AIR China is solidifying its foothold in North America by launching a new route from Beijing to Houston in July 2013. This follows the expansion of its schedules into New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver, and upgrading of its aircraft on its New York and San Francisco routes.

Kicking off in July 11, non-stop Beijing-Houston flights will be operated four-times-weekly with Boeing 777-300ER. The flight will depart from Beijing at 15.00 and land at Houston on the same day, local time. From Houston, the flight will leave at 01.40 the next day, arriving at PEK at 05.00 the following day, local time.

From March 31, 2013, the Beijing-New York and Beijing-Los Angeles services will be enhanced to 11 weekly flights and twice daily respectively. All flights will be operated with the B777-300ER.

Starting May 17, 2013, frequency on the Beijing-Vancouver route will also be increased to 11 weekly flights, which will be operated with Airbus A330-200.

Meanwhile, the airline’s Beijing-San Francisco route will be operated with the B747-400.

THE Hong Kong Sevens draws the biggest influx of longhaul travellers into Hong Kong every year for a single event, with arrivals that week only surpassed by those during the Easter period and October-November tourist season.

According to figures released by Amadeus and Forward Data, bookings for the week of the Hong Kong Sevens event, made until March 6, are level with last year’s figures (0.2 per cent increase), but higher than 2011 levels (7.1 per cent higher).

Accounting for 43 per cent of total expected longhaul arrivals, Europe has been identified as the single biggest source region, followed by North America and Oceania at 31 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

However, in terms of countries, the US emerged as the leader, with the UK and Australia trailing behind. The biggest growth came from Russia and Italy.

The majority of travellers (39 per cent) will be looking to stay between four and eight nights, representing a five per cent increase over the 2012 average and indicating that longhaul travellers are extending their stays beyond the tournament.

Said David Brett, president, Amadeus Asia Pacific: “These findings underscore the significance of the Hong Kong Sevens to the city’s tourism industry and highlight the opportunities for travel providers and businesses to cater to the influx of rugby fans.

“As the event continues to attract greater numbers, businesses that adapt their services to meet the varying traveller needs will be best placed to reap the benefits from this growth.”

SINGAPORE will get its first low-cost flights to Seoul, with the launch of Scoot’s thrice-weekly service from May 29.

Flying on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to Incheon International Airport, the flights will operate via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Leaving Singapore at 13.35, the northbound flights will transit in Taiwan at 18.15 and arrive in Seoul at 22.35. From Seoul, the southbound flights will depart at 23.45, transit in Taiwan at 01.25 the next day and arrive in Singapore at 06.45.

Scoot is allowing customers to determine the launch fares through a social media campaign on Facebook running from March 22 to March 24, 2013. Tickets will go on sale from March 25.

The LCC’s network now comprises nine cities namely Singapore, Sydney, Gold Coast, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Tianjin, Qingdao and Shenyang.

THE Malaysian travel trade is looking to tap Philippine Airlines’ four-times-weekly direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Manila, commencing May 1.

Ally Bhoonee, executive director of World Avenues, said: “The Philippine market, with its growing economy, is a good market to replace the slow movements out of Europe. The short flight distance encourages weekend getaways to Kuala Lumpur, and there are also no visa requirements.

“With improved accessibility, we will certainly intensify our efforts in the Philippines.”

Another inbound player, Tina Travel & Agencies managing director, Adam Kamal, said: “The added capacity on this route makes it easier for us to target the meetings and incentives segment out of Manila. Some corporate companies only want to fly on full-service carriers.”

The other full-service carrier on the route is Malaysia Airlines, which runs four daily flights between the two cities.

Lexis Hotels & Resorts vice president – operations, Tiu Kwe Yee, was also keen to target the honeymoon segment. “Our Grand Lexis Port Dickson resort has a private pool in every room. We will work with inbound (consultants) on packages.”

Departing Manila every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 07.55, flights arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 11.40. They leave Kuala Lumpur at 12.50 and arrive in Manila at 16.40pm on the return leg. Philippines Airlines will operate its 126-seater Airbus A319 on the route. (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 8, 2013)

THE German National Tourist Board is investing half a million euros (US$645,029) in the Indian market in 2013, with 60 per cent of this going to trade activities.

The NTO has its sights trained on the youth segment in India, having recently introduced its 2013 marketing theme, Germany for Young People.

“India has a strong youth population. To target this segment, we have tied up with tour operators like Cox & Kings, which has collaborated with Meininger Hotel, a chain of youth hostels in Germany. We will also be organising fam trips for travel consultants as part of the strategy to tap this segment,” said Romit Theophilus, director, sales & marketing, German National Tourist Office (GNTO) India.

With the 10 per cent increase from last year’s budget, 60 per cent of the total will be poured into trade engagement efforts, while the rest will be used for consumer activities.

“We will be investing in joint partnerships with companies like Cox & Kings, Kuoni Travel and Kesari Tours. We will also spend on consumer advertising through hoardings and different media platforms. Strengthening our presence in social media will be another focus area,” added Theophilus.

The German National Tourist Board’s Youth Hotspots in Germany – Share the Moment social media campaign, launched at ITB Berlin, will also be promoted in India. The core elements are a mobile app and a microsite.

Since opening in India in 2006, GNTO has seen a 55 per cent growth in traffic from India to Germany. Germany recorded 377,025 overnights from India in 2007, a figure that has climbed to 584,508 in 2012.

“Germany has been receiving a lot of business traffic from India, but is also gaining in popularity as a leisure destination. Germany is a vibrant country that’s rich in culture and heritage, and products like the German Fairy Tale Route will appeal greatly to India’s youth travellers,” said Shravan Bhalla, chief executive, High Flyer India.

W HOTELS Worldwide has unveiled plans to roll out another 11 W Hotels in Asia by 2018, beginning with W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences, set to launch on March 31.

Over the next five years, W Hotels will launch 11 more hotels in China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, operating close to 20 W Hotels in nine Asian countries in total.

The brand will debut in China with W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences. Located in Pearl River New Town, the property offers 317 guestrooms and suites, seven restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness centre.

Next year, W Hotels will open W Beijing – Chang’an (340 guestrooms and suites), W Changsha (330 rooms) and W Shanghai – The Bund (600 rooms).

India will get its first Ws in 2015 with the arrival of W Retreat & Spa Goa (105 rooms) and W Mumbai (325 guestrooms and suites).

The following year, W Noida – Delhi NCR (105 rooms) will open its doors, as will W Jakarta (300 rooms) and W Kuala Lumpur (159 rooms).

The openings of W Delhi NCR – Gurgaon WTC (225 rooms) and W Suzhou (366 guestrooms and 71 serviced apartments) in 2017 round up W Hotels’ Asia plans.

W Hotels first entered Asia in 2004 and currently has presence in seven countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Maldives and Hong Kong.

TOUR operators in India are concerned about the spate of travel advisories issued recently by major inbound travel markets against the destination in the wake of high-profile rape cases in the country.

So far the UK, US, Germany, Australia and Switzerland have urged female travellers to exercise caution when travelling in India.

Amaresh Tiwari, managing director, AT Seasons & Vacations Travel, said: “We have already seen five to six cancellations from individual women travellers. Since the recent incident in Madhya Pradesh (where a Swiss tourist was gang-raped), I have been flooded with emails from clients who are asking whether it is safe to travel to India.

“Even our overseas associate consultants have started expressing apprehension over female safety in India. Markets like Germany, France, the UK and US have been affected.”

Tour operators are also worried that India’s inbound tourism will be hurt in the long run.

“Presently, there is a lot of negative publicity, especially in the international media. Cancellations are bound to happen, considering that a large number of FITs may now be worried about travelling alone in India this summer,” said Vijay Thakur, managing director, India Vision Tours & Travels.

However, some tour operators remain optimistic. “Such incidents are unfortunate, but the media is exaggerating the issue. We have experienced no cancellations and don’t expect such incidents leading to a decrease in the number of foreign tourist arrivals,” said Lally Mathews, managing director, Vacations Travels & Tours.

Similarly, Lajpat Rai, managing director, Lotus Trans Travel, said that the Japanese market remained positive and he had not received any cancellations.

Meanwhile, Tiwari encouraged travellers to book tours with recognised tour operators, which would “ensure their well-being”.

ESCORTED tours to Europe are seeing healthy growth in demand from the Malaysian market, partly due to the depreciation of the euro and US dollar against the ringgit.

Insight Vacations reported a 25 per cent year-on-year spike in bookings for Europe for the January to March 2013 period.

Insight Vacations regional director, Asia, Sheryl Lim, said: “When the euro and US dollar were strong against the ringgit, an eight- to 10-day tour to Europe would cost about RM10,000 (US$3,207). Now, one can take a 12- to 14-day tour at the same cost.”

According to Lim, popular destinations are Italy, Britain, and a combination of Spain and Portugal. Mature Malaysian travellers are now eyeing Eastern Europe destinations such Croatia and Poland.

Destinations such as the Balkans, which were less popular in the past, have also seen a five to eight per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2013, and this upward trend is expected to continue through to 2014.

Likewise, Sedunia Travel’s marketing & community manager, e-commerce division, Hannah Pearson, said her company’s upcoming Cosmos multi-destination holidays for the summer season to eastern European cities of Prague, Vienna and Budapest had been well received by the Malaysian public. Also hot were eight-day itineraries combining Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France.

SINGAPORE-based Yoma Strategic Holdings has rolled out plans to buy travel companies and land in Myanmar under its newly-established joint venture company, Chindwin Holdings.

Chindwin Holdings is the product of collaboration with First Myanmar Investment (FMI) Company, a subsidiary of Serge Pun and Associates. Yoma will hold 70 per cent of Chindwin, with the rest going to FMI.

Yoma and FMI have agreed to purchase several tourism products under Chindwin, subject to the terms of conditions set by the relevant parties.

On the acquisition list is a 75 per cent share of Shwe Lay Ta Gun Travels and Tours Company, which operates Balloons Over Bagan, a hot air balloon ride, for US$10.7 million.

Chindwin also has its eye on a 75 per cent share of an 8.6-hectare plot of land at US$3.8 million. Situated five kilometres from ancient Bagan, the plot would be ideal for the development of a luxury boutique resort, said Yoma.

At the same time, Chindwin is also looking to purchase 75 per cent of Eastern Safaris at US$100,000. Currently 100 per cent owned by Brett Melzer, Eastern Safaris offers luxurious adventure tours in Myanmar and Bhutan.

Andrew Rickards, CEO of Yoma, said: “With a booming tourism sector and a lack of quality hotel rooms or luxury tour companies, we believe there are great opportunities in this market. The acquisitions…are further steps for Yoma in this growing market.”

“The ancient temples of Bagan are one of Asia’s most remarkable, but currently least visited destinations, and will be at the forefront of Myanmar’s tourism growth,” he added.

Yoma announced last December it would be developing the former Ministry of Railways head office and the surrounding four-hectare area in downtown Yangon into a US$350-million mixed use project.