#Vietnam safe to travel around, tourism officials assure

.

Vietnamese tourism officials have stressed that the nation has the new coronavirus epidemic under control and it is a safe travel destination.

In a letter sent to foreign partners in multiple languages on Wednesday, Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration (VNAT), has affirmed that the country’s tourism sector has been actively responding to the Covid-19 epidemic.

"Since the outbreak of the disease last December in China and the Vietnamese government declared it an epidemic on February 1, Vietnam has controlled the epidemic well. The treatment and prevention measures have been effective, so there is no spread of Covid-19 in the community," the letter says.

Of 16 people infected with the virus so far, seven have been discharged from the hospital.

.

.

The letter says the administration has cooperated with localities and travel agencies to take urgent measures to prevent and minimize the risk of infection and ensure safety for tourists. Tourist attractions have been sanitized, and face masks and brochures on preventing any infection are being handed out to visitors.

Vietnam’s tourism sector constantly prioritizes the safety of international tourists, it notes, adding that tourist attractions, historical sites and restaurants remain open to serve them.

The letter allaying visitors’ concerns over the Covid-19 has been written in the context of a dramatic drop in tourism since Vietnam first confirmed two Covid-19 infections on January 23.

Hanoi had seen 19,300 international tourists cancel hotel bookings as of February 6. Khanh Hoa Province, home to travel hotspot Nha Trang where 70 percent of tourists are Chinese, now has 5,000 empty rooms and 5,000 unemployed tourism staff, local data shows.

 The Covid-19 epidemic could cost Vietnam $5.9- $7.7 billion in Q1 tourism revenues this year, or about 25 percent of the industry's revenue last year, the VNAT estimates.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam suspended flights to and from China starting early this month.

The epidemic has struck at a time Vietnam has enjoyed a tourism boom, with visitor numbers last year growing 16.2 percent year-on-year to a record high of 18 million. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has put Vietnam seventh among world’s 10 fastest-growing tourist destinations.

The Covid-19 outbreak, with its epicenter in China’s Wuhan City, has so far infected more than 60,000 and killed 1,369 people, almost all of them in China. It has been detected in around 30 countries and territories so far.

Source - VN Expess

The Eiffel Tower is the world's most popular tourist attraction according to Instagram

With Instagram having replaced the good old postcard in the hearts of travelers, the Iron Lady has become the most immortalized attraction on the social network, garnering some 5,849,737 hashtags, according to a report by application Motif. 

How many among us have taken a photo of an iconic monument over the holidays? Chances are that those who did took a photo of the Eiffel Tower, which dominates the listing of the most hashtagged tourist attractions on Instagram.

The Parisian icon is ahead of the Las Vegas Strip, (4,802,560 mentions), and NYC's Times Square (3,949,217 hashtags). The US is further represented on the list by the Grand Canyon, with its 3,433,049 tags. 

There are no Asian destinations in the listing, while the Middle East is represented by the tallest tower in the world, Dubai's Burj Khalifa (3,502,116 hashtags). London comes in with Big Ben (3,007,317 hashtags) and the London Eye (2,980,066 hashtags). 

.

MacOS-native photo-integration Motif came up with the listing by analyzing the number of hashtags published to Insta since the social network's October 2010 debut, extrapolating the data to identity the most visited destinations and cities worldwide.

The next two most popular French destinations on the ‘Gram are Disneyland Paris (3,940,249 hashtags) and the Louvre (2,919,469 hashtags).

.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Philippines - Freedivers showcase ‘under the sea’ wonders of Moalboal

CEBU CITY, Philippines–They are not mermaids (or mermen) but freedivers, the collective term used to describe individuals who swim with no scuba gears, have definitely spent time with turtles and schools of fish under the sea.

Freedivers practice an underwater sport called freediving, which does not rely on any breathing apparatus. Instead, freedivers are master breath-holders wearing only fins and snorkel masks to commune with nature underwater.

Freediving is often described as “extreme” but the sport is not about throwing caution to the wind.

It requires ample amount of discipline, training, and patience.

Taking advantage of the long weekend from August 25 to 26, some freedivers gathered at Nicco’s Place, an affordable accommodation which serves as the home for many freedivers in the southern Cebu town of Moalboal.

Moalboal is about 85 kilometers from Cebu City.

Nicco’s Place, which is located in Barangay Basdiot, was their base for a two-day adventure.

It is only 1.9 kilometers from Panagsama Beach. Right across Panagsama Beach is Pescador Island, one of Moalboal’s main dive spots known for its rich marine life which attracts divers from all over the world.

 Under

One of the freedivers 

was Xyza Cortes, a practicing nurse.

“(As freedivers), we advocate for seeing or interacting with the underwater creatures in their natural habitat,” says the 30-year-old former swimmer.

Xyza was born in Cebu and raised in the town of Aurora in Zamboanga del Sur.

She came back to Cebu during her college years and finished her Nursing degree at the University of Cebu Banilad.

Xyza then worked in Abu Dhabi from 2015 to 2017.

In 2017, she left Abu Dhabi and then worked as a nurse in a private hospital in Cebu. Currently, she works as a US registered nurse in a private company in Cebu.

 .

.

 Nobody introduced Xyza to freediving.

“I worked overseas so basically, I am not a fan of any sport until I ‘met’ freediving,” says the resident of Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

But perhaps the ocean called her because she saw a freediver while she was snorkeling/scuba diving in Moalboal.

“I asked a few locals. I gave it a try. It was way beautiful and marvelous than I expected,” she shares.

Xyza then took an introductory course and the love affair with underwater creatures developed from then on.

Hendrix Gil Lato, an architect by profession, spent most of his childhood years in Barangay Libas, Merida, Leyte where he learned how to swim.

“I grew up in a provincial setting. Our house was in between the mountain and the sea so I had that connection to nature as a child,” he shares.

Hendrix, also a painter and illustrator, says he learned about freediving from Lester Taboada, a fellow friend from an artist group called Artkada.

It was Lester who introduced him to Sawum Freedivers in 2017.

Hendrix has been freediving for two years, a hobby that helped him appreciate the ocean and opened his eyes to protect it even while having fun.

“I joined clean-up drives and ocean conservation groups. The freediving skills I learned came in handy when I was doing volunteer works to protect the oceans,” says the 29-year-old artist and resident of Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.

Source - Cebu Daily News

Helicopters high over Halong Bay, #Vietnam

Your visit to Vietnam’s Halong Bay, a cruising Mecca for half a century, can now be enjoyed from above. The Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company will now provide scenic flights over the famous bay, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam.

Flights will start at $125 (3,920 baht) for a 12 minute flight – that will take you over six tourist sites, including Thien Cung cave, Titop island and Bai Tu Long Bay.

.

You can choose to take flights up to 40 minutes in length which will cost you $396 (12,400 baht) which will take you over 17 different landmarks around the Bay.

Halong Bay was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List 25 years ago and is filled with more than 1,600 limestone islands and islets, a similar landscape to Phang Nga Bay, north of Phuket in Thailand.

.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

.

Two Bell 505 helicopters service the Halong Bay Scenic Flight service. Flights depart from and arriving at Tuan Chau island, which is about 170 kilometres from the country’s capital Hanoi. The helicopters will carry up to three passengers per flight and promise breathtaking views thought large windows adapted for the scenic flights.

Hai Au Aviation is also operating scenic flights over Halong Bay, this time by seaplane. The 25 minute flights takes off and land from the water at Tuan Chau Island Marina. The costs for the scenic flights by seaplane are also up around the $120 (3,750 baht) mark, depending on the season and includes views of Dau Be Island, Cong Do Island and Bo Hon Island.

.

Source - The Thaiger

#Vietnam - New helicopter allows aerial enjoyment of Ha Long Bay

A helicopter tour launched by a Vietnamese firm adds an extra dimension to the enjoyment of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

Starting May 10, visitors have been invited to book the Ha Long Heli Tours through Fastsky, the country’s first helicopter ride-sharing service run by ride-hailing firm FastGo.

The tour, provided by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company, uses two U.S.-made Bell-505 helicopters with five seats each.

The journey will start from the Tuan Chau heliport and go over famous Ha Long Bay attractions including the Thien Cung Cave and Ti Top Island, as well as Bai Tu Long, a lesser-known neighbor of Ha Long Bay.

.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

.

The trips, which start at $125 for a 12-minute journey, aim to tap the growing number of tourists to Vietnam, mainly from China, the world's second biggest economy, the company stated.

China has been Vietnam's main source of tourists in recent years, accounting for one third of all foreign visitors. More than four million Chinese visitors arrived in Vietnam last year, up 48.6 percent year-on-year.

Chinese visitors have also been encouraged by a new policy that allows groups to visit the border province of Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam, home to the popular Ha Long Bay, for up to three days without a visa.

The Vietnamese government has also allowed Chinese nationals to apply for 30-day single-entry electronic visas for holidays and business trips.

Visitors have two other options - 25-minute and 40-minute journeys, costing VND4 million ($172) to VND7 million ($301).

.

.

Around four hours drive to the east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay was recognized as world heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO, and voted among the world’s seven new natural wonders by Swiss organization New Open World in 2011.

Recent events that have heightened the bay’s attraction include the filming of "Kong: Skull Island", a Hollywood blockbuster, in 2017; and the launch of Vietnam's first private airport Van Don International Airport late last year, providing foreign tourists with easier access.

Improved infrastructure makes the UNESCO-listed bay increasingly accessible.

However, the tourism boom has also left the once-pristine bay under mounting pressure, threatened by overcrowding and trash pollution that have sparked great concern among environmentalists and heritage experts.

U.K. travel site Rough Guides recently included Ha Long Bay in the top ten UNESCO heritage sites in Asia.

In 2015 the bay was hailed by U.S. travel guide site Smarter Travel as one of the best ecological spots in the world. U.S. news site Business Insider has described an overnight Ha Long cruise trip a "must-try" travel experience in Asia.

Source - VN Expess

#Cambodia - Tourist arrivals up by 10 percent - Chinese up by 35%

Tourist-at Phnom Penh Airport

A Tourism Ministry report published on Friday said that Cambodia saw a 9.7 percent increase of foreign tourist arrivals during the first quarter of this year.

According to the report, Chinese tourists top the country’s tourism market list with 683,436, a number that increased from quarter to quarter by 35.1 percent. Vietnamese tourists ranked second with 186,863, followed by Laos with 121,489 tourists, Thailand with 97,942 tourists and South Korea with 95,719 tourists.

A total of 1.29 million tourists arrived in the Kingdom via three international airports, while 578,371 arrived via land and waterway.

The report said Phnom Penh and its surrounding areas are the most attractive destinations for international tourists. The area received a total of 1.08 million tourists during the first three months of this year.

Siem Reap province, home to the Angkor temples, received about 787,900 foreign tourists, while coastal provinces such as Preah Sihanouk, Kep, Kampot and Koh Kong received 303,285 tourists.

In a recent meeting, Tourism Minister Thong Khon called on relevant parties to increase the quality of tourism services.

.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

Mr Khon said poor hospitality in the tourism sector has been reported, particularly in visa processing which requires tourists to spend informal expenses.

Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, yesterday echoed Mr Khon’s statement. She said poor hospitality in the sector can discourage tourists from returning to the Kingdom.

“With nine to 10 percent growth, we are not satisfied because there are many issues we need to overcome. Other Asean countries try hard to attract foreign tourists and make them stay longer,” Ms Sivlin said. “We have to learn and try our best to get those in the private sector and the government to strengthen tourism services.”

“In terms of hospitality, we see some progress, but only small points,” she added. “When we offer poor services to tourists at border gates, tourists are not satisfied and will end their stay earlier.”

Ms Sivlin noted that the domestic production of goods to be sold to tourists should be increased, so local producers can benefit from tourists.

According to a Tourism Ministry Facebook post, Mr Khon said while most tourists arrived via airports, domestic flights are in need of a boost.

“Foreign tourists want to be able to take a plane from Sihanoukville in order to visit Angkor Wat,” he said. “It is easy to go on cruise ships, but domestic air services are difficult.”

Last year, Cambodia received 6.2 million tourists, with the tourism sector earning $4.3 billion.

This year, Cambodia expects to welcome 6.7 million tourists, while it expects to receive seven million by 2020.

Source - KhmerPost

#Cambodia - Unesco, ministry vow stronger cooperation

Unesco pledged to continue working closely with the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism to promote the conservation and sustainable development of Cambodia’s ecotourism sector and support government plans to develop tourism sites in Siem Reap province, including the Angkor Archaeological Park.

During a meeting with Thong Khon, the Cambodian Minister of Tourism, Sardar Umar Alam, Unesco’s new representative to Cambodia, said that, under the leadership of the Cambodian government, his organisation is collaborating successfully with the ministries of Tourism and Culture, the Apsara Authority and the World Tourism Organisation.

He promised to deepen this collaboration to make the Angkor Archaeological Park and surrounding areas, including the Tonle Sap and Prek Toal, into top tourist attractions and biodiversity areas in the region.

.

Booking your Flight, Hotel or Resort now

.

Mr Umar Alam also provided suggestions on improving the conservation of the Tonle Sap, Kulen Mountain, Preah Vihear Temple, Koh Ker, Beng Mealea, and Sambor Prei Kuk, which, he said, can be added to travel packages that include ecotourism sites in the country’s southwest and northeast.

Mr Umar Alam said his organisation will continue to organise programmes to promote the development of Cambodia’s ecotourism and culture sectors, while supporting the Integrated Development Master Plan in Siem Reap, Angkor and surrounding areas.

Source - Khmer Times

#Vietnam - Son Doong Cave an incredible find

The Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh Province is among the most incredible places in the world recently found, The Telegraph says.

The cave, part of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam, is the world’s largest, but it did not feature on Vietnam’s tourism map until it was opened for tourists in 2013.

The Telegraph has included the once-hidden cave on the list of 11 newly-discovered places that are worth an amazing exploration journey.

Son Doong opened to tourists in 2013, four years after members of the British Cave Research Association concluded their initial exploration and declared it the world's largest cave.

The five kilometer-long system, which is 150 meters high and 200 meters wide, contains at least 150 individual caves, a dense subterranean jungle and several underground rivers.

.

Booking your Global Hotel Online

.

 Due to limited space, registration for Son Doong tours must be made well in advance. According to Oxalis, now the only company licensed to bring tourists to the cave, only 300 spaces are available for 2019 tours.

A four-day expedition costs $3,000, and there are bus routes running from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, the capital town of Quang Binh, and then to the park.

The Quang Binh government recently raised the limit for number of tourists allowed to visit the cave from 640 to 900 a year.

Other incredible places that are recent finds include the Pico da Neblina mountain in Brazil, Xianren Bridge in China, Cape Melville in Australia, Machu Picchu citadel in Peru and Mount Mabu in Mozambique.

Last month, the U.K.-based travel guide publisher, Lonely Planet, named Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh among the best places to visit in 2019.

The New York Times has named it among the world’s top eight travel destinations, while the National Geographic has called it a "natural wonder."

 Source - VN Express

.

.

#Cambodia’s bid to be ‘New Macau’ stirs old wounds as Chinese cash in

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia — A businessman leaves a smoky room $1,500 poorer from a game of Baccarat at a casino in Sihanoukville — an increasingly common scene in the Cambodian beachtown as it becomes a honeypot for Chinese gamblers and investors at a pace worrying marginalized locals.

“It’s not so bad if I lost tonight,” said Dong Qiang, adding: “I will try my luck tomorrow.”

.

.
The coastal capital of Preah Sihanouk province — named after Cambodia’s revered late king — was once a sleepy fishing community before being claimed first by Western backpackers, and then wealthy Russians.

Today it is Chinese investment that is transforming the province — into a sizeable gambling playground for mainland tourists.


“Some gamblers lose hundreds of dollars in less than 20 minutes,” an employee from a casino told AFP, requesting anonymity.

Casinos are banned in China, although the enclave of Macau — often dubbed the “Las Vegas of Asia” — has special laws allowing a massive gambling trade.

But Sihanoukville is becoming a popular alternative. There are around 50 Chinese-owned casinos and dozens of hotel complexes under construction.

Around 30 percent of Sihanoukville’s population are now Chinese, according to the provincial governor, who said this number ballooned in the past two years.

At the Oriental Pearl Casino, business is brisk. Ten Chinese men sit silently while their cards are shuffled across the green felt table, chain-smoking under the neon glare from a nearby bank of “50 Dragons” slot machines.

But while millions of dollars change hands on the casino floors, insiders say the big money is made in “secret rooms” hosting online gambling sites.

China’s largesse.
.

.
Cambodia’s love affair with its communist neighbor has meant a sizeable cash injection for the once-impoverished Southeast Asian country. Billions have flowed into its economy but with few questions asked about China’s abysmal rights record.

Preah Sihanouk’s governor said $1 billion has been invested by Chinese government and private businesses between 2016 and 2018.

And China’s largesse is none more apparent than in Sihanoukville, a nexus of Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” infrastructure plan, which includes a planned highway to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh.

China has also sought high-profile military exchanges, fuelling speculation that it wants to build a naval base off the Cambodian coast in Koh Kong province, north of Sihanoukville, with ready access to the flashpoint South China Sea.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen vehemently denied the port-building claims, despite the recent docking of three hulking Chinese warships at Sihanoukville’s port.

He also returned from a recent trip to Beijing with the promise of $588 million in aid and an increase in bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2023.

Price hikes

Real estate prices in the town have skyrocketed in the past two years, increasing from $500 per square meter to five times that for homes close to the sea, real estate firm CBRE told AFP.

The provincial governor describes Chinese money as “a diamond and golden chance for all”.
“They bring money to invest because they see our potential,” Yun Min said.
Yet swathes of new development make it harder to settle old disputes over ownership in a kingdom where land has been commandeered by prominent, government-connected tycoons and wealth and influence trump the rule of law.

“The huge Chinese investment in Preah Sihanouk province has no benefits for the poor,” said Sun Sophat, a representative of the Spean Chheah community, which has camped out on a roadside refusing to be moved from lands they say have been sold from under them by a local tycoon.

“The benefits go only to the wealthy and the powerful.”
Boeun Kang, who has lived on the road next to the disputed land for 11 years, said her desire is simple — to own a 20×30 meter plot of land, which she is willing to die for.
“We don’t know when they will take this land, but we are all ready,” she told AFP. “We are ready to die here.”

Some local shops and restaurants grumble that they have been forced to close while Chinese-owned ones now stud prime spots, and NGOs say large hotels and resorts pump out uncontrollable amounts of sewage and rubbish.

Governor Yun Min said on balance things have improved for locals thanks to the Chinese imprint.

Income has doubled from $1,700 a year in 2015.

But he conceded that the money, casinos and a surging population had also brought trouble.
The Interior Ministry last year assigned a taskforce to handle the influx of people and a rise in some crimes — such as kidnappings, extortion and prostitution.
“The situation is under control,” said Yun Min.

He added: “These (problems) exist but after we are done with (the development), it will be clean and we will get a lot more benefits from it.” 

Source - Inquirer.net

Relieve your holiday stress with seven simple steps

The holidays are an exciting time for many, but for others, it’s a time filled with a lot of stress. Whether grappling with never-ending to-do lists, shopping for gifts or decorating your home, things can quickly get overwhelming.

According to the American global health insurance company Cigna’s 360° Well-Being Survey for 2018, Indonesia is one of the world’s least-stressed nations. Only 75 percent of people say they suffer from stress, compared to a global average of 86 percent. But this percentage often goes up during the holiday season.

If you’re currently feeling the holiday stress, look no further. We’ll cover seven steps you can take to keep your holiday stress in check.

.

.

Start with a plan

Planning for the holiday season is the first step to reducing stress. Speaking of the gift-exchange tradition, you may want to avoid last-minute shopping sprees, so that you can spend more time with your loved ones.

Buy your gifts a few weeks before the holidays. Decide which stores you’ll visit and how much time you’ll spend shopping. If you plan on buying online, order everything days in advance to avoid shipping delays.

Traveling during the holidays? Be sure to plan for that as well. Despite the rainy and slightly higher temperatures in December, places like Bali and Jakarta become crowded during the holiday season.

Give yourself enough time to plan how you will travel, where you will stay and what activities you’ll do. Stick to your plan as closely as possible, but be flexible to change your plan if something doesn’t go right.

Keep your finances in check

The holiday season is also a time when everyone expects to spend a lot of money. Even though spending money during this time of year is inevitable, you can keep things under control by creating a budget.

Take some time to review your finances and figure out how much you can spend on gifts. Don’t buy expensive items that could affect your ability to cover your bills. You can also think of creative gifts that don’t involve money.

For example, you can offer to help a family member set up decoration or babysit your friend’s child for a weekend, so they can spend quality time with their partner. They’ll appreciate you for it.

.

.

Set aside time for yourself

Giving yourself some alone time is another excellent way to manage seasonal stress. You need to set some time during the day to relax and clear your mind. Even if it's just 30 minutes, you’ll feel a lot better when you allow yourself some alone time.

There are many ways to unwind. You can go out to a park and enjoy nature, find a quiet place in your home, or listen to music. It doesn’t matter what you do. Just find something that will get your mind off all the commotion of the holidays.

If you live in Jakarta, you can visit mangrove forest in Pantai Indah Kapuk to get some alone time. The place has a relaxing atmosphere and is perfect for escaping the holiday crowd in the city center. Or better yet, you can go to Bogor for a quick escape.

Get physical

Exercise might be the last thing on your mind during the holiday season, but it can help you reduce your stress level and improve your mood. You don’t have to do intense, long workouts to feel the benefits of exercise.

Start with a goal of doing at least 15 minutes of physical activity at least three times a week. You can pick any exercise you want — whether it's walking, jogging, biking, swimming or other sport. Stick to a routine, and you’ll notice yourself feeling a lot more relaxed during the holidays.

If you don’t have a gym membership, you can also use the holiday season as a reason to get one. Instead of waiting for the new year, start your membership weeks before the holidays begin. Doing so will help you build the habit of exercise into your daily schedule.

Watch what you eat

While it’s important to keep your body in shape, you should also keep track of what you eat. It’s very tempting to overindulge in unhealthy food when you’re feeling stressed out, but this can do more harm than good.

Instead of filling up on unhealthy snacks and fatty foods, add some fruits and vegetables to your diet. If you’re hosting a holiday dinner, you can also change your recipe to offer your guests healthier options.

Eating an occasional candy bar or dessert is okay. Just don’t overdo it. Keep your consumption of junk food moderate and you’ll feel a lot better about yourself.

Express more gratitude

One way to feel less stressed during the holidays is to think about all the people and things that make you feel grateful. Research shows that people who practice daily gratitude live happier and healthier lives.

Gratitude also helps you build stronger relationships and enjoy positive experiences. There’s always something to be grateful for, whether it's your family, friends, community or pets.

The more you can appreciate what you already have, the less stress you’ll feel over the holidays. You’ll also be able to put everything into perspective and see that things aren’t as bad as you imagine them to be.

Get professional help if you need it

If you’ve tried everything you can but still end up feeling stressed and irritable, then it may be a sign of a bigger problem, such as depression. In this case, the best option would be to contact a doctor or mental health professional.

Your doctor will be able to explain different strategies you can use to improve your mood and prescribe medication if needed.

Summing up the above, you should be ready that things may not always go as you wish during the holidays. That’s okay — you don’t need to drive yourself crazy trying to make everything perfect. Take the pressure off yourself and accept things as they happen.

If you’re unable to visit your friends or family over the holiday season for whatever reason, you can still keep in touch with them through technology. Send a thoughtful text message, call them or use social media to stay in touch.

Surrounding yourself with those who care about you will not only put you in the holiday spirit, but it will also relieve your stress quickly.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Forget Aspen. Carbondale is Colorado’s hottest summer playground

Barely 30 miles northwest of Aspen, in the shadow of the majestic Elk Mountains, tiny Carbondale is becoming Colorado’s most exciting summer destination.

True, the town has more family-owned cattle ranches than Michelin stars, and there are still more farm stands than white tablecloth spots. The restaurant best poised to elevate the town’s status doesn’t even have a proper dining room.

Instead, at the Guest House, French Laundry alumna Seth O’Donovan serves her experimental farm dinners outdoors, usually next to a horse paddock or in a roomy tree house that surveys 1,200 acres of pristine Colorado pastures. Meals include savory links of deer sausage served with soft, house-made cheese and a mind-bending dessert of carrots with butter and cinnamon, cooked to the point where they almost resemble pie filling. 

Those who come for her experimental, starlit dinners can roll into an assortment of rustic cabins on the property, many of which date back to the 1940s. In two years, O’Donovan aims to turn the main house on her property into a five-star, eight-room hotel.

Some of Aspen’s best chefs are catching on. Down on Main Street, a new izakaya is soon to be opened by Aspen sushi master Kenichi Kanada. Down the same road, Mladen Todorovic and Kyle Raymond, two transplants from Aspen’s seafood-centric Grey Lady and brunch favorite Over Easy—are collaborating on Roosters, which will soon serve crepes in the morning and rotisserie-based entrees by night. “The produce that we can get in the summer in Colorado is amazing. We want to accentuate that,” Raymond told the Sopris Sun, a Carbondale newsweekly.

READ CONTINUE

2018 Asian Games: Time for Indonesia to shine

The year of 2018 is a busy time for sporting events, with not only the World Cup in Russia but also the upcoming Asian Games, which will be hosted by Indonesia in Jakarta, the country’s capital, and Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra.

Driving through the roads of Jakarta, one can see the city preparing for the 18^th Asian Games with banners installed around the city, old sports facilities being renovated and new infrastructure being built to support the games.

Though Indonesia is no stranger to hosting the Asian Games, being the host country at this time has many positive implications. The games will commence one day after Indonesia celebrates 73 years of independence. From August 18 to September 2, Indonesia will welcome around 15,000 athletes and distinguished delegates from 45 OCA member nations, the largest number in Asian Games history.

The first benefit of being the host is that Indonesia has the opportunity to strengthen the country’s national pride. Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, characterized by differences in language, culture and history.

The Asian Games logo, Energy of Asia, depicts the “strengthening spirit of the Games, participated in by multicultural nations shining for all the world to see.” This year, the mascots, Bhin Bhin, Atung and Kaka, wear traditional attire inspired by Papua, Jakarta and Palembang. Thus, hosting the Asian Games creates a space for unifying the country by bringing people from the various islands together under one country.

In addition, the Asian Games bring Asian countries together as a unified continent. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the largest multi-sport event after the Olympics, the Asian Games sheds positive light on the region to outshine the current political and maritime issues. In fact, amid the recent reconciliation talks between North and South Korea, both nations have agreed to march under a unified peninsula flag and form combined teams to compete in the games. This exemplifies the games’ promotion of peace and harmony in the region, and therefore, the world.

READ CONTINUE

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.

.

.

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.

.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

.

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

New Zealand to tax tourists to fund infrastructure

Mount Taranaki

New Zealand announced plans Friday to introduce a tourist tax and increase other fees for international visitors to fund infrastructure development in the face of a tourist boom.

Tourism numbers in the country of 4.5 million have surged by nearly a third in the past three years to 3.8 million in the year to April.

"This rapid growth has impacted on the costs and availability of publicly-provided infrastructure," tourism minister Kelvin Davis said.

"Many regions are struggling to cope and urgently need improved infrastructure, from toilet facilities to carparks."

A tax of NZ$25-35 (US$17-24) would be imposed on international visitors from mid-next year while price hikes for immigration fees and visas will take effect this November.

Australians and most Pacific Island forum countries will be exempt from the new charges.

Tourism is a key pillar of the New Zealand economy and the new tax is expected to raise up to NZ$80 million in its first year, which will be split between tourism infrastructure and conservation initiatives.

.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

.

The main opposition National Party claimed the new tax system would make New Zealand a "less attractive" destination.

But Davis believed the impact on tourist numbers would be minimal.

"When you're talking about the additional cost to, say, someone coming from the United States who are already paying about NZ$1,200, an extra NZ$25-NZ$30 isn't going to make that much of a difference," he said.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Thailand - Chon Buri beach polluted by garbage from sea

                             Local vendors and tourism operators are angry as a popular beach in Chon Buri's Sattahip district has been covered in garbage from the sea for over a week, chasing tourists away.

On Tuesday, waves continued to wash huge amounts of garbage on to the Ban Amphoe Beach in Tambon Na Jomthian.

The garbage, including plastic bottles, foam pieces, bamboo and wood pieces, has polluted the beach for more than half a kilometer, causing a bad odour in the area.

.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

.

Food vendors on the beach said they collected some of the garbage in the morning and evening but more garbage has washed ashore each day for more than a week.

They called on the authorities to step in to help clean up the beach to get tourists back.

.

Source - The Nation

China - Joint plan to encourage tourism

Photo taken on June 3, 2018 shows Wusi Square in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. The 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is scheduled for June 9 to 10 in Qingdao.

Member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are expected to sign a joint action plan for 2019-20 during the two-day summit in Qingdao to further boost tourism, a senior Chinese official said on Friday.

The new plan aims to offer more abundant tourism products, improve services, better secure the legal rights and safety of tourists and introduce new technology, such as big data analysis, said Xue Yaping, director of the tourism promotion and international cooperation department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

"SCO member countries are close neighbors," he said. "Their tourism features complement each other and thus create huge potential for the market."

Great achievements have been made in tourism in recent years. In 2017, China attracted 3.61 million international visits from citizens of other SCO member countries, up by 11.75 percent year-on-year. That included 1.67 million from Russia and about 800,000 from India, ministry data show.

On the other hand, Russia received 2.3 million visits from China last year, and India and Kazakhstan each received about 200,000, according to the ministry.

.

FOR THE BEST GLOBAL HOTEL & FLIGHT BOOKINGS

.

With the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese tourists have shown an increasing interest in Central Asia, which is along the primary route of the ancient Silk Road, Xue said.

However, the relatively complicated visa application procedures of Central Asian countries are sometimes a bottleneck, he said.

"More measures will be taken in the coming years to simplify visa application and customs procedures under the joint action plan," Xue said. "And we'll develop more tourism products to 'connect the dots', enabling Chinese visitors to travel to multiple Central Asian countries within one trip."

In addition, more "package products" that include the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan will be promoted in other SCO countries.

Since the China Railway Express to Europe has become a freight artery connecting many Chinese and European cities in terms of logistics, the rail network, which crosses Central Asia, can also be used for tourism to offer visitors abundant experiences.

"Such a cooperative platform (under the SCO) is mutually beneficial," he said. "We can understand each other's actual needs through more dialogue."

In May, top tourism administrators of SCO member countries met in Wuhan, Hubei province, where a draft was made for such a joint action plan.

Though Xue said there will be no specific target for the number of mutual visits within the next two years, he emphasized that comprehensive cooperation in tourism will have long-term effects.

Source- ChinaDaily

Samui Regatta returns on May 26

One of Asia’s biggest and most prestigious regatta events – the Samui Regatta will be celebrating its 17th year in 2018. This year, the week-long event will take place from May 26 to June 2.

As it has done every year since its inception in 2002, the Samui Regatta expects to welcome both famous yachts and knowledgeable sailing experts from all over the world to Koh Samui for great sailing, great parties and to experience all that the island has to offer.

Preliminary details can be found on the Samui Regatta website www.samuiregatta.com.

.

.

The event is organised by Regattas Asia in conjunction with the Samui Yacht Club Regatta, under the auspices of Surat Thani Province, the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Municipality of Koh Samui, the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, the Tourism Association of Thailand, the International Sailing Federation and the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand. It is hosted by Centara Grand Beach Resort – Samui, which is widely regarded as the “Home of the Samui Regatta”.

.

Source - TheNation

Chinese tourists just can't get enough of #Thailand

Tourism is the gift that keeps on giving in Thailand, thanks especially to China.

Visitors from the world’s most-populous nation surged to a record 1.2 million in February, swelled by the Lunar New Year holiday period, Tourism Ministry data released Wednesday in Bangkok showed. The kingdom expects 38 million tourists overall this year, including more than 10 million from China.

.

.

Thailand’s relationship with Chinese tourists has sometimes been rocky. Visitor numbers collapsed toward the end of 2016, when the Thai administration cracked down on operators bringing in large groups from China on cut-price holidays. Those curbs were eventually eased and numbers have since rocketed.

Tourism is worth about a fifth of the Thai economy and has been an important growth driver for the military government that took power almost four years ago. But the boom is clogging infrastructure and threatens to take a bigger environmental cost on the beaches attracting so many visitors.

.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Thailand - TAT seeks China’s help to stop damage by Chinese tourists

                             Frequent cases of Chinese tourists damaging coral reefs and other fragile sea natural resources have prompted the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to seek help from its Chinese counterpart.

Phanu Woramitr, director of the TAT office for Hat Yai, Songkhla and Satoon said on Tuesday that TAT has sent a letter to the Chinese tourism agency asking it to warn Chinese tourists to behave while visiting Thailand.

The Chinese tourism agency was asked to tell Chinese tourists to strictly observe Thai laws and regulations when they visit national parks, temples, seas and coral reefs to avoid damaging fragile natural resources.

Chinese visitors have been asked not to touch anything while visiting such places so they won’t cause damage, Phanu said.

He said park and provincial officials have also been alerted to help warn visiting Chinese tourists against damaging the places they visit.

.

.

 The chief tourism and sports officer for Satun, Atcharin Muangchan, said she has been compiling information about environmental damage caused by tourists, especially Chinese tourists, to coral reefs.

The information will be raised during a meeting to develop Satun tourism on March 2, which will be chaired by the Satun governor and will be attended by representatives from all relevant sectors, Atcharin said.

She said the provincial administration would produce pamphlets in the Chinese language to distribute to tourists to warn them against destroying fragile sea natural resources during their visit.

.

Source - TheNation

#Myanmar aims to attract more travelers from Japan

.

               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.

.

.

  “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.

.

.

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.

-