Reporting Asean Tourism Forum(ATF): New

Australians tip an ‘Asian’ year, expect phenomenal rise in traffic to ASEAN

AUSTRALIAN tour operators are dubbing 2011 as the‘ year of Asian travel’, anticipating record numbers of Australian travellers to ASEAN, thanks to new flights, a strong currency and even the country’s recent floods.

Aileen Collins, personal travel manager of Travel Managers, said she was looking at a 15 per cent growth in business to South-east Asia this year, compared to a 20 per cent slide in 2010 over 2009.

“While last year was the American year, this year, I think, will be the Asian year,” said Collins, explaining that while the rising Australian dollar has also made holidays to the US and Europe attractive, the additional fillip for the region are new flights being launched from Australia to ASEAN destinations.

Just last month, Australia-based full-service carrier Strategic Airlines announced that it would mount non-stop Brisbane-Bali flights from March on a route currently dominated by no-frills airlines. This followed earlier announcements late last year by Strategic of new flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Phuket, both beginning next month.

Collins said the news had already triggered some response from Australians, with the number of enquiries since Christmas up 10 to 15 per cent over the same period last year.

Air France’s resumption a huge fillip for Cambodia

AIR France will resume flights from Paris to Phnom Penh on March 27 after a 35-year hiatus, marking the first longhaul service connecting Europe and Cambodia. The carrier previously served its former colony from the early 50s until the Khmer Rouge seized control in 1975.

Voyageurs Associes managing director Jacky Pilo said: “The fact that you have the French national carrier serving this route is very important. We will be able to gather travellers from around France and increase our business out of Paris with these flights.”

Asia Voyages deputy director of production Virginie Gerbault said: “While it is still too early to give exact figures, there will definitely be an increase in business.”

Gerbault added Asia Voyages had already been approached by Air France and was developing packages and special promotions for the next winter season, targeting FITs and groups in particular.

Airline invests as Myanmar changes

MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) has outlined a four-year expansion in light of political changes in the country, which it expects will result in tourism growth.

MAI managing director Aung Gyi said: “The changing government – from military to civilian – has sent a positive message not only to tourists but investors and businessmen. We are expecting the number of visitors to Myanmar to grow. In line with this, we have set up a four-year expansion plan. We are planning to add up to 10 more aircraft to our fleet, and are looking at investing in the Airbus A330.”

This would enable MAI to expand its route network in ASEAN and China, he said, in terms of both point-to-point services and sixth freedom traffic.

Aung said: “We are considering extending services to Indonesia on our Yangon-Singapore current service, for example.”

Rate recovery still dicey for Thai hotels

THAI hotels are advised to continue with tacticals this year and maintain rates for the next contracting season, with buyers citing a weak economy and currency, especially in Europe, coupled with room oversupply in some Thai areas, as the main reasons.

Hotelbeds’ head of contracting Thailand/Indochina, Alon Miler, based in Bangkok, said it was pointless for them to raise rates, only to roll out stay/pay deals later.

Bangkok-based Go Vacation Thailand’s executive director for product and contracting, Hermann Wegmueller, said the stronger baht against the euro had already caused prices in Thailand to rise by 20 to 25 per cent over the last six months.

Even markets whose economies are stronger are making similar calls. Wettstein Switzerland’s senior product manager Dagmar Waeber said even if Thai hotels were to ask for a small percentage hike, that would translate to a big increase due to the strong baht. “I would suggest hotels to maintain rates, but not drop them, as that would be asking too much,” she said.

Cruise ports make waves

THE NEW Asia Cruise Terminal Association aims to grow its ASEAN membership, which now comprises only Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The association was initiated by the Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) and Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Development Company.  China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan are its other members.

SCC chairman Soo Kok Leng  said a concerted effort to develop cruising infrastructure in Asia was needed, as “cruise liners, when planning their itineraries, are guided by how marketable the destinations are”.

He urged: “It would be to everyone’s benefit to be a part of this forum, as we work towards...building our region into the Caribbean of the East.”

Culinary tours are steaming hot

DORISON Travel Singapore is seeing good response for culinary tours to South-east Asia which it launched last April.

Managing director Jimmy Sim said most of the bookings were from Singapore clients and longhaul travellers as part of their South-east Asian programmes.

The tours to Thailand and Indonesia last four to five days, with each group comprising no more than 15 participants, who visit local markets, get shopping and cooking lessons from quality chefs and learn about Asian spices and the culture behind popular dishes.

Source = ttgtravelhub.net