|
Volume 3, Issue 22, June 3 2010 |
   |
On Sunday the Thai government ended the curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces. Bangkok is slowly returning to normal following last month's tragic end to anti-government protests. The crackdown on protestors, known as the red shirts, left more than 80 dead. The red shirts have left the streets of Bangkok. Now Thailand is facing the challenge of repairing its international image and its tourism industry.
Visitor numbers dropped significantly as protests closed down Bangkok's main shopping and tourist districts from early April through May. The Federation of Thai Tourism Associations has revised its forecasts for visitor arrivals down from 15 million to 12 million visitors for 2010.
A number of Bangkok's luxury hotels found themselves at the frontline of protests and were forced to close. Most have now reopened, including the InterContinental Bangkok, Four Seasons Bangkok Amari Watergate, Novotel Bangkok, Vie Hotel, Dusit Thani Bangkok and the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.
"We have been working and will continue working with the Rajprasong Square Trade Association, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and other organizations to restore the confidence of both local and international travellers to Bangkok," said Richard Greaves, general manager, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, in May international passengers arriving at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) fell by an average of 20 percent over May 2009 and by 30 percent over May 2008. However, the number of international passenger arriving at Phuket (HKT), the country's second-largest international air gateway, increased by about 61 percent in May.
International hotel brands continue to expand the accommodation options for business travellers in China. Marriott International has new management agreements for seven additional hotels in China and aims to double its presence in the country in the next five years. Marriott expects to have 60 hotels open across six brands by the end of 2010, including eight properties under its Ritz-Carlton brand. Hotels opening this year in China include Ritz-Carlton hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai. "China is arguably the world's most compelling tourism market today. Its buoyant tourism industry will host 2.1 billion domestic and international tourists this year, an increase of 12 percent over 2009. Within the next 10 years, China is expected to be the world's single largest source of international tourism and its No. 1 travel destination," said J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International.
As part of its continued expansion in China, in May Accor opened the Pullman Zhangjiajie in Hunan. Specifically targeting business travellers, the Pullman hotel brand is Accor's fastest growing upscale brand in the Greater China region, with seven hotels in operation and 14 in development. In addition to the new 482-room Pullman Zhangjiajie, the 280-room Pullman Dongguan Dalang in neighbouring Guangdong province is due to open in 2012 and will be the fifth Pullman in Guangdong. Two Pullman resort hotels will also open in 2010: the 130-room Pullman Lijiang Resort and Spa in Yunnan and the 400-room Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort and Spa on Hainan Island.
Continental Airlines is the first airline in the world to formally announce a specific, initial route for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. With the first of 25 Dreamliners ordered due for delivery in August 2011, Continental says it will start non-stop Boeing 787 flights from Houston (HOU) to Auckland (AKL) on Nov. 16, 2011, subject to government approval. This follows the May 3 announcement by Continental that it has agreed to merge with United Airlines, also subject to government approval. Continental plans to operate the HOU–AKL route on a daily basis, with a five-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation. Auckland is home to Air New Zealand, which like Continental is a member of Star Alliance. Air New Zealand and its regional airline partners offer services to 20 destinations in New Zealand and seven in Australia.
On Nov. 1 China Southern Airlines will start flying from Guangzhou (CAN) to Brisbane (BNE). Australia's third-busiest state capital airport, Brisbane serves 43 domestic destinations, all non-stop, more than any other state capital. China Southern is China's largest airline and will fly three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from Guangzhou to Brisbane using Airbus A330 aircraft. China is Queensland's second-largest trading partner and one of Queensland's largest inbound tourist markets — more than 153,000 Chinese tourists visited the Sunshine State in 2009. "Our next goal is to convince China Southern to fly daily to Brisbane within the next two years," said Julieanne Alro, CEO and managing director, Brisbane Airport Corporation.
One in four consumers in the Asia Pacific region is looking forward to travelling on vacation in the next six months, according to the latest findings from a MasterCard survey. Japan, Australia and China remain the most popular destinations for travellers in Asia Pacific and 86 percent plan to travel within the region. Among the Asia Pacific markets, Hong Kong (56 percent), Singapore (48 percent) and New Zealand (40 percent) have the highest numbers of respondents planning to travel abroad for leisure. "Personal travel is an integral part of life for many consumers in Asia Pacific, and from our previous surveys we have seen the appetite for travel hold through the recession." said Dr. Yuwa Hedrick Wong, economic advisor, Asia Pacific, MasterCard Worldwide.
Qantas will start flying daily from Sydney (SYD) to Johannesburg (JNB) from Sept. 21. To celebrate the increase in flights from six times a week to daily, Qantas is offering a special fare of AUD 2,999 in premium- economy class from Adelaide (ADL), Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) to Johannesburg. The all-inclusive economy fare from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Johannesburg is AUD 1,499. Both promotional fares are for travel from July 19 through Sept. 15, but tickets must be paid for and issued before June 6. South African Airways will codeshare on each daily service.
Spring is still in the air at Eva Air, which is offering promotional fares from Hong Kong (HKG) to Taipei (TPE) through June 30. Business-class return fares are HKD 3,150, for stays of less than one day to 30 days. Economy fares start at HKD 1,220 for visits lasting two to seven days. As an extra bonus all passengers using the Eva Air Check-in Kiosk at Terminal 2 of Taipei's Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport before June 30 will receive a coupon for 20 percent off Eva Air's duty free.
To celebrate its June 1 opening the Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul is offering rates starting from approximately USD 345 (plus 21 percent tax and service charge) for a deluxe room for two, for two nights' minimum stay before Aug. 31. The Banyan Tree Club & Spa is a combination of a private member's club and urban resort with 16 rooms and 16 suites, all with plunge pools. The promotional offer includes daily breakfast for two and a choice of a bottle of Champagne, one 90-minute Banyan Tree Spa massage session or a Japanese set lunch for two at the Banyan Tree Club & Spa's Mori N restaurant. For more details and bookings, visit Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul.
Members of China Airlines' loyalty programme Dynasty Flyer have a chance to win free upgrades in a weekly draw in June and July. Any Dynasty Flyer member who purchases a ticket (excluding booking class N/L/X/G/S) via the China Airlines website can join the lucky draw. A computer will randomly pick five winners for free upgrades from those who purchase China Airlines tickets online each week. Winners who purchased regional flight tickets win one-way, single-sector free regional flight upgrades while winners who purchased long-haul flight tickets will win one-way, single-sector free long-haul flight upgrades. Promotion ends July 25.
Sofitel is looking forward to the arrival of summer with La Fête de la Musique on June 21. The French luxury hotel brand will be celebrating all kinds of music at its hotels worldwide with concerts, dinners and parties. For example, in Asia, guests at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will enjoy a performance from Grammy Award-nominee Andromeda Turre. At the Sofitel Shanghai Sheshan Oriental a French band will play live music while guests enjoy Champagne and oysters. Meanwhile, pianist and composer Cédric Hanriot will bring to life classic French tunes with a jazz twist at the Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square. For more details on the French festivities, visit Sofitel.
