MYANMAR’S Ministry of Transport has revealed grand plans to overhaul the aviation landscape and transform Myanmar into an Asian aviation hub.

Speaking at the Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2014 in Yangon this week, Nyan Htun Aung, union minister of transport, said: “For the future of Myanmar’s aviation sector, we have set a vision that aims to make Myanmar become a major (aviation) hub in Asia.”

Four strategic thrusts were outlined: pursuing the liberalisation of economic regulation; establishing new air links to international destinations; promoting national airlines and improving infrastructure.

Tin Naing Tun, director general of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) said the ministry will first conclude air services agreements with new bilateral partners and revise some old agreements with more liberal provisions.

Myanmar will also expand air route networks to Europe, the US and Australia, as it is already linked to Japan and emerging economies like India and China, he said.

The ministry will also raise the safety and service standards of its national airlines to put it on a par with regional airlines. Furthermore, the DCA is allowing the set-up of private airlines under relevant waiver clauses despite this being disallowed by current legislation.

Finally, Tin Naing Tun said the ministry has embarked on public-private partnerships for the development of infrastructure such as airports. “These steps are supported by our new foreign investment law, paving the way for foreign investors to make investments in 20 air transport service sectors, including airports and air carriers,” he added.

Total passenger traffic to Myanmar numbered 6.5 million in 2013, a 16.5 per cent increase compared to 2012, according to DCA statistics. Twenty-eight international airlines were operating in Myanmar last year, with eight LCCs, more than double the 12 airlines in 2009.

A NEW campaign was launched in Cambodia today to prevent child sexual exploitation in tourism and spread awareness of what tourists can do to make responsible choices during travel.

Child Safe Tourism is backed by World Vision Cambodia and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, and also part of the Australian government’s Project Childhood Prevention Pillar initiative that wants to stamp out the sexual exploitation of children in the Mekong sub-region.

Phang Chanda, Project Childhood coordinator for World Vision Cambodia said that World Vision’s research showed many travellers “wanted to help at-risk children however, they were confused about what actions they could take and wanted more information”.

Since then, promotional material such as stickers, tent cards and signboards have been created and are being distributed in Cambodia’s major tourist destinations. The travel trade has also been engaged with the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents taking charge of spreading word on the campaign.

Said Phang Chanda: “These materials provide useful information and advice to help travellers make responsible choices and take a stand against all forms of child abuse. The materials will also allow local residents and private stakeholders to take more action to better protect children.”

The campaign has also been launched in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Hor Sarun, under secretary of state at the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia, said: “Most tourists come to enjoy the beautiful attractions and culture that Cambodia has to offer, but child sexual abuse committed by a handful of tourists is a major concern for Cambodian society as well as the globe.”

SINGAPORE Changi Airport and the Okinawan prefectural government are keen to start direct flights between both destinations, a link that will promote Singapore as a hub to Okinawa.

Both sides signed an MoU at the international terminal of Okinawa’s Naha Airport yesterday, pledging to work closely to promote tourism and trade ties between the Japanese prefecture and Singapore, as well as South-east Asia, India and Australia.

The MoU will see Changi Airport and Okinawa establish new direct routes from Singapore to boost arrivals, beginning with charter flights launched in collaboration with airlines and travel agency partners.

Wong Woon Liong, senior advisor to Singapore Changi Airport, said: “This MoU is aimed at enhancing direct air connectivity between the two cities. Changi Airport is keen to establish a direct link to Okinawa. The prefecture shares the common interest to promote tourism, trade and transport people from one destination to another.”

“With this non-stop flight inauguration, it will decrease flight time to Okinawa, and provide greater comfort and convenience to business and leisure travellers. To start with, we will work together with key travel agencies to launch charter flights between Singapore and Okinawa. This will create and further develop the Singapore-Okinawa market for the first scheduled direct flights. We are also planning to conduct marketing promotion activities together,” he added.

MELIÁ Hotels International has inked an agreement for a second Innside by Meliá hotel in Indonesia, to be opened in December 2015.

The 130-room Innside by Meliá Makassar will be situated 25 minutes from Sultan Hassanuddin International Airport and five minutes from the main shopping and business areas of Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi.

The hotel will also feature two restaurants, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and a swimming pool.

According to a press release, Meliá expects business travellers to make up 80 per cent of guests at the hotel.

The Spanish hotel chain is on a roll in Asia, having announced plans for properties in China, Vietnam and Indonesia in January this year (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 29, 2014).

The first Innside by Meliá hotel will open in early 2015 in Jogjakarta, with 258 rooms.

ODISHA is banking on its allure as a Buddhist tourism destination to draw arrivals from South-east Asian countries such Thailand and Malaysia and reach its annual arrivals target.

The state recorded around 70,000 international tourist arrivals in the fiscal year 2013/2014.

“We are looking to promote our diamond circuit, which comprises the Buddhist sites of Udyagiri, Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri, in South-east Asia. Presently, we are receiving around 3,000 tourists from South-east Asia which is not encouraging. We are targeting 100,000 international arrivals and the South-east Asian region will be our focus,” said MR Patnaik, director, tourism, Government of Odisha.

To that end, the board is planning to start roadshows in South-east Asia in April and has multiplied its budget to develop infrastructure that meets international standards, such as hotels and roads.

“Our tourism budget was Rs700 million (US$11.5 million), which we have increased to Rs3.6 billion (US$59.2 million) for the financial year 2014-2015,” said Patnaik. Odisha has earmarked Rs1 billion (US$16.4 million) for the diamond circuit and the golden circuit that comprises Konark, Puri and Bhubaneswar.

“International arrivals are expected to increase with Odisha getting its first international airport in the form of Biju Pattnaik International airport last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 27, 2014). Odisha has many sites of importance for Buddhists so promoting such places in South-east Asia will help the state to draw more international tourists,” said Ranjan Kumar Mishra, managing director, Eastern Voyage.

“Developing infrastructure and tourist facilities at Buddhist sites will go a long way in attracting international tourists especially from neighbouring South-east Asian countries. At present we get few international guests in our properties. With the international airport coming up in Bhubaneswar and promotional efforts of the government, we expect numbers to grow in coming months,” said Jyoti Ranjan Pattanaik, regional manager-sales, The Crown.

FRHI Hotels & Resorts has bought the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley, California in partnership with California financier Richard Blum and family.

The property will be refurbished and branded as a Fairmont Hotels & Resorts hotel, joining other landmarks such as New York’s The Plaza and The Fairmont San Francisco.

Offering 279 rooms and suites, the hotel boasts views of the San Francisco Bay, castle-like architecture and history dating back to 1915.

It also includes a 1,500-member strong Social & Tennis Club that utilises the hotel’s amenities.

Other FRHI properties in California include: The Fairmont San Francisco, The Fairmont San Jose, The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, The Fairmont Newport Beach, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows and The Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square.

Kevin Frid, president, Americas, FRHI Hotels & Resorts, said: “Growth continues to be one of our top priorities, so we are extremely excited to be adding an asset as attractive as the Claremont.

“We see this as an opportunity to grow one of our leading brands with the right product, in the right market, and firmly believe the hotel is a perfect complement to many of the other celebrated hotels in the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts portfolio.”

MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 is believed to have “ended” in the southern area of the Indian Ocean with no survivors, said the Malaysian prime minister.

At a press conference last night, the country’s prime minister Najib Razak said he had been briefed by representatives of the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch on new satellite analysis that had shed more light on MH370’s flight path.

He said: “(MH370) had flown along the southern flight corridor and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth. This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.”

MAS released a media statement at 00.30 this morning saying that the majority of the families of those on board the flight had been informed in advance of Najib’s statement, in person and by telephone.

Text messages were used only as an additional means of communicating with the family, and MAS will arrange to bring the families of the victims to the recovery area once green-lighted by MAS authorities. The airline will “continue to support the ongoing investigation” in the meantime.

Beijing-bound MAS flight MH370 went missing in the early hours of March 8 with 239 passengers on board, having departed Kuala Lumpur hours ago. Its disappearance prompted a massive multinational search (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 10, 2014) across vast swaths of territory and speculation that the aircraft may have been hijacked by terrorists (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 14, 2014).

At time of publication, the ongoing search operation has not recovered any debris from the plane and has to be suspended due to bad weather and rough seas.

Speaking at a press conference today, Australian defence minister, David Johnston, said the search will resume when the weather improves and with more assets pumped in.

Australia’s prime minister Tony Abbott has also said visa fees will be waived for families of passengers and crew members should they wish to travel to Australia once evidence of the wreckage has been established.

HOTEL Okura is venturing into tour guide territory with the launch of an online travel planner app that will highlight local attractions and help travellers plan sightseeing and activities.

Available on the websites of its two luxury hotel groups Okura Hotels & Resorts and Nikko Hotels International, the app was developed and customised by TripSketch for 19 of the groups’ properties.

The app links to local offers on the hotel’s individual pages and lets users browse the destinations’ attractions, tours and excursions, and see their distance from the hotel.

It will be available for the group’s hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Bangkok, Honolulu, San Francisco, Amsterdam and Düsseldorf.

Kenji Goto, representative director and senior managing corporate executive officer at Hotel Okura, said: “This application will let our guests engage with us well before their arrival. Of course, our hotel concierges can offer additional suggestions when guests arrive.”

Hotel Okura is comprised of hospitality chains including Okura Hotels & Resorts, JAL Hotels, Nikko Hotels International and the mid-priced Hotel JAL City.

GEG Travel, owned by GEG Europe and set up in 1988 by Chinese owners to cater to overseas Chinese travelling in Europe, is establishing a third office in China and expanding its European tour programme to include South-eastern Europe.

GEG will open in Guangzhou in September to tap outbound travellers from the province. Hong Kong-based director, Kenneth Tang, described Guangzhou as a market with “very big potential”, in particular for its mid- to high-end products and family charter tours.

GEG entered China in 1993 and operates one office each in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

GEG, headquartered in Rotterdam, operates seat-in-coach European tours with guaranteed departures and is known for its five week-long, “hop-on, hop-off” itineraries covering different parts of Western Europe that allow travellers to join the looped tour at any designated city at a specified time and meeting point or combine different itineraries.

“Travellers just pay 68 euros (US$94) a day, which covers the coach transportation, a guide, a three-star hotel stay and breakfast. Hotels used include Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Park Inn by Radisson, Novotel, Ibis, Hampton Inn, Meliá, DoubleTree by Hilton, and Sheraton,” said Tang, who added that GEG also offered services such as transfers to and from non-designated meeting points.

GEG has partnered Obzor Putovanja Holidays, which represents Star Alliance member Croatia Airlines, in Zagreb to promote South-eastern Europe.

JAPAN National Tourism Organization (JNTO) launched its 14^th overseas office in Jakarta yesterday in the hopes of creating better awareness and boosting traffic from Indonesia.

JNTO Jakarta Office executive director, Katsuhisa Ishizaki, said: “We will organise a MICE seminar in Jakarta in June, bringing in suppliers and convention bureaus from Japan to meet the trade here.

“We will also take part in travel fairs in Indonesia such as the ASTINDO Fair and Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair to reach out to consumers.”

In last week’s ASTINDO Fair, for example, JNTO invited Tokyo Disney Resort, Mitsubisi Estate Simon/Premium Outlets Japan, Gifu, Mitsui Fudosan, Waku Waku Japan, and Universal Studios Japan to participate.

The office will also work with outbound tour operators in creating brochures and has set up a Facebook page in Bahasa Indonesia.

JNTO president, Ryoichi Matsuyama, said: “Indonesia has a large population and it belongs to the G-20, (showing) good economic condition. It (holds) big potential for Japan.”

Last year, arrivals from Indonesia shot up 34.8 per cent year-on-year to 136,800. Between January and February this year, Japan saw 13,600 Indonesian visitors or a 17.2 per cent increase over the same period last year.

Asked about JNTO’s arrivals target for Indonesia from this year onwards, Matsuyama said: “We do not have the target breakdown per country, but we hope Indonesia and other ASEAN countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam) will contribute significantly to achieving 20 million arrivals to Japan by 2020.”

Last year ASEAN contributed 1.1 million arrivals to Japan, an increase of 48.3 per cent from the previous year. Indonesia was Japan’s fourth largest market in South-east Asia after Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

“Our focus in developing (the Indonesian market) will not only be in the number but also quality of travellers. So, we are growing step by step, but with the large population we believe one day arrivals from Indonesia will be able to surpass Thailand, which is now our biggest ASEAN market,” remarked Matsuyama.