ASIA PACIFIC INBOUND
ASIA PACIFIC INBOUND TRENDING DESTINATIONS The healthy growth of tourism in Southeast Asia is due to a number of factors. But one of the keys is in having reliable receptive operators. An excellent example is Phoenix Voyages – run by a jovial Frenchman, Edouard George; a key player in the local market with a long background in the tourism and hospitality industries. We asked him what his company’s focus is this year. We are focusing this year very much on our complete presence in the Indo- China Peninsula: Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, and we are developing combined cross-country and regional tours, allowing visitors to go to anything up to five countries. The authorities are facilitating visa procedures, and regional airlines are expanding their new cross-country routes. Cross border tourism is very much on the rise. In each country, we have also developed six types of “theme” tours. The first is based on the architecture and colonial presence Meanwhile, “the Land of the Morning Calm”, more commonly known as South Korea is still untouched by mass tourism and offers varied landscapes, plains and mountains. The country offers a unique atmosphere blending ancient traditions and unbridled modernity. Where are you mainly selling product? Our main clients are from Europe and North America, with around a third French speaking, a third Spanish speaking and a third English speaking. Edouard George President, Phoenix Voyages A DIFFERENT TAKE ON SE ASIA Exclusive Interview – Edouard George – President – Phoenix Voyages in the regions, second is a culinary tour, third is art and crafts, fourth is nature – with walks every day to discover the natural wonders of the region, fifth is wellness, with a great focus on yoga, tai chi, qui gong, etc., and mixing with the local people… and the last is religion and spiritualism. What sets you apart from other operators? Consistency is a strong point. We also concentrate on quality, so while we may not be the cheapest, we pay a lot of attention to quality, and thanks to this we had 97.6% satisfied clients in 2016 Also, in January 2018 we have the third edition of the Angkor Ultra-Trail, on the archaeological sites of Siem Reap in Cambodia. The new routes, crossing varied numerous temples and villages, from narrow paths through dense vegetation, jungle, rice fields (sometimes with water up to the knee) and sandy tracks, already spiced up the 2nd edition of the Angkor Ultra Trail, and the testimonies we received after this race inspired us to continue. Angkor Ultra-Trail, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #35 2017 Summer Edition 33 MALAYSIA NAMED AS OFFICIAL PARTNER COUNTRY OF ITB BERLIN 2019 The Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and Culture and ITB Berlin have announced that the South East Asian nation will be the show’s official partner country in 2019. Announcing the reasoning behind the country’s choice of year, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture for Malaysia explained, “Our longterm target is to achieve 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion (€37.1 billion) in receipts by the year 2020, based on the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan.” The official signing took place during the recent ITB China trade show in Shanghai between Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud – Deputy Director General (Promotion) of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board and the Head of ITB Berlin, David Ruetz, witnessed by the Minister of Tourism and Culture. This promotional project is part of a much broader plan by Malaysia to increase awareness of the natural and human assets of the country over the next years. Kinabalu National Park in Sabah, Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Melaka and George Town cities and the archaeological heritage of the Lenggong Valley are four of the UNESCO designated World Heritage sites in Malaysia that will be highlighted Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud – Deputy Director General (Promotion) - Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (left), YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture for Malaysia (centre), David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin (right) MALAYSIA: 18% Y/Y RISE IN CRUISE PASSENGERS Langkawi Between January and May 2017, a total of 253 international cruise ships called at Malaysia’s 11 ports, indicating an increase of 9.48% compared to the same period in 2016. For the same period, the country received 405,554 cruise passengers compared to 330,473 passengers, signifying an increase of 18.51%. Affordable exchange rates, modern infrastructure and facilities, warm weather, friendly people, a stable government, and numerous tourist attractions that are easily accessible from the ports make Malaysia the ideal stopover for cruise line operators. Malaysia’s cruise terminals such as Langkawi, Penang, Port Klang and Melaka are located close to local attractions, offering cruise passengers the experience of a big-city atmosphere and easy access to ecotourism attractions, beaches, authentic culture and exotic cuisine. Food is a major attraction in Penang and passengers can not only sample the famous variety of cuisine but also enjoy cooking lessons during shore excursions. Meanwhile, the Kota Kinabalu port in Borneo is a gateway to the natural beauties of the rainforest and orangutan watching which are popular among many segments of the cruise market. It’s all part of the Malaysian Government’s recognition of tourism as a key economic area for the country’s growth, with cruise tourism being one of 12 focus areas for development over the next eight years
