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APEC meetings to attract more tourists
Thailand will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) meetings this year. They will attract more tourist arrivals to the
kingdom, according to Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.
Somkid said after meeting with senior officials of the
Ministry of Tourism and Sports and top executives of the Tourism Authority
of Thailand TAT) that TAT’s tourism campaigns had been remarkably
successful. The industry has steadily grown from 4.5% in 2001 to 7.0% in
2002.
“Although Thailand suffered an economic crisis a few
years ago and was affected by terrorist attacks in the Unites States, good
promotional campaigns have vastly boosted our tourism industry over the past
two years,” said Somkid.
Thailand’s tourist industry sees 2003 as another
challenging year. The global tourism industry is worried about war between
the United States and Iraq. However TAT sees the APEC meetings as an
opportunity and believes the strategy will bring successful results.
Thailand hosted APEC First Senior Officials’ Meeting in
the northern resort province of Chiang Rai earlier this month.
This will be followed by the APEC Trade Ministers’
Meeting in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in June, the APEC Small
and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Meeting in the northern resort province
of Chiang Mai in August, the APEC Financial and Fiscal Meeting in the
southern resort island of Phuket in September, and the APEC’s Annual
Ministerial Meeting and Summit in Bangkok in October.
Tourism promotional programs will be included during the
upcoming meetings of the 21-member grouping. Other activities and events
will also be organized to attract more tourist arrivals, namely the Pattaya
Music Festival in the Songkran Festival in April, the Full Moon or Loy
Krathong Festival in November, and the New Year Festival.
New tourist destinations - about 50 nationwide –
include the underwater world in Kanchanaburi Province and the Wag Sea in
Krabi.
TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan said that TAT is aiming to
attract up to 11.4 million tourists to the country this year. If the target
is met, the revenues could amount to 370 million baht which is an 11.5%
increase from the previous year. The main target group will be business
persons, with campaigns to be launched in neighboring countries namely
Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Business firms and
organizations will be invited to organize their meetings or seminars in
Thailand. (TNA)
America names Emirates top airline
for passenger service
Air Transport World (ATW) honored the fast-growing
international carrier with the “Passenger Service Airline of the Year”
award at the recent 29th Annual Airline Achievement Awards Dinner at
Washington’s Capital Hilton Hotel. Emirates SkyCargo also won a silver
award for corporate advertising.
Jay Donoghue, ATW’s editorial director said,
“Emirates is entering the US market with top marks for excellence and
worldwide recognition. This honor, not necessarily given annually, is
awarded only when it is truly deserved. US travelers between Dubai and North
America will soon have the opportunity to learn what we at ATW have
determined: Emirates is one world-class airline.”
Emirates will launch services between the US and Dubai in
2004. Having previously won the same award in 1992, it won again this year
for delivering top quality standards to passengers in all classes of
service.
Jim Baxter, Emirates’ vice president, North America,
said, “Every airline faced monumental pressures this year, and we’re
particularly pleased to win as we prepare to enter the highly competitive
American market. It means that people who know international air travel best
look to us as a global leader in delivering an incomparable passenger
experience.”
Emirates, set up in 1985, now serves 64 cities in 45
countries with one of the world’s most modern fleets. Its First Class
features state-of-the-art airport lounges with full business facilities,
swift check-in and boarding, eight-course meals, a personal video library
and in-flight entertainment with the latest films.
Its Business Class features exclusive check-ins,
comfortable Business Lounges with Internet access, personal satellite phones
in every seat and meals planned by leading world chefs.
In Economy, ergonomically designed seats with generous
legroom go hand-in-hand with full five-course meals and warm, genuine
hospitality.
Emirates provides an important gateway to Asia-Pacific,
Africa and the Middle East. In 2004 it will launch daily non-stop services
between New York and its Dubai home base, and plans to fly to other North
American cities soon afterwards.
Qantas introduces surcharge on credit card transactions
Qantas will introduce a one percent surcharge on credit
card transactions from the beginning of April. This decision follows reforms
introduced by the Reserve Bank of Australia that came into effect on 1
January, 2003.
John Borghetti, Qantas executive general manager Sales
and Marketing, said that credit card merchant fees were a significant and
increasing cost to Qantas.
“We will continue to absorb significant costs from
credit card merchant fees. This nominal, one percent surcharge will recover
less than half the cost of credit card merchant fees charged to Qantas each
year. We simply cannot continue to absorb the increasingly broad range of
charges imposed on our business at a time when domestic air fares are at
historic lows,” Borghetti said.
A recent study by the Bureau of Transport and Regional
Economics found Australia’s discount domestic air fares had not risen in
real terms since the collapse of Ansett and were about 23 percent cheaper
than they were three years ago.
Qantas also competes with about 40 international airlines
in the global aviation market - one of the toughest markets in the world at
the moment.
Borghetti added that Qantas customers had a range of
options to purchase their tickets. “People can walk into any of about
4,000 travel agents around the country and pay for their tickets with cash
or a check,” Borghetti said.
Increase in oil price forces Lufthansa to raise its ticket prices
The price of crude oil has reached a new high and this is
affecting Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Cost increases, particularly as a result of
the sharp increase in the oil price, have prompted the airline to raise its
ticket prices by around 4.5 percent.
The measures will also have an effect on Lufthansa’s
special rates, and will mean that in the future German domestic tickets can
be booked online from 92 euros (previously 88 euros) and from 102 euro
(previously 98 euros) in all travel agencies with a Lufthansa agency, at the
Lufthansa call center at 01 803 803803 and at the Lufthansa sales counters
at the airport.
Mae Fah Luang Garden - legacy of Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother
The Mae Fah Luang Garden on Doi Tung in Chiang Rai
Province has always mesmerized visitors. The gardens are a legacy of Her
Royal Highness the Princess Mother and are located on the slopes just below
the Royal Villa.
A statue inscribed with the word “continuity” was
erected to commemorate the tireless contributions made by the Princess
Mother made to uplift the lives of poor and disadvantaged people in the
kingdom.
Visitors to this hillside resort come to admire the
carefully selected and very rare flora. The valley is covered with an
enormous variety of trees and plants which are native to the province.
Mae Fah Luang Arboretum is close to the garden and
contains a mixture of lush greenery and a rare collection of rhododendrons
from China.
Doi Tung was the royal abode of the Princess Mother.
Rooms with a spacious balcony overlooking the mountains and gardens are
available where visitors can spend the night.
For more details and reservation, call 02-252-7114 ext
217, 053-767-015-7. or visit the website www.doitung.org.
Star Cruise SuperStar Virgo
Star Cruises’ Thailand general manager Chutima
Topanyaruang recently announced the brimming schedule of upcoming cruises.
On the agenda is something special for Thailand. “On April 15, as part of
the Songkran (water festival), the SuperStar Virgo will dock in Thailand’s
Laemchabang port (not far from Sri Racha) for the first time - on a very
special cruise,” Chutima said.
Explaining the itinerary, Chutima said, “The Virgo will
carry passengers back and forth from Bangkok to Singapore, with a
four-night, three-day stopover at Samui Island. It leaves Singapore at
around 1:00 a.m. on the morning of the 13th.”
For those who think luxury cruises are only for the rich,
Chutima added, “To encourage people to join us, I want to correct the
mistaken idea that traveling on a cruise liner is expensive. This trip costs
about 15,000, baht including the return airfare. And don’t forget that we
provide six meals a day aboard the liner.”
Travelers can choose to board at Laemchabang and
disembarking in Singapore, then fly home, or fly to Singapore and sail back
to Laemchabang.
The SuperStar Virgo, which is based in Singapore, will
repeat the same itinerary next October 26, during the annual school
holidays.
Star Cruises is being touted as the ‘first global and
leading cruise line in the Asia-Pacific region. Offices are located in
Bangkok in the BUI Building on the 18th floor.
THAI rearranges flight schedules on European routes
Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) will rearrange its
flight schedules on some European routes during the low season. THAI
President Kanok Abhiradee announced that the national flag carrier plans to
change flight schedules on the European routes between March 31 and October
25.
“During the so-called low season period, there will be
3 flights a week for the Bangkok- Zurich-Geneva and the Bangkok-Athens
routes; while 4 flights a week will be offered for the Bangkok-Zurich
route,” Kanok stated.
For its domestic services, THAI will increase its weekly
Bangkok-Krabi flights to 21, from 18, during the period. The airline’s
daily Bangkok-Mae Hong Son flights will also be raised from 3 to 5 between
March 30 and August 31.(TNA)
Cathay Pacific expands code-
share with British Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways and its OneWorld alliance partner
British Airways announced they have expanded their code-sharing agreement to
cover flights to Copenhagen, Lisbon and Seoul. The new code-shares reflect
OneWorld’s objective of extending cooperation between its member airlines.
Cathay Pacific’s “CX” code will be placed on
selected British Airways’ European flights operating between London
Heathrow and both Copenhagen and Lisbon on March 4. The code-share will
provide smoother European connections for passengers traveling on Cathay
Pacific’s flights between London and Hong Kong. In June the London-Hong
Kong route will also become 3 flights daily every day of the week.
At the same time the “BA” code will also be added to
daily Cathay Pacific flight between Hong Kong and Seoul offering British
Airways passengers the same benefits on their connections to Asia Pacific.
Tony Tyler, Cathay Pacific’s Director Corporate
Development said, “We are extremely pleased to expand the code-share with
our OneWorld partner British Airways as this agreement brings benefits for
all of our passengers. As OneWorld members we both focus on a high quality
of service and a premium product.”
Michael Jackson, British Airways’ Head of Alliances and
Franchises commented, “This new code-sharing agreement with our OneWorld
partner reflects how the two airlines are constantly striving to find new
opportunities to work together in the interests of all our customers.”
Code-sharing between the two carriers first began in
March 2000. Cathay Pacific already offers its CX code on British Airways
flights between London and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Aberdeen,
Manchester, Stockholm, Helsinki, Dsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin,
Cologne, Stuttgart and Prague.
The new destinations bring the number of European
code-share routes to sixteen. British Airways already offered its BA code on
Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and Auckland,
bringing its total of Asian code-share routes with Cathay Pacific to three.
Lufthansa cuts jobs and reduces aircraft
As a consequence of the further deterioration in the
economic situation, Lufthansa’s executive board has decided to implement
far-reaching measures. They include an immediate hiring freeze as well as a
capacity reduction by another 10 aircraft in German and European traffic.
Lufthansa had already decided to withdraw 9 aircraft from
the market in January of this year. According to the current planning, a
total of 31 aircraft of Lufthansa AG and 15 others operated by Lufthansa
CityLine and the regional partners will be taken out of service.
In addition, the executive board has also requested all
business segments to immediately present tangible measures aimed at securing
the result. Before the end of this year, it is planned to create an
additional cash-flow of at least 90 million euros with a supplementary
D-check initiative “Cash 100”. Furthermore, it has been decided to make
cuts in investments amounting to 200 million euros. The hiring freeze in the
group will be implemented at once.
The persisting adverse economic situation and the crisis
in international air traffic have severely impaired the group’s economic
development.
Lufthansa chairman and CEO Jrgen Weber, said,
“The decline in business travelers and in average revenues in passenger
business since last fall, have intensified even further at the beginning of
the new year. Despite slightly higher numbers of passengers, revenues in
January 2003 were below those of the same month last year. In addition, the
price of crude oil has reached new highs. There is an urgent need for
action.”
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
promotes agro-tourism
The Chang Klang district in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
recently won the Thailand Tourism Award for a new and innovative type of
tourism. Agro-tourism gives international tourists and urban Thais a chance
to observe how local farmers grow vegetables, breed livestock, peacocks and
even a lesson in fish farming.
Travelers on the way to Phuket are advised to make a stop
in Chang Klang district because it really is worth a visit. Motorists should
take Highway 4015 which passes right through Chang Klang.
Many farms in the area receive visitors who want to see
what the Thai agricultural industry is all about.
A trip down this highway will also reveal caves, temples,
waterfalls, and viewpoints on the Khao Mane mountain range offer lovely
horizons. Newly build accommodations allow over-night stays.
Khao Mane Resort (Tel. 01-477-1310, 075-346-476) is
located situated on the mountain top and offers simple accommodations with a
view. It’s also called Khao Phra Sumane, and boasts that it is the only
place in the southern part of Thailand which mists over in the mornings.
There is a camping area at the resort and arrangements can be made for
trekking. For information please telephone 01-477-1310 or 075-346-476.
To learn more about Chang Klang visit its website at www.geocities.com/banthapare
Auckland airport’s Koru Lounge gets facelift
The Auckland Domestic Koru Lounge has just been
refurbished, with a fresh new look and a lot more space. The many
enhancements and new facilities will provide passengers with luxury and
convenience.
Seating capacity has been raised from 169 to 250 and
eleven workstations are now equipped with slim-line IBM PCs and internet
access Over 22 data ports are provided throughout the lounge for laptop
users. Plasma TV screens have been introduced and 2 new widescreen TVs run a
program that showcases New Zealand.
The lounge has been designed to showcase New Zealand -
with a focus on NZ products, style and ideas. New Zealand products have been
selected wherever possible. All furniture has been designed and manufactured
by local furniture suppliers
The lounge is now zoned. There is a short stay zone -
with a cafe and bistro bar concept, for that quick refreshment before a
flight; a medium stay zone - with TV viewing and data hub chairs, for
passengers with a bit of time to spare and want to catch the latest news or
check emails; and a long stay zone - with lounge chairs and subdued lighting
for passengers who want to kick back and relax.
A new menu for the Koru Lounges will focus on the flavors
of New Zealand and is available in the Auckland, Wellington, and
Christchurch lounges. Wines selected for the Koru Lounges were selected by
wine industry-experts from Foxes Island Winery and Te Mata Estate wineries.
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