Lionel Yeo

SINGAPORE will have a new tourism head honcho when Lionel Yeo takes over as the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) chief executive from June 1.

Yeo will replace incumbent Aw Kah Peng, who step down on May 31 to pursue personal interests, after more than 20 years in the public sector.

Yeo is currently deputy secretary (Development) in the Public Service Division of the Prime Minister’s Office, and CEO and dean of the Civil Service College.

Before that, he was a director in the Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade & Industry, and a director for taxation policy at the Ministry of Finance.

He had also previously worked on developing cultural and social policies at the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts and the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, respectively.

Meanwhile, asked about her next move, Aw said: “As far as my mum is concerned, my interests now concern taking her on a nice holiday (smiles), and as far as my husband is concerned, it now is about learning to cook better (laughs).”

She added: “It has been an amazing journey, working with the tourism industry and with STB. Because it’s all about people with a passion who want to make a difference in helping to grow Singapore’s tourism sector, collaboratively.”

SINGAPORE and Colombia have signed a bilateral Air Services Agreement, which enables airlines of both countries to operate any number of direct passenger services between the two nations.

In addition, the airlines will be able to operate, under certain limitations, up to seven services per week between, and beyond, both countries.

The signing took place on the sidelines of a three-day visit to Singapore by Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos Calderón.

AUSTRALIA has downgraded its travel advisory to Bali in response to heightened security efforts by Indonesian authorities, who successfully foiled a terrorist attack in Sanur, Denpasar in March.

Previously, the Australian government advised its citizens to “reconsider the need to travel” to the popular island resort. Now, Canberra has toned down its stance to “exercise a high degree of caution”, putting the destination on the same tier as Thailand and the Philippines.

“This a positive development based on a carefully considered assessment of the level of threat to Australian travellers in Indonesia,” said Australian ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty.

Bali Hotels Association (BHA) chairman, Jean-Charles Le Coz, said: “I am happy that our efforts in maintaining safety and security have been recognised internationally, especially by our biggest market.”

Le Coz cited recent initiatives by BHA to improve the level of security in Bali, such as organising workshops on surveillance detection, and founding the Integrated Police Radio Community Bali programme that allows BHA members and other tourism stakeholders to contact the police directly via UHF radio.

Australia is Bali’s top source market, accounting for more than 26 per cent of arrivals. Inbound numbers in March 2012 saw a 24 per cent year-on-year increase over March 2011.

MARRIOTT International will open three new properties in Thailand this year, including Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit and Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok – Sukhumvit Thonglor.

Craig Smith, COO, Marriott International, Asia. “In addition to these three hotels, we will continue to grow in Thailand with a further five hotels set to open in the next three to four years.” Marriott International currently operates 16 properties in the country.”

Located in Bangkok’s Thonglor district, Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit will offer 296 guest rooms and suites, three restaurants, bars and lounges, four meeting rooms and a grand ballroom. The hotel will also boast a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Located on Mae Phim beach in the resort area of Rayong, the 206-room Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa will feature 7,120m2 of meeting space including a grand ballroom, five meeting rooms, and an outdoor area overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok – Sukhumvit Thonglor, located in the same building as Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, will offer a total of 74 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

MYANMAR will introduce a new visa on arrival (VOA) scheme for business travellers from ASEAN member countries, effective June 1.

Speaking at a recent press conference in Nay Pyi Taw, the country’s Immigration Minister, U Khin Yi, said business travellers from the other nine ASEAN member states would be able to avail of the new VOA facility when flying into Yangon International Airport.

The VOA will cost US$40 and allow stays of up to 70 days, he said, adding that it would be extended to citizens of other countries at a later date.

In May 2010, Myanmar adopted a VOA system for overseas visitors arriving at Yangon and Mandalay International Airports. The scheme was scrapped just four months later by the country’s Immigration and National Registration Department.

A VOA facility is currently available for visitors arriving in the country on Myanmar Airways International flights from Phnom Penh and Guangzhou.

INDIA’s Ministry of External Affairs has extended its visa on arrival (VOA) facility to nationals of France, Germany and Russia, adding to the 11 countries to which the privilege is currently accorded.

Countries for which Indian VOA arrangements are pending include Spain and Malta, while Ukraine and Kazakhsthan are also under consideration.

Rohit Kohli, joint managing director, Creative Travel New Delhi said: “Most Indian missions overseas are very tardy in issuance of visas, and this can be a deterrent for foreign tourists. In some cases where visa issuance is outsourced, there is only an English version of the application form available, when they (should) at least be bilingual. In principle, VOA should enhance visitor arrivals.”

Rajesh Dumma, managing director, Classic Travel said: “We welcome the visa on arrival (being extended) to major source market countries. This will help us to market our packages more aggressively.”

Indian immigration records reveal that approximately 1,500 visitors avail of VOAs at Indian airports every month.

HAINAN Airlines has been ordered by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to scale back services after some of its airborne staff contravened regulations on rest and recovery, according to Bloomberg News.

The carrier reportedly fell foul of a requirement for pilots and cabin crew to receive at least 36 hours of continuous rest every seven days.

Effective this week, Hainan Airlines will be forced to reduce monthly operations by at least 15 per cent from December’s figure, with the duration of the penalty to be determined by how quickly the carrier corrects the shortfall in standards.

During this period, the airline will be limited to 28,755 flying hours a month. The carrier will also be barred from adding new aircraft to its fleet this year.

In addition, Hainan Airlines has been fined RMB 29,000 (US$4,600) for the transgression, which were committed by 120 flight attendants and 33 of its pilots, some of whom have since had their licences suspended for two months.