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.

STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s Aloft brand made its official South-east Asian debut today with the launch of Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11.

“We’re excited to introduce the Aloft experience to sophisticated travellers coming to Bangkok,” said Brendan Daly, general manager of Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11.

“The Aloft concept is a perfect fit for Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district – it’s fresh, stylish, urban and tech-forward. We are providing the perfect space for travellers to meet and connect on their adventures.”

The 296 guestrooms at Aloft Bangkok-Sukhumvit 11 feature loft-like decor complete with nine-foot ceilings, platform beds, oversized showerheads and BlissÓ Spa products.

F&B options at the hotel include a lounge and bar, a grab-and-go café, and an all-day, full-service dining restaurant offering fresh local seafood and international favourites.

Facilities include a full-service fitness centre, an outdoor swimming pool, and over 265m2 of meeting and pre-function space.

Located opposite Bed Supperclub and QBar, the hotel also offers guests complimentary access to the popular dance clubs.

South-east Asia will get another two Aloft properties by middle of 2014, with Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral due to open in March 2013, and Aloft Phuket Patong scheduled to open in July 2014.

THE SINGAPORE Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre is looking to attract events beyond its core segment of business events and trade shows, as its surroundings gradually take on a livelier feel through the emergence of new retail, commercial and hotel developments.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily during the preview of A Moving Masterpiece: The Song Dynasty as Living Art exhibition in Singapore earlier today, Aloysius Arlando, Singex Group CEO, said: “Society is evolving and becoming more vibrant, and that is translated into the tapestry of Singapore’s event industry, which is seeing more event genres.”

“We, too, want to ensure that our events will appeal to more segments. While our key focus is still on business events, we will take on events of marked difference when such opportunities present themselves.”

The exhibition, which showcases a computer graphic animation of the renowned Song Dynasty scroll painting, Qing Ming Shang He Tu, as well as the life and traditions of the ancient Chinese dynasty, is Singapore Expo’s inaugural large-scale art exhibition, according to Arlando.

The animated painting, measuring in at a massive 128m by 6.5m, is produced by Crystal CG – the company behind graphic visuals seen during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and 2010 World Expo in Shanghai – and has already toured Hong Kong, Taiwan and Shanghai.

The Singapore showcase is an expanded version, featuring more artefacts and insights into the Song Dynasty.

Arlando said the exhibition would hopefully appeal to residents in Singapore, travellers and event delegates.

“Corporates who want to have an event in a unique venue can hold it in the animation hall. We can also work with event planners to develop a package that includes a visit to the exhibition,” he explained.

Partnerships have also been formed, with travel trade partners in Singapore and the rest of South-east Asia, to market the exhibition as part of an FIT package.

A Moving Masterpiece: The Song Dynasty as Living Art opens tomorrow and tickets retail for S$21 (US$16) per person. The exhibition will conclude on February 8 next year.

INDONESIA’s Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Hatta Rajasa, has called upon the country’s regional tourism stakeholders to focus on drumming up ‘tourism fever’ in their respective precincts, as the country’s burgeoning middle class continues to develop a taste for travel.

Speaking during a keynote session at the inaugural Indonesia Tourism Conference in Jakarta, Rajasa said: “Our average income per capita has been growing, and has reached around US$3,500. The middle class is growing by between eight to nine million people a year. These are new potential tourists. The trend today is for couples and young people to travel and explore exciting places.”

He added: “It is no longer enough to have awareness on the importance of tourism, but to create ‘tourism fever’ to boost local economies and open up job opportunities.”

Rajasa also pointed out that tourism had been a resilient sector during the global economic crisis in 2008/2009.

“The economic crisis resulted in the contraction of world tourism by 30 per cent, but at that time international arrivals to Indonesia was up by 0.3 per cent. That is why the central government is giving so much attention to this sector,” he explained.

INDONESIA’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has decided to focus on coaxing growth out of ASEAN, Asia, Australia, Russia and the Middle East next year, due to the economic slowdown in Europe and the US.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, said: “We are fully aware of the economic slowdown in Europe and the US, and the potential drop in arrivals from (those) markets plus Japan (next year).”

“However, there are markets around here whose economy is viable, such as ASEAN, several Asian countries like China, Taiwan, India and South Korea, and Australia, Russia and the Middle East. These will be our focus.”

Based on the 6.27 million arrivals recorded from January to October, the global crises had minimal impact on Indonesia’s inbound tourism, which looks on course to reach its target of 7.7 million arrivals for the year.

Pangestu was also optimistic that Indonesia would hit its target of eight million arrivals next year. “This is not the first time we are facing (a global economic crisis). In 2009, we managed to achieve positive growth even if it was only 0.3 per cent,” she said.

THE INDONESIA government is setting aside 400 trillion rupiah (US$44 billion) in funds for infrastructure development, as part of a plan to improve connectivity within the country by 2014.

“Indonesia has set a target to achieve 20 million (overseas) arrivals by 2025. This will not be achieved without supporting regulation and infrastructure development,” said Indonesia Coordinating Minister for the Ecomony, Hatta Rajasa.

“Connectivity – by this I mean domestically we are integrated, globally we are connected – is a major pillar in the Indonesian economic development. Connectivity will be the backbone to achieving our targets.”

“The government will not hesitate to inject the money to build (infrastructure) in areas which have potential (for tourism) but are not viable because of accessibility,” he added.

Rajasa gave examples of areas in Eastern Indonesia, such as Wakatobi in South East Sulawesi, and North Maluku, which have pristine nature offerings but limited accessibility.

“I have invited the transportation related businesses to come up with proposals of destinations where they see potential but are lacking in infrastructure,” he said.

THE THAILAND Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and International Association of Professional Congress Organizers (IAPCO) are joining hands to provide professional development training for congress organisers in South-east Asia.

So far, the two organisations have signed a Letter of Intent to provide and host regional seminars from 2013 to 2015.

Akapol Sorasuchart, TCEB President, said: “TCEB is keenly aware of the importance of regional co-operation to boost professional standards within the industry. We expect this partnership to make a major contribution to boosting standards of meetings, conventions, congresses and special events in Thailand and the entire South-east Asian region.”

Akapol added: “We expect the forthcoming economic integration within ASEAN in 2015 to drive a major expansion of the events industry in South-east Asia, and it is therefore crucial to ensure that we start now to develop world-class expertise within the region in order to meet global industry standards.”

Philippe Fournier, president of IAPCO, said: “IAPCO is committed to raising standards of service among its members and other sectors of the meetings industry by means of continuing education and interaction with other professionals. We’re excited at the prospect of interacting with industry leaders around South-east Asia.”

MANDARIN Orchard Singapore, Dynasty Travel and Vital Shared Services have emerged as the winners of PATA Singapore Chapter’s second Our Productivity Story competition.

The three winners, representing the best productivity efforts from the competition’s hotel, travel agent and other services categories respectively, were each presented with a cash prize of S$8,000 (US$6,230) during the annual Tourism Industry Ball held last Friday in Singapore.

Jointly organised by PATA Singapore Chapter and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the annual competition is aimed at recognising and encouraging the productivity efforts of Singapore’s travel and tourism sector.

Robin Yap, PATA Singapore Chapter activities chairman and managing director Singapore, The Travel Corporation, said: “We hope that the competition will continue to encourage more organisations to embrace productivity, and that their stories will become an annual showcase to mark the industry’s achievements.”

Dynasty Travel, the competition’s travel agent category winner, invested in technology to raise service and product innovation standards. Through employing the use of iPads, Dynasty was able to enhance the booking process by giving customers a better understanding of travel choices and enabling travel consultants to go on house/office calls.