Travel Business News

AirGuide Business, Jan 28, 2008

Jan 28, 2008

Cambodia has reached out to Angelina Jolie to become the country s ambassador of tourism. Jolie filmed Lara Croft, Tomb Raider in Cambodia and subsequently adopted a Cambodian boy. If Jolie accepts, it would immediately raise Cambodia s tourism profile in the U.S. Cambodia is also hoping to implement a new law in the second quarter of 2008 that will allow overseas investors to hold 100 percent of a company s registered capital. It s predicted that the new law could increase tourism investment by 30 percent and improve the quality of tourism facilities in the country. The U.S. is currently Cambodia s third-largest market, accounting for 123,388 visitors in 2007, an 11.95 percent increase over the previous year. Jan 27, 2008

In the year to come, the U.S. will be a target market for Vietnam. Visitors from the U.S. numbered 412,301 in 2007, making it the third largest market for Vietnam. The country will also be marketing the Mekong Delta region through a new promotional campaign, Visit Can Tho Year 2008. Can Tho City is a major destination in the Mekong Delta with a plethora of tourism appeal, including floating markets and access to small river villages. Jan 27, 2008

Anguilla Sets New Embarkation Rates For Cruise Passengers. The Anguilla Government has issued new rates for the island's embarkation tax levied upon all guests traveling through its seaports. Effective now, adults will be charged $20 each; children under 12, $10. All airport taxes remain the same. Visit www.anguilla-vacation.com. Jan 24, 2008

A Singapore media briefing revisited growth in 2007 and showcased things to come in 2008. Singapore will beat the drum heavily for the upcoming 2008 Formula One SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, to be held September 28, 2008. This will be Asia's first street race, and the first night race in Formula One history. Jan 23, 2008

Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tourism Forum 2008. The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2008 (ATF 2008) officially opened Tuesday at the IMPACT International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Bangkok. Sellers and buyers of travel in Southeast Asia have gathered to do business at ATF 2008, which will run through Jan. 26. ASEAN is comprised of ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.This year, the buzzword at the forum is "synergy." In his opening remarks, Dr. Suvit Yodmani, minister of tourism and sports, Kingdom of Thailand, encouraged members to think of ASEAN as a single destination, and to consider themselves partners rather than competitors. Last year, ASEAN countries welcomed a total of 56 million visitors, an eight percent increase over 2006. Jan 23, 2008

ASTA has filed consumer-friendly comments with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to update the 20-year old DOT rules on how airlines compensate passengers denied boarding. ASTA wants the airlines to double the compensation for involuntarily bumped passengers. "ASTA's recommendations, if implemented, would reduce the number of instances in which airline passengers are involuntarily bumped and, in the event that an airline is forced to bump a passenger, create a more stable and acceptable process for doing so," said Cheryl Hudak, ASTA president and CEO. ASTA wants better information on risks, evenhanded pro-consumer policies and cash payment instead of vouchers. Jan 23, 2008

Because the United States has no effective communications strategy, necessary security improvements have helped create the unwarranted impression that America is no longer a welcoming nation. The result is a 17-percent decline in overseas travel to the United States since 9/11, costing America nearly $100 billion in lost visitor spending and nearly 200,000 jobs." The solution says the TIA, is The Travel Promotion Act of 2007 (S.1661 / H.R. 3232), which would establish a nationally coordinated travel promotion campaign jointly managed by government and the private sector to better communicate America's travel policies and welcome foreign visitors. The legislation has the support of more than 150 members of the House of Representatives and 40 senators. Jan 23, 2008

Foreign Press Bashes U.S. Travel Experience. The Travel Industry Association (TIA) believes that the U.S. government's failure to properly promote United States tourism is allowing for negative perceptions to fester and grow. The TIA says the Travel Promotion Act-supported by the TIA-would create a needed public-private partnership to attract overseas visitors. Jan 23, 2008

MSC is deploying more of its hardware stateside, it too is making a push to ingratiate travel agents. MSC is launching a dedicated agent loyalty program, the new MSC Rewards True Partner Loyalty Club. Agents who register at (www.msccruisesagent.com) will earn points for bookings made with MSC, and the accumulated points can be redeemed for special rewards. The announcement coincides with MSC's "The Orchestra is Coming to Town" cash giveaway, wherein each week, beginning January 25, 2008 and up to Orchestra's January 2, 2009, arrival, agents will have the opportunity to win up to $2,000. All agents who sign up at MSC's agent website will be eligible to win the weekly $500 prize; agents who are members of MSC's loyalty program or had a booking under deposit made the prior week or a group blocked under deposit anytime prior to the drawing will have the prize doubled to $1,000; and if an agent does both, the prize goes to $2,000. Jan 23, 2008