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Weekly UpdatesJul 12, 2009
The U.S. State Department is alerting U.S. citizens to the quarantine measures imposed by the Government of China in response to the 2009-H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic that may affect travel to China. This Travel Alert updates the June 19 Alert in order to address the potential for quarantine of unaccompanied minors. This Travel Alert expires on Sept. 30, 2009. In May 2009, China implemented a policy that allows it to quarantine arriving passengers who exhibit fever or flu-like symptoms if they are arriving from a country which has cases of 2009-H1N1, including the U.S. Although the overall percentage of Americans being quarantined remains low, the seemingly random nature of the selection process makes it almost impossible to predict when a traveler may be placed into quarantine. Travelers with even a slightly elevated body temperature risk being placed into hospital quarantine, while passengers sitting in close proximity to another traveler with fever or flu-like symptoms may be taken to a specially-designated hotel for a quarantine of approximately seven days, even if they show no symptoms themselves. Jul 7, 2009
China
Ninety-one Taiwanese tourists currently in western China's Xinjiang province were safe after riots erupted in the capital city of Urumqi Sunday night and reportedly left 140 people dead and 828 others injured. Jul 6, 2009
China, Italy
China and Italy should work together to expand bidirectional flow of tourists amid the current difficulties arising from the financial crisis and global spread of A/H1N1 flu (also called swine flu), a top Chinese tourism official said on Sunday Jul 6, 2009
Goway
Goway is offering three fully escorted tours to Asia. Regular departures are available throughout the year and are professionally escorted from North America by GowayOs tour directors. The Splendors of China is a 16-day itinerary which features stops in Beijing, including a visit to the 2008 Olympic site and the Great Wall of China; Xian, with its famous Terra Cotta Warriors; Guilin, with its unique mountain scenery; Chengdu, the home of the Panda Sanctuary; a Yangtze River Cruise on a five-star ship; and Shanghai, the city of the future. Trans-Pacific travel is with Cathay Pacific Airways. Prices start at USD 6,299 per person sharing basis from Los Angeles. The Splendors of India is a 17-day itinerary. Highlights include Mumbai (formerly Bombay) with its mixture of the old and new; Udaipur, arguably IndiaOs most beautiful city; Jaipur, a city of grandeur and forts, Ranthambore Tiger Sanctuary; Agra, home of the famous Taj Mahal; Khajuraho, with its erotic but artistic temple carvings; Varanasi, the quintessential religious Indian city; and the capital Delhi. Air travel is with Emirates Airways which allows a stopover in Dubai en route. Prices start at USD 7,319 per person sharing basis from New York. Jul 10, 2009
National Tour Association
The National Tour Association updated its criteria for participation in its China Inbound Program, in cooperation with the China National Tourism Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce, to ensure Chinese group leisure travelers to the United States have a safe and quality vacation experience. OAs the Chinese group leisure travel market continues to grow in the United States, NTA and its partners felt it was important to take next steps in improving the visitor experience,O said NTA President Lisa Simon, CTP. OCNTA and the Department of Commerce are in full support of the new criteria and NTA is proud to be the only U.S. organization working in an official capacity with this market as part of the MOU.O Jul 10, 2009
Taj Hotels
Taj Holidays, IndiaOs leading holiday brand and the in-house tour operator for Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, has partnered with Travelocity to introduce www.tajholidaysflynstay.com, a one-stop shop for all holiday-related requirements. It is the first time that a holiday brand in India has embarked upon a bundled platform where customers can plan their travel through various permutations and combinations of flight selection, fare classes, package options, hotel rates and room categories. Aimed at simplifying the holiday planning process, creating a user-friendly platform and bridging the information gap, Taj Holidays Fly-N-Stay endeavors to create a hassle-free holiday package for the user. The entire domestic flight inventory of Travelocity with some of the lowest fares is available to those booking on www.tajholidaysflynstay.com. Jul 9, 2009
The Explorers Club
Richard Wiese, former president of The Explorers Club, has teamed with Abercrombie & Kent on OMt. Kilimanjaro: To the Summit on a Mission.O Abercrombie & Kent was recently recognized as a Partner for Responsible Travel by the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world. Since much of a climberOs success in summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro depends on the assistance of the porters, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy has pledged ongoing support for IMECOs Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project, which seeks to improve their working conditions by providing individual porters with warm, high-quality clothing free of charge; offering free English language, first aid and HIV/AIDS awareness classes; and educating guests about acceptable standards of porter treatment. Jul 7, 2009
Tribhuvan Airport
Figures released by Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal reveal that visitor arrivals for June 2009 increased by 6 percent compared to June 2008. Total arrivals for last month were 23,222 with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka producing growth of 16, 4 and 7 percent, respectively. But the Indian market, considered as a major market for Nepal, showed a decline of 6 percent. Chinese arrivals increased by 17 percent along with Thailand (37 percent), Malaysia (3 percent), South Korea (55 percent) and Singapore (8 percent). Encouraging results came from European markets, having registered an overall positive growth of 25 percent. Arrivals from the U.K. have maintained an upwards trend with growth of 15 percent. For more information, visit www.welcomenepal.com. Jul 7, 2009
Tristar
Tristar has opened an office in Hong Kong to serve as headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region. The chauffeur service said it was "almost impossible" to guarantee English speaking chauffeurs in the region. Tristar said it had recruited a team of Mandarin, Cantonese and English speaking staff to work directly with regional suppliers and to aid customer relations. Tristar has appointed David Wu as general manager in Hong Kong, who joins the company from Li & Fung (Trading) Limited. Mr Wu brings with him "extensive experience in the service and merchandising industry," Tristar said. www.tristarworldwide.com Jul 9, 2009
Vietnam
As the economic crisis takes its toll on tourism in Indochina, both Cambodia and Vietnam are introducing new measures aimed to boost tourist arrivals. Cambodia currently is seeing a sharp contraction in tourist arrivals to Siem Reap and the famous temples of Angkor Wat. In 2008, total arrivals to the city declined by 5.5 percent including a 12.2 percent decline in air arrivals. Foreign tourist arrivals to Cambodia dropped again by 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period of 2008 according to the Ministry of Tourism statistics. Jul 8, 2009
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