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Tiger Airways takes off
Carrier launches inaugural commercial flights
Tiger Airways, Singapore’s only truly low-cost carrier,
took to the skies on its inaugural flight, roaring into Bangkok from
Singapore on September 15. Patrick Gan, Tiger Airways’ CEO accompanied by
other senior executives, members of the Singapore media and commercial
passengers were welcomed as they touched down on Thai soil with great
fanfare. On hand to greet them at the Bangkok International Airport were
Singaporean Ambassador to Thailand, HE Chan Heng Wing and permanent
secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sakthip Krairiksh,
along with other high-profile Thai and Singaporean representatives of trade,
travel and tourism-related organizations.
Patrick Gan called the flight the beginning of a long
journey. “We led the market with our S$1 fare offer to Bangkok, Phuket and
Hat Yai. We have set an aggressive pace, and our competitors have since
tried to play catch up,” said Gan.
Tiger Airways now offers three daily flights on the
Singapore-Bangkok route, and will follow with once daily flights to Phuket
from September 22 and to Hat Yai from September 29, 2004. Singapore’s
newest low-cost carrier will offer up to 10 destinations by the end of its
first year of operations, and up to 15 destinations in total in the second
year.
Asked why Thailand was chosen as the first destination,
Gan explained, “Thailand is a popular tourist and conventions destination,
and there is a high consumer demand for flights to its various cities and
resorts. In fact, according to a recent survey undertaken by Mastercard
International, Thailand is one of the countries most visited by Asian
leisure travelers in the first half of 2004.”
Travelers can purchase tickets via Tiger Airways’
website www.tigerairways .com or through its call center at 1800-388-8888
(Singapore) or 001-800-656752 (Thailand). Operating hours are 7.00 a.m. -
9.00 p.m. (Thailand time), seven days a week.
Bangkok PATA mart ‘breath of fresh air’
In stark contrast to last year, when PATA Travel Mart (PTM)
reached its lowest point since its inception in 1978, and buyers and sellers
were all but ready to write it off, optimism has returned to the floor, with
many describing the Bangkok mart as “a breath of fresh air”.
The question, as PTM seeks to assert its position in a
crowded calendar, is what sort of gap it can fill, with its September
timing, venue rotation and being back in the fold of PATA – among the
factors that have helped its strong turnout this year?
This year’s 345 buyers beat the 1998 number, the first
permanent mart to be held in Singapore for 10 years, which fielded 301
buyers. Last year, the last time it was held in Singapore, this number had
dwindled to 194 buyers.
In terms of size, however, the record is still held by
the mart in Beijing in 1997, which fielded 489 buyers and 471 seller
organizations (342 this year). Nobody expects the 2004 mart to break that
record – it suffices that PATA countries such as Hawaii and Japan have
returned to the show this year after a long absence, while Australia is
again present after returning last year. (TTG Asia)
Learn the secrets of Thai cooking
on board the Manohra
Learn Thai cooking while you cruise the Chaophraya River;
an original way to learn Thai culture in real style. We will take you on
board the Manohra Cruise to a local market so you can choose your
ingredients required for cooking.
On the returning journey, our chefs will lead the way in
preparing the food as we set sail. Each step will be explained and the
nature of the ingredients will be described. The meal will be cooked and
eaten step by step.
Classes are held every Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to
12:00 noon. Price is 2,000 baht (US$50) including the market tour,
ingredients for cooking of five dishes, a meal with soft drinks and a gift
of an apron and certificate.
Price is subject to tax and service charge. Minimum
booking of four persons for the class is required. Please make your
reservation three days prior to the class. Cancellation after 7:00 p.m. the
day before the class will result in a 50% surcharge.
For more information and reservations, call Cedric
Tardivel, director of Manohra Cruises at tel: (66) 2476 0022 ext 1724, or
Fax: (66) 2477 0811, or email: ctardivel@ minornet.com or visit our website
at manohracruises.com
Asia Pacific region in ‘best-ever’ tourist position
Arrivals to the Asia Pacific region have soared by 33.3
million ‘year-to-date’, compared with 2003, putting the region in its
best-ever position in volume terms, according to PATA. Managing director of
Strategic Intelligence Center, John Koldowski, addressing a PATA Thailand
Chapter luncheon, said, “Preliminary results suggest most of the growth is
coming from within the region; it is Asians traveling within Asia.”
“The region has recovered the 18.6 million visitors it
lost as a result of the two “Ss” – SARS and Saddam (Hussein) - and has
attracted an additional 15 million on top of that,” Koldowski said.
“The increase was notable not only over 2003, which was
not a typical year, but over each of the previous three years as well. Year
2002 January to June showed 138.6 million arrivals so the 2004 equivalent is
still massively impressive,” Koldowski said. (TTG Asia)
ITB Berlin adds Hall 5.2 for Asia region’s sellers
Growing demand from Asia has resulted in organizers of
ITB Berlin, Messe Berlin, to expand the Asian hall to include Hall 5.2 from
next year.
Asian exhibitors now take up the 10,750m2 Hall 26. Hall
5.2, covering a gross area of 6,000m2, will accommodate India, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Pakistan, the Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh, apart from South
Pacific exhibitors which have been exhibiting there in the last two years.
ITB Berlin manager, David Ruetz, said, “India and China
are showing they are the fastest growing destinations indeed with increases
in space and new private companies coming in with their own stands. Japan,
Macau and the Maldives are doubling their space, and ASEAN countries such as
Thailand are also getting bigger. Phuket is coming in with its own stand, so
are the Khao Lak Hotel Association and Krabi Hotel Association.” (TTG
Asia)
IATA concerned over new airport completion
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has
expressed concern over Thailand’s ability to complete Bangkok’s new
international airport on schedule, with IATA representatives grilling
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on safety issues and landing
fees.
Speaking after a meeting with IATA executives, Suriya
confirmed that while the construction of the Suvarnabhumi Airport is
currently experiencing delays, it will open on schedule in September next
year if all parties cooperate to ensure its completion.
Nonetheless, he hinted that the government’s confidence
might be wavering, saying that if the airport could not be completed on
time, the government would inform IATA by February 2005 at the latest.
On September 28 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra held a
special cabinet meeting at the airport construction site to review its
construction progress and pledged to ensure that construction is sped up.
Suriya also apologized to IATA for failing to provide
adequate information on a recent decision of Airport of Thailand Public Co.
Ltd. to raise landing fees by 20 percent. But he insisted that the new fees
will come into effect in October, noting that even with the new fee
structure, Thailand’s airport fees would still be lower than those of
other countries in the region. (TNA)
Press conference for AIDS Charity held at Amari Watergate Hotel
H.E. Vichet Kasemthongsri, deputy minister of
transportation recently presided over a press conference at Amari Watergate
Ballroom for the “7th Amari Watergate & BMW Group Thailand Midnight
Run” and “8th Aerobic Marathon for Aids Charity”.
H.E.
Vichet presents cash to Pierre-Andre Pelletier, general manager of Amari
Watergate Hotel as looking on from left are: Saisom Wongsasuluk, president
of Caring Hearts for Aids Foundation; Uraiwan Pattanasilp; Font Mongomery;
Dr. Frank Roesler, president of BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd; and Pol. Maj. Gen.
Dusitsun Thearapatana, asst. commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
H.E. Vichet also took the opportunity to present a donation of 50,000
baht to Pierre-Andre Pelletier, general manager of Amari Watergate Hotel, to
support the events. The proceeds will be donated to “Save a child’s Life
from AIDS,” under the Patronage of HRH Princess Soamsawali, and Children
Village Project to support HIV-infected orphans children at Thammarak Nives
Project (Prabaht Nampu Temple) in Nongmuang, Lopburi province under the
Children’s Right Foundation.
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