HONG KONG has been seeing increased interest in its ecotourism offerings since it started promoting green outdoor activities two years ago, with teambuilding and incentive groups especially keen to take advantage of the sector’s diversity.

Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) general manager, MICE and Cruise, Gilly Wong, said the sector had been receiving “much more bookings and enquiries compared to when (it) first started”, with the bulk of interest coming from longhaul source markets like Japan and South Korea.

“When most people think of Hong Kong, they tend to think of luxury, shopping and the city,” she said. “We want to highlight that the green side of Hong Kong is complimentary to these other offerings.”

Wong said that aside from team hiking activities and boat trips, there are also nature excursions to Hong Kong National Geopark and Lantau Island for those who want to take a break from the city life.

Over 50 per cent of Lantau Island consists of national parks, including a large number of well-marked hiking trails. There is also a marine park north of the island, which has been designated to protect Chinese White Dolphins, often called pink dolphins.

Meanwhile, Wong said HKTB would soon be embarking on an advertising blitz via print and online channels to highlight MICE activities and offerings in Hong Kong. According to Wong, the campaign will revolve around four topics: themed attractions, wine and dine, MICE cruise charters and Lantau Island.

AN OVERSUPPLY of hotel rooms has caused a price war among hotels in Jaipur, with rates in three- to five-star categories dropping by 20 to 25 per cent over the last three years, according to Le Passage to India Tours & Travels executive director Khalid Khan.

Golden Tulip Jaipur general manager Shailesh Joshi explained that three- and four-star properties were forced to reduce rates whenever five-star properties dropped their prices.

Joshi said he was sustaining rack rates at his hotel (about US$50 to US$75) by targeting more corporate business, which is year-round, compared to leisure business, which tends to be seasonal.

While the better prices benefit the consumer, Khan said rates in Jaipur and India as a whole were still relatively high compared to countries such as Thailand, Singapore and China, which offer similar category hotels at lower rates, and where destination marketing is better.

According to Khan, staying in a standard four-star property in Jaipur costs around US$150 to US$200 per night, whereas staying in a four-star property in Singapore sets you back around US$70 to US$90 per night.

Over the next 18 months, Jaipur’s inventory is expected to increase by another 2,500 rooms, with the opening of eight new hotels. The destination is also gearing up for more MICE business, as some of the new properties will be equipped with MICE facilities. A large, new convention centre that can accommodate up to 5,000 delegates at Sitapura Industrial area in Jaipur will also be ready by 2013.

Inbound agents are split over the potential impact of these new developments on hotel rates.

Sita general manager Rajasthan Sanjay Sharma was of the opinion that rates would drop further. “Business will improve, but rates are uncertain to go up. The MICE business cannot be counted on 365 days,” he said.

Khan, however, said the international hotels opening in the near future would be conducting their own destination marketing, creating more awareness and resulting in an inflow of business, which would in turn result in higher rates.

Creative Travel senior manager Lalit Bhatt said: “I am optimistic business will come back. By winter 2012, provided there are no calamities in India, rates in Jaipur will go back to pre-recession levels.”

NOVOTEL Bangkok IMPACT has been chalking up good business since its February soft opening, recording just below 30 per cent occupancy in the first month of operations, and more than 30 per cent last month.

The hotel’s general manager, David Baldwin, said that while business has been slow this month due to the Thai Songkran holiday, occupancy was starting to pick up again, and he expected it to soar over the next couple of months.

He added that about 80 per cent of the hotel’s business originates from events at the adjoining IMPACT Muang Thong Thani MICE complex, with the remaining coming from nearby corporate and government agencies.

The 10-storey, 380-room Novotel Bangkok IMPACT is scheduled to open its spa, indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and an Italian restaurant next month, and a rooftop wine bar in the last quarter.

IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, located in greater Bangkok, hosted more than 800 events last year.

By Sirima Eamtako

GARUDA Indonesia’s ongoing fleet expansion (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 13) has allowed the carrier to increase frequencies and launch new services on both domestic and international routes.

Garuda president and CEO, Emirsyah Satar, said: “Garuda received 24 new aircraft last year, comprising B737-800NGs and Airbus A330-200s.”

“This year, we will add a total of 11 new aircraft, comprising nine B737-800NGs and two A330-200s, which will enable us to further expand our services.”

On June 1, Garuda will hike its Denpasar-Seoul services from three to five times weekly, and double its Jakarta-Bangkok flights to twice daily. The carrier is planning to start Jakarta-Taipei services in November.

On the domestic front, the airline is increasing services on its Jakarta-Surabaya route from 15 to 16 flights daily, Surabaya-Denpasar from three to four flights daily, and Jogjakarta-Denpasar from two to three flights daily.

Additional domestic routes slated to launch this year are Balikpapan-Surabaya and Makassar-Jogjakarta.

The airline is also planning to open Makassar as its third hub after Jakarta and Bali. Its opening as a hub will see additional routes from Makassar to cities in the eastern part of Indonesia, as well as Jakarta and Bali.

US-based Carlson plans to grow its mid-tier Country Inns & Suites By Carlson portfolio in India from 11 to over 50 over the next decade, with a new version of the brand developed specifically for the market.

Five hotels are scheduled to open this year, and future developments will be based on the next generation of the brand, which will include significant design nuances catering to an Indian clientele.

This expansion will be managed through Country Development and Management Services (CDMS), a joint venture between Carlson and Chanakya Hotels.

“The midscale market in India represents a significant opportunity, and Carlson is pleased to be able to grow its Country Inns & Suites By Carlson brand in this market through its strategic partnership in CDMS,” said KB Kachru, executive vice president, Carlson Hotels, South Asia.

Country Inns & Suites By Carlson targets both business and leisure travellers, and features a residential design and a “friends hosting friends” culture.

UNITED Nations organisations monitoring the effects of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant have issued a statement to clarify that current radiation levels pose no travel risk to Japan.

These agencies are the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Tourism Organization and the International Labour Organization.

“Radiation monitoring around airports and seaports in Japan continues to confirm that levels remain well within safe limits,” according to a UN statement.

The global body added that the screening of radiation for health and safety purposes is currently considered unnecessary at airports and seaports around the world. It explained that the monitoring of passengers, crew and cargo from Japan in some countries did not suggest any health or safety risks.

SPECIAL interest tours are receiving new attention from outbound agents in Indonesia, who are eager to stand out from the crowd amid increasing competition.

At the sixth Indonesia Travel and Holiday Fair over the weekend, Smailing Tours was selling its new culinary tours to Thailand and Korea and a cycling tour to China. The agent will also soon launch a photography tour with a prominent Indonesian photographer.

Smailing Tours spokesman Wisnu Wardana said: “With increasing competition, we need to find ways to reach out to the market, and this is what we’re doing apart from maximising the use of social media.”

DeLana Tours and Travel has also come up with university tours, catering to out-of-town students and their families.

Director Gregorius Handoyo said: “Jogjakarta is known as the students’ city. We take students who are not familiar with the campuses for an orientation.”

He added that tours to Mount Merapi were also in demand, following the devastating eruption last year. Travellers are keen to see the impact, as well as participate in rebuilding and other community support programmes.

Handoyo also noted requests for cultural programmes, where participants could learn batik and traditional dance.

THE BANGKOK International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is planning to spend 400 million baht (US$13.27 million) for major renovations next year in anticipation of more events.

This will come after the completion of a skywalk linking the venue to a new BTS SkyTrain station. BITEC’s skywalk is nearly complete, while the BTS Sukhumvit Line-Bearing Extension is scheduled to operate in August.

Business development director Sarnit Karunyavanij said the opening of the BTS extended line would allow the centre to attract more exhibitions, from 40 trade and consumer events last year to more than 50 shows in 2012.

The easy access is also expected help BITEC attract more international conventions as well. The venue joined the bidding process for some large-sized conventions after receiving confirmation recently as the host venue for the International Surgical Week 2015 for 2,000 delegates.

This year, the venue is scheduled to host about six conventions, including the 8th Asia-Pacific Burn Congress and the 3rd Congress of the Asian Wound Healing Association for 1,800 delegates from September 11 to 14.

For incentives, Karunyavanij said BITEC has been chosen as the venue for Herbalife: The Asia Pacific Extravaganza 2011 from May 6 to 8. “We are expecting to sign with two more organisations for similar large-sized incentives to be held this year,” he said.

By Sirima Eamtako

HONG KONG Express Airways will start twice-weekly services from Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from April 22.

B737-800 aircraft with eight business-class and 156 economy-class seats will operate the route.

The carrier is reintroducing service between Hong Kong and Malaysia following the suspension of the Hong Kong-Kuala Lumpur service in March 2009.

MALAYSIAN hajj tour operators offering packages for Muslim pilgrims said that the ever-escalating hotel prices, insufficient facilities and long waiting list are discouraging many from making the trip.

“A package costs an average of RM19,000 (US$6,290), which is the entire life savings for some pilgrims. How do we expect every Muslim to fulfill their greatest wish to perform the hajj in their lifetime?” said Prof Dr Abdul Rahim Said, adviser to Rahman Brothers Travel and Tours, during the 5th International Conference on Muslim Tourism, Hajj and Umrah 2011 in Kuala Lumpur.

“The infrastructure cannot meet the needs of the over two million pilgrims from around the world who make the journey annually. Furthermore, there is an average 20-year waiting list. In Malaysia, only some 28 operators are authorised to offer hajj packages,” he added.

The governing authority in Makkah has imposed a limit of 0.01 per cent of Muslims from each country yearly regardless of its population. Around 26,000 Malaysians make the journey through tour packages that include airfare, accommodation, meals and ground transportation.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Dato Mohd Khalid Harun said that two- or three-star hotels are needed instead of the crop of luxury hotels.

“The government also needs to allow more airlines to fly pilgrims instead of just Malaysian Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines. More opportunities can be created when there is competitiveness. As it is only, 27 operators are authorised for hajj tours.”

– Read the full report in TTG Asia, April 29

By Ellen Chen