Official ATF Daily January 20, 2011 • Phnom Penh • Kingdom of Cambodia 3 Australians tip an‘Asian’ year Tour operators anticipate business to ASEAN to rise phenomenally in 2011 due to push factors By Gracia Chiang attractive, the additional fillip Christmas up into the FIT market in order to nations such as Thailand, he was AUSTRALIAN tour operators for the region are new flights be- 10 to 15 per tap the thriving demand. also seeing booming business to are dubbing 2011 as the‘ year of ing launched from Australia to cent over the Riding on strong demand for the Philippines, as Australians Asian travel’, anticipating record ASEAN destinations. same period ASEAN destinations, Australia- were flocking to the country due numbers of Australian travellers Just last month, Australia- last year. headquartered STA Travel said it to the English-speaking abilities to ASEAN, thanks to new flights, based full-service carrier Stra- Peter Cox, would also be increasing the pag- of the local population and the a strong currency and even the tegic Airlines announced that director of es in its Asia 2011 brochure by 25 fact that it was “not crowded”. country’s recent floods. it would mount non-stop Bris- Eventuality, per cent, which will be launched Asked if the recent floods Aileen Collins, personal travel bane-Bali flights from March on Graham: boom- which serves next week. across Australia would dent manager of Travel Managers, said a route currently dominated by ing business corporate cli- Said its Asia-Pacific Divi- travel sentiment, a seller said on she was looking at a 15 per cent no-frills airlines. ents, said he sion product manager Natasha the contrary, the floods might growth in business to South-east This followed earlier an- was also looking at a 20 per cent McLaughlin: “We’re definitely dampen domestic travel to the Asia this year, compared to a 20 nouncements late last year by increase in business this year seeing year-on-year growth, and Brisbane region and further en- per cent slide in 2010 over 2009. Strategic of new flights from Mel- compared to stagnant growth travellers are interested in both courage locals to travel overseas, “While last year was the Amer- bourne and Brisbane to Phuket, last year. adventure holidays as well as the especially with prices in ASEAN ican year, this year, I think, will both beginning next month. Cox said the potential of cer- beaches of Thailand, Bali and being cheaper. An old apartment be the Asian year,” said Collins, Collins said the news had tain value-for-money destina- Malaysia.” along the Sunshine Coast would explaining that while the rising already triggered some re- tions such as Cambodia was Robert Graham, managing cost at least A$120 (US$120.30), Australian dollar has also made sponse from Australians, with even encouraging him to “think director, All About Asia, said that a price that could fetch a room at holidays to the US and Europe the number of enquiries since very carefully” about diversifying other than popular ASEAN desti- a five-star hotel in ASEAN. Air France’s resumption a huge fillip for Cambodia By Brian Higgs Gerbault added: “Previously, Siem Reap AIR France will resume flights from Paris was usually an extension to travel in Viet- to Phnom Penh on March 27 after a 35- nam, but now we will have new oppor- year hiatus, marking the first longhaul tunities to bring people straight to Cam- service connecting Europe and Cambodia. bodia, not only to Siem Reap, but also to The carrier previously served its former Phnom Penh.” colony from the early 50s until Asked whether this would af- the Khmer Rouge seized control fect business to Vietnam, both in 1975. Asia Voyages and Voyageurs Voyageurs Associes manag- Associes said that won’t be the ing director Jacky Pilo said: “The case. “It will be a win-win situ- fact that you have the French na- ation for all with more visitors tional carrier serving this route is coming into the region, ex- very important. We will be able plained Pilo. to gather travellers from around Kuenzle: mile- Asian Trails group manag- France and increase our business stone ing director Laurent Kuenzle out of Paris with these flights.” agreed. “This resumption of “The French market loves Cambodia, flights by a European carrier from Europe it is almost like a second home,” said Asia to Cambodia will be an important mile- Voyages deputy director of production stone,” he said. “It will benefit tourists and Virginie Gerbault. “While it is still too ear- business travellers alike with convenient ly to give exact figures, there will definitely connections through Air France’s Paris be an increase in business.” Charles de Gaulle hub.” Gerbault added Asia Voyages had al- MoT and the travel trade plan to do ei- ready been approached by Air France and ther roadshows to France or organise fam was developing packages and special pro- trips to Cambodia. These were planned motions for the next winter season, tar- to take place after ITB Berlin, said Cam- geting FITs and groups in particular. bodia Government-Private Sector Forum An Airbus A340-300 will be used on the co-chair - tourism working group Ho thrice-weekly flights between Paris and Vandy. Ho, who is also managing direc- Phnom Penh, with a Bangkok stopover. tor of World Express Tours & Travel, said During the summer of 2011, Air France the flights would help sell Cambodia as will switch to a Boeing 777-200ER. a mono destination to the French and Tith Chantha, director general, Min- neighbouring European countries, and istry of Tourism (MoT) Cambodia, said: promote longer stays, beyond the average “This will be a way for more European three nights. Another agent, Apsara Tours travellers to come to Cambodia, and product assistant manager, Hang Lina, is the local people will be able to reap the developing new tour itineraries for the benefits of the increase in tourism activ- French market to supplement the present ity. Cambodians will also be able to easily classic tours. – Additional reporting by travel to Europe.” S. Puvaneswary NEWS JANUARY 20, 2011 • TTG ASIA OFFICIAL ATF DAILY 2 Cruise ports make waves Forget a raise By Karen Yue in ASEAN are waking up to the THE new Asia Cruise Termi- market’s potential. Rate recovery still dicey for Thai hotels nal Association aims to grow Cambodia Ministry of Tour- its ASEAN membership, which ism’s director-general, Tith By Sirima Eamtako drop them, as that would be ask- now comprises only Singapore, Chantha, said the country was EDITORIAL THAI hotels are advised to con- ing too much,” she said. the Philippines and Vietnam. committed to growing arrivals Raini Hamdi Group Editor tinue with tacticals this year and FDM Travel Denmark’s prod- The association was initiated through cruising. Ollie Quiniquini Deputy Editor maintain rates for the next con- uct manager Jens Lossow said he Esther Faith Lew Senior Sub Editor by the Singapore Cruise Centre Speaking to TTG Asia on tracting season, with buyers cit- hoped Thai hotels would roll out Gracia Chiang, Brian Higgs Sub Editors (SCC) and Shanghai Wusong- the sideline of the ASEAN ing a weak economy and curren- special deals, although he was Sirima Eamtako Bureau Chief Thailand, kou International Cruise Devel- NTOs meeting on Sunday, Tith Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos cy, especially in Europe, coupled not expecting the deals to be as opment Company. China, South Chantha said: “Tapping cruises Karen Yue Senior Reporter, Singapore with room oversupply in some aggressive as last year. Mimi Hudoyo Korea, Japan and Taiwan are its for arrivals is part of our strategy. Thai areas, as the main reasons. Wegmueller said hotels in des- Senior Correspondent, Indonesia other members. We regard cruising as an impor- Hotelbeds’ head of contract- tinations facing an oversupply, S Puvaneswary Reporter, Malaysia SCC chairman Soo Kok Leng tant part of tourism. Cambodia Patrick Tan Photographer ing Thailand/Indochina, Alon such as Phuket and Bangkok, said a concerted effort to develop has already a beautiful seaport in Redmond Sia, Haze Loh Miler, based in Bangkok, said it would most likely reintroduce cruising infrastructure in Asia Sihanoukville that has the facili- Creative Designers was pointless for them to raise stay/pay deals, especially during Lina Tan Editorial Assistant was needed, as “cruise liners, ties to attract leisure cruises, and rates, only to roll out stay/pay the summer season. when planning their itineraries, cruise facilities in Siem Reap and deals later. Thai hotels are working out CONTRIBUTORS are guided by how marketable Phnom Penh. At the same time, Bangkok-based Go Vacation their strategies. Some hotels in Bernie Rosenbloom, Rahul Khanna, the destinations are”. airports across Cambodia are Thailand’s executive director Bangkok are mulling to drop Steve Finch He urged: “It would be to eve- helping to facilitate (fly-cruise) for product and contracting, rates altogether and not bother ryone’s benefit to be a part of tourists.” Hermann Wegmueller, said the with stay/pay deals, while some SALES & MARKETING this forum, as we work towards... Chantha said new ports would Michael Chow Publisher stronger baht against the euro beach resorts, particularly in the building our region into the Car- be built in Kep and/or Kam- Katherine Ng, Marisa Chen had already caused prices in Andaman coast, are attempting Senior Business Managers ibbean of the East.” pot province by 2015 to service Thailand to rise by 20-25 per an inflation adjustment rise. Fiona Heng Marketing Services Executive Soo’s call comes even as “tourist ships” that would cruise cent over the last six months.