THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has appointed Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT’s deputy governor for the domestic market, as the next governor to helm the NTO.

According to The Bangkok Post, Thawatchai will succeed current TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni on December 21.

Thawatchai has pledged to address Thailand’s security issues and update TAT’s online promotions in order to “meet the government’s revenue target of two trillion baht (S$66.6 billion) by 2015”.

He was quoted by The Bangkok Post as saying: “We have to upgrade both content and website to catch up with market trends…The TAT wil open an online travel market for small and medium-sized enterprises as a new channel for them to promote themselves and sell their products.”

The newly-appointed Thawatchai spent a good part of his career with TAT, having served in various posts such as TAT director of the Central Region 2 office, director of the TAT London office, executive director of the Central Region, as well as executive director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He is currently deputy governor for domestic marketing.

FOR the first time, the Penang MATTA Fair will be organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ (MATTA) wholly-owned subsidiary and business arm, Micem, instead.

Previous fairs had been planned by MATTA chapter members in Penang, and this year’s edition is scheduled to run from July 5-7 at Times Square, Penang.

Jeffri Sulaiman, vice president for outbound, MATTA, said the departure from tradition would “allow MATTA to concentrate on industry issues for members”.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday morning, he added that Micem’s expertise would be used to market the Penang MATTA Fair and he was confident that all 190 booths would be taken up by a good combination of travel and tour operators, airlines, hotels, resorts and foreign NTOs.

It is understood that Micem will begin taking charge of the respective consumer travel fairs for MATTA’s chapter members, starting with the upcoming Penang MATTA Fair.

Micem has been successfully organising the twice-yearly MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur since 2006.

In another departure from tradition, MATTA members from outside Penang will be able to buy booths and exhibit at the Penang fair. Jeffri said: “The big boys in Kuala Lumpur can compete on packages with the big boys in Penang – that will be good for consumers.”

Before, MATTA members from outside Penang without a local office were not allowed to exhibit and had to sell their packages through Penang Chapter members.

SRI Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is stepping up marketing efforts to India with the planned opening of three offices in India, beginning with a Mumbai launch in July.

“Currently, 33 per cent of India’s outbound to Sri Lanka is from Mumbai alone,” said Bhashwara Gunarathna, chairman, SLTPB.

The bureau will follow the Mumbai launch with the opening of its New Delhi and Bengaluru offices by end-2013, in a bid to expand market share, develop revenue and tap into newer, Tier Two Indian markets, while also allowing partners to develop and establish business growth in India.

The bureau presently relies on its consulate or partners in India to generate business.

In 2012, India accounted for 18 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total tourist arrivals or 170,000 visitors. Sri Lanka is aiming for 200,000 arrivals from India this year and 400,000 by 2016.

To tap this market, the SLTPB recently announced MICE booking incentives and all-inclusive tours with Thomas Cook India’s general sales agent, Sparklink Travels. It also reiterated that visa fees for all SAARC countries, on arrival or via ETA, were reduced to U$15 in 2012.

Rumy Jauffer, managing director, SLTPB, said: “Sri Lanka makes an ideal destination for Indian travellers due to its close proximity and easy visa access.

“Sri Lanka’s second international airport at Hambantota will also be fully operational in the next few months, improving connectivity to the south and south-east parts of the country.”

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport first opened on March 18 (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 7, 2013).

National carrier SriLankan Airlines currently flies direct to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Tiruchirapalli and Trivandrum. Including Jet Airways, Air India and SpiceJet, about 100 flights operate between India and Sri Lanka weekly.

By Renuka Vijay Kumar

AHMS Collection, a hotel development firm, will expand its operations beyond Thailand in early 2015 with the opening of its luxury private island resort in Cambodia targeting the high-end medical, beauty and wellness-focused tourism sectors.

Akaryn Koh Krabeay Retreat & Spa is located a 15-minute boat ride away from the resort-town of Sihanoukville.

Anchalika Kijkanakorn, founder and owner of Akaryn Hospitality Management Services (AHMS), said: “Unlike many other resorts we won’t be just selling the accommodation; it’s about the whole holistic experience, the seclusion, the villas, the technology (of the spa treatments), everything.

“We’re targeting guests who want to stay for seven to 14 days. Part of that is due to the location, which is quite out of the way, but mostly it will be down to the experience they can have there.”

The resort, which is being built at a cost of 700-900 million baht (US$20.9-26.8 million), will feature 40 pool villas ranging from 120-150m², a medical spa and a meditation cave, among other facilities. Room rates will start from US$1,000 per night.

AHMS will work with travel consultants specialising in medical, meditation and anti-ageing tourism to tap established and emerging markets. “The world has become so small that I can’t say we’ll be focusing on the European markets as there’s so much opportunity from emerging markets in Asia,” she said.

“The UAE will also be one of our key targets as Arabs are very big on medical tourism these days.”

Anchalika explained that corporate fam trips would be key in educating consultants about the property and helping them convince clients that Cambodia can support such high-end products.

Connectivity will have improved by the first quarter of 2015, when the resort is scheduled to open, as AirAsia and Lion Air will have increased their capacity by then, she said.

RESORTS World Sentosa (RWS) has rolled out new products for travellers looking for a different experience, including getting up-close with marine life and unwinding at the spa.

RWS’ Marine Life Park began introducing three new programmes yesterday, beginning with the Open Ocean Dive, which allows certified divers to explore the S.E.A Aquarium’s Open Ocean habitat through a designated dive route, led by dive masters.

The 150-minute programme takes place once a day at 10.30, with four slots open only to divers aged 15 or above, and costs S$1,280 (US$1,010).

For travellers without diving certification or swimming skills, the once-daily Sea Trek Adventure is a one-hour long programme that climaxes with a 20-minute underwater helmet diving experience. Five participants are allowed each day for the Sea Trek programme, which begins June 30 at S$238.

The new Shark Encounter programme is slated to begin June 15 at the Shark Seas habitat, where guests can descend inside a cylindrical acrylic enclosure to get close to the 200 sharks inhabiting therein. Lasting 30 minutes, the event happens thrice-daily and will accept two guests each time. Ticket price is S$88.

Earlier, ESPA at RWS also unveiled a range of spa holidays coupling stays at RWS’ latest hotels – the Equarius Hotel and Beach Villas – with a personalised programme that includes ESPA spa treatments, fitness activities, spa cuisine and use of ESPA’s facilities such as hot and cool pools, the gym and the lounge.

Guests can choose an additional goal for the retreat, from getting fit and weight-managing to detoxing and de-stressing.

ESPA at RWS’s Lifestyle Retreats packages start from S$718 for a one-night retreat for one person, inclusive of room, spa treatments and three meals.