AIRASIA X will expand its network in China come February, when the airline launches flights to Shanghai from its base in Kuala Lumpur, making the city AirAsia’s 14^th destination in China.

The airline will operate six weekly flights to Shanghai Pudong International Airport from February 19 and step up frequency to offer daily services from May 1.

Guests may also purchase Fly-Thru flights from Shanghai to AirAsia’s destinations in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, which joins two flight sectors via the Malaysian capital.

Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai flights beginning February 19 will depart Kuala Lumpur every day from Tuesday to Sunday at 19.35 to reach Shanghai at 00.45.

Flights on the Shanghai-Kuala Lumpur leg depart every day from Wednesday to Monday at 01.45, touching down in Malaysia at 06.55.

The service will be retimed effective May 1, with daily Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai flights to take off at 18.35 and arrive at 23.45. Return flights will also operate every day, departing Shanghai at 01.05 and 06.15.

The route will be served by the A330-300 with a configuration of 12 premium flatbed seats and 365 economy seats.

“With a 23 million-strong population in Shanghai city, we foresee strong demand for the route where guests may take the opportunity to visit Malaysia and use AirAsia X as a gateway to the many exotic and exciting destinations across the region through our strong group network,” said Azran Osman-Rani, CEO, AirAsia X.

THE Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) will organise the first Philippine Tourism Convention in May next year as the country gears up for the expected influx of 10 million foreign tourists by 2016.

To be held in a yet-to-be specified venue in Manila, the convention will be open to all tourism stakeholders including local government officials, hoteliers, travel consultants, schools as well as professionals engaged in various travel segments such as adventure travel and agro-tourism.

Among the highlights of this upcoming annual event is the private sector’s role in helping local government units improve their understanding of tourism, develop tourism criteria and put in place infrastructure to handle the forecasted growth in inbound traffic.

According to PHILTOA president Cesar Cruz, forum topics will include defining Filipino service and preparing for the 2015 implementation of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on tourism professionals, which paves the way for higher competency standards and greater mobility within the regional bloc.

THE ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) TRAVEX 2013, which will take place in Vientiane’s Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre from January 22-24, boasts the highest number of corporate booths achieved by the event thus far, while more than half of buyers attending are new.

Into its 32nd edition, the ATF TRAVEX 2013, will welcome over 1,000 exhibitors and 460 booths, with new exhibitors comprising 35 per cent. The exhibition will feature 75 corporate booths.

Host country Laos is fielding its largest-ever contingent at ATF.

Saly Phimpinith, director-general of tourism marketing department in the Laos’ Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, said: “Laos is constantly improving its service standards in the tourism industry. We have begun to classify hotels and guesthouses and are actively promoting community-based tourism in order to improve the standard of living in remote areas. We are happy to give ATF TRAVEX delegates a glimpse into the beauty of Laos through the pre-show city tours and post-show tours.”

ATF 2013 attracted close to 1,100 buyer registrations, out of which only 380 quality buyers will be hosted. More than 50 non-hosted buyers will also be participating. The forum is seeing buyers from new countries such as Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Ireland, Israel, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

International media registrations have also reached the 170 mark.

WITH the launch of India’s first Holiday Inn Express in Ahmedabad last week, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is ramping up its focus on India and West Asia to grow its Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands.

In the next five years, India will see 31 hotels opening under the two brands, while West Asia will get seven. Both brands are expected to launch 682 new hotels globally by 2017, adding to its current 3,414 properties.

Baby Thomas, managing partner, Princy Travels, said: “Holiday Inn Express is a very suitable brand for the Indian market as it offers good-quality accommodation at no-frills cost, attracting a large segment of travellers in smaller cities and towns. This segment is largely unfulfilled in India, and the Holiday Inn brand carries high credibility to ensure customer patronage.”

ASCOTT today opened its first premier serviced residence in Qatar, the 299-unit Ascott Doha, bringing Ascott’s Gulf portfolio to six properties in four countries.

Vincent Wee, Ascott’s managing director for India and Gulf Cooperation Council, said: “We see strong demand for serviced residences in Qatar. Our first serviced residence in Qatar, Somerset West Bay Doha, has been achieving occupancy of over 80 per cent. Ascott Doha heralds a new benchmark for luxury serviced residences and it is well-positioned to attract the growing number of expatriates and travellers arriving in the city.”

He also revealed that Ascott had plans to open its Oman properties – Somerset Panorama Muscat and Sohar Garden Residences – within the next 24 months, and deepen the company’s footprints through partnerships in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Located in the diplomatic centre of the city at the north end of the Corniche waterfront promenade, Ascott Doha is near the Doha Exhibition Centre and a 10-minute drive from the city’s business and financial district.

It offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that come with a fully-equipped kitchen, en-suite bathrooms, separate dining and living areas as well as a home entertainment system, complimentary wireless Internet access and an iPod docking station. Other amenities include an indoor or rooftop temperature-controlled pool, gym, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam rooms and also business centre services, meeting rooms and Wi-Fi access for business travellers.

Ascott is offering special introductory rates from 850 Qatari riyals (US$233) per night and promotional packages for yearly stays until December 30 on Ascott Doha’s website.

THE Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority (MGTCA) has introduced The Passport to Monaco programme in India as part of its plan to grow Indian arrivals by 25 per cent.

Rajeev Nangia, associate director of Monaco’s marketing representative in India, Trac Representations, said the programme consists of a folder of coupons that grants free entry to the principality’s main attractions and museums. This includes the Exotic Garden, the Oceanographic Museum and the prince of Monaco’s collection of antique cars. Useful information about the destination and its best shops and restaurants are also included.

“The programme is available for travel consultants to offer their clients on a minimum two nights’ stay in Monaco,” said Nangia.

MGTCA is also looking to collaborate with the Indian travel trade on fam trips, workshops and seminars, gunning for luxury travel, MICE and weddings.

Monaco is committing 30 per cent of its tourism promotion budget to BRIC countries.

Patrick Medecin, Monaco’s ambassador to India, said: “India is increasingly becoming a niche strategic market for us and we are witnessing a good growth in the number of tourists visiting Monaco from India.

“Our objective is to showcase Monaco as one of Europe’s finest destinations. It is also essential to emphasise that despite its image, five-star hotel rooms in Monaco are generally at least 30 per cent cheaper than hotels in London and Paris. Therefore, Monaco is an affordable luxury destination.”

Tri Star Holidays director, Ankur Khanna, said: “Monaco has an aura of luxury, glamour and exclusivity that appeals to high-end Indian clients. With such emphatic promotion, I expect both leisure and MICE business to grow in 2013 and beyond.”

VIETNAMESE authorities are raising visa fees for incoming travellers with effect from January 1, 2013, said a report on the local government’s online news platform.

According to a circular from the Ministry of Finance, fees for single-entry visas for foreigners and Vietnamese residing abroad will be increased to US$45 from US$25.

Multiple-entry visas will be divided into three categories with validities of one month, six months and more than six months, which will cost US$65, US$95 and US$135 respectively.

Citizens of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are currently not required to apply for travel visas when visiting Vietnam. As well, visa fees are waived for citizens of Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia.

BRITISH Airways (BA) will increase frequencies to Chennai and Hyderabad from London’s Heathrow Airport beginning summer 2013, flying six times per week instead of five.

Christopher Fordyce, BA South Asia’s regional commercial manager, said: “We have seen an excellent increase in demand from Hyderabad and Chennai in the last few years. India continues to be one of the fastest growing markets for British Airways.”

Sajan K Gupta, director, Vaayu Seva Tours said: “BA is consolidating its market share in markets that have shown maximum growth in the last two years. London is always an attractive destination for Indians, and Chennai and Hyderabad are booming economically, adding greater consumption power.”

Sunil Kumar, CEO, Travelworld, welcomed the additional weekly flight, saying it would bring more MICE events to Hyderabad.

“Chennai hotel rates are also low with the addition of 1,300 five-star hotel rooms in the last two months, and this (coupled with the additional flights) will increase inbound tourism.”

British Airways is offering a 25 per cent discount on all fares for travel till December 15, 2012.

GLOBAL economic uncertainty and the emergence of LCCs are likely to result in muted airfare and hotel rate increases in the coming year across Asia-Pacific (APAC), predicts American Express Global Business Travel.

The TMC’s Global Business Travel Forecast 2013 anticipates that shorthaul economy airfares in APAC are expected to grow between minus one and four per cent versus one and five per cent in 2012. Business shorthaul fares, on the other hand, are forecast to rise zero to four per cent compared to two to six per cent the previous year.

The growth in economy intra-APAC fares will slow to minus one to four per cent from one to five per cent in 2012, while business intra-APAC fares will increase by a paltry zero to four per cent, compared to five to 10 per cent last year.

According to Carl Jones, head of American Express Advisory Services for Asia-Pacific, the dip in airfare rises in 2013 can be partly accredited to the increasing competition from LCCs sprouting across the region, which has compelled flag carriers to keep their business and economy fare rises low to compete in the leisure segment.

“This is naturally a great boon for businesses, which are now keeping a closer watch over their travel expenses owing to the poorer global economic conditions.”

He added that airfares in China in 2013 would likely be relatively flat due to the slowdown in GDP growth, as well as government-imposed restrictions. India, which he termed as a “unique aviation market”, is predicted to see airfare hikes as high as eight per cent.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are expected to suppress rate rises next year in an effort to claw more corporate business. Mid-range hotel rates in APAC are forecast to rise by just zero to four per cent in 2013, relative to six to 10 per cent in 2012. Upper-class hotels are expected to up rates by two to seven per cent versus six to 10 per cent a year ago.