SINGAPORE’s Changi International Airport is planning to boost its current 1,350-ha size by almost 75 per cent in the future. The expansion is aimed at catering to steadily increasing air passenger traffic and countering rival airport developments in the region.

Singapore’s Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Josephine Teo, who chairs the Changi 2036 Steering Committee established in March to map out Changi International Airport’s future development, unveiled the growth strategy earlier this week.

The 1,000-ha plot of land earmarked for the airport’s enhancement is situated between runway two and runway three, and also includes a section of Changi Coast Road.

According to Teo, the committee will finalise plans to open the third runway – currently reserved for military use – for civil aviation operations by the end of this year. Also under consideration are future terminals, including a potential Terminal 5 and Terminal 6, and when they will be rolled out.

Terminal 1, which recently completed a four-year US$390m revamp that boosted its floor space by 22,000m² to 308,000m², will undergo an additional round of upgrades starting next April (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 18, 2012). The arrival hall will be expanded to raise capacity from 21 million to 24 million passengers per annum, while dedicated facilities to support fly-cruise and fly-coach options will be added.

Once the Budget Terminal makes way for the new Terminal 4 – scheduled to open in 2017 (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 1, 2012), Changi International Airport will be able to handle 85 million passengers per annum, compared to the current 73 million.

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group has launched the Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, the company’s inaugural Crowne Plaza resort in Asia.

Located in Makham Bay in Cape Panwa, Phuket, Crowne Plaza Phuket Panwa Beach Resort offers a total of 224 rooms in nine different categories.

The two-storey 100m2 Andaman Loft Pool Suites (13 units) each boast a private living area, dining space and a terrace that allows guests to step directly into a beachfront lap pool. The second level features a bedroom with sea views and a personal Jacuzzi.

Spread across the resort are five dining establishments, including a bakery-café, a pool bar and beach barbecue, a lobby lounge, an Italian eatery, and an all-day dining venue serving Thai, pan-Asian and European cuisine.

Facilities include a Thann Spa & Sanctuary with seven treatment rooms – including a Thai massage room, and four couple’s rooms with Jacuzzis and private outdoor showers.

With a private 200m stretch of beach, the resort is also equipped with a water sports centre offering activities such as ocean kayaking and windsurfing, and a Kids Club.

THAILAND has introduced a new campaign to stimulate domestic tourism and mitigate fluctuations in international arrivals.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, said: “The importance of domestic tourism is growing because it less vulnerable to seasonality fluctuations and is also the first to make a comeback after any unexpected crisis, such as floods.”

The authority has targeted 107.4 million intra-Thailand trips in 2013, and six percent growth in domestic tourism revenues to 453 million Thai baht (US$14.3 million).

To achieve this target, TAT aims to generate demand in a way that provides a steady flow of visitors all year; highlight the unique identity of different regions; create networking opportunities for domestic tourism businesses; and spin travel as an education experience rather than a recreational activity.

The new campaign, which will run through the remainder of 2012 into 2013, promotes travel and tourism as a necessary part of life for Thai nationals and expatriates.

The marketing slogan “New Thinking, New Perspectives -Travel in Thailand Can Yield More Than You Think” is aimed particularly at young Thais and intended to inspire national pride.

Suraphon said: “Domestic travel has an emotional element because people feel they are helping their fellow citizens, not just travelling for the sake of fun or recreation. Hence, it comes from the heart and is a part of life for all Thai citizens.”

TAT is encouraging businesses in Thailand to offer domestic getaways as performance incentives, and hold meetings, seminars, and teambuilding exercises at new destinations around the country.

“In addition to school trips and corporate incentives, one of the most important areas is facilitating travel for elderly people, people with disabilities and other such vulnerable groups. They, too, need to enjoy the privilege of travelling as a part of life,” said Suraphon.

“We are glad to see significant improvements in the ability of Thai tourism products and services to cater to such groups.”

Reporting by Timothy France

FOR the second consecutive year, Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) will be held in Bandar Lampung, the capital of Lampung province on the southern tip of Sumatra.

Lampung Culture & Tourism Office head, Gatot Hudi Utomo, said: “TIME 2011 was the first international event that Lampung ever held (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 13, 2011) and therefore, there were things we had to learn. Based on the mistakes we made in 2011, we will improve and put up a better show for buyers, sellers and media this year.”

“We will organise a pre-event tour which will include a tour to Mount Anak Krakatau, and a trip to watch the Lampung Cultural & Tapis (woven cloth) Carnival, the biggest cultural parade participated by all regencies in Lampung,” he added.

According to Utomo, the regional government will also be more selective in inviting local stakeholders to participate as sellers. “We will only invite those who do inbound and have a variety of products. We will also help them to maximise their participation at the show,” he said.

According to organising committee chairman Meity Robot, TIME 2012 is set to take place from October 9-12, and a total of 78 sellers and 80 buyers are being targeted. PACTO Convex has been appointed as the PCO for the show.

PACTO Convex managing director, Ketut Salam, said: “With the growing demand from Asia, and longhaul markets still affected by the economic crisis, we will be focusing on inviting buyers from ASEAN countries, and those with strong economies such as China, India and Australia.

Last year, TIME attracted 84 sellers from 10 provinces and 77 buyers from 27 countries, with total transactions hitting an estimated US$15.7 million.

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled a series of strategies designed to maintain the country’s brand image, marketing profile and visitor arrivals going into 2013.

Announced yesterday after the conclusion of TAT’s annual action plan meeting, the NTO has set a 2013 target of 22.22 million international tourist arrivals and 966 billion baht (US$30.62 billion) in revenue.

The core theme of the Action Plan 2013 is “Higher Revenue through Thainess”. TAT is hoping to attract tourists using the Charm of Thainess – which includes Thai Experience, Thai Way of Life, and Thai Culture.

A “Discover The Other You” campaign will be launched to promote experiential travel. The marketing messages involved will emphasise creative tourism, where tourists can participate in unique Thai experiences – such as Thai boxing, Thai massage, Thai cooking, and Thai classical dancing. Thai food and Thai local wisdom will also be used as unique selling propositions.

Some key aspects of Thai lifestyle including rice farming, massage and meditation techniques will also be emphasised. For the first time, images of visitors participating in a rice harvest and ploughing the fields behind a water buffalo will be used in marketing campaigns.

TAT will ramp up efforts to increase the number of first-time and high-spending visitors. Four niche products used to attract high-spenders will be golf, health & wellness, wedding & honeymoon, and green tourism.

The NTO will also attempt to increase charter and low-cost carrier flights to destinations where there is no direct access, while LCC’s will be used to broaden the base for mainstream tourists.

A Partner on Demand strategy will be implemented to grow strategic alliances and enhance the add-on impact of marketing efforts. Trade shows and roadshows will be used extensively in both existing and potential markets.

Digital media marketing will be a special focus of attention. Partnerships will also be forged with hotel partners to produce special interest videos such as those highlighting weddings and honeymoons.

Lastly, TAT will place emphasis on establishing a tourism intelligence unit and crisis management centre. These will be designed to identify emerging trends and opportunities, and also aid the NTO in reacting promptly to the increasing number of global crises.

SILVERSEA Cruises’ Silver Whisper will set sail from Los Angeles on January 5, 2013, embarking on a 115-day cruise that will take the ship across the equator four times and to 52 destinations in 28 countries.

Destinations along the way include Tahiti, New Zealand, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar and Mozambique.

The programme will also offer extensive cruising around South African harbours and calls at some ports along the West African coast, before heading for Central America, then the Caribbean, and ending off in Fort Lauderdale in Florida on May 1, 2013.

With a maximum of 382 guests onboard at any juncture, the full 115-day world cruise is priced from US$48,114 per person double occupancy. The fare is inclusive of accommodation with personal butler service, fine dining with complimentary wines, champagne and soft drinks, 24-hour room service and all gratuities.

The deal also includes US$3,500 worth of world cruise onboard spending credits per double occupancy/suite to cover expenses for spa treatments and shore excursions.

Meanwhile, Silversea is offering shorter sectors of the world cruise, including a 21 days Sydney to Hong Kong sailing priced at US$8,999, 11 days Hong Kong to Singapore at US$5,999, and a 16 days Singapore to Port Louis (Mauritius) for US$6,999.

CHAN Brothers Travel Singapore has become the first travel agency in Asia-Pacific to utilise Amadeus Mobile Traveller, an integrated mobile application supporting the pre-trip, in-trip and post-trip travel requirements of consumers.

Amadeus Mobile Traveller allow travellers to plan and book trips with their travel agency, check itineraries and flight status, synchronise with their calendars, access destination information, and through social media integration — share their experiences on-the-go from their smartphones.

Anthony Chan, group managing director & CEO, Chan Brothers Travel, said: “As the global smartphone market continues to expand rapidly, mobile technology has and will continue to have a profound impact on the travel cycle.”

“Amadeus Mobile Traveller gives our customers access to a much needed mobile platform where they can seamlessly search, book and travel with ease right from their iPhone or Android supported mobile devices.”

AIR India and Jet Airways have slashed travel consultant commissions on domestic and international ticket sales from three to one per cent starting July 16, in the process jeopardising the financial viability of over 5,000 IATA-affiliated travel companies in India.

The two carriers have recommended that ticket issuers should instead charge clients a handling fee of Rs. 225 and Rs. 325 respectively for domestic economy- and business-class tickets; Rs. 775, Rs. 1,300 and Rs. 3,250 respectively for economy-, business- and first-class fares to short- and mediumhaul destinations such as Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Colombo; and Rs. 1,625, Rs. 3,250 and Rs. 6,500 respectively for longhaul international sectors.

Other Indian carriers such as IndiGo, Go Air and Spice Jet do not offer commissions to travel consultants; neither do international carriers operating in India, with the exception of Emirates and Thai Airways.

Anil Punjabi, chairman – east, Travel Agents Federation of India, said: “This will create mayhem in the market as the issuance fees charged to customers will not be uniform and lead to a price war. Smaller companies will not be able to weather the storm. Less than three per cent commission does not make any sense and should be built into the fare.”

Meanwhile, IATA’s implementation of its weekly remittance system in India from November 2012 (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 8, 2012) is expected to compound the problem and cause a cash flow crisis for local travel companies.

P. P. Khanna, director, Diplomatic Travel Point New Delhi, said: “Airlines must ensure that they do not sell tickets at prices lower than what can be offered by travel consultants. Parity must be maintained for fair trade practice.”

COMO Hotels and Resorts will launch its first-ever resort in Phuket, Point Yamu by COMO, on the island’s Yamu peninsula in July 2013, almost a year later than its previously scheduled September 2012 opening (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 11, 2011).

Harry Apostolides, COMO vice president of business development, said: “This new COMO resort will be our second Thai property, after the Metropolitan by COMO in Bangkok. Phuket is one of the top tourist destinations in the region, and we have focused on its east coast – an area of outstanding natural beauty and great biodiversity. The location perfectly frames the COMO experience of service and cuisine, complemented by a wellness focus delivered by our award-winning COMO Shambhala Retreat.”

Overlooking Phang Nga Bay and the Andaman Sea, the 79-room beachside resort will offer 30 villas, with a clutch of private residences available for purchase. Facilities will include a 100m swimming pool, an eight-room COMO Shambhala Retreat, a yoga studio, an Italian and Thai restaurant, as well as a private beach.

Italian architect, Paola Navone, has been appointed to design the interiors of Point Yamu by COMO.