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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