PATA is organising the Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2015 (AT&RTCM 2015) in Bhutanese capital Thimphu from February 4-6, 2015.

The three-day event is hosted by the Tourism Council of Bhutan, and supported by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines.

Themed Explore Beyond Tourism – Celebrate Happiness, AT&RTCM 2015  follows up on the success of its predecessor, AT&RTCM 2012, which was the first B2B travel trade event ever held in the country.

The event aims to bring together tourism professionals involved in adventure travel and responsible tourism to discuss creating new opportunities for promoting environmental protection and social sustainability.

It also aims to address issues facing adventure travel, responsible and sustainable tourism among both the private and public sectors, with topics such as Linking National Philosophy to Tourism and Future Trends of Adventure Travel.

AT&RTCM 2015 also offers a large-scale platform for adventure travel sellers and buyers to secure effective business appointments.

Martin Craigs, PATA CEO, stated: “PATA is proud to be returning to Bhutan to again show travel trade professionals first hand about this magical destination and the travel opportunities it has to offer. During these challenging times, Bhutan is the perfect place to celebrate happiness, explore beyond tourism, and examine responsible and sustainable tourism growth across the region.”

GOA is seeking to reassure female travellers that the state is safe with the launch of a taxi service for women, driven by female drivers equipped with knowledge of martial arts, self-defence, first aid and tourist attractions.

These taxis – found primarily at airports, railway stations, and bus stations – are equipped with both a GPS monitoring system and a panic call button. Optimal route assessment and journey planning is also available.

Electronic fare meters allowing print-outs are being installed in the vehicles, and taxi services accept payment in cash or credit card. The movement of these taxis will be monitored by the control office and emergency numbers will be displayed inside each taxi.

The introduction of such taxi services could counter the negative media coverage of high-profile assaults on women in India last year, leading to a 35 per cent loss of female travellers in 2013.

Sonal Swamy, director of Syrisa Travels, felt this would help drive an increase in female travellers. “Introducing women drivers in taxis for women travellers is a proactive move to ensure a sense of safety,” she said.

GARUDA Indonesia will gradually replace its current narrow-body aircraft Boeing 737-800NG with the B737 Max 8 as part of its effort to operate aircraft of an average age of up to five years.

The change will commence in 2017 and will see the airline’s 50 B737-800NG being swapped in stages until 2023.

Garuda Indonesia’s vice president of corporate communications, Pujobroto, said in a media statement: “The rejuvenation of aircraft will take place gradually, by the end of each aircraft’s lease.

“The move is taken in line with the company’s programme in anticipation of the growth of air traffic, both domestic and regional, and to maintain Garuda’s business and market share in the full-service carrier’s market.”

STATE-run Myanma Airways is welcoming the peak tourism season with new sightseeing tours from Mandalay, Yangon and Ayeyarwady kicking off this month.

Myanma Airways’ Mandalay branch manager, who declined to be named, said: “We have already received a few bookings…Currently all bookings are made by local travellers because the high season is just starting.

“We hope this new service will reach international visitors.”

From Mandalay’s Chanmyathazi airport, Myanma Airways offers three routes: Chanmyathazi-Bagan/Nyaung Oo-Chanmyathazi, Chanmyathazi-Pyin Oo Lwin-Goke Htaik Bridge-Chanmyathazi and Chanmyathazi-Bagan/Nyaung Oo-Monywa-Chanmyathazi.

Tours are available from 07.00 and 15.30 daily. Prices vary from US$50-$60, depending on the route, while charters are priced US$750 per hour. The airline will deploy 10-seater Grand Caravan aircraft for the tours.

Using the same kind of aircraft, Myanma Airways has also started tours from Yangon. Yangon-Pathein-Yangon tours are at US$30 per person.

From Pathein, Ayeyarwady, the airline is also running two routes: Pathein-Ngwe Saung Beach-Chaung Tha Beach at US$25 and Pathein-Ngwe Saung Beach-Mawtinsoon-Pathein at US$30.

SAN Miguel Equity Investments has released its 49 per cent stake in national carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to the Lucio Tan Group (LT Group), which is now offering to buy out minority shareholders as well.

According to a PAL press release, LT Group’s owned companies Buona Sorte (BSHI) and Horizon Global Investments (HGIL) have acquired respectively a nine per cent share and 40 per cent share of San Miguel’s stake in Trustmark Holdings Corporation.

Trustmark owns 89.8 per cent of the shares for PAL Holdings, which in turns owns 98.3 per cent of PAL.

BSHI and HGIL are calling for voluntary tender offers at the same time, and minority stakeholders selling their shares will receive the same economic terms and conditions as San Miguel.

SRI LANKA’S tourism industry has expressed surprise over the restrictions on access to the northern parts of the country for foreigners.

Last week, the military announced that all foreign passport holders will now require permission from the defence ministry to travel to the north. Clearance will be granted in two to three days from application.

Industry sources told TTG Asia e-Daily that foreigners visiting the north were turned away at security checkpoints last week, when president Mahinda Rajapaksa was in the region.

At least two tourism industry associations TTG Asia e-Daily spoke to were surprised by the announcement. An association official who requested anonymity said: “I thought the ban was temporary due to the president’s visit…last week.”

The region, once the stronghold of Tamil guerillas during the civil war years, has seen travel restrictions relaxed since the end of conflict in 2009 and several small tourist hotels and guesthouses have sprung up.

Around eight per cent of tourists to Sri Lanka visit the north, mainly Jaffna, which is considered the regional capital.

However, military spokesman brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, said the restriction is not a new development. “It has been there since the war ended in 2009. It was not relaxed but ‘less implemented’. It was never removed.”

Military sources say the tightening of security is due to concerns that rebels are regrouping to relaunch their movement.

THE Philippines is pitching itself as a luxury destination for Indian travellers, buoyed by the unprecedented investment boom in integrated resorts, luxury hotels and experiential attractions.

Within the next two years the country will see the launch of a number of luxury properties including a Conrad hotel near Mall of Asia, Grand Hyatt and Shangri-La at Bonifacio Global City and Nobu Hotel City of Dreams Manila.

While Bali and Thailand are popular for Indian destination weddings, where group sizes can reach 500 pax, the Philippines hopes to become a new option for couples tying the knot.

Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu has been particularly successful in attracting wedding parties from India, noted Sanjeet, India representative for Department of Tourism (DoT).

“Hotels just need to keep the banquet halls ready. (The couple) can bring their own priest from India, the wedding planners will fly their own people in and do everything, even rent chefs if the local hotels allow,” said Sanjeet.

Honeymooners are another market the Philippines wants a crack at, as India’s younger generation enjoys beach destinations.

Sanjeet added that the Philippines has become a stand-alone destination for the younger segment, who are drawn to parties, nightlife, shopping and beaches.

To draw these target markets, DoT will continue attending tradeshows in India including SATTE for the first time in January 2015, conduct fam trips for India’s  travel trade, hold roadshows in India and educate the trade through the Philippine Specialist Programme launched in August.

THE Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has released its report on the city-state’s performance for 1H2014, which saw international visitor arrivals dropping three per cent year-on-year to 7.5 million.

Despite this, the market achieved two per cent growth year-on-year in tourism receipts to generate S$11.8 billion (US$9.3 billion), fuelled by an increase in expenditure in sightseeing, entertainment and gaming.

The STB report stated that the decline in visitor numbers was likely due to China’s new tourism law implemented in October 2013. The high-profile incidents of Malaysia Airlines’ MH370, kidnappings in Sabah and political unrest in Thailand, also took a toll on inbound Chinese traffic into the region.

But discounting Chinese tourists, visitor arrivals from other markets grew two per cent between January and June.

Meanwhile, gazetted hotel room revenue posted 9.1 per cent year-on-year growth during the same period, hitting S$1.6 billion.

As for Q2 results, tourism receipts fell three per cent year-on-year to S$5.6 billion and international visitor arrivals dropped six per cent to 3.6 million.

The shrinking in tourism receipts was attributed to lower shopping expenditure from the key markets of China, Indonesia and Malaysia. However, this was offset by growth in sightseeing, entertainment and gaming spend.

Gazetted hotel room revenue posted S$0.8 billion or 5.2 per cent growth in the same quarter.

BANDA Aceh, the capital of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (Aceh) will host the 20^th Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo (TIME) 2014, through which it hopes to further raise its profile on the international stage.

The show will take place from October 23- 26 at Hermes Palace Hotel Banda Aceh.

Esthy Reko Astuti, director general of tourism marketing, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, said: “Aceh has the potential to become a tourist destination, not only because of its proximity to Medan (as a major airline hub for Western Indonesia), but also due to its rich in nature, culture and culinary delights.”

Reza Fahlevi, head of Banda Aceh Culture and Tourism Office, commented: “We expect TIME 2014 to be an important moment for Aceh to develop tourism in the province, and an opportunity for the people of Aceh to get involved in developing the province as an international tourist destination.”

He said that following the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh after the devastating tsunami in 2004, tourism has been growing between 10 and 15 per cent in the last couple of years. Arrivals reached 42,000 last year, with Malaysia, Europe and the US as major source markets.

“With the growing interest in travelling to Aceh, we hope investors will also inject funds for the development of hotels and other tourism-supporting facilities,” Reza added.

Meity Robot, chairman of TIME 2014’s organising committee, said: “So far there are 66 confirmed buyers from 17 countries coming to meet with 60 sellers.”

One-third, or 22, of the sellers are from Aceh.

Attendance is smaller than last year’s event held in Padang, West Sumatra, which saw 83 buyers from 27 countries and 81 sellers.

Ketut Salam, managing director of Pacto Convex, the appointed PCO for TIME 2014, said: “The limited access to Banda Aceh has been an issue for sellers. For example, there is no direct service from (Palembang) to Banda Aceh, so the trade in South Sumatra needs to fly to Jakarta to catch a flight to Aceh.

“Based on the number of sellers, we also limited our number of hosted buyers so that the show maintains its balance between buyers and sellers at a 1.2:1 ratio.”