South-east Asia's ministers sit down to discuss various issues on the last day of ATF 2019
South-east Asia’s ministers have pledged to work together to implement a raft of measures targeted at raising the nations’ tourism profiles and solving various issues.
For instance, the push for a single entry visa, ramping up of marketing and promotions, and tackling overtourism were some of the issues discussed during the ministers’ meetings at the recently concluded ATF.
South-east Asia’s ministers sit down to discuss various issues on the last day of ATF 2019
Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Vietnam’s minister of culture, sports and tourism, also added that festivals, Buddhist tourism and cruising will be developed and promoted, as part of a united drive to diversify tourism products.
He noted that while a single visa would boost cross-country travel throughout South-east Asia, the decision does not fall within the ministry of tourism’s remit. However, members have pledged to take up the issue with their governments.
Thailand’s minister for tourism and sports, Weerasak Kowsurat, added: “We (ASEAN ministers) have agreed to go back to our cabinets and see what can be done, so that the single visa dream we have been having together gets closer.”
Combatting overtourism was another issue discussed, with new measures outlined to disperse visitors – such as identifying 55 new destinations in the region which will be actively promoted throughout 2019.
“This is not just for international visitors but domestic travellers too. We are learning that overcapacity is becoming one of the major issues, and we are all going to pay a lot of attention to it,” Weerasak said.
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, the Philippines’ secretary of tourism, pointed out that setting a carrying capacity is one way to deal with overtourism. One example is the recently-reopened Boracay, and it will soon be rolled out to other popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.
“For us, it’s not the numbers that matter now. It’s balancing business opportunities with social responsibility,” she concluded.
Dream Hotel Group – comprising brands Dream Hotels, Time Hotels and Unscripted Hotels – has extended its 12 per cent group commissions through 1Q2019 for select properties in Asia and the US.
This applies to its Dream Bangkok hotel in Bangkok.
Flava Bar Lounge at Dream Bangkok
The latest deal is an extension of its earlier April 2018 offer, which saw the group increase its group commissions from 10 per cent to 12 per cent for qualified groups and meetings that were booked and actualised in 2018.
Reservations must be booked and actualised by March 31, 2019, with a minimum of 10 rooms on the peak. The offer is not valid for any business previously booked or consumed and is subject to availability, cancellation or extension at any time.
Vietnam’s diverse cultures have been highlighted in a new book, seeking to inspire fresh wave of visitors.
Tourism Stories – the Vietnam Edition was officially launched at last week’s ATF in Halong Bay. Produced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the UNWTO, the book features 20 stories from grassroots tourism players.
(Fourth from left) Thailand’s tourism minister Weerasak Kowsurat; UNWTO’s Zhu Shanzhong; and Vietnam’s tourism minister Le Quang Tung
Zhu Shanzhong, UNWTO executive director, shared that the book helps tourists to understand the locals’ perspectives, and how the tourism dollar can “positively impact livelihoods”.
Le Quang Tung, vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, added the book, complete with a range of colourful images, highlights Vietnam’s diversity. He opined: “The interesting stories bring a unique perspective to Vietnam’s tourism.”
BRUNEIby S Puvaneswary Chang Ming Vui
Managing director, BruVacation Adventure | Diving is a new activity promoted by Brunei Tourism. We work closely with dive operators to promote diving off the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait districts, which are all home to a number of shipwrecks and a healthy fish population, which makes for beautiful underwater scenery. These dive sites are not crowded, hence appealing to tourists from Asia and Europe.
Sugumaran Nair
Inbound manager, Freme Travel Services Nature | Visitors who like sea sports should try stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) on Lugu Lake with SUP Surfari, the only SUP provider in Brunei. The 80-minute session, with lesson and eco tour components, is led by a professional SUP instructor, and is safe and suitable even for non-swimmers. Tourists will get a full safety briefing and learn about SUP’s history, equipment, and different strokes for kneeling and standing. You might also be able to spot hornbills, monkeys and jungle creatures in a serene environment
A traditional Cambodian dish called fish amok
Cambodiaby Marissa Carruthers Miles Gravett
General manager, Khiri Travel Cambodia Adventure | What’s happening at Cardamom Tented Camp in Koh Kong is exciting for nature lovers. It’s a perfect balance of badly needed conservation efforts and tourism. With some efforts being put into marine conservation, diving in Cambodia is also getting better. Additionally, kayaking down the Mekong River is a magical once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Andy Brouwer
Production and research consultant,
Hanuman Travel Nature | There is a new elephant experience at Phnom Tamao with Wildlife Alliance. Entitled Elephant Keeper for a Day, participants get to work with elephant keepers and learn about elephant care.
Steve Lidgey
General manager, Travel Asia a la Carte Culinary | Cambodian cuisine is becoming more popular. Many restaurants, such as the recently opened Pou Kitchen & Café in Siem Reap, provide new interpretations of authentic Khmer cuisine.
Laosby Marissa Carruthers Stefan Scheerer
General manager, Khiri Travel Laos Adventure | Khammouane Province is opening up for adventure, with activities such as kayaking through cave formations, while the Bolaven Plateau is suitable for trekking, waterfalls and Jeep safaris.
Linh Le
Group managing director, Asia DMC Nature | In the Bolaven Plateau, we offer a jeep tour integrated with kayaking in 4,000 Islands. Guests will be able to enjoy the year-round beautiful vegetation in Southern Laos.
Virginie Kury
General manager, Asian Trails Laos Culinary | Paste is a new restaurant in Luang Prabang. It is owned by a Michelin-star chef from Bangkok, Bee Satongun, and her husband Jason Bailey.
Malaysia by S Puvaneswary Ken Lau
CEO and founder, Adventoro Adventure | Kedah in (Peninsular Malaysia’s) north-west is a new adventure destination thanks to improved air links as well as the upgraded facilities at Langkawi airport. Among Kedah’s offerings we are promoting to adrenaline junkies and millennials is paragliding on Mount Jerai. It offers scenic views of paddy fields, and a birds’-eye view of the Straits of Melaka and its offshore islands.
Manfred Kurz
Managing director, Diethelm Travel Malaysia Nature | Samadhi Belum, set within the Royal Belum Rainforest in Perak, will offer 55 luxury tents when it opens in late 2019. I’m looking forward to the opening as it will offer Malaysia’s first luxury tented camp experience set within a 130-million-year-old rainforest, which is also a protected area. Our clients are mainly Europeans and Americans, and they will love the concept of being close to nature, while not sacrificing on comfort.
Arokia Das Anthony
Director, Luxury Tours Malaysia Culinary | Plane in the City is a new product introduced by TwoSpicy Entertainment Live. The 90-minute fine dining experience revolves around a Boeing B737 aircraft, and allows guests to take pictures and selfies in the cockpit, or walk on the wing of the plane. The Western-style cuisine served is prepared by Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and guests can choose between a three- or four-course meal.
Myanmarby Marissa Carruthers Sammy Samuels
Founder, Myanmar Shalom Travels Adventure | Caving adventures in Hpa-An and hiking or trekking in Chin State are becoming popular. Trekking around Hsipaw and Keng Tung are places to watch out for in 2019 and beyond.
Min Than Htut
Founder, Pro Niti Travel Nature | For nature, there are exciting things happening in southern Myanmar. In particular, the coastal towns of Myeik, Kawthaung and Dawei, which are also great gateways to the many untouched islands in the south.
Edwin Briels
General manager, Khiri Travel Myanmar Culinary | Cooking classes, food tastings and discovering the flavours of tribal food in Kachin, Wa, Shan and Rakhine. The first episode of Myanmar Masterchef was a huge success and has led to an increased awareness in Myanmar food.
Singaporeby Pamela Chow Daniel Tan
Founder, Let’s Go Tour Singapore Adventure | Sentosa’s upcoming developments will be interesting. We have been having discussions with the companies operating some attractions there, as we’ve realised that tourists who choose bicycle tours usually also want to try something different. We might have synergy and are looking into cross-promoting.
Jane Goh
Xperience director, Xperience Singapore Events & Travel Nature | 2019 will see the opening of Floral Fantasy at Gardens by the Bay, which will have four themed garden landscapes, plus a 4D multi-sensorial ride. It should be interesting to see another part of the gardens transformed. In the National Orchid Garden, the Tan Hoon Siang Mist House, Yuen Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection enclosure and the Cool House will be reopened in 2019 after major redevelopments. This will enhance the visitor experience to the Botanic Gardens.
Fadz Abdhan
General manager for Singapore and Malaysia, Lotus Asia Tours Culinary | With World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards coming to Singapore, we won’t just look at bringing guests to these restaurants. We can take famous chefs out of their restaurants and bring them closer to our guests in any location of their choice – be it Gardens by the Bay or the Singapore Flyer – and have a cooking class or multi-course meal.
Canoeing on Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Thailandby Xinyi Liang-Pholsena Matt Blench
Adventure director, Exo Travel Adventure | One of the recent trends we have been seeing is a growing demand for family adventures in Thailand, especially in Mae Wang district, central Chiang Mai. Whether it’s deep in nature such as cooking a delicious meal in the jungle, or cultural interactions in homestays, there is a wide variety of activities suitable for any family.
Christian Sutton
Director of product & contracting, Diethelm Travel Thailand Nature | Khao Sok National Park is without doubt one of the most stunning parts of Thailand. Our full day excursion is full of community interaction, and is an intimate affair for just six visitors twice-daily. During the tour, we meet Somboon the elephant, who was rescued from a nearby camp. Guests feed and bathe him, and also learn about the job of mahout.
For the second half of the day, guests cross a picturesque bridge and visit a small village. Here they meet a local community and are given a tour of the fruit orchards before settling down to eat a tasty southern Thai lunch. The excursion can be booked from Khao Lak, or added to a tailor-made overnight itinerary which includes trekking, kayaking and also a night on a floating bungalow on beautiful Cheow Lan Lake.
Soontarut Wattanahongsiri
Founder, Blackrice Travel Culinary | I think the farm-to-table concept will be the new culinary programme for 2019, as people wish to learn more about the whole supply chain. This includes learning about the origin of food from the source of the ingredients, engaging in local culture including eating and learning about local traditions, and the cooking process.
Terraced rice fields in Muong Hoa Valley in Sapa, Vietnam
Vietnamby Marissa Carruthers Tanya Trang
Marketing manager, Luxury Travel Vietnam Adventure | Cruising is a key attraction. The discovery of the Halong Bay region, which extends up to Bai Tu Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago by Emperor Cruises delivers a sophisticated yet stylish adventure.
Ken Lau
CEO, Adventoro Nature | The Muong Hoa Valley – Sapa Rice Terraces Adventure tour is a great way to explore Sapa’s natural beauty, taking in rice terraces, the valleys of Muong Hoa and meeting local tribes.
Sandor Leinwand recte Rein
General manager, Exo Travel Vietnam Culinary | Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) now boasts an impressive line-up of local, craft beer specialists. The craft beer culture is thriving, giving the Exo food discovery tours a nice extra twist.
Philippinesby Rosa Ocampo Gia Fortun
Marketing director, Fiesta Tours and Travel Adventure | Masungi Georeserve in Rizal is popular among millennials due to its panoramic views and easy access from Manila.
Millennials are also into mountain climbing on Mounts Macolod and Pulag, as well as surfing in Siargao, La Union and Zambales. Adventure travel also encompasses the Visayas and Palawan.
Jordan Mamaril
Tours and PR manager, Regent Travel Philippines Nature | Ecotourism is the next big thing as travellers look for new destinations, and the government gets serious about developing sustainable and responsible tourism. We’re looking at Quirino Province in the north. It’s raw, with vast natural offerings like nature parks, caves, mountains and rapids. The local government is also keen on promoting it for nature tourism.
Other destinations to look out for are the untapped nature resort of Dakak in Dapitan; Isla de Gigantes, a pristine island in Iloilo; as well as Dumaguete which is the jumping-off point to several destinations in Negros and Siquijor.
JP Cabalza
Inbound manager, Corporate International Travel and Tours Culinary | Quality restaurants – from the private dining halls of Bale Dutung and Denlim’s Kitchen to the carinderia-style Mila’s eatery – sprouting in Pampanga lend credence to the province’s sobriquet as the Philippines’ culinary capital.
Pampanga has also crafted exotic dishes including sisig or sizzling pork cheeks, ears and brain served with liver sauce; crab fat; fermented rice with fish or shrimp paste; and deep fried farm-raised frogs. And we haven’t included to-die-for desserts in the list.
To satisfy the increasing demand, we offer standalone culinary tours or, for tourists to Bataan or Subic, we combine it with a meal in one of Pampanga’s restaurants.
Thailand’s tourism officials are looking at introducing compulsory travel insurance for international visitors in the near future, especially as a recent spate of accidents involving tourists have cast the spotlight on the country’s safety and security records.
Surging visitor numbers into Thailand has intensified the challenge of unpaid medical treatment fees racked up by foreign visitors while vacationing in the country, Thailand’s minister of tourism and sports Weerasak Kowsurat shared in a recent interview with TTG Asia.
Thailand wants all tourists to be self insured in future
“I’m introducing a new legislation, probably within (this year or next), to require self insurance for all arrivals into Thailand – it will be one or two dollars more for each person,” said Weerasak.
“This common pool of money will be used to buy one insurance policy (to cover all international visitors),” he added. “We are barred by the law to use our budget to buy insurance policies for international arrivals.
“If travellers want to get involved in more challenging activities, like climbing mountains or diving in the sea, I’ll put into law to make sure service operators stop them from entering into the activity unless they buy the second level of insurance. And if they’re driving any vehicles, they will need another kind of insurance.”
The proposed mandatory travel insurance policy has received positive reception from tour operators and agents, although it has opened up questions on how the requirement will be implemented.
Destination Asia Thailand, general manager, Philip Wigglesworth, said: “(Travel insurance) should be compulsory for each visitor so as not to be a burden on the visiting country. We all have to be responsible visitors and most reputable travel insurance suppliers already offer basic cover for low-risk activities.
“However, for what we would consider extreme sports, there should be a travel insurance supplement to ensure that the traveller is fully covered for all risks.”
Sharing similar sentiments, David Kevan, partner and product person at UK-based Chic Locations, expects most UK clients arriving into Thailand to have comprehensive insurance including medical. Most of these policies would exclude activities like rock climbing, sea and sky diving, and ziplining, and therefore he suggested that the mandatory insurance to be included within the activity prices.
He said: “(The Thai authorities should) make it mandatory for all arriving clients to have comprehensive insurance; if not, (visitors) have to buy a local policy upon arrival – it becomes a condition of entry.”
Although Kevan expects possible “short-term” issues in implementation, the policy roll-out is likely to be “seamless” once clients become fully aware of the stipulation.
“Alternatively, increase the departure tax from Thailand to pay for the insurance for incoming clients, (similar to what Japan has done),” he suggested. “(The funds collected) will all end up in the same pot.”
Trade members are also urging for better transport safety in the country. Said Addie Hirunkate, managing director, Destination Asia Thailand: “I believe self-insurance is a good move overall, though I’d like to also see the Thai authorities place more focus on transportation standards. The regulation of boats, vans and coaches needs to be enforced to a higher degree.”
The Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is teaming up with international retail brands the likes of Hugo Boss and Billabong as well as local designers to take its marketing offensive forward.
A document detailing TPB’s 2019 plans and programmes that TTG Asia obtained specified “cross brand” and “marketing convergence” with Hertz, Hugo Boss, Christian Louboutin, Oris, globally-known Filipino designers Michael Cinco and Monique Lhuillier and Filipino pearl jewelry maker Jewelmer.
The Philippines partners up with international surf brands like Billabong in a new marketing campaign
Oris’ Aquis collection of divers watches includes the limited edition Tubbataha honouring the Tubbataha Reef Project in the Sulu Sea while Christian Louboutin launched the limited edition Manilacaba bags inspired by Manila’s jeepneys.
Hertz Travel Guide features lesser-known attractions like Pannzian Beach in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte and Filipino cuisine at a furniture artist’s home in Antipolo.
TPB, with overseas offices of the Department of Tourism (DoT), will also partner with international retail brands Roxy, Billabong, Quicksilver and others “to design special pieces to feature the different island destinations such as Siargao and to sell them at a certain cost where a portion of the proceeds will benefit a local community development in the destination”.
A raffle draw will be held for those who purchase the products, with a trip to the Philippines sponsored by the local private sector.
TPB’s out-of-the-box marketing is well-received by the travel trade, including Simon Ang, managing director-operations, Celebrate Life TLC. “This is a good secondary move by TPB. Tourism worldwide now is specialised and very niche. Our tie-ups and cross branding will not only attract specific crowds (Billabong for surfers, Oris for divers, etc.) but will also upgrade the country from ‘mahirap’ (poor) image to a better one,” Ang said.
The marketing plan is also well received by Jojo Clemente, president, Tourism Congress of the Philippines, who said that if well-planned and executed, it will yield good results especially as there are brands willing to participate and be connected to the destination.
ATF 2020 will give Brunei a much-anticipated opportunity to showcase its offerings and the changes that have taken place in the decade since the country last hosted ATF in 2010.
Salinah Salleh, acting director tourism development department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, said: “ATF offers Brunei an opportunity to raise its role and position in (terms of) regional tourism cooperation, and promote the country and its people to international visitors. The sultanate is relatively unfamiliar to many, even Asians.”
ATF will offer Brunei an opportunity to raise awareness of the country among international visitors
In the last two years, the Tourism Development Department has created various tourist packages, ranging from river cruising in Tutong and soft adventure tours in Temburong, to walking trails in Bandar Seri Begawan and cultural tours in Belait, shared Salinah.
“New packages will continue to be developed by tour operators to attract more visitors to the country,” she added.
Diving, in particular, has been gaining traction among travellers interested in Brunei’s underwater wreck sites and tropical waters.
Salinah said: “Dive operators are also aggressively marketing to and creating partnerships with agents from the UK, Europe and Asian markets such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and China.”
The Tourism Development Department has also recently appointed a local marketing agency to better its digital marketing activities.
Shwezigon Paya, a Buddhist temple located in Nyaung-U, a town near Bagan
To recover from falling European arrival numbers, Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MOHT) is looking into offering visas on arrival (VOA) to countries in the region.
Acting director-general of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, MOHT, Khin Than Win, told TTG Asia that while overall tourism arrivals to Myanmar for 2018 rose by 3.2 per cent to 3.6 million, the European market posted a dip due to media coverage on the conflict in the Rakhine region.
Offering VOAs could be a way to aid recovery of European markets to Myanmar
The increase in overall arrivals were attributed to visa relaxations that were implemented across countries in Asia such as China, India, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.
Believing that visa relaxations would draw in more tourists from the longhaul markets, Khin Than Win shared: “We would like to extend this to European countries – Germany, Italy, Spain, France and more – because European visitors stay longer and spend more money than Asians.”
As such, the minister of hotels and tourism Ohn Maung will attend the International Tourism Fair in Spain later this month and ITB Berlin in March to explore which European countries that VOAs should be offered to.
In anticipation of further tourism growth thanks to a host of hotel signings, the ministry also plans to enhance its tourism facilities.
“We need to build more infrastructure such as roads, railroads, rest areas and clean toilets in tourist destinations. Our boutique hotels and signage boards also need to be improved.
“More airports and incoming flights to bring more tourists landing directly in (our secondary) destinations are also required,” she elaborated.
Khin Than Win added that Myanmar’s regional and state governments have been developing infrastructure in their territories, which has been “very supportive for tourism”.
In 2019, the country will host a line-up of events such as roadshows and B2B fam trips, as well as participate in travel marts such as ATF, PATA, CITM and WTM, where the ministry will market its new tourism brand, Myanmar: Be Enchanted, launched in September last year.
Royal Cliff is harbouring strong ambitions of turning itself into a “destination” through the creation of its own lifestyle and sporting events, building on its core strength as a major resort and MICE venue in Pattaya with its PEACH convention centre on-site.
“We are creating our own events to target families and the luxury segments. Not only do we accept events but we also create them,” Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of Royal Cliff Hotels Group told TTG Asia.
“This could be another channel to help Royal Cliff stand out and become a destination. The idea is to make Royal Cliff more vibrant and entertaining. We are more than a resort or convention centre,” he stated.
Royal Cliff’s Facade
One key way the hotel group has been pursuing its lifestyle events strategy is through organising comedy festivals.
Vitanart revealed that Royal Cliff has brought UK comedian, Bill Bailey, to the resort for a one-night show in 2018, and is now looking at inviting regional acts such as Singapore’s Jinx Yeo to “promote the Asian community to the Asian market”.
Focus is also placed on staging sports tournaments and competitions such as the Bohemia REI and FITZ Club ITF Seniors Championship, which brought over 200 players to compete in the senior tennis tournament. “I even attended and competed in (the games) to get a feel of how to improve the tournament further from a player’s perspective,” said Vitanart.
Taking the events route to strengthen its destination positioning strategy is a clear attempt by the Pattaya hospitality icon to keep its offerings fresh.
“Royal Cliff is more than 45 years old, so we want to relive memories for families (who have visited us since the 1970s) as well as their second generation, and millennials,” said Vitanart.
The property in December 2018 emerged from a major makeover that was rolled out “to improve infrastructure of the hotel, as well as to drive up performance of the management and staff”.
Costing a billion baht (US$31.4 million), the makeover was led by prominent Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag, who gave a complete overhaul of the common areas, F&B and event spaces, sports clubs as well as rooms.
The upgrades include Mini Suite, while the new Ocean Deluxe room was repainted and refurbished with new bathroom fixtures.
