The Dhauli Peace Temple in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

ODISHA’s Department of Tourism (DoT) hopes to lure more South-east Asian arrivals by promoting its Buddhist sites, especially the Ratnagiri-Lalitgiri-Udayagiri-Langudi-Dhauli circuit.

“Odisha is home to about 10 important Buddhist sites. Buddhist destinations like Bodh Gaya (in Bihar state) receive a good number of foreign tourists, (hence we are trying to promote) Odisha’s Buddhist heritage to the South-east Asian market. At present, we only get a small number of tourists from these markets,” said UK Pati, deputy director, Odisha Tourism.

Pati adds that promotional efforts will include roadshows in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam taking place after May. Fam trips for travel agents are also in the works.

However, the lack of direct flights has been a stumbling block. Currently, the DoT is negotiating with airlines like SilkAir, Tigerair and AirAsia to begin services from South-east Asia to Biju Patnaik International Airport in Odisha’s state capital Bhubaneswar.

“If we can get direct connectivity, say from Bhubaneswar to Bangkok, it will be a game changer. We are also open to connectivity via other Indian cities such as Kolkata or Hyderabad. For example, IndiGo flies direct from Kolkata to Bangkok. (Perhaps) they can have a stopover at Bhubaneswar as well,” added RK Patnayak, tourist officer, Odisha Tourism.

In 2015, Odisha recorded about 74,000 international arrivals, a growth of 6.5 per cent over the previous year. A record growth of eight per cent in expected this year.

New Halal section at Manila Marriott Hotel 

MANILA Marriott Hotel has become the first hotel in the Philippines to achieve a certification from CrescentRating, a leading authority on halal-friendly travel.

The property achieved a rating of five – the highest possible rating being seven – for its services and facilities that cater to a Muslim clientele, such as a halal food section at its F&B outlet Marriott Café.

Granting hotels in the Philippines a CrescentRating is part of a recent initiative by The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDoT) to diversify its visitor arrivals by attracting Muslim visitors from neighbouring South-east Asia and the Middle East.

The PDoT has also partnered with CrescentRating on a series of activities to increase the awareness of the availability of halal food and mosques in the Philippines.

“Our Philippine Halal Tourism project has broken real ground and set very realistic targets to begin the important work of making halal a real industry in the Philippines,” said tourism secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr.

“It is important because it is a given in the Filipino culture that our best and most important welcome to any visitor is with food. And if we are not halal, there is a segment of society in the world that we are not extending a proper welcome to.”

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating said that more hotels in the Philippines will soon get halal certified by them.

According to the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2016 report, the Muslim travel market is recognised as a key growth tourism sector projected to be worth more than US$200 billion by 2020.

The Philippines currently ranks 46th on the GMTI list.

Wickremesinghe: The government will absorb the airline’s losses and debts

THE Sri Lankan government is looking for suitable partners to manage its ailing national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, which has an accumulated debt of US$3.5 billion.

A top government source told TTG Asia e-Daily that expressions of interest from interested investors will be called in two weeks. Further details were not given at press time.

Earlier on Tuesday this week, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told reporters that the government would absorb the airline’s losses and debts. Promising to retain the airline’s 7,800 workforce, the government has also said that it will finance and manage the airline until October this year when a viable partner is found.

He said: “If we don’t solve the issue of debt in SriLankan Airlines now, the airline will go bankrupt and our tourism sector will also collapse. This should not be allowed to happen.”

Wickremesinghe added that an order for four new A350 aircraft has also been cancelled in the first cost-cutting step, halting its fleet renewal plans announced earlier this year.

The cabinet of ministers have also agreed to enter into a partnership to manage the airline. This is similar to an earlier arrangement with Emirates, before the Dubai-based carrier exited in 2008, which had a 43.6 per cent stake plus management.

A meeting between Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker and Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo in January 2016 had triggered speculation that the Doha-based carrier may be eyeing SriLankan Airlines.

According to its last 2014/15 annual report, SriLankan Airlines suffered a loss of 16.3 billion rupees (US$111.8 million), while assets stood at 78.2 billion rupees.

The airline has been struggling since 2008 due to political interference in operations, mismanagement, previously high oil prices and competition, particularly from the Gulf carriers on the lucrative Middle Eastern routes.

Paul Richardson, newly-appointed executive vice president and COO of the Outrigger Enterprises group

OUTRIGGER Enterprises group has appointed Paul Richardson as its executive vice president and COO.

Based in Hawaii, Richardson will be responsible for the company’s global operations spanning the Asia-Pacific, Oceania and Indian Ocean regions, provide guidance on key topics and issues affecting the company, and oversee and direct strategic operational leadership.

Prior to joining Outrigger, he was based in Shanghai as COO Greater China for AccorHotels. Richardson had also held senior management positions with Starwood Hotels and Resorts over the 10 years that he was with them.

Wai Mun Wong is the new vice president, global supplier management, Asia-Pacific of Carlson Wagonlit Travel

CARLSON Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has appointed Wai Mun Wong as vice president, global supplier management, Asia-Pacific. She was formerly its interim head.

Based in Singapore, Wong will be responsible for developing partnerships with suppliers, and supervising airline, hotel, car rental and global distribution system agreements in Asia-Pacific.

She has been a key member of CWT’s global supplier management team since 2012 and has over 22 years of experience in the travel industry.

Wong will report to Scott Brennan, executive vice president and head, global supplier management.