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Tibet re-opens but
targets domestic tourists
Chinese officials have confirmed that areas around the Tibetan
Autonomous Prefecture are gradually re-opening to tourists.
The latest to open to international tourists is Diqing Tibetan
Autonomous Prefecture, located in south-west China’s Yunnan Province.
The prefecture received 3.8 million tourists last year, including
400,000 from overseas, but it has been off limits since riots erupted in
Lhasa mid-March.
Tourism officials in Lhasa have said that in the coming peak tourism
season, from May 1 to October 31, they would target domestic tourists
rather than international ones.
The tourism bureau said that it was expecting tourist numbers to drop
throughout 2008, compared to those recorded in 2007. Last year, Tibet
received a record-high 4.02 million tourists, 1.5 million more than in
2006. (TTG)
Sawadee launches
One2Book in Bangkok
Thai-based wholesaler and inbound travel agency Web Sawadee has launched
One2Book, a one-stop service centre for flight ticketing, car rental, hotel
booking and travel arrangement in Bangkok.
The first outlet was opened last year on BTS SkyTrain Ploenchit Station, located
in front the company’s headquarters in Mahatun Plaza Building. The second outlet
is slated to open within a few months on BTS SkyTrain Childlom Station.
Web Sawadee COO and director of sales, Christian Lukey, said the opening of the
One2Book outlet was to generate additional business from the domestic market.
“We plan to open a total of five outlets by the end of this year. Locations of
our One2Book outlets have to be at the convenient contact point for the
customer,” said Lukey.
The 10-year-old Web Sawadee is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Last
year, it achieved a turnover of more than US$50 million and through its online
booking generated 480,000 room nights from 320,000 travellers. (TTG)
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