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HRH Princess Ubolratana visits Bangkok Airways’ booth at ITB 2011
HRH Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Phannavadi
visited Bangkok Airways’ booth at the fairground of Internationale Tourismus
Boerse (ITB) and was greeted by Bangkok Airways’ president - Capt. Puttipong
Prasarttong-Osoth (1st left) along with Peter Wiesner (2nd right, back row),
senior vice president of Network Management, M.L. Nandhika Varavarn (2nd
right) vice president of Corporate Communications and executives from the
sales department. ITB Berlin is respected as the word’s leading travel show
and was held in Berlin until March 13.
Cambodia introduces
international departure fee
Cambodia’s passenger service charge (PSC) on
international departures will be included in airfares from April 1,
according to Soci้t้ Concessionnaire des A้roports (SCA).
SCA operates the country’s three international airports in Phnom Penh, Siem
Reap and Sihanoukville.
Passengers who booked flights on or after January 21 intending to fly in
April or beyond already have the PSC - US$25 for adults, US$13 for children
under 12 and free for babies under two - included in their fares. Cambodian
nationals are charged US$18 for adults and US$10 for children.
Passengers who travel after April 1 but bought their tickets prior to
January 21 will still have to pay the fee at the airport.
According to SCA, airlines serving 80 percent of passengers at Cambodia’s
international airports have already implemented the new charges, while the
remaining carriers are in discussions to join. (TTG Asia)
Thai agents seek refund on cancelled Japan travel
Sirima Eamtako, TTG Asia
Thai outbound agents are lobbying airlines and the Japanese Embassy in
Bangkok to refund tickets and visas in full after mass cancellations of
tours to Japan.
With 70 percent of tours to Japan already cancelled until May, TTAA (Thai
Travel Agents Association) members reached a consensus yesterday to offer a
full refund for cancelled trips.
TTAA president Charoen Wangananont told TTG Asia e-Daily that concerns over
safety in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear
emergency in Japan has sent a wave of panic among Thai travelers planning to
visit the destination during the long summer school holidays from March to
May.
Thai outbound agents normally handle about 100,000 tourists from Thailand to
Japan during the three-month vacation break. On average, outbound Thais
spend 50,000 baht (US$1,641) per person on a five-day/four-night trip there.
So far, only Thai Airways International has agreed to waive cancellation
charges for tickets booked to Japan until April 30. Charoen said TTAA would
urge Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific
and some Chinese carriers to follow suit.
He said the association would also ask the Japanese embassy in Bangkok to
offer a full refund on visa fees.
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TAT: 2 bn THB expected in circulation
this Songkran
The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced it expects
that over two billion baht will be generated throughout Thailand during the
upcoming Songkran Festival.
According TAT Deputy Director Thawatchai Arunyik, 50 major activities will
be held in 13 tourism zones throughout the nation with a target to generate
an income of over two billion baht. About four million baht in budget has
been set aside for public relations.
It is expected that out of about 100,000 Thai tourists expected to go abroad
during the Thai New Year festival, 15,000 would change their mind and travel
domestically instead. The case would generate an additional income of
500-600 million baht.
Reservations for accommodations during Songkran are found to be very lively,
notably in the northern province of Chiang Mai and in eastern provinces such
as Chonburi where rooms are almost 100% booked.
Major Songkran events will be held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai in the North,
Phuket in the South, as well as Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani in the
Northeast, and, of course, Pattaya. (NNT)
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Etihad launches
‘Essential Abu Dhabi’ campaign
Etihad Airways has designated 2011 ‘the year of Abu
Dhabi’ with the launch of its ‘Essential Abu Dhabi’ destination marketing
campaign. Designed to enhance Abu Dhabi’s place as a top tourist and MICE
destination, the campaign will see Etihad unveil a number of exciting
promotional activities around the globe.
All the major tourism operators in the emirate of Abu Dhabi have come
together for the first time under one promotional umbrella to showcase the
very best UAE’s capital has to offer.
Hotels, tour operators, dining outlets, shops, adventure parks, cultural
attractions and sports facilities are providing a range of offers to entice
tourists and business travelers alike, to spend time in Abu Dhabi with
substantial discount offers and deals.
Travelers must have flown on Etihad Airways to access the promotional
offers. Then all they need do to redeem the offers is present an Etihad
‘pass to magic’ boarding pass at participating outlets within seven days of
arriving in Abu Dhabi.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Etihad
plays a hugely important role in bringing visitors to Abu Dhabi, and
Essential Abu Dhabi will give extra momentum to our efforts to promote the
capital as one of the world’s best destinations.
“We have had a fantastic response from Abu Dhabi’s hotels and attractions,
and are excited to be working in tandem with people who are as passionate
about promoting our home base as we are.
“We will be promoting Essential Abu Dhabi in all of our overseas
destinations, as well as online and in-flight, and refreshing the program’s
special offers regularly so that frequent visitors will always have
something new to look forward to.”
The campaign features a dedicated website - essentialabudahbi.com - backed
with brochures featuring the exclusive offers on board all Etihad aircraft.
The program will be supported with an international marketing campaign
co-funded by all the partners; as well as being promoted through all partner
outlets and sales channels.
The campaign is being supported by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority as a
major partner and demonstrates the commitment of the entire local tourism
industry to work effectively together to promote Abu Dhabi as a major global
destination.
As well as appealing to visitors planning a trip to the UAE, the program is
also targeting the millions of passengers transiting through the Abu Dhabi
hub, to entice them to stopover in the city for a few nights. Free stopover
room nights will be made available to such passengers in the near future.
Offers will be updated every two to three months, and the number of
participating outlets is expected to grow from the initial 36 to over 100 by
the end of the year.
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