Shanghai in a shoebox
January 11, 2011 by AFP
Filed under Hospitality, News, North Asia
SHANGHAI, 11 January 2011 – China has followed Japan’s lead in the capsule hotel market, amid an explosion of leisure travel in the world’s most populous country.
The first capsule hotel in Shanghai opened at the weekend, less than a month before the Spring Festival holiday, when hundreds of millions of people crisscross the country to celebrate Lunar New Year with their families.
The hotel has 68 cabinet-sized rooms imported from Japan — where capsule hotels originated — each equipped with a power point, clock, light, television and wireless Internet, the China Daily said.
Japan top of the travel pile
December 21, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, North Asia
BANGKOK, 21 December 2010-, Asians place Japan at the top of their travel wish-list according to a MasterCard poll released Monday.
The MasterCard’s poll was conducted 13 September to 11 November across 24 countries in Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa to monitor travel trends for the first half of 2011.
Elements of the survey that focused on Thai travel habits showed they were most interested in Asia-Pacific destinations (91%), followed by Europe (33%), North America (24%) and Middle East (2%).
Cut-throat pricing hurts Japanese tours
December 1, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under News, North Asia
TOKYO, 1 December 2010 — Cut-throat pricing on Japan’s tour arrangements is confusing Bangkok-based tour operators who find it difficult to maintain reasonable margins and lose customers to cheaper tour arrangements.
Travel agents attending last week’s Visit Japan Travel Mart 2010, in Chiba prefecture, said pricing policies were unstable and discouraged overseas agents from designing innovative programmes.
They accepted demand for Japan was high in Southeast Asia, but discounting on contracted rates for land arrangements and hotels was hurting product quality and creativity.
Retail sales soars in HK
October 5, 2010 by AFP
Filed under North Asia
HONG KONG, 4 October 4 2010 – Strong domestic consumption and tourist dollars helped push retail sales in Hong Kong almost 17% higher year on year in August, the government said Monday.
Total retail sales for the month hit HK$26.5 billion (US$3.4 billion), the Census and Statistics Department said, up 16.9% year-on-year and marking the 12th consecutive monthly rise.
Hong Kong breaks tourism record
September 28, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under North Asia
BANGKOK, 28 September 2010 – Hong Kong welcomed 3,455,033 arrivals during August, up 21.9%, and achieved a record 23,447,843 visitors during January to August representing an increase of 24%, the Hong Kong Tourism Board reported Monday.
Thai visitors made 32,066 trips in August, a rise of 23.8% over the same month in 2009 and over the eight-month period trips totalled 292,640 up 20.1%. This placed it in the eighth slot of 10 top suppliers during August in terms of growth rate and the ninth for January to August. However, year-to-date Thai visitors were only 1.2% of Hong Kong’s overall market share.
Japan extends visa service to Thai provinces
September 27, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under North Asia, Thailand
BANGKOK, 27 September 2010 – The Japanese embassy in Thailand has extended its visa service to provincial towns through its outsourced partner VFS Global.
Visa application services will be fully online this week in six provinces available through VFS centres. The satellite services are located at Thailand Post offices in Phuket, Chon Buri (Sri Racha), Ayutthaya, Rayong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phitsanulok.
However it is still requires VFS to forward passports to the Japanese embassy in Bangkok using either the Thailand Post or other courier services.
JNTO’s latest promotions
August 25, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under North Asia
BANGKOK, 23 August 2010 – Japan National Tourism Organisation introduces new tourism products this month including a new branch of AEON Mall in Kyoto, JR East Pass Special and Narita Sky Access.
AEON Mall opened its new branch in Kyoto located next to the new Miyako Hotel. Travellers visit the new mall by train exiting at the Hachijo-guchi JR Kyoto line station. There are 130 stores in the mall open daily from 1000 to 2100.
Paddy art puts Japan village on map
August 4, 2010 by AFP
Filed under North Asia
TOKYO, 4 August 2010 – A remote Japanese village with rice fields and not much else has put itself on the tourist map with eye-catching artworks painstakingly created one rice stalk at a time.
Best viewed from above, the sports-field-sized masterpieces of Inakadate village are created by more than 1,000 locals and outside volunteers using rice varieties in five different colours.
JTB expands offices in Thailand
March 29, 2010 by Duangrudee Somboonruangsri
Filed under North Asia, Thailand, Tour Operators
JTB Travel expands two new offices in Thailand, at the Emporium and Pan Pacific Hotel, to handle its outbound travel in the Thai upper market.
The new JTB Travel Saloon@The Emporium opened, earlier this month, on the 4th Floor at the Emporium Shopping Complex. Working hours are from 1100 to 2000.
Another branch is scheduled to open 1 April on the 1st Floor at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Silom. Read more
TAT road shows to East Asia
February 5, 2010 by Chanida Sa-ngiamphaisalsuk
Filed under North Asia, Thailand
Thailand’s travel enterprises are invited to join a road show to East Asia during March and April.
