IATA’S taskforce on aircraft tracking will offer carriers a range of options to install rather than a single solution across the board.

Singapore’s The Business Times today quoted Kevin Hiatt, senior vice-president (safety and flight operations), IATA and head of the taskforce, as saying: “We will explore what options are available and what aircraft currently on board and see how it can be used to potentially fill this gap.”

Speaking from Doha where IATA is holding its annual general meeting, the taskforce’s solution could address airline concerns about the costs of implementing aircraft tracking systems.

The Business Times stated that some 30 vendors are scheduled to present their solutions to the taskforce, but IATA chief Tony Tyler has remained silent on a timeline for implementation.

According to Reuters, an ICAO official said last week that converting all airlines to a global standard of real-time tracking may take up to three years to realise (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 29, 2014).

IATA convened the taskforce following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 1, 2014), comprised of representatives from ICAO, the airline industry, plane-makers, flight safety organisations and air navigation service providers.

HONG Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying’s suggestion to slash the number of mainland Chinese visitors by 20 per cent has generated heated debate but tourism stakeholders suggest the government focus on building capacity instead.

Leung’s consult with the Commission on Strategic Development is aimed at reducing infrastructural strain from the influx of tourists brought in by the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) when Hong Kong relaxed the rules for FITs coming from six Chinese cities almost two years ago (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 3, 2012).

Supporting the mooted change is Hong Kong Association of Registered Tour Co-ordinators chairman, Wing Wong. “(Chinese FITs) don’t benefit our inbound operators at all, except the retail, hotel and transport operators… They pack the shops and there are long queues at immigration counters. Everything is becoming pricey due to higher demand, so other leisure travellers feel Hong Kong is more costly than before,” he said, adding that a 20 per cent reduction is “acceptable”.

In the retail sector, Yue Hwa Products Emporium’s director and general manager Yu Pang-chun could not agree, explaining that turning the Chinese visitors away would drive business away to other destinations.

But Yu admitted the city’s capacity was insufficient. “The city doesn’t have enough tourism infrastructure and there has not been many new additions over the last 10 years as compared to pragmatic Singapore. Therefore, there is a need to expand the pie and build more infrastructure.”

Likewise Charles Ng, honorary president of Hong Kong Inbound Tour Operators Association, said the cut would not resolve the “root cause”, which is the lack of resources. “Therefore, development of other tourism resources is vital,” he stressed.

“Instead of cutting 20 per cent, we should increase inbound traffic from all markets by 20 per cent or more. Group tour traffic is vulnerable to external factors…With a cut, frontline tour guides will suffer and the local economy will be challenged and ruined,” said Ng.

Hong Kong Disneyland’s managing director, Andrew Kam, said: “Hong Kong Disneyland will closely monitor the development of relevant policies and situations.”

Read how an overcrowded Hong Kong is struggling to accommodate a growing number of Chinese tourists

COX & Kings subsidiary Holidaybreak is selling off its camping division to Homair Vacances, a group specialising in outdoor holidays in France.

The deal has been finalised at Rs8.9 billion (US$149.9 million), which is expected to help Cox & Kings reduce its Rs42 billion debt. The transaction will be completed in three months.

Peter Kerkar, director, Cox & Kings, said: “Our strategy is to become a leisure and education travel group. The sale of camping division will allow us to focus on these businesses.”

“We have also realised that camping holidays are not very popular with Indians.”

The camping division provides outdoor family holidays at over 170 third-party owned campsites across 12 European countries, and was absorbed by Cox & Kings its acquisition of Holidaybreak for in 2011.

Cox & Kings will launch its first outdoor education site in India this financial year with facilities including accommodation, study trips, summer camps etc.

THAILAND’S night-time curfew has been lifted in Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui with immediate effect since yesterday, announced the National Council for Peace Order (NCPO), which is currently overseeing the country’s administration under military rule.

The move is intended to ease the atmosphere in tourist areas and reduce any fallout on the local economy, according to the council. The curfew is still in force in other areas until further notice.

Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said in a press release: “The lifting of the curfew in Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui is welcome news. This latest development announced by the NCPO should help reassure everyone coming for a holiday in Thailand that it’s very much business as usual and that there’s no reason for anyone to change their plans.”

Meanwhile, tourism leaders in the country have urged NCPO to lift the curfew from other popular tourist destinations like Hua Hin, Krabi and Chiang Mai.

Last week, hours for the nationwide curfew were also shortened from the original 22.00-05.00 to 00.00-04.00.

Further easing of the curfew is expected in the coming days.

FOLLOWING recent ownership changes, Aman Group will relocate its headquarters from Singapore to London. It has also appointed Lisa Bovio, formerly SVP – international sales & marketing of Kerzner International as chief marketing officer, and promoted Carolyn Turnbull to executive director – global sales.

In a span of just a few months, a dramatic turn of events saw founder Adrian Zecha stepping down as chairman in April after acquiring back the chain from India-based DLF Global Hospitality in February for US$358 million in a joint venture with Peak Hotels & Resorts, led by technology entrepreneur Omar Amanat.

At the time, Zecha had said: “I am delighted to partner with Peak Hotels & Resorts, who not only share my vision for Aman’s future growth but are absolutely committed to sustaining our company’s reputation for many decades to come.”

It is not known why Zecha stepped down. The chain’s ownership is now under Aman Group, an investor group led by Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin, chairman of Russia-based developer Capital Group, who is also CEO of Aman Group. Johan Eliasch, chairman and CEO of sporting-goods company Head NV, has succeeded Zecha as chairman of Aman Group.

In a statement, the group said the relocation from Singapore to London would provide it “a central base better suited to the company’s vision as a global brand”.

“Singapore will remain an important regional office focusing on Aman’s Asia-Pacific business, with an additional regional presence in New York to support the company’s growth in North and South America,” the statement added.

CHALLENGED by congestion and limited slots at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) since it relocated its operations there late last year, Philippines AirAsia is developing Kalibo as its second hub.

Frequent delays in aircraft departures and arrivals burn fuel and add costs to operations at NAIA, said Maan Hontiveros, president and CEO of Philippines AirAsia. She cited the example of an AirAsia flight from Tacloban that was forced to delay landing by 15 minutes due to heavy traffic at Terminal 4.

As a result, the carrier is trying to get more flights to land at NAIA’s Terminal 3 instead of Terminal 4 where it is based.

Meanwhile, the LCC will base a number of aircraft in Kalibo, the gateway to Boracay, while increasing the number of Manila-Kalibo services from seven to 13 daily flights, and preparing it for international flights from China and South Korea.

Hontiveros said the next goal was to grow regional flights as AirAsia has consolidated and rationalised its domestic operations. “We have applied for rights to fly to Bangkok, Singapore and Japan (from Manila).”

Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group, said: “When you’re at the doorstep of three large economies – South Korea, Japan and China – the potential is very bright…although it is constrained by the airport…We have very exciting plans outside Manila where we think we can open up new markets.”

Fernandes added that the carrier will consider operating from Clark once construction on the road linking Makati and Clark is finished in 2016.

Separately, Philippines AirAsia is the first airline to enter the typhoon-ravaged Tacloban, where it flies to thrice daily. “AirAsia will be committing more flights to Tacloban as soon as the airport is rebuilt,” said Fernandes.

TRANSPORTATION card companies from Singapore and Taiwan have signed an MoU to integrate both sides’ electronic purses into a single card for seamless travel and retail transactions in each destination.

Singapore’s EZ-Link and Taiwan’s Easy Card Corporation inked an understanding to develop the Cross Border Combi Card and will also work together on an interoperable platform.

EZ-Link is to contribute its pioneer contactless e-ticketing technology with the aim of offering e-tickets to popular tourist attractions to visitors from Singapore and Taiwan.

HILTON Worldwide is putting together its own curated collection of independent four- to five-star properties that boasts unique histories or identities, tapping traveller demand for more authentic and localised experiences.

The hotel group unveiled its 11th hotel brand, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, yesterday and has announced the first hotels that will come under it.

Said Jim Holthouser, executive vice president, global brands, Hilton Worldwide: “Curio expands our portfolio to a total of 11 exceptional brands and creates additional opportunities to serve our existing customers even better, attract new customers and grow our pipeline. With Curio, we can help owners leverage our scale, scope and expertise while keeping intact each hotel’s individual character.”

“Our customers and owners have expressed strong interest in a brand from us that includes hotels that can retain their unique identity but also deliver the many benefits of our system, including our Hilton HHonors guest loyalty programme,” said Christopher J Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide.

Already slated to come under the Curio collection in the next few years are: the SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which will open after a high-style renovation with over 1,620 keys; The Sam Houston Hotel, listed on the US National Register of Historic Places; Hotel Alex Johnson, close to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial; The Franklin Hotel; and a hotel development by The Widewaters Group that will debut as part of the collection in late 2016.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group launched its own collection of luxury independent properties in February this year (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 20, 2014) and unveiled its first members last month (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 6, 2014).