MYANMAR will offer visas-on-arrival (VOA) to conference attendees and transit visitors from 27 countries, effective June 1.

This is an extension of its plan to offer VOAs to business travellers from ASEAN member countries.

Under the new arrangement, visitors from ASEAN, Australia, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the US, will be able to avail of a 70-day business visa for US$50, a 28-day entry visa for meetings, workshops and events for US$40, or a 24-hour transit visa for US$20.

While only available at Yangon International Airport for now, the VOA service will be introduced at Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay airports in the near future. A tourist VOA is also in the pipeline.

VOA is currently granted to visitors from any country arriving on Myanmar Airways International flights from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Guangzhou.

SINGAPORE and Portugal have signed a bilateral air sevices agreement.

This will allow their respective flag carriers to operate between both countries via and beyond to any third nation, without restrictions in capacity, frequency, and aircraft type.

Also ratified were agreements aimed at boosting cooperation in the areas of education, science and technology.

The President of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, is currently on a two-day state visit to Singapore.

THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will launch a new US$3.9-million Aviation Promotion Programme, which will help local aviation firms gain access to global markets through sponsoring their participation at international trade events.

Speaking at yesterday’s Aviation Community Reception 2012, Singapore’s Minister for Transport, Lui Tuck Yew, said: “As Singapore aviation continues to compete on the international stage, there is a need for stronger collaboration between the industry and government to overcome barriers to entry overseas and expand market access.”

“The programme will help local companies expand market access globally through funding support for participation at international trade shows and business campaigns.”

“Overall, the programme will further strengthen the partnership between the industry and CAAS to maintain Singapore’s position at the forefront of aviation.”

Meanwhile, Lui said CAAS would also expand the scope of the Aviation Innovation Programme (AIP), which functions under its Aviation Development Fund.

Originally aimed at supporting the development of new and enhanced capabilities within the local aviation industry, the AIP can now also be tapped on for projects that will bring about a significant productivity gain.

“Through this, we hope to spur more companies to embark on innovative ways to boost productivity, optimise resources and improve overall competitiveness,” said Lui.

GARUDA Indonesia resumed daily services between Jakarta and Taipei on May 24, 2012, following an eight-year hiatus on the route.

The flag carrier will use a Boeing B737-800NG aircraft with 12 business- and 144 economy-class seats.

Elisa Lumbantoruan, executive vice president Marketing & Sales, Garuda Indonesia, said the re-launch was part of the airline’s ongoing network expansion.

“Through the reopening of this route, Garuda can hopefully bridge and increase trade and tourism between the two cities,” she said.

Garuda recently signed an agreement with China Airlines to codeshare on the Taiwanese carrier’s Taipei-Jakarta, Taipei-Denpasar and Taipei-Singapore-Surabaya routes.

An impending extension of this codeshare arrangement will enable Garuda customers to avail of connecting flights operated by China Airlines to longhaul destinations such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.

SPAIN will receive a welcome boost from international longhaul tourism if Madrid manages to outbid Istanbul and Tokyo for the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Despite the country’s much publicised financial woes, the Spanish capital recently emerged as the frontrunner among the three cities shortlisted to stage the quadrennial event.

According to Ignacio Fernández, CEO, Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau, hosting the Olympics would serve to boost Madrid’s status as a hub for Asian sports enthusiasts.

“Madrid already has a good sporting image in Asia, thanks to its football teams, especially Real Madrid, and (winning the host city rights for the Olympics) should help a lot in attracting tourists from what is a very significant market”, he said.

While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) pointed out that the costs of preparing for the event could “prove to be a challenge” for Spain, Fernández countered that about 77 per cent of the required infrastructure was already in place.

This includes an Olympic stadium that is earmarked to become the future home ground of the city’s second football team, Atletico Madrid, “while the extra work needed to be done will in itself help reactivate the (Spanish) economy”, he said.

The IOC is scheduled to convene in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 7, 2013 to elect the host city for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

IN A bid to enhance its Indonesian hotel and flight offerings and provide more locally relevant deals, Wego has made a strategic investment in Valadoo, a homegrown social commerce travel business that offers discounted packages to domestic and selected international destinations.

The packages, which will be added to Wego Indonesia’s deals page, include diving trips to Raja Ampat Papua and Derawan Kalimantan, island-hopping experiences at Pantai Belitung and Karimun Jawa, and shopping getaways to Hong Kong and Singapore, among others.

Valadoo will be integrated into the Wego setup in a new Jakarta office, but will function independently of its parent company. Valadoo.com co-founder, Jaka Wiradisuria, continues as CEO, while Wego CEO, Ross Veitch, and CCO, Craig Hewett, join the Valadoo board of commissioners. Graham Hills, managing director of Wego Indonesia, joins the Valadoo board of directors.

Hills said: “Valadoo recognised early the demand among urban Indonesians to explore and enjoy domestic travel. The country is in a discovery phase and the tourism network is rapidly expanding to cater to it, but the options need to be affordable. Valadoo therefore has a great proposition and a talented team.”

Wiradisuria added: “The strategic partnership with Wego will help strengthen Valadoo as an Indonesian social commerce travel business, through the combination of international e-commerce best practices with local market knowledge and social media expertise.”

“Moreover, we also see the partnership as a significant development for the Indonesia tourism industry, as it will help open up more options for both domestic and international travellers to explore Indonesia.”

Earlier this year, Wego launched Wego Indonesia, one of 35 international sites to be introduced as part of its global expansion strategy.

The company has just introduced Wego India, its Bangalore-based India site, which offers services in 11 national languages.

SOME travel consultants have criticised the Philippine Department of Tourism’s (DOT) approach in downplaying the impact of China’s territorial standoff with the Philippines.

During a recent trip to the US, Philippine Secretary of Tourism, Ramon R Jimenez, was quoted by media as saying: “The Philippines has at least ten primary markets. China is only one of them and not even in the top three. Last year, the Philippines welcomed 243,000 visitors from China – nothing to write your mother about.”

In the wake of en masse Chinese cancellations, DOT officials responded by stepping up marketing and promotion efforts in alternative source markets, but neglected to clarify its stance over China.

Branding the behaviour as “misplaced pride”, Sef Lam, director, Via Vai Travel Hong Kong, said: “You cannot control China’s stand, (but) you can control yours, so be sensible. While it is always good to develop new markets and strengthen old ones, the NTO should continue its marketing efforts in China, highlighting the historic ties between the two countries.”

According to Mary Ann Ong, China market director for Blue Horizon Travel & Tours, China remains the market to tap if the Philippines wants to achieve its arrivals targets.

“The World Tourism Organization has estimated that 100 million Chinese will travel (overseas) by 2020. In 2010, 57.4 million Chinese travelled abroad. We, in the Philippines, would love to get a piece of this pie”, she said.

In response to queries from TTG Asia e-Daily, DOT assistant secretary, Benito Bengzon, said the NTO’s marketing and promotions activities for China had not changed.

He explained that DOT had so far initiated two meetings with the private sector in Manila, to exchange ideas on how to address the raft of cancellations from China. Refunds of paid tour packages and cancellation charges were also on the agenda.

Bengzon said these meetings in Manila would continue, in addition to future sessions with industry players in Bohol and Cebu.