Strong investor optimism underlined the recent Lombok Tourism Development Forum, fuelled by upscale resort demand outstripping supply in 2016 and a 61 per cent increase in international air arrivals to 30,000 in 1Q2017, following flat arrivals growth in 2015.

Just under 100,000 international arrivals were reported by the Statistics Indonesia Bureau at Lombok International Airport in 2016, up 29 per cent, but the upscale resort segment saw 10 per cent supply growth outpaced by an 18 per cent increase in demand. The increase in upscale demand (23 per cent) continued to exceed supply growth in 1Q2017.

Tanjung Ringgit in eastern Lombok

Current projections estimate competitive supply in Lombok would grow at double-digit rates over the next five years, largely spearheaded by the development in South Lombok and surrounding Gili Islands, in addition to the continued growth of North Lombok.

Ricky Baheramsjah, head of investment and marketing – Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation, said: “We are hoping to have over 1,500 room keys open and ready by 2020. We have so far secured or booked over 350ha of development projects for our partners which equates to over 60 per cent of our total inventory or buildable landbank available.”

Developments such as the Mandalika project in South Lombok are gaining traction, as Baheramsjah revealed that the Vinci Construction Grands Projects, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, has committed to bringing in a dual-branded hotel from the Middle East, Shaza and Mysk by Shaza.

Forum participants cite international airlift as the key laggard in bringing international arrivals to the island, but the overall sentiment was that increased air connectivity would follow imminent increases in rooms supply.

Soepit Bharata, head Lombok & Surabaya – Silkair, is optimistic, having seen interest from international carriers in launching direct routes to the island and an increase in load factor on direct flights from Singapore.

However, infrastructural issues at Lombok International Airport, in terms of its ability to handle wide-bodied aircraft, are still a constraint, he added.

About 170 travel agents in China have signed up for the China Travel Academy WeChat-based training and certification programme to become Peru destination experts.

Developed by Dragon Trail Interactive (DTI) for the Peruvian Commission for the Promotion of Exports and Tourism (PromPeru), the focus is on reaching affluent Chinese consumers online, said Michaela Mentasti, marketing director of DTI.

Machu Picchu, Peru

DTI’s China outbound travel expert, Roy Graff, added PromPeru – which took part in ILTM Asia in Shanghai for the first time this year – is focusing its China marketing strategy on the luxury segment, as the South American country tends to attract higher-end Chinese travellers due to the lengthy flight distance from Asia.

For Helen Zhang, founder and CEO of Farers International, who started promoting South America in 2013, Peru is a “new destination” with diversified products. “We work with the banks to promote to their high net worth retiree and older clients,” she commented.

Chen Yang, deputy general manager, Tumei International Travel, whose company markets Peru under the Mitour LATAM brand, noted high-end Chinese travellers budget around US$1,000 a day for hotel accommodation and ground handling alone.

“Our numbers are not that big, around 20,000 travellers a year. But from 2014 to last year, we have been seeing numbers increase by around 33 per cent annually. We often receive requests for a minimum two travellers to go,” Chen commented.

For Chinese citizens, Peru has taken major steps to simplify its visa processes. Beginning this year, Chinese citizens who already hold a valid US, Australia, Schengen or the UK visa do not need to apply for a Peru visa.

Airline and tourism representation company Aviareps has launched a new Hong Kong office in Causeway Bay, becoming its sixth office in Greater China after Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Taipei.

According to Aviareps’ CEO Edgar Lacker, Greater China continues to provide “unparalleled opportunities” for airline, tourism, hospitality and trade promotion.

The Hong Kong office will specialise in sales, marketing, PR and trade promotion representation of over 100 airlines and some 150 tourism, hospitality, retail and trade promotion clients in its portfolio.

India’s Jet Airways and Aeromexico, the flag carrier of Mexico, have signed an MoU outlining cooperation on codeshare flights and frequent flyer programmes.

Both carriers will codeshare on each other’s services between India and Mexico via common gateways in Europe, e.g. London Heathrow, Paris Charles De Gaulle and Amsterdam.

Jet Airways’ Naresh Goyal and Aeromexico’s Andrés Conesa

To begin with, Jet Airways will place its 9W marketing code on Aeromexico flights from London Heathrow to Mexico City. In turn, Aeromexico will place its marketing code on Jet Airways’ services from London Heathrow to Mumbai and Delhi.

The agreement also includes reciprocal frequent flyer benefits for members.

Majestic Fast Ferry has launched its 11^th and newest vessel, Majestic Dream, which can accommodate 317 passengers, including eight in business class.

It will serve passengers travelling to and from Singapore Cruise Centre’s (SCC) HarbourFront and Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore, Batam Center and Sekupang terminals in Batam as well as Tanjung Pinang in Bintan.

According to Max Tan, director of Majestic Fast Ferry, the new ferry can accommodate 1.5 times more passengers, and the company plans to launch three more such vessels.

The Majestic Dream is the second series of ships built by Majestic Fast Ferry at its shipyard on Batam Island, following its first series comprising Majestic 7, 8 and 9.

It is powered by two fuel-efficient high speed diesel engines that use 30 per cent less fuel compared to the regular three engines found on other ferries.

Thailand will be the first South-east Asia country to see the launch of pentahotels, when the design-led and neighbourhood lifestyle brand rises in Bangkok’s Lumpini area come 2020.

Pentahotel Bangkok, Ploenchit will feature 157 guestrooms, a swimming pool and gym. The new-build property will offer the brand’s hallmark design-led environment, including the signature pentalounge, which welcomes guests to relax and socialise around a stylish bar.

Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group, pentahotels’ parent management company, said the Lumpini location is chosen for “its international business appeal and vibrant local and expatriate scenes”.

The Bangkok property is the result of a management agreement with The Nest Property Company, a real-estate developer and subsidiary of PM Group.

Pentahotels currently boasts 27 hotels across seven countries in Asia and Europe, and will roll out its second property in Hong Kong this summer.

Tourico Holidays yesterday officially become part of Hotelbeds Group and will become a business unit within the global bedbank while the integration progresses, following the closure of the customary regulatory and legal procedures since the merger was announced in February.

A strategic plan is already in development to combine both businesses in stages. In due course both hotel and ancillaries partners and clients of each company will have access to the complete range of services and technology solutions currently available from both Hotelbeds and Tourico.

Joan Vilà, executive chairman of Hotelbeds, commented: “This deal expands our footprint in the important North American market and – along with our plans also for GTA to join us – forms part of our strategy to accelerate the growth of our business both organically and via M&A activity.

“Our medium-term objective is to combine our respective best in class technology and distribution expertise for the benefit of both our hotel partners and clients. We will do this in stages and over the coming months will provide partners with further updates on how and when this will happen.”

Meanwhile, Tourico founder Uri Argov has made the decision to retire but will remain a shareholder of the combined company. Asi Ginio, who has been with the company since 1999 and is currently COO, will now step into the CEO role while the company transitions to full integration.

The GTA acquisition – which is expected give Hotelbeds “significant presence in the fast-growing and strategic Asia-Pacific market” – is independent from the Tourico Holidays deal and is subject to both its own regulatory approval process and integration timeline. For the time being, GTA remains an independent company and is not part of Hotelbeds.