Category: Latest Travel News

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 24, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The first Mekong Trends Aviation Seminar, organised by Destination Mekong in partnership with Amadeus and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), shows regional aviation growth continues at an impressive pace to meet demand.

The event took place on 10 October at the Amadeus Executive Briefing Centre in Bangkok and was attended by leading travel and tourism professionals as well as members of the media and academics.

The dynamics of the aviation sector in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) as well as highlights in the first Mekong Trends Snapshot on Air Transport in the GMS were underlined by experts in the aviation and tourism sectors, including Bangkok Airways’ Peter Wiesner; Oman Air’s Joseph Cusmano; Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s (VNAT) Le Tuan Anh; Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, MTCO’s Jens Thraenhart and Amadeus’ Marco Weigang.

Industry experts agreed that one the most dramatic regional trend was Vietnam’s accenting into a new aviation powerhouse.

“Although Bangkok remains the leading hub in the region, it has lost opportunities to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which have evolved into gateways for the Mekong region”, said Peter Wiesner, special advisor to Bangkok Airways CEO.

Le Tuan Anh, VNAT’s Deputy Director General in the International Cooperation Department & Marketing Manager, added that: “We are pleased to see Vietnam aviation is now being considered as a major player in the region. For Vietnam tourism authorities, the most tremendous change is opening secondary destinations to international airlines with Danang but also Cam Ranh/Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and now Haiphong being linked to regional capitals.”

According to the Mekong Trends Snapshot on Air Transport in the GMS, the region aviation sector has grown rapidly over the last two decades. In 2015, GMS airports received more than 250 million passengers. Across the region, there are a dozen airports with an annual carrying capacity of more than 10 million passengers. In addition, there are about 30 smaller airports with annual capacity of one million passengers.

The GMS is also home to some 20 airlines, including legacy carriers such as Thai Airways International and Vietnam Airlines and low-cost-carriers including Thai AirAsia, Vietjet, Nok Air and Thai Lion Air.

The Mekong Trends Snatpshot on Air Transport in the GMS study was authored by Luc Citrinot, Editor-in-chief of ASEAN Travel. He also moderated the seminar and reported that new air routes have opened annually with a trend for new flight serves between secondary destinations and major aviation hubs both internationally and regionally.

According to Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT Deputy Governor for Policy and Planning, the major shift in trends has been the emergence of low cost airlines.

“We recognise the importance role the low-cost carriers play in linking secondary destinations that we also want to promote to spearhead tourism income. So we launched strategic campaigns with these airlines to highlight our new marketing promotion such as paining a Thai AirAsia aircraft with ‘Amazing Thailand’ destinations.

“Although ground transportation is improving, the fastest and easiest way to travel point-to-point is to fly. When we conduct surveys, most travellers mentioned that flying remains their first travel option”, Mr Chattan, added.

Airlines in turn want active common promotion from travel and tourism leaders to capture increased demand. Despite challenges, the panel agreed that GMS aviation will continue to grow and will still witness tremendous changes over the coming years.

The report was presented during the Mekong Tourism Forum in Luang Prabang for the first time and can be downloaded for free at www.mekongtrends.com. Mekong Trends is an insight platform to highlight key issues and trends in the GMS under the Destination Mekong public-private partnership framework.

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 24, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Ministry of Energy of Thailand has the honor to be the host of the 7th ASIAN Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER7), which will take place in Bangkok, Thailand on 1-3 November 2017. This prestigious biennial event will be a platform for 36 Energy Ministers from energy producing and consuming countries in Asia and 20 Heads of leading International Organizations to meet and discuss the energy security implications of potential energy market transition pathways through comprehensive policy dialogue. AMER7 shall ultimately underpin the development of the increasingly complex and dynamic relationships between energy producers and consumers in Asia and beyond. Varieties of visions and implications of energy markets, natural gas, renewable energy transition with advanced technology options are subject to be expressed in hoping these could advance the Asian future energy landscapes.

H.E. Gen. Anantaporn Kanjanarat, Minister of Energy of Thailand revealed that “the 7th ASIAN Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER7) hosted by the Ministry of Energy of Thailand will take place in Bangkok, at Shangri-la hotel, from 1 – 3 November 2017. In this milestone meeting, Honorable Energy Ministers throughout Asia will meet to discuss the energy security implications of potential energy transition pathways focusing on global energy markets in transition: from vision to action. The AMER will serve as one of the biggest international platform for energy producers and energy consumers to share views and highlight the focus and interest in three main aspects: oil markets, gas markets, and disruptive technologies”.

This gathering will discuss the issues with update on current energy situation in Asia especially oil market and its impacts. How global issues and challenges influence oil markets in ASIA. For example, extensive agglomeration and closer cooperation among OPEC member countries and the recent unrest in many parts of the world that may effecting oil price.

As for gas market, the session will discuss current LNG development. Nowadays, LNG markets is being developed in a broader of market segment. Moreover, the development of LNG pricing index will make LNG markets getting more closer to oil market. Hence AMER7 will provide a floor of policy dialogue between exporting economies such as Western Asian Countries and energy importing economies such as China, Japan, Korea and ASEAN member countries to discuss and explore the way forward towards more secure, stable and sustainable future for both oil and gas market.

Last but not least, the AMER7 will look into the importance of the spread of disruptive energy technologies inevitably from fossils to cleaner and renewable energy. Certainly, the current trend is moving towards green energy while technology in the energy sector nowadays is evolving as its consequence. Highlights are the rise of Solar Rooftop, Electric Vehicle uses and Energy Storage System development. Today’s critical challenge is to ensure the momentum of such innovative energy technology and its transformation and to speed its progress.Participating countries will benefit from this session, For example Thai government continuously plays a role in ensuring predictable, long-term support in all stages of innovation to cope with future disruptive technology. Thailand is one of a few countries in Asia that has an explicit development of such a disruptive technology policy.

“Once again, the Government of Thailand is pleased to host this prestigious biennial event, which is a key feature of the global energy dialogue promoted under the neutral banner of the International Energy Forum (IEF). It is not only a forum for cooperating and sharing either vision or trends on energy situation across Asia but also for strengthening image of Thailand Integrated Energy Blue Print (TIEB). Currently, Thailand has been recognized to be the Leader of ASEAN in Renewables Energy and Energy Efficiency. Thailand has an effective and predictable energy strategies and policies with clear goals and targets under Thailand‘s Energy 4.0 policy and Thailand Integrated Energy Blueprint (TIEB). Therefore, this is a great honor for all Thais as a host to welcome all Asian Ministers, Delegates, participants and guests to Thailand to attend the AMER7”, as stated by H.E. Minister of Energy of Thailand.

Background of AMER:
The purpose of the ASIAN Ministerial Energy Roundtable or AMER is to discuss on energy Future between the energy producing countries and the energy consuming countries in Asia. The key discussions are the current energy situation, the future of energy supply and demand, the challenges of energy security emphasizing on oil and natural gas, and the implications for energy efficiency and sustainability. The 3rd AMER took place in Tokyo, Japan from 25-27 April 2009, Minister of Energy of Thailand accepted the invitation of the meeting to be the co-host with the government of Qatar for the 6th AMER, and to be the host of the 7th AMER which is co-hosted by United Arab Emirates.

In the 6th AMER in Doha, Qatar from 7-10 November 2015, Minister of Energy of Thailand H.E.Gen Anantaporn Kanjanarat was the head of delegation of Thailand as invited by Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Salen Al-Sada, The upcoming of the 7th AMER hosted by Thailand in Bangkok will be held in Bangkok from 1-3 November 2017.

Singapore (Singapore) – October 25, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is celebrating its long-standing 10-year partnership with Messe Berlin. To mark the occasion, Singapore will be the Official Partner Country for ITB Asia 2017, Messe Berlin’s regional flagship tradeshow. STB’s new brand, Passion Made Possible, will feature prominently across the exhibition show floor, with STB hosting the Singapore Pavilion (Booth F05) and Happy Corner (Booth F50) from 25 to 27 October at ITB Asia 2017, held at the Sands Expo and Convention Hall.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of ITB Asia being anchored in Singapore, a testament to the country’s position as a leading travel and tourism hub of Asia. The success of ITB Asia over the years has also helped entrench Singapore’s strength as a platform that catalyses the growth of business events, and a destination that provides opportunities for delegates to network, collaborate and share insights. We are excited to continue partnering with Messe Berlin to expound the latest travel trends and deliver exceptional experiences at ITB Asia, and for Singapore to lead the way as a springboard for the region’s travel industry to grow,” said Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Exhibitions and Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board.

“We are immensely proud to be celebrating our tenth anniversary this year. ITB Asia 2017 will feature our strongest-ever line-up of conference speakers, our largest exhibition showcase yet and our highest-ever buyer participation numbers. Overall, we expect more than 11,000 attendees from over 113 countries to come together to network and do business, putting Singapore at the centre of all this activity. We are grateful for ten years of consistent support from STB, which has allowed us to continually make ITB Asia the region’s go-to event,” said Ms Katrina Leung, Executive Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia.

ITB Asia was launched in 2008 in Singapore, a destination in the heart of Southeast Asia, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for travel and tourism. Well-positioned to grow in tandem with the dynamic travel and tourism ecosystem of this region, it is today Asia’s Leading Travel Tradeshow, hosting a comprehensive spectrum of conference tracks and education sessions on various categories across leisure and corporate travel. ITB Asia has continually proffered stronger content and more exciting experiences for delegates each year, with 2016 welcoming 10,876 attendees, a 75 per cent growth from its inaugural edition.

Singapore, Home of ITB Asia
2017 is a milestone year for STB, with Singapore as the home of ITB Asia for the 10th time, coupled with the recent launch of STB’s unified brand with EDB, Passion Made Possible. In line with Passion Made Possible, STB is reinventing the way it presents the city with a blockbuster line-up of activities to share Singapore’s spirit and passions with delegates, and inspire them to discover the city and deepen their own passions.

Singapore Pavilion, Hall F, Booth F05
The Singapore Pavilion brings the best of the city directly onto the exhibition show floor, celebrating the core values of Passion Made Possible through a spatial experience comprising live performances, art showcases and interactive workshops. It weaves together multiple Singapore stories into a multi-sensory experience, to appeal to the varied interests of delegates whilst serving as a platform to showcase Singapore’s talents and their passions. Delegates can view a selection of collectibles and products by homegrown designers and artists including Edwin Low (Supermama) and Hafiz Osman, or enjoy an audio-visual performance by the Syndicate collective and a custom cocktail by mixologist Vijay Mudaliar. They can also interact with Singapore makers at the booth and try their hand at letterpress printing with The Gentlemen’s Press or create their own perfumes with Scent, and bring their handmade creations home.

Happy Corner: Passion Kitchens, Hall F, Booth F50
At the Happy Corner, STB is bringing Singapore’s people and their passions to life through virtual reality to inspire delegates to step out and savour the flavours of Singapore. Delegates can go behind the scenes and experience the craft of cooking through four virtual reality “Passion Kitchens”, each featuring a different restaurant and cuisine offered in Singapore – Peach Blossoms (Chinese), Mamanda (Malay), Muthu’s Curry (Indian) and Xiao Ya Tou (Mod-Sin). There will also be a display showcase for delegates to touch, feel and smell the spices and ingredients used in preparing the dishes featured in the “Passion Kitchens”.

For delegates and business partners hoping to find out more about Singapore and how STB is reinventing the way it is approaching travel marketing today, Ms Lim Shoo Ling, Director of Brand at STB will also be sharing more on how “Singapore Disrupts Conventional Tourism Branding” at the Presentation Hub on 26 October, 10am.

About the Singapore Tourism Board
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions. For more information, visit www.stb.gov.sg or www.visitsingapore.com or follow us on Twitter @STB_sg(

About ITB Asia 2017
ITB Asia 2017 will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, from 25 – 27 October. It is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau, a group of the Singapore Tourism Board that champions the business events industry in Singapore. The event will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities and travel technology companies are all expected to attend.

For more information on Singapore, please visit: www.VisitSingapore.org

Geneva (Switzerland) – October 25, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036, a near doubling of the 4 billion air travelers expected to fly this year. The prediction is based on a 3.6% average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) noted in the release of the latest update to the association’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast.

“All indicators lead to growing demand for global connectivity. The world needs to prepare for a doubling of passengers in the next 20 years. It’s fantastic news for innovation and prosperity, which is driven by air links. It is also a huge challenge for governments and industry to ensure we can successfully meet this essential demand,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Eastward shift, Developing Market Focus
The biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region. The region will be the source of more than half the new passengers over the next two decades. The point at which China will displace the United States as the world’s largest aviation market (defined as traffic to, from and within the country) has moved two years closer since last year’s forecast. We now anticipate this will occur around 2022, through a combination of slightly faster Chinese growth and slightly reduced growth in the US. The UK will fall to fifth place, surpassed by India in 2025, and Indonesia in 2030. Thailand and Turkey will enter the top ten largest markets, while France and Italy will fall in the rankings to 11th and 12th respectively.

Risks, Opportunities and Sustainability
A number of risks to the forecast have been identified. Maximizing the potential benefits of aviation growth will depend on current levels of trade liberalization and visa facilitation being maintained. If trade protectionism and travel restrictions are put in place, the benefits of air connectivity will decline as growth could slow to 2.7%, meaning 1.1 billion fewer passenger journeys annually in 2036. Conversely, if moves towards liberalization increase, annual growth could be more than two percentage points faster, leading to a tripling in passengers over the next 20 years.

Planning for growth will require partnerships to be strengthened between the aviation industry, communities and governments to expand and modernize infrastructure. Runways, terminals, and ground access to airports will come under increasing strain. Innovative solutions to these challenges, as well as to the baggage and security processes, cargo handling, and other activities, will also be needed. And air traffic management needs urgent reform to cut delays, costs and emissions.

“Increasing demand will bring a significant infrastructure challenge. The solution does not lie in more complex processes or building bigger and bigger airports but in harnessing the power of new technology to move activity off-airport, streamline processes and improve efficiency. Through partnerships within the industry and beyond, we are confident that sustainable solutions for continued growth can be found,” said de Juniac.

The aviation industry has adopted a robust strategy to reduce its environmental impacts, particularly its carbon emissions. “No industry has done more to meet its environmental obligations than aviation. Our tough targets to achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020 and to cut our CO2 emissions to half-2005 levels by 2050 are backed by a comprehensive strategy. Our immediate aims are to work with governments to increase the production of sustainable aviation fuels, and to deliver air traffic management efficiencies, which promise significant emissions savings. And from 2020, a Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) will play a major role in meeting our carbon-neutral target,” said de Juniac.

Key facts (all figures based on central growth forecast)

Fast-Growing Markets
The five fastest-growing markets in terms of annual additional passengers in 2036 compared to 2016 will be
– China (921 million new passengers for a total of 1.5 billion)
– US (401 million new passengers for a total of 1.1 billion)
– India (337 million new passengers for a total of 478 million)
– Indonesia (235 million new passengers for a total of 355 million)
– Turkey (119 million new passengers for a total of 196 million).

Many of the fastest-growing markets are achieving a compound growth rate of more than 7.2% per year, meaning their market will double in size each decade. Most of these markets are in Africa, including: Sierra Leone, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Malawi, Chad, Gambia and Mozambique.

Regional Growth
– Routes to, from and within Asia-Pacific will see an extra 2.1 billion annual passengers by 2036, for an overall market size of 3.5 billion. Its annual average growth rate of 4.6% will be the third-highest, behind Africa and the Middle East.
– The North American region will grow by 2.3% annually and in 2036 will carry a total of 1.2 billion passengers, an additional 452 million passengers per year.
– Europe will also grow at 2.3%, and will add an additional 550 million passengers a year. The total market will be 1.5 billion passengers.
– Latin American markets will grow by 4.2%, serving a total of 757 million passengers, an additional 421 million passengers annually compared to today.
– The Middle East will grow strongly (5.0%) and will see an extra 322 million passengers a year on routes to, from and within the region by 2036. The total market size will be 517 million passengers.
– Africa will grow by 5.9%. By 2036 it will see an extra 274 million passengers a year for a total market of 400 million passengers.

For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Tel: + 41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org

Singapore (Singapore) – October 24, 2017 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts is celebrating this week after it completed an impressive hat-trick at Travel Weekly Asia’s 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards.

The world famous hotel group won the title of “Asia’s Best Mid-Range Hotel Chain” for the third consecutive year, as voted for by the readers of Travel Weekly Asia – one of the largest travel trade publications in the Asia Pacific region.

The award was presented to Best Western at a glittering award ceremony, which took place in Singapore on Monday, October 23, 2017.

Olivier Berrivin, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ Managing Director of International Operations – Asia, said he was delighted to have won the award for the third time in a row.

“We’re incredibly proud of this achievement; to have been named as Asia’s Best Mid-Range Hotel Chain for three consecutive years is a great honor,” Berrivin said. “The readers of Travel Weekly Asia represent the region’s travel trade, so it is incredibly gratifying to know that the Best Western brand is resonating strongly with so many of our highly-respected industry partners. We would like to thank Travel Weekly Asia and their readers for this award, and for their continued support.”

“In recent years, Best Western has undertaken a major international expansion strategy, including the launch of several new brand concepts and exciting new hotels in Asia. We will continue to set the bar for innovative, industry-leading midscale accommodation across the region in future,” he added.

Winning its third consecutive Travel Weekly Asia Reader’s Choice Award continues Best Western’s recent winning streak, as last month the hotel group was named as Asia’s “Best Mid-Range Hotel Brand” at the TTG Travel Awards for the 11th year in a row.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,100* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 10 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, and BW Premier Collection®; as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay®, SureStay Plus® and SureStay Signature Collection®. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western in the top three upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands for three years in a row, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. Best Western has also won eight consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA’s 56 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Over 30 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google® Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.

– Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contact information:
Marketing Communications Department
Best Western Hotels and Resorts – Asia
Tel: +66 2 656 1260
Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com
Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Bienne (Switzerland) – October 20, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Swiss watch brand Strom today presents the “In Memorian HR Giger” watch, one of the final projects on which the artist worked before his death in 2014. A veritable “wrist sculpture”, the timepiece features HR Giger’s legendary biomechanoid creature. Acclaimed for his “fantastic-realism” works, HR Giger shot to fame with his creation of the monster in Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, for which he received an Oscar in the “Best Visual Effects” category the following year.

Deeply saddened by the death of this man, who had also become his friend, Daniel Strom waited three years before presenting the watch that they had created together, named “In Memoriam HR Giger” in tribute to him. For the official launch, he has chosen the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères, which features a sculpture of the biomechanoid creature emblematic of HR Giger’s work proudly displayed at the entrance.

Alongside the artist’s widow, Carmen Giger, the Bienne-based watchmaker unveiled this exceptional watch, of which just 99 pieces have been produced. Sculpted in the silver case, the elongated skulls of the Cyborg creature extend from the lugs, while its body parts are etched into the case middle.

The entirely hand-worked, in silver casted dial was inspired by another of HR Giger’s works, and one of his best-known: the “ELP II” canvas (work no. 217) painted with an airbrush in a single night. A work that was stolen in 2005 and never returned to its rightful owner, despite the presence of tangible clues. For Daniel Strom, with its lively, sensual mouth, the skull in the painting symbolises the ephemeral nature of existence – a subject already explored in one of the preceding creations in his Agonium collection, of which the “In Memoriam HR Giger” is the sixth opus.

Crowdfunding to support the brand’s development
In the presence of the journalists attending the event, Daniel Strom also mentioned the fundraising started to finance the development of his family brand founded in 2001, up until now entirely self-funded. After the first phase which enabled him to collect more than CHF 700,000 from clients and friends in just a few months, he is opening his share capital to the public to achieve his CHF 2 million target.

To enable fans of the brand and other aficionados of Swiss watchmaking who may not have the means required to contribute to the development of the Maison, various blocks of shares are offered from as little as CHF 1,000. Developments planned at the end of this crowdfunding venture focus on distribution in particular – as much through the traditional network as through the implementation of new concepts – as well as on the production and visibility of the brand.

Strom Prestige Swiss Timepieces AG
Jakob-Stämpfli-Strasse 10
CH – 2502 Biel
Daniel Strom
T. +41 32 333 12 22
d.strom@stromwatch.ch

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – October 20, 2017 (travelindex.com) – All samples from patients suspected to be ill with the pneumonic plague in Seychelles have been tested at a partner laboratory of the World Health Organisation in Paris and they are all negative, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Wednesday.

Ten samples – including several suspected cases and one probable case — had been sent to the Institute Pasteur in France for confirmatory tests.

In a press statement after receiving the negative test results, the Ministry of Health said all the patients who were isolated on the ward, including the index case, have now been discharged without any further risk.

“All admitted persons were on antibiotics, including the second line. They can carry on with normal life as they do not have the plague. As of today, all persons who were still on passive surveillance have completed their time and those who were still on antibiotics can stop,” reads the statement.

The Seychelles’ authorities have been on high alert ever since it was confirmed that a Seychellois basketball coach, died in a hospital in Madagascar last month, after contracting pneumonic plague.

The alert was heightened after the first probable case of the disease was reported in a Seychellois man who developed plague-like symptoms after returning from Madagascar, which is facing a plague epidemic. The man was admitted in isolation and had been receiving antibiotic treatment.

Since then, people who had contact with the man and other suspected cases were also admitted for treatment as part of precautionary measures. It is to be noted that all schools around the country had been closed since last Friday, also as a precautionary measure, but they all resumed their normal operations on Wednesday.

While the samples of suspected cases have come back negative, the Indian Ocean archipelago will be continuing with its active surveillance, similar to other countries in the region.

The Public Health Authority is maintaining its advisory which is discouraging people from travelling to Madagascar for the time being. The suspension of flights by the national airline to Madagascar is being upheld. The Ministry of Health will also be maintaining active surveillance of visitors who do enter the country from Madagascar, where they will either be sent back or they will be sent to an isolation centre, where a few individuals, including visitors, are already being monitored.

The Seychelles Tourism Board and Tourism Ministry said measures that have been taken by all relevant stakeholders to date and the responsible dissemination of factual information, have been crucial in ensuring that there is no unnecessary panic that could negatively impact the tourism arrival figures.

Other than a few cancellations last week, mainly from a few Italian and British visitors who were coming to visit Seychelles but also had Madagascar on their itinerary, it’s been business as usual where the large majority of visitors have been free to enjoy their holiday in Seychelles.

The Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne confirmed to daily newspaper TODAY in Seychelles on Wednesday that bookings for this week are on the increase once again.

For her part, the STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis said: “Seychelles remains a safe destination to visit, thank you to the Ministry of Health for all the precautionary measures that have been taken and are still in force to protect the country.”

It is to be noted that Seychelles is receiving help from the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve the country’s surveillance and preparedness, aimed at reducing the risk of the spread of plague. Training in contact tracing for health workers, Red Cross volunteers, and other key partners have also been conducted.

Commenting on the Seychelles’ situation on Wednesday, WHO said the risk of spread of plague in the Seychelles is low.

Alain St.Ange
t: + 248 2 515 615
e: alain@saintange.com.au | saintangeseychelles@gmail.com

London (United Kingdom) – October 23, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced the election of Christopher J. Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton, as the Council’s next Chairman. Mr Nassetta joined Hilton in 2007, bringing with him an extensive background in real estate and hospitality. Since assuming the role of CEO he has transformed the company, bringing Hilton hospitality to 27 new countries by adding 2,200 hotels to a network of more than 5,000 properties in 103 countries and territories. Before taking the company public in 2013, Chris instilled a guest- and employee-focused culture that is recognised today on multiple Great Place to Work lists. He joined Hilton from Host Hotels & Resorts where he was CEO.

Chris has been a Member of WTTC’s Executive Committee since 2011 and Vice Chairman for North America since 2014.

Mr Nassetta will take over from current Chairman, Gerald Lawless, following the Council’s Annual General Meeting, which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 17 April 2018. WTTC Chairmen are elected for a two-year term.

Mr Lawless, who has been Chairman of WTTC since April 2016, said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of WTTC for the past two years and I am delighted to be handing over to Chris Nassetta to steer the Council into its next phase of development. I am sure that he and Gloria Guevara, WTTC’s President & CEO, will form a strong team to advocate for the economic and social benefits of Travel & Tourism.”

Mr Nassetta said: “I would like to thank Gerald for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the global Travel & Tourism industry. I am also honoured to accept the role as WTTC Chair at a time of amazing opportunity and growth. I believe the Council can play an important role to bring governments and the industry together to deliver smart plans that support both security and international travel. I also believe that the unique scale and reach of WTTC Members can be used to tackle significant global issues, including climate change and global youth unemployment. A Travel & Tourism industry focused on these challenges can deliver great things for this generation and the next.”

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO commented, “I would like to thank Gerald for his contribution during his Chairmanship and congratulate Chris on his selection. Their guidance is instrumental to continue to position Travel & Tourism as the best partner for job creation.”

WTTC’s latest data shows that Travel & Tourism accounts for 10% of the world’s GDP, contributing over $7.6 trillion. In 2016, Travel & Tourism supported a total of 292 million jobs around the world, 1 in 10 of all jobs.

Bangkok (Thailand) – October 20, 2017 (travelindex) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts is celebrating the launch of Asia’s first ever SureStay Hotel with a tempting Double Points promotion. SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 opened this month in the heart of downtown Bangkok. This new-build premium economy hotel will provide guests with the international standards and services one would expect from a Best Western hotel at a reasonable price point.

To mark this milestone, Best Western Rewards (BWR) members will be offered double points when booking stays at SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2, from now until December 31, 2017. Bookings must be made either directly with the hotel or online at bestwestern.com/doublepointasia.

Nestled in the heart of Sukhumvit, Bangkok’s main business and entertainment district, SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Sukhumvit 2 offers 85 contemporary rooms, all featuring sleep-inducing beds and complimentary Wi-Fi. There is also a “business corner” area, making the hotel perfect for both business and leisure travelers on a budget.

The Double Points promotion is available to all BWR members. Not a member yet? Sign up now at bestwesternhotelasia.com/create-account. This offer is valid for stays from now until December 31, 2017.

For more information and to book your stay, please visit www.surestayplussukhumvit2.com or email info@surestayplussukhumvit2.com.

About Best Western Hotels & Resorts:
Best Western Hotels & Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with a global network of 4,100* hotels in more than 100* countries and territories worldwide. Best Western offers 10 hotel brands to suit the needs of developers and guests in every market: Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Vīb®, GLō®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, and BW Premier Collection®; as well as its recently launched franchise offerings: SureStay®, SureStay Plus® and SureStay Signature Collection®. Now celebrating more than 70 years of hospitality, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales and marketing support, and award-winning online and mobile booking capabilities. Best Western continues to set industry records regarding awards and accolades, including 64 percent of the brand’s North American hotels earning a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award in 2017, Business Travel News® ranking Best Western Plus and Best Western in the top three upper-mid-price and mid-price hotel brands for three years in a row, and Best Western receiving seven consecutive Dynatrace® Best of the Web awards for its leading hotel website. Best Western has also won eight consecutive AAA®/CAA® Lodging Partner of the Year awards, recognizing the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional service and great value to AAA’s 56 million members in the U.S. and Canada. Over 30 million travelers are members of the brand’s award-winning loyalty program Best Western Rewards®, one of the few programs in which members earn points that never expire and can be redeemed at any Best Western hotel worldwide. Best Western’s partnerships with AAA/CAA and Harley-Davidson® provide travelers with exciting ways to interact with the brand. Through its partnership with Google® Street View, Best Western is the first major company of its size and scale to launch a virtual reality experience for customers, setting a new industry standard and reinventing how guests view hotels.

Each Best Western® branded hotel is independently owned and operated.

– Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

Contact information:
Marketing Communications Department
Best Western Hotels and Resorts – Asia
Tel: +66 2 656 1260
Sirimanas Maungrod
Email: sirimanas.maungrod@bestwestern.com
Orapan Sornnuwat
Email: orapan.sornnuwat@bestwestern.com

Macao (Macao SAR) – October 17, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Chui Sai On, was present in the closing ceremony of Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2017 (GTEF). Hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, the Forum supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative and embraces the “16+1” economic framework between China and the 16 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) in this edition. Through a range of themed panel sessions and business networking functions, the Forum fostered an in-depth exchange of perspectives among industry stakeholders from near and afar across the world. While radiating Macao’s unique strengths and role as a platform, GTEF 2017 culminated in a fruitful harvest.

Ministerial officials, industry leaders and scholars from worldwide share insights
Under the theme of “Regional Collaboration towards a Better Future”, this sixth edition of GTEF brought together around 1,500 ministerial officials of tourism and related sectors, industry leaders, experts, scholars and participants from across the globe into a series of profound discussions on how regional tourism collaboration can give an impetus to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and sustainable global tourism development. The Forum also rolled out an array of business matching and presentation sessions to foster interchanges among tourism corporations at home and abroad and facilitate their practice of the “bring in and go global” strategy. This edition of the Forum featured the 16 Central and Eastern European Countries as the Partner Region and Guizhou Province as the Partner Province. The two-day event was covered by over 150 international and domestic members of the press.

Conclude experience and look forward to the next edition
The closing ceremony of Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2017 was held this noon (17 October) at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Chui Sai On, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Forum Chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah, and Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Taleb Rifai were among the guests at the closing ceremony. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Alexis Tam delivered a closing speech. Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho concluded the Forum.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Alexis Tam, remarked in his closing speech that, the widening scope of participation in the Forum speaks volume to the increasing influence of the Forum as a remarkable example of embracing regional collaboration. Against the backdrop of the promising “16+1” economic framework between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries, this year’s Forum invited the 16 Central and Eastern European Countries to jointly participate as Partner Region. In these two days, delegates have been inspired by the CEEC perspectives on regional collaboration, which are as profound and diverse as their cultures and history. The “16+1” framework plants the seed of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Europe where it is growing and flourishing. CEEC’s participation in this edition of GTEF opens another window of opportunity for further regional co-operation in the field of tourism. Riding on the momentum of the China-Europe tie, the Forum will broaden the scope of collaboration and invite the European Union to be Partner Region in the next edition.

Secretary Tam also emphasized the commitment to pursuing the vision of building an advanced international tourism platform that brings together decision makers and leaders of the global tourism industry, bridges the gap between different countries and regions, and forges partnerships among industry operators from both the public and private sectors. As the host of the Forum, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government leverages the unique system, culture and geographic advantages of Macao to extend the collaboration across different cultures, sectors and territories, and readily multiply the momentum, scale and impact of the Forum with the valuable experiences culminated over the past few years.

He stated, “The Forum has underscored the remarkable role of our city in the region. Not only is Macao eagerly seizing the opportunity of the Belt and Road Initiative, we are also a core member in the China’s strategic planning of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. We task ourselves to enhance the synergy effect these national projects will play with our own positioning as the world centre of tourism and leisure, as well as the platform between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. In this context, we are also actively consolidating Macao as a hub where traditional Chinese culture prevails and other cultures flourish in harmony.”

Secretary Tam concluded, “With the fresh inspirations gained and international network built during this Forum, I encourage you to capitalize on the possibilities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative, share your strengths and synchronize your efforts in strategic partnerships. Together, we can build a strategic foundation on which a healthy and sustainable tourism industry will develop.”

Vice Chairman and Secretary‐General of GTEF, Pansy Ho, concluded this edition, “With political will, psychological consensus and mutual trust, regional collaboration can create a sustainable ecosystem likened to a spider web, a dynamic hub-and-spoke framework with meticulously woven strands of web in just the right places, all interrelated, interdependent, indispensable, and strategically aligned with the overall structure to create a collective outcome.”

Accompanied by Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of GTEF, Pansy Ho in the closing ceremony, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Alexis Tam, presented a gift to Secretary-General of UNWTO and Honorary Chairman of GTEF, Taleb Rifai, as a token of appreciation for his care for Macao’s tourism industry over the years and his immense support to the Forum, as well as a kind regard for him before he finishes his term at the end of this year.

Following the gift presentation, a group photo was taken for Chief Executive of the Macao SAR, Chui Sai On, and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Forum Chairman of GTEF, Ho Hau Wah, together with other officiating guests. Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2017 was successfully concluded.

During the Forum, UNWTO and the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre (GTERC) together presented their fourth annual joint research report of UNWTO/GTERC Asia Tourism Trends. The 2017 report analyzes the prospect of future tourism development in Asia, with the hope to guide decision makers and industry leaders in their formulation of long-term development plans and adoption of development models for closer collaboration by capitalizing on modern technology and their strengths, to advance sustainable development of the regional tourism industry and the global tourism economy.

GTEF Macao 2018 will invite European Union as Partner Region
The seventh edition of GTEF will be held in Macao in 2018. In support of the adoption of 2018 as the “EU-China Tourism Year”, the Forum will invite the European Union (EU) to participate as the Partner Region in its seventh edition next year to explore the vast world of opportunities set free by in-depth tourism cooperation between China and Europe. During the closing ceremony, First Counsellor, Head of Trade Section of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, Alessandro Paolicchi, gave the “GTEF 2018 Partner Region Presentation – European Union”.

Carrying on the productive results of the past sixth editions, the host of the Forum is committed to marking innovative chapters on the program and format of the next edition, with the aim to enable delegates to forge far-reaching tourism cooperation across industries, sectors and regions through the Forum as an international exchange platform.

The Global Tourism Economy Forum • Macao 2017 is hosted by the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization, co-organized by the China Chamber of Tourism and coordinated by the Global Tourism Economy Research Centre. The Forum’s supporting units include China National Tourism Administration, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Macao Government Tourism Office, World Travel and Tourism Council, Pacific Asia Travel Association, World Tourism Cities Federation and European Travel Commission.

GTEF 2017 – Macao 2017
* Closing ceremony, speech of Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Executive Chairman of GTEF, Alexis Tam
* Closing Remarks of Ms. Pansy Ho, Secretary General and Vice Chairman, GTEF