IT&CM China 2011 - Leading China's Next MICE's Wave

Bringing together Chinese and International MICE Exhibitors and Buyers in one dynamic marketplace.

Since 2007, IT&CM China has established itself as China's leading professional Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) business and networking event dedicated to "Promoting China to the World and the World to China".
The quantum growth of the show over the last four years is testimony to China's appeal as the World's next MICE powerhouse - realising the possibility that the future of the MICE industry might eventually result in two distinct markets: China and the rest of the world.
IT&CM China is a spin-off from IT&CM Asia, the region's premier meetings and incentive travel show. For 18 years, IT&CM Asia has played a vital role in promoting the Asia-Pacific region as a MICE destination, as well as a source for MICE visitors.

Delivering The Best Return On Investment In Business, Learning And Play
Business
32 Business Appointments. Guaranteed.
Exhibitors are entitled to 32 appointments per 9sqm (Corporate) or 6sqm (NTO/CVB) space booked, while each buyer is awarded with 32 appointment sessions. This translates to at least 32 new sales leads for each exhibiting company or buyer. Best of all, we apply our proven match-making formula to ensure you maximise your chances of finding a suitable business partner.

MICE Exhibition
A diverse showcase featuring the best of international and Chinese MICE brands sought-after by both buyers from around the world and across China. Expect to meet representatives from destinations, hospitality, venues, entertainment, transportation, technology and more.

LearningSeminar Sessions
IT&CM China organises a total of nine seminar sessions including the opening keynote address. Topics cover a multitude of pertinent and practical MICE and general business topics that delegates can immediately apply to that workplace.

Play
Networking Functions
All delegates are invited to official events such as the Opening Ceremony & Welcome Dinner where they are treated to Chinese hospitality at its best. These networking functions are perfect to connect with the industry in a casual setting, wine, dine and simply just let loose. In addition, Buyers and Media are invited to hosted luncheons by our sponsors during the business days.
ToursPre-Show Shanghai and Post-Show "Presenting City"
Giving buyers and media the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and delights that the host destination has to offer. Participants take away a stronger understanding and conviction that enables them to promote these destinations effectively.
For More details, Please check the event site: www.itchmchina.com

Cambodia Geared To Host An Unforgettable Event – ASEAN TOURISM FORUM (ATF) 2011

This year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) TRAVEX (Travel Exchange) 2011 registered an overwhelming response, with over 500 exhibition booths fully sold. All ten member-nations will be well-represented at this annual leisure travel trade event which showcases the largest contingent of ASEAN destination products and services.

While some 1,000 buyers have registered their interest to source at the event, only 400 have been selected to attend under a privileged hosting programme. Buyer profile this year includes delegates from Asia-Pacific (55 per cent), Europe (37 per cent) and the rest of the world.

A total of 1,600 delegates are expected at this year’s ATF 2011. His Excellency So Mara, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia remarked, “ASEAN is one of the few regions in the world that offers a lot of tourism value in the international market. Demand for ASEAN will continue to grow and we can see that in the increasing interest of international buyers and proliferation of ASEAN products and services at the upcoming ATF.”

ATF 2011 marks the event’s 30th anniversary. ASEAN member-nation Cambodia, will host ATF 2011 in Phnom Penh from 15 to 21 January. ATF TRAVEX, the 3-day travel trade mart component of the event will take place from 19 to 21 January at the Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Centre. His Excellency Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, Cambodia and Chairman of ATF 2011 Host Committee, said “This year’s theme ‘A World of Wonders and Diversity’ embodies everything that Cambodia has to offer as a compelling destination. We look forward to welcoming all ATF participants and international delegates to the Kingdom of Cambodia. We have taken great pride to create plenty of opportunities for them to discover our country’s rich cultural, natural and historical heritage.”

Business appointments and meetings which encompass the majority of delegates’ schedules over the 3-days are just some of the many highlights that ATF 2011 will offer. ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC) – the educational front of ATF – will feature topics such as Ecotourism and Sustainable tourism in the ASEAN region as well as managing tourism in destinations which are home to Heritage Sites. Invited speakers hail from global institutions such as United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Global Sustainable Tourism Council and will engage the audience through thought-provoking sessions and interactive panel discussions on key issues in ASEAN tourism today.

ATF 2011 is also poised as an event with bountiful networking opportunities, teeing off with the ever-popular game of golf at the Royal Cambodia Phnom Penh Golf Course.


Hosted by The Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia, the ATF 2011 Opening Ceremony is set to be a spectacular event featuring some 500 local and foreign performers in traditional and contemporary performances. The Ministry is also pulling out all stops to ensure a feast for the senses with a strong play on the latest pyrotechnics and sound effects technology. Delegates can also look forward to a stunning 30 minutes fireworks highlight.


Over the 3 days, delegates can wine, dine and enjoy the company of their peers at several hosted luncheons, dinners as well as at 3 late night functions at Nagaworld, Raffles Hotel Le Royal and Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.

Pre-show city tours of Phnom Penh and post-show tours to popular Cambodian destinations such as Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong are also available to hosted buyers and media delegates.

About ATF 2011

ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. ATF TRAVEX is the longest-running annual ASEAN leisure travel trade event, showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN sellers. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 ASEAN member nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries. Cambodia will host ATF 2011 and is all geared up to welcome over 1,600 delegates which includes 400 international buyers and 100 international media. ATF 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981.

Quick Facts:
2011 ATF Dates:15 to 21 January 2011
Venue: Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
For more information, please check the website www.atfcambodia.com

India Gives Visa-On-Arrival to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines

The Indian government’s year-long experiment with visa-on-arrival (VOA) facilities has been extended and expanded for 2011. Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines have been added to the list that already includes Japan, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore.

Nationals from the four additional countries will be eligible for VOA to India from January 1. From January to September this year, India issued 4,493 VOAs, with Singaporean nationals topping the tally. Shroff International Travel Care Philippines managing director Arjun Shroff believed the VOA for Filipinos might make travel to India more convenient but would not necessarily open the floodgates. “The real traffic booster would be Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) nonstop Manila-Delhi flights from March. These cut travel time down from 13 hours with several connections to just six hours. They can open up the weekend market from the Philippines. In this respect, the VOA comes in handy,” said Shroff. PAL will start servicing the Manila-Delhi sector from March 27 next year with six flights a week. Three of the flights will be nonstop between the two capital cities while the other three will be coursed via Bangkok. Then again, hidden in the fineprint of India’s VOA facility are a number of restrictions. Eligible tourists can only avail of the VOA two times in a year and are still subject to the ruling on a two-month gap between tourist visits. V K Singh, first secretary of the Indian High Commission in Singapore, explained that tourists could re-enter India once or twice within two months if they engaged in “neighbourhood tourism”, which he defined as “using India as a hub to visit one or two countries in the area”. He, however, declined to specify what destinations constituted a “neighbouring country”, saying the matter would be determined on a case-to-case basis.

On the other side Mr. Ho Vandy, Co Chair of the Cambodia Tourism Working group and Managing Director of World Express Travel & Tours appreciated the move and said that this will definately boost the tourism between India and Cambodia and ease of travel to Buddhist Tourism in India. Mr. Ang Kim Eang, President of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents ( CATA ) and Managing Director of Great Angkor Tours also shared the appreciation remarks towards the strong tourism tie ups and expressed that this will help him to promote the Buddhist Tourism in India for his clients and customers.

To boost ASEAN INDIA tourism, Asean would also establish a promotional chapter for tourism in Mumbai. India would be hosting the commemorative India-Asean summit in India 2012

Visa-Free Arrangement Signed by Thailand and Cambodia

The visa-free arrangement signed by Thailand and Cambodia in October is expected to thaw previously frosty ties between the neighbours and boost cross-border traffic. From mid-December, Cambodian passport holders will be given 14-day visa-free stays in Thailand and vice versa. Currently, Cambodian and Thai nationals have to obtain visas from the respective embassy or consulate. Thai nationals though can get a US$20 visa-on-arrival for 30 days at Cambodia’s international checkpoints. Angkor T K Travel and Tours managing director Chaiyapruk Phumimuang said Thailand had been back on Cambodians’ radar in recent months. “We are overwhelmed with bookings from Thailand for the Thai Father’s Day long weekend (December 4 to 6). Siem Reap could run out of Thai-speaking guides if the current pace of booking continues.”Tui Ruteen, First Travel Cambodia’s managing director, said the pact would reestablish Thailand as a medical tourism destination for Cambodians who had shifted to visa-free countries such as Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia for medical treatments. Arrival numbers between the two countries fell by an average of nine per cent this year.

Shanghai World Expo 2010 - Largest Ever World Fair

Event leaves Shanghai with new MICE and leisure facilities, infrastructure upgrades.

1 How will the Shanghai World Expo 2010 be remembered? As the largest-ever world fair. More than 200 countries and organisations created architecturally-diverse pavilions to showcase their culture, arts, technology and commerce to a primarily Chinese audience.
Organisers targeted 70 million visitors between May 1 and October 31 and, in the end, 73.1 million came, a new world record for the World Expo.
The Belgian pavilion reported an average of 40,000 visitors per day during the expo, while the Expo Performance Centre, which will be rebranded as the Mercedes Benz Arena after the expo, handled “more than 1.1 million performance tickets in the first five months of the expo,” said Giulia Zhu, spokesperson of AEG-OPG Culture and Sports Ltd., which manages the venue.
2 Who came? Who participated? Meeting the 70 million visitors target required unprecedented public support from within China, and key visits from foreign statesmen and celebrities helped boost interest.
“The World Expo brought a great deal of state visits and foreign delegations as well as domestic tourists to Shanghai. We had VIP visits by (California governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Princess Mashael Bint Mohammed (of Saudi Arabia), President (Nicolas) Sarkozy of France, Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson of Iceland,” said Gottfried Bogensperger, general manager of Hyatt on the Bund.
Also in attendance were Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who headed a trade delegation of more than 70 companies.
Other notable inclusions during the expo included Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid statue, master artworks by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne, and celebrities.
3 What is the constructive legacy for the city? Shanghai now has two enlarged and upgraded international airports, a cruise port, new luxury hotels and a 13-line metro network.
Some Expo pavilions will be refurbished as meetings, convention and entertainment venues, and the Bund was re-landscaped to remove much of the traffic and enlarge the riverside boardwalk and public spaces.
The city’s pre-expo construction boom is set to continue. Shanghai Disneyland should break ground before year-end in Pudong, while China’s tallest building, the 121-storey Shanghai Tower, is under construction in the Lujiazui financial district.
New, super high-speed train routes are being rolled out, with a 38-minute Shanghai-Hangzhou service launched in October, and the 350kph Shanghai-Beijing service, which would take four hours to travel end to end, scheduled for a 2012 launch.
4 What are the city’s post-Expo objectives? Shanghai plans to utilise the multi-billion-dollar pre-expo investment in conventions, transport and entertainment infrastructure to diversify its MICE economy.
“The expo has given us opportunities to undertake more MICE business, and we’re going to be involved in more international hosting bids,” said Patrick Chen, deputy director of international tourism promotion for the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration.
Upcoming events include the International Council of Museums Triennial Conference in November, FINA Swimming World Championships in 2012, and the International Congress and Convention Association Annual Meeting in 2013.
5 How will Shanghai balance corporate and leisure travel? Underlying demand for business travel to Shanghai is predicted to remain strong, but the city’s hyperactive hotel pipeline is a major challenge.
“Compared with a yearly average increase of five per cent of visitors to Shanghai, the 20 per cent yearly increase of new hotels and meeting facilities is way too much as there will be no event as big as the expo in the next decade,” Chen said.
“We’re going to further cooperate with the Fédération Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains du Tourisme.
“Shanghai held the 51st FIJET Congress in 2009 and will...invite more tourism journalists and publications to Shanghai and promote the city as a leisure destination.”

By Gary Bowerman

ATF 2011 Phnom Penh exceeds already all of our forecasts in terms of success

Interview with Mr. SO MARA, State Secretary, Cambodia Ministry of Tourism

Cambodia will play host to the ASEAN Travel Forum next January for the second time in its history. Phnom Penh is getting ready to provide a memorable welcome to all delegates as explained by His Excellency So Mara, Secretary of State, Cambodia Ministry of Tourism.

How does the preparation of the ASEAN Travel Forum (ATF) look?

I am very pleased to say that we can already see all the signs of success even before we started to send the invitation to hosted buyers and media. We first thought that we would get 350 sellers. We then planned to have 400 sellers, but now we already received more than 480 requests. We have now to find solutions to accommodate all the requests and look at ways to expand the exhibition area to welcome more sellers. We are now in discussion with the Organizing Committee, as well as with the owners of Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Center, ATF['s] main venue for the mart. For the buyers and media, we expect to host 400 buyers and 100 media. And we already received over 860 registrations. We might increase now the total number of hosted buyers with the deadline for final approval being set up for the first week of November.

What will the Ministry in Phnom Penh do to welcome ATF delegates?

We want to give a lasting memory to delegates about Cambodia’s traditional sense of welcome. We already blocked 1,500 rooms in Phnom Penh for the event with new prestigious venues including the brand new Sofitel Phnom Penh or Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Center. All official meetings with ASEAN Ministers of tourism + 5 [China, India, Korea, Japan, and Russia] as well as with the tourism representatives from Saudi Arabia and UAE, will be hosted in the brand new Council of Ministers building, which is equipped with the latest high-tech facilities. This will be the first time that such meetings will take place in an official government’s building. Among the highlights, all ministers will receive a courtesy call from our Prime Minister and be granted an audience with our King. For all delegates, we prepare a lot of surprises, including the presence of world-famous VIPs and stars.

What do you expect from the ATF in terms of image benefits?

We first expect to show that Cambodia is fully back on the world tourism stage and that it is a must-see destination along [with] all other ASEAN countries. ATF gives us the opportunity to show that Cambodia is today at peace and a safe destination, thanks to strong political stability under the current government. We hope also to highlight that Cambodia offers a great diversity of holiday opportunities. Beyond the iconic temples of Angkor, which remains our country’s “signature,” the Kingdom of Cambodia is also a premier destination for beach tourism or eco-tourism.

How far has Cambodia tourism come this year?

We are likely to reach a new record in tourist arrivals. In 2009, we recorded a moderate growth of 1.7 percent to 2.16 million travelers. Until August of this year, total arrivals are up by 14.6 percent. We now forecast 2.42 million travelers for 2010 and estimate that tourist arrivals should reach 2.75 million in 2011. A very positive trend is Siem Reap. After two years of stagnation, international arrivals at Siem Reap airport were up by almost 17 percent from January to August 2010.

Do you try to diversify Cambodia's image by promoting new destinations?

Our three main destinations for visitors are Siem Reap/Angkor temples, Phnom Penh, and Sihanoukville in the south. However, we want to create a new icon along our coastal area as we believe that we have some of the best pristine beaches in Southeast Asia. We indeed look to qualify one of our beaches as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. We want also to put more emphasis on eco-tourism, especially in the northeastern provinces of our country where rare animals and endangered flora species can still be discovered and observed. There are also other secondary destinations we want to push up such as Kep/Kampot as a beach resort destination or Preah Vihar temple for cultural tourism. We just completed a road to the temple, making it an easy destination, only two hours away from Siem Reap.
Source: etn

New Air France Service Phnom Penh - Paris Starting 27th March 2011

Air France is pleased to inform that the French flag carrier will begin operating a new service between Phnom Penh and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

Starting 27th March 2011, the three weekly flights between Phnom Penh and Paris will be operated via Bangkok by Airbus A340-300 equipped with 275 seats and three classes (30 seats in Business Class, 21 in Premium Voyageur, and 224 in Voyageur-Economy), and subsequently by Boeing 777-200 equipped with 309 seats.

Flight schedules between Phnom Penh and Paris have been designed to offer convenient connections via Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to/from other cities worldwide:

Phnom Penh – Paris (in local time):
Flight number AF273, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Departing at 20.15, arriving in Bangkok at 21.30
Departing to Paris on same day at 22.55, arriving at 06.10 the following day
Paris – Phnom Penh (in local time):
Flight number AF274, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Departing at 19.30, arriving in Bangkok at 11.50 the following day
Departing to Phnom Penh on same day at 13.20, arriving at 14.35

Customers can start booking and buy this new service from now on.

Air France KLM General Manager for Mekong, Mr Luc Delaplace outlines:
“By resuming flights between Phnom Penh and Paris, Air France not only demonstrates its confidence in the economic potential of Cambodia, but also its determination to further develop strong regional presence in Mekong, like in Thailand and Vietnam.

Thus, Air France becomes the only network carrier operating between Cambodia and Europe.”

Media Contacts:
Regional: Mrs Nahathai Pungtongdee
Napungtongdee@airfrance.fr
+66 (0)2 680 9692

AF Head Office: AF Communication Department
corporate.airfrance.com
+33(0)1 41 56 56 00

International tourist numbers to Indonesia are growing

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago with a population of over 230 people. Its natural beauty and cultural wealth spread within its 17,508 islands hold limitless appeal and is a heaven for international tourists. Looking at results for the first seven months of 2010, remarkable growth rates were achieved in markets such as Australia, Middle East and China, but Indonesia’s biggest incoming markets remain Singapore and Malaysia. Altogether, the country is looking to get some seven million international tourists this year.

During the official press conference at IT&CMA 2010 event in Bangkok on October 6, Mr. Sapta Nirwandar, Director General for Marketing, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, revealed that there is a Visit Year fever not ready to recede over the coming years. Thus, not only the island of Batam has launched its Visit Year 2010, but also the island group of Bangka Belitung. On Borneo Island, both provinces of South Kalimantan and West Kalimantan are organizing a Visit Year to attract more travelers. Already in planning for 2011 are a Visit Central Java and Visit Year of Makassar in South Sulawesi followed by a Visit Year of Lombok-Sumbawa in 2012.

Interesting to note is that the Ministry of Culture & Tourism has turned 2010 into a Visit Museum Year by hoping to make these places of knowledge and culture more attractive to international tourists. Certainly, one of the most interesting museums in Indonesia is the National Museum in Jakarta with its outstanding art collection.

Other important museums in Jakarta are located around Fatahillah Square such as the Museum of History, the Wayang Puppets Museum or the Maritime Museum. Also, there is the Komodo Museum located at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Indonesia’s cultural theme park near the capital.

Across the islands, other interesting museums not to be missed are Le Mayeur Museum in Ubud and the National Museum in Denpasar in Bali, the Batik Museum in Yogjakarta, Botanical Museum in Bogor Botanical Garden, as well as the Peranakan Museum in Medan on Sumatra Island. The Fort Rotterdam Museum in Makassar on Sulawesi Island owns a priceless collection of porcelain ware.

For further information, please go to: www.museum.indonesia.net

The annual Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) was successfully held in Lombok on October 12-15, 2010 and offered delegates Indonesia under one roof.

The event featured most of Indonesia’s tourist attractions and is the best and most effective means for buyers from all over the world to experience and understand the ultimate diversity of Indonesia, which is home to some 480 ethnic groups that live harmoniously together. Next year, TIME will be in Manado, North Sulawesi.

To maximize its huge tourism potential, Indonesia has continuously upgraded the tourist, transportation and telecommunication infrastructures and facilities. Especially in all MICE destinations, meeting and exhibition venues as well as accommodation facilities and services rank as one of the best in the world. These MICE destinations offer maximum prime space, latest technology and manpower support. With the setting up of the government body of an ambitious MICE Directorate in 2007, meetings and incentives players worldwide can also look forward to a government that is pro-active in supporting MICE events. The top 10 MICE destinations are:

1. Jakarta: The dynamic capital has a total of 920,327 square meters of meeting and exhibition space, huge shopping malls, 32,552 hotel rooms and 2,011 restaurants. The city has a population of 9 million people and is well known for its historical places, cultural heritage, and vibrant nightlife.
2. Bali: The magical island is one of the most exotic and diverse destinations in the world with an impressive range of international standard meeting facilities. Bali has 53,000 hotel rooms and a variation of conference venues, such as in Nusa Dua, Kuta or Sanur.
3. Yogjakarta: As a city of tradition and culture, Yogjakarta is re-known for its traditional and modern arts. Today, the friendliness of the people and its brilliant cultural and natural attractions, just to name the Sultan’s palace, Buddhist and Hindu monuments, create an inspiring environment for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.
4. Surakarta (better known as Solo): The place is home of many classic sites and is located close to the famous Prambanan temples. Mountain volcanoes decorate the city panorama and tourists can enjoy some colorful festivals all year round.
5. Surabaya: The industrial city has all the MICE facilities needed plus an extra Javanese touch. All top hotels can handle big events and have experienced multi-skilled and multi-lingual staff to ensure everything runs well.
6. Medan: Considering its importance as an administrative and financial center in the north of Sumatra, not to mention the nearby scenic Lake Toba, Medan equips itself with modern convention facilities, infrastructure and international standard accommodation in a bid to attract MICE visitors.
7. Padang & Bukittingi: West Sumatra is one of the most beautiful areas of Indonesia. Due to its scenic wealth and rich cultural heritage and a combination of idyllic surroundings and growing facilities and infrastructure, Padang & Bukittingi are becoming the perfect locations for both leisure and business trips as well as an attractive MICE destination.
8. Batam: Given its strategic location near to Singapore and rich natural beauty, the island is also transforming itself into as sophisticated recreation ground for international tourists. Batam now turns its attention to improving its infrastructure, convention facilities and supporting services to become Indonesia’s next attractive MICE destination.
9. Makassar: As an important and busy port town in South Sulawesi, Makassar is well versed with the art of welcoming visitors. Moreover, enjoying rapid physical developments in terms of infrastructure and facilities, Makassar is now more than ready to take on the role as a MICE destination and has a lot to offer to international tourists.
10. Manado: As the provincial capital of North Sulawesi, Manado is a bustling picture-perfect seaside city with its glimpses of emerald hills and the azure blue ocean. With a new international standard convention facility built in 2009, Manado will become very quickly the new MICE destination in Indonesia.
By Media Travel Consultant, Reinhard Hohler

Redefining M.I.C.E. in Asia - IT&CMA 2010

IT&CMA and CTW 2010 Delivers Quality Buyers, Travel Managers and a Wider Selection of MICE Sellers

Under the theme "Redefining M.I.C.E. (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) the 18th Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and the 13th Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia Pacific has been successfully held again at the Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Thailand during October 5-7, 2010.

Some 483 buyers from 54 countries met 780 exhibitors at the show, which was useful to showcase the important potential of a booming MICE market in Thailand and beyond. Altogether, there were 2340 registered delegates at the annual event proving to the world that you still can believe in Thailand in the wake of sometime of political upheavals.

The double-bill got the greatest co-operation and support from TTG Asia Media from Singapore and Thai Airways International (TG), which celebrates its 50th year’s anniversary of its founding as the national airline of the Kingdom of Thailand this year.

It was up to Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart, President, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, to introduce the flagship organization of TCEB with its new logo of "Believe in Thailand." In 2010 alone, some 628,653 foreign visitors are expected to come to Thailand for MICE events, which equals to more than 400 conventions and exhibitions been hold and these will generate an estimated 45,560 million baht income for the country.

There were seven officials hotels and ten supporting hotels such as the Centara Grand, Intercontinental, Grand Hyatt Erawan and the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok among others to host some 142 international media delegates from 35 countries.

Also, the opening ceremony called "Thailand...The Living Art Gallery" was hosted by TCEB at the centrally located Plaza Athenee Bangkok Hotel. Two late night functions were held in the Conrad Bangkok and the Shangri-La Hotel. Outstanding was the hosted networking dinner by the Seoul Tourism Organization "Seoul on the Move: Sound & Flavor" on October 6 in the evening at the World Ballroom of the Centara Grand Hotel.

Pre-show activities on October 4 were offered to the delegates, who explored Bangkok on an afternoon half-day tour by having an option to cycle around Bangkok, visiting the famous flower market, the Dusit Zoo, or enjoying Wat Po together with the nearby traditional Medical and Massage School.

Well attended media briefings were given by the Airports of Thailand (AOT), Egypt Tourism Office, TCEB, and the newly established Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus (AACVB), comprising the China National Tourist Office, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Macau Government Tourist Office, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation and Singapore Tourism Board. Other media briefings were held by the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and Indonesia Tourism Board.

Visiting the exhibition hall, I came across the following new travel products worth keeping in mind for the future (in alphabetical order):

- Arosa Travel Service, Bangkok, Thailand
- Bintan Lagoon Resort, Singapore
- Dusit Thani Hotel, Manila, Philippines
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Thailand
- Nikko Bali Resort and Spa, Bali, Indonesia
- Phuket Jet Tour, Phuket, Thailand
- Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, Macau, China
- Sri Lankan Airlines, Bangkok Office, Thailand
- Sutera Harbour Resort & Spa, Sabah, Malaysia
- The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Brunei

The last day of the show saw the 9th Sticky Awards Lunch and the TTG Travel Awards in the evening, which was by invitation only. Post-tours for the delegates were offered to Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi and Chiang Rai.
By: Reinhard Hohler, Media Travel Consultant

Open skies: Cambodia-India Air Link Considered

India has urged Cambodia to open direct flights between the two countries in a bid to boost tourism.

“One of the best catalysts to promote tourist traffic between the two countries would be the establishment of a direct air link between India and Cambodia,” Indian President Paratibha Devisingh Patil said at an India-Cambodia business meeting last week. “This would open possibilities of attractive tour packages and also significantly reduce travel time.”

The proposal is now being considered by Cambodian officials.

Deputy Director of the Cabinet of the Secretariat of State of Civil Aviation, Long Chheng, welcomed the initiative, citing the potential for increased bonds between the two countries and economic benefits. Director General of Tourism Ministry Tith Chan Tha, expected that the two countries would take part in further discussions on the issue.

A Tourism Ministry report showed that the number of Indian tourists visiting Cambodia rose about 4 percent in the first half of the year, to a modest 6,238 from 6,000 in the same period of 2009.

Mohan Gunti, Advisor for Cambodia’s Association of Travel Agents (CATA), said that there is potential for expansion because of the Kingdom’s rich Heritage.

Indian President Pratibha Patil was on a 6 day state visit to Cambodia, on which she was accompanied by a 45-member business delegation with representatives from the CII, ASSOCHAM and FICCI.

FILM TOURISM: Films are indeed a fantastic vehicle to promote a Destination

Bollywood & Destination Tourism
The past 50 years have stood as a solid proof of the fact that Bollywood has always had a large influence on the Indian traveller’s choice of destination. Within Rajasthan, a few Hollywood and Bollywood films are known to have been set here because of its heritage offerings. Apart from the palaces, temples, museums, forts and havelis, the forests of Ranthambore, Bharatpur, Ramgarh and the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer have also been popular. The blend of hills, lakes and desert make Rajasthan a paradise for film makers. To fully capitalise on this form of tourism, the state needs to develop state-of-the-art studios and film training institutes.

For shoots in Rajasthan, films are now exempt from entertainment tax, to the extent of 50 per cent for a period of one year subject to the condition that the film does not have anything which is against communal harmony and national integration, and that the film doesn't have any objectionable scenes in it. The producer of the film is required to submit, in advance, copies of the shooting schedule to the director, art and culture and the deputy secretary, finance (tax) Department, Government of Rajasthan. Also, the minimum 50 per cent of the film time of the needs to be shot in the state of Rajasthan and be verified by a committee comprising the director, art and culture, the director, public relations and the deputy secretary, finance (tax) department.

Within the country, before major shoots began to happen on foreign shores, Patnitop in Kashmir had become a major honeymooner's resort due to the love songs picturised in the cinema of the sixties and seventies and remained so till the terror of early 90s bared its fangs. People from all over India used to throng to Mumbai and head to Marine Drive and Chowpatty which symbolised Mumbai in films. Internationally too, Switzerland’s exposure in Indian films made it the hottest destination for Indian tourists for almost 40 years, one could even have Indian meals with a menu in Indian languages. Kaho Na Pyaar Hai made in 2000, became a hit and the NZ Tourism saw an unprecedented wave of Indian tourists making them expand their immigration counter area from 500 square feet to 5,000 square feet. In India, the most sought after locations remain Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala. Though India has the most varied of natural locations, forts, and palaces, the logistics in some locations are not film friendly.

Films are indeed a fantastic vehicle to promote a destination. One, they are free advertising for the destination; two, they are not accompanied by the hard-sell factor of official media campaigns; three, they reach a wide target audience and four, they address deep, intrinsic feelings and connect them with a real place. In terms of promotion value, for around 40 per cent of potential international visitors to the UK, the destination image is influenced by films. In terms of visitation, there has been an increase of around four to six per cent of film-induced visitors who actually visit specific film locations in the UK. Film tourism is still neglected by many destination marketers despite the fact that media-induced tourism is a growing trend.

Bollywood, as it has come to be revered as, has been going places, quite literally. And in its wake, apart from generating eyeballs, the footfalls in the respective countries that the films have been shot at have multiplied over time. Their success can undoubtedly be attributed to the swelling fan following both from domestic audiences and from NRI pockets.

Film tourism is about to establish itself as a powerful destination marketing tool on one hand and as a niche tourism product on the other hand (e.g. film location products). Regions that have already recognised the power of films for tourism and have encashed on it are Great Britain, Australia (the film Australia), New Zealand (Lord of the Rings and others), regions in the US, Tyrol in Austria, the city of Salzburg (The Sound of Music) and Scotland (Braveheart, Rob Roy, etc). Regions that should start looking into film tourism are the Scandinavian countries, Germany and France.

The growing tourism destinations like Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar & Indonesia in ASEAN region can benefit too from Bollywood Tourism.

Kingdom of Cambodia to Host ASEAN TOURISM FORUM (ATF 2011)

The Kingdom of Cambodia will host the upcoming 30th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2011) to be held at the newly-built Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in the capital Phnom Penh from January 15-21, 2011. The theme of ATF 2011 is 'ASEAN – A World of Wonders and Diversity'. Quoting a message from Dr Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, the Kingdom of Cambodia and the chairman of ATF 2011 Host Committee, Pan Chantra, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom of Cambodia told, "ATF 2011 will offer a golden opportunity for all participants to discuss the development regional and individual tourism products of ASEAN member countries. It is also a cooperative regional effort to promote ASEAN, a world of wonders and diversity, as a single tourism destination. ATF 2011 will be a great platform for both sellers and buyers to meet and exchange business through Seller-Meet-Buyer (SMB) and Buyer-Meet-Seller (BMS) sessions." ATF is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN, namely, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mr. Pan Chantra said that though the main objective of ATF 2011 is to attract more tourists to ASEAN member countries and promote intra-ASEAN travel, but several Indian tour operators and travel agents are likely to attend the SMB and BMS sessions as more and more Indian tourists are visiting these ASEAN nations. Chantra was in Kolkata recently to attend a travel and tourism exposition, as head of a delegation from the Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom of Cambodia. He said that there is huge interest among the Indian tourists about the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
source: Indian Express - expresstravelworld

Indian President Pitches for Cooperation in India-Cambodia Tourism Sector

Indian President Pratibha Patil today said there was tremendous potential for both India and Cambodia in the tourism sector and emphasised on the need for a direct air link between the two countries.

“For Indians, South Asia is an important travel destination. In this context, I would like to mention that India-Cambodia tourism trade has tremendous potential for expansion”.

"I am also told that a large number of Cambodian tourists travel to India for pilgrimage purposes....One of the best catalysts to promote tourist traffic between the two countries would be the establishment of a direct air link between India and Cambodia," Patil said at the India-Cambodia Business Forum meeting here.

She said that this would open possibilities of attractive tour packages and also significantly reduce travel time.

Patil said the two countries could collaborate with each other, especially in the field of mining, oil and gas, hydropower, infrastructure, tourism among others.

Agriculture can be another area of mutual growth, she added.

The Indian president said Information Technology and IT enabled services could be worth exploring.

"I am glad that an Indian bank - Bank of India - is now cooperating in Cambodia. This will help facilitate business between the two countries," she said.

She appreciated the fact that bilateral trade between the two countries had reached approximately USD 50 million with pharmaceuticals being the dominating item of India''s export basket.

ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2011 TRAVEX Promises To Be A Sell-Out Event

ATF 2011 TRAVEX recorded strong interest and rapid take-up rate early in its registration process. To date, exhibitors have snapped up more booths than initially expected. This 2011 ASEAN leisure travel trade event showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN destination products and services will also feature a larger show with 25% more booths space than last year.

More than 70% of the 450 available booth space has already been secured by some 240 exhibiting companies from across the 10 ASEAN countries - Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Buyer registrations have also been overwhelming with more than 600 applications received from across the world. Only 400 of the best buyers will be selected to attend the event under a privileged hosting programme.

With regards to the buoyant interest for ATF 2011, Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, Cambodia and Permanent Vice-Chairman of ATF 2011 Organizing Committee explains, “Improving market optimism aside, a significant part of this year’s interest also has to do with the appeal of Cambodia as a destination. International delegates are motivated to experience the country’s rich cultural, natural and historical heritage.”

Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia believes that the country will be represented at the event in a big way this 2011. More than 800 participants from across Cambodia’s tourism industry gathered for the ATF 2011 event preview at Nagaworld in Phnom Penh on 31 August 2010. The purpose of the preview was to promote, increase awareness and encourage all Cambodian tourism stakeholders to participate at the upcoming ATF 2011. The event preview was presided by His Excellency Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of ATF 2011 Organizing Committee. The guest list included the country’s movers and shakers such as top government officials from the various ministries and heads of foreign missions. A large number of hotel owners and general managers were also present.

Host country, Kingdom of Cambodia, began its marketing efforts to tantalise the industry’s travel professionals at the last ATF 2010 closing ceremony by pulling out all stops to deliver a sumptuous and entertaining evening complete with a gastronomic and cultural showcase. Delegates enjoyed a sneak preview of what they can look forward to at ATF 2011 in Phnom Penh.

Scheduled from 19 to 21 January 2011, the three-day ATF 2011 TRAVEX will be held at Phnom Penh’s Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center located along the Bassac River. Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia will host the event’s Opening and Closing Ceremony, which promises to be even more spectacular than its 2010 preview. Delegates will also be thrilled to network in the company of their fellow industry colleagues and wind down at the end of a business work day at not two but three late night social events organised by Nagaworld, Fairmont/Raffles/Swissotel/TTG Asia and Pattaya City/Sofitel/TTG Asia respectively.

More information on the event’s programme will be made available in the upcoming months. Registrations for exhibitors, buyers and media are still open online at http://www.atfcambodia.com/ More information on ATF 2011 can also be found at the event website.

About ATF 2011
ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is a cooperative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. ATF TRAVEX is the longest-running annual ASEAN leisure travel trade event, showcasing the largest contingent of ASEAN sellers. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 ASEAN member nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Each year, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries. Cambodia will host ATF 2011 and is all geared up to welcome over 1,600 delegates which includes 400 international buyers and 100 international media. ATF 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981.

2011 TRAVEX Dates: 19 to 21 January 2011
Venue: Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Media Contact
Cheryl Tan [ cheryl.tan@ttgasia.com ]
TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd
Organiser Website: www.ttgasiamedia.com

Cambodia Well Prepared for ASEAN TOURISM FORUM (ATF) 2011

In a way to get well-prepared for the upcoming Cambodia 30th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2011), the Cambodian government and other key stakeholders met on August 31st, 2010 at Naga World, Phnom Penh, in the country's capital to discuss things to be done by then.

Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of ATF 2011 Inter- Ministerial Organizing Committee Sok An presided over the official launching of ATF 2011 and new websites of the Ministry of Tourism, www.tourismcambodia.org.

Excellency Sok An said that the 2011 ATF is a great event for the ASEAN, ASEAN+3 (India, Australia and Russia) and other partners to have more exchange and help to promote the development of tourism industry.

He said the theme of the 30th ATF is "ASEAN - A World of Wonders and Diversity", which reflects ASEAN's rich regional culture, abundant natural resources and high quality services in the tourism industry.

Sok An pointed out that the 30th ATF 2011 will also help Cambodia to promote its tourism industry.

Excellency Dr. Thong Khon, minister of tourism said at the forum that as planned the 30th ATF 2011 will be held at the newly built Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia from January 15 to 21, 2011.

He said alongside with the ATF 2011, there will be travel exchange (TRAVEX) which will give the venue for the ASEAN's package toursellers and potential buyers from the region and the world, and friendship golf tournament for ASEAN Tourism Ministers and senior officials, organized and sponsored by international television network (CNN).

Dr. Thong Khon said "Cambodia is proud to host ATF for the second time, which proves the development in all sectors in Cambodia, particularly infrastructure development, potential cultural and historical tourism, and abundant natural resources, together with the nature smiles of Cambodian people, deserved to be recognized as Cambodia-Kingdom of Wonder".

Cambodia first hosted ATF in 2003.
Dr. Thong Khon said during the ATF 2011, there will be a platform for TRAVEX exhibition consisting 420 stands. Currently, 302 stands have been booked by domestic and international companies (sellers) and there are 477 buyers from the region and the world.

He added that"ATF will be the greatest opportunities for both buyers and sellers to enhance business communication, operation and networking in a closely and friendly manner."

Over 1,600 delegates which include 400 international buyers and 100 international media are expected to take part and cover the event.

The statistics provided by Ministry of Tourism showed that in seven months of 2010, there were 1,423,505 foreign tourists visited the country. The number showed a significant increase of 13.85 percent compared to the same period in 2009.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thong Khan said that preliminary estimate predicts that Cambodia will receive around 2.4 million tourist arrivals in 2010. an increase of approximately 12 percent.

For more information about ATF Cambodia 2011, pls check http://www.atfcambodia.com/

Only 30 days to go....ITE HCMC 2010 – The Largest Travel Event in Vietnam

The Mekong trio of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos both jointly as well as individually are planning and embarking on dynamic strategies and solutions, to develop and promote tourism growth. With the ambitious Tourism Master Plans, policies and vision backed by robust investment initiatives in infrastructure and facilities, tourism development and growth in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is entering a new era.

International Travel Expo at Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2010) provides you the platform to exchange growing business for inbound and outbound travel opportunities in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam.

ITE HCMC an annual show since 2005, is Vietnam’s largest travel event serving one of the key travel and tourism market in the region. It is the only travel trade platform that offers an opportunity for tourism businesses in ASEAN countries to meet selected buyers from around the world. In addition to suppliers of diverse travel products in the three countries ITE HCMC also brings regional tourism operators and NTO’s to promote out bound travel in the growing Vietnam market.’

It is also an ideal platform for international buyers to gather the latest information on tourism offerings, establish new business contacts and learn about the latest ASEAN tourism trends and developments when Vietnam will be the Chairman of ASEAN. Specially, this is a common promotional channel for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam – 3 Countries One Destination (3CODe) to promote itself.

A visit to ITE HCMC also offers all participants a golden opportunity to uncover the hidden charms within Vietnam as well as the opportunity to visit Cambodia and Laos through pre and post tour arrangements. ITE HCMC 2010 will be held from September 30th to October 2nd, 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

For more information on how to participate, logon to www.itehcmc.com or please contact:
Mr. Cheah Wai Hong
IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd
Email: WaiHong.Cheah@iirx.vn

International and Chinese industry players to ride on next MICE wave at IT&CM China 2011

Show receives strong support from both past and new exhibitors

Early indications signal a healthy outlook for China’s 2011 MICE market. Chinese and International MICE suppliers confident of surging market demand have committed to exhibiting at IT&CM (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings) China 2011, China’s leading international MICE trade event, as early as one year in advance.

Among them is the ultra-luxurious Pangu 7-star Hotel Beijing, which boasts stunning views of the Water Cube, Bird’s Nest and sprawling Olympic Park. Mr Jeffery Qiao, Panghu’s Director of MICE, said: “As an up-market independent boutique hotel with many unique selling points, we are looking to impress IT&CM China’s international delegation of professional meeting planners, event organisers, destination management companies and international travel agencies. Hence, we are excited about our upcoming participation at IT&CM China 2011.” This will be Pangu’s first showcase at IT&CM China.

Other Chinese exhibitors who are already on board include Dragon Delight International Tours Ltd, Samantha Resort & Spa, Chime Long Hotel, Gloria Hotels & Resorts and China Travel Hong Kong (Zhuhai) Ocean Spring Co., Ltd.

No stranger to exhibiting at IT&CM China, international chain Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts will be back to take part in the 2011 show. Ms Sharon Lee, Area Vice President Sales Asia Pacific - Meliá Brand, enthused about her satisfaction with this year’s 2010 event: “We were delighted at the wide selection of international and Chinese MICE buyers’ attending the show. It was a good platform to promote our newly opened Gran Melia Hotel in Shanghai. We also had the opportunity to organize many site inspections for buyers and media before and after the IT&CM China 2010 show. Publicity was also very good!”

Ms Lee added, “Serious MICE professionals should be at IT&CM China 2011 to get updates on new hotels and destination offerings. We appreciate the compact appointment schedule as we are able to meet more buyers. With a wide selection of international and Chinese MICE buyers attending the show, we feel that it is a good platform to promote our Sol Melia Hotels in the Asia Pacific.”

Other international exhibitors who are also looking to benefit from the 2011 event include Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Meetings and Exhibitions Hong Kong, TeamBuilding, Kempinski Hotels and WorldHotels.

According to the show organisers, China continues to gain momentum as a global MICE destination hotspot, especially after the staging of this year’s World Expo in Shanghai. The international and domestic buzz has spilled over to IT&CM China 2011, adding to strong support drawn from industry players. Last year’s IT&CM China 2010 was attended by some 2,000 participants including 230 exhibiting companies, 300 buyers from 37 countries, and some 100 international and local media.

Commented Mr Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media, “Compared to the same time last year, IT&CM China 2011 has secured 4 times more booth space bookings. We are positive that the 2011 event will prove to be an even bigger sell-out success. Thanks to our strong buyers hosting programme, we have also attracted considerable new and loyal buyer registrations from across the world, even at this early stage.”

Sylvia Phua, Chief Executive Officer of MP International, said, “IT&CM China 2011 will once again present exciting business, learning and networking opportunities that transcend geographical borders, with buyers and sellers from around the world. We hope to draw more Chinese MICE players to take part in the exhibition as the MICE sector grows from strength to strength in China.”

The show organisers will be selecting 300 key Chinese and international MICE buyers for business discussions with exhibitors. Besides the many business meetings and social events, participants can look forward to attending the IT&CM China 2011 keynote address, educational seminars on a wide range of topics.

IT&CM China 2011 will be held from April 13 to 15 next year at ShanghaiMart Expo. The 2011 theme is “Leading China’s Next MICE Wave”. The event is organised by TTG Asia Media and MP International. It has the support of the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, Shanghai Tourism Trade Association, Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, Pacific Asia Travel Association, International Congress & Convention Association, Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) China and SITE Hong Kong Chapter. More information is available at www.itcmchina.com
ORGANISERS
About TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd
TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd is the region’s leading travel and tourism business information and access provider, with a wide range of media products including publications, exhibitions, database management and the Internet. It is also a leading organiser and event manager of travel tradeshows in Asia, including IT&CMA (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia), CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific, IT&CM China and ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011. It also publishes four titles targeted at distinct sectors of the travel trade: TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice and TTG-BTmiceChina. For more information on TTG Asia Media, visit www.ttgasiamedia.com

About MP International
Established in 1987, MP International specialises in organising exhibitions, conferences and special events. The group has organised and managed some 300 national, regional and international events, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2009 Leaders’ Week. It is a leading international organiser of trade exhibitions, including ITMA and ITMA Asia.

A member of the Pico group, MP International is headquartered in Singapore with a global footprint across Asia and Europe. MP’s success with various partners is a testimony of its ability to identify opportunities and maximise the rewards for win-win partnerships. For more information on MP International, visit www.mpinetwork.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:
International: TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd
Cheryl Tan (Ms)
Marketing Manager
1 Science Park Road, #04-07, The Capricorn
Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528
Tel: (65) 6395 7502. Fax: (65) 6536 0896
Email: cheryl.tan@ttgasia.com ; itcmchina@ttgasia.com
Website: www.itcmchina.com
China: MP International (Shanghai) Pte Ltd
Cherry Ye (Ms)
Assistant Director
Floor 11E, Jinming Building No 8 South Zunyi Road, Shanghai
200336 China
Tel: (86) 21 6295 9990 Fax: (86) 21 6270 6030
Email: cherryye@mpinetwork.com
Website: www.mpinetwork.com

LOMBOK, WEST NUSA TENGGARA WELCOMES TOURISM INDONESIA MART & EXPO- TIME 2010

After successfully hosting the Indonesian annual travel mart, Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or ‘Pasar Wisata Indonesia’ last year, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara once again will be host of this year’s Indonesia’s annual travel mart Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or Pasar Wisata Indonesia. This Indonesian premier tourism event will be held on 12 – 15 October 2010 at Santosa Villas & Resort Lombok. Entering its 16th years of conduct, TIME is organized by the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) and supported by entire tourism components in Indonesia.

The Chairwoman and Steering Committee of TIME 2010, Meity Robot, said the conduct of TIME also supports the government program of “Visit Indonesia Year” which continued this year, as TIME is aimed at promoting Indonesia as tourist destination in international market and at the same time raise the country image as one of global travel destinations.

“TIME is the only international travel mart in Indonesia with business to business concept. The event is a meeting place for those who sell tourism products and services in Indonesia (seller) to international market (buyer). TIME has been listed in the calendar of international travel mart together with ITB Berlin, WTM London, Arabian Travel Mart (ATM), PATA Travel Mart, and so on. TIME 2010 will present all tourist destinations, including popular travel destinations, tourism objects, new product development,” Meity continued.

“The shifting of TIME to Lombok for two consecutive years, i.e. 2009 and this year, is aimed at promoting Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara to the international market and speeding up the development and improvement of infrastructure, tourism facilities and tourism attractions in the region, so that at the end the destination could establish itself as one of global travel destinations. Moreover, with the completion of new international airport expected to be ready this year, it will attract more tourist arrivals to the island and speed up the improvement of infrastructure and encourage more investors to the region to develop new hotels as well as tourism attractions,” Meity went on.

At the press time with Local Organizing Committee of TIME 2010 consisting of West Tenggara Culture & Tourism Office and Lombok Sumbawa Promo, it was stated that the conduct of TIME in Lombok was the initial international l promotional effort or as a kick off towards the success of “Visit Lombok Sumbawa 2012” and this year Lombok is ready to once again host TIME as the event is supported by the provincial government and its tourism industry.

Lombok is located just east of Bali. The island is only 20 minutes by flight from Bali, with Selaparang International Airport. The island possesses various tourism potentials which could attract international market, from nature, i.e. mountain, sea, land) to culture and art. Presently, Lombok has almost 3500 hotel rooms with international standard. In terms of accessibility, Lombok is flown directly from Singapore by Silk Air, and from Kuala Lumpur via Surabaya by Merpati Nusantara, as well as frequent flights from Jakarta by Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, and from Denpasar by Merpati Nusantara.

Held last year in Lombok, TIME 2009 was successfully attracted total attendants of 127 Buyers from 25 countries, with top five Buyers consist of Korea, India & Malaysia, Indonesia, USA, and the Netherlands as Top Five Buyers. TIME 2009 was also attracting a total of 250 delegates of Sellers from 97 companies of Indonesia occupying 84 booths at the Exhibition. Sellers came from 15 provinces dominated by West Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, Bali, Central Java, and East Kalimantan as top five Sellers. The percentage of Sellers based on industry was Hotel, Resort & Spa (75%), NTO (10%), Tour Operator/Travel Agent (7%), Adventure/Activity Holiday (3%), Airline (1.5%), and Others (Hotel Management, Tourism Board, Tourism Organization & Travel Portal (8.5%). Amidst current global financial crisis, TIME 2009 booked an estimated of transaction of USD 17.48 million, or increasing 15% from the previous TIME held in Makassar, South Sulawesi in 2008. “The number of buyers attending TIME for seven consecutive years have been relatively steady since these are potential buyers which sell Indonesian tourism products and services in their markets respectively,” Meity concluded.

TIME 2010 is supported by the travel and tourism industry in Indonesia, namely Ministry of Culture & Tourism, the Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara Culture & Tourism Office, Lombok Sumbawa Promo, Garuda Indonesia as Official Airlines, other supporting airlines , Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (INACA), Board of Airline Representatives Indonesia (BARINDO), Association of Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies (ASITA), Indonesia Hotels and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Indonesian Conference and Convention Association (INCCA), Pacto Convex as the event organizer, supported by national and international media.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Ika Nazaruddin, International Media Coordinator - TIME 2010
Pacto Convex Ltd.
Tel: (62-21) 570 5800 Ext. 432 or 571 9973 (direct)
Fax: (62-21) 570 5798
Email: ika_nazar@cbn.net.id
Website: www.pasarwisata.com

Bangkok Airways Planning to Commence Operations in India by 2011

The Bangkok-based full service carrier is planning to commence operations in India by connecting two cities in 2011.

The airline is considering New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai as potential cities for its initial operations.

“We are currently evaluating the feasibility of these four cities and are looking at starting operations in Summer 2011. India has a huge potential for business and leisure travel and we also have the availability of aircraft which allows us to add India to our international network,” Deputy Sales Director of Bangkok Airways, Chulin Kocharoen said.

Bangkok Airways offers private lounge services for both Business and Economy Class passengers at Bangkok, which is usually only offered to Business Class passengers.

All signs point to the Largest and Most Exciting ITE Exhibition ever!

With barely one month to ITE HCMC, the wheels of motion are gaining momentum as it gets closer to the event. Visitors to this year’s can expect to see 150 travel specialists, tour operators & national tourism organizations from some 16 countries and regions at Vietnam’s largest Tourism Event. National group participations from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Macau, India, Taiwan, Cuba and Mexico have already been confirmed their attendance. In addition, within Vietnam itself, more than 10 provinces have confirmed their participation in ITE HCMC 2010. These include An Giang, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Hai Phong, Hue, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Quang Ninh, Tien Giang, Vung Tau among others. Visitors should also look out for the ITE HCMC 2010 lucky draw for their chance to win VND10 million each day

The second annual Tourism Alliance Awards (TAA) is also now open for entries till 31 August 2010. The TAA is an event within the ITE HCMC umbrella, designed to recognise the brightest tourism stars in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Winners will be presented their awards at the Vietnam Night dinner on 30 September 2010, held at Rex Hotel.

Among the illustrious panel of judges for the awards are: Mr. Nguyen Viet Anh, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism- Tourism Management, Mr. Nguyen Tri Vien, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism- Hotel Management, Anthony Valeriano, General Manager of e-Travel Blackboard, Bill Barnett, Founder and Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, Marc Kramer, Co-Head for HVS Consulting Asia, Nigel Sharman, Chief Executive Officer of TCK Group and Robert McIntosh, Executive Director CBRE Hotels Asia Pacific.

The Awards available for this year include Airline of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Spa Operator of the Year, Cruise Operator of the Year, Outbound Travel Operator of the Year, Inbound Travel Operator of the Year, Budget Hotel of the Year, Business Hotel of the Year, Resort Hotel of the Year and Luxury Hotel of the Year.

Amongst the new elements for TAA 2010 are the combination of Domestic and International Airline of the Year categories into the Airline of the Year. Also, new for this year is the Cruise Operator of the Year category. Also, there will be 3 Winners per category, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards (where applicable). Entry submissions are available online at www.itehcmc.com/taa/awardsubmission.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. James Chen
Marketing Manager
IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6517 6899
Email: james.chen@iirx.com.sg

AirAsia in talks for budget hotel in Brunei

AirAsia is interested to “do more” for its Brunei-based customers, including a possible third flight and a budget hotel in the Sultanate.

AirAsia CEO Dato’ Sri (Dr) Tony Fernandes, told the Borneo Bulletin in an interview, “We’d like to do freedom flights out of Brunei.”

However, he doesn’t think it’s realistic at the moment until “the Brunei government gives us more flexibility”.

He also recommended the nation’s national carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines, to concentrate more on their premium passengers as “not everyone wants to fly AirAsia” taking into consideration that some passengers prefer first class services.

“RBA should focus on that market and allow AirAsia to serve more people and bring more business to the economy,” he said and added that by allowing more flexibility would also encourage economic growth as more tourists would be able to visit the country thanks to cheaper flight fares.

He also said that the award-winning airline will try to provide more connectivity for Brunei and allow more individuals further access to other niche areas such as medical tourism. “If we can, we’ll do a third flight (to Kuala Lumpur) as it makes it more and more easy (for Bruneian customers).”

In addition to the cheap-fare airline, Dato’ Sri (Dr) Tony Fernandes is also the founder of the Tune Hotel that has been established in many countries, the latest being in London. Brunei, he added, will also have a budget hotel “real soon” as the CEO’s marketing team is currently “in discussion” with several parties here in Brunei and added “(We’ll) try to do it for BND$10,” which would be “possible, depending on the cost of the hotel”.

Commenting on Bruneian customers, he said: “I think they’re fantastic,” whilst adding that they have personally shared with him their appreciation of AirAsia and how “it’s made their lives more easier”.

“Sometimes we let them down with long delays etc but they’re very understanding and supportive.

“I’m very appreciative for the support and the genuine warmth we have received from Brunei,” he added.

ITE HCMC's SECOND TOURISM ALLIANCE AWARDS OPEN FOR ENTRIES

The Tourism Alliance Awards (TAA) is now open for entries. Into its second year, the TAA was conceptualised to celebrate and recognise the brightest tourism stars in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The Awards aim to instill a greater sense of pride and achievement for tourism industry professionals and serves as due recognition for quality excellence within the tourism and hospitality industries in these 3 countries. Winners will be presented their awards at the ‘Vietnam Night’ on 30 September 2010.

The Awards available for this year include Airline of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Spa Operator of the Year, Cruise Operator of the Year, Outbound Travel Operator of the Year, Inbound Travel Operator of the Year, Budget Hotel of the Year, Business Hotel of the Year, Resort Hotel of the Year and Luxury Hotel of the Year.

Amongst the new elements for TAA 2010 are the combination of Domestic and International Airline of the Year categories into the Airline of the Year. Also, new for this year is the Cruise Operator of the Year category. Also, there will be 3 Winners per category, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards (where applicable). Entry submissions are available online at www.itehcmc.com/taa/awardsubmission.

As with ITE HCMC 2010, TAA is also organized by IIR Exhibitions, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism). The event is supported by Vietnam Tourism Association, Ministry of Tourism (Cambodia), Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, Cambodia Hotel Association, Laos National Tourism Administration, Lao Association of Travel Agents and Lao Hotel and Restaurant Association. For more information about Tourism Alliance Awards 2010 visit www.itehcmc.com/TAA.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. James Chen
Marketing Manager
IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6517 6899
Email: james.chen@iirx.com.sg

Vietnam tourism revenue expected to reach $8.7 billion by 2013

With the growing investment and increase in the number of health tourists, the tourism sector in Vietnam is all set to post double-digit growth rate.

As per new research report “Vietnam Tourism Industry Forecast to 2012”, the tourism industry in Vietnam is set for stupendous growth in the coming years. Owing to the promotional activities of government to boost tourism and increase in the MICE tourism, the tourism receipts in Vietnam are expected to reach US$ 8.7 Billion by 2013 at a double-digit growth
rate since 2010.

The report has identified various factors that contribute to the tourism industry growth. For instance - rising disposable income and improving economy will play an important role in boosting the tourism receipts. Additionally, the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi in combination with National Tourism year will affect the tourism industry in a positive manner. The number of different events in 2010 will help the industry to witness sustainable growth.

Moreover, the country is benefited from growth in the health tourism which has shown an increase of 30% (in terms of patients arrival) during 2009 against the previous year (2008). The report also discusses the emerging Cruise tourism industry that will raise the number of tourists in the coming period.

In addition, there are a lot of investments being made for the development of hotel and tourism industry. The country’s tourism industry accounted for 44.7% of the total FDI during January-November 2009. Moreover, major international players in the hospitality sector have also set up their base in the country. An overview of the different factors that may act as industry restraints has been studied in the report.

“Vietnam Tourism Industry Forecast to 2012” provides an extensive research and rational analysis along with statistical data of the tourism industry. The report contains thorough information of the current market trends, new developments and competitive landscape to enable clients better understand the market structure and its progress in coming years.

Most importantly, the report gives the industry forecast based on correlation of past drivers, challenges and opportunities for expansion. In this way, the report presents a comprehensive and coherent analysis of the tourism in Vietnam that will prove decisive for clients.

Sixth edition of ITE HCMC to be held at Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre from 30 Sep – 02 Oct 2010

The sixth edition of International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) – the largest travel event in Vietnam, will be held from 30 Sep – 02 Oct 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 3 day event offers exhibitors, buyers and visitors a great opportunity to explore Asia’s most authentic and exciting tourism potential from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam under the unique ‘Three Countries One Destination’ concept.

With the ambitious Tourism Master Plans and policies backed by robust investment initiatives in infrastructure and facilities, tourism development and growth in the Mekong trio of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos is entering a new era. As in the past five years, ITE HCMC 2010 will bring together regional and local exhibitors, international buyers and travel trade professionals to exchange growing business for inbound and outbound travel opportunities in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam.

After five years at the Phu Tho Exhibition Hall, ITE HCMC 2010 is moving to a new venue, the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre (SECC). This international standard exhibition facility located in the heart of Phu My Hung New City will provide a more conducive environment for buyer seller networking and also allow for expansion of the event.

The ITE HCMC buyers program offers international buyers a once-in-a-year opportunity to discover new tourism products and meet with tour operators, travel agents and NTO’s from the 3 countries at one event. Despite a slowdown in the global tourism industry in 2009, ITE HCMC buyers programme attracted buyers from 21 countries including many new markets such as Canada, Hungary, Poland, Russia etc. During the course of the two day meeting schedule more than 2,600 appointments were completed. ITE HCMC 2010 has now opened

30 SEP – 02 OCT 2010 SAIGON EXHIBITION & CONVENTION CENTRE (SECC)
Registration for international buyers through its website www.itehcmc.com. Approved hosted buyers will enjoy complimentary airfare and accommodation during their visit.

ITE HCMC 2010 will also offer exhibitors, buyers and trade visitors’ extensive opportunities to network with key decision makers from provincial departments of tourism during the three day event. In addition to hosted events during the exhibition, the ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum 2010, the Tourism Alliance Awards and the ITE HCMC 2010 Golf Tournament will be organized to engage a wider range of interest groups from the tourism, travel and hospitality industry.

In addition to offering a great business exchange platform ITE HCMC will also be open to the general public on the last two days. For more information on how to participate, logon to www.itehcmc.com
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Cheah Wai Hong
IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd
Email: WaiHong.Cheah@iirx.vn

Phnom Penh is working to be ready for ATF2011

As I had the chance to visit Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh at the beginning of May 2010, I went to examine and visit some official hotels, which will be hosting buyers and international media during the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) during January 15-21, 2011.

ATF is a co-operative regional effort to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region as one tourist destination. This annual event involves all the tourism industry sectors of the 10 member nations of ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Thus, the hosting of ATF is rotated among the member countries each year. ATF2011 marks the 30th anniversary of this event since its inauguration in Malaysia in 1981 and will be under the theme of "ASEAN - A World of Wonders and Diversity.”

It is projected that Cambodia will welcome over 1.600 delegates, which includes 400 international buyers and 100 international media. As Cambodia has already successfully hosted ATF in Phnom Penh in 2003, the Ministry of Tourism is honored for Phnom Penh to be chosen once again to host the event. There has been a lot of development in infrastructure and facilities since then and TRAVEX (Travel Exchange), the main happening during ATF, will be held at the newly built Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center.

TRAVEX is a trade-only mart designed to offer opportunities for sellers of ASEAN travel products to meet buyers from around the world through scheduled appointments. It is also an ideal platform for buyers to gather the latest information on ASEAN tourism products and services, establish new business contacts and learn about the tourism trade in the region.

Located along the Mekong-Bassac River, in the heart of Phnom Penh, “Diamond Island” covers an area of 100 hectares. In 2006, the Khmer-Canadian Oversea Cambodia Investment Company (OCIC) signed an agreement with the government of Phnom Penh to develop and manage the island.

Diamond Island will consist of not only tourism areas, but will also have shopping malls, 5-star hotels, an Expo center, villas, flats, offices, schools, hospitals and an impressive 333 meter high tower, from which everyone will be able to have a 360-degree panoramic view of Phnom Penh.

As the newest hotel “NagaWorld” is just a stone-throw of this ambitious Diamond Island City, I started my survey there on May 1 and was welcomed by Mr. Huot Dara, Manager Sales & Marketing, who introduced me to the official hotel of ATF2011.

NagaWorld Cambodia (www.nagaworld.com) is a first-class hotel and casino entertainment complex, which is quickly becoming a key landmark in the heart of Phnom Penh, overlooking the mighty Mekong River and Samdech Hun Sen Park, within easy access to the Royal Palace, National Museum and the Independence Monument. With a multi-faceted 8-storey wing dedicated to entertainment, such as public gaming halls and karaoke lounges, the hotel complex offers 525 deluxe rooms and suites in its 14-storey hotel wing and a dedicated Spa, where it is possible to get a real Khmer traditional massage. In an annex building behind, there are plans to have a 5-storey car park with a rooftop swimming pool.

For one night I tried a guestroom on the 10th floor and was overwhelmed by the superb view over Chaktomuk, the four faces of the Mekong River, as well as the low profile of the city. The room had all modern facilities, such as broadband Internet access, in-room safe, LCD TV, and a convenient bathroom. The hotel offers five restaurants, such as the Bistro Romano Italian, Korean Grill, Chopstick Noodle House, Le Gourmet French, and the Pangea Fusion Restaurant. Also, there is the Aristocratic Wine & Cigar Bar and the sophisticated Darlin Darlin Club Lounge, where it is no problem to feel at home. Needless to say that there is a state of the art ballroom, which easily can accommodate 1.600 people, an auditorium and five fully equipped meeting rooms.

My next stop and 3-night stay was in the 410-room Phnom Penh Hotel (www.phnompenhhotel.com), which is also an official hotel of ATF2011 and managed by Thailand-born Khun Pheerasit Kanthiwang. The hotel is located at No 53, Monivong Boulevard, and in walking distance to the important landmark of Wat Phnom. Also within walking distance are a myriad of French colonial mansions and a wealth of shopping places and markets waiting to be discovered.

At the moment, the hotel is in the midst of a renovation that will swallow more than 100.000USD. Famous are its daily food and beverage activities, such as the Palm View Cafe for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Hugo’s Grill offering a wine and steak promotion, Coffee Corner with bakery or pastry, and Pool Side with a sandwich promotion. Last not least, Zenith Lounge features a popular Philippine music band entertaining the guests until midnight. There are also massage & spa facilities and a modern Health Club. I’m sure that the hotel will be fully booked, when ATF2011 is in town.

Other official hotels of ATF are the following (in alphabetical order):
The Almond Hotel (www.almondhotel.com.kh) is designed and constructed in a contemporary Khmer style and equipped with modern facilities to help the tourist relax and plan the stay. Guests visiting for business can continue their work in comfort. The hotel offers free internet access in all guest rooms and common facilities.

The Cambodiana Hotel (www.hotelcambodiana.com) offers a new concept in exclusive, luxury accommodation for leisure or business travelers in search of privacy, relaxation and recreation. The luxury hotel has 234 rooms and suites with excellent views of the Royal Palace or the mighty Mekong River.

The Himawari Hotel (www.himawarihotel.com) is located in the heart of the vibrant city of Phnom Penh and provides easy access to embassies, government ministries and historic sites. Self-contained apartments, most with magnificent views of the Tonle Sap River, are perfect for short or long stays. The hotel's well-known Oyster Restaurant and Bar serves Eastern and Western cuisine. There is a comprehensive range of facilities, such as the on-site Fitness One Health Club, including outdoor jacuzzi, swimming pool, tennis court and a dance studio.

The Imperial Garden Villa & Hotel (www.imperialgarden-hotel.com) is cooled by river breezes just minutes away from Phnom Penh bustling riverfront area.

InterContinental Phnom Penh (www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental) is located in the business district overlooking the spectacular panoramic view of the city with an extensive choice of meeting, dining and leisure options. Its 346 rooms blend contemporary and traditional design, featuring clean, modern lines with delicate motifs of ancient Khmer art.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal (www.raffles.com) owns a unique combination of Khmer tradition, Art Deco and French colonial architecture, since its doors were opened in 1929. The legendary Raffles experience is enhanced by gracious Cambodian staff, anticipating every need with grace and genuine warmth. Try the most famous Elephant Bar.

The Sunway Phnom Penh (www.phnompenh.sunwayhotels.com) is located in the city center and offers 138 spacious guestrooms and suites with own high-speed broadband Internet access. Seating capacity of its eleven meeting rooms varies from 50-270 people. Surrounded by lush greenery amidst colonial buildings, the hotel is in a walking distance to the riverfront and major shopping centers.

The Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra (www.sofitel.com) will be blending Asian and European design elements, when it opens in October of this year. The 202 rooms and suites will lavish you with luxurious and high-tech facilities.

When I left Phnom Penh again on May 5 for Siem Reap by bus, I was very upbeat about the speed of developments in Phnom Penh, which is not only the biggest town along the mighty Mekong River in Southeast Asia but also a cosmopolitan metropolis to come. Surely, the town is working to be ready for ATF2011.

For further information, please go to www.atfcambodia.com or contact GMS Media Travel Consultant Reinhard Hohler by e-mail: sara@cmnet.co.th