Association of Thai Travel Agents’ member companies handled 5.2 million travellers, last year, at both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports representing a 60.99% increase from to 3.2 million in 2014, according to a report released by association president Charoen Wangananont, Tuesday.

ATTA’s latest data also showed that member companies handled 4,031,311 international tourists at the country’s main gateway, Suvarnabhumi Airport January to December, last year, an increase of 36.80% from 2,946,923 visits during the same period in 2014.

“China, Russia, India, Vietnam and South Korea were the top five markets last year…this year Asia will continue to be the major tourism source …the kick off of the ASEAN Economic Community will also help to encourage travellers to explore the region,” the ATTA president explained.

In 2015 year, China led the field with an improvement of 119.90%, up from 980,287 visits to 2,077,237 visits.

Although showing a decline of 62.39%, Russia ranked in second with 203,736 visits compared to 541,700 visits during the same period in 2014.

The next top five markets were: India (183,168; +17.53%); Vietnam (179,406; +167.91%); and South Korea (152,740; +51.76%).

In December, there were 326,536 foreign tourists who travelled with association members, a decrease of 8.01% from 354,972 visits during the same month in 2014. Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine explosion, 17 August 2015, was blamed for the decline.

China was the top source of business in December with 162,496 visits growing 12.26% from 144,750 visits.

Russia followed in second place with 28,088 visits, down 46.27% from 52,276 visits during the same month in 2014.

South Korea ranked third with 16,315 visits increasing 52.55% from 10,695 visits.

India placed in fourth posting 14,675 visits down 0.89% from 14,789 visits while Japan in fifth with 8,923 visits dropped 27.93% from 12,381 visits.

The next top five markets in December were: the United Kingdom (8,183; +98.62); Vietnam (5,806; -37.84%); Germany (5,630; -12.77%); Hong Kong (3,775; -35.89%); and Taiwan (3,018; -44.02%).

The association also reported there were 125,021 tourists who travelled through member companies at Don Mueang Airport in December, up 74.38% from 71,694 during the same month in 2014.

China also topped of arrivals at the second gateway recording 108,219 visits an improvement of 74.09% from 62,161 visits.

Indonesia was in second place with 4,118 visits growing 28.41% from 3,207 visits during the same month in 2014.

Malaysia ranked third recording 3,691 visits, an increase of 22.26% from 3,019 visits.

Vietnam was in fourth place with 3,361 visits, registering a remarkably growth of 2,283.69% over 141, while India in fifth place with 1,550 visits increased 138.83% from 649 visits.

The next top five markets in December were: South Korea (1,330; +2,791.30); Myanmar (615; +5.49%); Japan (565; +48.68%); Poland (269; +29.33%); and Taiwan (190; +427.78%).

ATTA opened its second office at Don Mueang Airport, 1 August 2014, to offer meet-and-greet services for member travel agents.

ATTA members handled 5,218,692 clients at both airports during January and December last year increasing 60.99% from 3,241,567 visits during the same period in 2014.

Top 10 source markets for ATTA agents January

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has agreed in principle to allow pilot-schemes to operate tourist electric tramcars in six locations, countrywide, in addition to four that were approved earlier.

The six localities are Hai Phong, Danang, Lao Cai, Thua Thien-Hue, Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Local media reported that the PM had urged the People’s Committees of the identified provinces and cities to provide feedback on the pilot scheme after six months to allow the national government to make a decision on their long-term use.

According to the Ministry of Transport, Hanoi, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh received the PM’s approval to implement a pilot programme earlier.

Currently, about 30 enterprises are operating 1,086 tramcars in the 10 provinces and cities, but the government wants to obtain a clearer perspective on their long-term value and whether they are meeting tourist demand or serving local residents due to the lack of alternative public transport.

Supporters say the electric trams are more efficient and cause less noise and air pollution.

Last year, the country attracted 7.94 million international tourists, a slight increase of 0.9% over 2014. Major tourism sources were China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Russia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Australia.

Myanmar is counting its temples at Bagan to ensure the ancient city can present accurate data for a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Global New Light of Myanmar reported the Ministry of Culture’s Archaeology and National Museum Department, is responsible for compiling the inventory of pagodas Bagan’s historical zones.

Bagan was previously separated into 11 zones in July 2015, after which an inventory of pagodas from each zone was initiated. By the end of December 2015, an inventory had been complied in just two of the 11 zones, the report said.

The department’s deputy general director, U Thein Lwin, was quoted saying: “In one area, there were over 300 pagodas. In another, there were 500. We found pagodas that had been buried under mounds of earth.”

The inventory will be completed in February, this year, in order for Bagan to strengthen its bid to be listed as a World Heritage site.

The deputy general director added there were more pagodas in Bagan than people first thought.

According to the most recent records kept by the department, the Bagan Archaeological Zone covers about 42 sq km (16 miles) and has more than 3,000 pagodas.

Bagan is an ancient city located in Mandalay Region, built between the 9th and 11th centuries, during an era when some 55 Buddhist kings ruled the Bagan Dynasty.

In 2014, Bagan attracted 240,000 tourists who generated USD4.1 million in tourism-related revenue.

Bagan Tour Guide Association estimates international visitor arrivals to the ancient city could reach 500,000 by 2018, double the visits in 2015.

The country’s Ministry of Culture is attempting to enforce regulations to protect Bagan as officials seek UNESCO World Heritage status possibly by 2017.

Myanmar has nominated 14 sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List, including Mandalay’s ancient kingdoms and Mrauk U in Arakan State. So far, only the ancient cities of Pyi have been added to the prestigious list.

Thai Lion Air is the latest low-cost airline to sign up with Sabre to tap bookings from 100,000 Sabre-connected travel agents in the Asia-Pacific region.

This is the first strategic distribution agreement that the Lion Group subsidiary has signed, choosing Sabre Travel Network Asia-Pacific to drive growth from within the B2B channel, a Sabre announcement stated.

In the past, the airline ‘s top officials claimed they had no interest in travel agency bookings, believing they could sustain an expanding network of destination in Thailand with direct online sales in the domestic travel market.

However, Thailand attracted 28.6 million visitors in 2015 and a solid proportion used both online and traditional travel agencies to book connecting flights to major tourist destinations in Thailand.

The travel agency channel will help the airline to top up sales year-round to compensate for the dramatic fluctuation in Thailand’s domestic travel demand. Usually the fares travel agencies tap are slightly more expensive, but are more flexible as well as allowing connecting flights on a single PNR or booking record.

Thai Lion Air currently serves 10 routes from its base at Don Muang International Airport in Bangkok. It started its first international flight to neighbouring Singapore earlier this month.

In a policy U-turn on the value of travel agencies, Thai Lion Air chief executive officer, Aswin Yangkirativorn, said: “Bookings from Sabre-connected travel agents will help us to increase our frequency, while channelling demand for the new routes we have planned.”

Travel agents will sell free seat selection that Thai Lion Air offers passengers, together with an additional 15kgs of baggage allowance for designated sports equipment.

Thai Lion Air founded in 2013 offers nine domestic and one International flight. It operates 13 Boeing 737s

Hong Kong Airlines will officially launch three-weekly flights to Phnom Penh, Cambodia effective 27 February.

According to the airline’s website, an all-economy class Airbus A320 aircraft will be deployed on the Phnom Penh route.

The airline Commercial director, Li Dianchun, said the new route is in line with the carrier expansion plans for Asia.

“The new direct flight service to Phnom Penh will offer more choice and convenience for Cambodians travelling out of their country and connecting to our network in Mainland China… it will also promote tourism and business ties between Hong Kong and Cambodia.”

Rapid development of Phnom Penh’s garment and tourism industries has attracted business travellers while there has been an increase in Chinese tourists visiting the capital, the airline said.

Flight schedule Hong Kong to Phnom Penh

Hong Kong Airlines serves 30 major cities across the Asia-Pacific region, including Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Sapporo, Bangkok, Bali and Okinawa.

The 10th annual Elephant Festival will be held 19 to 21 February at the stadium in Sayabouly district, Sayabouly province in Laos.

Lao News Agency quoted the province’s vice governor, Yanyong Sipaseuth, saying this year 67 elephants will join the festival, which will feature various activities involving elephants such as a beauty pageant, Baci ceremony, a bathing performance and a parade around the town.

There will also be a trade fair, which will display of products from nearby provinces and from Vietnam, China, and Thailand, he said.

The elephant festival spotlights the country’s history and links to elephants.

Laos was called Lao Lanexang which means “Land of a million of elephants”.

Sayabouly province currently has the largest population of elephants accounting for over 75% of the country’s entire population, the report said.

The Elephant Festival is organised to raise awareness about the need for action to protect the Asian elephant as part of a country’s natural heritage. It also helps to promote Lao culture as well as promote tourism.

The first elephant festival was held in 2007 in Hongsa district, then in Paklai district, and finally in Sayabouly district of Sayabouly province.

This year, the province expects to attract almost 200,000 visitors contributing more than USD6 million to the province’s economy.

According to Tourism Department Development data, 96,131 tourists visited the province in 2014 up 9.52% from 87,776 visits in 2013.

Sayabouly province is situated in the northwest of Laos, sharing borders with Vientiane province and Luang Prabang province.

The province is well-known for its “1,000 caves” including the Phakhimin Cave. It is also noted for its Nam Tien reservoir, Giant Kha trees, ancient temples and several festivals including the annual Elephant Festival which takes place in February.

Muang Sayabouly, the main town, also offers cultural insights into rural Laos with its impressive temples such as Wat Ban Thin, Wat Ban Phapoun and Wat Ban Natonoy. The Nam Phoun National Protected Area is home to elephants, gibbons, Asiatic black bears and Malayan sun bears.

Source: TTR Weekly

Thai AirAsia will launch a daily flight connecting Thailand’s Phuket to China’s Wuhan starting 1 February.

Thua Thien-Hue People’s Committee has confirmed several preferential policies that should help to open new air routes to Phu Bai international airport in Hue City.

Tourism official said it was imperative that Hue develop direct flight routes from overseas markets rather than relying on domestic flights or connecting flights through the Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City gateways to grow tourism.

Local media reported the province confirmed it would cover the cost of introducing new routes as well as supporting tourism programmes through radio, television, internet, newspapers and mobile phones promotions.

It will also offer a 50% discount on entrance tickets at tourist sites managed by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre for passengers flying on new airline services, or a new air route, as well as free bus transfers from Phu Bai Airport to downtown Hue and vice versa.

Each airline will also receive support to open a representative office in the province, the report said.

According to the provincial People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Van Cao, these policies will benefit investors who pledge to maintain flights and have detailed pan for at least six months with a frequency of at least two flights per month.

The incentives are available for the first year of operation.

This year, the province expects to welcome 3.1 to 3.3 million tourists, including 1.2 to 1.3 million foreigners.

Last year, the province received 3.1 million holiday-makers and earned USD132 million, up 8% and 10% from 2014, respectively. More than 800,000 international tourists travelled to the province last year.

The 18th edition of Thai Travel International Fair is scheduled for 17 to 21 February at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

Speaking at the pre-event press conference, Wednesday, Thai Travel Agents Association president, Suparerk Soorangura, said  the event will also be held outside of Bangkok during the same week in Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, and Phuket to boost tourism across the country.

“The fair is organised to stimulate tourism for both domestic and outbound sectors….travel packages and tourism related products will boost domestic tourism in line with the government policy,” he said.

The president added: “Today, travel is not just for Bangkok residents… the demand for travel is growing in other provinces and cities in the north, northeast and south and that is why we are expanding with satellite events in these regions.”

Consumers can source travel deals buy packages and hotel stays knowing the products are guaranteed as all travel-related companies exhibiting must be association members.

Tour operators must also be registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism’s Bureau of Tourism Business and Guide Registration.

This year there should be 1,200 booths at the Bangkok show and around 200 booths at satellite venues.

The booths are rented by hotels, resorts, travel agents, airlines, cruise companies, car rental companies, theme parks, tourism organisations, banks and travel insurance companies.

Most of the discounted travel packages  will be valid for March to July this year.

TTAA estimated the five-day event will attract 500,000 visitors generating THB700 million, the president said.

KTC cardholders, who purchase travel for a value of THB1,000, can enter a lucky draw to win two Nissan Almera cars, worth over THB1 million.

For a spend of THB5,000, cardholders will get Central gift voucher worth THB100. For THB 50,000 they will get an overnight bag worth THB2,490; and for THB150,000 a luggage wheelie worth 5,490.

TITF is organised by TTAA and the Association of Domestic Travel. Sponsors are: Thai Amadeus Southeast Asia; ThaiVivat Insurance PCL; and Krung Thai Bank. Supported by Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Ministry of Culture, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Department of Tourism, Tourism Council of Thailand, Thai Hotels Association and the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

The event is held twice annually in February and August.

Source: TTR Weekly

BAGAN, 16 December 2015: Myanmar’s tourism authorities have terminated licenses for over 40 accommodation suppliers in Bagan’s heritage zone to improve the chances of the ancient city being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Myanmar Times reported Bagan residents began building guesthouses after tourism started to take off in 2011. Many of guesthouses are still under construction and are located in the protected zone declared by the Ministry of Culture around historic Bagan. A Myanmar Tourism Federation official confirmed to The Myanmar Times that between 40 and 50 guesthouses have been forced to close. inside no 1The Ministry of Culture is enforcing a protected zone as part of efforts to gain UNESCO World Heritage status which the government hopes to achieve by 2017.

A draft master plan for the protection of ancient sites in accordance with UNESCO standards will be completed next month, the report said. In May, a team of local and international experts began assessing hotels in the Bagan area for compliance with a 1998 law that banned development inside cultural heritage sites.

Some of the hotels were built prior to the introduction of the law, while others were allowed to contravene the law, due to links with the military.

Ministry of Hotels and Tourism director, U Myo Win Nyunt, said the ministry granted licenses to 78 hotels at Bagan, of which only one was outside the protected zone. They are now all deemed illegal.

Last year, more than 230,000 foreign tourists visited Bagan. Until the end of October, this year, the town received 182,000 tourists. Bagan is an ancient city located in Mandalay Region built between the 9th and 11th centuries, during an era when some 55 Buddhist kings ruled the Bagan Dynasty.

Bagan Archaeological Zone covers about 42 sq km (16 miles) and has more than 3,000 pagodas.

Myanmar has nominated 14 sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List, including Mandalay’s ancient kingdoms and Mrauk U in Arakan State. So far, only the ancient cities of Pyi have been added to the prestigious list.

From June 2016, Air New Zealand will begin opening direct flights from New Zealand to Vietnam with the frequency of 3 flights / week.

Opening this new route, the airline will use Boeing 767-300 aircraft and flying time about 11 hours. The opening of this seasonal route will last until October 2016 and will be extended to next year.

Air New Zealand’s CEO Christopher Luxon said the selection of Ho Chi Minh City as a new international destination is consistent with the strategy of the airline. He said Vietnam is increasingly becoming the preferred destination for travelers; New Zealand visitors come to Vietnam increased by 20% over the past year and expressed the hope that with this new direct route will attract more tourist come to Vietnam and also New Zealand.

Mr. Thomas said that unlike Australia, New Zealand does not have the Vietnamese community living, thus bringing new route to Ho Chi Minh City primarily to meet the needs of traveling to Vietnam of New Zealand citizens. The company is estimated to provide 700 seats per week during 5 months; the airline will transport approximately 10,000 passengers in New Zealand to Vietnam this new flight route.

According to Thomas, the openings of new route also help Vietnam to compete with the popular destinations of New Zealand tourists such as Thailand and Bali (Indonesia).

New Zealand-Vietnam does not have direct routes although Vietnam is increasingly popular destination of people of New Zealand. The number of New Zealand tourists to Vietnam has increased from 12,400 to 15,000 passengers in 2013 visitors last year. Currently New Zealand airlines to coordinate with Singapore airlines to bring tourists to Vietnam.

“Hop on Hop off” tourist bus service is popular in many countries around the world has been appeared in Vietnam. This is the name of the bus which picks up and returns tourists at some famous attractions in the city.

With 200,000 dong per person, this service has been implemented in Saigon to serve tourists visiting the area in the city. Tourists who join in “Hop on Hop off’ tour have the right choice to choose their favorite destination rely on available schedules. The vehicles equipped with modern system which can automate translation about the sightseeing in different languages.

The buses serve tourists have 35-45 seats, departing from 8 am to 9.30 pm every day and every 30 minutes.

“Hop on Hop off” in Ho Chi Minh City have 13 stations located in the historic, tourist sites and attractions:

Vietjet Airline will start the golden week with 300.000 super savings tickets price from 0 VND from November 11th to November 18th. This offer applies to the itinerary from December 12th of 2015 to May 20th of 2016 (except holidays).

The “golden week” of Vietjet has unlimited destinations. The airline has extensive global network with more than 35 domestic route and international to South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar.

Representatives of the airline said that from November 11th to November 18th, Vietjet also has promotional at 12 pm -14 pm every day. Passengers visit the website or facebook www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam www.vietjetair.com, select the "Booking". 

Not only access to hundreds of thousands of fare savings opportunities, people can take the initiative time to buy these tickets just by simple payment methods like Visa Card, Master Card, JCB, American Express and ATM cards have registered Internet Banking.