Thai immigration reports over 900,000 tourists in Phuket since May

Phuket’s tourism is continuing to make its post-Covid-19 comeback. Thai immigration reported over 900,000 tourists in Phuket from May 1 to November 27.

The total number of tourists that visited the island province in that time frame is 934,164. Of those tourists, 914,746 are foreigners, and 19,418 are Thai.

Meanwhile the Phuket Walking Street Sunday Market, also well known as ‘Laad Yai’ is still full of tourists every week, The Phuket Express reported. The vice president of the Old Phuket Town Community, Somyos Patan, said…

“The market is one of the most important tourism destinations in Phuket which is a must for visitors to visit the signature market in the Phuket Old Town.”

Russians made up Phuket’s largest tourist demographic if November. This month, 55,097 Russians made their way to the island province.

The second largest tourist group in Phuket this month came from India, with 26,525 travellers, according to Phuket Immigration. The third largest group was Australians, with 13,868 tourists. British visitors made up the fourth largest group with 12,340 tourists. Germans came in fifth place, with 11,097 tourists.

The recent swarm of Russian tourists in Thailand has taken the country’s tourism forces completely by surprise. Despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian tourism market has returned much quicker than expected, according to the president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

Chartered flights to Phuket and Pattaya are being filled by Russian tourists. Less than two weeks after Russian airlines made their triumphant return to Phuket, Aeroflot announced an increase in direct flights to the island. The flagship airline of Russia announced on November 12 that it would be adding 14 new flights a week from Russia to Phuket.

Last week, TAT’s deputy governor said the number of Russian tourists flying to Thailand is expected to reach 1 million next year.

As of October 26, Thailand witnessed 7,349,843 international tourists arriving, surpassing the seven million mark. It’s put the country within its goal range set by the TAT of seven to 10 million visitors for 2022.

Source - The Thaiger

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Thailand tourism recovery already looks unlikely

International airports in Thailand have come alive over the past week, with more than 12,000 travellers flying in, mostly from 63 countries which have been exempted from quarantine or area restrictions.
If this momentum continues, the total number of incoming travellers this month is likely to overtake the total for the past 19 months, which saw zero tourists during the first nationwide lockdown in the second quarter of last year.

It will also be a big leap from the four months of sandbox programmes, which have seen Phuket and Koh Samui attract 12,000-18,000 international tourists per month.

The current flow of tourists might create a positive vibe for the travel industry, but it is still in stark contrast to the pre-pandemic era, which saw over 3 million tourists on average visit Thailand every month.
Before the sandbox programme kicked off on July 1 this year, the government vowed to bring back at least 100,000 international tourists through this scheme during its first three months.

However, after four months of countless hiccups from unsettled regulations, the total number turned out to be far below expectations, with around 63,000 foreign visitors coming through this scheme.

The sandbox, therefore, helped shape the minimal requirements of the new entry scheme, called “Test & Go”, that removes both mandatory quarantine and area restrictions for travellers from countries on the exempted list. The eligible countries will be updated biweekly, meaning more countries might be added in the future.

Fourteen of 15 countries that contributed the most revenue to Thai tourism in 2019 are on the list, with just Russia, which is still overwhelmed with new cases, missing.

As a result, the tourism outlook should be promising thanks to the relaxation of regulations. But in reality, bookings nationwide have not dramatically picked up, which is in line with many experts’ forecasts that a full tourism recovery might not be seen any time soon.

Moreover, as more countries start to loosen travel restrictions, Thailand might not be the only option for tourists to choose from, but will become one of several options for those who want to venture overseas.

Source - BangkokJack

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Vietnam to test reopening starting with Phu Quoc Island

Vietnam was one of the earliest countries to lockdown due to Covid-19, a strategy that had done it well until a massive outbreak in April, just like Thailand. And now, also like Thailand, they are looking to relaunch their tourism industry after close to two years of closures. Vietnam is now looking to reopen in late November, starting with the popular resort island of Phu Quoc.

The island aims to reopen to inoculated foreign tourists starting November 20 with charter flights bringing fully vaccinated international travelers to the tropical paradise. Phu Quoc is known for beautiful white sand beaches and clear blue waters on the coast with jungles and mountains inland.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese government was angling to turn the island in the Gulf of Thailand about 10 km off the coast of Cambodia into a beach-going tourist hot spot along the lines of Bali and Phuket. Phu Quoc had already been drawing massive crowds with figures from 2019 reporting US $18 billion generated by approximately 670,000 international travellers.

Like Thailand’s reopening, Vietnamese authorities hope to attract travellers from countries that are low risk for Covid-19 infections, citing parts of Europe, the Middle East, Northeast and Southeast Asia, North America, and Australia as their target market.

The reopening was originally planned for October, then postponed due to low local vaccination rates, with only about 20% of Vietnam’s 100 million people having received the full inoculation. But the Vietnam economy is suffering after closed borders and some of the strictest lockdowns in the world, with almost no commercial flights being allowed to land in Vietnam since the beginning months of last year.

So Vietnam is dipping its toe in the water with Phu Quoc, hoping to bring in a few vaccinated tourists next month and, if successful, slowly trickle in another 5,000 foreigners on charter flights between December and the end of March.

Vietnamese authorities hope that the experimental reopening of Phu Quoc Island will pave the way to reopening other popular tourist destinations like Ha Long Bay and Hoi An in the near future, but no timeline or details have been set yet.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World / The Thaiger

VISA AGENT

No direct international flights to Bali yet even though island has ‘officially’ reopened

The day has finally come for Bali’s long-awaited international reopening, but tourists might have to wait a little longer to actually get on a flight and holiday on the island, as officials appear to still be working on the nuts and bolts even today.

Indonesia announced only last night which source countries are eligible for entry into Bali, identifying 19 in total that include China, India, Japan, South Korea, and a number of countries in Europe and the Gulf.

With things being so last-minute, there are no scheduled international flights for today, as confirmed by the Bali Tourism Agency Chief I Putu Astawa.

“There is no information [yet] on plane arrival from abroad or foreign visitors coming to Bali [today],” Astawa said.

“Of course they need time to arrange visas or their flights.”

Even today, a spokesman for the Ngurah Rai International Airport told local media outlets that the facility is not welcoming international flights just yet, citing what appears to be bureaucratic hiccups. Though Indonesia’s COVID-19 Task Force has issued a regulation and identified Bali as among the points of entry for international flights, the airport is still waiting for official instructions from the Transportation Ministry to actually make that a reality.

“We have yet to receive a letter from the Transportation Ministry with regards to [welcoming] international flights,” Taufan Yudhistira said.

Only fully vaccinated tourists from the 19 eligible countries are allowed to visit Bali, and they must also get on direct flights, according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan. It might be worth mentioning that not all the countries listed have direct flights to Denpasar, even before the pandemic.

Other specific requirements include, but are not limited to, a five-day mandatory quarantine period upon arrival at the travelers’ expense, health insurance with coverage of at least US$100,000, and proof of booking for accommodation during their time in Indonesia.

So tell us Coconauts, are you among those making arrangements to visit Bali anytime soon? Let us know in the comments or via social media!

Source - Coconuts

Our VISA AGENT

PM can't wait any longer: 27 countries could be granted no quarantine access to Thailand

Daily News reported that nationals of up to 27 countries could be allowed to enter Thailand without having to quarantine.

ASEAN NOW has also been told that 20 countries could be on the list.

PM Prayuth Chan-ocha said Monday that the CCSA was expected to confirm 10 countries including the US, UK, Germany, Singapore and China were on the list to be announced today.

But now the Thai media is saying this could be wider than expected come November 1st. A second stage is January 1st.

They reported that the PM no longer wants to wait for virus numbers in Thailand top come down or for enough people in the country to be vaccinated.

Three stipulations for visitors will be having had two jabs of vaccine, RT-PCR tests before and after arrival and it only applies to air passengers (no road or sea passengers included).

The list is made up by analysing data and information from the last two weeks of Covid-19 stats, International Health Regulations 2005 and the GCI Global Advisory Council or Global Covid-19 Index.

Twenty seven countries satisfy these criteria:

Andorra, Australia, Bahrain, Czech Republic, Dominica, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malta, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan, Uruguay, Barbados, China and Croatia.

Germany qualifies as a medium risk country because of the number of vaccinations done there.

The UK and the US are high risk but also qualify because of the number of vaccinations done in those nations.

At a meeting held in Hua Hin yesterday about that resort's reopening ASEAN NOW was told that 20 countries would be on the non-quarantine list.

Source - ASIAN NOW

Our - VISA AGENT

#Tunisia opens its beaches for tourists after lockdown

  

Tourists are back on Tunisia’s beaches after charter flights resumed to the North African country following a break of more than three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 155 mask-clad holiday makers from France, Germany and Luxembourg were greeted late last week on the resort island of Djerba with temperature checks – but also by hostesses offering them bouquets of jasmine.

“We can’t save the whole season, but we will do everything we can to save part of it,” said Tourism Minister Mohamed Ali Toumi, who was at the airport to welcome the Luxair flight.

Tunisia, a country of some 11.5 million people, has officially registered 1,374 novel coronavirus infections and 50 deaths.

It reopened its borders on June 27, and travellers from countries it classifies as “green”, including France, Germany and Luxembourg, are not subject to any coronavirus restrictions.

“You have managed the health crisis better than us,” said Patrick, a Frenchman in his sixties who arrived with his son for 10 days in the Tunisian sun.

Tourism accounts for between eight and 14 per cent of Tunisia’s GDP, and employs around half a million people.

The novel coronavirus crisis has hit the sector hard.

Tourism revenues declined by around 50 per cent between January 1 and July 10, compared to the same period last year, according to official figures.

Authorities are counting on health regulations to reassure tourists and the sector, and have halved hotel capacity in order to comply with anti-coronavirus measures.

“We are determined to strictly apply the health protocol,” the tourism minister said.

Authorities are hoping for a revival of the sector in early 2021.

Elsewhere in North Africa, Morocco announced Sunday a further easing of its own novel coronavirus restrictions, allowing tourist establishments to operate at full capacity but keeping borders closed.

A “third phase” of easing was set to come into effect on Monday, authorities said in a statement, as part of “the continued implementation of measures necessary for a gradual return to normal life and restarting the economy”.

Tourist businesses are now allowed to “use 100 per cent of their capacity, without exceeding 50 per cent in common areas” such as restaurants, pools and indoor sports facilities.

But the kingdom will keep its borders closed “until further notice”, except for returning Moroccans and residents.

Since June, Morocco has allowed cafes, restaurants and shops to reopen and for domestic tourism to restart.

A state of health emergency remains in place in Morocco until August 10.

Cultural centres, libraries, museums and archaeological sites are also allowed to reopen “without exceeding 50 per cent capacity”, the statement said, and gatherings and activities with fewer than 20 people are also allowed.

Wedding parties and funeral gatherings remain prohibited, and cinemas and public pools will stay closed, a statement said.

The country of 34 million has officially registered over 17,000 novel coronavirus cases and around 270 deaths since March.

Authorities placed parts of the northern city of Tangiers back into lockdown last week after new clusters of infection appeared, and locked down the coastal town of Safi earlier in the month after an outbreak at a factory.

Source - Phnom Penh Post

#Greece to restart tourism mid-June, international flights July 1

Greece will restart its tourism season on June 15 and gradually restore international flights from July 1 to boost its economy after the virus lockdown, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday.

With Greece suffering fewer than 170 COVID-19 deaths over two months into the pandemic, Mitsotakis said the country's prompt response to the virus would be a "passport of safety, credibility and health" to attract visitors.

"The tourism period begins June 15, when seasonal hotels can reopen, and direct international flights to our tourist destinations will gradually begin July 1," Mitsotakis said in a televised address.

"We will win the economy war just as we won the health battle," Mitsotakis said.

Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis said a list of nations resuming flights to Greece would be announced by the end of May, noting that Athens would focus on reviving a travel front "from the Balkans to the Baltic."

Bulgarians and northern Europeans including Germans will be among the first visitors, the minister said, in addition to Israelis and Cypriots.

Incoming travelers will not be required to undergo virus testing or quarantine, but sample tests will be carried out in tourist areas for epidemiological purposes, the minister said.

Greece so far has carried out fewer than 140,000 tests among 11 million.

Theocharis added that 600 beds would be specifically set aside for coronavirus care on Greek islands, which are traditionally among the country's top travel destinations.

The EU last week said holidaymakers could be asked to wear facemasks on planes, respect social distancing on the beach and even book slots to use hotel pools.

Restaurants to reopen Monday

The country, which is still recovering from a decade-long debt crisis, badly needs tourism income that directly and indirectly accounts for over a fifth of its economy.

Many operators have expressed skepticism about reopening owing to strict spacing rules.

Lockdown restrictions began to be lifted on May 4, reversing a wave of shutdowns which followed Greece's first recorded COVID-19 death on March 12.

Restaurants are scheduled to reopen on Monday after open-air archaeological sites were opened earlier this week and paid beaches over the weekend. Museums are to reopen on June 15.

According to Bank of Greece figures, the country in 2019 had over 34 million visitors and revenue of over 18 billion euros ($20 billion).

To increase Greece's appeal, tax on all transport will be reduced to 13 percent from the current 24 percent for the coming five months, the prime minister said.

And struggling businesses can be flexible with staff working hours to cut cost, he said.

The Greek finance ministry earlier on Wednesday noted that without support measures for businesses, the country could face an economic contraction of up to 13 percent this year.

The jobless rate is also expected to approach 20 percent this year.

The Greek government has announced a support package of around 24 billion euros, including EU funds, to help shore up the economy.

Source - TheJakartaPost

EU looks to save summer holiday

 The EU will present recommendations on Wednesday to save the summer season in Europe’s reeling tourism sector, which has been pounded by the coronavirus crisis.

The European Commission will urge EU countries to gradually reopen shuttered internal borders and to above all treat each member state on the same criteria.

According to a draft seen by AFP, the Commission insists that reopening of everyday life after the pandemic must be done in a "concerted" and "non-discriminatory" manner and must remain "as harmonious as possible".

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The points are only recommendations on the part of the EU's executive as it is up to national governments to decide whether to lift the restrictions put in place to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Brussels recommends that when countries are in a comparable epidemiological situation and have adopted the same precautionary measures, they should be treated in the same way.

If, for example, Austria opens its borders with Germany, it must also open its borders with the Czech Republic if that country is in a comparable situation to Germany.

Similarly, when a country opens its borders with another country, it must do so for all the residents of that country, whether or not they are nationals of that country. 

This issue of restoring freedom of movement within the passport-free Schengen area is crucial for European tourism, a sector which accounts for 10 percent of the EU's GDP and 12 percent of employment.

In some southern European countries, such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, this impact is even greater and if holidaymakers were to stay home, their already bad economic situation could worsen further.

In its recommendations, the commission also addresses the thorny issue of whether or not to reimburse cancelled trips and holidays.

Under EU rules, the European consumer is entitled to a cash refund, but many operators and airlines prefer to offer a credit instead.

"Carriers and tour operators should follow a common approach, offering passengers and travellers an attractive choice between a cash refund, in line with their rights under EU law, or the acceptance of a voucher," the document said.

Late last month, 12 European countries asked the European Commission to suspend the obligation for airlines to reimburse passengers whose journeys have been cancelled because of the coronavirus. 

Source - TheJakartaPost

China - Hainan resorts to visa-free access for tourism payoffs

China's southern resort island of Hainan, which has benefited from its visa-free access by reaping local tourism boom and greater connectivity, is set to further open up, according to local authorities.

Hainan will introduce more open visa-free entry policies and further simplify entry procedures for cruise ships and yachts, according to a provincial government plan announced last month.

China aims to build Hainan into a high-quality pilot free trade zone by the end of 2020 and a free trade port with Chinese characteristics by 2035.

Since May 1, 2018, group and individual tourists from 59 countries, including Russia, Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, have been given visa-free access to Hainan on condition that they would book their tours through travel agencies.

"More than 80 percent of foreigners come to Hainan through visa-free policy, which has benefited more than 770,000 foreign tourists so far," said Liu Zhichun, an official from the Haikou General Station of Immigration Inspection in the provincial capital.

Tommy Hunter, an English teacher from the US, worked for more than 10 years in various parts of China and finally decided to settle down in Hainan.

"It is really easy to visit and travel to Hainan. Visa-free policy is very convenient, which can save a lot of time and costs for my family," said Hunter.

Apart from facilitating work, the visa-free policy has promoted Hainan as a popular tropical resort among overseas tourists.

The island attracted 1.42 million tourists from overseas in 2019, up 12.4 percent from a year earlier, while the tourism revenue totaled 105 billion yuan ($14.81 billion), according to the provincial department of culture and tourism.

The convenient access policy deepened the connectivity, economic, trade and cultural exchanges between Hainan and the countries enjoying visa-free policies, Liu said.

In July 2019, Hainan's visa-free policy was further optimized as foreigners are allowed to enter Hainan visa-free for a wider range of purposes, including business, visiting relatives, medical treatment, exhibition, and sports.

Thanks to the policy, the new BMW Hood to Coast relay was held in Hainan for the first time In December 2019. The event attracted more than 2,000 runners from 40 countries and regions.

"The event has benefited from the visa-free policies and the large number of overseas routes, which provided convenience for international runners," said Wang Liming, an official from Hainan's sports bureau.

The province aims to attract 2 million overseas tourists by the end of 2020, according to a three-year action plan released in 2018.

Sun Dahai, an official with the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the province would roll out more favorable visa-free policies and gradually expand to a wider range of purposes and countries.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Brazilian beach tops TripAdvisor's list of best beaches 2020

Dreaming of a sun-soaked beach holiday? In time for spring break, TripAdvisor has released the latest edition of its annual best beaches ranking, giving Brazil's Baia do Sancho the top spot.

For the second year in a row, the beach of Fernando de Noronha was given the title of world's best beach in TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards 2020 for its "heavenly" mirage-like view.

The ranking is based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews for beaches over a 12-month period.

This year's list of top 10 beaches is dominated by beaches in the West.

The top-ranked beach for the US is Florida's Siesta Beach, coming in at 11th on the World ranking. 
Here are the world's best beaches 2020, according to TripAdvisor:

    Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
    Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
    Playa Paraiso, Cayo Largo, Cuba
    Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Islands of Sicily
    Prainhas do Pontal do Atalaia, Arraial do Cabo, Brazil
    Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
    Eagle Beach, Palm - Eagle Beach, Aruba
    Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico
    Varadero Beach Varadero, Cuba
    Kleftiko Beach, Milos, Cyclades

Tourists flee Thai islands as Tropical Storm Pabuk looms

Tens of thousands of tourists have fled the Thai resort islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in a mass exodus ahead of Tropical Storm Pabuk which is set to bring heavy rains, wind and seven-meter waves, officials said Thursday.

The islands, hugely popular with holiday-makers especially during the peak Christmas and New Year season, have emptied out since Wednesday as tourists packed onto ferries bound for the southern Thai mainland, with swimming banned and boats set to suspend services.

Pabuk, Thailand's first tropical storm in the area outside of the monsoon season for around 30 years, is poised to batter Koh Phangan and Koh Tao as well as Koh Samui on Friday night, before cutting into the mainland.

No official evacuation order has been given but tourists are leaving in droves.

"I think the islands are almost empty... between 30,000 to 50,000 have left since the New Year's Eve countdown parties," Krikkrai Songthanee, Koh Phangnan district chief, told AFP.

The acting mayor of Koh Tao, one of Southeast Asia's finest diving spots, said boats to Chumphon on the mainland were crammed with tourists, but several thousand guests were still on the island likely to brave the storm.

Pabuk was packing winds of 104 kilometers per hour (65 mph) but was unlikely to intensify into a full blown typhoon, according to forecasters.

"But we expect waves as high as five or seven meters near the eye of the storm. Normally in the Gulf of Thailand there are only two metre high waves," Phuwieng Prakammaintara, director general at the Thai Meteorological Department, told reporters.

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"It's difficult to predict the severity of the storm so people should comply with authorities' recommendations."

On Koh Samui, the closest of the trio of islands, a Russian man drowned on Wednesday after his family ignored warnings not to go into the sea.

"A family of three went swimming but the strong current caught a 56-year-old man who drowned," Police Captain Boonnam Srinarat of Samui Police told AFP.

"Island officials announced the warning and put up the red 'danger' flags... but maybe the family did not think the situation was that serious."

Authorities on the island said they were preparing shelters for any tourists who decide to wait out the storm.

Pabuk, which means a giant catfish in Lao, is also expected to dump heavy rain across the south, including tourist hotspots in the Andaman Sea such as Krabi and the southernmost provinces bordering Malaysia of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala.

Source - TheJakartaPost

What makes Bali hotels so popular among luxury travelers?

Outstanding guest service, grace and genuine kindness are among the highlights of Bali's five-star properties, contributing to their regular inclusion in world's best hotel lists, according to Forbes Travel Guide CEO Gerard J. Inzerillo. 

"We have some incredible hotels on our list in Bali, and of course leading the way are the two Four Seasons properties and The Villas at Ayana Resort Bali. Though these Forbes Travel Guide five-star hotels are particular standouts for an all-round commitment to excellence in service and facility, across Bali all the hotels on our list show a dedication to very high levels of guest service, grace and genuine kindness—we see this come through quite clearly in our numerous visits and evaluations of the area," Inzerillo told The Jakarta Post via email.

Forbes Travel Guide, which claims to be the only independent, global rating for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas, recently celebrated its 60^th anniversary and unveiled its latest list of worldwide Star Rating winners in February. Among the five- and four-star hotel winners in Indonesia are the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, The Villas at Ayana Resort Bali, Ayana Resort and Spa, Bali, Conrad Bali and Amandari.

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Currently there are 1,609 Forbes Travel Guide-rated properties across 50 countries. To determine the ratings, the Forbes Travel Guide’s ratings department vets each destination and identifies potential hotel, restaurant and spa candidates. A team of anonymous inspectors then conduct a short stay before assessing properties according to the organization’s set of 900 objective standards.

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Inzerillo added that as a destination Bali also nicely served the needs of family travel, a growing trend in luxury hospitality. 

"Accommodations that serve multi-generational guests who can be together in a villa setup—perhaps with some private facilities, such as a pool or access to a private chef, yet with all the conveniences of the main hotel or resort—is a growing need. Bali serves this need particularly well, offering the privacy /exclusivity aspect so many luxury travelers demand."

An avid traveler himself, Inzerillo said guests should expect more than stunning facilities when choosing to stay at a luxury property.

"While a stunning facility should rank high on a guest’s list of priorities in the luxury market, what is crucial is knowing you will receive a consistently high level of personalized service that strikes that fine line between being too attentive and too discreet," he said.

"Hotels that have staff committed to assisting every guest in a manner that serves each unique situation or preference in an intuitive manner is what will truly make for an all-round luxury experience. We like to say at Forbes Travel Guide that when the guest has to think, luxury stops." 

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Myanmar aims to attract more travelers from Japan

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               The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism aims to lure more Japanese travelers to the beaches of Myeik archipelago in the JATA Tourism Expo in Tokyo from January 21 to 24,

The ministry will be setting up booths which will showcase the pristine beaches and islands of the Myeik archipelago.

Regional tourism ministers of Tanintharyi Region, Kayah, Rakhine and Kayin states would also be attending the expo to promote tourism development in their areas, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said. 

Among those that will be highlighted at the expo are Ngapali beach, Ngwe Saung beach, Chaungtha beach and Myeik archipelago since 60 percent of Japanese out-bound travelers like to enjoy water activities for relaxation, U Ye Tun Oo, chief executive officer of Vivo Myanmar travel and destination management  company told The Myanmar Times.

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  “Japanese holiday makers will increase if we can create more water activities and attract more working-age travelers. Currently, our destination packages, such as Bagan, Mandalay and Inle lake, are only for retired persons,” U Ye Tun Oo said.

There were over 100,000 Japanese travelers who visited Myanmar in 2016, but only 15pc of them are tourists while 85pc are business travelers, cooperation workers and workers in INGOs.

Myanmar had a total of 2.9 million foreign tourists in 2016, a decline of  about 38pc from a year ago.  

“It doesn’t matter if the percentage of tourists decline, the more important factor is we need to have real tourists statistics which is our ministry’s responsibility. We want tourists to be satisfied during their trip and then share their experiences about our country to their friends. It is a word of mouth promotion,” said U Ohn Maung, union minister of hotels and tourism on July 29.

According to the tourist arrival statistics, travelers from Asia market -- the medium and short-haul countries -- are still main market for Myanmar rather than the long-haul market, U Ye Tun Oo said.

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We want tourists to be satisfied during their trip and share their experiences with their friends,” said Minister U Ohn Maung. The Myanmar Times

“If we can promote in China, South Korea and Japan in-bound markets that would be more reliable tourism development. That is why we need to extend to short and medium-haul markets,” he said.

However, beaches destination in Myanmar need to create more water activities for tourists because it is very weak at the moment. Basic infrastructure such as accessibility, public toilets along the high way road, recreation parks, as well as human resources development still needs a lot of improvement, he said.

The horse-cart drivers in Mingin in Sagaing Region and Inwa in Mandalay drive like they are in a horse-cart race when they take visitors. They should be trained to take better care of the visitors. We need to improve human resources skills first, U Thet Lwin Toh, chairman of Union of Myanmar Travel Association told The Myanmar Times.  

  

“If we will implement tourism development without preparing basic infrastructure for the tourists, they all will not return again. So we need to be well integrated with private, public and government to be prepared to satisfy our customers, “U Ye Tun Oo said. 

The  Ministry of Hotel and Tourism said that from January to end July a total of 2,019,749 tourists visited the country, a 22pc increase from the same period last year.

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Domestic and foreign tourists are seen at Pink Beach in Komodo National Park in West Manggarai

Tips for a beginner’s solo trip to Flores

Traveling solo to an unknown destination might sound like a terrifying idea. But there are advantages to taking a trip on your own.

First of all, as pointed out by lifehack.org, it is a great way to discover your true self, as being alone out there on the road will require you to make decisions, overcome fears and rely on yourself. There will be experiences that test your ability to overcome obstacles, challenge you and help you grow as an individual. Don’t forget, all these challenges and chances to grow come with the beauty of a new place you have never been to. Feel like packing your bag now?

Choosing a destination for your solo adventure is at once exciting and thrilling. Especially if it’s a place you’ve never been to. And if you’re looking for a beautiful destination with a healthy dose of challenge in one place, Flores is the answer. You will meet the natives with their distinctive culture, and some of them will probably offer to take you to the hidden gems in the area. Not to mention you will also meet fellow travelers who may end up becoming your new friends.

Here are a few tips to get you ready for the adventure as compiled by tempo.co:

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Take a flight to Ende from Denpasar if you are planning an overland journey. Bear in mind that upon landing, the locals will be rather pushy about offering their transportation services .

Typically, the next destination after Ende airport is Moni village, from where you can depart to the iconic Kelimutu lake for a spectacular sunrise. Another must-visit area is the town of Bajawa, famous for its cultural festivals, picturesque nature and natural hot springs. Consider also visiting Bena traditional village, spiderweb rice field, and trekking to Wae Rebo to see the authentic traditional houses where you can spend a night or two.

Meanwhile, if you are into island hopping around Komodo, choose a flight to Labuan Bajo from Denpasar. Living on board is a great option that will enable you to hop on and hop off the islands and beaches. Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Manta Point, Gili Laba, Kanawa Island and Padar Island make excellent places to include in your itinerary.

Source - TheJakartaPost 

Airbnb lists recommended travel destinations based on Chinese zodiac

According to Chinese beliefs, many aspects of people’s lives are determined by the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Hence, in this Lunar New Year, United States online home-rental service Airbnb has shared several travel destinations suggested for the 12 signs.

Those who fall under the rat sign (1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008) are recommended to visit South Korea, Canada (https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/5636845), Russia and China.

Meanwhile, those born in the Year of the Ox (1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009) may consider traveling to Taiwan, Japan, Australia or Bali, where you can ride the waves on Legian Beach by signing up for a surf lesson by Bang through an Airbnb Experience.

Spain is among destinations suggested for people born under the tiger sign, especially because you can stay in a cave with a garden facing the historical Alhambra in Grenada. Other countries that are recommended for you to visit are South Africa, France and Italy.

If you are born in the Year of the Rabbit (1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011) it is recommended to travel to Australia, Turkey or India, where you can learn how to dance Bollywood style with choreographer Gilles.

People with the mythical dragon as their sign, which includes 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000, are advised to go to Russia, Thailand, Poland or Denmark.

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Among the recommended destinations for people born under the snake sign, those born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001, are China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brazil, where you have the chance to discover Rio de Janeiro from the sea and visit famous Brazilian landmarks, such as Copacabana and the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Those born under the horse sign (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002) are suggested to explore the United States, India, Italy, Mexico or Bhutan.

Aside from being an auspicious destination for the ox sign, Australia also suits people born under the goat sign (1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 and 2003).  Savor the flavors of native Australian foods with a professional chef. Other countries that may bring prosperity to your sign are Singapore, Indonesia and Greece.

People who born in 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 and 2004 or under monkey sign should travel to Mongolia, Malaysia, Canada or the US and stay in a treehouse.

For roosters (1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005), fly to South Korea, Taiwan, Romania and Japan as they can learn calligraphy in the historical Zojoji Temple in Tokyo.

Those who are born in the Year of the Dog (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006) are recommended to take a trip to US where they can stay in a giant Beagle Bed and Breakfast in Idaho. They are also suggested to travel to Australia and Malaysia.

Last, those who fall under the pig sign (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 and 2007) are advised to go on a trip to Canada, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, where they can try sandboarding.

Airbnb has also shared the top city destinations for Chinese New Year 2018. The first rank is given to Bandung in West Java, while Denpasar in Bali is tied in second position. Jakarta is in third place, followed by Yogyakarta and Kuta in fourth and fifth positions, respectively. 

Source - TheJakartaPost