THE NEW Asia Cruise Terminal Association aims to grow its ASEAN membership, which now comprises only Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The association was initiated by the Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) and Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Development Company. China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan are its other members.

SCC chairman Soo Kok Leng said a concerted effort to develop cruising infrastructure in Asia was needed, as “cruise liners, when planning their itineraries, are guided by how marketable the destinations are”.

He urged: “It would be to everyone’s benefit to be a part of this forum, as we work towards…building our region into the Caribbean of the East.”

– Full story in TTG Asia

THAI hotels are advised to continue with tacticals this year and maintain rates for the next contracting season, with buyers citing a weak economy and currency, especially in Europe, coupled with room oversupply in some Thai areas, as the main reasons.

Hotelbeds’ head of contracting Thailand/Indochina, Alon Miler, based in Bangkok, said it was pointless for them to raise rates, only to roll out stay/pay deals later.

Bangkok-based Go Vacation Thailand’s executive director for product and contracting, Hermann Wegmueller, said the stronger baht against the euro had already caused prices in Thailand to rise by 20 to 25 per cent over the last six months.

Even markets whose economies are stronger are making similar calls. Wettstein Switzerland’s senior product manager Dagmar Waeber said even if Thai hotels were to ask for a small percentage hike, that would translate to a big increase due to the strong baht. “I would suggest hotels to maintain rates, but not drop them, as that would be asking too much,” she said.

– Full report in TTG Asia

By Sirima Eamtako

MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) has outlined a four-year expansion in light of political changes in the country, which it expects will result in tourism growth.

MAI managing director Aung Gyi said: “The changing government – from military to civilian – has sent a positive message not only to tourists but investors and businessmen. We are expecting the number of visitors to Myanmar to grow. In line with this, we have set up a four-year expansion plan. We are planning to add up to 10 more aircraft to our fleet, and are looking at investing in the Airbus A330.”

This would enable MAI to expand its route network in ASEAN and China, he said, in terms of both point-to-point services and sixth freedom traffic.

Aung said: “We are considering extending services to Indonesia on our Yangon-Singapore current service, for example.”

– Full story in TTG Asia

AIR France will resume flights from Paris to Phnom Penh on March 27 after a 35-year hiatus, marking the first longhaul service connecting Europe and Cambodia. The carrier previously served its former colony from the early 50s until the Khmer Rouge seized control in 1975.

Voyageurs Associes managing director Jacky Pilo said: “The fact that you have the French national carrier serving this route is very important. We will be able to gather travellers from around France and increase our business out of Paris with these flights.”

Asia Voyages deputy director of production Virginie Gerbault said: “While it is still too early to give exact figures, there will definitely be an increase in business.”

Gerbault added Asia Voyages had already been approached by Air France and was developing packages and special promotions for the next winter season, targeting FITs and groups in particular.

– Full story in TTG Asia

AUSTRALIAN tour operators are dubbing 2011 as the‘ year of Asian travel’, anticipating record numbers of Australian travellers to ASEAN, thanks to new flights, a strong currency and even the country’s recent floods.

Aileen Collins, personal travel manager of Travel Managers, said she was looking at a 15 per cent growth in business to South-east Asia this year, compared to a 20 per cent slide in 2010 over 2009.

“While last year was the American year, this year, I think, will be the Asian year,” said Collins, explaining that while the rising Australian dollar has also made holidays to the US and Europe attractive, the additional fillip for the region are new flights being launched from Australia to ASEAN destinations.

Just last month, Australia-based full-service carrier Strategic Airlines announced that it would mount non-stop Brisbane-Bali flights from March on a route currently dominated by no-frills airlines. This followed earlier announcements late last year by Strategic of new flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Phuket, both beginning next month.

Collins said the news had already triggered some response from Australians, with the number of enquiries since Christmas up 10 to 15 per cent over the same period last year.

– Full story in TTG Asia

TOURISM to Cambodia is spreading beyond popular Siem Reap, with tour operators reporting a huge increase in ecotourism and adventure travel in the more remote areas of the country.

Lolei Travel general manager Michael Scholten said adventure-seeking travellers were heading to regions such as Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri in the north-east, where there are vast, pristine national parklands. “This is also a good way to combine Cambodia and Laos (Luang Prabang) in one trip,” he said.

Hanuman Tourism company advisor Nick Ray said: “A few years ago, there was hardly anyone coming to these areas. Over a period of three to five years, the numbers have increased by 400 to 500 per cent. Most of these visitors are from the UK, US and Australia, with some from France and the Netherlands.”

– Full story in TTG Asia, February 25

THE PHILIPPINES’ effort to nab a share of the Indian market, long stymied by an absence of air connectivity, is enjoying a turnaround as Indian buyers gear up for new six-weekly flights between Delhi and Manila.

Philippine Airlines will commence thrice-weekly direct services on March 27, to be followed the next day with three weekly Delhi-Manila services via Bangkok. The carrier will deploy an Airbus A320 with a passenger capacity of 302.

Unimondo Travel and Leisure director – business development, Suraj Khan, said: “Without these direct flights, transit times to Manila via Kuala Lumpur are between two to 10 hours, depending on which airport one is flying out of in India.”

He is now looking to sell niche, high-end products such as spa, yachting and island resorts in Cebu for the FIT segment.

– Full story in TTG India, February/March

SELLERS say buyers with big volumes to ASEAN should be hosted, but concede they also want the presence of new players.

Destinations of the World (Malaysia) regional manager – business development of South-east Asia, Fizlie Mansor, said the “ideal” strategy should be “increasing new buyers while maintaining the traditional heavyweights”.

Singapore-based Tour East group vice president of sales and marketing Judy Lum said: “Why should a major operator be made to pay and the small and medium or up-and-coming operators not have to? I cannot comprehend the logic. Major operators have to work hard at trade shows as every supplier wants to see them.”

Yet Lum agreed that buyers from new and emerging markets presented “opportunities for the show”.

Lac Hong Voyages director of business development Robert Tan expressed the desire to “see new players” at ATF as huge accounts had gone to other groundhandlers.

– Full story in TTG Asia, January 28

FRESH faces at this year’s ATF argue that they, of all buyers, should be hosted.

Australia-based Oasis Travel managing director Nick Page said: “If the big, international tour operators rate the show highly enough, they should have a budget to send their staff to attend. It is the smaller and more boutique operators with no budgets that will benefit more from being hosted buyers.”

Page added that the smaller buyers were the ones who needed to broaden their product knowledge by attending such shows.

Thomas Ng, managing director of Paveway Explorer Holidays in Singapore, explained that shows like ATF were the best avenues for new buyers to be introduced to vendors and subsequent business opportunities. “Without these contacts, new operators will find it extremely difficult to lay the groundwork necessary to start a travel programme,” said Ng.

Greece-based IGI-Mice executive director Chow Laiwah added that with a growing number of enquiries for ASEAN destinations such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, trade shows were an important tool for the company. Said Chow: “Through them, we are able to meet new suppliers, discover new markets and new products.”

– Full story in TTG Asia, January 28