Myanmar strikes while visa-free iron is hot

December 5, 2016

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.

Concur deepens presence in China with local partnership

By TTG Asia

December 5, 2016

Having forayed into the Chinese corporate market earlier this year with its Didi Chuxing partnership, Concur has now entered into a strategic alliance with Chinese cloud service provider China DataCom Corporation (CDC) to penetrate deeper into the world’s biggest business travel market.

“China represents an enormous market opportunity, and we look forward to expanding the services we already offer multinational Chinese companies,” said Mike Eberhard, Concur global president.

“This is only the beginning as Concur will continue to invest in localisation, globalisation and digital transformation, working through CDC and other partners together in China to support Chinese companies both locally and abroad.”

In its press statement, Concur stated that its expense management services are localised specifically for Chinese businesses to ensure compliance with China’s financial management policies, including value-added tax reform requirements and other regulations.

Concur also aims to help Chinese companies achieve compliance and efficient expense management on a global scale, as well as ensuring the duty of care of employees who travel internationally and helping companies recover significant overseas VAT rebates.

As well, Concur will also enable Chinese companies to become more efficient by digitising significant financial processes such as employee spending tracking.

Towards worry-free travel

By Raini Hamdi

December 2, 2016

What we’d love to see is worry-free travel in its totality, i.e. while safety & security is critical, so too is the beauty in seamless, efficient, friendly and joyful travel.

dec02_rainixinyi Looking back at 2016, safety & security was a key issue. We had horrible terror attacks targeting tourists (e.g. Brussels airport, a series of bombs in popular Thai resorts), viral outbreaks (Zika), air accidents (FlyDubai, Egyptair), natural disasters that affected tourism (New Zealand earthquake), political impacts (Brexit, US presidential election), economies (China slowdown) – enough examples to make us choose Towards worry-free travel as the theme of this year-end issue.

Our dream of worry-free travel goes far beyond safety & security. From our perspective, despite the troubles of 2016, the industry in fact has gone stronger in dealing with crises, having year after year learnt to deal better with them. Tourists too have voted with their passports – terror attacks or health scares have not prevented them from travelling. Close to one billion international tourists were recorded in the first nine months of 2016, a four per cent increase over the same period in 2015, according to UNWTO’s latest count.

What we’d love to see is worry-free travel in its totality, i.e. while safety & security is critical, so too is the beauty in seamless, efficient, friendly and joyful travel.

So, to our dear readers, we’d like to wish you not ‘safe travels’ – this year’s common email sign-off – but ‘happy travels” in 2017, when travelling is less of an anxiety and more of uninhibited discovery.

Which is what it should be.

Yours,

Raini Hamdi, Senior Editor (left) and Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, Editor (right)

This article was first published in TTG Asia December 2016 issue. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.

Standing firm in tumultuous times

By TTG Asia

December 2, 2016

Europe’s terror attacks and the Zika virus weigh most on Asian outbound travel business this year, but agents show resilience and dig in their heels to overcome these crises.

Singapore
Anthony Chan
Group managing director
Chan Brothers Holdings

Which crisis affected your business most this year?
Travel risks abound everywhere, even at home. We are constantly at the mercy of health epidemics, natural calamities, political unrest, among a host of possible travel disruptions. This year has been marred by a record number of terrorist attacks in key Singaporean holiday destinations such as Europe.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
We will continue to recommend Europe as it is a continent (large enough that) for repeat travellers to find something fresh every time. We have seen a skew in demand for less mainstream Europe destinations such as Iceland, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.

While we should take the necessary precautions, we should not allow attacks to paralyse travel, which is an important source of revenue and employment for many countries. We remind travellers to remain vigilant and where possible, avoid crowded places and public gatherings. – Paige Lee Pei Qi

Thailand
Suparerk Soonrangura
Founder and managing director
NS Tour

What crisis affected your business most this year?
It was the weakened purchasing power resulting from Thai and global economic conditions, which caused outbound tour business to drop significantly.

(Compounding the problem), fierce competition due to the growing number of players, especially illegal ones selling tour packages online, has caused price wars. Many tour operators have to sell package tours at minimal profit to survive.

We are coping with the situation by cutting our operation costs, introducing new tour services and applying greatest flexibility to meet customer demand.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
The economic slowdown continues to concern us. Although clients still have money, lower purchasing power could cause them to cut spending on trips.

Today, tour operators need to make adjustments to deal with customer trend. Markets are changing dramatically and only the strong and flexible can survive.

We are about to adjust our (methods) and give advice that suits the budgets of customers. We will design the tour packages according to their demand and budgets to survive the economic downturn and intense competition.

I hope that purchasing power will recover in the first quarter of next year. – Chadamas Chinmaneevong

Hong Kong
Jason Wong
Director and general manager
Hong Thai Travel Services

Which crisis affected your business most this year?
The spate of terrorist attacks in Europe early this year dampened Hong Kongers’ travel desire and outbound traffic to the region.

Our longhaul business to Europe dropped 30-40 per cent as the market reaction to these incidents was swift. Thankfully, travellers tend to (move on from) this kind of incidents quickly and such negative sentiments didn’t stay long.

So far, the market is pretty stable and Hong Kongers continue to travel as this is part of their (lifestyle).

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
Given how vast Europe is, we try to generate more choices of routes to stimulate demand and interest. Instead of tours to Central Europe, we developed more in-depth itineraries to European destinations (deemed to be) safer, such as second- or third-tier cities in Eastern, Western and Northern Europe.

With the (seemingly random occurence of) disasters – natural or man-made – we strongly advise clients to purchase travel insurance or pay attention to news. We would not tell clients where to avoid as they have their own preference. – Prudence Lui

SRI Lanka
Suren Ediriweera
Managing director
Ceylon Tours

Which crisis affected your business most this year?
The biggest crisis that affected our business this year was the bombings in Thailand in August, which left at least four dead and dozens injured, including 10 foreigners. The blasts appeared to be targeted at tourist hotspots around the country, and came just a few days before the first anniversary of the devastating bombing at a Hindu shrine in Bangkok.

We allayed the fears of some of our FIT clients by informing them that the Thai prime minister ordered (tightened) security especially in tourist districts.

However, we had to cancel our bigger group tours, causing a drop in sales to Thailand, one of our main outbound destinations. Last year we sent roughly 1,800 people to Bangkok and this year the number dropped to 700. We had to re-route our Bangkok groups to other destinations.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
We anticipated the situation in Bangkok would improve in a few months but since clients were still wary, we stepped up promotions of destinations such as Malaysia and Vietnam. – Feizal Samath

Philippines
Rowena Baltazar
Sales manager
Adam’s Express Travel Group

Which crisis affected your business most this year?
Apart from the terror attacks in Europe, Internet-isation is also affecting business.
It is not so much a crisis but a travel trend that affects business. We’re losing sales on hotel accommodations and airline seats to OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com and Agoda. Airbnb is getting market share and airlines have their own selling platforms.

The only way to counter this trend is to continue creating travel products that require the expertise of an experienced travel provider.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
Terrorism can hit anywhere and we cannot do anything about it. People should continue to travel but take proper precautions and be aware of what’s happening around the globe.

A few years back, there was massive news coverage about bombing in Israel and nobody wanted to offer the Holy Land pilgrimage tours except us. We performed our security checks through our operators there and ensured that our clients would be safe. – Rosa Ocampo

India
P P Khanna
President
Diplomatic Travel Point

Which crisis affected your business most this year?
Terrorist attacks in several European cities posed a challenge for outbound tourism to these markets because of the security concerns in the minds of Indian travellers, affecting leisure as well as the business segments.

The other major challenge emerged in the form of the Zika virus, which dampened interest in Brazil among Indian tourists. Initially, a lot of Indian sports enthusiasts were interested to travel to Brazil for the Olympics but the spread of Zika virus became a spoilsport.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
Our business was not too affected by the terrorist attacks in Europe or Zika virus in Brazail since we advised clients to travel to other countries that offered similar attractions they were looking for and were considered safe to visit.

I can’t comment on the security scenario in any market as terrorism is a major challenge for tourism today and the entire world – including the global travel and tourism industry – has to stand united to fight the menace of terrorism. – Rohit Kaul

Malaysia
Syed Mohd Razif Syed Mohd Yasin
Group managing director
Sri Sutra Travel

Which crisis affected your business most this year?
The biggest crisis was the weakened ringgit which affected the outbound leisure segment as well as government and corporate travel. As people were postponing longhaul travel plans, we proposed (alternative itineraries) within their budget. For example if they wished to experience cool weather, they could opt for South Korea, Japan or China, instead of travelling to Europe.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
We expect the ringgit to strengthen by end 2017 and hope travel demand will return.

Our advice to clients is for them to plan their travel early so they can get good deals and choose holiday destinations that are value-for-money. – S Puvaneswary

Japan
Masahiro Takahashi
Executive officer, overseas travel division, headquarters
Nippon Travel Agency

What crisis affected your business most this year?
The terrorism attacks in Europe were the biggest crises this year. The number of tourists choosing Europe did decrease as a result of the terrorism attacks, but we are expecting a (turnaround) next year.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
We continue to promote Europe even though the continent is having a difficult time. Europe is slowly but surely reverting to being a safe travel destination. – Kathryn Wortley

Vietnam
Nguyen Hao Thanh Phi
Director
Blue Sky Travel

What crisis affected your business most this year?
Our outbound tours were slightly affected by the terrorist attacks in Nice in France and Brussels in the summer but not by too much.

How did you cope with this situation to allay fears? What would you advise clients on their future travel plans?
That was a worrying time for clients so we had to make sure all their fears and questions were answered. We had to monitor and update the status of the situation from our land tour partners there and keep all parties informed.

At the time of the Nice attacks, we had to temporarily hold all tours to France as there was a red alert travel warning. During this time, we worked with our clients to advise them on replacing France with another destination that was suitable for them. – Marissa Carruthers

This article was first published in TTG Asia December 2016 issue. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.

Accor’s Mama Shelter to find home in Bangkok

By Chadamas Chinmaneevong

December 2, 2016

Mama Shelter Lyon

AccorHotels has unveiled plans to launch the first Asian outpost of its urban lifestyle hotel chain, Mama Shelter, in Bangkok. The group currently operates six hotels of this mid-tier trendy chain in France, the US and Brazil.

Patrick Basset, AccorHotels’ COO of Upper South-east & North-east Asia, said Bangkok was selected for the Asian debut of Mama Shelter to leverage the nine strategic hotel brands already present in the city. He expected to seal a management deal and open Mama Shelter in Sukhumvit area in 2018.

The group will also introduce economy hotel brand, Jo & Joe, in Asia, including Thailand. Both brands are part of the French-based hospitality chain to target millennial travellers who are playing increasing important roles in global travel.

Although Bangkok is deemed a competitive destination for hotel business and Chinese arrivals have plunged due to the zero-dollar tour crackdown, Accor still sees room to grow in the capital, with eight new hotels in the pipeline by 2019, according to Basset.

Meanwhile, the growth potential of Thailand’s domestic tourism also drives Accor’s expansion strategy to secondary provinces in the country, he added.

On a wider scale, Asia-Pacific remains a dynamic market for the group, boasting 761 hotels in operation with 153,955 keys, with another 238 hotels spanning 49,215 rooms scheduled for opening by 2020.

Basset also sees high growth potential for Accor’s mid-tier and budget hotel brands such as Mercure, ibis, ibis styles and ibis budget in Asia-Pacific. China will lead Accor’s expansion with 74 new hotels and 15,645 rooms, followed by 55 properties with 10,431 keys in Indonesia, 28 hotels with 4,027 rooms in India, and 14 hotels with 3,290 keys in Thailand within 2020.

Singapore, intra-ASEAN travel shine under ATF 2017 spotlight

By Karen Yue

December 2, 2016

When the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) rolls into town next month, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will use this event to showcase the strengths of the Lion City as a tourist destination and travel hub in South-east Asia.

In an email interview with TTG Asia, John Conceicao, executive director, international relations & market planning and Oceania with STB, described 2017 as a “milestone year for ASEAN”, and that the NTO is “honoured to be the host country of the 36^th ATF in the 50^thyear of ASEAN’s founding”.

The spotlight will naturally also be on Singapore as the host destination, with STB partnering local industry stakeholders for media fam trips to showcase the city-state’s latest leisure, dining and lifestyle offerings.

Conceicao said: “We are working closely with regional and international industry partners – from airlines and ground transport companies to hotels and travel agents – to market and publicise ASEAN as a destination.

“As Singapore is one of Asia’s main air hubs, with flights to around 300 cities worldwide, we are taking this opportunity to promote ASEAN and drive traffic from mid- to longhaul markets to the region through Changi Airport,” he added.

Furthermore, as ASEAN’s lead coordinator for cruise development, Singapore will also work closely with its regional counterparts to promote the Cruise South-east Asia brand, said Conceicao.

ATF 2017 will be held from January 16 to 20, 2017 at Marina Bay Sands. STB is the lead coordinator of meetings between ASEAN tourism leaders and industry stakeholders, while the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) will jointly organise the TRAVEX tradeshow.

Singapore last hosted ATF a decade ago, an event that was attended by more than 1,600 delegates.

Terror threat remains ‘very real’ in Europe

By TTG Asia

December 2, 2016

The targeting of airports and aircraft by terrorists is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, a terrorism expert has warned.

Professor Andrew Silke, head of criminology and director of terrorism studies at University of East London, said the tactic was well ingrained and had proved to be an effective shock tactic.

He believed that with Isis continuing to fight both in Syria and Iraq while extending its influence across Europe, the continent should brace itself for further attacks.

Silke said: “Is the threat real? It obviously is. Terrorists have attacked airports and aircraft over the past 50 years; their goals might change and the violence might change but the threat to airports is there.”

Read the full story here.

It’s game on for Nintendo at Universal theme parks

By TTG Asia

December 2, 2016

(From left) Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Universal’s Mark Woodbury

Two icons of the entertainment world, Universal Parks & Resorts and Nintendo, have formed a partnership to bring Nintendo characters and realms to life.

The plan is to have Nintendo-themed areas in Universal’s three existing theme parks – Universal Studios Japan, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.

These themed environments will offer an immersive experience for guests through a variety of attractions, shops and restaurants, catering to visitors of all ages and gaming experience.

Planning and creative work on these areas is now underway, and will open separately over the next several years. Each Universal theme park will announce details of its specific Nintendo areas in the near future.

Sri Lanka’s ascending tourism needs backing of political leadership

By TTG Asia

December 2, 2016

Colombo skyline

Industry players are optimistic that tourism in Sri Lanka has growth potential, but its continued success will hinge on political leadership, concluded the first Asia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC) which took place in Colombo earlier this week.

Data from ForwardKeys showing a 12 per cent growth in visitor arrivals by air during the past year, more than double that achieved by the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. Further information from STR revealed that the country’s hotels had maintained occupancy levels above 66 per cent and lifted ADR to nearly 16,000 Sri Lankan rupees (US$107.12).

And at the recent AHTIC, the Sri Lankan government announced a series of tourism development zones. The president also promised that the next three years, 2017-19, would be designated investment years with special concessions for overseas investors.

A delegation of Chinese investors expressed enthusiasm for opportunities in the destination, seeing potential in its diverse attractions, the current shortage of high-quality properties outside Colombo, the willingness of the government to invest in core infrastructure such as new roads and a British-based legal system.

Also optimistic is WTTC chairman Gerald Lawless, who cited the recent restoration of peace, improved air connectivity and infrastructure investment as some critical factors to the destination’s success for tourism.

However, Roman Scott, chairman of the Calamander Group, raised the concern of Sri Lanka’s proposed lifting of VAT from 11 per cent to 15 per cent and corporation tax to 28 per cent.

In the face of stronger competition from rival countries around the Indian Ocean for foreign investments, Scott, like other industry leaders, urges the Sri Lankan government to effectively brand and promote the destination, prioritise infrastructure development and create a fiscal and regulatory regime that guarantees commercial as well as social and environmental sustainability.

Teuscher to helm New World Millenium Hong Kong

By TTG Asia

December 2, 2016

Rene Teuscher has been appointed general manager of the newly-renovated New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel.

Teuscher has over 30 years of hospitality experience across Asia, the Middle East and North America.

nwmhk_general_manager_mr_rene_truscher_m

Prior to his new appointment, he was general manager of Grand Millennium Shanghai Hongqiao for eight years, and held positions of general manager and resident manager in his over 10 years with Marriott hotels in China and the Philippines.