Focus on Artificial Intelligence at ITB Asia 2017

Focus on Artificial Intelligence at ITB Asia 2017

Singapore (Singapore) – August 31, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Under the overarching conference theme of  “The Future of Travel”, the organisers of ITB Asia, Messe Berlin (Singapore), have announced that this year’s keynote speeches will be delivered by industry leaders from IBM and Google, who will speak on the very latest trends in Artificial Intelligence (AI) including the impact, use and benefits of AI in the travel industry.

Starting from 9am on 25 October, the keynote addresses will be delivered by Tony Menezes, Vice President of Industrial and Distribution Sector at IBM Asia Pacific and Rob Torres, Managing Director of Advertising and Marketing at Google. Sharanjit Leyl, Presenter and Producer at BBC News will moderate the keynote session.

Tony Menezes will speak about the opportunities to fundamentally transform the travel industry with cognitive technology, and how IBM Watson is making travel experiences more personal, relevant and convenient. As Vice President, Industrial and Distribution Sector at IBM Asia Pacific, Tony Menezes is responsible for building and growing relationships across IBM’s portfolio of industry solutions, software, services and platforms. Prior to this, Tony was responsible for business development and sales of Cognitive Industry solutions, based on IBM Watson, the AI platform for business.

Rob Torres, Industry Director, Travel at Google will be speaking about how consumer expectations for seamless, assistive experiences in travel are higher than ever before. He will share how the Google Travel team is leveraging new digital trends and machine learning to build more immersive experiences for users across the travel journey. Google’s suite of travel products includes Google Flights, Google Hotel Ads, Destinations on Google, and Google Trips.

“Artificial intelligence is making real waves in the travel industry and changing the way business is done. We’re seeing an increasing number of travel and hospitality brands integrating AI into their online strategies in efforts to improve customer service and engagement and it is clearly a major trend that is here to stay. This year, we felt it was timely to have two influential experts in AI share their knowledge and insights at ITB Asia 2017, and we’re delighted to welcome Tony Menezes from IBM Asia Pacific and Rob Torres from Google as keynote speakers for what will no doubt be a truly exciting start to this year’s show”, said Katrina Leung, Executive Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore) and ITB Asia.

ITB Asia 2017 is expected to top the success of ITB Asia in 2016, where almost 900 buyers attended the show, leading to a 1:1 ratio between exhibitors and buyers whilst over 50% of buyers signed deals with exhibitors after the event. 43% of attending buyers had purchasing power of USD 500K – USD 1m and 85.7% of attending buyers were direct decision makers.

For more information on ITB Asia 2017, visit www.itb-asia.com

For more information or interest to be a Conference Partner of ITB Asia 2017, please email: michele.koe@itb-asia.com or visit: www.itb-asia.com/conference

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. 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.

Andrew Wood, New VP for Southeast Asia at Skål International

Andrew Wood, New VP for Southeast Asia at Skål International

Seoul (Korea) – August 31, 2018 (travelindex.com) – Robert Sohn, President of Skal International Asia, announced that effective immediately, Andrew J. Wood was co-opted as Vice President for Southeast Asia (SEA) by the organisations Asian board.

Andrew is not new to this position as he was VP for Southeast Asia during 2009-2010 and was a former Executive Committee member of SI.

“Without doubt, he keeps a wealth of knowledge and understanding when it comes to SI, and more importantly, I highly regard his ardent passion on SI,” said Sohn.

Said Wood: “It is a privilege to once again work with good friends and colleagues for the betterment of Skål International throughout Asia.

“A member since 20 August 1992, I celebrate 25 years of Skål membership this year. Returning to the AA board, therefore, is the icing on the Skål cake. Thank you all so much. I will do my best, and I look forward to joining you all for the mid-term meeting in Macau from November 2-5, 2017.”

Andrew J. Wood, is a well-travelled travel writer and former hotelier with over 35 years of hospitality and travel experience. He is a regular media contributor and guest lecturer at various universities in Thailand including Assumption University’s Hospitality School and most recently the Japan Hotel School in Tokyo.

Contact information:
Andrew J Wood
VP | South East Asia (SEA)
Skål International Asia
E: ajwoodbkk@gmail.com
W: www.skalasia.org

ITB Asia 2017 Sells Out 10th Anniversary Show

ITB Asia 2017 Sells Out 10th Anniversary Show

Singapore (Singapore) – August 31, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Celebrating its 10th anniversary as Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show, ITB Asia 2017 has completely sold out ahead of its milestone show this October, attributed to a tremendous surge in booth bookings from the global market. The show holds its strong Asian support with 60% of exhibiting companies from Asia.

ITB Asia 2017 will feature many firsts for the travel trade show. For the first time this year, ITB Asia will host Brazil’s Rio Convention and Visitor Bureau, the Moscow City Government, Promote Iceland, as well as an African Pavilion, among many others.

The strong growth performance at ITB Asia 2017 is led by BRICS economies that show exceeding exhibitor stand booking growth rates, with South Africa (200%), Russia (183%) and Brazil (100%) paving the trend. China is also growing its presence at ITB Asia by 31% this year with Ctrip, Wuzhen Tourism, Hua Min Tourism & Reservation, Shanghai Toptown International Travel Agency and many more set to feature during the show.

Tunisia and Rwanda will make their debut at ITB Asia this year, joining Kenya Tourism Board and other African exhibitors from Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Sudan. This comes as no surprise given that the African market has shown an exceptional growth of 25% at this year’s show.

Europe is a close second having recorded a 23% growth which is led by the Greek National Tourism Organisation and Spain Tourism Board. This growth is also substantiated by a growing number of exhibitors from the Balkan Peninsula, including countries such as Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

In addition, Scandinavian markets have marked a 21% growth as leading markets such as Finland and Norway show stronger exhibitor demand. This is further strengthened by Promote Iceland which joins ITB Asia for the first time.

While African and European markets appear to dominate the show floor, North Asia will feature prominently during ITB Asia 2017 too.

Delegates can look forward to a strong showing by Japan and Korea at this year’s show as Japan recorded an 89% growth in exhibitor bookings while Korea recorded a staggering 112% growth, thanks to Korea Tourism Organisation, Seoul Tourism Organisation and Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Earlier this year, ITB Asia had signed a partnership with Korea Tourism Organisation to boost Korea’s appeal as a key destination in Southeast Asia.

“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary this year, the substantial growth in exhibitors underlines how ITB Asia has firmly established itself as the leading industry event in the region. The Asian outbound market continues to attract huge interest and we are delighted to see such levels of growth from various key markets at the show this year. As early as now, we are accepting bookings for the 2018 show,” said Katrina Leung, Executive Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), organiser of ITB Asia.

Exploring “The Future of Travel”, ITB Asia 2017 will feature industry heavyweights from the travel and tourism sector as well as global brand names from the technology sector. The show will take place from 25 – 27 October 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.

ITB Asia 2018 is now available for stand booking and interested exhibitors may email exhibitor@itb-asia.com.

For more information on ITB Asia 2017, visit www.itb-asia.com

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. 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.

Seychelles Needs to Refocus on its Tourism Niche Markets

Seychelles Needs to Refocus on its Tourism Niche Markets

Victoria, Mahe (Seychelles) – August 28, 2017 (travelindex.com) – In Seychelles, we know that the economy is facing real challenges which will impact on the lives of the average citizen. As an island Nation, we remain dependent on tourism. A recent survey in Australia recently concluded that Travel Agents remain more relevant than ever for tourism. Travel Agents use Tour Operators’ published programs and their tourists are generally met and handled by a Destination Management Company (DMC).

Extracts from the edited notes by Peter Needham on the recent survey reveals:- Three quarters of Australian travelers view travel agents as a “trusted source of travel and safety advice” – a major increase over the 57% figure recorded in 2012. The findings, which derive from a survey conducted by travel insurer SureSave, also show that in 2017, “40% of Australians booked their last overseas leisure trip with a travel agent (either in-store, over the phone or via email)”.

“Travelers are still turning to agents for their travel booking and insurance needs, but not because they view agents as the default booking option,” Ross McDonald, SureSave’s general manager distribution commented, “They’re coming back to agents time and time again as they genuinely seek and value the level of knowledge and expertise that agents offer.”

Travelers are also becoming increasingly savvy about the intricacies of travel insurance, and in particular the “window of risk”, which identifies the earliest point at which a traveler is at risk of being out of pocket. In 2017, 53% of respondents purchased travel insurance “at the same time as booking their holiday”, in comparison to only 37% in 2012.

For Seychelles, it should never be forgotten that Tour Operators have been the faithful partners of the island’s tourism industry for decades, their printed programs proudly occupying many a shop window in key tourism source markets. This has helped to keep Seychelles visible and relevant as a tourism destination. The local agents of these Tour Operators, the DMCs on their part, continue to work with the Tourism Board to promote Seychelles products, making it a win-win for the country and local businesses.

Seychelles today needs to refocus on all of its tourism niche markets. The traditional niche markets of diving, sailing, fishing and bird watching must continue to be promoted. However, the time has come to boost and nurture the cruise tourism market in Seychelles. The port where tourists will disembark is the first experience the visitors will have of a given island; they will step onto the concrete slab, amid industrial containers, armed with their professional cameras, with nothing to take photographs of. Therefore, we must ensure our port is worthy of their scrutiny and attention. Moreover, with the town of Victoria abandoned by shopkeepers and businessmen after midday on Saturdays, and becoming a barren wasteland on Sundays, there is not much for tourists to see and do in the country’s capital on weekends. Local eateries are few and far between, and in terms of entertainment, the average tourist would have to travel to the other side of the island to engage in some water activities.

An example of a market which is yet to be tapped into is that of Casino Junkets. Casino operators would hire junketeers to fill a plane with qualified gamblers. These players would get free airfares, free hotel accommodations, free meals and free shows in exchange for their commitment to gamble a specific number of hours per day at an explicit average bet size. Casinos, of course, are operating on the assumption that the players would lose more than their out of pocket expenses for bringing, accommodating and feeding them.

Aquaculture in Seychelles?

As Seychelles looks for ways to grow its economy further, officials have steered towards the idea of Marine aquaculture (Mariculture). Mariculture refers to the culturing of marine species in sea pens, on the seafloor, or suspended in the water column or in on-land, man made systems such as ponds or tanks.

The concept is not new to Seychelles. In 1989, the Island Development Company (IDC) and the Seychelles Marketing Board (SMB) established a prawn farm on the largest coralline island of Seychelles, Coetivy. The farm specifically cultured the Black Tiger Prawn, which is renowned globally for its exquisite taste. The operation was later abandoned in 2009 due to financial constraints, leaving the once beautiful island covered in concrete scars that are still apparent today.

There is also a currently operational black pearl oyster farm situated on Praslin, the second-most populated island of Seychelles. The farm was established in 1995, and produces the black lipped oyster and winged oyster specifically for the retailed jewelers market.

The newly emerging mariculture endeavor has identified four finned-fish species for the pilot project. They include the brown-marbled grouper, the iconic red emperor snapper, the mangrove snapper and the snub-nosed pompano. The fish produced will be almost exclusively for export and it is hoped that the industry will boast between 20,000 and 50,000 tonnes per annum.

Aquaculture brings with it several benefits (if it is done right). Mainly, it can reduce fishing pressure from wild stock. With the increasing demand for seafood globally, aquaculture produces a continuous food supply. This would be especially useful during the South-East Monsoon in Seychelles where fish stocks are limited due to rough seas. The industry can also create new job sectors, offering skilled opportunities in science and technology, thus expanding the local workforce.

Unfortunately, aquaculture also has significant environmental disadvantages. escapees may pose a threat to wild species. Cultured fish will most likely be reared from hatchlings and throughout time cause genetic dilution. If one of these fish escape into the wild and manages to breed with a wild specimen, drastic genetic loss may take place causing a disastrous rippling effect in nature. Furthermore, the methods that will be incorporated in Seychelles include floating pens. These pens allow for waste materials such as fecal matter and uneaten food scraps to be deposited on the seafloor which can be carried by sea currents towards neighbouring coral reefs, seagrass habitats and mangrove forests causing possible detriment to these vital ecosystems.

In addition this waste material can be the source of an emerging artificial food chain. Uneaten food may attract fish from the wild towards the pen, with it brings larger predators, such as sharks which may add an increased risk to swimmers. Other major environmental concerns include the use of a variety of chemicals, including antifoulants, pesticides, and antibiotics, which can have negative effects on marine ecosystems or even human health.

The relevant authorities in Seychelles had hosted several public consultations with international consultants of the project present to address any questions. I personally attended several of the meetings to gain an insight into the views of the public. It was made clear that the majority of the citizens present at the meetings were against the project altogether. Several concerns were raised, such as why local scientific expertise was not consulted in the development phase instead of relying solely on foreign consultants to decide the fate of the project? Another interesting point that was raised was why were more sustainable species, such as shellfish, not considered?

The major issue raised, however, was the fear of possible increase in shark activity. The consultants were quick to state that there is no scientific proof that shark frequency is increased with aquaculture pens. However, several scientific studies done around the world have demonstrated that sharks do in fact show increased activity in areas containing aquaculture pens, thus increasing risks to human attacks (e.g.,Galaz & de Maddalena 2004, NOAA 2005). Looking closer to Seychelles, a recent publication in the African Journal of Marine Science demonstrated the large bull sharks are showing high site fidelity to aquaculture pens around Reunion Island (Loiseau et al. 2016). Although shark attacks on humans are a rare occurrence, the fact remains that increased shark activity in coastal areas that are prominent swimming spots by tourists and locals are going to be put under greater risk.

Back in 2012, Seychelles was smeared over international media after there were two fatal shark attacks that occurred within weeks from each other, and in the same bay on Praslin Island. The cause of the attacks where most likely due to constant food disposal from yachts and other pleasure boats that frequently docked in the area. This theory was considered most likely by shark experts that were leading the investigation. These chumming activities may have altered large shark feeding behaviour, thus attracting them to the bay where the attacks happened. Could the aquaculture pens in Seychelles cause the same effect?

Although there is a great downside to aquaculture, all of these risks can be managed to a bare minimum if strict protocols are followed. Let us not forget that tourism remains the main pillar of the Seychelles Economy. Venturing into other avenues of economic growth may prove to be an even greater asset to Seychelles. However, one needs to question whether it is worth the risk.

Working with FORSEAA, the Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN

Seychelles and Indonesia are set to cooperate even more than before through FORSEAA, the ‘Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN’. My recent appointment as Deputy Secretary General of FORSEAA is set to consolidate the excellent ties already existing between the two countries.

FORSEAA is an intergovernmental forum founded by Seychelles and Indonesia with members from AFRICA and ASEAN countries, with its permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

One of the FORSEAA programs is to achieve SME in Culture & Tourism by the active role of the host community to develop a compassionate destination, based on the diverse cultures of Indonesia. Specifically for small islands eco-tourism, FORSEAA will accelerate the cooperation between AFRICA ASEAN especially Seychelles and Indonesia by pairing the brand image of Seychelles in eco-marine tourism. FORSEAA is working to see from the world at large, how it can assist the many small pristine islands in Indonesia to contribute economically to Seychelles.

As the Deputy Secretary General at FORSEAA, we shall continue to organize for example the visit by youths and students from the Community of Nations to Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan as part of its effort to help promote compassionate destinations of eco-culture in Indonesia

Seychelles Special Envoy for ASEAN, Mr. Nico Barito said the youth and students on previous such trips came from France, Netherlands, Japan, Liberia, Madagascar, Belgium, Dominican Republic, and Italy.

The initial 10 days itinerary provides the international youth with excursions to various local destinations of eco-culture as well as the opportunity to mingle with local people.

“The program gives economic benefits to local people, particularly homestay owners, restaurants, tourist guides, cultural activists, and handicraft traders and has offered local youths rare opportunities to interact with youths from other countries”, said Mrs Rita Widyasari, the Bupati (local premier) of Kutai Kartanegara.

Mrs Rita added that 2017 has been declared as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism by United Nations and Kutai Kartanegara is proud to participate and focus to promote tourists with the protection of the environment and culture and empowerment of women and youths as part of its program to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG).

The program which is coordinated through FORSEAA “Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN” would continue to bring international tourists, especially youths who want to explore nature adventure and eco-culture in Indonesia, said Mr. Rega the program officer of FORSEAA in Indonesia.

He also said that FORSEAA will replicate the Kutai Kartanegara program for the development of culture tourism within other local governments of Indonesia.

“Developing tourist destinations is like the question of what comes first, the chicken or the egg. Our experience in Seychelles shows that when destinations are well promoted, tourists would come and the development of infrastructure and world class accommodation would follow suit,” Nico Barito said.

Seaweed harvesting begins in Seychelles

An innovative, new factory is today nearing completion on Praslin. This project is the brainchild of Benjamin Port Louis who is in his final year at James Cook University in Townsville in Australia. With the support of his father, Bernard Port Louis, he is constructing a new Seaweed harvesting business on Eve Island, Praslin.

They will be collecting washed up seaweed from the beaches surrounding the Inner islands, and processing it to extract the organic matter in liquid form. This seaweed liquid will be sold to agricultural farmers as fertiliser, and it is believed that it will increase crop yield by 25%. The factory is expected to produce up to 8000 litres of seaweed liquid per day, which will make it one of the largest producers of seaweed liquid in the world.

The promoters say that there will be no waste. While the liquid is extracted, the solid leftovers will be grounded to powder to produce soil conditioner. This promising endeavour has been endorsed by CSIRO, a leading establishment of research in Australia.

We spoke with the owner of the factory, Mr Bernard Port Louis who stated, “I am proud to say that Seaweed Seychelles Pty Ltd is 100 % Seychellois owned. Even our contractor, Mr. Barry Souffe was chosen to construct the factory”. Mr Port Louis went on to say that, “We believe in sustainable development for our islands and so decided to develop the factory accordingly. We installed a solar hot water system that can produce 4000 litres of hot water per day and we have also installed a 12 kilowatts photovoltaic Solar system to produce the electricity for the running of the factory.”

This establishment has been a long-awaited endeavour for the tourism Industry on Praslin. The accumulation of seaweed on some of the beaches has become a serious issue, posing a great challenge for hoteliers who have been trying to market Seychelles as having white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters. This selling tool has been much to the disappointment of several visitors who experience smelly, seaweed-filled beaches throughout the South-East monsoon months in Seychelles. Therefore, many of the hoteliers on Praslin have described the seaweed factory as a blessing in disguise, and have promised to give the endeavour their full support. Mr. Alain Ah-Thion has been appointed the person who will be coordinating the collection of seaweed from the beaches of Praslin.

An Untapped Tourism Niche Market

The Seychelles is currently missing out on enormous revenue that can be obtained by globally established casinos. These casinos may bring in hoards of rich gamblers to our shores by providing flights, transport, accommodation in world-class resorts, and entertainment such as boat trips and island visits. Furthermore, these high rollers would spend large amounts of money on shopping and dining during their stay, further adding economic benefit. Also, as the saying goes ‘the odds are always in favour of the casino’. Not to discourage gambling, but statistics show that there is a greater chance of the money staying with the house, rather than leaving the house. With ‘the house’ being Seychelles in this instance, further economic benefit is established.

Countries like Macau and Monaco are known for their luxurious casinos, and almost exclusively economically built through the courting of high roller gamblers, also known as junket players. Junket players originated in the US many years ago in a ploy to build up the now famous city of Las Vegas. Casino operators in Las Vegas would hire ‘junketeers’ to fill a plane with qualified gamblers. These players would be treated to free airfares, hotel accommodations, meals and free shows in exchange for their commitment to gamble a specific number of hours per day at an explicit average bet size. The casinos assumed that the players would lose than what was invested to bring them to the tables, and most of the time they were right. Sooner or later, the junket player concept had become a global enterprise.

These players have expressed that they would love to be brought to the Seychelles to gamble and at the same time to enjoy the exotic tropical delights of our country, a combination they can rarely find elsewhere. Unfortunately current legislation prohibits local casinos from inviting them.

There is of course understandable concern about the possibility of money laundering with junket players and the lack of control if the financial transactions take place outside the Seychelles. In this context, it is very important to note that if these players are brought to Seychelles that authorities will need to regulate all the player cash transactions for a junket, and that these transactions only take place in the casino based in Seychelles. Legislation about junkets and their control also needs to be put in place beforehand.

The Seychelles tourism industry is presently missing a huge opportunity in bringing these high roller players to our country. We already have in place the excellent infrastructure with the hotels and resorts where any of these players would feel at home.

SADC Summit approves Comoros as new Member

The 37th Southern African Development Community-SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government have welcomed the Union of Comoros as a new member of SADC.The inclusion of the Union now brings the number of member states of the region to 16.

The Comoros is a sovereign archipelago island nation located between North-Eastern Mozambique and North-Western Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Moroni, on Grande Comore.

At 1,660 km2 (640 sq mi), the Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area with a population of approximately 798,000 people. As a nation formed at a crossroads of different civilisations, the archipelago is noted for its diverse culture and history. It first inhabited by Bantu speakers who came from East Africa, supplemented by Arab and Austronesian immigration. The archipelago later became part of the French colonial empire in the 19th century before establishing independence in 1975.

The Comoros are also a member state of the African Union, Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League (of which it is the southernmost state, being the only member state of the Arab League with a tropical climate and also entirely within the Southern Hemisphere), the Indian Ocean Commission and the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands.

Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto a Brand New Midscale Hotel in Osaka

Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto a Brand New Midscale Hotel in Osaka

Osaka (Japan) – August 28, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Best Western Hotels and Resorts is continuing to expand in Asia’s key gateway cities with the launch of a newly-built hotel in Osaka. Opening on September 1, 2017, Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto will provide business and leisure travelers with a brand new midscale accommodation option in the heart of Japan’s second largest city.

Nestled in downtown Osaka, this modern hotel is positioned just two minutes away from JR Tsukamoto Station, which provides direct links to the Japanese cultural capital Kyoto, and is only two stops away from Shin Osaka Station, where guests can catch the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo.

Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto is one of three new Japanese hotels signed by Best Western Hotels & Resorts earlier this year. The other new properties are located in Sapporo and at Yamagata Airport, and are due to launch in the coming months.

“We are delighted to open Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto as we bolster our presence in Japan’s key gateway cities and most popular destinations,” said Olivier Berrivin, Best Western’s Managing Director of International Operations – Asia. “As the second most populous city in Japan, a key business travel hub, and the country’s culinary capital, Osaka is a glittering global metropolis.”

“With Japan preparing for a surge of international visitor arrivals over the coming years, as it hosts the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and Summer Olympics in 2020, Osaka will play a major role in the country’s tourism development. Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto will provide the city’s rising number of visitors with a contemporary, convenient and well-connected midscale hotel option in the heart of the city.”

“We look forward to welcoming the first guests to this exciting new property on September 1 and continuing along Osaka’s exciting journey in the month and years ahead,” Olivier added.

Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto offers a total of 105 modern rooms, all of which feature high-tech facilities and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. The hotel will also feature a restaurant serving local and international cuisine, a 24-hour business center and laundry services.

Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto becomes Best Western’s second property in the city, following the Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi. The hotel also takes the company’s total Japanese portfolio to 13 hotels.

Japan’s tourism industry is undergoing an unprecedented boom. The country welcomed a record 24 million international visitors last year, and the Japanese government is now targeting 40 million arrivals by 2020 – the year the country hosts the Olympic Games.

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:
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

Tony Fernandes to Speak at PATA Youth Symposium in Macao

Tony Fernandes to Speak at PATA Youth Symposium in Macao

Macao (Macao SAR) – August 28, 2017 (travelindex.com) – AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes is set to speak at the forthcoming PATA Youth Symposium in Macao SAR, hosted by the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT). Organised by the Association’s Human Capital Development Committee, the Symposium takes place on Wednesday, September 13 with the theme of ‘Enabling Travel and Managing a Complex Future’.

Dr. Mario Hardy, PATA CEO said, “The PATA Youth Symposium is a cornerstone of our commitment to the next generation of young tourism professionals. We are honoured that Tony Fernandes has agreed to address tomorrow’s tourism industry leaders. The Association has placed special focus upon the Young Tourism Professional this year and the PATA Youth Symposium highlights our continued dedication to enhancing the knowledge and skills of students seeking careers in travel and tourism.”

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, “These are exciting times for air travel in Asia. The low-cost revolution has made flying affordable and we are seeing more and more people fly for the first time. This creates opportunities as well as challenges for the region’s travel and tourism industry. What role will automation play? How do we ensure sustainable development of tourism? What are the constraints we will face as traffic grows? Are there enough low-cost terminals to cater for the fastest growing aviation segment? The PATA Youth Symposium is a great forum to discuss these questions and more, and I look forward to hearing what students have to share on the future of travel in Asia.”

Dr Fanny Vong, President of IFT, said, “As a long-term member of PATA, IFT is excited to host the 2017 PATA Youth Symposium. It serves as a platform for students to learn from the experiences and success stories of industry entrepreneurs and professionals. It helps students to keep abreast of changing trends and practices, and it provides important guidance about career opportunities. The field visit to the Macao Museum will introduce the rich culture and history of the city, followed by a bus tour to learn about Macao’s tourism development and challenges.”

The Youth Symposium takes place on the first day of PATA Travel Mart 2017. The programme was developed with guidance from Dr. Chris Bottrill, PATA Vice Chairman and Dean, Faculty of Global and Community Studies at Capilano University.

Dr. Bottrill said, “We are looking forward to facilitating yet another dynamic PATA Youth Symposium in September. It features the topic of enabling tourism and managing a complex future with globally- renowned leaders set to share their insights. As always, we will integrate their knowledge with perspectives of our future tourism professionals through a range of interactive sessions and seek to answer some challenging questions facing our industry. We are honoured to run the symposium at the Institute for Tourism Studies in Macao and we are looking forward to an engaging day with participants from around the globe.”

In addition to Mr. Tony Fernandes, confirmed speakers at the Youth Symposium include Dr. Mario Hardy; Ms Rika Jean-François – Commissioner ITB Corporate Social Responsibility, Competence Centre Travel & Logistics, ITB Berlin; Dr. Chris Bottrill; Dr Fanny Vong and Ms JC Wong, PATA Young Tourism Professional Ambassador.

The symposium includes plenary talks on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Automation in the Tourism Industry: Is C3PO taking our jobs?’; ‘Where Does Responsible Travel Fit in our Future?’ and ‘Enabling Air Travel for All: How Air Asia has Become the World Leading Low Cost Carrier’. The event also features an informal chat with Tony Fernandes and interactive roundtable discussions on ‘What opportunities and challenges do you see in enabling greater volume of travel?’ and ‘What role do human’s play in managing a responsible industry in the future?’

The PATA Human Capital Development Committee has organised successful educational events at various institutions including UCSI University Sarawak Campus (April 2010), Institute for Tourism Studies (September 2010), Beijing International Studies University (April 2011), Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur (April 2012), Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila (September 2012), Thammasat University, Bangkok (April 2013), Chengdu Polytechnic, Huayuan Campus, China (September 2013), Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai Campus, China, (May 2014), Royal University of Phnom Penh (September 2014), Sichuan Tourism School, Chengdu, (April 2015), Christ University, Bangalore (September 2015), University of Guam, USA (May 2016), President University (September 2016) and Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management (May 2017).

For further information, please view the programme here or email HCD@PATA.org.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, PATA is a not-for-profit membership association that acts a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, comprising 95 government, state and city tourism bodies, 25 international airlines and airports, 108 hospitality organisations, 72 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 36 local PATA chapters worldwide. The chapters organise travel industry training and business development events. Their grassroots activism underpins PATA’s membership of the Global Travel Association Coalition (GTAC), which includes ACI, CLIA, IATA, ICAO, WEF, UNWTO and the WTTC. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing, Sydney and London.

About Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT)
Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 101 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has now 8 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. In 2017, IFT became the world’s first higher education institution to pass International Quality Review (IQR) from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). IFT has been ranked by the “QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017” as the 2nd best higher education institution in Asia in the field of hospitality and leisure management and the 18th best higher education institution in this field in the world. In addition, IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

Asia’s Most Vibrant City with a Surge of Starpoints

Asia’s Most Vibrant City with a Surge of Starpoints

Bangkok (Thailand) – August 25, 2017 (travelindex) – Enjoy Bangkok with bounteous benefits on a Starpoints Surge. Asia’s most vibrant city unfolds to your bidding based at a uniquely royal heritage-rich hotel at the heart of it all that sweetens the proposition further with the addition of 2,000 bonus Starpoints to your SPG status. Simply book business or pleasure stays at Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal Méridien Hotel between 01 September and 31 October 2017 for 02 nights or more.

Elevate your experience exploring resort-like pool, fitness + spa, and award-winning modern French, Thai, Japanese, Cantonese and International dining. All at the city’s vibrant heart, nearby fashionable malls and entertainment and steps from Phloen Chit Skytrain

Choose any room type, with rates as welcoming as THB5,800++ per night, and start looking forward to living it up in Bangkok from today.

For more information or to make a reservation, please contact +66 2 650 8800 Ext. 4050 or e-mail us at Reservations.Bangkok@lemeridien.com or visit

Fo rmore information, please contact:
Virinya Maytheepattanachat, Director of Marketing Communications
Virinya.maytheepattanachat@lemeridien.com
Tel: +66 2650 8800 ext. 4047
Tipawan Jitman, Marketing Communications Manager
tipawan.jitman@lemeridien.com
Tel: +66 2650 8800 ext. 6243
Wilasinee Wichienrut, PR Executive
pr.bangkok@lemeridien.com
Tel +66 2650 8800 ext.6250

Macao Requests Suspension of Tour Groups after Typhoon

Macao Requests Suspension of Tour Groups after Typhoon

Macau (Macao SAR) – August 27, 2015 (travelindex.com) – Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) conducted an urgent meeting with representatives of travel agency associations this morning and requested local travel agencies to suspend their arrangements of tour groups to Macao starting from today (25 August) until 30 August. MGTO will conduct further evaluation of the situation again next week to make any latest arrangement. The request was made with the hope to cut down on tour group arrangements to Macao so that more resources can be allocated for the top priority mission of restoring the city from the catastrophe.

At the same time, MGTO will contact China National Tourism Administration and its counterparts in Shenzhen and Hong Kong to coordinate corresponding arrangements for tour groups from the Mainland.

At present, water and power supply has not fully resumed in Macao yet. Some hotels and guest houses remain affected by water and power shortage while catering services are confronted with the shortage of goods and supplies as well. Furthermore, with damaged facilities and the blockage of some roads after the typhoon, frontline workers and volunteers are facing an immense number of tasks to tackle the aftermath. The whole city has begun pouring out efforts in the work of restoration from the typhoon. Therefore, the Office also urges visitors to carefully reconsider their planned upcoming trips to Macao and assess the latest situation.

Alain Saint Ange Appointed Deputy Secretary-General of FORSEAA

Alain Saint Ange Appointed Deputy Secretary-General of FORSEAA

Jakarta (Indonesia) – August 25, 2017 (travelindex.com) – Alain Saint Ange has been appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of “Forum of Small Medium Economic AFRICA ASEAN” (FORSEAA). It is an intergovernmental forum founded by Seychelles and Indonesia with members from Africa and ASEAN countries, with its permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. One of the FORSEAA programs is to achieve small medium enterprises (SME) in Culture & Tourism by playing an active role in encouraging the host community to develop a compassionate destination based on the diversity of cultures within Indonesia. Specifically for small islands’ eco-tourism, FORSEAA will accelerate the cooperation between Africa and ASEAN countries, especially Seychelles and Indonesia, by pairing the brand image of Seychelles in the eco-marine tourism. Alain Saint Ange is working on how FORSEAA can assist the many small pristine islands in Indonesia to contribute economically to Seychelles.

A Vallee de Mai painting from the 1950s may soon return to Seychelles

Arthur Savy (Jr) was an elected Member of the Seychelles Legislative Assembly for the Praslin District in 1951. Mr Savy had also been a candidate in 1948, the important first ever elections in Seychelles where Members of the Legislative Council were elected. He lost this 1948 election but was elected in the following 1951 elections. Arthur Savy (Jr) was a close friend and political sympathiser of Charles Collet, the then Attorney-General of Seychelles, who through political pressure was forced unceremoniously out of Office.

He was the son of the very well known Arthur Savy (Sr) and Berthe Nageon de Lestang. Arthur Savy (Jr) was a keen tennis player and a great artist who lived on Praslin with his wife Paulette and their three children Francoise, Caroline and Yvon.

Arthur Savy and his family left Seychelles in 1953 / 54 for Paris and then moved on to Kent in the UK before migrating to Venezuela where he became the country’s famous tennis coach. He was so recognised in the world of tennis that Philippe Chartier, the French tennis player who has a court at Roland Garros named after him, sent a moving letter at the passing of Arthur Savy (Jr).

Caroline was in Seychelles recently on her first holiday back after over 60 years since the Savy family left here. She is now planning to return to Seychelles and with her the paintings of Arthur Savy (Jr).

Arthur Savy (Jr) features in the book “Where the Clocks Chime twice” by Alec Waugh. He was 28-years-old when the war broke out and “in June 1940 was herded into a concentration camp”. He spent time sketching with thick pencils “but his sketches prove him to be an accurate, an accomplished draughtsman; he can not only ‘catch the likeness’ but convey a temperament. He has earned the right to paint in the way he does,” Alec Waugh says about the paintings of Arthur Savy (Jr) in his book.

Seychelles – a socio-economic snapshot

The Republic of Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands, gained its independence in 1976. Over 4 decades, its per capita income has expanded by roughly seven times. Its estimated GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) for 2016 of around US$2.6 Billion originates from: 83.5% contributed by services (inclusive mainly tourism), 13.9% by industry and 2.6% by agriculture. Estimated GDP (per capita) for 2016 was around US$28,000. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted GDP annual growth between 3.5% and 3.7 % through 2018.

Today, the pre-independence, subsistence level of existence for a large majority of the population is a distant past for the bulk of the Seychellois. Seychelles has progressed to emerge as the very first high-income economy in Africa, according to World Bank’s classification. This is a positive and well-acclaimed achievement that nevertheless, comes with a price. The status disqualifies the economy from concessional resources for economic, social and environmental development and conservation. Yet the statutory adverse conditions of lack of economies of scale due to size, distance from main markets, paucity of skilled as well as qualified human and natural resources leave the small, face-to-face island economy very vulnerable to external shocks on which it depends for a large majority of its daily consumables. Thus, the focus on judicious management of resources under the present national theme of transparency, accountability and good governance, is timely and appropriate at this juncture.

On the international stage, poverty rates in Seychelles are expected to remain among the lowest in the world outside the ‘Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’ (OECD). Recent estimates show that extreme poverty, using the international poverty line of US$1.90 per day in 2011 purchasing power parity (PPP), stood at 1.1% of the population in 2013. In the same year, moderate poverty, based on the US$3.1 per day (in 2011 PPP) poverty line was 2.5% of the population. Income inequality is one of the Republic’s main concern as it is considered substantial, with a gross income-based Gini index of 0.46 in 2013, one of the highest in the region.

A recent poverty analysis based on national household expenditure surveys by the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) revealed that 40% of the Seychelles population lives below the established poverty line in the high-cost Paradise. Creating a lot of concern, the Government has reverted to focus attention on policies to try and lower the cost of living by exempting VAT on a longer list of items considered essential and raising remuneration by introducing the 13th month salary across the board. The effectiveness of those policies remains to be felt by consumers in the free market environment of Seychelles. However, it seems more likely that the effects of cost-push inflationary tendencies as well as the reluctance for merchants and traders to pass on the VAT exemptions to customers seem to militate against the intended result of alleviating the exorbitant cost of living plight of the consumers in the absence of any form of price-controls of yester-year. Other innovative medium to long-term solutions must be found and tabled for consideration.

The consumers referred to above are locals as well as the tourists whose industry is the most significant foreign exchange earner ahead of the second pillar of the economy, which is the fisheries industry. The fact remains that with stiffer regional and global competition, Seychelles cannot afford to price itself out of the market to the benefit of its competitors in the region and further afield. Given much more efficient access to information, all potential clients have choices and cost is one of their primary concern in deciding the location of their next holiday destination. Thus reasonable prices, enhanced presence in terms of visibility on various relevant markets and quality service delivery as the perfect hosts, always with the famous Seychellois smiles should remain our consistent KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

The prevalence of the rule of law, peace, stability, safety and security are elements that are often taken for granted, yet, they are the very platforms for a successful and growing tourism industry. The prevalent challenges such as social-ills, especially with regards to drugs and alcohol abuses leading to petty crimes should also be addressed with greater effectiveness and conviction. Their respective levels could make or break the country’s goose that has been laying golden eggs in a significant way since the opening of the Seychelles International Airport.

This one quintessential infrastructure opened up the tourism industry that has brought much wealth and spin-offs to the island economy. It is clear that in this era of sustainable development and need to mitigate against the adverse effects of Climate Change, Seychelles has the potential to do a lot more than it has been able to register to-date.

What if we could independently produce and store renewable energy starting with solar, that is clean, free, natural from all our roof-tops? What if we could harvest much of the healthy rain-water that falls from the latter? What if from the same roof-tops, we could all enjoy hot water showers and baths? What if we could introduce and operate a smart-grid through Public Private Partnerships that could take on as much renewable energy that can be produced from various existing modes to store and deliver to where its needed? What if in doing so we benefit from a new and more powerful fiber-optic cable that will greatly enhance our connectivity with the world, consolidate our aspirations for the building of a ‘knowledge-based society’ and give a boost to the potentials of our third economic pillar – the Financial and Logistics Services Sector? What if the apparent lack of inclusivity claimed by the World Bank is partially addressed by each roof owner becoming a minor shareholder in the venture responsible to produce, mange and deliver the renewable energy produced? Could such transformational development single out Seychelles as one of the foremost environmentally conscious and forward-looking nations of the region? Would that like the construction of our international airport be the catalyst for the creation of more opportunities, wealth creation and prosperity?

Indeed, what if? You may think I’m a dreamer and I would not be the only one – but in all the above aforementioned scenarios, I am far from dreaming. Those are realizable objectives that are being proposed through a PPP. They are currently at the very early stages of being proposed to Government by investors. Due diligence of the investors and detailed feasibility of the proposals have yet to be finalized pending an indication of interest from the State to partner and realize the “Hexagon Infrastructure Program”.

Government is not being requested to contribute financial capital but rather use its leverages as a facilitator and enabler on the local scene to make it all happen. It is realizable as long as leaders from all angles see and believe in the latent potentials of such a comprehensive set of investments in an era where it is being acknowledged that Foreign Direct Investment is abating and needs a boost to sustain economic growth and development.

Standing at a cross-road on the eve that Seychelles is going to launch the processes for developing an inclusive long-term Vision 2032 followed by its 5-year National Development Strategy to articulate in greater detail how the visions of the Seychellois people will be achieved, the time has come to think in effective, transformational terms rather than making cosmetic and paper-plastering propositions in this unique and timely opportunity to lay even more solid foundations for the next generation. We all have our part to play and we should be forward looking, bold and willing to embrace innovations in the era of Sustainable Development.

Article by Peter Sinon, International Development Consultant

Flying the Seychelles flag proudly

Giving Seychelles positive visibility is the responsibility of every Seychellois who has his or her country at heart. Seeing Seychelles on the news in a positive way is a real plus for the island’s tourism industry and its drive for attracting FDIs. Four islanders in particular are currently making positive noise about our country and must be recognised for their efforts; they are proudly flying the Seychelles Flag.

Former Seychelles President James Michel has been invited to attend the 1st High-Level Pacific Blue Economy Conference (PBEC) under the theme ‘Sustainable Oceans in a Changing Climate’ organised by the Pacific Islands Development Forum to be held in Suva Fiji on 23rd and 24th August 2017. The conference is being held in conjunction with the PIDF Biennial Conference. This is a real honour for Seychelles.

Mr. Michel has been invited as a keynote speaker by the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands and the Chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum, Hon. Manasseh D. Sogavare MP, in order to share his understanding of the development of the Blue Economy concept and the Seychelles’ experience for the benefit of Pacific island countries.

In his letter of invitation to President Michel, Prime Minster Manasseh Sagavare said, “We believe that your commitment to the development of the Blue Economy is unparalleled and your participation as a speaker to this conference will be of great benefits to the Pacific Island Countries”.

“I am deeply honoured to share my experience with other Small Island Development States in the Pacific. We have a great sense of solidarity in the face of climate change and in the fight to protect our ocean resources. It will be an opportune moment to reflect on the transformative nature of the Blue Economy as well as the concrete implications of implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14″, said former President Michel.

Mr. Michel will be accompanied at the Conference by the Chief Executive Officer of the James Michel Foundation, Mr. Jacquelin Dugasse. Speaker Patrick Pillay on his part led a delegation of Seychellois Parliamentarians to India and he kept Seychelles in the news. The New Indian Express Newspaper writes:- ‘India’s assistance to Seychelles is absolutely immeasurable.’

India’s assistance is “critical” to the Seychelles in the field of maritime security and in patrolling its large exclusive economic zone notes Patrick Pillay, the Speaker of its National Assembly.

Underlining the importance of defence cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Pillay said India’s assistance to island country is “absolutely immeasurable”. He said Seychelles has exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spread over nearly 1.3 million sq kms and there are reported cases of illegal fishing.

“So, you need surveillance. One of the big areas of cooperation with India is maritime surveillance and training (of the Seychellois armed forces). It is of enormous assistance,” Mr. Pillay said.

Minister Jean Paul Adam, on his part, is participating in the 17th FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest. His results so far are as follows: 50m Butterfly: 27.96, 100m Butterfly: 1.01.43 and 200m Butterfly. Swimming in the Masters Events are reserved for those aged over 25 years of age usually, and swimmers compete according to their age groups. In this event Minister Jean Paul Adam competed in the 40-44 years category. He has in his younger days represented Seychelles in the Olympics as part of the Swimming Team. He made the news and does Seychelles proud.

Angelique Pouponneau, an Attorney-at-law, LLM in Environmental Law and Queen’s Young Leader has on her part announced that she is excited to be joining the Southern and Eastern African youth consultation on ‘Enhancing Young People’s Meaningful participation in Electoral Process in Africa”. The Consultation will take place in Arusha, Tanzania at the East African Community Head Quarters from August 28-30, 2017 with the aim of garnering youth perspectives on overcoming barriers to meaningful engagement and participation in electoral processes. The meeting is also an opportunity to build the capacity of youth-oriented and focused organizations /networks towards enhanced involvement of young people in electoral processes through responsive actions. Angelique is in the news as a young Seychellois graduate who is making a mark in her field.

Four Seychellois from different walks of life are making news on a global platform, and, in so doing, are keeping Seychelles visible and relevant in the world of tourism.

Second Terminal for Mauritius Airport

Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius has announced the start of the construction of a second passenger terminal in 2019. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said that the new terminal was due to be completed by 2020.

This announcement was made during a ceremony organised on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Air Mauritius in Ebene on the 11th August. The project that now forms part of the Airport Master Plan, is one of the major infrastructure projects that are in the pipeline to modernise the transport sector.

It was during this same event that the CEO of Air Mauritius Somas Appavou announced the setting up of the Air Mauritius Foundation that aims at promoting arts and culture, conservation of natural heritage and environment, empowering youths by contributing to the development of sports and encouraging excellence in education.
Dr. Taleb Rifai, the Secretary General of the UNWTO was in Mauritius for the 50th anniversary celebrations of Air Mauritius.

Reunion Island records outstanding tourist arrival numbers

Reunion Island, one of the Vanilla Islands of the Island Ocean alongside Comores, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte and Seychelles, has recorded a historical growth in tourist arrivals for the first semester 2017, with 228 672 visitors representing an increase of 14.9% compared to the same period last year.

Those figures have never been achieved until now. Metropolitan France remains the main market with 166 869 tourists for the period. In the region, there has also been an exceptional increase of 88% in tourist arrivals mainly from Mauritius and Mayotte.

The cruising activities have contributed to these figures too with more than 10 000 passengers and crew members landing on La Reunion between January and April.

Africa and MICE still driving Kenya’s Tourism growth

Visitors into Kenya increased by 10.7 per cent in the first five months of the year backed by increased meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions. Data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that the arrivals between January and May were 358,985 compared to 324,276 in the same period in 2016.

“What will drive growth for the tourism industry is MICE,”Tourism Cabinet secretary Najib Balala said yesterday at a tourism stakeholders forum. “We are going to implement our MICE strategy through the Kenya Tourism Board to make sure that we increase conferences and meetings.

Balala said that the growth signalled continued recovery of the tourism industry which had faced a four-year slump over insecurity.

He said that the 2013 and 2014 Alshabaab attacks coupled with the 2007/08 post election violence had negatively impacted the country’s tourism industry with most visitors opting to travel to other African regions.

“We have recovered almost 18 per cent since 2015 and we believe our projection is going to be higher this year. We expect a 20 per cent rise in arrivals by the end of 2017,” Balala said.

During the period under review, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport recorded 10.97 per cent more visitors totalling 320,588, compared to 288,905 in 2016. Mombasa’s Moi International Airport had 38,397 visitors from 35,388, an 8.5 per cent growth.

Balala said that while occupancy in the cities was flat with visitors adopting a wait-and-see attitude, regions such as Diani and Maasai Mara had registered full occupancy to the night before the elections with tourists drawn into the country for the wildebeest migration.

“We hope that this season will continue and we hope that it will extend to March or April next year but it will not happen if there is no calm in the country,” Balala said.

KTB chairman Jimmy Kariuki also attributed the growth to aggressive marketing, which has helped restore confidence among key international markets and the new emerging markets.

“The most robust growth in terms of our tourism source markets has come from emerging markets in Africa and Asia as well as the domestic market,” Kariuki said.
Balala cautioned against remarks or actions by political leaders that would jeopardize the gains made in the tourism industry as it would scare away visitors. “Our tourism sector is very sensitive to any perceived or real insecurity and instability,” Balala said. “People in the nature reserves and the safari circuit have said they do not want protests because it is going to jeopardize the tourism sector.”

The MICE Market (meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions) remains a niche market every tourism destination is after but it needs co-operation by the host country. In the same vein lies the film industry and punter groups for casinos. Visitors from the MICE Market spend well because their basic expenses are covered by the organising bodies and they generally spend on entertainment outside their hotel, taxis, arts & craft, excursions and restaurants.

Movenpick Hotels’ Executive Committee Kickstart its Grand Tour of Asia in Bangkok

Movenpick Hotels’ Executive Committee Kickstart its Grand Tour of Asia in Bangkok

Bangkok (Thailand) – August 25, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Executive Committee of Movenpick Hotels and Resorts visits Bangkok, Hua Hin and Phuket as the global hospitality firm pursues its Asian expansion plans at pace. The Executive Committee (ExCom) at Movenpick Hotels and Resorts has kick-started its “Grand Tour of Asia” in Bangkok, a move that demonstrates its commitment to Thailand’s thriving hotel market.

The stopover is part of the leadership team’s two-and-half-week mission to meet colleagues, hotel owners and key partners in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia, which started on August 20 and will run until September 6.

Thailand is where Moevenpick Hotels and Resorts first embarked on its Asia development journey with the opening of Moevenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket in 2006. Today the company operates five properties in three destinations; Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya and has signed management agreements for four additional hotels a move that will grow its portfolio to more than 1,800 keys countrywide by 2020.

Movenpick Resort Khao Yai will open this year, Movenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai and Movenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin are set for completion in 2018 while Movenpick Resort Mai Khao Beach Phuket will be opening in 2019, adding more than 700 keys to the market.

“Thailand is strategically important for Movenpick Hotels & Resorts,” said Olivier Chavy, President and CEO, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.

“It is not only the gateway to Asia and one of the region’s most flourishing hospitality markets, but has strong development potential for our company; by 2020, more than 30% of our properties in Asia will be located in key destinations across the country.”

During their visit to Thailand, the ExCom delegation will meet with the company’s regional team and local hotel owners and visit the locations of upcoming properties before heading to Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia to conduct similar meetings.

At the end of the whistle-stop tour, the team, which comprises the most senior heads of the Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance, Development and Commercial departments, will return to Bangkok to stage dedicated ExCom meetings.

They will also meet with the hospitality firm’s new ExCom Y Committee, a group of 10 dynamic Generation Y employees and entrepreneurs recruited to collaborate with the Executive Committee as it looks to glean fresh ideas on how to attract Millennial guests and talent.

Given Asia is a key focus of the company’s global expansion strategy, the ExCom team believed it apt to start these top-level discussions in Bangkok, a modern city where the hospitality sector is thriving and the Millennial guest demographic is switched on.

The Asia development strategy
Moevenpick Hotels and Resorts currently operates 10 hotels and resorts in seven Asian destinations. In addition to its five hotels and resorts in Thailand, the company manages one property in each of the following countries; China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

There are already 17 new projects signed, all of which are on track to open by 2020, growing the Asia portfolio to 27 properties, but the goal is to operate at least 30 hotels and resorts in the region by the end of the decade.

The breakdown of signed projects is as follows: Vietnam (five), Thailand (four), Malaysia (three), Bangladesh (two) and one in each of the following locations: China, the Philippines and the Maldives.

“We will have at least 30 properties under our management in Asia by the end of the decade and looking beyond 2020, we expect our property development activity across the continent to become a bigger percentage of our total portfolio,” said Andrew Langdon, Chief Development Officer, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, one of the ExCom members taking part in the “Grand Tour of Asia”.

“We are on track to open two new hotels and resorts this year- the Movenpick Resort Khao Yai in Thailand and the Movenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, our second property in the Philippines.”

About Movenpick Hotels & Resorts
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, an international upscale hotel management company with over 16,000 staff members, is represented in 24 countries with over 80 hotels, resorts and Nile cruisers currently in operation. Around 20 properties are planned or under construction, including those in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Al Khobar (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Basel (Switzerland).

Focusing on expanding within its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts specialises in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, all reflecting a sense of place and respect for their local communities. Of Swiss heritage and with headquarters in central Switzerland (Baar), Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts is passionate about delivering premium service and culinary enjoyment, all with a personal touch. Committed to supporting sustainable environments, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has become the most Green Globe certified hotel company in the world. The hotel company is owned by Movenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%).

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Fernandez
Director of Marketing Communications – Asia
Pacific Place Two, Suite 1803
10110 Bangkok, Thailand