Indonesia Travel 01: 2011

VIETNAM-To ring in the New Year, the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa has put on a new program with VND4.5 million ++ for single or double occupancy.

The price is inclusive of daily buffet breakfast, round trip airport transfer, complimentary daily shuttle to/from Hoi An town, Regency Club benefits for Regency and Suite, Camp Hyatt (Playground for children), 20% discount on VIE Spa treatment and 20% discount on Green House consumption.

Rates exclude 10% tax and 5% service charge. The program offers a minimum of 2 nights of stay and is valid from January 21 to 29.

For further information, contact reservation at (511) 398 1288 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The resort is at Truong Sa Street, Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Danang City, tel: (511) 398 1234, website: www.danang.regency.hyatt.com.

Domestic tourism recovering in Australia

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 08:22 PM PST

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AUSTRALIA-Though concerns have been expressed over the future of domestic tourism in Australia, 2011 has seen record number in domestic overnight visits.

The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson, says domestic tourism is moving in the right direction, a positive result given the natural disasters and strong Australian dollar.

“While domestic travel is still below the levels we saw before the global financial crisis, domestic overnight trip numbers are at their highest since 2008,” Minister Ferguson said.

New figures released by Tourism Research Australia show domestic overnight travel saw reasonable growth January - September, with overnight trips up 4%. Queensland’s domestic tourism market continues to rebound from the natural disasters earlier in the year, however this is mainly through intrastate business travel and visiting friends and relatives rather than interstate holiday travel.

As domestic overnight trip numbers hit their highest level since 2008, authorities are looking to nurture this growth.

“Through Tourism 2020, the updated National Long-Term Tourism Strategy, we want to improve on these results by lifting innovation, quality and productivity. It sets the direction for tangible benefits from growing demand from Asia, further developing our digital capability, maximising labour and skills opportunities, and more.

“Surging business travel, especially in Queensland, is opening up opportunities that many service providers may have thought were beyond them. We are seeing some good returns for businesses that can adapt to new trends.”

Hanoi busily prepares for Christmas

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 08:05 PM PST

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VIETNAM-The spirit of Christmas has filled streets, shopping centres and many other places in Hanoi with striking colours, decorations and items.

The most jubilant places are public amusement areas, shopping centres such as Vincom, as well as restaurants and hotels, including Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Melia, Sheraton, Daewoo and Sofitel Plaza , which are decorated impressively, splendidly and colourfully.

In front of souvenir and fashion shops in Luong Van Can, Hang Can, Ba Trieu, Cau Giay and Hang Ma streets are pine trees which are decorated with many colourful items.

Christmas trees, Snow White, ribbons and artificial reindeer can be seen in many offices in Hanoi .

Coffee shop owners have even decorated their shops with laurel wreaths and pine trees.

Churches have been well-decorated to welcome Christmas and the 2012 New Year.

The nearer Christmas day comes, the higher the demand for seasonal services, such as Santa Claus gift delivering, pine trees and Santa Claus clothing products.

Bich Tram, owner of a souvenir shop in Ton Duc Thang street said that a Santa Claus gift delivery service at home costs 100,000 VND/time within the inner Hanoi area. In previous years, the service was available between Dec.15-25. But this year, the service started from Dec. 5. The number of customers is forecast to double or even triple numbers from last year.

Artificial pine trees are still the first choice of customers. This year, trees ranged in price from 800,000 VND-1,800,000 VND. Meanwhile, Santa Claus clothing products are 60,000-300,000 VND for a set of clothes, and a Santa Claus hat is about 30,000-60,000 VND. The prices have increased by 20 percent over the same period last year.

This year, there are more made-in-Vietnam goods on the market, however Chinese goods still dominate Christmas sales.

Hong Kong visitor arrivals for November 2011

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 06:58 PM PST

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HONG KONG-Hong Kong visitor arrivals reached 37,770,230 in the first 11 months of 2011.

The impressive figure not only represents a 16.3%-increase compared to the equivalent period in 2010, but has also surpassed the yearly total of 2010. In November alone, arrivals rose by 16.4% year-on-year to 3,552,733, making it the November with the highest number of visitor arrivals in record.

In November, arrivals from Mainland China surged by 24.8% year-on-year to beyond 2.3 million, as consumers’ travel and consumption sentiments remained strong. Of these, 63.9% or around 1.5 million made their trip on the Individual Visit Scheme, a rise of 27.6% over November 2010. Cumulatively, Mainland arrivals climbed up by 23.8% to a historic high of over 25 million, surpassing the 12-month total of 2010.

Among the short-haul market regions, North Asia achieved the best performance in November, with arrivals from the region moved up by 6.9% to over 200,000. Specifically, Japanese arrivals sustained the positive trend of October as outbound travel sentiments improved, growing by 5.9% to nearly 120,000 during the month. For South Korea, the market maintained its steady upward trend, registering more than 80,000 arrivals or an 8.4%-increase year-on-year. From January-November, arrivals from North Asia grew by 4.0% to over 2 million.

Southeast Asia also saw moderate growth in November, with total arrivals rising by 7.9% year-on-year to nearly 300,000. In terms of individual markets, Singapore and the Philippines recorded double-digit growth in arrivals, whereas Thailand showed decrease of 10.7% due to the recent flooding in the country. In the first 11 months, overall Southeast Asian arrivals went up by 9.4% to exceed 2.8 million, with double-digit increase for Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

As for Taiwan, arrivals declined by 2.3% in November to slightly below 160,000. Cumulatively, arrivals from the island were similar to last year’s level at around 2 million. Among these, the higher-spending overnight visitors rose by 9.3% to surpass 710,000, taking up 36.0% of the total arrivals.

In the long-haul regions, arrivals went up by 1.4% to more than 450,000 in November. The Americas performed the best, with some 170,000 arrivals or a 6.9%-increase. In particular, arrivals from the US and Canada increased by 7.3% and 5.7% respectively as a result of increased vacation visitors. In the first 11 months of 2011, overall long-haul arrivals rose by 1.5% to more than 4.38 million.

Overnight arrivals to Hong Kong reached 1.87 million or 52.9% of all arrivals, a 13.1%-increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, same-day arrivals leaped up by 20.3% to exceed 1.67 million.

In the first 11 months of 2011, overnight arrivals increased by 11.1% to 20.12 million, accounting for 53.3% of all arrivals. As for same-day arrivals, these increased by 22.7% to some 17.64 million.

On 20 December 2011, another new milestone was achieved for Hong Kong’s tourism, as the city received its first 40-millionth visitor of a single year, Ms Nancy Ryan from the US.

HCM City welcomes 3.5 million foreign tourists

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:35 AM PST

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VIETNAM-Since the beginning of 2011, Ho Chi Minh City has welcomed 3.5 million international visitors, fulfilling the year's plan and representing a year-on-year increase of 12.9 percent.

According to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the number of visitors to the city by air reached 2.65 million, up by 6 percent, and the US, Japan and China were the leaders in top 10 tourist markets.

HCM City's tourism revenue hit VND49 trillion (US$2.33 billion), rising 19.5 percent year-on-year, of which, VND29 trillion were generated from restaurants and hotels services and VND12 trillion from travel services.

Centara opens new Bali resort with traditional Hindu ceremony

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 08:42 PM PST

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INDONESIA-Centara Hotels& Resorts of Thailand has announced that the official soft opening of Centra Taum Bali, the group’s first overseas venture with its value brand Centra, took place on December 14.

The traditional Balinese Hindu ceremony known as Melaspas, which is used to purify land or a new building and which had begun with prayers on the previous day, marked the opening of the resort.

Centra Taum Bali is located at Seminyak, one of Bali’s best known leisure and nightlife areas, and is within five minutes’ stroll of the beach.

The resort has a total of 90 Studios, Duplex Suites, Family Suites and Pool Suites, with several units offering private plunge pools. Each room features spacious balcony with double day-bed, and all units include a kitchenette with electric hob.

There is a swimming pool with children’s pool and sundeck, a Wellness Spa that includes tranquil treatment rooms and a relaxation area, and a fully equipped fitness centre.

The Centra brand, as the contraction of the Centara name indicates, offers affordable hotels and resorts that provide a quality experience designed to exceed expectations but not over-deliver to the point not required by guests. Centra properties therefore offer spacious accommodation with quality furnishing and fittings, at least one restaurant, a swimming pool, and a fitness centre. All are located in a convenient setting, with restaurants and shops nearby, and those in a seaside location are within an easy walk of the beach.

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s largest operator of hotels, with 38 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom. A further 16 resorts in the Maldives, Philippines, Vietnam, Bali Indonesia, Srilanka and Mauritius Indian Ocean, brings the present total to 54 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs.

Centara operates 25 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, and the company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens are taken care of. Centara Hotels & Resorts also operates two state-of-the-art convention centres in Bangkok, and one in Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand.

Best Western breaks ground on new hotel in South Korea

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 08:17 PM PST

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KOREA-Best Western has broken ground on a new hotel in the city of Gunsan in South Korea. It is scheduled to open in Q3, 2013.

The 183-room Best Western Gunsan Hotel will add Gunsan as a new destination to Best Western’s existing presence in South Korea, which currently comprises nine hotels.

The hotel’s facilities will include a swimming pool, restaurant and coffee shop, lobby lounge, bar, fitness area, meeting rooms, business centre and car park. The hotel itself will be connected to the city convention centre. The hotel is surrounded by major companies such as Hyundai Heavy Industry, Doosan Infracore and General Motors.

Best Western International’s Vice President International Operations – Asia & the Middle East, Glenn de Souza, said, “The addition of Best Western Gunsan Hotel reinforces Best Western’s commitment to continuously expanding our presence in South Korea, in terms of both number of hotels and locations. South Korea is a diverse destination of many tourist attractions and business opportunities and this is something in which Best Western is actively involved in presenting to the world’s travelers.”

Gunsan, in North Jeolla Province, has commenced Saemangeum development project which is a national project to build a global city as a frontrunner of green growth. It will create 283 km2 of reclaimed land and a lake as large as 118 km2 by constructing the world’s longest 33.9km sea dike connecting Gunsan and Buan on the west coast of Korea.

Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi opens

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:44 PM PST

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UAE-Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, the first independently branded Hyatt outside the US, takes its first bookings today.

Its construction was in many ways a first too, as designers grappled with reconciling its distinctive slanting design - the tower leans at 18 degress - with the practical needs of 21st century hospitality.

The five-star hotel contains 189 rooms, including 22 suites, across levels 18-33 within the Capital Gate tower, which is directly next to the 73,000sqm Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC).

Given the proximity to ADNEC, the meetings offering is fairly small, with four rooms, although they're bright with floor-to-ceiling windows. A meetings concierge is available.

Hyatt hopes some of its new F&B concepts will reach new heights.

Located on the 18th floor, 18° features three show kitchens which are designed to focus on entertaining guests while they savour speciality dishes created by Chef de Cuisine Ivan Musoni.

Rayana Spa, Abu Dhabi’s only 'sky spa', is perched on the 19th floor, offering an "elevated oasis experience" that complements the Fitness Centre, suspended outdoor pool and whirlpool.

Opening day online rates are AED1,050 for King and Twin rooms, rising to AED1,250 for Deluxe rooms.

Fusion Maia in Danang wins DestinAsian plaudit

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 11:24 PM PST

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VIETNAM-Danang’s Fusion Maia Danang has been listed as one of the year’s best new hotels and resorts in the Asia-Pacific region by award-winning travel magazine DestinAsian.

The new Luxe List is the publication’s eighth. Each of the selected properties was visited by one of the magazine’s contributors and then vetted by its editorial staff, who combed through dozens of candidate establishments before choosing the final list based on criteria such as design, service, location, and ambience.

Fusion Maia Danang is proud to be listed in this Luxe List, which according to DestinAsian editor-in-chief and associate publisher, Christopher Hill is “a leaner Luxe List than last year’s, with, surprisingly, no entries from Australia and New Zealand.”

“But the results are no less exciting, and certainly no less luxe—that rare convergence of style and substance that sets a place well above the rest. We have every confidence that these properties have all the makings of instant classics,” said Hill.

Other Vietnamese hotels and resorts to make the list include: An Lam Ninh Van Bay Villas, Nha Trang, Hotel del’ Opera, Hanoi, Six Senses Con Dao, Con Dao.

Michelle Ford, general manager of Fusion Maia said “Our guests never have to worry about the extras such as spa treatments, because they’re already included. Maybe that’s why Conde Nast Traveler named Fusion Maia in its Hot List of the world’s best new hotels, and Time Magazine asked, “Why didn’t anyone think of this before?”

“The announcement that we are featured on the DestinAsian Luxe List is another confirmation that guests are enjoying our surprising concept of all-inclusive spa.”

Fusion Maia’s trendsetting concept is attempting to shake up the luxury resort scene with its all-inclusive spa concept, the first of its kind in Asia. This hip new 5 star beach resort on Vietnam’s central coast and offers 80 chic suites, four spas and three beachfront villas, all with modern open-plan living and a courtyard with a private swimming pool.

Maia Spa is the first resort in Asia to offer all spa treatments included in the regular room rate.

Over 1.5 million visitors to Hoi An

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 11:12 PM PST

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VIETNAM-Hoi An this year has welcomed some 1.5 million travelers, up 18.3% year-on-year, with 750,000 international tourists.

The number of sightseeing travelers is about 1.13 million in total while that of visitors staying overnight is 649,000 with an average of 2.16 days per person.

“This number of visitors to Hoi An has hit a record high since the ancient town was listed into the tourism map at home and overseas,” reported Hoi An City chairman Le Van Giang. Such a good performance is believed to have resulted from the city’s efforts to launch numerous tourism promotion activities in the year.

Besides better infrastructure, the city attracts visitors with a wide range of new tours and services, including a visit to the global biosphere reserve on Cham Islet or sightseeing programs in the countryside.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

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Asia Travel Blog

Bangkok Boutique Hotels Offer a Vibrant Experience With Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit

Posted: 24 Dec 2011 06:32 PM PST

Bangkok Boutique Hotels Offer a Vibrant Experience With Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11

Garuda Indonesia Adds 14,000 Seats for Christmas and 2012 New Year Holidays

Posted: 24 Dec 2011 04:37 PM PST

Garuda Indonesia Adds 14,000 Seats for Christmas and 2012 New Year Holidays

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Asia Travel Blog

More Growth for Jetstar Asia - Singapore With Additional China and Vietnam Fligh

Posted: 23 Dec 2011 12:50 AM PST

More Growth for Jetstar Asia - Singapore With Additional China and Vietnam Flights

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Asia Travel Blog

5-Day End-of-Year Sale on Hotels in Japan

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:34 AM PST

5-Day End-of-Year Sale on Hotels in Japan

5TH Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebration

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 08:23 PM PST

5TH Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebration

Latest Travel News Daily Email from ASIA Travel Tips.com

Thursday, 22 December 2011. News from last night Asia time and today.

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22/12/2011 Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals for November 2011.
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22/12/2011 Changi Reports November 2011 Traffic.
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22/12/2011 Etihad Signs Billion Dollar Technology Deal with Sabre.
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22/12/2011 Tanzania's Precision Air Services Orders 5 ATRs.
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22/12/2011 Etihad Airways Signs Codeshare with Hainan Airlines.
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22/12/2011 Napasai Koh Samui and Jimbaran Puri Bali Join Leading.
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22/12/2011 Blue1 to Launch New Routes to Scandinavia.
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22/12/2011 SpiceRoads Launches Sunset Bicycle Rides in Bangkok.
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21/12/2011 Best Western Breaks Ground On New Hotel in South Korea.
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

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Wednesday, 21 December 2011. News from last night Asia time and today.

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21/12/2011 Best Western Breaks Ground On New Hotel in South Korea.
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21/12/2011 STR Reports Global Hotel Construction Pipelines for November
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21/12/2011 Courtyard by Marriott to Open in Setif, Algeria.
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21/12/2011 Final Gulfstream G200 Rolls Off Production Line.
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20/12/2011 First Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Asia Pacific Opens in India.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Asia Travel Blog

Win a Trip to Japan on Visit Japan Facebook Page

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 02:48 AM PST

Win a Trip to Japan on Visit Japan Facebook Page

Hong Kong Airlines Promotion “Drop A Business Card, Win a Free Air-ticket” Lucky

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 07:37 PM PST

Hong Kong Airlines Promotion "Drop A Business Card, Win a Free Air-ticket" Lucky Draw

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20/12/2011 First Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Asia Pacific Opens in India.
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20/12/2011 Michael Meade Appointed as Acting CEO of Tourism Fiji.
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20/12/2011 SIA Makes Capacity Changes to Northern Summer Schedule.
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20/12/2011 Etihad Airways Purchases Stake in airberlin.
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20/12/2011 Qantas/BA Appoint New Manager for Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
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20/12/2011 Angsana Opens Resort in Mauritius.
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Monday, December 19, 2011

Asia Travel Blog

Indonesia Holds International Sand Sculpture Festival

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 04:43 PM PST

Indonesia Holds International Sand Sculpture Festival

Asia travel news

Cathay Pacific opens lounge in San Francisco
India's tourism to launch cleanliness campaign
Oman Air opens new Bangkok business class lounge
Anantara welcomes new Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa
Phuket’s Indigo Pearl unveils pool villas
Savoring banh beo in Hue style
Japan tourism rebounds strongly
Hanoi to offer fireworks for Lunar New Year 2011
Best Western opens new Manila hotel
Thailand arrivals surge 21%

Cathay Pacific opens lounge in San Francisco

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 12:53 AM PST

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SAN FRANCISCO-Cathay Pacific Airways has opened a new lounge in San Francisco, making it the carrier’s first passenger lounge in the United States.

The first and business class lounge, located on Level 4 of the International Terminal Building at San Francisco International Airport, carries the same design and feel of the CX lounges at Hong Kong International Airport.

As with its Hong Kong counterparts, this lounge will feature white marble, black granite and bamboo wood furnishings coupled with floor-to-ceiling windows for plenty of natural light.

Other features include the airline’s signature Noodle Bar, the Cathay Solus Chairs, first revealed at the carrier’s newest lounge in Hong Kong, three shower suites, seven workstations and wireless internet access throughout.

First and business class passengers on Cathay Pacific or another oneworld carrier are able to utilise the lounge, alongside silver card or above Marco Polo members, Cargo Clan Elite members and oneworld Sapphire members or above.

In addition to this new lounge, Cathay Pacific has been refurbishing several of its existing lounges. As reported earlier, The Wing at HKIA is currently undergoing a makeover, scheduled for completion some time next year, although exact dates have not been revealed. So far, only the first phase of the project is complete; the current phase began in May and the final stage will commence in the first quarter of 2012. The carrier also completed revamping its lounge at Frankfurt airport, now boasting the same ambiance as the lounges in Hong Kong.

India's tourism to launch cleanliness campaign

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 08:22 PM PST

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INDIA-The Tourism Ministry is planning to launch a countrywide campaign aimed at creating a mindset of "hygiene and cleanliness" among people. In this regard, the Ministry is organising a workshop on 'Campaign Clean India' here on Tuesday, Ministry officials here said.

"The workshop has been organized to hold wider consultations on the campaign, to strive for a synergy of efforts with other Ministries, States, corporates, and educational institutes and to secure support of the regulatory agencies for the campaign," they said in a release. The Government is also planning to take media's help also to give desired visibility and momentum to the campaign.

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the workshop along with Tourism Minister Subodhkant Sahay. India has been taking various steps to promote tourism as country's tourism potential has remained far from being fully realized with only 0.6 per cent of the global tourist arrivals are recorded by it.

The Tourism Ministry envisages a target of 12 per cent growth rate in in-bound as well as domestic tourists for the 12th Five Year Plan period. It is projected that with this growth rate, the sector will generate 2.5 crore additional jobs.

Oman Air opens new Bangkok business class lounge

Posted: 18 Dec 2011 07:34 PM PST

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THAILAND-Oman Air has unveiled its new business class lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

The lounge, located at the second floor junction between concourses G and E of the International terminal, serves the airline's passengers flying in first and business class and can hold up to 40 people.

Its premium class passengers can make use of the business centre with private work stations, which is equipped with free broadband and wifi.

Hot and cold snacks, comprising traditional Arabic and Oriental dishes, are prepared under the direction of the chef of the Dusit Thani Hotel Bangkok, and passengers can order juices, hot beverages and drinks from a bar.

The lounge, which has a quiet area for those with longer connections, also contains satellite TV and local and international newspapers and magazines.

It retains many of the features of its flagship lounge which opened in Muscat in January.

The January-February edition of Business Traveller Middle East contains a special report on Oman Air, the new Muscat International Airport and the latest developments in Oman's hospitality sector.

Anantara welcomes new Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 01:55 AM PST

Phuket’s Indigo Pearl unveils pool villas

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 12:25 AM PST

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THAILAND-The luxury Phuket resort, Indigo Pearl has unveiled its new Private Pool Villas. Opening this month, the Bill Bensley-designed villas mark a key phase in the resort’s multi-million dollar renovation, and position Indigo Pearl as an ‘all suite and villa’ property.

Each of the seven villas is set within a walled garden. Ranging in size from 550-2,500m², each villa comprises two bungalows – one a dedicated sleeping zone and the other a living space – and a private swimming pool, all set within walled gardens.

The living pavilion features a lounge, dining area and small spa, complete with massage beds, steam showers and sauna. A large decking area extends to a barbecue area. The bedroom pavilion features a king-size bed and a bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, jacuzzi and walk-in wardrobe.

In addition, three ‘Pleasure-seeker Residences’ can be interconnected, opening up a 2,500m² three-pool, four-bedroom suite.

Savoring banh beo in Hue style

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:55 PM PST

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VIETNAM-Why does this rustic and simple food have such a strong attraction on people? Well, to enjoy delicious banh beo, diners should come to a small alley next to An Dinh Palace at the corner of Nguyen Hue and Phan Dinh Phung streets or to Ba Do or Huong Cay food shops on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street.

These shops are popular to diners. Shop owners prepare cake-making materials and start cooking once customers order food. That’s why diners always have a chance to savor hot and freshly-made cakes.

Banh beo is made from two main ingredients including rice powder and shrimp. To make the cake, people usually combine rice powder and nang powder with water to make it chewy. Then people wait for five hours to steam the mixture. After that, they put some cooking oil into small bowls, put on a steam cooker and pour powder mixture inside these bowls. A good cake should be steamed from 8 to 10 minutes.

Shrimp will be ground with spices and then fried with cooking oil. Eateries will put shrimp on the surface of the rice cake bowl and other ingredients including fried onion and pigskin. Banh beo is served to guests with a special sauce made from shrimp broth, fish sauce and fresh chilies.

Japan tourism rebounds strongly

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:11 AM PST

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JAPAN-The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced the launch of the 3rd of 4 quarterly reports about Japan’s recovery for the travel and tourism industry following the Tohoku Tsunami in Japan this year.

According to the report, “The Tohoku Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami: Impact on Travel & Tourism - Update December 2011,” Japan’s tourism industry has rebounded strongly in the second half of 2011 and more rapidly than previously expected.

The first report, launched at WTTC’s Global Summit in Las Vegas in May 2011, set 3 recovery scenarios and suggested that the overall impact of the earthquake and tsunami could range from a reduction of ¥0.9 trillion (low impact scenario) to ¥1.9 trillion (high impact scenario) in travel and tourism’s contribution to Japan’s GDP in 2011.

In WTTC’s second Japan update report in September 2011, analysis of tourism data showed that the recovery was in line with the low impact scenario, and more recent analysis shows that domestic and outbound tourism is now back to pre-March 2011 baseline, with inbound well on the way to recovery.

Updated scenarios, based on this most recent data, suggest that the total negative impact of the earthquake and tsunami on travel and tourism’s contribution to Japan’s GDP will be roughly ¥0.7 trillion and confined largely to 2011 (less than even the most optimistic “low impact” scenario produced in the immediately after the disaster).

Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization and STR Global also suggest that Japanese domestic and outbound tourism has recovered “losses” to levels consistent with or better than forecasts made prior to the earthquake. Due to the dominance of domestic tourism relative to inbound tourism, this implies that total Japanese travel and tourism demand and GDP will have recovered by the end of 2011. For the year as a whole, there is a noticeable negative effect, but this should not have any lingering impact in 2012. This recovery can be attributed to the speed of the restoration of basic infrastructure immediately after the earthquake and has been supported by the ongoing appreciation of the yen.

Furthermore, airline data from Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways suggest a quicker recovery in demand for long-haul destinations than for travel to other Asian destinations. This is in contrast to the inbound trends and may be due to a fundamental change in the pattern of demand.

Inbound travel has yet to fully recover, and for 2011 as a whole, foreign visitor arrivals are expected to be around 25 percent lower than in 2010. Arrivals continue to be in line with WTTC’s previous low impact scenario, which states that international tourist arrivals will recover in numbers by early 2012.

This is partly the result of growth in short-haul arrivals, by October arrivals from Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan were back to, or above, October 2010 levels and backed by strong performance in the Indian and Thai markets, although the latter has dropped off due to the severe flooding in Thailand.

For long-haul markets, and especially European sources, the trend over recent months also appears to have been upwards, but improvement has been slower partly due to the eurozone debt crisis as well as some residual nervousness regarding nuclear safety.

David Scowsill, President and CEO, WTTC, stated: “Nine months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami, which hit northeast Japan, the country’s tourism industry has exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts and is well on the way to recovery. Japan has been doing a great job, in particular with marketing efforts, both internally and externally, and has reminded the world of the unique products Japan has to offer.

“However, there is still some work to be done in attracting previous levels of international visitors, particularly from long-haul markets where there may be residual nervousness regarding the nuclear situation and where economic strife continues. WTTC’s 12th Global Summit, to be held in Sendai and Tokyo on April 16-19, 2012, will showcase Japan’s recovery and bring world travel and tourism leaders together to demonstrate that Japan really is open for business.”

The final Japan update report will be a “one year after” review launched in March 2012.

Hanoi to offer fireworks for Lunar New Year 2011

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:55 PM PST

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VIETNAM-The Hanoi City People’s Committee has recently decided to organise a 15-minute fireworks display to welcome the Lunar New Year 2011 at 29 locations between midnight for 15 minutes on January 23rd , 2012.

Under the program, Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park (Hai Ba Trung District), Nguyen Hoang Ton Flower Garden (Tay Ho) and Van Quan Lake (Ha Dong) will be the back-drop for four high-range fireworks displays.

Other low-level fireworks will be displayed at 25 districts throughout the City, including Ba Dinh, Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Dong Da, Cau Giay, Gia Lam, Tu Liem and others.

The Committee assigned to the Hanoi Military High Command, in association with the City’s Police and relevant offices and Departments to carry out the program as well as Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to hold cultural activities at nearly 29 sites to serve local people.

Best Western opens new Manila hotel

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:36 PM PST

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PHILIPPINES-Best Western International has opened a new hotel in Manila.

The Best Western Premier F1 Hotel is located in the Bonifacio Global City area of the Philippine capital, and features 240 rooms ranging from 35 to 100m². Facilities include an all-day dining restaurant, grand ballroom, function rooms, a business centre, Wi-Fi, a range of swimming pools, a gym and spa, and a Premier Lounge.

“Being part of a global brand is an advantage but giving guests a great service and experience to go with that excellent reputation is certainly the pride of Best Western Premier F1 Hotel”, said General Manager Chad Davis.

“The diverse range of facilities, attractions and businesses, including the headquarters of various corporations, makes for a very international landscape at Bonifacio Global City. The addition of a Best Western Premier hotel to this dynamic scene seems only natural, with the Best Western brand being such a globally-recognized name in accommodation. Best Western Premier F1 Hotel has all the makings of quickly establishing itself as the business and leisure hotel of choice in the area” said Best Western International’s Vice President of International Operations for Asia & the Middle East, Glenn de Souza.

Thailand arrivals surge 21%

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:10 PM PST

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THAILAND-International visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 17.1 million in first 11 months of 2011 - 21.2% more than the same period last year.

Despite the recent floods, arrivals from all major global regions demonstrated double-digit growth in the January-November period, led by visitation from Northeast Asia, which climbed 34.3% to 4.3 million arrivals.

ASEAN arrivals increased 22.1% to 4.9 million, while those from Europe climbed 13.6% to 4.4 million. South Asian arrivals rose 19.8% to 1.1 million, those from the Americas increased 12.9% to 850,000, and Oceania arrivals climbed 7.7% to 830,000. The number of visitors from the Middle East climbed 7.7% to 600,000, and arrivals from Africa rose 11.8% to 120,000.

Thailand is expecting to welcome up to 18.6 million international visitor arrivals in 2011 - 17.7% more than 2010’s full-year total of 15.8 million.

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