PHILIPPINES - Tourism stakeholders prepare for Cebu Asean Congress

Sun star Cebu, June 12, 2007

Foreign, national and local delegates will discuss lengthily perspectives in branding Asian destinations. For Cebu, the event will re-invent strategies to penetrate the global market. The International Media Forum will discuss issues on how far media could go in promoting the best of a destination. Concerns on infrastructures and facilities will heighten the panel discussions which will further reveal how Asian tourism leaders perceive one another in branding their destinations. The participation of the founding members of the East Asian Tourism Forum (Eatof) should be interesting to those who haven’t heard of this inter-regional group of government and academic proponents of tourism clusterings. But then, the “open skies” issues and Asean success stories are equally thought-provoking topics. Watch for it!

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BALI - facing a new threat. Global warming.

One News, Jun 5, 2007

As it struggles to recover from the effects of two terrorist bombings, Bali's tourism industry is facing a new threat. Global warming.
Experts say climate change is hitting Bali's coral reefs hard, turning once vibrant diving locations into bleached shadows of their former glory.
The situation has been compounded by the widespread, but illegal, use of cyanide and bombs by local fishermen.
In the West Bali National Park, the once common sight of brightly-coloured clown fish swimming among healthy pink anemones is becoming rare. And larger fish are increasingly uncommon.
On Menjangan Island, a popular dive spot within the park, once-vibrant cliffs of underwater colour now look washed out and brittle, with rising sea temperatures aiding the bleaching process.

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MALAYSIA - Rebranding Langkawi for tourism

The star online, June 9, 2007

Malaysia will sell Langkawi as the “ultimate green fun in the sun” resort, following the United Nations’ move to accord it a geo-park status.
The Tourism Ministry is also working hard to bring more visitors to the resort island with air links to Bali and Phuket.
“Not only is Langkawi a showcase of green, it is also a romantic island.
“We want to make Langkawi the tourist destination,” said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
“Langkawi’s status as the only geo-park in Malaysia and South-East Asia is a really big boost for the island to draw tourists,” he told reporters after attending a briefing on the island’s new status by Langkawi Development Authority officials here yesterday.

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MALAYSIA - on the world map

The star online, June 10, 2007

The 90s saw the emergence of Star Cruises and low-cost carrier Air Asia, which allowed connectivity into Malaysia to improve by leaps and bounds. The reduced travelling costs have also allowed the lower income groups to get a taste of being in the air and visiting another destination.
Hotels started sprouting up all over the country, especially five-star ones. Our five-star hotels offer some of the cheapest room rates in the region for unparalleled luxury. Then, with the introduction of the nationwide Mega Sale Carnival in 1999, the economy received a boost from the retail sector. The Malaysian tourism authority has undertaken efforts to position Malaysia as a leading international shopping destination.

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PHILIPPINES - Boracay still growing as top tourism destination

manilastandardtoday.com, June 4, 2007

BORACAY Island, Aklan—International visitor arrivals to this island paradise surged 40 percent year-on-year in the first four months of 2007, attracting new investments that are expected to provide about 1,000 additional rooms and generate thousands of jobs this year.
“Of the 3,000 new rooms that are opening in 2007, about 1,000 rooms will be located in Boracay,” said Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, who visited five newly built first-class accommodation facilities.
Data from the Municipal Tourism Office of Malay, which has jurisdiction over the island, show that the number of foreign guests reached 73,110 in the first four months of 2007 alone, higher by 20,902 from 52,208 a year ago. Most of them were Koreans.

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PHILIPPINES - Koreans eye airport in ‘Next Boracay’

manilastandardtoday.com, June 5, 2007

A Korean real estate company will start the construction next month of an international airport at Carabao Island, which is being eyed as the “Next Boracay.”
Carabao Island, part of San Jose town south of Romblon, is a 15-minute boat ride from the smaller island of Boracay, and has the same white-sand beaches and pristine waters, according to Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano.
Durano said Carabao Island is about four times the size of the 10-sq. km. Boracay, which accommodated more than half a million visitors last year. It is closest to the Puka Beach, the northern part of Boracay.
“We expect the groundbreaking of the airport at Carabao Island by the end of the month,” said Durano, who, together with Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., visited the new large hotel developments in Boracay.

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PHILIPPINES - AusAID LGDP Iloilo-Guimaras joint tourism, infra plan takes off

thenewstoday.info, June 6, 2007

Integrated tourism and integrated infrastructure action plans for the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras will finally kick off as top officials of the Australian Embassy meet tomorrow with local counterparts of the Australian Government, AusAID-backed project.

An initiative under AusAID's Local Governance Development Program (LGDP), four Project Management Teams were correspondingly created with team members coming from representatives of the Australian Government, officials from local governments of Iloilo and Guimaras and region's executives from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

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VIETNAM - UK firm to build resort for central Vietnam’s burgeoning tourism

thanhniennews.com, June 6, 2007

UK-based Qudos Technology has obtained the license to build an US$18 million five-star ecological resort in Hoi An Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the central province of Quang Nam.
As planned, Qudos Hoi An Company Ltd – the British-owned subsidiary – will develop the 8.5ha Qudos Hoi An Resort in the town’s Cam An Ward.
Construction is expected to begin soon so the resort can open by 2010.
Qudos is a leading research and development company for micro & nano technology.
Within the first two months of this year, Hoi An welcomed over 90,000 tourists, a whopping 40 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

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VIETNAM - Central provinces pursue tourism

nhandan.com.vn, June 7, 2007

The region is home to four world heritage sites, Hue Imperial City (December 1993), Hoi An ancient town (December 1999), My Son historical relecs (December 1999) and Phong Nha Ke Bang (July 2003).
Also Danang beach has been rated by the US magazine Forbes as one of the best six sea-coasts in the world; from Quang Binh to Ninh Thuan, there are many beautiful sections including Cua Tung, Lang Co, Non Nuoc, My Khe, Cua Dai, Nha Trang and Mui Ne beaches.
The number of tourists visiting the region has increased significantly in recent years and the VNAT forecasts that it will remain an attractive destination to visitors in the future.
However, revenue from tourism and associated services is still small; attributed to short stays and modest spending by foreign visitors.

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INDONESIA - Bali’s new wave

Asia Property Report - June 2008

Long one of Asia’s top tourism destinations, Bali has in the last decade also become one of the region’s top two destinations for investing in resort property. Although still someway behind Phuket in volume of sales and the number of developments, the Indonesian island is catching up fast, helped along by a newly proactive government, both at local and national level, which is keen to develop the island’s appeal as a real estate investment destination for foreign buyers.
Bali is set to capitalise on Thailand’s current troubles, which post-coup have muddied the waters on foreign ownership of property and have slowed investment across the real estate sector.

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AVIATION - Firefly Airlines links popular islands

property-report.com, June 2008

Phuket and Samui in Thailand are often compared for their natural beauty and lifestyle attractions, as are Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia. Each unique yet all four have similarities, not least their buoyant real estate markets. And now they are joined, not by land but by air, following the announcement of new services by Firefly Airlines.
Launched in April and wholly owned by Malaysia Airlines, Firefly is a low-cost start-up based in Penang that currently features a fleet of two Fokker F50 turboprops. As the newest arrival on the Asian aviation scene, Firefly is focusing on non-trunk sectors, rather than going head-to-head with more established rivals.
Termed a ´community airline´, Firefly has targeted unique routes as a distinct point of difference.
Along with its two popular international routes to Phuket and Samui, it offers domestic flights from Penang International Airport to Kota Bahru, Langkawi, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu. Firefly executives are now aiming to break even in the company´s first year following a positive response in the first month of operation.

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BALI - Spending Less and Leaving Sooner

Balidiscovery.com, (6/9/2007)

Tempo Interaktif reports that length of stay (LOS) and average spending levels are on the decline for foreign visitors to Bali. Data analyzed from Bali's Central Statistics Board (BPS) for the months of March-April 2007 also showed an increase in tourists staying in non-starred hotels. Reflecting the larger role of regional visitors from Asia in the overall market mix, the BPS reported that the LOS for foreign visitors in non-starred hotels was 3.96 days as opposed to 3.92 days in starred properties.
This short length of stay is in stark contrast to contrasting reports from official sources suggesting a length of stay in excess of 9 days.

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BALI - Garment Sector Has Shrunk Dramatically Since 2005 Terrorist Attack.

Balidiscovery.com, (6/9/2007)

The Indonesian-language BisnisBali reports that around 70% of the companies involved in Bali's off-the-rack garment trade have ceased operations in the aftermath of the second terrorist attack of October 2005. From an original 175 registered Bali members of the Indonesian Textile Association (API), only 40 companies remain in operation as members of the professional grouping. Yunasril Anga, a Directors of API, confirmed that there have been "tens" of garment companies who have gone bankrupt over the past two years resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs among people living in Bali.

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AUSTRALIA - Don’t give up on Japan

eTN, 11-6-2007

Amid the continuing underperformance from Japanese tourists, Australia’s tourism industry should remain committed to this market, the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) said Wednesday.
The ATEC was responding to the latest figures from Tourism Research Australia, which showed that Japanese tourist numbers fell 7.7 percent to 582,000 in the year ended March 2007. The figures also revealed that Japanese visitors’ expenditure in Australia also fell nine percent to just over $1 billion, but on a slightly brighter note, nights were up 3.8 percent to 10.9 million as visitors stayed an average additional two nights.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - UNWTO: Asia Pacific main destination of tourists by 2010

eTN, 11-6-2007

The majority of one billion tourist arrivals expected by 2010 will be heading to the Asia Pacific region, estimates the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
UNWTO said it believes that sharing the experiences of successful destinations and organizations will help to increase total world tourism to the advantage of all, said UNWTO in a statement. "It will also help spread the benefits of tourism to less developed countries, and alleviate poverty, which is one of the organization's principal goals."

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INDIA - The mammoth growth of the Indian aviation

eTN, 11-6-2007

The Indian domestic market is showing no sign of reducing its aviation activities, with a 25 percent increase in the number of flights scheduled for May 2007 compared with the same month last year, new figures revealed.
According to the latest statistics from OAG, the Indian domestic aviation is seeing an additional 8,631 flights and an “astonishing” 1.7 million extra seats available to people traveling within India, putting the country in third place in the Top 10 list of countries with the highest number of additional flights in May this year compared to the same month in 2006, behind China and the USA.

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MALAYSIA - Historic Melaka digs way into more of its past

eTN Asia/Pacific, 11-6-2007

The Malaysian government is setting its focus on Melaka's treasures.
Malaysia's historic state Melaka is digging its way into its past to uncover more artifacts buried since the Portuguese landed in the then world sea port trading post in the 16th century.
The unexpected discovery of a fort's remnants dating back to the 15th century is expected to enhance historic Melaka's listing as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. According to the state's historians, the site was a battleground between followers of the then Malay sultanate and invading Portuguese soldiers in 1511.

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PHILIPPINES - domestic tourism on the rise

eTN, 11-6-2007

Domestic air travel in the Philippines is setting new records.
The number of domestic airline passengers rose more than a fifth in the January to March quarter due to the growing popularity of budget airlines, according to Philippine’s Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB)According to the CAB, domestic air travelers for the first three months of the year went up by 22.4 percent to 2.4 million over the same period last year.

Cebu Pacific Air occupies the top spot in terms of garnering the most passengers with 1.01 million, a 71.6-percent increase compared to the same period last year, followed by rival Philippine Airlines (PAL) with 938,960 passengers, up from 961,764 last year.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Women Travellers Playing Major Role in Development of Asian Travel Industry

ASIATravelTips.com, 7 June 2007

As women travellers grow rapidly in numbers, spending power and influence, Asia’s travel industry is responding with a greater focus on safety, wellness and the ‘web’.
Making around 125 million trips a year and rising in Asia, women are set to play a decisive role in the development of the travel, hospitality and tourism sectors for at least the next 10 years, says Abacus CEO and President Don Birch.
“Asian women are travelling like never before. From the young to businesswomen to energetic grandmothers, they're travelling more often and further solo, in pairs with their female companions or as members of women-only interest groups,” Mr Birch said.
Latest travel figures from Mastercard now indicate that around 4 in every 10 Asian trips are by women travellers – up significantly from the just 1 in 10, in the mid 1970’s estimated by a recent Mastercard study, Women Travellers of Asia Pacific.

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AVIATION - MAI looks to winter growth

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) plans to inject capacity growth of at least 20 per cent with the onset of the winter schedule in October 2007. Country manager in Singapore, Mr Aaron Teo, said: “This will be achieved through a combination of new destinations, fleet growth and increased frequencies on existing routes. Up to now, we have depended on partnerships with other airlines to extend our reach and ASEAN-based airlines have been particularly helpful.”MAI operates a pair of MD-82 on flights linking Yangon to Bangkok (10 times weekly) and Kuala Lumpur (four times weekly with frequent additional flights needed lately). On the Yangon-Singapore route, MAI has a thrice-weekly joint service with Jetstar Asia Airways operated by the latter’s Airbus A320.

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MEDICAL TOURISM - ‘Rope in the agents’

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

Medical tourism was identified in the late-1990s as a potential growth segment to improve the Malaysian economy due to the economic downturn. The government recognised the importance of this segment because health tourists spend an average four times more than recreational tourists. In 1998, the then Health Minister, Datuk Chua Jui Meng, called on the Ministry of External Trade and Industry (MATRADE) and the then Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism to look into medical tourism. But it was not until 2003 that medical tourism took off. Private hospitals worked with the Health Ministry, MATRADE, the then Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, and the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM) to promote health tourism.

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ACCOMMODATION - Asian hotels a hot buy

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

A “flush” of capital is chasing good hotel developments across Asia, with the money men singling out China, Singapore and Macau as among their hottest picks during a panel session at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels’ conference recently. When asked where they would put their money, Dubai-based global private equity investor Istithmar managing director, Mr Richard Johnson, said he was keen on the budget sector in the growth markets of China and South-east Asia.

Jumeirah Group executive chairman, Mr Gerald Lawless, said Dubai had a good run in the last few years. This would probably be sustained over the next two to three years, then there might be a correction, he said.“From 15 to 16 per cent RevPAR (revenue per available room), it would go back to three to four per cent, then what? There would be tremendous pressure...there will be failures,” he said, urging investors to “do your sums” by keeping in check how much they were paying for the project, the industry’s cycle, etc.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Manpower mobility in the region is on the rise as tourism continues to open up new opportunities for skilled workers

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

MANPOWER exchanges foster cultural ties and broaden horizons. The only problems perhaps would be language barriers and differences in work ethics, thereby limiting exchanges to certain countries. However, the potential for a brain drain (out of Asia) is very real. The manpower situation in the Philippines is already critical since a lot of our frontliners are being pirated by call centres or opportunities overseas. We invest in training our staff but end up losing them.This scenario indicates that manpower exchanges would most likely occur and be more successful at the frontline level. Ticketing and reservations functions are basically the same in Asia, Europe or the US. And technology has broken down barriers. We are all using the same computer systems and the lingo and expertise required to make hotel and airline bookings can be applied anywhere. As long as you have the basic skills, you can move around. Certain exchanges can occur at the managerial level too since management tenets are global.

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ACCOMMODATION - Agents must understand brands or be dropped

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is reviewing its partners and will work with only those who understand its multibrands. Chief marketing officer, Mr Peter Gowers, said: “If customers know more about the brands than they do, these agents cannot last.” Branding, and people, are the ammunition IHG will use to win the hearts of owners and customers. As it moves ahead with its Asia-Pacific expansion, this could mean cutting off travel agent partners who do not shape up.Mr Gowers told TTG Asia the group was studying plans to move to a purely performance-driven and incentive-based model, and working only with those who knew its brands and products well. “The days of flat-rate commission are gone...We want travel agents to form strategic partnerships with our sales team. We expect our partners to deliver and perform for us. The key decision is – who do we want to partner with in the next five years?,” he said.

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ACCOMMODATION - Sokha expansion

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

Sokha Hotels and Resorts is set to embark on a major expansion that will see Cambodia’s first and only hotel chain investing upwards of US$250 million in developing three mega hotel and residential complexes in the country within the next three years.
Assistant managing director, Mr Hin Samnang, said Cambodia’s strong tourism growth and high business demands had pushed Sokha to accelerate its expansion plans to complete its network of hotels in major destinations in Cambodia.
It now owns and manages the 276-room Sokha Angkor Siem Reap and 176-key Sokha Beach Sihanouk Ville. Sokha plans to spend US$100 million developing a high-end property comprising a hotel, condominiums, serviced apartments, residential villas and a shopping arcade. The project will be located on a 20-hectare riverfront peninsula of Phnom Penh’s Tonle Sap River. Mr Samnang said the hotel would be of five-star standard with 500 rooms, Sokha’s Jasmine Spa and five f&b outlets. It would also have the largest ballroom in Phnom Penh at 3,500m2.

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MALAYSIA - Space shuttle delayed

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

The project to bring in the US$2 billion Russian Buran Space Shuttle, a highlight of Visit Malaysia year, has gone wrong and both tourism ministry and event organiser Best Venue have been slow to inform the public that the exhibition has been postponed.At press time, just days before the June 5 start of the two-month long Malaysia International Aerospace Exhibition, no official announcement had been made about a postponement due to glitches in bringing the space shuttle to Malaysia.This exhibition is one of five mega events for Visit Malaysia Year and the space shuttle was to be the main highlight of the exhibition. Local travel agents in the know about the delay were fuming that the tourism ministry was keeping silent at press time, although high-ranking officials had known of this delay for several weeks.

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ACCOMMODATION - Hilton expands in Asia with a vengeance

TTGasia.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

One year after it bought Hilton International, Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) is going all out to expand internationally, setting a target of 1,000 hotels outside the US in the next 10 years, 300 of which will be in Asia-Pacific.
HHC has plenty of room to go global. Currently, 68 per cent of its EBIDTA (earnings before interest, depreciation, tax and amortisation) comes from the Americas. It has 2,800 hotels, but only 255 of them are outside the US. Asia-Pacific, with 51 hotels, accounts for only five per cent of its EBIDTA.

HHC president Asia-Pacific, Mr Koos Klein, said: “Asia-Pacific clearly is a big growth area.”Mr Klein, who has headed Hilton in the region since 1998, was previously hampered by the 40-year separation of HHC and Hilton International, which allowed him only the brand, Hilton and, more recently, under a strategic alliance between the two, Conrad, for expansion in the region.

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VIETNAM - War over room rates

TTGasia,.com, Jun 1 - 7, 2007

Vietnam hoteliers are defending their right to introduce steep rate increases next season, claiming tour operators should understand it is in line with strong demand from business and leisure travel.Tour operators last week united in protest against Vietnamese hoteliers’ proposed rate increases of up to 50 per cent effective immediately, saying some were refusing to honour existing contracts and describing the situation as “shortsighted” and a “grab for cash” (See TTGTravelhub.net Daily News May 24).Travel Indochina, Focus Asia, Phoenix Voyages Group and Destination Asia lent their names to a statement condemning the hoteliers’ “short term greed”. Indochina Services also contacted TTG Asia to say it agreed with their views.

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MARKETS - The coming of the Asian wave: Are we ready for it?

STB-passport, june issue

As travel and tourism enters its third phase, the period when masses of Asians, led by India and China, will begin to travel, are we prepared for the massive growth ahead? And what will the Asian legacy be? Banyan Tree's chairman, Mr KP Ho, gives food for thought.

The tourism industry is entering the third phase, defined as the "Asian period of tourism", a period that will present unprecedented opportunities and challenges.
In a speech at the China Hotel Investment Summit in Shanghai last month, Mr KP Ho, Chairman of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, said that this phase will see two-third's of the world's population, mainly in China and India, attaining a level of economic development where their populations will start to travel.
This wave, he said, would lead to a democratisation of tourism which will come "perilously close to the commoditisation of tourism, resulting in such massive numbers as to threaten the physical and cultural environments in most societies".
"Sustainable tourism will become an endangered ideal as our global industry lurches towards unsustainability," he said.

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AVIATION - Tiger Airways obtains Indian Operating Permits

ASIATravelTips.com, 5 June 2007

Singapore-based, Tiger Airways has been granted a Foreign Carrier Air Permit from the Government of India, Civil Aviation Department (DGCA). This means the airline has cleared the final regulatory hurdle and is now permitted to operate international flights between Singapore and a wide network of destinations across India.

Tiger Airways has been granted the rights to fly between Singapore and Chennai, Cochin, Goa, Trivandrum, Kolkata and Kozhikode. The airline is now in the midst of planning its flight routes and is in talks with airports and suppliers at these destinations.

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THAILAND - Private funding offered for convention center

Phuketgazette.net, June 1, 2007

NAI YANG: Phuket’s decades-old of dream of having an International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC) took a step forward on May 28, when Tourism and Sports Minister Suwit Yodmanee ordered the formation of a provincial committee and gave it 60 days to decide where the center should be sited.The move follows a May 25 meeting of ING Funds (Thailand) Co Ltd Managing Director Maris Tarab with Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit and Suwalai Pinpradab, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Southern Region 4 office in Phuket, at the Governor’s Office at Phuket Provincial Hall.Mr Maris proposed that ING Funds build a 10,000-seat conference and exhibition center on some 2,000 rai in Mai Khao under the control of the Treasury Department’s State Property Management and Services Office, or Ratchapassadu.Mr Maris’ plan for ING to completely fund the center’s construction on a 30-year “build-operate-transfer” agreement with the government was well-received by Gov Niran.

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SINGAPORE - Casinos or culture? Singapore seeks tourists

CNN.com, june 2, 2007

What makes a successful tourist destination? Casinos, theme parks, and Bollywood films -- or a mix of historic sites and local culture?
As Singapore reduces its dependence on electronics exports it wants to boost its tourism industry -- currently about 5 percent of gross domestic product -- and is betting on casinos and other imported entertainment to lure millions more visitors.
"Artificial tourist creations can work," said Tony Wheeler, co-founder of the Lonely Planet guides.
"Disneylands all over the world seem to pull in the crowds. And the casinos, given the propensity for the Chinese to gamble, will probably be a success."
Perhaps Singapore's biggest handicap is its lack of famous sights: it has no Angkor Wat or Taj Mahal. For many years, it prided itself on its innumerable shopping malls, and promoted its annual "Singapore Sale".

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CAMBODIA - Tourists up 20 percent in first 4 months

Xinhuanet, 05-30-2007

Cambodia saw a 20-percent increase in the number of tourist arrivals for the first four months of 2007, compared with the same period last year, local media reported on Wednesday.
Some 710,000 visitors arrived between January and April and the majority were South Korean and Japanese, French language daily newspaper the Cambodge Soir quoted Tourism Minister Thong Khon as saying.

"Although Japanese and South Korean tourists still take the lead in terms of numbers, we note that there has been a 70-percent increase in Vietnamese tourist arrivals and a 38-percent increase in Thai tourist arrivals," he said.
The newly-appointed minister stressed that the large number of Vietnamese visitors has also resulted from recent efforts to advertise Cambodia's tourist destinations in Vietnam.

Thong Khon added that Cambodia intends to draw 2 million tourists this year.

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CHINA - Travel agencies concerned about tourism during the Games

China Daily, 2007-05-30

Amid the chorus of voices hailing the positive effect the 2008 Olympic Games will have on the tourism industry, a dissonant note can be heard emanating from some domestic travel agencies.
Some have forecast that their revenue from regular inbound and domestic tourism will decline next year. Those two segments contribute a major part of their annual income.

The Games are expected to benefit the outbound tourism sector and high-end commercial tourism.
"The prices of hotel rooms, vehicles and tour guides in Beijing during the Olympic Games will all be at least four times higher," said Yao Yuecan, president of the China International Travel Service Head Office.

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VIETNAM - Domestic tourism industry shows strong growth in ’07

vnagency.com.vn, (02-06-2007)

HA NOI — With rising disposable income, more Vietnamese took the opportunity to travel within the country and abroad in the early part of the year, adding to an already budding tourism industry.
According to the HCM City Department of Tourism, over 300,000 Vietnamese travelled overseas in the first five months of 2007, up 30 per cent year-on-year. In May alone, 50,000 people headed outbound to popular spots like China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.
The International Tourism and Trade JSC (Vinatour) says these destinations remain popular due to the shopping opportunities offered.
Tour companies also attribute the surge in the early part of the year to low air fares and easier visa procedures.

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VIETNAM - leaders welcome Saudi Arabian investment plans

nhandan.com.vn, June 1, 2007

The Vietnamese central and local authorities will create all favourable conditions for Saudi Arabian businesses to invest in the country, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has affirmed.
The PM receiving in Hanoi on May 31 Prince Al Waleed Ben Talal Ben Abdel Aziz Al Seoud of Saudi Arab, who was on a visit looking for investment opportunities in Vietnam.

The Prince said that his visit is aimed to seek investment opportunities, particularly in the areas of tourism, real estate and banking sectors besides to see preparation work for the construction of three Saudi Arabian-invested hotels in Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
He expressed his hope to continue boosting economic, commercial and investment ties between the two countries and requested Vietnam to send guest workers to Saudi Arab.

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PHILIPPINES - Solve Boracay power woes, NAPOCOR told

The Philippine Star, June 4, 2007

BORACAY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) and owners of establishments here are asking the National Power Corp. (NAPOCOR) to promptly address power fluctuations hounding this resort island.
The problem, caused by a damaged underwater power cable, has forced establishment owners to use generators to prevent their stored food from spoiling and to avoid further inconvenience for their local and foreign guests.
Members of the Boracay Foundation Inc. and the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industry raised their concerns to Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano during his visit last Saturday.

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ACCOMMODATION - Marriott to launch New Brand - Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott

ASIATravelTips.com, 4 June 2007

Marriott International, Nickelodeon, a unit of Viacom International, MTV Networks, and Miller Global Properties, an international real estate investment and development company, have reached an agreement to co-develop a new lodging resort brand and concept - “Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott,” with 20 potential hotels expected to be under construction by 2020.

The new upscale, self-contained destination resorts will be developed through a collaboration among Nickelodeon, one of the world’s leading entertainment brands for kids, with 35 channels reaching approximately more than 200 million households in 135 countries; Marriott International, which has nearly 2,900 hotels in 68 countries; and Miller Global Properties.

Miller Global will have certain exclusive rights to develop and own the resorts in specified geographic areas, and plans to seed an investment fund that is expected to initially provide $300 million of dedicated development equity capital. All “Nickelodeon Resorts by Marriott” properties will be managed by Marriott.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Travel Attitudes Towards Asia

Balidiscovery.com, (6/2/2007)

A travel attitude survey conducted among 5,050 respondents from 10 nations has proven revealing on both the perceptions and misperceptions of world travelers towards Indonesia and other Asian destinations. Undertaken in cooperation between the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and VISA, the survey was carried out in February and March 2007 tallying the views of a sample of 500 respondents each from Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Britain, U.S.A. and Australia.

The 40-page reports provides insights on the perceptions, prejudices, plans and motivating factors among world travelers as regards Pacific Asia travel.

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BALI -Environmental Warnings Issued to 3 Sanur Hotels

Balidiscovery.com, (6/2/2007)

The Indonesian-language Denpost reports that a task force comprised of the Coordinating Team for the Control of Pollution (TKP2LH), members of the Foundation for Sanur Development (YPS-Yayasan Pembangunan Sanur) the Working Secretariat for the Rescue and Safeguarding of the Environment (SKPPLH)and members of the Sanur village community have issued a two-month deadline to three leading hotels in Sanur to get their environmental record-keeping in order and correct deficiencies in their waste management systems and procedures.Cited for urgent correction at a joint meeting held in Sanur on Thursday, May 31, 2007 were 3 hotels - the Hotel Inna Grand Bali Beach, Bali Hyatt and the Hotel Sanur Beach.

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BALI - Villas Built in Restricted Zone to be Demolished?

Balidiscovery.com, (6/2/2007)

The Indonesian-language BisnisBali warns that the tolerance of the Badung Regency's authorities when it comes to granting licenses to Villas in Bali will have its limits. The Chief of Tourism for the Badung Regency, Made Subawa, told the press that the special team established for the registration of tourism accommodation will not process permits for villas built in Bali's "green zones" or "jalur hijau" where permanent construction of any kind is strictly prohibited.

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Asia Pacific Travel and Entertainment Corporate Card Spend Rose 44% in 2006

ASIATravelTips .com, 31 May 2007

A new global survey commissioned by Visa International and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE Global) and conducted by analyst firm Aberdeen Group has revealed a 44% increase in travel and entertainment spending on corporate cards in Asia Pacific during 2006, compared with 2005. This was twice the average global percentage increase during the same period and equated to an average annual spend of more than US$17,300 on travel and entertainment per company surveyed in Asia Pacific.
The survey, titled “Global Commercial Payment Cards: Cutting Costs and Boosting Control on a Global Stage”, also found that of the companies surveyed in Asia Pacific, 69% have implemented a compulsory policy of corporate card use for travel and entertainment, while 78% were looking at how to expand their card programs to non-travel related expenses.

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AVIATION - Jetstar takes Tiger by tail

Herald Sun, May 29, 2007

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

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

thanhniennews.com, May 28, 2007

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

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CAMBODIA - replaces tourism minister for further sector development

People's Daily Online, May 17, 2007

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

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

Balidiscovery.com, (5/27/2007)

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

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

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

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

Balidiscovery.com, (5/26/2007)

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

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BALI - Developers In Over Their Heads?

Balidiscovery.com, (5/27/2007)

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

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

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INDONESIA - Transportation & Cleanliness are Fundamental to Bali

Balidiscovery.com, (5/26/2007)

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

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INDONESIA - Changing Demographics May Change Bali's Character

Balidiscovery.com, (5/26/2007)

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

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VIETNAM - New rules to lift RE market

Asia Property Report, May 28 2007

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

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

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

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INDIA - Tamil Nadu gets boost

TTGindia.com, May 20 2007

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

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SINGAPORE - Change or be squeezed out

TTGasia.com, May 25 - 31, 2007

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

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

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

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 24 May 2007

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

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

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PHILIPPINES - Resort rates increasing

TTGasia.com, May 18 - 24, 2007

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

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

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AVIATION - Virgin Galactic to name Asian agents

TTGasia, May 18 - 24, 2007

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

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THAILAND - Japan agrees to lend B84bn for transit

Bangkokpost.com, May 10, 2007

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

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VIETNAM - boom brings soaring prices

The Straits Times, 23-05-2007

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

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INDONESIA - Investing in Bintan

Asia Property Report, May 18 2007

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

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AVIATION - Foreign airlines circle for Viet Nam landing

Vietnam news agency, (21-05-2007)

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

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

ASIA Travel Tips.com, 21 May 2007

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

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CHINA - Golden Harvest for Chinese Tourism

CNTA, 16-may-2007

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

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

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

INDIA - Buddhist sites to turn into hot spots

timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 10 May, 2007

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

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PHUKET - to accommodate a marina for mega-yachts

Phuketgazette.net, May 22, 2007

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

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PHILIPPINES - Iloilo airport opens in June

manilastandardtoday.com, may 14 2007

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

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

Balidiscovery.com, (5/12/2007)

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

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PHILIPPINES - Conversion of Puerto Princesa into highly-urbanized city

Bayanihan.org, May 02 2007

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

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

Balidiscovery.com, (5/5/2007)

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

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PHILIPPINES - maps out ‘Super Tourism Region’

eTN, Apr 25, 07

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

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INDONESIA - Dubai's Emaar to invest in leisure project

People's daily online, April 30, 2007

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

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

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THAILAND - remains Top Destination in Asia Travel Intentions Survey

ASIA Travel Tips.com, 24 April 2007

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

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ACCOMMODATION - Hotel Developments in Australia

ASIA Travel Tips.com, 30 April 2007

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

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BALI - How to Finance the Bali Tourism Board

Balidiscovery.com, (4/28/2007)

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

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Vietnam needs to have specific airports for low cost air carriers

Vietnamnetbrigde, 23/04/2007

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

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

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BALI - An Academic Look at Bali's Villa Sector

Balidicovery.com, (4/21/2007)

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

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Visayas tourist spots lure Thais

SUNSTAR.COM.PH, April 16, 2007

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

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

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VIETNAM - island set for makeover as tourism paradise by 2020

Tanhnhiennews.com, April 3, 2007

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

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MALAYSIA - Penang steps up tourism-related projects

Theedgedaily.com, 03-04-2007

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

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PHILIPPINES - $3 billion in tourism revenues expected this year

The Philippine Star, april 10, 2007

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

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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Tourism faces climate destruction

Reuters, Friday, April 06, 2007

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

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

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INDONESIA - Strong Start to National Tourist Arrivals for 2007

Balidiscovery.com, (4/7/2007)

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

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

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PHILIPPINES - Wooing an elusive market

manilastandardtoday.com, march 31, 2007

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

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THAILAND - Time for 'Greater Phuket'

Bangkokpost.com, April 02, 2007

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

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PHILIPPINES - A travel boom

Manilatimes.net, March 22, 2007

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

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

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BALI - Changing Market Mix for Bali Tourism

Balidiscovery.com, (3/25/2007)

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

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CAMBODIA - mulls over restricting access to Angkor Wat Temple

eTN Asia, 23-03-2007

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

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

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ACCOMODATION - Accor opens 300th Hotel in Asia Pacific

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 20 March 2007

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

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

ASIA Travel Tips .com, 13 March 2007

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

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BALI - Land Grab Blamed for Rapid Erosion of Island's Agricultural Character.

Balidiscovery.com, (3/3/2007)

Government targets to increase local rice production in Bali as part of a national plan to grow 2 million more tons of rice nation-wide in 2007 are going to be hard to achieve. In the case of Bali, the major obstacles to more rice production are lower-than-average rainfall and the uncontrolled conversion of agricultural lands to other uses.

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AUSTRALIA - India described as Australia’s star performer in terms of arrivals

eTN, 23-2-2007

India has been described as Australia’s star performer in terms of arrivals, with 83,700 visitors from India for the year ending December 2006, an increase of 23 percent over last year. This development emerged as the Australian Bureau of Statistics disclosed its international visitor arrivals data.
Tourism authorities acknowledged that the number of Indian arrivals to Australia is relatively small but the trend of increase in arrivals was sustained as strong growth was also experienced in 2004 and 2005.
Overall, there were 5.5 million visitor arrivals to Australia in 2006, an increase of one percent relative to 2005.
Tourism Forecasting Council estimates 91,000 visitors from India in the year ending 2007.
Tourism Australia’s focus in India is to continue converting the strong preference to visit Australia into actual intention to visit. The strategy involves promoting a variety of unique Australian experiences to Indian travelers that serve not just as an invitation to visit, but also give them exciting reasons to visit.

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SINGAPORE - Visitor Arrivals for January 2007

ASIATravelTips.com, 28 February 2007

In January 2007, Singapore welcomed 825,000 visitors, registering a 7.4% growth over the same period a year ago. This was a record high for the month of January. Visitor days were estimated to reach 2.9 million days, an increase of 10.3% in comparison to January 2006.
Indonesia (158,000), P.R. China (76,000), Australia (68,000), India (52,000), and the United Kingdom (52,000) were Singapore’s top five visitor-generating markets in January 2007. These markets accounted for 49% of total visitor arrivals for the month.
Strong growth was registered in January 2007, where Singapore gazetted hotels generated Sin$138.2 million in room revenue, representing an increase of 44.1% over January 2006. This was a record high for the month of January.

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