Archive for April, 2008
28 Apr, 2008
PATA CEO Challenge Opens, Minus the Keynote Speaker
When the Pacific Asia Travel Association’s PATA CEO Challenge opens here tomorrow morning, most of the association’s own board members will not be present, nor will the keynote speaker, the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize co-winner Dr Rajendra Pachauri. Citing a number of professional or personal reasons, roughly 50 of the nearly 80-member board will not […]
more…27 Apr, 2008
NY Times Exposes Pentagon Mind-Bending to Promote Iraq War
Originally Published: 27 April 2008 A New York Times investigation exposing the spin doctors behind the Iraq war has further buttressed assertions that the American people, and the world at large, were lied to about the ongoing conflict. Along with journalists like Greg Mitchell, the editor of Editor and Publisher” whose book about the role […]
more…21 Apr, 2008
WTTC Summit Seeks “New Maturity” In Travel Industry
When the chieftains of some of the world’s largest travel & tourism companies meet for their annual summit in Dubai today (April 21-22), their agenda will reflect both the new realities of the industry as well as the mistakes the industry continues to make in addressing those realities. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), […]
more…15 Apr, 2008
“Rein in the Destructive Impact of Private Equity Buyouts”
A spokesman for the IUF, a global trades union workers in the hotel and other sectors, says, “Private equity buyouts have been described as a tool for ‘enhancing efficiency in financial markets.’ For workers, the private equity bubbles have been a social disaster.”
more…14 Apr, 2008
2007 Thai Visitor Profile Analysis Indicates Six Key Trends
The statistical profile of Thailand’s visitor arrivals in 2007, just made public, clearly indicate six major trends that will impact on existing and future marketing and development plans. The final arrivals figure for 2007 as tabulated by country of residence, a far more important indicator of travel trends than by country of nationality, is a […]
more…13 Apr, 2008
Church Leader Blasts One-Sided Narrative of Holy Land Tours
Originally Published: 13 April 2008 Hundreds of Thai Christians heading for pilgrimage to the Holy Land are being exposed to “propaganda travels that further sway international opinion away from the hard facts of Israeli occupation,” church leaders say. Speaking at a consultation of church-backed tourism watchdog groups in Chiang Mai last week, Dr Prawate Khidarn, […]
more…9 Apr, 2008
Aviation, Tourism In Climate Change “Danger Zone”
Six major industry sectors – aviation, healthcare, tourism, transport, oil and gas and financial services — are in particular danger from climate change risks, claims professional services organization KPMG.
more…4 Apr, 2008
Whither PATA? It’s Longest Serving Member Speaks
Alwin Zecha, chairman of the Pacific Leisure Group of companies, is arguably the longest serving member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Just prior to this week’s PATA Board of Directors meetings in Colombo, Mr. Zecha spoke to Don Ross, Editor of TTR Weekly, and Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, fielding […]
more…4 Apr, 2008
India A Lucrative Market For Global Luxury Brands
Mr Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry told the Mint Hindustan Times Luxury Conference that India today is no longer a mere testing ground for international luxury brands but a lucrative market in its own right.
more…3 Apr, 2008
Peace Is The Biggest Issue, Says Sri Lankan Tourism Leader
With the PATA Board and committee meetings under way in Sri Lanka, incoming PATA chairman Hiran Cooray, Deputy Chairman of Jetwing Hotels, Managing Director of Jetwing Travels Sri Lanka, offers some refreshing insights into the current and future of the Asia Pacific travel industry.
more…1 Apr, 2008
UN Says States Must Refrain From Profiling In Combating Terrorism
The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today passed a resolution calling on States to not resort to racial, ethnic or religious profiling while countering terrorism.
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