Thai crisis may cause $100 mln of loss to Cambodian Tourism

PHNOM PENH - The tourism industry of Cambodia will see a loss of 100 million U.S. dollars this year, if the current chaos in Thailand can't be reversed in three months, Cambodian media on Tuesday quoted minister as saying.

The Thai capital is a regional hub, from where tourists can enter Cambodia, so the situation there can have direct impact over the tourism industry here, Cambodian Tourism Minister Thon Khong told Chinese-language newspaper the Commercial News.

About 1,500 passengers come to Cambodia through Bangkok everyday, making up 30 percent of all daily entry of visitors into the kingdom, he said.

"Each of them is expected to spend 770 dollars per day in the country," he said.

When times were stable, 10 to 12 flights shuttle between Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Bangkok, but the crisis in the neighboring country has stopped the boom and will lead to loss to Cambodia for sure, he added.

Tourism is one of the pillar industries of Cambodia. Over two million foreign tourist arrivals are expected this year according to the government's original plan, but the number has been scaled down by almost a quarter recently due to the global financial crisis.

AirAsia Celebrates First Flight To India

The leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia today celebrated the inaugural flight from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), India to Kuala Lumpur in a true Southern Indian spirit to depict the first route launched by AirAsia to India. Barely a month after opening the sale for the route, AirAsia has already recorded an overwhelming 100 percent load from 1st – 18th December 2008 for the flights from Kuala Lumpur to Trichy with an amazing average of over 80 percent load factor both ways. The low-cost carrier currently serves the route with direct daily flights Trichy departing from LCC Terminal, Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia’s spanking 180-seater Airbus A320.

The joyous ceremony was graced by H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner for India in Malaysia joined by Dato’ Seri Tony Fernandes, GCEO of AirAsia, Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, Deputy Group CEO of AirAsia and Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial of AirAsia.

Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad said “We are extremely proud of the soaring load factor for this new route. We have created new demands for the market and are very proud to service an underserved sector. The continuous strength of this network will allow AirAsia to rapidly drive growth, perhaps even ramping-up more frequencies in the future so that our guests can continue to enjoy our revolutionary low fares. Our guests can benefit from our network where we have over 3,000 weekly flights from our extensive network in the region, encompassing over 108 routes in Asia, including the ones served by AirAsia X, our long-haul affiliate to Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Australia and Hangzhou, China. Taking our steps further into the global market, AirAsia X has also announced flights to London which will commence in March 2009.”

“We truly hope that with this new service, the people from Trichy and its neighboring regions will have access to more low-cost alternatives to international routes and additional destinations from Kuala Lumpur where AirAsia champion. Furthermore, there is a huge population of Indians in Malaysia who descended from South India and with our extremely affordable fares will enable them to trace back their family roots, renew family ties, and perform pilgrimage or travel for holiday purposes”

H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner for India in Malaysia commented “AirAsia has revolutionized air travel with its low fares and made flying affordable for everyone. We are confident that AirAsia will not only assist us in boosting bilateral agreement, the local tourism industry and economy but also opening up our market. We are excited and are certainly looking forward for AirAsia to launch other routes from the various points in India in the future.”

Tiruchirapalli, situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. The most famous land mark of this bustling town is the Rockfort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky out crop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. The city is a thriving commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is famous for artificial diamonds, cigars, handloom cloth, glass bangles and wooden and clay toys.

Flight Schedule KUALA LUMPUR – TIRUCHIRAPPALLI
Flight No Departure Arrival Departure/ Arrival Frequency
AK 231 Kuala Lumpur Tiruchirappalli 7:40 / 8:55 Daily
AK 232 Tiruchirappalli Kuala Lumpur 9:25 / 15:40 Daily

Brunei tourism helps to raise standards of tour guides in Brunei

After two weeks each of intensive training, 39 tourism professionals received, during a ceremony officiated by YM Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid bin Hj Mohd Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and Deputy Chairman of the Brunei Tourism Board, a certificate of participation for having attended the hands-on training course for tour guides delivered by two qualified British trainers from the World Federation of Tour Guide Associations.

As the persons with whom the majority of tourists have the most contact with when visiting Brunei, tour guides play a crucial role as “ambassadors” of sorts to foreign visitors, as they are the ones explaining to tourists about the culture, history, nature, way of life, society, and institutions of Brunei.

It is, therefore, important that tour guides should be equipped not only with the correct information, but also the correct techniques to deliver such information, as this would provide both a pleasant and informative experience to the tourists. Satisfied tourists are the best way to promote a destination, as word of mouth publicity is by far the most important element influencing the decision by tourists to visit a particular destination.

Though a satisfying experience of Brunei involves also a number of other elements, such as quality of service in hotels, restaurants, shops, and taxis, the quality of welcome by immigration and custom officials, the friendliness of people in general, and the quality and diversity of tourism products and attractions, which are everyone’s concern, it is often the quality of the guiding services that will be the most memorable element in a tourist’s holiday.

With Brunei still being in the learning curve in regards to its fast-growing tourism industry, which has seen an increase of over 40 percent in tourist arrivals this year, as well as a growing number of cruise ships calling on Muara port, Brunei Tourism and the Brunei Association of Travel Agents were concerned that the level and quality of guiding services in Brunei was not of the desired standards compared to neighboring destinations.

To address this, after consultation with members of the travel agents’ association and after a process of selection among several proposals, it was decided to appoint the world’s leading authority in tour guide training, the UK and Cyprus based World Federation of Tour Guide Associations (WFTGA), a non-profit organization affiliated with the United Nations World Tourism Organization representing tour guide associations from over 50 countries on 4 continents and with a vast experience in delivering tour guide training courses around the world through highly-qualified trainers who are themselves practicing guides in their respective countries.

For the hands-on training course, which is a short but intensive course focusing on guiding techniques, skills enhancement, and communication, two trainers from the United Kingdom, Mrs. Iris Barry and Mrs. Mary Kemp Clarke came to Brunei to deliver two courses over a four-week period, with each course ending with a written and practical assessment, in which trainees had to demonstrate skills and knowledge in a bus tour around the capital city, walking tour of downtown Bandar, and museum tour at the Brunei Museum.

The lead trainer, Mrs. Iris Barry, is an active Blue Badge tourist guide in Scotland, England, and Wales with 22 years of experience in the field, as well as a certified trainer with years of experience training tour guides around the world and with a number of tourism-related degrees, in addition to being a trained archaeologist and published author on the subject of South American pre-history.

Assisting her in delivering the course was Mrs. Mary Kemp Clarke, also a Blue Badge guide in Scotland with many years of experience in both guiding and training internationally, as well as being an archaeology and Spanish language graduate, among many other qualifications and honorary positions in several associations.

With such eminently-qualified trainers, the objective of this course was to improve the skills and techniques of the guides by learning from best practitioners. Those guides who will pass the assessment, which will be finalized by year end by the WFTGA Training Committee in the UK, will then receive an accreditation badge endorsed by Brunei Tourism and the WFTGA and recognized by the Brunei Association of Travel Agents. This will be a first step towards future implementation of a compulsory licensing system needed to regulate the profession, as well as the quality of the guides who must take care of visitors to Brunei in a professional, competent, and regulated manner.

In order to train and accredit the majority of practicing guides in Brunei, Brunei Tourism will call again on the WFTGA to conduct more Hands-on Training courses in the near future.

For more on the WFTGA and its activities, and on the benefits of setting up a tourist guide association, the WFTGA website at: www.wtfga.org can be consulted.

Vietnam's first privately-owned airline launched

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam's first privately-owned airline began flights Tuesday, aiming to tap rising demand for air travel in the fast-growing Southeast Asian nation.

Indochina Airlines, owned by a group of Vietnamese businessmen, is operating four daily flights between the southern commercial center of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, said company spokeswoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Quyen.

The company, chaired by Ha Hung Dung, a well-known Vietnamese pop music composer and businessman, also offers two flights daily between Ho Chi Minh City and the central coastal city of Danang.

"The launch of our airlines aims to meet growing air travel demand in Vietnam and will offer more choices for customers," she said.

Indochina Airlines is the third airline to offer domestic flights in Vietnam, joining national carrier Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific, a partnership between a state-owned carrier and Australia's Qantas, which holds an 18 percent stake.

Indochina Airlines has registered capital of $12 million, Quyen said, and is leasing two 174-seat Boeing 737-800s.

In the next two or three years, the company hopes to add flights to the resort city of Nha Trang and the ancient capital of Hue, as well as countries in the region.

Passenger air travel to and from Vietnam has grown between 13 and 17 percent annually in recent years, according to Vietnam's Civil Aviation Administration.

Thai Buddhist Wedding Ceremony

These vary depending upon which region you marry. Plus most weddings performed by visitors to Thailand will be atleast themed with the Buddhist ceremonies. The ceremony will take place inside a monastery - due to Buddhist believes the monks are not allowed to do the full ceremony outdoors but a blessing ceremony after is possible. You will require to be be wearing traditional Thai dress.

Traditional Thai Wedding Ceremony & Thai theme Wedding Ceremony

Again, these vary depending upon which region you marry. Traditional Thai Wedding Ceremony offering a superbly romantic wedding ceremony.

The wedding proper begins with the groom, accompanied by the celebrant, leading the colorful "Long Drum Parade" across the garden or beach to where the vows will take place. Before the altar, the groom is joined by the bride. Dressed in a traditional, close-fitting, brightly colored Thai silk outfit she has been hidden nearby. The celebrant then addresses the bride and groom, and guests. To the traditional Thai music, the couple solemnly pronounces their vows and exchange rings. The cake is cut and champagne toasts (that can be accompanied by fireworks) are made. Invited Monks chant prayers of health, happiness and prosperity for the wedding couples� marriage. In return, the couple present the monks with alms and food. The bride and groom then kneel together, and a holy string is draped from one persons head to the other, forming a circle and connecting the couple. This symbolizes their spiritual union. Flower garlands are presented and powder is placed on the forehead. They then Wai by clasping their palms together in the traditional prayer-like gesture while one by one the guests pour a conch shell full of sacred water over the couple's hands while saying a blessing for good luck. Gifts of either envelopes containing money, or presents that have been placed in a basket beforehand are now checked by the bride's mother. The ceremony is completed with the newlyweds planting a "Love Tree" at as a gesture life of love.

Church weddings & western style civil wedding ceremonies are also popular. Often after a church wedding a Thai style blessing in arranged. Western style civil marriage ceremonies are often used for beach weddings in Thailand.
Wedding in Thailand has never been easier.

South Korea Joins Lucrative Practice of Inviting Medical Tourists to Its Hospitals

SEOUL, South Korea — In this city’s Apgujeong district, famous for its high-end boutiques and plastic surgeons, tourist buses unload Chinese and Japanese visitors looking for a nip and tuck as part of their packaged tour.

On the resort island of Jeju, the government is building Health Care Town, a 370-acre complex of medical clinics and upscale apartments surrounded by 18-hole golf courses and scenic beaches, to lure foreigners in need of medical care.

West of Seoul, on the muddy beaches of Inchon where American troops splashed ashore 58 years ago to fight in the Korean War, a new steel-and-glass town is rising to attract foreign visitors, including medical tourists.

South Korea has joined Thailand, Singapore, India and other Asian nations in the lucrative business of medical tourism. Heart bypasses, spinal surgery, hip-joint replacements, cosmetic surgery — procedures that may cost tens of thousands of dollars in the United States — can often be done for one-third or even one-tenth of the cost in Asia, with much shorter waiting times and by specialists often trained in the West.

Americans fleeing the high cost of medicine at home have spurred the trend. Last year, 750,000 Americans sought cheaper treatment abroad, a figure projected to reach 6 million by 2010, according to a recent study by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, a consultancy. Asian nations are also wooing wealthy Middle Eastern patients who have found it more difficult to get a visa to enter the United States since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The number of foreigners coming to South Korea for medical care is still a fraction of those getting treatment in India, Thailand and Singapore, industry officials said. But clinics and the South Korean government are trying hard to attract these tourists, who not only bring in money for cash-strapped hospitals but also help the economy by staying on to shop and sightsee after their procedure is over.

The government has revised immigration rules to allow foreign patients and their families to get long-term medical visas and altered laws to permit local hospitals to form joint ventures with foreign hospitals in some cases.

When Hassan and Fatima Al-Abdulla of Qatar arrived in Seoul in October, they found a car and an English-speaking nurse waiting at the airport.

Soon they were checking into the Wooridul Spine Hospital so Ms. Abdulla could have surgery for her chronic back and leg pain.

Mr. Abdulla found his wife’s hospital room — furnished with a television, broadband Internet access, private bathroom, sofas and an extra bed — so comfortable that he decided to stay with her rather than go to a hotel.

Ms. Abdulla had all her pre-surgical tests the day she arrived. The next day, she was on an operating table.

“I feel very good,” she said five days after her surgery. “I can walk and shop now.”

Mr. Abdulla said he and his wife were now eager to visit the stores and museums in Seoul, “probably spending more on shopping than in the medical center.”

Wooridul Spine Hospital said it expected to draw about 1,000 foreign patients and $1 million in revenue from their treatments in 2008, its third year of wooing foreigners. It said its patients hailed from 47 countries, with about a third from the United States.

Wooridul plans to build a hospital branch, apartments, a concert hall and an art museum on the Jeju Island as part of its medical tourism offerings, in addition to the golf course it has already built, said Lee Mi-jeong, a Wooridul spokeswoman.

“We believe this is a major future industry for our island,” said Kim Kyung-taeg, head of the government-run Jeju Development Center. “The town will specialize in medical checkups, long-term convalescence and procedures Korean doctors do well and cheaply, such as plastic surgery and dentistry.”

No government records are available on how many medical tourists come to South Korea. But a survey of 29 hospitals showed that they treated 38,822 uninsured foreign patients — excluding certain categories like long-term Korean expatriates — between January and August, compared with 15,680 in 2007, according to the government-financed Korea Health Industry Development Institute.

It said 25 percent of those patients were from the United States, and 10 percent each were from China and Japan.

Medical fees are strictly controlled by the government as part of a national health insurance program, but hospitals like Wooridul can negotiate fees with foreign patients without interference from insurance authorities.

Gregory Kellstrom, a civilian forklift operator at the American military base in Seoul, decided to go to Wooridul recently to get spinal scans and medication for his back and hip problems instead of returning to the United States.

“For me personally, this is not about money,” said Mr. Kellstrom, 42, who paid out of his own pocket but planned to apply for reimbursement from his American insurer.

“In the States, it will probably take easily six months just to get the treatment I have here in one day,” he said.

Baialinova Dariakul, 49, the wife of a wealthy businessman in Kyrgyzstan, said she came to Wooridul for treatment for her spinal tumor because it was unavailable at home. Fumiko Yamada, 75, a Tokyo resident who recently had a back operation at Wooridul, said she would have had to wait years to get an appointment with a leading Japanese surgeon who performs the same operation.

Some Koreans fear that social inequality will grow if medical resources and skilled workers migrate from public health care to better-paying jobs that cater to foreigners, said Dr. Yoon Dae-hyun, a psychiatrist at the Healthcare System Gangnam Center at Seoul National University Hospital. But he added that the effort to attract foreigners could inspire more local hospitals to upgrade their services.

“There isn’t much of a gap anymore between the good hospitals in Asia and the United States,” he said.

His center plans to open a marketing office in Los Angeles, and hopes to attract medical tourists from the pool of two million Korean-Americans. Foreigners who can document Korean ancestry can qualify for the South Korean national health insurance.

Sally Im, a Korean-American from Honolulu, recently traveled to Wooridul for back surgery. After her husband paid two months’ worth of premiums — about $90 — on their arrival, a portion of Ms. Im’s medical bill was covered by the South Korean government. The couple ended up spending $3,200, rather than the $30,000 that her operation would have cost in the United States, Wooridul said.

Not everyone in South Korea is happy about such arrangements, fearing that ethnic Koreans from abroad could become a drag on the national insurance coffers. There is talk of limiting benefits to long-term residents.

The Ims, meanwhile, were happy that they had an alternative to the American medical system.

“We met a good doctor and had good surgery,” said Ms. Im’s husband, Stan. “We feel very lucky.”
Source: nytimes

India turning affordable, quality option for medical tourists

BANGALORE - India is soon growing to be a popular medical destination following the availability of health care facilities that matched international standards but offered it at a fraction of the cost abroad.

The estimated international medical tourist arrivals to India was 4,50,000 as against Singapore's 4,20,000 and over a million in Thailand, said Vishal Bali, CEO, Wockhardt.

Nearly 13 hospitals in India had been JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited. JCI was the US-based quality assessor that awards accreditation to hospitals outside US.

The Deloitte Study on medical tourist estimates that 750,000 Americans travelled abroad for health care in 2007 and the number is estimated to increase to six million by 2010.

The study estimates that the Global market for Medical tourism tobe currently at 60 billion dollars.

The growing cost of healthcare in the US, the high premium to be paid is leaving a lot of American out of the insurance cordon. Nearly 70 million US citizens were underinsured or not insured. In comparison health care cost in India was nearly just a fraction of the cost incurred in the US.

A cardiac surgery, which would cost 9000 USD, in India would cost around 75,000 to 100,000 USD in the US. A spine surgery costing around 8000 to 9000 USD in India could cost around 65,000 USD while a joint replacement in India would have a patient paying up around 8500 USD while it would cost around 55,000 to 65,000 USD in the states, says Bali.

Even with the travel to India and stay cost involved, patients would still end up paying much less if they chose India as an option to undergo treatment, he said which was leading to more US patients looking to India.

South Korea invites tourists to its hospitals

SEOUL, South Korea — In this city's Apgujeong district, famous for its high-end boutiques and plastic surgeons, tourist buses unload Chinese and Japanese visitors looking for a nip and tuck as part of their packaged tour.

On the resort island of Jeju, the government is building Health Care Town, a 370-acre complex of medical clinics and upscale apartments, with 18-hole golf courses and scenic beaches, to lure foreigners in need of medical care.

West of Seoul, on the muddy beaches of Inchon where American troops splashed ashore 58 years ago to fight in the Korean War, a new steel-and-glass town is rising to attract foreign visitors, including medical tourists.

South Korea has joined Thailand, Singapore, India and other Asian nations in the lucrative business of medical tourism. Heart bypasses, spinal surgery, hip-joint replacements, cosmetic surgery — procedures that may cost tens of thousands of dollars in the United States — can often be done for one-third or even one-tenth of the cost in Asia, with much shorter waiting times and by specialists often trained in the West.

Americans fleeing the high cost of medicine at home have spurred the trend. Last year, 750,000 Americans sought cheaper treatment abroad, a figure projected to reach 6 million by 2010, according to a recent study by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, a consultancy. Asian nations are also wooing wealthy Middle Eastern patients who have found it more difficult to get visas to enter the United States since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The number of foreigners coming to South Korea for medical care is still a fraction of those getting treatment in India, Thailand and Singapore, industry officials said. But clinics and the South Korean government are trying hard to attract these tourists, who not only bring in money for cash-strapped hospitals but also help the economy by staying on to shop and sightsee after their procedures are over.

The government has revised immigration rules to allow foreign patients and their families to get long-term medical visas and has altered laws to permit local hospitals to form joint ventures with foreign hospitals in some cases.

Philippines Tourism focuses on Asian Neighbors

Despite the global economic slowdown, tourism officials remain confident that the local industry will be resilient as marketing efforts continue to mine specific markets.

The tourism department cited the recently concluded International Tourismus Borse (ITB) in Singapore, the largest travel trade show in Asia, where the Philippines was among the top sellers for tourism products, including the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and leisure segments.

"Our presence in this inaugural ITB in Asia is significant, as we maintain our mark in the Asian region, where a huge growth potential is certain," Tourism Secretary Ace Durano said in a statement.

Peter Long, chief executive of TUI Travel PLC, a leading European leisure travel company in Europe, said another 600 to 700 million people are expected to travel from and within Asia over the next five years.

The tourism department said it will take advantage of this growth.

"The focus on Asian travel buyers and sellers is timely, as there are many opportunities to be tapped with the emergence of the middle-class in China and India, as well as other source markets in the region," Durano stressed.

Rica Bueno, tourism head for Team Asia Pacific, said the department has positioned the Philippines as a destination of choice in Asia, with a strong emphasis on leisure and incentive travel.

Eduardo Jarque, Jr., undersecretary for tourism planning and promotions, also noted the growth in the incentive travel for the Indian market, and English and Secondary Language training for the Korean market.

"Career women from Southeast Asia are looking for places where they can unwind. Our beaches and spas are among the best,” Jarque said.

Tourist arrivals from the Asia Pacific region accounted for 18 percent of total inbound traffic in the first half of 2008.

The introduction of specialized products on incentive and adventure attracted more visitors from Australia, which grew by 12 percent in the first semester of the year. Hong Kong has been revived with the introduction of new products and tapping new trade channels.

The ASEAN region accounted for a 7.5 percent share of total arrivals, according to a mid-year report.
Souce: abs-cbnews

Internet presence essential for destination marketers as more Indians source travel information online

With over half of Indian travelers using the Internet to search for information about destinations aboard, travel operators and tourist bodies need an effective online presence if they are to capture India's early adopters and increasingly-affluent travelers, according to the latest India Outbound Travel Monitor conducted by The Nielsen Company in partnership with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

The survey shows that, while traditional media such as newspapers and magazines remain the primary source for travel advertising and information for many, the Internet has become a popular advertising channel - drawing greater attention among Indian outbound travelers. The online platform is also gaining in popularity among travelers from India's smaller cities.

“The convenience of comparing prices and easy access to more detailed information makes the Internet a popular go-to source for travelers," said Vatsala Pant, associate director - client service, The Nielsen Company, India. “An effective online presence ensures optimal deployment of marketing strategies, yet a standard online advertising may not be enough to capture the attention of increasingly technology-savvy Indian travelers.

Oliver Martin, associate director, Strategic Intelligence Centre, PATA, said, “It is critical for marketers to establish an early presence online, as well as developing an effective engagement model with their target travelers long before they start actively planning their trips."

Conducted using face-to-face interviews with a fully-structured questionnaire during July - August 2008, the Nielsen India Outbound Travel Monitor is a nationwide study surveying 2,000 male and female consumers aged 18+ who have traveled outside India in the last 12 months and stayed at least two nights away from home. The Monitor studies traveler behavior, attitudes, and opinions about traveling and provides insight into decision making processes, information sourcing, booking choices, accommodation, and more.

While the majority continues to turn to conventional channels - travel agents and tour operators - for their travel arrangements, Indian outbound travelers (12 percent) are increasingly booking their travel online. “India's outbound travel market is recognized as one of the key emerging sources of tourism for the world, and as Internet penetration and adoption of the web as a commercial channel increases, so will online travel bookings," added Pant.
According to Nielsen, Nepal, Singapore, and Thailand are the most popular destinations for online bookings among Indian travelers. “It would seem that, for many, face to face interaction with a bricks-and-mortar travel agent is still preferred to the ease of booking over the internet. Relationships established with travel agents and the trust that has been built with an offline entity over the years win out over the fear of the unseen or unknown," said Vatsala Pant.

Jayashree Janardhanan The Nielsen Company India Email: Jayashree.janardhanan@nielsen.com Tel: +91 22 6663 2825 or +91 983 395 2084 Oliver Martin PATA Email: Oliver@pata.org Tel: +66 2 658 2000 or +66 81 908 8638

AirAsia is Top Brand from Emerging Markets

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, has been recognized as the ‘top brand to watch’ in the UK Trade & Investment’s New World Brands annual report. AirAsia is the only South East Asian company to make the list of top ten brands from emerging markets across Brazil, Russia, India and China.

New World Brands, which was produced in co-operation with the Economist Intelligence Unit, examines many of the world’s fastest-growing and most innovative companies from emerging markets. AirAsia is ranked above other successful companies such as Chery Automobile, Haier, Marcopolo, Reliance, and Springs Global.

AirAsia currently flies to more than 60 destinations and boasts the lowest operating cost of any carrier worldwide. The airline has optimised costs by operating a faster turnaround time, improving aircraft utilization and crew efficiency, and providing a pay-per-use passenger service, all of which results in savings which are passed back to consumers in the form of low fares.

Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO, said: “This is a great achievement for AirAsia to be recognized as a top new world brand and reflects our hard work and pioneering attitude to make air travel an affordable reality for everyone across Asia. We always focused on being a global brand and the investment is now beginning to reap the rewards.”

According to the report, leading brands from emerging markets are “shaking up industries” and challenging conventional business wisdom while benchmarking themselves against global standards.

Tony Fernandes added: “Despite the current challenging market conditions, AirAsia is still going strong. We have successful joint ventures in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as AirAsia X, the low-cost, long-haul subsidiary of AirAsia. Our fleet in Malaysia has been fully upgraded with the more modern Airbus A320s. We are vigilant in our efforts to maintain AirAsia’s notoriously low fares, and our disciplined low-cost model sets a global standard for airline efficiency.”

AirAsia was also recently ranked Top 5 among Asia Pacific’s airline brands, ahead of Malaysia Airlines and Qantas, among others, in the Top 1000 Brands 2008 survey conducted by TNS for Hong Kong-based Media magazine.

Philippines: Tourists targeted for condos

Manila, Philippines - The government is working with property developers to sell condominium units as second homes for foreign tourists in a bid to boost repeat visits, the Tourism department said in a statement yesterday.

"What we are doing is opening up new marketsin Australia, Korea, Japan and Chinafor the developers, while we are broadening and deepening the market base of tourism," Tourism Sec. Joseph H. Durano said in a phone interview yesterday.

"The reason we are concentrating on Asia Pacific is because they [make up most of] our repeat visitors. It’s easier to convince them to take the next step and own a second home," Mr. Durano said, adding that tourists who own second homes also stay longer.

To do so, the Tourism department is providing information on property developments in the country, particularly those near tourist attractions, through Web sites, advertisements, and investment shows abroad. The department counts big name developers like Ayala Land, Inc., Fil-Estate Corp., Megaworld Corp., SM Development Corp. as among its partners for this campaign.

While the Constitution prohibits foreigners from owning land in the Philippines, foreigners may own condominium units, Mr. Durano noted.

Bangkok and Chiang Mai ranked best cities of Asia by leading US travel magazine

BANGKOK, Thailand — Bangkok and Chiang Mai have been rated as the Best Cities of Asia 2008 from American readers of Condé Nast Traveler, a US leading travel and lifestyle magazine. The readers voted Bangkok as Best City of Asia with an overall score of 82.8%, followed by Chiang Mai (81.2%).

The award was conferred at the Readers Choice Awards 2008 Ceremony and Gala Dinner held at the New York Public Library, New York City, USA on October 15, 2008. It was accepted on behalf of the entire Thai travel and tourism industry by Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, which has an audience of 3.1 million and readership of 32,633, were polled on the basis of first-hand experience of their world-wide holidays.

For 20 years, it has conducted an annual readers’ choice survey to rank best cities, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and resorts wordwide and honor them with the World’s Best award.

Criterion scores for the best cities, which represent the percentage of respondents rating a candidate excellent were averaged to determine the final score-atmosphere/ambience, culture/sites, friendliness, lodging, restaurants, and shopping.

Other high-level rankings attained by Thai products services in Readers’ Choice Awards 2008 included Phuket and Samui, which were respectively ranked 3rd and 6th on the list of Top 10 Islands in Asia. Thai Airways International was ranked 7th on the list of Top 25 airlines.

On the list of Top 100 Asia Hotels, fourteen were in Thailand as follows:

Peninsula Bangkok - Ranked 4
Oriental Bangkok - Ranked 6
Shangri-La Bangkok - Ranked 7
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai - Ranked 23
Sukhothai, Bangkok - Ranked 27
Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, Bangkok - Ranked 28
Intercontinental Bangkok - Ranked 31
Four Seasons Bangkok - Ranked 41
Shangri-La Chiang Mai - Ranked 48
J W Marriott Bangkok - Ranked 62
Royal Orchid Sheraton Bangkok - Ranked 76
Plaza Athenee Bangkok - Ranked 80
Conrad Bangkok - Ranked 89
Pan Pacific Bangkok - Ranked 100

On the list of Top 25 Asia Resorts, ten were in Thailand as follows:

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle - Ranked 1
Four Seasons Chiang Mai - Ranked 8
The Jedi Chiang Mai - Ranked 13
J W Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa - Ranked 14
Rayawadee Krabi - Ranked 15
Four Seasons Samui Island - Ranked 17
Amanpuri Phuket - Ranked 18
Banyan Tree Phuket - Ranked 19
Sofitel Poki Tara Krabi - Ranked 21
Anantara Golden Triangle - Ranked 24

For more information, please visit:
http://tourismthailand.org/news/release-content-1255.html

Anuj Singhal Information Officer Tourism Authority of Thailand, B - 9/1 (A), Ground Floor Vasant Vihar, New Delhi - 110057 Phone No: 91-11- 41663567/68/69 Fax No: 41663570 Web: www.amazingthailand.co.in

Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo in Makassar, Indonesia

Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) is held in Makassar, South Sulawesi, for the second time after 2006. During October 14-17, 2008 international buyers from all over the world meet local sellers of tourism products from many islands and provinces in Indonesia at the newly built Celebes Convention Centre (CCC).

Makassar is a fascinating new tourist destination on the island of Sulawesi and is served by eight domestic airlines from the capital Jakarta. From Makassar, domestic flights expand to all the eastern parts of Indonesia. Also, for international flights, Makassar is nowadays connected with Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia on a daily basis.

Toraja Land is up till now the preferred tourist attraction to visit in South Sulawesi with an average of 65% of tourists from overseas. By taking this momentum , it was announced during the opening press conference on October 15 by Mr. Ana Saing, Head of South Sulawesi Culture & Tourism Office, that in the context of "Visit Indonesia Year 2008" there will be the launching of "Lovely December in Toraja Land" offering a 50% discount on all tourism packages.

This activity is assigned to push tourism development of South Sulawesi higher and to make South Sulawesi as "centrepoint" of Indonesia through tourism.

In a pre-show excursion tour on October 14, registered delegates were driven to the impressive Fort Rotterdam in Makassar and to the scenic Bantimurung Waterfall, which is some 60km away from the city.

Lombok announced to be host of TIME 2009

It was also announced that the next Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) in 2009 or "Pasarwisata Indonesia" will be held on the island of Lombok, which is not far away from the better-known tourist destination of Bali.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB), Mr. Pontjo Sutowo, had already assured this year's delegates during the opening ceremony in Makassar that ever since its first conduct of TIME in 1994 at Jakarta, TIME has been held to project the positive image of Indonesia and promote the Indonesian tourism industry in the international market.

Staging its 16th year of conduct in 2009 at Mataram, Lombok, TIME will definitely continue this tradition to speed up the development of the Indonesian tourism industry accordingly. As Makassar in Sulawesi this year, Lombok will offer visiting delegates a sound infrastructure and easy access via its new international airport. A post-tour is already planned to explore the nearby island of Sumbawa.

During a press conference, Chairperson of TIME2008 Steering Committee, Mrs. Meity Robot, said that TIME2008 is attended by 104 buyers from 21 countries, 108 sellers from 16 provinces of Indonesia occupying 86 booths, and 15 international travel writers from 9 countries. The event features mostly marine tourism products as well as new emerging MICE facilities in Indonesia.

All in all, the conduct of TIME2008 in Makassar has proven successful as a result of the good co-operation among the organising entities despite of the few numbers of buyers and sellers. This was reported during the closing press conference by Mrs. Meity Robot, Steering Committee Chairperson of TIME2008. Despite the current global financial crisis and the ongoing ban of the EU countries towards the airlines of Indonesia, TIME2008 has booked an estimated transaction of some US$ 15.2 million.

By : Reinhard Hohler

Philippines and Russia Signs Tourism Agreement

It is hard to imagine what the Philippines looks like in the eyes of another Pinoy. Even harder is to get a glimpse of what a foreigner sees or thinks when he hears about the Philippines.

“The Philippines has so much to offer,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano. “I continue to discover so much about the country each time I travel around it. I will never grow tired of promoting and marketing the Philippines to foreign markets because it is indeed the best destination in the world.”

The Russian market seems to have caught the enthusiasm and love that Durano has for the country. Proof positive is the 34 percent growth in tourist arrivals from Russia for the first half of this year. Durano is certain that with the addition of St. Petersburg to Moscow and the Russian Far East markets, the tourist arrivals from Russia can only continue to grow.

The positive working relationship that exists between the DOT and the private sector is laudable in the effort to market the country. At a time when the government is being hit left and right because of one issue or another, it is heartwarming to see a government agency like the DOT working very closely and cohesively with the private sector — both with the same vision and goal.

“We at the DOT can market the country the best we can,” added Durano. “But we need the private sector to work with us so that when the Russian tourists become interested in the country they can avail of the best packages and stay at the best hotels and resorts in the country.”

Aaah, love, it really does make the world go round. And make the Russians come, too.

So, let’s begin counting the ways:

1. A Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary who had the foresight to invade the market. In 2006 Tourism Secretary Ace Durano embarked on a selling mission to Russia after careful study, showing that the market looked ripe for the picking. First stop was Moscow in 2006. In 2007, it was Far Eastern Russia-Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. This year, on Sept. 19 to 21, the DOT and its partners from the Philippine tourism industry went on their first selling mission to St. Petersburg.

“Russia is a very big market that can be divided into several market segments. After two years of market development efforts, the Philippines already has a strong presence in Moscow, Vladivostok and Khabarovsk,” said Durano. “St. Petersburg will be a good addition to ensure that growth momentum is sustained. Russian arrivals held its position as the fastest growing market for us. The presence of more resorts and tour operators at this year’s mission is a response to this strong demand for the Philippines, especially from free independent travelers and the luxury travel segment of the market.”

2. Great marketing efforts. Since its participation in the Leisure Fair in 2005, the DOT has striven to find the perfect blend of elements to be featured at the Philippine stand that best represents the country to make it attractive to the Russian market. The booth is always busy with animation activities like cultural performances by the Bayanihan National Folk Dance Company, games, sampling of the Philippine hilot and other traditional healing methods, Filipino food tasting, and much more. These efforts have not gone unnoticed. Last year, the Philippine booth was among the 10 participating countries recognized for best marketing efforts at the Otdykh Leisure Fair in Moscow. This year, the Philippines won the same award along with eight other national tourist organizations. Indonesia was the only other Asian country to receive the award.

The tourism arrival figures also speak of how effective the marketing campaign of the DOT has been. In 2004 Russia and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) arrivals to the country were 3,570. In 2005 the arrivals to the Philippines were 10,253. In 2006 a separate ranking was made for Russian arrivals only; the arrivals were 3,566. In 2007, it grew by almost 129 percent to 8,163. In 2008 from January to June the arrivals from Russia increased by 34 percent with a total of 5,920. This number is sure to increase by yearend with the addition of visitors from St. Petersburg.

3. Creating an image of the Philippines as the best destination for Russians. Based on studies made by the DOT, Russians favor beach holidays spent in tropical environments. The Philippines is one place where pristine beaches and resorts of all kinds abound.

The image of the Philippines as the perfect place for sun and so much more was a hit among the Russians in St. Petersburg. In a preliminary report by DOT marketing representative for Russia and the CIS, Edward Grigoriev, says, “There were about 45 tour agents who visited the business-to-business meetings and got information about Philippine hotels and resorts. Overall, more than 120 visitors from around 65 tour operators and travel agents, local travel media and TV visited the event. The high impact on the local travel industry was noted by the local tour operators in St. Petersburg. According to them, there has never been a similar event in their city.”

In Moscow, the Philippine tour operators, hotels and resorts were happy with the turnout of people who visited the booth.

“It is always good to return to Moscow,” said Serafina S. Joven, president and general manager, Annset Holidays, Inc. “I met with some of my established Russian clients and I also met new ones. My experience here in Russia has been a positive one. I know that once I have established a good reputation with them; they are very loyal.”

“I made new contacts here in Moscow,” said Sonia Lazo, Intas Destinations. “I believe that being part of the DOT delegation at these fairs has been good for me in my business.”

“The work that the DOT does in marketing the country here in Russia has been very good,” said Joy Denoga, director of sales and marketing, El Nido Resort, Palawan. “It is because of the efforts of the DOT that we have been able to make our presence felt here in Russia. The DOT has paved the way well for the private sector in this market.”

4. Always in search of diversifying the market and widening its base. “It was really just a matter of time,” said Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions, Eduardo Jarque, Jr. “St. Petersburg does not have the travel fairs that Moscow has and we needed to prepare well for a special event here. Russians are getting more mature as travelers — some love the beach, some go for wellness, others like the whole shopping experience. But the bottom line is that they all really love to have fun. They want to experience the world and we can give that.”

5.6.7. The best tour operators, the best hotels, and the best resorts. “This is the first time that we are bringing this big a number of travel industry partners to Europe with us,” said Verna Buensuceso, head of the DOT’s European marketing team. “The private sector response to our invitation to join events in Russia is simply overwhelming. Their enthusiasm continues to grow each year. We have about 15 properties represented here and nine very important and very aggressive tour operators.”

The tour operators who joined the fair this year were Annset Holidays, Inc, Baron Travel Corporation, Blue Horizons Travel and Tours, inc., TRIPS, Inc., Intas Destinations, Marsman Drysdale Travel, Inc., Pelagos Tours and Travel, Medved Travel Agency, Southeast Travel Corporation. Among the hotels and resorts were Sofitel Philippine Plaza, El Nido Resorts Eskaya Beach Resort and Spa, Dos Palmas Island Resort, Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, HSAI Raintree, Discovery Suites, Discovery Shores Boracay, Discovery Bay Misibis, Boracay Regency, Alegre Beach Resort, Badian Island Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Resort, Gota Beach, Microtel Inn and Suites and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

8. An interesting culture and warm, friendly people. It is a fact that Filipinos are well known the world over for their hospitality. There are many Russians who love to travel because they are pampered. Another facet of the Philippines that so attracts the Russians is our culture. This is why the Bayanihan is a staple at the Philippine booths. Even during the Mabuhay Night events where tour operators and travel agents from Russia meet with their Philippine counterparts in a more relaxed setting, one of the highlights is the performance of the Bayanihan, which is a perfect glimpse of just what the Philippines is all about, beyond our natural resources. Part of the country’s culture is its cuisine and for Russians, it appears that they cannot get enough of Filipino food and beverages — from our seafood to cornicks, dried mangoes, Chocnut and happy-hour drinks Tanduay rhum and San Miguel beer. Hotel and resort managers consistently note the high spending of the Russian market, especially for food and beverage.

9. Visa-free entry. In October 2007Russians were granted visa-free entry to the Philippines. Unlike other European markets, the Russians do not make plans for their vacations ahead of schedule. This is why they prefer countries that do not have a visa requirement that will have to be processed before entry. Making the visit to the country visa-free was a strategic move by the DOT to make traveling to the country more attractive. With this, travel to the country is now hassle-free. Russians only need valid tickets for their return journey to their port of origin or to their next port of destination. They also must have passports that are valid for six months upon entering the country. Better flight connections and program extensions. With more and more carriers connecting the

Philippines to Russia, accessibility is certainly getting better and keeping air ticket prices at affordable rates due to stiffer competition, despite increasing fuel costs, taxes and surcharges. One of the more recent trends noted is the growing number of extension packages to the Philippines, combining visits to other Southeast Asian destinations with a Philippine segment of the itinerary. We are now taking advantage of the affordable airfare and the high number of flight connections and charter flights from Russia to our Southeast Asian neighbors. Since many Russian operators have blockings for these air seats, a considerable number have used these blockings as cheaper alternatives to reach the Philippines.

Source: Philstar

Wooridul SpineMark International Identifies Locations for Spine Centers for Health, Research and Education

Wooridul SpineMark International (WSI), a joint venture between SpineMark Corporation of San Diego, Calif. And Wooridul Healthcare of Korea, have identified sites for five planned WSI spine centers, which will be opened on four continents. Once opened, the centers will advance the treatment of patients who have suffered back injuries through global spine care best practices, clinical research and medical education.

SpineMark Corporation, a spine care services organization that partners with hospitals and physicians to develop spine centers and facilitate clinical research, and Wooridul Healthcare, a clinical operator providing total care in spine, established the international alliance in June 2008 to leverage and build upon the focus and expertise of each organization in the spine industry. Under the WSI alliance, SpineMark and Wooridul plan to open minimally invasive spine Centers of Excellence and fellowship training programs, and set up collaborative clinical and spine research centers in the following locations:
- - Sao Paulo, Brazil
- - Tijuana, Mexico
- - Singapore City, Singapore
- - Barcelona, Spain
- - Ankara, Turkey
"Spine injuries know no boundaries. They affect people -- young and old -- throughout the world. We formed the Wooridul SpineMark International alliance so patients could access sophisticated spine care treatments, no matter where in the world they live," said Marcy T. Rogers, M.Ed., president and CEO of SpineMark.

Many of the WSI centers will include a spine research organization (SRO) and will become part of a network of SROs managed by SpineMark's CRO Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of SpineMark and the only clinical research organization dedicated to the spine in the United States. This network provides an international bridge for the centers to collaborate on industry-leading clinical trials in spine care. Additionally, by providing oversight as an objective third party, SpineMark CRO Management brings an added degree of separation and greater transparency to the relationship between doctors and the medical device industry, which lends credibility to the resulting data.

"The partnership with Wooridul greatly expands our international network of spine trial and research sites," said Dr. Rudolf Bertagnoli, chairman of the SpineMark International Medical Advisory Board. "With our pooled resources, Wooridul SpineMark International can ensure quality monitoring and transparency are brought to bear for participating patients through intermediary third-party oversight."

"Wooridul SpineMark International is focused on providing access to the best treatments with the most advanced physicians and business practices available at facilities that are subject to, and comply with, the most stringent regulatory guidelines in the world," said Dr. Sang-Ho Lee, chairman of the board of Wooridul Healthcare. "We offer international spinal care to patients, and clinical research and medical education to physicians, hospitals and medical device companies on a global level."

About SpineMark
SpineMark Corporation is an innovative service organization dedicated to transforming the delivery of spine care. The company partners with hospitals and physicians across the United States and abroad to develop and operate comprehensive, evidence-based spine centers of excellence. By building a global network of spine centers, spine research organizations and state-of-the-art medical conference facilities, SpineMark is improving the overall quality of life of patients afflicted with spine disorders and injuries.

Driven by the specialized experience and expertise of its leadership team and medical advisory board, SpineMark's goal is to create a global network, based on clinically validated best practices for spine care that streamline diagnosis and treatment, simplify referrals and accelerate the recovery process. Find more information on www.spinemark.com

About Wooridul Healthcare of Korea
Wooridul Healthcare operates one of the largest private specialty hospital groups in South Korea, with 5 domestic hospitals, and additional patient assistance centers around the globe. With its first hospital established in 1982, Wooridul has more than 25 years of experience in providing systematic spine management as a total care system covering spine disease prevention, diagnosis, testing, treatment and rehabilitation. Its 108 spinal surgeons treat patients in its various hospitals located in Seoul, Chungdam, Busan, Dongrae, and Daegu. Wooridul recently announced that it is establishing a spine center on Jeju Island, an international medical tourism destination, scheduled for completion by the end of 2010. Find more information on www.wooridul.com

AirAsia Opens Sales Office At Phnom Pehn International Airport

AirAsia, the leading and largest low cost carrier in Asia today officially opened its new sales office at Phnom Pehn International Airport, aiming at maximizing its guests’ convenience and low fares offering. The new office opening also affirms AirAsia’s commitment in playing a significant role in the growth of the tourism industry in the Southeast Asian region.

Sporting a trendy look with a fun and friendly environment, the new facility was modeled after the success of other sales office opening in major cities around the region. The facilities offered include reservation services, e-ticketing services, information inquiries and a group of dedicated front office well-trained and friendly staff that offers face to face and tele-communication customer services.

The opening of AirAsia’s new sales office will also supplement the popular online services already offered by the airline at www.airasia.com. It offers another easy booking channel and flexible payment method for guests, who may either pay for their bookings in cash or by credit card.

Mr Tassapon Bijleveld, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia, said, “AirAsia recognizes the potential for growth in the rich cultural heritage of the South East Asia region, the opening of our sales office in Phnom Pehn demonstrates our commitment to providing easy accessibility and truly low fares to the people of Phnom Pehn and travelers around the region. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our services and increase savings for our guests.”

AirAsia has launched its Phnom Pehn route since November 2005. Currently, it operates daily flights to Phnom Pehn from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok with a combination of 14 flights weekly.

Moreover, all AirAsia flights arrive in and depart from Bangkok at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand, which makes it easy for guests to connect to other domestic and international flights or travel via public transportation to downtown Bangkok.

AirAsia’s network of 11 international destinations includes Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Yangon, Phnom Penh, Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong from Thailand. The airline currently connects domestically within Thailand to 11 destinations; Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Narathiwat, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakornsrithammarat, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.

AirAsia’s new sales office is located at Room T6, Phnom Pehn International Airport. The sales office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested travelers may alternatively contact the airline at Tel: 855 23 890 035 or Fax: 855 23 890 071.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FOR KUALA LUMPUR- PHNOM PEHN
Flight No Departure Arrival Departure/ Arrival Frequency
AK852 Kuala Lumpur Phnom Pehn 3.15 pm / 4.05 pm Daily
AK 146 Phnom Pehn Kuala Lumpur 4.35 pm / 7.20 pm Daily

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FOR BANGKOK – PHNOM PEHN
Flight No Departure Arrival Departure/ Arrival Frequency
FD 3616 Bangkok Phnom Pehn 2.50 pm / 4.00 pm Daily
FD 3617 Phnom Pehn Bangkok 4.30 pm / 5.40 pm Daily

Malaysia - Petronas, Tony Fernandes top survey list

According to a Pulse Group's survey, the national oil corporation is the corporate brand choice in Malaysia while AirAsia's Tony Fernandes is the top CEO brand.

Petronas, Fernandes top survey list PETRONAS was named the corporate brand choice in Malaysia and AirAsia Bhd group chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes the people's brand choice for CEO, a survey commissioned by Pulse Group plc has revealed.

In a study aimed at profiling corporate brands among Malaysian consumers, Petronas was named best overall brand profile with 16 per cent of the vote. This was followed by Maxis and AirAsia, with 8.7 per cent and 8.5 per cent respectively.

Others in the top 10 list of corporate brand profile were Telekom Malaysia (5 per cent), Maybank (4.6 per cent), Genting Group (4.1 per cent), Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (3.9 per cent), Proton (3.8 per cent), DiGi (3.3 per cent) and Astro (2.6 per cent).

Meanwhile, Fernandes was named top CEO brand in the survey with 13.2 per cent of the vote.

Business tycoon Ananda Krishnan took second place with 4.1 per cent, followed by Petronas president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican and YTL group managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh with 3.9 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively.

Others in the top 10 list of CEO brand were Genting Group founder, the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong at three per cent, Public Bank founder and chairman Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow (2.8 per cent), tycoon Tan Sri Mokhtar Al-Bukhary (2.6 per cent), Genting chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (2.5 per cent), MAS CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala (2.3 per cent) and tycoon Tan Sri Robert Kuok (two per cent).

The "Pulse of the Nation" survey polled 1,000 Malaysians throughout major market centres, using the Internet as the main data-collection method.

Vietnam - The new exciting Destination of ATF 2009

Vietnam to host 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum

The 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2009) and ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Meeting will take place in Ha Noi from January 5-12, 2009.

The event will include a meeting of tourism working groups with experts and senior officials of tourism agencies of ASEAN countries; a meeting between ASEAN Tourism Agencies, ASEAN and partners; ASEAN Tourism Ministers meeting, ASEAN and partners.

Besides, a tourism fair, Travex, with 450 booths showcasing the tourism industry of ASEAN countries, and a tourism conference will be held.

About 1,500 people, including ministers, heads of national tourism agencies, businesspeople and reporters, are expected to attend the event.

Through meetings, participants will work out a plan to implement the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, discuss orientations for cooperation, and implement the roadmap on regional integration in ASEAN towards the goal of building the ASEAN tourism community by 2019.

Vietnam - The new exciting Destination of ATF 2009

Situated on the Indochina Peninsula, with a diversity of topography, climate and thousands of years of history, Viet Nam pleases all tourists.

Striking mountain ranges, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, arid plateaus and dense forests are a magnet for hikers, cyclists and nature-lovers. With thousands of kilometers of fine sand beaches, rocky cliffs, coral reefs and deserted islands, water lovers have plenty to see and explore. Add the unique pinnacles of Ha Long Bay, the astonishing Mekong Delta, the classic terraces of the Northern Mountains and the ubiquitous vivid green of the rice fields, and even the most jaded visitors will recover the excitement of traveling.

Throughout the land, thousands of temples, pagodas, shrines and churches attract millions of worshippers. Wherever visitors travel in Viet Nam, relics of the past would be never far away. Hanoi’s architecture, Hue’s splendid Imperial Citadel, Hoi An’s charming wooden buildings and Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘Chinatown’ are obvious examples, but there are many more. In Da Nang, a unique sculpture museum pays homage to the traditions of the Cham people. In the Central Highlands, the ancient rituals of the Gong players lives on, now recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural treasure. Attractive museums document important periods of the past while symphony orchestras, opera performances, conservatories and national dance theatres rub shoulders with centuries- old performing arts such as North Vietnam’s world famous water puppets. The many ethnic minority communities in the Northern Mountains and Central Highlands provide yet more insights into Vietnam’s colourful and exotic society.

The Vietnamese gastronomy offers an endless variety of tasty cuisines, ranging from regular food to fine cuisines that can please the taste of the most demanding epicurean. In addition, there are thousands of restaurants offering food from the four corners of the world.

Among the multitude of attractions in Viet Nam the most fascinating is its people. Vietnamese are very peace-loving, kind, considerate, sociable and hospitable, and well known for their sense of humour.

Viet Nam is a safe and fascinating country for travellers who appreciate culture, nature, adventure and relaxation. No wonder Vietnam’s slogan is ‘The Hidden Charm’!

ASEAN Tourism - Striving for a new height

ASEAN Tourism - Striving for a new height

As one of the prioritized sectors, ASEAN tourism industry has been making significant contributions to the course of integration, strengthening exchange and consolidating peace in the region. 2009 will be the last year for ASEAN to achieve full integration in moving towards the realization of an ASEAN Economic Community. In order to bring into play its role, tourism should maintain the momentum for the new pace of sustainable development, to address newly emerging issues and challenges such as global climate changes and environmental degradation, to pave the progressive roads for future prosperity. In this regard, the theme for ATF 2009 ‘'ASEAN Tourism - Striving for a New Height'’ is a reflection of the determination and dedication of ASEAN to the new initiatives that boost the ASEAN tourist brand image and promote ASEAN as a single tourism destination in this era of global competition.

The Theme and Logo of ATF 2009

As one of the prioritized sectors, ASEAN tourism industry has been making significant contributions to the course of integration, strengthening exchange and consolidating peace in the region.

2009 will be the last year for ASEAN to achieve full integration in moving towards the realization of an ASEAN Economic Community. In order to bring into play its role, tourism should maintain the momentum for the new pace of sustainable development, to address newly - emerging issues and challenges such as global climate changes, environmental degradation, to pave the progressive roads for future prosperity.

In this regard, the theme for ATF 2009 "ASEAN Tourism - Striving for a New Height" is a reflection of the determination and dedication of ASEAN to the new initiatives that boost the ASEAN tourist brand image and promote ASEAN as a single tourism destination in this era of global competition.

Korea - Exploring New Frontiers in Medical Travel

Annual INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TRAVEL CONFERENCE

The Korea Tourism Organization is delighted to co-host IMTC 2008 - 3rd Annual International Medical Travel Conference, which will be held in Seoul on 19th - 21st November, in partnership with Avail Corporation from Singapore.

The event will contribute a great deal to the development of international medical services, which the Korean government and medical institutions in Korea have been working towards improving. In fact, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, together with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, currently sponsors

the “Council for Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion,” which is a community of local hospitals that focuses on providing advanced healthcare for international patients.
Seoul is a dynamic international city that is easily accessible from around the world, and its many attractions, accommodations and meeting facilities and services are sure to meet the needs of all IMTC delegates.

Experience World-Class Healthcare Facilities in Korea

Get updates at www.medicaltravelconference.com

South Korea: Positioning as Medical Tourism Hub

As part of its goal to boost medical tourism, the South Korean Cabinet has recently approved a set of bills to relax restrictions on marketing activities by local medical institutions targeting foreign patients. The bills now await parliamentary approval.

Lee Young-ho of the Korea Medicine Overseas Promotion Council reacted positively to the news, saying that deregulation will promote medical tourism.

“For the past few years, it is true that hospitals were unable to find patients, who, in turn, have difficulty in finding the right doctors for their treatment. Now, both sides will benefit from the system. The council will monitor whether agencies are taking excessive commissions.''

Most medical tourists visiting South Korea come for dental care, plastic surgery and general checkups. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KNTO), the first target are cosmetic-surgery patients from Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Japan. Next in line are dental patients from Russia and Mongolia. The last target are American patients who do not have private health insurance, Japanese patients seeking hemodialysis and other foreign national seeking specialised healthcare in the country.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs as well as President Lee Myung-bak has designated medical tourism as one of the nation's growth engines for the next five years. The country plans to attract 100,000 medical tourists by 2012.

However, there are still lingering obstacles to making Korea a medical tourism hub.

Won Young-sun of Wooridul Spine Hospital called for an expedited visa application process for medical travellers. “We have patients willing to come to Korea for treatment but who give up due to complicated visa procedures.'' He added that the country also needs medical staff and coordinators able to speak foreign languages for the convenience of customers.

Meanwhile, the move to ease existing laws on medical advertising will also benefit local residents. Hospitals will be able to provide free transportation and offer discounts on medical treatment and accommodation to Koreans not covered by domestic health insurance. Under the current medical law legislated in 1951 and last revised in 1973, such incentives and activities are banned.

PATA Travel Mart 2008 Concludes on a High Note

It was business as usual at the closing ceremony of PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2008 on the evening of September 19. As most of the seller delegates were already leaving, some 600 buyers and media delegates gathered at the two-level convention centre of the centrally located Marriott Hyderabad Hotel in order to attend a dinner invitation from China’s Hangzhou People’s Municipal Government.

It was up to Ms. Janice Antonson, PATA Chairman 2008-2009, to say farewell to the delegates and praise the quality of the professional event. On behalf of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), she thanked the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as well as the State of Andhra Pradesh for being such a generous host in India. In the same time, she welcomed the delegation from China to showcase next year’s host city Hangzhou as one of China’s best tourism city. A real Chinese style gala dinner followed accompanied by traditional songs and dances.

Also, Andhra Pradesh Tourism offered another complimentary half-day tour in Hyderabad on September 20. Visited were the Salar Jung Museum, Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and the Hussain Sagar Lake.

The Salar Jung Museum features a private art collection acquired by Prime Minister Mir Yousuf Ali Khan known as Salar Jung III (1889-1949). Spread on two floors, this extraordinary museum collection comprises over 40,000 art objects in 38 galleries, such as ivory carvings, textiles and glass, Indian miniature paintings, metal ware, arms, bronzes and painted textiles, Indian sculpture and minor arts of South India. Among the most valuable items are a musical clock from England and a double figure of carved wood from France. European furniture and paintings abound. In the Rebecca Gallery, there is a delicate European marble statue of a woman seen through her veil.

Ruler Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah built the monumental Charminar landmark at the core of the city’s cultural milieu in 1591. The imposing 48.7m high monument is a beautiful colossus made of granite, limestone, mortar, and pulverised marble. Four corner minarets rise into the sky, while every side of the monument is 20m in length and opens into a plaza through giant arches. Nearby is the oldest Mecca Masjid mosque, but it was not possible to stop our bus somewhere. Driving through the bazaar-like city centre, we finally reached the mighty Chowmahalla Palace.

This site was the seat of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty (1724-1949) and was built by Nawab Nizam Ali Khan or Asaf Jah II in 1870 to entertain official guests and royal visitors. The elegant Chowmahalla Palace consists of two courtyards and four different buildings separated by fountains and gardens. The grand pillared Durbar Hall has a pure marble platform on which the royal throne was laid. From the high wall, there are some 19 spectacular chandeliers of Belgium crystal. A collection of arms and armour offers a glimpse of a bygone era, when glory belonged to God.

The last tour stop was at the scenic Hussain Sagar Lake. Constructed in 1562 by Hussain Shah Wali during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah, the man-made lake joins the two cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. One of the world’s tallest monolithic Buddha statues, which is 17.5m high and weighs 350 tonnes, predominantly stands on a rock boulder right in the middle of the lake. As we came as a private party, it was an excellent idea to have our lunch served on board of a cruise boat and enjoying our last day in Hyderabad with milkshakes, fresh fruits, Indian curries and bread.

PATA Travel Mart 2008 - Asia's Best Travel Networking Show

PATA Travel Mart 2008 at Hyderabad… The Marvelous Experience

HYDERABAD (INDIA). With more than 1,200 delegates from over 86 countries brainstormed over four days as to how to lure more worldwide tourists into the Asia-Pacific region, which has some of the most ancient and interesting tourist attractions in the world.

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart (PTM) 2008, Asia Pacific's best annual travel contracting and networking show, held at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), Hyderabad, India on September 16-19. PTM 2008 has seen about 850 sellers (tourism and travel operators) from all over the world interacting on tourism contracts from over 350 buyers (tourism wings of governments) in the Asia-Pacific region.

While the tourism in the Asia Pacific region as a whole is expected to grow at a rate of six per cent per annum over the next few years with a planned target of 450 million tourists by 2010. Of the 903 million international tourist arrivals world over in 2007, India accounted for only 5.08 million, a meager 0.56 per cent.

In the Asia-Pacific region, there were 194.3 million arrivals. India ranks 42nd in world tourist arrivals and 11th in Asia Pacific tourist arrivals.

While AP is the number one domestic tourist destination (largely due to the religious pilgrimage to Tirupati), it does not figure in the top five states attracting international tourists. “Most international tourists have heard of only Hyderabad, that too as a modern city and an IT hub. We hope to change all that by selling all the tourist spots in the state and increasing the number of international tourists to 1 million by the next year,” said Jayesh Ran-jan, MD, APTDC.

The Pacific Asia 2008 meet in the city is all set to change the fortunes of the lesser known tourist spots in the state.

The Falaknuma Palace, The Budda statue in Hussainsagar, Taramati Baradari, Golconda fort, Qutub Shahi tombs and Shilparamam and Hitex are going to be included in the international travel list. “For the first time all these tourism spots would get the much-needed exposure and I am sure some of those would be included in the international travel list,” said Ms Laxmi Parthasarathi, the principal secretary of the tourism department.

“We had never hosted an international meeting like this in Hyderabad before. The international airport, Hitex convention centre and recent additions in the hospitality sector have made it possible for the city to host international events. Now, the city has joined the select international cities with most advanced meeting, exhibition, convention and hospitality facilities,” she added.

Thanks to the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and the State of Andhra Pradesh, the historical city of Hyderabad for hosting the prestigious event accordingly. As India's "Incredible India" media campaign has placed Indian tourism on the world map, this year's PTM was the ideal platform to showcase India's tourism destinations and products.

Hyderabad itself is now considered as one of the most happening cities in the world being developed as the transit hub between Europe and China. Also, Hyderabad is the hot "IT" hub of India and prominently features HITEC City. The new international airport has virtually transformed Hyderabad into the most sought tourist destination in India, along with New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

Some 250 PATA Travel Mart (PTM) delegates joined the complimentary city tour on the official first day of the event that aims to facilitate the sustainable growth of Asia Pacific travel in "total tourism" terms - to, within, and from the region.

As Hyderabad is called "City of Pearls" it is interesting to know what the name of the cosmopolitan mega city in the central part of India really means. And so the story goes:

The place of Hyderabad was originally named after a local dancer called Bhagmati. It was Mohamed Quli Qutub Shah, who ousted the earlier Bahamani dynasty in 1512 to establish the fortress city of Golconda. Once the sultan rode out from Golconda to meet his beloved one by braving the flood waters of the Musi River. He renamed his beloved "Hyder Mahal" and named the new city Hyderabad in honor of her.

Our first stop was at the historical Golconda Fort dating back to the 12-13th century, when the Hindu Kakatiyas ruled there. The fortress - meaning "Shepherd's Hill in the local Telugu language - was built on a granite hill and surrounded by massive ramparts. The fort itself has a 10km long outer wall and 8 main gateways, water supply, royal palace complex, meeting halls, temples and mosques. Hand-clapping was the traditional code for warning the residents in case of danger.

Not far from the impressive Golconda Fort, there were the 7 royal tombs of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, who ruled Hyderabad during 1518-1687. Planned and built by the Qutub Shahis themselves, the tombs show Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles - using granite rocks and ornamented with stucco. There are other tombs too, for instance the tomb of Princess Hayat Bakshi Begum. It was there that the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb prayed in a nearby mosque, after he had captured the city in 1687 and made it part of his great Mughal Empire.

The last stop of the 5 hours city tour was at the vast gardens of Shilparamam Crafts Village, where shopping was possible and a local buffet lunch was offered. Also, there was a short performance of a shadow puppet show, which goes back in time and can be compared with the shadow puppet plays in Southern Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

After this successful introduction into the tourism potential of Hyderabad, all the delegates of PTM2008 were prepared to attend "Incredible India Evening" and the official dinner reception at the Falaknuma Palace hosted by H. E. Ambika Soni, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

The Falaknuma Palace is regarded as one of the most magnificent palaces in the whole of India and overlooks the busy city of Hyderabad. It was built by Vikar-ul-Umra in the late 19th century, when India was a British colony. The former "Maharaja" palace is a treasure trove of art and architecture and is now a part of the Taj Group, which will soon convert it into a super deluxe hotel.

Interesting to note that, Cambodia announced its own travel mart Angkor International Tourism Exchange (AITEX) again in Siem Reap on December 4-6, 2009.

Cambodia is one of the 6 countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) that is promoting its tourist attractions heavily. Among them is the sacred temple of Preah Vihear, which became the newest UNESCO World Heritage Site recently.

PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2008 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) holds what it promised. During the official press conference on September 17, PATA President and CEO Peter de Jong revealed that 374 buyers from 56 countries interact with 715 registered sellers from 38 countries. Furthermore, there will be around 200 international and local media delegates to monitor the three days of busy networking.

The following media briefings were conducted in the well-equipped media workrooms sponsored by Amadeus Asia Pacific.

1. H.E. Ms Ambika Sony, Honorable Union Tourism Minister of the Government of India, personally gave out the traditional order that guests will be treated as gods. Despite natural calamities and man-made disasters, Indian tourism will have a rosy future with some 22 mega destinations in place. Welcoming some 5 million international tourists in 2007, India's railway network is one of the largest in the world; its hospitality is second to none. With the "Incredible India" campaign, a huge product diversity from sea to desert and an ambitious rural tourism project going on, Indian tourism will grow accordingly.

2. Mr. Jagdeep Singh, Media Facilitator, introduced the popular destination of India's Rajasthan with its forts, palaces, temples, lakes, wild-life sanctuaries and cultural festivals. Looking at the tremendous success of the "Palace on Wheels" booked out till 2010, there will be launched a new super luxury train "Royal Rajasthan on Wheels" in December 2008. The train will have 2 suites, 13 saloons, plus 2 restaurants & bar, spa and internet facilities. Its itinerary will include Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Agra.

3. The Government of Andhra Pradesh in India with its Minister of Tourism, Mr. Sri Anam Ramanarayana, highlighted the rich heritage of the region, actually being the essence of Incredible India. With a 1.000km long coastline, a myriad of ancient Buddhist sites, such as Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda, and its sophisticated handicrafts of ikat weaving and silver working, Andhra Pradesh is at the forefront of adventure tourism. Also, its capital Hyderabad is now quickly becoming a hotspot for international events and a preferred MICE destination. Furthermore, Hyderabad is in the process to become a medical city, offering special services like Ayurveda treatments.

4. That China is watching the newly emerging India source market was demonstrated by Mrs. Alice Wang, Deputy Director of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) based in New Delhi. In her presentation, she mentioned China's 54 million visitors in 2007 and the huge flow in domestic tourism.

After the successful event of the Olympics in Beijing this year, Mrs. Alice Wang is banking on regional co-operation schemes, such as with ASEAN and India. Also, there will be the upcoming China International Travel Mart in the mega city of Shanghai on November 20-23, 2008.

5. Air India presented its new face and it was interesting to note that Air India is planning to join "Star Alliance" in early 2009.

6. China's Chengdu tourism industry has suffered since the massive earthquake on May 12, 2008 and needs to recover again. Chengdu represents not only a part of traditional China, but also mirrors modern China too. In comparison with other developed cities in China, Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, claims a history of 2,500 years and a well-preserved heritage of traditions. With its 11 million inhabitants, Chengdu is opening more and more to the outside world and moving forward to be a cosmopolitan city. In the vicinity of the city, there are the ancient water conservancy projects and the protection zones of the world-famous panda bears. In addition, the Leshan Giant Buddha and the sacred mountain of Mount Emei are worth a visit, not to say the tea houses, local cuisine restaurants and traditional arts and crafts centres.

7. China's Chongqing New Century Cruises on the Yangzi River were introduced and there was an overview about the Three Gorges Dam Project given accordingly.

8. Hangzhou Tourism introduced the city that will host the next PATA Travel Mart at Zhejiang World Trade Centre on September 22-25, 2009. For delegates, who will land at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, it will be a two hours shuttle bus ride by expressway. Hangzhou with its 6.6 million inhabitants has its own Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport and some 300 hotels to offer. The city is an economic powerhouse in China and borders the scenic West Lake. This natural setting and a myriad of temples and shrines make Hangzhou a top tourist destination. Also, the city is the southern terminal of the Grand Canal going up to Beijing. Xixi National Wetland Park is another tourist attraction together with a tea museum and home of silk. Ancient traditional medicine shops abound - all good reasons to attend PTM2009 next year in Hangzhou.

9. Mr. Udom Metatamrongsiri, Advisor of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), introduced the revived "Amazing Thailand" campaign for the Visit Year 2008-2009. Despite its current political problems, Thailand is still a world class tourist destination and its tourism industry has a strong foundation. The year 2007 recorded 14.46 million visitors and the aim of 2008 is looking for 15.48 million tourists. The five leading source markets are Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore. Some European countries follow behind. One of the new markets will be India.

TAT will organise a kind of mega familiarisation trip during October 8-12 to highlight Thailand's seven amazing wonders, namely Thai-ness, Treasure, Beaches, Nature, Wellness, Trends, and Festivities. Newly promoted destinations are Koh Chang, Nong Khai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Krabi and Phang Nga.

10. Update on Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and its two US destinations Disneyland in Anaheim, California and the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

11. Widespread tourism opportunities abound in the South Pacific. There were valuable presentations made by tourism representatives of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and finally the elusive Kingdom of Tonga.

12. PATA Sri Lanka Chapter & Sri Lanka Convention Bureau invited media delegates to the launch of the "Meet in Sri Lanka" campaign at the elegant Taj Krishna Hotel in the centre of Hyderabad. Present were Mr. Renton de Alwis, Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, and Mr. Hiran Cooray, Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels and Resorts in Sri Lanka. Colorful dressed dancers entertained the delegates in style.

Later in the evening, there was a dinner reception at the huge Taj Krishna Ball Room hosted by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited that privately runs the airports in Hyderabad, Delhi and Turkey's Istanbul.

A show with a difference...