Student’s death stalls tours

BEIJING, 21 June 2017: The death of US student, Otto Warmbier, following his incarceration in North Korea has shaken tour operators catering to thrill seekers, with several reconsidering whether to take Americans to the reclusive state.

Warmbier, 22, died Monday after being medically evacuated to the United States, last week, suffering from severe brain damage, with US President Donald Trump blaming Pyongyang’s “brutal regime” for his plight.

Young Pioneer Tours, the China-based travel agency that took Warmbier to North Korea, said in a Facebook post that it would no longer allow US citizens on its trips. Read more

ASIA DMC bags six awards

SHANGHAI, 8 June 2017: ASIA DMC has been named winner at the World Travel Awards in an impressive six categories.

The company was awarded Asia’s Leading Destination Management Company 2017 and also received accolades for the leading DMC in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

ASIA DMC founder Tran Thanh Nam attended the gala ceremony held at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai on the 4 June to collect the awards, accompanied by group managing director Linh Le and Indochina Managing Director Nguyen Thi Tuyet. Read more

Awards for being sustainable

SINGAPORE, 8 June 2017: Tourism operators in Southeast Asia who claim they are sustainable can prove it by entering the new ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Awards (ASTA), launched under the ASEAN’s Tourism Strategic Plan 2016 to 2025.

Twenty sustainable tourism winners – two from each ASEAN member state – will receive a package of benefits that will raise their business profile.

Winners will be highlighted on their national tourist office website and stand to gain exposure through NTO press conferences at trade shows such as ATF, TRAVEX, ITB and WTM. Read more

Kuoni offloads travel to JTB

BANGKOK, 1 June 2017: Once a mega tour operator, what remains of Kuoni Global Travel Services’ tour operations will be bought out JTB Corporation, just weeks after Thomas Cook India acquired the Swiss group’s network of destination management companies.

In its media release, Wednesday, Kuoni Global Travel Services confirmed it had been acquired by Japan’s JTB Corporation.

“The partnership formed between Kuoni Global Travel Services and JTB Corporation will open prospects to become a global No 1 Destination Management Company,” the statement read. Read more

ASIA DMC targets Pacific markets

HANOI, 24 May 2017: ASIA DMC has identified Pacific Rim countries Australia and New Zealand as markets ripe for development by hiring  travel industry specialists Lindy Andrews to head its new office in Sydney and Mark Snoxell to head New Zealand sales.

Andrews is charged with positioning ASIA DMC in Australia as a supplier of high-end leisure, tailor-made journeys and corporate travel experiences into Southeast Asia.

Snoxell in the position of director of sales and marketing New Zealand will focus on key travel touch points related to nature, sustainability and discovery of pristine destinations. New direct Air New Zealand flights from Auckland to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are providing the driver to push the market forward faster still. Read more

Singapore top veggie spot in ASEAN

SINGAPORE, 19 May 2017: Globally, Dubai, the UK and Singapore were the top choices for vegetarian travellers, according to a Cox & Kings survey.

Third placed Singapore came out ahead over ASEAN rivals Malaysia and Singapore in the Veggie ranking commissioned by one of India’s top travel firms.

Indian Express quoted the Cox & Kings survey results, Thursday, saying that due to the high vegetarian population in the country, outbound travellers choose a destination based on accessibility to vegetarian food. Read more

Nat Geo enters tour business

WASHINGTON, 5 May 2017: National Geographic Expeditions announced, Thursday, that it has acquired Global Adrenaline, a full-service tour operator that designs, plans and operates customised trips for groups and independent travellers worldwide.

The transaction is a key part of Nat Geo’s overall growth plan for the travel business.

Global Adrenaline currently operates a number of land-based National Geographic Expeditions’ itineraries as well as its growing private and custom expeditions business. Read more

Indian takeover at Asian Trails

BANGKOK, 4 May 2017: Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited has acquired a number of Kuoni’s destination companies, including Thailand headquartered Asian Trails through its fully owned subsidiary Thomas Cook India Group.

Kuoni’s Destination Management Specialists includes Asian Trails, Australian Tours Management, Allied TPro, Desert Adventures and Private Safaris.

The purchase puts the companies under the direct control of Thomas Cook India Group. Read more

Asia DMC launches Roots and Fruits

HANOI, 29 March 2017: HG Foundation and ASIA DMC are celebrating 20 years since the founding of its parent travel firm in Vietnam with a ‘Roots and Fruits’ tree-planting campaign across the nine countries in Asia where the company currently operates.

The campaign will unfold with the planting of hundreds of fruit trees across remote areas in countries where the company has a presence.

Roots and Fruits spearheads tree planting using funds raised by charitable initiatives introduced through the tour operator’s subsidiaries; ASIA DMC, Bhaya Cruises, Sens Asia, Gotadi and HG Aviation. Read more

Code to improve tourist behaviour

HANOI, 22 March 2017: Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued a code of conduct for tourists and tour operators.

Tuoi Tre News reported the etiquette guidebook consists of two chapters with 12 articles, aimed at showing travel agents how to be service minded and travellers how to behave.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism chief, Nguyen Van Tuan, was quoted saying the guidebook will help to build a better image of the nation’s tourists, amid complaints by foreigners. Read more

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