Reporting Asean Tourism Forum(ATF): New

ATF hosting process slammed as top longhaul buyers miss out

The QUESTION of who should be hosted at ATF has arisen as some of the biggest European producers to ASEAN were rejected as hosted buyers, shocking these big-timers and creating a debate on how TRAVEX should strike a balance between old and new buyers going forward.

Of the more than 400 buyers at TRAVEX, which kicks off today, about 300 are hosted, but major travel groups such as Germany’s Meier’s Weltreisen, Thomas Cook UK and The Mark Travel Corporation US did not make the cut for the first time in years. Trade buyers have to pay their own airfares and are accommodated free only on a first-come-first-served basis.

Deputy director of the Cambodia Ministry of Tourism’s marketing and promotion department, Lor Thoura, who oversees the hosted buyer selection, said: “We had 1,000 people registering as buyers, but our main target for the show is Asia-Pacific buyers and we have limits on the number of buyers we host for each country and region.

“We select who to host on a first-come-first-served basis and once we get enough, we don’t accept any more. Some big operators from Europe may not be hosted if they register later than others.”

Sellers urge ATF host country to find right buyer balance

SELLERS say buyers with big volumes to ASEAN should be hosted, but concede they also want the presence of new players.

Destinations of the World (Malaysia) regional manager – business development of South-east Asia, Fizlie Mansor, said the “ideal” strategy should be “increasing new buyers while maintaining the traditional heavyweights”.

Singapore-based Tour East group vice president of sales and marketing Judy Lum said: “Why should a major operator be made to pay and the small and medium or up-and-coming operators not have to? I cannot comprehend the logic. Major operators have to work hard at trade shows as every supplier wants to see them.”

Yet Lum agreed that buyers from new and emerging markets presented “opportunities for the show”.Lac Hong Voyages director of business development Robert Tan expressed the desire to “see new players” at ATF as huge accounts had gone to other groundhandlers.

First-ever air link creates India breakthrough for the Philippines

THE PHILIPPINES’ effort to nab a share of the Indian market, long stymied by an absence of air connectivity, is enjoying a turnaround as Indian buyers gear up for new six-weekly flights between Delhi and Manila.

Philippine Airlines will commence thrice-weekly direct services on March 27, to be followed the next day with three weekly Delhi-Manila services via Bangkok. The carrier will deploy an Airbus A320 with a passenger capacity of 302.

Unimondo Travel and Leisure director – business development, Suraj Khan, said: “Without these direct flights, transit times to Manila via Kuala Lumpur are between two to 10 hours, depending on which airport one is flying out of in India.”He is now looking to sell niche, high-end products such as spa, yachting and island resorts in Cebu for the FIT segment.

Adventure travel spreads tourism to remote Cambodia

TOURISM to Cambodia is spreading beyond popular Siem Reap, with tour operators reporting a huge increase in ecotourism and adventure travel in the more remote areas of the country.

Lolei Travel general manager Michael Scholten said adventure-seeking travellers were heading to regions such as Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri in the north-east, where there are vast, pristine national parklands. “This is also a good way to combine Cambodia and Laos (Luang Prabang) in one trip,” he said.

Hanuman Tourism company advisor Nick Ray said: “A few years ago, there was hardly anyone coming to these areas. Over a period of three to five years, the numbers have increased by 400 to 500 per cent. Most of these visitors are from the UK, US and Australia, with some from France and the Netherlands.”

Source = ttgtravelhub.net