TAMAN Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan dan Ratu Boko (TWCBP&RB), which manages the Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko temple complexes in Yogjakarta, is looking to hike the access fee to the summit of Borobudur to around US$20 per person, starting June 1.

The management has been charging US$15 per international visitor, and between 12,500 rupiah (US$1.40) and 25,000 rupiah per domestic visitor to climb the temple, depending on seasonality.

TWCBP&RB marketing director Agus Canny said: “We are still working on (implementing) the (new) pricing. With Ankor Wat as (our) benchmark, we are looking at around US$20 (per climb), which will give visitors access to the top of the temple.”

“A smaller entrance fee will be introduced for access to the temple complex and information centre,” he added. “(Visitors) can still enjoy the temple, take pictures and get information on Borobudur, but will not be allowed to climb the temple.”

Discounted student group pricing will still be available once the changes take effect, but only on a single student-designated day each week, compared to everyday currently.

According to Canny, the new pricing policy was a result of a two-year study on how TWCBP&RB could better manage the UNESCO World Heritage site, and keep within its maximum load capacity of between 5,000-10,000 pax at any one time.

“We also received complaints from international travellers on the different pricing, as if we are discriminating against them,” he said.

Canny acknowledged that Borobudur might see a drop in arrivals, especially from the domestic market in the beginning.

THOMAS Cook Group, which put its 77.1 per cent stake in Thomas Cook India up for sale in February, has received several offers from companies ranging from conglomerates and private equity firms to travel agencies.

Credit Suisse Group, entrusted with conducting the sale, has shortlisted five of the nine offers received so far, which were in the range of Rs50-60 (US$0.99-1.18) per share. Thomas Cook India shares are currently hovering around the Rs65 mark.

Tata Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, has offered to buy the stake through its finance arm, Tata Capital.

Other expressions of interest are from private equity companies such as Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts, Fairbridge Capital and Carlyle, foreign exchange business Travelex, and the Japan Travel Bureau.

Fresh bids have been invited from those already short-listed, and are to be submitted by mid-April, after which the best offer will be chosen.

The sale is expected to be completed by June 2012.

SWISSOTEL Hotels & Resorts has taken over the management of the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach, effective April 1.

Rebranded as Swissôtel Resort Phuket, the property is the group’s third Thai property after Swissôtel Nai Lert Park and Swissôtel Le Concorde in Bangkok, and its first resort property in Asia.

“Phuket is one of the most visited regions in Thailand, and after operating two hotels in Bangkok for years, we (have) finally opened our first resort property in Asia. This project will strengthen our presence and complement our expansion strategies within the region,” said Meinhard Huck, president of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts.

Located on the western side of the island, Swissôtel Resort Phuket offers 180 one- to three-bedroom suites, a pool, a spa, a fitness centre, and an adventure club.

MICE facilities at the resort include 450m2 of meeting space, with eight function rooms and a pre-function area able to hold up to 150 pax.

CELEBRITY Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium cruise ship will offer a second consecutive Asia season in November 2013, with sailings between Singapore and Hong Kong, and calls at Bali, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.

Celebrity Millennium will kick-off the upcoming Asia season with a 17-night cruise from Sydney to Singapore in November, offering overnight stays in Cairns (Yorkey’s Knob), Australia and Singapore.

From there, the ship will offer several 14-night cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong. Two 14-night roundtrip cruises from Singapore to Indonesia will be offered in January 2014.

All these sailings will feature multiple in-port overnight stays in destinations such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi (Halong Bay), Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.

Celebrity Cruises’ Asia itineraries will available for booking from April 18, 2012.

YET another luxury cruise ship has been involved in a mid-sea mishap. The AZAMARAQuest, en route to Sandakan following its maiden call in Manila, was left adrift in Philippine waters for 24 hours after a fire disabled two of its engines last Friday.

The cruise ship, with about 590 passengers who boarded in Hong Kong, was scheduled to make several stops in Indonesia as part of a 17-day South-east Asian itinerary ending in Singapore on April 12.

Even though the fire was immediately extinguished, air conditioning on board was knocked out following the incident. Five crew members suffered from smoke inhalation, but none of the passengers were injured.

The ship eventually managed to restore propulsion and made it to Sandakan on Sunday.

Azamara Club Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean fleet, has since announced that the rest of the cruise has been cancelled. Guests will be refunded in full.

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has launched a new Visit Australia Airpass as part of its codeshare alliance with Virgin Australia.

Available for purchase from today, the airpass offers SIA and SilkAir’s international customers the opportunity to visit up to 10 domestic destinations on any single trip to Australia.

The airpass covers a total of 29 Australian cities and offers a choice of itineraries across 61 domestic routes operated by Virgin Australia.

SIA’s executive vice-president of commercial, Mak Swee Wah said: “Our customers now have the opportunity to discover Australia’s unique landscapes and experiences from the benefits our alliance with Virgin Australia has to offer. The airpass is an easy and attractive way to tailor itineraries across Australia.”

Terminal transfers, in-flight entertainment and meals are included in the deal, which comes with reciprocal frequent flyer programme benefits and lounge access for eligible customers.

SINGAPORE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Singaporeans to postpone all non-essential travel to Thailand’s troubled south, following last weekend’s bomb blasts in Yala and Hat Yai.

Explosions caused by car bombs, which had led to the fire at the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel in Hat Yai, killed 14 people and left another 340 injured.

According to the ministry, 31 Singaporeans in Hat Yai, including ten who were at the affected hotel, are safe.

The ministry has urged all Singaporeans to defer travel to the southern Thai provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla for the time being.

Singaporeans who need to travel to these provinces are advised to monitor local news and developments, take all necessary precautions for their personal safety, and to purchase comprehensive travel insurance.