All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japanese travel agency HIS have announced a US$440,000 investment into domestic venture firm PD AeroSpace, which aims to send tourists into outer space as early as 2023.

The investment is meant to help the startup develop a next-generation engine for a passenger craft that switches between rocket and jet modes while offering “low-cost and safe access to space,” according to PD Aerospace.

HIS corporate planning department’s Tatsuki Miura told TTG Asia: “We see this as a new business opportunity, even though the first operational flight is not expected to take place until 2023.

“We expect initial demand to come from Japan, but that will grow to travellers from other countries quite quickly,” Miura added.

And while other companies are pioneering similar commercial spacecraft – notably Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic venture – Maho Ito, a spokeswoman for ANA, said the market for space travel and potential intergalactic destinations are expansive so “there will be enough business to go around”.

ANA will offer know-how in aircraft technology, while HIS will be responsible for the promotion of space travel, tickets and other ground services.

A single seat on the spacecraft is expected to cost around US$120,000.

The queue at immigration control at Suvarnabhumi Airport

A sharp drop in Chinese arrivals in October and November has pressured the Thai government to waive the 1,000 baht (US$28) visa fee for single-entry tourists of all nationalities effective November 30, instead of the 19 countries announced earlier last month.

Similarly, the visa-on-arrival fee is now halved from 2,000 baht to 1,000 baht from December 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017.

Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told TTG Asia that he is optimistic that this latest visa-fee waiver move will stimulate tourism arrivals upwards by 10 per cent during this high season from December to February.

Apart from recuperating declining Chinese arrivals in Thailand, this would attract more tourists from India and the Middle East, he added.

Inbound players like Adith Chairattananon, president of Golden Discovery Express, saw the move as one that could persuade potential travellers to visit Thailand.

“This is an effective marketing tool for tour agents to promote Thailand in China because a tour package is now cheaper by RMB200 (US$29) with the visa fee waiver. We hope the government will extend the incentive to May 2017 for more effective results,” said Adith.

The measure would make Thailand a more compelling choice for mass markets like China and India as well as last-minute travellers during the festive season, stated Supawan Tanomkieatipume, president of the Thai Hotels Association.

“We don’t want to see tourism hiccups in the peak season due to the decrease in Chinese arrivals over the zero-dollar crackdown,” said Supawan. “Above all, we don’t want to lose our clients to overseas competitors.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will roll out its first InterContinental hotel in Laos come 2021, joining Crown Plaza Vientiane to be the group’s second property in the capital city.

Developed by Lao International Development, the 400-room hotel will be part of the upcoming World Trade Centre, a mixed-use complex that will house a large retail mall, medical centre, conference centre, office tower and residential towers.

Located adjacent to Lan Cang Avenue, Vietnam Street and French Street, InterContinental Vientiane will feature the signature Club Lounge, a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre, and several F&B outlets.

Leanne Harwood, vice president, operations, IHG, South-east Asia & Korea, said: “Laos is currently one of the region’s fastest growing nations with close to five million international arrivals each year and future infrastructural and industrial developments underway to continue boosting economic growth and attract foreign investment… It’s a great time to be bringing the InterContinental brand into the country to tap on this potential.”

Xiao Long, CEO, Lao International Development, agreed: “It’s an exciting time to be investing in Laos as the country sees improved intra-regional connectivity through the completed Kunming-Vientiane-Bangkok Highway connecting China, Laos and Thailand and the upcoming high-speed rail project that will link China to Laos in just a few years.

“We are confident these infrastructural developments will boost tourist arrivals, especially from surrounding nations, and the opening of InterContinental Vientiane will cater to the influx of travellers.”

Diamond Princess

Kota Kinabalu is featuring for the first time on Princess Cruises’ itineraries for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, where a total of eight ships will call on the East Malaysian port during the cruise line’s homeporting seasons in South-east Asia.

Diamond Princess last week called at Kota Kinabalu during a 10-night South-east Asia voyage from Singapore to Vietnam’s Nha Trang. The 18-deck, 2,706-passenger ship is deployed to Singapore for the first time for Princess Cruises’ third homeporting season (November 2017 to March 2017).

“We are excited to debut Kota Kinabalu in our current sailing itinerary due to its natural beauty and exotic cultural elements,” said Farriek Tawfik, director of South-east Asia, Princess Cruises.

“Guests in Borneo now have the option of boarding our ship from Kota Kinabalu, which further increases the convenience and attractiveness of taking a cruise from Kota Kinabalu to the many destinations in this region,” added Tawfik. Other Malaysian ports of calls for this season include Penang, Port Klang and Langkawi.

Shore excursions in Kota Kinabalu include visits to attractions such as Mt Kinabalu Park, Dusun villages, Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, Mari Mari Cultural Village, Kellybays/Tambalang River, Sabah Museum, City Mosque and Tun Mustapha Tower.

Sapphire Princess, which is returning for its fourth homeporting season in Singapore, will also feature Kota Kinabalu as one of her ports of call, added Tawfik.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai (in white) and other officials at the launch

Dubai-based flydubai last week commenced its Bangkok service, marking the start of its first double daily route outside of the GCC. The inaugural flight landed in Bangkok on November 29.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, dubbed the Dubai-Bangkok service “a significant milestone” and represented “the increasing maturity of flydubai’s network”.

Sudhir Sreedharan, senior vice president, commercial (GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) for flydubai, added that the new route “will not only offer passengers from Dubai alternative travel options through Thailand, but additionally connect Thailand to Russia and Europe via Dubai, strengthening the UAE’s position as an international travel hub”.

Launched in 2009, flydubai boasts a network of more than 90 destinations and is expecting to add eight new aircraft to its fleet by 2H2017.

Update: MacLean passed away on December 15, 2016, in Nha Trang at the age of 63.

The Anam has appointed veteran hotelier Duncan MacLean as general manager ahead of its grand opening.

MacLean has over 40 years of experience in hotels, two decades of which have been with luxury projects in Asia. He joins The Anam from Furama Danang.

He started his career in 1975 with InterContinental Hotel Group in the UK, before moving to Australia a decade later with Hilton International. MacLean has also held a wide range of roles in hotels in Myanmar, Kabul and East Timor.

B2B meetings at the roadshow

With visa exemption between Myanmar and Singapore coming into effect from December 1, Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM) held the destination’s first B2B roadshow in Singapore last Friday, intent on casting a wider net in the city-state.

Myanmar’s minister of hotel and tourism Ohn Maung said: “I expect a 35 per cent increase in Singaporeans travelling to Myanmar, if we successfully promote the variety of tourist attractions the country has to offer.”

Part of MTM’s strategy to make this a reality is to drive demand for the traditional low season (June to September), promote attractions beyond its temples and culture and highlight lesser-known areas easily accessible from core destinations such as Bagan and Yangon.

“We have witnessed a surge of Singaporean travellers and look forward to this growing,” said MTM chairperson May Myat Mon Win. “We’d like to dispel some myths about the country. It’s not true that you can only visit Myanmar during the dry season. In fact, Myanmar’s best-kept secret is the green season from June till September.”

Added Edwin Briels, managing director of Khiri Travel Myanmar and executive committee member of MTM: “Singaporeans still have an image of Myanmar as maybe a little too cultural and boring, but it has something for everybody. It’s not only about temples, but also about food, fun, trekking, golfing and going around the whole country.”

Also capitalising on the visa waiver is Myanmar National Airlines, which launched additional services on its Singapore-Yangon route on December 1. Patrick Chia, sales manager of its Singapore GSA, Discover the World, said demand for the route has been “very good” and expects this to continue through the year-end into the Chinese Lunar New Year period.

The roadshow, which brought to Singapore a delegation of 12 hospitality and tourism organisations, coincided with Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Singapore.

MTM will also organise its first Myanmar Tourism Festival, a B2C event and roadshow featuring folk games, food and cultural activities in Singapore next month in conjunction with ATF 2017.

As of August 2016, more than 32,000 Singaporeans visited Myanmar, an increase of 18 per cent from the same period last year, according to figures from MTM. In 2015, 43,000 Singaporeans visited Myanmar.