Prices climb as fuel crisis worsens

Air travel is definitely getting more expensive. Unfortunately, as long as Oil price keeps soaring to new records highs, there's not much we can do about it and hope that prices fall again in future. This has become a real serious issue and lots of travelers have to consider their travel plans for upcoming high season.

This month several international airlines’ offices in Bangkok have announced an increase in fuel surcharges:

• Singapore Airlines will adjust its fuel surcharge from US$75 to US$110 per sector for Bangkok-Tokyo; Singapore to Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo and Tokyo-Los Angeles starting 30 July.

• Philippines Airlines is raising its fuel surcharge en route Bangkok-Manila from US$65 to US$85, effective from 28 July.

• El Al Israel Airlines increased its surcharge US$50 per sector to US$227 for economy class and US$252 for business class, effective from 15 July.

• Austrian Airlines went up 6 euro to 106 euro per sector for long-haul flights while short-haul travel climbed 3 euro to 35 euro.

• From 10 July, China Eastern Airlines increased to CNY550 per sector for Southeast Asian and Southern Asian destinations and CNY1,100 per sector to Europe, America, Australia, Africa and Middle East.

• Air France/KLM charge 139 euro per sector for long-haul travel and 39 euro per sector for intra Europe flights from 10 July.

• Myanmar Airways International now charges Bangkok-Yangon at US$30 per sector.

• One Two Go Airlines climbed from Bt750 to Bt850 per sector, effective from 5 July.

Wanted: Globe Trotters for Asian Travel Adventure Competition

GreatEscape2008: The Asian Scavenger Hunt, is looking for forty globetrotting adventurers to compete in the first of its kind Asian-centered scavenger hunt travel adventure competition. The adventure is not just about fun and games, the winners will win a A$15,000 trip.

Built on the same successful idea as its big brother around the world travel adventure competition -The Global Scavenger Hunt, this slightly shorter two-week regional version is scheduled to take place beginning and ending in Australia between November 8th and the 22nd this year.

Outside magazine calls The Global Scavenger Hunt, “…one of the most amazing trips in the world.” A former participant said, “It is like Survivor, The Amazing Race and the Eco-Challenge all rolled into one except with much more cultural interaction!"

“GreatEscape is all about allowing real travelers to compete in a real travel adventure competition, for all the right reasons - the love of travel, trusting strangers in strange lands and giving something back to the planet,” said Event Director William Chalmers, “Some have called our annual event the ‘Olympics of Travel’, some refer to it as A Blind Date with the World because our travelers won’t have any foreknowledge as to what countries they’re going to until the event is underway, and some have even called it a ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. I like that one!”

For two weeks, 20 teams of two will travel through at least 6 Asian nations. Teams earn points by completing a series of cultural-oriented scavenges (finding Buddha’s tooth in Sri Lanka; explaining Thai cooking flavours; visiting lost cities) and challenges (take a photo of a wild orangutan in Borneo; enter a camel race in India; learn to belly dance in Turkey) in exotic destinations.

A cultural immersion at its best, the event is designed to be a rally rather than a flat out race. The object is to test each team’s ability to combat not only the inevitable fatigue, but language difficulties, cultural differences, their appetite for strange foods, logistical snafus and team dynamics in the milieu of a well organized competition.

Teams and single travelers alike, looking to participate should visit The Asian Scavenger Hunt’s official website GlobalScavengerHunt.com and enter online or call the Australian contact Greg Clayton at 0433 118454.

The A$7,495 per person entry fee includes: all international airfare, 15-nights of hotel accommodations (based on double occupancy), some airport transfers, about 30% of meals, and other event-related goodies and hospitality events. The rate is 10% commissionable to travel agents.

www.asiatraveltips.com

"Her Own Way: Thailand - The Woman's Paradise"

Thailand a woman's paradise? - who would have thought, but read on as Tourism Authority of Thailand is targeting in a new online marketing campaign women travelers.

Her Own Way: Thailand — The Woman's Paradise captures all the specific women's products and requirements in Thailand, including golf, shopping, spa and beauty, accommodation with special facilities for women, and more. These travel products are brought together with the best exclusive deals customized only for the project. The exclusive deals are ensured to be the least expensive in comparison to any other promotions in the country. According to TAT, the targets are women travelers from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East.

In addition, the mini site contains insightful information for women on selecting accommodation, where to shop, personal safety, and many other issues pertinent to helping female travelers to enjoy safe and cost effective stays in Thailand. Apart from that, there is an E-Game for female users with an exciting prize worth US$1,000.

Beyond the above, several e-marketing activities are carried out to emphasize and promote the campaign. The activities include banner advertisement and e-mail sponsorship with female community websites. An even more splendid activity is the database partnership with Thai Airways to launch exclusive deals through the airlines' Royal Orchid Plus female members' database.

TAT will be targeting one million impressions through the Her Own Way focused group marketing campaign, with the aim of attracting more women travelers to the Kingdom as well as designating Thailand as a top-of-mind destination for women travelers.

The micro-site specializes in specific grouped female products with the intention of influencing more women travelers to choose Thailand as their holiday destination.

http://HerOwnWay.TourismThailand.org