TOURIST arrivals to Myanmar have increased again the first-half of this year, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

From January to June, 470,747 visitors entered the country, up 23.1 per cent year-on-year. 
About 71.9 per cent, or 338,331, were from Asia, including 80,311 from Thailand, the largest single group; 35,803 from China; and 35,650 from Japan.

Over 17 per cent, or 79,767, hailed from Europe, with the largest group from France (17,517), followed by the UK (16,508) and Germany (12,424).

“The performance is pretty good, but the challenges remain,” said Aung Myat Kyaw, managing director of Orchestra Travel in Yangon, adding that the shortage of hotel rooms, especially in Yangon, Mandalay and Inle Lake region, would continue to be the major challenge until 2016 (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 13, 2014).

Aung Myat Kyaw said his inbound travellers come mostly from France, Germany, Italy and Scandinavian nations, and the top destinations in the country remained Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake and Ngapali Beach.

FIT numbers increased five per cent year-on-year to 150,629 while travellers on packaged tours increased 11 per cent to 74,935. Increases were also recorded for travellers on business and social visas, at 26.8 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively.

U Htay Aung, union minister of Hotels and Tourism, recently said that Myanmar will endeavour to hit three million visitor arrivals in 2014.

“The advantage is Myanmar is a chair of ASEAN this year and we will be hosting many meetings, particularly ASEAN Summit, ministerial meetings, senior official meetings and working group meetings.”

But the country is not resting on its laurels. Myanmar’s tourism minister Htay Aung said at this year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum in January that citizens of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei should be able to visit Myanmar visa-free by end-2014 (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 21, 2014).

Myanmar has signed visa waiver agreements with the Philippines (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 8, 2014) and Indonesia (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 14, 2014) since.

FLYDUBAI will commence flights to India this year, at the same time Royal Jordanian Airlines has announced their withdrawal of India flights.

Beginning October, Flydubai will operate five-weekly flights between Mumbai and its base in Dubai. The carrier will also increase the frequency of its New Delhi flights to five times a week, for a total of 25 weekly flights to seven destinations in India.

Aneel Guptaa, manager director of Anjali Tours & Travels Mumbai, stated: “More connectivity to Dubai is a boon for this market as both business and leisure travel is increasing by 15 to 20 per cent every year. This additional seat capacity will help us plan for the Deepavali holiday season well in advance.”

Meanwhile, Royal Jordanian Airlines will withdraw flights to Mumbai from September 10, and New Delhi from October 31 as part of a planned restructuring.

In 2014 alone the airline has axed flights on eight routes, including destinations in the Middle East and North Africa due to security reasons, confirmed the airline’s president and CEO, Nasser Lozi.

UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruise Collection will offer more European itineraries in 2015 than any other cruise line, having opened bookings for its 33 all-inclusive European itineraries with six new programmes and 45 more departures on the Rhine and Danube River cruise.

The new itineraries include an eight-day Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time, 10-day Delightful Danube & Prague, 10-day Eastern Europe Explorer, 13-day Jewels of Spain, Portugal & the Douro River, and the 22-day Ultimate France.

Robin Yap, Asia president for Uniworld’s parent company, The Travel Corporation (TTC), said: “What is unique about such holidays is that they offer an all-inclusive floating holiday experience. The experience includes shore excursions, gourmet cuisine and unsurpassed hospitality.”

Yap highlighted the two special holiday season itineraries, Daube Holiday Markets and theEnchanting Christmas & New Year’s Cruise, as most likely to find popularity among travellers.

The latter takes travellers from Passau to Budapest – and will hear the largest organ in Europe on Christmas Eve in Passau, and then ring in the New Year in elegant style with a gala dinner and ballroom dance in Budapest, said Yap.

Both itineraries will be featured on the new super ship, the SS Maria Theresa, which will set sail in spring 2015 (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 2, 2014).

Yap said that while cruises are most popular among travellers above the age of 45, honeymooners are an emerging target group who enjoy cruises because they are all-inclusive and hassle-free.

To welcome the addition of the new itineraries, couples who pay in full at the time of booking will save up to US$2,000. Bookings must be made by October 31.

ASIA is claiming top spots as medical tourism destinations, according to the PHD Chamber’s Medical and Wellness Tourism Report for 2013 with the first five places going to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India and South Korea respectively.

The report predicts medical tourism in Asia will grow at 18 per cent annually through to 2017. Singapore has 22 medical facilities certified by Joint Commission International, the US-based quality- and safety-accrediting organisation. In contrast, third-place Malaysia has eight.

Debjit Dutta, director of Impression Tourism Services that does outbound medical tourism from India, commented: “We send critical care patients to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore for their overall expertise, infrastructure and reputation. Many of our British clients, unwilling to wait in queue for National Health Service facilities, travel to Asia as it is quicker and much cheaper.”

Similarly, Reuven Sagi, director of RAS International Tours Mexico, noted: “Many US citizens save thousands of dollars by having a surgery done in Mexico, Singapore, Thailand or India. Some insurance companies encourage medical tourism and incentivise their clients’ trips abroad.”

Not only do tourists benefit, but local hospitals do as well. Said Parvez Dewan, secretary, Ministry of Tourism India: “The growth of medical tourism in India has led to the enhancement of better and advanced medical facilities in the country.”

MARINA Bay Sands (MBS) is gearing up for the start of theatrical production Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Man and Horse, in a merging of traditional equestrian art and modern production technology.

The show stars 50 horses and 42 riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers, and musicians from around the world. Performances take place in the 35m tall, 50m wide White Theatre Tent set up on Bayfront Avenue beside MBS that will provide the horses space to gallop at full speed.

Cavalia was created in Canada by Normand Latourelle, co-founder of Cirque du Soleil and runs in Singapore from August 12 to September 14, with both matinee and evening performances.

The production has toured cities in North America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.

Prices start from S$58 (US$47) for regular admission, or S$208 for the lowest tier of VIP packages. For more information visit www.cavalia.net/en/cavalia-show/tickets-info/singapore

THIRTY Israeli tourists and four other foreigners were evacuated from Kaafu Thulusdhoo Island in the Maldives on Monday in a row over anti-Israel placards.

According to local news reports, anti-Israeli sentiment has been growing in Muslim-dominated Maldives owing to the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine in Gaza, with demonstrations held in the capital Male recently.

Police moved the tourists, mostly surfers who had been staying in guesthouses on the island, to another area after local residents were incensed when one tourist pulled down a placard bearing a swastika alongside the Israeli flag.

Kaafu Thulusdhoo Island is 40 minutes by speedboat from Male and especially popular among Israeli surfers.

Tourism ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

Michelle Flake, director at travel consultant Koamas Luxury Escapes, said she hopes the government will ensure safety to all visitors regardless of nationality.

Mohamed Ali, secretary general of the Maldives Association of Yacht Agents, said it was a minor incident and will not impact tourism, pointing out that the demonstrations are not targeted at Israeli tourists.

Arrivals from Israel account for just a fraction – 0.3 per cent – of total arrivals to the Maldives.

THE Hertz Corporation has become the first car rental company in Asia to offer a dedicated fleet of BMW vehicles under its Prestige Collection, having just launched it alongside the Family Collection.

The Family Collection features spacious and comfortable Ford Galaxy and Ford S-Max cars that are ideal for travel with family and friend groups, and comes with free child seats, seven airbags and allowance for up to two additional drivers at no extra cost. The vehicles are also equipped with the versatile Fold Flat System for the family’s storage needs.

Michel Taride, group president, Hertz International, said: “We are committed to providing mobility solutions for families with a focus on comfort and safety as well as convenience and affordability. The Family Collection is a perfect example of our striving to meet customers’ requirements and we are excited to be launching a fleet of vehicles dedicated to make travelling with family easier and more enjoyable.”

The Prestige Collection stars three popular premium BMW models including the BMW 7 Series, all featuring a satellite navigation system and in-car charging for portable devices. Besides the self-drive feature, customers may also opt to hire a personal chauffeur under the Prestige Driven series, suitable for airport transfers and hourly charters.

Eddie Ho, general manager, Hertz Singapore, said: “Similar to the Green Traveler Collection launched here earlier this year (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 8, 2014), Hertz Singapore has sought to create ideal rental products that are not just about the cars, but also the ability to cater to varying lifestyles and needs.”

Both collections are reservable by make and model at Alexandra and Ubi Road downtown locations.

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has secured a management agreement to open the Crowne Plaza Taj Expressway Noida, in Delhi NCR.

Owned by New Delhi real estate developer Sikka, the hotel will be part of a mixed-use development strategically located close to the Noida Golf Course Sector-34 and Atta Market.

The new 150-key hotel is expected to open in 2018 to become the second IHG property in the city after Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, which debuted end last year.

Pascal Gauvin, COO, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG commented: “India is a key market for us. It holds our third-largest development pipeline globally, behind the US and China and over the next three to five years we will grow by nearly 300 per cent there.

The new Crowne Plaza Taj Expressway Noida marks our expansion in a city we’ve just entered and we look forward to working with Sikka to growing our presence in Noida.”

IHG currently has 19 hotels in India across four brands – InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express – and a total of 46 hotels in the development pipeline.