PREFERRED Hotels & Resorts yesterday entered into a global partnership effective through 2019 with UnionPay International as part of the hospitality group’s ongoing efforts to further penetrate the Chinese market.

With a growing number of Chinese travellers “(making) their purchasing decisions based solely on where they can use their UnionPay cards”, Preferred had spent six months ensuring all its member hotels were equipped to accept the payment method.

As part of the agreement, UnionPay will provide Preferred with exposure through promotional campaigns such as banner advertising on UnionPayIntl.com and statement inserts at affiliate banks across China, which will rotate on a quarterly basis; and educate cardholders on the offerings at Preferred properties.

Kicking off the partnership, Preferred will participate in UnionPay International’s ongoing Enjoy the World Your Way consumer promotion, extending cardholders a special discount of up to 15 per cent at 125 participating properties located across several of the top 50 most popular international destinations for Chinese travellers, from Lake Como, Italy, to Los Angeles, California.

Among other recent efforts by Preferred targeting Chinese travellers are the launch of a website in simplified Chinese (www.preferredhotels.cn); dynamic social media campaigns on Sina Weibo and WeChat; a partnership with Air China; and booking connectivity with key OTAs and China’s GDS.

This year, the company also hired new associates based across Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou to handle public relations, social media, travel trade relations, and sales responsibilities, and signed three new member hotels in China – Longemont Shanghai, Longemont Hotel Chengdu and Wanda Reign Chengdu Hotel.

THE Indian government is looking to extend e-visa facilities to citizens of 36 more countries including Italy, Iran, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Morocco, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Morocco.

India’s ministry of tourism has sent a proposal to the ministry of home affairs and it is likely to be cleared before the beginning of the October inbound season, said an informed source.

Launched in November 2014, the e-visa scheme is at present available for citizens of 150 countries.

“(This) is a definite boost for the tourism industry as it makes travelling to India more convenient, less time consuming and hassle free. It is another positive move from the government that is clearly seeking to make tourism one of the key drivers of economic growth in the country,” said Sharat Dhall, president, Yatra.com.

However, some tour operators said that there is a need to improve the scheme first before extending it to more countries.

Subhash Goyal, chairman, STIC Travel Group, said: “There is a need to allow multiple entry on e-visas so that tourists looking to visit neighbouring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka can come back to India.”

A total of 36,982 tourists arrived in June using e-visas compared to 15,557 in June the previous year, a growth of 137 per cent.

Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 1 of Taoyuan International Airport

THE Plaza Premium Group has made its first foray into Taiwan with the opening of four airport lounges at Taoyuan International Airport.

Located at the departure terminals in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, the new lounges – decked out with a timber and trees theme – span over 2,500m² and can comfortably seat 600 in total.

Facilities include the brand’s signature honeycomb seating, hot showers, private resting suites, VIP rooms, meeting rooms, along with the availability of electrical outlets, international TV channels, newspapers and magazines, and complimentary Wi-Fi. There will also be hot food available, freshly prepared at live-cooking stations.

The company has also sponsored two Travellers Experience Zones, one in each terminal, to let travellers experience various lounge facilities.

At the opening ceremony, Song Hoi-see, founder and CEO of the group, said: “Plaza Premium Lounge in Taipei is the first project of our group in Taiwan. We have invested a lot in Taipei by introducing four cutting-edge Plaza Premium Lounges to facilitate travellers departing from, transiting through and arriving at Taipei.”

The basic lounge package in either terminal starts from NT$1,300 (US$40.50) for two hours.

Travellers at Siem Reap International Airport

CAMBODIA’s increasing air connectivity is the key driver accounting for the South-east Asian nation’s continued tourism growth, according to local tour operators.

The latest figures from Cambodia Airports (CA) show a five per cent year-on-year increase in international visitors landing at the country’s three international airports between January and June with more than 3.4 million passing through Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh airports.

Phnom Penh International Airport saw the largest increase of 10 per cent.

“Cambodia is increasingly connected with the rest of the world with the country’s three international airports opening the country up to the growing middle-class of neighbouring Asian countries as well as to the rest of the world,” said Jo Crisp, general manager of Peak Cambodia DMC.

This year has seen a raft of direct flights launched, including between Sihanoukville and China, and Sihanoukville and Vietnam.

Amy McLoughlin, co-founder of Ayana Journeys, said: “Increased accessibility to the country that is both affordable and more direct is encouraging visitors tight on time seeking to get to the heart of the destination as quickly as possible.”

In addition to more connections, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh airports recently underwent a US$100 million upgrading programme to expand terminals and double capacity to five million passengers each.