CHINA - closes scenic mountain peak to recover from tourism

USAtoday.com, 21-8-2007

Chinese tourism authorities have closed one of the peaks on popular tourist attraction Huangshan mountain for three years to allow vegetation to recover from the hordes of tourists who visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The barring of visitors to Danxia Feng, or "Purple Cloud Peak," is part of a revolving series of closures of sites on the mountain, located in Anhui province, about 745 miles south of the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Another of the mountain's scenic spots, Shixin Peak, reopened to tourists on July 1 after authorities restored trees and shrubs. The official China Daily newspaper called the closure the "latest move to protect one of China's World Heritage Sites."

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Palawan, too, is home to whale sharks

Inquierer.net, 08/19/2007

Sightings of the rare whale shark (Rhincodon typus) around Puerto Princesa City just right outside the bay have increased in frequency over the last five years, prompting tourism officials and conservation groups to take stock of its potential as a tourist attraction.
City tourism officer Melinda San Juan-Mohammad said they were setting aside funds this year, for the first time, to undertake a more rigorous program to protect the whale shark and to promote it as a tourist attraction, in addition to the famous underground river of Puerto Princesa City.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Survey reports record growth in domestic hotel industry

VietNamNet Bridge, 20/08/2007

Record growth in visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy and room rates and an increase in interest from major hotel groups all occurred in 2006, according to a new survey conducted by financial and accounting firm Grant Thornton Vietnam. Five-star hotels in Hanoi and HCM City recorded significant increases in average room rates and occupancy rates last year, the survey said. Northern Vietnam remained the market leader in terms of occupancy with over 70% in 2006, according to Grant Thornton’s annual Vietnam Hotel Survey 2007. Grant Thornton surveyed 29 hotels with 3,946 rooms in different cities in three main regions of the country during 2005 and 2006.

>>Full article

CHINA - Foreign tourists to China up 18.47% in 1st half year

english.eastday.com, 5/8/2007

Nearly 12.12 million foreigners came to the Chinese mainland for sightseeing from January to June, up 18.47 percent year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).
The growth rate more than tripled the 6.1-percent increase for all inbound tourists to the Chinese mainland, who added up to 63.37 million in the first half of the year.
It also overtook the 4.22-percent rise for tourists from Hong Kong, 0.56-percent rise for tourists from Macao and 8.84-percent rise for tourists from Taiwan.
CNTA figures revealed that foreign tourists came mainly from 16 countries, with tourists from the Republic of Korea registering the rapid growth of 30.62 percent, followed by India 16.48 percent, and Russia, 15.73 percent.

>>Full article

THAILAND - TDA teaches sea gypsies to dive

Phuketgazette, August 4, 2007

Twenty villagers from Rawai’s sea gypsy community are taking part in a five-day dive course that kicked off with a ceremony Thursday morning presided over by Minister of Tourism and Sports Dr Suwit Yodmanee.The training, being held jointly by the Thai Diving Association (TDA) and the Phuket Office of Sports and Recreation Development, is intended to give the sea gypsies useful knowledge in safe diving practices and prepare them for possible future work as instructors in the local dive industry.The five-day course is the first of three that have been budgeted for sea gypsies under the Yoo Dee Mee Suk (“Good Life and Happiness”) provincial development strategy. The second course will also take place at the Rawai, while the third session will be offered to the Laem Tukkae and Tah Chat Chai sea gypsy communities.The program is based on the Thai Dive Association’s TDA/CMAS “One Star Diver” training, which could lead to the sea gypsies entering the workforce jobs as dive master assistants.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Huge Korean presence hardly benefits Pinoys

manilatimes.net, August 05, 2007

ONE of the closest friends of the Philippines in the post-Second World War period, Korea—Chosun, Land of the Morning Calm–has become the object of love-hate sentiments among Filipinos, who see Korean residents here as loud, noisy and overbearing people.
Primarily this is because, just in the last two years, it suddenly seemed to Filipinos that their communities and neighbor-hoods have been “invaded” by hordes of Korean residents.
They complain that small Filipino businesses were facing competition from similar-sized but better-financed Korean companies.
They complain that some of these Korean firms were opening successful restaurants and taverns with “For Koreans only” signs.

>>Full article

CAMBODIA - leases tourist islands for $627m

thetidenews.com, 2 august 2007

Cambodia, Monday, agreed to lease five islands in the Gulf of Thailand for 627 million dollars to investors for tourism, the state investment agency says.
“The projects will become a magnet for tourism. These projects will create natural resorts which are popular with foreign tourists”, Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said in a statement.
Prasidh, who is also deputy chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, said six Cambodian companies signed the long-term leases and have one year to submit detailed plans for the resorts.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Samui welcomes the big brands

Asia Property Report, August 05 2007

Before the turn of the millennium, the biggest brand on Koh Samui was probably Bob Marley, but massive economic growth and major developments in tourism have led to a significant increase in global interest and investment. As is often the case, it was the retail sector that led the brand invasion with golden arches, superstores and high street pharmaceuticals taking over from street stalls and family-run corner shops. More recently, the hospitality sector followed suit with mainstream hotel chains and now, largely on the back of big name resorts with mixed use strategies, the island’s property industry has expanded to include international, corporate agencies and developers.

>>Full article

FIJI - Unchecked expansion can threaten environment

Islands Business, 6-8-2007

Tourist numbers are a key issue for Pacific Islands nations as they seek to balance economic development and sustainability, says a key tourism researcher from the University of the South Pacific.Professor Jim McMaster told a recent conference in Port Vila that unchecked expansion of tourism in the Pacific region could threaten some fragile islands environments. “The focus in some countries is on attracting more and more tourists to generate economic growth, but there are limits on the capacity of the local environments to assimilate wastes generated by tourism growth and to supply up-market resorts with the large quantities of water they consume.”Charlie Panakera of the University of Waikato Management School, who has practical experience of running tourism businesses in the Solomon Islands, said that environmental concerns were not always uppermost for Pacific Islanders and it was hard to translate commercial sustainability to local communities.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - US$800 Million Tourism Investment for Lombok

Balidiscovery.com, (8/4/2007)

Taj Hamaad, an Advisor to the Dubai-based Group Emaar International Properties, have confirmed that they will invest US$800 million in a new tourism resort development in Lombok, an island just east of Bali.According to Hamaad, technical agreements and final a final memorandum of understanding (MOA) are now being hammered out prior to ground-breaking ceremonies planned for later this year.

>>Full article

BALI - Protests Mount Against Proposed Golf Course in the North

Balidiscovery.com, (8/9/2007)

Vague plans to develop a 100 hectare site near Bali's sacred temple of Besakih into a golf resort complex are fomenting strong oppositon from many circles in Bali, all opposed to a resort development which has reportedly received a green light from the Regent of Karangasem.Residents from the traditional villages of Tagenan and Menanga (near Rendang) are said to be up-in-arms over the appearance in recent days of unannounced surveyors pacing off their traditional farming lands. One local resident who's land was surveyed, quoted in Nusa Bali, insisted he was ready to wager his very life in violent opposition to any project that would violate the sanctity of the lands surrounding Bali's Mother temple complex. The man also said he could see no value whatsoever in building a golf course on his otherwise productive agricultural lands.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - P5 B island airport to benefit Boracay

The News Today, July 23, 2007

The construction of the P5-billion Carabao Island Airport, starting October, is expected to serve hundreds of thousands of local and foreign tourists visiting the world famous Boracay island and nearby areas yearly.

The construction of the airport, a private sector initiative, will be completed by 2010.
Steve Tajanlangit, vice chairman of the Boracay Property Holdings, Inc., the main proponent of the project, expressed confidence that the airport will further hasten the growth of tourism on Boracay- Carabao Island corridor.
Tajanlangit stressed that the airport will also generate thousands of employment and spur economic growth and activities not only on Boracay island, but also the entire municipality of San Jose, Romblon, where the Carabao Island is located.

>>Full article

MALAYSIA - launches massive northern development plan

Channelnewsasia.com, 30 July 2007

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday launched a 51-billion-dollar development masterplan to spur economic growth and reduce poverty in northern Peninsula Malaysia. The Northern Corridor Economic Region (Northern Corridor) is a government initiative to boost the economy and raise income levels in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak over 18 years. "Projects and programmes to enhance human capital, infrastructure, and competitiveness in the region will involve about 177 billion ringgit public and private sector investments from 2007 to 2025," a government statement said.
"The focus will be to turn the Northern Corridor into a modern food zone of Malaysia, increase the value-add in the manufacturing sector and strengthen tourism," it said.

>>Full article

MALAYSIA - Reinventing and boosting tourism in the northern region

The edge daily, 25-07-2007

Over the years, tourism remains one of the healthiest sectors in the country due to our unique cultural ‘melting pot’ characteristic. Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism indicate that Malaysia received RM36.27 billion in tourist receipts last year, up 13.5% from RM31.95 billion in 2005.
Although two major tourist spots, Penang and Langkawi, are located within the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), the four states — Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak — collectively capture only 4.8 million visitors per annum, while average spending per tourist in the NCER stands at RM1,890, compared to the national average of RM2,066.
This is surprising, as the two island resorts have always been promoted heavily on the national and international scale. However, this is possibly caused by a shorter average length of stay and cheaper prices as compared to other parts of Malaysia and especially, East Malaysia.

>>Full article

INDIA - Touristy South Indian Cities A Haven For Asian LCCs

Bernama, July 28 2007

Flourishing south Indian cities are a haven for burgeoning Asian no-frill airlines that have set an exciting rhythm for travel-starved passengers in the region.Regional low cost carriers (LCCs) like AirAsia, Nok Air (Thailand) or Tiger Airways (Singapore) cannot miss the economically vibrant and touristy cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Cochin, from their radar screens. The four cities are a remarkable catchment area and if we look at the classic LCC model of 3-5 hours flying band," CAPA (Indian subcontinent and the Middle East) chief executive Kapil Kaul told Bernama."There is a remarkable historical and cultural affinity between countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. There are so many Indians from the south settled or working in these countries which any airline must take note of.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - sea being ‘cut into small bits’

VietNamNet Bridge, 28/06/2007

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

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Qatar team to visit Vietnam

GulfTimes.com, 1 July, 2007

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

>>Full article

SABAH - steers harder

TTGmice.com, June 2007

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

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Undersea jewel

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

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

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - hotels start new round of upgrades

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

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

>>Full article

JAPAN - Midtown set to steal the scene

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

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

>>Full article

CHINA - Parting the waters

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

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

>>Full article

MARKETS - Generation 'S'

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

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

>>Full article

CHINA - New road to Everest

TTGasia.com, Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2007

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

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Ecotourism to create jobs, lure investments

mb.com.ph, July 3, 2007

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

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Concern for rice terraces

Manilatimes.net, July 03, 2007

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

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - sustainable growth benefits tourism

Dailytravelnews.com, June 27, 2007

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

>>Full article

THAILAND - New airport near its limits

Bangkokpost.com, June 28, 2007

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

>>Full article

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

e-travelblackboard, June 29, 2007

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

>>Full article

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

Vietnam Net bridge, 29/06/2007

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

>>Full article

HAWAII - Building Partnerships with Asia

Hawaii reporter, 1-7-2007

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

>>Full article

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

Asiatraveltips.com, 2 July 2007

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

>>Full article

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

eTN, 3-7-2007

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

>>Full article

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

Balidiscovery.com, (6/30/2007)

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

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

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Tourism: A Major Contributor to the Economic Growth

ForImmediateRelease.Net, June 29, 2007

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

>>Full article

INDONESIA - A Creative Approach to Funding Tourism Promotion

Balidiscovery.com, (6/30/2007)

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

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - India, Pakistan to discuss group tourism

The Hindu, 29-6-2007

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

>>Full article

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

eTN, 2-7-2007

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

>>Full article

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

Asia News Network, 02-07-2007

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

>>Full article

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

alternet.org, 2-7-2007

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

>>Full article

AVIATION - Indonesian carriers: Ticking time bombs?

eTN, 28-6-2007

The Indonesian government takes steps to improve its air safety record with the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Indonesia's Ministry of Transport has grounded nine out of the total 20 Indonesian airlines that currently have an operating license.The transport ministry unveiled its audit last Tuesday after promising to set-up new “roadmap” and warning airlines to comply with standards or face closure.The sweeping action came almost four months after authorities announced that none of the carriers surveyed were in the top safety category, while seven were in the bottom.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - UNESCO ponders if World Heritage Sites endangered by mass tourism

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) committee is to discuss this week whether its World Heritage Sites are now in danger from mass tourism..

While the committee meets in Christchurch, New Zealand, China publicly announced in Kuala Lumpur that it supports Malaysia's proposal for a separate chapter of the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage center.
In October 2006, Malaysia proposed the establishment of an Asian list, arguing it felt too much emphasis and recognition is placed on Europe and the US, and not enough heritage and historical sites in Asia are being recognized.
"Asia has its own distinct set of values and principles, and deserves its own criteria for what constitutes a World Heritage Site," added Sun.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Philippine Airlines eyes US$50 million Investment at Clark

ASIAtraveltips.com, 26 June 2007

Philippine Airlines is to invest between $30 and $50 million in putting up strategic facilities at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at Clark Field, Pampanga, in preparation for the extension of PAL’s Manila operations to Clark and the start of direct PAL service from Clark to foreign destinations.
“We are definitely operating at Clark. Our chairman – Dr. Lucio Tan – is excited at our plan to join the development of Clark. We are just trying to align our specific requirements with the master plan of Clark,” said PAL President Jaime J. Bautista.While the current airport handles approximately one million passengers a year, the Clark airport’s master plan envisions two terminals capable of handling 20 to 30 million passengers annually.

>>Full article

VIETNAM -Hanoi is thirsty for high-grade hotels

VietNamNet Bridge,

A big wave of investment in five-star hotels is taking place in Vietnam’s capital, aiming to meet the accommodation requirements of visitors, according to the Hanoi Department of Tourism.
Hanoi is one of the most attractive and lovely destinations in Vietnam, and is now the center for MICE tourism in the region.
Readers of the U.S. Travel and Leisure magazine voted Hanoi as the sixth most attractive city in Asia. MSN network readers have also chosen it as the third best culinary city in the world. In addition, De Loitte & Touche LLP rating company ranked Hanoi as having the third highest number of hotel rooms of any city in the world.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Asian giants team up to lure visitors

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, 06/26/2007

Japan plans to join forces with the Chinese and South Korean governments to attract more tourists from the United States and Europe, sources said Monday.
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, minister of land, infrastructure and transport who is also in charge of promoting tourism, will meet his counterparts from Beijing and Seoul on Tuesday in Qingdao, China.
Under the expected agreement, the three governments will encourage Western travel agencies to organize tours to all three nations, taking advantage of international events, such as the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Cagayan town seen as North Luzon's 'Boracay'

news.balita.ph, june 20, 2007

STA. ANA, Cagayan, June 20 - Investments have started pouring into this northernmost town of Luzon which the Arroyo administration is now marketing as the "Boracay of the North," transforming this once sleepy town into a world-class tourism site and North Luzon's center for economic growth.Now hosting several online gaming facilities and some hundred million-dollar hotel facilities, this town, where the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) has been established as an additional come-on to tourists, had just held its third Viray Festival which began with a grand fluvial parade showcasing the town's cultural origin and tourism potentials.

>>Full article

NEW ZEALAND - Welcomes More Inbound Chinese Tourists

chinahospitalitynews.com, June 27, 2007

Following the success of its first China Summit in 2005, Tourism New Zealand has once again convened leaders of the tourism industry of New Zealand in Beijing.
Apart from the host Tourism New Zealand, 48 representatives from New Zealand Tourism Department, New Zealand Embassy in China, Immigration New Zealand, Air New Zealand, and travel agencies from both New Zealand and China attended the meeting and contributed their ideas to the future development of New Zealand tourism.

>>Full article

MACAU - Plans Future Tourism Campaigns

chinahospitalitynews.com, June 26, 2007

Director of Macau Government Tourist Office João Manuel Costa Antunes has presented the tourism development of Macau and outlined future marketing strategies to guests and MGTO's representatives from 16 countries and regions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Macau Government Tourist Office Annual Marketing Meeting, Antunes pointed out that Macau's tourism industry has entered a new phase of growth and is moving towards diversification. During the first five months of this year, visitor arrivals exceeded 10 million, registering an increase of 21.45% compared with the same period of 2006. Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan continue to be the three largest visitor generating markets, with growths of 19.44%, 23.21% and 1.93% respectively.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Will Attract One Million Chinese Tourists

chinahospitalitynews.com, June 26, 2007

Nongnart Wattanachart, a director from the Thailand National Tourism Bureau, expressed during his recent visit to Shanghai that Thailand would attract one million Chinese tourists to visit Thailand this year and it would expect to receive three million Chinese tourists by 2010.
From June to September this year, the Thailand National Tourism Bureau will launch Green Travel packages targeting Chinese tourists, and it will specifically launch special trips for Chinese senior citizens. Bali Island and Phuket will also arrange various activities for family tourists from China.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - hopes to attract Chinese visitors to Bali

chinaview.cn, 2007-06-25

The absence of a direct flight between China and the Indonesian famous resort island of Bali has hampered the government's effort to boost arrivals from China, an official said Monday.
Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia serves routes to Chinese cities but has no direct flight between China and Bali as its planes have to make a stopover in Jakarta, said I Gede Nurjaya (rpt. I Gede Nurjaya), the head of the Bali provincial tourism office.
The ongoing visit by Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng to Bali is expected to become a turning point to boost arrivals from China, he was quoted by the national Antara news agency as saying.
Nurjaya said he got information that a Chinese airliner plans to serve a direct flight between Bali and Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - RP visitor arrivals reach one million

mb.com.ph, June 26, 2007

Auguring well to the tourism industry is the consistent positive growth rates in visitor arrivals from January to April with the month of January providing the biggest volume of 272,525 while the month of March recorded the highest growth of 15.1 percent.
The East Asian region maintained its position as the largest contributor of arrivals by region, accounting for 45.9 percent of the overall traffic base. This region posted an increase of 5.5 percent, from its output of 449,598 the previous year to 474,507 arrivals for the year.
The combined total of 239,285 arrivals supplied by the North American countries made this region the second biggest supplier of arrivals for the country. It grew by 3.3 percent versus its production of 231,670 arrivals the previous year. The ASEAN region shared 7.1 percent (73,572 arrivals) to the total visitor volume to rank third in visitor contribution while Australasia/Pacific have 50,952 arrivals to constitute the fourth biggest arrivals by region. Visitors from Western Europe increased by 9 percent as arrivals reached 46,604 compared to 42,771 arrivals last year.
Meanwhile, the influx of domestic travelers during the summer vacation has caused strong competition among foreign and domestic visitors for accommodations in various destinations of the country. This constrained the growth of foreign arrivals during this month. But total visitor arrivals for the month of April 2007 still increased with 243,441 compared to the arrivals of 238,941 last year.

>>Full article

MANILA - SPAASIA ANNOUNCES 2007 WELLNESS SUMMIT TO BE STAGED IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES

ForImmediateRelease.Net, June 24, 2007

Wellness Media announces the return of SpaAsia Wellness Summit 2007 to be held on October 3- 5, 2007 in Manila, Philippines which will gather over 500 delegates and participants ranging from CEOs, directors, spa proprietors, journalists, healers, doctors, therapists and trainers to owners, financiers, investors, developers and development teams who have made invaluable contribution to the Asia Pacific spa industry.Now on its third year, the 2007 SpaAsia Wellness Summit proposes to address a theme of great relevance to the future of the spa and wellness industry at large. “Harnessing Collective Consciousness: Nurturing Growth, Inspiring Change” is an apt theme as the industry has now evolved and matured.

>>Full article

MICRONESIA - PATA Micronesia Promotes Tourism Management Changes

yokwe.net, Jun 26, 2007

Major changes in tourism management throughout the Western Pacific region of Micronesia are being planned by the new leadership of PATA's Micronesia Chapter. The regional group's annual meeting was held June 12 in Tumon, Guam, at the Hilton Resort & Spa. Emelyn Simon, of the Marshall Islands Visitors Authority (MIVA), represented the Marshalls. There are nine national or state tourism officers for the emerging nations of Micronesia who automatically serve on the executive board along with nine elected private sector members.
Elected to serve were: Chapter Chairman - Darin Deleon, Managing Director of the Palau Visitors Authority in Palau; Vice Chairman - Lee Webber, Guam PDN; Treasurer - Judy Torres, Marianas Visitors Authority; and, Secretary - Jae Medina, PDN Guam.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Another Bridge Crossing Mekong To Link China-Bangkok

bernama.com.my, June 21, 2007

A bridge crossing the Mekong River at Chiang Khong in northern Thailand and Houayxay in Laos will be completed in 2011 to connect the south-western province of China directly to Bangkok by road. Asian Development Bank (ADB) vice-president C. Lawrence Greenwood Jr said that the agreement to build the bridge was reached during the three-day 14th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference which ended in Manila today. He said in a statement that the bridge, to be financed by the governments of China and Thailand, would be the final link in a north-south road system through the Mekong region under development by nations in the area and the ADB for more than a decade."When this vital bridge is completed, it will be possible for the first time to travel by land directly from Yunnan, China, through Laos to Thailand, opening up tremendous potential for increased trade, tourism, and further integration of the Mekong region," he said.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Adrian Zecha, Philippe Starck & Jean-Michel Gathy to Create Luxury Boutique Hotel in Phuket

Asiatraveltips.com, 25 June 2007

Scheduled to open in 2008 on a private peninsula on Phuket’s dramatic east coast, new five-star General Hotel Management (GHM) operated boutique hotel, The Yamu, is aiming to raise the bar on previously held concepts of exclusivity and luxury.
This much anticipated collaboration between three internationally-renown industry gurus and visionaries – Adrian Zecha of GHM Hotels and Aman Resorts, French interior design guru Philippe Starck for yoo by Starck, and celebrated architect Jean-Michel Gathy – will result in the unique concept and creation of one of Phuket’s most exclusive boutique hotels.

>>Full article

BALI - A Delicate Balance of Power

Balidiscovery.com, (6/24/2007)

Bali balances on the precipice of large scale brown-outs following malfunctions at a 5 major power generating stations in Java. Those malfunctions have left Bali facing a potential power deficit of 500 megawatts and prompted National Electrical Board (PLN) officials to ask consumers to reduce power consumption between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m..
As an additional precautionary step, PLN has asked hotels with stand by power to use their systems to reduce the drain on limited power supplies.
While it is not clear how long Bali's power supply will remain in a precarious position, there was some good news in the midst of the latest electrical crisis as the Asian Development Bank and World Bank have just agreed to make funds available for a five year plan to add 10,000 megawatts in power generation to the Java-Bali power grid.

>>Full article

BALI - Toll Bridge Connecting Sanur and Nusa Dua Non-Viable

Balidiscovery.com, (6/24/2007)

Despite initial enthusiasm by local leaders and Bali legislators for a bridge that would connect Sanur's Serangan island with the Benoa peninsula, plans for a span that would reduce the current 30-45 minute strip from Sanur to Nusa Dua to just 5 minutes appear to be on indefinite hold.
The Figures Just Don't Add UpWith estimated costs of the bridge put at nearly US$99 million, financial analysts are finding it difficult to devise a schedule of fees that would provide sufficient revenues to service the debt needed to build the bridge and still remain attractive to those expected to travel the new toll-bridge.

>>Full article

AVIATION - Garuda Eyeing a Return to Europe

Balidiscovery.com, (6/24/2007)

Garuda Indonesia's President Director, Emirsyah Satar has signaled that, barring unforeseen difficulties, the national carrier could resume service to Amsterdam as soon as 2008.
In a general abandonment of its European route network, Garuda stopped flying to Amsterdam in 2004.
According to local press reports, Garuda is in the process of applying for the necessary traffic rights to fly to Schiphol and determining what type of aircraft from their current armada or other sources is best suited to serve this route. The Commercial and Marketing Director of Garuda, Agus Priyanto, told the Bali Post that he feels confident that the Airline can achieve traffic loads of between 70-80% on flights between Amsterdam and Indonesia.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Tourism Funding Still Not a High Priority

Balidiscovery.com, (6/24/2007)

The Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia reports that the Department of Culture and Tourism will obtain official funding in the 2009 State budget in excess of Rp. 1 trillion (approximately US$111 million).



>>Full article

CHINA - Tibet sees record influx of tourists in first five months

eTN, 25-6-2007

Southwest China's Tibet received a record 672,000 tourists in the first five months, a rise of 82 percent from the same period last year due to the Qinghai-Tibet Railway which began operation last July.
From January to May, the region hosted 627,000 domestic tourists and 45,000 from overseas, reaping a revenue of 636 million yuan (83.6 million U.S. dollars), up 78 percent, the regional tourism bureau said. Zha'nor, deputy director of the bureau, said the Qinghai-Tibet Railway had unblocked the transport bottleneck that had hindered tourism development of the region.

>>Full article

SRI LANKA - Domestic tourism promotion likely to fail-experts

sundaytimes.lk, 25-6-2007

Initiatives on domestic tourism promotion undertaken by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) to assist the struggling sector is doomed to failure, say those in the travel industry.
According to the Managing Director of World Travel Center, Sudharma De Silva, the SLTB's 'intention is good but their action is wrong.' De Silva told The Sunday Times FT that for the first time in Sri Lanka, the SLTB Chairman Renton De Alwis and Tourism Minister Milinda Moragoda are speaking out on domestic tourism but with no genuine interest. De Silva calls the domestic tourism promotion a 'temporary solution to hoteliers to fill their rooms' with no attention being given to developing a long term and viable solution to sustain the local market. His main point of contention with the SLTB is that they only think about domestic tourism when there is a problem in the country.

>>Full article

AUSTRALIA - Chinese pay $100 to go for a walk at Bondi Beach

smh.com.au, 25-6-2007

TENS of thousands of Chinese tourists to Australia are being fleeced by rip-off travel companies and rogue traders every year, consumer groups have warned.
The situation is so bad that tourist industry officials fear Australia could be damaged as a brand and the massive economic benefits of the boom in travel from China could disappear.
Scams uncovered in Sydney include:

* Charging tourists $100 to walk on Bondi Beach or to have their photograph taken at the Opera House;

* Locking tourists in shops and confiscating passports until they spend big on overpriced goods;

* Unfulfilled promises of luxury central business district accommodation

>>Full article

THAILAND - must repair its image

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

INTRA-REGIONAL and cross-border traffic make up a substantial share of visitor arrivals in Asia and a drop in the contribution from these markets is cause for concern. Thailand knows this all too well. Although it is still a popular destination, there is no denying Thailand’s image has been dented by the political situation in the country, and security and safety issues which continue to plague it.
Coupled with this is the less-than-glowing report card of the capital’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the perception it is much harder to access compared to its predecessor at Don Muang. Asian travellers who would not hesitate to fly to Bangkok for a weekend of eating, shopping, spa treatments and entertainment – made possible by the entry of a number of low-cost carriers – are now thinking twice.

>>Full article

MALAYSIA - Arabian allure

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

JUNE to August traditionally see an influx of Arab tourists to Malaysia, and this year, the tourism ministry is targeting a 61 per cent increase over last year’s visitor arrivals from the Middle East to 300,000. The ministry’s deputy director-general, Mr Razali Mohd Daud, said this was an important market as the average Middle Eastern tourist spent three times more per day at a destination than regional tourists.One of their favourite haunts is Kuala Lumpur, with its five- and four-star international hotels and plenty of places to shop. Restaurants serving west Asian cuisine can also be easily found. Some 200,000 Arab tourists are expected to arrive in Kuala Lumpur from this month to escape summer in their country, where temperatures reach 45˚C.

>>Full article

HONG KONG - Aberdeen dream takes shape

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

The blueprint for the redevelopment was in the form of a paper presented to the Southern District Council by the Tourism Commission last month.
Artist impression of a tree-lined promenade at the new Aberdeen harbour.
Artist impression of the new Aberdeen harbour.In it, the commission outlined the details of a tourist hub, blending thematic architecture with al fresco Chinese and western entertainment. Work is proposed to start in 2009 and is due to be completed by 2012.Holiday World Tours managing director, Mr Paul Leung, believed developments like these helped the tourism industry and promoted repeat tourism. “The biggest advantage of Aberdeen is the natural environment. The harbour combined with the heritage aspect is really great. “The old house boats and sampans are not as prominent (as before), but the redevelopment will bring the nostalgia back. “This sort of attraction really reminds people of what it used to be and gives us a taste of the heritage.”He added: “Ocean Park up to Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau is a very large geographical area.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - STB’s pipe dream

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

INBOUND agents in Singapore are faced with a conundrum. During the recent industry conference, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) signalled they should move away from mass market visitors to target more high-yield travellers in response to the room crunch (TTG Asia, May 25-31, 2007).However, agents said rapidly rising rates and tight supply were driving even these desired visitors away from Singapore.Tour East group vice-president sales and marketing, Ms Judy Lum, said: “We have had to turn away a number of high-yield business opportunities as the hotels were not willing to allocate rooms to a committed rate because the rooms can be sold at much higher prices to walk-in corporate clients. For 2008/09, most hotels in Singapore are gunning for 30 to 80 per cent increases in their rates. Even a high-yield leisure market will find it (rate increases) hard to comprehend.”

>>Full article

MARKETS - Muslim travel grows

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

The growing affluence of Malay Muslims in Singapore and their thirst to venture beyond South-east Asian destinations for leisure travel have made them an attractive market for Chinese agents who have not traditionally handled the segment. Deks Air (Singapore) is one such agency. It launched its first Muslim tour in April. The new south Vietnam packages range from S$609 (US$395) per person for a three-day FIT package to S$668 per person for a four-day group package, inclusive of accommodation at Amara Saigon and air fare on Vietnam Airlines. The country was chosen as Islam has had a presence there for the past 1,000 years. There are about 65,000 Vietnamese Muslims in southern Vietnam, with 15 mosques in Ho Chi Minh City.

>>Full article

THAILAND - Amazing Thai access

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

Increased direct flights to destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui are offering travel agents from key Asian markets the best opportunities to repackage Thailand.They told TTG Asia while the development might not entirely counter declining arrivals from Asian markets, carriers boosting services to daily flights were having an unexpected positive effect. They are fuelling the creative juices of agents, who have been forced to find new ways to push the kingdom.Hong Kong-based Westminster Travel product manager, Ms Doris Lee, said her company saw increasing demand for Phuket and Koh Samui during this July/August school holidays despite a 10 per cent drop in bookings for Bangkok during the first five months of this year.Another Hong Kong-based agent, Jetour Holiday product manager, Ms Liza Mak, said her company saw a significant increase in direct leisure business to both islands, buoyed by convenient direct air access offered by Dragonair, Orient Thai Airlines and Bangkok Airways. Dragonair operates a daily Hong Kong-Phuket flight using Airbus 321 aircraft with about 150 seats. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office director, Ms Suwalai Pinpradab, said Dragonair was likely to increase the frequency to two flights daily this year to meet increasing demand.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Mega plan to fill mega space

TTGasia.com, Jun 15-21, 2007

THIS summer, the 3,000-suite The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on the 80.8-hectare Cotai Strip will not only rewrite the history of the enclave, but of the region when it opens as Asia’s first largest fully-integrated resort. Agents will get an idea of what that phrase really means when it opens; be it in terms of number of rooms, size of meeting space, entertainment areas, spa facilities or retail outlets, The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel will have the biggest of each, all under one roof.
The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel will recruit 11,000 staff to man its 3,000 rooms, 20 restaurants and the 100,000m2 convention centre.

Construction for Marina Bay Sands in Singapore enters its fourth month.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Eco-tourism at risk

UPI, 20-6-2007

Indonesia has announced it will stage a "Visit Indonesia Year" in 2008 -- but tourist packages may not include visits to its once pristine tropical forests, savanna grasslands, and lowland forests, as unprecedented deforestation threatens to wipe out these magnificent habitats.
The Culture and Tourism Ministry hopes to attract 6 million foreign tourists and generate around US$5 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

>>Full article

KOREA - pushes for more Thai tourists

Phuketgazette.net, June 16, 2007

The Bangkok office of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Korean Air and Sun Moon Tours & Travel joined forces to promote Thai tourism to Korea with an industry event at The Metropole Hotel on Thursday.Kang Sung-Ghil, Director of the KTO’s Bangkok Office said, “Phuket is one of our main markets for MICE [meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions], especially incentives. Therefore, from now on, we must come here more often to give updated information about Korea.“The event provided useful information about major international trade fairs and tourism attractions in Korea to help in planning incentive tours or educational trips to Korea, as well as pleasure tours.

>>Full article

SABAH - Firefly most welcome

dailyexpress.com.my, 15 June, 2007

Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan said the intention by Firefly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines to extend its operations to Sabah, bodes well for the State's tourism development.
"The services by Firefly can assist the State especially in tourism which is the priority sector. So if there is any carriage that can assist in the programme, I think they are welcome," he said.
Tan, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, said the State Government has not received any formal application from the airline or the Transport Ministry, saying he only found out about it from the media. "I think the Transport Ministry would have known about the situation in Sabah, that our Kota Kinabalu International Airport being the second busiest airport in the country so we encourage actually any form of carriage to come and assist us," he said.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - sizzling economy threatens competitiveness

CNN.com, June 18, 2007

Singapore's sizzling economy, set to expand as much as 7 percent this year, could prove a headache for the government as the city-state risks becoming less competitive than rival business centers such as Hong Kong.
The labor market is tight, with demand for top bankers far outstripping supply, while property prices, a topic that dominates headlines and dinner parties, have gone crazy.
A penthouse at the luxurious St Regis Residences -- butler optional -- was recently resold for S$28 million ($18 million), up a whopping 84 percent from its initial price in August, the Straits Times reported. Prospective buyers queue up overnight for new property projects, while rents are up 30-70 percent.
"Demand is high not only for private bankers, but for all private-banking-related jobs," said Michel Longhini, regional head of BNP Paribas Private Bank in Asia.
"Costs in Singapore are definitely going up. With such high inflation -- particularly in real estate -- the cost of relocating staff is going up."

>>Full article

AVIATION - Business booms for budget carriers

taipeitimes.com, 18 June 2007

Low-cost carriers are dramatically expanding their network of flights across the Mekong region, encouraging record numbers of Southeast Asian tourists to explore neighboring countries.
Thailand's top budget airline, Thai AirAsia, plans to double its flights from Bangkok to Hanoi and Phnom Penh next month, while adding Shenzhen as its third destination in China.
Air Bagan, Myanmar's largest private carrier, launched its first international flight last month linking Bangkok with Yangon.
Deals are also in the works for direct flights between Cambodia's Angkor temple town of Siem Reap and Myanmar's top tourist spots Bagan and Mandalay.

>>Full article

PALAU - ADB to assist Palau to update master development plan

guampdn.com, 18 June 2007

There are widespread concerns within Palau about a significant reduction in U.S. funding under the new Compact, and the impact large fiscal adjustments would have on achieving sustainable development outcomes,” said Erquiaga. “ADB's assistance is aimed at working with the government and people of Palau to address these issues, including mapping out a path for economic growth which is sensitive to Palau’s culture and environment as well as the delivery of affordable government services including public infrastructure.”Palau comprises 340 islands on the western edge of Micronesia in the west central Pacific Ocean with a very small population.

The economy consists of tourism, retail, subsistence agriculture, and fisheries, capitalizing on its rich environmental assets and close proximity to Asia. The public sector is the largest employer and contributor to gross domestic product.

>>Full article

CHINA - Tourism surge tests China's infrastructure

msnbc.msn.com, June 18, 2007

Growth, however, is already creating surging demand for hotels, transport and other tourism-related services, which is aggravated by rising domestic tourism, officials said.
"We're putting an emphasis on tourism so we can increase domestic consumption and increase living standards," Shao Qiwei, chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, told a conference in Hong Kong.
Beijing has targeted growth in domestic consumption as a way to balance its economy and reduce its reliance on exports.

>>Full article

VIETNAM - Devastation of beaches concerns experts

thanhniennews.com, june 16, 2007

Pham Tu, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), told a workshop which opened in the central city of Nha Trang Friday that Vietnam’s seas had been seriously polluted by waste, particularly from marine tourism projects.
Halong Bay in the north, recognized by UNCESO as a World Heritage Site, Lang Co lagoon in the central Thua Thien-Hue province, and Nha Trang bay, one of the world’s most beautiful, were living proofs for this, he added.
In Nha Trang, where diving is one of the main attractions, received 1.1 million tourists last year, 30 per cent of them foreign.
The development of scuba diving there has badly affected coral reefs as well as biological diversity.
Nguyen Van Long of the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute said: "Coral cover in Nha Trang bay shrank from 52.4 per cent in 1994 to 21.2 per cent in 2005."

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - DOST-6 eyes better projects, plans for Boracay

The news today, June 12, 2007

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 6 was asked to come up with better project plans and programs in Boracay Island to meet the needs and demands of local and foreign tourists in terms of processed food products, furnitures and even environmental protection plans for the island.
The recommendation for the regional office was made by the performance review team led by Prof. Edison Cruz, executive director of the Technology Management Center of the University of the Philippines in Diliman in last week's performance review of DOST regional offices held in Cebu City.

>>Full article

CHINA - Chinese travelers changing the world's tourism pattern

People's daily online, June 15, 2007

In 2006, the number of Chinese tourists who traveled abroad reached 34.52 million, a record high in history. From January to March of this year, the number already reached 9.7 million, 14.5% higher than in the same period last year.
Wu Wenxue, vice chairman of the China Tourism Association, said at a forum on tourism in Beijing, that China has become the fastest growing source of tourists in Asia. The fast growth of Chinese travelers going abroad has gained much attention from many destination countries throughout the world. Chinese tourists traveling abroad are changing the tourism pattern in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the pattern throughout the world.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - RP targets close to 1M retirees abroad to live here

Philippine information agency, 18 June 2007

As much as 3M retirees can be absorbed by the Philippines in the global market to attract senior residents to live in the country but the government is only targeting close to a million, according to a former top official of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA).
Retirement villages is one of the flagship programs of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the government provides incentives to investors to develop retirement villages as there is definitely a market, Francisco said.
Francisco who guested in the two-day Cebu Asean Tourism Forum said there is an estimated more than 326M retirees worldwide last year while the figure will significantly increase to about 869M by 2010.
The Philippines is targeting retirees from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, US, Europe and China to consider the country as a retirement destination. The country prides itself with certain advantages such as warm climate, caring and friendly people, low cost of living, natural attractions and world-class healthcare and safety measures, Francisco bared.

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - DoT woos top firms to travel to RP

The Manila bulletin online, June 18, 2007

Company travel of employees of top Chinese corporations is a priority in the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) marketing program to continuously increase tourism arrivals from China.

CYTS is a top producer of company travel groups for the Philippines. Among its Chinese corporate clients who attended were Motorola, IBM, Samsung, Schneider Electric, China Life Insurance, Shell Exploration, Heng An Standard Life, Intel, Total (China) Investments, Orient Securities , Warner New Asia, Brother, Beijing Sanyuan Foods, Sodexho, among others.
CYTS said feedback was extremely favorable as interest in the Philippines as a holiday destination was high. Several corporations have informed CYTS that they have already decided to send their employees to the Philippines in the coming months.

>>Full article

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS - Asia hospitality staff ‘vacuum’ prompts rethink on candidate selection criteria

Traveldailynews.com, June 18, 2007

As Asia’s tourism and hospitality sector struggles to cope with what now represents its worst staffing crisis in recent times, many employers are now being forced to rethink their staff selection criteria in order to ensure they can fill vacancies.According to leading recruitment and executive search specialist TMS Asia-Pacific (TMS) the situation has resulted in a paradox for many of its Asian clients who are now dropping their overall criteria requirements - some by as much as 30 per cent - to secure staff.

TMS’ Singapore-based General Manager Asia, Andrew Chan, said that many companies had taken the decision to rethink their selection criteria and fill empty job slots as quickly as possible rather than spend months looking for that elusive “perfect” candidate.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Mass Tourism – A Good Fit for Bali?

Balidiscovery.com, (6/16/2007)

A recent article in the Indonesian-language NusaBali suggests that natural carrying capacity limits imposed by Bali's infrastructure and the innate sensitivity of local culture dictate that mass tourism should not be part of Bali's long-term tourism plans.I Putu Anom, the Chairman of the Tourism Studies Program at Bali's Udayana University called for an urgent creation of an alternative to the current trend to develop mass tourism to Bali. The Educator argues that the Island's infrastructure, land reserves and water supply will not sustain mass tourism. He contends that other tourism approaches, such as Ecotourism, will bring tourist staying longer but in lesser numbers and are therefore more environmentally sustainable.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Branding Bali

Balidiscovery.com, (6/17/2007)

The visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Bali to formally open the month-long 29th Bali Arts Festival on Saturday, June 16, 2007 is also being used to launch a "Bali Brand" - the culmination of a six-month long effort to devise an effective marketing identity for the Island's tourism.
The project, rumored to have been funded by a major national tobacco company, fuels long-thwarted hopes that Bali may slowly be moving towards a more professional and measured approach to the sales and marketing of its tourism products. At the same time, the somewhat closed-door way in which the branding strategy has been created and the guarded way in which it is being unveiled to the President and the world, have some concerned that the new brand, once announced, might join the growing stack of Bali tourism initiatives filed and forgotten under "NATO – No Action Talk Only."

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - tourism welcomes US$4 billion in hotel development

eTN, 18-6-2007

The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) announced that due to record occupancy levels in the Philippines leading hotel developers are showing interest. As a result, the country is seeing over $4 billion in investments.“After experiencing high occupancy levels and steadily increasing visitor arrivals in the last several years, the Philippines has caught the attention of numerous major hotel and property developers from all around the globe,” PDOT said.

The PDOT estimates that more than US$4 billion will be slated for hotel development throughout the 7,107-island archipelago, including a much-anticipated hotel complex in the central business district of Makati City in Metro Manila.

>>Full article

AUSTRALIA - More Aussies head overseas for holidays

eTN, 18-6-2007

Australians took 4.4 million international trips last year, 2.3 percent more than in 2005.
More Australians than ever before are heading overseas for holidays, illustrating the need for the Australian tourism industry to step up its focus on attracting foreign tourists, a peak tourism industry body has said. Australian Tourism Export Council managing director Matthew Hingerty was commenting on the release of Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey, which reported that Australians took 4.4 million international trips last year, 2.3 percent more than in 2005. By comparison, just over five million international visitors came to Australia in 2006.

>>Full article

UAE - More arrivals despite high rates

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

VANCOUVER-based Universal Travel president, Mr Rafiq Chinoy, started selling Dubai 20 years ago, when it was “a fishing village” and a very hard sell indeed. Nowadays, he has a different problem. Rates had “gone through the roof”, the traffic jams were horrible and even the shopping was becoming expensive, he said.“But people are still willing to pay to see Dubai,” Mr Chinoy said.Just what people want to “see” about Dubai is, ironically, the very thing, critics are lamenting about the city – progress, or too much of it, which they said had stripped Dubai of its culture, heritage and tradition.

>>Full article

BRUNEI - Reason to be upbeat

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

DOMESTIC campaign – Kenali Negara Kami (Know Our Own Country) – to educate the man on the street on the importance of tourism seems to be paying off for Brunei.Apart from the software upgrade – getting the population more interested in Brunei’s tourism products, changing their attitude about courtesy and keeping the environment clean and green – Brunei is bullish it will meet its seven per cent growth target for 2007 for a number of reasons, among them positive tourism developments, including an aviation shot-in-the arm.It is “all systems go” for Singapore-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Tiger Airways to start operations to Brunei according to Brunei Tourism Board director, Sheikh Jamaluddin Bin Sheikh Mohamed. Although no firm launch date has been announced, it is likely to be around October, according to a source.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - Make twinning hot again

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

THE Lion City seems to be succeeding at transforming itself from a stopover to visit into a hip and happening destination. It seems to have shaken off its dull, strait-laced personality, and in its place a more confident, sexy and worldly destination is taking shape. Singapore is now giving cities such as Hong Kong and Shanghai a run for their money.Of late, Singapore has been grabbing the headlines and overshadowing many of its neighbours and competitors. It is ready to play in the big league with more exciting nightlife and entertainment scene, more culinary options, more art and culture, more new high-end and boutique hotel choices, the upcoming integrated resorts, the first F1 night race, etc.

>>Full article

ACCOMMODATION - Hyatt goes for quality growth

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

Hyatt International has big plans for development in Asia over the next couple of years, with the three main target markets being China, India and Thailand. But at an Asia-wide Hyatt roadshow in Beijing last week, Hyatt Asia/Pacific marketing vice-president, Mr Grahame Carder, said the group was not competing in the numbers game. He said regional expansion for the company was all about quality. Mr Carder told TTG Asia: “It’s one thing saying you’re going to have 50 hotels by such and such a date, but the biggest challenge for everyone is finding the resources to do it. “For us, less is more. We’d rather have slightly fewer hotels but have real quality in everything we do. “It’s more important for us that the brand quality and consistency is kept in focus for the group.”

>>Full article

THAILAND - TAT woos back Asians

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

To shore up Asian arrivals, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out a new series of public relations, advertising and media activities.Fam trips for media and agents, print and TV advertising, electronic marketing, mobile phone’s short messaging service and roadshows are the main tools. All activities, however, would have to be funded by the regular budget each TAT overseas office received during this fiscal year. TAT governor, Ms Phornsiri Manoharn, said the agency was considering a cut in this and next year’s events organising budget to boost the fund for public relations and media activities. But she added that until the plan was finalised, each of the overseas offices would have to work around what they had.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - Island resort showdown

TTGasia.com, Jun 8-14, 2007

Recent developments on nearby Bintan island may turn it from the complementary destination it now is to a fierce competitor Singapore may lose tourists to in time, and Singapore agents are divided in how to react.The discussion arose in response to a spate of new tourism developments on the Indonesian island, which is under an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore. It was fuelled by speculation a casino might be built there, possibly in Lagoi Bay, to rival Singapore’s two upcoming integrated resorts at Marina Bay and Sentosa. Lagoi Bay developer, Bintan Resort Cakrawala, told TTG Asia: “As a master planner and resort developer, our focus remains firmly on property development and planning for the resort. “However, if any company purchasing land from us possesses the relevant licence to legally operate a casino business in Bintan, they would be welcome to do so.” The 1,300-hectare Lagoi Bay development in the north of the island was launched in April this year.

>>Full article

CHINA - Will Cancel Limit On Foreign Travel Agencies

chinahospitalitynews.com, June 12, 2007

Wang Zhifa, deputy director of China National Tourism Administration, has announced that CNTA will cancel the limit on foreign travel agencies' forming of branches in China from July 1.
Wang disclosed the news at Pan-Pearl River Delta Region Chief Executive and ASEAN Countries Business Official Meeting where he said that CNTA would continue to care for and support the Pearl River Delta Region.
Wang says CNTA will offer the same treatment to foreign travel agencies with that of domestic travel agencies, as part of its commitments to the World Trade Organization. In order to achieve this goal CNTA would eliminate the limits on foreign-funded travel agencies and further its cooperation and exchange with tourism industry in Hong Kong and Macau. In addition, CNTA will cooperate with Hong Kong and Macao tourism departments to jointly launch Olympic Games travel and "one-stop" travel services.


>>Full article