TOURISM Malaysia and the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) have signed an MoU to attract one million Japanese tourists to Malaysia by 2014, a move that may help to reverse the trend of dwindling numbers from the market.

The destination development strategy is currently in its initial stage, according to JATA deputy chairman Takashi Sasaki. “We will place our efforts on expanding tourism exchange programmes, encouraging mutual understanding and improving relations between Japan and Malaysia,” he said.

“This is our first programme to attract one million Japanese tourists to Malaysia. If successful, it will be a big milestone for the Malaysian tourism industry,” said Chong Yoke Har, deputy director general (marketing) of Tourism Malaysia.

Sasaki described the targeted figure as achievable, although this was met with caution by the trade. With 386,974 Japanese arrivals to Malaysia in 2011 – a seven per cent decrease from 2010 – the target reflects a 158 per cent increase in arrivals in three years, or about a 50 per cent year-on-year rise in arrivals from this year.

Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel assistant manager Asian market, Hoong Keat, said: “This will be a very challenging target.

“Our interaction with travel experts in Tokyo shows that interest among Japanese in Malaysia is declining. Currently, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and China are the preferred destinations.”

Reporting by N. Nithiyananthan

PORT of Lost Wonder (POLW) is Sentosa’s latest attraction catering to a younger crowd, as Palawan Beach undergoes a rejuvenation that will transform the area into a family entertainment zone.

Opened last Saturday, POLW spans 6,117m2 and features a pirate ship water-play area, picnic decks, outdoor play areas for toddlers, F&B and retail outlets as well as indoor and outdoor activities organised by a special crew. It is designed for children aged three to 10.

“Today, many of the attractions along our beaches are tailored for older children, teenagers and adults. The opening of POLW marks the first step in our plan to reinforce Palawan Beach’s status as a must-visit destination for parents with young children.

“By opening a supervised water-play zone by the beach but away from the open sea, we are encouraging children to have wonderful adventures in a safe, gated environment,” said Mike Barclay, CEO, Sentosa Development Corporation.

Palawan Beach has been earmarked as a family entertainment zone, and an indoor Family Entertainment Centre will also be built.

The opening of POLW marks the start of Sentosa’s 40th anniversary celebrations, which will see four months of activities, programmes and promotions from May to September.

SILKAIR will introduce thrice-weekly services to Hanoi starting June 5, 2012.

Subject to government approval, the new flights will be operated using Airbus A319/320 aircraft.

Together with Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) daily services, both airlines will offer a total of 10 round-trip services a week to Vietnam’s capital.

Meanwhile, SIA’s thrice-daily Singapore-London services will be operated using only Airbus A380 aircraft from June 1, 2012.

Currently, two of the services are operated with the A380, while one is operated with the Boeing 777-300ER.

The switch to the larger A380 will increase seat capacity on the route by 17 per cent a day.

HKR International’s Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong resort on Lantau Island is scheduled to open later this year.

Located 30 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport, the property will feature 325 sea-facing rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, and an outdoor terrace offering cocktails and light refreshments.

MICE facilities will encompass 1,300m2 of floorspace, including a 700m2 pillar-free ballroom, and several smaller breakout rooms and function areas.

Leisure amenities will include a seaside chapel, perfect for couples and wedding planners with its idyllic waterfront setting, and a Spa Botanica providing nine treatment rooms with sea views.

INSIGHT Vacations, The Travel Corporation’s premier brand, has introduced its first-ever Asian programme, featuring India.

The new programme features six itineraries, including two Insight Gold tours with stays at Oberoi and Taj Hotels, and four Premium escorted tours. The Premium itineraries range from eight to 14 days, while the Insight Gold tours span from 10 to 11 days.

Travellers will have the opportunity to explore the Golden Triangle, as well as less-trekked regions such as Kerala. Trip extensions to Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan are available.

Rolled out in Australia and the US in January, Insight is now targeting affluent consumers in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong. A maximum of 35 tourists will embark on these tours, which are priced from US$2,365 per pax on a twin-sharing basis.

According to Sheryl Lim, regional director, Asia for Insight Vacations, customers will be able to snap up package deals tied with Jet Airways by the end of this month.

In terms of B2B marketing, Insight will focus on educating its existing travel trade partners on a group or one-to-one basis, said Lim.

“India is still a relatively new destination for most of the travel consultants we work with. Our goal is to work initially with agents who currently distribute our European and US products. We intend to target repeat customers first,” she explained, adding that travel experts would earn a 12 per cent commission with each sale.

OP Meena, an assistant director for India Tourism in Singapore, said he was confident that Insight’s new programme would do well. “Based on our research, we think that the products will resonate well with consumers in Asia,” he said.

However, an executive with Pacific Arena Singapore was less resolute about the viability of the new programme. “India is not perceived in a positive light by Asian customers and it is simply too exotic for some. These negative associations, coupled with the relatively high prices, make this a tough product to sell,” she said.

INDONESIA is looking to grow its share of Australia’s burgeoning outbound cruise market.

“Australia has been contributing some 40 per cent of cruise calls to Indonesia. The number of Australians taking a cruise today is around (half a million), and is projected to reach one million (by 2020),” said Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu.

“So, this is a big market with huge potential that is waiting to be tapped, apart from the surfers, backpackers and other (leisure and MICE) segments (from Australia) to Indonesia.”

Indonesia has been registering double-digit growth in Australian arrivals over the past few years, with the market expanding by around 20 per cent in 2011 alone, added Pangestu.

According to Carnival Australia shore excursion manager Michael Mihajlov, apart from Bali, Lombok and Komodo Island were growing in popularity among P&O and Princess cruises sailing out of Australia.

Mihajlov said: “Travellers would like to see the real Indonesia, local activities, soft adventures, and something educational. Indonesia, in the minds of the Australians, is an exotic destination, with warm people and good value.”

BEST Western International (BWI) is busy expanding its Indonesian portfolio, and will open fifteen new hotels in the country by 1Q2013.

The new properties will add some 1,700 keys to BWI’s existing inventory of 623 rooms in the country.

Best Western International Area Development Office (ADO) Indonesia president director, Iwanto Hartojo, said: “We have been operating five hotels in Indonesia since (ADO Indonesia) opened five years ago.”

“We are now expanding, and up till 2013 will open another 15 hotels across Jakarta, Bogor, Semarang, Solo, Bali, Banjarmasin, Samarinda, Palu and Malang.”

Best Western ADO Indonesia corporate director of sales, Bina Sembiring, said: “We now have three hotels in Bali, one in Jakarta and one in Solo, which currently is the only Best Western Premier hotel in Indonesia.

“The new projects underway will see us present in Java, Bali, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. We are also looking to have our footprint in Sumatra.”

Hotels scheduled to open this year include the 140-room Best Western Serpong, 138-room Best Western Premier Galaxy Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan), 272-key Best Western Premier Sun Heritage Bali, and 80-room Best Western Mansion Kuningan, Jakarta.

JET Airways is planning to boost international services from 370 to 518 flights per week for the upcoming winter 2012 schedule, after Air India’s monopoly on unutilised international routes was lifted.

The airline has sought permission from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to mount an additional 35 weekly flights to Germany, and seven weekly services each to Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Doha and Sharjah.

Jet Airways has already added 74 flights per week for the ongoing 2012 summer schedule.

Other Indian carriers such as SpiceJet and IndiGo are also expected to file for permission to expand, not only for winter 2012 but also for summer 2013.

Aviation analysts at KPMG believe that high operating costs and lower profits in the domestic market are pushing Indian airlines to shift capacity to international routes.

Arjun Dhanwatay, COO, Cenin Tours & Travels Nagpur said: “(More) Indian carriers (will soon be able to) offer international connections from non-metro cities, where a critical mass of demand exists, and can win over a large segment of international travellers who currently have to fly domestic to New Delhi or Mumbai to avail of international flights.”