Air Asia to launch daily flights between Bangkok and Hong Kong

Great news from Air Asia:

Thai AirAsia is getting ready to launch direct daily flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok. The new route, which will be launched in October, will operate with AirAsia’s new Airbus A320 aircraft.

The daily flights will depart Bangkok at 16:30 arriving in Hong Kong at 20:15. The return leg will leave Hong Kong at 20:50 to arrive in Bangkok at 22:50.

Commenting on the new route launch Tassapon Bijleveld, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia, said, “We are thrilled to be pioneering the low cost model in Hong Kong, and to be extending our notoriously low fares to passengers throughout the region. The new Hong Kong - Bangkok route will help improve trade flows and investment in the region and provide increased access to Thailand for the huge tourism market in China, from where they will be able to easily connect to the many other exciting cities that AirAsia flies to.”

With strong tourism in both regions AirAsia is optimistic that the new route will achieve load factors of over 80% within the first year of operation.

THAI teams up with TAT

Thai Airways International join hands with Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote the country’s tourism and cut costs, and promises this is now a permanent co-operation.

TAT chairman of the board, Wanchai Salathulthat, said after a meeting held at the TAT office, 20 August, THAI and TAT have agreed to help each other create win-win situations.

Led by TAT governor and THAI president, a team has been set up comprising of THAI’s executive vice president for commercial and corporate communications director and TAT’s deputy governors for international marketing, domestic marketing, advertising and public relations and crisis management centre head.

Starting 1 October, marketing and public relations plans for the two units will be shared to merge some projects. TAT will take THAI to its overseas road shows, tradeshows, familiarization trips and event biddings, and give free space at overseas marts.

In exchange, THAI promises to insert TAT’s advertising materials at its facilities such as on the planes’ LCD screens, in lounges and at TG offices both in Thailand and overseas. Advanced bookings will be periodically shared with TAT’s Crisis Management Centre.

The two units expect their cooperative efforts will save on their budgets and boost each other’s performance and awareness.

According to THAI, because TAT’s first quarter starts on 1 October while TG’s starts 1 January, THAI cannot fully support the initiative until next year. The first joint project will be led by TAT and will be announced next month.

THAI Executive Vice President for Commercial Department, Pandit Chanapai, said the winter schedule has been fixed with a plan to boost weekly frequency to Moscow in October on a 255-seat A340-600 from three to four.

THAI experienced a 5% drop in regional flights during the second quarter, from April to June, especially to Korea, China and India because of rising fuel surcharges, China’s visa restrictions and India’s oversupply of flights. It recently suspended plans to expand flights to Mumbai and Bangalore.

TAT is reporting its preliminary figures for tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s immigration checkpoints from January to July that show an increase of 12.95% over last year to 6,540,126 passengers. China and India are showing a 24.06% and 13.11% jumps respectively while Korea tumbled 9.71%.

Vietnam Airlines increases frequencies and routes

VIETNAM Airlines is planning to expand international and domestic markets through increasing frequencies and opening new routes from now until 2010.

From Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Paris, the airline will increase frequency to 10 flights per week; to Frankfurt and Moscow, it targets daily flights.

Ho Chi Minh City-Los Angeles, Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City-Prague/London, Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City-Shanghai/Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City-Mumbai, and Ho Chi Minh City-Brisbane routes are to be introduced.

Around 10 new domestic routes are expected to be launched, with both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as the main hubs.

The airline's director of marketing planning department, Mr Trinh Ngoc Thanh, said the soaring oil prices had been challenging for all airlines in the world, including Vietnam Airlines.

He added: "Thanks to immediate and appropriate measures, we have been quite successful in minimising the effect. We see this difficult time as both a challenge and an opportunity; hence, no plans of expansion will be delayed."

The airline now serves 36 international and 25 domestic routes. It is also in the process of taking delivery of new aircraft to join its current fleet of 48 aircraft, which will be increased to 150 by 2020.

Hong Kong Express opens link to Phuket

Good news for tourism on Phuket Island:

Hong Kong Express Airways will commence non-stop Hong Kong-Phuket flights from 10 September. The airline will initially start with twice weekly service on Wednesday and Sunday, and from 13 October onwards it will operate four weekly flights with additional service on Monday and Thursday.

Between 10 September and 12 October, UO703 will depart Hong Kong at 1050 and arrive in Phuket at 1315. After a quick turn around, UO704 leaves at 1400 and arrives in Hong Kong at 1845.

From 13 October, the timetable changes. UO703 leaves from Hong Kong at 0830 and arrives in Phuket at 1055. The return flight leaves at 1140 and arrives back at its home base at 1635. The service is onboard a Boeing B767-300, with 160 seats in economy and eight in business.

The introductory fare is being quoted at Bt7,170 including Hong Kong security surcharges but excluding around Bt3,250 in taxes and surcharges.

For more information, Tel: 02 614 3008 or 02 614 3044.

Thailand Windsurfing Championship

Windsurfing Association of Thailand is organising the Thailand Windsurfing Championship 2008 Event 2 at Jomtien Beach Pattaya, 26 to 28 September.

About 50 windsurfers are expected to compete. They will vie for the highest scores in order to qualify for a bigger event of Thailand Windsurfing Championship 2008 to be held in November.

The event is co-organised by Windsurfing Association of Thailand and Pattaya City. For more information, tel: 02 396 2520

Fish nible treatment in a Thai Spa

What has become popular in Japan over last year has now found its way to Thailand:

Fish that nibble play a role in providing a treatment to clean up debris on hands and feet. The new treatment session are all part of the Fishmania experience introduced for the first time in Pattaya.

Fishmania, a new concept natural therapy spa, employs tiny fish with sharp teeth that nibble away at dead skin. The shop offering this gruesome treatment opened 11 August.

Fishmania managing director, Arphiradee Boonsom, said: “Our spa has a homely atmosphere, different from other spas. Guests require tranquility when they receive a treatment. Here, they can chat while having a fish therapy.”

She got the idea for a fish nibbling therapy when travelling to several countries where fish spas are popular such as in the US, Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Therefore, she decided to establish the first in Pattaya to see if it would prove popular.

At present, the target customers are mostly international visitors, mainly Russians, who are introduced to it by travel agents. Now as the grand opening takes place this month, more walk-in guests will come to use this service.

As for group therapy, the spa can accommodate 10 to 12 people at a time. Full time therapy takes 50 minutes, of which 20 minutes is for fish therapy and 30 minutes is for standard treatments.

Fish therapy originated from the fish called Garra Rufa or Doctor Fish in the river basins of Turkey. The idea is for the fish to nib the affected and dead skin areas in order to let the healthy skin grow. However, the fish works in this spa is called Siam Doctor Fish due to Thailand’s import policy and the export restriction enforced in Turkey.

“After I consulted with the Department of Fisheries, they suggested a near relative fish species to the Doctor Fish that can be found in the waterfalls in Thailand. We carefully researched this so it does not harm guests. Some fish becomes violent when it dwells in a limited space. Finally, we found Siam Doctor Fish which works like Garra Rufa and has a gentle disposition,” she explained.

Visitors can choose whether they want to receive a group therapy in the public pool with 1,000 fish or private therapy in a bath with around 200 to 300 fish. A 50 minute treatment package is available for walk-in guest at Bt1,200 (feet) and Bt900 (hands).

For more information and reservation, tel: 089 936 0272.

More hotels for Phnom Penh

Construction of a 16-storey Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel should be completed in 2011.

Situated on the east bank of the river on the Chhroy Changva peninsula in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo district, the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel will feature 799 rooms with two conference halls with a seating capacity for 1,500 persons.

The new Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel will be the third five-star hotel operated by Sokimex in Cambodia, joining Sokha hotels in Sihanoukville and Siem Reap. Two more are on the drawing boards.

The new hotel will provide up-scale accommodation for tourists in the capital city, where tourism authorities claim there is still a lack of supply.

According to the Tourism Ministry, in 2007, Phnom Penh has 137 hotels with 6,407 rooms. Government official report, high-end hotel rooms serving luxury and business travellers is failing to keep up with annual tourism growth.

Ministry of Tourism, director general, Kousoum Saroeuth, estimates that there is a shortage of about 1,500 hotel rooms in Phnom Penh, mainly for high-end hotels, and of about 1,500 rooms in Sihanoukville due to tourist growth and the business boom.

Currently, Cambodia has about 350 hotels with approximately 20,000 rooms nationwide, including 140 in Phnom Penh, 100 in Siem Reap and about 50 in Sihanoukville, with the rest in other provinces.

Krabi Airport plans further expansion

More good news for Krabi:

Krabi Airport is planning another phase of expansion that will include renovation of the old passenger building into a domestic terminal and addition of two more parking bays (aprons). Works are slated to start early next year and will take two years to complete.

The airport's old passenger building, being used currently by Thai Airways International as its catering facility, will be renovated with 250-million baht (US$7.40 million) and will have one contact gate and a walk-way bridge connecting with the current new terminal.

It will also spend another 180 million baht developing two more parking bays, from the existing two which can hold large aircraft such as Boeing747 and Boeing737 jets.

Despite the airport being completely expanded in 2006 with a new terminal and longer runway, airport director, Mr Atthaya Lapmakm, said it was facing congestion problems especially during the high tourist seasons - from November to March.

Last year, the airport handled 893,338 passengers. Mr Atthaya said the airport expected to see a slight increase on the number of passengers for this year as some low-cost carriers had stop flying through the airport. However, he added charter flights from Northern Europe were expected to increase to 10 flights from four per week.

Krabi Airlines confirms November inaugural flight

Krabi Airline has again confirmed it will operate a charter flight from Oslo and Munich in November. The announcement comes after it postponed its inaugural fight on the Krabi-Bangkok (Don Muang)-Oslo and Krabi-Bangkok (Don Muang)-Munich services this year.

Krabi Airline marketing and reservation acting director, Ms Laddawan Phuemkrathok, said the inaugural flight was now confirmed with fully booked flights to inaugurate from Oslo on November 1 and from Munich on November 4, using Boeing 74- 300 aircraft with 400 seats.

The airline expected a cabin factor of 80 per cent from October 2008 to March 2009 and 40 per cent for the remaining months in the first years of operations, she added.

Next year, the airline plans to operate a scheduled flight on the Krabi-Busan route, using Boeing 737-300ER.

Krabi Airline has appointed Dandong Air Network its general sales agents in South Korea, and its International Travel Service and Aviareps for Norway and Germany, respectively.

Village latches on to ecotourism

For travellers who want more than sun, sea and sand, a Phuket village sells a introduction to the life of a fishing community.

Tourism is emerging as a means to improve village economies and strengthen conservation efforts on Phuket island where efforts are underway to revive damaged mangrove forests.

Situated in Pa Klok sub-district, Thalang District, Ban Bang Rong or Bang Rong Village is presenting travellers will an opportunity to take a closer look at rural life. The elders of this Muslim community hope that by introducing tourism it will help efforts to revive and conserve the mangrove ecology that has suffered over the years following a concession awarded a charcoal factory back in the 50s and the constant incursions by greedy land developers.

The village could become a model that shows tourism can provide an alternative income, fund welfare and even assist the elderly and students.

Office of Education’s councillor for natural resources and environmental management and a community leader, Jirasak Torthip, says community-based tourism was the last option for the village to counter the destruction of the mangrove forest.

“In 2006, when the government ended the mangrove concession, the community was given the rights to manage the forest, but they were deep in debt by then and the future looked very bleak, he said.

“Our development master plan started in the Masjid, where villagers meet to pray. Problems were discussed. Young people were assigned to survey the problems and identify solutions. The objective was to help overcome debt and buy back land from investors that could be sold to villagers at a low interest,” Mr Jirasak elaborated. “The fund started with just Bt20,000, but has since grown to Bt2 million.”

Tourism was identified as the most cost effective way to revive the fortunes of the village mainly because there was a constant supply of tourists at Phuket’s popular resorts all within driving distance.

Eco-tourism started five years ago and since then the mangrove forest has slowly recovered until it covers 3,000 rai. This in turn has aided the local fishermen as the mangroves are the kindergarten in a complicated ecological cycle. Dugong or sea cows visit the waterway once more a sign that the project is at last showing signs of success.

Revenue earned from tourist visits goes to the community for welfare such as monthly salary for elders of over 60 years who live alone, scholarship for children in the village, health care — Bt200 a night for income compensation for those who admitted to hospital.

However, the community does not offer home stay programme due to the religious principles on segregation of gender for sleeping arrangements. If vistiors want to stay overnight they to agree to be housed in separate accommodation, not with a local family.



NOTEPAD

Ecotourism programmes:

• Trekking and kayaking, Bt700 per person with lunch. Running from 0930 to 1530, the programme includes: trekking in Khao Phra Thaew Wildlife Park and Forest Reserve, watching gibbons that were released to natural habitat under Gibbon Rehabilitation project and endangered sealing wax palms; fresh seafood lunch; boat tour seeing fishermen’ lifestyle—fish and shell farms; kayaking around mangrove forest.

• Fishing with villagers, overnight programme from 1700 to 0630, Bt4,200 per boat with dinner for maximum of six people. Tourists board a local fishing boat and visit traps to collect crabs and shrimps while camping on Naka Island,

• Day trip to Panak Island in the nearby Phang Nga province, running from 0930 to 1600, Bt7,200 per boat with lunch for maximum of five persons. Activities include kayaking to visit Bat Cave, Hoi Tib Cave and Ice cream Cave, lunch on Phanak Island then back to Naka Island relaxing on the beach.

• Kayaking around Mangrove forest nearby the village, Bt200 per hour..

Contact 076 260 351, 081 892 9204 084 764 4988.

IMPACT to build two new Bangkok hotels

More Bangkok hotel developments are underway:

Citing the growing trend of meetings and conventions, IMPACT Exhibition Management is set to start the construction of a 400-room, four-star hotel early next year.

The hotel (yet to be named), will be located next to IMPACT Convention Center and is slated to be completed by 2011. Around this time, IMPACT will build a second property - the 400-room, five-star Hotel Jubilee.

IMPACT managing director, Mr Paul Kanjanapas, said the company would manage the two properties on its own, but he did not rule out the option of engaging management or franchise agreements from international hotel chains either.

Meanwhile, the company's plan to convert a condominium building into a three-star IMPACT Lodge, which was supposed to open later this year, is now off given tight restrictions imposed by the local authorities.

Also on the drawing board is a theatre for 3,500 to 4,000 seats, a conversion of the existing IMPACT Exhibition Center Hall 1. Works will likely start in April next year and will take about three months to complete.

Downside to the Games

Interesting piece of Olympic related news to Thailand:

China’s Olympic visa restrictions succeeded in stifling bookings from Thailand. What was earlier billed as a dream event turned into a nightmare for Thai outbound operators failed to deliver enough bookings to keep their scheduled China trips alive through the Olympics.

Toughening Beijing Olympic visa policy ended group visas, while requesting for an individual visa required more documents such as hotel reservations and airline tickets. The new policies were introduced to beef up security.

For tourists, the only positive spin-off was Beijing hotels suffered a massive loss in bookings.

NS Travel & Tour outbound operation manager, Sommai Mannatirai, said: “Before these policies were introduced, hotels were demanding a minimum stay of 14 days but I heard that it had now dropped to10 days. Rates are still very high, about 200% to 300% over pre-Olympic rates”

Panda Holiday sales manager, Wanlapa Poontawachirapan, said temporary policies caused inconveniences to group travel as her clients had to pay more to obtain a visa.

“For a group visa, it costs Bt800 per person, but with an independent visa, you have to pay Bt1,000 per person,” she added.

As Beijing became a high-priced destination, other destinations in China suffered from earthquakes especially Chengdu in the southwest.

“Roads were damages making it impossible to reach tourist attractions,” she continued.

Majestic Travel International sales supervisor, Jiratthiti Suthipholphaibul, commented: “After the Olympics, if these regulations continue, we will expect to see a major decline in travel to China. Right now travelling to China is for business reasons.”

Although there are still some booking to Beijing, Kunming, Guilin and Shanghai, most of them come from incentive groups. During this period last year, agents said there bookings were packed and the country was at the height of its popularity with travellers. However, they are not predicting a return to that level of popularity this year.

ATTA stats for Jan to Jul 08

Travel agents handled 1,405,329 customers through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport according to the Association of Thai Travel Agents’ latest statistics for January to July. It represented a decrease of 1.19% when compared with the same period in 2007.

During the first seven months, five markets in Asia showed a drop in business. China fell 7.48% to 205,961 arrivals; Korea down 25.56% to 176,563; Hong Kong down 42.17% to 35,053; Singapore down 42.94% to 21,728; and Philippines down 8.54% to 18,617.

The declines in these important short-haul markets are blamed on a global economic recession. Atta committee member, Suwannee Sakkumjorn, who runs a Korean tour company, claimed the increase in fuel surcharges on flights and the decline in charter flight business were directly related to the decline in spending power.

However, she expects an improvement mid-August when the tour prices normally go down following the end of Korean school break.

According to Atta’s chart, the top 10 markets during the seven months were China, Japan, Korea, Russia, India, Taiwan, UK, Germany, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

The highest increase in business was monitored in Vietnam that soared from 15,660 to 45,392 arrivals. The biggest decline was seen in Sweden where business dropped 60.61% from 9,971 to 3,928 arrivals.

Atta measures trips handled by its member countries, but its figures represent the most up to date and reliable indicator in the market.

SAS’s non-stop Bangkok-Stockholm service starts 28 October

More airline news today:

SAS Scandinavian Airlines adjusts flight schedule for coming winter season, starting 28 October. The current six times a week Bangkok-Copenhagen flights will be reduced to five, while adding a three weekly Bangkok-Stockholm service.

Using Airbus A340-300, non-stop flight to Stockholm departs Bangkok on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 1425 and return at 2020. Meanwhile, the Bangkok-Helsinki operation will depart on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 0025 and return at 2245.

Dragonair to launch Hanoi service

Thanks to Blogger for getting this Blog back on track, removing it from their spam list, no clue what really happened.

Anyway, a bit off topic but nevertheless today is luck day 8-8-08, for many Chinese and eventually final minutes before start to Olympics are counting down with millions across globe watching opening tonight. I am very much looking forward to show in just over 2 hours time...

Still, a piece of news crossed my desk today, with regards to flights to Hanoi.

Dragonair has announced it will launch a daily flight to Hanoi on October 26, using the Airbus 320.

Subject to government approval, tentatively, flight KA295 will depart Hong Kong on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 08.45 and arrive in Hanoi at 09.45. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, it will depart at 18.05 and arrive at Hanoi 19.00.

Return flight KA294 will depart Hanoi on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10.45 and arrive in Hong Kong at 13.35. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, it will depart at 19.55 and arrive in Hong Kong at 22.50.

Hong Kong Express adds flights to Bangkok

High load factor on the twice-daily Hong Kong-Bangkok service has led Hong Kong Express Airways to increase the frequency to 16 flights per week from late-July.

The airline has also appointed Bangkok-based Federation Transport its new sales agent. Federation Transport manager, Mr Pornlert Kanjananiyot, said the twice-daily flight, using Boeing737-800, received high traffic demand from passengers in mainland China travelling via Hong Kong to Bangkok, which prompted the airline to add two charter flights per week on the route.

He said the flight recorded a high satisfactory performance at 80 to 90 per cent in load factor, even under the circumstances of rocketing oil prices and economy slowdown.

However, Mr Pornlert said the airline had no plan to introduce any new service to other destination in Thailand this year and low demand would continue to stall its decision to resume the twice-weekly Hong Kong-Chiang Mai flight, which was suspended from end-March.

Siem Reap reaps record revenue

Angkor Wat continues to be Cambodia's biggest cash cow, with rising visitor numbers increasing Tourism revenue steadily.

Siem Reap Province reported it earned US$1,400 million in tourism revenue in 2007.

Cambodia’s local news agency, Agence Kampuchea Presse cited the province’s annual report showing tourism revenue of US$1,400 million in 2007.

The revenue was contributed by Angkor Wat, other temples, historical resorts and the Phnom Koulen waterfall.

According to the report, visitor numbers to Siem Reap increased by 24.08% in 2007 over the year before. The number of local and foreign tourists reached 2,033,816 last year, with the foreign figure jumping 30% to 1.1million.

The province currently offers 105 hotels and 201 guesthouses.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Tourism show that visitor arrivals through the Siem Reap International Airport during the first four months of this year slipped 1.15% to 291,804. In April alone arrivals at the airport dropped 6.92% from 57,960 to 53,947.