Vietnam promotion travel Australia

HANOI, 17 August 2017: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Singapore Airlines embarked on a Vietnam Tourism Roadshow, this week, that travels to key cities in Australia to drum up bookings for Vietnam.

The first event was held in Perth, 15 August, and follows with a presentation in Sydney and closes, 18 August, in Melbourne.

Australian expatriate, Linh Le, is the roadshow’s MC and co-host leading the delegation.  Read more

Turkey takes a long holiday

ANKARA, 17 August 2017: The Turkish government on Tuesday extended upcoming public holidays to 10 days in the hope of boosting the tourism sector which has been hit by a slump in foreign visitors.

Turks were already looking forward to several holidays in the next few weeks, with Victory Day on 30 August followed by the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice Festival from 31 August to 4 September.

But there had been pressure from the tourism sector for 28 to 29 August to be declared public holidays, creating a link to the previous weekend and giving people a full 10 days off. Read more

Adventure travel at its worst?

EFRAT, 17 August 2017: Foreigners yell “fire, fire, fire” before shooting their automatic weapons as Israeli instructors look on — but this is no military training.

The 20 or so Jewish tourists from South America are on an “anti-terrorism” course run by former Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. Their targets are balloons nearby.

“The aim of the training is not to teach you how to shoot,” Eitan Cohen, one of the instructors, says to the group, “but to make you understand what we do here in Israel to fight terrorism.” Read more

Malaysia taxes travel by the night

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 August 2017: It’s official Malaysia’s new tourism tax will be effective 1 September at a flat rate of MYR10 (USD2.33) a night.

Malaysians and permanent residents are exempt. Foreign tourists will be charged a flat rate of RM10 per room regardless of the accommodation category.

However the Ministry of Tourism clarified that homestays and ‘kampung’ stays registered with the Ministry will not collect the tax, according to The Star Online. Read more

DFS expands at cruise centre

SINGAPORE, 10 August 2017: DFS Group, a leading travel retailer, has unveiled its updated duty-free stores at Singapore Cruise Centre.

Since being awarded SCC’s first ever master duty-free and general merchandise concession in 2016, DFS has created a retail environment inspired by the local landscape that delivers DFS’ signature luxurious shopping experience.

For the first time, SCC consolidated a number of its existing duty-free concessions across six categories including wines, spirits and tobacco, beauty and confectionary into a single contract. Read more

Foodies flock to Mango Tree

BANGKOK, 9 August 2017: Foodie tourists will  be happy to know that Mango Tree, famed for its contemporary Thai food menu is planning expand the brand worldwide.

Initially, the brand achieved popularity in Japan, having expanded its footprint to 11 locations across the country, including six cafés in Tokyo.

The brand capitalises on the huge appeal Thai food commands with international tourists across Asia. Read more

Quality list aids travel

BANGKOK, 7 August 2017: Thailand’s Department of Tourism reports 673 establishments in 2016 passed evaluation and were accredited under the Thailand Tourism Standard scheme.

Released last week on the department’s website, the list identified establishments that had achieved the standard in the categories of accommodation, services, activities, attractions, tour business and tour guiding.

The scheme’s list, written in Thai, was introduced to raise standards and upgrade the country’s tourism businesses. It is geared to assisting domestic tourists to identify quality services, while building their travel confidence. Read more

2017 slumps 7% for Thai agents

BANGKOK, 7 August 2017: Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 3,365,734 travellers, January to July this year, at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports representing a decline of 7.2% from 3,627,261 trips during the same period last year.

ATTA released its data, late last week, based on fees member agencies pay to the two airports to provide a meet-and-greet service for international clients, but limited to travel through Bangkok.

The association vice president, Mingkwan Metmowlee, said organise programmes and provide products corresponding to the state’s policy would help to boost tourism business. Read more

France tops tourism chart

MADRID, 4 August 2017: France retained its position as the world’s favourite tourism destination in 2016, the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said Wednesday, defying concerns over terror attacks.

The United States came second followed closely by Spain, according to annual figures that the Madrid-based UNWTO normally announces in January, but which were delayed this year.

But although France stayed on top of the tourist arrivals chart by welcoming 82.6 million visitors in 2016, that was a more than 2% drop from the previous year, the figures showed. Read more

ATTA rolls out training modules

BANGKOK, 3 August 2017: Association of Thai Travel Agents will organise 12 training programmes for the remaining months of this year as a part of its policy to build skills for member travel agencies.

ATTA’s recently elected committee is now moving ahead on its promised policy to improve HR capital through digital marketing training courses.

The association says it will organise 12 training programmes August through to December; four events per months all open to members. Read more

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