Maya Bay, Phi Phi Island, Thailand

The Thai trade is raising expectations for the Russian tourist market this year, as the sector has shown strong signs of recovery following a stabilising rouble.

Pegas Select (Thailand), a major inbound tour operator in the Russian market, expects sales of Thailand tour packages to surge 25-50 per cent during the period from October 2016 to October 2017.

Nikorn Yatinunt, director and advisor of Pegas, said: “I believe the situation will be better in winter 2017. Thailand can beat Vietnam and become one of our clients’ two most popular destinations if the Thai government amends some regulations to facilitate tour business.”

At present, Pegas’ three most popular destinations are Turkey, Vietnam and Thailand respectively, a change from the previous order of Turkey, Egypt and Thailand, Nikorn shared.

Sathirapong Na Takuatoong, president of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), said the stabilising rouble exchange rate at around 60 rubles per US dollar since early this year has driven Russians’ confidence in travelling and spending.

The bounce back is apparent in the number of charter flights from Russia to Phuket this high season, and PTA expects the figure to reach more than 20 weekly charter flights from October 2016 to March 2017, he added.

Furthermore, Thai Airways International’s resume Moscow-Bangkok flights in mid-December is expected to aid the Russian inbound market in 2017.

Tanes Petsuwan, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s deputy governor for international markets, revised the projected arrivals of Russians upward from 1.1 million to 1.3 million in 2017, following the strong recovery of the market since August. Thailand is likely to receive at least 1.1 million Russian travellers in 2016, he said.

To keep up the momentum, TAT has joined hands with six major travel agents in the Russian market such as Pegas and Tez Tour for marketing promotions. The NTO is training its sights on Russia’s major cities such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Belarus to increase the number of FITs.

Beach area at Cox’s Bazar

Bangladesh is making aggressive plans to bolster the tourism sector, including drawing up its first investment-focused tourism master plan and developing the beach destination of Cox’s Bazar.

“We expect a full comprehensive master plan for tourism will be ready by end next year. If will focus on investment opportunities available to develop various tourism spots across the country,” said Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir, CEO, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), during the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2016 in Cox’s Bazar last week.

The master plan will also advise the tourism ministry on potential new destinations and attractions in the country, help frame policy guidelines and human resources training, elaborated Kabir. The BTB has already floated a tender inviting expression of interest from firms.

Meanwhile, tourism investment opportunities are being planned for Cox’s Bazar, including an exclusive 445ha tourist zone that will house hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and other facilities.

The existing airport will undergo expansion to meet the growing number of flights, as international airlines like China Eastern have expressed interest to operate flights to the city.

“China is one of our main international source markets. Direct connectivity from China to Cox’s Bazar will help to attract Chinese tourists to the region,” said Taufiq Rahman, chief executive, Journey Plus.

Bangladesh registered 0.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2015.

Pan Pacific Singapore has relaunched its swimming pool after a S$3 million (US$2.1 million) revitalisation programme.

Surrounded by water features and lush greenery, the revamped pool features a new Poolside bar, a family zone with a wading pool and private lounging spaces enhanced with 11 large cabanas, nine day beds and numerous sun loungers.

The Poolside can also be booked for private events and parties for up to 150 pax.

The newly renovated pool, together with the St Gregory Spa and gym, now make up the hotel’s rejuvenated lifestyle floor on level four.

Jenny Fu will lead Beijing office as sales director

UK-based B2B travel wholesaler JacTravel has entered into the China market with the launch of an office in Beijing, adding to its established base in Hong Kong.

The expansion follows a successful drive to secure new clients in China, which has resulted in contracts with leading travel players including Ctrip, Qunar, Tuniu, U-tour and Caissa Travel in the B2C segment and Dida Haoqiao and Marco Polo in the B2B segment.

These companies now connect directly to JacTravel’s accommodation inventory, with real-time access to pricing and availability in more than 12,000 directly-contracted hotels worldwide, international chain hotels and an additional aggregated portfolio of over 130,000 properties.

The new Beijing office will be led by sales director Jenny Fu, who is supported by sales manager Fei Ren and client technical support analyst Justin Zhang.

JacTravel has since built its portfolio to 250 directly contracted properties in China, of which 74 are in Beijing and 60 are in Shanghai, plus a further 650 indirectly contracted properties.

According JacTravel’s CEO, Terry Williamson, the Beijing office has set targets to double the size of business in 2017 and expand its Chinese portfolio further.

The 23-year-old Datai Langkawi will embark on an extensive 10-month renovation from September 4, 2017 before opening its doors again in mid 2018.

The redesign will include renovations to the resort’s guestrooms, suites and villas; the construction of a Nature Centre; additional spa pavilions; a refreshed retail space; and a fitness centre by the beach as well as an overall landscaping enhancement.

Leading the revamp is interior designer Didier Lefort of DL2A, who was part of the original design team for the property’s launch in 1993.

All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) new Tokyo (Narita)-Mexico City service will provide a much-needed option for the Asia-Latin America market, where trade flows are growing but flight connectivity limited.

Commencing from February 15, 2017, this trans-Pacific service will be operated daily on a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft and will mark ANA’s longest flight.

This service will especially benefit Japanese companies with business interests in Central and South America, said Tatsuo Matsumoto, head of sales in Japan for Kuoni Japan.

“This is a busy – and growing – business route, especially for the auto sector because many manufacturing facilities and related technology companies have operations there or are setting up in Mexico,” he added.

Besides, ANA’s good connectivity with other cities in East and South-east Asia makes the new Tokyo (Narita)-Mexico City route a strong choice for Asian travellers keen to visit Central America, Matsumoto posited.

Junichi Tanaka, president of Latin America travel specialists Turismo Latino, believes the new service will be popular both among outbound Japanese leisure travellers and visitors to Japan from the region.

“A route like this also helps us to expand our operations and business in South America because it is easy to transit through Mexico City,” he said.

Jaime Bautista, president and COO, PAL

Philippine Airlines (PAL), as part of its “nose-to-tail reinvention” currently underway, is aiming to become a five-star, full-service carrier by 2020, said president and COO Jaime Bautista on the sidelines of AAPA’s 60th Assembly of Presidents last week. The airline is currently rated three star on Skytrax.

When Bautista returned to PAL in late 2014 after Lucio Tan Group took back control of the airline from San Miguel Corp, initiatives were mapped out to remedy the carrier’s identity crisis and employees’ low morale.

This includes shedding PAL’s LCC inclinations and positioning it as the national carrier of the Philippines, a move that required a reconfiguration of the mono-class aircraft with tight seat pitch ordered by the previous administration.

Fleet modernisation is now in the works, with the delivery of Boeing 777 two weeks ago and another expected in mid-December, in addition to the five A321s in 2016. By next year, eight A330s will be reconfigured with business, premium economy and economy class seats for medium-haul flights to Australia and Honolulu.

As well, Bautista shared that “with limited capacity to grow in congested NAIA”, PAL is increasingly using other hubs like Cebu and Clark.

After launching the Cebu-Los Angeles service this year, the airline also plans to increase frequencies to Los Angeles and San Francisco and open routes to Chicago and Texas when it takes delivery of A350 in 2018.

Despite stepping up frequency to daily on the London route, expansion to Europe is on hold, said Bautista.

Jetstar Asia will be increasing flight frequencies on four of its routes from Singapore to meet the expected increase in demand over the 2017 lunar new year holidays.

From January 25 to February 5, the airline will add a total of 23 services – eight to Kuala Lumpur (January 25-February 1), seven to Penang (January 26, 29-31; February 2, 4, 5), three to Shantou (January 29; February 1, 3) and five to Haikou (January 26, 28, 30; February 4, 5).

The additional services to Haikou and Shantou are subject to regulatory approval.