GULF carrier Qatar Airways is geared to launch its new Hong Kong-Amsterdam route to start on June 16, transiting via Hamad International Airport in Doha.

The service runs six times a week, with the Hong Kong-Doha leg of the journey being operated by Cathay Pacific Airways in a codeshare arrangement.

Qatar Airways’ country manager for Greater China South, Chan Cheong Eu, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “Travel consultants are our key partners and we have just held a seminar for trade…Two more seminars are planned in summer and winter for this market. “

He added that the airline’s private jet division is deploying a Bombardier 5000 aircraft to be based in Hong Kong this summer, serving customers out of Hong Kong and Macau for long-range travel, to expand its Asian business.

Premium Holidays’ general manager, Simon Wo, seldom uses Qatar Airways but has observed the carrier’s robust development over the last two years. “It can’t compare with Emirates (in terms of capacity on this route), but Qatar’s fleet is newer and it provides good connecting flights for Hong Kong passengers.”

By the end of 2015, the Doha-based carrier will launch more Asian connections, including to Pakistan’s Sialkot on July 16, Faisalabad on July 17, and Multan on August 1. Next year, it will start flights to Los Angeles in January, Boston in March, and Atlanta in July.

THE 512-room Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has officially relaunched after completing an extensive multi-million dollar refurbishment.

With its revamped lobby, guestrooms, dining outlets and meeting facilities, this is the building’s first major facelift in its 30-year history.

The new vibrant looks of the hotel lobby and guestrooms are inspired by the iconic Singapore River and the colourful rows of shophouses along its banks.

Additions to the dining scene include all-day dining venue Atrium Restaurant, and Atrium Bar 317, which overlooks the hotel’s lobby atrium.

To maintain its popularity among business travellers, the hotel also upgraded its Atrium Ballroom and 12 meeting rooms, fitting them with improved equipment, including new live recording, sound and lighting facilities.

During the nine-month refurbishment process, business continued as normal at the hotel. “We have been very careful with the way we went through the (renovation) process,” Charles Godot, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium’s executive assistant manager, told TTG Asia e-Daily.

“As hoteliers, we understand that guests come first, so we chose certain periods of the month or day to do certain parts of the renovation to limit (guests’) exposure to the renovation,” he said.

The hotel’s facelift was timed to coincide with its 10^th year anniversary, while doubling as a way to stay competitive amid Singapore’s recent falling visitor arrivals.

“In a way we went through a difficult time, but most of our guests were understanding of the situation and very supportive – they were even giving advice on how we should’ve carried it out!” quipped Godot.

By Jerlene Ng

INDIA is likely Sri Lanka’s largest tourism source market this year but the country is investing a substantial part of its budget in the markets of China, UK, Germany and France.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) announced last week that it had secured a Rs3.4 billion (US$26 million) promotions budget for 2015.

The budget will cover roadshows, trade fairs, advertising, as well as the 280 travel consultants and 280 journalists to be invited on fam tours this year. China will receive the lion’s share of promotions money at Rs176 million.

The campaign, running from January to December, is targeting 2.5 million arrivals in 2016 and positions Sri Lanka as a ‘peaceful destination’ as well as increase awareness of the country among travellers, according to SLTPB Chairman Rohantha Athukorala.

This year, the NTO wants two million arrivals, up from last year’s 1.5 million actual visitors.

Amal Goonetileka, regional director-sales for Taj Samudra Hotels, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, said 2015’s marketing plan was done in consultation with the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, whose representatives sit on the SLPTB board.

“This plan will be reviewed from time to time and new initiatives…will be added where necessary going forward.”

Mahen Kariyawasam, president of the Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators Association, said the new budget was welcome news “given the limited resources available at the SLTPB”, adding that his association was also consulted.

AFTER a 13-year gap, the Ministry of Tourism is setting a new national tourism policy in motion, though some quarters have found it disappointing.

Released on May 1, the initial draft of the new national tourism policy outlines the establishment of new tourism bodies, including the National Tourism Advisory Board, the Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee on Tourism, a Medical Tourism Promotion Board and a MICE Promotion Bureau.

The tourism ministry also invited feedback from various sectors of the industry. Suman Billa, joint secretary for tourism, said: “We have received many suggestions…After due consideration with various ministries, the draft of the National Tourism Policy of 2015 may undergo a few changes.

“The final draft will again be sent to the cabinet for approvals and only after seeking the ministries’ acceptance will the policy be made public.”

However, the present draft is drawing flak from the hospitality sector that alleges the new policy is neglecting its needs, especially its longstanding demand that it be given industry status.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily, Beni Agarwal, business consultant, GK Hospitality Services, said: “Industry status helps hoteliers and investors by narrowing down on licences and bringing in a single-window clearance system. Secondly, it helps industry stakeholders borrow cheaper loans from financial institutions with repayment period of 15 to 20 years. Also, certain projects in special zones are given tax holidays for five years.”

The Hotel & Restaurant Association of Western India last week sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office calling for a revisit of the policy to ensure that hospitality gets “deserved attention”.

Association president, Bharat Malkani, said: “If hospitality as a sector is ignored then service levels will definitely take a plunge, leading to a bad experience for the tourist.”

The initial new tourism policy draft declares that all hospitality projects will be classified as industrial when it comes to utility charges, property taxes and levy of industrial rates.

JAPAN is drawing up legislation that will require operators of hotels and other tourist facilities close to the nation’s volcanoes to have emergency evacuation plans in place.

Revisions to the existing Active Volcanoes Countermeasures Law will force such companies to devise emergency measures, while tourism departments of local governments will be charged with monitoring visitors’ locations.

The government’s action has been prompted by the eruption of Mount Ontake last October, which killed over 60 hikers, and the ongoing volcanic activity in the Owakudani hot spring district.

Roads and paths into the Owakudani district, normally busy with day-trippers from Tokyo, have been shut.

“We are informing all our clients and the media about the situation, but it is important to point out that only a very small part of the area is affected,” Motohisa Tachikawa, a JTB spokesperson, told TTG Asia e-Daily.

“There has been a very small number of cancellations so far, but we are a little concerned if this unsure situation continues into the summer holiday season.”

He added that hotels and tourist attractions in nearby towns like Gora and Tonosawa are operating normally.

HIS Japan is also reporting a limited impact on business with only “a few” cancellations, confirmed spokesman Yasuhiko Hoshi. “It’s a relatively small area that has been affected and not one of the most popular spots for tourists. Overseas visitors rarely go to that area anyway, so that segment of the business has hardly been affected.”

The company is nevertheless monitoring the situation carefully, he added.