When PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum (NTFF) takes place in Palau from November 15-17, 2017, the event is expected to lend a helping hand in marketing and managing the fledgling tourism industry of this western Pacific nation.

Speaking to TTG Asia on the sidelines of the PATA NTFF in Cox’s Bazar last week, Palau Visitors Authority vice-chairman, Terrence Ruluked, said: “We have an influx of international tourists from markets including China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and the US. Our major concern now is to maintain a healthy balance between environment and tourist flows, so our focus is now on high-end tourists.

“We expect the upcoming NTFF in Palau to help us identify how we can attract such tourists and at the same time maintain the pristine beauty of our country,” he added.

The forum agenda, while yet to be finalised, is expected to address sustainable tourism development as a key concern.

Starting with last year’s inaugural edition in Legazpi, the Philippines, the selection of secondary and tertiary destinations to host NTFF is a strategic one to ensure “better distribution of tourism”, PATA CEO Mario Hardy stated.

“Certain places like Bali, Bangkok and Venice have a huge concentration of tourists but other places in that country don’t receive as many tourists, so we want destinations and private players to promote new tourist destinations,” he added.

Welcoming PATA’s move to host events in new destinations, Syed Qadir, managing director of Dhaka-based Wonder Ways, said: “Lesser-known destinations need to be promoted for tourism globally for their economic development as well as for creation of employment opportunities.”

Noda (left) and Gebbia after signing the agreement

Local governments in Japan are encouraging the use of non-hotel accommodation in anticipation of the expected visitor boom during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Following the proposed deregulation of short-term rentals including Airbnb earlier this year, Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia recently signed an MoU with Takenori Noda, mayor of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, to facilitate the hosting process for homeowners in the city.

As host city for the rugby mega-event in 2019, Kamaishi is expected to welcome 30,000 visitors during the tournament. Its hotels and ryokan, however, can accommodate only 1,000 guests.

With the partnership, the city plans to identify community leaders to help potential hosts list their homes on Airbnb, and the homesharing platform will “provide training and materials that will help existing and potential hosts understand the services provided… and how to be a good host”, according to Airbnb representative Miho Saito.

Meanwhile, the Osaka municipal government is hoping for “many more” applications from the public to be registered as minpaku (home-lodging) providers.

Aria Aoyama of the Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau said: “It is of (utmost) importance to ensure that Osaka welcomes its visitors into an environment that ensures safety and security, so that our visitors always have peace of mind.”

Officials hope the move will ease the strain on hotels and ryokan in the city but travel agents are unsure of the implications. HIS spokesperspon Eric Rajepakse said travel agencies have no system for reserving minpaku or knowing what facilities they offer, so they are limited to booking hotels or ryokan for tourists.

The central government also plans to shorten the minimum stay at minpaku from six nights to two nights to make the accommodation more appealing and practical for inbound visitors. Osaka is expected to adopt the rule in 2017.

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island Fiji are offering discounted rates to travel agents and support staff.

Under the deal, agents can book at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort for FJ$199+ (US$94+) per room night while Castaway Island Fiji is available for FJ$399+ with a minimum three-night stay.

A Castaway Island meal plan is also available for FJ$99+ per day for adults and FJ$49+ for children aged three to 12 years, with no charge for children under three years.

The rates will be available for sale from December 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017 and are valid for stays from December 1, 2016 to March 10, 2017.

For reservations, e-mail reservations@outriggerfiji.com or call (679) 650 0044. Block-out dates are from December 24, 2016 until January 5, 2017.

Exterior of a Louis Vuitton store along Nanjing road, Shanghai

Global Blue has partnered with Bank of China to launch a tax-free shopping scheme in Shanghai, allowing foreign travellers and residents in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to enjoy nine per cent in tax savings with participating retailers.

Almost 200 stores in Shanghai have signed up to the scheme, including major department stores like Takashimaya and Parkson as well as luxury brands Chanel, Hermes, Tiffany and Louis Vuitton, among others.

To reclaim VAT, shoppers need to request for a Tax Free Form and VAT invoice at time of purchase and submit these along with passport, receipts and unused purchases for verification at the airport’s customs desk. Once verified, customs will provide a stamp for the form, which can then be produced at the refund counter in exchange for the VAT refund.

The minimum purchase amount to qualify for a refund is RMB500 (US$72.50).

Meanwhile, Global Blue will continue working with Bank of China to increase the number of participating retailers and help them better advise foreign visitors on use of the scheme.

Shangri-La Hotel Paris

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Mumbai-based Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces are joining hands to form a new strategic alliance to broaden their global reach.

The hospitality alliance will officially launch in March 2017 with the introduction of the Warmer Welcomes programme, which will integrate Taj InnerCircle and Shangri-La’s Golden Circle guest loyalty programmes to provide reciprocal and seamless benefits for the combined six million members.

Under the Warmer Welcomes programme, members will be able to enjoy the perks of their elite status when they stay at any Shangri-La or Taj hotel with top-tier status matching; earn award points in their preferred programme across 200 hotels, 27 countries and 131 destinations; and convert points to redeem awards between both programmes.

Rakesh Sarna, managing director and CEO of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, said: “Over time, our valued guests and loyalty members had shared their desire for a wider selection of world-class hotels in key destinations. This alliance will help drive deeper engagement for our most valuable guests and members as they will now be recognized seamlessly at some of the world’s finest hotels across multiple geographies.”

Shangri-La’s acting president Madhu Rao, said: “As hotel owner-operators who share similar values and service philosophies but have minimal overlap of properties, Taj and Shangri-La are in a unique position to establish a seamless alliance that goes beyond a marketing partnership or multi-hotel distribution platform.”

Shangri-La’s Golden Circle has rolled out an array of new member benefits and partnerships, the most recent being Infinite Journeys with Singapore Airlines, as well as programmes such as Event Planner Rewards and The Table by Golden Circle, the group’s first global dining loyalty programme.

Meanwhile, Taj relaunched InnerCircle globally in 2015 with revamped features, including no blackout dates, an easy redemption process with opportunities ranging from accommodation, restaurants and spas, and no expiry of points for active members. Taj InnerCircle also recently redesigned its Epicure programme to feature global offers.

Canberra, Australia

Qatar Airways will fly to eight more destinations in 2017/2018, adding Canberra, Medan, Dublin, Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, and Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk and Yanbu to its global flight network.

This announcement comes on the back of seven previously announced destinations for 2017, two of which are the Asia-Pacific cities of Auckland (commencing February 5, 2017) and Chiang Mai. In total, the airline will fly to 15 new destinations over the next two years.

This year, Qatar Airways has launched 12 new destinations, three of which are in the Asia-Pacific. It will begin service to Krabi, its third Thailand destination, on December 6, 2016.

Qatar Airways flies to more than 150 destinations around the world.