TODAY Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu kicked off a new shuttle rail service to link southernmost state Johor Bahru and neighbouring Singapore.

According to Singapore broadsheet The Straits Times, the train departs Woodlands Checkpoint seven times a day and JB Sentral seven times during peak hours.

A one-way ticket for the five-minute journey is S$5 (US$3.70) in Singapore and RM5 (US$1.30) in Malaysia.

THE AFC Asian Cup and ICC World Cricket Cup hosted in Australia in January and February to March respectively, provided a major boost to the country’s visitor numbers and profile, according to Tourism Australia.

Speaking at a media conference at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Melbourne last week, Tourism Australia’s managing director John O’Sullivan said the AFC Asian Cup exceeded all expectations, with ticket sales reaching A$20 million (US$15.3 million) and a 15 per cent jump in arrivals.

“We saw increased growth out of Japan and South Korea, two markets that have not enjoyed the same growth rates as other Asian markets in recent times,” he said.

“Furthermore, the broadcast of the tournament reached an audience of 2.5 billion viewers helping to put our country top of mind in our most significant markets in Asia.”

O’Sullivan also said that the latest arrivals figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics had recorded a 46 per cent increase in the number of visitors from India during the month of March. Australia’s High Commission in India also found a 37 per cent increase in visa applications in January.

In addition, India’s MakeMyTrip.com reported overall growth of almost 50 per cent for February and March.

Reflecting on sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast in 2018, O’Sullivan said: “These are all events which typically attract international visitors who stay longer, travel further and spend more.

“That’s a real sweet spot for any NTO and why we’re so focused upon developing a targeted event strategy to maximise the tourism potential and economic return of Australia’s year round calendar of top-quality events.”

TAIWAN-BASED China Airlines will start a new service on the Taipei-Melbourne-Christchurch route on October 25.

An Airbus A330-300 aircraft will be deployed on the thrice-weekly service, with 30 seats in business class and 277 seats in economy.

Melbourne Airport executive corporate & public affairs, Carly Dixon, said: “Taiwan is an important market and it’s growing strongly…This new service means that people travelling to and from Taiwan will have an easier journey as they no longer need to transit through other cities.

“Victorians will also benefit with access to China Airlines’ extensive global network, including the increasingly popular destinations of Japan and South Korea, while also adding another option for travel to Christchurch.”

China Airlines’ general manager, David Wu, commented: “By the end of 2015 we will be serving five cities in the Australasian region, providing 14 flights a week between Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan.”

Taipei is the state of Victoria’s 14th largest source market.

MANDARIN Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) has announced its second luxury property in Beijing will open in 2017, located in the Wangfujing district of the Chinese capital.

Occupying the top two floors of WF Central, Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing is owned by Wangfu Central Real Estate Development Company, Hongkong Land.

The hotel will feature garden terraces and 74 guestrooms with views of the Forbidden City, two restaurants, a bar, indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and spa.

“Beijing continues to develop in stature as one of the world’s leading destinations, and we are delighted at the opportunity of opening a second hotel in this important capital city,” said Edouard Ettedgui, group chief executive of MOHG.

The hotel company is also set to manage a luxury 241-room hotel as part of the CCTV project, scheduled to open in 2016.

TRAVEL consultants in the Philippines are up in arms against Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Lufthansa, saying the airlines are eroding their bottom lines through recent initiatives.

PAL slashed commissions for travel agencies from five per cent of every international ticket sold to 3.5 per cent in March, and then zero on June 1, while commissions on domestic ticket sales were also scrapped in May, earning the ire of travel agencies.

“We’re wholesalers. (Airlines) don’t protect us,” complained Julie Maballo, operations manager of New Era Travel & Tours who, like other wholesalers, is liaising with PAL to restore the commission.

Taher Ben Hamida, director of IATA-accredited Galactica Travels, accused PAL of “killing the travel industry”. He said: “I want to make a mark-up of my own. But with no commission, I cannot mark prices up.”

Ben Hamida added that since the Civil Aeronautics Board has a say in airline ticket pricing, the board should also be looking into the current matter.

Meanwhile, some travel agencies are refocusing on other aspects of business to survive. For instance Ramon Pamintuan, operations manager of Travel People, said his company is now paying more attention to ancillary services such as hotels, travel insurance, and visa processing.

TTG Asia e-Daily understands that PAL has claimed it cannot compete with the lower priced airfares online but is thinking of reinstating the commission or giving travel consultants special rates.

PAL is currently offering incentives in lieu of commission on low-traffic routes such as the Manila-London sector.

On the other hand, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, Philippine IATA Travel Association and Philippine Marine Travel Agents Association are lobbying against Lufthansa Group’s Distribution Cost Charge.

The three organisations said they support booking via GDSs and pointed out in a press release: “The only reason provided under the announcement of Lufthansa is merely to provide the group’s profitability and refocusing revenue earnings from the sale on flight tickets and not necessarily on consumer experience enhancements.”

IN WHAT has been called the largest collaboration among the three to date, Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) are joining hands to take the Singapore brand to leisure and MICE travellers around the world.

According to a joint media release, the two-year tie-up will see each partner invest S$20 million (US$14.9 million) for promotions in 15 markets worldwide.

Funding will be used to enhance the visitor experience in Singapore and Singapore Changi Airport and step up marketing efforts to consumers directly and through more trade partnerships. Business travellers and the MICE segment are also targets in the new marketing effort.

A key highlight is the Singapore Stopover Premium package, an upgraded version of the Singapore Stopover Holiday, which includes accommodation at a five-star hotel with breakfast and Wi-Fi, priority hotel check-ins and private transfers, extra privileges such as spa discounts or shopping vouchers, and a host of leisure experiences across the island.

Another is the recently refreshed enhanced Free Singapore Tour, which takes transit passengers on a free guided tour of Singapore to give them a more in-depth experience of Singapore.

Lionel Yeo, chief executive of STB, said: “Our airline and airport are an integral part of the Singapore experience. The new product offerings demonstrate SIA, CAG, and STB’s commitment to provide today’s discerning travellers with a more seamless and in-depth experience. To constantly refresh and add value to the visitor experience, it is essential for the industry to rally together; STB looks forward to more partnerships with the industry.”

CAG and STB announced in April that they would embark on joint marketing campaigns globally and within mutually aligned key markets.

AUSTRALIA-BASED Nepal trekking specialist World Expeditions has rolled out six new Nepal programmes focused on rebuilding two schools that were severely affected by the April 25 earthquake in Kathmandu Valley.

The itineraries combine adventure travel to Annapurna, Everest Base Camp, lower Solu Khumbu, Pokhara and Kathmandu Valley with work on rebuilding the two schools – one located in Lura Village in Solu Khumbu and the other at Suspa Kshamawati Village in Dolahka district, north-eastern Nepal.

These trips not only help to ensure children in the village will be able to continue with their education, but also provide work for World Expeditions staff and local people.

Sue Badyari, CEO of World Expeditions, said in a press release that the company had received hundred of queries from people who wanted to come to Nepal’s aid.

“Many of our clients have a profound fondness for Nepal and its people after spending time there, and they are keen to show their support by being personally involved in the rebuild,” she said.

“No particular skills are required to participate in the Re-Build Nepal project – just a willingness to assist. Participants are asked to make a donation to the World Expeditions Foundation to assist with the building material costs and any shortfall will be funded by the World Foundation Nepal Earthquake Fund.”

World Expeditions’ non-profit division, Community Project Travel, will operate the six tours.

For more details, visit www.worldexpeditions.com.

Other international adventure and cultural tour operators have also pledged to stick by Nepal through its recovery.