NUMEROUS high-energy objects pierced the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 as it flew over eastern Ukrainian airspace, causing the aircraft to break up mid-air, found a preliminary report released yesterday by the Dutch Safety Board.

The board stated it was likely that this damage resulted in a loss of structural integrity of the aircraft that led to an inflight break-up, explaining the abrupt end to the data registration on the recorders, the simultaneous loss of contact with air traffic control and the aircraft’s disappearance from radar.

While the 35-page report did not specifically say MH17 was downed by a surface-to-air missile, commentators for news agency BBC noted that the report of “high-energy objects” is consistent with how Russian surface Buk missiles work – exploding near the target to pierce it with shrapnel.

The report, which is available on the Dutch Safety Board website, ruled out pilot error and mechanical problems, and also said that there had been no on-board emergencies, pointing to an external cause instead.

Tjibbe Joustra, chairman of the Dutch Safety Board, said in the report: “The initial results of the investigation point towards an external cause of the MH17 crash. More research will be necessary to determine the cause with greater precision.”

No blame was attributed by the report, which was aimed solely at establishing the aviation circumstances surrounding the tragedy, but international media such as the Wall Street Journal have highlighted the growing amount of evidence pointing towards Russia’s role in the incident.

The board’s final report is expected to be published next year.

HOSPITALITY company Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts has launched a freshly redesigned website for The Residence by Cenizaro in line with the brand’s next phase of transformation.

The tablet- and mobile-friendly website, www.cenizaro.com/theresidence, features information on the group’s four hotels: The Residence Tunis, The Residence Mauritius, The Residence Zanzibar and The Residence Maldives.

Visitors can make use of the easy-to-use booking engine to view real-time room availability, convert pricing into local currency as well as save reservation history and guest profile for future bookings.

Further, the Singapore-based company’s social media channels are also fully integrated with the site.

To mark the occasion, guests who book nights at any of The Residence hotels before March 30, 2015 will enjoy a free upgrade to full board, while reservations made online before November 30 will also be entered into a prize draw to win a five-night stay at the winner’s The Residence of choice.

STRONG sales are expected at the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GITF) this weekend, which for the first time is being held twice a year.

Organised by Garuda Indonesia and Bank Negara Indonesia since 2009, the B2C show will be held from September 12-15 in Jakarta with a target of 80,000 visitors and Rp50 billion (US$4.3 million) in ticket sales.

Erik Meijer, executive vice president marketing and sales, Garuda Indonesia, said: “Initially, we set a target of Rp75 billion in sales from the two events this year. However, this target was almost reached in one event only.

“We have thus revised the total target for the year to Rp120 billion. This means that we need to at least grab Rp50 billion more, which I think is achievable.”

GITF in April generated Rp70.8 billion in sales and drew 44,724 visitors.

Meijer said GITF this weekend would highlight new domestic destinations, especially in East Indonesia. “Through the travel fair we would like to introduce Garuda’s new destinations like Labuan Bajo, Ende and Bima in East Nusa Tenggara; Bau Bau and Kolaka in South-east Sulawesi; Jember and Banyuwangi in East Java; Sibolga in North Sumatra and other interesting destinations in Papua.”

Separately, Garuda Indonesia yesterday launched the first of its five weekly flights from Jakarta to London via Amsterdam. The capital city of the UK forms Garuda’s second gateway in Europe after Amsterdam.

Meijer commented: “There are strong business, educational, and cultural ties between Indonesia and the UK, and we believe this new service will further boost those activities among the two countries, while offering easier access for travellers from the UK to Indonesia, which is now one of the fastest economic growth centres in the world.”

Following the carrier’s entrance into the SkyTeam global airline alliance in March, Garuda made Amsterdam its hub for Europe and beyond.

TOURISM stakeholders from China’s Hubei province are looking at how they can better sell the destination, which is undergoing positive developments in both products and access.

Five tourism groups from Hubei visited the UN World Tourism Organization headquarters in Madrid last weekend and made contact with officials from the regional and city governments in Spain.

Qian Yuankun, director-general of the Hubei Tourism Administration, said: “By bringing these tourism entrepreneurs with us to make contacts in Spain, we are setting up a two-way tourism promotion that should help companies in both Hubei and the Spanish regions. It’s a good way to see how to sell ourselves internationally.”

He said the new culture-centric The Han Show will open soon in a purpose-built, lantern-shaped theatre in Hubei’s capital city of Wuhan this December.

Links to Wuhan have also been growing. “Moscow became the second European capital after Paris to be linked with direct flights from Wuhan in July,” said Qian. “We are hoping there will soon be more. New high-speed train links within China are also helping us to develop our tourism very fast.”

China is also currently training up more Spanish-speaking guides, he pointed out.

Yin Hanning, chairman of the Hubei International Cultural Exchange Association, said Spain has a “rich experience in the internationalisation of tourism”.

“That is why we want to promote these interchanges,” he added.

TOUR operators in India are opposing Kerala’s recently announced ban on liquor, saying the move would compromise tourism performance for the state.

Every bar in Kerala has been issued a 15-day notice to shut operations by September 12 as the state government prepares to achieve total alcohol prohibition in 10 years. Ten per cent of 383 state-owned liquor shops will also be shut yearly.

Speaking at the annual convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) last week, EM Najeeb, chairman of IATO’s Kerala Chapter, said: “We fear losing a substantial number of foreign tourists to neighbouring Sri Lanka.”

Subhash Goyal, president, IATO, also chimed in: “Though the government will still allow alcohol in five-star hotels from April next year, we need to keep in mind that not all tourists stay in five-star accommodation. So this is bound to have an adverse impact on tourist arrivals in Kerala.”

“We are going to write to the honorable prime minister highlighting the challenges for the state’s tourism sector will likely face in the wake of the ban,” said Goyal.

A TRAVEL agency and currency exchange have joined hands to offer Chinese travellers the option of submitting their overseas shopping tax claims through more than 40 of the former’s outlets in Beijing, with rebates remitted within one week.

Since July, the collaboration between Beijing Caissa International Travel Service and Tianjin Bohai TransForex has reduced the waiting time and risks of losing receipts in tax rebate services.

Caissa’s spokesperson commented that the scheme’s biggest draw is the provision of Mandarin services within China rather than at overseas airports. Rebates in Chinese yuan also shields consumers from exchange rate fluctuations. Common refund procedures, via cash or credit card card, involve lengthy, complicated procedures that discourage some from claiming refunds.

Partners in the scheme include more than 50 countries and 30 million merchants worldwide, representing more than 90 per cent of the participants in global tax rebate shopping.

Currently available only at Caissa’s Beijing outlets, the service will be offered country-wide in future.

Meanwhile, Chinese consumers can also opt to receive tax rebates through Internet payment provider Alipay.

Users simply state their personal and contact details on receipts of participating merchants, obtain verification from customs officers, and submit their claims at international airports. It takes at least 10 working days for the rebates to be credited into consumers’ Alipay accounts in yuan.

One Shanghai tourism industry player noted Alipay’s significant subscription rate in China, plus its relatively short waiting time for refunds compared to credit cards.

At the moment, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and South Korea are currently participating in this new scheme.

Article by Jessie Liu. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG China e-Daily, September 2, 2014 article.

MORE than 100 confirmed corporate travel executives from around the region at Asia’s largest corporate travel conference and exhibition – Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia-Pacific 2014.

CTW Asia-Pacific is an annual conference and exhibition attended by many of the region’s corporate travel executives. The show attracts delegates from all parts of Asia Pacific including Australia, China PR, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and many more!

Deadline for the early bird discount has been extended till 12 September 2014. Contactctw@ttgasia.com to register

RESORTS World Sentosa (RWS) is intending to implement wearable radio frequency identification technology (RFID) tags at its Adventure Cove Waterpark to allow cashless transactions and, hopefully, increased expenditure.

The scheme is currently pending a series of trials before full-scale implementation, though RWS said “no firm date” has been set for its commencement.

Jason Horkin, vice president of attractions at RWS, said: “These tags will allow our park guests to pay for services including food & drinks, retail products, as well as top-up their admission for marine interaction programmes.

“With cashless transactions, guests will be able to enjoy a seamless experience as they enjoy their day in the park. Such RFID technologies will also provide insights into purchase patterns and act as valuable feedback to provide better for guests’ demands,” he said.

When visitors to the park want to make a purchase, the staff member simply scans the guest’s tag to complete the transaction.

Separately, local media reported that the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is also considering the use of RFID, inspired by the success of wearable RFID tags at Walt Disney World in US.

Tender documents put up last week showed that up to 1,000 tags and 20 tag-detecting readers will be tested at two unspecified places – a tourist attraction and a MICE venue, between November and January.

STB noted that Disney increased visitor spending by eight per cent three months after rolling out the use of the RFID tags, and STB said it would be exploring using the technology for events and attractions, entry access, food and retail payments, and social media.

Applications in the readers include the ability to request rights to access user’s social media, suggest purchases based on registration information and post pictures on social media.

Like RWS, STB will use the technology to glean consumer behavioural insights.

WYNDHAM Hotel Group is rapidly scaling up its presence in China through recent openings in Xi’an and Kunming.

The five-star Wyndham Kunming Resort was opened in June this year, catering to meetings, groups, and family travellers. It offers convenient access to Kunming Changshui International Airport, a 30-minute drive away, as well as the nearby Jia Lize Wetland.

Wyndham Kunming Resort features 300 rooms, an 18-hole golf course, a jockey club, and a wetland park.

More recently opened is the 565-key Wyndham Grand Xi’an South, which is the largest hotel in terms of rooms. It is located in Qujiang New District, close to Xi’an Qujiang International Conference & Exhibition Center, and provides easy access to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor and Terracotta Warriors.

F&B outlets at the hotel include The Lounge with scenic views, and an all-day dining restaurant with interactive show kitchens and live cooking stations, while meeting facilities include a grand ballroom and 11 break-out rooms for over 5,000m² of function space.

Coming up later this year is the Wyndham Xuzhou East in the Xuzhou economic development zone where some 3,000 industrial and technology businesses are located.

The 340-room hotel, close to Jinlong Lake, is a five-minute drive away from the Xuzhou High-speed Railways Station and 45 minutes from the airport.

China is a key market for Wyndham Hotel Group, where it opened 211 hotels between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

Leo Liu, managing director for China, Wyndham Hotel Group, commented: “Expanding its presence in China is a critical step in our company’s strategy to provide more choices for travellers here.”

NATIONAL carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced new direct flights between Nagoya and Bangkok, and Osaka and Los Angeles.

To commence on December 20, Nagoya (Chubu)-Bangkok services will run daily on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft to start. A Boeing 787-8 aircraft will be deployed instead from January 2015.

Flights leave Nagoya (Chubu) at 10.30 and arrive at 14.50, while return flights out of Bangkok leave at 22.55 and touch down in Japan at 06.20 the next day.

JAL currently operates three daily Tokyo-Bangkok flights out of Narita and Haneda, and one daily Osaka-Bangkok service.

Daily flights on the Osaka-Los Angeles route will begin on March 20, 2015 on Boeing 787-8. From Osaka, flights depart at 15.20 and arrive at 09.20, while return trips begin at 11.20 to arrive back in Osaka at 15.50 the next day.

Both flights are subject to approval by the relevant authorities.