Thailand yet to reach full potential as top Muslim travel destination

July 11, 2017

Kanchanaburi-train-station — Train departing Kanchanaburi station

Thailand is making strides in catering to Muslim visitors, speakers at a research seminar held recently at the PATA Engagement Hub said, with the country’s six-million-strong Muslim population and growing range of Muslim-friendly products and services playing important roles.

Speakers pointed out that Thailand – ranked just under Singapore among the non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation destinations most popular among Muslim travellers – has enormous potential to overtake its ASEAN neighbour if proper marketing strategies and training programmes are undertaken.

As of the April 2017 flight schedules, Thailand already has more than 730 weekly flights from cities in 17 Muslim-majority countries, more than any other country in Asia. It also gives visa-free and/or visa-on-arrival facilities to citizens of 12 Muslim-majority countries.

Moreover, Pakorn Piyakorn, director, Halal Standards Institute of Thailand, shared that work was underway in cooperation with the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University to finalise a common certification system for Thailand’s growing number of hotels, restaurants and other products and services seeking to cater to the Muslim clientele.

Sanya Saengboon, general manager, Al Meroz Hotel and Adam Phadungsilp, resident Manager, Nouvo City Hotel, have both seen success from taking a Muslim-friendly positioning while their hotels’ alcohol-free status has also been welcomed by family travellers from all continents.

The seminar was opened by PATA CEO Mario Hardy, who noted the association’s growing involvement with the Islamic world, in the form of PATA events being held in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Maldives, and rising membership from the Middle Eastern countries.

France shows growing appetite for travel to Indonesia

By Ade Siregar

July 11, 2017

uluwatu-temple — Tourists watching Kecak dance performance at Uluwatu Temple, Bali

French outbound demand for Indonesia surged 79 per cent for winter 2016/2017, edging the South-east Asian country into one of the top five destinations for French travellers, according to figures released by French tour operator association Le Syndicat des Entreprises du Tour Operating.

For the summer, bookings coming through French agents had also increased 38 per cent over the previous year, said I Gde Pitana, deputy minister for international tourism promotion development, at the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism.

Tourists watching Kecak dance performance at Uluwatu Temple, Bali

Indonesian inbound agents have witnessed similar growth trends. Said Umberto Cadamuro, COO inbound, Pacto: “It looks like this year France will take the lion’s share during the high season from June to October.” The Indonesian DMC foresees closing the year with about 9,000 passengers from France, up from the 7,000 materialised last year.

According to Cadamuro, the biggest driver of growth are Middle Eastern carriers like Qatar Airways and Emirates connecting multiple hubs in France during the high season to generate additional airlift for Indonesia.

For Panorama Destination, which recorded an increase of 34 per cent on their France inbound segment, CEO Renato Domini pointed to the continued promotion undertaken by Visit Indonesia Tourism Office as well as the sales efforts the company has undertaken in France as some of the key drivers of growth.
Golden Kris, likewise, observes a 20 per cent hike in French group series from last year, which product manager Nelsye Lumanaw attributes to the South-east Asian country’s abundance of nature as well as the authorities’ constant development of tourist sites.

Amadeus rolls out Destination Content for agents in Asia

By TTG Asia

July 11, 2017

Amadeus has launched Destination Content, a marketplace that allows travel agents in Asia-Pacific to book activities, tours and transportation in one location.

Through partnerships with City Discovery, TurboJET, World Airport Transfer, and Jayride, the marketplace offers over 9,000 tours and activities, airport transfers for more than 1,000 airports worldwide and ferry services in major Asia-Pacific destinations.

Agents can better serve their customers by having access to all the content they need in one place, save money with prices that are up to 10 per cent lower than the retail price, plus 24/5 customer support by phone and email provided by City Discovery, according to Amadeus.

After it was first piloted in the Philippines, Amadeus Destination Content is now being rolled out in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

FIT Ruums on track to distribute Rail Europe in Asia

By TTG Asia

July 11, 2017

B2B travel distributor FIT Ruums has partnered Rail Europe to offer travel agents in Asia train tickets and rail passes from 35 rail networks across Europe.

The service is now available to FIT Ruums’ partners in South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan via rail@fitruums.com, and will expand to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, China and India at a later stage.

France’s SNCF pulling into Paris central station

Rail Europe works with Europe’s largest rail companies, including France’s SNCF, Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, Italy’s Trenitalia, the UK’s Virgin Trains, and the cross-channel Eurostar. It offers single and return journey tickets, plus national and regional rail passes on rail services ranging from sleeper trains to high-speed railways and scenic routes.

The move comes amid booming demand for European rail travel in Asia. The number of Asians travelling on European trains reached nearly 1.1 million in the first five months of 2017, 9.6 per cent more than same period last year.

The trend has prompted key players in both B2B and B2C travel distribution to take steps towards integrating rail content in recent months.

Avani to hit shores of Mauritius

By TTG Asia

July 11, 2017

Avani Hotels & Resorts is expected to have its first hotel in Mauritius come 2021.

Avani Mauritius Bel-Ombre Resort & Spa will comprise 150 guest rooms, including 134 standard rooms and 16 suites, in addition to 12 residential four-bedroom pool villas.

Rendering of the new resort

The upscale resort will offer a specialty restaurant, an all-day dining restaurant, multi-functional meeting space catering for MICE and weddings, spa and gym, pantry, kids club, a beach activities centre and two swimming pools.

The property, developed by KPMM Mauritius, is located along the island’s southern coast, 30 minutes from the international airport.

Hefty investments to land in Vietnam airports

By TTG Asia

July 10, 2017

The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) plans to invest a total of 6.1 trillion dong (US$266.2 million) in six airport infrastructure projects in 2017, reported Vietnam News Agency.

Two trillion dong was earmarked for the phase two expansion of the international terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Photo credit: http://vietnamairport.vn

An equal investment has been planned for the expansion of airport terminals and apron in Phu Quoc, to allow it to serve five million passengers per year and meet increasing tourist demand for the southern resort island.

As well, the Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi is set to receive 1.2 trillion dong in upgrading works.

The ACV aims to welcome 27 million international and 64 million domestic arrivals this year, as well as increase total flights by 11 per cent over the previous year to 617,000.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s first airport developed by a private sector investor is set to be operational next March.

Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to Halong Bay, will be the result of nearly 7.5 trillion dong in investment by Vietnamese property developer Sun Group.

It is designed to serve two million passengers annually by 2020 and could be expanded to serve five million passengers by 2030 demand increases.

Makan Bus, Crystal Bus and Isetan Mitsukoshi Premium Cruiser

By TTG Asia

July 10, 2017

For a road trip of a different kind, clamber aboard this trio of unique sightseeing buses recently launched in Asia.

Makan Bus
By Rachel AJ Lee

Why
Makan Bus, a hop-on, hop-off concept of MeGuideU using 13-seater air-conditioned vans, takes passengers into Singapore’s heartlands to sample popular hawker stalls and signature local dishes.

John Ng Pangilinan, CEO of Ovenbaked Ideas (parent company of MeGuideU), said that the concept differs from other available food tours because it allows flexibility in both the itinerary and food choices.

As the ticket does not include meal costs, passengers can eat what they want, according to their individual taste buds. The hop-on, hop-off concept allows travellers to explore at their own pace and choose to eat when they want.

What
Currently, Makan Bus operates in the north-central part of Singapore but there are plans to expand to the east in the near future. Current stops are Orchard Gateway (starting point), Balestier, Lornie, Thomson, Sin Ming, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Toa Payoh.

A highlight in Makan Bus’ bright orange map is Stop 8 in Toa Payoh. Dishes listed on the map are Crab and Beef Noodles, which can be had at Mellben Seafood and Joo Chiat Beef King respectively.

There are also attractions such as the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple listed, and travellers are encouraged to explore them.

Buses run daily from 11.00 to 19.30 at 20-minute frequencies and make a total of 10 stops. Note that the bus ticket cost does not include meal costs.

How
Onboard the vans are customised maps to help in the navigation, and tour guides to answer any queries.

The guides were energetic and enthusiastic, and whet our appetites by showing us photos of dishes, as well as explaining what ingredients were used to cook them. One guide also dished out some history titbits, like where the first-ever hawker centre was located and when it was built, and that Burmese Chinese settled on the Little Red Dot as early as the 19^th century.

Verdict
I liked the idea of discovering adaptations of local dishes such as the Mee Rebus Tarik. Mee rebus, yellow egg noodles in a spicy-sweet gravy, is a common Malay dish, but this version in Ang Mo Kio had an extra dollop of peanut sauce – commonly used as a satay dip – along with added slices of onions and cucumber.

Overall, the experience was unequivocally delicious. It is also a delightful way for travellers to experience the culture and taste local cuisine outside of the main shopping belt and away from tourist attractions. Even as a local, I was pleasantly surprised that there were still things about the Little Red Dot I never knew.

Name: Makan Bus
Rates: S$28 (US$20) per ticket, valid throughout the day. Children under the age of 12 may experience Makan Bus for free with accompanying paying adult/s.
Further information: www.makanbus.com
Contact: info@makanbus.com

Crystal Bus, Hong Kong
By Prudence Lui

Why
Crystal Bus, a 47-seater double-decker bus, was launched in March to offer sightseeing tours around Hong Kong while travellers dine on Michelin-star dishes. The company is currently the first and only operator to serve food supplied by Michelin-star restaurants onboard.

The bus interior is blinged out with 200,000 pieces of crystal and equipped with quality audio equipment, an LED TV, a PlayStation 4 and karaoke system.

The USB plugs under the tables are functional while cables can be borrowed from the staff keep electronics charged. Free Wi-Fi onboard is a plus as phone signals are weak when touring parts of Lantau Island.

The bus also has audio guide devices that provide guests with a history of each attraction in five languages – Japanese, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

What
Day tours last 2.5 hours and take place twice daily. Pick-up and drop-off points are in Tsim Sha Tsui. I picked Day Tour B which departs in the afternoon and visits 21 spots in Kowloon, Tsing Yi and Lantau Island. Though I have lived in Hong Kong all my life, I was excited to visit places like Lantau Link View Point and Sunny Bay for the first time.

Upon boarding the bus, I was escorted to the upper deck and offered a choice of non-alcoholic drinks. It turns out that the bus doesn’t have a licence to sell alcoholic drinks, though guests may bring their own.

The bus departed on time and food was served 30 minutes later. Day tour tickets include a Michelin-star dim sum set, and I received a platter of eight items such as shrimp dumpling, turnip cake, crispy spring roll and barbecue pork buns. For that day, food was supplied by the one-Michelin-star One Dim Sum.

The only stop where I could alight was Lantau Link View Point, where we had a stay of 20 minutes. The staff guided us for a short distance and there wasn’t time to check out the nearby visitor centre and park. Dessert was then served when we were back onboard.

How
Apart from targeting FITs, the operator also provides charter services for groups, parties or business events for up to 47 guests. The five-hour night tour “attractions-on-demand” journey features Michelin-starred dishes for dinner including seafood, Chinese and Western cuisine.

Moreover, business meetings for small groups can be arranged given audio system and free pickup location offered. A breakfast tour is also available on request.

The second Crystal Bus is currently in the making and is expected to arrive in December.

Verdict
Clearly a tantalising way to explore Hong Kong on wheels. I was delighted that the dim sum was still served hot. The staff were also thoughtful as they came upstairs regularly to offer snacks such as peanuts.

Name: Crystal Bus
Rates: Day tour tickets include a Michelin-star dim sum set and costs HK$380 (US$49) per person. For night book-outs, the booking fee from Monday to Thursday costs HK$8,800, and on Fridays to Sundays, public holidays and the eve of public holidays cost HK$12,800, including drinks and snacks.
Further information: www.crystalbus.com.hk
Contact: info@crystalbus.com.hk

Isetan Mitsukoshi Premium Cruiser, Japan
By Julian Ryall

Why
Isetan Mitsukoshi Travel has operated long-distance bus tours for many years but it raised the bar with the addition of the Premium Cruiser to its fleet in 2016.

What
A great deal of attention has been paid to optimise the sleek interior space and deliver the maximum comfort for passengers. The windows are larger than regular buses to give travellers the best possible view, while overhead luggage racks have been abolished.

With a mere 10 seats compared to the conventional 45, this means that every traveller has more than four times the legroom in front and the reclining space behind.

The cream-and-brown leather seats are equipped with leg rests – which double as a shoe box and contain slippers – and recline significantly. Partitions can be raised between each of the five pairs of seats to create more personal space.

Individual angle-poise lamps are attached to each seat, while an armrest conceals a fold-out table and controls for the screen fitted into the seat in front. Passengers are able to flick between regular TV programmes and DVDs, or follow the progress of their vehicle via GPS coverage. Guests also have access to an onboard Wi-Fi router, enabling them to use computers or smartphones throughout the journey.

Other facilities include the spacious bathroom at the bus rear, which boasts a large mirror and a full range of amenities. Hot and cold soft drinks are available throughout the journey, including organic coffee, green tea and fruit juices. Light snacks are also provided.

How
The tours travel to destinations throughout Japan, and the journey is combined with stays in high-end hotels and onsen resorts. Special seasonal trips are also available, such as cherry blossom season in spring, fireworks festivals in summer, and trips to mountainous areas of the country to admire the trees during autumn. Other favourites incorporate tasting sessions in Japan’s wine-producing districts, summer firefly-spotting expeditions, and historic and cultural sites.

Verdict
The entire experience is reminiscent of flying first class, albeit much closer to the ground. This is a unique and extremely comfortable way to experience some Japan’s less-travelled roads.

The attentive, multilingual attendant is always on hand and has an uncanny knack of knowing just when her charges are in need of a drink or a bite to eat.

Name: Isetan Mitsukoshi Travel, Premium Cruiser
Rates: Day trips start from around 38,800 yen (US$349), while the top-of-the-range, nine-night trip of Kyushu came to 818,000 yen per person for a couple or Y928,000 yen for a single traveller.
Further information: www.im-travel.co.jp/ (in Japanese)
Contact: journey@im-travel.co.jp

French tourism medal for TTC’s Robin Yap

By TTG Asia

July 10, 2017

Robin Yap, Asia president of The Travel Corporation (TTC), last Friday was awarded the gold medal for tourism (Médaille d’or du Tourisme) from Atout France, in a ceremony presided by ambassador of France to Singapore Marc Abensour at his residence.

Having been a voluntary member of the International Advisory Board of the French NTO since 2005, Yap received the award for “being a true ambassador for our country” and “his active role in promoting French tourism”, said Abensour.

Created in 1989, the Médaille d’or du Tourisme is a prestigious token of recognition awarded by the French tourism industry to those who have contributed throughout their career to the development of tourism in France. The medal is awarded to individuals either in France or abroad, and Yap is the second person in Singapore to receive this honour.

Companies overspend on last room availability rates: CWT Solution

By TTG Asia

July 10, 2017

There’s an approximate five per cent gap between perceived and actual value of last room availability (LRA) rates, according to an analysis of over 7.3 million bookings across 97 countries by CWT Solutions Group, the consulting division of Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

When companies have negotiated LRA rates, they have the right to buy a room at their contracted terms and prices even if the hotel only has one room left in that category. Without a negotiated LRA clause, it’s at the discretion of the hotel as to what price they sell the last rooms.

“LRA rates have been the gold standard for hotel agreements since the 1980s, and no one has ever really questioned that. But we have now looked into this in great detail and it seems like the gold has lost some of its shine,” said Eric Jongeling, director, hotel solutions.

“Our research shows between five and 11 per cent differences in some markets so travel managers should bear this in mind when negotiating global rates.”

Some 44 per cent of hotels charge a premium for including an LRA clause, although there’s a 12 per cent chance the traveller will not be able to stay at the contracted rate even with an LRA agreement in place, the study further revealed.

CWT Solutions Group opined that the availability of multiple hotels in a target market negates the need for an LRA clause. Furthermore, the perceived value differs considerably between premium and economy hotels and between cities.

Myanmar, Cambodia form pact to push Angkor-Bagan packages

By Marissa Carruthers

July 10, 2017

The tourism ministries of Myanmar and Cambodia are drawing up a joint action plan to market packages that combine both destinations.

A campaign with the “two countries, one destination” slogan will be rolled out, incorporating a series of heritage-focused tourism packages that include Bagan in Myanmar and Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.

Further details on the Angkor-Bagan Tourism Cooperation are being finalised, and the partnership is scheduled to be sealed during ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018.

Edwin Briels, managing director of Khiri Myanmar, welcomes the idea as the company’s existing Thailand-Myanmar multi-destination tours have proved popular.

The news, coupled with the launch of Emirates’ new Dubai-Phnom Penh route, has prompted Exo Travel Cambodia to develop new tours to advantage of the campaign.

General manager Pierre-Andre Romano said: “Both countries are very culture-oriented so it makes sense to combine them for tourists seeking cultural tours.”

Exo Cambodia recently partnered with high-level lecturers in Cambodia for specialised tour operators and agents, and is currently in talks with its office in Myanmar for them to follow suit.