CAL adds aircraft

TAIPEI, 20 December 2012: Taiwan’s leading carrier China Airlines said Tuesday it will lease four Boeing 777-300ERs as it seeks to build a more fuel-efficient fleet and lower the cost of its long-haul flights.

The airline said it had agreed to lease the passenger planes from US firm GE Capital Aviation Services Ltd and the aircraft were set to be delivered from 2014.

“To airlines, the use of fuel in a more efficient manner has become a key factor in keeping them profitable,” China Airlines said in a statement.

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Chiang Mai takes a stab at slow tourism

CHIANG MAI, 24 August 2012: Marketing green tourism and golfing are top the list of priorities for the Tourism Authority of Thailand Chiang Mai Office.

TAT Chiang Mai Office director, Chalermsak Suranant, told TTR Weekly that green and golf tourism are part of the so called slow travel project. It will include efforts to sell cycle trips on a route linking Chiang Mai to Lamphun and Lampang  and promoting  golf.

“We can raise awareness of green tourism through biking as well as encourage cycle tourists to explore the provinces’ scenery, way of life, temples, culture and history along the route.”

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Chang shuts down islands

TRAT, 11 July 2012: Mu Ko Chang National Park closed three islands that are part of the Chang archipelago Island  to prevent further damage to coral reefs.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ordered the closure of Thong Lang , Kra and Tien islands to aid coral reef rehabilitation.

Officials said there was no timeline for reopening the islands as coral bleaching damage was extensive. They blamed global warming.

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Whitewater adventures in Loei

LOEI, 6 July 2012: Whitewater rafting in Phu Ruea is attracting more adventure seeking tourists to this northeast province, according to a Tourism Authority of Thailand Loei office report.

TAT says the Phu Ruea whitewater rafting experience is the first and only one open to travellers in a region known as Isan. The course is on a section of a fast flowing river known as Sarn rapids. The river has its source in the Phu Luang mountain range and eventually flows into Heung River near the border of Laos.

Promotion of Sarn rapids whitewater rafting started a year ago in the hope it could boost tourism to this province at the north western side of Isan.

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Chumpol surprise on F1 bid

BANGKOK, 4 July 2012: Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa says Chiang Mai has been identified as a viable option to host the first ever Formula 1 race in Thailand.

The northern city was chosen as the most suitable venue for the track whichh could be constructed on a site owned by the Royal Agricultural Research Centre. It would use the same area accommodated the second edition of Royal Flora Ratchaphreauk earlier this year.

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Solid gains in Asia Pacific travel

BANGKOK, 29 June 2012: International arrivals into Asia/Pacific destinations grew by 10% year-on-year during March, according to preliminary data released by the Pacific Asia Travel Association yesterday.

All sub-regions reported solid gains with North America, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific showing double-digit growth. Despite its very large base of arrivals, Northeast Asia still managed to show healthy growth of 8% for the month, year-on-year.

PATA CEO, Martin Craigs, said: “Even under the constraints of the current global economy, the Asia/Pacific region continues to produce strong performances in international travel flows. This result, after just three months of 2012, has generated almost 7.5 million additional foreign arrivals into Asia/Pacific destinations. The continued growth puts the region firmly on track to reach PATA’s forecast of 450 million arrivals for calendar year 2012.”

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Hail a cable car to the Games

LONDON, 29 June 2012: Britain’s first urban cable car service opened to the public on Thursday, carrying passengers across the River Thames in London — just in time for the Olympic Games.

The five-minute ride takes visitors from Greenwich in southeast London to the Royal Docks in east London, joining Olympic venues on both sides of the river.

Each car provides 360-degree views taking in the Canary Wharf financial district, Greenwich and its historic maritime and timekeeping sites, the Thames Barrier — one of the world’s biggest flood defence systems — and the Olympic Park.

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