AIRASIA X is expanding further into China with the introduction of its latest direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Chongqing as its sixth destination to China after Hangzhou, Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’An.

The longhaul affiliate of AirAsia Group will commence four-weekly flights into Jiangbei International Airport, Chongqing beginning February 13, 2015 and will be the only airline servicing direct flights between the two cities.

Bernard Francis, commercial director of AirAsia X, said in a press release: “The addition of the Kuala Lumpur-Chongqing route enables us to further strengthen our route network into China. AirAsia X is very positive about our growth in China, and the addition of this new route will further fortify the point.”

In conjunction with the launch of the new destination, AirAsia X will be offering promotional all-in, one-way fares to Chongqing from RM199 (US$62) on economy seats and RM799 on its business class.

Bookings are open until August 10, 2014 for travel between February 13, 2015 and July 31, 2015.

Separately, AirAsia will reintroducing four-weekly direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Clark in the Philippines beginning October 17, 2014.

FAR East Hospitality (FEH) and joint venture partner Toga Group have expanded into Germany and Denmark via a series of acquisitions, a year into the collaboration.

The two companies will jointly purchase 50 per cent interests in a portfolio of companies from Toga Accommodation Fund (TAF Property Companies).

The latter holds three hotels – Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint Charlie, Adina Apartment Hotel Frankfurt Neue Oper and Adina Apartment Hotel Copenhagen.

Additionally, FEH is also to take up a 50 per cent stake in a separate portfolio of companies from Toga Group, which owns the Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof under Toga Property Companies.

Lucas Chow, Far East Orchard’s group CEO and managing director, said in a release: “We are delighted that Far East Orchard has made its first asset acquisitions in Europe, continuing our expansion plans from the string of hospitality transactions in Australia last year. We believe that this transaction sends a strong signal of our capability to rapidly seize opportunities and leverage on the synergies offered by our joint venture partner, Toga Group.”

All four properties are worth a total of 107.1 million euros (US$143.2 million), and currently operate under the umbrella brand of Adina Apartment Hotels by Toga Far East Hotels, the joint venture company between FEH and Toga Group.

Arthur Kiong, CEO of FEH, said: “The acquisition of these four hotels in Germany and Denmark will further strengthen our foothold in Europe and sets the platform for us to pursue more opportunities for the group in the future. We are optimistic of Europe’s ability to attract tourist arrivals globally as Europe remains the world’s largest tourism region. Our European properties will stand to benefit from the growing optimism of the recovering European economy.”

MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) is commencing thrice-weekly scheduled flights to Osaka and Seoul this October.

“Last year, we started flights to Japan and South Korea as regular charter flights but from October we will fly as scheduled flights directly from Osaka to Yangon. The number of Japan visitors to Myanmar is rapidly increasing and this is why we decided to start scheduled flights,” said Aye Mra Tha, general manager, MAI.

“Passengers flying by MAI’s Japan and South Korea routes will also get visa on arrival at Yangon International Airport. So far that facility is only offered to passengers coming by MAI’s Cambodia and Guangzhou routes,” she added.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot for tie-ups with other airlines and to refresh MAI’s fleet.

Said Aye Mra Tha: “There are also ongoing discussions to ally with international airlines in order to expand our operations worldwide. At present, we are talking with All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Korean Air.”

She also refuted speculation that ANA will purchase a stake in MAI after cancellation of plans last week to buy into Myanmar carrier Asian Wings Airways, saying MAI would remain 100 per cent owned by KBZ Group of Companies and expand its global network via partnerships.

At the same time, the airline will sell its existing four Airbus 320s and buy four new ones to refresh its fleet, she said.

CHINA’S third-tier cities will find a friend in PATA China Panel of Experts (PCPE), which was formed in late June to provide destinations at different stages of development guidance in creating a sustainable tourism industry.

Bo Wu, regional director, Greater China, PATA, said the panel comprises the director-generals of the tourism bureaus of Shandong, Fujian, Henan, Shaanxi and Sichuan; UNWTO tourism experts; international private sector consultants and PATA members, and is a 10+1 expert consultancy model.

“The aim of the panel is to advise third-tier cities in the different provinces, which are in different stages of development, on how best to allocate their resources.”

PCPE held its first meeting and consultation in the coastal city of Yantai, Shandong on June 28, with the venue also the panel’s first case study.

Yantai hopes to develop into a coastal leisure destination, having recently bought a ship from Costa Cruises to operate to South Korea.

Wu said that challenges for the city include hotel inventory and air access.

“The economy in Yantai is strong. It is well-known for its centuries-old wine history and agriculture, but it now wants to diversify into tourism,” he elaborated. “Winter in Yantai can drop to -10°C, -20°C and the panel suggested tourism activities that revolve around festivals and recommends the introduction of a food festival.”

Leshan in Sichuan is another third-tier city seeking the panel’s advice.

AUSTRALIAN cruise operator P&O Cruises today announced it will return to Singapore to offer four roundtrip voyages as part of its 2015/2016 programme.

The Singapore season will take travellers to destinations in Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia and see the cruise line’s maiden calls to Krabi, Sabang (Palau Weh), Koh Chang and Sihanoukville.

Pacific Eden, which joins P&O under a recent fleet expansion initiative, will operate the Singapore cruises. It is slated to arrive in Singapore in July 2016.

Ann Sherry, CEO, P&O Cruises, said that the cruise operator’s fleet expansion has allowed it to sail out to more destinations including Asia, and that its Singapore-based itineraries were a sign of the maturing of the Australian market, also the world’s fastest-growing cruise market.

“Last year, nearly 834,000 Australians took a cruise holiday, 20 per cent more than in 2012, and many of these are people who have cruised before and are now keen for new destinations and new cultural experiences,” she said.

“As growth in the fly-cruise segment shows, an increasing number of passengers are prepared to travel internationally to begin their cruise and P&O Cruises is responding to this market opportunity.”

The Singapore season will include a seven-night South-east Asia western itinerary to the Malaysian and Thai towns of Sabang, Phuket, Krabi and Langkawi; a seven-night South-east Asia eastern itinerary visiting Sihanoukville in Cambodia and Koh Chang, Bangkok (Laem Chabang) and Koh Samui; and a 13-night itinerary from Singapore to Cairns, with a call to Dili in Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Darwin.

P&O last offered roundtrip cruises from Singapore in 2006.

HAVING established itself as a sports tourism destination for top-performing athletes from around the world, integrated resort Thanyapura Phuket (TTGmice e-Weekly, November 28, 2013) is now training its sights on corporate groups from Asia.

“Many people are talking about mindfulness today, and more companies are seeking balance for (their) high performers to relieve stress,” said Philipp Graf von Hardenberg, who was appointed president and CEO of Thanyapura Phuket in June.

Existing programmes combining mindfulness, sports and motivational elements are rising in popularity for corporate groups, which on average stay two or three nights at the destination, he said.

The resort also offers mind-training programmes for corporates, headed by Alan Wallace, an ordained monk and former translator to the Dalai Lama.

While admitting that corporates make up a small component of Thanyapura’s current business, Graf von Hardenberg said: “Some of (these executives) will come back as individual guests. These people have high expectations, and they want to achieve something during their vacation time.”

Thanyapura is aiming at the corporate and MICE markets of Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, regional cities located a short flight from and with ample daily connections to Phuket.

The bulk of Thanyapura’s guests currently hail from Asia-Pacific, with Thailand making up roughly 25 per cent, Australia 15 per cent, China 12 per cent, and the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Singapore at around 10 per cent each.

The chief executive also revealed that it sees the fastest growth in the guest segment aged 35 years old and above. “More middle-age or older people aged 50 and above are coming in regularly to train for triathlons, plus younger people are also keen in sports and marathons.”

Separately, the resort will debut new track and field programmes next year and has plans to partner professional golf courses to develop indoor golf courses for golf clinics.

When asked if the Thanyapura concept will be replicated elsewhere, Graf von Hardenberg does not rule out the possibility but any expansion beyond Phuket’s shores is likely to take place after 2016.