ORIENT-EXPRESS will launch a new river cruiser, Orcaella, which is set to begin sailing in Myanmar from July 2013.

Currently under construction in Yangon, the 50-guest ship will complement Orient-Express’ existing Road To Mandalay vessel, which has been sailing the Irrawaddy River for 17 years.

Named after the Irrawaddy dolphins, the ship will sail along the Irrawaddy River between Yangon and Bhamo, as well as the Chindwin River, a tributary of the Irrawaddy, to as far north as Homalin near the Indian border.

With 40 staff onboard, the four-deck vessel features 25 air-conditioned cabins – of which four cabins will be interconnecting – each outfitted with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and balconies.

Facilities include an observation deck, an all-day lounge and bar, a restaurant, a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a spa treatment room and two boutiques, in addition to a medical room and resident doctor.

Operating between January to April and July to December, Orcaella offers a collection of cruise itineraries varying between seven and 11 nights, with a variety of offshore excursions such as a traditional monks’ noviation ceremony and a train journey into the Kachin jungle.

Prices start from US$5,040 per person for a seven-night cruise, including all meals onboard, excursions, transfers and domestic flights. Road To Mandalay and Orcaella are both available for private charters and can be chartered in tandem, offering a total occupancy of 132 guests.

FOR the first time in half a decade, hotel prices have risen across all regions – four per cent – during the first six months of 2012, indicating a recovery in the hospitality sector, according to the latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) by Hotels.com.

David Roche, president, Hotels.com, said: “The hotel industry bounced back in the first half of this year from a number of natural and political crises in 2011 and it is encouraging to see growth in the sector. While initially it may not seem (like) good news for consumers, hotel prices are still only around their 2005 level, representing great value for travellers when both wages and other prices have risen considerably.”

Rates in Asia climbed four per cent, fuelled by the Japanese who are beginning to travel again after the 2011 Tohuku earthquake, a growing number of Chinese travelling overseas as well as an expansion in the region’s budget aviation sector with new entrants such as Peach Aviation and Scoot.

In the Pacific, which recorded a six per cent hike in rates, a resource boom – particularly in Western Australia – resulted in a room squeeze.

Increasing business travel combined with higher consumer spending in the US drove North American rates up by five per cent.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is seeing a slower trajectory of growth in hotel rates.

Following the turmoil of the Arab Spring, confidence returned to much of the Middle East and North Africa, resulting in a rise of one per cent in hotel prices.

Although Europe’s overall rates grew one per cent, prices dropped in parts of the eurozone where falling consumer confidence and spending power led to lower occupancy in the major cities and holiday hotspots.

AUSTRALIA’S tourism industry is suffering from a shortage of workers, rooms and investment as it struggles to compete with its Asian rivals, a national survey by the country’s Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) revealed.

According to the TTF survey, top concerns among industry veterans include the soaring Australian dollar, which is inhibitive to outbound travel from emerging Asian markets, as well as the hike in passenger movement charge from A$47 (US$48) to A$55 as of July 1.

A lack of skilled labour was cited by a quarter of respondents as the key impediment to the country’s tourism sector. Statistics from the federal government show a current staggering 36,000 vacancies in the Australian tourism industry.

Twenty per cent identified room shortage as another major issue. According to Tourism Australia (TA), the country needs 40,000 more beds by 2020 to meet demand.

Most notably, the survey recorded a sharp 12 per cent jump in the number of respondents citing access to bank financing as one of the top three challenges, which affects the ability of local tourism operators to invest in new or refreshed products.

In response, a TA spokesperson said: “TA acknowledges that investment is vital to growing the Australian tourism industry. We have recently been given an expanded remit to play a role in investment attraction, along with facilitating and enhancing air access from key source markets. The role includes working more closely with all levels of government – including Austrade and state and territory investment agencies – to elevate tourism investment on the agenda and work towards developing a more strategic and long-term approach.”

When queried on how Australia could stay competitive, the spokesperson replied that the best strategy would be to focus on distinctive products and experiences to gain a greater share of key growth markets, particularly Asia’s rapidly emerging middle class.

ACCOR reopened the Ibis Christchurch yesterday, which became the first city centre hotel to restart operations since the February 2011 earthquake.

The 155-key property has undergone major remedial works, including structural strengthening and a revamp of all its rooms and public areas.

Said the hotel’s general manager, Tim Dearsley: “Christchurch tourism has suffered enormously because of the perception that the city was closed following the earthquake. This was never true, but the reopening of the Ibis will highlight that the city centre is now accessible to travellers.”

While some parts of the CBD still remain cordoned off, the ‘red zone’ has reduced from 387 hectares to 49 hectares and the city is expected to be fully open by mid-2013, he added.

Ibis Christchurch’s relaunch comes a month after the authorities announced a masterplan for the re-imagining of the city. Located in Hereford Street, just off Cathedral Square, the hotel is near the proposed convention centre as well as other key tourism, shopping and entertainment facilities.

The Novotel Christchurch – another Accor property – is scheduled to reopen in mid-2013, while the future of the group’s two All Seasons hotels is yet to be determined due to restricted access to the properties following the earthquake.

THE Association of the Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA) West Java Chapter has temporarily stopped selling Mount Tangkuban Perahu, one of Bandung’s key natural attractions, due to safety concerns and an unresolved dispute.

The decision was made following a conflict between the local community and the company managing the attraction, Graha Rani Putra Persada.

In an expression of unhappiness, the local community blockaded the park entrance from August 20-22. Although the park reopened on August 23, talks between the management and the community have not resulted in an agreement.

At the same time, the volcano is increasing in activity. The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation has upgraded its warning status from Normal to Alert, and is not allowing travellers to get close to the mountain’s crater, its main attraction.

“ASITA has issued a recommendation to members to stop selling Tangkuban Perahu temporarily, until conditions are conducive,” said ASITA West Java chairman, Herman Rukmanadi, after a meeting with the West Java Tourism Office last weekend.

Tama Indonesia Bandung managing director, Reza Novaldi, said: “Yes, we have stopped selling it temporarily because of the volcanic activity out of concern for the safety of tourists even as we wait (for the dispute) to be solved.

“In the meantime, we are offering travellers a visit to Kawah Putih.” Kawah Putih, a white crater in South Bandung, is considered a similar attraction.

Batik Holidays managing director, Maktal Hadiyat, also changed tour itineraries to include Kawah Putih. Hadiyat said: “Tangkuban Perahu and its crater is one of the main attractions in Bandung. We do hope the problem will be solved soon and that the park is better managed for the convenience of travellers, so that we can include it again in tour programmes.

“As an industry player in Bandung, I don’t want to see Java-Bali overland tour operators reducing stays in Bandung, or worse, skipping (the destination), because of the absence of Tangkuban Perahu.”

FLAGSHIP carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced plans at a stockholders’ meeting last week to rebrand its low-cost subsidiary Airphil Express and build a new 2,000-hectare airport within the next three years.

The airline will retain the name Philippine Airlines for longhaul flights, while the PAL Express brand would be re-adopted for regional shorthaul and domestic flights, PAL president, Ramon S Ang, disclosed.

Airphil Express was formerly known as PAL Express, until it ceased business operations under that name in March 2010.

Philippine Airlines told TTG Asia e-Daily that a new PAL Manila-Toronto route would be launched November 30, in time for the delivery of its fourth Boeing 777-300ER. The service will be thrice-weekly, while the current daily Manila-Vancouver flight will be reduced to four times a week. The return route, Toronto-Manila via Vancouver, will be operated daily.

Ang’s disclosure also included plans for a new airport with up to four runways that would be “accessible in 15 minutes” via an elevated six-lane “skyway” to the Makati business district.

In earlier reports, Ang supported the construction of a new airport in either Clark or Bulacan, both located north of Metro Manila.

The plan is being presented for approval by Philippine president Benigno S Aquino III. If approved, construction will begin in 2013 in partnership with a South Korean contractor. It is also understood that the elevated highway project is a separate undertaking.

These announcements follow last week’s news of PAL’s US$7-billion aircraft order with Airbus for the delivery of 54 new aircraft starting 2013 (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 29, 2012), which would bring PAL’s fleet to a total of 100 aircraft.

INDONESIA’S Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will push for more promotions to make up for the decline in July arrivals, especially from neighbouring countries.

Data from the Central Board of Statistics showed that while January-July arrivals were up by 4.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, July arrivals were down by 5.9 per cent.

Singapore arrivals declined by 17.7 per cent, Malaysia, 14.1 per cent, Australia, 6.9 per cent and Taiwan, 20.2 per cent, while arrivals from Saudi Arabia in July slumped 63 per cent.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, attributed the slowdown to the Ramadan fasting season, which saw more staying put at home.

Furthermore, nightlife venues were shut and F&B operations limited during the Muslim month of fasting.

“I’m sure the figure will increase again in the following months,” Pangestu said at a media conference on Monday.

Deputy minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwandar, said: “Even a small percentage of decline (in visitors) from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Australia leaves a significant impact on total arrivals as their volumes are big.

“Therefore, we will do more sales missions and create promotional programmes to boost traffic in the coming months.”

The ministry will invite top tour operators from major markets to meet with Indonesian operators and create short-term promotional packages for the period of October-December.

Special events will also be organised in cross-border areas like Batam, Bintan and Pontianak to draw traffic.

MYANMAR’S new international carrier, Golden Myanmar Airlines, will invite investors to pick up shares in its parent company this month.

Golden Myanmar Airlines will compete with Myanmar’s other international carrier, Myanmar Airways International (MAI), and also look at flying new routes that are not being offered right now. The company aims to begin flights in early 2013 and is considering using Mandalay International Airport as its base.

“Initially we established Golden Myanmar Airlines Public Company with some shareholders. The next step to invite shareholders (to apply to buy shares) will take place very soon,” said U Khin Maung Aye, chairman of Co-operative Bank and Kaung Myanmar Aung Business Development Enterprise.

He said the project would capitalise on Myanmar’s booming tourism industry and shares would cost K10,000 (US$11.50) each.

“In Myanmar we have never had a public airline company like, for example, Thai Airways International. This is one of our reasons for starting this public company,” he said. “All the shareholders in the company will be part owners of the airline and we welcome all interested people, hoteliers and other business people to become shareholders in the airline.

“We want people to enjoy good air services at a reasonable price.”

U Thein Tun, chairman of Myanmar Golden Star, and U Aung Gyi, a former managing director of MAI, will be board members of the company and are two of the 15 main shareholders.

“We will invite shareholders in early September. More details about the airline will be presented at that time,” said U Aung Gyi.

“Currently we only have one international airline from Myanmar, and we need another, which is why we are establishing this company,” he said.

THE number of Indian visitors to Japan registered 34,648 in the first half of 2012, a 21 per cent jump as compared to the same period last year, on the back of increased interest in Japan as a leisure destination.

The Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) confirmed a rise in total tourist arrivals until June, in what seems to be the first time numbers have increased since the tsunami and earthquake disasters hit Japan in March 2011.

There is increasing Indian interest in leisure travel to Japan, a destination that has thus far been in the domain of Indian business travellers and some incentive groups. A few filmmakers have used Japanese locations for very popular Indian movies, some filming during the brief cherry blossom season.

Susrita Banerjee, managing director, Kolkata-based Faraway Places, said: “Tokyo, the shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Shizuoka to see Mount Fuji and the numerous onsen spas that dot the terrain are increasingly catching the fancy of Indian tourists. We expect higher growth in FIT and small groups this year and in 2013.”

Motonari Adachi, executive director, JNTO Singapore, said: “It is a remarkable development for JNTO and reassures that our marketing activities in India are in the right direction. India will continue to remain one of our key markets and we expect a sustained increase in the number of Indian visitors in the coming months.”

Izumi Sasamori, managing director of Tokyo-based Athteion, said: “Indians are discovering the diversity of Japan. They are exploring the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, as well as venturing into the countryside with bilingual guides. The number of Indian tourists to Japan will grow very much in the next two years.”