THE Indonesian trade is anticipating a surge in the number of Chinese travellers next year when visa requirements are lifted.

As part of the new government’s quick-win programmes to achieve 20 million arrivals by 2019, Indonesia earlier this month announced the exemption of visa requirements for nationals of China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Russia starting January.

Fadli Fahmi Ali, general secretary at the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies Jogjakarta Chapter and director of Werkudara Travel Management Jogjakarta, expects a 40 per cent increase in Chinese visitors in the year ahead as a result of the visa waiver.

“Business from China has been very good in the last two years and China is now among the top five source markets for (Jogjakarta),” he said. “We are investing in human resources by training Mandarin-speaking guides, and as an association we will work together with the private sector for promotions and create Chinese signage.”

Hotels in Indonesia are also leveraging this visa-free move to boost Chinese guest numbers.

Lin Parlina, key account manager, Malaysia-Indonesia-Singapore, Accor, hopes that Chinese visitor figures next year will surpass the 20-23 per cent growth recorded in the last two years. “We’re joining travel marts like (China International Travel Mart) and doing traditional sales calls to wholesalers in China for promotion,” said Lin.

Von Go, general manager of Montigo Resorts Nongsa in Batam, said the resort aims to enter new Chinese markets through its GSAs in China and is also persuading travel agencies to package Batam with Singapore.

“For the people of Shanghai and Beijing, they may think Singapore, being a city, is similar to what they have. Batam offers them something new as it is close to the sea,” he explained.

However, Go feels that Indonesia needs to promote itself more aggressively to the Chinese, a key market for his resort. “Anywhere you go in the world you will see (the campaign) Malaysia, Truly Asia, but this is not the case for Indonesia.”

His sentiments were echoed by Beijing Hongkey International Travel Service’s general manager, Jason Hao, who said his company conducts very little business to Indonesia. “The Chinese, and perhaps the northern Chinese especially, have no real impression of Indonesia as a destination and think it’s not a very Chinese-friendly destination.”

He added: “I personally know Indonesia to be a beautiful country, but price-wise it’s not so value-for-money for the Chinese. A holiday to Phuket will cost the Chinese visitor around RMB4,000 (US$652), Bali RMB6,000, the Maldives about RMB8,000 and Hawaii about RMB9,000. To pay RMB6,000 to go to Bali, travellers would rather go to Hawaii and the Maldives.”

However, Zhong Chun, a representative from Zhang Hua Travel Agency, who currently brings groups into Indonesia at least once every three months, said: “Visa application is always a troublesome factor because there is a lot of paper work involved and the troubling part is the waiting time. Without (the need to apply) visas, it will definitely help us to promote the destination better.”

Additional reporting by Paige Lee Pei Qi

TRADITIONALLY popular with Western and Japanese markets, Bhutan is now seeing more tourists from Asia, but there are not enough air links to keep up with the growing demand.

Stanley Thong, executive director, Bhutan Stainless Travels, said: “Asian markets are warming up to Bhutan.

“Before, the Chinese did not quite understand what Bhutan could offer but they are coming around because of better visa systems.”

Thong said his company is keen to tie up with travel agencies in Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. “For next year, I expect about 30 per cent growth in the number of Chinese arrivals.”

Long Hongbing, manager at Sichuan Comfort International Travel Service, said he is seeing a lot of interest in Bhutan from his Chinese customers, who are now seeking new destinations after having been to Europe and South-east Asia.

Route capacity, however, is an issue. “There simply aren’t enough seats,” he remarked.

Pema Choki, deputy marketing manager, Bhutan Airlines, likewise, shared that the airline launched its first international flights to Bangkok last year to meet the rising Asian interest in Bhutan.

“Our Bangkok-Kathmandu-Bhutan routing allows tourists to explore Kathmandu on the way,” said Pema, who added that Bhutan Airlines is mulling another international route to Singapore.

Meanwhile, Bhutan is still suffering from a room crunch and a shortage of Mandarin-speaking tour guides.

Said Kencho Owang, executive director of Thimphu-based Owang Travels: “Bhutan is sending students to China to learn Mandarin and increase the number tour guides and service staff. In another two to three years it should no longer be a problem.”

Bhutan will launch Visit Bhutan Year 2015, a campaign coinciding with the former king’s 60^th birthday next year.

Announced on November 11 this year, Bhutan Tourism has invited tour operators to design their best products, while plans for fam trips and discounts for visas and hotels are still in the works, said Bhutanese exhibitors at China International Travel Mart.

THE world’s first ‘Live-Action-Role-Play’ (LARP) theme park, Planet J, will open at Macau’s Sands Cotai Central in summer 2015.

It covers an area of over 9,290m2 and will be the first permanent theme park in the enclave.

The theme park’s novel concept allows guests to physically act out the actions of fantasy characters, pursue goals and interact with other adventurers within a fantastical setting known as the Magic Stone Kingdom.

Each player is equipped with a ‘magic book’ – a personalised mobile gear that connects with over 200 games in the theme park, blending technology and experiential storytelling. The players’ game progress and history will be recorded on Planet J’s system and can be reactivated upon future visits, allowing them to attempt more difficult games.

Jumpin Gym Digital Entertainment, the parent company of Planet J, said that the enterprise has been in development over eight years at a cost of over MOP$1 billion (US$125.2 million).

Damon Chan, chairman of Jumpin Gym Digital Entertainment, said: “Planet J is a truly new revolutionary model – breaking out from entertainment offered by conventional theme parks. We have the vision for Planet J to become a leading global chain of interactive themed destinations.”

Planet J is expected to attract over three million visitors from around the world.

INNER Mongolia’s Xilingol League – recognised as the Chinese capital of horses for its famed Mongolian breed of horses and well-preserved grasslands – is keen to generate greater international awareness of the destination.

Domestic traffic currently comprises an approximate 80 per cent of tourism figures, according to deputy chairman of Xilingol League Tourism Bureau Inner Mongolia of China, Ge Relitu.

“We want to reach out to international markets more aggressively because we are still relatively unknown to them although we have so much to offer as a tourist destination,” he said.

“Our international tourists are mostly from South Korea and Japan but hopefully we can enter new markets soon.”

To reach out to more international tourists, Ge said the bureau is participating in more tradeshows to boost awareness of Xilingol and rolling out new itineraries to include more adventurous activities.

Xilingol, celebrated as China’s best preserved grassland area covering 202,580km2, offers key attractions such as horse riding, cow milking, goat shearing and hiking.

Ge said: “Tourists to Xilingol can even experience authentic culture by staying with a real Mongolian family.”

As the home ground for the Mongolian horse, one of the most important breeds found among the indigenous horses of China, Xilingol has held various equine events in recent years, which have become a big lure for horse lovers, Ge added.

THE Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has welcomed the government’s first step towards waiving visa charges to Chinese tourists, whose numbers took a beating this year.

According to Bernama news agency, minister for tourism and culture, Nazri Aziz, said he would propose the visa fee waiver to the prime minister. “Maybe we can try it next year for tour groups from China who visit Malaysia via travel (consultants),” he was quoted as saying.

MATTA president Hamzah Rahmat, said Nazri’s presentation is a good first move and the visa fee waiver would help boost tourist numbers from China.

The association last month called on the government to provide a short visa exemption period aimed at bringing back Chinese visitors.

Hamzah added: “However, this initiative should be applied across the board for all foreign tourists visiting Malaysia, in line with UN World Tourism Organization’s call for governments to ease visa restrictions to stimulate travel and promote growth in the tourism sector. Why do we have to charge tourists with visa fees when they are coming here to spend and help the local economy?”

Also looking forward to a visa fee waiver is Winnie Ng, business development manager at Pearl Holiday Travel & Tour. Ng said: “Waiving visa charges to Chinese tourists will help Malaysia compete more effectively with other South-east Asian destinations such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia which do not charge a visa fee to Chinese tourists. The inbound market from China is soft so this move will certainly help.

“Year-on-year, our group tours from China are down by 80 per cent and by 50 per cent for FIT.”

The forecast for Chinese arrivals was revised from two million to 1.7 million this year in the aftermath of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which has been missing since March 8.

A total of 239 passengers and crew were on board, of which 153 were Chinese nationals.

DUSIT Fudu Hotels and Resorts has made significant inroads in China since its establishment last year.

Lim Boon Kwee, president, Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts, said: “Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts has grown rapidly. We are on track to have 50 hotels (in China) under our belt within the next five years, despite being a newcomer in a competitive marketplace.

“China is the world’s largest source market for international tourism, as well as one of the biggest travel destinations, and it is set to become the biggest hotel market, therefore we need to be here,” he added.

“We plan to develop a portfolio of 60-70 per cent mid-range hotels and 30-40 per cent upscale properties.”

Lim also posits that a South-east Asian chain like Dusit will do well in China by “offering a different approach to hospitality”.

As well, Dusit Fudu leverages the strengths of its mothership to meet the industry’s challenging workforce requirements.

Said Lim: “Dusit Thani College (in Bangkok) provides bachelor’s degrees, which consist of five major Thai and international programmes. This is also our talent source.”

THE China Tourism Academy (CTA) and Shanghai-based travel company Select Holding have joined hands to launch the Welcome Chinese project, a new hospitality standard certification programme dedicated to Chinese guests.

The only standard recognised by the CTA, the Welcome Chinese Standard Certification seeks to raise the degree of readiness of international travel-related businesses in welcoming Chinese guests.

Concetta Caravello, Welcome Chinese project’s head of external relations, said: “The Chinese market is very complex and difficult. Chinese travellers are definitely attracted to foreign destinations and curious about different lifestyles, yet they cannot do without some habits when travelling.”

She added: “It is therefore important to know how to welcome them and respect their habits, e.g. they cannot do without Chinese breakfast or drinking hot water.”

There are three Welcome Chinese Standard certifications – bronze, silver and gold – depending on the qualifier’s number and nature of services for Chinese travellers.

For instance, the bronze level is awarded to hotels that broadcast at least two Mandarin-speaking TV channels; the silver requires, in addition, a kettle and tea set in hotel rooms, as well as the acceptance of China UnionPay.

To acquire the gold level, the hotel would additionally need a Mandarin-speaking member among its staff, traditional Chinese food for breakfast and the provision of a Mandarin welcome kit for Chinese visitors.

According to Caravello, about 300 hotels worldwide have been certified, with another 500 hotels currently in the process of being certified.

However, apart from hotels, Caravello said the certification is also aimed at travel-related businesses and visitor facilities such as museums, theme parks, shopping malls, airports, trains, city sightseeing and car rentals.

Earlier this year in June, Rome Airport became the first airport in the world to be granted the Welcome Chinese certification.

THE US and China last week reached a landmark agreement that grants travellers in both countries 10-year multiple-entry visas and boosts the trade’s efforts to lure more Chinese visitors to American shores.

Under the reciprocal agreement, travellers on short-term business and tourist visas will now be granted multiple-entry visas valid for 10 years and student visas for five, instead of the one-year validity previously.

Also breaking new ground is Brand USA, representing the country of honour at this year’s China International Travel Mart (CITM) with a 300-strong delegation and 73 booths at the show.

Jay Gray, vice president, global market development, Brand USA, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “This (visa announcement) is great timing, coming prior to CITM. We had over 1.8 million Chinese arrivals to the US in 2013.”

The NTO had already expected China to overtake the UK as the top overseas source market by 2018, Gray added.

This new visa development could have a multiplier effect on Brand USA’s existing plans to make the US a top-of-mind destination for the Chinese, including the fully localised version of an online training programme for travel consultants (to be launched in May 2015), mega fam trips and advertising.

Peter Phang, managing director Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority China, said: “In the immediate term there is now more incentive for Las Vegas to tap second- and third-tier cities in China because of the bigger pool of potential tourists. We’ll also entice more agencies to sell Las Vegas packages.

“Imagine a manufacturer in Guangzhou who comes to Las Vegas to participate in a tradeshow. With a 10-year visa, he can come back to exhibit every year.”

Karen Wang of wholesaler Beijing Global Tour International Travel Service added: “With this 10-year visa, travellers going to Mexico, the Caribbean or such destinations can have short trips in the US instead of merely transiting there.”

But she noted that the US is still an unfamiliar destination for the Chinese and more awareness should be drummed up locally.

Bob Wang, general manager of China Swan International Tours, which has seen a 20 per cent year-on-year hike in customers visiting the US, mostly for group tours, said: “It may not be great news for wholesale travel agencies, because even if a traveller goes on a group tour the first time, maybe the next time they will go as FITs (which is a loss for the agency).”

KARMA Royal Group’s holiday ownership brand, Royal Resorts, is being revamped with a new logo.

The group’s chairman and CEO, John Spence, said: “The debut of the new Royal Resorts logo reflects the brand’s evolving identity.

“The logo’s elegant new design brings us in line with sister brand Karma Resorts and reflects our determined move towards a four-star network of properties with a truly global reach.”

Currently, the brand offers 13 resorts in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and most recently, Greece, its first foray into Europe with the launch of the Royal Villea Village on the Greek holiday island of Crete.

The group is seeking further expansion in Europe, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and the UK.

It is also aiming to expand its presence in the Philippines, the Middle East, Brazil and the Caribbean.

SWISS hotel group Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is set to open a new boutique property in Koh Samui, Thailand in December.

Mövenpick Resort Laem Yai Beach Samui is 30 minutes from Samui International Airport and features 50 rooms and villas, a beachfront restaurant, bar, three outdoor pools and an Asian herbal spa.

Each room and villa offers a private terrace, complimentary Wi-Fi, rainforest shower and flatscreen TV.

To celebrate the launch the resort is offering a 40 per cent discount to guests staying four or more nights.

The hotel is the third property in Thailand, alongside the Bangtao and Karon Beach hotels in Phuket, to be managed by Mövenpick.

Out of the over 25 new properties due to open worldwide, 15 are scheduled to open in Asia including locations such as the Philippines, India, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.