36 Issues of Travel Weekly magazines

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30 Sep, 2010

10
India’s strong online travel market
is keen on eco-friendly, exploratory tours

26-29
Luxury Travel takes center stage
ITE HCMC 2010

35-39
Hanoians – 1000 years
of Thang Long – Hanoi

www.travelweekly.com.vn

Off
icia
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30 Sep, 2010
10
India’s strong online travel market
is keen on eco-friendly, exploratory tours

Dear Travel Weekly readers! 26-29
Luxury Travel takes center stage
ITE HCMC 2010

35-39
Hanoians – 1000 years

Welcome to the 36 Issues of Travel Weekly!
www.travelweekly.com.vn

First of all, on behalf of all the members at Travel Weekly Magazine I would like
to say thank you very much for supporting and sharing with us your ideas since
the early days of our magazine.

Born to bring our readers useful and up-to-date information about Travel Busi- Contact us
ness in Vietnam and around the world to your desktop every Thursday, today,
Editor-in-chief
Travel Weekly becomes a part of your daily works for all travel executive as Anh. Nguyen Hoang
well as travel lovers those who cares about the tourism industry. M: +84 904 230 230
E: editor@travelweekly.com.vn
We understand that saving a tree is the responsibility for everyone who inter-
News
ested in the environmental disaster as what the Business Travel operators call Hang. Bui Duc
“Responsible Travel”, therefore, towards the eco-friendly environment, Travel M: +84 979 051 210
Weekly call our each issue is Eco-Friendly Magazine because we design and E: news@travelweekly.com.vn
“print” and/or publish our magazine in PDF format which allows us to send
Advertising
you immediately via e-mail as well as distribute our magazine to global read-
Quyen. Nguyen Tu
ers. Moreover, at our website, there is even a better way to read our magazine M: +84 987 622 113
without download which let you choose the first read and then deciding to keep E: advertising@travelweekly.com.vn
it on your computer for store or further review.
Sales
Duong. Nguyen
We do hope that everything we do is just to give you everything in travel news M: +84 904 884 099
for your works and your care. We are looking forward to receive your supports E: duong@travelweekly.com.vn
and share with us in the coming time.
Thank you for travelling with us! Design
Kien. Nguyen Trung
Minh. Truong Hoang
Editor-in-Chief Phuong. Nguyen
E: design@travelweekly.com.vn
Anh. Nguyen Hoang

Add: #130 Pho Duc Chinh Str.,
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Tel: +84 4 3715 3558 - Fax: +84 3715 3560
Email: contact@travelweekly.com.vn
Website: www.travelweekly.com.vn

Thursday 30.09.2010

VIETNAM NEWS 04 FEATURES
04. Red River ceramic road recognized as
Guinness World Record

05. HCMC expected to start development
05
10 Luxury Travel takes center
stage
project of Waterway Tourism 06 DEFINITE JOURNEY, the first luxury Vietnamese
operator to conspicuously market ethical travel in the
06. Accor signs two new Pullman hotels high-end tourism sector, and TRAVEL WEEKLY, the
in Vietnam 07 leading online travel news channel and digital business
magazine in Southeast Asia, are poised to present
09. Free golf lesson promo extended at Vietnamese luxury to a global audience at International
Ocean Dunes 08 Travel Exhibitions this year.

1,000 YEARS OF
THANG LONG - HANOI 09

12. Dragon festival to mark 1,000th an- 10
niversary Of Thang Long-Hanoi
13. Ao dai to be honoured at Hanoi’s 11
grand anniversary

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 12
16. WTM launches UK exhibitors’ e-shop
14
17 - 19. MITT Organisers Made a Deci-
sion Expected by the Market
16
26 - 29 India’s strong online
travel market is keen
20 - 21. Egypt: Official partner country of on eco-friendly, exploratory tours
ITB Berlin 2012 Hotel, airfare and restaurant review site Tripadvisor
18 enjoys an international monthly visitor ship of 35,382,000
22. ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2011 unique visitors of which 25,00,000 are Indian. Accord-
TRAVEX promises to be a sell-out event ing to Sharat Dhall, Managing Director, tripadvisor.com
24. American buyers see positive trends in
19 to tap into their information resource and understand
face-to-face meetings some of the newest trends among online travel buyers.
21
SPECIAL

30 - 33. Travel Weekly Magazine & ITE 22
HCMC 2010

DESTINATIONS 24

26

27

29 35 - 39 Hanoians – 1000 years
There is about 10 days remaining to the anniversary of
30 1,000 years of Thang Long – Hanoi and Hanoians are
eager to welcome its giant celebration with fanciful
illumination along main streets in the inner city and key
31 routes in the suburbs, art performances as well as spe-
cial programmes towards the event, etc. Citizens are all
hope Hanoi would have wonderful 1,000 year birthday
32 celebration.

34

35

37

38

4 VIETNAM NEWS

Red River ceramic road recognized as Guinness World Record

“The ceramic road along the Dong Son era and the Ly,
Red River” in Hanoi has been Tran, Le and Nguyen dynas-
officially recognized as the ties.
longest pottery mural in the
world by the Guinness World Artists in the country and
Record, the journalist and abroad have contributed to
painter Nguyen Thu Thuy the project.
who initiated the project said
on Sunday. The giant ceramic mural in-
The painting with a length of corporates decorative mod-
3,950 meters and total area ern art, the traditional aes-
of 7,000 square meters is a thetics of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic
work of art in celebration of groups, paintings of Hanoi
the capital’s 1,000th birthday. by children, and ceramic
paintings by local and inter-
Journalist Nguyen Thu Thuy national artists.
launched the program at the
end of 2007. The embank- Representative of the Guin-
ment’s walls are now filled ness World Record will ar-
with traditional patterns and rive in Vietnam from October
Hanoi landscapes. 2-5 to present a certificate for
the giant ceramic mural.
The wall also features pat-
terns popular during the

Vietnamese attends 15th International Kite Festival
Vietnam is one of 40 countries exhibiting their products at the 15th Inter-
national Kite Festival in Dieppe, France, from December 11-19.

Le Phung, Director of the Hue Culture House, and young kite maker
Nguyen Dang Hoang, will attend the event with more than 40 different
kites.

Vietnamese kites are have special designs and often flown on festival
days.

Foreign visitors will have the chance to see the Vietnamese team wear-
ing traditional costumes.

Hue kites first flew at the International Kite Festival in 1994 and proved an
instant hit with foreigners and kite enthusiasts around the world.

The even is held every two years.

Thursday 30.09.2010 www.travelweekly.com.vn

VIETNAM NEWS 5

HCMC expected to start development
project of Waterway Tourism
The Ho Chi Minh City’s administration has made many sur-
veys on waterway tourism to create an appealing tourist at-
traction. However, the project is still on paper. Meanwhile,
travel companies are impatient to create a new service to
attract visitors.
There are some short river tours and restaurant boats be-
ing operated by travel companies on the Saigon Rivers.
Tours including Hoa Si (Painter) village (near Phu My
Bridge in District 2)-Nha Be crossroad-District 2 and Ben
Nghe-Tau Hu canal will are ready to go into operation, ac-
cording to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Medium and long-distant routes to neighboring provinces
likely Dong Nai, Binh Duong and the Mekong Delta region
will be launched in near future.
The city will also develop river bus services to reduce traf-
fic jams. Experts said that using bus river service would
reduce commutes by approximately 40 percent.
The city also lacks a pier system. The Bach Dang Quay is
considered as an ideal place, but it can not be enlarged to
become a tourist pier because of the urban architecture
planning. In addition, not any boat can be anchored in the
quay if they have not got any permission of the govern-
ing body. Large cruise ships have berths on a port of dis-
charge in District 7.
HCM City has great potential to develop its waterways
tourism industry, but it should develop various products
to meet the demand for this special tourist type and also
facilities like a fully worked-out waterway network, boats,
harbors, and stopovers for tourists.


Accor signs two newVIETNAM NEWS
6

Pullman hotels in Vietnam

A
ccor, the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam, country. Located on Flamboyant Island in Do Son District, this 300-
announces today two new developments for the Pullman room hotel will support the increasing number of travelers to the
hotel brand for the country - Pullman Danang Beach and northern parts of Vietnam seeking an international quality upscale
Pullman Hai Phong Flamboyant Island Resort. hotel. The hotel will have superb facilities with three restaurants,
two bars, a ballroom, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor swim-
“With sustained economic growth and significant investment in ming pools, an entertainment centre, spa and an amphitheatre.
infrastructure leading to increased volumes for business travel
and continued international and domestic leisure travel strength, Pullman Vung Tau will have 360 guest rooms, a ballroom that can
opportunities continue for quality upscale hotel developments in accommodate up to 500 guests, several smaller meeting rooms
Vietnam.” says Patrick Basset, Vice President of Operations for with “Chill-out” zones, a business centre, gym, spa and a swim-
Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea. “We are delight- ming pool. The hotel will also provide an all-day dining restaurant,
ed to announce these two new hotels in Danang and Hai Phong a specialty restaurant and a lobby bar and lounge. Pullman Vung
and excited about the prospects for the Pullman brand in Viet- Tau is located adjacent the international convention centre and a
nam.” added Mr. Basset. 5-minute walk to the beach.

Accor has commitments to develop five Pullman hotels in Viet- Pullman Hanoi Horison is located in the city centre and is cur-
nam: Pullman Vung Tau, Pullman Danang Beach and Pullman Ha- rently undergoing and extensive renovation and upgrade. Once
noi Horison are scheduled to open in 2011; and Pullman Saigon completed this 250-room hotel will have significant event space
Centre and Pullman Hai Phong Flamboyant Island Resort are due accommodating up to 1,000 guests, whilst providing facilities such
to open in 2013. as outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, restaurant, lobby and
pool side bars. With an extensive range of tailored services to ac-
Pullman Danang Beach is due to open in mid 2011 and located commodate meetings and seminars, Pullman Hanoi Horison will
on the beach front. The hotel will feature 207 guest rooms, 4 res- entice business travelers and events visiting the nation’s capital.
taurants and extensive leisure facilities including three swim-
ming pools. The city of Danang attracts tourists from Vietnam Pullman Saigon Centre a 290-room newly constructed upscale
and abroad and is renowned for having one of the worlds top ten hotel with contemporary architecture and chic interiors will be lo-
beaches. This hotel will be the debut of the Pullman brand in Viet- cated in District One of Ho Chi Minh City. Once completed, Pull-
nam. man Saigon Centre will comprise of 1,500 sqm of ballroom and
meeting facilities, two restaurants, a bar, an outdoor swimming
Pullman Hai Phong Flamboyant Island Resort is located in Viet- pool, business centre and fitness facility.
nam’s industrial and seaport centre on northern coastal area of the

VIETNAM NEWS 7

Pullman in Asia Pacific meeting and conference facilities specifically designed to serve
the MICE market (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibi-
16 Pullman hotels are operating today throughout Asia Pacific and tions). Pullman hotels around the world are fast becoming a favor-
a further 25 hotels are committed to development in the region. ite choice among corporate and event organizers.
The brand is on track to achieve 100 hotels in the region by 2013.
All Pullman hotels provide full wireless and broadband communi-
cations, executive floors and lounges, chill-out zones and state-of-
The Pullman brand
the-art meeting and function facilities as well as signature services
such as Pullman Welcomers, IT Solution Managers and Pullman
Pullman is Accor’s upscale hotel brand that is ideal for travelers
Event Managers - all based on the brand concept of “Co-Meeting:
seeking services and facilities that satisfy today’s modern busi-
Commitment, Connectivity, and Cohesion”.
ness and leisure lifestyles. Pullman hotels provide first-class


VIETNAM NEWS 9

Free golf
lesson promo extended at Ocean Dunes

Sometimes an idea is so timely, you can’t wait to try it -again. So it Besides Greve and teaching pro Joshua Bannister -- both certi-
is with the free golf lesson currently on offer at Ocean Dunes Golf fied PGA of America teaching professionals – Ocean Dunes em-
Club: Originally rolled out just after Independence Day week- ploys three highly skilled local Vietnamese golf instructors, so
end, Free Lesson Month was scheduled to conclude at the end of language is never a barrier to the learning process.
September. It will now be extended through 31 October. Thanks to the next-door Novotel Phan Thiet, Ocean Dunes also
“It’s a busy time of year on many peoples’ schedules, including remains the only course in Vietnam accessible via a short walk
our members’,” notes Kurt Greve, general manager at Ocean from the lobby to the first tee. What’s more, the atmosphere
Dunes, “and we wanted to make sure that everyone got a chance seems as inviting to the staff as to members and visiting golfers.
to take part. The initial response told us we’d need more time “For a teacher, one of the most interesting things about Vietnam is
to accommodate all the interest – plus, we were enjoying it too the interaction with people who bring few preconceived notions
much ourselves not to extend it.” of the game,” says Bannister. “That’s why, when a kid who’s nev-
Members receive a 60-minute lesson, guests a 30-minute lesson, er held a golf club before manages to hit his first airborne shot,
all free. Ocean Dunes requests that lesson reservations be made or make her first 25-foot putt, it’s better than watching a scratch
24 hours in advance (send an email with your requested date and player drive the ball 300 yards.”
time to golfshop@oceandunesgolf.vn, or call + 84 62 382 3366).


10 VIETNAM NEWS

Luxury Travel Takes Center Stage
By Michael Arnold

(IT&CMA) in Thailand; ITB Asia - The Trade Show for the
Asian Travel Market in Singapore; World Trade Market in
London, etc.

Definite Journey is also the first luxury Vietnamese operator
to conspicuously market ethical travel in the high-end tourism
sector. While all of Definite Journey’s all-inclusive itineraries
feature accommodation in the absolute premier room options
DEFINITE JOURNEY and TRAVEL WEEKLY at five star properties, a percentage of all profits go towards
are poised to present Vietnamese luxury to a global audience supporting social development through the firm’s own char-
at International Travel Exhibitions this year. ity - Compassion Hearts - allowing privileged guests to make
real contributions to the communities that they visit.

Definite Journey coordinates a range of specialist itineraries,
including Premium Group Tours, Private Luxury Tours, wine
trails, golf tours, rejuvenative spa journeys, and helicopter
If you’d talked about the luxury travel market in Vietnam five years tours, as well as various MICE services for corporate clients.
ago, you’d have been laughed at. In a backpacker-dominated tour-
ism paradise, high-end operators had no easy task ahead of them
to attract international luxury category travellers.

Things have certainly changed. The Vietnamese nation is now rec-
ognised as an emerging Asian Tiger economy, and more travellers
are beginning to enjoy the high standard of services now available
in Vietnam. It’s now commonly acknowledged that Vietnam will be
the next prime tourist destination in the region following Thailand
and Bali. New five-star hotels and resorts are popping up all the
way down the Vietnamese coastline and in major cities, while
high-class restaurants and spas are multiplying in their wake.
For additional information, please contact
Saigon-based luxury operator Definite Journey has focused its DEFINITE Journey Co., Ltd.
efforts on drawing international attention to the emerging attrac- Suite 606, Block B, Indochina Park Tower
tions of this country, and its partnership with Travel Weekly pro- 4 Nguyen Dinh Chieu street, Dakao ward, District 1,
vides the opportunity to publicise the standard of premium Viet- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: +84-8-22200929
namese travel services to a broader international audience. The
Fax: +84-8-22200930
two firms will present some of the country’s best accommodation Operational Hotline: +84-1259001000
options and deluxe tours at the International Travel Expo (ITE) in Email: travelsupport@definitejourney.com
Vietnam; The Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia Web: www.definitejourney.com


days to come 1,000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi
Dragon festival to mark 1,000th anniversary

of Thang Long-Hanoi
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a
press conference on September 22 to announce a
street art programme entitled “Dragon Festival”. The
Spanish embassy in Vietnam announced the festival
to the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee a gift for
the occasion of 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-
Hanoi.

The Dragon Festival is scheduled to be held at My
Dinh National Stadium on October 2.

At the press conference, Spanish ambassador to
Vietnam Fernando Curcio praised the Hanoi Mu-
nicipal People’s Committee, the Ministry of Culture,
Sports, and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Af-
fairs for the preparations of the 1,000th anniversary of
Thang Long-Hanoi.

He also expressed delight at the contributions made
by the Spanish embassy and community in organiz-
ing the “Dragon Festival”.

This festival, which includes diverse activities such
as fireworks and performances by street artists, is
expected to help citizens learn more about the his-
tory of the establishment of Hanoi.

The “Dragon Festival” originated from the idea of
Spain’s famous opera group the Els Comedians for
performing the history of the establishment of the
capital city of Hanoi.

Nguyen Van Tinh, Director of the International Co-
operation Department under the Ministry of Cul-
ture, Sports and Tourism highlighted the goodwill of
Spanish friends and pledge to make joint efforts to
organize the festival successfully.



Ao dai to be honoured at Hanoi’s grand anniversary
A magnificent ao dai exhibition will take place in Hanoi
on the evening of October 1, kicking off the festival of the
grand millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.
Collections of ao dai from Vietnam’s three regions (north,
south, and central) will be modelled by both professional
and amateur models. The models will emerge from Ngoc
Son temple in Sword Lake and proceed along a specially-
built 350m catwalk artistically decorated with mats, coni-
cal hats, and lively dioramas depicting Hanoi in ancient
times.
The 45-minute ao dai performance, which will be broad-
cast live on TV to the whole country, will be followed by a
15-minute light festival and fireworks display.
Renowned designer Duc Hung will bring to the festival a
collection entitled ‘Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter’. He
said the fact that Hanoi has four distinctive seasons in-
spired him to create this collection. Hung said he carefully
selected made-in-Vietnam material and colours for his
long dresses – brocade for spring, silk for summer, voile
for autumn, and velvet for winter.


Golf
tourney celebrates 1000th anniversary of
Thang Long-Hanoi

1,000 domestic and foreign
golfers will compete in the
qualifying round of a golf
tournament to celebrate the
1000th anniversary of Thang
Long-Hanoi at ten golf cours-
es across the country on Sep-
tember 25.
The tournament will set a new
record for Vietnamese golf,
attracting the highest number
of players so far.
The ten golf courses include
Yen Thang (in Ninh Binh), Van
Tri, Dong Mo (in Hanoi), Tam
Dao (in Vinh Phuc), Mont-
gomerie Links Vietnam (in
Quang Nam), Sea Links (in
Binh Thuan), Thu Duc (HCM
City), Long Thanh and Dong
Nai (Dong Nai), and Vung Tau
(Ba Ria-Vung Tau).
The 10 best golfers from each
competition will go through to
the final round held at the Van
Tri golf course in Hanoi on
October 9.
This event has been organised
by the National Committee for
the1000-year celebrations of
Thang Long-Hanoi, the Hanoi
Municipal People’s Commit-
tee, the Hanoi Municipal De-
partment of Culture, Sports,
and Tourism, and the Vietnam
Golf Association.


16 INTERNATIONAL NEWS

World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel indus- World Travel Market UK & Ireland Regional Account Manager Lucie
try, has teamed up with VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, to Winter said: “The World Travel Market UK e-shop is a great initiative
launch an online shop to help delegates make the most of their stay for all WTM participants as it allows them to purchase and experi-
in London – selling UK based WTM exhibitors’ products to WTM ence London and the UK’s leading tourism attractions.
participants. “The e-shop offers a convenient outlet for UK exhibitors to promote
The online shop - www.wtmlondon.com/ukshop - includes a raft of their products to visitors who are looking to add a leisure aspect to
travel services and exhibiting tourist attractions. their World Travel Market business trip.”
For example, World Travel Market del- VisitBritain eCommerce Partnerships Manager
egates can purchase London Transport David Childs-Clarke said: “We are delighted to
Oyster cards, airport transfers and train
tickets from London’s four main airports -
Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton.
WTM team up with World Travel Market to provide a
bespoke e-shop offering UK exhibitors’ prod-
ucts and services to the WTM participants. As
Furthermore, delegates can purchase
tickets to dozens of exhibiting tourist at- launches UK well as making it easy for visitors to pre-plan
their travel to WTM; it’s great to be able to
tractions, sports stadiums and sightsee- extend the invitation for participants to let the
ing tours.
Exhibiting attractions include some of
exhibitors’ shop help them make the most of their time
here so that they can experience more of what

e-shop
London most famous historic buildings London & Britain has to offer”
such as: Hampton Court Palace, Tower of
London, Kensington Palace and St Paul’s For further information, please contact:
Cathedral. Mark Di-Toro, Corporate Press Officer on 020
The UK’s leading sports stadiums are also selling their tours includ- 7578 1098 or 07919 392 137
ing the spiritual homes of rugby (Twickenham), tennis (Wimbledon),
and football (Wembley). Leading football clubs, Manchester United
(Old Trafford) and Chelsea (Stamford Bridge) are also available.
Sightseeing excursions that can be purchased include tours of Lon-
don, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

MITT Organisers
INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Made a Decision
Expected
by the Market


ITE, a leading exhibition operator and the
INTERNATIONAL NEWS tourist products in spring
trade visitors representing the tourist in-
to present their
organiser of the largest spring tourist ex- dustry will have a chance to get acquaint- and in autumn in the most efficient way at
hibition “MITT / Travel and Tourism”, has ed with new offers for the upcoming tour- one exhibition.
made a decision to terminate its participa- ist season at larger-scale displays. The 18th International exhibition “Travel
tion in the organisation of the autumn tour- Such decision will also allow ITE, as the and Tourism/MITT” will traditionally take
ist project “Otdykh / Leisure” (Leisure. organiser of the spring exhibition “MITT place from 16 to 19 March 2011 at the Ex-
Select Travel Expo 2010), which was pre- / Travel and Tourism” to focus the efforts, pocentre at Krasnaya Presnya. MITT is the
viously organised jointly with MSI compa- experience and resources on this main largest tourist exhibition in Russia bring-
ny at Expocentre at Krasnaya Presnya. tourist event in Russia and Eastern Europe ing together more than 3000 companies
Following the trends of the modern tour- and one of the five largest tourist exhibi- from 120 countries and regions annually.
ist market ITE has initiated cancellation tions of the world. In 2010, the exhibition was attended by
of duplicating seasonal tourist projects, Alexander Shtalenkov, General Direc- 79500 people.
which has been positively accepted by tor of ITE, commented on the decision: In addition to MITT event in Moscow, the
all market players: major tour operators, “This has become a logical response to exhibition portfolio of ITE, one of the larg-
branch associations and national tourist the demands of the tourist market, which est exhibition operators worldwide, com-
boards, as well as representatives of the has been developing during the past sev- prises the following tourist shows: Toursib
tour agencies community. eral years. In accordance with the inter- (Novosibirsk), UITT (Kiev), EMITT (Istan-
In the opinion of the company’s manage- ests of the tourist community, we are glad bul), KITF (Almaty), AITF (Baku) and oth-
ment, such decision will have a positive to propose the initiative of cancelation of ers.
impact on the development of the tourist duplicating events. I am confident that Travel and Tourism Department, ITE
market in Russia. Absence of duplicating restoration of status quo in running only T: +7 (495) 935-8137; 935-7350
exhibition projects will allow tourist com- one major exhibition per season will be F: + 7 (495) 935-7351
panies and state organisations optimizing positively accepted by the market players E: travel@ite-expo.ru
costs of promotion of their services, and and will provide them with an opportunity


INTERNATIONAL NEWS


Egypt:
Official
partner
country of
ITB Berlin
2012
Egypt - where it all
begins - as the part-
ner country, Egypt
will feature very
strongly at ITB Berlin
in 2012. The agree-
ment between the
leading trade fair for
the worldwide travel
industry and its part-
ner country, Egypt, was officially signed
on 1 July 2010 by the Egyptian Tourist Au-
thority and ITB Berlin.
“As an all-year-round destination Egypt
occupies a firm place in world-wide tour-
ism”, says managing director Tamer Mar-
zouk. “The ITB Berlin provides the ideal
platform for presenting Egypt on the Ger-
man market and on international markets
as a holiday destination with a wide choice
of tourism attractions, and for continuing
to develop our top position as one of the
most popular holiday destinations. Egypt
is also becoming more firmly established
as a MICE destination, another sector in
which the ITB Berlin provides the ideal
setting in which to strengthen contacts
with representatives of the international
meetings and events industry.”
Egypt’s increased presence at ITB Berlin
2011 gives a clear indication: the land of
the Pharaohs is for the first time present-
ing its current tourism potential in its en-
tirety in a single hall. Egypt’s move from
Hall 21 b to Hall 23 b is also accompanied
by a three-fold increase in the size of its
display area. At the next ITB Berlin interna-
tional trade visitors and the general public
will be able to find out more about Egypt’s
attractions as a travel destination on an
area of 1,960 square metres, compared
with the previous stand area of “only” 588
square metres. This makes the land of the
Pyramids one of the largest exhibitors at
the world’s leading travel trade show.

David Ruetz, Senior Manager, ITB Berlin:
“Egypt is one of the world’s oldest travel
destinations and nowadays it combines
modernity and tradition. A culture that
goes back thousands of years, exciting
desert areas, the Nile and endless beach-
es make this country one of the world’s
most attractive holiday destinations.
Egypt’s tourism industry continues to de-
velop and, among the destinations pre-
ferred by German travellers, it is one of
the countries reporting the highest growth
rates. Its diversity of tourism attractions
ranges from high quality hotels in every
price range to excellent value for money
offers in areas such as golf, diving, des-
ert tours, health tourism and wellness, as
well as cultural trips and city tours.”Being
the partner country, Egypt will be organiz-
ing the opening ceremonies of ITB Berlin
2012 on 6 March 2012 at the International
Congress Center (ICC) Berlin, and will
also be presenting various cultural events
and culinary delights during the fair.
Information about Egypt: www.egypt.
travel “Cooperation between Egypt and the leading trade
fair for the world wide travel industry officially agreed
About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Con- on 1 July 2010.”
vention
ITB Berlin 2011 will take place from
Wednesday to Sunday, 9 to 13 March.
From the Wednesday to the Friday ITB
Berlin is open to trade visitors only. The
ITB Berlin Convention is held parallel with
the trade fair, from Wednesday to Friday,
9 to 11 March 2011. It is the world’s larg-
est specialist convention for the industry.
Check out www.itb-convention.com for a
wealth of information about the conven-
tion. ITB Berlin is the leading trade fair
for the worldwide travel industry. In 2010
a total of 11,127 companies and organisa-
tions from 187 countries exhibited their
products and services to 179,351 visitors,
who included 110,953 trade visitors.


ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2011 TRAVEX
promises to be a sell-out event
ATF 2011 TRAVEX recorded have also been overwhelming Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia ment officials from the various
strong interest and rapid take- with more than 600 applications believes that the country will ministries and heads of foreign
up rate early in its registration received from across the world. be represented at the event in missions. A large number of ho-
process. To date, exhibitors Only 400 of the best buyers will a big way this 2011. More than tel owners and general manag-
have snapped up more booths be selected to attend the event 800 participants from across ers were also present.
than initially expected. This under a privileged hosting pro- Cambodia’s tourism industry
2011 ASEAN leisure travel trade gramme. gathered for the ATF 2011 event Host country, Kingdom of Cam-
event showcasing the largest preview at Nagaworld in Phnom bodia, began its marketing ef-
contingent of ASEAN destina- With regards to the buoyant in- Penh on 31 August 2010. The forts to tantalise the industry’s
tion products and services will terest for ATF 2011, Dr. Thong purpose of the preview was to travel professionals at the last
also feature a larger show with Khon, Minister of Tourism, promote, increase awareness ATF 2010 closing ceremony by
25% more booths space than Cambodia and Permanent Vice- and encourage all Cambodian pulling out all stops to deliver
last year. Chairman of ATF 2011 Organiz- tourism stakeholders to par- a sumptuous and entertaining
ing Committee explains, “Im- ticipate at the upcoming ATF evening complete with a gastro-
More than 70% of the 450 avail- proving market optimism aside, 2011. The event preview was nomic and cultural showcase.
able booth space has already a significant part of this year’s presided by His Excellency Dr. Delegates enjoyed a sneak pre-
been secured by some 240 ex- interest also has to do with the Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister, view of what they can look for-
hibiting companies from across appeal of Cambodia as a desti- Minister in Charge of the Office ward to at ATF 2011 in Phnom
the 10 ASEAN countries - Bru- nation. International delegates of the Council of Ministers and Penh.
nei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, are motivated to experience the Chairman of ATF 2011 Organiz-
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philip- country`s rich cultural, natural ing Committee. The guest list Scheduled from 19 to 21 Janu-
pines, Singapore, Thailand and and historical heritage.” included the country`s movers ary 2011, the three-day ATF 2011
Vietnam. Buyer registrations and shakers such as top govern- TRAVEX will be held at Phnom
Penh’s Diamond Island Con-
vention and Exhibition Center
located along the Bassac River.
Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia
will host the event’s Opening
and Closing Ceremony, which
promises to be even more spec-
tacular than its 2010 preview.
Delegates will also be thrilled
to network in the company of
their fellow industry colleagues
and wind down at the end of a
business work day at not two
but three late night social events
organised by Nagaworld, Fair-
mont/Raffles/Swissotel/TTG
Asia and Pattaya City/Sofitel/
TTG Asia respectively.

More information on the event’s
program will be made available
in the upcoming months. Regis-
trations for exhibitors, buyers,
and media are still open online
at www.atfcambodia.com. More
information on ATF 2011 can
also be found at the event web-
site.



A
little over half (54%) of meetings
industry specialists in the U.S. and
Canada have expressed ‘cautious
optimism’ about the return of meetings and
incentives market, according to a recent
poll taken by the IMEX Group following its
Frankfurt trade show. A further nine percent
said that they are ‘very optimistic.’
The poll was conducted among 200 North
American buyers and suppliers in June
2010, following the conclusion of IMEX
in Frankfurt, which took place May 25-27,
2010.
The poll results are good news for the U.K.
based IMEX Group, which will launch its
first annual IMEX America exhibition, Octo-
ber 11-13, 2011, in Las Vegas, at the Sands
Expo at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel.
Ray Bloom, Chairman of the IMEX Group
comments, “We recently declared an in-
crease in the hosted buyer program for
IMEX America – we now expect in excess
of 2000 buyers – because our partners and
intermediaries have a renewed confidence
in future growth. This represents an in-
crease of more than 30 percent on our ini-
tial launch figure. Our survey findings are
also in line with other recent global and
US industry reports which suggests that
this new found confidence is not just about
mood but about real business volumes.”
The poll also revealed that Canadian plan-
ners are even more optimistic. While one in
five (21%) U.S. planners doubt the meetings
market is in recovery, Canadian buyers are
generally convinced that already it is ‘busi- American buyers see
positive trends in
ness as usual,’ suggesting that the sector
has rebounded faster because their econ-
omy and financial systems were hit less
severely. As one planner explained, “Our
financial system was never really in too
much trouble. No banks closed, and there
face-to-face meetings
were few or no foreclosure increases. Busi-
ness demands changed slightly but did not that is a positive. There are encouraging Sands Expo at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel.
necessarily decline.” Another shared the small gains as well as the better reception The show’s strategic partner and major
opinion, “In Canada we are quickly moving we are receiving to our offers.” educational provider is MPI. It is endorsed
out of the economic downturn...our GDP is by DMAI and Site, and has an Industry
up 6.1% already. Fortunately, perception Survey participants confirm also that Partnership with PCMA. IMEX America
may no longer be an issue.” their meetings and incentives tend to be also has major partnerships in place with
short-notice, travel less far, remain value- all the other leading industry associations
In contrast, U.S. respondents acknowledge conscious, and are simpler and more ROI- across the world. IMEX America will offer a
the possibility of continuing business vola- focused than those held prior to the down- unique model of trade show, new to the US
tility and that recovery may only be slow. turn. Some argue that the formula of ‘more market. It will assure exhibitors of meeting
However, their confidence is underpinned for less’ - frugality and less frivolity - could and making business appointments on their
by a sense that there is pent up demand for prove to be the new reality for many years booths with in excess of 2,000 highly quali-
travel. Said one organizer, “We are starting ahead. fied hosted buyers. The majority (80%) of
to experience a resurgence in incentive these hosted buyers will come from North
programs from our customers. Qualifica- About IMEX America America, with the balance from the rest of
tion levels are stronger and forecasts for The new trade show for the worldwide the world. In addition thousands of addi-
2011 are stronger than 2010.” Another com- meetings, events and incentive travel in- tional U.S. buyer attendees are expected to
mented, “We are seeing an increase in the dustry; the inaugural IMEX America will attend from across North America.
number of programs for 2010 over 2009, so take place October 11-13, 2011 at the

Tailor-made Travel Specialist Add: 130 Pho Duc Chinh - Ba Dinh District Fax: +84-4 3715 3540
in Hanoi - Vietnam Email: info@littleorienttravel.com
VIETNAM - CAMBODIA - LAOS Tel: +84-4 37153538 www.littleorienttravel.com


India’s strong
online travel
market is
keen on
eco-friendly,
exploratory
tours
By Raynah Coutinho


Solo travel is also a rising trend because people now start work
early and thus become independent early as well. The fact is that
they are young, not married and do not have the obligation of pay-
ing for their entire family so they can also afford to spend more. This
trend is now growing at considerable speed and solo travellers are
hotel. This is primarily because schools today stress on environmen-
tal concerns making children aware who then urge parents to follow
suit. To sum it up, I think, most people would opt for a combination
of both, affordability and environmental concern. Sustainability and
eco-friendliness also comes into play in activity choices. While 86
percent travellers want to go sightseeing, visiting a national park
is also a priority. Wildlife is a new trend that has emerged from the
tiger conservation awareness campaigns doing the rounds. Some
also wish to engage in a hobby – this is because people want to
use their vacation time effectively, to pursue what they miss out on
at work. For instance, people who do not have the time to do social
work are now going on ‘volunteer’ vacations where they get to work
with NGOs. Solo travel is also a rising trend because people now
start work early and thus become independent early as well. The
fact is that they are young, not married and do not have the obliga-
tion of paying for their entire family so they can also afford to spend
more. This trend is now growing at considerable speed and solo
travellers are definitely a segment to pay heed to.
Indians are also becoming increasingly exploratory. Agents would

H
do well to keep this in mind while identifying and marketing destina-
otel, airfare and restaurant review site Tripadvisor en- tions and holiday packages.
joys an international monthly visitor ship of 35,382,000 According to a recent tripadvisor study, 80 percent of Indians are
unique visitors of which 25,00,000 are Indian. Accord- planning more than one vacation. Which segments should agents
ing to Sharat Dhall, Managing Director, tripadvisor.com intensify their efforts on, now that schools have started and that rev-
to tap into their information resource and understand enue avenue is closed?
some of the newest trends among online travel buyers.
In addition to families (which are likely to plan their next vacation
What is your take on online media vis-à-vis the Indian tourist? during the winter school break), we anticipate that young working
Every part of the Indian tourist’s travel process is moving online. couples will plan more than one vacation. Couples with double in-
Tripadvisor’s popularity is proof that he plans and researches op- come and no kids (DINKS) can be tapped at this time as they are not
tions online, and posts his final experience with the product online. bound by school schedules. They are also willing to spend as they
The social media trend has become deeply rooted prompting us to are more confident about the future, thus, travel agents should look
launch a new feature called TripFriends in June, in partnership with at intensifying their efforts on this segment.
Facebook. We see a lot of sense in allowing people to view desti- Agents should also recognise the importance of packages to un-
nations visited by their online social circle - this enables them to explored destinations, especially during this time – young couples
procure genuine information and also builds visibility which usually and DINKS will be keen to try out newer places because of the less
leads to demand for that product. crowded nature of these virgin destinations.
With the huge amount of traffic on your website, what trends can you Also, agents should focus on weekend getaways that are within
identify in the Indian market? driving distance, in order to promote short, weekend breaks.
The eco-friendly Indian traveller has come of age – 66 percent Which countries come across as popular and emerging outbound
of Indian travellers plan to stay in an eco-friendly hotel, up from 31 destinations at the moment?
percent, according to a study conducted earlier in the year. Two out
of three people say that staying in an eco-friendly hotel works as The recent unrest in Thailand saw Indian travellers opting for
a feel-good factor. Also, a significant number of people would not Singapore Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau, giving them a boost
mind paying extra to stay in an eco-friendly hotel. This is primarily in popularity this season. New Zealand, Turkey, Vienna, Salzburg,
because schools today stress on environmental concerns making Hungary and Prague in Europe are also drawing numbers from the
children aware who then urge parents to follow suit. To sum it up, I Indian market.
think, most people would opt for a combination of both, affordability With Tripadvisor, brands today need to watch their backs online for
and environmental concern. negative publicity. Do you see a new integrity emerging among ho-
Sustainability and eco-friendliness also comes into play in activity tels in all categories?
choices. While 86 percent travellers want to go sightseeing, visit- Hotels should take negative and positive comments as consumer
ing a national park is also a priority. Wildlife is a new trend that has feedback. We encourage hotels to respond to reviews positively and
emerged from the tiger conservation awareness campaigns doing honestly. Hotels should embrace the social platform that we present
the rounds. Some also wish to engage in a hobby – this is because rather than worry about negative publicity which can be tackled ef-
people want to use their vacation time effectively, to pursue what fectively by straight forward responses to these posts.
they miss out on at work. For instance, people who do not have the
time to do social work are now going on ‘volunteer’ vacations where
they get to work with NGOs.

ITE HCMC 2010
INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The sixth International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC)
2010, one of the largest travel events in Vietnam, took place in
Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC) today, 30 Sep.
2010.
With the theme of “Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam – 3 countries, 1
destination,” the 6th ITE HCMC 2010 offers a platform for tourism
promoting agencies, tour operators and tourism service provid-
ers to find partnership, promote products and open up business
opportunities to connect major and potential tourism markets of
the three countries. The Expo also substantially contributes to
cementing the friendship ties among the countries in the region,
among tourism companies as well as creating a favorable envi-
ronment for tour operators to meet, discuss and promote tourism
products and services to consumers.


Here we go ! INTERNATIONAL NEWS


INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is pleased to host the
sixth International Travel Expo, the largest tourism event in Greater Me-
kong Sub-region, on 30 September and Travel Weekly Magazine is hon-
ored to be an official media partner of the expo.

VIETNAM NEWS


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