Hopes high for Haneda revival
TOKYO, 18 October 2010 – Seasoned travellers know that getting to Japan’s main international gateway, Narita Airport outside Tokyo, is a journey in itself.
Trains to Narita take at least one hour from central Tokyo and car journeys sometimes stretch out for more than two in heavy traffic. One-way taxi fares cost hundreds of dollars.
Hopes are therefore high that the opening of rival airport Haneda to a full menu of international flights will boost Tokyo’s travel hub credentials, being located a mere 20 minutes by monorail from the heart of the city.
PATA releases its July data
October 13, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
Bangkok, 13 October 2010 – Pacific Asia Travel Association released Wednesday preliminary figures for international visitor arrivals in Asia and the Pacific for July showing strong demand for travel with international inbound growth of 15%.
For the first seven months of 2010, international visits to the region grew by 12% year-on-year.
Growth in international arrivals to Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) also remained strong at 15% in July, boosted by double-digit growth in arrivals to Vietnam (+51%), Singapore (+24%), Thailand (+14%) and Indonesia (+11%).
US dollar continues slide in Asia
SINGAPORE, 11 October 2010 – The dollar slumped in Asian trade Monday amid growing expectation the Federal Reserve would pump more money to bolster the struggling US economy, analysts said.
The dollar fell to 82.03 yen in afternoon trade from 82.06 in late US trade Friday. Markets in Japan are closed for a public holiday and will re-open Tuesday.
The euro traded at US$1.3973, up from 1.3926.
ADB lifts its 2010 growth forecast for Asia
HONG KONG, 29 September 2010 – Asia’s developing economies should make long-term growth their top priority, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday as it lifted its 2010 growth forecast for the region.
The economies would expand 8.2% in 2010, up from the bank’s 7.5% forecast earlier this year, as the trade-driven region “recovered from the global (financial) crisis with remarkable speed and vigour,” the ADB said in its twice-yearly economic forecast.
Airlines running short of pilots
SINGAPORE, 16 September, 2010 – The commercial aviation industry will need more than a million pilots and maintenance personnel in the next 20 years, with Asia accounting for almost 40% of demand, Boeing said Thursday.
The US plane maker estimated world demand at 466,650 pilots and 596,500 maintenance personnel from 2010 to 2029, of whom 180,600 pilots and 220,000 maintenance personnel would be needed in Asia, particularly in China.
Airlines hit consumers with fare hikes
SINGAPORE, 8 September, 2010 – Asia-Pacific airlines are raising ticket prices as travellers return in their droves after holding back on their travel plans last year because of the global recession.
A strong economic rebound, led by China, has resulted in carriers filling more seats during the summer holidays and demand should remain robust despite slower expansion in the second half of this year, industry analysts said.
Singapore Airlines said it will raise fares on certain routes from 1 October, while Korean Air bumped up ticket prices for international passengers by up to 10% in August, its second increase since June.
Airline packs to Asia’s theme parks
September 2, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under Travel Deals
BANGKOK, 2 September 2010 – Royal Orchid Holidays rolls out ROH Six Journeys and Fun Plus, a series of theme park packages in five countries in Asia in a campaign that runs until 30 September to capture school holiday bookings, but competition is tough from the likes of Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.
The Thailand market promotion covers Hong Kong Disneyland, Universal Studios Singapore, Seoul Everland, Tokyo Disneyland, Osaka Universal Studio and Kuala Lumpur Sunway Lagoon.
Philippines aims to strike gambling gold
MANILA, 10 August 2010 – The Philippines is aiming to become Asia’s next big gambling hub with casino and entertainment resorts built in key tourist spots across the country, the nation’s gaming regulator told AFP Tuesday.
An “Entertainment City” in Manila to rival boom towns Macau and Singapore is at the heart of the plan and will hopefully be finished by 2014, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Cristino Naguiat said.
Sales soar at annual air show
FARNBOROUGH, 20 July 2010 – Aircraft manufacturers awaited more orders Tuesday at the Farnborough Airshow, a day after it took off with rivals Boeing and Airbus netting US$23 billion in new contracts.
A rush of orders for 192 short- and long-haul passenger jets worth a total of US$23.3 billion marked the start of the show, as airlines and leasing firms sought to meet soaring Asian demand for air travel.
The biggest single order came from Dubai airline Emirates for 30 Boeing long-range 777 aircraft worth a combined US$9.1 billion.
Agents cruise network sails
June 7, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK 7 June, 2010 – Asian Cruise Services Network, that represents ground handling companies specialising in cruises, will launch its first joint promotion during Seatrade All Asia Cruise Convention 2010, 24 to 25 June in Suzhou, China.
