An old woman looking at an image of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Waroros Market in Chiang Mai on October 1, 2016

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, died on Thursday in Bangkok at the age of 88, after more than 70 years on the throne.

The Royal Palace stated that he passed away peacefully at Siriraj Hospital at 15.52 local time.

King Bhumibol, deeply loved by the Thais, was a unifying figure and symbol of nationhood since he ascended the throne in 1946. The nation now mourns his passing.

Here are the immediate reactions of travel industry leaders when TTG Asia asked how they felt about the King’s death and their hopes for tourism’s future.

Ittirit Kinglake, president, Tourism Council of Thailand
“All Thai people are in their deepest sorrow. Many might not expect this would happen. His Majesty had worked hard and has been a great role model. Under current circumstances, I seek cooperation from all parties to allow us time to pass through this sorrowful moment.

“The tourism sector will try to promote community tours to distribute income to local people in accordance with His Majesty’s wish to see Thai people love and help one another. The tourism council is also ready to fully cooperate with the government and take actions accordingly. The council is prepared to receive foreign delegates who will attend royal funeral rites as well. Details will be discussed further.”

Supawan Tanomkieatipume, president, Thai Hotels Association, Thailand
“I believe all Thai people are sharing the greatest sorrow for the loss of our King. For the time being, we would like everyone to behave properly in terms of dressing and activities. The association is ready to fully cooperate with the government. We have informed members that decisions on the organisation of events will depend on those who ordered them. If they like to postpone them, the hotel management will facilitate.

“For the New Year, I believe that most hotels have no plans for the celebration and foreign clients understand the present circumstance because the demise of His Majesty the King has been reported. The mourning is likely to continue for at least three months.”

Pornthip Hirunkate, managing director, Destination Asia, Thailand
“Thailand is crying. Although we are mourning his passing with unspeakable grief, His Majesty is now resting in peace. He devoted his entire life for the sake of the Thai people. Even though he’s a monarch, he was such a simple and down-to-earth man, and a great role model for all of us. He kept Thailand independent as we are today. We all love and respect him as a father of the nation.”

Luzi Matzig, chairman, Asian Trails, Thailand
“We all knew that King Bhumibol was in poor health for quite some time, but it nevertheless came as a great shock to all of us when the official announcement of his passing was made. Half of our staff in the office were crying so the shock to all Thais is really major and will affect outbound travel from Thailand for at least a year. As far as inbound tourism is concerned I do not see any big change. I personally feel very sorry that we lost a great King who did a lot for the good of our country. May he rest in peace.”

Soontarut Wattanahongsiri, general manager, Abercrombie & Kent Thailand
“As you can expect, there’s a melancholic mood at our office this morning. Yet despite the understandable sadness, our staff is still buoyed by the feeling of pride as well as sorrow, as countless well-wishing messages have arrived from contacts around the world paying their respects.

“The numerous messages of sympathy console us with the fact that our beloved King was not only revered by Thai people, he was deeply respected across the world. His leadership will be greatly missed. He was a father to all Thai people; a true People’s King. Despite his passing, we’re sure he will continue to inspire our nation for countless generations who will look back on his life and tireless contributions with awe and great respect.”

Bill Heinecke, chairman & CEO, The Minor Group, Thailand
“King Bhumibol was the greatest source of strength and inspiration to all Thais, to countless others around the world and to me and my family personally. His Majesty led by unparalleled example, vision and sacrifice to work for the prosperity of the nation and all Thai people. His humanity and gentle wisdom has touched us all in a way that we cannot express in words and will continue to inspire for many generations to come.

“At this sad time, it is important that we pull together to support each other and act for the greater good of the country. One of the King’s enduring aspirations is the sustainable development of Thailand and Thai people. I am proud of Minor for the part that we play in this and have no doubt that we will all continue to work closely together to honour the legacy and memory of King Bhumibol. In the meantime, and until further notice, Minor’s business will operate as usual.”

Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, Thailand
“Today is a sad day for Thailand. His Majesty was a kind man with a great heart who loved his people and this was felt by all Thai people and those of us who are guests in this land of smiles. He was the light for us all and he will be greatly missed. Today I only want to offer my sincere condolences to the royal family and the people of Thailand.”

Ho Kwon Ping, executive chairman, Banyan Tree Holdings, Singapore
“I’m in Bangkok and I see how it affects all my colleagues so deeply; all Thais have a deep respect, reverence, and genuine affection for a King who was a father figure for as long as anyone can remember. His passing is of course deeply mourned, and there will certainly be a lot of uncertainties ahead without the King’s silent but steadying influence.

“But Thailand has been a united, independent nation for centuries, longer than any other ASEAN country, so the Thai people will simply go through the transition in their own way and start a new era. Tourism has gone through so many upheavals in Thailand in the past decade and always recovered quickly, so I don’t see any reasons why it should not continue to grow.”

Hamish Keith, group managing director, Exo Travel, Thailand
“Everyone at EXO Travel are extremely saddened by the passing of our beloved King. His Majesty has been the guiding light for everyone in Thailand and the driving force behind everything that is good in Thailand including our tourism industry.

“He was a great leader and for those of us who have been fortunate enough to live in Thailand during his reign have had the privileged opportunity to learn from his teachings and actions. The King of Thailand was the father of the nation and a shining example for everyone to follow and the greatest respect we can pay our King is to honour his legacy and do the best we can to follow his example as a leader. All of us at EXO share in the grief of the Thai nation and offer our deepest condolences to everyone in Thailand.”

Darren Ng, managing director, TTG Asia Media, Singapore
“My deepest condolences to our Thai partners and people of Thailand for the loss of their beloved King. His Majesty’s influence and aspirations for the country has a large part to play in the way the rest of the world has come to know and love of modern Thailand. I believe that his legacy will live on and that the Thai spirit of resilience, sincerity and hospitality will be testimony of this. Thailand, please know that your loss is felt beyond your borders, and that my colleagues and I across Singapore, Hong Kong and the rest of Asia-Pacific mourn along with you.”

Michael Chow, group publisher, TTG Travel Trade Publishing, Singapore
“His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be remembered as a wise monarch and unifying figure who devoted his life to bettering the lives of his people. On behalf of TTG Asia Media and my TTG Travel Trade Publishing team across the region, I extend my deepest condolences to our Thai partners and the people of Thailand for their loss.”

An official one year period of mourning will come into effect from October 14. Visitors travelling to Thailand should exercise sensitivity and respect the loss of the Thai people. Across Thailand, entertainment venues, hotels and restaurants will remain open during the period of mourning but will be subdued. All planned festivities in Thailand will be cancelled over the next 30 days. The Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok will be temporarily closed for seven days.

New research from youth adventure tour operator Geckos Adventures Australia found a majority of American millennials are ready to bring forward plans for travel to escape this year’s election politics.

Four in 10 of 2,000 American millennials (18-30) surveyed in September said they would do a ‘Trump Jump’ if Donald Trump gets elected, while three in 10 plan a ‘Hillary Hop’ if Hillary Clinton becomes the next POTUS (president of the United States).

A ‘Trump Jump’ and ‘Hillary Hop’ were defined as “time abroad, travelling, taking a gap year or going overseas”.

Key findings of the survey include:

• Nearly 58% agreed that they need at least a holiday or vacation to forget about the politics going on at the current moment
• 63% of millennials surveyed believe Americans are more open to living abroad and travelling because of the current political situation
• More than eight in 10 are utterly dismayed or frustrated with their choices for this year’s presidential elections, while just one in 10 expressed excitement and optimism about the election
• 61% are worried about the election
• 70% are planning to vote (13% are not, 17% are unsure)

One in three have become so dismayed with the political options on either side they are looking into moving abroad permanently.

Top regions cited for their re-ignited travel plans include Canada (47%), Europe (37%), Australia (15%), Asia (12%) and Mexico (12%).

The company said it commissioned the survey not only to learn more about millennials and their travel habits, but their desires and motivations – why they travel and where they want to go. The findings confirmed its “suspicions about an increased desire of American millennials to travel as the US election continues to be in the global spotlight”, said a spokesperson.

It also wanted to get American millennials excited about the prospect of travel and show the doors that travel can open up for this age group especially, she added.

Geckos, part of Intrepid Group, last month had repositioned itself as a tour company focusing on the under 30 crowd. In 2017, all of its trips will open only to travellers aged 18 to 29, down from a previous age cap of 39.

Along with the change, it introduced 20 new trips in 2017 that will cater to youths who are seeking grassroots cultural experiences and adventure. These include treks to Everest Base Camp and tours throughout North America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Intrepid Group’s managing director James Thornton, 35, said: “This move is not about big bus tours and party trips in Europe; it’s about transforming Geckos into a brand that provides the next generation of travellers with a responsible small group alternative.

“While there are other travel brands with age limits, there is nobody offering a dedicated youth product to travellers who want an authentic experience that gives back to the places they visit and people they meet.”

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), youth travel is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism, representing 23 per cent of more than one billion international tourists each year.

Millennials, along with Gen Z, who will soon age into the Geckos target market, are known for their socially-conscious, authentic and pragmatic approach to travel, giving experiences higher importance than material goods, said the company.

Tokyo Disneyland’s daytime parade

Japan’s two largest theme parks, Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland, have reported sharply differing visitor figures over the summer months with one seeing a sharp rise in visitorship while the other has seen numbers dwindle.

Universal Studios Japan, in Osaka, saw more than seven million visitors in the April-September period, up 500,000 from the same period last year and setting a new record for the second consecutive year.

Visitor numbers were boosted by a number of events to mark the theme park’s 15th anniversary, as well as the opening in March of the Flying Dinosaur, a new rollercoaster.

In contrast, visitors to Disneyland and DisneySea in Tokyo fell a combined 43,000 over a six-month period, according to owners Oriental Land Co.

The figure was the fourth-highest in the park’s history, but it was also the third consecutive first-half decline. And even a number of special events, including DisneySea’s 15th anniversary celebrations, were not enough of a lure.

Data suggests that the decline have been among domestic travellers.

“While these special event and shows were well received, the high number of rainy days and extreme weather conditions during this period were factors that resulted in the total combined attendance,” Oriental Land said in a statement.

In April, the company raised the admission fees for the parks, with an adult’s one-day ticket hiked from Y6,900 (US$66.50) to Y7,400.

“We do not believe the rate revision of tickets has had any influence on attendance,” a company spokesman told TTG Asia.

Oriental Land says it plans to introduce new attractions in the coming months to win back customers, including the Woodchuck Greeting Trail in November and Frozen Forever starting January 13.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Tui UK & Ireland has announced it will launch packages to Vietnam as part of its winter 2017-18 programme as well as an online itinerary planner for its upcoming range of longhaul multi-centre holidays.

The operator’s Thomson and First Choice brands will both offer 14-night all-inclusive stays to the country’s largest island, Phu Quoc, using the first direct flights to the destination from Gatwick Airport on its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Tui said it would further grow its longhaul product by offering its summer Caribbean destinations of St Lucia and Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba to its winter programme.

A new range of longhaul city breaks are also due to be introduced to the 2017-18 winter programme with destinations such as Las Vegas, New York, Miami, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur bookable.

Read the rest of the article here.

By Tom Parry

PATA Travel Mart 2017 (PTM 2017) will be held in Macau from September 13-15, 2017.

Hosted by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), next year’s event will mark the annual travel trade show’s 40th edition and the second time it is to be held in Macau.

“It is an exciting prospect to be returning to Macau for the 40th anniversary of PATA Travel Mart, having previously held a successful Mart there in 2010,” said PATA CEO Mario Hardy.

“MGTO has been a valuable member of PATA since 1958 and has sponsored the PATA Gold Awards for the past 21 years. Next year’s PTM provides us with the perfect opportunity to showcase that amazing relationship and highlight one of the most unique destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Macau has undergone a transformation in recent years with the opening of more family-friendly attractions and hotels there while emphasising less on gaming, as had been the focus in the past.

Earlier this year, the Wynn Palace and the Parisian Macao opened. While still offering casino gaming facilities, more activities are being provided that caters to a broader range of leisure travellers, such as the Parisian Macao’s replica Eiffel Tower offering panoramic observation decks and Studio City Macau’s Batman Dark Flight 4D flight simulation ride.

“PATA Travel Mart mobilises a relevant contingent of travel trade stakeholders from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world and we are enthusiastic with the perspective of providing a first-hand update about the significant developments in our city since we last met in Macao for the PATA Travel Mart 2010 and in 2005 for the PATA Annual Conference,” said MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes.

PTM 2016, held in BSD-Serpong, Indonesia attracted 1,358 delegates from 63 destinations, facilitating over 10,000 pre-matched appointments, face-to-face meetings, educational forums and networking functions.

Sri Lanka is deferring a proposal to terminate the controversial minimum hotel room rates policy in Colombo, which was enforced some years ago to deter undercutting.

Earlier in July, Tourism minister John Amaratunga announced that the policy will be abolished by March 31, 2017. But earlier this week, he said that there has been a rethinking and that it may now only happen in two years’ time.

Hotels in Colombo have expressed mixed feelings over the development.

On Wednesday, president of Colombo City Hotels Association M. Shanthikumar told TTG Asia that most hotels in the capital were opposed to the removal. “We wrote to the minister urging him to keep the rates at least for another two years before making a call.”

Other hoteliers said any change in the minimum rate structure would severely impact the service charges for staff.

According to current rules, five-star hotels have to charge at minimum US$125 per night plus taxes, which works out to be US$185, while three-star rates have to be at minimum US$80 per night inclusive of taxes.

“If there is free pricing, small and medium scale hotels will suffer badly as five-star properties will start charging the same rates,” said a senior manager at a smaller hotel in Colombo, who declined to be named.

The scheme was first brought into force after the May 2009 end of the civil war, after smaller hotels complained of excessive price cuts by larger properties.

The Tokyo Skytree is stepping up efforts to attract foreign visitors ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

According to owner Tobu Tower Skytree, only 15 per cent of visitors came from abroad in fiscal 2015.

“We want more international tourists in the lead up to the games,” said Tobu’s spokesperson Sho Toyoshima. The plan is to make it more accessible for foreigners and at the same time hold more Japanese cultural events onsite.

Earlier this month, Skytree launched Tembo Kabuki, a video collage of Kabuki performances by renowned troupe Heisei Nakamura-Za, displayed daily against the night sky on the tower’s 350m-high round theatre.

October also saw the start of a limited-period behind-the-scenes tour. The idea is to allow visitors to explore areas that are normally inaccessible and gain insights into the world’s tallest tower.

These offerings build on the tower’s Fast Skytree Ticket product, sold only to foreign visitors since February, and which allows immediate admission to the viewing deck.

“We found that many international visitors had missed out on other plans they had made due to their wait for admission or simply gave up and went away. With this ticket, they can now get up the tower smoothly and easily,” explained Toyoshima, adding that more initiatives are to come.