Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Asia travel news

Asia travel news

Sheraton Set to Open Seven Properties in China This Summer

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 09:35 PM PDT

Qatar Airways Named Airline of the Year at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2011

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:32 PM PDT

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Qatar Airways has been named "Airline of the Year" at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards 2011 for its outstanding inflight product and operational excellence.

Qatar Airways' global ranking among more than 200 international airlines rose to the world's top position – up from third spot last year – further cementing its stature as one of the world's best airlines.

The awards are selected by the airline's most important audience – its customers. More than 18 million passengers worldwide were polled during the annual Skytrax awards.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker collected the award at a ceremony during the Paris Air Show, being held at Le Bourget.

Qatar Airways, which remains one of a select-few carriers with a Skytrax Five Star ranking for service excellence, also claimed the "Best Middle East Airline" award for the sixth consecutive year.

The international airline also received the accolade "Best First Class Lounge" for its Premium Terminal at the carrier's Doha hub – a facility for exclusive use by Qatar Airways' First and Business Class passengers.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the awards were a fantastic achievement, honoring many aspects of the airline, in which it had excelled in different areas, including its inflight product, onboard service, environmental leadership and overall operations in the air and on the ground.

"Since I became the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways in 1997 at the time of Qatar Airways' relaunch, my goal was simple – for Qatar Airways to reach the pinnacle of the airline industry," he said.

"At Qatar Airways we always aim at doing the best in everything we do. To be considered as the top airline in the world is a huge achievement and a very rewarding moment in Qatar Airways' history."

Added Al Baker: "It is extremely gratifying to be recognized as "Airline of the Year", which takes into account the outstanding efforts and hard work of all our employees, as we continuously aim to exceed the expectations of our customers.

Over 18 million air travelers from more than 100 different nationalities took part in the 10-month long survey. The awards are recognized around the world for being the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards and as the ultimate benchmark for excellence in the airline industry.

Malaysia: Tourism industry asked to register foreign workers

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:06 PM PDT

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The Tourism Ministry has directed all industry players to register their foreign employees.Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said this was in line with the Government's legalisation and amnesty exercise of foreign workers and illegal immigrants, codenamed 6P, which begins with a two-week registration drive from July 11.

She said the ministry had informed all industry players including hotels, golf clubs, theme parks, integrated resorts and spas to give details of their foreign employees.They have to provide us information on the foreign workers such as their names, country of origin and occupation, she said at the Malaysia Tourism Centre in Jalan Ampang after a briefing with major tourism industry players.

We have established a one-stop centre with a committee to gather statistics on legal and illegal foreign employees to be given to the Immigration Department, added Dr Ng.The centre will also come up with a formula to determine the manpower needs of the industry, she said, adding that this should be completed by mid-July.

We also want to attract more locals and reduce the number of foreign workers, she said.On June 22, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced the 6P programme comprising registration, legalisation, amnesty, supervision, enforcement and deportation of foreign workers and illegal immigrants in the country.

Singapore deal to increase overseas visitors

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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SINGAPORE-Tourism Australia has signed a new agreement with Singapore Airlines to strengthen the second phase of its AUD44million marketing deal with Qantas to attract more international visitors.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the agreement with Singapore Airlines, which will take effect on 01 July, will include a range of marketing activities and promotions to entice more overseas travellers to Australia.The countries targeted in the new deal include China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Britain, Vietnam and Singapore.

Singapore is a key partner in bringing international visitors to Australia and will help the industry achieve its long-term aim of doubling overnight tourism expenditure from AUD70billion to AUD140 Billion by 2020, Tourism Australia's managing director Andrew McEvoy said.

A Qantas spokesperson said Tourism Australia and the carrier have a three year partnership to push Australia to the International market, which involves covering activities such as international co-operative marketing campaigns, trade events, business events and public relation activities.Tourism Australia in an initiative to further push international markets, is also planning a 10-year marketing campaign in China which will involve smaller untapped Chinese cities.

ASEAN works on tourism work standards

Posted: 27 Jun 2011 07:48 PM PDT

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Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports is working on a standard tourism curriculum in the lead up to what is called ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements on Tourism Professionals in order to prepare for the introduction of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

The standardised curriculum is an initiative to ensure the country's tourism professionals can compete for jobs when the job market opens in 2015, according to ministry's permanent secretary, Sombat Kuruphan.

The tourism curriculum is an agreement that accepts the qualifications of tourism professionals throughout ASEAN member countries and will ultimately allow them to work in any of the member countries almost with the freedom attained in the EU.

There are six professions under the ASEAN MRA related to tourism. They include hotel front office, housekeeping, food production, food and beverage services, travel agencies, and tour operations/tour agencies.The Ministry of Tourism and Sports data indicates arrivals from ASEAN in 2010 reached 4,534,235 visits representing an increase 14.25% from 3,968,579 visits in 2009.

The top ASEAN source market was Malaysia with 2,058,956 visits. It represented a 17.13% increase from 1,757,813 visits in 2009.The second top ASEAN market was Laos with 715,345 travellers, up 9.21% from 655,034 travellers.Singapore followed in third place with 603,538 tourists representing an increase of 7.09% from 563,575 visits in 2009.

Other ASEAN markets were: Vietnam (380,368; +4.78%); Indonesia (286,072; +25.91%); Philippines (246,430; +13.19%); Cambodia (146,274; 51.44%); Myanmar (90,179; +13.75); and Brunei (7,073; -15.32%).

Meanwhile, for January to May this year ASEAN market reached 2,155,956 visits, up 24.33% from 1,734,114 visits during the same period in 2010.Malaysia remained in the top market with 988,101 visits increasing 23.24% from 801,776 visits during the same period last year.

Laos followed in second place with 325,000 travellers, up 18.92% from 273,289 travellers, while Singapore came in third place with 268,186 tourists, up 24.24% from 215,861 visits.Other ASEAN markets that recorded improvements: Vietnam (188,870; +27.10%); Indonesia (150,705; +35.82%); Philippines (127,597; +26.87%); Cambodia (57,572; +30.21%); Myanmar (46,827; +30.06%); and Brunei (3,098; +9.01%).
at 1:39 AM