DESPITE levelling global airfare prices, increased business travel demand is driving significant airfare increases in six hotspots, among which four are in Asia-Pacific.

These findings come from the 2016 Global Travel Price Outlook, a study from the GBTA Foundation, the education and research arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), and travel management company Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT).

While airline fees are set to be nearly flat on a global basis due to significantly lower energy prices, steady increases in capacity and stable demand, Singapore, India, China and Australia are seeing a projected growth in price.

Singapore is projected to see a gain of three per cent, the highest in Asia-Pacific, due to lower energy prices and a less restrictive monetary policy. Following closely behind would be China, Australia and India with 2.8 per cent, 2.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent increases respectively.

Other hotspots projected to see price increases are Colombia and Mexico.

Asia-Pacific will also see hotel prices rise by three per cent — led by Singapore, Japan and Australia.

Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is expected see a five per cent increase in cost per attendee per day and an 11 per cent increase in group size, driven by strong demand from China and India.

THAILAND’S flagship carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI), will be undergoing further overhaul as operations continue to get streamlined, according to a report from the Bangkok Post.

Loss-making flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles and Rome will be suspended while frequency on the highly competitive Bangkok-Kolkata route will be halved to one daily. More than 1,400 jobs will also undergo voluntary retirement this year.

Meanwhile, routes to Hyderabad, Changsha and Luang Prabang will be relegated to its THAI Smile unit, a LCC which operates smaller-body aircraft.

However, THAI will be doubling frequencies to London and Frankfurt, each to twice daily, in an attempt to capitalise on its more popular routes.

The 55-year-old national carrier had suffered losses of 15.6 billion baht (US$4.5 billion) last year, but has since managed to make a comeback, posting profits of 4.5 billion baht in the first quarter of 2015.

INDIA and Russia have been highlighted as the two markets with the strongest growth potential for Vietnam’s tourism sector, according to Hoang Tuan Anh, Vietnam’s culture, sports and tourism minister.

The ministry had organised an Indian fam trip to Vietnam and welcomed a Bollywood film crew. Vietnam also had a presence at the GES Trade and Services Exhibition and will be attending the upcoming PATA Travel Mart 2015 in India.

As for Russia, Vietnam will continue to participate in the main international travel marts such as MITT and Intour Market, as well as organise familiarisation and press trips.

Danang has also been identified as an emerging destination in Vietnam and policies have been implemented to boost infrastructural development, construction of high-end luxury hotels and the cultivation of new tourism products.

“Vietnam has been strengthening investment attraction into tourism development with a variety of projects related to infrastructures, facilities, human resources and sustainable tourism,” said Hoang.

“All projects are strictly oriented to sustainability development and community benefits,” he added.

The Vietnamese government is also taking action to redress the country’s strict visa rules. Visa exemptions currently apply to 13 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain, as well as for all ASEAN countries.

It has also implemented a visa exemption for international tourists to Phu Quoc Island for a period of 30 days.

THE MACAU Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has signed an MoU with the Shaoguan Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province to promote tourism to the Pearl River Delta.

Shaoguan Tourism Administration was among the delegation of more than 30 organisations that took part in the recent Guangdong and Macau Sales Mission to Malaysia and Singapore.

The sales mission, organised by MGTO, was Shaoguan Tourism Administration first overseas marketing initiative.

Cheng Wai Tong, deputy director of MGTO said Pearl River Delta’s cooperation among the region’s tourism authorities, including Hong Kong, dates back more than 20 years.

“In Guangdong, Macau signed MoUs with neighbouring Zhuhai and Zhongshan in 2006. Apart from joint promotions overseas and within China, the MoUs also cover cooperation on tourism development and industry management,” he explained.

Located in northern Guangdong, Shaoguan possesses the richest tourism assets in the province such as a geopark, hot springs, scenic spots and heritage sites, said Wang Yuangjian, section chief, marketing division of Shaoguan Tourism Administration.

Wang noted: “Shaoguan will appeal to visitors who like hiking, nature, hot springs and the outdoors.

With local five-star hotel rates averaging RMB400 (US$64.50), Shaoguan offers “attractive” prices compared with RM500 or RM600 elsewhere in Guangdong, he added.

“It’s the first time we are in a joint promotion with MGTO and promoting to the Muslim market. There are no halal restaurants now, which is something we need to look into,” Wang commented.

VIETNAM-BASED budget carrier Vietjet Air will launch flight services between Myanmar and Vietnam from October this year.

According to the airline, the Yangon-Ho Chi Minh City route will commence on October 2 with five return flights per week. The estimated flight time is around two hours and 15 minutes long.

Flights will depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 10.25 and arrive in Yangon at 12.10. The return flight takes off from Yangon at 13.00 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 15.35.

Vietnam Airlines is currently the only airline operating return flights between Yangon and Ho Chi Minh City.