BEST Western International has boosted its Japan portfolio with the opening of two hotels in Nagoya and Yonezawa, the first Best Western properties in each destination.

“Best Western is always keen to add to its growing network in Japan, especially when the hotels are in new destinations,” said Best Western International’s vice president international operations – Asia & the Middle East, Glenn de Souza.

“The opening of Best Western The Japonais Yonezawa, Best Western Hotel Nagoya and other properties in the near future, is evidence of our commitment to the country.”

The 99-room Best Western The Japonais Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture is located close to shops and transportation networks. The guestrooms feature high-speed Internet connections, while facilities include a breakfast outlet and ample parking space.

The 140-room Best Western Hotel Nagoya is located in the capital of Aichi Prefecture, the largest city in central Japan. The property offers easy access to the Nagoya Terminal station and the Sakae shopping, dining and entertainment centre. Facilities include a restaurant, a coffee shop, laundry service, safe deposit boxes, and meeting and banquet rooms.

A RECENT report by Travel Impact Newswire, entitled Travel & Tourism in the New World Order, has identified a significant disconnect between the development agendas being pursued by global leaders and the travel & tourism industry.

Based on written recordings of 196 speeches undertaken by global leaders during the 66th annual General Assembly session of the United Nations last September, the report identifies key statements on policies and perspectives that are potentially of game-changing value to policy- and decision-makers in the travel & tourism industry.

According to the report, the speeches revealed that the world is clearly split between rich and poor, haves and have-nots, powerful and powerless.

Although leaders yearn for positive change, many have misgivings about the trend of globalisation, and foster growing mistrust about the ability of modern day institutions and power structures, including the United Nations, to deliver results.

The leaders want to see a new world order that is just, balanced and fair, but fear what the report calls “the polarisation of globalisation” — a world in which they lose control of their ability to influence events, the report added.

WEGO.COM claims to have pioneered in Singapore a new ‘popular search’ tool that enables customers to view destinations and accommodation options ranked according to community preferences.

Now being adapted to other global sites, the ranking tool on Wego.com.sg presents options to viewers based on an algorithm that tracks in real-time the aggregate hotel and flight searches conducted by customers based in Singapore.

The options are presented to users according to what their peers consider to be most interesting, well-placed and well-priced.

According to the latest statement by Wego.com.sg, the metasearch portal’s Singaporean users are most frequently searching for travel options to Bangkok, followed by Hong Kong and Taipei.

INDONESIA’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has earmarked 50 destinations in the country to be developed for tourism until 2025.

The upgrading programme, which is part of the National Tourism Development Master Plan, details 88 strategic areas for development within the chosen destinations.

Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, said: “The master plan will give us a framework to enable us to take a systematic approach to destination development.”

Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwandar, explained that the 50 destinations were picked based on natural and cultural potential, supporting infrastructure development plans, and the regional authorities’ commitment to providing funds.

“Some regional governments have said tourism is important to their destinations, but their budget allotment is very small. It is difficult for us to justify support,” he said.

Pangestu added: “We have set the destinations and strategic areas, but the regional stakeholders will determine the priorities. Once they have set priorities, they also need to make them sustainable programmes as continuity is key to success in tourism development.”

THE SINGAPORE Tourism Board (STB) launched today a series of tailored marketing campaigns to be rolled out in phases across its top-five source markets—Australia, China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Starting with the New Discoveries campaign introduced today in Beijing, the customised marketing plans will be employed separately to address the needs of consumers in their respective markets.

The new consumer marketing approach marks a departure from the destination marketing strategy that STB previously implemented, and will hopefully result in more targeted and integrated marketing efforts comprising public relations, above and below-the-line advertising and digital marketing initiatives, the NTO said in a statement.

“This is a natural evolution of the YourSingapore destination brand that emphasises the personalisation of experiences. By understanding consumer needs, we can create and deliver better quality experiences to visitors,” said Sophia Ng, executive director, brand and marketing at STB.

From various conversations with consumers and trade, STB found that while most Chinese still travel on packaged tours, many are beginning to make their own travel arrangements and venture out as FITs. More significantly, Chinese are increasingly seeking a greater depth of travel experiences that include new and unique undertakings.

“The New Discoveries marketing campaign leverages this consumer insight in order to enhance our engagement with the Chinese audience,” Ng explained.

“On top of what consumers already know of Singapore’s well-known tourist attractions, we want to help Chinese deepen their understanding of our city, providing them with compelling reasons to visit Singapore again and again.”

As part of the campaign, STB has partnered with three major travel agencies in China – GZL International Travel Service, CYTS and Ctrip – to launch a series of New Discoveries packaged tours.

In addition to pre-arranged flight and accommodation options, these free & easy packages come with a fully customisable itinerary. Alternatively, semi free & easy packages, with guided tour services for the first part of the tour, will cater to first-time visitors to Singapore.

In the coming months, the campaign will also feature local Chinese advocates at various public relations and communication touch points, including social media platforms such as Sina Weibo, Douban and Renren, to reach out to the Chinese audience.

SEVERAL Singapore-based coach tour operators are attempting to cash in on the anticipated flood of Singaporean bargain hunters headed for the Johor Premium Outlets shopping mall, which opened on December 3.

The outlet shopping mall, situated about an hour’s drive from Singapore and three hours from Kuala Lumpur, is a joint venture between Malaysia’s Genting Group and New York-listed Simon Property Group.

Lotus Ooi, general manager, Konsortium Express & Tours told TTG Asia e-Daily that her company was now offering visits to the mall as part of their existing coach tours to Johor Bahru and Malacca.

When asked if visits to the mall warranted standalone tours, Ooi said: “We will gauge response levels first before making any decision.”

Five Stars Tours is another coach tour operator that has included visits to the mall in existing itineraries. According to Five Stars’ assistant marketing manager, Joyce Tan, the company has chalked up bookings right up till January next year.

A spokesperson for Transtar Travel also indicated that the firm was considering adding Johor Premium Outlets to their regular Desaru programme.

In order to capitalise on the projected robust traffic, Genting-owned Resorts World Sentosa is offering Stay and Shop packages through supporting travel experts. The packages include an overnight stay at Resorts World Sentosa and transfers to Johor Premium Outlets.

A Cruise and Shop package, in conjunction with Star Cruises, is also available.

LEGOLAND Malaysia has made public the pricing structure for tickets and annual passes to its theme park in Nusajaya, Johor, which is on schedule to open by end-2012.

Gate prices will be RM140 (US$47) for an adult and RM110 for a child, while an annual pass – offering unlimited access for a calendar year – will cost RM275 for an adult and RM210 for a child.

Special pricing will be offered to groups and schools, while Malaysian nationals will receive a RM30 rebate on gate prices.

An additional feature is the pre-opening annual pass available at the discounted price of RM195 for an adult and RM 110 for a child. Valid from the park’s opening date right through to 2013, the discounted passes will go on sale within the next dew days for a limited period.

Legoland Malaysia general manager Siegfried Boerst said the discounted passes were being launched as a result of the high volume of enquiries over the past few months.

He added: “Travel experts will be entitled to a commission for the day ticket. But if there is demand from them for the annual pass, we will look at it.”

With construction having passed the 40 per cent mark, Legoland Malaysia will begin to aggressively market the park globally in the new year.

“We will participate in international travel trade shows and conduct road shows in Singapore, East Asia, the Middle East and India,” said Boerst.

With a development cost of RM720 million, Legoland Malaysia will offer seven themed areas – The Beginning, Lego City, Miniland, Land of Adventure, Imagination, Lego Kingdom and Lego Technic (a roller coaster ride).

The park is targeting one million visitors in its first year of operations.

By N. Nithiyananthan

TTG ASIA’s ongoing Facebook competition has found its lucky November winner in Prasert Srikureja, managing director of Romeo Tour & Travel in Bangkok.

Srikureja won for himself a four-day three-night stay for two persons in a Lagoon Pool Villa at the FuramaXclusive Villas & Spa, Ubud-Bali, after ‘liking’ the TTG Asia Facebook page and subscribing to the travel trade magazine.

Next month’s prize will be a three-night stay at the Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre.

Members of the travel trade industry stand to win prizes every month by ‘liking’ the TTG Asia Facebook page, and increase their chances by subscribing to the magazine.

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/ttgasia

SCOOT, Singapore Airline’s (SIA) new low-cost spin-off, stands to gain much from its decision to operate Singapore-Sydney flights starting June 2012 (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 1, 2011).

At the moment, no other low-cost carriers ply the Singapore-Sydney route, giving Scoot ample time and opportunity to establish a monopoly at the lower end of the market, said Brendan Sorbie, chief representative South-east Asia, Centre of Asia-Pacific Aviation.

In addition, the Singapore-Sydney flights would also allow Scoot to go after Qantas’ premium economy segment, said Sorbie, who added that the low-cost carrier would easily fill its premium-class seats on the route, especially if it is “able to call on SIA’s existing corporate contacts”.

Susan Teng, National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) – Outbound Committee chairman and general manager of Singapore-based Viewers Choice Travel, said: “The low-cost arena was something SIA had not tapped into before, but with Scoot, it is now able to cover every single corner of the (aviation) market.”

With its airfares poised to cost 40 per cent less than that those quoted by legacy carriers, Scoot’s entry into Sydney is expected to “stimulate new demand by making travel more affordable, especially to Singaporean students in Sydney, or holidaymakers who are bypassing Sydney at the moment due to the comparatively higher cost of travel than to other (Australian) cities”, said Sorbie.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Jayson Westbury also views Scoot’s inaugural foray in a positive light. “Scoot will provide (Australian) consumers who want to travel to Singapore and beyond with more choice,” he said.

However, not all industry observers view Scoot’s entry into Sydney as a boon. Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, former Qantas chief economist Tony Webber said: “Scoot is not in the business of helping Australian tourism. It’s in the business of helping Singapore tourism.”

Webber explained that Scoot would potentially carry 62,000 Australian tourists overseas a year, where they will spend up to A$200 million (US$205 million) – a sum they might have otherwise spent domestically.

Westbury, on the other hand, does not believe that Australia’s domestic tourism will take a battering. “Australians choose to take overseas holiday some years and domestic holidays other years. It’s all a matter of the consumer having choice,” he said.

“In the end, everyone is a winner, as Scoot will bring more tourists to Australia and this is good for the two-way tourism story.”

SRI Lanka is extending the use of its free visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility for overseas visitors till March 31, 2012, after previously deciding to replace it with a fee-based online application service from beginning of next year.

Sri Lanka Tourism said in a statement that the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system would go online starting January 1 as planned, while the extended VOA scheme would only be available to “those who are making travel arrangements before December 31, 2011”.

There have been multiple deviations in policy with regards to the implementation of Sri Lanka’s ETA system over the past few months.

Initial plans were to withdraw the VOA facility and apply the new system from September 30 onwards (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 30).

Then, the launch date was pushed back till beginning of next year, with a trial period introduced to allow tourism stakeholders to adjust to the new system (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 30). The system would run parallel to the VOA scheme, and a US$50 and US$75 visa-processing fee would be levied on online and VOA applications, respectively.

Sri Lankan tourism authorities then decided to reduce the online visa processing fees and do away with the VOA in the face of pressure from travel industry stakeholders (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 9), before the latest changes were announced.

“There is a lot of confusion in the online visa scheme and some issues. We have requested for a postponement,” said Hiran Cooray, chairman of Jetwing Hotels.