I

Skills upgrading planned for Malaysian industry Kuala Lumpur, S. Puvaneswary (2006-05-10)

MALAYSIA will spend RM35 million (US$9.76 million) over the next two years to raise the service standards of frontliners in the tourism industry.

Those who will benefit include civil servants, tourist guides and receptionists, said Tourism Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Dr Victor Wee, at the inaugural Malaysian Tourism Symposium held recently in Penang.

This initiative is part of the "Malaysia Welcomes the World" hospitality training programme initiated by the ministry to raise the service standards, upgrade the skills and talents and to change the mindsets of those involved in tourism-related industries.

"We want to elevate Malaysia as a premier, value for money destination in this region. Tourists must feel welcome and safe so that they will want to come again," said Datuk Dr Wee.

He added that existing products to be enhanced include marine tourism and eco-tourism. "We are also developing the accessibility of certain areas so tourists can enjoy nature and the natural surroundings that they will not find in their country," he said.

Tourists arrivals for 2007 is targeted at 20.1 million. This is expected to grow at an average rate of 8.4 per cent per annum to reach 24.6 million arrivals by 2010. The number of hotel rooms is expected to increase from 170,873 from last year to 247,008 by 2010.

Return to top

I

Sleepy island wakes up to tourism Tran Ngoc Son, Hanoi (2006-05-10)

A RAFT of incentives have been introduced to turn the sleepy island of Phu Quoc into a world-class destination that can attract up to three million tourists annually.

Foreign tourists visiting Phu Quoc for less than 15 days will no longer need visas and tourism investors will enjoy 50 per cent off land rentals. The announcement was made by Mr Bui Ngoc Suong, chairman of the Kien Giang People's Committee yesterday.

The conference drew more than 600 potential investors.

Mr Suong said a 10 per cent corporate income tax levy will be applied to investors in Phu Quoc instead of the normal rate of 28 per cent elsewhere in Vietnam

For the first time in the country, foreign investors would be eligible to purchase houses in Phu Quoc, he said. 3,800 hectares of land will be set aside for construction of resorts, golf courses, a race track and entertainment complexes.

Mr Karl John, CEO of investment consultant TCK Group, said: "For sure, Phu Quoc has the potential to be another Phuket or Bali in ten years time."

Mr John is working with a local company on three developments in Phu Quoc, one of them will cost more than US$250 million to build.

Meanwhile, construction of the island's international airport is expected to begin in 2008.

Return to top

I

Golden week shines again Beijing and Hong Kong (2006-05-10)

CHINA'S recently concluded week-long May Day holidays saw record transport figures chalked up.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation said that three million passengers undertook air travel during the week, up 10.5 per cent from the same period last year.

A further 42 million people travelled by rail, according to the Ministry of Railways, an increase of 10 per cent. 2,250 trains were put into service to deal with the increase, 1,590 more than last year.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong Tourism Commission said between the period of April 29 and May 8, 415,466 Mainland arrivals were recorded, only a six per cent increase over the same period last year.

The Commission attributed the smaller than usual increase to more Mainland visitors choosing to come to Hong Kong during off-peak seasons on the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS).

A spokesman said: "IVS is becoming more popular and has accounted for about half of the total Mainland visitors. As Mainland visitors become more mature travellers, the 'Golden Week effect' is expected to diminish gradually."

According to Hong Kong  Hotels Association, the average hotel rate increased by 15 per cent during the holiday period and average occupancy was around 85 per cent.

Return to top

I

Cox&Kings in new online venture Ritesh Gupta, New Delhi (2006-05-10)

COX&KINGS will launch a new online meta search site , www.ezeego1.com, with booking capabilities and real time web-based booking engine in the second half of May.

Ms Neelu Singh has been appointed COO of the new venture.

Ezeego1 is headquartered in Mumbai and with branches in New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. The total investment in the travel portal is expected to be US$22.7 million. So far US$4.54 million has been invested.

Ezeego1's business model is based on three parameters. The B2B, where travel agents are provided with an email ID and password. "All products on the site are commissionable to the agent and they would enjoy preferential pricing," Ms Singh said. "We see an opportunity for small and medium size agents to use the ezeego1 technology and products. What's more, they can brand it as their own product and promote it to the end consumer."

The second is the franchisee route where close to 100 franchisees would be appointed across India in the first year of operation. These locations would be called Ezeego1 shops.

Finally, the B2C model allows customers to book air travel, hotel accommodation, car rental and also obtain his travel insurance.

Return to top

I

Rail bookings made convenient Hong Kong (2006-05-10)

GULLIVERS Travel Associates (gta) has launched a new online rail booking tool for travel agents in Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

gta general manager, Mr David Little fair said: "In a world of falling commissions and lower margin travel content, out online rail tool provides a great opportunity for travel agents to increase their revenue.

"Agents are typically spending a fair amount of time booking tickets manually and I am confident that with this new tool, our agents will be able to offer their customers a more efficient service and simplifying their back office processes."

Agents can access the new online rail tool through the existing gta powered booking systems including Octopus Travel Retail and Wholesale Booking Systems and the Galileo Leisure Portal.

According to the Eurail Group, overall demand for European rail passes increased by 24 per cent in 2005, representing a 19.4 per cent increase in revenue. The North America and Asia-Pacific markets drove the majority of this growth.

Return to top

I

Shangri-La property for Guilin Beijing (2006-05-10)

SHANGRI-LA Hotel Guilin is scheduled to open in early 2009.

The 418-room hotel will be located on the banks of Lijiang River, a 30-minute drive from the airport. All the rooms, which will have a minimum size of 42m2, will have views of the river.

Meeting and banquet facilities will include a 1,800m2 ballroom, an auditorium, and six function rooms; while recreational facilities will include a health club, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

Return to top

I

Wynn sets up sales network Hong Kong (2006-05-10)

WYNN Macau, to be open in autumn this year, has launched its reservation hotlines and plans to open more sales representative offices.

The numbers are as follows:

International reservation hotline: (853) 986 9966
Hong Kong toll free: 800 966 963
Southern China toll free: 108 001 530 062
Northern China toll free: 108 008 530 062
Fax: (853) 986 99 00
Email: roomreservations@wynnmacau.com

The Hong Kong sales representative office was opened last year. Additional offices are also set to open in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai in the coming months.

Return to top