Following a recent series of travel scams and agent malpractice that made the national headlines, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) warns that it will impose further penalties on errant agents in the country.

Most recently, an illegal Chinese tour guide left a group of Mongolian tourists stranded in Phang Nga after they refused to pay an additional guide fee of 9,000 baht (US$261.70).

Tourists at James Bond Island, Phuket

ATTA’s new president Vichit Prakobgosol told TTG Asia that the association will cooperate with Thai authorities and revoke membership of travel agents found to have committed similar violations. It also plans to control overpricing where additional guide fees exceed 3,000 baht.

The recent incidents are unlikely to taint Thailand’s reputation in China, and Vichit foresees healthy demand from the Chinese market this year.

Moreover, there is an anticipated increase in regular and charter flights from China to Thailand. Approximately 9.5 million Chinese tourists are expected in Thailand, with the number potentially hitting 10 million if the government provides more supportive measures, Vichit added.

Encouraged by the positive growth in arrivals from Hong Kong, Hawaii Tourism’s nine-day Camp Aloha 2017 sales mission made an extra stop in Hong Kong this year after Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing.

Some 4,526 visitors from Hong Kong visited Hawaii in 2H2016, up eight per cent from the previous year. For April 2017 alone, visitor arrivals hiked 26 per cent year-on-year.

According to Hawaii Tourism China & Hong Kong’s managing director, Reene Ho-Phang, the mission objective was to educate the market about Hawaii’s diverse experiences, such as visiting an abalone farm on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Ho-Phang elaborated: “It used to be (marketed) as one island, but we actually have six to offer. There are diverse experiences (to be had), in addition to the sun and beach.”

The Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau’s senior director of sales, Debbie Hogan, agreed: “People don’t realise there are six islands so we want to educate them. With a population of 195,000, the island (of Hawaii) offers very different experiences, from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to culture and heritage.”

Hawaiian events will offer a great way for Hong Kong and China visitors to experience the destination, Hawaii Tourism Authority, director of Hawaiian cultural affairs, Kalani Kaanaana pointed out.

He explained: “Apart from big celebrations like the state-wide Aloha Festival, we also have a number of smaller events – such as my personal favourite, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (November 3-12) on the island of island Hawaii. It’s something we’d like to show the world, (to help) visitors understand local life as well as provide a glimpse of who we are and what we are passionate about.”

New developments on the main Hawaii island include the refurbishment of Marriott’s Waikoloa Ocean Club, as well as the downsizing of the Hilton Waikoloa Village from 1,200 to 600 rooms to position it as a leisure hotel.

Linda Leung, Asia-Pacific sales manager at Prince Waikiki hotel in Honolulu, sees potential in the Hong Kong market as airlines are adding more flights from Hong Kong to Hawaii.

However, sources told TTG Asia that Hawaii Airlines was supposed to launch a direct route to Hong Kong last year, but there hasn’t been any progress so far.

Serbian exhibitors believe the government’s recent move this year to remove visa requirements for Chinese tourists will help grow arrivals from China.

Vladimir Koricanac, planning and coordination manager at Serbia Tour Operator in Belgrade, said: “Visa requirements for the Chinese were a deterrent in the past as getting a tourist visa used to take 20 days or more and the documents had to be submitted to Serbia for processing.

Sava river running through Belgrade

“Chinese travellers also had to submit personal documents including their bank and employment documents, and it cost around 50 euros (US$54.40).
“With the removal of visa requirements, we expect to see a boom in the Chinese FIT market.”

Koricanac is also encouraged by a tip-off from “a reliable tourism official that a Chinese airline will start flying from Beijing to Belgrade four times weekly from this summer”.

While details are lacking at press time, this is expected to be a timely development as there are currently no direct connections between Chinese cities to Serbia and visitors have to make a one-stop transit before getting to Belgrade.

Darko Kuzeljevic, project manager at Serbia Tour Operator, added: “We think the 10- to 15-night Balkan Tours combining Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro, will appeal to the FIT segment from China as the scenery is very pretty. After we develop the leisure segment, we will go after the Chinese MICE business.”

China is the first North Asian market that Serbia Tour Operator is targeting, by building contacts with Chinese outbound operators and wholesalers at ITB China.

Another Serbian tour operator, Gregor Levic, owner and general manager of iDMC Travel based in Belgrade, is also eyeing the Chinese FIT segment, which is new for the company. However, the company is ready to receive Chinese visitors as it has Mandarin-speaking guides, translators and a sales staff.

Levic said: “We want to target Chinese travellers who have already been to Central Europe and are now looking for a new destination. We have much to offer in terms of unspoilt nature, architecture and historical sites.

“Accommodation is cheaper than in Western Europe. A five-star accommodation in Belgrade can cost between 100 to 300 euros a night, which is cheaper than in Western Europe.

“Serbia can also be combined with Austria and Hungary, or Slovenia and Croatia, or with Montenegro and Macedonia.”

Dusit International has partnered Chinese hotel group Dossen International Group to operate and develop 40 DusitPrincess resorts and residences in China.

Twenty-seven of these properties are expected to open before 2022, with the rest to follow in subsequent years.

(From left) Dossen International Group’s Li Xian Feng, Allan Cheng, and David Wu; Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts’ Giovanni Angelini; and Dusit International’s Suphajee Suthumpun and Lim Boon Kwee

Through the new partnership with Dossen Hotel Group, Dusit is expected to accelerate growth by focusing on scaling its luxury brands and city hotels, while Dossen explores development options for DusitPrincess branded resorts.

“This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to increase the scale and reach of our brands and operations in China,” said Suphajee Suthumpun, group CEO of Dusit International.

Lufthansa Group has launched an integrated group booking tool for tour operators, consolidators and travel agents.

Available in 14 languages, the tool allows travel service providers to request journeys for 10 pax or more with the Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss International Airlines) in any combination.

Following the enquiry, Book-a-Group delivers an offer and price quote in real time. The commercial conditions for new group bookings made with the tool have been standardised in one single contract valid for all three network airlines.

Another improvement is an option for short-term bookings. In future, it will be possible to cancel bookings within the last 60 days before the actual flight, at no charge, from 72 hours after the booking.

As well, the service will be provided through just one point of contact instead of having separate ones for each airline.

It will also be possible to use the Book-a-Group tool for bookings involving combinations of flights with further members of Lufthansa Group Airlines (Brussels Airlines and Eurowings), as well as with many other Lufthansa partner airlines.