THE UNITED States has announced a series of initiatives to increase its share of the international travel market, especially from emerging economies with growing middle classes – such as China, Brazil and India.

The Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior will co-lead an interagency task force to develop a National Travel & Tourism Strategy, and coordinate with the Corporation for Travel Promotion (currently known as BrandUSA) and Tourism Policy Council to ensure private sector participation and cross-agency coordination.

The Departments of State and Homeland Security will work towards increasing non-immigrant visa processing capacity in China by 40 per cent in 2012, and are aiming for 80 per cent of these applicants to be interviewed within three weeks of receiving their application.

Other efforts include a pilot programme and rule change for visa processing in China – to simplify and speed up or even waive the non-immigrant visa process for certain applicants, as well as an expansion of the Global Entry Programme, which facilitates expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the US.

In addition, Taiwan will be nominated to join the visa waiver programme, which allows participating nationals to travel to the US without a visa, for stays of 90 days or less.

Mike McCartney, president and CEO of Hawaii Tourism Authority, said: “The initiatives to increase the number of Chinese visas processed, and ensuring that visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks, are huge milestones for Chinese tourism to the US and Hawaii.”

According to McCartney, Chinese arrivals to Hawaii are expected to reach 125,394 this year, up 28 per cent over 2011. Chinese visitors spend US$380 per person per day, more than any other market, he added.

The visa waiver status for Taiwan would be another boon, said McCartney.

“Following the visa waiver programme with South Korea in 2008, arrivals from the region increased 35 per cent and have grown year-after-year,” he said. “We would anticipate seeing similar growth out of Taiwan.”

MANILA’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 will be lowering airport taxes for all international travellers from PHP750 (US$17.40) to PHP550 by February 1, and has kickstarted long overdue renovations worth a reported PHP 1.16 billion.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) will also scrap the PHP200 security facility upgrade tax imposed since February 2007, while the renovation funds will be spent on structural retrofitting of the terminal building, landscaping, and upgraded facilities such as more immigration counters and restroom amenities.

More than one-third of the funds will be spent on the construction of a rapid entry taxiway aimed at decreasing flight congestion, allowing up to 40-50 flights per hour.

Emy Malate, vice president of marketing at Image Travel & Tours Corp said: “(The lower taxes) are good news since it lowers overall travel costs.”

She added: “What we are looking forward to hearing about is the transfer of international flights from Terminal 1 to 3, which is much more convenient for visitor sendoff and welcoming.”

Meanwhile, MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado confirmed last week that PIATCO, the entity overseeing construction of NAIA Terminal 3 together with German firm Fraport, had decided to drop its US$565 million lawsuit against the Philippine government. Honrado said the development should “pave the way for full commercial operations at NAIA Terminal 3”.

Many commercial airlines operating in the Philippines and represented by the Board of Airline Representatives have long clamoured for a transfer to the new Terminal 3 from Terminal 1, which according to the Department of Tourism is operating at 66 per cent capacity, compared to Terminal 1’s 162 per cent.

FOURTEEN Hilton Worldwide properties in South-east Asia have joined hands to roll out a promotional campaign to boost their MICE business, and are offering rewards to event planners who book the most meetings.

The SEA MICE & Million campaign awards one million HHonors points to the event planner who books the highest cumulative revenue across the participating properties in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In addition, the top event planner in each of the five countries will win a weekend stay for two adults and two children, including daily breakfast, at any of the participating hotels.

To qualify for the challenge, participants will need to make a new event reservation for a minimum of 30 nights at participating hotels and resorts. Each event booking must be confirmed by March 15.

Doubletree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur general manager, Ian Barrow, said: “We had great results last year with 78 package bookings secured among the participating hotels.”

Full details of the campaign can be found at www.hiltonmiceasia.com/news

Reporting by N. Nithiyananthan

MYANMAR’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has unveiled plans to roll out an electronic visa system sometime this year.

“In late December, we had a coordination meeting with the Minister of Hotels and Tourism on… the launch of an e-visa system at entrance and exit points at airports, seaports and border checkpoints to make it more convenient for foreign visitors entering Myanmar,” a ministry spokesperson said.

“We also discussed about boat voyages in the Kawthoung region, development of Dawei and Myeik tours, and the establishment of more hotel zones for the next peak season. All these plans are being discussed and we will try to implement them very soon – before the next peak season.”

The spokesperson added that the online visa system would be tested before being officially introduced. “We hope to start the e-visa system as soon as possible this year, but at the moment we are not in a position to say exactly when,” he said.

Myanmar’s government introduced a visa on arrival (VOA) system on May 1, 2010 that allowed foreign visitors from any country avail of a VOA at Yangon and Mandalay international airports without having to make prior arrangements with a travel management company.

However, the VOA was suspended just four months later by the Department of Immigration and National Registration.

VOAs are currently permitted for passengers on Myanmar Airways International flights arriving from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia and China’s Guangzhou.

CATALONIA-based Spanair, a member of Star Alliance, ceased operations last week after Qatar Airways halted takeover talks and the regional government refused to provide further funding to sustain the airline.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled as a result of the abrupt closure, with around 20,000 passengers across Europe and Africa left grounded or forced to source for alternative travel arrangements.

Iberia, the Madrid-based Spanish flag carrier, is offering special fares to stranded Spanair passengers, as are Vueling Airlines and Air Europa.

Singapore Airlines (SIA), which codeshares with Spanair on its Barcelona-Sao Paulo services, issued a statement clarifying that “customers holding SIA tickets issued on or before 28 January 2012 for travel on Spanair-operated flights will be reaccommodated on other airlines or provided with alternative travel arrangements”.

“For customers holding Spanair tickets issued on or before 28 January 2012 for travel on SIA-operated flights, SIA will honour bookings and continue to uplift customers.”

The statement added: “SIA will waive administrative or penalty fees for refund, rebooking or re-routing, for customers holding confirmed tickets issued on or before 28 January 2012, for travel involving any Spanair segments with SIA flights. This also applies to KrisFlyer redemption tickets.”

AIRASIA X will introduce direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport starting April 1, 2012.

The Kuala Lumpur-Sydney route will be operated daily, using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 12 premium flatbed and 365 economy seats.

“Australia is a key market for AirAsia X and the Sydney route has long been a priority due to strong demand from travellers across the globe especially Asia,” said AirAsia X CEO, Azran Osman-Rani.

Sydney, AirAsia X’s fourth destination in Australia after the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth, will also be available for fly-thru bookings from Indonesia (Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Jakarta), Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket), Singapore and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), allowing passengers to seamlessly purchase two flight sectors and connect via Kuala Lumpur.

Destination NSW CEO, Sandra Chipchase said: “Destination NSW in conjunction with Sydney Airport, Tourism Australia and AirAsia X will be investing in a two-year marketing and promotion plan for the new AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur to Sydney route.”