Coast is clear for more change

June 16, 2017

Agents say a cleaned-up Sihanoukville still doesn’t provide enough draw to keep visitors in Cambodia.

Improvements to Cambodia’s main coastal resort of Sihanoukville are helping to increase visitors’ length of stay, but more efforts are needed for it to become a standalone destination, agents opined.

Recent years have seen huge resources ploughed into cleaning up Sihanoukville, in a bid to entice international visitors to choose the destination for a relaxing beach stay after a trip to the temples, rather than jetting off to neighbouring Thailand or Vietnam.

The progress is palpable: infrastructure in the town has improved, clean-up campaigns conducted, beaches cleared of the hordes of touters, and more upmarket products introduced.

While this has helped transform the town from backpacker haven to family-friendly paradise – latest figures show 80,589 people visited the coast in February, an 18.3 per cent year-on-year increase – agents say the destination’s potential is still unfulfilled.

Sinan Thourn, chairman of B2B Cambodia and of PATA Cambodia Chapter, said: “The first thing people talk about is Angkor Wat. There are now many new things coming up and one of our best assets is the coastal area.”

Kimhean Pich, CEO, Discover the Mekong, said the beautification of the beach has increased the length of international visitors’ stay in Cambodia, with many adding three days to relax there or, increasingly, explore the islands.

Still, it is not enough to keep people in the country, with many still seeing Cambodia as an add-on to Thailand or Vietnam.

Thourn acknowledged that more four- and five-star hotels are needed in Sihanoukville, but the main focus needs to be shifted to the sprawling outlying areas with their untouched beaches and landscapes.

Chin Chantha, manager of Sun Tours in Sihanoukville, sees the need for more international air links, as is improving access from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville. “If we can provide (easy access) and more products, then visitors have no reason to leave Cambodia.”

The latest connection is AirAsia’s four-times weekly flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville commencing August 9.

Hopeful that Sihanoukville and the coastal region can help Cambodia become a standalone destination, Thourn remarked: “Sihanoukville will be the real rising star of Asia’s countries. The town, the province and the coast can be astounding for tourists.”

This article was first published in TTG Asia June 2017 issue. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.

Melbourne Airport completes T4 enhancements

By TTG Asia

June 15, 2017

Melbourne Airport has unveiled the final stage of its Terminal 4 (T4) upgrade, and infrastructure enhancements at its international terminal are set for completion in the coming months.

In this stage of the upgrades, 1,600m² of space was added to Pier F to create a 2,000m² area. Other upgrades include more seating, additional toilet facilities, lift access and improved wayfinding.

T4; photo credit: http://www.t4you.com.au/

The airport is currently undergoing a transformation project announced in 2014, and is expected to see A$10 billion (US$7.6 million) invested over 20 years in the development of airport terminals, road networks and airfield as well as capacity upgrades.

Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Simon Gandy, said: “At Melbourne Airport we are continuing to exceed the industry’s growth expectations and are on target for annual passenger numbers to reach 60 million by 2033. In the past 12 months alone, more than 10 million passengers travelled through T4, making it a very busy domestic hub.

“In the coming months we look forward to unveiling a number of other significant infrastructure upgrades including an eighth baggage carousel in our international terminal and our new T2 Luxury Precinct.”

Tigerair Australia’s head of communications, Vanessa Regan, said: “Last year alone we flew nearly three million passengers in and out of Melbourne Airport. The redeveloped T4 is a huge step change for our customers and supports future planned growth of Tigerair.”

Singaporeans granted visa exemption for longer Mongolia stays

By TTG Asia

June 15, 2017

Starting last week, Singapore nationals can travel visa free to Mongolia for stays of up to 30 days, instead of the previous limit of 14 days.

The Mongolian government had in July 2016 agreed to waive visa requirements for Singaporeans after a visit by Singapore’s prime minister, and discussions for its implementation since got underway.

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

According to a statement by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the exemption is expected to facilitate greater tourism and business exchanges, as well as strengthen the relations between Singapore and Mongolia.

The waiver applies to both leisure and business travel.

South Sumatra guns for recognition as sports tourism destination

By Mimi Hudoyo

June 15, 2017

As Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra, casts its sights on becoming a sports tourism destination by leveraging the 2018 Asian Games – which it will co-host with Jakarta – some in the trade expressed concern about sustaining visitor volume beyond the event.

With the support from the central government, the regional government is currently beefing up infrastructure in South Sumatra. The Jakabaring sports stadium is undergoing expansion to become a ‘sports city’, with the addition of sporting facilities, athlete accommodation, a convention hall and more.

Also under construction are a Light Rail Transit connecting the airport, two new bridges across Musi River that runs through the city, and the 22km toll road between Palembang and Indralaya.

Jakabaring aquatic centre

Speaking during the opening dinner at last week’s Bali & Beyond Travel Fair, of which South Sumatra was a co-host province, governor of South Sumatra Alex Noerdin said: “We are getting ourselves ready to host Asian Games 2018 and showcase our tourist attractions. Following the Asian Games we will host the Moto GP Circuit too.”

Ahmad Najib, assistant governor, government affairs and community welfare, South Sumatra, added: “From the central government budget for infrastructure, we received 70 trillion rupiah (US$5.2 billion). From the regional budget we spent eight trillion rupiah plus funding from some businesses in South Sumatra.”

The destination is expecting a combined 10,000 athletes and spectators during Asian Games.

However, this demand may be more seasonal than is desired. Jonathan Mokalu, corporate director of sales and marketing, Sintesa Hotels Group, questioned: “It is great to have new facilities, but what will happen after the games? The destination needs to sustain traffic to fill hotel rooms.”

While lauding the efforts the provincial government has taken to develop Palembang as a sports destination, Muhammad Erfandi, owner of Muba Wisata Tour & Travel in Palembang, commented that the industry could benefit from some government budget diverted to improving tourist attractions.

Responding to the concerns, Ahmad said the regional government has collaborated with international sports federations, which could help keep up a stream of events in Palembang. “In 2011 we hosted SEA Games and University Games. In 2015, there were 23 single and multi-sporting events.”

For him, the benefits of hosting major sports events are undeniable. “Before 2011 (the year Palembang hosted SEA Games), there were only nine flights per day, today there are 52 flights per day and four direct flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur,” he pointed out.

Data from the South Sumatra Tourism Office showed international arrivals to the destination last year totalled 64,257, a 34 per cent increase from 42,321 in 2015.

Frasers plans expansion of millennial-targeted Capri brand

By TTG Asia

June 15, 2017

To meet rising millennial travel demand, Frasers Hospitality is eyeing an expansion of the Capri by Fraser brand to a total of 16 cities over the next four years, including Leipzig, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Balikpapan, Kalkara and Gurgaon.

The most recent addition is the 143-unit Capri by Fraser Berlin, which marks Frasers Hospitality’s seventh operating Capri-branded property globally and the second in Germany. With the millennial preference for cultural originality in mind, it carries features such as an archaeological excavation site discovered during construction, now preserved and showcased through a glass floor.

Capri by Fraser Berlin

“We will also anchor our presence in key gateway cities such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur… This will extend the Capri by Fraser portfolio to 19 properties with over 4,000 keys by 2021,” added Choe Peng Sum, CEO of Frasers Hospitality.

Choe added that the Capri by Fraser brand was created to cater to the evolving lifestyle needs of millennial travellers, whose travel spending is set to increase as this generation enters its prime working and spending years.

Millennial-friendly concepts of the Capri brand include Spin & Play, where laundrettes come equipped with games consoles, kickboxing and other activities. Meeting and conference facilities are also equipped with capabilities including interactive touch-screen panels and integrated whiteboard-projector features.

Wafelbakker joins Tourism NZ as Asia GM

By TTG Asia

June 15, 2017

Tourism New Zealand has appointed Gregg Wafelbakker to the role of general manager Asia.

Wafelbakker joins Tourism New Zealand
from the Shanghai-based Westland Milk Products, where he was the general manager China and general manager marketing for the past three years.

He has over 20 years’ experience in the F&B industry, and has held a variety of technical, sales and general management roles in New Zealand, the US, Singapore, Thailand and Germany.

Tourism New Zealand’s chief executive Stephen England-Hall said: “(Wafelbakker)’s expertise in marketing and experience of working in several parts of Asia for many years make him an excellent fit for the role, which manages New Zealand’s second biggest tourism market, China, along with major emerging markets India and Indonesia.”

Pullman to make Japan debut in Tokyo

By TTG Asia

June 15, 2017

AccorHotels will introduce its first Pullman hotel in Japan with the launch of the 143-room Pullman Tokyo Tamachi in fall 2018.

Developed as part of the MSB Tamachi mixed-used complex, the upscale hotel will feature facilities such as meeting rooms as well as various dining concepts. It will also be directly connected to JR Tamachi Station’s east exit, and is a three-minute walk from the Toei Subway Mita Line.

Currently, AccorHotels has 12 hotels in its network in Japan under the Swissotel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, ibis and ibis Styles brands.

New flight paths: Hong Kong Airlines, Air China, Hainan Airlines and more

By TTG Asia

June 15, 2017

Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes.

Hong Kong Airlines makes North American debut
Hong Kong Airlines will launch a daily service between Vancouver and Hong Kong on June 30.

Utilising an Airbus A330-300, flights from Hong Kong will depart at 12.30 and arrive in Vancouver at 10.10 the same day. The return leg will depart Vancouver at 12.10 and arrive in Hong Kong at 16.50 the following day.

Air China launches Beijing-Zurich service
Air China has begun flights from Beijing to Zurich, a route that was initially discontinued in October 1999.

The outbound flight departs the Chinese capital at 02.35 and arrives in Zurich at 07.25, while the inbound flight departs Zurich at 12.55 and arrives in Beijing at 05.05 the following day. The four-times weekly route will be serviced by an Airbus A330-200.

Hainan Airlines commences flights to Tel Aviv and Beijing
On September 12, Hainan Airlines will begin a direct service between Tel Aviv and Shanghai, after the airline’s Tel Aviv-Beijing service launched in April last year.

The route will be serviced by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. From September 12 to October 28, outbound flights will depart Pudong International Airport at 01.25 and arrive in Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport at 08.30 on the same day, while the return flight will depart Tel Aviv at 13.55 and arrive in Shanghai at 05.30 the following day.

From October 29 to March 22, 2018, flights will depart Shanghai at 01.25 and arrive in Tel Aviv at 07.30, while the return leg will depart Tel Aviv at 12.55 and arrive in Shanghai at 05.30 the following day.

In addition, Hainan Airlines will start flying to Brussels from Shanghai on October 25, making it the carrier’s second direct flight from Brussels to China after the Brussels-Beijing service.

This thrice-weekly route on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be serviced by a Boeing 787-900 aircraft. HU7922 will depart Brussels at 12.30 and arrive in Shanghai in 05.30 the following day, while HU7921 will depart Shanghai at 01.25, touching down in Brussels at 07.30 on the same day.

Lucky Air flies to two Philippine destinations
Lucky Air on June 1 commenced thrice-weekly flights between Kunming and Cebu. This comes on the back of the airline’s twice-weekly Kunming-Manila service launched earlier on May 26.

The Kunming-Manila route will operate every Monday and Friday, with flights departing Kunming at 00.25 and arriving in Manila at 03.40. The return flight departs Manila at 04.40 and arrives in Kunming at 08.00.

Meanwhile, the Kunming-Cebu flight will fly every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Flights will depart Kunming at 13.40 and arrive in Cebu at 18.15, while return flights will depart Cebu at 19.15 and land in Kunming at 23.20.

Singapore Airlines boosts frequency to Paris
Singapore Airlines will increase the flight frequency from Singapore to Paris to 10 per week, up from the current seven during the northern winter operating season (October 29, 2017 to March 24, 2018).

The three additional flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport as SQ334 (Singapore-Paris) and SQ333 (Paris-Singapore), starting from October 30.

SQ334 will depart Singapore at 02.30 and arrive in Paris on the same day at 09.30. The return flight, SQ333, will depart Paris at 18.00, and arrive in Singapore at 13.40 the following day.

The additional flights, as well as the seven existing flights, will be operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, rather than Airbus A380-800s which currently serve the Paris route.

An easier road from Mandalay drives Bagan’s tourism growth

By TTG Asia

June 14, 2017

In 2016, international visitors into Bagan grew 17 per cent to 282,387, with the largest increase coming from overland tourists due to improved Mandalay access, according to C9 Hotelworks’ Myanmar Tourism Market Overview June 2017 report.

While Nyaung U Airport is currently Bagan’s main gateway, accounting for 44 per cent of total foreign visitors, C9 reported that the share of overland arrivals grew from 24 per cent in 2013 to 38 per cent last year on the back of improved access from Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar and with its own international airport.

Htilominlo temple, Bagan

Bagan’s top five source markets were the US, the UK, Germany, France and Japan. Overall, Europe and the US represent approximately 24 per cent of international markets followed by Asia at 14 per cent.

FIT bookings currently make up 38 per cent of hotel stays, with the remaining coming from agents.

“Hotels are also experiencing stronger visitation from the domestic market, (as) local destinations become popular vacation spots on national holidays such as the Water Festival. The trend is anticipated to increase tourism demand during the low season, which falls in the second and third quarters of each year,” added Bill Barnett, managing director of C9 Hotelworks.

Within the next two years, 804 additional keys are expected to come on-stream, with a trend towards smaller scale development, the report revealed.

However, the growing hotel supply is set to stabalise in the mid-term especially in the outer area of Nyaung U and New Bagan due to the prohibition of new developments within the city’s Archaeological Zone, Barnett said.

Tourism minister urges growth of Bali & Beyond Travel Fair

By Mimi Hudoyo

June 14, 2017

The Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2017) must expand its horizon, attract more buyers and grow into an international event if it is to become a true marketplace, according to Arief Yahya, Indonesia’s minister of tourism, speaking at the closing press conference of the show last Saturday.

The minister had last year recommended for the organising committee to step BBTF up from an Indonesia inbound-only show to become a regional event this year by having neighbouring ASEAN sellers, before further expanding to become an international event.

(From left) BBTF organising committee’s Ketut Ardana, Bali Tourism Office’s Anak Agung Gede Yuniartha Putra, and IHRA Badung Regency’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya and Arief Yahya

This year, he urges the same, stressing that “customers like a one-stop shop more than an a stand-alone one” and citing the success of international shows like ITB Berlin.

Ketut Ardana, chairman of the BBTF organising committee, reported that the show this year saw participation of 188 sellers from 19 provinces and one seller from South Korea. Last year there were 154 sellers from 18 provinces, with no international seller.

While there was a slight improvement in international representation this year, TTG Asia noted that a number of the big inbound operators and international hotel brands were not represented.

In response to the tourism minister’s urging, one BBTF committee member told TTG Asia that the show was still very new and the committee wanted to strengthen the inbound mart and grow it regionally to prevent outbound business from overshadowing the inbound sector.

“We will open the show to regional and international participants as the minister wishes one day, but for now, strengthening the inbound business is our priority,” the source said.

This year, 198 buyers attended the show (264 buyers from 54 countries had registered), down from the 222 from 30 countries last year.

Notably, Arief pointed out: “China is the top arrivals source into Bali today, but I do not see (many) buyers from China.”

He added: “The fact that only 19 out of 34 provinces in the country participated (and the low participation of buyers) shows that this show has not become a marketplace.”

Ardana suggested that the low participation could be due to the show being held during the Muslim fasting month.

Tanto Ruwiyadi, executive committee member of BBTF 2017, added: “We have actually approached the neighbouring ASEAN members, but they could not participate this year due to Ramadan. Next year, our show will take place after Lebaran (end of fasting month), so hopefully more will take part.”