Tourism Asis Online by Tourism Asia Online

Vol. 08 | No: 4. April 2012

Top 8 Travel Destinations in China Kenya Airways adds links in India

contents april for everyone in KL

08 India, Brazil Plan Boost in Bilateral Tourism, Investmentsa India and Brazil are planning a number of ways to strengthen cooperation in various sectors of tourism. The visiting Tourism Minister of Brazil Mr Gastao Vieira who called on Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai here today said that Brazil is keen to exchange experience in destination management and promotion with India. He said Brazil would also like to share with India its best practices in the area of Rural and Ecotourism.

Travel Malaysia on a Budget

16 More Chinese Mainland Tourists Get Nod to Visit Taiwan

Saudi Arabia: Domestic Tourism Gradually Developing

18 San Miguel buys 49-per cent stake in Philippine Airlines

Tourism Asia | April 2012

contents april 20 Toll free travel during festival

Travel and Tour World announced as the supporting media partner of WTM

Travel and Tour World â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the leading online travel trade magazines in the world is now the supporting media partner of World Travel Market 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the leading global event in the travel industry. The partnership was announced after an agreement was signed between the two entities.

Top 8 Travel Destinations in CHINA

TripAdvisor Introduces Travel Advice from 'Friend of a Friend' TripAdvisor launched its "Friend of a Friend" feature that highlights trusted reviews and opinions from friends of Facebook friends. Representing the next step in making travel planning more social for the TripAdvisor global community, travelers are now ten times more likely to see personalized travel advice on TripAdvisor.

Kenya Airways adds links in India

Tourism Asia | April 2012

From the editor’s desk Managing Editor

Sreekumara Menon

India is probably the ultimate destination of

Group Editor

Janeesh Jalaluddin

all kinds of pilgrims following any faith

Executive Editor

Kriebel George

around the world. The great religions like

Photo Editor

Madhu Menon

Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Christi-

Art Editor

Dileep

anity and Sikhism are the integral part of

Senior Correspondent :

Subhash Ghosh

Indian culture and heritage whose values

Senior Sub Editor

Anish Kumar

and

Editorial Team

Anu S

soil and the sky of India.

faiths

are

mingled

with

the

air,

Viji V S

Marketing

Suresh Kumar S

Legal Advisor

India is the land of gods and diverse religions where lies the

Adv. Preeja K S

Financial Controller

serenity of its heritage. India is dotted with pilgrimages. Great

Abhilash S P

religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism have originated on the Indian soil. Over 80% of India's population practices

Representatives North India

Vinod Chandana

East India

Gagan Sarangi

West India

S K Singh

Bahrain

Shine G Nair

Bangalore

Bhagvan Din Kumar

Bhubaneshwar

Gagan Sarangi

Chennai

Balachandar

Dubai

Shinu

New Delhi

Annie Chacko

Philippines

Cynthia Lim

Pune

S K Singh

Qatar

Aneena Jacob

Singapore

Ajith Menon

Srilanka

Prebuddha

Thailand

Tae

All communications to: Tourism Asia Ground Floor, ‘Tower House’, Convent Road Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India Phone: +91 471 2470660, Fax: +91 471 2470660

Hinduism, the ancient indigenous religion of India which has a wide variety of forms and expressions. Muslims constitute about 10% of the Indian population. Other significant religious groups in India include Jains, and Christians. Buddhism is almost extinct in the land of its birth, but many exiled Tibetan Buddhists now make their home in India, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. India's famed spirituality has made it a popular destination for spiritually-inclined travelers.. There are a number of Tour operators in the country that offer various pilgrimage tour packages to tourists. These operators also arrange for the stay, the food and other comforts for the pilgrimage. Any pilgrimage tour in India is sure to make you feel elated. These pilgrimage tours are sure to provide the tourists with peace and tranquility. Pilgrimage tourism as a business has also become big in India in the recent times. There is no denying to the fact that Indians are religious and religion is a part of their life. The boom in the

Email: news@tourismasiaonline.info website: www.tourismasiaonline.info

travel industry has helped tourists to visit these pilgrimage

Regd Office:

world are being attracted to India for its pilgrimage destina-

‘Sreeji Nivas’ , Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram

spots often. A lot of people from across different parts of the tions.

Edited and Published by: Sreekumara Menon For Advertisements: marketing@tourismasiaonline.info The news and Advertisements published herein have been collected from various source, which are considered to be reliable. Readers are however requested to verify the facts before making business decisions using the same. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010

Tourism Asia | January 2012

V.Sreekumara Menon Editor & Publisher editor@tourismasiaonline.info +91 9447798108

News & Views

India, Brazil Plan Boost in Bilateral Tourism, Investments India and Brazil are planning a number of

tion and exchange. The 5th India Brazil Joint Commission was held in New Delhi on

ways to strengthen cooperation in various

12th December 2011.

sectors of tourism. The visiting Tourism Minister of Brazil Mr Gastao Vieira who

As per the proposed action plan under IBSA Agreement, India will organize a work-

called on Union Tourism Minister Subodh

shop on rural tourism while Brazil will be holding a workshop on beach tourism. A

Kant Sahai here today said that Brazil is

workshop on rural tourism is supposed to be held this year subject to the confirma-

keen to exchange experience in destina-

tion of participation by Brazil and South Africa.

tion management and promotion with India. He said Brazil would also like to

The Ministry of Tourism for enhancing its reach to prospective tourists has proposed

share with India its best practices in the

the appointment of an India Tourism Marketing Representative office in Brazil. An

area of Rural and Eco-tourism.

expression of interest (EoI) has been invited.

Both countries have agreed to explore the

The number of tourist arrivals from Brazil to India during the last few years was as

possibilities of promoting joint venture

follows:

investment in the field of hotel industry and tourism infrastructure. Mr Sahai said

2006: 9,148

that as hotels and tourism sector has been

2007: 10,788

opened for foreign direct investment upto

2008: 11,530

hundred percent on automatic route,

2009: 13,964

Brazilian investment in tourism infrastruc-

2010: 15,129

ture in India could be the major invest-

In 2009, tourists from India to Brazil totalled 19,456.

ment in tourism. India Tourism Office New York looks after the tourism promotion aspects in Brazil. It There was also a suggestion to organize a

conducts Road Shows/Workshops/ Seminar in various cities of Brazil and also partici-

special programme wherein the HRD

pates in Association of Brazilian Travel Agents, Trade Fair every year.

experts from India and Brazil can visit some of the Hotel Management and Tourism Institute in both the countries and interact with the teaching faculty through conferences and seminars. Mr Subodh Kant also suggested holding of BRICS tourism ministers conclave. A bilateral tourism cooperation agreement between India and Brazil was signed in January 2004. India and Brazil are also part of IBSA, a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South coopera 08

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Views

SAUDI ARABIA: DOMESTIC TOURISM GRADUALLY DEVELOPING

With oil prices at all time high Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s domestic tourism is benefiting by getting a serious revamp and upgrade. The kingdom may not have the reputation of a popular tourist destination, but it is definitely changing this perception. Job creation in the tourism industry is promoting more involvement of Saudis in their domestic travel trade. This has been in direct connection with the growing number of domestic tourists in Saudi Arabia. Opportunities Various investors and government are currently pumping serious money into the infrastructure of domestic tourism. This is in anticipation of the expected growth in terms of revenue to be collected from the segment. In 2009, the revenue stood at around $16 billion and the expected growth for the year 2012 is likely to peak at something like $20 billion.

Tourism Asia | April 2012

One of the examples is USD 8 billion that should be invested in the expansion and development of Dubai International Airport. Furthermore, international events like the 2022 World Cup have made the gulf country invest heavily in things like roads, hotels, infrastructure, stadiums and tourism related structures. Investors are upbeat about creating new hotels, apartments, and resorts to promote more tourism. In addition, the fact that tourism, both domestic and foreign, is injecting revenue into the GPD of the kingdom is another indicator that the industry is growing. For the year 2012, it is expected that the percentage will hit the 2.9% mark, up by 0.2% from the year 2009. Problems Despite the positive strides that this oil rich state has made in generating domestic tourism there are still some issues that hold this progress back. One of them is the lack of proper hotels and related infrastructure. Development is happening, but it is taking a rather slow pace. Modern day resorts, or better road infrastructure around the various destinations, are not complimenting availability of air travel. Another difficulty is represented by hotel staff and personnel. Saudi citizens have been complaining about the level of treatment they get from local hotel and tourism personnel. They do not feel that the quality of service has reached the very best, compared to other foreign destination places. The cost of traveling within the kingdom is still high compared to touring abroad. With added charges and extortion from local destinations, some Saudis view that traveling around their country is still very expensive. Despite all the above challenges, Saudi Arabiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s domestic tourism is expected to grow. With the government fully committed to increasing the number of domestic tourists, all industry players are earnestly looking at development and investment. 10

News & Events

TRAVEL MALAYSIA ON A BUDGET for everyone in KL

The southeast Asian country of Malaysia has been steadily growing as a top destination for tourists from abroad. With the same laid back lifestyle as Thailand and great food and sights to see, there are still places which have not yet been flooded with package tourism. For anyone searching for quality low cost holidays, Malaysia should be near the top of the list. Below are the top five destinations and activities in this beautiful country: Penang A British colony in its past, this thriving city is set on an island off the coast of Malaysia. A melting pot of cultures and cuisines, the old town area of Georgetown is bursting at the seams with culinary delights from all around Asia and the world. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cheap too, with large portions of flavorful dishes at restaurants for the same price as street vendors elsewhere. Lodging is inexpensive as well, with many family run hotels tucked away in small alleyways in the old town. 13

At Pulau Payar Marine Park you can swim with the fishes!

Lankawi A jumping point between Malaysia and Thailand, this island is home to one of the biggest annual cycling races in Asia. Friendly locals, jagged mountain peaks and plenty of hiking, swimming and cycling options make it a place worth spending some time at. The entire island is duty-free, so the price of everyday things tends to be cheaper than anywhere else in Malaysia.

Tioman Island This jewel of an island has been named one of the best islands in the world by Time Magazine. Set off the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula, this island is reachable by boats from several cities on the coast such as Kuantan and Mersing. Cheap but high quality private beach houses, thriving biodiversity and wildlife and some of the best fresh seafood available can be found here.

Cross over to the village by the water taxi

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Events Perhaps the best reason to go to Tioman Island is the scuba diving though. Because of its relatively unknown status the prices have stayed low and the quality of the diving to be found here is comparable to the best spots in Thailand and Indonesia. Kota Kinabalu The biggest city on the island of Borneo, Kota Kinabalu is a budget traveler's paradise. Affordable guesthouses with private rooms and ocean views, a rich cultural

history with museums and tours readily available and fresh fruit from markets and street vendors, it is worth a visit. Kota Kinabalu is a great launching point to other budget destinations in Borneo as well, with Mount Kinabalu and the jungles of the Borneo rainforest close by. Melaka Malaysia's best destination for culture and history. Earning a place on the World Heritage Sites list by UNESCO in 2008, this

city is rich with architectural and cultural diversity. Temples, churches and mosques dot the quiet streets and are surrounded by colonial architecture. A true melting pot with a mixture of locals, Chinese and Indians, the city also features canals running and street vendors with the best cheap snacks you can imagine. With plenty of budget accommodations and cheap transportation, Melaka is truly a Malaysian paradise.

KUALA LUMPUR

KL by night

Sea adventures at Pulau Redang

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Events

More Chinese Mainland Tourists Get Nod to Visit Taiwan Residents of ten additional Chinese mainland cities will be allowed to travel to Taiwan as independent tourists, according to a deal reached between organizations from both sides of the Strait on Sunday. Residents of Tianjin, Chongqing, Nanjing,

Hangzhou,

Guangzhou

and

Chengdu will be allowed to visit Taiwan individually starting from April 28, according to a deal reached by the Chinese mainland’s Association for Tourism Exchanges Across the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan’s Taiwan Strait Tourism Association. The

agreement

also

states

that

residents of Jinan, Xi’an, Fuzhou and Shenzhen will be permitted to visit individually before the end of the year. Previously, only residents from Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen were allowed to make individual trips. Under the new

Mainland

agreement, the quota for mainland

predicted a sharp increase for cross-

Taiwan

individual tourists to Taiwan will be

Straits tourism. In Fujian, Taiwan’s near-

(TSTA)’s Beijing office, said the associa-

increased to 1,000 per day from the

est mainland province, tourism compa-

tion will visit the newly approved cities

current 500.

nies have signed agreements with their

soon to organize promotional activi-

The new move was welcomed by indi-

Taiwanese

ties.

vidual businesses as a potential stimu-

industry exchanges and cooperation.

He said individual tourists are expected

lus for the island’ s service and tourism

In a bid to meet increasing demand,

sectors.

tourism

companies

counterparts

have

deepen

Wu Chin-feng, deputy director of the Strait

benefit

Tourism

Taiwan’s

Association

small-

and

the Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou will

medium-sized enterprises, adding that

the

open a regular flight to Hualien in east

the island’s ability to accommodate

Taiwan-based Certified Travel Council-

Taiwan, making for a total of four regu-

and transport increased numbers of

lor Association, predicted that more

lar flights between the two cities.

tourists has been improved.

young people will travel to the island

Xu Peng, deputy director of the Tour-

Lu Wan-ciuan, a jewelry dealer, said the

because of their preference for travel-

ism Bureau of East China’s Zhejiang

impact of strengthened tourism will

ing alone. “They have strong purchas-

province, said the local tourism indus-

not be limited to financial gain, stating

ing power and are generally well-

try is ready for a travel boom, with

that mainland tourists will have an

educated. I believe they will have a

many agencies launching a variety of

opportunity to cement people-to-

greater understanding of Taiwan after

services targeted at individual travel-

people

traveling individually,” Pai said.

ers.

understanding.

Pai

Chung-Ren,

president

Tourism Asia | April 2012

ties

and

promote

mutual

News & Events

San Miguel buys 49-per cent stake in Philippine Airlines SAN Miguel Corporation (SMC, one of the Philippines' largest conglomerates, has purchased a 49-per cent stake in Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its lowcost subsidiary Airphil Express for PHP21.5 billion (US$500 million). In a joint statement to shareholders, PAL chairman Lucio Tan and SMC president & COO Ramon Ang said: "The new investment will allow the two airlines to strengthen operations and stay competitive with the implementation of PAL and Airphil's fleet modernisation programme."

Lucio Tan will remain chairman and

PAL received its fourth Airbus A320 last

controlling shareholder of the Philip-

week, bringing its fleet to 37 planes.

pine flag carrier after the deal is

The carrier will acquire two more

concluded.

Boeing B777-300s by end-2012 and in 2013, respectively.

The sale comes after PAL's announcement over the weekend of a new

Meanwhile, SMC, which recently diver-

Manila-Bali route that will operate

sified into airport infrastructure devel-

twice weekly, starting April 28.

opment, is interested in investing in Clark International Airport.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told : "We are also planning to open a route

Clark recently issued a PHP360 million

connecting Cebu to Darwin, Australia,

tender for expansion of its existing

which is only three hours away. It is

passenger terminal, and is looking to

definitely in the pipeline."

construct a new budget terminal in anticipation of increased arrivals

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Views

Toll free travel during festival BANGKOK: Motorway travel will be free during the Songkran festival, from 1600 on 10 April to 2400 on 16 April, to encourage Thais travel up-country to visit friends and relatives. The concession applies to motorways 9 and 7 that skirt Bangkok and connect with highways to the North near Bang Pa-In and to the East in Chonburi linking resorts such as Pattaya and Rayong with Bangkok. Thailand’s Highway Department general director, Wanchai Phaklak, said travellers will also be exempt from paying tolls on the Bangkok-Chon Buri motorway and the Bang Pa-in-Bang Phli outer ring road for seven days. “The aim is to lower costs for travellers who wish to visit their hometowns during the festival,” said Mr Wanchai. Mr Wanchai added that more service points would be opened and systems were in place to encourage safer driving. Meanwhile, the Expressway Authority of Thailand will also waive fees on three expressways – Burapa Withi (BangkokChonburi), the elevated expressway south of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Bang Phli – Suk Sawat Expressway, for five days, starting 0001 on 12 April to 2400, 16 April

Tourism Asia | April 2012

CAMBODIA

JAPAN

MAURITIUS

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

CHINA

KENYA

PHILIPPINES

UNITED KINGDOM

HOLYLAND TOURS

MACAU

SINGAPORE

U.S.A

HONG KONG

MALAYSIA

SRI LANKA

VIETNAM

INDIA

MALDIVES

THAILAND

COMBO TOURS

News & Views

TOP 8 TRAVEL DESTINATIONS IN

CHINA

China is one the world's top travel destinations. Oriental mysticism, exotic culture, historic tradition – all boils down to a state of wonderment that any traveler would want to unravel. city is replete with interesting architecture like the Big and Small Temples, and the Temple of Eight Immortals among others. The city’s biggest draw however is the army of terracotta warriors which was discovered in 1974. The warriors with distinct features, armaments and attires were buried in 210 BC with the first emperor of the Qin dynasty.

Sanya

Shanghai

Shanghai is among the top budget travel destinations of the world. It is one of China's key cities that give the best value for money. Recently, hotel rates had been slashed by around 47% with 5 star hotels averaging $197, down from previous rates of $300+. Shanghai is also the city where you find easy access to high speed trains that can take you to nearby historic destinations of Nanjing and Hangzhou. One of the famous landmarks of the city is the Bund, which was the seat of Shanghai's most powerful business enclaves in the in early 1900's

Xi'an

Xi'an is China's ancient capital and the oldest city. It is home to ten dynasties including the Han and Tang dynasties. The

Sanya in Hainan province is considered among one of the top honeymoon destinations of local travelers. The site boasts of clean, pristine beaches, sunny and balmy weather, and sunsets that are

always a sight to behold. All the romantic elements engulf you in a breezy paradise while taking a stroll on moonlit nights.

Hua Shan (Shaanxi Province)

Xiahe and the Labrang Monastery (Gansu Province)

This is the most holy Tibetan monastery outside of the Tibetan autonomous region. There is a maze of narrow streets, crisscrossing and running counter of each other which can be confusing at times. The people though – Tibetan monks, pilgrims, tourists and residents – are generally friendly and easy to engage with. Visitors can experience the Tibetan culture while enjoying the chanting of monks and the various smells of incense filling the air.

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Views If mountain climbing fascinates you, there can be no other place to be than Hua Shan. It is one of five Daoist mountains in China and based on reviews from mountaineers, this place is simply magical and exhilarating.

BeijingSilk Road

Hong Kong

The Silk Road in China is a trade route with 2,000 year long history. It traverses from Xian to Central and West Asia. It has a length of more than 2,000 miles, with half of it within Chinese territory. Following the road offers stunning views and historical attractions.

It is the ultimate destination that blends both oriental and European traditions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; where east meets west. The place boasts of several attractions of its own. Myriad shopping can be done and the sceneries blend in the different cultures to an exotic mix that can only be found in the exotic city.

Beijing

Beijing is one of the ancient capital cities and the center of China's socio, political and cultural heritage. Among the historic sites in Beijing are: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Beijing Capital Museum, Great Wall, Ming Tomb and many others.

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Views

Kenya Airways adds links in India

KENYA Airways will commence fourweekly flights between Nairobi and New Delhi on May 15, with further plans to expand its reach in India to four other cities soon.

and visits, as there is a large Indian migrant population in Kenya. We are culturally familiar with each other. This makes for a good platform to increase Indian (arrivals) to our country.”

The airline currently operates 10 weekly Mumbai-Kenya flights.

Kashmira Irani, director of Mumbai’s Maher Tours & Travels, noted that Indian leisure traffic to Kenya had been growing, “compared to Indians mainly visiting friends and relatives”.

Tasneem Sharafally, director, Mumbaibased Global Destinations said: “Kenya is becoming increasingly popular for family vacations. (Travellers) want (Kenya’s) safari and luxury outdoor accommodation.”

“This is a healthy trend and a sign of good growth,” Irani said. India is Kenya’s largest Asian source market and the fifth largest worldwide. Kenya Tourist Board aims to grow Indian tourist arrivals from 58,986 in 2011 by 15 to 20 per cent in 2012. Most of the tourists and business travellers to Kenya are from the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, followed by New Delhi in the north.

Sharafally expects an increase in business for the summer holiday season, driven by additional connections to other African destinations via Nairobi. Jennifer Opondo, head-marketing, Kenya Tourist Board, said: “Historically India and Kenya have had a good amount of trade

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Views

Travel and Tour World announced as the supporting media partner of WTM Travel and Tour World â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one of the leading online travel trade magazines in the world is now the supporting media partner of World Travel Market 2012 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the leading global event in the travel industry. The partnership was announced after an agreement was signed between the two entities. As per the agreement, Travel and Tour World will promote the grand event by providing advertisements, editorial support, online supports and lots more. Travel and Tour World welcomes the agreement and wants to thank World Travel Market for their immense support.

About WTM World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry - is a vibrant must attend four-day business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. It is a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business under one roof.

About Travel and Tour World Travel and Tour World, a travel trade media and an information platform, is an all-inclusive and far-reaching B2B travel magazine. It aspires to build a network of travel and tour professionals across the globe to mark its presence in this increasingly competitive market. In a very short span of time, our readership has augmented to 200,000 which include niche readers from travel and hospitality trade industry professionals like Tour Operators, Travel Agents, Destination Management Companies, MICE Planners and Luxury Planners.

Tourism Asia | April 2012

News & Views

"Travel advice from friends is incredibly useful, but your inner circle may not have all the answers on a particular hotel or destination you are researching," says Adam Medros, vice president of global product for TripAdvisor. "The Friend of a Friend feature increases the probability of an even greater personalized TripAdvisor experience by highlighting opinions from a larger network of travelers that know the people you trust." Every day, Facebook-connected people write one out of four reviews submitted on TripAdvisor. Each of these travelers has an average of 190 people in their friend network. With access to friends of friends, the average network can soar to tens of thousands, making social travel planning exponentially more useful. When researching a hotel, restaurant, or attraction, people will see their friends' reviews first, followed by reviews of their friends' friends. They can use the TripAdvisor private message service to ask anyone in this network for further advice. 30

As always, reviews from the greater TripAdvisor

community

will

also

displayed below friends' reviews so travelers can continue to benefit from the wisdom of the crowds. Travelers can adjust their privacy settings within their Account Settings on Facebook to limit what their Facebook friends can see on TripAdvisor. Travelers who do not want access to their friends' travel advice, or don't want their friends to see their own reviews, can opt out.

* * * *

Tourism Asia | April 2012