KAZAKHSTAN is throwing its arms open to tourists in the run-up to Expo 2017 through the relaxation of visa policy and development of tourist-friendly infrastructure.

Rapil Zhoshybayev, first deputy minister of foreign affairs and commissioner of Expo 2017, said 15-day visa-free access had been granted to 10 countries – the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, UAE, South Korea and Japan for a one-year period beginning July 15, 2014. Since July 26, Hong Kong passport holders could also enjoy up to 14 days of visa-free stays.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily on the sidelines of the third Global Tourism Economy Forum Macau last week, he added: “We’ve just signed with the EU for diplomatic service passport holders (to enter without visas), and will negotiate with the UK and Schengen.

“In Asia, an agreement has been made with South Korea for 30-day access and we are preparing for a (unilateral) 15-day visa-free access with Japan. Both Vietnam and Indonesia are on our wishlist. We are also preparing an agreement with China to become the next destination with approved destination status.”

Air ticket prices will also be reduced and tour packages created for tourists, said Zhoshybayev.

He explained: “We can be reached by train, but for visitors from distant countries, we would have to wait for them to come by air. Presently, there are five zones singled out in our country for tourists, and they cover sports, hiking, environmental tourism and historical place

Kazakhstan is also investing in infrastructure including new railway lines, roads and hotels – about 40 new properties will be completed by 2017.

AIRPORTS globally will focus on improving passenger processes over the next three years, with 80 per cent planning new self-service and mobile projects, according to the 2014SITA/ACI Airport IT Trends Survey released this week.

Sixty-three per cent of CIOs expect to spend more on technology in 2014 compared to last year, and total spend is estimated to reach US$6.8 billion.

Multi-service kiosks, self-bag drop and self-boarding services are already gradually taking root in airports and by 2017, nearly three-quarters of airports expect the majority of their passengers to use self-service check-in.

Other trends to manifest in the coming years include more airports offering flight status notifications (from 50 per cent now to 90 per cent by 2017) and services through the mobile app including customer relationship management (78 per cent by 2017), way-finding (72 per cent), security wait time notifications (73 per cent) and retail services (65 per cent).

Airports will also increasingly offer customer support via social media. Already 30 per cent do so, but this is set to jump to 70 per cent over the next three years.

Some 60 per cent of airports plan to have geo-location programmes, which allows airports to provide services in relation to where the passenger or staff is at a particular time, over the next three years.

New innovations are also making their appearance, with 49 per cent investing in near field communications, 33 per cent planning iBeacon programmes and 16 per cent investigating wearable technologies.

Francesco Violante, CEO, SITA, said: “This is the age of the connected traveller with nearly all passengers carrying mobiles, tablets and other devices. It is vital that airports invest in the infrastructure to support the changing expectations of these passengers.”

The SITA Airport IT Trends Survey is based on responses from participants at airports across the world through which 2.4 billion passengers travelled last year.

DUBBED Taiwan’s biggest travel fair, the 22^nd Taipei International Travel Fair (ITF) organised by the Taiwan Visitors Association kicks off tomorrow with refreshed content and format.

This year’s B2B travel mart has been extended to a full day from 10.30-17.00, while appointments are now 20 minutes long, up from 15 minutes last year.

Taipei ITF chairman, CT Su, commented: “This year, we have got two Russian buyers for the first time and several Indian travel buyers.

“Invitations have been sent to the Top 100 enterprises compiled by Commonwealth magazine in 2014. We encourage their employees to come for our trade session on the first day and observe the show, as they also organise staff incentives and corporate travel.”

Taipei ITF has also shifted to Taipei World Trade Centre’s Hall 1 in order to accommodate the additional 100 booths added this year.

This year, ITF drew 950 exhibitors from 60 countries and regions for a record 1,450 booths. First-time participants include Russia, Vietnam, Mozambique, Zagreb, Seoul and Bhutan.

Representative of the Mozambique Investment Promotion Centre in Taipei, Achilles Yeh, pointed out that Mozambique is a relatively unknown tourist destination for Taiwanese tourists.

“ITF 2014 is a perfect platform and we hope to let the Taiwanese public become acquainted with Mozambique, and to know why Mozambique is so special.”

In addition to 44 travel product explanatory meetings, the annual travel forum will explore travel trends related to Smart Travel and Muslim market.

ADVENTURE tourism is one of the fastest-growing travel segments in the world, hitting a global value of US$263 billion in 2013. This represents a monstrous increase of 195 per cent from 2011, states a new report by UNWTO.

The UNWTO Global Report on Adventure Tourism, published in collaboration with the Adventure Travel Trade Association, is the UN World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) first approach on adventure tourism.

The report said that the growth of the segment is buoyed by rising access to travel, increasing disposable income and demand for experiential travel.

Another global trend in adventure tourism is the rise in supply as destinations train adventure travel companies to support local people and destinations incorporate adventure into their brand identities, as in the case of New Zealand’s 100% Pure New Zealand.

Furthermore, travel companies such as TUI and Carlson Wagonlit Travel have also launched their own subsidiaries to provide adventure travel offerings as their primary brand identity.

The report dissects four different types of adventure activities – skiing, cycling, backpacking/trekking/hiking and surfing. It noted that skiing is a mature activity that spans the adventure spectrum from off-beat locales to popular destinations, with dedicated resorts and facilities to the activity.

Surfing could likewise follow the trajectory of skiing and become available to mass market tourists and develop specialised resorts for surfing. Furthermore, surfing opens up non-traditional destinations that could eventually lead to non-surfing tourists to visit as well.

Tourists are also dispersed to non-traditional destinations through the eco-friendly activity of cycling, thus spreading the fruits of tourism to more local areas. As a result, destinations investing in cycling infrastructure will reap benefits.

Backpacking/trekking/hiking is touted to be the most resilient in the face of economic uncertainty. Such tourists usually stay in a destination for longer though spending less per day, but they enter local and regional economies.

The 80-page report also covers what adventure tourism is, industry structure, local economies, communities and the environment, operational standards and certifications, risk management, as well as sector challenges, opportunities and initiatives.

OAKWOOD Worldwide has expanded its Asia-Pacific operations with the opening of an office in Hong Kong in response to the rising demand for serviced apartments in the region.

Craig Ryan, managing director for Asia-Pacific, Oakwood Worldwide, said: “This new office in Hong Kong will allow us to strengthen our strategic partnerships with our global and regional clients, providing long- and short-term accommodation solutions suitable for all budgets.”

Oakwood Worldwide entered the Asia-Pacific region 20 years ago.

Most recently, the company entered into a multi-billion dollar joint global venture with Singapore-based Mapletree Group, which, among other aims, will triple the number of Oakwood branded and managed properties in the region.

MARKLAND Blaiklock is three days into his role as COO of Centara Hotels & Resorts, a new position the Thai homegrown chain has created due to its rapid growth.

“I hope to build on the existing strong foundations of the company to take it to more than 100 operating hotels in the next two to three years. At the same time, we will reinforce the positioning of each of the brands, create more opportunities for our people and deliver on the expectations of our partners,” Blaiklock told TTG Asia e-Daily.

Centara, which aims to be the largest Thai hotel company, currently counts 42 hotels in the portfolio with 26 under development.

Blaiklock was most recently senior vice president Asia-Pacific of the then Sofitel Luxury Hotels, a brand which French chain Accor reintegrated back into its fold early this year.

MAKEMYTRIP has rolled out training programmes to strengthen the soft skills of almost 500 tourism professionals in the Andaman Islands and Bhutan, key tourist destinations for Indian travellers.

The company conducted a five-day training programme in Port Blair and Havelock in end-August, in collaboration with the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The programme conducted in Andamans was customised to suit individual requirements of four groups in the region’s tourism industry – local boatmen, hotel staff, tour escorts and drivers. It focused on imparting practical knowledge to the attendees, and the format included roleplays and Q&A sessions supported by videos and presentations.

It was followed by a two-day programme in Bhutan in early September, joining hands with the Tourism Council of Bhutan and Guide Association of Bhutan for the sessions.

Training conducted in Bhutan focused on guides and drivers and took a different approach, driven by the philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhava.

Both programmes concluded with the respective industry bodies issuing certificates to all the participants.

Mohit Gupta, chief business and marketing officer, MakeMyTrip, said: “To help address the specific requirements of Indian travellers, we focused on two of the most popular destinations for Indian tourists – Andamans and Bhutan.

“Given the immense potential for future growth we identified an urgent need to develop skilled workers in this sector. The outcome is the launch of these customised training programmes to build skilled human capital in the local travel and tourism industry.”

Gupta added: “Seeing the tremendous response to this initiative, we will roll out this programme in other prominent tourist destinations.”

YOUTH travel operator STA Travel has signed a groundbreaking marketing agreement with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DoT) to promote the country in the UK, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France in 2015.

Signed this week in London at World Travel Market, where the DoT brought in its largest contingent to date, the agreement will bring tour groups to areas such as Coron, Bohol, Dumaguete and Siquijor, among others, said Susan del Mundo, promotions and marketing head for Europe, Americas, and the Philippines, Tourism Promotions Board.

One highlight is a partnership with Gawad Kalinga, a prominent local NGO and major proponent of social tourism, an effort which the DoT supports, Del Mundo said. This opens voluntourism opportunities for youths coming into the Philippines.

Gawad Kalinga is one partner who will be handling inbound groups sent by STA Travel.

At the recent ITB Asia in Singapore, the Philippines also announced the first MTV Music Evolution event that will be held in Manila next year, a collaboration between Viacom International and the Philippines, as part of a drive to attract young ones and the “young once”.