TTR Weekly

Floating to Yangon’s hotel market

YANGON, 7 March 2014: Vintage Luxury, a floating hotel, will open soon at its anchorage at the Botahtaung Jetty near Yangon, according to the ship’s owners. The opening has been delayed since late last year. According to reports in local media, a Hla Hla Pa Pa Company spokesperson said: “We have recruited staff to work on the floating hotel. We are currently training them and hope to ...

Early bird fares on THAI

BANGKOK, 7 March 2014: Thai Airways International offers “Early Birds” fares for travel on selected routes, during May to September this year. A round-trip promotional fare, inclusive of airport taxes and surcharges, ex-Bangkok, sells at Bt7,400 to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi; Bt8,500 Yangon; and Bt8,600 to Phnom Penh and Vientiane. Fares to Japan: Bt19,000 Fukuoka; Bt22,200 Haneda; Bt...

Myanmar reviews hotel investment

YANGON, 6 March 2014: Foreign investors are likely to be disappointed by restrictions imposed by the country’s Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration. It reported earlier this week that full foreign investment in tourism and hospitality will not be permitted, while joint ventures must be made with Myanmar citizens. The agency reviewed conditions and some of its conditio...

Myanmar lacks French speaking guides

YANGON, 6 March 2014: Myanmar Tourist Guides Association says the country needs more tour guides who can speak French to serve an increase in French tourists. Guide association chairperson, Zaw Win Cho, told local meida that Myanmar has witnessed a substantial increase in French tourists visiting the country. There is a shortage of professional guides fluent in French and under the country�...

TAT: Bangkok’s heart beats normally

BANGKOK, 6 March 2014: Most major streets and shopping districts in Bangkok are back to normal – streets packed with office workers and tourists, road jammed with cars. Protester who had occupied junctions in down town Bangkok since 22 January moved to a single site at Lumpini Park by Monday. For security reasons the overpass on Rama IV Rd at the intersection with Silom Road is closed n...

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News

Floating to Yangon’s hotel market

Myanmar reviews hotel investment

Japan tops Thai holiday list

BANGKOK, 7 March 2014: Tourism experts say Japan continues to be a popular destination for Thai tourism mainly driven by visa-free stays of up to 15 days introduced by the Japanese government 1 July last year. Association of Thai Travel Agents secretary, Charoen Wangananont, said there should be a big increase in Thais visiting Japan during March and... [Read full story]

Russians build resort in Bai Dai

KHANH HOA, 7 March 2014: The Russian State Development Company is building a five-start resort on Bai Dai Beach, Cam Lam district, in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. According to local media reports, earlier this week, the Flowers Resort will have 256 rooms, 10 bungalows, 111 apartments and 56 luxurious villas on a site just north... [Read full story]

Garuda brings Skyteam up to 20

JAKARTA, 7 March 2014: SkyTeam, a global airline alliance, welcomed Garuda Indonesia as its 20th member and second airline in Southeast Asia mid week. Garuda’s membership adds Jakarta as an alternative gateway to and from Southeast Asia, and links 40 domestic cities in Indonesia to SkyTeam’s global network. “Garuda’s entry into the alliance... [Read full story]

Chennai hub for AirAsia India

CHENNEI, 7 March 2014: Even before its launch date is causing a stir in India’s conservative aviation industry with the promise it will cut fares by around 25% to 30%. “Our model is based on low fares. The fares could be 25% to 30% less [than others],” Mittu Chandilya, chief executive officer of AirAsia India told the Indian newspaper Hindu, Thursday.... [Read full story]

Dubai introduces tourist tax

BANGKOK, 7 March 2014: Dubai, in United Arab Emirates, will slap a hefty “Tourist Dirham” tax on all booked hotel accommodation, according to an alert posted by the UK-based Worldwide DMC. The new tax will be applicable at all Dubai’s hotels from 31 March. Bookings made prior to this date but with arrivals on 31 March will also be charged. The... [Read full story]

Swiss-Belhotels adds 20 hotels

BERLIN, 7 March 2014: Global hospitality management chain Swiss-Belhotel International will strengthen its portfolio of hotels and resorts in Asia Pacific and the Middle East with the opening of 20 hotels this year. The main thrust remains in Indonesia where Swiss-Belhotel International already has 37 hotels. It will add 18 more properties in 2014,... [Read full story]

Tiger’s troubles grow Indonesia

JAKARTA, 7 March 2014: Singapore’s Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd may be forced out of Indonesia, considered to be Southeast Asia’s biggest domestic airline market. Aviation reports suggest its unprofitable joint venture will be squeezed out of routes dominated by big-spending local carriers. According to a Reuters report, Wednesday, Tiger might be... [Read full story]

Not so expensive la

SINGAPORE, 7 March 2014: Singapore on Wednesday played down a global survey showing that it is now the world’s most expensive city, a finding which has triggered outrage among Singaporeans struggling with rising costs. Finance Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said reports like the 2014 Worldwide Cost of Living survey by the Economist Intelligence... [Read full story]