Showing posts with label Bookings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bookings. Show all posts

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Thailand recovery will take at least THREE-YEARS

 

Thailand’s tourism industry will take at least three years to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels even as it prepares to ease restrictions on vaccinated travelers starting next month, according to Standard Chartered Bank Plc.
The slow recovery for the sector that accounts for about 15% of Thailand’s gross domestic product means growth in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy will remain weak over the next two years, Tim Leelahaphan, an economist at Standard Chartered’s Thai unit, wrote in a report Friday.

“The Thai economy will struggle to recover without an improvement in the tourism sector,” he said. “This may keep economic growth weak in 2022-23, although a low base should provide support.”

Thailand plans to end a mandatory quarantine for visitors to holiday destinations including Bangkok from Nov. 1 as it seeks to jump-start its economy and transition to a “living with Covid-19” strategy.

The reopening plan may be disrupted if the ongoing improvement in the pandemic situation in Thailand changes course, Tim said.

Thailand saw foreign tourist arrivals plunge to 73,932 in the first eight months of this year, from almost 40 million visitors in 2019 who generated more than $60 billion in revenue.

Standard Chartered said 6 million tourist arrivals are needed to erase the current account shortfall that stood at $8.5 billion in the eight month through August.

Next year, arrivals of 4 million could help generate revenue equal to 1% of GDP as overseas visitors often spend about $1,500 per person during a trip to the Southeast Asian nation.

Travelers from China, who made up 28% of Thailand’s foreign arrivals in 2019, are unlikely to return in large numbers soon due to travel restrictions, while arrivals from India are expected to increase next month during the Diwali festival, though they’re unlikely to match number of Chinese holidaymakers, Tim said.

The Bank of Thailand in August cut its forecast for tourist arrivals to 150,000 visitors this year and 6 million in 2022.


Source - BangkokJack

Our VISA AGENT

Friday, June 19, 2020

#Thailand eases up on social distancing requirements for domestic travel


The requirement for Thailand’s airlines to leave every second seat empty, as part of the conditions under which domestic services could resume, is being done away with. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand says carriers can now sell every seat on a flight (whether or not airlines manage to do so is another matter).

However, the CAAT says airlines must upgrade their in-flight ventilation, replacing high efficiency particulate air filters regularly. In addition, the wearing of face masks for all passengers and crew for the duration of the flight remains mandatory, with the CAAT saying passengers must be advised they may face prosecution if they fail to do so.

In a further easing of the conditions governing domestic travel during this Covid-19 era, Thailand’s Transport Minister says from July 31, members of the same family may sit together on Bangkok’s electric train network, as journeys take less than 50 minutes. A report in Thai PBS World says Minister Saksayam Chidchob says this relaxation of the rules is being implemented to reduce costs for the capital’s MRT service and to reflect Thailand’s ongoing recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

The minister was busy handing out free face masks on the MRT network yesterday and it’s anticipated that a million masks will be distributed between now and August as part of the operator’s “Healthy Journey with BEM” program.


SOURCE: Thai PBS World

Monday, June 8, 2020

#Cambodia - Kep tourism to receive facelift as two islands are pegged for development

 Kep provincial officials are planning to improve 1,800m of shoreline and develop two islands which are less than 10km from the coast.

 The government is studying the development of the beach in Kep province, in southwestern Cambodia, to assess its tourism potential.

Kep province is a coastal area located more than 175km from Phnom Penh and the government believes it has tourism potential thanks to its beaches, national parks, mangrove forests, corals and seagrass.

Kep provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction director Vao Sokha told The Post on Thursday that his team is studying improvements to the nearly 3,000m Kep Beach to turn it into a public beach to attract more tourists.

Upgrades will be developed from the Crab Market to the mangrove community area in Prey Thom commune, in Kep town.

“We have already designed the beach and are studying the socio-environmental impacts on the communities living along the coast,” he said.

Kep province now has only one official beach with a length of 350m, and it is yet to meet the needs of tourists. He said the beach is too narrow and needs to be upgraded, including road construction.

The government is studying improvements to another 1,800m of the beach from Kep beach to the Vietnamese coast. “Kep province has great potential for tourism. If we do not develop it, how can we attract tourists?” Sokha asked.

In addition to the coastal area, Kep province has 13 archipelagos that are attractive natural tourist sites. Two of the islands have been granted by the government to a private development company – Koh Tonsay Island (also known as Rabbit Island) and Por Island.

Koh Tonsay Island is a beautiful island that is only 4.5km from Kep beach. Por Island, which lies 7.5km off the coast, has not been developed so far, said Sokha.

At a meeting to prepare the Kep provincial Tourism Development Master Plan in May, Ministry of Economy and Finance undersecretary of state Ni Phally said the master plan would make Kep province an attractive destination for local and global tourism.

“The draft will be completed by the end of July and will be submitted at the Inter-Ministerial Commission meeting in August,” he said.

A Ministry of Tourism report said Kep province welcomed about two million international and domestic tourists last year – up 4.24 per cent from 2018.

Source - Phnom Penh Post

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Flights from Cambodia to Thailand not expected until July


Thailand’s move to extend its ban on passenger flights for another month to June 30, citing the need to contain the spread of the corona-virus disease, puts another  dent in Cambodia’s efforts to kick-start its economy and tourism.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, no passenger flights originating outside the country may land at Thai airports until June 30.

The extended flight ban has led to speculation that the state of emergency decree may also be prolonged beyond May 31, although the number of new Covid-19 cases has remained steady for two weeks, even falling to zero on two days this week.

Currently, several international airlines have resumed flights, albeit on a lesser frequency such as Korean Air and Aseana Air which fly two times a week between Seoul and Cambodia.

China Air and Eva Air all reinstated flight routes into Phnom Penh International Airport at the start of this month.

Other major airlines such as, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways and Emirates are also scheduling for flights to resume to Cambodia in June and July this year, coinciding with their main departure points also planning to reinstate international flight paths.

However, airlines that have decided to restart routes have also implemented strict biosecurity conditions during the flights to follow with reports of passengers having to undergo “on the spot” blood tests, as well as, wearing personal protection wear with staff seen dressed in full bio suits. 

Source - Khmer Times/Bangkok Post

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Vietnam considers partial resumption of international flights


The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) is proposing a partial lifting of the suspension on international flights starting June 1.

It has mentioned the need to revive the hit-hard aviation industry in rationalizing its proposal.

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has asked CAAV and the ministry's Department of Transport to study the resumption of international flights with limited frequency, giving priority to foreign experts and investors, while ensuring strict maintenance of anti-pandemic measures.

The move comes after Vietnam has gone 22 clean days without coronavirus community transmission and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has allowed resumption of more "non-essential" businesses except karaoke parlors and discos.

The PM has also asked localities to accord top priority to economic recovery.

Vietnam has banned entry of foreign nationals since March 22 and international flights have been suspended since March 25. In certain special cases, as in those with diplomatic or official passports, or coming for special economic projects, foreigners are allowed entry, but they need to present a Covid-19 free certificate from a recognized authority in the country of embarkation and must undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Vietnamese carriers on Thursday were allowed to remove social distancing restrictions on aircraft and limitations on the number of passengers. Passengers were previously required to sit one seat apart, except for families and people booking tickets together.

Dinh Viet Thang, director of CAAV, said local market and international market would recover by the middle of 2021 and the end of 2021 respectively. According to the transport ministry's estimate, the number of air passengers this year could fall by 46 percent to 43 million.

Due to the international flight ban, Vietnam received 3.7 million foreign visitors in Jan-April, a 38 percent drop year-on-year and the tourism industry earned revenues of VND7.9 trillion ($337 million) during the period, down 45 percent.

Vietnam’s infection tally rose to 288 after 17 Vietnamese repatriated from the UAE were confirmed positive on Thursday night.

The country has more than 16,500 people in quarantine, those that have returned from abroad and those who have come in contact with the returnees. Of these, 162 are quarantined at hospitals, 6,600 are staying at centralized camps and the rest at home or other accommodation facilities.

Source - VN Express

Friday, December 27, 2019

#Cambodia - Hiking in the forests of Kep National Park


Most tourists usually visit Kep province to stuff themselves with crabs, frolic on the shores of the beach and laze in the sun. But the Kingdom’s smallest province has one more gem to offer – the lush mountain ranges and tranquil atmosphere of the Kep National Park.

Unbeknownst to many, the Kep National Park, located behind the Veranda Natural Resort, offers an off-the-beaten track that’s waiting to be explored.

Established in 1993, the park covers an area of 66.65sq km and an 8km mountain trail circuit that’s easily travelled by foot, motorbike or mountain bike.

“Most of the local tourists are students who wish to see the great outdoors, away from all the stress in school. Foreign tourists come here irregularly.

“Sometimes, we see 30 people a day. Sometimes, no one comes. If it’s the rainy season, we usually won’t have any guests,” says a park ranger.

Wide enough to allow cars to pass through, the inclined trail around the mountain offers the ideal path for cycling, motorbike-riding and trekking. Signs had been put up to guide the riders and hikers.
.
.
Pok Toeng, the director of the Provincial Department of Tourism, said “at the circuit trail, tourists can ride bicycles and motorbikes. The trail is 8km long, 300m wide, and covers a total of almost 9,000ha”.

“Some people walk on the trail while some go depeer into the jungle. There are also signs inside the forest to guide hikers. We helped install signs, maps and flyers for the tourists,” he says.

Lao Innarith, 38, a guide at the Kep trek says: “I usually start the trek with my clients at the other end of the trail and then we walk our way back to the starting point. The distance is about 5km, I think.

“If we start at a place under the forest shade, we can reach by sunlight. But if I start in the open space in the morning, my clients and I will end the trek at the cold forest.


“We have many tourists in Kep but numbers have slightly gone down these past two years, especially tourists from Western countries. We usually have two to three groups a week, with each group composed of one to 30 people.

“If it’s a small group, we usually travel on foot. Otherwise, we ride a bus. Normally we spend around two hours trekking.”

At the end of the trail, a panoramic view of Kampot’s Bokor mountains, nearby villages and the island of Koh Tral await.

“We stopped at the Kampot viewpoint, about 2km from the park entrance and then came back. We didn’t take the mountain trail circuit because it could take a long time,” say Anna and Simon, a French couple who braved an hour-long trek in the park.

“The Led Zep Cafe offered the best vantage point. It’s where you can sit and have a drink and get a good view of nature before exploring its forest,” they added.

The map for the trails is provided by Led Zep Cafe, the only one in the area. They were made by the cafe’s now-deceased French founder, Christian Debinut.

“He started drawing the map in 2002. He drew every attraction, trailheads, and viewpoints that hikers can visit,” says Lang Anika, one of the owners of the cafe, who worked very closely with Debinut.

Aside from managing the cafe, both Anika and co-owner Srey Pao, often explore the deep recesses of the jungle to clean the trails and set more signs for tourists to follow.
.
https://app.shopback.com/tha?raf=QiWYhS&slug=referred-signup-bonus
.
 “Tourists walk here for leisure. But for us, we spend day and night in the forest to clean the area, pave a trail for them and renew the signs.

“We only do it in the forest trails and leave the circuit trail to the authorities since the road was widened to provide access to cars in 2018,” says Anika.

Cambodians, Anika says, do not usually hike in the deep jungle. Some 99 per cent of the time, it’s the foreign tourists who literally go the extra mile.

She says foreigners have picked up the habit of collecting their own trash from the forest, making it easier for her and Srey Pao to maintain its cleanliness.

Several of the noteworthy stops marked by Led Zep’s map are the Kampot Viewpoint, Sreytal Waterfall, Main Trail Summit, Angkoul beach viewpoint, Little Pond, Nun’s Pass, Sunset Rock, Kep Gardens, Little Buddha and Stone Horse.

The entrance to Kep National Park can be found behind Veranda Natural Resort, about 7.6km from the White Horse roundabout sculpture in the town of Kep.
 
Source - Phnom Penh Post

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Myanmar (Burma) rebrands itself to woo more tourists


DESPITE the current decline in tourists coming from Europe and the Americas due to international media coverage of conflicts in Rakhine state, Myanmar remains confident it can attract foreign visitors in the months to come, according to officials and industry leaders.

The nation will promote its natural attractions and traditions to raise tourists’ interest, May Myat Mon Win, chairwoman of Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM), said in an exclusive interview with The Nation. 

“We have a lot of unexplored attractions across the country. This does not mean that we are not yet ready [for a tourism boom]. With authenticity and commitment, everything is possible,” she said.
According to her, it is now time to take another step in the “Myanmar, be enchanted” rebranding campaign launched in late 2018. From this year onwards, Myanmar will mainly focus on tourism marketing by participating in international travel shows, maintaining its current attractions and creating new destinations.

As part of MTM’s efforts to promote Myanmar’s tourism, it will have a booth at the ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade fair to be held in Germany next month. 

The presence at such an international event would pave a way for promoting Myanmar’s tourism on the international stage, said the executive.“We are now trying to improve our image. In the meanwhile, we are also targeting new markets. 

So, we need to raise visitors’ awareness about Myanmar. 

In this respect, promotion matters,” she said.Myanmar has adopted a “Look East” policy to attract visitors from Asia and develop its tourism sector. Yet, May Myat Mon Win insists Myanmar remains optimistic about increasing tourism visitors from the West.

“Definitely we look to the East but will also maintain the West on our radar. We are willing to grow simultaneously but need to be realistic in some cases,” she said.

Last year, Myanmar received far fewer Western visitors than in 2017. The number of European tourists dropped by 25 per cent, those from the Middle East were down 26 per cent, and Australians also declined by 19 per cent. American tourists were down 13 per cent, according to the statistics. 

Yet, Myanmar enjoyed 37 per cent growth in Chinese tourists’ arrivals and 9 per cent growth from Thailand, as well as a rise in Indian visits last year compared to 2017.“This year, we hope to receive more tourists from both Asia and the West. 

At this point, the most important thing is to ensure more people know about Myanmar and we are striving for that,” she said.She stressed the importance of key destinations – Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake, which she described as the “big four”. 

Additionally, the organisation focuses on helping build awareness of new destinations such as Hpaan, Loikaw, Chin State, Myeik Archipelago and Mogok, to name a few.“Another move is to expand direct air links to our attractions. 

We are also trying for that, and hope to see more direct flights to major destinations in the months to come,” she said.In late January, China’s Hainan Airlines launched a direct flight between Yangon and Chongqing in China, which is now running four times weekly. 

Earlier last month, Sichuan Airlines launched direct flights from Chongqing to Mandalay. 

Cambodia and Myanmar last week discussed the possibility of establishing a direct flight between the ancient cities of Bagan and Siem Reap.

May Myat Mon Win repeatedly stressed the need for a national tourism marketing strategy that aligns with international standards.“It should be properly designed for practical approaches to raise the bar. It needs to be realistic and practical,” she said.

Thet Lwin Toh, chairman of Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA), echoed her view. He also stressed the importance of ensuring sustainability in key destinations.

“We need to strike a balance between demand and capacity. 

This means we need to ensure all our destinations are not squeezed by over-capacity in the market,” he said.

He suggested investing in infrastructure and capacity building to unlock Myanmar’s tourism potential.

“We need to ensure our readiness before we open the doors. We should have effective strategies to lure luxury tourists in place, and this is another important area we are focused on,” he said.

He lauded the government’s reforms, including approval of visa-free travel for Japanese and Korean tourists, and issuing visa-on-arrival for Chinese visitors. 

UMTA has urged the tourism ministry to also allow visa-free travels for visitors from some European countries.

“The ministry is now taking it into serious consideration. Later this year, they may allow some Western countries to visit Myanmar without the need to apply for a visa,” he said.

He warned of “zero-dollar tours” by Chinese tour companies.  In order to ensure sustainability of locals engaged in Myanmar’s tourism industry, the government needs to set proper mechanisms to ensure that locals benefit from every single tour.

He considers a surge in Chinese tourists as a plus for tourism development in Myanmar. And he foresees a substantial increase in Korean tourists in the coming months.

Aung Aye Han, deputy director-general at the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, agrees. “Following the visa waiver, Japan and Korea are among the most promising countries driving our tourism revenue. 

We are now reviewing our next steps. You are sure to see another visa waiver for more countries in Asia and the West in the first half of 2019,” he said.

The official said decentralisation of tourism permits to state and regional governments would drive more investments in the industry. 

He also highlighted the importance of traditional festivals and Inle Lake in attracting tourists.

“We aim to tap some traditional festivals to attract foreign visitors, particularly in the low season,” he said. “Another important move is the conservation of the Inle Lake eco-system. We take the lake’s sustainability seriously, and participate in conservation work in cooperation with environmental experts and international organisations.”

Source The Nation 

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

#Vietnam - Five holiday destinations within reach from Saigon Places

.
 Suoi Mo Park, Dong Nai

About 100 km from downtown HCMC, this park is located in Tra Co Commune, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province. A good choice for a day trip, it has a natural lake created by the convergence of streams flowing from surrounding hills that cascade over a rocky area. 
.
.
 You can swim, camp, enjoy a BBQ party and so on at Suoi Mo Park. Admission costs VND120,000 ($5) for adults and VND70,000 ($3) for children under 1.3 meters. Visitors are not allowed to bring in their own food, but the park has restaurants with affordable prices.

For this National Day (September 2) holiday, the park is serving a lunch buffet of 60 dishes for VND199,000 ($8.5) per adults and VND109,000 per children ($4.7). The buffet will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 1 and 2. 
.
.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

#Cambodia - Former ‘killing caves’ become a sobering tourist destination


Phnom Sampov consists of many mountain caves attracting tourists from around the world. But their natural beauty today contrasts with their grim history as Khmer Rouge-era “killing caves”.

Among them is Pka Sla cave, Chest Pounding cave and the Bat cave, where thousands were killed under the Pol Pot regime, with the bones of victims today kept in a glass stupa for display. 

Guide Soung Sitha accompanies visitors to the historic caves, starting with Laang Teng Kloun (Beautified Room Cave) where he points to a case displaying the clothes of victims: “Here we keep victims’ remains, especially clothes worn by people under the Pol Pot regime. They were well-educated people.” 

Leaving Laang Teng Kloun and visiting nearby Laang Lkoun, visitors are greeted by a large golden Buddha reclining next to a stupa full of bones, while a picture depicting victims being thrown from a cliff down into the dark abyss below, as occurred in the cave during the Khmer Rouge era, sits on the wall. 

Grade 5 student Sok Sonita serves as an amateur local guide for children. She takes time from her studies to tell tourists about the history of the caves.

“I can speak a little English and can tell foreigners about the killing and bludgeoning. This was the place they [Pol Pot’s comrades] hit people from above and let them fall. They were well-educated people. I earn irregular money as some days I get a very small amount or nothing, and some days I earn $10,” she said. 
.
 .
Phnom Sampov, 12km west of Battambang, is also the locale for a Homeric Khmer legend in which the machinations of a sentient crocodile were foiled by the stroke of a maiden’s hair.
Mok Sinnara, Battambang provincial tourism department’s former director, told The Post: “The legend goes that Sampov mountain was formed when prince Reach Kol’s sailing junk, carrying dowry in order to marry princess Romsay Sok, was immersed by her crocodile named Athun and became Sailing mountain. 

“The dowry was littered around and became Chicken Cage mountain, Duck Cage mountain and the location where princess Romsay Sok stroked her hair became Romsay Sok mountain. Moreover, when the water went down, Athun’s body became Crocodile mountain. 

“Here at Sampov mountain, where the Romsay Sok temple sits, there are many caves. We think that the Beautified Room Cave is where Romsay Sok dressed up and waited for the prince Reach Kol.”
.
 .
But today, it is survivors of the Khmer Rouge era that visit the caves to pay their respects.
“A few months ago, survivors visited the homeland and conducted a Buddhism ceremony to offer deeds for dead people. They cried remembering the things that happened to them,” said Sitha, who is among four guides who work at Sampov mountain. 

Sitha estimates that some 10,000 victims were killed around the mountain, with trucks full of bones transported to museum.

The caves are located at the peak of Phnom Sampov, in Phnom Sampov commune, Banan district along National Road 57. The entire complex is comprised of 12 caves that can be explored.

Source - PhnomPenhPost

Friday, March 22, 2019

#Vietnam - Kon Tum province urged to develop tourism


NATIONAL Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has urged the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum – which borders Cambodia and Laos – to restructure its economy to tap tourism potential.

At a working session with provincial authorities on Monday, Ngan also asked the province to increase information technology use in developing agriculture and to form specialised production zones to develop key agricultural products.

Stressing that the Central Highlands was one among key strategic regions of the country, she instructed the province to continue implementing plans to ensure national defence and security and social order.

The NA leader applauded recent achievements by the province, including a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth of 9.28 per cent last year, surpassing the yearly target.
Apart from rubber and coffee production zones, the province has developed other specialised areas for the cultivation of many kinds of fruits and herbal medicines, which have helped attract investors.

Kon Tum province has devised resolutions defining its three key economic zones which attracted 39 investment projects last year with total registered capital in excess of 508 billion dong ($22 million). However, she noted the province still had difficulties, including human resources quality failing to meet development demand and low competitiveness.
.
http://www.agoda.com?cid=1739471
.
Chairwoman Ngan agreed with the province’s proposal to prioritise funds for poor localities along border areas to help them enhance ties with localities of other countries, particularly of Laos and Cambodia.

The top lawmaker stressed it was the state’s policy to encourage cooperation in economic development in border areas and support disadvantaged provinces in carrying out socio-economic development tasks, contributing to improving the living conditions of residents in border areas.

She also agreed with the need to implement key projects to prevent landslides and flood for ethnic minority people living along Kon Tum province’s Dak Bla River.

Kon Tum province is a mountainous border province with a total population of 520,000 from 30 ethnic groups. Ethnic minority people make up more than 53 per cent of the population. VIET NAM NEWS/ANN

Source - PhnomPenhPost
.

Friday, March 1, 2019

#Vietnam’s Kingdom of Caves launches river tour

A boat cruises along the Son River to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province

 Quang Binh taps yet another tourism strength with a river tour through its natural landscapes and traditional villages.

The tour, starting February 20, is organized by Oxalis, the only company licensed to offer adventure tours to the world famous Son Doong Cave.

The one-day tour is boat ride that explores hidden gems along the Son River and enables visitors to visit  traditional craft villages that produce rice paper and the non la (conical hat), a Vietnamese cultural symbol.

Tourists will also have a chance to ride bicycles past small villages to the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a world heritage site and a major tourist attraction in the central province.
.
http://www.agoda.com?cid=1739471
.
  Each tour is limited to around 15 passengers, said Nguyen Chau A, general director of Oxalis.

Son Doong, part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam, has hogged the international spotlight since it opened to tourists in 2013, four years after members of the British Cave Research Association finished their exploration and declared it the world’s largest.

Local resident Ho Khanh first discovered the cave in 1991, and rediscovered it almost 20 years later, opening it up for exploration.

Last year, Quang Binh welcomed a record-breaking 3.9 million tourist arrivals, up 18 percent from the previous year.

The province has over the past years proposed several developments, including a cable car system to boost tourism in the area, but these have met with strong opposition from environmentalists and the public.

Watch a video on the beautiful Tu Lan Cave in Quang Binh, known now as the Kingdom of Caves.
.
 .
Source - VN Express
.
https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=145054
 
 

Saturday, January 26, 2019

#Cambodia - Mondulkiri’s highest and smallest waterfalls, metres apart

Leng Khin is Mondulkiri’s highest waterfall, measuring 25m in the dry season and 28m in the rainy season.
 
Most people travelling to Mondulkiri province head to its most famous waterfalls Bou Sra, Kbal Preah, Romanear I & II and Monorom. But what most visitors generally don’t experience, however, are the province’s shortest and highest waterfalls. 

Leng Ong and Leng Khin waterfalls are officially the province’s shortest and tallest waterfalls respectively, and in an ironic twist of fate the two record breakers are located less than 300m apart in O’Reang district’s Pou Yam village, 26km from Mondulkiri town.

Leng Ong Waterfall measures less than one metre in the dry season and 1m in the rainy season. While Leng Khin Waterfall, the province’s highest, measures 25m in the dry season and 28m in the rainy season. 

Both waterfalls are covered by dense trees in a cool and calm environment, and at each waterfall’s base there is a big water reservoir in which tourists can swim.

 At only 1m in the rainy season, Leng Ong is the province’s shortest waterfall.
 
Mondulkiri Tourism Department head Ngin Sovimean explained that a lack of infrastructure and knowledge of the uniquely contrasting sites in such close proximity has led to them being one of the province’s undiscovered gems. 

“The district authority has recently worked with the community to build trail road to the waterfalls, so we hope they will now attract more tourists.

“Both the local community and the local authority are developing the sites to ease access for tourists so they can travel faster and with more safety. Tourists can visit both Leng Ong and Leng Khin waterfalls freely without paying any fee,” he said.
.
https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=145054
.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

#Indonesia among Chinese tourists’ favorite destinations for Chinese New Year


Around 7 million Chinese tourists will travel abroad during the Chinese New Year holiday, according to a report from online travel agency Ctrip. The report revealed that people from 100 Chinese cities have booked trips to nearly 500 destinations in more than 90 countries and regions.  

As reported by Antara, among the most popular destinations such as Thailand and Mauritius, Indonesia was chosen by tourists wishing to escape the winter cold and enjoy tropical weather.
.
https://www.hotelscombined.com/?a_aid=145054
.
 Indonesia received 2.7 million Chinese tourists in 2018, while this year, the Tourism Ministry has set a target to attract 3.5 million. The country remains an attractive destination for Chinese tourists, who in 2017 made up the largest group of foreign tourists (1.97 million) to visit Indonesia. During their visit, most Chinese tourists enjoy going to beaches, visiting museums and seeing cultural events.
 
Source - TheJakartaPost 
 
https://12go.asia/?z=581915
 

Flight delays? There’s an app for that


Travel booking website Traveloka introduces its latest feature, Flight Status, which enables users to track flight status in real-time. This feature aims to make it easier for users to track flights in various conditions and can be used both by people who want to take a flight or by family and close relatives who want to pick up their colleagues at the airport.

When arranging a trip by plane in this era of frequent delays, passengers need some kind of information on what cannot be predicted. The same goes for colleagues, friends or family who want to be picked up at the airport, who often find themselves waiting for hours because they didn’t know the flight had been delayed.

“We want to provide flight status information in a way that’s convenient and easy to access, both to help passengers and those meeting them. By having this new feature, users can easily have the information only by their fingertips and users can also share their flight status information with their closest family and relatives when needed,” says Tee Chayakul, Country Manager at Traveloka Thailand.

To access Flight Status feature, open the Traveloka app (3.6.0 version), select Flight Status at the homepage and fill in flight details by choosing Route or by Flight Code. Then click “See Status” and the real-time of your flight status will appear on the screen. Users can also check their flight status in their e-ticket on My Booking section.

 “The availability of the Flight Status feature for the first time by Traveloka, is expected to answer users’ anxiety, both passengers and relatives, making for better planning,” Tee adds.

Source - TheNation

Thursday, May 18, 2017

#Myanmar, (Burma) registers more tourist arrivals

.
Tourists coming to Myanmar during the first months of this year have increased by 22 percent over the same period of last year, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
.
 “We got more than 600,000 international visitors at the end of February, the number of which was greater than the same period in 2016,” U Myint Htwe, director from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism told The Myanmar Times.

However, the overall tourist arrivals last year were only 2.9 million, a decline of 38pc in comparison to the 4.68 million visitors in 2015, according to a new system of collecting data by the ministry, which did not include day trippers with border passes.


“The previous system counted visitors coming through international border checkpoints. But this year’s figures were systematically categorized into tourists, business travelers, day trippers,” according to U Ohn Maung, Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, who made this comment at the recently held ASEAN Tourism Forum in Singapore.  

“However, the overall tourism outlooks are very good, despite the 38pc decline due to a different way of counting foreign visitors,” Ma Hnin Hlwar Kyaw Win, sales manager from Myanmar Tourism Services Company told The Myanmar Times. She said that few visitors to Myanmar are coming from Russia and Japan but tourists from other countries have increased.
.
Source - mmtimes
.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

#Indonesia - Gunung Padang to have tourist train next year

More and more tourists are visiting Gunung Padang megalithic site in Cianjur regency, West Java.
.
 A train service to Gunung Padang megalithic site in Cianjur regency, West Java, is set to be provided by the local administration following the increasing number of tourists visiting the destination.
"We will increase the number of tourists to Gunung Padang by providing [a tourist] train that stops by at Lampegan station. From there, visitors can hop on vehicles that will take them to the site," said Cianjur Deputy Regent Herman Suherman on Sunday as quoted by tempo.co, adding that the service would be an affordable one and was slated for launch next year. 
.
.
Tourists are currently using the Siliwangi train service that travels from Cianjur to Sukabumi to visit Gunung Padang. To reach the destination from Lampegan station, they reportedly have to pay for an ojek (motorcycle taxi) that could cost up to Rp 100,000 (US$7.5), since public transportation is not yet available. 
Some supporting facilities are presently being developed by the government at the location, including a rest area in Lampegan and an alternative road to Gunung Padang. 
.
Source - TheJakartaPost
.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Myanmar - Mrauk-U still struggling to woo tourists

.
Mrauk-U, a town surrounded by hills in northern Rakhine State, is known as the ‘Stone City’. It was given the name because its 14th-century pagodas are made of stone.
.
 .
Mrauk-U is home to 1552 ancient stone pagodas – historic structures that are still standing strong today, owing to the wisdom of the old Rakhine kings who ordered them to be built from stone that can withstand the weather on top of the hills.
.
“These pagodas are over 800 years old, but younger than those in Bagan in the Mandalay Region that were built in the 11th century,” local hotelier U Hla Myint from the Mrauk-U Princess Hotel said.
.
Although Mrauk-U’s pagodas are similar to Bagan’s pagodas in being located close to residential areas, giving the location huge tourism potential, Mrauk-U has not attained international stardom like Bagan.
.
Mrauk-U’s tourist arrival numbers are still much lower. While Bagan recorded 280,000 tourists in 2016, Mrauk-U only managed to hit 4000 the whole of last year.
.
Hoteliers said the reason for the poor numbers was the instability affecting Rakhine, even in areas far from Mrauk-U, since 2012.
.
Since the crisis that brought political instability, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism imposed an order prohibiting hotels from accepting guests without official permission.
.
Foreign ministries abroad also notified their citizens of the danger in Rakhine and discouraged them from visiting the state.
.
Tourism in Mrauk-U has not been able to recover since then, even though the town is more developed, better connected, and even has an airport in the pipeline.
.
Rakhine Hoteliers Association member Daw Ohnmar Khin said travellers needed to be informed that Mrauk-U was safe.
.
.
 She said there should be more familiarisation trips organised with the collaboration of hotels and tour companies.
.
“For Mrauk-U’s tourism growth, we need political stability. But we also need to get the right information out to let people know that Mrauk-U is a safe place to visit.
.
“Not everyone knows about us so we need better promotion. We need to help travel agents bring visitors here,” she said.
.
Mrauk-U has several prominent heritage sites such as the palace, Shit-thaung (80,000 Buddha images) Pagoda, Htukkanthein Pagoda, Koe-thaung (90,000 Buddha images) Pagoda and Laungbanpyauk Pagoda.
.
In the Chin ethnic villages in Mrauk-U, visitors can meet women who have kept the tradition of having tattoos on their faces. For beautiful sceneries, tourists can visit the Laymro River that has water so clear the stones on the river bed can be seen.
.
In 1996, local authorities first applied to UNESCO to get Mrauk-U’s archaeological zone recognised as a world heritage site, but were unsuccessful.
.
The Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library of Mrauk-U is now trying again, with a team of experts conducting surveying work such as 3D mapping of the ancient architectural and cultural site, to draft a new application.
.
.

There had been some conservation challenges when work was carried out to restore some of the ancient pagodas in Mrauk-U.
.
One example was the the loss of the Shit-thaung Pagoda’s heritage value when conservation was not properly done.
.
There were also concerns by nearby locals that they would be forced to move if the sites became UNESCO world heritage sites, Mrauk-U guide association chair U Kyaw Hla Maung said.
.
“The people are worried about possible relocation. The authorities should talk to them and hear their views and suggestions before proceeding.
.
“Do it like what State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi suggested for Bagan. Then they can also educate the people and help them understand why the UNESCO listing is a good thing,” he said.
.
U Hla Myint said tourism would bring prosperity to the locals, who could sell crafts and find jobs in tourism-related businesses.
.
 FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS
.
Source - The Myanmar Times
.

 

Monday, April 3, 2017

Indonesia - Sumba preparing to host sandalwood horse parade, 'tenun ikat' festival

.
Sumba in East Nusa Tenggara is set to host an international festival that will highlight sandalwood horses and tenun ikat (traditional woven fabrics).
.
Slated to kick off in May, kompas.com has reported that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will attend the event, which will feature a parade of thousands of horses and a tenun ikat exhibition.
.
 The parade will begin in Waingapu in East Sumba regency, then continue to Waibakul in Central Sumba regency, Waikabubak in West Sumba regency and end in Tambolaka in Southwest Sumba regency. Meanwhile, the exhibition will be held across all regencies and will involve both local administrations and residents.
.
East Nusa Tenggara Creative Economy and Tourism Agency head Marius Ardu Kelamu said the event aimed to promote the island’s landscape and cultural beauty.
“The festival will help create the island’s brand and promote to the world that sandalwood horses originate from Sumba,” he said.
.
.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Tour de Lombok Mandalika to welcome international cyclists

.
The 2017 Tour de Lombok Mandalika is set to run from April 13-16.
.
Located in West Nusa Tenggara, the race will begin and end in Central Lombok.
Divided into four stages, the route will pass through Lombok's premier cultural and tourist attractions.
.
The province’s head of tourism, Lalu M. Faozal, said the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) had granted a license for the Tour de Lombok Mandalika.
 .
During a press conference on Thursday at Dharmawangsa Hotel in South Jakarta, Lalu said the event would involve three national teams and 17 international teams.
.
Throughout the event, the cyclists will stay in Mataram, Central Lombok.
.
The organizers have teamed up with the local police to ensure the safety of the event.
Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Moh. Amin offered his appreciation for the event.
.
“Every event helps to support the hospitality industry in West Nusa Tenggara. [The 2017 Tour de Lombok Mandalika] will help to promote tourist destinations in the province ,” he said. 
.
Source - TheJakartaPost
.
.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Lombok to welcome thousands of cruise passengers in 2017

.
The tourism industry in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is looking forward to welcoming for 24 cruise ships expected to make fast on the island this year and bring in thousands of tourists through the Lembar seaport.
.
The shipping companies behind the 24 vessels had confirmed the planned stops in Lombok, NTB Tourism Agency head Lalu Muhammad Faozal said, adding that the number marked an in...