Taipei, Taiwan

THAILAND’s outbound agencies should prepare for a mini price war as travellers look to take advantage of Taiwan’s visa exemptions, industry figures warn.

Tourists from Thailand and Brunei will be able to visit Taiwan visa-free for up to 30 days from Aug 1 under a one-year trial expected to bring in an extra 280,000 visitors and US$407 million in revenue.

Kritchanat Meesamran, managing director of Sun Smile Holiday and Travel Company and vice-president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), said operators would have to keep prices low even with extra demand.

“From now on, tour companies will have to compete on price for tour packages to Taiwan,” he said, adding that agents can expect a shift towards more last-minute bookings.

The decision came as Taipei seeks to arrest a slide in tourism revenue and was announced just a day before a deadly bus fire killed 24 Chinese tourists, a tour guide and the driver as they made their way to Taiwan’s international airport.

The move puts Taiwan in direct competition with South Korea and Japan for Thai tourists, which respectively offer 90-day and 15-day exemptions. Package tours to Taiwan are relatively cheap, and the stable currency makes it an attractive option.

KTK Tour Enterprise’s managing director Surawat Akaraworamat said he had no doubt Taiwan would soon threaten South Korea and Japan, which are major draws for Thais.

He said: “(With the visa exemption), Thai travel to Taiwan will increase for sure.”

The TTAA is anticipating a rise in outbound travel of between five to seven per cent for 2016, with Kasikorn Research Centre estimating Thais will make 7.4 million trips.

NATIONS worldwide have issued travel alerts to Turkey this week in the wake of a series of terror attacks and a failed military coup in the country.

The US Embassy in Ankara released a statement yesterday that the threat of terrorist activities, whether by firearms, explosives, vehicular assault, or other means, “remains elevated” in Turkey and that westerners have been “explicitly targeted”.

“Attacks in Turkey and other countries may come at any time without advanced warning,” it added.

The US Department of State also earlier this week advised its citizens to avoid travel to Turkey at this point in time in light of the July 15 coup attempt and recent attacks in the region.

“Extremists have targeted large sporting events, theatres, open markets, aviation services, transportation systems, and public venues where people congregate as well as religious sites and high-profile events (throughout Europe),” it warned, adding that southeastern Turkey should be particularly avoided.

Authorities in the UK have also issued updated advisories yesterday, pointing to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s declaration of a three-month state of emergency in the country as they fight to fully reestablish order post-coup.

As for terrorist threats, the UK government warns that “there is a heightened risk of terrorist attack against the aviation industry in Turkey”, and that the cities of Ankara and Istanbul, as well as the south and eastern parts of the country, are especially at risk.

In Asia, Singapore updated its travel notice to Turkey yesterday due to the many attacks in Ankara and Istanbul that took place since the start of the year.

Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned in a statement: “Singaporeans should reconsider the need for non-essential travel to Ankara and Istanbul at this point in time. Singaporeans are further advised to avoid travel to the border regions between Turkey and Syria due to the unpredictable security situation associated with the ongoing conflict in Syria.”

Singapore also raised a travel notice to Belgium this week due to a significant and probable terrorism threat there.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has downgraded their threat level for travel to Turkey from the highest warning level of red to the second highest level of orange after the attempted coup there was quelled.

Still, the orange alert level indicates that Taiwanese citizens should avoid all unnecessary travel to the European nation.

SINGAPORE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a notice for all Singaporeans travelling to or residing in Belgium, advising them to “take all necessary precautions for their personal safety.”

The official statement, released earlier this week, comes as Belgium’s National Terrorism Threat Level remains at a high three out of four, which indicates a significant and probable threat in the country.

Police operations targeting terrorist operations are ongoing in the European nation.

“Singaporeans should remain vigilant and where possible, avoid crowded places, public gatherings, and areas where there are ongoing police operations. They should also purchase comprehensive travel insurance and be familiar with the terms and coverage,” the statement added.

The Belgian capital was attacked by terrorists earlier in March this year, and authorities have been on high alert ever since. Neighbouring France was also hit just last week, in the city of Nice, during Bastille Day, which resulted in 84 dead.

Belgium’s prime minister Charles Michel said they will be on guard during the country’s national day celebrations tomorrow, July 21.

Singaporeans in Belgium are strongly encouraged to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Those in need of urgent consular assistance may contact the Singapore Embassy in Brussels or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office.

CHEF Esben Holmboe Bang from Oslo’s Maaemo – the first restaurant in Norway to garner three Michelin stars – will be the guest chef for Resorts World Sentosa’s (RWS) third instalment of the Art at Curate dining series.

Gourmands in Singapore can expect creations from Bang such as Emulsion of raw Norwegian oysters from Bømlo, warm sauce made from mussels and dill; Scallop from the coast of Trondheim grilled in the shell over burning embers, winter apples and celeriac; Skate with fermented white asparagus, caviar and ramson. His signature dishes Langoustine “signature”, pickled spruce and rapeseed; and Brown butter ice cream, molasses and roasted hazelnuts will also be featured.

Said Bang: “During my guest stint at Art at Curate, I would like guests to experience a connection with Norway and its history. I am looking forward to bringing a taste of Norway to Singapore.”

Listed in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Chefs in the World in 2013, Bang works with seasonal produce and focuses on retaining the natural flavours, taste and quality of raw ingredients.

His restaurant, Maaemo, first opened its doors in December 2010 and earned two Michelin stars in 2012, a mere 15 months after opening. Earlier this year, it became the first and only restaurant in Norway to receive Michelin’s top rating of three stars.

Bang’s menu will run from September 16-25 at Curate, a restaurant at RWS which boasts an evolving lineup of visiting Michelin chefs from around the globe. Prices range from S$280 (US$207) for a four-course lunch with wine pairing to S$480 for an eight-course dinner with wine and champagne pairing.

Bernold Schroeder, CEO, PPHG

PAN Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has finally planted a flag in the Chinese capital, following years of operations in second- and third-tier cities in China, specifically Suzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen and Ningbo.

Pan Pacific Beijing, the newest hotel to rise in Xicheng District come 1H2017, will feature 223 spacious rooms and suites, comprehensive event venues including a ballroom with a double volume ceiling, an exclusive club lounge offering views that extend to the Forbidden City, recreational facilities and a selection of dining outlets including the brand’s signature Hai Tien Lo Chinese restaurant and Keyaki Japanese restaurant.

In an interview with TTG Asia e-Daily, PPHG’s CEO Bernold Schroeder, said the group has “always wanted to bring the Pan Pacific brand to Beijing”.

Although Beijing is already home to several international hotel brands, Schroeder is confident that the upscale property will succeed in standing out from the crowd.

He said: “While the majority of international hotels have traditionally been located on the eastern part of the city, Pan Pacific Beijing is one of the few located to the west of Tiananmen Square towards the Beijing Financial Street, where government and corporate financial institutions congregate.

“It takes just 10 minutes to walk from our hotel to reach some of the world’s largest banks. Chang’an Avenue, which forms the city’s main east-west axis, links our hotel to Tiananmen Square and puts us within a 2.5km walking radius to Beijing’s historical and cultural monuments, so we’ve really got the best of both worlds.”

Artist impression of Pan Pacific Beijing

He also believes that Pan Pacific Beijing’s F&B offerings will put the hotel in good stead among the competition.

PPHG’s entry into Beijing also signals the company’s intention to expand the Pan Pacific brand into other key first-tier Chinese cities.

Schroeder pointed out that location is key in the group’s search for a suitable destination to dive into.

“Since we’re focused on building a network of hotels in key gateway cities, location is one of the most important considerations. For instance, Pan Pacific London, which opens in 2019, sits in the CBD near Liverpool Street station.

“Should a gem of a location like what Pan Pacific Beijing has were to show up in Shanghai, one of China’s financial centres and an international gateway city in its own right, we will be excited to explore it further,” he said, adding that future openings will be a mix of hotel, serviced suites, and hybrids, the current types of properties Pan Pacific now has in China.

He acknowledges that China’s hotel market is a “challenging” one due to an “oversupply situation”.

“However, PPHG is investing for the long-term and China’s future is very bright. We are seeing a gradual increase in occupancy rates due to urbanisation, which generates a constant demand for hotels and serviced apartments especially in the first-tier cities, while inbound tourism continues to grow,” he concluded.