TIBET - Qinghai-Tibet railway brings identity crisis for Tibet?

Following the introduction of the historic rail link to Lhasa, capital of Tibet, from Beijing and other mainland cities, the Tibetans’ fears of “erosion of their untouched landscape, unique culture and independent identity” are being highlighted.

>>Full article

DEVELOPMENTS - UNWTO and Microsoft to Boost e-Tourism for Development

The UN World Tourism Organization and Microsoft Corporation today announced a long term partnership to expand information communications technology in the tourism sector. It will provide ICT systems and tools for emerging tourism economies to improve their export competitiveness, product quality and support skills. Its primary focus will be on Africa.

>>Full article

ACOMMODATION - Villa Santi Back in Action

After four months of uncertainties following a site closure by the Phuket Governor, construction has resumed on the Bht800 million Villa Santi project in Kalim.

>>Full article

DEMOGRAPHICS - Age does matter

Demographics will be one of the most important factors affecting the shape of tourism in the medium to long-term. However, booming population growth across much of the developing world combined with an aging population in the world’s major developed economies will raise a few issues.

>>Full article

DUBAI - The sky is not the limit

Nowhere in the pages of history has a place transformed itself from an unknown town on the edge of the desert to an international hub for business and leisure travel as quickly as Dubai has.

>>Full article

ECONOMY - Asian Economies Chart New Paths

The Asia Pacific region has become an engine of global growth. Although the United States and Europe will continue to remain important, China (PRC) and India are growing their respective profiles and relevance to the global economy. Asia is boosting its share of the world’s GDP and trade.

>>Full article

SAMOA - Polynesian Blue's Tourism Boost for Samoa

The launch of Polynesian Blue Airlines and its ongoing efforts to stimulate tourism and travel to Samoa are already stimulating growth according to new data that shows tourism in Samoa grew by 14.5% for January-May 2006 compared to an average of just 3.9% per year for the past ten years.

>>Full article

TRANSPORT - The Coming Traffic Jam in Bali

Speaking at a seminar on land transportation held in Sanur on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, the Director General of Land Transportation, Iskandar Abubakar warned that Bali's higher than average level of private vehicle ownership portends for traffic jams and added air pollution in the near future.

>>Full article

INFRASTRUCTURE - Bullet train proposed for Kuala Lumpur-Singapore journey

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (eTN Asia) -- The Malaysian government will study a private sector proposal to build a high-speed 'bullet train' service pegged to cost some US$2.9 billion. As the country’s present railway track is not built for high-speed train service, a new standard gauge railway line will have to be built to accommodate the new trains which will travel at a speed of up to 350km per hour.

>>Full article

INFRASTRUCTURE - Tourism and the Asian Highway

Facilitating travel along the Asian Highway for tourism purposes could clearly make a contribution to economic development, increased social interactions and better understanding among a great number of Asian countries.

>>Full article + Asian Highway Handbook

INFRASTRUCTURE - Video clip on the Asian Highway project

>>Watch video

CHINA - Airlines to benefit from Qinghai-Tibet Railway

China-based airlines flying into Lhasa have added more flights in anticipation of the tourism boom following the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway service, reports new wires from China.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - The Chief Executive Officer of Sentosa, shares plans to transform Sentosa into a destination in its own right.

Metzger, who came from a theme park background (Walt Disney and Ocean Park, Hong Kong), has been overseeing Sentosa’s initial 10-year masterplan over the last four years. Impatient to get the building over with, he and his team have compressed the plan into eight years.

>>Full article

INDONESIA - Repackaging Riau

Plans to promote the historical, cultural and agricultural aspects of the destination are under way. Over the next few years, it plans to build the infrastructure to support tourism.

>>Full article

CAMBODIA - Khmer hot picks

THE Cambodian government has identified four priority zones that will receive special attention in all tourism-related areas. The zones are Phnom Penh (for business travellers), Siem Reap (cultural and historical tours), Koh Kong and Sihanoukville (beachgoers), and Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri (ecotourism).

>>Full article

AVIATION - Personnel shortages the “next big storm on aviation radar”

Shortages of skilled employees are beginning to bite with some Asia Pacific airlines scaling back their expansion plans - and things are likely to worsen in future, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

>>Full article

PHILIPPINES - Empowering residents to build tourism via Homestay Program

In an effort to the tap the tourism potential of various places, which suffer due to lack of proper accommodation, Department of Tourism in Philippines is strengthening its Homestay Program launched a decade back in the region to boost local tourism especially in the small towns of the region.

>>Full article

SINGAPORE - opens its skies

The Singapore government has announced it is ready to open up its skies to the region's low-cost carriers by extending its air services agreement with Malaysia in a policy move to expand air services in the region. "AirAsia can now land directly at Changi Airport," said Trade and Industry Minister Lee Yi Shyan told reporters at a business forum in Kuala Lumpur.

>>Full article

CSR - in the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industries

CSR in the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industries is the first global conference to focus on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of companies in this sector. Hosted By CSR Asia in partnership with the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), this two-day conference will convene prominent industry leaders to share their experiences and address critical social and environmental challenges facing company growth and local development.

>>Full article

MARKETS - Lucrative “Grey” Travel Segment In Asia Expected To Grow In Size And Value

An ageing but increasingly-wealthy and mobile Asian population represents a boon for the travel sector, and one which is requiring a new focus from industry service providers.

>>Full article