JAPAN is sending a 3,000-strong travel trade mission to China in May, with high hopes of attracting even Chinese tourists to the country.

Diplomatic relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been fractious in recent years, causing serious impact on both leisure and business travel between the two nations, but tensions appear to have eased in recent months, encouraging Japan’s travel firms to win new business in a country with a booming economy and a populace with a new-found desire to travel.

Hiroyuki Seishi, a spokesman for the Japan Association of Travel Agents, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “The public and private sectors in both countries are striving to cultivate friendly relationships between China and Japan. And this time, we have support from both governments, as well as embassies and NTOs.”

Besides representatives of travel companies, the delegation will include officials from local governments across Japan and cultural organisations.

The delegation is scheduled to leave on May 22 for Beijing and, over the following two days, take part in a series of sightseeing and cultural events, visit the Japan Travel Fair in the Chinese capital, and attend an official reception.

On the final day, some delegates will travel to other Chinese cities for promotional activities.

Motohisa Tachikawa, a spokesman for JTB Corp, said: “We hope that this event will help to open the door to more Chinese tourists coming to Japan.

“It is significant that the delegation is being welcomed by the Chinese government and that they are keen for us to go there and explain the real opportunities that exist for tourists who wish to come to Japan.”

Figures suggest that China is becoming an important – and lucrative – market for Japan’s tourism sector. Nearly 2.4 million Chinese tourists visited Japan last year, a year-on-year increase of 83 per cent, and that number is expected to rise significantly again this year.

In January alone, 226,300 Chinese visited Japan, up more than 45 per cent year-on-year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.

ANANTARA Hotels, Resorts & Spas announced on Monday the addition of Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel to its luxury portfolio, the brand’s flagship in home market Thailand.

Owner Minor Hotel Group will invest US$20 million to enhance the hotel – rebranded from Four Seasons Bangkok – over the coming months, refurbishing some of guestrooms and public areas.

Located in the heart of central Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district, opposite the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and right next to a sky train station, the property is close to the main business, nightlife and shopping districts, Lumphini Park, and many of the city’s key cultural attractions. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a 45-minute drive away and Don Mueang International Airport, 25 minutes.

Apart from 354 guestrooms and suites, other facilities include 10 F&B outlets; an outdoor pool; 24-hour health club with a gym and squash court; a studio for yoga, aerobics and spinning; a steam room and whirlpool; and Anantara Spa.

Meeting and event facilities range from boardrooms and meeting rooms to a grand ballroom for up to 1,000 guests.

With the addition of Anantara Siam Bangkok, the brand now boasts 34 properties in 10 countries, and a pipeline of more than 10 future properties.

GENTING Hong Kong (GHK) yesterday announced it will be the new owner of Crystal Cruises, in a US$550 million deal with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha slated to close in 2Q2015.

GHK will also add a new ship to Crystal Cruises’ current fleet of two – Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman, CEO and acting president of GHK, said: “The current management team and crew will continue to lead Crystal Cruises. Genting will provide financial resources and proven expertise in innovative ship design to build a new ship that will set the highest standard in luxury cruise ships.”
GHK also owns Star Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, which it acquired in 2000.

THE INDIAN Railway Budget 2015-16 will see a slew of initiatives intended to boost tourism, including 52 per cent more funds for Indian Railways than in 2014-15, and about US$6.5 billion for its annual plan.

Under the initiative Incredible Rail for Incredible India, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will plan and promote tour packages for Gandhi Circuit to attract tourists to mark the occasion of 100 years of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.

To be flagged off from April 9, the Gandhi Circuit trains would cover destinations such as Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Delhi Cantt, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Porbandar, Bhavnagar and Surat.

IRCTC has uploaded information on a 9D8N package, priced from US$119 per person, on its tourism portal.

The Railway Ministry is also mooting plans to offer coaches in select trains connecting major tourist destinations to travel agencies on a revenue-sharing model.

Major thrust has been given to north and north-eastern states well known for their scenic beauty and adventure tourism opportunities. A sum of US$9.3 billion has been proposed to connect Kashmir and seven sister states in the north-east.

The ministry will also launch the Coastal Connectivity Program this year where Indian Railways will partner with concerned ports for rail connectivity to Nargol, Chharra, Dighi,Rewas and Tuna.

“Meghalaya in the north-east has been brought on the Railway map of India and direct connectivity to Delhi has been provided to Arunachal Pradesh. Further, the Barak Valley in Assam will be brought on broad gauge by March this year. The work for connecting the remaining states of this region is progressing well,” revealed Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, railway minister.

The minister also said the successful training experiment of auto-rickshaw and taxi operators as tourist-guides on Konkan Railway will be replicated at major tourist stations.

Rajesh Magow, co-founder and CEO-India, MakeMyTrip, said: “Many tourist hubs under-served by the airline industry. The ministry’s continued commitment to enhancing rail connectivity in the north-east and Kashmir region will expedite tourism-related infrastructure development in the states.”

However, Sarab Jit Singh, senior vice president, Indian Association of Tour Operators is less convinced, commenting: “There are various circuits available for tour operators to sell but very few buyers; Gandhi Circuit will make not much difference – the only reason to this is inadequate infrastructure and basic amenities.”

A NEW annual cruise industry event purely focussed on Asia, Seatrade Cruise Asia, has been jointly launched by Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific and Seatrade All Asia Cruise.

To be hosted by Busan Port Authority, Busan Metropolitan City, Korea Tourism Organization and Korea Marine Leisure Network from June 11 to 12, 2015, the two-day event will take place at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre.

It will feature an exhibition, travel consultant training, a full social programme, and a conference focusing on the growing momentum for cruise tourism in Asia as well as present and future cruise shipbuilding.

The exhibition will see destinations, tourism authorities, cruise associations, tour operators, port agents and suppliers showcasing their products and services to cruise industry professionals from around Asia.

SHANGHAI Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal received a record number of cruises and visitors in 2014, a testament to the successful transformation of the production and cargo port to one focusing on leisure and travel.

Also known as Baoshan Port, the Wusongkou terminal welcomed 216 docked cruise ships and about 1.1 million visitors in 2014, surpassing Singapore as Asia’s largest cruise port.

This year, the port expects to welcome 288 cruise ships – five with 80,000 tonnage – to exceed 1.5 million visitors.

Plans are underway for the second stage of the port’s expansion to handle the surge in demand, including the construction of two new berths for a 100,000- and 1.6 million-tonne cruise respectively. When completed, four cruise ships will be able to berth simultaneously.

Facilities integral to the port will also be improved, such as an integrated cruise service, commercial services, and leisure and accommodation facilities.

Meanwhile, the Baoshan district is examining the feasibility of a tram line to shuttle visitors from the city to the port. The authorities also aims to construct a 2.4km Binjiang Riverside Avenue, as well as expand the current two-lane Baoyang Road to four lanes.

The district looks set to embark on a three-pronged approach for its economic transformation, developing first Binjiang Riverside Avenue to promote the cruise industry and speed up the port’s second phase of development; next the modern services sector and new and emerging industries in the districts along three main railway lines (namely Lines 1, 3 and 7) and transport networks; and finally its three industrial zones.

Translated from the original TTG China e-Daily, March 3, 2015 article by Ong Yanchun