CHOOSE Chicago is promoting the city’s Lunar New Year celebrations, museums, outdoor activities and shopping to attract more tourists from China, its largest source of international visitors in 2013.

The tourism bureau this week met with travel agencies and airlines in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, with both sides brainstorming themed tours for Chinese visitors. For instance, promoting Chicago as a food capital to draw visitors from Guangzhou, China’s gourmet capital.

Chicago is also dangling exclusive discounts on airfares, accommodation and shopping for the second time, applicable for the Lunar New Year period that falls around February 17 next year.

Marketing wise, Choose Chicago has launched a three-month campaign to promote travel products such as hotels and flights through Chinese tour operators’ online channels. Chinese celebrity Qin Lan will also visit Chicago and share her experiences through the media.

In October, Choose Chicago will also launch a marketing campaign, promoting US brands that were once only focused on the domestic market to international audiences like China.

Choose Chicago established a new office in Guangzhou last year, the third in China after Beijing and Shanghai.

Don Welsh, president and chief executive of the tourism bureau, remarked that the city hosted numerous tradeshows and a US-China summit, which attracted a lot of Chinese inbound traffic.

Group tourists make up the majority of Chinese tourists to Chicago, while FITs are a small but steadily expanding faction. Interstate travel by car is also growing.

Last year, Chicago saw 1.8 million Chinese arrivals or a 22 per cent year-on-year increase. The US city expects to welcome more than 50 million international visitors in 2015.

Article by Yvonne Chang. Translated by Ong Yanchun  from the original TTG China e-Daily, September 9, 2014 article.

OKINAWA is set to welcome more arrivals from Singapore with 14 direct charter flights operated by SilkAir and Jetstar, slated to operate from this month through to January 2015.

SilkAir will operate 12 flights via the 162-seat Boeing 737-800. From September 9 to October 13, flights depart Singapore at 10.00 to reach Naha at 16.15; from November 20, 2014 to January 3, 2015, flights depart Singapore at 10.00 to reach Naha at 16.05.

Jetstar will operate two services via the 182-seat Airbus A320.

Francis Loi, acting head of commercial, Jetstar Asia, told TTG Asia e-Daily the roundtrip flights will take off on November 20 and 24, and are likely to be morning and late-night services.

Both airlines’ tickets will be sold via travel agencies.

The announcement to the Singapore media yesterday follows the MoU inked between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and Okinawa Prefecture Government (OPG) in March, in a bid to promote the Lion City as a hub to Okinawa.

Wong Woon Liong, senior advisor, CAG, said: “With the elimination of a stopover, the total air journey will be almost halved from 10 hours to slightly over five…CAG and OPG will support airlines, travel consultants, and trade partners in establishing more non-stop charter services, towards the common and eventual goal of scheduled services in the future.”

Yoshihisa Kawakami, vice governor of the prefecture, explained: “Charter services can be used to test market demand, and their conversion to scheduled services typically follows at least six months after commencement.”

RESORT destinations Phuket and Koh Samui have been not been spared by this year’s political instability, and the market is becoming increasingly vulnerable to its dependence on mass tourism, new research from C9 Hotelworks reveals.

Performance in Phuket and Koh Samui had been relatively strong for most of 1H2014 – while street protests and travel advisories severely dampened business in Bangkok ­– but took a hit from the ensuing coup, curfews and imposition of martial law.

Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks and author of both the Samui and Phuket market updates, told TTG Asia e-Daily that the situation started to improve after the curfew was lifted. However, the negative trend will clip performance throughout peak season, resulting in a relatively static year for both markets.

Thailand is exposed to further vulnerabilities from its dependence on mass tourism, especially in Phuket where Chinese and Russian visitors accounted for 47 per cent of international arrivals from January to June, rising six per cent and 14 per cent year-on-year, respectively.

The effects of domestic crises can also be exacerbated by external factors such as Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and rising oil prices, he said.

“Thailand has gone well past the vanishing point on mass tourism; there are simply too many hotels beds to fill and mouths to feed,” said Barnett.

“This is not the worst thing in the world as the country’s location and appeal are undeniable. What’s concerning is segmentation becoming too narrow. This is the most present trading danger today.”

C9 Hotelworks’ research shows hotel occupancy in Phuket fell four percentage points to 72 per cent in 1H2014, while average daily rates (ADR) declined from last year’s US$165 to US$159.

Passenger arrivals through the airport were up 13 per cent during the period with 5,810 flights. The proportion of direct international flights rose to 55 per cent, up from 38 per cent in the first six months of 2013.

The top three source markets are China (29 per cent), Russia (19 per cent) and Australia (seven per cent).

There are 4,582 new rooms in 23 hotels in the pipeline, 40 of which are tabled to come online next year with another 22 per cent in 2016.

The Koh Samui market was more diverse, led by for the first time by Russia (12 per cent), followed by Thailand (12 per cent) and Germany (11 per cent). Market-wide occupancy was down three percentage points at 70 per cent though ADR rose US$8 to US$162 when compared to the same period the year before.

The island’s development pipeline will see three hotels open from now until the end of 2016, adding 203 keys.

THE Azure Qiantang started welcoming guests this week in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, as a member of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ The Luxury Collection.

Designed by renowned architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, the property boasts a blue glass structure with design elements paying tribute to the Qiantang River, along the bank of which The Azure Qiantang is located. It takes its name from Memories of the South, written by Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi.

The hotel offers 205 guestrooms and suites, all coming with river views. Notable amenities include the hotel’s swimming pool, spa with seven treatment rooms and three massage rooms, and the 24-hour fitness centre.

Culinary offerings at The Azure Qiantang include: Lan Ting Chinese Restaurant and its 14 private dining suites and main dining hall, serving Hangzhou cuisine; Panorama Restaurant & Fare dishing up favourite local snacks; the Riverview Terrace on the 22^nd floor for cocktails; and the Lobby Bar where guests can have local afternoon tea.

In terms of meeting spaces, the hotel provides a 650m² Grand Ballroom with a 312m² foyer and six other rooms. All venues are fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass windows to allow natural light in.

The Azure Qiantang has introduced an opening package valid from now until December 31. Deluxe rooms are priced at RMB1,300 (US$212) a night. Guests who book consecutive nights will receive free breakfast for two. Prices are subject to a 15 per cent service charge.

Its opening brings Luxury Collection’s portfolio to six hotels in China, including the Astor Hotel in Tianjin, Twelve at Hengshan, The Hongta Hotel in Shanghai, The Royal Begonia in Sanya, and the recently opened The Castle Hotel in Dalian.

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) has scored chartered flights from two Russian destinations for the high season beginning October while a third is likely to be on the way.

The national carrier will fly from Vladivostok to Manila every 10 days and from Khabarovsk to Boracay every 14 days, starting next month until April next year.

Bigger aircraft will be used for these charters this year, doubling capacity from a minimum of 130 passengers.

Details of the third charter from Moscow – Russia’s largest and most populous city – is still under wraps but is likely to commence early next year, said Valeri Ishunkin, Department of Tourism’s marketing director for Russia, adding that a Siberian charter service is also underway.

Chartered flights are “extremely important” to Philippine inbound as there are no direct flights from Russia and commercial flights can be long and expensive, he pointed out.

He said that with Russia expected to ban travel to Europe in retaliation for economic sanctions, there is an opportunity for the Philippines to fill the gap. “Russians will look for other destinations and travel more to Asia…They are tired of certain destinations in Asia so they will look for new Asian destinations.”

Consumer marketing in Russia is being intensified, including the rollout of the second Philippine sales manual and media broadcasts from the Philippines in Russia.

CEBU Pacific Air (CEB) has opened more opportunities for Philippine outbound to Australia with its four-times-weekly Manila-Sydney service that began yesterday.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily ahead of the launch, Philippine Travel Agencies Association president, John Paul Cabalza, said that his members were meeting Australian operators to discuss products.

“These should priced be as low as possible, so that (travel consultants) can sell it. If you’re flying low-cost, you should match that with low-cost accommodation, for instance,” he said.

Cabalza expects families to comprise the bulk of budget travellers. “There are also a lot of local companies that have travelled around South-east Asia and might consider Australia for incentives.”

He added that Australia may decide to relax visa requirement for travellers who may not meet prerequisites on their own, but are now travelling in a group and sponsored by the company with set itineraries and pre-determined lengths of stay.

Marianne Malismo-Tismo, CEO, Amkor Travel & Tours, shared that her company is leveraging the service to introduce four-day tour programmes focusing on shopping, theatre and the outdoors.

“Since prices are lower, CEB will definitely earn a share of the market,” said Dino Molina, head of sales and marketing, Rajah Travel Corp, but added the smaller seats would be a concern for tall Australian passengers.

CEB last week also announced a new thrice-weekly Manila-Dammam service launching October 4, a service to Riyadh starting October 1 and a finalised interline agreement with Tigerair Singapore.

Two weeks ago, CEB was also appointed designated official carrier to New Zealand, Myanmar and Canada, and received added seat entitlements from Manila to Singapore, Myanmar, New Zealand and Macau, as well as Cebu to Hong Kong.

HE Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) will organise its annual Asia Pacific Ecotourism Conference (APECO) in Sabah next month.

Held from October 16 to 18 at The Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, the two-day conference is themed Adding Value Through Eco-Tourism Development and comes with a one-day pre-conference workshop.

Attendees can expect 16 speakers from four continents sharing their knowledge and experiences with ecotourism. This includes: Masaru Takayama, executive director, Japan Ecolodge Association, who will talk about ecotourism’s contribution to conservation; Alison Pritchard, manager, Mulu National Park in Sarawak who will speak on the place of tourism in park conservation and on developing ecotourism facilities in national parks; and Ross Dowling, who will speak on geotourism and geoparks.

Organising chairman, Albert Teo, said: “This will also be a great opportunity for academics, industry experts and practitioners to network and share their expertise and know-how on the latest trends in marketing, conservation, ecolodge design and operations, and community-based projects during the coffee breaks, workshops and post-conference tours.

“Delegates will learn to manage, market and maintain ecotourism facilities, products and services using sustainability, community benefits as the guiding principle.”

Hamzah Rahmat, MATTA president, added: “The conference and pre-conference workshop is meant to share best practices and to give participants a better understanding of more effective methods and technologies for ecotourism and sustainable development. “

APECO is open to both MATTA, non-MATTA members, and students.

For further details of this conference, email secretariat@apeco2014.com.

MYANMAR’S rich history will be brought to life in a new cultural show in Bagan, designed jointly by local and foreign companies.

Beginning this November, Dandaree features 100 performers and crew members from Myanmar and other South-east Asian nations, and will comprise of dance, sport and martial arts performances.

Also on the bill are pyrotechnic effects, a full Myanmar orchestra and life-size puppets, enhanced by production techniques used in feature films.

The show is a collaboration among Bagan Myanmar Tourism Company, Thailand-based Index Creative Village and Myanmar officials.

Speaking on the sidelines of the preview show held at Sule Shangri-La, Yangon, Narindej Thaveesangpanich, regional director of ASEAN, said a survey found that tourists who had been to Bagan reported a lack of activities in the ancient city.

The 80-minute show will run daily from 19.00 at the Bagan Golden Palace.

Tickets are US$50 per person and can be purchased in Yangon at 28, Lamin Condo, Kan Road, Hlaing Township; or Bagan at the Golden Palace, close to Tharabar Gate.

Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, chairman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing, expressed hope that the travel trade will use the show to promote Myanmar as a destination.

“The pre-launching of this show coincides with the tourism peak season in Myanmar…Tourists coming through the Yangon gateway have exceeded 500,000 as of end-June,” he shared.

“I hope Myanmar will be able to achieve about three million tourist arrivals by the end of the year, through all its international gateways and border checkpoints.”

Phyoe Wai Yar Zar added: “We will be the host of ASEAN Tourism Forum in January next year and Dandaree will also be there. This is not the first and last show, as more programmes will be created for visitors to Myanmar.”