PHUKET - Radisson Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach to open in 2008

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 12 October 2006

The Radisson Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach, located on the picturesque south-eastern tip of Phuket in Thailand, is scheduled to open in the latter half of 2008.

The four storey resort will comprise of five accommodation wings with 217 rooms and villas. In keeping with the local environment, the resort will take on a Thai contemporary design with mixed rooflines and structural details to provide a ‘Village’ feel.

The resort will be a combination of water and jungle themes, and contribute to the sustainable future of Phuket through the innovative design of water catchment areas in the form of ponds for re-use of water in the resort’s landscaping. The resort’s restaurants will also draw heavily on the exotic fruits and vegetables to be grown on the grounds.

>>Full article

SOUTH kOREA - Seoul eyes 12 million tourists by 2010

eTN Asia, 12-10-2006

The Seoul Metropolitan government has shared plans to strengthen the city’s business and tourism infrastructure to achieve the same.

On the target set, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon referred to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 World EXPO in Shanghai, which the official felt would provide the country great opportunities to expose the city internationally.

The increased number of foreign visitors will create 200,000 new jobs, as per the projections shared by city officials with The Korea Times. The report added as part of a four-year, 27.7 trillion won ($29 billion) urban development plan aimed at making Seoul a “top 10 world city,” the city promised further investment in developing more leisure and tourists attractions in downtown areas and strengthening the infrastructure for the convention sector to lure more business travelers.

Among initiatives, there are plans on the anvil to reduce the tax burdens for hotels and other businesses in the lodging sector, which currently charge customers value-added tax (VAT). Recently, a 253 million won urban development project, “the Han River Renaissance,” focused on turning the Han River into a major tourist attraction through 2010 by improving its accessibility, strengthening its culture and tourist infrastructure and adding more green areas on its embankments.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working to effectively improve the quality of life in Korea, to promote culture and tourism industries in the globalization process, and to make Korea more competitive in international sports.

>>Full article

ANALYSES - ‘Spas don’t do enough research’

TTGasia, Oct 6 - 12,2006 / No.1498

Research can help the young spa industry avoid costly mistakes, yet it is not doing enough of it. Mak Ying Kwan reports.

RESEARCH is indispensable to successful marketing, especially for the relatively young spa and wellness industry in
the region.

Spa managers need access to reliable industry-wide research and data on their customers’ behaviour, likes, dislikes and expectations.

Yet, spa operators are not doing enough research.

As an example, research conducted by Intelligent Spas shows “relaxation” as the top reason 24.8 per cent male and 34.6 per cent female spa customers go to a spa. “Detoxification” is cited by 3.5 per cent of male customers and 2.4 per cent female customers. “Slimming/weight loss” is cited by 0.0 per cent male and 3.2 per cent female customers. Yet many spa marketing focus on detoxification and slimming/weight loss treatments in their brochures and advertisements, Intelligent Spas co-founder, Mr Stu Garrow, points out.

With this research data, spa managers may decide to stop highlighting these two treatments, or choose to increase the demand for them by educating their customers.

Mr Garrow said: “Research findings can be used to drive business and avoid costly mistakes.” He was speaking at Asia Connect, a conference in Singapore recently organised by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International.

Customers surveyed expect “impeccable service”, “hygienic environment” and “a peaceful ambience” when visiting a spa.

However, surveys show these expectations are not met. Just over 19 per cent of male and 18.6 per cent of female customers found “unprofessional treatment” as a main cause of “disappointment during recent spa visit”. Other reasons for an unsatisfied visit include “not clean”, cited by 8.5 per cent of male and 3.2 per cent of female customers, “poor service”, cited by 2.1 per cent of male and 14.7 per cent of female customers and “airconditioning too cold”, cited by 0 per cent of male and 3.2 per cent of female customers.

“Pushy sales techniques” is another factor not appreciated by customers.

Cleanliness and airconditioning temperatures could be easily and quickly corrected at minimal cost once negative customer reaction to them shows up in findings, Mr Garrow said. Operating procedures could be put in place, prioritised, implemented and regularly updated to avoid other pitfalls.

>>Full article

DEVELOPMENTS - Difficult to implement unpopular policy in Philippines

TTGasia, Oct 6 - 12,2006 / No.1498

PHILIPPINE IATA Agents Travel Association (PIATA) president and Rajah Travel executive vice-president, Ms Aileen Clemente, said the Philippines’ unique market conditions also made daily voiding difficult to implement.

The marine market, particularly for sea crew travel, is characterised by changes in port and departure dates, and is governed by stringent travel-tax-exemption procedures. Each IATA agent also has ticket stock allocations, resulting in different formulations of how many tickets they can issue.

Ms Clemente added: “It is a chicken-and-egg situation. To apply for a visa, you need proof of booking. What happens if the visa is denied or the processing is late and you cannot leave on your desired date?”

First Metro Travelex president, Ms Lucille Chabeldin, believed agents would lose flexibility in handling corporate clients. She said: “Business travellers often change their schedule. We used to either refund or re-issue tickets for no-shows or changes in onward sectors. Clients will not pay for unused tickets, so I would now have to pay for them. Sometimes, tickets are highly restricted with no refund value. There are so many issues IATA failed to consider.”

Adding that refund charges would have to be passed on to clients, she anticipated cash flow problems as agents would have to make advance payments for international tickets and taxes.

The trade has asked IATA to defer implementation of the same-day-void regulation. Ms Clemente said: “We already have shorter ticketing time limits that show a higher commitment to ticketing and allow airlines to know their revenue. The rationale behind daily voiding is still unclear.” At press time, IATA had not replied.

Agents are bracing themselves for the effects. Ms Chabeldin said: “Some commitments with corporate clients, especially credit accommodation, will really have to change.”

MALAYSIA - Sarawak works on Lion City

TTGasia, Oct 6 - 12,2006 / No.1498

KUALA LUMPUR – Plagued by falling visitor arrivals from Singapore, the Sarawak Tourism Board has developed a strategy to increase tourist arrivals from its biggest overseas market, by as much as 30 per cent in this last quarter.

In the first quarter of this year, there were 6,373 arrivals from Singapore to Sarawak, a 43.34 per cent decrease over the previous quarter’s 11,248.

Working with the two carriers that fly from Singapore to Kuching, SilkAir and Malaysia Airlines, and the Sarawak Ambassador consortium of agents in Singapore, the board launched Kuching Delight on September 28.

It is a marketing strategy to introduce the unique types of gastronomic, cultural and natural delights of the state capital, Kuching, to outbound travel agents, the media, schools and polytechnics.

Sarawak Tourism Board marketing manager, Ms Mary Wan Mering, explained the focus would be on activities popular with Singaporeans – dolphin and firefly watching, visits to an ethnic longhouse and orang utan rehabilitation centre, and city tours.

The first phase kicks off after the Muslim month of Ramadhan in late-October, with fam trips for travel agents and the press. “This would be ongoing and the airlines would sponsor the flights,” Ms Mering said.

After the year-end school exams and before the holidays begin, the board will hold a product update seminar on tourist spots in Kuching for secondary schools and polytechnics. “Schools have always been very supportive of Sarawak, with two-day/one-night study trips being the norm. We will answer queries on safety, food and any other issues schools may have pertaining to student travel.”

In the last quarter of 2005, Sarawak’s arrivals from Singapore totalled 9,281.

Travel agents said the board’s goal of 30 per cent growth from the Singapore market was very achievable, but felt arrivals for this last quarter could be higher if air fares on the Singapore-Kuching route were lowered.

Reliance Sightseeing director and general manager, Mr Henry Lee, said: “Sarawak Tourism Board should work with low-cost carrier (LCC), AirAsia, and further facilitate travel to Senai Airport for AirAsia flights to Kuching.”

Sarawak’s Third Division Travel Agents Association secretary, Mr Michael Wong, said: “The Sarawak state government should lobby the federal government to allow (Singapore LCC) Tiger Airways to fly to Sarawak. This will definitely see an upswing in numbers, as is seen in other cities when an LCC enters the market.”

Of late, the travel industry has been pinning hopes on the Singaporean LCC to stimulate inbound tourism through better accessibility to the state.

>>Full article

ACOMMODATION - Jumeirah aims for East Asia

TTGasia, Oct 6 - 12,2006 / No.1498

HONG KONG – Dubai-based luxury hotel group Jumeirah is planning for aggressive expansion, and East Asia is key.

Hong Kong is seen as a “must have” location. By 2009, the group aims to have 40 properties. Senior executives were at a recent roadshow in Asia to reveal these plans and introduce new Asia-Pacific vice-president of development, Mr Francis Killory, and senior Asia-Pacific vice-president, Mr Serge Zaalof, both based in Shanghai.

Mr Killory said: “We made a significant step last February when we assumed management of 338-room Han Tang Jumeirah Shanghai at Xintiandi. The city is a major corporate market and it will be positioned at the top end.” The hotel is scheduled to open in mid-2008 before the Olympic Games.

“We are looking at Guangzhou seriously because of its new and different market. The new CBD at Tianhe district has drawn luxury brands such Ritz-Carlton. We are interested in Pudong in Shanghai and are in talks with an owner in the Chaoyang district of Beijing. We are keen on Hangzhou and perhaps Lhasa in Tibet and Lijiang in Yunnan province.

BALI - campaign livens up things

TTGasia, Oct 6 - 12,2006 / No.1498

JAKARTA – Bali is launching a tactical marketing campaign, Bali is My Life, for the last quarter of 2006 in Australia, Japan and Europe as part of its recovery programme.

The B2C campaign will run from October to December with a total budget of US$1.1 million. Bali Tourism Board executive director, Mr Wiwin Suyasa, told TTG Asia: “The campaign is targeted at the end-user. We are focusing on using media as a means of getting to the public, and in Australia and Germany, we are also partnering tour operators and agents.”

Indonesia marketing consultant, Indo Multi Media, has been appointed project leader for the campaign.

The government has set a budget of some US$300,000 for media advertisement placements and a TV programme in Japan.

In Europe, advertising will take place in Switzerland, the UK, Italy and France, while in Germany, the campaign will also include a joint promotion by producing flyers and brochures with TUI Germany and an incentive house. The total budget is around US$400,000. Australia also gets some US$400,000 and Strategy to Implementation, an Australian PR consultancy, has been appointed to handle the media campaign.

Meanwhile, Indonesia will do a joint promotion with Flight Centre, Harvey World Travel and Travelscene American Express in the form of flyers and brochures.

Mr Suyasa said: “These agents sell Bali and they have agreed to do a joint promotion where both parties put in some money to do it. We have budgeted some US$100,000 per agent and they top it up.”

While declining to disclose Flight Centre, Australia’s investment, its director, Ms Sue Robinson, said: “Bali has been our key market and (therefore) we are keen to do our part to contribute.”

Flight Centre will use the money for advertising campaigns with its three major retail brands, Flight Centre, Escape Travel and Student Flights. It will also mount a small promotion with its boutique brand, Travel Associates.

“The campaigns comprise press advertising and point-of-sale for the stores and promotion in our suite of catalogues,” she said.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - US$1.1 billion in Phu Quoc Island projects await greenlight

Thanhniennews.com, October 9, 2006

Southern Kien Giang Province is petitioning the government for the go-ahead on a total of US$1.1 billion in foreign-invested tourism projects on Phu Quoc Island.

The provincial Planning and Investment Department said Sunday the agency had proposed three separate projects invested by the US Rockingham, Canadian Automind Capital Group Inc. and French Victoria to the Planning and Investment Ministry for approval.

Of those, the US-initiated project on a beach-tourism complex in Ham Ninh Commune is at the top of the list in terms of capital – worth $1 billion.

The runner-up is $120 million tourism port, apartment and ecological reserve project in An Thoi township proposed by the Canadian investor.

The French Victoria group plans to develop a tourism village in O Quoi Cap, Cua Can Commune on the north island.

Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam with 561 sq.km and 85,000 residents, 150km of coastline and a good geographical location for international access by sea and air.

The local government has offered preferential policies for investors to join a national plan to transform Phu Quoc Island to an international center for tourism in the Southeast Asia in the next five years.

The plan, which requires a major cash injection from both foreign and domestic sources, is projected to draw some 300,000 - 350,000 visitors annually by 2010 and 2-3 million tourists by 2020.

>>Full article

PALAWAN - S. Korea offers grant for Busuanga airport

Manilastandardtoday.com, October 4, 2006

THE Korean government has offered a grant of P150 million for the improvement of the airport in Busuanga, an island off Palawan’s northern tip which has been touted as the country’s next Boracay, a congressman disclosed yesterday.

Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez said the Korean government made the offer as Korean arrivals in the country jumped by 18 percent to 321,308 in the first seven months of the year, making Koreans the second biggest group of visitors after the Americans.

Alvarez estimated that Korean arrivals by the end of the year might hit 600,000 adding that about three jetplane loads of Koreans, or about 1,515 people, arriving in the country daily.

He said the Department of Tourism is expected to spend about $3 million in advertising and promotional programs to lure more of them to the country.

Alvarez said one strategy being considered is to offer the Philippines’ “sand, sea and sun” as locale for Korean films, possibly in joint venture with local production houses.

“We can also have Jewel in the Coconut Palace here,” Alvarez said, referring to the popular Korean soap opera Jewel in the Palace which has been dubbed in Tagalog.

He said the government has estimated that Koreans have spent P15 bilion in the country last year “on the very low assumption” that each Korean spends an average of $500 while in the country.

“If you factor in the long-staying Koreans—those who study college or English language schools here, the figure is definitely higher,” he added.

>>Full article

AVIATION - AirAsia spreads wings to Hanoi

Businesstimes.com, October 10 2006

AIRASIA Bhd on October 4 began flying daily Hanoi-Kuala Lumpur flights, marking the first service to Vietnam by the budget carrier.

Thai AirAsia, AirAsia's sister company is currently serving two daily Hanoi flights from Bangkok, Thailand.

"Going into our fifth year of operations, we have successfully revolutionised low-cost travel in the region and penetrated many cities in Asean, therefore Hanoi is an inevitable choice," AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes said in a statement yesterday.

"We aim to offer more choices for people to fly and low fare will definitely encourage that," he added.

He said Hanoi is an attractive market due to its strong tourism appeal and there has always been a strong demand for Malaysians as well as those in Asia to visit Vietnam.

"This is why we have decided to fly our A320 for this route, which has a bigger capacity. We feel that the timing is right to add Hanoi to our expanding international network and we will not hesitate to increase frequencies when the demand deems fit," said Fernandes.

In a separate statement, AirAsia and its associates' passenger numbers increased 91.1 per cent to 1.13 million passengers for August 2006 from 591,556 passengers a year earlier.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Subic Bay: Rising Star on Eco-Tourism

Philippine News.com, Oct 04, 2006

Weekends are an extraordinarily busy time in the Subic Bay Freeport. As dawn illumines this economic growth center wedged between lush forests and an emerald bay, cars and buses begin snaking down the Tipo Road leading to this tropical paradise —disgorging weary executives from Manila, students for Luzon provinces on study tours, and foreign tourists cramped by traffic and congestion in Manila.

“It’s becoming more of a place for weekend retreats,” observes Vina, a businesswoman from Quezon City, who finds the two-hour trip to Subic well worth it. My kids just love going to the nature-theme parks while my husband enjoys water sports and fishing. I, of course, go for shopping in the duty-free stores here,” she beams.

More than a decade after the withdrawal of the US Navy from what was once the biggest American military facility outside of the continental United States, the imagery associated with Subic Bay has totally changed.

The original planners for the conversion of the then Subic Naval Base had deemed it suitable to be developed into an industrial center, precisely to offset the jobs lost with the US Navy withdrawal. However, while Subic is now home of close to seven hundred locators whose business range from customer service to trade and marketing to manufacturing and estate developing, it has emerged into a prime tourist destination perhaps incomparable to others in the country. While it is true that the US Navy built facilities and infrastructure which later met the needs of prospective investors, it also conserved thousands of hectares of untouched forest lands and pristine beaches. As a result, Subic Bay has become one of the favorite destinations for wreck diving enthusiasts, water sports aficionados, hikers, campers and adventure tourists.

Today, Subic is gearing up to be one of the best eco-tourism destination not only in the Philippines, but in the Asian region as well. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, which manages the Freeport zone, has recently launched an aggressive marketing program to tap Subic’s tourism potentials to the fullest.

Under the helm of SBMA Administrator Armand C. Arreza, a former Department of Tourism undersecretary, the SBMA has outlined a four-pronged plan: develop of a comprehensive marketing strategy for Subic Bay; create integrated tourism products; stage special events to create hype; and promote the culture of tourism.

Arreza contends rightly that Subic should not be limited to the domestic tourist market,” pointing out that direct flights from other countries are possible because of Subic’s own international airport. “We have more facilities and natural attractions that would meet customer expectations, and we offer a variety of activities depending on the interests of our visitors.”

This is one very notable character of Subic that cannot be replicated by other tourist destinations,” Arreza stresses.

Indeed, Subic offers a whole different experience. Subic is not just a beach resort, although it boasts of beautiful. It is not just a recreational site, although water and inland sports facilities are there. It is not just an eco-tourism destination, despite the nature parks and forest adventure packages offered. It is not just a leisure center, despite the restaurants and shops and hotels.

Arreza sees the contrast of Nature and Industry as plus factor that makes Subic unique and, hence, more attractive. As a destination offering virtually the best of both worlds, Subic now aims for a bigger chunk of tourism revenue.

“Tourism is big business and a proven growth engine,” Arreza says, adding that the industry includes such diverse activities as transport, accommodation, recreation, and catering. Citing figures learned by heart during his stint at the Department of Tourism, he points out that total tourism spending worldwide, including those by domestic tourists, annually topped US$3 trillion in the past few years. Local tourism receipts, meanwhile, contributed US1.87 billion or PhP97.45 billion to the Philippine economy in 2002, equivalent to 8.6 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product.

“The tourism industry also looks toward a rosy future,” Arreza enthuses, with growth in the Asia-Pacific area projected to increase from a 16 percent share last year to 25 percent by 2020. The tourism industry, he notes, serves close to a billion people each year and ranks as a major sector of the world economy, accounting or nearly 11 percent of the global gross domestic product. Given this potential, the SBMA has identified several target customers like young travelers from Asia, Russian and Eastern Europe; and visitors who prefer customized vacations. Subic is likewise tapping into emerging market segments like retirees and their families, honeymooners, the 18-24 youth market, and those who favor sports and adventure tourism, as well as eco-tourism.

Subic’s tourism program is also proving to be a good incentive to protecting the natural and cultural environment of Subic. Alongside industrialization, which primarily targets job creation, the need to maintain Subic’s ecological integrity has remained a priority for the SBMA —if only for the revenue that tourism generates.

>>Full article

ACOMMODATION - InterContinental eyeing more hotels in Singapore

Singapore Tourism Board, 1-10-2006

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which operates three hotels in Singapore, has welcomed the Singapore government's recent move to release more land for hotel development and says it is planning at least eight more properties within five years.

Tony South, the group's Senior Vice President for development and asset management, said: "It is certainly a positive move to prepare Singapore well ahead to meet the projected increase in number of visitors it hopes to welcome by 2015."

Eight new sites were released recently, the largest number of hotel sites ever put up on the land release programme at one go.

South said the group, which owns the Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental brands, was eyeing a second InterContinental, one or two more Crowne Plazas and two additional Holiday Inns.

It is also keen launch its limited service/convenience brand, Express by Holiday Inn, in Singapore with plans for between four and eight properties in this tier. The Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel, its fourth property in Singapore, will open early 2008.

Said South: "We see the potential to further expand our existing portfolio here across the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, and potentially, other of our family of hotel brands."

Asked if managing multiple properties of the same brand in one city might be challenging, South said: "This is not new to us and brings many benefits to our guests, investors, staff and other stakeholders.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - Why the Singapore Flyer is such a big deal

Singapore Tourism Board, 1-10-2006

The S$200 million Singapore Flyer will put Singapore on the same stage as world cities such as Paris with its Eiffel Tower and London with its London Eye.

Said Mr Alexander Melchers, the Singapore-based director of Melchers Pte Ltd, whose company is building the 165-metre observation wheel: 'The Singapore Flyer will become an Iconic Viewing Platform and the term, IVP, will become a recognised business model in the tourism industry in five years.'

Notwithstanding that the Eiffel Tower, possibly the most successful IVP in the world was built in the 19th century, Mr Melchers said the business concept had only recently taken root in the tourism industry.

"The London Eye is another good example, as is the viewing platform on top of the Empire State Building in New York City. Since time immemorial, mankind has always had a desire to see things from above - that's why we construct ancient forts and cities and now modern buildings."

What the Singapore Flyer will bring to Singapore is "a unique human experience," said Mr Melchers, whose company opened the Carlsberg Sky Tower on Sentosa in February 2004.

"One of the true experiences of the Singapore Flyer is there will be no sensation of movement because the wheel will be turning so gently. You will feel nothing, only a change in perspective. That's a unique human experience."

Costs less than club cover charges and flip-flops are welcome

The Singapore Flyer, which is scheduled to offer its first ride during Lunar New Year 2008, will offer 28 fully air-conditioned capsules, each capable of handling around 32 passengers at a time.

Situated on Marina Bay, close to the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, the Flyer will offer a unique perspective of Singapore, said Mr Melchers. "When you see Singapore from that perspective, you realise it is a city of colour - the green of the parks, the reds and yellows of Chinatown, the shiny-grey of the skyline and the blue of water."

While some might argue the New Asia bar atop Swissotel The Stamford (170m) and the Sky Park at The Marina Bay Sands would offer similar views, Mr Melchers pointed out the Flyer would offer unrestricted 360-degree views of Singapore and the surrounding areas in just 40 minutes and for the price of a ticket.

"We let you in without a cover charge and you can wear flip-flops," he said. "And it will be a different experience from the Sky Park."

>>Full article

BALI - Voted Best Holiday Destination

Balidiscovery.com, (10/8/2006)

Based on a poll that queried sophisticated frequent travelers over a three month period from May-July 2006, SmartTravelAsia.com recently announced its list of the "best of the best" covering airlines, hotels, and destinations. Mirroring results in the recent Travel + Leisure readers' survey, Bali was, once again, selected as the "Best Holiday Destination" in Asia.

Best Holiday Destination

Proving that Bali's magic is truly indestructible, SmartTravelAsia.com voted Bali its favorite Asian holiday destination, saying, "It is an island that has retained its disarmingly honest and simple charm, a peaceful ritual-minded Hindu enclave in a bustling Muslim country."

Bali garnered 18.7% of total votes in the category followed by Phuket in a distant second receiving 11.3% of the votes cast. The South Indian destination of Kerala captured third place (7%) followed by Bangkok in fourth.

In reviewing Bali's win SmartTravelAsia.com said: "Bali held top spot - and by a wide margin - demonstrating that integrity and authenticity can attract visitor votes, and dollars. This is a reassuring message in an age of instantly bottled and serially manufactured destinations where neon and crocodile shows push everything else off the stage."

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Kintamani Tourism Suffering

Balidiscovery.com, (10/7/2006)

The Indonesian language BisnisBali carried a page-one story reporting that in the four years since the 2002 Bali bombing there have been 22 closures of restaurants and hotels in the hill-top resort area of Kintamani.

According to the report, businesses populating the volcanic crater have been forced to cease operations due to the dramatic drop in visitors and the resulting inability to meet operating expenses.

The newspaper quoted a local businessman who has changed professions from being a restaurateur to selling produce as saying, "What can we do when we are facing growing losses?"

The currently dire situation was confirmed by the Chairman of the Bangli Chapter of the Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI), I Wayan Winurjaya, who said that many business had closed with the hardest hit being small-sized enterprises. Winurjaya, who is also the owner of the Lake View Hotel and Restaurant in Kintamani, blamed terrorist acts, natural disasters, and fear of disease as all having a negative contribution to the state of Bali's tourism.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Hoi An ready for APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting

Vietnam News Agency, 10-5-2006

All preparations for the 4th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM) have been basically completed, said Tran Minh Ca, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, which will host the event in mid-October.

He affirmed that the authorities and people of Quang Nam province as well as of the ancient town of Hoi An, where the meeting will take place, have tried their best to ensure the success of the TMM. The locality has also got ready for cultural activities held during the event, including an APEC tourism fair, a cultural exchange programme between regions to introduce the land and people of Vietnam, and a photo exhibition. The official cited the fact that 1,000 tourists visited Hoi An town - a world cultural heritage site - in three days right after the locality was hard hit by typhoon Xangsane. In particular, a delegation of 120 Spanish visitors stayed at the five-star Palm Garden resort on Cua Dai beach which was hardest struck by the typhoon.

>>Full article

TAIWAN - foreign earnings from tourism set all-time record

Asia Focus, 10-5-2006

Taiwan's foreign exchange earnings from tourism totaled US$4.98 billion last year, setting an all-time record, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

The statistics also show that forex earnings from tourism in the first six months of this year reached US$2.53 billion. * In terms of visitors, 2004 saw 2.95 million tourist arrivals, with the total growing to 3.38 million in 2005. * For the first eight months of this year, tourist arrivals already reached 2.3 million, while the average cost of a hotel room increased to NT$3,131 per night, with Asians making up 79.3 per cent of tourist arrivals in 2005.

(C) Copyright 2006 Asia In Focus

CHINA - How is China outbound tourism potential viewed by its top tourism officials?

eTN, 10-5-2006

(An interview with a retired top tourism official from China)

The upcoming WTM-ChinaContact conference on bilateral tourism relations with China, is gearing up to be the most comprehensive collection of knowledge and expertise on China tourism sector ever assembled outside China.

A keynote speaker and chairperson of the session on bilateral tourism, Mrs. Shen Hui Rong, has until
recently held the position of Marketing & Communications Director General at China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) in Beijing. For over 27 years, Mrs. Shen played key roles in China rapidly developing tourism industry. She implemented China recovery program post-SARS and has negotiated tourism agreements, known as ADS, with overseas destinations. Her work in this area earned her the nickname s. ADS?

We have interviewed Mrs. Shen about China approach to outbound tourism and the role they see it playing in overall economic growth and social benefit to China. The views reflected are personal and do not represent any official body.

CC (ChinaContact): What is China outbound travel market potential?

SHR: As usual when something is big in China, the numbers mentioned are staggering. The World Tourism Organization forecasts that China will become the world fourth-largest source of outbound tourists by 2020 with more than 100 million departures each year. Outbound travel from China jumped 50-fold in 20 years. In 1997, when the first batch of ADS destinations were approved including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, only 5.32 million trips were made. The number became 16.6 million in 2002, 20.22 million in 2003 despite the SARS epidemic, 28.85 million in 2004 and 31 million in 2005. It is expected that 2006 will still see 34 million overseas trips (10% increase). China has already replaced Japan as Asia number one outbound travel market.

CC: What type of Chinese visitors will be coming to Europe in the next few years? How is the market going to be segmented?

SHR: According to the survey released in the Annual Report of China Outbound Tourism Development 2005, white collar and company managerial staff are the main source of outbound travel, making up half of the market. This is especially the case in Beijing and Shanghai. 80% outbound travellers are aged between 18-50 with high education. 45% of outbound travellers are from three-member families while couples or singles comprise 30%.

CC: How affluent are the Chinese visitors to Europe?

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - Celebrity designer to create $31m spectacular nightly attraction to enthrall Sentosa guests

Sentosa.com, June 2006

The new attraction will be created by world-renowned and internationally acclaimed Yves Pepin, Founder and President of ECA2, a company recognized the world over as one of the most experienced international teams for conception, creation and production of multimedia shows. Yves along with famous film directors Steven Spielberg and Zhang Yimou, and Ric Birch, the talented producer of the Sydney 2000 Ceremonies, have recently been appointed Artistic Advisers in the creative team for the Ceremonies of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by the Chinese Organization Committee. Earlier, in March 2006, Yves was also conferred the THEA Lifetime Achievement Award 2006 at the Themed Entertainment Awards considered the Oscars of the Entertainment industry, in recognition of his life works.

“We are proud to collaborate with Yves again,” said Darrell Metzger, Chief Executive Officer of Sentosa, “And we are sure that his creative genius will help us present a world-class nightly attraction to our guests from Singapore as well as overseas. It will be the only such attraction in this region which operates in the sea waters for spectators to watch from the sea shore.”

Sentosa will invest $31 million to develop the new attraction, which will boast dramatic effects and high-tech lasers. Work on the new nightly attraction, conveniently located at the Siloso Beach just by the forthcoming Sentosa Express Beach Station, begun earlier this year and the attraction is scheduled to be complete by 2nd Quarter 2007. The seating capacity of the open-air amphitheatre will be 3,000. Once operational, the attraction is slated to have two shows every night.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Unseen’ Thai tourism: Where does the baht go?

Bangkokpost, October 3rd, 2006

The importance of tourism to the Thai economy from the government’s viewpoint can be seen in budget allocations and corresponding predictions of tourism receipts. By spending just 2.5 billion baht to stimulate tourism in 2005, the Thai government expected to gain 450 billion baht in revenue from 13.38 million inbound tourists.

The government has used tourism as part of its broad development strategies based on two assumptions: tourism is a major source of foreign-exchange earnings and thereby contributes to economic growth; and labour-intensive tourism improves income distribution and alleviates poverty for low-income households.

While the first assumption is well-founded, the second is an illusion.

According to national account data and the Thai Tourism Satellite Accounts produced by World Travel and Tourism Council, on average between 1998 and 2005, international and domestic tourism directly and indirectly accounted for 13% of GDP (655 billion baht), 10% of employment (three million jobs), 13% of exports (417 billion baht), 12% of investment (117 billion baht) and 3% of the government budget (13 billion baht).

As for the optimistic assumption of income-distribution improvement, it is true that tourism expansion creates jobs for unskilled workers and has a direct impact on poverty alleviation. But recent empirical work shows that much of the gain from tourism growth accrues to factors other than unskilled labour.

Moreover, low-skilled jobs in other sectors may be destroyed and returns on agricultural land, from which the poor derive a considerable share of their income, may fall as the tourism industry expands.

Apparently, income distribution is far from effective as tourism grows.
The empirical work implements the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) approach with the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) and several parameters for Thailand to investigate the effects of tourism growth on income distribution.

The evidence reveals that although tourism growth benefits all household classes in terms of an increase in overall consumption, income and welfare, much fewer benefits are distributed to the poor.

Specifically, if we examine the income-distribution effects of tourism within the same income level, households in the non-agricultural sector actually gain more benefits than those in the agricultural sector. Within the same sector, high-income households gain more benefits than low-income households.

A case in point: while tourism expands at an average growth rate of 10%, welfare gains in the money metric of low-income agricultural households increase slightly by 3.2% but those of high income non-agricultural households jump by 7.6%.

This implies that tourism expansion in Thailand is neither pro-agricultural nor pro-poor. Why?
The explanation lies on the answers to these questions: What are the major factors of production in the Thai tourism industry? Who are the major owners of those factors? What are the effects of tourism growth on wages and returns?

The empirical evidence shows that non-agricultural capital and non-agricultural labour are major factors of the Thai tourism industry. Non-agricultural capital is mainly owned by business corporations and high-income households. Tourism expansion considerably widens the differential between the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors in terms of labour wages and rates of return on capital.

This means business corporations are the first winners and high-income non-agricultural households are the second winners in the race for tourism benefits.
So, what is in it for the poor? The last finishers? What, then, should the government and policymakers do?

The government should tax, not subsidise, tourism industries, the biggest beneficiaries from tourism expansion; indirect tax forms such as excise, sales and import tax may be imposed on tourism-related goods and services.

The tax revenue could then be used to fund pro-poor and pro-agricultural projects.
Furthermore, more benefits of tourism expansion can be distributed to low-income and agricultural households if the government increases their involvement with tourism.

For instance, tourism industries may consider proper and fair payments to farmers for the provision of agricultural landscape services and the preservation of the agricultural countryside, payments to local people for the conservation of indigenous culture and tradition.
In the end, such policy efforts could contribute to the financial strength of the society and the sustainable preservation of national assets.

AVIATION - Jumbo delay sends SIA to Boeing

Bangkokpost.com, 3-10-2006

Singapore (dpa) - Singapore Airlines (SIA) expressed disappointment on Wednesday over the third delay in receiving its Airbus A380 and said new capacity will be injected by aircraft from the European planemaker's US rival, Boeing.

"Compensation will be provided," SIA said, referring to its agreement with Airbus. No specific amounts were disclosed, but Airbus was reported to have paid millions of dollars for the previous delays.

With the first double-decker, 555-passenger jets now scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2007, SIA affirmed it will remain the "first to fly" the world's largest passenger plane with deliveries of subsequent aircraft in 2008 and beyond.

"As was the case under the former delivery schedule," SIA said in a statement, the carrier "will receive the first four aircraft."

The European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co (EADS), the parent company, announced on Tuesday it has pushed back its A380 for another year with deliveries now running two years late.

SIA, which had been expecting to be the A380 launch carrier in December, will have to wait until October 2007.

The new capacity will be injected with the first of 19 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft being delivered in November, SIA said.

"Six of these aircraft will be delivered before the end of 2006, and ten will be in service by mid-2007," said SIA, one of the world's wealthiest airlines.

>>Full article

PALAWAN - The road of economic development for Puerto Princesa.

word press.com, August 23rd, 2006

The road of economic development for Puerto Princesa.

Coupled with such an auspicious reputation as the “Last Frontier” in this part of the globe that has already attracted the world’s travel planners to include it in the itinerary of trans-ocean luxury vessels, eco-tourism is undoubtedly the key to the city’s sustainable development.

It is in this context that we have decided to request the conversation of the 1,072-hectare Industrial and Commercial Zone at Brgy. Sta. Lucia into an Environmental Estate. The Estate will be an eco-tourism park and environmental center of the Philippines. It will serve both as a catalyst for economic growth and a vehicle for preserving the environment. It will also become an institution in conservation and the world’s fountain of biological knowledge.

Having thus set our sites on tourism in lieu of industrial development, we intend to make Puerto Princesa City as the eco-tourism capital of the Philippines, the ASEAN region and the world by making it a world-class, park-like city. The environmental Estate is an important beginning towards the realization of that dream.

>>Full article

CHINA - Super 8 China Opens 6 New Properties in September 2006

eTN, Oct. 3, 2006

One of the world's largest economy lodging operators, Super 8 Hotels officially opened six new China properties in September 2006.

Super 8 is now the largest foreign economy hotel operator in mainland China. The openings have also helped make its parent company, Wyndham Worldwide, China's largest foreign hotel operator by number of properties.

To support the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Super 8 opened three of its new hotels in the capital city of Beijing. Super 8 Hotel Beijing Bai Hua, Super 8 Hotel Beijing Yi Zhuang Tian Bao, and Super 8 Hotel Beijing Ju Feng. In Suzhou, Wuhan, and Nanchang, Super 8 Hotel Suzhou Hongde Shi Lu, Super 8 Hotel Wuhan Yangtze River Qing Shan, and Super 8 Hotel Nanchang Yi Tai also began receiving business and leisure travelers from around the world.

"This is the first time six hotels have been able to meet our stringent operating requirements in a single month," said Super 8 China CEO Mr. Mitchell A. Presnick. "These openings, part of a strategy of steady, controlled growth, will enable us to serve our Chinese and foreign guests even better. In September alone, we have doubled the number of our operating properties in Beijing, Suzhou and Wuhan. At the same time, we are continuing to expand into additional cities around China, such as Nanchang."

"We are happy that we have finally met the strict operations standards of Super 8," said Mr. Shao Xiguo, the General Manager of Super 8 Hotel Beijing Bai Hua. "As a publicly traded Chinese company, we wanted the strength that a publicly traded American hotel company could offer us."

>>Full article

PHUKET - Beach chair rates to double

Phuketgazette.net, September 30, 2006

A day at the beach just got a bit less friendly, as beach chair operators in Kata-Karon and Nai Yang have announced they will double their rental rates to 100 baht per chair from tomorrow.

A similar price hike in Patong appears inevitable.Ampien Thueathin, head of the Patong Beach Chair Operators’ Association, said he had been in contact with beach-chair renters in Kata-Karon and Nai Yang, discussing the possibility of standardizing rental rates island-wide at 100 baht per lounger.“In Patong, the current daily rental fee is 100 baht for a set of two loungers, umbrella and a small table. But if a customer wants only one bed, we charge only 50 baht a day,” he said.

The Patong Beach Chair Operators’ Association is scheduled to meet on Monday, after which they expect to raise their prices as well, K. Ampien said.The association had already discussed the issue with Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, he added.K.

Ampien said that the 100% price increase was justified by the fact that the municipality limits the number of chairs the operators are allowed to set out, and because the plastic beach chairs are more expensive to buy (2,700 baht) than the heavy, wooden loungers (1,200 baht) that were banned after the tsunami.“It costs us about 10,000 baht for each set of two beds, one umbrella and a table,” said K. Ampien.

During the low season, the number of sun-loungers that can be put out is limited to 2,400, all aligned in a single row. In the high season, the number more than doubles, to 5,000 beds arranged in two rows.

Khun Ampien also pointed out that the plastic beds, lighter and easier to move than their wooden predecessors, are stacked up neatly at the end of each day, making the beach more attractive.

MACAU - Game for more

TTGasia, Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2006 / No.1497

MACAU has hit the jackpot in its destination marketing in Singapore, helped along by air access improvements with the advent of low-cost flights.

In 2005, it welcomed 82,298 visitors from Singapore, representing a dizzying growth of 79.9 per cent over 2004. And for the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), this sterling performance continues.

Its Singapore office general manager, Mr Asad Shiraz, said: “In the first seven months of 2006, 61,772 visitors from Singapore arrived in Macau and double-digit growth of 48.5 per cent has been achieved.”

Up until two years ago, any talk of such growth would have been met with scepticism as airline services by Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Air Macau were withdrawn after failing to achieve reasonable returns. Macau’s destination marketing was infrequent and less visible compared to popular destinations such as Australia, Malaysia and India.

The entry of Tiger Airways on the Singapore-Macau route in March 2005, initially with a thrice-weekly service which has since grown to a daily service, was timed with visibly increased promotional activities by the MGTO in Singapore. Travel agents were beginning to offer attractively priced packages aimed at the heartlanders living in the housing estates and Chinatown.

Macau has confidently begun to stride forward as a standalone destination with possible extensions to Hong Kong and Zhuhai.

Last year, a consortium of five tour operators launched a series of FIT packages featuring stays in three- and four-star hotels.

>>Full article

DEVELOPMENTS - Incentive Travel & Corporate Meetings Asia: preview of three speakers

TTGasia, Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2006 / No.1497

How to become a 24 Carrot Leader? How to network effectively? Is the casino craze in Asia a flash in the pan? With IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Corporate Meetings Asia) and CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific around the corner (October 10-12), Raini Hamdi and Wrisney Tan preview three speakers from the impressive line-up this year.

>>Full article

BALI - makes comeback

TTGasia, Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2006 / No.1497

DEMAND for destinations beyond Bali has started to pick up, according to buyers and sellers at TIME 2006 in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

They said the classic Java-Bali overland tour was back on track as travellers’ confidence in Jogjakarta, post-earthquake, had returned.

Travel World Belgium managing director, Mr Thierry Rayee, said: “The overland tours came back immediately after getting confirmation that Borobudur was safe. We only stopped for about a month.”

He said the number of travellers to Indonesia grew by 34 per cent up to September, compared to the same period last year. “The Belgians stopped travelling to Indonesia a few years ago, but there is pent-up demand as the perception of Bali being safe returns. Besides, Bali’s products have developed so much in the past couple of years, the hotels are good.”

Fifteen-day trips consisting of one week each in Java and Bali are still the most popular among Belgians.

Similarly, Java-Bali overland tours continue to attract the Dutch group tours, according to Kuoni Travel Nederland. Tour operating east manager, Mr Andre van der Marck, said: “Although our year-to-date performance is down by five to six per cent, compared to the same period last year, things are looking pretty good. We have increased the number of pages in the Indonesia brochures, so we expect to see growth in winter.”

He projected a five per cent increase of business next year. “Garuda’s plan to start flying to Amsterdam (in June), which I hope will materialise, will help increase traffic.”

The lack of direct seat capacity and costly air fares have been hampering growth. “It takes 18 hours to get to Bali through Singapore or Bangkok. The air fare to Bangkok is €450 (US$576) and the air fare to Bali is between €700 to €800,” Mr van der Marck said.

Travel beyond Bali is also in demand for the German market. Bali-based Tunas Indonesia Tours and Travel manager, Mr Made Gede Wiyasa, said: “Together with our German partner, Sun Trips, we are developing products to South and North Sulawesi, combining Bali with Makassar and Manado for the summer 2007 brochure. “We have started selling the product for this winter and the response is positive, therefore we need to develop it further.”

Closer to home, there is also growing interest among Asian markets. Floressa Bali Tours managing director, Mr Paul Edmundus, said: “The Indian market to Bali has shown significant growth for us. We have been dealing with 20 business partners in India, and each sends 300 to 500 passengers a year.” He added they were interested in beaches, culture and ecotourism.

>>Full article

DEVELOPMENTS - KUONI ACQUIRES ASIAN TRAILS HOLDING LTD

eTN, 3/10/2006

BANGKOK, 29 September 2006 -- The Kuoni Group is continuing its acquisition strategy in Asia with the purchase of Asian Trails Holding Ltd, one of the leading destination management companies in Southeast Asia.

Asian Trails, whose operational head office is based in Bangkok, is active in seven countries. The acquisition underlines Kuoni Group's expansion strategy in destination management and further strengthens its position in Asia. Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd, one of the world's leading travel organizations, will integrate Asian Trails as a separate company into its Asia & Destination Management business unit. Asian Trails' four-person management team, headed by Luzi Matzig and the senior managers Laurent Kuenzle, Jacques Guichandut and Roger Haumueller will continue to be responsible for the Asian Trails unit and its positive development. Asian Trails will report directly to Rolf Schafroth, Managing Director Destination Management. Asian Trails, which has its operational head office in Bangkok, was founded in 1999. With its 400 employees, Asian Trails is expected to generate a turnover of approximately USD 60 million (Thai Baht 2.28 Billion) in 2006. All employees continue to work for Asian Trails. The parties have agreed not to disclose any information about the purchase price. Asian Trails CEO Luzi Matzig: "This transaction is very positive for the future growth of the Asian Trails Group through its synergies with the worldwide Kuoni Destination Management network and will assure sustainability for the future, especially in the increasingly important online area."

>>Full article

THAILAND - Recovery of Phi Phi Island's tourism

ThaisNews, 10/3/2006

This is Phi Phi Island today. It has taken the island almost two years to be back on track for the new upcoming high season when tourists can really enjoy the beach and water activities like this in good weather.

Being the low or monsoon season still for the Andaman region, big ferries like this one, Sea Angel Cruise going every day between Phuket and Phi Phi, sometimes take on board passengers from other smaller boats to share the load. According to their ferry manager, Warakan Juntavaro, they are both day trip groups who are usually Asians and those who go for overnight stays and are mostly European or Australian divers. Talking about the Phi Phi island recovery, the Tourism Authority of Thailand Deputy Governor Juthaporn Rernron-Asa said there are 1,800 rooms now available on the island from the pre-tsunami period of 2,200 rooms. While some hotel accommodation owners are still working on their reconstruction or refurbishments, the tall Phi Phi Hotel and the garden themed Banyan Villas are fully open for guests, with one more PP Casita, with attractive flowers and natural wooden stilts, almost fully ready to open as a sister hotel.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Con Co Island sees potential for eco-tourism development

VNECONOMY, 28/09/2006

With its beautiful natural scenery and several historical sites, Con Co Island off the central province of Quang Tri has great potential for developing maritime eco-tourism and cultural tourism.

Covering 2.5 sq.km and 28 km far from the coast, the Con Co Island has a diversified ecological system and 73 percent of its area are forests. It also houses wonderful beaches with white sand and warm water for swimming.

Experts said that the sea water surrounding Con Co Island is favoured by nature with a maritime biodiversity. It is home to 109 species of corals, including rare red and black corals, and various species of high-value sea products.

Abelardo Perez Ayllon, an expert from the Planning Institute of Cuba who has helped Quang Tri work out a master plan to develop tourism in Con Co, believed that the island will become a "pearl" in the central sea.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - IT application in tourism a necessity

VietNamNet Bridge, 29-9-2006

On September 27, a seminar on how to apply IT solutions in promoting the development of the tourism industry was held in the central town of Hoi An.

The organiser of the seminar was the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The seminar saw the participation of nearly 200 delegates from different travel agencies, government bodies throughout the country.

At the seminar, delegates discussed the necessity of applying information technology in the tourism industry in Vietnam. According to Mr Nguyen Phu Duc, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, there is no doubt about how critical it is to apply IT as part of the strategy to further promote the development of tourism.

Duc said that the government should earmark budget to support all travel agents in human resources training in IT field with the view to encouraging these travel agents to apply IT solutions in running their businesses.

Vietnam has many small- and medium-sized enterprises which are providing tourism services. For these companies, using IT to advertise their services has seemed a dream. However, these companies should take advantage of advertising their services on the government website, which is free of charge.

>>Full article

CROSS CULTURAL - Cruise line removes ad that angered Hawaiians

Honolulu Advertiser, sept-3-2006

Miami-based Celebrity Cruises will no longer use a controversial advertisement depicting King Kamehameha's statue holding a glass of champagne to promote its cruises to Hawai'i, the company said yesterday.

The ad, which appeared in a recent issue of Travel Weekly, enraged Hawaiian groups and shocked local tourism officials.

"We are terribly sorry that we have offended anyone," said Lynn Martenstein, spokeswoman for Celebrity Cruises, a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "We're horrified that we've been insensitive. ... It was never our intention. We have pulled the ad. It will never run again."

It was not clear yesterday if Celebrity's apology would satisfy those who were offended by the ad.

It's good that Celebrity is pulling the ad, but the company's apology should be as public as the ad was, said Ramsey Taum, community outreach director for the University of Hawai'i School of Travel Industry Management and contractor with the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association.

"To their credit, if they're going to pull it, then great, but the ultimate apology is going to be the same-size ad that they used in the publication as well as a local publication," he said. Travel Weekly is a trade publication for travel agents.

'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition, a group of Hawaiian cultural practitioners, has scheduled a news conference Monday to publicly object to the ad.

"When I saw it, I was appalled to think that any company would have the audacity to use our culture in that fashion and especially our icon, King Kamehameha," said 'Ilio'ulaokalani executive director Wayne Kaho'onei Panoke, who said the ad offended non-Hawaiians as well.

"This has got to stop. Agencies like the Hawai'i Tourism Authority have got to assist us in stopping this kind of disrespect of our culture. ... We will no longer sit back and allow this kind of malice to happen to our culture. ... I know everybody wants business, but are we going to continue to bastardize our culture so that all these other companies can make millions of dollars?"

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - All set for WV tourism gab

the news today.info, October 2, 2006

Tourism in Western Visayas will get another boost with the holding of the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly from October 23-29, 2006. RDC Chairperson Governor Salvacion Perez said RDC is strongly endorsing the assembly.

The activity will enable tourism stakeholders to discuss, identify and resolve issues that would pave the way for a seamless integration to Central Philippines Tourism, according to DOT Regional Director Edwin Trompeta.

It will be recalled that under the mega region strategy of the President, the Central Philippines Cluster, composed of regions 5, 6 together with Romblon and Palawan, 7 and 8 will focus on Tourism.

The assembly is a 7-day meet to highlight, promote and showcase the diversity of the tourism attractions, services and facilities of the different areas of region 6. Director Trompeta said the Western Visayas Assembly is actually a follow-up of the region�s participation in WOW Philippines. Whereas before, participants went to Intramurals in Metro Manila, they now decided to change the venue to the region. For this reason, the DOT Director said they have designed eight events for 7 days to attract tourism stakeholders.

The seven-day activity will feature a Regional Tourism Exhibit that will be held at the LGF of SM city. It will have an exhibition of products as well as a destination promotion activity.

So far 32 sellers and 60 buyers from all over the country have been invited to join the Regional travel exchange/Mart. TRAVEX will enable one-on-one tabletop negotiations between tourism buyers and sellers.

>>Full article

SABAH - is among losing battle to the sea

Daily express news, 7-10-2006

Kota Kinabalu: Tanjung Aru Beach in the State's premier tourism belt is one of five stretches of land - or 12.8km out of the total 1,743km along the coastline of Sabah - that has been identified as "critically" under threat by erosion.

This means there is potential danger to life (squatters and residents) or properties or both.

The 3.5km beach has been classified by the Federal Government as Category 1 (a critical coastal erosion site), along with the Tinagat-Batu Puyong stretch near Tawau, Kota Kinabalu City Central-Yayasan Sabah stretch, Kg Contoh-Putatan and Meruntum-Lok Kawi.

Senior Assistant Director (Erosion Control) of the Department of Drainage and Irrigation (DID), Nor Hisham Ghazali, said these five areas were currently placed under observation for possible coastal protection works.

In the case of Tanjung Aru, he said it was placed under Category 1 due to development activities going on nearby. One portion of the 3km stretch of beach is devoid of structures while another portion is occupied by squatters and for which a RM40 Federal-funded project is due to be implemented once the squatters have been relocated.

According to the findings of the Federal-funded National Coastal Erosion Study, which was completed in 1985, approximately 295.5km of the State's 1.743km total coastline are eroding.

The study, conducted due to concerns over serious coastal erosion along the country's coastline, also classified another 3.5km as Category 2 (significant) and 279.2km as Category 3 (acceptable).

Nor Hisham said altogether there were 19 stretches of coastal areas in Sabah identified as eroding and placed under the three categories, according to the seriousness of their respective erosion problem.

He also said there was not much difference in terms of percentage of the total eroding coastline in Sabah compared to the previous findings, that put it at about 17 per cent of the total 1,743km coastline.

But the department is concerned over the increase in Category 1 areas in Sabah to 12.8km from the previous 5.7km, he said, adding this is probably due to the heavy development and the increase in urban population especially along the State's coast.

"We, together with our counterpart in the State, will continue to monitor these Category 1 areas so as to facilitate the next course of action to be taken," he said, adding a study needs to be done to evaluate, for instance, the economic concerns of a particular site before any decision is made to carry out coastal protection work.

>>Full article

BANGKOK - BMA devising development plan for the East of BKK

Thaisnews.com, 30 September, 2006

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working on a plan to develop the eastern region of Bangkok that is connected to Suvarnabhumi Airport. The plan will also develop eco-tourism in the East of Bangkok.

The Bangkok Governor, Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, said the name of this development plan is the Garden City of the East. The areas involved include Lad Krabang, Prawet, Nong Jok, Minburi and Klong Sam Wa, and these areas are nearby Suvarnabhumi Airport. The communities in Lad Krabang will be developed to complement with the operation of the new airport. Eco-tourism and transport routes for passengers will be worked out. As for the areas in Prawet, environmental-friendly accommodations for people in the high and middles classes will be constructed.

Nevertheless, the Bangkok Governor said the areas in the East of Bangkok are wetlands, and the officials are working with the Irrigation Department in managing the water in this region such as increasing the number of drainage canals. The water level will be controlled especially during the rainy season. He said the officials are prepared to deal with the influences from Typhoon Xangsane next month, and the floodwater will be drained into Bangpakong River and the Gulf of Thailand.

MALAYSIA - Lim: Get money from us to upkeep tourist spots

New straits times online, 2-10-2006

From now, the excuses will have to stop. Local governments can no longer neglect major tourists attractions within their jurisdictions.

If they do not have funds, they can now apply for allocations from the Tourism Ministry.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim said he was fed up hearing excuses that they did not have funds for upgrading or maintaining places frequented by tourists.

"If they don’t have the money, request for allocations from state governments or the Tourism Ministry.

"Visit Malaysia Year 2007 is only a few months away. I do not want to hear complaints from visitors that certain tourist spots are in bad shape," he said yesterday.

He was commenting on a report in the New Straits Times last Friday which highlighted the dilapidated condition of Lata Iskandar, the famous waterfall picnic spot along the Tapah-Ringlet old road.

He said local authorities should find ways to generate money from the tourism spots and plough it back to maintain their cleanliness and facilities.

>>Full article

KOTA KINABALU -Travel Fair here nets RM2m sales

Daily express.com, 29 September, 2006

Kota Kinabalu: The Matta Travel Fair here attracted 5,000 visitors who snapped up flight tickets and holiday packages worth RM2mil.

Matta Sabah Chapter Chairman, David de La Harpe said the number of visitors and sales during the three-day event, which ended last Sunday, exceeded expectations.

"We expected about 4,000 visitors and RM1.2mil in sales," he said when contacted by Daily Express Thursday.

De la Harpe said most participants made lots of effort to promote local destinations in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

The most popular international holiday destinations were Hong Kong, China, Korea and Japan.

For the inbound tourism players, rafting tours to Padas and Kiulu rivers were the favourites.

There were a total of 47 booths comprising travel agents, hotels and resorts, national tourism organisations including Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Authority Thailand, Palawan Tourism Council and Sabah Tourism Board, tourism schools, vacation clubs and telecommunication companies.

"This is the first time that Matta conducted such a fair in Sabah and it was held concurrently with the MITF (Matta Travel Fair) in Kuala Lumpur," said de La Harpe.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Bangkok new airport boosts tourism in Thailand

TAT, 2nd October, 2006

Thailand’s visitor arrivals target of 15 million in 2007 is expected to get a major fillip with the successful opening of Bangkok’s brand new Suvarnabhumi airport. The new world-class facility, which now boasts the world’s largest passenger terminal, puts Bangkok ahead of other regional airports that have opened in Asia in recent years. By all indications, apart from a few glitches involving baggage deliveries, the new airport is operating smoothly.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Acting Governor Pensuda Priaram said: “The long-awaited opening of Suvarnabhumi is one of the most important landmarks in the history of Thai travel & tourism. We have no doubt that it will attract more visitors to Thailand, be it as inbound tourists or transit passengers who will become future tourists.”

Being positioned as the new “Gateway to Asia,” the new airport cost 155 billion baht (roughly US$ 4.07 billion), and will handle just under 100 domestic and foreign airlines, both cargo and passengers. The fastest growing are low-cost airline passengers.

Designed for annual passenger movements of 45 million a year, airport officials say it is already close to that figure and, at current growth rates, will hit 60 million passenger within three years.

As 80% of all visitor arrivals to Thailand enter through Bangkok, it will give a new impetus to travel & tourism throughout the region. It is superbly connected by expressway to all the inner Bangkok city hotels as well as to the beach resort of Pattaya. The surrounding area, today largely a greenfield, is also set to fill up with housing estates and commercial areas to support the thousands of people who will work at or near the airport. Built with the help of loans from the Japanese government, Suvarnabhumi is owned and operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT), a publicly traded company listed on the stock market but owned largely by the Thai government.

The airport Passenger Service Charge (airport tax) will rise as of February 1, 2007 to 700 baht for international flights and 100 baht for domestic flights. The landing and parking fees will rise by 15% as of April 1, 2007. The airport tax generates roughly 40% of AOT pcl’s total revenues, and landing/parking charges about 21%.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Vung Tau – Paradise tourism project fails

VNECONOMY, 02/10/2006

Vung Tau – Paradise, which was once believed to be the biggest tourism project in the southern sea city of Vung Tau, is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Vung Tau – Paradise was one of the first five foreign invested projects in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. It was granted a licence in 1991. It is a joint venture between Vietnam’s Vung Tau Intourco and Taiwan’s Paradise Development and Investment Company.

The investors planned to build a three-star 1,500-room hotel, an area for underwater sports, swimming pool, entertainment park, a Vietnamese traditional music centre, park for children, and a 27-hole international golf course.

The total investment capital of the project was estimated at $97mil, toward which the Vietnamese side would contribute $15.5mil (in land).

It has now been 15 years since the licence was issued, and only several items of the project have been completed.

The problem may be that the foreign partner in the joint venture has not contributed as much capital as it had committed. In fact, it is written down in the joint venture’s books that the foreign partner has contributed only $25.4mil in cash and equipment, materials.

However, the joint venture’s management board has not acknowledged this figure as its capital contribution, saying that there were not regular vouchers made.

The joint venture has been experiencing heavy losses since its establishment with the accumulated loss sum of VND74,397bil ($4,649mil) reported at the end of 2005. Moreover, the joint venture owed VND2.1bil ($0.13mil) in tax duties.

>>Full article

AUSTRALIA - Queensland vehemently quashes concerns pertaining to the Great Barrier Reef

eTN Asia/Pacific, 10-2-2006

Responding to a recent report related to several world heritage sites being taken off the tourism map, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council has rejected the opinion that suggests closing off most of the Great Barrier Reef to tourism.

The Council’s Daniel Gschwind says the Centre for Future Studies does not properly consider all the risks to the reef, including climate change and pollution.

On suggestion that a lottery system where a limited number of people could win visits to the reef each year, Gschwind felt the idea is absurd and has little scientific backing. “The lottery. . . would in fact cause more grief that good I’m sure so let’s stick with sound management practices, let’s stick with a management authority who can maintain and monitor what operators do,” he said. “And let’s stick with the cooperation that currently exists between commercial tourism operators on the reef and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.”

As per the information available, about 1.8 million people a year travel to the Reef, generating $5 billion.

In a report prepared for UK insurance company Churchill, the Center for Future Studies (CFS) had listed 10 popular destinations that could be either permanently closed or have a visitor cap within 15 years.

“I’m reasonably confident we’re going to see an increasing climate degradation that is going to impact on various places in the world with increasing severity,” CFS director Frank Shaw had said. “Floods, storms, droughts, increasing and erratic temperatures will combine to bring about changes in destination choice for tourists.”

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UAE - ABU DHABI TOURISM AUTHORITY CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ‘BUSINESS TOURISM’ (MICE) FOR THE EMIRATES’ TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS 2006

eTN, 1-10-2006

ABU DHABI, – Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority conducted a half day workshop under the title “MICE – What’s it all about?” on September 19th at the Le Royal Meriden Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

The workshop, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, was open to key personnel of Abu Dhabi’s tourism stakeholders including, other governmental organisations, tour operators, travel agents, hotels, venues and tourist attractions, conference and exhibition suppliers – over 100 people attended. On the objectives of the workshop, Director of ADTA’s Licensing and Classification Division, Mr. Nasser Al Reyami said “Business Tourism is one of the key areas for development and opportunity in Abu Dhabi and one of our key goals at ADTA is to increase the professionalism, service standards and creativity of our destination through industry education such as this, establishment of standard ethical practices and promotion of the value of the industry.” Key note speaker Mr. Jon Hutchinson, Chairman of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, provided a useful insight into the world of Meeting, Incentive, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE tourism) and how it will potentially impact Abu Dhabi. John has over 30 years experience in the tourism industry and is currently Managing Director of the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are honoured to host Mr. Jon Hutchison in our country for this worthwhile event”, said Mr Ahmed Hussein, Director of Product Development at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority “By facilitating industry forms such as this we are putting the building blocks and infrastructure in place so that Abu Dhabi is ready to handle Business Tourism (MICE) in the future and benefit from an industry that is globally valued at US$ 672.5 billion annually.

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BALI - as a Cruise Port

Balidiscovery.com, (9/28/2006)

The Indonesian language Bisnis Indonesia reports that no less than three international cruise operators are currently considering Bali as a turn-around port.

The Secretary General of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Sapta Nirwandar explained that the development reflects the growing interest in cruise tourism worldwide.

International Cruise ship visits to Indonesia continue to grow with tourism authorities expecting the targeted 82 visits for all of 2007 to be easily exceeded. The targeted ship visits for 2007 is 100.

According to Sapta, Bali is increasingly viewed as a possible base port for cruise ship operators, a change from its past role as merely a cruise stop.

"There are now three international companies who have expressed an interest in making Bali a turn around port. This means (Bali) will no longer be just a cruise stop, but a port. This also means that cruise voyages will begin and end from Bali," Sapta told Bisnis Indonesia.

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BALI - Local Community Leader Claims Developers Have Severely Damaged Serangan Island.

Balidiscovery.com, (9/28/2006)

According to a report published in the Indonesian language Bali Post, the reclamation project on Pulau Serangan, carried out by PT Bali Turtle Development (PTBTD), has caused substantial suffering for the people living on Bali's nearest island neighbor. The island was once a green and fertile locale surrounded by waters in which a wide variety of fish, crustaceans and other sea life were harvested by Pulau Serangan's residents.

Sadly, little is left of the island's former beauty. The 418 hectare reclamation project - comprised of 100 hectares of the Original Island and 318 hectares of new reclaimed land, is now a barren limestone outcropping, dusty and largely devoid of flora and fauna.

I Wayan Sudarsana, the Secretary of the People's Forum for the Rehabilitation of Serangan Island told the Bali Post that the reclamation project has caused a number of difficulties for the island's residents, falling far short he claims of the many promises made over the past years by the project's developers which included a promised integrated tourism development and luxury hotel.

As part of the major reclamation project, the eastern shore of the island has undergone major excavation and the destruction of environmentally sensetive hectares of mangrove forests that once surrounded the island. And, according to Sudarsana, developers have destroyed surrounding coral reefs to a distance of up to more than 1,000 meters from the shoreline, effectively eliminating the natural habitat of the abundant sea life that once lived in these areas.

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BALI - Urgent Steps Must Be Taken to Help Bali Reclaim its Beaches as its Own.

Balidiscovery.com (10/1/2006)

Last week, regional authorities in Gianyar shut down a luxury villa project under construction on Cucukan Beach, near Blahbatuh, when the project was found to have been partially built on 300 square meters of government land and to have violated mandatory "set back" limits forbidding construction too close to local shorelines. Developers of that project have been told to demolish those parts of the construction that do not meet local building requirements.

As part of a continuing crackdown on illegal building in Bali, Denpasar authorities similarly "froze" three villa and apartment projects in the Canggu area of North Kuta that reportedly did not possess the required building permits. Concurrently, authorities are taking action against a villa in Kuta that was built uder a permits for a private residence but is now being leased out as a commercial villa enterprise.

While it is encouraging to see local officials are finally taking some steps to slow the helter skelter free-for-all of villa construction that is fundamentally changing the character of the Island, there are indications that a more radical re-examination of building regulation on Bali's beaches may be long overdue.

With Bali repeatedly winning awards as one of the world's favorite holiday island destinations, a more thoughtful approach on how best to protect and preserve Bali's precious beach front and tidal mangroves are needed in order to maintain the island's reputation and make its tourism product sustainable for the long term.

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AVIATION - Garuda Projects Profitability and a Newer Fleet of Aircraft

Balidiscovery.com, (9/29/2006)

The Indonesian language Bisnis Indonesia reports that Garuda Indonesia will allocate US$1.6 million for rental fees to secure two new Boeing 737 NG aircraft in 2006.

The funds will be channeled from the US$52.2 million dollar cash injection recently approved by the members of the National People's Consultatative Assembly (DPR).

The four uses designated for the emergency cash injection to the national carrier are:

o	Initlal lease payments for the rental of two new B-737 NG worth US$1.6 million.
o	Repayment of US$14.7 million of short term debts totalling US$43.6 million.
o	Payments for US$17.3 million in repairs and overhaul of a projeted US$19.6 needed for six Airbus 330 aircraft owned by Garuda.
o	Allocation of US$18.9 million or an estimated US$20 million needed to undertake repairs on the rest of Garuda's aging fleet of aircraft.

A second cash injection of US$52.5 million, allocated from the 2007 State budget, will be used next year for ongoing management restructing at Garuda, short term loan repayments, and additional repairs needed on the Airline's fleet.

Targeting a Profit in 2007

Meanwhile, the Indonesian language BisnisBali confirms that Garuda is projecting a profit of Rp. 444 billion (approximately US$48.2 million) in 2007, an impressive financial rebound from losses of Rp. 692 billion (approximately US$ 75.2 million) suffered by the Airline in 2005.

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AVIATION - Garuda to Abandon Bali as a Secondary Air Hub

Balidiscovery.com, (9/29/2006)

Garuda Indonesia may soon be restructuring its network, minimizing the role of Bali as a flight hub and restructuring its network such that many of its Australian, and all its Japanese, flights will operate via Jakarta.

Garuda's Vice-president of Sales and Marketing, Agus Priyanto: "We are now studying the way we operate out of dual hubs in Jakarta and Bali. But we expect to only use Jakarta because having two hubs is too costly and the recovery of the Australian market to Bali has been slower than expected, and (due to) Garuda's limited fleet."

According to Priyanto, "running two hubs was like running two different airlines."

This move, should it proceed, would take effect at the end of March 2007 and would apply to routes utilizing wide-bodied A330 aircraft. Only Australia's East Coast routes would be affected, with Perth services continuing to operate direct to Bali.

Garuda's Southwest Pacific Regional Manger, Suranto Yitnopawiro, stated that he understood that in global planning, individual markets must be assessed on their own merits and decisions taken that will benefit the network as a whole.

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