KAZAKHSTAN is granting the citizens of 10 countries visa-free entry for the period between July 15, 2014 and July 15, 2015.

Citizens of the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Japan will be allowed to stay for up to 15 days in the country without a visa under this trial programme.

Should visitors wish to extend their trips, they will need to apply for and acquire the required visa.

According to The Astana Times, Kazakhastan’s officials will decide at the end of this one-year test period whether or not to continue with the programme.

AN AIRASIA flight carrying 102 passengers shot off the runway while making a landing in the Brunei capital yesterday but all on board were safe.

Flight AK278 came from Kuala Lumpur and was attempting a landing in Bandar Seri Begawan when the incident happened.

“All passengers and crew on board disembarked safely, and there are no injuries reported for this incident,” said the statement. “Our team is working with the relevant authorities to identify the root cause of this incident.”

The Airbus A320 aircraft was carrying 102 passengers and seven cabin crew members on board.

EXPEDIA has acquired online travel company Wotif Group for A$703 million (US$659.8 million) to bolster its supply of Asian inventory.

Wotif’s portfolio comprises mainly air and hotel products, and includes online travel brands in the Asia-Pacific region like Wotif.com, lastminute.com.au, travel.com.au, Asia Web Direct, LateStays.com, GoDo.com.au and Arnold Travel Technology.

It generated 3.2 million room nights in bookings for the six-month period ending December 31, 2013 to record A$593 million in total transaction value and A$76 million in revenue.

Dara Khosrowshahi, president and CEO, Expedia, said: “Wotif Group is well positioned in the Asia-Pacific region with a portfolio of leading travel brands.”

“This acquisition will allow both companies to continue driving growth opportunities by leveraging the unique strengths each brings to the table. Wotif Group will add to our collection of travel’s most trusted brands and enhance our Asia-Pacific supply, while Expedia will expose Wotif Group’s customers to our extensive global supply and world-class technology.”

The acquisition remains subject to the approval of shareholders of Wotif and other regulatory conditions, and is expected to close by 4Q2014.

TAKING the name of legendary explorer Marco Polo’s father for its new brand, Marco Polo Hotels has introduced the luxury Niccolo by Marco Polo and will open the first hotel under it next year.

Marco Polo Hotels describes the Niccolo by Marco Polo brand as a collection of contemporary urban chic hotels and the company’s response to rising demand for upscale travel experiences.

Hallmarks of Niccolo by Marco Polo include the City Insiders concierge who will play host to guests and impart personal insider tips to enjoying what the destination has to offer, retail partnerships with fashion brands exclusive only to hotel guests, and the Niccolo Lecture Series to introduce guests to the pioneering explorers and stories of this generation.

The brand’s first hotel will open early next year within Chengdu’s International Finance Square on Chunxi road, offering 228 rooms and suites.

Three more Niccolo hotels are set to open in premier addresses in Chongqing, Changsha and Suzhou. Plans to take the new brand beyond China are also on the table.

Stephen Ng, deputy chairman and managing director of The Wharf (Holdings), parent company of Marco Polo Hotels, said: “Late last year, Marco Polo Hotels announced our expansion plans across Asia-Pacific. The launch of Niccolo by Marco Polo in Chengdu is an integral part of this growth strategy and evidence of our belief in the continued potential of business and leisure travel across the region.

“The (past) 12 months mark a significant milestone for our company, with the most hotel openings in a decade, including the newest success story, Marco Polo Ortigas, Manila opening on July 9. In addition, our spectacular Marco Polo Changzhou set in 7.7ha of beautiful landscaped gardens opening in the third quarter of this year, and now our highly anticipated Niccolo Chengdu is due to open in early 2015.”

SPICEJET last week applied for official approval to offer low-cost, non-refundable fares to customers, undeterred by AirAsia India’s rejection for a similar proposal.

Sanjiv Kapoor, COO, SpiceJet, wrote to the Ministry of Civil Aviation: “There are occasions when we fly with a lot of empty seats and customers complain (about costly last-minute fares). We are unable to discount our distressed inventory close to the date of travel as current regulations do not allow us to offer restricted non-changeable, non-refundable fares.”

The airline intends to sell such fares at less than half the price of spot fares, but they will also be available for advance purchase.

Existing laws state that all airlines must refund taxes and surcharges when consumers cancel their journeys, though this does not extend to the flight fares itself.

Rajendra Churiwala, director-eastern region, IATA Agents Association of India, agreed with Kapoor: “Empty seats are not only a loss but depress overall profitability of seats sold. Airline seats are a perishable commodity, so a customer buying restricted, non-refundable tickets knows that it is a trade-off of risk against very cheap fares.”

Other restrictions that LCCs have baulked at include the mandatory free 15kg of baggage for each passenger. AirAsia India’s application to charge for each kilogram of checked baggage was also turned down by authorities.

LOW-COST packages launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to woo Filipino travellers back to the country are seeing low take-up rates, but local trade players predict traffic will recover eventually.

TAT’s Explore Thai Wonders packages bundle Bangkok with other popular destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, a consortium of seven travel agencies are selling them to the Philippine market between May 15 and September 30.

An all-in 6D5N package including airfare, accommodation and tours to Phuket and Bangkok costs US$598; to Chiang Mai and Bangkok, US$688; and to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Bangkok, US$798.

Consortium member Rajah Travel Corp’s tour coordinator, Celine Arcadio, said: “Demand will improve and will depend upon the situation in Thailand, which seems to be normalising. No Filipino got hurt or harmed in Thailand.

“Travellers realise now is a good opportunity to visit – very affordable rates, not too crowded, the curfew was lifted so they can already go to the night market.”

Meanwhile Francis Jamias, sales manager at another consortium member Ark Travel Express, expects traffic will bounce back. “Tour packages make Thailand even more affordable and value for money. There is no more negative news from Thailand. The curfew was lifted and things are getting back to normal.”

He also noted that TAT has been supportive in terms of holding dialogues with travel agencies, giving them regular updates on the situation in Thailand.

FRANCE will issue visas to Indian travellers within 48 hours of application starting from January 1, 2015, announced its foreign minister Laurent Fabius in Mumbai last week.

Travellers will no longer have to wait seven days for their visas, and the move is the latest attempt to enhance France’s image as a travel destination to Indian citizens.

France will also open visa application centres throughout India, beginning one for Kochi within the month.

Madhavan Menon, managing director of Thomas Cook India who was present at the meeting between Fabius and India’s tourism industry, said: “We applaud this strategic move on the part of the French government. Our research has highlighted the emergence of an impatient last-minute traveller and hence the launch of our 48-Hour Holidays product; the 48-hour processing time for a French visa makes it an amazing fit. We anticipate an increase not just from our leisure segment but equally, the business travellers and MICE segment.”

Rajeev Wagle, managing director of Kuoni India, added that it is a “great” move as visa acquisition is a “problem area”.

Meanwhile travel app Chalo Paris or Go Paris will be launched in September catering to the needs of the Indian traveller and containing information such as the location of Indian restaurants and prices in rupees, with more Indian languages to be added over time.