In these trying times, the value of tourism research comes to the fore as the industry faces numerous challenges on all fronts from rising oil prices, declining passenger demand, the global economic slowdown, and issues regarding climate change. Now more than ever, careful planning based on strategic and solid tourism research can spell the difference for any tourism provider looking to get ahead. This is the fundamental belief of Royal Intel. Read the rest of the article…
Tourism news across Asia Pacific
India’s crowded airline sector has been struck with heavy losses as mounting global fuel prices have raised airfares that in turn have led to a decline in passenger numbers. In the fiscal year to March 2008, the Indian aviation sector posted a collective loss of USD 938 million. And for the current fiscal year, analysts expect losses in the Indian aviation sector to reach nearly USD 2 billion. Read the rest of the article…
Bookings are up for the Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways in spite of the crisis plaguing today’s global economy today. According to Tiger Airways spokesman, Matthew Hobbs, the carrier has not seen a decline in the number of travelers mainly because people still need to travel by air and as such are looking for cheaper alternatives. Travelers want the best price and are opting for budget carriers in lieu of premium carriers as it would enable them to continue to travel by air, adds Hobbs. Read the rest of the article…
A Horizontal Aviation Agreement was signed between the European Commission (EC) and the Government of the Republic of India last April 8 in Brussels that re-establishes the legal certainty of the bilateral air services agreement between the South Asian nation and 26 member states of the European Union (EU). According to Antonio Tajani, EC vice-president in charge of transport, the pact is a major step toward strengthening relations with India and in opening up new areas of cooperation with the country, which has become an important partner for Europe and also one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. Read the rest of the article…
The worst is yet to come for the aviation industry as continuing global economic slowdown threatens to destroy travel demand. According to IATA Director General and CEO, Giovanni Bisignani, the state of the aviation industry remains grim as high oil prices and falling demand poisons profitability. Read the rest of the article…
The economic slowdown is affecting travel demand according to the latest air traffic data from the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). For July 2008, AAPA member airlines carried 12.6 million international passengers, 0.6% less than the same period last year, although traffic measured in RPK (revenue passenger kilometers) increased slightly by 0.8%. Overall capacity, measured in ASK (available seat kilometers) continued to outdo demand rising 2.5% year-on-year. Read the rest of the article…
The 2008 World Tourism Congress and Travel Fair of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA-WTF) is set for September 18 to 21 at the Tokyo Big Sight. Held annually since 2003, the event is heralded as one of the largest travel fairs in Asia. The JATA-WTF is a must attend for travel trade professionals interested in the Asian and Japanese travel markets. Read the rest of the article…
Singapore outbound travel is on a roll despite rising costs of travel and economic slowdown. The second annual travel fair of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) entitled ‘NATAS Holidays 2008’ held last August 1 to 3 saw an increase in the number of Singaporeans booking autumn and winter holidays. Bookings made at the three-day travel fair are estimated at SGD 40 million (USD 28 million). But the final tally is expected to increase as more deals are closed in the coming weeks. Read the rest of the article…
Online travel sales in Asia is expected to grow by about 90% in the coming decade with China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam leading the way. Exhibitors at the first ITB Asia event to be held in Singapore on October 22-24 reveal the majority of online travel sales will come from existing customers aged up to 25 who are projected to gain more spending power in the next ten years. Read the rest of the article…
Citi, a leading financial services company worldwide, recently launched its latest effort in raising environmental awareness about climate change among its Philippine clients. From August 1 to October 31, 2008, Citi clients that open a Citi Time Deposit will get the chance to be part of the Great Arctic Eco Tour Promotion. The tour offers clients a taste of the Arctic Region, either with a tour of the Northern Lights in Norway or a trip to see the interesting wildlife of the Antarctic. The Ecological Tours are part of the Go Green Activities campaign launched by the company to help raise environmental awareness among its clients. Read the rest of the article…
After a six year wait, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) finally hosted its first international flights last August 1. This is a major step for NAIA-3 in becoming the premier gateway of the Philippines. The terminal initially opened for domestic commercial operations last July 22. Three domestic carriers namely Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines Express, and Air Philippines have moved their operations to terminal. Read the rest of the article…
New rules enforced by the European Union now provide for trouble-free air transport services for the disabled and elderly in EU airports. Starting July 26, elderly and disabled passengers will gain access to the same air transport services afforded other passengers flying to or from as well as passing in transit through airports in the European Union, at no extra cost. The new rules are intended to put a stop to discrimination and provide the disabled and elderly passengers the assistance they need when traveling, says Antonio Tajani, the European Commission Vice President responsible for transport. Read the rest of the article…
India’s online travel agents (OTAs) intend to charge their clients a Service Fee on sales in light of the looming zero commission policy to be adopted by domestic and international carriers starting October 1st. Big players in the Indian OTA industry like Arzoo.com, Cleartrip.com, Travelocity.com, and Yatra.com consider the implementation of a service fee model as the only feasible choice for them to gain from air bookings after October since the bulk of their revenue is from air bookings. Read the rest of the article…
The 2008 China Travel Distribution & Technology Summit (CTD&TS), the country’s most important travel distribution conference has formed a marketing alliance with Web in Travel (WIT), Asia’s leading travel distribution, marketing, and technology conference. Both events will kick off two of the largest trade shows in Asia, the inaugural ITB Asia event in Singapore and the China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai in November. WIT and CTD&TS are supported by PhoCusWright, the travel industry research authority on how travelers, suppliers, and intermediaries connect. Read the rest of the article…
In response to the intended scrapping of airline commissions starting October 1st, major Indian travel agencies warn they will stop selling domestic and international air tickets if a resolution to the intended zero-commission policy was not ironed out at the scheduled meeting of leading airlines and agents on July 24. The move to stop selling air tickets will affect air travelers that could face problems booking or canceling tickets through company-owned ticketing counters or through the internet, which is not a popular option for international travel. Read the rest of the article…
The second Asia Luxury Travel market (ALTM) was awarded the prestigious Five Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences following the event’s successful run last June in Shanghai. The award recognizes the event’s commitment to excellence in luxury and service as well as its determination to drive Asia’s luxury travel industry forward and serve as an intermediary between global sellers and regional buyers, says ALTM event director, Jay Martens. ALTM also won as Asia’s Leading Travel Exhibition at the inaugural Asia Pacific event of the World Travel Awards held also in Shanghai. Read the rest of the article…
As the value of the Australian Dollar strengthens, more and more destinations are becoming affordable for Australians eager to travel overseas. An annual list released by Expedia.com.au, together with foreign exchange specialist HiFX, lists the top ten destinations where the AUD has gotten stronger over the last year. Included in the listing are South Africa, Vietnam, and South Korea, along with the USA and the United Kingdom. Read the rest of the article…
Finnair will be increasing its connections between Asia and Europe for the 2008-2009 winter season, as it adjusts its Asia flight schedules providing additional flights between the two continents. In doing so, the Finnish carrier hopes to increase passenger sales and load factors to meet the growing pressure caused by fuel price hikes. Read the rest of the article…
After VisitBritain, the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions, the Tourist Office for Flanders and Brussels, and the Slovak Tourist Board, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is the fifth European NTO to become an allied partner of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the region’s leading travel trade association. Read the rest of the article…
Not everyone is ready to commit time to this yet,” says Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) president Peter de Jong, referring to the lack of Asian tourism industry players at the first PATA conference on climate change held in Bangkok last April. The event was dominated by westerners according to organizers and regional airlines were noticeably under-represented as invitations sent to Asian companies were met with disinterest. Read the rest of the article…
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) warns rising cost of fuel prices affecting airline operations worldwide would put global economies at risk. Airlines are an essential part of today’s society and also the lifeblood of global commerce and industry, according to PATA president and CEO Peter de Jong. Calling to mind the effects of the SARS outbreak five years ago when people stopped flying, de Jong noted that a drastic reduction in airline operations and the closure of important routes would surely put economies at risk. Read the rest of the article…
Two Chinese carriers, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, intend to reduce their number of international flights within the region in light of the escalating cost of fuel. The cutback in the number of flights is only temporary, according to a spokesman for China Southern, adding that it was a better alternative to halting services permanently on these routes. Read the rest of the article…
The National Business Travel Association’s (NBTA) Fundamentals of Business Management/CTE Course will be offered for the first time in Asia Pacific at the 2008 IT&CMA & CTW Asia-Pacific event to be held in Bangkok, Thailand in October. The one-day workshop presented in partnership with TTG Asia Media has been structured and formatted to match the needs of Asia Pacific’s travel professional. TTG Asia is pleased to bring this opportunity to Asia Pacific and to play a significant role in helping further the corporate travel industry of the region, says Darren Ng, TTG Asia Media’s managing director. Read the rest of the article…
“Youth Travel Matters: Understanding the Global Phenomenon of Youth Travel” is a joint study of the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and its affiliate member, the World Youth, Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation that underscores the importance of Youth Travel to the continued growth of the tourism industry. The report reveals the latest trends in Youth Travel destinations, products, and innovations of the past five years. Read the rest of the article…
The Asian Attractions Expo 2008 has signed on more than 150 manufacturers and suppliers from nearly 30 countries to exhibit at this year’s event scheduled to take place in Macau S.A.R. on July 16 to 18. Since no other event in the region offers more knowledge, products, or connections, Charles Bray, president and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) forecasts the event will be the premier gathering of the attractions industry in Asia. Read the rest of the article…
Singapore Airlines will increase its A380 service on the Singapore-London route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Starting July 16, customers flying on the SQ318 to London from Singapore and on the flight back, SQ321, will enjoy the highly acclaimed cabin products and flying experience of the world’s largest passenger aircraft. With the additional service, the number of Singapore Airlines’ flights between the two cities will step up from seven to eleven times a week. Read the rest of the article…
Brunei intends to invest more into its tourism sector prompted by the industry’s rapid growth in recent years as well as by strong forecasts for the next decade. The initiative corresponds to the goals of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to promote tourism in and among its member countries. Read the rest of the article…
Asian consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly worried about the impacts of climate change according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) President, Peter de Jong. In 2007, a GlobeScan survey of 1,000 consumers from 20 countries in five continents revealed that people in Asia were generally more worried than Europeans that climate change would pose a threat to them and their family. But at the same time Asians felt less empowered to do something about it unlike their European counterparts, as revealed by the same survey. Read the rest of the article…
RCI Cruise is the first cruise vacation exchange in Asia, launched by RCI in partnership with ICE Gallery Asia Pacific. The service offers RCI subscribing members in Asia a choice of 10,000 cruise itineraries from among the leading cruise liners in the world, including Royal Caribbean Internationa, Cunard, Holland-America Line, Princess, Norwegian, Celebrity, Disney Cruises, and Carnival. Kendall Oei, president and managing director of Group RCI, Asia Pacific, says the launch of RCI Cruise underlines the company’s vision to identify innovative vacation exchange options and explore opportunities to enhance the vacation experience of its members and their families. Read the rest of the article…
The Lonely Planet launched its own travel video Channel last April 10 on the leading online video community, YouTube. The new Channel showcases 20 videos from LonelyPlanet.tv, the travel company’s own online video-sharing website plus exclusive previews and behind-the-scenes footage from the brand’s upcoming television shows. New clips will also be uploaded weekly to the Channel. Read the rest of the article…
The second Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM), slated for June 16-19 in Shanghai, China, is growing faster than its sister event the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) according to Serge Dive, founder of both events, who attributes this growth to the excitement surrounding the potential of Asia’s luxury travel market. Read the rest of the article…
Kuoni enters the virtual world, via the Second Life internet platform, as the computer animated island, INUOK, that is KUONI spelled backwards. With the debut of the INUOK Island on April 10, Kuoni hopes to gain a better understanding of how virtual communities communicate and in the process, gather as much information as possible about the platform for application in future projects of the company, according to Bojan Jokic, CIO for the Kuoni group. Read the rest of the article…
Scandinavian Airlines Services (SAS) advances to the forefront of green aviation as it implements ‘Green Approach Flights’, using the Advanced Continuous Descent Approach (A-CDA) system, according to Lars Olofsson, General Manager SAS Australia and New Zealand. The new technology enables the pilot to calculate the aircraft’s landing time thereby making it possible to let the plane glide during the final stage of the flight. Consequently, fuel consumption and noise level are significantly reduced as the aircraft operates at a lower speed. Green approaches are one of many key initiatives the airline is taking to reach its environmental goal of lowering emissions, per unit, by 50% in 2020, adds Olofsson. Read the rest of the article…
Philippine tourism surpassed all expectations in 2007, as it welcomed three million international tourists. The achievement was lauded by no less than the United Nations World Tourism Organization, who also rated the country’s Department of Tourism’s (DOT) campaign as the most improved in Asia. According to DOT Secretary, Joseph Durano, the country is well on its way of achieving its goal of five million visitors by 2010 as a result of its current niche marketing campaign for Ecotourism. Read the rest of the article…
The continuous robust growth of emerging countries not only as tourism destinations but as source markets as well guarantee bright prospects for the travel industry in the medium term despite the challenges brought on by the US economy slowdown, higher fuel costs, and the impact of climate change, according to Jean-Claude Baumgarten, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) president. Read the rest of the article…
Vietnamese outbound travel is growing according to Euromonitor International (EI) as 2007 departures reached 1.2 million, an increase of 20% indicating a faster growth rate that that of its neighbors China and India. EI forecasts an annual growth rate of 22% between 2007 and 2012 as a result of rising consumer confidence and the wealth of developments happening in the country. Read the rest of the article…
For a third year in a row, Asian airports topped the list of the Airports Council International’s (ACI) global Airport Service Quality Survey (ASQ), with the top three spots going to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport in South Korea, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, and the Changi International Airport in Singapore. Other airports in the region also recognized by ACI are Centrair (the Central Japan International Airport) and the Hong Kong International Airport in the five annual-passenger traffic size categories under which both KLIA and Incheon were also recognized. The Shanghai Airport Authority will also receive a special award to acknowledge its strong leadership in modernizing and expanding airports under its authority. Read the rest of the article…
The European Commission recently proposed the application of biometric screening and automated security checks, the same safety measures currently employed by the United States and Japan, for foreign travelers entering and leaving member states of the European Union (EU). The proposal, which requires foreigners to be fingerprinted, photographed, and their information stored in a Europe-wide database, is part of the growing trend on both sides of the Atlantic on behalf of national security and immigration control. Eventually, information gathered could be shared by friendly governments around the world. But before any sharing takes place, an official of the European Commission has pointed out that European data-protection laws will be strictly observed. Read the rest of the article…
Gambling tourism is on the rise in Asia and countries in the region are cashing in. From Macau to Nepal, a total of 12 countries have legalized gambling and receive visitors from around the world as well as from neighboring Southeast Asian countries where gaming is still illegal like in Thailand and China. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the regulated gaming industry in Asia is predicted to grow by 14% annually from 2005-2010, considered the fastest pace in the world. David Green of PricewaterhouseCoopers also reveals that Macau, the most popular destination for casinos and legalized gambling in Asia has already surpassed Las Vegas as the world’s largest gaming market. Read the rest of the article…
Rising oil prices, the spread of the sub-prime credit issue in international markets and the slow down in the US economy, are all taking their toll on world consumer confidence.
According to the latest Global Consumer Confidence Study conducted by The Nielsen Company, more than a quarter of global consumers expect a global recession in 2008, resulting in a dip in confidence in 21 of the 48 markets surveyed. Read the rest of the article…
