and local community members was hammered out, with the Investor insisting there was no desire to offend local customs, blaming recent protests on simple "miscommunications."

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INDONESIA - New face of Nusa Dua

TTGasia.com, Nov 2 - 8, 2007

Management company for Nusa Dua, Bali Tourism Development Corporation’s (BTDC) managing director, Mr Ida Bagus Mandra, said: “Nusa Dua has developed into a lifestyle destination. Various upmarket facilities have been and are still coming up in the area to support the needs of upmarket hotel clients.”The 300-hectare landscaped area has been developed to include facilities, such as shops, restaurants, a museum and beauty clinic over the last couple of years.Mr Mandra added BTDC was also developing facilities to cater to retirees. Projects under development include an aesthetic surgery hospital, a retirement village and wellness resort to open in 2009.

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AVIATION - A deregulated Singapore-Malaysia skies opens fierce debate

TTGasia.com, Nov 2 - 8, 2007

Malaysian outbound agents find the prospects of dirt-cheap air fares between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (KL) scary, while Singapore agents who work with budget carriers cannot wait for them to crack the route finally.Twice daily services by AirAsia and a Singapore low-cost carrier (LCC) on the Singapore-KL route could begin as early as December if Singapore agrees. Malaysia’s government gave its in-principle nod last week.This route has been monopolised by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysia Airlines (MAS), resulting in one of, if not the highest, fares in the region in relation to distance flown. Its deregulation is a real breakthrough and will have various implications for various sectors.Malaysian outbound agents argue business at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will suffer, likewise, tourism in Johor, Malaysia’s southern gateway.

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AUSTRALIA - Cruise ships locked out of Brisbane

news.com.au, 31 Oct 2007

"Next week, the 279m superliner Rhapsody of the Seas will call into Brisbane but she's been deemed too long to navigate the river and will be relegated to Fisherman Islands cargo terminal. Her captain is more than happy to bring her up but is being prevented from doing so by government regulations."Yet the harbour master has previously allowed two P&O liners, the 260m Oriana and the 270m Aurora, to berth at Portside."That's what we struggle with in the industry – they've already set a precedent. Legend of the Seas is 264m long and she turned in the river but to this day, the authorities deny that she did that, but we have photographs of her doing it!" says Hunter with exasperation. "She just turned in the river and it took about 10 minutes."

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INDIA - Goa struggling to cope with Russian tourist influx

earthtimes.org, 30 Oct 2007

This fall, 1,400-1,500 Russian visitors are expected to fly to Goa's resorts every week, as compared with last year's average of 800-900.
Russian airlines offering flights to Goa will have to increase their capacities dramatically this year to be able to handle the ever-growing tourist traffic.To meet the demand, KrasAir's Boeing 757 will take Russian holidaymakers to Goa once every ten days and TransAero will schedule three Boeing 747 flights per week.The number of Russians choosing the former Portuguese colony as their holiday destination during the high season, which in Goa is between November and March, has now reached 30,000, and is expected to increase to 50,000 in 2007-2008.

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AUSTRALIA - Soaring dollar sends tourists elsewhere

smh.com.au, 30 October 2007

IN AN ominous sign for the tourism industry, the growing might of the Australian dollar has pushed foreign travellers towards cheaper destinations, while more Australians are likely to take their relative wealth overseas.
The dollar hovered around US92 cents yesterday, and its even healthier value against the yen is causing equal concern.The Australian Tourism Export Council said local operators must start marketing what was unique about Australia if they were to overcome potential damage caused by the strong dollar.Sydney, a prime destination for most overseas visitors, was "getting a little tired", the council said, while the traditional marketing imagery of tanned lifesavers and sandy beaches may have to be modified to attract richer visitors.

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SINGAPORE - Sin$ 40 Million Rejuvenation for Orchard Road

Asiatraveltips.com, 30 October 2007

Singapore's world-famous Orchard Road is set to undergo a Sin$40 million rejuvenation that will result in a more attractive destination for locals and visitors to this vibrant city. With the planned landscape and infrastructural enhancements, Singapore’s premier shopping street will have state of the art lighting highlighting its lush tree-lined boulevard, new creative spaces for staging events and a more integrated and engaging pedestrian mall.
The Orchard Road rejuvenation plans were unveiled Monday ahead of a tender for the main mall enhancement construction works, which will be called in early November 2007. The announcement follows the sale of three prime sites by the Urban Redevelopment Authority last year, targeted to increase the number of shopping venues and diversity of retail concepts and options to Orchard Road.

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SINGAPORE - set for tourism record-breaking year

Channel NewsAsia 25 October 2007

Singapore is on target to achieve another record breaking year in the tourism industry. Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen said the sector is set to achieve 10.2 million visitor arrivals and some S$13.6 billion in tourism receipts this year. According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), this is the first time double-digit growth is being achieved for the sector in Singapore. Singapore is also getting ready for the spike in manpower demand in the tourism industry, especially with the development of the two integrated resorts and several signature events which Singapore will be hosting to attract the international tourist dollar. So, the government is investing S$360 million over the next three years in manpower development to train and prepare some 74,000 workers for the growth in the tourism sector.

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INDONESIA - Record Bali arrivals

Asia Property Report - October 26 2007

Daily tourist arrivals in Bali over the past few months hit a record high of 5,400 to 6,000 since the Bali bombings of Oct 12, 2002 and Oct 1, 2005, Governor Dewa Beratha said.In the first eight months of 2007 an estimated 1.05 million foreign tourists visited Bali, raising hopes that the tourist arrival target of 1.5 million for this year will be achieved, he said when receiving 13 members of the House of Representatives´ Commission IV on agriculture, plantations,forestry, fisheries and food here Thursday.During the Idul Fitri holidays, the occupancy rate of most star-rated hotels in Bali was quite high, although most of the hotel guests were domestic tourists, he said. This indicated that the Bali tourism industry had begun to recover, he said.

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Australia - Brisbane tourists must cut showers

news.com.au, 29 October 2007

TOURISTS will come under pressure to cut their shower time to four minutes while in Brisbane, when level six restrictions come into force next month.
Water Commissioner Elizabeth Nosworthy said water saving messages would be displayed in hotel rooms and bathrooms may even be fitted with shower timers, in response to "public concern" about the lack of advice for tourists. "The messages will offer tips like turning off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth, and encourage visitors to observe the four-minute shower time limit," said Ms Nosworthy.Level six restrictions would be finalised late this month or early next month, before coming into force in mid-November, she said.Ms Nosworthy also told a business breakfast yesterday, south-east Queensland's water crisis was a long way from being over.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Nielsen and PATA release findings of China Outbound Travel Monitor 2007

Asiatraveltips.com, 29 October 2007

With nearly seven in 10 Chinese leisure travellers accessing destination websites, and about six in 10 using online travel discussion forums to source information, travel operators and tourism promotional bodies will need an effective Internet presence to capture the opportunities presented by Chinese outbound tourism, according to a new research study conducted by The Nielsen Company in partnership with PATA.
The new China Outbound Travel Monitor 2007 reveals that traditional travel agents rank only second behind online sources (63%) as the most popular source of information for potential travellers while the use of traditional media is found to be much lower (40%) for newspapers and magazines.



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INDONESIA - A Lack of Support for Bali's Branding Efforts

Balidiscovery.com, (10/27/2007)


The Bali Post reports that the Chief of the Bali Tourism Authority, Gde Nurjaya, has complained that Bali has received "nil support" from the Central Government in Jakarta following the launch of a Bali branding campaign in June 2007.Pointing out the irony of the obvious lack of support for "Bali branding" against the repeated claim by national tourism leaders that Bali is the "locomotive" of national tourism, Nurjaya was reluctant to comment further on the lack of enthusiasm in Jakarta for Bali's new "Shanti Shanti Shanti" marketing campaign.



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INDONESIA - Bali Exposed on New Internet Television Network

pr-inside.com, 2007-10-16

The Indonesian island archipelago of Bali is receiving added exposure with the debut of the first Internet-based television station (ITV) to broadcast from the area. Bali Alive is introducing Bali's customs, tourism and businesses to the world via professionally produced television programming via the Internet. According to Chris Abbott, Head of Production of Bali Alive, he & Jason Michael Head of sales & marketing decide to create Bali Alive after frequenting this tropical paradise for over 20 years. 'We found plenty of Bali information on sites featuring lots of inactive words and pictures.

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TONGA -Tourism is a key priority area

tonga-now.to, 20/10/2007

Tourism is a key priority area and is recognized as providing significant benefits to the region. It is a key driver of economic growth in the Pacific and thus a major contributor to the goal of economic growth couched in the Pillars of the Pacific Plan.
Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (seated), MP Prime Minister of Samoa and Minister for Foreign Affairs delivered the Forum’s Statement on Tourism.

In his statement he said that Pacific Island Countries have a comparative advantage in Tourism and can therefore compete internationally. It is one of the sectors making significant contribution to regional economies through foreign exchange, jobs and government revenue it generates. It therefore has a vital role in the achievement of the Pacific Plan’s goal Economic Growth.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Two SARs plan closer cooperation on tourism

thestandard.com.hk, October 23, 2007

Hong Kong and Macau have agreed to negotiate with the mainland government on combining into one the current separate visas for mainland tourists visiting the two cities.
The aim is for mainland tourists, under the Individual Visit Scheme, to travel to both places in one trip, according to Hong Kong Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun who revealed the plan yesterday.
Hong Kong and Macau are not competitors but partners in tourism promotion, Tien said after meeting with Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah and Macau tourism officials in the neighboring SAR.
He said increasingly severe international competition has driven them to embrace their partnership.

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BALI - Governor Says Kintamani's Panoramic Views are Being Lost to Unregulated Building

Balidiscovery.com, (10/20/2007)

Bali’s Governor Drs. Dewa Made Beratha has called for a stop to illegal and unplanned development in the areas surrounding Kintamani's volcanic lake district.Dismayed at the rapid growth of restaurants, shops and accommodation providers around the crater-lake's edge, the Governor warned, "if this (unplanned and illegal building) is not stopped, don’t hope for tourists to continue visiting Kintamani."Beratha also warned that if businesses are allowed to continue to build structures and concrete walls the scenic views of nature and Lake Batur will be lost. "if visitors can no longer see nature's beauty, what's left for them to do at Kintamani?"" the Governor asked.

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BALI - Spiritual Tourism

Balidiscovery.com, (10/20/2007)

Republika On-Line reports that the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik has identified spiritual tourism as a key product for Bali's future.According to the Minister, "a source for tourism in Bali for the future is spiritual tourism because of the potentials and possibilities offered in the cities and regions in Bali."

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INDONESIA - Population Pressures in Bali

Balidiscovery.com, (10/20/2007)

The Bali Post reports that Bali is becoming increasingly over-populated. While experts estimate the ideal carrying capacity for Bali's 562,286 hectares of land area is 2.4 million, a number far below the more than 3 million people who now make their home on the Island.The Regional Planning Board for Bali (BAPPEDA), Drs. Made Adijaya revealed that the current average of 600 people per square kilometer in Bali is 50% more than the ideal number of 400 residents per square kilometer. In municipal areas, such as Bali's capital of Denpasar, population loads are estimated to equal a very crowded 800 people per square kilometer.

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INDIA - Allocates billions to upgrade tourism infrastructure

TRAVEL IMPACT NEWSWIRE -- Edition 63 – Friday, October 19, 2007

October 15, 2007 – The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned a record Rs.323.00 crore for various development and site improvement projects nationwide in this fiscal year (1 April 2007 – 31 March 2008). Special importance has been given to improve the tourism infrastructure. The Ministry of Tourism extends Central Financial Assistance to the State Governments/UTs for Product/Infrastructure Development of Destinations and Circuits. A two-pronged strategy is being followed of upgrading tourism infrastructure coupled with vigorous marketing under the banner of ‘Incredible India Campaign’ to position India as a global brand.During 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), the Ministry of Tourism proposes to continue supporting creation of world class infrastructure in the country so that existing tourism products can be further improved and expanded to meet new market requirements and enhance the competitiveness of India as a tourist destination. In consultation with the State Governments and UTs the Ministry of Tourism have identified several tourist circuits and destinations for integrated development.

MALAYSIA - The death of Malaysia’s travel agencies?

eTN, 18 October 2007

Many mostly locally-owned travel agencies in Malaysia face imminent "closure of business" due to shifting business practices including the move by airlines to implement zero commission and the onslaught of online travel bookings.Travel agents, almost entirely dependent on businesses conducted on contract basis with government departments and entities for the majority of their ticket sales, will face a "big hole" in their income source with the decision by national carrier Malaysia Airlines to migrate towards zero commission.

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CAMBODIA - New tourist route could be answer to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat woes

(eTN), October 17th 2007

As tourism in Angkor Wat continues to grow unabated, a new tourist route could alleviate some of the tourist pressure.
For many years now, the Cambodian government has been looking for solutions to take some of the pressure out of the site. As the first seven months of 2007 brought 442,000 visitors to Siem Reap International Airport, a growth of 38 percent, Angkor Wat is poised to continue to take a beating from the hordes of tourists that visit the world heritage site. The Apsara Authority, which manages the Angkor Wat complex, recently introduced new paths with tourists taking different routes to enter and exit the temple.The objective now is to make certain that tourists do not flock to the site at the same time. The idea is to create circuits around Angkor Wat to spread the number of visitors and take some of the pressure faced by Angkor top attractions.

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AVIATION - Cellphone could speed demise of paper airline tickets

ajc.com, 17 October 2007

Airlines agree to standard for bar code text message
Major airlines have agreed on a standard that will allow travelers to check in using a bar code sent to their cellphones, the International Air Transport Association said at a meeting in Geneva.Passengers will register their cellphone number when buying a ticket and receive a bar code by text message, the group representing most commercial carriers said.Check-in staff will scan the bar code directly from cell phones, doing away with the need for a boarding pass.

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AVIATION - Pacific Blue to increase Flights to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

Asiatraveltips.com, 17 October 2007

Pacific Blue has ramped up flights to both New Zealand and the Pacific Islands following strong demand for extra services around the busy Christmas and New Year period.
The airline currently operates 110 weekly flights serving Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island countries. After some schedule changes, Pacific Blue will operate an additional 124 flights spread over the four and half week festive season, from 21 December 2007 to 20 January 2008, as follows:

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THAILAND - tourism minister keen on getting away from mass tourism

eTN, October 16 2007

Exclusive chat with Thailand's tourism minister.
Few people in Thailand have the courage of the current Thai Tourism Minister Suvhit Yodmani. Khun Suvhit is among few tourism promoters to raise the question of sustainable environment in tourism development. If Thailand’s tourism has indeed enjoyed a remarkable evolution in tourism over the last decade, reflected in a tourist arrivals growth from 7.7 million in 1997 to 13.8 million in 2006, the Southeast Asian kingdom is facing increased pressure to protect its natural assets.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Flow of tourists from Indochina seen surging

Bangkokpost, 15th October 2007

Private tourism operators are being urged to prepare for an influx of foreign tourists as the East-West Economic Corridor linking Burma, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam approaches completion.
According to Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, deputy secretary general to National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), the East-West Economic Corridor linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam has been finished, with the construction of 18 kilometres in Burma nearly completed.
The economic corridor is created based on a road of 1,450 km with the west end at port city of Mawlamyine (Burma), crossing Kayin Division, the Thai provinces of Tak, Sukhothai, Kalasin, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Yasothon, Mukdahan and the Laotian provinces of Savannakhet, Vietnamese provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue Province and Da Nang city as the east end.

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CHINA - to build world's largest national park

chinadaily.com.cn, 2007-10-15

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has planned to build the world's largest national park by integrating the scattered neighboring tourist resorts into a whole.
The Kanas Geological Park, now around 1,000 square kilometers, will be expanded to about ten times larger in a few years after incorporating the nearby tourist regions and grassland, said Tan Weiping, head of the park administration committee.
Tan said under a new tourism development plan, the Tiere Keti town of Kaba County and the Hom Kanas town of Burqin County will be included in the new national park, which s expected to replace America's Yellowstone National Park, covering an area of about 9,000 square kilometers, to become the world's largest.
"The new national park is helpful to protect the unique natural scenery, wildlife and cultural relics here," said Tan.

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DUBAI - Maritime City enters Final Phase of Development

Asiatraveltips.com, 12 October 2007

Dubai Maritime City, a purpose-built maritime centre and member of the Dubai World Group of companies, recently commenced work on the third and final phase of the project, which includes infrastructure development.
The new phase consists of the expansion of service networks such as fire, telecommunications, water, district cooling, electricity, wastewater pipelines, access roads, supporting civil infrastructure needs and landscaping works. The final phase of the development is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

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THAILAND - Proposed site for ICEC finally selected

Phuketgazette.net, October 8, 2007

Investment group ING Funds (Thailand) has chosen a 350-rai plot of Treasury Department land in Mai Khao as the preferred site for the Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC).The announcement came during a meeting of the project’s siting committee chaired by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday.In announcing its conclusion, ING Funds (Thailand) Managing Director Maris Tarab told the committee his firm hopes to fund the three-billion-baht project at the island’s northernmost tip through a limited public company that would be set up by the Treasury Department, if the idea is approved by the Finance Ministry. The seaside site was chosen over a 250-rai locale privately owned by the other finalist, Anuphas & Sons off Chao Fa West Rd in Wichit.

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AUSTRALIA - Gold Coast's road to wealth is clear

goldcoast.com.au, 09 Oct 07

THERE was a time, about a decade ago, when the Gold Coast's confidence could be described as tepid. The past 10 years have been the most remarkable in the city's history.
Gold Coast Airport records at least 70 arrivals and departures of large passenger jets a day, compared with about 40 flights a day on smaller aircraft conducted by Ansett and Qantas in 1997.
The volume of traffic on the Gold Coast section of Pacific Highway has increased by about 40,000 vehicles a day since that year.
Tourism bosses are daring to dream about a much larger, busier Gold Coast within a few more years and property analysts are already talking about a time when the city runs out of land available for housing.
Outsiders certainly can see the potential. Budget carrier Tiger Airways plans to provide an extra 1.4 million seats into the Gold Coast by 2010, and other airlines are keen to start up new services that would give the Gold Coast direct access to the seemingly inexhaustible markets of India, China and the Middle East.

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TAIWAN - Industries promote medical tourism

CNA, Oct 06, 2007

A new business alliance between a popular hotel, a travel agency and a medical association announced a program yesterday to promote medical tourism in Taiwan.
It is the first time that the three industries have joined forces to promote medical tourism, the market for which, according to estimates by the Council for Economic Planning and Development, could be worth up to NT$7 billion (US$220 million) per year.
Under the program, the Grand Hotel, the Taiwan Hospital Association and the Taipei-based Asia-Pacific Society of Travel Medicine (ASTM) will cooperate in promoting tourism packages to foreign visitors.
The cost of a four-day tour is estimated at between NT$30,000 and NT$60,000. The tour would include a three-hour health checkup, an anti-oxidation treatment, skin care and a magnetic wave face lift session.
Customers would stay at Taipei's Grand Hotel and spend their leisure time visiting local tourists spots, such as Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay, Palawan among world’s top 10 destinations

Manilastandardtoday.com, October 4th 2007

Boracay and Palawan have landed in the top 10 list of best destinations in the world by international publications.
The white, powdery sands and azure waters of Boracay, Aklan landed in the top 10 beach destinations of the Asian Wall Street Journal. The publication noted Boracay as a favorite among Asian holiday seekers for the variety of activities and entertainment available—from water sports to spas, from all-night parties to quiet, secluded nooks. It is also the only Southeast Asian attraction in the survey, joining other upcoming and exotic places such as Honduras, Abu Dhabi and Montenegro.
Asian Wall Street Journal’s list was endorsed by a panel of executives from global companies in the luxury hotel and cruise industry, including Four Seasons, which operates 74 hotels in 31 countries, the internationally acclaimed Ritz Carlton, high-ranking Asian brand Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Amanresorts, a company that specializes in top-quality spa getaways.

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China - ETHNIC KAZAKHS TO PONDER FUTURE AMID TOURISM BOOM

Eurasianet.org, 10/05/07

Chinese rule and an influx of people from other parts of the country have forced lifestyle changes upon Xinjiang’s Kazakhs, who have for centuries lived a nomadic existence. The jewel of Xinjiang’s Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture is Kanas, a crescent-shaped glacial lake tucked into mountains not far from the point where the borders of China, Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan converge. The lake is surrounded by thick taiga, giving way to sweeping meadows. Rich in resources and with abundant water supplies, it is a prime area for the livestock breeding that sustains nomadic families.
This natural beauty now threatens the nomadic way of life, as tourists have begun flocking to Lake Kanas. Paved roads now reach the lake and beyond, running alongside tracks used by nomads to move between winter and summer pastures. Yurts -- the round, felt tents in which the nomads live -- are flanked by luxurious hotels painted in garish orange and yellow hues, conspicuous against the deep green taiga.

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PHILIPPINES - Calicoan Island makes a splash among surfers

INQUIRER.net, 10/07/2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines--Efforts to promote Guiuan, Eastern Samar through a sports competition are paying off as more tourists and adventure lovers are coming down to sample the town's delights. The Department of Tourism and the provincial and municipal governments have been organizing the annual surfing competition in Calicoan Island, Guiuan to get enthusiasts to see what the town could offer as a destination.
Aurora delos Reyes, investment and tourism officer of Guiuan, said Guiuan Mayor Analiza Kwan has been very active in promoting Guiuan as a tourist spot, banking not only on the waves but also the town's rich historical, pilgrimage and cultural sites.

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INDONESIA - Clouds Over the Bali Climate Change Conference?

Balidiscovery.com, (10/6/2007)

Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya, urges the government, Climate Change Conference organizers and the tourist industry to anticipate an overload of visitors to the island, since December is normally Bali's peak tourist season, reports Kompas on October 4, 2007.The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held between 3-14 December, with pre-conference meetings by NGO's and experts commencing in late November, is a prestigious conference that must be organized successfully, said Ngurah Widjaja. The UNFCCC is expected to draw some 10,000 delegates. "If, say, only 7,000 delegates will attend, Bali will already be overstretched" said Wijaya. This will be the first time ever that Bali has hosted such a large number of Convention delegates. Up to now, Bali has organized a maximum of 5,000 Meeting and Conference delegates at one time. For that purpose a large number of hotels have been blocked in the resorts of Nusa Dua, Kuta and Sanur, in order to be able to accommodate all delegates.

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BANGLADESH - Development of tourism in Bangladesh

Thedailystar.net, 2007-09-27

Tourism creates employment for both sexes. According to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), the tourism industry accounts for 11% of total global employment. It is said that every twelve tourists create a new job. Unfortunately, tourism is one of the most neglected sectors in Bangladesh, though there is no lack of lip service on the part of the government. In fact, government high-ups and policy makers have hazy as well as negative ideas about tourism. They firmly believe that to attract foreign tourists to Bangladesh, the country needs to have nightlife facilities, bars, massage parlours etc., as if these are the essence of tourism.

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MACAU - Stakes are high for new casino, hotel in Asia

Delawareonline.com, September 23, 2007

The $2.4 billion Venetian Macau Resort Hotel is an ambitious venture, remarkable both for its massive size and for its location on the once-empty Cotai Strip. The Venetian, which opened on August 28, is the biggest hotel in Asia and the second biggest building in the world. It has the world's largest gaming floor, a 15,000-seat arena, 30 upscale restaurants plus a giant food court, 350 retail shops, 3,000 all-suite rooms and 1.2 million square feet of convention space, to say nothing of its signature canals, complete with gondolas and boatmen.
And the Venetian is only the beginning of the $10 to $12 billion Cotai Strip project, which will eventually feature 14 hotels, 20,000 guest rooms, hundreds of restaurants and three million square feet of retail space, along with the card tables, slot machines, roulette wheels and other games of chance for which Macau is famous. "We are going to create a mini Las Vegas out of the Cotai Strip," said Sheldon G. Adelson, one of the world's richest businessmen with a net worth of at least US$ 15 billion and the owner and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, which owns both the Venetian and the Cotai Strip as well as the profitable Sands Macao casino in downtown Macau.

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VIETNAM - “Hoi An Eco Tour” of young fisherman

VietNamNet Bridge, 30/09/2007

It is an interesting tour attracting foreign tourists in Hoi An ancient town, whose author is a young man, 29, originating from a fisherman. He ever worked as a receptionist for the Victoria Hotel in Hoi An.Khoa asked his parents to borrow VND 100 million to buy boats to organise his own tours. “Hoi An Eco Tour” was given birth from that time. Khoa’s father rows the boat and cooks dishes; and Khoa works as a tourist guide.
“What I would like to do is to combine making tourism with protecting the environment, promoting unique values of the sea,” Khoa said.

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VIETNAM - Tourism human resources in shortage

Nhandan.com.vn, September 28, 2007

The high growth of the tourism industry has recently brought about the great demand for human resources. Human resources are directly influencing service quality and the professionalism of the tourism sector.
According to statistics of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the total number of workers in the tourism sector is around 850,000 at present, including 250,000 workers who directly serve tourists. However, only around 50% of them are trained.
The tourism sector needs an additional around 35,000 trained workers each year but training centres can provide only about one-third of the number.
Besides weakness in terms of professional knowledge and skills, the largest disadvantage of Vietnamese tourism workers is foreign languages.

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MACAO - threatens Hong Kong for popularity

China Daily, 2007-10-01

Macao is expected to catch up with Hong Kong in the near future in terms of mainland tourist traffic, an expert said.
The estimation is based on the increasing trend of Macao's growing shares in the mainland tourist market and Macao's enriching tourism facilities.
The number of mainland tourists bound for Macao has been rising since 1999, causing annual growth of over 30 percent between 1999 and 2004, said Dai Bin, a professor at Beijing International Studies University, in a recent interview.
Although the growth rate has slowed a little in the past two years, it still beat the comparative rate for Hong Kong last year, when Macao registered 14.6 percent growth compared to Hong Kong's 8.4 percent.

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CHINA - 120 million Chinese celebrate Golden Week

CanWest News Service, October 01, 2007

At least 120 million Chinese were on the move during the weekend, filling seats in every plane, boat, train, bus and car available to take advantage of Golden Week, which officially starts today, China's National Day.
They've gone en masse to shop in Hong Kong, to gamble in Macao, to lie in the simmering autumn sunshine on Hainan Island, to visit Shangri-La in Yunnan Province and to Beijing to see the wonders of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Others have just gone home to the provinces to see families they only have the leisure to visit once or twice a year.
One way or another, however, China's population is on holidays. Almost all 1.3 billion of them.
"It's the time of the year you absolutely don't want to travel," an ex-pat businessman advises. "It's crazy. Stay put and enjoy the peace and quiet."

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HONG KONG - Visitor Arrivals for August 2007

ASIATravelTips.com, 1 October 2007

Hong Kong visitor arrivals in August 2007 numbered 2,758,337, the highest single-month total on record. The achievement represents 16.9% growth over last August. Arrivals from Mainland China also increased by a substantial 23.5% to over 1.68 million – the best-ever monthly record for the Mainland.
All long and short-haul market regions showed positive gain this August. On top of Mainland China, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific also performed exceptionally well.

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BALI - Bali's Airport: Between a Wet and a Soft Place

Balidiscovery.com (9/29/2007)

Indonesia's Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, conducted an inspection of Bali's air gateway while in town to open the PATA Travel Mart - accompanied by the Minister of Transportation, Syaffi Djamal, and the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Sofyan Djalil. Following that inspection Kalla called on PT Angkasa Pura - the company charged with managing the airport, to extend and expand the current runway. Kalla told the Bali Post: "the Ngurah Rai airport must soon be expanded. In the first phbase, the runway must be extended 600 meters. In the second phase, a new runway must be constructed." The Vice President called for an urgent construction program to be undertaken in order to permit Bali to welcome the larger, A380 aircraft within two year's time.

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THAILAND - Healthy progress in medical tourism

TTGasia.com, Sep 7 - 13, 2007

MORE than 10 private hospitals in Bangkok are vying for foreign patients, which according to Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MPH), have amounted to more than one million patients per year since 2005.
Kasikorn Research Centre said foreign patients who sought medical treatments in Thailand spent an average of 25,800 baht (US$880) per person per trip in 2005. Meanwhile, MPH expected revenue from medical services for foreign patients to reach 32.89 billion baht this year, and would subsequently reach 39.83 billion baht next year.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the main sources of medical tourists were the Middle East, South Asia, the US, Europe, Australia and Indochina.

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MARKETS - Asia Pacific Tourism Continues to Break Records

Pata.org, September 25, 2007

There were close to 356 million international trips to Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) member destinations in 2006, representing region-wide year-on-year growth of 5.3% over 2005. This was revealed by the ‘PATA Annual Statistical Report 2006’, launched today during a strategic intelligence workshop at PATA Travel Mart 2007 in Bali, which has set a new year-to-date record for arrivals. “Calendar year 2006 was very successful in terms of international visitor arrivals (IVAs) into and within Asia Pacific,” said PATA Director - Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC) Mr John Koldowski. The following destinations posted “best-ever performances” in 2006:
• Chile, in the Americas;
• Bhutan, India and Pakistan, in South Asia;
• China (PRC), Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea (ROK) Macau SAR and Mongolia, in Northeast Asia;
• Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar. Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, in Southeast Asia; and
• Australia, Cook Islands, Hawaii, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Samoa, in the Pacific.
“Asia Pacific may attract up to 380 million IVAs in 2007,” he added. “So far this year the region has added 13.8 million international visitor arrivals compared to the same period in 2006, an expansion of 7.1% year-on-year.”

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AVIATION - Low Cost Airlines increase Share of Business Travel Market

Asiatraveltips.com, 27 September 2007

Fares for budget airlines grew by 10% in the last year and now account for one in eight business travel bookings, according to a recent survey by international corporate services company Hogg Robinson Group.
Traditional carriers have responded to the growth of the low cost carriers in the business sector by reducing the cost of their economy fares by an average 5%. This heightened competition across the airline industry has kept overall average price increases below those seen in previous years despite an increase in the number of travellers.

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AUSTRALIA - Gold Coast airport expansion

Asia Property Report - September 18 2007

The federal government has approved a $A100 million ($US82.44 million) refurbishment andexpansion of the Gold Coast Airport´s main terminal.Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile said the airport redevelopment would relieve congestion and improve passenger services."The Gold Coast Airport is a key global gateway for tourism, business travel and the shipment of freight to the Pacific Rim," Mr Vaile said."Gold Coast Airport has continued to grow in terms of both its domestic and international airline services resulting in the terminals experiencing some congestion."

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FIJI - not ready for Chinese tourists

.fijilive.com, September 25, 2007

Fiji at the moment is still not ready for Chinese tourists, it does not have the products to accommodate them, Tourism permanent secretary Adi Banuve Kaumaitotoya has admitted. She says Fiji is targeting middle level Chinese tourists whom she described as independent travelers from China who come here and stay in accommodations just like a conventional tourist. These tourists are interested in culture, in ecotourism, scenic views and shopping, she says.

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THAILAND - Chiang Mai’s condo conundrum

Asia Property Report - September 27 2007

Investors have snapped up the limited number of new luxury condos available in Chiang Mai over the past 18 months, but finding tenants is proving more difficult. A combination of over-confidence in the rental market, construction-site proximity and bad location are all reasons given for the lack of demand among tenants. Yet new projects appear to enjoy buoyant sales, reports Andrew Bond.
The emergence of a small but certain luxury condo market is one of the key characteristics of property in this Northern town which has been overhauling its image somewhat in recent years. The arrival of several five-star hotels and the gentrification of areas such as Nimminhemin road and the Night Bazaar area are signs of confidence in a more cosmopolitan city atmosphere. The city has also noted a marked influx in foreigners becoming residents here, and traditionally this sector has supported the existing condo market. Now, buildings such as Twin Peaks, Kharn Kanok and Punna are offering foreign buyers and residents far more choice.

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MALAYSIA - Northern Malaysia’s major plans

Asia Property Report - September 19 2007

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, announced on July 30 the government’s plan to develop the country’s northern region. Dubbed the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the plan will introduce a slew of projects to spur growth and boost income levels in the states of Perlis, Kedah and northern Perak. Penang is also included in the masterplan and is expected to play a major role as a logistics and transportation hub and a gateway to the region.
The government hopes to attract up to RM177 billion (about US$50 billion) in investment over 18 years, with two-thirds of it coming from the private sector, according to government estimates. Sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and logistics will be the major beneficiaries of the NCER project.

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BHUTAN - is interested in Phuket’s tourism and education

Thaisnews.com, September 25 2007

A delegation from the small mountainous country of Bhutan led by its Head of Services Division in the Department of Tourism, Rinzin Jamtsho, paid a call on the Phuket Vice Governor Worapote Ratasrima during their trip to Phuket last weekend. The group discussed a possibility in tourism cooperation. Mr. Rinzin Jamtsho paid special interest in the island’s hotel accommodation and spa management to apply in their country as Bhutan is promoting its tourism development. They observed the management of large hotels like the Hilton Acadia Resort and Spa and Marina Cottage at Karon beach. A possible direct – flight between Phuket and Bhutan was also mentioned. At present Prince of Songkhla University in Phuket have some students enrolled from Bhutan.

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THAILAND - Koh Samui ready to hoist her sails

Asia Property Report - September 24 2007

Every cruising market eventually loses momentum, but will a second wind follow swiftly for Koh Samui? And what form will it take? James Cook talks to the survivors of the recent slump and assesses new arrivals to the island’s shores.
A five-year property boom ended abruptly on Koh Samui when a series of high profile investigations into land encroachment coincided with the strict enforcement of the Foreign Business Act. The latter made it considerably more difficult for foreign investors to buy land through a Thai registered company, and with added uncertainty after the military coup, Samui’s once soaring market seemed to be facing a bleak future.

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PHILIPPINES - Volcanoes as attractions are RP’s next pitch for tourism

globalnation.inquirer.net, 24 Sept 2007

Environment officials plan to turn volcanoes which are rich in biodiversity, such as Mt. Iraya in Batanes, into “eco-tourism zones” that could benefit the local communities.
Officials of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that aside from their natural features, volcanoes offered other attractions such as endemic flora and fauna to climbers, adventurers and tourists.“A volcano doesn’t erupt every day. Therefore, we can promote these as tourist attractions. And biodiversity is part of the attraction,” PAWB director Theresa Mundita Lim said at a forum on volcano eco-tourism.

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BALI - Overly Dependent on Tourism Business

Balidiscovery.com, (9/23/2007)

As reported in the authoritative Indonesia Digest, Bali economist, Prof. Nyoman Erawan has recently predicted that Bali's rate of economic growth may reach 6% in 2007.According to Erawan, while the island's economy is gradually improving, such growth remains precarious when dependent solely on business trends in the tourism sector. In comments carried in the Bali Post, He warned that Bali must develop other sectors, such as agriculture, which can provide a significant contribution to public welfare.The respected economist from Bali's Udayana University also predicted that Bali's economy will continue to grow a rate above 6% in 2008 and beyond, as long as the province's economic stability is guarded and other sectors beyond tourism are developed.

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BALI - Regent to Get Tough with Noise-Polluting Bars and Restaurants

Balidiscovery.com, (9/23/2007)

A group of disgruntled commercial villa and private home owners in Bali's Petitenget area are trying to increase pressure on local authorities to enforce anti-noise pollution regulations on bars and restaurants operating in the area.In a letter sent to the Regent of Badung on September 17, 2007, the group complained of the lack of action by authorities against business places who electronically amplify music. Those who signed the letter underlined how the bars often play music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 11:00 p.m. until the early hours of the following day.In the letter, business operators report they are losing revenues when disgruntled guests check out early from their villas and pledge not to return until the noise pollution problem is remedied.

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INDIA - Kerala starts year-long study on tourism impact

business-standard.com, 20 Sept 2007

Kerala Tourism (KT) has launched a year-long study to find out the impact of tourism on ecology and infrastructure. The study comes in the wake of its initiative to promote eco-tourism in a big way.
The Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative is being implemented on a pilot basis in four destinations -- Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Wayanad."The state is also set to host the second international conference on responsible tourism in association with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), India," Venu V, secretary, Kerala Tourism, said.

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MARKETS - More Asian Women aged 18 to 35 Travelling Abroad

Asiatraveltips.com, 20 September 2007

Contiki Holidays, a leader in vacations for 18-35 year-olds, has found that more women than men are travelling around the world according to the number of tour bookings made in the first six months of this year.
Seven out of every ten tour bookings at the company were made by a female traveller, an increase of 10% when compared to the same period last year.
Travellers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore made up the female majority, and of that number, close to 60% travelled as individuals.
Japanese and Korean women proved to be the most independent travellers of the four, embarking on various tours to Australia, Europe, New Zealand and North America.

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INDIA - Luxury travel new craze among millionaires

indiatimes.com, 19 September 2007

If luxury is about indulging, sans the boundaries, then owning a private jet or yacht is the ultimate in luxury travel for the Indian millionaires.
Luxury travel has arrived in India and is moving very fast— from speedboats to luxury yachts, from small four-seater aircraft to bigger brands. Indian corporate houses—Reliance Industries , Videocon, UB Group, Raymond, GMR, Bharat Hotels, Taj Air, Oberoi et alare all buying private jets such as Falcons, Cessnas, Bombardiers, Beech Kings and Gulfstreams in large numbers. The new-age Indian traveller wants to travel not only in comfort but also save time, and at his convenience. With money not being the deciding factor, orders for private jets shot up to more than 45 last year while nearly 100 new yachts are expected to enter the India market this year.

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MALAYSIA - PGCC to create 40,000 jobs

The egde daily, 13-09-2007

PENANG: The Penang Global City Centre (PGCC) will give Penang a major boost in economic development, particularly the tourism sector, and is expected to create some 40,000 jobs.
The PGCC will initially generate 5,000 jobs in the construction industry, and when completed, will create over 20,000 jobs in the retail industry, 10,000 office jobs, 2,000 jobs in the service and health care industry, 1,000 in the convention centre and 4,000 in the hotel industry.
The project, with a gross development value (GDV) of over RM20 billion, is being developed by Abad Naluri Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Equine Capital Bhd over the next 18 to 20 years.
The PGCC, to be developed under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), will comprise two towers, a metropolitan park, the Penang Performing Arts Centre, high-end retail outlets, a convention centre and condominiums.

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SRI LANKA -Promoting tourism through sports

Dailynews.lk, 14 September 2007

SPORTS TOURISM Deputy Minister of Tourism, Faizer Mustapha had a discussion last week with Malaysian High Commissioner, Rosli Ismail and CEO of Asian German Sports Exchange Programme, (AGSEP) Dietmar Doering, regarding tours by German sports teams from Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Dresden and
Meet: From Left. Deputy Minister of Tourism Faizer Mustapha, Malaysian High Commissioner Rosli Ismail, CEO of AGSEP Dietmar Doering, Co-ordinators of Marketing of AGSEP Stefan Eggecs, Rebecca Schmalen and Assistant to CEO of AGSEP Isabelle Bogorinsky.
Magdeburg to Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
This would help to promote the two countries as tourist destinations.
AGSEP is presently launching this Campaign which will result in bringing German football, table tennis, volleyball, badminton and tennis teams to Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Thirty clubs will visit each country next year that will foster closer relationships through sport events.

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THAILAND -Slump in foreign visitors 15% fall in those booking via agents

The Nation business, September 12, 2007

It says the number of foreign tourists who arrived at Suvarnabhumi between January and August, after booking their travel through travel agencies, totalled 1.57 million, down by a whopping 15.3 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
The association's figures show that the arrivals were down by 350,000 from 1.92 million in the first eight months of 2006.
The figures do not, however, include the large number of tourists who travel without using agencies, and who book directly with airlines. And although Suvarnabhumi is the main tourist gateway to Thailand, the figures do not include arrivals directly to other international airports like Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Krabi.
The ATTA says the global economic slowdown, Thailand's political turmoil, rumours that Bangkok was targeted for more bombings and the sharp fluctuations in major currencies had been the main negative factors affecting the tourist industry.

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PHILIPPINES - Jolo Island eyeing huge developments

Manilatimes.net, September 17, 2007

The province of Sulu in Mindanao may soon become an island resort similar to Boracay in central Philippines or even to Phuket in Thailand as part of a new tourism plan to lure Filipino and foreign visitors.
Gov. Sakur Tan said they would convert some of Sulu’s islands and pristine beaches into resorts, complete with amenities and business centers and land and water vessels to transport holidaymakers.
“We want to develop Sulu into one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines, and we are pursuing an ambitious program to promote tourism and also trade and investments,” Tan told The Manila Times.
Tan said the plan to put up world-class resorts in Sulu would probably begin in 2008 and would take between one to two years to finish. “We are now working on this project,” he said.

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CHINA - to invest 26.9 bln yuan to develop tourism in Three Gorges

China Daily Online, September 17, 2007

China's Three Gorges Dam region will receive 26.9 billion yuan (3.5 billion U.S. dollars) from 2007 to 2020 to develop tourism to provide jobs for people relocated for the project.The investment aims at realizing the government's plan to build tourism into the pillar sector in the Three Gorges Dam region, in order to generate 20 billion yuan, or 24.7 percent of the area's GDP by 2020.
The Three Gorges tourism development plan, which outlined the investment schedule, issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, has been approved by a group of experts in tourism and city planning organized by the government.

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BALI - Potential Bali villa crackdown

Asia Property Report - September 16 2007

In Bali today, at the height of the tourist season with visitors flooding back into the island, you’d be hard pushed to buy a bottle of half-decent wine. By mistake or design, the authorities have decreed that all imported wines on sale are illegal. Even newly opened French megastore Carrefour has hardly a bottle on its once-groaning shelves.
If that’s putting a dampener on the holiday season, try this on for size. It’s not just visitors and their favoured quaff but also the very roof over their heads that’s under threat. From August 30, over 250 rental-villa properties or over a third of the total could in theory be closed or even pulled down.

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CHINA - China Contact Survey

ForImmediateRelease.Net, September 17, 2007

ChinaContact, a leading consultancy on China market access for the tourism sector, has launched the first ever global survey of the travel industry's readiness for Chinese tourists. This survey will provide a snapshot of what travel organisations have been or are intending to do to prepare for the growth in tourism coming from China. The data is valuable for destinations to assess the market and for travel companies to understand the trends and realise where investment is needed. Tourism from China is growing at 14% this year, with forecasts for strong growth until 2020. Recent media reports of an imminent tourism deal between China and the US are prompting renewed urgency to prepare for Chinese visitors. Competition for Chinese tourists is becoming fierce with 92 destinations now approved for marketing travel in China and further 40 that have signed bilateral tourism agreements.

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INDONESIA - ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum in Bali

Balidiscovery.com, (9/16/2007)

As reported in TBSC-Strategic Communication's Indonesian Digest, the ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum (ATIF) will be held in Bali September 20-22, 2007. Organized back to back with the PATA Travel Mart, the Forum will be followed by the ASEAN Task Force Meeting before the commencement of the PATA Travel Mart September 25-28, 2007."The strategic importance of the tourism industry to support sustainable socio-economic growth of ASEAN Member States and the diversity in cultures, economy, and the complementary advantages across the region, will benefit tourism development in ASEAN in the pursuit of improved regional quality of life, peace and prosperity", says an ATIF brochure.

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MYANMAR - Tourism thrives as Myanmar is urged to release demonstrators

eTN, 13-Sept-2007

An official from Myanmar's Ministry of Tourism has claimed that no significant cancellations have been reported, and arrivals are still up over last year. The official, who was not authorized to speak to reporters therefore speaking on condition of anonymity, told Agence France Presse: "We don't think tourist arrivals will decrease because of the protests here. Now the number of arrivals is up 11 percent from April 1 to now, compared to the same period last year. These protests are not about tourists."Tourism's peak season is due to start in October when the dry season starts and the weather turns cooler. Travel operators are so far claiming that no tourists have cancelled their reservation yet as a result of the protests. Last year, approximately 630,000 foreigners visited military-ruled Myanmar, spending some US$164 million.

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BRUNEI - New Executive Committee for Brunei Association of Hotels

Asiatraveltips.com, 12 September 2007

The Brunei Association of Hotels (BAH) has appointed a new Executive Committee for the next 2 year term.
Heading up the new BAH Executive Committee is BAH President- Mohammad Irwan Goh, General Manager of The Rizqun International Hotel with Pg Dato Hj Jaludin Pg Mohd Limbang, Owner of Nazira Guesthouse as BAH Vice President. Other Executive Committee members are Cynthia Bong, General Manager of Brunei Hotel as Honorary Treasurer, Shamsul Bahrin Pehin Hj Ahmad, General Manager of Orchid Garden Hotel as Honorary Secretary and Executive Committee Members- Alex Riva, General Manager of Sheraton Utama Hotel, Manfred Keiler, General Manager of The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Bambi Sumadsad, Assistant Operations Manager of The Holiday Lodge and Simon Leong, General Manager of Traders Inn.

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PHILIPPINES - Body formed to develop

visayandailystar.com, September 6, 2007

The steering committee will supervise the over-all implementation of the action plan that will be formulated by regional and provincial technical working groups chaired by Regional Technical Director for Research Alicia Lustica.
The groups are expected to hold consultations with various stakeholders and come up with a plan six months.
Claudio, through Regional Special Order 2007-263, also instructed the technical working groups to include in their gathering of data existing plans and programs of different national government agencies, local government units, business and private sectors, non-government organizations and individuals with stakes in Boracay Island.

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INDIA - promises to link Thailand and Singapore to the Andamans

AFP, Sep 8, 2007

India on Saturday said it will try to link Singapore and Thailand to the Andamans by air by March 2008 but added the archipelago needed a makeover to sell itself to tourists.
The announcement comes amid an unprecedented increase in the number of arrivals by low-budget domestic tourists to the Andamans, where most of the 36 inhabited islands are now partially open to visitors.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the Indian Ocean archipelago, mauled by the tsunami in 2004, could outshine destinations in Thailand and Singapore if it were refurbished.
"There is not much difference between Phuket, Bangkok and the Andamans but more tourism-related facilities are needed here," Patel said in capital Port Blair, which upgraded its airport to international standards six months ago.
Most European tourists to India avoid the island chain because of its remote location and due to the stifling presence of the Indian military.
"We now intend to link Andamans to Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand within six months by air and we are certain we can match their tourism industries," Patel said.

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INDIA - Andaman tsunami tourism plan backfiring - industry

in.reuters.com, September 10,2007

PORT BLAIR, India - A flood of low-budget tourists since the 2004 tsunami is hurting India's ecologically fragile Andaman and Nicobar islands and ruining plans to make it a top global destination, industry officials said.
It has drained scarce resources such as water, sparked excessive demand for airline tickets, hit hotel revenues and created a service culture which is insensitive to the needs of wealthier travellers, they said.The problem, officials said, is a decision to allow all levels of government and state-run firms' workers to use their paid family and home leave travel allowances, awarded every two years, to fly if they want to visit the Andamans.That means low wage state workers were visiting -- taking up the chance to fly for the first time and visit the far-off islands -- with trips previously restricted to senior level state employees.

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BALI - Freehold Land Title for Foreigners in Bali: Caveat Emptor

Balidiscovery.com, (9/9/2007)

Foreigners trying to obtain a freehold title on land in Indonesia should note that current law is clear in both its letter and intent: namely, foreigners cannot directly hold freehold title on Indonesian land.
Despite this lack of equivocation by the Government on the continuing prohibition of foreign land ownership; it is ironic to discover real estate companies have erected booths in the arrival halls of Bali's airport, placed ads in local publications and distributed brochures – all advertsing "freehold" land in Bali. Given the state of current property law, the very use of the English language term "freehold" in connection to a local property transaction involving a foreigner is highly suspect and is a tactic that, in other jurisdictions, would form the basis of a criminal prosecution.

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AVIATION - With thousands signing up as early space tourists, a new race is on

iht.com, September 5, 2007

There are already several dozen space tourism ventures in various stages of development worldwide, analysts say, offering experiences ranging from a brief trip to the outer limits of the Earth's atmosphere to an extended stay in a zero-gravity space hotel. Public and private investors in places as far flung as Dubai, New Mexico and Singapore are preparing to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to develop full-blown "spaceports," complete with hotels, museums, Imax theaters and other space-themed diversions.With the first paying passengers expected to take flight sometime in late 2009, Futron, a market research firm, predicts that as many as 14,000 space tourists will be heading into space each year by 2021, generating annual revenue of more than $700 million.

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CAMBODIA - to establish a national airline

people.com.cn , September 5, 2007

The Cambodian government will establish a national airline soon, senior officials said on Tuesday.
The state-owned aviation company will become a key tool for globally advertising and promoting of the kingdom's tourism industry, because Cambodia expects to attract about two million of foreign tourists this year, said Tourism Minister Thong Khon at the 12th Government-Private Sector Forum."Last year Cambodia collected over one billion U.S. dollars from the tourism field and the tourist arrivals in the first half of this year increased nearly by 20 percent (over that of last year)," he added.

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SINGAPORE -Works Begin on Sin$33 million Pit Building for Formula 1

Asiatraveltips.com, 4 September 2007

Works on the Pit Building for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix officially started last week. Measuring some 350 metres long, the Pit Building is a key piece of infrastructure for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, which will debut on 28 September 2008.
Located along the waterfront, it will house key race infrastructure. Taking up most of the ground floor is space for 36 garages for the 12 teams. The second floor houses the Media Centre, hospitality lounges, the race control centre and the winners’ podium while the third floor features a modern and aerodynamic structure housing more hospitality facilities and a roof terrace offering more viewing opportunities of the race.

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HONG KONG - Tourism Board launches Three New Eco-Oriented Tours

Asiatraveltips.com, 4 September 2007

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has introduced three new eco-oriented tours under the Hong Kong Nature Kaleidoscope Programme to tie in with the seasonal climate, providing visitors with more choices of eco tour products. New itineraries available for visitors include the wetland tours in Long Valley and Mai Po, as well as the re-packaged Northeast New Territories Islands Hopping Tour offered by the HKTB in collaboration with the travel trade.
“To help sustain the continued development of tourism, the HKTB is working closely with travel trade in introducing more commercially-operated eco-oriented tours in the market under the Hong Kong Natural Kaleidoscope Programme.

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THAILAND - TAT targets Indian travelers

Phuketgazette.net, August 31, 2007

Representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Southern Region 4 Office will tomorrow set off for the subcontinent as part of a nine-day “Amazing Thailand Roadshow to India 2007”, with stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.The road show, with funding by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), will promote Phuket tourism and facilities to Indian travel agencies, the Indian press and the public to boost the number of Indian tourists visiting Phuket.Suwalai Pinpradab, director of the TAT Southern Region 4 Office, said that India is the biggest tourism market in Southeast Asia, with enormous spending power.

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MALAYSIA - New economic zone to focus on tourism

ttnworldwide.com, sept 2007

A newly announced economic development zone in northern peninsular Malaysia will give a fillip to the tourism industry in the northern states, eTN reported.
The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) blueprint was announced last week and will focus on tourism, in addition to diversifying the area into a more modern manufacturing, agricultural, services and logistics center.A combined government and private sector initiative, the plan aims to boost the economy and raise income levels in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak in peninsular Malaysia. Covering a span of 18 years, the $51 billion masterplan aims to create half a million jobs by 2012, rising to one million by 2018.

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THAILAND - Las Vegas Sands eyes Kingdom

The Nation Business, September 3, 2007

To Adelson, integrated resorts like the Cotai Strip, which includes 14 five-star hotel brands, casinos, convention and exhibition halls, arenas and other amenities under one roof,
are effective magnets to draw tourists. He also insisted that it would be a boon to the cities where the developments were located as they would create jobs. The Cotai Strip, which will be completed in the next 26-30 months with 20,000 hotel rooms, will hire 70,000 people. In the next five years, supported by the development, Macau will be like Las Vegas.

Despite the giant development project, Adelson believes that there are opportunities for future developments in other countries, including Thailand. However, all development projects must incorporate casinos, as this will generate ample revenue to subsidise other services. To Adelson, every country has a chance to bring in new tourists. He is in discussion with a country which welcomes 8-10 million tourists a year. He is confident that if an integrated resort is allowed in this country, arrivals will double.

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CAMBODIA - Ex-Khmer Rouge stronghold bets the pot on casino boom

AFP, Sep 2, 2007

Landmines -- thousands of them -- lie unseen, in some places only metres (yards) from the road.
But the hidden killers are one of the few reminders left of the war that raged a decade ago across this remote hill country in Cambodia's western-most reaches.
The tanks that were commonplace have since given way to truck convoys rumbling across from Thailand, past casinos and highrise hotels that residents hope signal a rebirth for this former Khmer Rouge stronghold.
These ex-guerrillas, whose misguided dream of a classless agrarian utopia had violently rejected the fruits of capitalism, are now in the business of making money.

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VIETNAM - AirAsia to launch New Budget Airline

Asiatraveltips.com, 3 September 2007

AirAsia has signed a Letter of Intent with the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (VINASHIN), one of the largest state owned corporations in Vietnam with a legal capital of the Joint-Venture Company estimated at US$30 million.
The venture will see both parties establishing a low-cost airline in Vietnam based on AirAsia’s successful business model. The intended business for the venture will include securing the license to operate a new Vietnamese airline which will serve; domestic, regional and international routes.

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MALAYSIA - Middle East investment boost for IDR

thestar.com.my, August 28, 2007

Investors from the Middle East are expected to ink an agreement tomorrow to commit billions of ringgit into the Iskandar Development Region, making them the pioneer investors.
Malaysia’s reputation as a destination for foreign investment will certainly be burnished with the news that these Middle Eastern investors would be making a significant investment in the project.
Government officials are tight-lipped about the matter but several analysts believe that the initial investment could be more than RM3bil. This investment will kick-start the Iskandar project, an ambitious plan to develop a large swathe of south Johor into a global city.

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CAMBODIA - gives permission for companies to build tourist resorts on islands

International Herald Tribune, 30 July, 2007

Cambodia's government has given its permission for six local and foreign companies to develop tourist resorts worth up to US$627 million (€460 million) on islands off the country's coast, officials said Monday.
Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh, who is also vice chairman of the Cambodian Investment Board, signed agreements in principle with the companies last Friday, said Long Sakhan, president of one of the companies.
She said her real estate firm, Vimean Seila Ltd., received permission to build a hotel and resort on a 420-hectare (1,037-acre) area of an island off Kampot province, 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of the capital Phnom Penh.
She said another Cambodian company and four other foreign firms are planning to develop similar tourist resorts on four islands off the coast of Sihanoukville, a port 185 kilometers (115 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay administrator proposed

Inquierer.net 08/14/2007

The Department of Tourism in Western Visayas is pushing for the appointment of an administrator for Boracay as one way to save the island-resort from deterioration brought by unregulated commercial development.
DoT regional director Edwin Trompeta has recommended to Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano, who also chairs the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), that the PTA appoint an administrator to oversee the day-to-day implementation of the regulations concerning development projects on the island.
The administrator will also coordinate the projects and programs of local government units and other agencies, according to Trompeta.

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