Visitor arrivals from China
increased by 34.3% mainly due to the growth in land arrivals (+83.4%) this
month. Holiday and business-related grew by 40.0% and 9.0% respectively.
The Malaysian market declined by
7.7%. This could be attributed to the increased domestic tourism promotion
within Malaysia. In addition, cheaper domestic
travel with the introduction of budget airline Air Asia and increased airfares
from Peninsular Malaysia into Singapore led to a drop in arrivals from the
major segments - holiday (-8.8%) and business-related (-15.9%). Visitor arrivals from India grew
by 17.5%. This was mainly due to the school holidays and a temporary closure
of a number of European and American airlines which led to an increase in Far
East travel. Holiday traffic grew by 36.4% while business-related traffic
dropped by 4.8%. The shift in the Buddha's
birthday from April in 2001 to May this year resulted in an increase in
arrivals from Hong Kong (+18.6%). Holiday traffic registered a healthy
double-digit growth (+59.7%) in May. Positive economic and political
sentiments within the market boosted arrivals from Philippines (+11.5%). In
addition, increased promotional efforts by STB and increased airline seat
capacity resulted in a double-digit growth in the holiday segment by 26.8%. Holiday arrivals from the top 12
markets rose by 8.7%. The main contributors were Hong Kong (+59.7%), China
(+40%), India (+36.4%), Philippines (+26.8%), Indonesia (+10.3%) and Australia
(+3.5%). Conversely, holiday arrivals from USA (-17.3%), Japan (-16.4%),
Malaysia (-8.8%) recorded decreases. Overall, business-related1
traffic from the top 12 markets fell by 11.0%. With the exception of China
(+9.0%), all major markets registered declines in this segment.
Business-related travel from UK (-17.9%), Malaysia (-15.9%), Japan (-14.9%)
and Thailand (-14.8%) and Hong Kong (-14.6%) posted significant decreases.
Hotel Sector Performance in May
2002 (Preliminary Data) Maximum room-nights: 953,808
(+1.2%); Available room-nights: 893,667 (+0.9%) Gross lettings: 653,682 (-4.0%);
Paid lettings: 644,101 (-4.1%) Standard AOR: 73.15% (down 3.7
percentage points over May 2001) Standard ARR: $127.04 (-9.2%)
Visitor Arrivals in January - May
2002 Visitor arrivals in January - May
dropped by 1.8% over the same period in 2001, to a total of 3,078,402
visitors. The 12 largest visitor-generating
markets were:
Hotel Sector Performance in
January - May 2002 (Preliminary Data) Maximum room-nights: 4,634,730
(+1.1%); Available room-nights: 4,334,422 (+0.5%) Gross lettings: 3,231,443
(-4.2%); Paid lettings: 3,179,235 (-4.4%) Standard AOR: 74.55% (down 3.7
percentage points over January - May 2001) Standard ARR: $128.88 (-5.1%)
AOR = Average Occupancy Rate
Source: AsiaTravelTips.com TravelWeeklyEast.com
- PATA is now seriously
considering the option of a limited rotation of its annual mart from 2004.
"Some
kind of flexible rotation could be in the works," chief communications
officer Lyn Hikida told TravelWeekly. "The
venue for 2003 is Singapore, but certainly the idea of rotation came up, and
the pros and cons of having the Mart in one venue, versus some kind of limited
rotation. That's still being discussed, and we will have some more to say on
where the Mart will be in 2004 to 2006," she said. Head
of PATA's events department Sheila Leong was looking at 2004 bid
specifications, and PATA was "eyeing other destinations," she said.
No venue space had yet been booked beyond next year, she noted. Limited
rotation "would be picking up say three to five destinations, and cycling
the Mart amongst them – in the same manner as ITCMA," said Hikida. The
list would be a select number, she said. Potential
venues would have to have suitable public-private partnerships and easy access
at reasonable prices, she said. "At
the same time, people are keenly interested in having the travel mart come to
their destination, and we will be willing to talk to them. "Wherever we site the mart, we have to do it with an eye to growth. We have learnt since the financial crisis that there are other things in the way of a Mart growing. We've learnt to be flexible." Almost
back to normal in Malaysia TravelAsia.com
- Malaysia’s tourist
arrivals are something the country has much to shout about, says Mirza
Mohammad Taiyab (mirza@tourism.gov.my), director-international marketing,
Tourism Malaysia. “In 2001, the number of visitors to Malaysia hit 12.77
million, the highest figure we’ve had,” he says. And if not for September
11, the number could have hit 14 million, he adds. The 2001 performance
betters 2000’s 10.22 million by 25 percent while tourism receipts of 24.2
billion ringgit (US$6.4 billion) in 2001 is treble that of 1998’s 8.58
billion. Based on first quarter figures, he is confident the tourism industry
in Malaysia is “close to a complete recovery”. March and April registered
over one million visitors per month. To heighten awareness of
Malaysia, one of Tourism Malaysia strategies is to establish and “cultivate
cultural troupes in Asia, Europe, the US and Oceania, based in the regions
where they are cultivated,” informs Mirza. Market development is
another strategy aimed at improving yields and exploring potential for growth,
taking into account seasonality, accessibility and proximity. Focus markets
are the UK, West Asia, India, China, Japan, Australia and the region. Mirza
adds that to date, markets which have registered growth include Dubai, Jeddah,
New Delhi, Mumbai and Phuket. Products designed accordingly include the
thrice-yearly Malaysia Mega Sales, Colours of Malaysia Parade, Food and Fruits
Fiesta, and various sporting events. Tourism is Malaysia’s
second largest foreign exchange earner after manufacturing (285.3 billion
ringgit), but bigger than liquid natural gas (11.3 billion), crude oil (11.1
billion) and palm oil (9.9 billion). UK
tourism firms urged to 'Go for IT'
Small UK
tourism businesses are being urged to get online with a new business support
pack launched by Tourism minister Kim Howells. Startups.co.uk
-
The ‘Go for IT’ CD-ROM and video aims to show small tourism firms
how cost-effective marketing their business on the internet can be. Practical
examples show how many businesses are already benefiting from online
information and booking services. Howells commented: “About half the population has
access to the internet. Therefore it is hardly surprising that more and more
people are planning and booking their holidays on the web. The ‘Go for IT’
programme will help give small and micro-tourism businesses the relevant tools
to use the internet and to meet exiting customers’ new demands and target
new customers.” The programme has been produced by UK online for
business and supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the
English Tourism Council, as well as a range of companies throughout the
tourism industry. Colin Richards is the owner of one of these businesses, the
Gara Rock Hotel in Devon (www.gara.co.uk): “We’ve seen bookings rise by more than 50% due to
our presence on the internet, the investment has paid for itself 50 times
over. We attract guests from all the world who can see for themselves from
wherever they may be, what a fantastic place the UK is to come on holiday
simply by the click of the mouse.” To
get further information on ‘Go for IT’, go to the UK online for business website
or call the infoline on 0845 715 2000. Moody's upgrades Four Seasons outlook IWon.com
- Moody's Investors
Service said yesterday it is changing its outlook on Toronto-based Four
Seasons Hotels Inc. to stable from negative, based on the company's rebound
from the initial impact of Sept. 11. The
ratings agency also said the outlook had changed because of the hotel chain's
reduction of its debt and the fact that Four Seasons will likely not face any
problems with hotel-related receivables or investments. "Four
Seasons has performed well and we don't think it's likely the company's rating
will go down," said Peggy Holloway a senior analyst with Moody's. In
her report, she said Four Seasons had prudently reduced absolute debt levels
in late 2001 by about $100-million with cash on hand. Ms. Holloway said the
company's insistence on maintaining room rates put it in good stead to benefit
when the sector turns around. "In
the first quarter of 2002, the company experienced RevPar [revenue per
available room] declines of about 13%, driven primarily by declines in
occupancy," she wrote in her report. With
occupancies now climbing, the luxury hotel chain will benefit more than
competitors who lowered rates while the sector suffered. Four
Seasons has bragged about keeping its quality of service high and its room
rates up, in the face of a slowdown in the hotel sector, especially among
business-class travellers. Last
month, Jacques Kavafian, an analyst at Octagon Capital Corp. and a
long-standing supporter of the company, suggested Four Seasons quality was
suffering and the hotel chain might have to budge on its room rates. The
Moody's report seemed to applaud the chain's decision. "The company [is]
in a favourable position to benefit more quickly from the eventual
rebound," the report said. Moody's
also does not see any long-term capital issues. "We expect that the
company will be able to fund capital spending and investments from internally
generated cash flow," the report said. The
ratings agency did fire a warning shot about the lodging industry continuing
to face weak demand. It does not expect the industry to recover until 2003. "Nevertheless,
Four Seasons is appropriately placed within its rating category, given slow
but improving industry trends and its prudent financial management,"
Moody's said. Travellers now seeking environmentally responsible holidays, even at extra cost, says new IHEI report The
environmental impact of holidays may not be of primary concern for the queuing
millions at Britain’s airports, but a survey-based report by the
International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) shows a new desire by
tourists to play an active part in preserving the planet. For not only now, but the future. The
tide has turned. Where once
travellers turned a blind eye to the destructive elements of tourism, they are
now pushing for change. They are making more environmentally-informed
decisions, even if these result in higher holiday costs. Today,
with the number of international travellers topping 700 million, 87% British
people recognise that tourism - while potentially also benefiting and
protecting conservation – plays a significant role in eroding the very
environmental resources on which it depends. Travellers
are beginning to wake up to the reality that we are using 30% more resources
than the earth can replenish, says the report, ‘HOTELS
CARE (Community Action and Responsibility for the Environment)’, which
is based on an international survey conducted by IHEI member Small Luxury
Hotels of the World. With
holidays a major contributor to this erosion, impacting massively on people
and nature, consumers are pushing their responsible tourism ideas beyond
recyclable toilet paper and biodegradable soaps. HRH The Prince of Wales concurs. “When I launched
IHEI in 1992, little did we know there would be such an astonishing leap in
consciousness and concern around the world about the threats to the
sustainability of our planet “Nor was it entirely certain that the hotel and
tourism industry COULD play a positive role in improving the
environmental performance of its own industry and raising the awareness of
others.” Writing in the current (10th anniversary)
issue of IHEI’s ‘Green Hotelier’ magazine, he concludes, “I hope it is
no longer too ambitious to suggest that the industry as a whole now needs to
design, develop, refurbish and operate a new generation of hotels that have a
minimal environmental footprint, and which also support and strengthen the
communities in which they operate.” The
report also reveals that 80% of UK travellers are prepared to pay an extra £30-£70
per fortnight to book a hotel with a responsible environmental attitude,
showing that cost may no longer inhibit sustainable tourism ideals. Particularly popular with travellers are hotels which protect wildlife (87%), are sensitive to marine life (74%) and are designed to reflect the surrounding architecture and landscape (70%), all measures much closer to their heart than properties with biological waste water treatment systems (only 40%) or using electricity from renewable supplies like solar power and wind (35%) Tourists prepared to do their bit Two
thirds say they cycle or walk instead of using a car on holiday and 70% save
water by showering, not bathing. More significantly, nine out of 10 turn off
lights and air conditioning when leaving hotel rooms, and four fifths shun
imported international cuisine in favour of local dishes. Not
surprisingly given the British love of wildlife, a whopping 96% pay extra care
when throwing away rubbish likely to harm animals. But only a third makes a financial contribution to local
people, beyond buying souvenirs and taking trips They
also take care to behave well: only 13% feel themselves intolerant of language
difficulties and 78% are sensitive to local dress culture. Demand is for hotels to play a key role in
environmental conservation Of
greatest importance to us are hotels which seek to employ staff from local
communities (74%) and give them good pay and working conditions (87%). We
additionally want to protect marine life from damage by swimmers (87%) and 74%
would like an alternative to chlorine in the pool. Also
creeping into consumer awareness are less visible, yet important,
environmental contributions like recycling waste (61%) and waste water (56%),
conserving energy by keeping lights low (57%) and re-using towels (52%). Hotels and local communities deserve an
equitable share in tourism benefits Of
uppermost importance to guests is that their hotel offers financial support to
(74%), and shares prime resources (water and power) with (78%), its local
community. Seventy
percent consider it very important that hotels help preserve traditional
industries like farming and fishing, as well as consulting local people on how
their land is used and developed. And
three fifths consider it the hotel’s role to support local businesses and
cottage industries, while also investing in nearby schools and hospitals.
Eight out of 10 want hotel beaches to be open to local people. At last travellers are thinking about tomorrow Two
thirds of people on holiday are very likely to think about whether their
destination will still be attractive to their grandchildren in 20 years time,
when environment-supportive holidays may be an inescapable requirement. This compares with research of a decade ago which showed that people rarely gave a thought to provision of resources to meet today’s demand without reducing those available tomorrow PS Consumers
still have a lot to learn Asked
which element of their holiday is the most environmentally corrosive, 66%
nominated ground transport like trains and cars, 4% opted for hotels and only
30% suggested air transport. In
fact, flights are by far the largest contributor to the environmental impact
of a holiday. Air travel is the world’s fastest-growing source of greenhouse
gas emissions, increasing the risk of continued global warming to the extent
that holidays involving aeroplanes can probably never be wholly sustainable. The survey: In
July 2002, on behalf of IHEI, Small Luxury Hotels of the World surveyed
approximately 300 travellers at airports in the UK, US and Australia.
For multi-national variations see separate release. The
purpose of the survey was to get a feel for current consumer views on
sustainable tourism, identifying attitudinal changes and new holiday trends. About IHEI Led and funded by chief executives of the world’s
leading hotel groups since 1992, the International Hotels Environment
Initiative promotes continuous improvement in the environmental performance of
hotels throughout the world. IHEI is presided over by HRH the Prince of Wales
through his educational charity, the International Business Leaders Forum.
It represents 11 multi-national hotel groups, between them representing
68 brands, hotels on five continents and two million rooms. For more information: China:
Hoteliers up rivalry by franchising China Daily -
The famous international hotel brands dotted along the streets of major
Chinese cities reflect how powerful franchising has become for foreign
hoteliers expanding their China presence. The
newest move comes under the flag of Ramada, the major brand of Marriott
International, one of the world's leading hotel groups. "Each
year we will add 10 to 15 new hotels under our brands in the Chinese mainland
through franchising," declared Reas M. Kondraschow, vice-president of
Ramada International, at the signing ceremony for Air China's frequent flyer
programme in Beijing last week. The
programme Ramada signed with Air China allows the airline's members to stay at
Ramada's 130 hotels worldwide at a preferential price. Ramada guests also
enjoy 400 to 800 kilometres in Air China frequent flyer mileage for each night
they stay. But
Ramada's ambition in the Chinese market is not limited to a minor frequent
flyer programme. Air China operates dozens of hotels near airports across
China, which experts said could become a target for Ramada's expansion plan. "The
frequent flyer programme is only the first step of our co-operation with Air
China, which is expected to be expanded to other fields," Kondraschow
told Business Weekly. Earlier
this year, French tourism giant Accor, after losing several hotels once under
its brands of Novotel and Sofitel in China, also said it plans to develop
franchising hotels at a speed of five new hotels each year. Despite
Ramada's and Accor's aggressive steps to expand their market presence through
franchising in China, other major foreign hoteliers remain unsure of the
business model. Jerry
Huang, deputy president of the China Development Department of Six Continents,
the largest hotel group in the world, said in an earlier interview with
Business Weekly that expansion through franchising in China may endanger the
group's brand if the franchisees do not operate well. And
the relatively laggard system in China's hotel industry is not doing anything
to alleviate international hoteliers' concerns that local hotel management
will not meet their strict standards. Wang
Fude, deputy director of the Institute of Tourism under Beijing Second Foreign
Language College, indicated that State-owned enterprises are still dominant in
the domestic hotel industry, which often results in overemployment and low
efficiency. But
Kondraschow believes the market has matured, making expansion via franchising
a more attractive option. With
China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulation in the
tourism industry is being loosened, with limits on private and foreign entry
into the field lifted. Statistics
show that by the end of 2000, China had more than 6,000 hotels rated higher
than one star. A large number of domestic hotels are eager to seek
international partners or alliances, presenting a wide variety of candidates
for Ramada. "Our
potential partners in China may not be new," said Kondraschow. "Many
owners of Ramada hotels in China operate more than one hotel." The
rising number of Chinese travellers, which reached 783 million last year, is
expected to make up a strong customer base for Ramada, which has only
developed 10 hotels under its brand in China. In
fact, the record number of Chinese travellers, along with the country's WTO
entry, have forced many international hoteliers to adjust their original
business plan. Six Continents, for example, has decided to shift its strategy
from merely inputting brand and management in China to direct investment. Despite
the promising picture, however, foreign hotels still worry that the local
hotel management level is not up to international standards. Aware
of this problem, Kondraschow claimed that Ramada would try to enhance its
training efforts. Wang from the tourism institute expressed optimism that
foreign players' franchising would increase the competitiveness of the
domestic hotel industry Business
opportunities abound at PATA sustainable event The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has created a face-to-face business platform for buyers and sellers of ecotourism, adventure travel, agritourism, homestays and geotourism. The one-and-a-half day Mart component during the 1st PATA Sustainable Tourism Conference & Mart (October 23-26 in Banten, Western Java, Indonesia) will utilise private meeting areas with table-top set-ups to showcase sustainable tourism products and services. The event aims to attract leading proponents, expert operators, and passionate advocates of sustainable tourism, said PATA Assistant Director-Events, Ms. Phenthip "Tik" Chomprang. "Having a strong buyer-seller mix is also central to the dynamics of the event which is more concerned with the art of the possible than rhetorical positions." Ms. Chomprang said the table-top Mart element had been designed as a "cost-effective" way to trade in adventure travel and ecotourism, with up to 70 percent of the business meetings being scheduled in advance. The remainder will be arranged on-site at the event. The educational segment of the Conference will feature the U.K.'s most popular botanist and ecologist, Dr. David Bellamy, who will deliver the keynote: "Tourism: The Way Ahead to Sustainability & Beyond." Mr. Emil Salim, former Minister of Environment for Indonesia, is attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September. On his return to Indonesia he will update delegates at the PATA event on the issues raised in South Africa. Delegates will also be have a chance to experience hands-on cultural audit exercises at off-site breakout locations in Indonesian villages. The National Geographic Traveler/Conservation International Workshop session on "Geotourism" will look at real life examples exemplifying this subsector of sustainable tourism. The session will be delivered by Mr. Jonathan Tourtellot, Senior Editor at National Geographic Traveler magazine. Ms. Maria Morgan's "Indigenous Preservation: Raising Awareness," will analyse viable ways of operating tourism in indigenous tribal communities, with reference to Western Australia. Dr. Thomas Bauer's "Antarctic Tourism: Opportunities, Constraints and Future Prospects" will discuss challenges facing the world’s ultimate wilderness destination. All attending delegates will be eligible for 50 percent discount off published fares to Indonesia on Garuda Indonesia airlines. Delegates departing from India will be eligible for 50 percent discount off published fares for India-Jakarta-India on Air India. Banten, the event venue, is a 45-minute drive west of Jakarta, Indonesia. It's
official: Worst year ever for aviation 2001
was the worst year ever in the history of air transport according to the 46th
edition of IATA's World Air Transport Statistics (WATS). Using
data provided by more than 200 IATA member airlines, WATS presents a complete
statistical picture of a calamitous 2001. ·
• Overall,
IATA member airlines carried 1.35 billion scheduled passengers during 2001, a
decline of 3.3 percent on 2000 and the first year-on-year decline since 1991. ·
•
International scheduled passengers declined 2.2 percent. The average passenger
load factor on those services fell by 2.2 percentage points to 70.3percent. ·
• The
combination of reduced traffic, falling yields and rising unit costs, with
capacity only marginally reduced, produced a net loss of US$12 billion on
international scheduled services. For further information on this interactive product contact: efkolidesg@iata.org
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