STB rejigs travel agents act

SINGAPORE, 23 June 2017: Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Singapore Tourism Board are seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the Travel Agents Act and Regulations.

The public consultation exercise will run through to 12 July.

The review of the Travel Agents Act and Regulations is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework and facilitate a pro-business environment in the travel agents industry as well as enhance consumer protection (1).  Read more

Safety warning at beach resorts

BANGKOK, 12 June 2017: Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, last week,  sent an announcement to the Association of Thai Travel Agents asking its members to refrain from offering diving activities to tourists on the first day they arrive in Thailand.

According to the statement, the ministry says it made the statement out of concern for the welfare of tourists who might be suffering from jet lag, or are tired after a long flight.

Chinese tourists who love water sports are the main target for the new rule, which is a response to an increase in marine accidents including drowning. Data showed that visitors were more at risk the day immediately following their arrival in Thailand. Read more

Centara hosts European agents

HUA HIN, 29 May 2017: Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin showcased its range of food and beverage outlets, by hosting a welcome dinner for 180 travel representatives from the German speaking market who were participating in the Hua Hin leg of the DER Touristik Campus Live in Thailand 2017.

The workshop was organised by department of sales promotion, the CAMPUS Team of the DER Touristik KG, Europe’s leading tour and travel operator under REWE Group. Read more

Teeth fixed on holiday

HO CHI MINH CITY, 25 May 2017: Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism aims to focus on travellers who want to fix their teeth.

Local media quoted the city’s Department of Tourism deputy director, La Quoc Khanh, saying dental tourism was an important part of medical tourism, a key segment the city has identified as a priority.

“The dentistry industry should come up with a list of accredited clinics to introduce to tourists through tour operators and travel agents,” he said. Read more

Danang focuses on golf tourism

DANANG, 15 May 2017: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism says boosting golf tourism in Danang will stimulate quality tourism and drive economic growth in the central region.

Local media quoted VNAT deputy head, Ngo Hoai Chung, saying the country has 32 golf courses, nationwide, and another 60 are planned, but golf tourism has yet to take off due to poor business connections between travel agencies and golf tour operators.

“Links among travel agencies, golf courses operators and golf tournaments combined with MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions),  have been very poor.” Read more

Check before you buy travel

BANGKOK, 12 May 2017: Thailand’s Department of Tourism encourages travellers to be cautious before purchasing package tours and warns it will take legal action against companies that offer illegal travel services.

Last week, the 22 Chinese tourists, travelling on a tour provided by Xin Xing Travel Co, were abandoned by the roadside in Takua Thung district, Phang Nga province.

A Thai tour guide, Teerakeat Seahuang, was with the  Chinese tourists when they were abandoned 2 May. Read more

Traveliko start-up big on charity

BANGKOK, 5 May 2017: A new online travel portal named traveliko announced its imminent launch, Thursday, during a press conference hosted in Bangkok.

The specially developed web portal was designed from scratch to promote fair, ethical, value-added travel, while helping users make the world a better place.

Following beta version tests over three years, traveliko is being launched by a group of hospitality professionals. Read more

ATTA outlines its policy direction

BANGKOK, 3 May 2017: Association of Thai Travel Agents says the association will play a key role to help the country’s tourism industry grow as well as boost its members’ business.

Speaking at the association’s monthly meeting, last week, the newly elected president, Vichit Prakobgosol, reassured members that the incoming committee would work and adopt policies to help develop the tourism sector in a sustainable manner.

His campaign slogan was “Forward Together Team” with an emphasis on building stability, prosperity and sustainability. Read more

Agents discover Vietnam

HO CHI MINH CITY, 21 April 2017: Destination Asia Vietnam recently hosted a series of hosted high-end retail travel agent trips from the US following a growing interest in the market for luxury itineraries featuring Vietnam.

For many of the travel agents it was their first visit to Vietnam and Destination Asia wanted to show them authentic travel experiences using local knowledge.

The groups visited a variety of destinations including, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An in central Vietnam and the capital Hanoi. Read more

ATTA agents suffer Q1 decline

BANGKOK, 18 April 2017: China and Russian travel markets continue to decline, but India supplied a positive 25% growth in travel for members of the Association of Thai Travel Agents during the first quarter of the year.

January to March figures showed ATTA member companies handled 1,437,292 travellers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, representing a decline of 9.93% from 1,595,778 visits during the same period last year.

ATTA released its data, 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. Read more

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