News

China law dents Singapore tourism

NAY PYI TAW, 29 January 2015: Singapore suffered a massive  26% drop in Chinese tourist arrivals, January to November 2014, that caused an overall 3.4% decline in tourism to the country. The China decline was blamed on rules introduced by China to set standards for outbound tours and end illegal commissions according to Singapore Tourism Board executive... [Read full story]

Malaysia launches MyFest 2015

NAY PYI TAW, 29 January 2015: Following on from its successful Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign, Malaysia launched MyFest 2015, Wednesday, at the ASEAN Tourism Forum. Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board director general, Dato Mirza Mohammad Taiyab,  announced details of the campaign during an ATF media briefing. “Now we move forward with MyFest,”... [Read full story]

Thai park files for World Heritage status

BANGKOK, 29 January 2015: Thailand’s National Committee on the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage will propose that Phu Phabhat Historical Park be listed as a World Heritage site. The Culture Minister, Veera Rojpotjanarat, said the committee has agreed that Phu Phabhat Historical Park, located in Udon Thani, should... [Read full story]

Vientiane goes smoke free

VIENTIANE, 29 January 2015: Vientiane Administration Office will declare Saysettha Park as another smoke-free park in Vientiane. Lao News Agency reported that the Smoke Free Park project was launched in 2009 and Chao Anouvong Park was the first to be designated smoke-free in 2012. The project is part of an effort to clean up the capital city. The campaign... [Read full story]

Ritz-Carlton expands in Malaysia

CHEVY CHASE, USA, 29 January 2015: Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company plans to open its second hotel in Malaysia in one of the fastest growing catchment areas known as the Petaling Jaya, within a development named Empire City. In a signing ceremony, the agreement was officially sealed by Dato’ Ng Yee Teck (group managing director of Mammoth Empire Holding... [Read full story]

Cash grants for rooms

QUANG BINH, 29 January 2015: Quang Binh province has recently approved a plan to provide grants to encourage investors to  build more hotels and restaurants. Local media reported that the province would support construction costs by paying USD23 per square metre to each restaurant project in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Bang tourism area... [Read full story]

Thainess unveiled at ATF

BANGKOK, 29 January, 2015 – The new national tourism-promotion campaign “2015 Discover Thainess” was unveiled for the ASEAN countries, Tuesday, during the 34th edition of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015, between 22-29 January, 2015, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. ASEAN countries are expected to be among the top sources of visitor arrivals in 2015 as the... [Read full story]

Deck chairs banned

PATTAYA, 29 January 2015: The Chonburi Governor has ordered local authorities in Pattaya to keep beaches free of deck chairs every Wednesday in an effort to improve the look of the resort’s main bay and beaches at Jomthien. The scheme is in line with the government’s clean-up policy that came into effect 14 January. Chonburi governor, Komsan Ekchai,... [Read full story]

MH370 report due early March

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 January 2015: Malaysia will release an interim report on its investigation into Flight MH370 7 March 7, a day before the first anniversary of the jet’s mysterious disappearance, an official said Wednesday. However, deputy transport minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi declined comment on whether the report would contain any revelations... [Read full story]

Hopes fade on finding crash victims

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 January 2015: Hopes faded Wednesday of finding 92 victims still missing from an AirAsia plane crash as Indonesian search and rescue authorities said the remaining bodies could have been swept away or lost on the seabed. Flight QZ8501 went down in the Java Sea, 28 December, in stormy weather with 162 people on board, during what was... [Read full story]

Fun in the Philippines

NAY PYI TAW, 28 January 2015: The Philippines officially launched its Visit Philippines Year, Tuesday evening, during the ASEAN Tourism Forum. Under-secretary for tourism development, Benito Bengzon, announced details of the year-long calendar of events earlier in the day at a media briefing at Nay Pyi Taw’s international convention centre on the... [Read full story]

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