16 Aug, 2004
Thailand, India Links Grow but Tourism Flows Remain Skewed
The growing economic contacts between Thailand and India are opening up opportunities to rectify at least two areas of critical imbalance in bilateral visitor flows. Even as the Indian tourist office is concerned about the large gap between Indian visitors to Thailand as against vice versa, the Tourism Authority of Thailand sees more opportunity for [...]
more…9 Aug, 2004
Hotel Room Design Changes in Line With Changing Lifestyles
Changes in lifetstyles, technology and guest expectations are having a signfiicant impact on the design of hotels and guestrooms, according to a recent roundtable organised by the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. The discussion, the first of its kind organised by the school, brought together design leaders from top [...]
more…2 Aug, 2004
Nok Air Flogs Low Fares, But Public Finds Not All Fares are Low
Within hours of the Nok Air launch on 23 July, the phones started ringing at the call centres by people wanting cheap fares. The only problem was, only a few could get them; the rest had to be taken carefully through the intricacies of airline pricing, and explained why the low fares were not quite [...]
more…26 Jul, 2004
TAT Starts Marketing Push for Restive South Thailand
It has long been claimed that Northeast Thailand is the country’s most neglected tourism area. However, with that area now set to be revived as a stepping stone to the Greater Mekong Subregion countries, it is the situation in South Thailand that is attracting the most attention, especially in the wake of the recent unrest. [...]
more…19 Jul, 2004
TAT Overseas Office Chiefs Rue Rackets, Cheats
Long-standing complaints about tour-guide cheats, jewellery shopping commission rackets and low quality products and service standards continue to blot an otherwise flourishing tourism industry, heads of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) overseas offices indicated last week. Wrapping up a week of meetings to finalise tourism marketing plans for 2005, the TAT directors mentioned these [...]
more…5 Jul, 2004
UN ESCAP to Develop Indicators for Tourism – Poverty Links
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has begun to develop methodologies and indicators to help governments and other stakeholders understand and measure how tourism benefits the poor. Although tourism, both international and domestic, is recognised as a major contributor to poverty alleviation worldwide, it has long lacked a uniformly [...]
more…28 Jun, 2004
UK Foreign Office Agrees to Issue Travel Advisories “Sparingly”
In a major victory for global travel industry associations, the UK Foreign Office has agreed to fine-tune its travel advisory service and issue them “sparingly” and “only in situations of extreme and imminent danger.” In a written statement to UK Parliament on 22 June, the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, announced the outcome of a [...]
more…21 Jun, 2004
Thailand Among Four “Favourite” Markets for Hotel Investors
Thailand has been described as one of the four “favourite” markets for hotel investors in the year ahead, along with China, Japan and Australia. At a hotel investment conference in Singapore last month, Scott Hetherington, Managing Director Asia, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, said the Thai markets have recovered from the affects of SARS and Bird [...]
more…14 Jun, 2004
Airlines Seek More Efficient Infrastructure, Services
SINGAPORE: Global airlines have challenged their infrastructure and service providers worldwide to start doing their share to make the travel industry simpler and more cost efficient. At a panel discussion at the International Air Transport Association annual conference here last week, executives of major airlines said airports, immigration authorities, air traffic control providers, global distribution [...]
more…7 Jun, 2004
Aussies Seek to Launch Airline for Backpackers
MELBOURNE: Bangkok is to be one of the five popular backpacker destinations to be connected by a new airline that will be dedicated almost exclusively to this fast-growing niche-market. The Australian-owned airline, backpackersXpress, is due to start flying in late October early November. It is planning a thrice weekly schedule between Manchester-Melbourne, and a twice-weekly [...]
more…31 May, 2004
U.S. Airline Pilots Endorse John Kerry for President
In what is believed to the first political stand taken by a travel industry organisation, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the union that represents most of the US airline pilots, last week endorsed John Kerry for US president in the upcoming November elections. In a press release posted on its website <www.alpa.org>, the [...]
more…24 May, 2004
Asia-Pacific Cities Seek to Forge Tourism Linkages
BUSAN, Korea — Representatives of 39 Asia-Pacific cities met in Korea’s second largest city last week to discuss ways to promote tourism to and amongst their respective cities. However, they left the Tourism Forum organised by the Asia-Pacific Tourism Promotion Organisation (TPO) with little to show, making the entire event yet another example of how [...]
more…10 May, 2004
Qatar Unveils US$20 billion Tourism Development Projects
DOHA, Qatar — While the high profile Dubai gets much of the publicity related to its tourism development plans, its fellow emirate of Doha is seeking to catch up, and fast. Between 1-2 May, Qatar became the first Gulf country to host the annual summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, the rich-man’s club [...]
more…3 May, 2004
Emirates Says It Needs No “Guru’s Teachings” to Succeed
DUBAI: In announcing record profits of US$ 476 million last week, the management of the Emirates airline and travel group clearly enjoyed taking a few tongue-in-cheek digs at hawkers of ‘conventional wisdom’ in global aviation, its competitors as well as countries that artificially restrict traffic rights. The Dubai-based group said its profits for the financial [...]
more…26 Apr, 2004
Bangkok Airways Rebrands Itself as Asia’s “Boutique Airline”
Repositioning itself as Asia’s “boutique airline” is expected to help Bangkok Airways generate revenues of US$ 154 million this year, up from US$ 115 million in 2003, the airline’s President & CEO Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth told a major travel industry conference last week. Revealing earnings figures that are rarely disclosed even in Thailand, Dr Prasert [...]
more…19 Apr, 2004
Internet Helps Boost Bookings, But Not Rates
While the Internet is stoking more bookings for the US hotel industry, it is not necessarily translating into higher average daily room rates because of the huge price discounting that has resulted, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The study of the Effect of the Internet on Pricing was circulated at the recent International Hotel [...]
more…12 Apr, 2004
UK Govt Publishes Review of Advisory Issuance Procedures
The UK government last week published a review of its controversial travel advisory issuance procedures and invited additional public comment before finalising the document. It is expected to be avidly discussed at the annual conference of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Jeju, Korea, this week. However, the document is expected to come under fire [...]
more…5 Apr, 2004
SAS Shifts Departure Control Centre to Bangkok
Since March 2002, about 250 Scandinavian Airlines flights worldwide have been taking off only after being cleared by young Thai load control supervisors manning a sophisticated computer centre on the 8th floor of the Glas Haus building, Sukhumvit Road. Just one door away, another group of Thais are processing thousands of letters which come in [...]
more…29 Mar, 2004
ADB Pushes Overhaul of GMS Tourism Plans & Projects
CHIANG MAI – The Asian Development Bank is pushing for an overhaul of the tourism development strategy of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) to improve its marketing, facilitation and administration. Ten years after the formation of the GMS Tourism Working Group, the bank has allocated US$ 800,000 for a new study to draft out strategies [...]
more…22 Mar, 2004
After Madrid Bombings, Travel Advisory Double Standards Under Fire
BERLIN: The train bombings in Madrid last week cast a pall over the ITB Berlin, the world’s largest trade show, but also raised hackles among several developing countries about double standards over the controversial application of travel advisories. In public and private comments, tourism ministers and senior delegates from Nepal, Egypt, Sri Lanka, India and [...]
more…15 Mar, 2004
PATA Sends First Tourism Task Force to North Korea
The first tourism task force to operate into the world’s last purely communist country, North Korea, has painted a picture of a land that is ready for tourism from a scenic, cultural and infrastructure perspective but needs to significantly upgrade its management, marketing and accessibility. The task force was organised by the Bangkok-based Pacific Asia [...]
more…1 Dec, 2003
Low Cost Airlines Set to Revolutionise Asian Travel
Like in other parts of the world over the past few years, the entry of low-cost airlines into Thailand is causing much hand-wringing amongst established players like Thai Airways International as well as struggling players like Orient Thai. However, unable to project them as potential commercial failures for the simple reason that they have proved [...]
more…24 Nov, 2003
Asian Highway Pact Cleared, Set to Transform Asia’s Road Network
After years of arduous negotiations, representatives of 32 Asia-Pacific countries last week adopted an agreement that sets out the minimum terms, conditions and standards for joining, coordinating and developing the vast, 140,000-kilometre Asian Highway network. Due to be signed at the 60th ministerial session of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific in April 2004, [...]
more…17 Nov, 2003
Global Shifts, Lifestyle Changes Affecting MICE Sector
Global geopolitics, economic factors, demographic trends as well as lifestyle changes are having a major impact on the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry, according to a research report. The report, prepared for the EIBTM, an annual European trade show featuring the MICE industry, says the impact is being felt across the board, from [...]
more…3 Nov, 2003
“Time for Assessment of Security Costs Facing Travel Industry”
The chairman of the Canadian Tourist Commission says it is about time global travel industry associations to start doing some serious calculations about how much upgrading security is going to cost the industry, and the impact it could have on profitability and travel patterns. In an interview last week, Mr. Doug Fyfe said it was [...]
more…29 Oct, 2003
Indian Agents Convene in Malaysia As Rush Builds for Indian Market
KUALA LUMPUR: The mass rush to attract Indian tourists to Southeast Asia has become more competitive with the convening of a landmark annual congress by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) in Kuala Lumpur last week. About 1,100 TAAI member delegates turned up for the historic congress, TAAI’s first outside South Asia since 1983. [...]
more…27 Oct, 2003
Security Companies Salivate at Opportunities From Terrorism
Security companies are salivating at the prospects of generating billions of dollars in business from travel & tourism as a result of the overwhelming anti-terrorism focus of the final statement issued by last week’s APEC summit. The leaders made a direct reference to travel & tourism when they agreed in the communiqué to “strengthen our [...]
more…20 Oct, 2003
Thailand, Vietnam Top Youth Travel Survey
PATTAYA — Vietnam and Thailand are rapidly becoming two of the world’s most popular countries for backpackers, a survey of young travellers has revealed. The survey showed that 75% of respondents who described themselves as backpackers had visited Thailand and 87.5% had visited Vietnam on their “last big trip”. India came in third with 66% [...]
more…20 Oct, 2003
Vietnam, Thailand Top Popularity Charts for Backpackers
PATTAYA — Vietnam and Thailand are rapidly becoming two of the world’s most popular countries for backpackers, a survey of young travellers has revealed. The survey showed that 75% of respondents who described themselves as backpackers had visited Thailand and 87.5% had visited Vietnam on their “last big trip”. India came in third with 66% [...]
more…13 Oct, 2003
Brutal Cost-Cutting To Come as Thai Airways Cracks Revenue Whip
Thai Airways International served notice last week that its suppliers and associated can expect some hard bargaining as it strives to cut costs and boost revenues in preparation for additional privatisation in 2004. Airports, global distribution systems, travel agents and oil companies are among the groups expected to be targetted as the airline moves both [...]
more…6 Oct, 2003
Head of World’s Newest Country Inaugurates PATA Travel Mart
SINGAPORE – The President of the world’s youngest country last week became the first head of state to inaugurate the annual travel mart of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and made a strong pitch for both visitors and investors to help him with nation building. President Xanana Gusmao of Timor Leste told the Asia-Pacific [...]
more…22 Sep, 2003
“Crisis Management” Programmes Treat Only Symptoms, Not the Cause
The recent spate of crises buffetting the travel & tourism industry have given rise to a phenomena called “crisis management programmes.” But the industry only has to look at the examples of Sri Lanka and Nepal for proof that these programmes have very limited value unless the root causes of the problems are addressed. Last [...]
more…22 Sep, 2003
How Effective are “Crisis Management” Programmes
The recent spate of crises buffetting the travel & tourism industry have given rise to a phenomena called “crisis management programmes.” But the industry only has to look at the examples of Sri Lanka and Nepal for proof that these programmes have very limited value unless the root causes of the problems are addressed. Last [...]
more…15 Sep, 2003
France Resumes Post-SARS Marketing Campaigns in Asia
Tourism executives of the world’s top visitor-receiving country last week made a promotional comeback in Asia after a three-year break, indicating renewed interest in attracting the regional outbound market after the SARS-related slump. With 76 million arrivals a year, a mere 500,000 from all of Southeast Asia is probably nothing for France. But contemporary geopolitical [...]
more…15 Sep, 2003
France Resumes Asia Promotions After Three-Year Break
Tourism executives of the world’s top visitor-receiving country last week made a promotional comeback in Asia after a three-year break, indicating renewed interest in attracting the regional outbound market after the SARS-related slump. With 76 million arrivals a year, a mere 500,000 from all of Southeast Asia is probably nothing for France. But contemporary geopolitical [...]
more…8 Sep, 2003
As Visa Crisis Looms, Indonesia Seek Arrivals from ASEAN Countries
JAKARTA — Facing yet another crisis in the wake of a government plan to impose visas, the Indonesian tourism industry will next month dispatch a 30-member promotion delegation to Thailand, one of the few countries that might be excluded from the visa-requirement list. The delegation is due in Bangkok on October 8 for a four-day [...]
more…1 Sep, 2003
Tourism Will Need More Migrant-Workers, Posing New Challenges and Problems
A low profile meeting at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific last week focussed attention on one of the most significant elements of the global travel industry: Migration patterns. The travel industry is a major beneficiary of the huge numbers of migrants, mainly job-seekers, on the move as a result [...]
more…7 Jul, 2003
Luxury Hotels Group Sees Surge in Internet Bookings
One of the world’s most unique group of luxury hotels is reporting a sharp surge in bookings received directly over the Internet, and plans to grow those numbers further in the months ahead. The Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), whose 290 exclusive properties are frequented by the world’s rich and famous, has seen [...]
more…30 Jun, 2003
Aussies Seek Ways to Build Shield Against Future Shocks
MELBOURNE: High-level consultations are under way throughout the Australian tourism industry to finalise a medium to long term strategy designed to help grow the industry and better position it against future shocks. It is the first national review of Australian tourism since 1997 when a similar exercise was carried out for a plan to capitalise [...]
more…23 Jun, 2003
The ATE, First Major Travel Show After SARS, Ends Strongly
Melbourne – Australia’s most important annual travel trade show, which came close to being cancelled a month ago, ended strongly last week amidst rising optimism and clear signs of a rebounding regional travel & tourism industry. The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) was the first major international travel event of the post-SARS era, billed as the [...]
more…16 Jun, 2003
Cambodian Minister To Resist Visa-On-Arrival Cutback
Cambodian tourism minister Veng Sereyvuth said last week he would resist any attempts by Cambodian security authorities to alter the country’s visa-on-arrival policy as a result of the recent arrests of alleged “terrorists” in his country. “That will not be good,” he said in an interview last week. “We need tourists. We are a poor [...]
more…2 Jun, 2003
Post-SARS Tourism Bunfight Starts
Over the next few weeks, Thailand’s tourism industry will be facing ferocious competition as Asian destinations mount vigorous big-budget campaigns to recoup the significant losses of the past few weeks. While 9/11 and the Iraq war hit tourism worldwide, SARS specifically struck a slew of regional destinations like Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, China [...]
more…26 May, 2003
Throwing Marketing Money at Crisis May Not Prove Effective, Industry Execs Say
While there is a good deal of support for the government’s move to launch multi-million baht roadshows to address the short-term need to bring back visitors this low season, there is concern that the money is being spent in a highly imbalanced way that overlooks simpler and more long-term solutions. Interviews with industry leaders indicated [...]
more…19 May, 2003
All-Economy Airline, Gulf Traveller, Launched
DUBAI: Gulf Air, the Bahrain-based carrier owned by the governments of Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has launched the Middle East region’s first all-economy class airline, Gulf Traveller. The airline is to start flying on 1 June 2003 out of a new hub to be developed in the UAE state of Abu [...]
more…12 May, 2003
SARS Scare Dries Up Business for Thais at Arabian Travel Market
Seriously tainted by the erroneous perception of coming from a SARS-affected country, Thai hotels and tour operators found themselves in the highly unusual position of twiddling their thumbs at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) last week. The lack of buyers was made worse by a poorly-managed communications counter-campaign that saw Thailand being clearly eclipsed by [...]
more…28 Apr, 2003
SARS Strikes, Leading To Worst Fall in Thai Tourism History
International visitor arrivals at Bangkok airport have plunged by 41% in first three-week period of April 2003 over the same period of 2002 due to the SARS crisis, the biggest fall ever in the history of Thai tourism. Figures made available to this columnist last week showed that arrivals at Bangkok airport, the country’s major [...]
more…6 Jan, 2003
Thai Aviation Department Rebuts Claims of Air Traffic Decline
After listening silently for more than a year to complaints about the decline in airline frequencies to Thailand, the Aviation Department has struck back, releasing figures which show exactly the opposite. In the current winter season 2002/2003, Thailand is being served by 79 foreign airlines operating a total of 670 weekly scheduled international flights, up [...]
more…16 Dec, 2002
PB Air Helps Boost Embraer’s Foothold in Asia
Domestic Thai airline PB Air is to become the second in Asia to start operating the Brazilian-made aircraft, the Embraer ERJ 145, two of which are due to arrive in Thailand on Dec 23rd and go into service on Christmas day. The aircraft will replace PB Air’s existing Fokker F28 equipment on its routenet which [...]
more…2 Dec, 2002
Mombasa Bombings Mean “Soft & Vulnerable” Tourism Now a Target
LAST week’s bombings in the Kenyan beach resort of Mombassa pose a grave danger to the future of the global tourism industry, and more specifically to that of Thailand, too. While international intelligence and security officials are admitting that the ‘soft and vulnerable’ tourism industry has now become a target worldwide, Thai industry executives are [...]
more…25 Nov, 2002
Big Companies Gobbling Up Small Seems To Be Over
LONDON: The era of large travel companies gobbling up small travel companies appears to be over. Mr Roger Luscombe of Continental Capital Partners told a seminar at the recent World Travel Market 2002 that the mergers and acquisitions among travel companies that dominated the industry for the last 2-3 years is “not happening”. He noted [...]
more…
Loading ...
