THE BUSTLING metropolis in eastern India is set to benefit from a whole host of access developments coming its way – from the imminent arrival of a bevy of airlines to the 2012 opening of a state-of-the-art airport terminal.

Beginning next month, three international airlines will touch down in Kolkata, boosting links to China, the Middle East and Singapore.

Hainan Airlines will commence thrice-weekly flights to Shenzhen from July 12, offering connections to 20 other destinations. It will also provide a complimentary bus service from Shenzhen to Hong Kong and a subsidised one to Guangzhou. To get to Hong Kong, passengers currently have to transit in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

From July 28, Qatar Airways will also operate daily flights between Kolkata and Doha, providing an additional option to travel to Europe and North America. It will have to compete with Emirates, which already has a strong presence in Kolkata with 12 flights a week.

In addition, SilkAir is scheduled to start flying from Singapore to Kolkata four times a week from August 1. Together with Singapore Airlines, it will operate seven weekly flights to Kolkata.

To sweeten the deal, this influx is being matched with infrastructure improvements. Kolkata airport is due to open its swanky third terminal by next February as part of a major overhaul of the entire airport. The 195,000m2 integrated building will help the airport handle 20 million passengers a year, up from the annual four million it was originally built to accommodate.

– Read more in TTG Asia, June 24 issue

By Sirima Eamtako

MBK HOSPITALITY Management (MBKHM) is not planning to expand or revamp the five-star Layana Resort and Spa on Koh Lanta, Krabi, which it acquired in April, according to the group’s assistant managing director, Supanit Vimooktanon.

Speculation was rife that the hospitality management arm of the cash-rich MBK Group would attempt to transform the 50-key resort into a gargantuan property, and in the process compromise the quaint, charming character of Koh Lanta.

Supanit told TTG Asia e-Daily that only minor changes were being lined up for the resort, including new furnishings. “Our direction is to fine-tune the central reservation system, to give the resort a wider market reach under the MBKHM network,” he added.

He said the resort’s identity as a luxury property located on a secluded beach, and its healthy occupancy and room rates, were what attracted MBKHM to acquire it in the first place.

According to Supanit, Layana has been running at 60 per cent occupancy on average over the last few years, and at 90 per cent to full house during the November to April high season. The resort’s average daily rate was consistently higher than 6,000 baht (US$196).

“Our goal is to increase demand during low season, to bring up the year-round occupancy to 70 per cent,” he said.

MBKHM is planning to establish more Layanas, now the top hotel brand under the group’s portfolio, in other remote destinations in Thailand, through the acquisition of existing properties.

The group is hoping to announce its second Layana resort within the next six months.

MBKHM also owns and manages the upper four-star Pathumwan Princess Hotel in Bangkok and two Tinidee resorts in Ranong and Phuket.

By Sirima Eamtako

GARUDA Indonesia has placed a firmed order for 25 Airbus A320 aircraft for its low-cost subsidiary Citilink, with an option to purchase a further 25.

Garuda president and CEO, Emirsyah Satar, said: “The purchase is part of our plan to develop the capacity and competitive advantage of Garuda Citilink, in line with the continuous growth of the domestic and regional low-cost market.”

Citilink will take delivery of the aircraft in batches of five per year, starting in 2014.

Citilink currently operates six Boeing 737-300 and 737-400 aircraft, and intends to gradually overhaul its fleet with Airbus A320 aircraft, which are 15 per cent more fuel efficient, according to Satar.

“Apart from the low operational cost, the A320 is suited to operate on high density routes, and the delivery schedule is faster than other type of aircraft,” he explained.

In the meantime, Sriwijaya Air has ordered 20 Embraer 190 jet aircraft to expand its domestic network.

Sriwijaya Air president, Chandra Lie, said the 100-seater Embraer 190s would replace its smaller aircraft, allowing the carrier to launch routes to untapped destinations.

AMANRESORTS will launch its 24th property, Amanruya, on the Bodrum Peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea, in August.

Amanruya will offer 36 pool terrace cottages with varying courtyard and swimming pool designs, each fitted with outdoor showers, underfloor heating and a fireplace.

The resort’s facilities will include four all-day dining pavilions, a three-storey library, a wine lounge, an art gallery, two spa suites, a 50m swimming pool, a tennis court and a beach club.

ROYAL Brunei Airlines intends to suspend services to five destinations – Kuching, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City – as part of a “stabilisation plan” to improve operations, financial performance and customer service experience.

Services to Kuching will be suspended from August 1, while services to the other four destinations will be progressively suspended in the last week of October.

The carrier will continue to serve Melbourne from Banda Seri Begawan with four flights per week. Passengers who have booked to travel on the suspended flights are advised to contact their travel agent or the airline’s offices.

Royal Brunei Airline’s deputy chairman, Dermot Mannion, said: “It was not an easy decision to reduce Royal Brunei’s network. However, it is the first step towards creating a stronger foundation that will allow the airline to enhance our value to customers, employees and society.”

In 2010, Royal Brunei replaced its fleet of aging B767-300ERs with six B777-200ERs leased from Singapore Airlines (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 12, 2010), and had hoped to expand its operations on the Kangaroo Route between the UK and Australia and New Zealand.

WHILE Asia continues to be a big source market for international arrivals to Queensland, attracting visitors from countries whose citizens require visas remains a challenge, say some Australia-based inbound tour operators.

Sydney-based Australian Tours & Holidays director of sales, Gina Gaw, who handles the inbound market from the Philippines, said: “It is sometimes difficult for tourist visas to be obtained. Documentation must be in order and adequate time must be allowed for their tourist visa to be processed by the Australian Embassy.”

Idy Wong, manager of Wel-Travel Australia in the Gold Coast, cited the same situation for India inbound to the state: “The situation at the moment is low, not because of the Australian dollar, but more of the visa problems.”

Wong added that other destinations like Thailand offered better-priced deals for incentives compared to Australia. “When they decide on the destination based on cost, which most Indians do, then Australia is just too expensive,” she said.

When asked how they were working to remain competitive despite the higher prices, Wong said: “Sadly, we have to really look into a way that we can cut costs.”

According to Tourism Queensland’s International Tourism Snapshot report, Queensland received a surge in arrivals from various Asian markets, especially China, during the year ended March 2011.

Asian visitors made up 734,000 of the total 2,002,000 arrivals to Queensland during the period, more than the number of visitors from Europe (517,000), New Zealand (400,000), and the Americas (199,000).

By Amee Enriquez

MARCO Polo Hotels is determined to return to South-east Asia, particularly Singapore, with president Steve Kleinschmidt saying the group was now proactively seeking management contracts in the region.

Director of development Asia-Pacific, James Mabey, who joined in January, has been busy scouring South-east Asia for opportunities. “Previously, our focus was exclusively on China,” Kleinschmidt said.

Thus far, the search has resulted in MoUs for four resorts in Thailand. Kleinschmidt said he was “relatively close” to signing an MoU for a hotel in Bangkok, but would not say more.

Kleinschmidt is under no illusions, however, and conceded that Singapore would take longer. He is hoping to secure a hotel there within three years.

“In Singapore, we’re looking at opportunities to reflag an existing hotel, in a core area, that meets Marco Polo standards in terms of size and potential for refurbishment. But there aren’t many,” he said.

Jakarta, where the group previously had an Omni hotel, is also on the radar.

Owned by Hong Kong’s Wharf Holdings, Marco Polo operates 10 hotels and has 11 in the pipeline, mostly in China. Kleinschmidt said the group was “well-ahead” of its target to grow its portfolio to 30 hotels (opened and in the pipeline) by 2016. He said Marco Polo would maintain its mix of 50 per cent owned hotels and 50 per cent management contracts.

Kleinschmidt admitted Marco Polo had been relatively quiet in development despite the long history of the brand, but said this was because it was under no pressure to grow for the sake of growth.

“More importantly is, we may be small, but we are a profitable, strong, consistent hotel company. In several markets where we’re surrounded by the multinationals (global chains), such as in Wuhan and Shenzhen, our hotels surpass theirs in RevPAR,” he said.

– Marco Polo’s resurgence, read the strategy, TTG Asia, July 8 issue

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s promotional video, Hearing the Sunshine, has attracted more than 300,000 views on various social media channels since its premiere in early June. This figure includes more than 100,000 hits on YouTube within the last week.

Sugree Sithivanich, director of TAT’s advertising and public relations department, said the interest shown in the video was significant, as it had been produced as part of the Thai NTO’s efforts to restore Thailand’s image as a safe destination, and to reiterate the Amazing Thailand, Always Amazes You branding.

“Over the last few years, Thailand’s image has been battered by several factors,” he said. “The phenomenal feedback on the film signifies visitors’ continued interests in our country.”

Hearing the Sunshine is divided into seven episodes, and is based on two real travellers: a sound artist and a photographer. By featuring real stories narrated by previous visitors to Thailand, the TAT is hoping to give prospective visitors a realistic picture of tourism in the country.

The promotional video is part of TAT’s The Most Amazing Show on Earth campaign, which includes a photography competition on the microsite www.mostamazingshow.com, and a television commercial broadcasted on international networks.

The Most Amazing Show on Earth campaign is likely to be carried forward into TAT’s 2012 tourism marketing strategy, which is in the process of being mapped out.

By Sirima Eamtako

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) will take over the management of the Silver Shores International Resort in Danang, and rebrand it as a Crowne Plaza from September 27.

Launched in January last year, the convention and casino resort currently has 422 available rooms, and will start operating an additional 113 rooms in late September. Construction on its second phase development, involving 52 villas in the resort’s secluded quarter, will begin later this year.

The resort’s facilities include an 820m2 grand ballroom, seven meeting rooms, four F&B outlets, a recreational centre and a gaming facility.

IHG’s arrival in Danang will be ahead of a slew of international hotel brands, some of which were expected to make their entry in the last two years, but were postponed due to construction delays.

New international branded hotels in the pipeline for Danang include Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott and Le Meridien.

Accor will open the 279-room Mercure Danang later this year, and the 197-room Pullman Danang Olalani Resort and 346-room Novotel Danang Han River next year.

By Sirima Eamtako

THE RECENTLY-launched 10-year multiple entry visa for Indian nationals will not only boost trade relations between the two countries, but also facilitate the growth of Indian tourist arrivals into Canada.

A six-month visa is being issued to Indian visitors at the moment.

Canadian international trade minister and Asia-Pacific gateway minister, Edward Fast, said: “After an initial visa screening, applicants can get visas that allow them to visit Canada often, as long as their passports are valid up to ten years.”

Travel Agent Association of India (TAAI) president and Swiftravel International chairman and managing director, Rajinder Rai, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “This will help business tourists and those with friends and relatives in Canada to visit the country frequently, without the hassle of obtaining a visa on consequent visits.”

“Many leisure tourists might also make use of the facility to visit Canada more often, to tour the country’s vast regions and attractions during different seasons,” he added.

Canada Tourism Commission (CTC) India director, Shilpa Sethi, said: “Many people think that obtaining a Canadian visa is difficult. Hence they don’t even consider Canada for travel. The new visa regime will change their mindsets. Along with our promotions, it will definitely boost tourism to Canada.”

127,000 Indians visited Canada last year. CTC is targeting a 20 per cent growth in Indian arrivals this year.

By Anand & Madhura Katti