Double deck buses on tour

DANANG, 17 July 2017: Danang officially launched its open-top double-deck bus tour, last week, to improve the sightseeing experience for visitors.

Local media reported the city bus tour is being operated in co-operation with the Empire Group. The hop-on-and-off tour will attract independent travellers who have not pre-booked tours.

The first batch of 12 open-top buses will start services this month at CocoBay – Danang’s largest coastal entertainment and hospitality complex. In 2012, the city introduced battery-powered vehicles for tourists to explore coastal destinations as a promotion for environmentally friendly public vehicle use. Read more

Double deck bus debut in Hanoi

HANOI, 5 July 2017: The first double-deck bus to ferry tourists around the city on sightseeing tours started its trial run in Hanoi last Friday.

Local media reported double-deck, open-top buses, the first of their kind in the capital city, are providing services under the management of the Transport Corporation Hanoi and Truong Hai Automobile.

Each double-deck bus can seat up to 14 persons with two specially designed seats assigned for wheelchair users on the lower deck. The upper open-deck can seat up to 42 passengers. The bus has a retractable roof that can be closed during bad weather. Read more

Halong bay raises fees

QUANG NINH, 4 April 2017: Quang Ninh has set new sightseeing fees for Halong Bay effective 1 April.

Local media reported that new fees for sightseeing routes in Halong and Bai Tu Long Bays will range from VND200,000 to VND250,000 (USD9 to USD11) per route.

Previously, visitors paid an entrance fee of VND120,000 (USD5.27) and additional fees for each single site they visited, ranging from VND30,000 to VND50,000 (USD1.32 to USD2.2) per one site. Read more

Scenic views from a bus

HO CHI MINH CITY, 25 January 2017: An open upper deck-bus service will be introduced in June to offer tourists city tours with scenic views from the upper deck.

Local media reported HCMC-based Anh Viet Tourist Company has asked the city’s government for permission to launch open-top buses to serve tourists. It needs a special permit to operate the unusual two-deck buses.

The company CEO, Nguyen Khoa Luan, was quoted saying the bus service would be up and running in June, this year, if things go to plan. Read more

Sydney summer draws a crowd

SYDNEY, 2 December 2016: More than 10 million overnight and day trip visitors are expected to visit Sydney during Australia’s summer months, December to February.

To make the most of the warm weather, world famous beaches, globally recognised icons, first class dining scene and calendar of events.

Read more

Galle Face Hotel opens travel office

COLOMBO, 17 October 2016: One of the oldest hotels in Asia, Galle Face Hotel, is embracing travel planning with the opening of a travel office selling a suite of package holidays.

The iconic 152-year-old hotel calls it a bold move calling its tour offerings the “ABCs of Sri Lanka.”

Excursions will school guests in the appreciation of the country’s animals, beaches, and culture, the hotel’s announcement states. Read more

Wat Phra Kaew rules change

BANGKOK, 20 September 2016: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports joins hands with the Bureau of the Royal Household to improve the visitors experience at the capital’s top attractions; Wat Phra Kaew.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha had earlier ordered the tourism ministry to ensure there were areas for worship at  the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) for Buddhists, off limits to tourists, and different zones of the temple designated for sightseeing purposes only.

The temple stands next to the iconic Grand Palace in the heart of Bangkok’s heritage district known as Rattanakosin. Read more

Are traditional guides redundant?

CHIANG MAI, 15 July 2016: Destination Asia is one of the first tour operators to team up with Chiang Mai’s Tab-Tour offering tourists a do-it-yourself tour of the city’s heritage attractions minus a tour guide.

Destination Asia reported, last week, in a news update that it has teamed up with Tab Tour Thailand to give clients a tour they can control from the palm of their hand.

Tab-Tour calls the leisure travel module Tourist City Rallies and for the corporate and incentives markets it offers another product using tablets branded “Chiang Mai Treasure Hunt.” Read more