Russians flock to Vietnam
May 22, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Vietnam
HANOI, 22 May 2013: Vietnam should map a careful strategy to maximise profits from a booming Russian travel market, according to Sai Gon Tiep Thi (Saigon Marketing) a local media outlet.
In the opinion piece, the publication said Russian tourists were flocking to coastal destinations in Binh Thuan province, Ninh Thuan province and Nha Trang town turning the market into one of the most important travel sources for the country.
It quoted a local tour company based in Ho Chi Minh City, Lua Viet Tours’ chairman Nguyen Van My who said destinations were almost entirely relying on Russian visitors.
More films shot on Thailand
May 22, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 22 May 2013: Thailand earned a record Bt671.43 million from on-location film shoots, January to April, according to a Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Thailand Film Office Department update released on Monday.
For the first four months of the year, 283 documentaries, advertising slots, TV series, and music videos were filmed on location in Thailand generating Bt671.43 million in tourism related revenue compared to 238 productions and Bt791.77 million.
The 283 productions were categorised as 43 documentaries, 168 advertising spots, 39 television programmes, 14 music videos and 19 films.
Stronger baht upsets pricing
May 22, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 22 May 2013: Tourism Authority of Thailand has urged overseas offices to keep a close eye on foreign exchange markets and the impact on the country’s tourism due to currency fluctuations.
TAT governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, said although the strengthening of the Thai baht against major worldwide currencies has so far not posed a threat to Thailand’s travel industry, TAT offices have been instructed to report on the impact of fluctuations mainly on holiday costs and competiveness.
The main concern for the TAT governor is a loss of pricing competitiveness in European markets. A stronger baht has increased the cost of a Thailand holiday for a resident in the eurozone by 12% to 15% in just a year.
Meals pre booked on Qantas
May 22, 2013 by e-NewsWire
Filed under Aviation, News
SYDNEY, 22 May 2013: Qantas has announced an extension of its Select on Q-Eat, allowing business customers travelling internationally to pre-order a celebrity chef-designed meal prior to flying.
From Thursday (flights departing 23 May), Qantas will extend Select on Q-Eat to flights from Singapore to Australia and flights between Australia, London and Dubai.
The extension is a result of a trial of Select on Q-Eat on flights from Los Angeles to Australia, which launched in September 2012 and on flights from Dallas to Brisbane in December 2012.
Phuket in the dark
May 22, 2013 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand
PHUKET, 22 May 2013: A massive blackout apparently originating from a fault at an hydropower station at the Rachaphrapa dam in Surat Thani blacked out Phuket last night, along with all provinces south of the dam, according to a report posted on Thaivisa.com.
The blackout started at about 1900, but 50 minutes later limited power became available. The web news channel said it was not clear when full power would be restored.
Most of the island’s popular restaurants and entertainment spots closed leaving the usually brightly lit streets of tourist zones dark and almost deserted.
World’s casino hub hosts expo
May 22, 2013 by AFP
Filed under News, North Asia
MACAU, 22 May 2013: Casino industry leaders met in the world’s biggest gambling hub of Macau on Tuesday for the Global Gaming Expo Asia, a three-day fair of gambling innovations at the glitzy Venetian Macau hotel.
The largest gaming event in Asia, showcasing the industry’s latest products, services and technologies, opens to the public on Wednesday with machine companies focusing on Asian content.
The gaming sector has boomed in Asia over the past decade, led by the former Portugese colony of Macau which now generates more than six times the gambling revenue of Las Vegas thanks mainly to high-rolling Chinese VIPs.
Business jets search for wings
GENEVA, 22 May 2013: Manufacturers of business jets can look forward to climbing sales in the years to come thanks to emerging markets as they gather in Switzerland for an annual air show, having survived the turbulence of the global financial crisis.
But “we’re still waiting for the real recovery,” noted Eric Trappier, chief executive of Dassault Aviation, which will have three versions of its luxurious Falcon jet on display on the tarmac at Geneva at the three-day EBACE show that opens Tuesday.
In 2012, the French company sold 58 jets compared to 36 the previous year, to take a 17% market share according to analysts at the Teal Group aviation consultancy.
Croatia back in the air
ZAGREB, 22 May 2013: Croatia Airlines cabin crew on Tuesday ended their eight-day strike after agreeing to new contracts, including salary cuts, in a move to re-establish the loss-making airline’s flight schedule.
“Flights scheduled on Wednesday will be operated according to regular timetable,” Croatia Airlines said on its website.
Union leader Ivana Lojo said cabin crew employees had accepted nine percent salary cuts, less than that initially sought by management, state-run HINA news agency reported.
Thailand’s tourism continues to soar
May 21, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 21 May 2013: International tourist arrivals to Thailand posted a growth of 19.04% during January to April this year, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.
Released late last week, the ministry’s research registered 8,841,730 trips to the country during the first four months up from 7,427,772 visits during the same period last year.
In April alone, there were 2,013,012 trips, up 19.38% compared to 1,686,268 visits during the same month in 2013. The Songkran festival in mid-April was identified as the key driver that drew tourists in a month when temperatures soar to almost unbearable levels in the Thai capital.
Danang tackles scams
May 21, 2013 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Vietnam
DANANG, 21 May 2013: Six agencies in Danang will collaborate to crackdown on tourist related scams to help build tourism competitiveness.
The city’s six agencies are: Public Order Police Department; Danang’s 115 Emergency Centre; local market management agency; Transport Department’s traffic inspectors; Aviation Security Centre; and Danang Visitor Centre.
They will support local police to deal with accidents, robberies, fraud, rip-offs that involve foreigners.
