MALAYSIA may have taken the top spot as the best destination for Muslim travellers but Japan has demonstrated the most commitment to bettering its facilities for this market segment.

Singapore-based Muslim travel specialist Crescentrating yesterday released its annual ranking of destinations that cater best to the needs of Muslim travellers, which saw Malaysia in pole position again (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 21, 2013). Main criteria taken into account include the suitability of the destination for family holidays, service levels, Muslim-friendly facilities and marketing initiatives aimed at Muslim travellers.

Japan rose from 50^th spot last year to 40^th currently, showing the greatest improvement of all countries surveyed.

Singapore’s The Business Times  quoted Crescentrating chief executive, Fazal Bahardeen, as saying: “Japan has definitely been the most active destination during the last year to focus on this segment of travellers”

“It has launched a number of initiatives – from awareness programmes to the local industry to releasing the Muslim travel guide to Japan (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 19, 2013).”

Crescentrating’s release also noted that a number of airports in Japan now offer halal food and prayer rooms.

This year’s survey ranked 60 destinations, 10 more than in 2013.

For countries within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Arab Emirates took second place followed by Turkey, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to round up the top five.

Singapore leads as the number one halal friendly destination outside the OIC for the second year running. South Africa, Thailand, the UK and Bosnia & Herzegovina made up the rest of the top five.

LONG-STANDING political tensions were no barrier for Chinese travellers looking for sun, surf and gaming as arrivals from China to the Philippines surged a dramatic 69.9 per cent year-on-year in 2013.

Travel consultants said this affirmed the Philippines’ appeal as a top beach destination. Oliver Sison, general manager at Far Eastern Travel Agency, said Chinese travellers love the beach and “primarily Boracay and (its) party atmosphere”.

China was the Philippines’ fourth biggest source market according to Department of Tourism (DoT) statistics, totalling 426,352 arrivals and a 9.1 per cent total market share in 2013.

DoT attributed this to better air connections and more cruise itineraries, which together supported the NTO’s “aggressive marketing activities” in cities such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen and Beijing.

Gambling is also proving to be a strong attraction, especially in Manila. Said Sison: “Resorts World Manila is (in Manila), Solaire (Resort & Casino) has just opened, and City of Dreams is under construction. That’s a step in the right direction if we want more of the Chinese market.”

Miggie Macasinag, general manager of Roman International Travel and Tours, concurred, sharing that two fully booked charters from Xiamen to Legazpi City in Bicol were organised recently for Misibis Bay Resort, with the main draw being the resort’s newly added gambling facilities.

The Philippines welcomed 4.7 million foreign visitors in 2013, surpassing the 4.3 million recorded in 2012 by 9.6 per cent despite the devastating earthquake and super typhoon that hit late last year.

Taiwan’s travel ban on the Philippines cut arrivals by 35.8 per cent, particularly from June to September. Taiwan became the Philippines’ seventh largest source, down from fifth place in 2012.

MANTRA Group today announced that Sentosa Seminyak in Bali will be rebranded as Peppers Sentosa Seminyak in March.

The rebranded property is Mantra’s second in Indonesia after the Mantra Nusa Dua, which debuted in late 2012.

Peppers Sentosa Seminyak comprises 39 three-, four- and five-bedroom luxury villas, each featuring a private pool, kitchen and living areas. Other facilities on-site include Luke Mangan’s signature Salt tapas and bar, and a spa.

Another two Peppers and Mantra properties in Indonesia are in the pipeline and will be announced in 1H2014.

SOLO’S Adi Sumarmo International Airport has been denied clearance for take-off once again as volcanic ash from the Mount Kelud eruption continues to linger, forcing authorities to push its reopening to tomorrow.

Speaking at a media conference in Solo, Muhammad Alwi, head of airport authority area three, Ministry of Transportation, said the air around the Solo airport was not free of ash yet, which could affect aircraft engines.

This is the second time the Solo airport’s reopening has been postponed. It was originally scheduled to resume operations today, alongside Adisucipto International Airport in Jogjakarta (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 17, 2014), which opens at noon.

Separately, Garuda Indonesia has announced it will recommence services to and from the Jogjakarta airport today, with the first flight scheduled to depart at 12.05 for Jakarta.

From Jogjakarta, Garuda has 20 flights daily to Jakarta, six to Bali and two to Balikpapan, all roundtrip.

ACCOR will replace InterContinental Hotels Group in managing the reknowned Crocodile Hotel and Cooinda Lodge in Australia’s Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory and put greater emphasis on the indigenous tourism experience.

The hotel operator has signed an MoU with the owners of both properties to take over management duties effective from April 1 this year.

Both the 110-room Crocodile Hotel and 48-room Cooinda Lodge were the first major tourism properties developed by an indigenous organisation in Australia.

Rex Wild, chairman of Kakadu Tourism, commented in a press release: “What particularly attracted us to Accor is its championing of indigenous employment, which is a fundamental objective of the operation of the two properties.

“We already have extensive involvement of indigenous Australians in our tourism operations, but we believe we can increase the development of long-term, sustainable careers as a result of our association with Accor.”

Wild noted that the stronger Australian dollar and Asia’s rise in popularity for tourism have impacted traffic to Kakadu, but believes “Kakadu is one of the world’s most significant tourism destinations and there is vast potential to grow visitation from both overseas and locally”.

The current managers of the two hotels will continue under Accor management.

MYANMAR needs the experience and expertise of international organisations in order to develop community-based tourism systematically, said Myanmar’s minister of hotels and tourism, Htay Aung.

Speaking at the official opening of the second Myanmar Hospitality and Tourism Conference today at Traders Hotel in Yangon, Htay Aung said community-based tourism was a suitable way for locals to participate in the tourism economy in rural areas.

He cited hill tribes near Kyaing Tong in Shan state, the local villages of Kalaw, Aung Bann, Nyaung Shwe and Inle Lake as potential sites.

Myanmar has also developed a Policy on Community Involvement in Tourism which will ensure tourism stakeholders take active responsibility in addressing sustainable development.

“In this context, we need the experience and expertise from the international organisations,” said Htay Aung.

Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, chairman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing said Myanmar still faces challenges in infrastructure, tourism knowledge and awareness of the positive and negative impacts of tourism.

“Community-based tourism in Myanmar is still in an embryonic stage. We are still trying to break new ground. Local people in rural regions should be able to manage tourism activities, operate the business and share the benefits from those tourism activities equitably,” he said.

CZECHTOURISM is on a drive to attract more visitors from Asia-Pacific with workshops planned for the trade in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia; fam trips; tradeshow participation at ITE Hong Kong; and a roadshow in Australia.

Overseeing the markets of South China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, Jan Urban, said: “Apart from traditional hotspots like Prague, Kutná Hora, etc, we will promote Valtice, a romantic garden area with vineyards, castles and wine cellars in caves. We will target FIT travellers in 2014 as it’s (an important) travel trend for the next three to five years.”

Asian traffic accounts for less than one per cent of total arrivals to the Czech Republic. Europe contributes the most visitors, with Germany at the top, averaging five million arrivals per year.

“But it’s risky to concentrate on only one area. That’s why our head office is eyeing the Far East,” added Urban.

China is the country’s largest source market from Asia. Taiwan sends about 70,000 visitors and Hong Kong, one-third of that.

CzechTourism opened an office in Shanghai in 2012 and Seoul in 2013.

PREFERRED Hotel Group has struck out into Myanmar, Vietnam, Kunming and Bintan in a tie-up with Keppel Land Hospitality Management.

This grows the group’s Asian portfolio to 108 properties strong.

Through the collaboration, Preferred Hotel Group will take over representation of Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City, Sedona Hotel Mandalay, Ria Bintan Golf Club, Sedona Hotel Yangon and Spring City Golf & Lake Resort Kunming . The first three will be members of Sterling Hotels, while the last two, members of Summit Hotels & Resorts.

Josephine Lim, regional director, South-east Asia, Preferred Hotel Group, said: “This partnership with Keppel Land Hospitality Management is a pivotal turning point as we strive to achieve our goal of strategically expanding our brands in emerging markets across Asia-Pacific.”

“There has been increasing demand among both leisure and business travellers for new options in these destinations, in particular Vietnam and Myanmar, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership supporting the growth of both companies across Indochina.”