Paramedics taking care of wounded in Trang. Credit: Facebook/สามล้อกู้ภัย บรรเทาศูนย์สอง

MULTIPLE explosions went off in cities and popular tourist spots around Thailand Thursday afternoon continuing to Friday morning, leaving at least three dead and many more injured.

The first reported bombing happened in the transit hub of Trang on Ruenrom Road at around 15.00 on Thursday, killing a man and injuring five.

Two attacks then took place roughly 20 minutes apart in the resort city of Hua Hin at approximately 22.00 to 22.30 in a busy street area close to the popular resort. One woman died from the twin blasts and at least 20 were injured, many of whom were European tourists.

Another two blasts then took place in resort town Surat Thani this morning outside police stations following festival processions dedicated to the Thai Queen Sirikit’s birthday taking place today, which is a public holiday.

According to local media, a civil servant was killed in the Surat Thani blasts and several others were injured.

Two explosions also hit resort island Phuket in the Loma Park area and at Patong beach near a police station, injuring one. Both spots hit are popular with tourists.

Authorities have yet to ascertain who is responsible for the attacks and it is still unclear what the motivations are. However, seeing as the bombings took place during a long weekend in areas with many foreigners, signs point to tourists being the main targets.

Following the incident, Bangkok-based DMC Destination Asia is advising all its clients to remain close to their hotels. It is also currently in the midst of contacting all clients where possible.

A bomb blast that killed 21 and leaving scores more injured took place in Bangkok, at the Erawan Shrine, almost a year ago on August 17, 2015.

Kevin Bowler, CEO, TNZ

AFTER almost seven years helming Tourism New Zealand (TNZ), its chief executive Kevin Bowler has decided to leave the national tourism promotion agency.

His last day at TNZ takes place on October 28. He will then move on to head Auckland-based Frucor Beverages in November.

Prior to joining TNZ in 2010, Bowler filled various non-tourism roles. He was CEO of Yahoo!, general manager consumer marketing at Telecom, and was also in the food and dairy industries.

Under his leadership, tourism in New Zealand has seen strong growth. The country’s prime minister John Key said traffic had been rising rapidly with total international arrivals to New Zealand in the year ending May 2016 standing at 3.3 million, with Australia and China the top source markets. This number is expected to rise to four million within four years.

TNZ most recently in July launched a global marketing campaign with acclaimed Hollywood director James Cameron to further leverage the country’s successes with film tourism.

An executive recruitment agency will be hired to search for Bowler’s replacement.

CHINA’s leading private car hire service Didi Chuxing has partnered with business travel expenses solutions provider Concur to integrate ride transactions with the platform’s payment processes.

With this, Didi Chuxing users can connect their account with Concur. Once travellers arrive at their destination, an e-receipt will automatically be sent to the linked Concur account, where they can then manage ride expenses and submit for reimbursements.

“China is the third largest international market when it comes to Concur business traveller spend, and we’re seeing a dramatic increase in Didi Chuxing usage which is contributing to that spend,” said Mike Eberhard, president of global distribution at Concur.

“This integration not only simplifies the expense reporting process for the growing number of Concur users booking rides with Didi, but also helps travel managers and administrators effortlessly keep track of employee spend.”

Users can choose to integrate Didi Chuxing from the Concur App Center.

SPANISH operator Riu Hotels & Resorts has made its foray into Asia with a Sri Lankan property, the first in a pipeline of resorts to open in Maldives and the United Arab Emirates.

The 501-room Riu Sri Lanka is a beachfront property located in the small coastal town of Ahungalla. It offers 24-hour all-inclusive services and opened earlier this month.

Facilities include three adult pools and one for children, a spa, health centre, a range of Asian and European restaurants, and one of Spain’s leading discotheques, Pacha.

“It’s the first stone in the company’s future expansion in the continent. This includes three more hotels; two in the Maldives and one in the UAE,” said a Riu spokesperson.

“After studying various proposals, Riu sees this as the ideal opportunity for starting its Asian operations. Sri Lanka is a tourist destination that attracts not only European clients, but also from markets like India, China and Australia.”

The Maldivian properties, namely the Riu Palace and Riu Classic, will open in 2018. They will be located in the Dhaalu Atoll offering 422 rooms together.

Its UAE property is scheduled to open the following year on the Deira Islands in Dubai. “With its 750 rooms it will be the biggest built there and the first to offer 24-hour all-inclusive service,” stated Riu in a release.

From left: Michael Ungerer, COO, Carnival Asia; Felix Eichhorn, president, AIDA Cruises; Michael Thamm, CEO, Costa Group; Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line; and Buhdy Bok, president, Costa Group Asia President, at the Aida launch in China

COSTA Asia has begun a marketing offensive in China in anticipation of the launch of its Aida Cruises brand there come April 2017.

The AidaBella will be deployed year-round in China after a dockyard refit of the cruise ship in spring next year. According to a statement by Costa, the ship will be customised to the needs of Chinese guests while at the same time feature authentic German hospitality.

For instance, a spicy hot pot restaurant and Oktoberfest beer festival will both be introduced on the ship. New on board as well are German retail brands Rimowa, Fissler and Hugo Boss.

“With our Costa Asia brand, we have pioneered the way into China since 2006 and were the first international shipping company to develop the cruise market there,” said Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.

“The expansion of our product portfolio to include an Aida Cruises ship in the fastest-growing market in the world is a strategic step for the further successful development of Costa and Aida.”