The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to spend Bt45 million on advertising in the coming high season, aimed at boosting both the international and domestic markets.
See the rest here:
TAT lines up bt45-million ad campaign in high season
Of the budget, TAT will spend Bt15 million to re-establish its global campaign on the global television channels BBC World and National Geographic to stimulate tourism in the final quarter this year and early next year.
The agency will also launch a Bt30-million cinema advertising campaign to lure high-end consumers in the domestic market.
“Starting in October, TAT will run a 30-second TV ad under the theme ‘Amazing Thailand, Amazing Thailand Always Amazes You’ on BBC and National Geographic,” said Prakit Piriyakiat, TATdeputy governor for marketing communications.
It will be the first time in many years the authority will have used global mass-TV channels to approach tourists all over the world.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today announced its promotional strategy for 2011 along with several initiatives designed for specific market segments. For next year, TAT will still use the highly successful “Amazing Thailand” theme. It will be enhanced with the new tag line “Always Amazes You” to reinforce the many aspects of “Thainess” that are so appealing to visitors from all over the world. Some 15.5 million international tourist arrivals will be targeted for 2011, generating approximate revenue of 600 billion Baht (18.5 billion USD.), an increase of 9 percent from last year and the domestic tourism sector expects to have 91 million trips with revenue of 432 billion Baht (13.3 billion USD.), a rise of 3 percent from last year.
New markets continue to be targeted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, including attracting more regional tourists, as well as expanding others
The “Amazing Thailand” theme has gained worldwide recognition, as it built up the country’s strong brand and positioning as a destination that offers tremendous value-for-money, a unique culture, and a wide variety of experiences to visitors. This theme is being complemented by the “Always Amazes You” tag line to reinforce the concept of “Thainess” – that makes the Kingdom a truly exceptional destination and differentiates it from other countries, as well as have confidence in travelling to Thailand for their holidays and business meetings.
“For 2011, we will build on Thailand’s many traditional strengths as a preferred tourist destination by branching out into new market segments such as green and sustainable tourism,” said Mr Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. “We will also expand traditional channels into more online and social media activations, reaching the next generation of visitors who have a desire for more interesting and stimulating travel experiences.”
Outreach via traditional and social media channels
The TAT’s marketing campaigns for 2011 will be highly visible worldwide through traditional promotional channels including TV commercials and vignettes, print advertising, out-of-home media, brochures, and posters. There will also be an increased use of celebrity marketing, inviting popular actors, and sports figures to major events in Thailand, while also encouraging the movie industry to consider Thailand as a shooting location.
In the new media space, TAT will reach the younger demographic of travellers using social media; such as, an Amazing Thailand video channel on YouTube featuring short documentaries, more use of E-Books and E-Brochures, an iThai application to get Thai tourism updates on iPhone, and an Internet Call Centre that visitors can contact via computer. We will also build on the member network of the Thailand Fan Club that has already been established in our Europe and Middle East markets.
Positive signs for the tourism sector in 2011
There are many positive indicators of a promising year for Thai tourism in 2011. They include the stabilization of the Thai political situation, with foreign governments easing their travel warnings about Thailand. Recent surveys of tourists in Thailand showed there is still a very positive attitude towards Thailand, with them considering it a friendly, exciting, and welcoming place with a lot of variety.
Other positive indicators for the coming year include economies around Asia showing steady improvement, with countries such as India and Australia showing solid signs of growth. This is especially promising for short-haul markets such as India, China and Indonesia, which have large populations of potential visitors just a few hours away. The airline industry is also demonstrating its confidence in Thailand with new flights added from key markets; such as, Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam to Thailand.
The “Amazing Thailand – Always Amazes You” campaign will focus on specific activities that are popular with visitors from Asian markets. The value that Thailand offers to shoppers will be highlighted through the “Amazing Thailand Shopping Paradise” campaign. The foundation of this campaign is the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale,” which will see even more activities and special offers from participating department stores. TAT will more actively engage target markets through their local media and support for tour companies to sell holiday shopping packages.
There will be ongoing promotion of Thailand’s strength as a shopping destination. TAT will arrange for media familiarization visits to the country’s leading shopping areas. It will also work with major department stores to offer discount coupons to distribute to tourists and tour companies that offer shopping packages.
Given the popularity of golf among Asian visitors, TAT will also highlight Thailand’s hundreds of world-class golf courses. The “Amazing Thailand Golf Paradise” campaign will include the “Thailand Golf Invitation TAT 50th Anniversary Golf Tournament.” Marketing activities will include support for TV golf programmes, new promotional materials to highlight Thailand as a preferred golf destination, joint marketing, and support for “Golf Package” sales with tour companies and golf magazines; bringing leading golf columnists to Thailand so they can experience Thailand’s golf courses first hand, and inviting media to visit the Golf Travel Mart.
Tags: advertising, facebook, Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Bangkok Post : Financing property ownership in Thailand
Last week we covered the ownership of property by foreigners in Thailand and some of the pitfalls and possibilities. This gives rise to the question of how foreigners can actually finance the purchase of a property here.
Currently foreign ownership of property in Thailand is restricted to strata title leasehold apartments and condominiums for the vast majority. Some methods are available to own land but these are rare and sometimes not quite legal.
There are six major methods to finance the ownership of a property in Thailand and today we will look at three of them.
1. Cash is king: Until very recently this was the most common method of purchasing property in Thailand. As an expat owner it was expected that you would have sufficient resources to produce the cash required. Comparative prices have now increased and made property more expensive. This is partly because there are more sources of finance and these have also become more commonly available to Thai nationals. Demand by foreigners has also increased, pushing prices higher.
2. Local mortgage finance: In recent years Thai banks have vastly expanded the variety of mortgage products available to Thai nationals. A limited umber of Thai banks also consider applications by foreigners, and many restrictions apply if you are not Thai.
Foreign banks that have local operating licences may also offer mortgage financing. Because a foreign bank may not have legal title to land, it must have a local bank licence status to enter this market sector. To my knowledge there is only one foreign bank with a local licence offering mortgages to expats here.
At present the rules applied by the banks offering mortgages to expats say that you must have a current valid work permit for Thailand and it must have been held for at least a year, or sometimes two. So, if you are retired or if you do not live in Thailand but wish to invest, you are highly unlikely to be granted such facilities.
Mortgages are generally offered for 10 to 15 years, with a maximum loan repayment completion age of 60, and at a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of approximately 60% of the property value. Interest-only loans are not offered, so you must have a repayment mortgage loan to be reduced to zero over a relatively short period.
While there are no official figures on the success rate of mortgage applications by foreigners, anecdotal evidence suggests it is very low at just 5-10%. This shows just how difficult it is to obtain this type of finance.
3. Owner or developer finance: This is a relatively new method and is largely used for foreigners because of the difficulties they encounter when trying to finance a property purchase. The arrangement is simple, based on an agreement to purchase a property from a seller, partly using instalments to pay the price. Developers will tend to offer averages of, say, 25% of the purchase price to be paid over a period of, say, five years or more.
Depending on the individual agreement, financing may be granted at a nominal or very low interest rate. So, if you see a condominium for sale but you do not have all the finance in place, there may be a way to arrange this with the developer. In the case of a new development, there may be some time between the purchase date and the project completion date. During this period you may be able to accumulate more resources for your purchase.
A private purchase may also use this method. Where the seller is an individual this may make the difference between a fast sale and a long wait for the seller to realise the transaction. It may also help you secure your property where you weren't quite able to raise the necessary funding.
Be careful and make sure to have any agreement drawn up by a lawyer to ensure both parties are protected, and have your own lawyer review this agreement to make sure it will be acceptable to you.
All three of the above approaches may seem a bit daunting. Next week we will discuss the three other options that are more popular with expats, and with which they seem to have more success.
Currently foreign ownership of property in Thailand is restricted to strata title leasehold apartments and condominiums for the vast majority. Some methods are available to own land but these are rare and sometimes not quite legal.
There are six major methods to finance the ownership of a property in Thailand and today we will look at three of them.
1. Cash is king: Until very recently this was the most common method of purchasing property in Thailand. As an expat owner it was expected that you would have sufficient resources to produce the cash required. Comparative prices have now increased and made property more expensive. This is partly because there are more sources of finance and these have also become more commonly available to Thai nationals. Demand by foreigners has also increased, pushing prices higher.
2. Local mortgage finance: In recent years Thai banks have vastly expanded the variety of mortgage products available to Thai nationals. A limited umber of Thai banks also consider applications by foreigners, and many restrictions apply if you are not Thai.
Foreign banks that have local operating licences may also offer mortgage financing. Because a foreign bank may not have legal title to land, it must have a local bank licence status to enter this market sector. To my knowledge there is only one foreign bank with a local licence offering mortgages to expats here.
At present the rules applied by the banks offering mortgages to expats say that you must have a current valid work permit for Thailand and it must have been held for at least a year, or sometimes two. So, if you are retired or if you do not live in Thailand but wish to invest, you are highly unlikely to be granted such facilities.
Mortgages are generally offered for 10 to 15 years, with a maximum loan repayment completion age of 60, and at a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of approximately 60% of the property value. Interest-only loans are not offered, so you must have a repayment mortgage loan to be reduced to zero over a relatively short period.
While there are no official figures on the success rate of mortgage applications by foreigners, anecdotal evidence suggests it is very low at just 5-10%. This shows just how difficult it is to obtain this type of finance.
3. Owner or developer finance: This is a relatively new method and is largely used for foreigners because of the difficulties they encounter when trying to finance a property purchase. The arrangement is simple, based on an agreement to purchase a property from a seller, partly using instalments to pay the price. Developers will tend to offer averages of, say, 25% of the purchase price to be paid over a period of, say, five years or more.
Depending on the individual agreement, financing may be granted at a nominal or very low interest rate. So, if you see a condominium for sale but you do not have all the finance in place, there may be a way to arrange this with the developer. In the case of a new development, there may be some time between the purchase date and the project completion date. During this period you may be able to accumulate more resources for your purchase.
A private purchase may also use this method. Where the seller is an individual this may make the difference between a fast sale and a long wait for the seller to realise the transaction. It may also help you secure your property where you weren't quite able to raise the necessary funding.
Be careful and make sure to have any agreement drawn up by a lawyer to ensure both parties are protected, and have your own lawyer review this agreement to make sure it will be acceptable to you.
All three of the above approaches may seem a bit daunting. Next week we will discuss the three other options that are more popular with expats, and with which they seem to have more success.
Emerging markets funds: Turkey, Singapore, Thailand (Emerging Index) | The Emerginvest Stream
ETF iShares MSCI Thailand (THD)
The Thai economy was crushed in 1998 during the Asian currency crisis, but more than 10 years later, she returned in much better shape. Exports grew only in the last year the most in 20 years by 46.3 %. However, most economists predicted more than a 30 % drop.
Base rate of the Bank of Thailand is now 1.5 % but is expected to grow this year to 6 %. Even the International Monetary Fund predicts growth in the economy this year by 8 %.
Exporters in Thailand can also celebrate. Many European, Japanese and U.S. companies moving their production to Thailand mainly from China because of price increase. Sales to the United States and Europe jumped 37 % and to China 26 %.
The Thai economy was crushed in 1998 during the Asian currency crisis, but more than 10 years later, she returned in much better shape. Exports grew only in the last year the most in 20 years by 46.3 %. However, most economists predicted more than a 30 % drop.
Base rate of the Bank of Thailand is now 1.5 % but is expected to grow this year to 6 %. Even the International Monetary Fund predicts growth in the economy this year by 8 %.
Exporters in Thailand can also celebrate. Many European, Japanese and U.S. companies moving their production to Thailand mainly from China because of price increase. Sales to the United States and Europe jumped 37 % and to China 26 %.
Bangkok Post : Thai-Lao business blossoms
The value of cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos is forecast to reach 80 billion baht at the end of this year, as the Thai government is pursuing a new strategy to optimise free trade agreements.
The Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) agreement, which took full effect in January, was becoming a key driver for Thailand's border trade growth, said Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai.
Mrs Porntiva made the comment at the first Thailand-Laos Border Trade Festival: Gateway Grand Sale in Nong Khai province.
The festival runs until tomorrow and features outstanding products from both countries as well as business matchmaking events.
Border trade between Thailand and neighbouring countries totalled 639.16 billion baht last year, down 10.4% from a year earlier because of the effects of the global recession. Thailand's overland exports fell 10.8% to 366.11 billion baht and imports were down 9.8% to 273.04 billion, according to Foreign Trade Department statistics.
Cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos was totalled 71.98 billion baht in 2009, a drop of 12%.
But Mrs Porntiva has forecast that border trade will reach one trillion baht over the next three years, now that Afta has cut tariffs on thousands of Asean products to between zero and 5%.
Border trade is also a good channel for acquiring low-cost raw materials with low transport costs, she added.
Mrs Porntiva said the ministry would open three more permanent checkpoints _ in Loei, Nong Khai and Amnat Charoen _ bringing the total on the Thailand-Laos border to 11.
The Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) agreement, which took full effect in January, was becoming a key driver for Thailand's border trade growth, said Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai.
Mrs Porntiva made the comment at the first Thailand-Laos Border Trade Festival: Gateway Grand Sale in Nong Khai province.
The festival runs until tomorrow and features outstanding products from both countries as well as business matchmaking events.
Border trade between Thailand and neighbouring countries totalled 639.16 billion baht last year, down 10.4% from a year earlier because of the effects of the global recession. Thailand's overland exports fell 10.8% to 366.11 billion baht and imports were down 9.8% to 273.04 billion, according to Foreign Trade Department statistics.
Cross-border trade between Thailand and Laos was totalled 71.98 billion baht in 2009, a drop of 12%.
But Mrs Porntiva has forecast that border trade will reach one trillion baht over the next three years, now that Afta has cut tariffs on thousands of Asean products to between zero and 5%.
Border trade is also a good channel for acquiring low-cost raw materials with low transport costs, she added.
Mrs Porntiva said the ministry would open three more permanent checkpoints _ in Loei, Nong Khai and Amnat Charoen _ bringing the total on the Thailand-Laos border to 11.
Rabies vaccinations advised before travel to China, parts of Asia - CNA ENGLISH NEWS
aipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) Amid outbreaks of rabies in China and some other parts of Asia, the Department of Health (DOH) urged would-be travelers Sunday to get vaccinated against the disease before departing for those regions.
No human cases of rabies have been reported in Taiwan since 1959, apart from a single case imported from China in 2002, and no animal cases have been reported since January 1961, according to Council of Agriculture data.
Citing statistics compiled by the World Trade Organization, Chou Chih-hao, deputy director of the DOH's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , said there are about 50,000 fatal rabies cases in Asia every year.
However, the number of rabies fatalities on the Indonesian island of Bali, one of the most popular destinations for Taiwanese holidaymakers, has doubled to 53 so far this year from 26 for the whole of 2009.
In China, rabies has claimed 1,178 lives among the 1,296 reported cases up to August this year, compared to 2,213 cases with 2,131 fatalities for the whole of 2009.
Vietnam, meanwhile, reports an average of 9,000 cases every year, while India has around 30,000 cases per year.
Rabies, or hydrophobia, is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in mammals. It is most commonly transmitted through a bite from an infected animal, but occasionally through other forms of contact. Left untreated, the disease is almost always fatal.
Chou urged the public to get the three-stage vaccination one month before departing for rabies-affected areas, and to try to avoid contact with animals such as dogs, cats, bat
No human cases of rabies have been reported in Taiwan since 1959, apart from a single case imported from China in 2002, and no animal cases have been reported since January 1961, according to Council of Agriculture data.
Citing statistics compiled by the World Trade Organization, Chou Chih-hao, deputy director of the DOH's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , said there are about 50,000 fatal rabies cases in Asia every year.
However, the number of rabies fatalities on the Indonesian island of Bali, one of the most popular destinations for Taiwanese holidaymakers, has doubled to 53 so far this year from 26 for the whole of 2009.
In China, rabies has claimed 1,178 lives among the 1,296 reported cases up to August this year, compared to 2,213 cases with 2,131 fatalities for the whole of 2009.
Vietnam, meanwhile, reports an average of 9,000 cases every year, while India has around 30,000 cases per year.
Rabies, or hydrophobia, is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in mammals. It is most commonly transmitted through a bite from an infected animal, but occasionally through other forms of contact. Left untreated, the disease is almost always fatal.
Chou urged the public to get the three-stage vaccination one month before departing for rabies-affected areas, and to try to avoid contact with animals such as dogs, cats, bat
MACAU DAILY TIMES - PATA Travel Mart to open in Macau
Macau is for the first time to host the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart which will take place from September 15 to 17 at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel.
The event is expected to attract 1,000 participants and guests to the SAR.
Following the PATA Annual Conference in 2005, Macau is to host the PATA Travel Mart for the first time. More than 300 buyers, 500 sellers and 50 media representatives from around the world will gather in Macau for the event.
PATA will cooperate with the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organise a full-day seminar “Human Resources Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academic Collaboration” at the IFT tomorrow. The goal is to provide a forum for academia and industry practitioners to exchange opinions on issues of the supply and demand of qualified employees in the travel and tourism industry.
The 3-day travel mart event will provide a platform for 900 buyers and sellers to establish networks and seek business opportunities. In addition to workshops and case studies, tours to Macau’s world heritage sites will be organised for participants.
The event is expected to attract 1,000 participants and guests to the SAR.
Following the PATA Annual Conference in 2005, Macau is to host the PATA Travel Mart for the first time. More than 300 buyers, 500 sellers and 50 media representatives from around the world will gather in Macau for the event.
PATA will cooperate with the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organise a full-day seminar “Human Resources Challenges in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Promoting Industry and Academic Collaboration” at the IFT tomorrow. The goal is to provide a forum for academia and industry practitioners to exchange opinions on issues of the supply and demand of qualified employees in the travel and tourism industry.
The 3-day travel mart event will provide a platform for 900 buyers and sellers to establish networks and seek business opportunities. In addition to workshops and case studies, tours to Macau’s world heritage sites will be organised for participants.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
On the Road, Kathmandu to Lhasa, to View Mount Everest | By Michael J. Ybarra - WSJ.com
Along the Friendship Highway, Tibet
My eight-hour bus ride was into its 14th hour. We were stalled in traffic outside of Kathmandu on the eve of a Maoist-led general strike that would shut down Nepal's capital for an entire week.
I jumped out and waved down a motorcycle rider who was slowly weaving through the tangled skein of buses and trucks. I offered him money for a ride.
"Not everything is about money," he said.
I could smell the beer on his breath.
"Where are you from?" he asked.
"America," I said.
"Hop on, American," he said.
I was racing back to town—so I could spend another five days on a bus. Actually, I was going to spend five days crossing the Friendship Highway, the just-about-completed road that links Kathmandu to Lhasa—the highest paved highway in the world. Most of the journey would be above 11,800 feet, and three passes would top 16,400 feet—almost 600 feet higher than the summit of Mont Blanc.
And it's the only road in the world with a view of Mount Everest. When people find out I climb, they usually ask me two questions: Have I ever climbed Everest? Do I want to?
No, I say. At 29,029 feet, Everest may be the tallest peak in the world, but it's a lumpy, visually unappealing mountain, not technically challenging, and crowded with people lured by its fame as much as anything else. Still, I was keen on seeing Everest—from a distance.
But first I had to get back to Kathmandu, which I did with just a few hours to spare thanks to my new motorcyclist friend. Early the next morning I met up with the group I was going with to Tibet.
View Full Image
Associated Press
In search of an appropriate vantage point from which to view Mt. Everest.
China doesn't allow individuals to travel in Tibet—officially known as the Tibet Autonomous Region. Visitors must join group tours, carefully limiting their time in the region. Mine had about 25 people, mostly backpackers in their early 20s.
For several hours our bus followed the bubbling Bhote Kosi (literally River from Tibet) north toward the border. At the border we crossed the Friendship Bridge into Tibet—China's idea of friendship apparently requiring you to leave one bus, then hike uphill for half an hour to another. Not to mention confiscating your guidebook. China bans Lonely Planet guides because of a map representing Tibet as a separate country.
Some of our group tore the covers off their books, others tried hiding them. Several were found and, after some wrangling, the owners ripped the map out and got their books through. A friend had a Nepal trekking guide seized because it contained a photo of the Dalai Lama.
On the new bus, the difference in roads was instantly noticeable. The pavement was smooth and wide, traffic almost nonexistent.
The road climbed toward the Tibetan plateau, the Bhote Kosi snaking through a canyon hundreds of feet below. Then we hit the final section of the road yet to be paved. The driver told us to get out and walk while he maneuvered the bus over a mud track hugging the cliff side. We walked about half a mile. A local bus full of passengers bumped by.
"Why didn't they have to get out?" one of my fellow travelers asked our guide.
"We have lots of Tibetans," he replied, "but foreigners are expensive."
Well after dark, we reached Neylam, a sad, dirty Chinese town where we spent the night in a guesthouse.
I had been looking forward to the next day when we would reach Lalungla, a pass at 16,400 feet, which on a clear day offers views of five of the world's highest mountains, including Everest. But the pass was shrouded in clouds when we reached it, brightly colored prayer flags the only thing visible in the softly falling snow.
On the other side, the road dropped into an immense valley, barren hills ringing the horizon. It was all sky and dun-colored earth. We passed small settlements now and then, dirt farmers riding the edge of the road in yak-carts or ancient tractors. Once in a while a Land Cruiser sped by.
That night we stopped in Latse, another characterless city. I walked to a small monastery at the edge of town. I poked my head into the temple. A half-dozen red-robed monks were sitting on cushions. Several were drinking Coke. One was talking on a cellphone. They motioned me in. I folded my legs onto a cushion, looking around at the candles burning in dishes of yak butter, painted thangkas hanging on the walls, piles of Buddhist scripture tied in neat stacks on a table. A monk offered me a bottle of water.
Outside a mountain goat was eating my shoes. When I picked up the shoes, the goat butted me with its huge curlers. A monk chased it away.
On the third day we reached the city of Shigaste, home of the Panchen Lama, where the Tashilumpo Monastery crawls up the hill at the edge of town. After walking through the lovely temples, I set off to hike the khora, or pilgrimage circuit, that circles the monastery clockwise. The path was full of pilgrims, some turning small hand-held prayer wheels, others spinning the large, stationary prayer wheels lining the trail.
After two more days and almost 450 miles of driving, we dropped from the Karo Pass at 16,568 feet and rolled into the wide valley holding Lhasa. The two-lane highway became four, and suddenly there were other vehicles on the road. We entered the city, which has swelled to 250,000 people. The road grew to six lanes, flanked by ugly new buildings—a typical sprawling Chinese city despite being at 11,450 feet. "China Dream," beamed a huge billboard in English. "China Pride."
"My romantic dreams of Lhasa just died," said my friend Andre.
Many visitors feel that way. The Potala Palace, perched on a hillside at the edge of town, still dominates the skyline, although the Chinese have turned the Dalai Lama's former residence into a museum with the few remaining monks forced to dress in street clothes.
The old town area surrounding the Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine in Tibet, still buzzes with pilgrims. Yet an outer circle of Chinese troops in riot gear is a constant reminder of how tightly Beijing circumscribes Tibet's freedom.
One day I went to the Sera monastery outside of town. I skipped the tour bus back and set off on my own khora, following a dusty path up a hill behind the monastery. The only other pilgrims were two Tibetan women in high heels and floppy hats. Numerous spur trails branched off higher into the hills and I had trouble following the proper path. One of the women noticed.
"Hello," she chirped, pointing me back to the right way. Several other times they stopped to wait and direct me. I began to think of them as my personal Bodhisattvas, Buddhas who have attained enlightenment but opt to stay on earth to help others.
To Buddhists, the harder the journey, the greater the merit one earns. I began to think my idea of seeing Everest from a road was too facile. A great mountain, even one I don't want to climb, deserves better.
Unexpectedly, I finally did get to see Everest. On my flight leaving Lhasa, I found myself on the wrong side of the plane, so I snuck into an open window seat in first class. And there it was: Just a bump on a ridge—but what a ridge. Everest and its satellite peaks rose above a sea of clouds like an island, into a cobalt blue sky, a plume of snow blowing off its summit like a flag. Its bulk was impressive. I began to look for climbing lines.
Then I got kicked out of the seat. It seamed a fitting departure from Tibet.
Mr. Ybarra is The Journal's extreme-sports correspondent.
My eight-hour bus ride was into its 14th hour. We were stalled in traffic outside of Kathmandu on the eve of a Maoist-led general strike that would shut down Nepal's capital for an entire week.
I jumped out and waved down a motorcycle rider who was slowly weaving through the tangled skein of buses and trucks. I offered him money for a ride.
"Not everything is about money," he said.
I could smell the beer on his breath.
"Where are you from?" he asked.
"America," I said.
"Hop on, American," he said.
I was racing back to town—so I could spend another five days on a bus. Actually, I was going to spend five days crossing the Friendship Highway, the just-about-completed road that links Kathmandu to Lhasa—the highest paved highway in the world. Most of the journey would be above 11,800 feet, and three passes would top 16,400 feet—almost 600 feet higher than the summit of Mont Blanc.
And it's the only road in the world with a view of Mount Everest. When people find out I climb, they usually ask me two questions: Have I ever climbed Everest? Do I want to?
No, I say. At 29,029 feet, Everest may be the tallest peak in the world, but it's a lumpy, visually unappealing mountain, not technically challenging, and crowded with people lured by its fame as much as anything else. Still, I was keen on seeing Everest—from a distance.
But first I had to get back to Kathmandu, which I did with just a few hours to spare thanks to my new motorcyclist friend. Early the next morning I met up with the group I was going with to Tibet.
View Full Image
Associated Press
In search of an appropriate vantage point from which to view Mt. Everest.
China doesn't allow individuals to travel in Tibet—officially known as the Tibet Autonomous Region. Visitors must join group tours, carefully limiting their time in the region. Mine had about 25 people, mostly backpackers in their early 20s.
For several hours our bus followed the bubbling Bhote Kosi (literally River from Tibet) north toward the border. At the border we crossed the Friendship Bridge into Tibet—China's idea of friendship apparently requiring you to leave one bus, then hike uphill for half an hour to another. Not to mention confiscating your guidebook. China bans Lonely Planet guides because of a map representing Tibet as a separate country.
Some of our group tore the covers off their books, others tried hiding them. Several were found and, after some wrangling, the owners ripped the map out and got their books through. A friend had a Nepal trekking guide seized because it contained a photo of the Dalai Lama.
On the new bus, the difference in roads was instantly noticeable. The pavement was smooth and wide, traffic almost nonexistent.
The road climbed toward the Tibetan plateau, the Bhote Kosi snaking through a canyon hundreds of feet below. Then we hit the final section of the road yet to be paved. The driver told us to get out and walk while he maneuvered the bus over a mud track hugging the cliff side. We walked about half a mile. A local bus full of passengers bumped by.
"Why didn't they have to get out?" one of my fellow travelers asked our guide.
"We have lots of Tibetans," he replied, "but foreigners are expensive."
Well after dark, we reached Neylam, a sad, dirty Chinese town where we spent the night in a guesthouse.
I had been looking forward to the next day when we would reach Lalungla, a pass at 16,400 feet, which on a clear day offers views of five of the world's highest mountains, including Everest. But the pass was shrouded in clouds when we reached it, brightly colored prayer flags the only thing visible in the softly falling snow.
On the other side, the road dropped into an immense valley, barren hills ringing the horizon. It was all sky and dun-colored earth. We passed small settlements now and then, dirt farmers riding the edge of the road in yak-carts or ancient tractors. Once in a while a Land Cruiser sped by.
That night we stopped in Latse, another characterless city. I walked to a small monastery at the edge of town. I poked my head into the temple. A half-dozen red-robed monks were sitting on cushions. Several were drinking Coke. One was talking on a cellphone. They motioned me in. I folded my legs onto a cushion, looking around at the candles burning in dishes of yak butter, painted thangkas hanging on the walls, piles of Buddhist scripture tied in neat stacks on a table. A monk offered me a bottle of water.
Outside a mountain goat was eating my shoes. When I picked up the shoes, the goat butted me with its huge curlers. A monk chased it away.
On the third day we reached the city of Shigaste, home of the Panchen Lama, where the Tashilumpo Monastery crawls up the hill at the edge of town. After walking through the lovely temples, I set off to hike the khora, or pilgrimage circuit, that circles the monastery clockwise. The path was full of pilgrims, some turning small hand-held prayer wheels, others spinning the large, stationary prayer wheels lining the trail.
After two more days and almost 450 miles of driving, we dropped from the Karo Pass at 16,568 feet and rolled into the wide valley holding Lhasa. The two-lane highway became four, and suddenly there were other vehicles on the road. We entered the city, which has swelled to 250,000 people. The road grew to six lanes, flanked by ugly new buildings—a typical sprawling Chinese city despite being at 11,450 feet. "China Dream," beamed a huge billboard in English. "China Pride."
"My romantic dreams of Lhasa just died," said my friend Andre.
Many visitors feel that way. The Potala Palace, perched on a hillside at the edge of town, still dominates the skyline, although the Chinese have turned the Dalai Lama's former residence into a museum with the few remaining monks forced to dress in street clothes.
The old town area surrounding the Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine in Tibet, still buzzes with pilgrims. Yet an outer circle of Chinese troops in riot gear is a constant reminder of how tightly Beijing circumscribes Tibet's freedom.
One day I went to the Sera monastery outside of town. I skipped the tour bus back and set off on my own khora, following a dusty path up a hill behind the monastery. The only other pilgrims were two Tibetan women in high heels and floppy hats. Numerous spur trails branched off higher into the hills and I had trouble following the proper path. One of the women noticed.
"Hello," she chirped, pointing me back to the right way. Several other times they stopped to wait and direct me. I began to think of them as my personal Bodhisattvas, Buddhas who have attained enlightenment but opt to stay on earth to help others.
To Buddhists, the harder the journey, the greater the merit one earns. I began to think my idea of seeing Everest from a road was too facile. A great mountain, even one I don't want to climb, deserves better.
Unexpectedly, I finally did get to see Everest. On my flight leaving Lhasa, I found myself on the wrong side of the plane, so I snuck into an open window seat in first class. And there it was: Just a bump on a ridge—but what a ridge. Everest and its satellite peaks rose above a sea of clouds like an island, into a cobalt blue sky, a plume of snow blowing off its summit like a flag. Its bulk was impressive. I began to look for climbing lines.
Then I got kicked out of the seat. It seamed a fitting departure from Tibet.
Mr. Ybarra is The Journal's extreme-sports correspondent.
Thailand tourism is coming back strong Thailand receives 1 million more tourists than last year - eTurboNews.com
Thailand Tourism is up by 13.79 per cent despite protests and violence in May. Numbers show Recover for Thailand Tourism after protests and violence in the country which rocked the tourism industry.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand. This year Thailand received 8,766,706 tourists comparing to 7,703,971 in 2009 for first seven months of the year.
Thailand received over 1 million more tourists than last year which is quite surprising considering the Political violence country went through in May. Tourists arrival in May and June wend down due to violence which killed several people and injured thousands.
US and other countries issued travel advisory for Thailand following the protests in Bangkok. But now things are normal in Thailand and tourists are raining on the beautiful country. Tourism department is so excited with the latest numbers that it hopes to reach the 14 million tourist arrivals mark set at the start of the year.
Thailand tourism was helped by fellow Asian countries who contributed most in the tourists arrivals this year. Malaysia lead the pack with 1,086,247 arrivals, followed by China with 561,634, on third is Japan with 546,947.
South Korea also contributed 445,809 tourists followed by first non Asian country, Australia with 438,241. The biggest growth Thailand saw was from India, where Thailand have been trying to make its mark. Tourist Arrivals from India grew by 19.88 per cent to 405,389.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in Thailand. This year Thailand received 8,766,706 tourists comparing to 7,703,971 in 2009 for first seven months of the year.
Thailand received over 1 million more tourists than last year which is quite surprising considering the Political violence country went through in May. Tourists arrival in May and June wend down due to violence which killed several people and injured thousands.
US and other countries issued travel advisory for Thailand following the protests in Bangkok. But now things are normal in Thailand and tourists are raining on the beautiful country. Tourism department is so excited with the latest numbers that it hopes to reach the 14 million tourist arrivals mark set at the start of the year.
Thailand tourism was helped by fellow Asian countries who contributed most in the tourists arrivals this year. Malaysia lead the pack with 1,086,247 arrivals, followed by China with 561,634, on third is Japan with 546,947.
South Korea also contributed 445,809 tourists followed by first non Asian country, Australia with 438,241. The biggest growth Thailand saw was from India, where Thailand have been trying to make its mark. Tourist Arrivals from India grew by 19.88 per cent to 405,389.
What makes Thailand foreigner friendly - by Edgar Arold - Helium
Thailand is a foreigner friendly country. The Thai people are generally very welcoming to a foreigner, although you may get many strange looks. There are laws that forbid a foreigner to buy land or own a business, more than 49%, but these don't make the country against foreigners. Overall, foreigners are welcome and probably will be for many years to come. There are several obvious things that make Thailand a foreigner friendly country:
The supermarkets. In some countries, like Hong Kong, you as a foreigner would be hard pressed to find a supermarket to meet your needs, if you are concerned about having food that is like your home country. In Thailand, they have places like Foodland or Villa Market to supply and meet your needs. Now, if you are after brands from your country, you can find them, but you will pay for it dearly. For example, a bottle of Thai ketchup costs fifty cents whereas a bottle of Hunt's ketchup will cost over two dollars. You will pay for the brands that you want. Even Thai supermarkets like Makro, and Tops and Big C will meet a foreigner's needs if they are willing to compromise a brand and still eat well. Supermarkets are a clear sign that Thailand is a foreigner friendly country.
Thai people. As mentioned above, the Thai people are very kind to foreigners and will be very kind to them. Some of the kindness is deceiving, but most is Thai culture. The Thai people will try their best to speak the few words of English they know to make the foreigner feel at home or at least close to home. Furthermore, they enjoy hearing people speak in English, so if you see people look at you when you are talking, they are enjoying hearing you speak in another language.
Many restaurants are focused on foreigners and many Thai people won't eat at them because there isn't even anything that would be considered Thai food. This is done because the restaurant owner knows that there are many foreigners and their menu will appeal to them first.
Upon entering Thailand, it will not take longer than a day to realize that Thailand is a foreigner friendly country. You are welcome as much as you are legally allowed to be in Thailand.
The supermarkets. In some countries, like Hong Kong, you as a foreigner would be hard pressed to find a supermarket to meet your needs, if you are concerned about having food that is like your home country. In Thailand, they have places like Foodland or Villa Market to supply and meet your needs. Now, if you are after brands from your country, you can find them, but you will pay for it dearly. For example, a bottle of Thai ketchup costs fifty cents whereas a bottle of Hunt's ketchup will cost over two dollars. You will pay for the brands that you want. Even Thai supermarkets like Makro, and Tops and Big C will meet a foreigner's needs if they are willing to compromise a brand and still eat well. Supermarkets are a clear sign that Thailand is a foreigner friendly country.
Thai people. As mentioned above, the Thai people are very kind to foreigners and will be very kind to them. Some of the kindness is deceiving, but most is Thai culture. The Thai people will try their best to speak the few words of English they know to make the foreigner feel at home or at least close to home. Furthermore, they enjoy hearing people speak in English, so if you see people look at you when you are talking, they are enjoying hearing you speak in another language.
Many restaurants are focused on foreigners and many Thai people won't eat at them because there isn't even anything that would be considered Thai food. This is done because the restaurant owner knows that there are many foreigners and their menu will appeal to them first.
Upon entering Thailand, it will not take longer than a day to realize that Thailand is a foreigner friendly country. You are welcome as much as you are legally allowed to be in Thailand.
Sturdy finances buoy Korea’s global art fair - INSIDE JoongAng Daily
Bouncing back from a two-year slump in the art market, the Korea International Art Fair 2010 will be bigger and better than its predecessors, its organizers said.
With 193 galleries from 16 countries featuring more than 5,000 works, the KIAF, which runs this Thursday to Monday, seems ready to take on the international art market.
“With Mirae Asset Securities Company as our new sponsor, we will be able to build a sturdy financial foundation along the lines of other major art fair collaborations, including Art Basel-UBS, Art HK-Deutshe Ban and Art Dubai-HSBC,” said Kim Yeong-min, head officer of the Galleries Association of Korea and an organizer for the fair.
The fair has grown considerably in size and worth during the last nine years, except for 2008 and 2009, when the turmoil in the global economy took its toll on the art market. During its first year in 2002, KIAF had 180,000 visitors and $100,000 in transactions. That sum grew consistently year after year, and by 2007 the number was up to $17 million.
After the financial crisis, however, sales shrank to $14 million in 2008 and stood at $13.6 million last year.
“The art market is slowly recovering and we expect to see around $15 million in transactions during the KIAF this year, with around 62,000 visitors,” said Kim.
“Warholly” by Patrick Hughes, top right, and “Fragile-dragon” by Kim Joon, are featured in this year’s Korea International Art Fair. Provided by KIAF
This year’s guest country is the United Kingdom, a leader in the contemporary art scene. The exhibit includes works by artists Damien Hirst, Gary Hume and Marc Quinn - often referred to as the Young British Artists, a group of contemporary artists based in the UK that became well-known during the 1990s with highly conceptual, often shocking, works using garbage, live animals and other objects.
“Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD),” a large-scale painting by Damien Hirst, is one of the works featured during the fair. Hirst said that the work, and the series of spotted paintings that he created during the 1990s, of which it is a part, touches on themes of interaction.
“Warholly,” by British artist Patrick Hughes, will also be showcased. The work, which consists of two boxes stacked on top of one another and painted in Warhol’s pop art style, is an example of Hughes’ long-running theme of visual allusions called “reverse perspective.” Hughes is most recognized for his use of this technique, which is an optical illusion on a two-dimensional surface.
Other popular British artists, including Jon Braley, Clair Burbridge, Richard Harrison and Kate McGwire, are also part of the show.
Britain will have the highest level of representation in the KIAF after Korea, with exhibits by prominent galleries including Flowers Galleries, Mauger Modern Art and Paragon Press, among others. Of the 193 galleries featured, 120 are from Korea while 15 are from the United Kingdom. The fair also includes 16 galleries from Japan and 13 from Germany. Other countries have less than 10 galleries each.
Key galleries representing Korea include the Arario Gallery, Chosun Gallery and Hakgojae.
Renowned artists Bae Bien-U and Shin Sang-ho are just some of the Korean artists participating in the show.
*KIAF begins Sept. 9 at COEX 1F, Hall A and B and closes Sept. 13. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Monday when it closes at 5 p.m. Admission is 15,000 won ($12.75) for adults and 10,000 won for students. Go to Samseong Station, line No. 2, exit 5 and 6, or Cheongdam Station, line No. 7, exit 2. For more information, call (02) 766-3702~4 or visit www.kiaf.org.
With 193 galleries from 16 countries featuring more than 5,000 works, the KIAF, which runs this Thursday to Monday, seems ready to take on the international art market.
“With Mirae Asset Securities Company as our new sponsor, we will be able to build a sturdy financial foundation along the lines of other major art fair collaborations, including Art Basel-UBS, Art HK-Deutshe Ban and Art Dubai-HSBC,” said Kim Yeong-min, head officer of the Galleries Association of Korea and an organizer for the fair.
The fair has grown considerably in size and worth during the last nine years, except for 2008 and 2009, when the turmoil in the global economy took its toll on the art market. During its first year in 2002, KIAF had 180,000 visitors and $100,000 in transactions. That sum grew consistently year after year, and by 2007 the number was up to $17 million.
After the financial crisis, however, sales shrank to $14 million in 2008 and stood at $13.6 million last year.
“The art market is slowly recovering and we expect to see around $15 million in transactions during the KIAF this year, with around 62,000 visitors,” said Kim.
“Warholly” by Patrick Hughes, top right, and “Fragile-dragon” by Kim Joon, are featured in this year’s Korea International Art Fair. Provided by KIAF
This year’s guest country is the United Kingdom, a leader in the contemporary art scene. The exhibit includes works by artists Damien Hirst, Gary Hume and Marc Quinn - often referred to as the Young British Artists, a group of contemporary artists based in the UK that became well-known during the 1990s with highly conceptual, often shocking, works using garbage, live animals and other objects.
“Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD),” a large-scale painting by Damien Hirst, is one of the works featured during the fair. Hirst said that the work, and the series of spotted paintings that he created during the 1990s, of which it is a part, touches on themes of interaction.
“Warholly,” by British artist Patrick Hughes, will also be showcased. The work, which consists of two boxes stacked on top of one another and painted in Warhol’s pop art style, is an example of Hughes’ long-running theme of visual allusions called “reverse perspective.” Hughes is most recognized for his use of this technique, which is an optical illusion on a two-dimensional surface.
Other popular British artists, including Jon Braley, Clair Burbridge, Richard Harrison and Kate McGwire, are also part of the show.
Britain will have the highest level of representation in the KIAF after Korea, with exhibits by prominent galleries including Flowers Galleries, Mauger Modern Art and Paragon Press, among others. Of the 193 galleries featured, 120 are from Korea while 15 are from the United Kingdom. The fair also includes 16 galleries from Japan and 13 from Germany. Other countries have less than 10 galleries each.
Key galleries representing Korea include the Arario Gallery, Chosun Gallery and Hakgojae.
Renowned artists Bae Bien-U and Shin Sang-ho are just some of the Korean artists participating in the show.
*KIAF begins Sept. 9 at COEX 1F, Hall A and B and closes Sept. 13. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Monday when it closes at 5 p.m. Admission is 15,000 won ($12.75) for adults and 10,000 won for students. Go to Samseong Station, line No. 2, exit 5 and 6, or Cheongdam Station, line No. 7, exit 2. For more information, call (02) 766-3702~4 or visit www.kiaf.org.
AFP: Patriotic collectors eye NY Asian Art Week
NEW YORK — Asian collectors rediscovering their roots are expected to be among the big buyers at New York auctions next week highlighting ancient and modern works from Asia.
Christie's leads Asian Art Week, which takes place in March and September, with 1,200 lots from India to Japan auctioning at an estimated collective price tag of between 46 and 65 million dollars.
Rival auction house Sotheby's follows suit with pre-sale estimates of 21.9 to 31.2 million dollars for 738 lots, while more than a dozen city galleries are hosting exhibitions and sales of their own.
Hugo Weihe, head of Christie's Indian and southeast Asian art, said the modern and contemporary auction on Wednesday was expected to raise more than 10 million dollars, with works by big-name artists including Francis Newton Souza and TV Santhosh.
Tuesday could see an intriguing sale when India's ancient output goes on the block, ranging from Himalayan gilt bronze sculptures to rare silver from the 1st century BC.
Indians -- similar to the rich Chinese actively buying their nation's treasures back from Western collectors -- are expected to be a big force.
"We see increased interest in India now for the antiquities, which of course has happened in Chinese art," Weihe said.
"Once any economy gets strong, literally you buy into your heritage," Weihe told AFP. "China is doing that in a very strong way. We were very surprised, 'why hasn't India done that more?' Well now we're seeing very strong signs."
Parallel to the sales, Christie's is hosting an exhibition of Chinese contemporary art co-organized by a branch of the Chinese culture ministry.
The "Trans-Realism" collection of 29 works by 17 artists offers a modern view of Chinese art far from the typical delicate, pre-communist ceramics or even socialist realism -- although with nods to both, plus a twist of European influence.
"The range of (Chinese) art works represented in the international market is still very limited. We'd like to bring more Chinese art to the international audience," said Pan Qing, a curator from the National Museum of China.
Christie's auctions run from September 14 through 16. The Sotheby's sale is on September 16 and includes a collection of snuff bottles estimated to sell for between four and six million dollars, and works of art from China and South Asia.
Other exhibitions at smaller New York art dealers include "Literati Musing: Inscriptions on Chinese Paintings," "Buddhist Lives," and "Flights of Fancy," a collection of porcelain contemporary masterworks from Japan.
Christie's leads Asian Art Week, which takes place in March and September, with 1,200 lots from India to Japan auctioning at an estimated collective price tag of between 46 and 65 million dollars.
Rival auction house Sotheby's follows suit with pre-sale estimates of 21.9 to 31.2 million dollars for 738 lots, while more than a dozen city galleries are hosting exhibitions and sales of their own.
Hugo Weihe, head of Christie's Indian and southeast Asian art, said the modern and contemporary auction on Wednesday was expected to raise more than 10 million dollars, with works by big-name artists including Francis Newton Souza and TV Santhosh.
Tuesday could see an intriguing sale when India's ancient output goes on the block, ranging from Himalayan gilt bronze sculptures to rare silver from the 1st century BC.
Indians -- similar to the rich Chinese actively buying their nation's treasures back from Western collectors -- are expected to be a big force.
"We see increased interest in India now for the antiquities, which of course has happened in Chinese art," Weihe said.
"Once any economy gets strong, literally you buy into your heritage," Weihe told AFP. "China is doing that in a very strong way. We were very surprised, 'why hasn't India done that more?' Well now we're seeing very strong signs."
Parallel to the sales, Christie's is hosting an exhibition of Chinese contemporary art co-organized by a branch of the Chinese culture ministry.
The "Trans-Realism" collection of 29 works by 17 artists offers a modern view of Chinese art far from the typical delicate, pre-communist ceramics or even socialist realism -- although with nods to both, plus a twist of European influence.
"The range of (Chinese) art works represented in the international market is still very limited. We'd like to bring more Chinese art to the international audience," said Pan Qing, a curator from the National Museum of China.
Christie's auctions run from September 14 through 16. The Sotheby's sale is on September 16 and includes a collection of snuff bottles estimated to sell for between four and six million dollars, and works of art from China and South Asia.
Other exhibitions at smaller New York art dealers include "Literati Musing: Inscriptions on Chinese Paintings," "Buddhist Lives," and "Flights of Fancy," a collection of porcelain contemporary masterworks from Japan.
Indonesia Southeast Asia’s richest in cultural heritage | The Jakarta Post
Cultural heritage buildings in a number of cities in Indonesia must be preserved because they have served as long-time witnesses to the progress of the cities and their dwellers, and are icons of national solidarity, identity and pride.
This was one of various suggestions raised at the fourth meeting of Asia-Europe Culture Ministers in Poznan, Poland, on Sept. 9-10, 2010.
Junus Satrio Atmodjo, director of cultural heritage at Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, who participated in the meeting, said at least 8,000 heritage buildings and sites have been registered in Indonesia.
The buildings are classified into several groups, including pre-historic era, Hindu-Buddha, Islam, colonial period and modern era. Many of the buildings still function according to their original design, such as several railway stations in central Jakarta.
“If we add to those other heritages like statues, the number would jump to tens or even hundreds of thousands,” Junus said as quoted by Kompas.com on Saturday.
He said many historical sites in Indonesia had been declared by Unesco as world heritages, including the Sangiran archeological site, Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple.
Indonesia, he continued, had the highest number and highest number of types of cultural heritages in Southeast Asia. “For Asia, China possibly is the biggest,” Junus added.
This was one of various suggestions raised at the fourth meeting of Asia-Europe Culture Ministers in Poznan, Poland, on Sept. 9-10, 2010.
Junus Satrio Atmodjo, director of cultural heritage at Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, who participated in the meeting, said at least 8,000 heritage buildings and sites have been registered in Indonesia.
The buildings are classified into several groups, including pre-historic era, Hindu-Buddha, Islam, colonial period and modern era. Many of the buildings still function according to their original design, such as several railway stations in central Jakarta.
“If we add to those other heritages like statues, the number would jump to tens or even hundreds of thousands,” Junus said as quoted by Kompas.com on Saturday.
He said many historical sites in Indonesia had been declared by Unesco as world heritages, including the Sangiran archeological site, Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple.
Indonesia, he continued, had the highest number and highest number of types of cultural heritages in Southeast Asia. “For Asia, China possibly is the biggest,” Junus added.
Malaysia: A Truly Asian Destination | Manila Bulletin
Malaysia has many things to offer from the country’s sumptuous delicacies, to natural treasures and its man-made architectural wonders. It boasts of multiculturalism – with the harmonious blend of Malays, Indians, and Chinese among many others – making it not only a favorite gastronomic destination but a hub of many colourful festivals as well. In just a couple of hours’ flight from Manila, Malaysia will sweep visitors off their feet with a diversity of cultures, giving them an experience that is truly Asia.
This year, Tourism Malaysia shines the limelight on enchanting reasons why Malaysia is the top-pick Southeast Asian country.
At its heart lies Asia’s green capital, Kuala Lumpur, where visitors will experience a delightful mix of both old and new. The city’s skyline is outlined by modern and sophisticated skyscrapers, surrounded by structures with traces of pre-war heritage. Among its attractions include the Central Market for Malaysian arts and handicrafts, its world class rooftop bars that provide a stunning view of the world’s tallest twin towers – the Petronas Twin Towers, and the KL Tower with a viewing deck that has a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city’s layout. Thrill seekers should definitely go up to Genting Highlands and take on exciting rides such as the Flying Coaster and skydiving simulator - the Sky Venture. In less than four hours’ flight from Manila, Kuala Lumpur exudes an exquisite energy brought about by an amazing blend of color, taste, fashion, and the arts.
Selangor surrounds capital city Kuala Lumpur and is considered the main gateway for many visitors to the country. Rich in culture and religion, Selangor is where one will find famous spiritual landmarks such as the magnificent Batu Caves and the country’s most astonishing structure, the Blue Mosque. While Selangor is ideal for the family, with world-class golf clubs for Dad, shopping at Sunway Pyramid for Mom, and Sunway Lagoon for the kids, it is also very popular among sports enthusiasts because of the Formula One Race and the Motorcycle Grand Prix, both annual sporting events held at the Sepang International Circuit.
Putrajaya, a short twenty-minute drive away from Kuala Lumpur, is the futuristic administrative capital of Malaysia. It is hailed as an intelligent garden city with its wide open spaces, strewn across with a beautiful landscape of lakes and parks. Visitors should take a romantic cruise along Lake Tasik and visit man-made Taman Wetland, as well as Taman Bolani, to experience the richness of the environment. Aside from these outdoor activities, tourists should see the remarkable architecture including the focal point of Putrajaya - Putra Square, uniquely designed bridges and buildings, as well as the pink-domed Putra Mosque.
Unlike Putrajaya, Kedah is primarily agricultural, filling the countryside with pleasant rural landscape. It is also known as the “rice bowl state” of Malaysia, and wonderfully colors its atmosphere depending on the seasons of paddy. Visitors should explore the Bujang Valley, famous for being the richest archaeological site in Malaysia, experience exhilarating water sports along Sedim River, and dine at the famous Alor Setar Tower. Also part of this modest countryside is the fascinating Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands that offers beautiful beaches, world-class resorts, irresistible duty-free shopping and captivating tales – indeed perfect for a romantic getaway. Tourists should visit the Pulau Payar Marine Park or take a relaxing cruise to the Dayang Bunting and Beras Basah Islands. Aside from pristine beaches, Langkawi is also the home of one of the largest mangrove forests in Southeast Asia and gives you a spectacular view of the whole island via the Langkawi Cable Car – all these in just an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Also an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur is Penang, well known for its lovely beaches, colourful history, and rich culture. Among its attractions are the heritage trails within Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage City, and Penang Hill, which offers a magnificent view of the island. Considered the food capital of Malaysia, visitors should not leave Penang, without trying its famous street food such as asam laksa, hokkien mee, nasi kandar, fried oyster and chee cheong fun. Tourists can even learn how to cook authentic Malaysian dishes at Penang’s Tropical Spice Gardens.
Moving down South, Johor is the southern access to Malaysia, characterized by its splendid array of outdoor experience. Johor appeals to nature lovers with several internationally-acclaimed forests and miles of golden sandy beaches with clear waters which are excellent for diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. Visitors should visit the popular recreational park Danga Bay or shop at Zon Johor Bahru, the only duty free zone in Southern Malaysia, and complete the Johor experience with a taste of delectable dishes such as laksa johor, mee rebus, otak otak, rail coffee and wantan noodles.
Malacca, on the other hand, is a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and is known for its historical landmarks. Visitors can wander and discover as they journey down the city’s narrow streets to see the Stadthuys and the St. Paul’s Church, stroll along Jonker Street for antique finds and take on the river cruise that follows the Melaka River through other historic parts of the town.
To the east is Sabah, mountainous and carpeted by luscious tropical rainforests, and famous for one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu. Sabah is a favorite among adventure lovers with Kota Kinabalu as its capital, because it offers mountain climbing, white water rafting, caving, diving, and river cruising. In just two-hours’ flight from Manila, first-time visitors should not miss island-hopping at the five islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, and the invigorating white water rafting adventure at Klias River or Padas River.
Finally, Labuan is just a 30-minute plane ride from Kota Kinabalu and is an international offshore business and financial center located off the west coast of Sabah. This duty-free island hosts the annual Labuan International Sea Challenge, exhilarating for both sports enthusiasts and spectators, and happens to be a haven for wreck-diving and deep-sea fishing as well.
Experience Malaysia and don’t miss out on special packages and freebies as Tourism Malaysia holds the “Tara na sa Malaysia!” Travel Fair at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia on October 1-3, 2010. Be sure to catch all the exciting offers and promos that you won’t find anywhere else! What are you waiting for? Tara na sa Malaysia!
For more information about Malaysia, visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my and connect with us on Facebook by joining the “Tara na sa Malaysia!” Facebook group.
This year, Tourism Malaysia shines the limelight on enchanting reasons why Malaysia is the top-pick Southeast Asian country.
At its heart lies Asia’s green capital, Kuala Lumpur, where visitors will experience a delightful mix of both old and new. The city’s skyline is outlined by modern and sophisticated skyscrapers, surrounded by structures with traces of pre-war heritage. Among its attractions include the Central Market for Malaysian arts and handicrafts, its world class rooftop bars that provide a stunning view of the world’s tallest twin towers – the Petronas Twin Towers, and the KL Tower with a viewing deck that has a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city’s layout. Thrill seekers should definitely go up to Genting Highlands and take on exciting rides such as the Flying Coaster and skydiving simulator - the Sky Venture. In less than four hours’ flight from Manila, Kuala Lumpur exudes an exquisite energy brought about by an amazing blend of color, taste, fashion, and the arts.
Selangor surrounds capital city Kuala Lumpur and is considered the main gateway for many visitors to the country. Rich in culture and religion, Selangor is where one will find famous spiritual landmarks such as the magnificent Batu Caves and the country’s most astonishing structure, the Blue Mosque. While Selangor is ideal for the family, with world-class golf clubs for Dad, shopping at Sunway Pyramid for Mom, and Sunway Lagoon for the kids, it is also very popular among sports enthusiasts because of the Formula One Race and the Motorcycle Grand Prix, both annual sporting events held at the Sepang International Circuit.
Putrajaya, a short twenty-minute drive away from Kuala Lumpur, is the futuristic administrative capital of Malaysia. It is hailed as an intelligent garden city with its wide open spaces, strewn across with a beautiful landscape of lakes and parks. Visitors should take a romantic cruise along Lake Tasik and visit man-made Taman Wetland, as well as Taman Bolani, to experience the richness of the environment. Aside from these outdoor activities, tourists should see the remarkable architecture including the focal point of Putrajaya - Putra Square, uniquely designed bridges and buildings, as well as the pink-domed Putra Mosque.
Unlike Putrajaya, Kedah is primarily agricultural, filling the countryside with pleasant rural landscape. It is also known as the “rice bowl state” of Malaysia, and wonderfully colors its atmosphere depending on the seasons of paddy. Visitors should explore the Bujang Valley, famous for being the richest archaeological site in Malaysia, experience exhilarating water sports along Sedim River, and dine at the famous Alor Setar Tower. Also part of this modest countryside is the fascinating Langkawi, a cluster of 99 islands that offers beautiful beaches, world-class resorts, irresistible duty-free shopping and captivating tales – indeed perfect for a romantic getaway. Tourists should visit the Pulau Payar Marine Park or take a relaxing cruise to the Dayang Bunting and Beras Basah Islands. Aside from pristine beaches, Langkawi is also the home of one of the largest mangrove forests in Southeast Asia and gives you a spectacular view of the whole island via the Langkawi Cable Car – all these in just an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur.
Also an hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur is Penang, well known for its lovely beaches, colourful history, and rich culture. Among its attractions are the heritage trails within Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage City, and Penang Hill, which offers a magnificent view of the island. Considered the food capital of Malaysia, visitors should not leave Penang, without trying its famous street food such as asam laksa, hokkien mee, nasi kandar, fried oyster and chee cheong fun. Tourists can even learn how to cook authentic Malaysian dishes at Penang’s Tropical Spice Gardens.
Moving down South, Johor is the southern access to Malaysia, characterized by its splendid array of outdoor experience. Johor appeals to nature lovers with several internationally-acclaimed forests and miles of golden sandy beaches with clear waters which are excellent for diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. Visitors should visit the popular recreational park Danga Bay or shop at Zon Johor Bahru, the only duty free zone in Southern Malaysia, and complete the Johor experience with a taste of delectable dishes such as laksa johor, mee rebus, otak otak, rail coffee and wantan noodles.
Malacca, on the other hand, is a two-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur and is known for its historical landmarks. Visitors can wander and discover as they journey down the city’s narrow streets to see the Stadthuys and the St. Paul’s Church, stroll along Jonker Street for antique finds and take on the river cruise that follows the Melaka River through other historic parts of the town.
To the east is Sabah, mountainous and carpeted by luscious tropical rainforests, and famous for one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, Mount Kinabalu. Sabah is a favorite among adventure lovers with Kota Kinabalu as its capital, because it offers mountain climbing, white water rafting, caving, diving, and river cruising. In just two-hours’ flight from Manila, first-time visitors should not miss island-hopping at the five islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, and the invigorating white water rafting adventure at Klias River or Padas River.
Finally, Labuan is just a 30-minute plane ride from Kota Kinabalu and is an international offshore business and financial center located off the west coast of Sabah. This duty-free island hosts the annual Labuan International Sea Challenge, exhilarating for both sports enthusiasts and spectators, and happens to be a haven for wreck-diving and deep-sea fishing as well.
Experience Malaysia and don’t miss out on special packages and freebies as Tourism Malaysia holds the “Tara na sa Malaysia!” Travel Fair at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia on October 1-3, 2010. Be sure to catch all the exciting offers and promos that you won’t find anywhere else! What are you waiting for? Tara na sa Malaysia!
For more information about Malaysia, visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my and connect with us on Facebook by joining the “Tara na sa Malaysia!” Facebook group.
Q+A-Will Thai economy sustain its recovery after unrest? | Reuters
BANGKOK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Three months after the worst
political violence in modern Thai history, the economy is back
on course, with the hard-hit tourist sector recovering rapidly
and economic growth of 7 percent feasible for 2010.
The unrest in April and May seems to have had only limited
impact, with Southeast Asia's second-largest economy even
managing to grow in the second quarter, against most forecasts.
Consumer confidence has risen and exports remain strong.
However, growth in the second half is likely to be lower
than a robust first half due to a global slowdown and base
effects.
Below are details of how firms, tourism and the export-led,
$264 billion economy are faring [ID:nSGE65703R].
WHAT ARE GDP FORECASTS?
The economy escaped a widely expected contraction in the
second quarter, growing 0.2 percent from the first and
prompting the state planning agency, the NESDB, to raise its
2010 growth forecast sharply to 7.0-7.5 percent from the
3.5-4.5 percent seen in May shortly after the unrest ended.
[ID:nSGE67M06A]
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has made a similar
forecast, while the International Monetary Fund predicts as
much as 8 percent, which would be the highest rate in 15 years
and probably the best performance among Southeast Asia's big
economies.
The central bank forecasts 2010 growth of 6.5-7.5 percent.
It raised its policy rate 25 basis points in both July and
August to 1.75 percent to curb inflationary pressures as the
economy picks up and is expected to tighten again next month.
[ID:nSGE65103A].
The economy expanded 10.6 percent in the first half from a
year earlier, the highest in 13 years, but growth is likely to
be lower in the second half, with 4-5 percent forecast by the
NESDB.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said last month the
economy might post a small fall in the third quarter from the
second as the global slowdown hits exports. [ID:nSGE67U0GQ]
Export growth in the second half may be lower than in the
first, especially with the baht THB= at 13-year highs. But
the central bank has forecast 2010 export growth of up to 27.5
percent, saying baht strength has not harmed competitiveness.
HOW'S TOURISM DOING?
Foreign tourists are returning to the "Land of Smiles",
where the tourist sector is equivalent to 6 percent of GDP and
employs at least 15 percent of the workforce.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, which had cut its target
for arrivals this year to 13 million from 15.5 million, is now
forecasting at least 14.5 million, up from 14.15 million in
2009, when tourism also faced political turmoil.
[ID:nSGE6860CQ]
The NESDB predicts more than 15 million foreign tourists
this year. The Association of Thai Travel Agents, a private
body, is keeping its 13 million target but says 15 million is
possible.
The number of foreign tourists rose 15 percent in July from
a year earlier after May's 11.8 percent drop. In January-July,
the number rose 13.8 percent from a year earlier to 8.77
million.
In Khao San Road, Bangkok's budget hotel area, occupancy
has picked up to a normal 80 percent, while five-star Centara
Grand hotel said occupancy had risen to 45-50 percent from 30
percent during the unrest, but 60-70 percent is more normal.
WHAT ABOUT BUSINESSES?
Business in Bangkok's main shopping area, badly hit by the
unrest, has largely returned to normal. Consumer confidence is
rising after suffering a record drop in April. [ID:nSGE67A04G]
Central Pattana Pcl (CPN.BK), whose Central World mall --
the second largest in Southeast Asia -- suffered the biggest
loss from arson as the protest was put down on May 19, said
last month it expected revenue growth of at least 10 percent
this year and would partially reopen the mall late this month
or early next.
Thai Airways (THAI.BK) reported a better-than-expected net
profit in the second quarter, although that was due to a
currency gain that offset a drop in passengers. [ID:nBAK003103]
Airports of Thailand Pcl (AOT.BK) posted a
bigger-than-expected loss in April-June. But it says passenger
numbers at the main Bangkok airport has risen to a normal level
of 100,000 per day on average [ID:nBAK003102].
Top convenience store operator CP All Pcl CPALL.BK posted
a better-than-expected profit in the second quarter as
consumption picked up. Car firms are expected to see a 37
percent rise in domestic sales this year, according to Toyota.
The property sector is thriving, with new projects
sprouting across Bangkok to tap pent-up demand [ID:nSGE67T0FS].
However, some analysts are concerned about the
sustainability of economic growth following a decline in
factory output in July from June and with big firms holding off
new investment, pending clarity on a dispute at the country's
largest industrial estate.
Last week, a court allowed all but two of 76 projects
halted because of environmental concerns to go ahead, angering
environmentalists who said they might appeal. [ID:nSGE68118P]
The Board of Investment is keeping its target for overall
investment pledges at $16 billion this year, saying the court
ruling will boost investor confidence. Despite all the
problems, investment applications from foreign investors rose
46.5 percent in the first seven months from a year before.
[ID:nSGE6820FA]
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO HELP?
The government has introduced relief measures, including
tax breaks, grants and soft loans, to help tourism, businesses
and people affected by the unrest.
Buyers of domestic tour packages from agents can deduct up
to 15,000 baht ($483) from their taxable income, and tour
operators will get tax breaks, too. Insurance firms that make
payouts related to the unrest can offset some of that against
tax.
Smaller firms affected by the unrest have been offered
loans of up to 4 million baht. A 50,000 baht one-off grant is
given to businesses that suffered arson during the unrest and
7,500 baht a month is given for up to six months to employees
who lose income.
($1=31.02 baht)
(Additional reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Alan
Raybould)
political violence in modern Thai history, the economy is back
on course, with the hard-hit tourist sector recovering rapidly
and economic growth of 7 percent feasible for 2010.
The unrest in April and May seems to have had only limited
impact, with Southeast Asia's second-largest economy even
managing to grow in the second quarter, against most forecasts.
Consumer confidence has risen and exports remain strong.
However, growth in the second half is likely to be lower
than a robust first half due to a global slowdown and base
effects.
Below are details of how firms, tourism and the export-led,
$264 billion economy are faring [ID:nSGE65703R].
WHAT ARE GDP FORECASTS?
The economy escaped a widely expected contraction in the
second quarter, growing 0.2 percent from the first and
prompting the state planning agency, the NESDB, to raise its
2010 growth forecast sharply to 7.0-7.5 percent from the
3.5-4.5 percent seen in May shortly after the unrest ended.
[ID:nSGE67M06A]
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has made a similar
forecast, while the International Monetary Fund predicts as
much as 8 percent, which would be the highest rate in 15 years
and probably the best performance among Southeast Asia's big
economies.
The central bank forecasts 2010 growth of 6.5-7.5 percent.
It raised its policy rate 25 basis points in both July and
August to 1.75 percent to curb inflationary pressures as the
economy picks up and is expected to tighten again next month.
[ID:nSGE65103A].
The economy expanded 10.6 percent in the first half from a
year earlier, the highest in 13 years, but growth is likely to
be lower in the second half, with 4-5 percent forecast by the
NESDB.
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said last month the
economy might post a small fall in the third quarter from the
second as the global slowdown hits exports. [ID:nSGE67U0GQ]
Export growth in the second half may be lower than in the
first, especially with the baht THB= at 13-year highs. But
the central bank has forecast 2010 export growth of up to 27.5
percent, saying baht strength has not harmed competitiveness.
HOW'S TOURISM DOING?
Foreign tourists are returning to the "Land of Smiles",
where the tourist sector is equivalent to 6 percent of GDP and
employs at least 15 percent of the workforce.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, which had cut its target
for arrivals this year to 13 million from 15.5 million, is now
forecasting at least 14.5 million, up from 14.15 million in
2009, when tourism also faced political turmoil.
[ID:nSGE6860CQ]
The NESDB predicts more than 15 million foreign tourists
this year. The Association of Thai Travel Agents, a private
body, is keeping its 13 million target but says 15 million is
possible.
The number of foreign tourists rose 15 percent in July from
a year earlier after May's 11.8 percent drop. In January-July,
the number rose 13.8 percent from a year earlier to 8.77
million.
In Khao San Road, Bangkok's budget hotel area, occupancy
has picked up to a normal 80 percent, while five-star Centara
Grand hotel said occupancy had risen to 45-50 percent from 30
percent during the unrest, but 60-70 percent is more normal.
WHAT ABOUT BUSINESSES?
Business in Bangkok's main shopping area, badly hit by the
unrest, has largely returned to normal. Consumer confidence is
rising after suffering a record drop in April. [ID:nSGE67A04G]
Central Pattana Pcl (CPN.BK), whose Central World mall --
the second largest in Southeast Asia -- suffered the biggest
loss from arson as the protest was put down on May 19, said
last month it expected revenue growth of at least 10 percent
this year and would partially reopen the mall late this month
or early next.
Thai Airways (THAI.BK) reported a better-than-expected net
profit in the second quarter, although that was due to a
currency gain that offset a drop in passengers. [ID:nBAK003103]
Airports of Thailand Pcl (AOT.BK) posted a
bigger-than-expected loss in April-June. But it says passenger
numbers at the main Bangkok airport has risen to a normal level
of 100,000 per day on average [ID:nBAK003102].
Top convenience store operator CP All Pcl CPALL.BK posted
a better-than-expected profit in the second quarter as
consumption picked up. Car firms are expected to see a 37
percent rise in domestic sales this year, according to Toyota.
The property sector is thriving, with new projects
sprouting across Bangkok to tap pent-up demand [ID:nSGE67T0FS].
However, some analysts are concerned about the
sustainability of economic growth following a decline in
factory output in July from June and with big firms holding off
new investment, pending clarity on a dispute at the country's
largest industrial estate.
Last week, a court allowed all but two of 76 projects
halted because of environmental concerns to go ahead, angering
environmentalists who said they might appeal. [ID:nSGE68118P]
The Board of Investment is keeping its target for overall
investment pledges at $16 billion this year, saying the court
ruling will boost investor confidence. Despite all the
problems, investment applications from foreign investors rose
46.5 percent in the first seven months from a year before.
[ID:nSGE6820FA]
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO HELP?
The government has introduced relief measures, including
tax breaks, grants and soft loans, to help tourism, businesses
and people affected by the unrest.
Buyers of domestic tour packages from agents can deduct up
to 15,000 baht ($483) from their taxable income, and tour
operators will get tax breaks, too. Insurance firms that make
payouts related to the unrest can offset some of that against
tax.
Smaller firms affected by the unrest have been offered
loans of up to 4 million baht. A 50,000 baht one-off grant is
given to businesses that suffered arson during the unrest and
7,500 baht a month is given for up to six months to employees
who lose income.
($1=31.02 baht)
(Additional reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Alan
Raybould)
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thailand Joins Anti-Piracy Mission Off Somalia
forces patrolling the dangerous vast regions in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, infested with Somali piracy.
On Friday, a Thai naval fleet left its shores on a 98-day-long anti-piracy mission in the dangerous waters off Somalia.
A warship and a supply ship, carrying officers and sailors, departed from Sattahip Naval Base, south-east of Thai capital Bangkok, for its week-long journey to the Gulf of Aden.
Rear-Admiral Chaiyoth Suntornnak, leading the 371-member Pirate Suppression Mission, said the team is "100 per cent ready" to "play a role in cooperating with the international community" in protecting one of the world's busiest shipping areas..
Vessels are being seized frequently in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the African coast despite the strong presence of international naval forces, including from the NATO and the European Union, in the region.
Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program, says Somali pirates are now operating near the Maldives and India, beyond the Seychelles.
Somali Pirates hold merchant vessels and sailors demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms for their release. Most of the gangs are based in northern Somalia's Puntland region.
On Friday, a Thai naval fleet left its shores on a 98-day-long anti-piracy mission in the dangerous waters off Somalia.
A warship and a supply ship, carrying officers and sailors, departed from Sattahip Naval Base, south-east of Thai capital Bangkok, for its week-long journey to the Gulf of Aden.
Rear-Admiral Chaiyoth Suntornnak, leading the 371-member Pirate Suppression Mission, said the team is "100 per cent ready" to "play a role in cooperating with the international community" in protecting one of the world's busiest shipping areas..
Vessels are being seized frequently in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the African coast despite the strong presence of international naval forces, including from the NATO and the European Union, in the region.
Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program, says Somali pirates are now operating near the Maldives and India, beyond the Seychelles.
Somali Pirates hold merchant vessels and sailors demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms for their release. Most of the gangs are based in northern Somalia's Puntland region.
All Nippon Airways to Start Discount Carrier Amid Surging Travel in Asia - Bloomberg
All Nippon Airways Co., Asia’s largest listed carrier by sales, will team with a Hong Kong investor to set up a discount airline amid rising demand for budget travel.
The carrier will be based at Kansai International Airport in Osaka and will start flying in the second fiscal half of 2011, All Nippon, also known as ANA, said in a statement in Tokyo today. ANA will hold a 39 percent stake in the venture, while Hong Kong-based Victor Chu’s First Eastern Investment Group will own 33.3 percent, the maximum foreign ownership permitted in Japan.
The airline’s plan to join the low-fare fray comes after China’s Spring Airlines and Qantas Airways Ltd.’s budget unit Jetstar started discount flights to Japan. ANA’s biggest local rival Japan Airlines Corp. has also said it is considering setting up a low-cost carrier.
“ANA has to set up a low-cost carrier to keep up with overseas carriers,” said Mitsushige Akino, who oversees $450 million in assets in Tokyo at Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co. “The lessons they learn with a discount carrier could help them cut costs in their main flying unit.”
The new budget airline will consider buying five Boeing Co. 737 or similar aircraft to start domestic routes and then expand to China and other overseas destinations, Chu said today in a phone interview.
All Nippon rose 1 percent to 316 yen at the close of trade in Tokyo today. The announcement came after the market closed.
Profit Outlook
Japanese investors will own 66.7 percent of the discount carrier, including ANA’s stake, the airline said in the statement. Start-up capital for the venture will be between 10 billion yen and 15 billion yen ($179 million), Yuji Hirako, ANA vice president of corporate planning, told reporters in Tokyo.
“We hope to make a profit from the third, fourth or fifth year,” said Hirako. Setting up the discount carrier will help ANA to cut up to 70 percent of costs, President Shinichiro Ito told reporters.
At least 20 budget carriers have started in Asia-Pacific in the past decade as economic growth in the region, home to the world’s two most-populous countries, enables more people to fly. The potential for cheap flights in the region has also attracted investments from Virgin Group’s Richard Branson in a Malaysian no-frills carrier.
Tiger Airways Ltd., a budget carrier part-owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd., last month said it’s starting a new low-fare airline in Bangkok with Thai Airways International Pcl.
Japan Air
ANA set up an office in Hong Kong in 2008 to examine the possibility of starting up a low-cost carrier. It delayed a decision on a new carrier after a global recession led companies to slash travel and tourists cut back on overseas travel.
Japan Airlines, which is restructuring under bankruptcy protection, last month said it’s studying prospects for starting a low-cost carrier. The carrier has agreed on an 872 billion yen turnaround plan that waives 88 percent of unsecured liabilities, cut jobs and sells planes.
ANA predicts it will return to profit this fiscal year as the company reduces its workforce and adds flights. ANA forecasts net income of 5 billion yen in the year started April 1, compared with a loss of 57 billion yen last business year.
ANA’s partner First Eastern is a Hong Kong-based investment group, founded by Chu, with stakes in more than 100 projects in China, including infrastructure and real- estate development, according to the statement.
To contact the reporters on this story: Chris Cooper in Tokyo at ccooper1@bloomberg.net; Kiyotaka Matsuda in Tokyo at kmatsuda@bloomberg.net
The carrier will be based at Kansai International Airport in Osaka and will start flying in the second fiscal half of 2011, All Nippon, also known as ANA, said in a statement in Tokyo today. ANA will hold a 39 percent stake in the venture, while Hong Kong-based Victor Chu’s First Eastern Investment Group will own 33.3 percent, the maximum foreign ownership permitted in Japan.
The airline’s plan to join the low-fare fray comes after China’s Spring Airlines and Qantas Airways Ltd.’s budget unit Jetstar started discount flights to Japan. ANA’s biggest local rival Japan Airlines Corp. has also said it is considering setting up a low-cost carrier.
“ANA has to set up a low-cost carrier to keep up with overseas carriers,” said Mitsushige Akino, who oversees $450 million in assets in Tokyo at Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co. “The lessons they learn with a discount carrier could help them cut costs in their main flying unit.”
The new budget airline will consider buying five Boeing Co. 737 or similar aircraft to start domestic routes and then expand to China and other overseas destinations, Chu said today in a phone interview.
All Nippon rose 1 percent to 316 yen at the close of trade in Tokyo today. The announcement came after the market closed.
Profit Outlook
Japanese investors will own 66.7 percent of the discount carrier, including ANA’s stake, the airline said in the statement. Start-up capital for the venture will be between 10 billion yen and 15 billion yen ($179 million), Yuji Hirako, ANA vice president of corporate planning, told reporters in Tokyo.
“We hope to make a profit from the third, fourth or fifth year,” said Hirako. Setting up the discount carrier will help ANA to cut up to 70 percent of costs, President Shinichiro Ito told reporters.
At least 20 budget carriers have started in Asia-Pacific in the past decade as economic growth in the region, home to the world’s two most-populous countries, enables more people to fly. The potential for cheap flights in the region has also attracted investments from Virgin Group’s Richard Branson in a Malaysian no-frills carrier.
Tiger Airways Ltd., a budget carrier part-owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd., last month said it’s starting a new low-fare airline in Bangkok with Thai Airways International Pcl.
Japan Air
ANA set up an office in Hong Kong in 2008 to examine the possibility of starting up a low-cost carrier. It delayed a decision on a new carrier after a global recession led companies to slash travel and tourists cut back on overseas travel.
Japan Airlines, which is restructuring under bankruptcy protection, last month said it’s studying prospects for starting a low-cost carrier. The carrier has agreed on an 872 billion yen turnaround plan that waives 88 percent of unsecured liabilities, cut jobs and sells planes.
ANA predicts it will return to profit this fiscal year as the company reduces its workforce and adds flights. ANA forecasts net income of 5 billion yen in the year started April 1, compared with a loss of 57 billion yen last business year.
ANA’s partner First Eastern is a Hong Kong-based investment group, founded by Chu, with stakes in more than 100 projects in China, including infrastructure and real- estate development, according to the statement.
To contact the reporters on this story: Chris Cooper in Tokyo at ccooper1@bloomberg.net; Kiyotaka Matsuda in Tokyo at kmatsuda@bloomberg.net
Japan, China, Thailand, Taiwan: Asia Local Bonds, Foreign-Exchange Preview - Bloomberg
The following events and economic reports may influence trading in Asia’s local bonds and currencies today. Bond yields and exchange rates are from the previous trading session unless stated otherwise.
Financial markets will be closed for holidays in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Singapore.
Japan: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda will hold media briefings after a Cabinet meeting in the morning. Sengoku will have another press briefing at 4 p.m. in Tokyo.
The Bank of Japan will publish at 8:50 a.m. in Tokyo the minutes of its Aug. 9-10 policy board meeting.
The Cabinet Office will release at 8:50 a.m. in Tokyo its final figures for the nation’s gross domestic product in the second quarter. Japan’s GDP rose an annualized 1.5 percent in the three months ended June 30, according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists.
The Bank of Japan will release at 8:50 a.m. in Tokyo its report on producer prices in August. Japan’s producer prices fell 0.2 percent in August from a year earlier, after a 0.1 percent decline in July, a separate Bloomberg survey showed.
The yield on the 1 percent government bond due September 2020 was at 1.12 percent, according to Japan Bond Trading Co., the nation’s largest interdealer debt broker.
The yen traded at 83.87 per dollar at 7:13 a.m. in Sydney.
China: A government report today will show exports exceeded imports by $26.9 billion in August, compared with $15.7 billion in the same month a year earlier, according to the median forecast of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Exports probably rose 35 percent and imports 27.5 percent.
The finance ministry will sell 91-day bills.
The yield on the 2.52 percent note due July 2015 was 2.71 percent. The yuan was at 6.7832.
Thailand: The central bank will report foreign reserves for the week ended Sept. 3 today. The holdings were a record $154.7 billion on Aug. 27.
The yield on the 3.625 percent note maturing in May 2015 was 2.70 percent. The baht was at 30.88.
Taiwan: Taiwan will sell NT$100 billion of 364-day negotiable certificates of deposits today.
The yield on the 1.125 percent note maturing in September 2020 stood at 1.20 percent. The Taiwan dollar was at NT$31.939.
Financial markets will be closed for holidays in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Singapore.
Japan: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda will hold media briefings after a Cabinet meeting in the morning. Sengoku will have another press briefing at 4 p.m. in Tokyo.
The Bank of Japan will publish at 8:50 a.m. in Tokyo the minutes of its Aug. 9-10 policy board meeting.
The Cabinet Office will release at 8:50 a.m. in Tokyo its final figures for the nation’s gross domestic product in the second quarter. Japan’s GDP rose an annualized 1.5 percent in the three months ended June 30, according to a Bloomberg News survey of economists.
The Bank of Japan will release at 8:50 a.m. in Tokyo its report on producer prices in August. Japan’s producer prices fell 0.2 percent in August from a year earlier, after a 0.1 percent decline in July, a separate Bloomberg survey showed.
The yield on the 1 percent government bond due September 2020 was at 1.12 percent, according to Japan Bond Trading Co., the nation’s largest interdealer debt broker.
The yen traded at 83.87 per dollar at 7:13 a.m. in Sydney.
China: A government report today will show exports exceeded imports by $26.9 billion in August, compared with $15.7 billion in the same month a year earlier, according to the median forecast of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Exports probably rose 35 percent and imports 27.5 percent.
The finance ministry will sell 91-day bills.
The yield on the 2.52 percent note due July 2015 was 2.71 percent. The yuan was at 6.7832.
Thailand: The central bank will report foreign reserves for the week ended Sept. 3 today. The holdings were a record $154.7 billion on Aug. 27.
The yield on the 3.625 percent note maturing in May 2015 was 2.70 percent. The baht was at 30.88.
Taiwan: Taiwan will sell NT$100 billion of 364-day negotiable certificates of deposits today.
The yield on the 1.125 percent note maturing in September 2020 stood at 1.20 percent. The Taiwan dollar was at NT$31.939.
2010 Thailand Travel Mart will highlight the return of confidence to the destination - eTurboNews.com
THAILAND (eTN) - The Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) is a core element for the travel industry to look at Thailand’s latest trends for its tourism activity, as well as an important meeting time for all tour operators eager to put Thailand in their programs. Originally planned during the first days of June, the TTM was postponed at the last minute as uncertainties at the time continued to plague the Kingdom. Three months later, however, Thailand continues on the path of its normalization.
Although the State of Emergency is still going on in Bangkok and some of the provinces surrounding the capital, it has been lifted in almost the entire country. Less than a week ago, Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted the State of Emergency in the provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, despite the fact that both are perceived as bastions of the Red Shirt opposition movement.
Normalcy is what the TTM will be all about: the travel show which takes place from September 8 to 10 at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Convention and Exhibition Center. There are over 340 buyers from 49 countries registered. Apart from India, the largest buyer delegations come from the USA (26), United Kingdom (24), Russia (22), and Korea (16). The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) decided to invite new buyers from Brazil, Mexico, the UAE, Turkey, Lithuania, and Kazakhstan to experience Thailand’s tourism range. Buyers will then meet some 428 sellers from various business categories such as
hotels and resorts, tour operators and travel agents, ecotourism and adventure, wellness and spa, and airlines, as well as entertainment/theme parks/culture products, golf courses, and associations. As the gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion, NTOs and private travel operators from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam will also be present.
TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said: “This year’s TTM is very important to all of us, because it comes as part of our recovery program from the recent political unrest. It is also part of our strategy to diversify the sources of visitor arrivals and expose Thailand and the GMS region to new buyers from countries and regions which could deliver promising results in the future.”
Foreign tourist arrivals during the first six months of this year reached 7.52 million, a growth of 13.7 percent over the same period in 2009. Although the evolution is positive, this growth could have been stronger if April and May did not experience tourist arrivals plunging because of political unrest.
Source: With the support of a news release from the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Although the State of Emergency is still going on in Bangkok and some of the provinces surrounding the capital, it has been lifted in almost the entire country. Less than a week ago, Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lifted the State of Emergency in the provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, despite the fact that both are perceived as bastions of the Red Shirt opposition movement.
Normalcy is what the TTM will be all about: the travel show which takes place from September 8 to 10 at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Convention and Exhibition Center. There are over 340 buyers from 49 countries registered. Apart from India, the largest buyer delegations come from the USA (26), United Kingdom (24), Russia (22), and Korea (16). The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) decided to invite new buyers from Brazil, Mexico, the UAE, Turkey, Lithuania, and Kazakhstan to experience Thailand’s tourism range. Buyers will then meet some 428 sellers from various business categories such as
hotels and resorts, tour operators and travel agents, ecotourism and adventure, wellness and spa, and airlines, as well as entertainment/theme parks/culture products, golf courses, and associations. As the gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion, NTOs and private travel operators from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam will also be present.
TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said: “This year’s TTM is very important to all of us, because it comes as part of our recovery program from the recent political unrest. It is also part of our strategy to diversify the sources of visitor arrivals and expose Thailand and the GMS region to new buyers from countries and regions which could deliver promising results in the future.”
Foreign tourist arrivals during the first six months of this year reached 7.52 million, a growth of 13.7 percent over the same period in 2009. Although the evolution is positive, this growth could have been stronger if April and May did not experience tourist arrivals plunging because of political unrest.
Source: With the support of a news release from the Tourism Authority of Thailand
Visitors from 36 nations to pay $14 fee to travel to U.S. - aysor.am - Hot news from Armenia
Since September 8, travelers from 36 nations will be required to pay $14 travel fee when they visit the United States, against previous $10 fee.
The American Visa Bureau said in the statement that “$4 of this government fee will go to administrative costs and $10 will go towards funding the activities of the Corporation for Travel Promotion.”
“The U.S. Senate introduced the ESTA charge to raise funds to strengthen the image of the country abroad, and to try and reverse declining numbers of visitors to the country,” it said.
ESTA (the Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a mandatory online procedure for US-bound passengers from 36 Visa Waiver Program countries, which includes most European states.
Those 36 nations that participate in the Visa Waiver Program are Andorra, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, South Korea, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovenia, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg Switzerland, France, Malta, Great Britain, Germany, Monaco, Greece, Netherlands, Hungary and New Zealand. These nations are allowed to travel to the United States for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
The American Visa Bureau said in the statement that “$4 of this government fee will go to administrative costs and $10 will go towards funding the activities of the Corporation for Travel Promotion.”
“The U.S. Senate introduced the ESTA charge to raise funds to strengthen the image of the country abroad, and to try and reverse declining numbers of visitors to the country,” it said.
ESTA (the Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a mandatory online procedure for US-bound passengers from 36 Visa Waiver Program countries, which includes most European states.
Those 36 nations that participate in the Visa Waiver Program are Andorra, Norway, Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, South Korea, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovenia, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Spain, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg Switzerland, France, Malta, Great Britain, Germany, Monaco, Greece, Netherlands, Hungary and New Zealand. These nations are allowed to travel to the United States for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
Chinese Travel Agents To Explore Wonders Of Brunei | Local News
Bandar Seri Begawan - Sheikh Jamaluddin Shiekh Mohamed, the CEO of Brunei Tourism, yesterday had a fruitful discussion with four Chinese travel agents who are interested in promoting the Sultanate's tourist attractions in China.
The visiting travel agents from China comprise Miss Zang Yan Lin and Miss Wang Fang of BTG International Travel & Tour, and Mr Huang Jian Liang and Ms Cheng Shen of Guangdong Tianma International Travel Co Ltd.
They will begin their tour of Brunei tomorrow after visiting Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia today.
Mr Huang hoped to bring in a group of Chinese photographers to take photos of Brunei's stunning sceneries. The photos would be used as illustrations for a book promoting Brunei's places of interest to the Chinese market, he explained.
Noting that the Sultanate has vast potential for the China market, he said: "The population size is ideal for tourism development... there are many attractions in the country."
Accompanying the Chinese travel agents are Major (Rtd) Abd Samad Hj Abd Sani of Guagga Travel and other officials. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
The visiting travel agents from China comprise Miss Zang Yan Lin and Miss Wang Fang of BTG International Travel & Tour, and Mr Huang Jian Liang and Ms Cheng Shen of Guangdong Tianma International Travel Co Ltd.
They will begin their tour of Brunei tomorrow after visiting Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia today.
Mr Huang hoped to bring in a group of Chinese photographers to take photos of Brunei's stunning sceneries. The photos would be used as illustrations for a book promoting Brunei's places of interest to the Chinese market, he explained.
Noting that the Sultanate has vast potential for the China market, he said: "The population size is ideal for tourism development... there are many attractions in the country."
Accompanying the Chinese travel agents are Major (Rtd) Abd Samad Hj Abd Sani of Guagga Travel and other officials. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
THAILAND TRAVEL MART 2010 Thailand looks to balance its tourism strategy - eTurboNews.com
BANGKOK (eTN)- Originally the Thailand Travel Mart was scheduled in June, like every year. But political turmoils in April and May forced to postpone the event to September. TTM took then place on September 9 and 10 and it has been a blessing in disguise. The belated hosting served to see if Thailand is now recovering from a turbulent year. “ This TTM ediion is part of our recovery program. And we are so far very satisfied with the outcome of the show which recorded some 335 buyers from 50 countries. We have invited many emerging inbound markets to participate such as Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Poland or Kazakhstan”, explained at TTM traditional press conference Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Mr Svetasreni has some good reasons to be relatively optimist. Once again, Thailand is bouncing back from a gloomy time, and it bounces back quicker than expected. “Many of us predicted that the market would take six to twelve months to recover. We started to see business back after only six weeks following May events,” tells Chanin Donavanik, CEO of Dusit International (see an exclusive interview with eTN early next week). Mr. Svetasreni indicated that international arrivals to Thailand finally grew by 13.8% from January to July totalling 8.7 million travelers. All markets are recovering strongly except the Americas up by only 1.6% during the same period. Thailand experienced especially a jump in arrivals from the Middle East and South Asia.
“It is a good performance even if we had expected originally a better outcome for the year 2010. Until March, tourist arrivals were growing by 20% on average and all indicators then pointed out to a futher growth in this range for the next months. However, we saw a drop from 20% to 25% in April and May due to political instability. We believe that Thailand will be able to welcome again at least 14 million international tourists in 2010 bringing some US$ 16.5 billion in revenues”, he explains. For 2011, TAT estimates that the country would see over 15.5 million travelers.
For TAT Governor, this rapid recovery is due to the many strong assets of Thailand’s tourism: “The sense of service and welcome of our people, the charm of our Thai culture and Thai way of life bring a strong feeling to many visitors. This emotional connection of travelers to our country is an asset that we will use in our marketing campaign”, he says.
The new marketing campaign is all in balancing trends to speed up tourism’s recovery. Mr. Svetasreni has then developed with his team a marketing strategy including three key dimensions to tourism: the economy, the environment and the society. The well-known emblematic “Amazing Thailand” will be retained for 2011 marketing campaigns and will be underlined with a new slogan “Always Amazes You”. The slogan will reinforce then the emotional value of the country’s brand but also highlights all the assets offered by Thailand to its visitors, from its numerous attractions, sense of welcome to amazing good value offers. However, Mr Svetasreni will also give more emphasis to promote the country to domestic travelers. “We can then reduce the dependence to international markets which are easier affected by events such as recession or natural disasters,” he adds. Of course, political instability would also take its toll on international travelers decisions to come to the Kingdom. International markets identified with a promising potential for Thailand are Eastern Europe, the CIS and North Africa. Thematic activities will also be fostered such as Golf, diving, wellness or luxury wedding and honeymoon. Sustainable tourism as well as eco tourism will be then promoted during the off peak season to turn Thailand into a year-round destination.
Positioning Thailand as a premium luxury destination for honeymooners or medical treatment will help to slowly move away from the period of heavily discounts which were made available following March and April political violences. “Discounting hotel rates is just good for a short time to bring back confidence into our destination. But it is not a long-term solution,” estimates Mr Svetasreni.
The growth of tourism will however only be successful if the country truly embarked into a quality sustainable tourism. “For the first 50 years of Thai tourism, our development largely focused on maximizing economic benefits. However, the next 50 years will require an equivalent focus on minimising the ecological impact of tourism”, adds Mr Svetasreni. Initiatives such as Community-Based tourism or Green tourism have been launched with new awareness campaigns to come over the next months.
Building up an environment-friendly tourism product is probably one of the biggest challenges that Thailand faces. For decades, business practices and political decisions have been closely linked to corruption, most of the time to the detriment of environment protection. However, Mr Svetasreni perceives some positive changes. “ A new way of thinking is emerging and it is very different of what we used to see in the past", he says. “I see more and more investors or public administrations looking at the environmental impact or at the green issue, often under the pressure from local people, foreign visitors and also the media, prompt to point out issues. It is a good and necessary evolution”, adds the Governor.
Mr Svetasreni has some good reasons to be relatively optimist. Once again, Thailand is bouncing back from a gloomy time, and it bounces back quicker than expected. “Many of us predicted that the market would take six to twelve months to recover. We started to see business back after only six weeks following May events,” tells Chanin Donavanik, CEO of Dusit International (see an exclusive interview with eTN early next week). Mr. Svetasreni indicated that international arrivals to Thailand finally grew by 13.8% from January to July totalling 8.7 million travelers. All markets are recovering strongly except the Americas up by only 1.6% during the same period. Thailand experienced especially a jump in arrivals from the Middle East and South Asia.
“It is a good performance even if we had expected originally a better outcome for the year 2010. Until March, tourist arrivals were growing by 20% on average and all indicators then pointed out to a futher growth in this range for the next months. However, we saw a drop from 20% to 25% in April and May due to political instability. We believe that Thailand will be able to welcome again at least 14 million international tourists in 2010 bringing some US$ 16.5 billion in revenues”, he explains. For 2011, TAT estimates that the country would see over 15.5 million travelers.
For TAT Governor, this rapid recovery is due to the many strong assets of Thailand’s tourism: “The sense of service and welcome of our people, the charm of our Thai culture and Thai way of life bring a strong feeling to many visitors. This emotional connection of travelers to our country is an asset that we will use in our marketing campaign”, he says.
The new marketing campaign is all in balancing trends to speed up tourism’s recovery. Mr. Svetasreni has then developed with his team a marketing strategy including three key dimensions to tourism: the economy, the environment and the society. The well-known emblematic “Amazing Thailand” will be retained for 2011 marketing campaigns and will be underlined with a new slogan “Always Amazes You”. The slogan will reinforce then the emotional value of the country’s brand but also highlights all the assets offered by Thailand to its visitors, from its numerous attractions, sense of welcome to amazing good value offers. However, Mr Svetasreni will also give more emphasis to promote the country to domestic travelers. “We can then reduce the dependence to international markets which are easier affected by events such as recession or natural disasters,” he adds. Of course, political instability would also take its toll on international travelers decisions to come to the Kingdom. International markets identified with a promising potential for Thailand are Eastern Europe, the CIS and North Africa. Thematic activities will also be fostered such as Golf, diving, wellness or luxury wedding and honeymoon. Sustainable tourism as well as eco tourism will be then promoted during the off peak season to turn Thailand into a year-round destination.
Positioning Thailand as a premium luxury destination for honeymooners or medical treatment will help to slowly move away from the period of heavily discounts which were made available following March and April political violences. “Discounting hotel rates is just good for a short time to bring back confidence into our destination. But it is not a long-term solution,” estimates Mr Svetasreni.
The growth of tourism will however only be successful if the country truly embarked into a quality sustainable tourism. “For the first 50 years of Thai tourism, our development largely focused on maximizing economic benefits. However, the next 50 years will require an equivalent focus on minimising the ecological impact of tourism”, adds Mr Svetasreni. Initiatives such as Community-Based tourism or Green tourism have been launched with new awareness campaigns to come over the next months.
Building up an environment-friendly tourism product is probably one of the biggest challenges that Thailand faces. For decades, business practices and political decisions have been closely linked to corruption, most of the time to the detriment of environment protection. However, Mr Svetasreni perceives some positive changes. “ A new way of thinking is emerging and it is very different of what we used to see in the past", he says. “I see more and more investors or public administrations looking at the environmental impact or at the green issue, often under the pressure from local people, foreign visitors and also the media, prompt to point out issues. It is a good and necessary evolution”, adds the Governor.
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