FORMER Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts’ joint managing director and senior vice president marketing, Edwin Yeow, died this morning after battling cancer.

A ferocious marketeer who helped put the Banyan Tree brand on the map in its early years through his professional relationship with international tour operators and the media, Yeow fought as tenaciously for his life as he went through bone, brain and lung treatments in the last few years.

Ho Kwon Ping, founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings, said: “Edwin was truly at the creation of Banyan Tree, and helmed the sales and marketing team, the brand positioning and marketing communications for more than a dozen years, until he retired to return home to Kuala Lumpur.  He was an excellent marketeer but behind the very charming and articulate exterior was a very shy and deeply private man. His profound faith in his Christian beliefs and his loving family sustained him through the multiple cancers which should have taken his life years earlier, but gave him some bonus years.

“Edwin helped to establish the DNA of Banyan Tree and all of us remember him with great affection. He was a mentor to many, and a close friend and fellow traveller on the Banyan Tree journey. I shall miss him deeply.”

Yeow’s former team members at Banyan Tree also expressed their sadness.

Maisy Koh paid tribute to Yeow’s legendary fighting spirit, quirky humour, big vision and equally big heart. “Thank you for the wonderful memories, for being the person we were so proud to call our boss and showing us that despite the steely exterior, you have a heart of gold.

“In these couple of years since his diagnosis, he often gave us hope that miracles are possible. In typical Edwin fashion, he never gave up. His perseverance is nothing short of miraculous.”

“We had so many quirky, witty, animated and fond memories of Edwin,” said Jeannette Ho, now vice president revenue management and analytics at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. “He will be remembered as larger than life.”

Yeow worked with Banyan Tree for 16 years and returned to Kuala Lumpur in 2008. He also joined YTL Hotels & Properties as executive vice president focusing on strategy and global marketing and was an advisor to Destination Resorts & Hotels.

THE United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has pegged its full-year projection for growth of international arrivals at four per cent or higher, following an unexpectedly strong 1H2013 led by Asia-Pacific and Europe.

International arrivals grew by five per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2013, logging 494 million, according to the advance edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

This surpasses the world tourism body’s three to four per cent growth forecast made at the beginning of the year, as well as the UNWTO long-term outlook that predicted 3.8 per cent annual growth.

Arrivals to the Asia-Pacific region expanded by six per cent year-on-year, spearheaded by 12 per cent growth in South-east Asia and seven per cent in South Asia.

Europe chalked a five per cent increase in arrivals despite woeful economic conditions. Central and Eastern Europe saw 10 per cent more arrivals, while Southern and Mediterranean Europe registered six per cent.

At the same time, outbound travellers from emerging economies continue to leave their mark on emerging and advanced economy destinations.

China and Russia drove growth in travel expenditure as two of the top 10 most important source markets in 1H2013, spending 31 per cent and 22 per cent more compared to the same period last year respectively. Brazil also bounced back into the top 10 with a 15 per cent rise in expenditure after a moderate 2012.

MYANMAR’S aviation sector is being given a boost, with the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) launching projects to build up the country’s airports. Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) also announced yesterday it would acquire a stake in Yangon-based Asian Wings Airways.

Win Swe Tun, deputy director general, DCA, said: “The projects will start in three months, but negotiations with the companies (that won the tender to upgrade or construct Myanmar’s airports) are continuing.”

He expressed hope that work on the airports would start before end-2013 or in early 2014.

Yangon International Airport will have its capacity increased from 2.7 million passengers to six million annually by 2015 (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 2, 2012), a task to be undertaken by Myanmar’s Pioneer Aerodrome Services with Singapore-based Yongnam-CAPE-JGC as the backup operator.

Development of Yangon’s mothballed Hanthawaddy International Airport is also slated to get back on track (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 4, 2012), with the appointment of South Korea’s Incheon Airport consortium to the task. Yongnam-CAPE-JGC was selected as a backup.

Said Win Swe Tun: “ As Yangon airport will be able to handle (only) six million passengers a year, the rest of the passengers will go through Hanthawaddy.”

Completion of the first phase in 2017 will give Hanthawaddy capacity for 12 million travellers annually, and 30 million after the second phase is finished.

Seven Star Tours Yangon’s managing director, Phyu Phyu Mar, said the development of Hanthawaddy was needed to cater for future growth in visitors, while Phyo Wai Yar Zar, managing director of All Asia Exclusive Travel Company, said such projects were very important for the direction of tourism in the country.

Separately, ANA announced in a release yesterday that it would buy a 49 per cent stake in Myanmar’s Asian Wings Airways for US$25 million, according to Bloomberg.

ANA relaunched flights linking Japan and Myanmar in October last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 12, 2012) and will increase Tokyo (Narita)-Yangon operations to a daily service from September 30 (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 26, 2013).

THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Airports of Thailand have signed an MoU to increase the number of passengers passing through Thailand’s airports through marketing, promotional, research and human resource activities.

The signing is the first of its kind between two state-owned enterprises and will take effect from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2016.

Under the MoU, they will also promote domestic travel for the off-peak season and carry out other initiatives such as organising joint seminars, conducting research, holding information exchange and feedback, publicising travel news and working with respective partners.

Suraphon Svetasreni, governor, TAT, said in a statement that the MoU would bring significant benefits to airlines flying into Thailand, especially in the run up to the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Air connectivity would be crucial in making the region’s gateway and secondary cities accessible.

Likewise, Airports of Thailand vice chairman and acting managing director, Pongsak Semson, commented: “Airports of Thailand and TAT are both linked by shared interests in facilitating the air transport sector and tourism promotion. Aviation linkages will be critical for the success of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 and there is no doubt that we can be more effective by pooling our resources and expertise.”

Airports of Thailand, the largely government-owned airport operator, owns and runs six key international gateway airports of Thailand: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, Phuket International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport and Chiang Rai International Airport.

More than 80 per cent of Thailand’s total visitor arrivals come by air via these gateways.

SRI Lanka’s hotels are gearing up for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in the country from November 8 to 17, an event expected to provide a tremendous boost to Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

So far more than 4,000 rooms have been booked for the summit, which will see 52 heads of state including Britain’s Prince Charles, their delegations and up to 1,000 journalists in attendance.

The summit will be the largest gathering of world leaders in Sri Lanka since the Non Aligned Summit in 1976 in Colombo, attended by leaders of 86 countries.

Colombo City Hotels Association president, K Shanthikumar, said delegates would stay an average of six to seven nights in the country. Hotels to host top dignitaries and attendees include Hilton Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, The Kingsbury, and Hotel Galadari. City hotels such as Ramada Colombo, Taj Samudra Colombo and Galle Face Hotel are also receiving a quick makeover, while sections of these hotels will be opened specially for the summit.

The summit will take place at Sri Lanka’s largest conference venue, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, currently under renovation but due to open in time for the meeting.

During the summit, related business, youth and civil society meetings will take place simultaneously at different venues, generating revenue and publicity for the country, said Vipula Wanigasekera, general manager of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. Side events are also scheduled for Hambantota and Hikkaduwa in south Sri Lanka.

“The presence of such a large number of international media alone gives us a great opportunity to profile Sri Lanka at its doorstep,” he said.

Journalists covering the week-long event will be also taken on short fam trips to the popular tourist areas of Galle and Kandy.

Shanthikumar said this was a boost not only for tourism but also other investments.

“Fifty-two leaders can see the country and (its products) for themselves and word-of-mouth publicity is much better than any other promotion,” he added.

EMIRATES is boosting capacity between Dubai and Bangkok by adding a second daily Airbus A380 service and upsizing its aircraft on existing operations.

The airline will begin its second daily A380 service on October 27 and upgrade its regular Bangkok-Dubai route from an A330-200 to a Boeing 777-300ER, starting September 1.

Jabr Al-Azeeby, area manager for Thailand and Indochina, Emirates, said: “The latest A380 service addition and the upgrade for Bangkok-Dubai flights reinforce the significance of Bangkok to Emirates’ operations in the region.

“Given the outstandingly high demand for this route, adding the second daily A380 service will not only allow our passengers heightened flexibility but also support the country’s growing tourism industry.”

LOCAL developer Kepong Industrial Park (KIP) Group is expanding into the hospitality space, with the Group’s first hotel KIP Hotel scheduled for completion in mid-2015.

Valerie Ong, director of KIP Group of Companies, said the property would be located in the commercial district of Sri Utara in Kuala Lumpur and operated by The Lexis Hotel Group, whose management portfolio includes Grand Lexis Port Dickson and Lexis Port Dickson.

Said Ong: “KIP Hotel will boast 199 rooms and will be positioned as a premier three-star hotel with four-star service. The ARR is RM180++ (US$55) per night.”

Hotel amenities will include a rooftop bar, show kitchen café, business centre, banquet hall, infinity pool, fitness centre and conference facilities.

In the meantime, two more three-star hotels are in the pipeline – the 250-key KIP Sentral in Sepang and another property to be located in Malacca that is still being planned, according to Ong.

Yap Boon Teck, CEO, KIP Group of Companies, revealed that KIP Sentral is aiming to open by 2016 and will be located approximately a 10-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

KIP Group’s portfolio includes property investment and development as well as as shopping mall and hypermarket management.

Tourism Malaysia’s deputy director-general (planning), Azizan Noordin, said more accommodation facilities are needed around the country in line with the tourism ministry’s aim of attracting 36 million international tourists by 2020.

Presently, Malaysia has 100,000 hotel rooms across all star categories.

SINGAPORE Tourism Board (STB) yesterday in Mumbai launched the In Singapore Incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE), a rewards programme for Indian outbound MICE groups.

Produced in partnership with Singapore’s major tourism players such as Changi Airport Group, Gardens by the Bay and Sentosa Leisure Group, among others, INSPIRE categorises and rewards incentive groups according to three tiers – basic, value and premium.

To qualify for INSPIRE’s basic tier, groups must travel to Singapore before December 31, 2014 and book a minimum of 1,000 room nights. Value and premium tier require 1,500 and 1,800 room nights respectively.

Groups accepted into the INSPIRE programme will receive a S$20 (US$16) Singapore Changi Airport shopping voucher per visitor. Other rewards include a guided tour to the Singapore Turf Club Parade Ring and a trackside marquee dinner, a New York Street Party dinner at Universal Studios Singapore, a specially chartered zoo tram expedition at the Night Safari, reserved seating at Jurong Bird Park’s new High Flyer show, and premium seating for Sentosa’s Songs of the Sea show.

STB welcomes applications from now until July 31, 2014.

STB executive director for South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Chee Pey Chang, explained that Indians were increasingly seeking unique experiences while on business travel.

“INSPIRE was created to appeal to this growing segment by developing a selection of personalised programmes and exclusive offerings,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NTO, in collaboration with the Asia Cruise Association, has also been conducting training sessions for travel consultants in Mumbai and New Delhi on how to market cruises effectively or become Cruise Lines International Association-certified cruise counsellors.

Said Chee: “Given the recent rupee devaluation, Indians will find cruise vacations a great, cost-effective, all-inclusive vacation.”

Faraway Places Mumbai managing director, Arvind Tandon, said: “Cruise tourism has gained huge popularity over the last two to three years and although Singapore remains the prime hub for Indian outbound cruise enthusiasts, cruises in Europe and Alaska are also becoming popular. We have seen 20 per cent (year-on-year) growth in the segment.”