MOST domestic flights at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport now operate from the partially reopened Terminal 2 since December 24, 2015.

Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, president of Airports of Thailand, revealed that the terminal had undergone renovation works and is set to help ease traffic at the overcrowded Terminal 1 which now takes care of Don Muang’s international flights. Terminal 2 will fully open in February.

According to Petch Chancharoen, director of Don Muang Airport, Terminal 1 only has the capacity to serve 18.5 million passengers a year. In 2015, the estimated traffic at Don Muang stood at 28.5 million.

The reopening of Terminal 2, with a capacity of 11.5 million passengers a year, will increase the total serving capacity of Don Muang to 30 million passengers a year.

Going forward, Airports of Thailand states that more renovation works and the construction of a new Junction Terminal will be undertaken.

By Athip Jittarerk

THE recently set up Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau has identified several initiatives targeted at improving ground services and product development, slated to be introduced in the city in the first quarter of 2016.

These include positioning Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia’s cuisine haven; introducing weekly cooking classes for international tourists and spouses of MICE delegates; launching two new heritage walking trails; creating culture hubs in the city including Central Market and Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre; publishing a luxury tourism product directory; forming a business events desk within the bureau to coordinate business events in the city; and offering short courses for front-liners in the hospitality industry, including taxi drivers, aimed at improving service quality.

Noraza Yusof, general manager at Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau explained that in 2016, “the bureau will also promote medical and educational tourism in a strategic manner, and attractions in the city will be graded to ensure quality are on par with global standards.”

The bureau was set up on November 11, 2015 with an initial funding of RM16 million (US$3.63 million) and is essentially a rebrand and replacement of the Tourism Unit of City Hall. “The organisation structure provides greater focus on sustainable development of tourism segments and key support functions,” said Mohd Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz, mayor of Kuala Lumpur.

An advisory board provides guidance to the bureau and comprises representation from the city police, the Tourism and Culture Ministry, the Land Public Transport Commission and representatives of tourism linked associations.

Adam Kamal, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association deputy president 2, said: “Noraza is a capable and experienced person to helm the bureau and under her leadership, I am sure the bureau will meet all that it has set out to do. It is good to have a dedicated government body to systematically develop and promote tourism in the city as Kuala Lumpur is the main gateway.”

MYANMAR’s Ministry of Immigration and Population announced yesterday new visa regulations effective immediately.

Under the new system, there are 12 types of entry visas: Diplomatic; official; tourist; social; journalist; crew; workshop; business; employment; religious; educational; and transit.

The diplomatic visa is free and the duration offered is based on the length of duty required. The 28-day official and tourist visas cost US$20, while the 70-day business, employment, religious and education visas cost US$36. Meanwhile, the 28-day social, journalist, crew and workshop visas cost US$36. The 24-hours transit visa costs US$18.

Applications for business, workshop, crew and transit visas can be obtained on arrival at Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport while other visas can be applied at Myanmar embassies worldwide.

There are also three types of multiple-entry visas. Multiple-journey special re-entry visas cost US$180, while special re-entry visas cost US$54 for permitted period. Six-month re-entry visas cost US$4.

Re-entry visas can be applied in Yangon, at the Foreign Affairs Branch located at 122 Pansodan Street, Kyauktada Township.

Phyoe Wai Yar Zar, chairman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing said the new visa system was introduced to better align with ASEAN standards.

“I find this new visa system will have no significant effect on the leisure market, but it is diversifying visa categories for work and business. It will likely draw more business travelers to the country,” he added.

Artist impression of Tanjong Pagar Centre

SINGAPORE and Kuala Lumpur will be welcoming a new Sofitel property in 4Q2016 and 2H2016 respectively.

The 222-key Sofitel Singapore City Centre will be located between Chinatown and the CBD, and will be part of the upcoming multi-billion dollar Tanjong Pagar Centre, which will be the tallest tower in the city, standing at 290 metres, when completed. The tower also features a residential and office tower, as well as retail and event spaces.

Meanwhile, the 312-room Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara is part of a new 3.4 hectares integrated development in Damansara City. The development also consists of two office towers, two luxury high-rise residences and a F&B-centred lifestyle mall.

The two new properties will be managed by AccorHotels as signed in a deal with developer GuocoLand.

RAYANI Air, Malaysia’s newest airline, began operations last month with services linking Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi and Kota Bharu.

The full-service carrier is positioned as a Shariah-compliant airline, with onboard food and beverages prepared by halal sources, a strict no alcohol policy, prayers recited on every route and female Muslim cabin crew donning hijabs.

Sumar Lee Hashim Lee, COO of Rayani Air said average load factor at the start will be low as operations began towards the end of the Malaysian school holidays, but from Chinese New Year onwards, the average load is expected to reach 50 to 60 per cent of capacity.

Jaafar Zamhari, managing director of Rayani Air, said the airline is operating with a fleet of two B737-400s, both 22-year-old aircraft.

Jaafar was formerly the alternate representative of Malaysia on the Council of ICAO, from 2008 to 2011. In September 2015, he retired from the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia and joined Rayani Air.

Going forward, the airline plans to add two B737-800 aircrafts to its fleet this year and increase its domestic network to include Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. There are also plans to extend its network overseas to Jakarta and Manila as well as cities in China and the Middle East.

Langkawi International Airport is Rayani Air’s current home base with klia2 standing as its secondary hub.

When asked why Langkawi, Jaafar replied: “There are a lot of charters coming to Langkawi and we hope to tap on the tourists using these charters. Somebody must start something over there.”

The airline also hopes to offer charter services in the future.

MALAYSIA has introduced e-visa facilities for travellers from China since January 2, 2016, but the process has proven troublesome as applicants risk losing their passports, opined some Malaysian agents.

Applications must be made online, then after five working days and upon confirmation, the applicant will have to send their passport to a visa centre in China and pay RMB$50 for it to be couriered back to them. The visa fee remains at RMB$80 and processing costs RMB$120.

Mint Leong, secretary-general of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, said that the old system was safer as travellers could get travel agents to handle their visas for them.

“Now there is the danger of the passport getting lost in the post. We are not seen as being tourist-friendly at all. If the system is not improved soon, we will lose market share to neighbouring countries,” she said.

John Chan, business consultant, Kris International Traveltours, opined: “The introduction of e-visa is a step in the right direction. However, the application process needs to be improved. A shorter approval process is needed, and safety and security procedures must be factored in.

“The Australian visa application procedure is a good benchmark. It is an efficient system where application procedures are hassle free, response is fast and applicants can print out the approved online visa themselves.”