Asian News

The Internet has become the most popular medium for Chinese travellers seeking information about their trips, according the latest Nielsen China Outbound Travel Monitor.

Latest figures released today (August 28th 2009) by the Pacific Asia Travel Association indicate that the numbers of international visitor arrivals to Asia Pacific* fell by an estimated six percent in Jan-June 2009 compared to H1 2008. The extremely challenging operating environment continued to dampen tourism demand and the month of May confirmed the second major flu outbreak this decade. The travel and tourism sector in Asia Pacific immediately felt the impact with a steep 10 percent decline in visitor numbers. There was, however, a slight improvement in June.

EVA Air and its regional subsidiary UNI Air will begin operating scheduled flights from Taiwan to China on August 31, 2009.

TMS Academy and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) have today signed an industry partnership agreement enabling the recruitment specialist to provide the influential organisation’s global membership base with a range of its ‘TMS Academy’ hospitality and tourism sector training programs.

Planning for AIME 2010, 18th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, is well underway with a new look AIME website now online (www.aime.com.au) and a new advertising campaign soon to be launched.

Best Western International, The World’s Largest Hotel Chain® Asia’s headquarter has entered into an agreement with World Vision, the leading global relief organization, to use its extensive hotel network throughout Asia to raise funds to improve the lives of underprivileged children.

Exhibitor registrations for ITB Asia are up 20% compared to same period last year. With three months to the show, new exhibiting organisations include the Japan National Tourism Organization, THAI Airways International, Qatar Airways and Sharjah Tourism. The city tourism bodies of Shanghai, Osaka and Busan have united to promote their own unique “Golden Triangle” at ITB Asia for the first time.

The South Kuta Beach Business Association (SKBBA) has re-launched its popular ‘All the fun under the sun’ promotion.

13 July 2009 – A snap online poll conducted by TMS Asia Pacific throughout June indicates that 41 per cent of industry staffers believe the market is slowly recovering.

ITB Asia 2009 will continue its focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the travel and tourism industry by issuing a report on the responses by Asia-Pacific national tourism organisations (NTOs) to the challenges facing their respective SMEs.

TMS Asia-Pacific CEO Andrew Chan has directed the region’s tourism sector employers towards MBA graduates as an excellent potential source of highly qualified and readily available management candidates.

Carrying less cash means less risk while on holiday according to 42 percent of respondents interviewed as part of Visa’s Travel Smart survey1. This is one of the main reasons given for those who prefer cards to cash as their primary payment method when overseas.

Exhibitor registrations for ITB Asia 2009 are ahead of this time last year and are exceeding the expectations of organizer, Messe Berlin (Singapore). The trade show for the Asian travel market takes place 21-23 October 2009 in Singapore.

Best Western International and Sinthoranee Property Co.,Ltd. have agreed to brand a 146-room resort in Phuket as Best Western Sawaddi Patong with the grand opening scheduled for September 2009.

The British government must review as a matter of urgency its decision to increase air passenger duty. That's the view of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

The credit crunch doesn't mean there aren't simple ways to have a decent holiday without breaking the bank. With the introduction of a special Early Bird Bonus at the new Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand guests’ savings go hand in hand with their dream holiday.

Best Western has announced the September 2009 opening of Best Western Sawazdi Patong Hotel, Phuket, which will be the brand’s fourth resort in Phuket, one of Thailand’s premier tourist destinations.

Following the successful launch of its first hotel, The Opposite House in Beijing, Swire Hotels will unveil its second hotel, The Upper House, in Hong Kong this October.

Best Western International, The World’s Largest Hotel Chain®, has confirmed the upcoming opening of Best Western Sapaly, Lao Cai – Vietnam in December 2009.

What better way to highlight Hong Kong's rich gastronomic traditions than with a Year of Food and Wine celebration featuring a stunning array of food and wine promotions befitting the Culinary Capital of Asia. This magical year-long culina4ry experience includes a spectacular Wine and Dine Festival, an irresistible array of mouth-watering special offers and more which are sure to tempt every palate. Also coming up are a bevy of fun and fantastic traditional Chinese festivals including Tin Hau (18 April), Cheung Chau Bun Festival (2 May), Buddha's Birthday (2 May) and Tam Kung (2 May). So make plans now to experience Hong Kong's living culture.