A ROAD map for Bali’s sustainable tourism development was launched during the recent Indonesia Sustainable Tourism Development Conference, calling for the radical restructuring of products and marketing with an emphasis on quality, segmentation, authenticity and better “green” performance across the industry.

Green Growth 2050, a Roadmap to Bali Sustainable Tourism Development emphasises the need for more green jobs, transportation infrastructure development, and the aligning of tourism strategies and awareness programmes at the national and provincial government levels.

Greenearth.travel chairman, Geoffrey Lipman, said: “We believe that the government, working with the industry and the Bali community, can use this road map to establish a creative system approach to successfully manage change. It has to be community driven, and the provincial government can take a leadership role in making this happen.”

“It is not expensive, it is just a commitment to a new way,” he added.

Lipman said that there had been a lot of talk about communities and jobs, and that both the central and Balinese governments had set green targets, and all that was left to do was take action.

“The future of Bali and the preservation of Trihita Karana (a Balinese philosophy of harmony between people and god, nature and community), would be a guiding principle for coherent policy action in tourism development, community interface, sustainability delivery and commitment to low carbon output,” said Lipman.

“(Implementation) must start now, because if business continues as usual, Bali will be exceeding its carrying capacity long before 2050,” he warned.

ASIA-PACIFIC cruise industry leaders have called for greater stakeholder integration and coordination so as to maximise gains from the rapid growth of cruise tourism within the region.

During a plenary session on the state of the Asia-Pacific cruise industry, Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, emphasised the urgent need for Asia-Pacific cruise industry stakeholders “to get organised”.

She said: “We have to get stakeholders – be it the government, port authorities, NTOs, hoteliers or tour operators – behind us to orchestrate and coordinate marketing and advocacy efforts. Stakeholders need to put on a united front to encourage investment and development in port and cruise tourism infrastructure, which is still sorely lacking.”

Kelvin Leong, general manager of Asia Cruise Association (ACA), agreed that Asia’s cruise industry, though potentially lucrative, still lagged behind in coordination as compared to more established counterparts such as Australia.

“Travel consultants (in Asia) are not educated to act as advocates for the (cruise) sector. At the same time, cruise development is not high on the list of priorities for Asian governments, and as such, cruise lines face a roadblock – currently there just aren’t enough ports of call to vary itineraries and to boost profitability,” he said.

Leong added that ACA was attempting to tackle these issues by engaging with travel firms and relevant government bodies such as ASEAN.

In line with this strategy, ACA has entered into a partnership with Globalports and the French Riviera Port Authority to launch the inaugural Asia Cruise Forum in 2013.

Scheduled to take place in Singapore, Malaysia or Hong Kong, the forum aims to establish a training and accreditation framework for the cruise industry, while acting as a catalyst to accelerate port and cruise infrastructure development.

“We hope to draw all stakeholders together (for the forum), creating synergies to effectively capitalise on the booming Asian (tourism) markets,” said Leong.

THE lack of significant infrastructural improvements and government support (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 17, 2012) in Asia-Pacific are some of the more pressing issues that continue to constrain the development of the regional cruise industry.

Speaking at Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific 2012, Gianni Onorato, president, Costa Crociere, said while Asian destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai now boast ports capable of berthing the largest cruise ships, other transit ports of call in the region still lack the facilities to accommodate these larger vessels, and thus restrict the development of itineraries.

Citing Australia as an example, Gavin Smith, managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia, pointed out that while there was no lack of cruising demand Down Under, it was the limited “physical capabilities” of ports unable to accommodate larger ships that curtailed the growth of the industry.

Meanwhile, cruise stakeholders also pointed to the low rate of penetration of cruise tourism in Asia, which stands at about 0.01 per cent – in contrast with the three per cent market penetration rate in the US.

V.Ships president, Roberto Giorgi, said: “With the rapid rise of a middle class, there are 300 million potential passengers in China, but the country needs more ports and vessels built in order to reach its potential.”

Calling for more investment to boost cruising infrastructure in the region, Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, said: “Everyone should have a stake (in the cruise industry), so Asia can learn how to harness all stakeholders to come together to realise ambitions.”

THAI AirAsia is planning to mount regular flights from Bangkok to Nay Pyi Taw and Bagan before the start of the 2013 South-east Asian Games in Myanmar.

Speaking at a promotional event ahead of the launch of four-weekly Bangkok-Mandalay services (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 15, 2012) and the addition of a third Bangkok-Yangon daily flight on October 4, Thai AirAsia CEO, Tassapon Bijleveld, emphasised that facilities at nearly all of the country’s airports would have to be upgraded before international airlines could launch more routes.

“We have a plan to (fly to) Nay Pyi Taw, but the facilities have to be upgraded… I am sure the government is doing it and by next year we should be able to fly to Nay Pyi Taw,” he said.

“For flights to Bagan, we will look at maybe middle or the end of next year. I think we need to upgrade the (airport) facilities, such as ground handling services.”

Tassapon added that the Bangkok-Mandalay flights operated by Thai AirAsia would likely increase to a daily frequency within six months.

“A lot of people would like to come and see Mandalay, especially tourists from Europe. We have a lot of (European) tourists coming to Thailand and many of them want to visit Myanmar,” he said.

THE Indian government has decided to allow up to 49 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) by international airlines in Indian carriers.

Foreign airlines were previously barred from investing in Indian carriers, although up to 49 percent FDI by stakeholders unrelated to airline businesses was permissible.

The development comes as a welcome relief for most Indian airlines, which have been reeling from a combination of high state taxes, rising airport charges and fluctuating fuel costs.

Meanwhile, SpiceJet, which operates to 41 destinations across South Asia and the Middle East, is in talks with a Gulf-based airline for direct investment.

Neill Mills, CEO of SpiceJet said: “There have been preliminary discussions whether there is any interest on both sides and the confirmation is, yes, there is. Any future tie-up would produce reciprocal benefits.”

CENTARA Hotels & Resorts will embark on its maiden foray into Mauritius when the Centara Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa soft opens this December.

“This is a very significant move for Centara, as it marks a strategic step into a tourism market that we feel has very exciting potential,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

Located at Poste Lafayette on the northeast coast of Mauritius, the low-rise resort will be flanked by a beach with its own lagoon and reef on one side and a mountain on the other.

The property will offer 100 rooms, with a choice of superior and deluxe with garden or ocean views. The larger rooms, in addition to the king or twin bed options, will also be equipped with a sofa bed.

F&B facilities will include an all-day dining restaurant serving international cuisine; an a la carte restaurant specialising in Asian and Indian Ocean dishes; and a beach restaurant and bar.

Leisure amenities will include Spa Cenvaree, a free-form swimming pool and children’s pool, a fitness centre, and a kids’club.

Accommodation will be offered as Half Board Plus, inclusive of buffet breakfast and a choice of either lunch or dinner together with complimentary open bar during the meal service period; or All Inclusive, which covers all meals and full open bar served from 11.00 to 23.00 daily.

PAN Pacific Orchard has unveiled refreshed guest rooms, restaurants and facilities following a S$10 million (US$8.2 million) refurbishment programme completed this month.

The revamped hardware extends from the hotel’s new executive rooms, studio rooms and Pacific Club suites to its restaurants, 10 at Claymore and Lobby Lounge, as well as public areas including the entrance, main lobby and meeting facilities.

The hotel has also added a St. Gregory spa to its stable of wellness facilities that already comprises a steam room, a fitness centre and a mineral water swimming pool.

“The refurbishment is part of our continuing journey to provide relevant choices and enriching experiences for today’s discerning travellers,” said Dean Rossilli, general manager of Pan Pacific Orchard.

“It is a proactive response to the guest feedback we solicited through a series of focus group interviews conducted to delineate specific enhancements for our rooms and amenities.”

INCUMBENT assistant secretary for Tourism Planning & Promotions and acting OIC of the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Domingo Ramon ‘Chicoy’ Enerio III, has been formally appointed COO of TPB for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2012.

A career diplomat who has worked at the Philippines’ Department of Tourism (DoT) for more than thirty years, Enerio previously served as a tourism attaché in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo.

Henceforth, all national tourism marketing and promotional duties will be transferred from DoT to TPB, which will responsible for providing marketing promotions support, “whether it be for entertainment, hotels and resorts development, investments; all these will fall under the scope of TPB’s (functions),” explained Enerio.

DoT will retain overall macro-planning functions, guided by its National Tourism Development Plan. “There is a lot more to take care of (at DoT), especially when it comes to product development and enhancement, planning, research, and administrative requirements,” said Enerio.

A five-member board of directors has also been appointed to oversee the following committees within TPB: Margie Munsayac (accommodation enterprises), Monette Hamlin (conventions and travel exhibitions), Edwin Vincent Ortiz (accredited tourism enterprises), Margarita Villarica (travel and tour services) and Isagani Buenaflor (land, air, and sea tourist transport services).

“We want (the board) to signal to us what the requirements are of their respective sectors, so we are able to respond to the concerns of the industry,” said Enerio.

Meanwhile, Dentsu Philippines has been appointed agency for media planning and placement as the DoT’s tourism marketing campaign moves into its second phase. The NTO has been granted PHP 2.6 billion (US$62.67 million) for its 2012/2013 marketing budget, a 91 per cent year-on-year increase.

“The major increase is in the area of international advertising and promotions,” said Enerio. “For the last quarter of this year, we’ve been able to plan a major international campaign…with TV commercials, brochures and websites.”

“We have big plans for digital. In our research and surveys, we’ve found that ‘digital’ is a very crucial element in foreigners’ decision-making process,” he added.

SEEKING an approach to sustainable tourism development that takes into account the welfare of indigenous communities, Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have jointly launched the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Tourism and Green Jobs for Indonesia.

Speaking at the Bali Sustainable Tourism Conference yesterday, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwandar, explained that sustainable tourism development practices were already relatively well established in the country.

“The Strategic Plan serves as a policy recommendation to determine the professional development of sustainable tourism (in Indonesia),” he said.

Also at the conference, Indonesia tourism planning expert and ILO consultant, Myra Gunawan, urged sustainable tourism development to take into account both the local environment and people.

She explained: “There needs to be a mindset change among tourism stakeholders from merely measuring tourism development in terms of arrivals and spending, to including how much the development has improved the welfare of people in a destination.”

Citing the example of Machu Picchu in Peru, where the government’s concessions to the private sector for tourism development came at the expense of the livelihoods of 10,000 local fishermen and farmers, Gunawan pointed out that such cases should be avoided.

She urged the government to establish guidelines to ensure that future tourism investments would provide tangible benefits and sustainable income avenues for local communities.

THAILAND’S capital saw the opening of its first Tune Hotel yesterday, marking the third outpost in the country for the budget hospitality brand after Hat Yai and Pattaya.

Owned and operated by franchisee Red Planet Hotels, the 130-room Tune Hotel Asoke, Bangkok is situated on Sukhumvit Soi 14, near the Terminal 21 shopping mall and the Asoke BTS Skytrain and Sukhumvit MRT stations.

Red Planet Hotels CEO, Tim Hansing, said: “We are on the verge of signing up to four or five more sites in Bangkok, as we expand the brand through a capital city receiving more and more leisure and corporate travellers each year.”

Following Bangkok, Phuket will welcome its first Tune Hotel with a 150-room property on Patong Beach in December.

Hansing added that 2012 had so far been a “milestone” year for Red Planet, which acquired a 16.05 per cent stake in Tune Hotels earlier this year to become the chain’s third-largest investor (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 17, 2012).

“By December, Red Planet Hotels will have achieved gaining ownership interests in 20 operating hotels in just 12 months,” he said.