Grand prize includes four-night accommodation at The Garden Hotel
Travel agents stand to win prizes including a four-night vacation to Guangzhou, an Apple Watch or a GoPro Camera when they participate in Worldhotels’ “Worldhotels, take me to…” contest.
To participate, agent partners need only to submit an original image with an accompanying caption that illustrates why they deserve a holiday. The images do not have to be work-related, but should suggest that it’s high time for the travel agent to take a well-deserved break, Worldhotels said.
Grand prize includes four-night accommodation at The Garden Hotel
The grand prize – a four-night Guangzhou vacation for two – includes airfare, roundtrip airport transfers and accommodation at The Garden Hotel Guangzhou’s Garden Suite, with full Executive Floor benefits such as breakfast and evening cocktails. The winning agent can also enjoy perks such as a 90-minute spa treatment, three-hour private city tour with a personal hotel guide and private chef’s dinner.
The contest will run until October 15, 2017 and winners will be informed by October 31, 2017.
MATTA wants prompt assistance for agents forced to shoulder additional costs
Barely a week into the implementation of the unpopular tourism tax in Malaysia, travel agents and hoteliers in the country say they are now burdened with the hassle of tax collection and additional costs incurred in the teething stages.
Diethelm Travel Malaysia’s managing director, Manfred Kurz, said the company has had clients from Europe and the US complain when asked to pay the tax at hotels as they thought this was already included in the package price.
MATTA wants prompt assistance for agents forced to shoulder additional costs
And while Diethelm’s overseas agency partners had attempted to pay the tax on behalf of clients, hotels insisted that the tax be paid by guests at the point of check-out, according to Kurz.
“Now clients pay the hotels and then get reimbursed by their travel agents back home, but this form of transaction is a hassle. Our fear is that our tour operator partners will be reluctant to promote Malaysia in future if this hassle continues and nothing is done to improve the current system.”
Ally Bhoonee, executive director, World Avenues, added: “We’ve had to pay a staff double to be on standby at the office and handle complaints from clients who refused to pay the tax during the recent long weekend and public holidays from September 1 to 4.”
Bhoonee explained that the company sees the additional service necessary in order to retain regular agency clients.
There is also the problem of costs incurred by tour operators who had committed to contractual hotel rates before the tax was announced.
Although the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents said those affected may apply for an exemption with the government, the association is still concerned about members who have to pay large sums while awaiting exemption or refunds.
“We are of the view that the intention of the tax is meant to benefit all stakeholders eventually, and those initially affected by its introduction should be given speedy assistance by the government”, concluded KL Tan, MATTA president.
Applications for exemption are to be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, before being forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for evaluation and approval on a case-by-case basis.
The Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) will reopen its Toronto office by 2018, with Philippine ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia and DoT secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo in agreement that this is an opportune time to nurture the growing interest in the country among Canadians.
Next to the US and Saudi Arabia, Canada hosts the largest Filipino community overseas. The 700,000 Filipinos immigrants, nearly half of whom reside in Toronto, make up the country’s third largest immigrant group.
“Canada is a country of immigrants and it recognises the Filipino’s role in the community. There is a growing curiosity where the Filipinos came from. Also noting that the Philippines as the fastest growing economy in South-east Asia, more Canadian businessmen are also interested the Philippines,” said Garcia.
In particular, Canadian snowbirds represent a significant target market for the Philippines. During a recent visit to Canada, Teo met with the Canada’s Snowbird Association (CSA), a 100,000-member strong group that facilitates travel during Canada’s winter season.
Teo said having CSA members spending up to six months in the Philippines can significantly boost revenues of tourism stakeholders in the country.
Speaking at the Philippine Tapestry Gala night in Toronto held as part of the recent Mabuhay Philippines Festival, Teo urged Filipinos in Canada to promote travel to the Philippines while assuring Canadians that the country also makes a good investment and retirement destination.
With a growth rate of 18.4 per cent, Canada accounted for 108,243 arrivals, placing it the seventh top source market for the Philippines in 1H2017. It was also one of the Philippines’ highest spending origin markets.
Thailand-based Dusit International has launched a new global sales office (GSO) in Mumbai to manage sales across all market segments including leisure, MICE and corporate business.
Heading the office is Keshwar Bhagat, director of sales – GSO India, who will be responsible for selling all Dusit Hotels & Resorts, establishing marketing partnerships with leading local companies, and preparing inroads for Dusit-branded hotels to open in India in three-to-five years.
Bhagat heads the new office
The Indian office will focus on Tier 1 cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, but will also cover smaller cities which are emerging as important source markets for outbound travel.
The opening of a GSO in India was a strategic move to tap India as one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound travel markets, as the Thai hotel group plans to grow its worldwide portfolio to 80 properties within the next four years, said Lim Boon Kwee, COO, Dusit International.
Khiri Travel Vietnam has launched a new office in Hoi An on September 1, making it the company’s third in the country after its Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi branches.
The new office will be helmed by Hoi An branch office coordinator, Thanh Le, who will report to Khiri Travel Vietnam’s general manager, Oleg Shafranov.
The destination’s heritage attractions will feature strongly in the company’s Vietnam itineraries. For example, a half-day Hoi An – A Path Less Travelled morning guided walk will take guests around the 15th-century town’s handicraft shops, back lanes and cultural attractions.
Healthy operating profits for the group but associate airlines still catching up
In 2Q2017 ending June 30, the AirAsia group posted a 37 per cent increase in operating profit to RM517 million (US$121 million), as revenue increased to RM2.38 billion, supported by a 10 per cent increase in passengers carried alongside a two per cent increase in load factor.
“The consolidated accounts combining our Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippine units show we have managed to fight higher fuel costs with strong (growth in) revenue and operating profit,” AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes commented.
Healthy operating profits for the group but associate airlines still catching up
Revenue per available seat kilometre averaged 15.35 Malaysian sen, up 11 per cent. The group attributes the increase to higher average fare per passenger of RM177, up 10 per cent year-on-year, and an increase in ancillary income from RM47 to RM49 per passenger.
Cost per available seat kilometre (CASK) averaged 13.22 Malaysian sen, up five per cent from 12.54 Malaysian sen largely due to higher aircraft fuel expenses. The average fuel price for the group was US$69 per barrel jet kerosene in 1Q2017, compared to US$59 per barrel in the same quarter last year.
“In the lead-up to the stock market listings of Indonesia AirAsia and Philippines AirAsia… both airlines have produced stable profits this quarter of RM59 million and RM29 million respectively. After a successful turnaround, both operations are now more streamlined and better able to compete,” Fernandes said.
And while Thai AirAsia reported weakened financial performance, it still emerged as the only profitable airline in Thailand, where operating conditions were less favourable in the quarter, Fernandes shared.
Operating profit for Thai AirAsia fell 48 per cent year-on-year to 397 million baht (US$12 million). Revenue was up seven per cent to 8.4 billion baht based on a 13 per cent increase in passengers carried, while CASK increased from 4.02 US cents in 2Q2016 to 4.39 US cents, attributed to fuel prices in addition to a January hike in excise tax on jet fuel used on domestic flights.
Fernandes commented: “Our strategy for long-term growth in Thailand is to continue to maintain our leading share in the domestic market while growing our international network. We hope to include Thai AirAsia in our consolidated accounts before the end of the year.”
Turning to the group’s associate company in India, Fernandes reported “spectacular” growth to one million passengers carried in a quarter after growing capacity 83 per cent year-on-year. The group expects AirAsia India will begin to show sizable profit once international operations take off in end-2018.
Datai Langkawi this week closed its doors to undergo its first extensive renovation since its opening in 1993.
Scheduled for completion in July next year, the 10-month project will include the renovation of rooms, suites and villas; additional spa pavilions; a refreshed retail space; a new beach-side fitness centre; as well as an overall enhancement of the landscaping.
Staff waving on the day the property closed for refurbishment
Another highlight is the construction of a Nature Centre, which when open will be overseen by the resort’s resident naturalist Irshad Mobarak.
The luxury resort is expected to retain its “Datai DNA” with the redesign undertaken by Didier Lefort, a member of the team of architects behind the hotel’s original look.
The Seychelles’ national airline is now offering scenic flights at low altitudes, allowing guests a bird’s-eye view of Seychelles’ main island Mahé and its surrounds.
The 30-minute flights depart from Seychelles International Airport, with two itineraries – North Mahé and South Mahé – available.
Available daily between 1330 to 1500, the service is operated on a Twin Otter DHC-6 400 aircraft with 19 seats, of which 11 are window seats.
Flights have to be booked 24 hours in advance and will be sold on a charter basis instead of individual seats.
Air Seychelles is currently working with the travel trade and DMCs to distribute the new product. Guests wanting to avail of the experience can book their scenic flights with local DMCs as well as directly with Air Seychelles. DMCs can also choose to have a guide accompany the guests on the scenic tours.
Demand from shorthaul markets expected to surge during school holidays and Ramadan
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects to enjoy continued growth both in tourist arrivals and tourism revenue during 3Q2017, pointing to favourable factors such as shorthaul holiday demand and increased airlift.
International visitor arrivals are expected to grow by five per cent to 8.7 million with tourism revenue increasing 10 per cent to 460 billion baht (US$13 billion).
Demand from shorthaul markets expected to surge during school holidays and Ramadan
TAT projects arrivals from South-east Asia to grow seven per cent to about 2.5 million tourists, while North-east Asia will remain the top inbound source market with 3.7 million visitors (+ two per cent). Visitors from Europe are likely to reach 1.3 million tourists (+ eight per cent), while strong growth are expected for the Middle East (+14 per cent to 340,000), South Asia (+11 per cent to 390,000) and the Americas (+ nine per cent to 280,000).
Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor, said: “The positive outlook is based on factors including a surge in travel demand from shorthaul markets during school holidays and the month of Ramadan.
“A Chinese market recovery that started from May also had a positive effect on Thailand’s overall tourism arrivals. At the same time, longhaul markets including the US and Russia continue to grow steadily.”
Improved air access from Taiwan, Indonesia, China and Turkey is seen as another favourable factor. Examples of new flights include from Taipei, Bali and Shenzhen to Bangkok; from Guangzhou to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai; from Changsa to Chiang Rai; and from Istanbul to Phuket.
Thailand also ranked among ForwardKeys’ top destinations with a four per cent share of overall future bookings made from June to August 2017.
The rosy outlook also reflected the optimistic expectations that Thai travel industry leaders have for the country this year after a strong 1H performance.
Thailand welcomed 17.3 million tourists in 1H2017, generating 876 billion baht for the Thai economy. TAT targets Thailand to finish 2017 with tourism earnings of 1.8 trillion baht.
Indonesia wants to be top choice for Muslim travellers
Tourism Indonesia is leading a five-day mission to China to tap Muslim travel demand in key areas of the country including Xi’an, Jinan and Beijing.
Riyanto Sofyan, chairman of the Halal Tourism Acceleration and Development Team of Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, said the visit to China was part of a drive to help achieve the target of 20 million international tourists and five million Muslim visitors to Indonesia by 2019.
Indonesia wants to be top choice for Muslim travellers
He added: “Our sales mission is a key element of our ongoing drive to increase our appeal to Muslim tourists across the world and become the destination of choice. China is a key market for us especially as we (share) a long-standing relationship, economic partnerships and close proximity.
“Our aim is to attract a greater share of the Chinese tourists who travel to destinations in our region each year,” he said ahead of the mission.
Comprising tourism experts, local hotels, airlines and travel agents, the delegation will showcase, promote and develop how Indonesia caters to the needs of Chinese Muslim visitors as well as provide insights on the prospects of the halal tourism market through workshops and presentations.
Apart from targeting deals and securing partnerships with Chinese travel agents and tour operators, Riyanto said the delegation also hopes to “encourage Chinese agents to include the destination in their brochures and programmes”.
Official data from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism shows that from 2013 to 2016, halal tourism rose 15.5 per cent, while Chinese tourist arrivals continues on an upward trajectory to hit 1.5 million in 2016, up 27 per cent on the previous year.
China and Indonesia are also part of the One Belt, One Road initiative, which aims to recreate the Silk Road and increase investment and tourism among countries on that road.
In the 2017 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index, Indonesia climbed one position to become the third best performing destination for Muslim travel.
