Archive for 2005
26 Dec, 2005
NGOs Warn of Downside of Liberalisation on Tourism, SMEs
Small and medium sized enterprises as well as independent hotels and tour operators in Thailand and other developing countries can expect to face more competitive pressure from global multinationals as a result of the World Trade Organization talks in Hong Kong last week. While timelines for the removal of European agricultural subsidies are pushed back […]
more…25 Dec, 2005
Over the festive season, ponder the difference between water and oil
Originally Published: 25 December 2005 My previous column ended by volunteering a forecast on what will happen next on the global stage. So, here goes. Economic law says that whenever a commodity faces a shortage, its price goes up. Look around and see what’s in short supply these days – and try looking beyond mere […]
more…19 Dec, 2005
Chinese Outbound Hit by Scams, Growing Pains
China’s outbound travel is booming but industry officials are still struggling to cope with some of its negative operational and administrative side-effects, an outbound travel seminar in Beijing was told last week. Yu Chang Jiang, Director, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism, indicated that the country still considered Thailand to be the origin of one its […]
more…16 Dec, 2005
Acts of God Show the Wrath of God
Originally Published: 16 Oct 2005 Mahatma Gandhi said: “Every affliction has its own rich lesson to teach, if we would learn it.” Since December 26, the day of the devastating tsunami tragedy, the world has seen a number of so-called “natural disasters” that have afflicted hundreds of thousands of people of all castes, colours and […]
more…12 Dec, 2005
How Being Part of a Beer Empire Can Help a Start-up Airline
KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand’s PBAir and India’s Kingfisher airlines are both offshoots of their countries’ respective beer conglomerates. But while PBAir acquired the personal initials of the company’s founder, the Indian start-up airline assumed the well-established brand of the beer – and is capitalising big-time on its huge market value. The brand and the huge marketing […]
more…12 Dec, 2005
Early Warning Against The Liberalisation ‘Tsunami’
When Executive Director of the Hong Kong Hotels Association James Lu spoke at the October 2005 summit of the Institute of Peace Through Tourism in Pattaya, he referred to the anti-globalisation protestors in Hong Kong this week as being “armed thugs.”
more…2 Dec, 2005
Caring For People With Disabilities
December 2 is the annual observance of United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons. The travel & tourism industry is beginning to focus on people with disabilities (PwDs) both as guests as well as employees.
more…28 Nov, 2005
As WTO Talks Approach, Warnings Grow Over Text on Services
With the World Trade Organization ministerial talks set to go into session on 13 December 2005, civil society groups are stepping up warnings about the implications of new references to “plurilateral” negotiations in the draft text on services, and urging developing countries not to sign anything until they understand all its implications in full. The […]
more…21 Nov, 2005
U.S. CEO’s Assess Cost Of Anti-Americanism
The link between the US government’s geopolitical/economic policies and its impact on US business has taken a step forward with last week’s release of a detailed survey which sounded out the views and opinions of US corporate leaders on rising anti-American sentiment worldwide
more…14 Nov, 2005
Airports To IATA, Take A Hike
AUCKLAND — Airports Council International, which represents the interests of over 1,530 airports in 175 countries and territories, is to recommend to its members that they cease involving the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in discussions on user-charges at global airports. A resolution to this effect passed at the ACI General Assembly in Auckland on […]
more…13 Nov, 2005
Treating the Symptoms and Not the Cause Is a Recipe for Death
Originally Published: 13 Nov 2005 As the war on Islam spreads both in depth and breadth, here’s a very simple question for the “international community”: At which global body/tribunal/court can the world’s Muslims seek settlement of unresolved political disputes peacefully, fairly and democratically? Certainly not the UN, where the US, Britain and France have a […]
more…7 Nov, 2005
Use Internet to Grow Markets, UNCTAD To Developing World
MAKING more efficient use of the Internet offers the least developed countries one of the most cost-efficient opportunities to grow their share of the global tourism market, according to a UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report. To be distributed at the World Summit on the Information Society starting in Tunis, Tunisia, on November […]
more…31 Oct, 2005
Consumers Wary of Booking Online, Survey Shows
Rosy forecasts by online travel research companies appear set to hit a reality check with alternative consumer surveys showing high levels of concern about online purchasing due to fears about privacy and identity theft. A new Survey of US Internet Users for Consumer Reports WebWatch says that Internet users are becoming “more demanding of Web […]
more…30 Oct, 2005
Rabin’s Death Anniversary – Time for Jews to do Some Soul-Searching
Originally Published: 30 Oct 2005 November 4, 2005 will mark the 10th anniversary of the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish terrorist named Yigal Amir. The violence that it spawned effectively fulfilled the killer’s aims of ending the Middle East peace process. It continues to this day, and has expanded […]
more…28 Oct, 2005
Anger Grows Over Bird Flu Double Standards
It so happened that the decision by Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical company, to share the manufacturing of Tamiflu for treating bird flu came less than a week after the virus was found to have landed in Europe.
more…24 Oct, 2005
Anti-Globalisation Protestors Prepare To Do Battle in Hong Kong
The battle-lines have been drawn for what promises to be a fiery 6 th Ministerial conference of the World Trade Organization in Hong Kong in mid-December. Nearly 40 anti-globalisation protest movements, many of which will be present in Hong Kong, last week issued a statement calling on governments of developing countries not to sign the […]
more…17 Oct, 2005
Some Aviation Statistics May Be “Fabricated”
Some of the statistics and figures being touted by the aviation industry may not “correspond with reality” and may even be fabricated, according to the chief statistician of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Writing in the latest issue of ICAO Journal, the quarterly publication of the Montreal-based organisation that regulates the global aviation industry, […]
more…10 Oct, 2005
Key Future Issues Flagged at Peace Through Tourism Summit
PATTAYA — Comments made last week at the Third Global Summit on Peace through Tourism here last week indicate the kind of issues set to emerge in the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry as it confronts the challenges of high security and changing geopolitical realities. Executive Director of the Hong Kong Hotels Association […]
more…3 Oct, 2005
PATA Chief Says Geopolitical Impact Deserves Discussion, Debate
The Bangkok-based Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) last week sought to take the industry agenda into uncharted territory, noting that travel & tourism could “no longer afford to ignore” the impact of geopolitical issues and the growing perception of a religious divide. An industry survey presented to the PATA board of directors last week said, […]
more…2 Oct, 2005
Tracking Global Feng Shui: Move the UN HQ from New York to Bangkok
Originally Published: 02 Oct 2005 The Thaksin government is pursuing the goal (dream?) of having Deputy Prime Minister Surakiat Sathirathai appointed U.N. Secretary General after the end of Kofi Annan’s term in January 2007. Here’s a much better idea: Back the call made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the 60th General Assembly session to […]
more…26 Sep, 2005
Organic Food Industry Terms Itself a “Liberation Movement”
A conference in Australia last week has focussed attention on the growing global market share of organic agricultural produce and suggested that the travel & tourism industry look seriously at boosting its usage in food & beverage outlets. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) President Gunnar Rundgren of Sweden said that the 1,000 delegates […]
more…19 Sep, 2005
Aichi Expo 2005 Flags Environmental Changes to Come
NAGOYA: Already facing higher costs of providing security, the travel & tourism industry can expect to face even more costs in switching to energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies as the sun sets on the era of cheap oil. A tour of the Expo 2005 here last week indicated strongly that Japan expects to be at the […]
more…12 Sep, 2005
City-Tourism Group Seeks More School-trips
FUKUOKA — A new travel organisation devoted to linking the tourism potential of Asia-Pacific cities is to focus on promoting overseas trips by the millions of schoolchildren in its member cities. The Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia-Pacific Cities (known simply as TPO), approved the proposal at its 2nd General Assembly here last week. Other plans […]
more…5 Sep, 2005
Study Finds Global Visa Curbs Increasingly Restrictive, Imbalanced
A study of global visa regimes has signalled that governments will have to reconcile their push for democracy, free trade and open-market globalisation with the increasingly restrictive and inequitable visa curbs on free movement of people. The study says that visa restrictions have created a system that “is one of highly unequal access to foreign […]
more…4 Sep, 2005
On 9/11 Anniversary, Look at the Whole Picture
Originally Published: 4 Sept 2005 A week today, the arrival of yet another anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy will see the global media again reverberate with the “war on terror” rallying cry. But before rolling up the sleeves and swinging into action against Islamic ‘jihadists’ or ‘Islamofascists’ or whatever else one wishes to call them, […]
more…29 Aug, 2005
Nepal Tries Rebranding, Shifts Marketing Focus to Asia
KATHMANDU – Facing the fallout from the negative publicity and travel advisories generated by a nagging Maoist insurgency, Nepal is reorienting its marketing strategies towards South and Southeast Asia, with Thailand being a primary target. An Indian company, Alchemy Social Infrastructure, has been hired to carry out a US$ 50,000 rebranding exercise that will be […]
more…25 Aug, 2005
Asians, Americans Have Different World View
Chinese and American people see the world differently – literally. While Americans focus on the central objects of photographs, Chinese individuals pay more attention to the image as a whole, according to psychologists at the University of Michigan.
more…22 Aug, 2005
NGOs Query Whether Post-Tsunami Rebuilding Has Been Sustainable
As the first anniversary of the tsunami nears, the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry will be judging the success of its recovery efforts by the number of visitors streaming back to the affected destinations. But a group of Asian and European non-governmental organisations last week put out a statement saying that they will be also […]
more…15 Aug, 2005
Firing of Thai Airways Boss Will Change Nothing
Of the many reasons cited for stripping the management powers of Kanok Abhiradee as president of Thai Airways International, the poor financial results of third quarter 2005 is certainly not the main one. Ensuring survival in one of Thailand’s most thankless jobs is not just about what you know but whom you know or perhaps […]
more…8 Aug, 2005
NGOs Protest Phuket-Andamans Twinning Agreement
A group of vocal Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have sent a strong letter of protest to Indian Congress party leader Mrs Sonia Gandhi over the agreement to twin Phuket with the Andamans. The letter, which addresses “the inappropriate choice of Phuket as model of tourism for the Andaman Islands”, may further cloud the Thai tourism […]
more…7 Aug, 2005
Vatican Shows Islamic World Where & How to Draw The Line
Originally Published: 07 Aug 2005 If the leaders of the Islamic world have been waiting for someone to show them where to draw the line in terms of how far they can be pushed around, the Vatican has just led the way. On July 29, the leaders of the world’s more than one billion Catholics […]
more…1 Aug, 2005
New Thai Airways Flights to Jo’burg Will Spur Asia-Africa Links
The launch of Thai Airways International’s flights to Johannesburg on December 3, 2005 will further boost the role of Bangkok as an Asian hub for contacts with Africa, set to be a major growth area of the future. THAI will be using its long-range A340-600 operating three flights a week under a code-share with South […]
more…25 Jul, 2005
TAT Faces Post-Tsunami Marketing Challenge
The Thai tourism industry is now dealing with an unprecedented marketing challenge – how to change the ‘mood’ of prospective visitors in order to overcome both the lingering effects of the force majeure tsunami as well as the ongoing negative publicity caused by man-made terrorism. The annual marketing meeting of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, […]
more…24 Jul, 2005
Wag The Dog Distractions: The Oldest Trick in the Book
Originally Published: 24 Jul 2005 “Soul-searching” of June 12 ended with this comment: “Today, ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ is on the wane. The real ‘Operation Infinite Justice’ has just begun. What’s likely to happen next? See the movie, ‘Wag the Dog’.” “Wag the Dog” is a Robert de Niro movie about a political distraction created by […]
more…18 Jul, 2005
Backlash Against Double-Standard UK Travel Advisories
The comment made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he knew of no specific intelligence that could have prevented the July 7 bombings in London has sparked outrage in Asia-Pacific travel industry about the double standards in issuing travel advisories against developing countries. Mr Blair told the House of Commons on 11 July 2005: […]
more…11 Jul, 2005
Who Is Really Terrorising Tourism? Watchdog Group Asks
BANGALORE: While the world was preoccupied last week with the London bombings, a group of vocal non-governmental organisations in India last week warned that they do not intend to lose sight of a parallel form of terrorism taking place right through the Asia-Pacific region. Although the NGOs were focussed on Indian issues, they warned that […]
more…4 Jul, 2005
No Use if Australia is “Loved” But Not “Visited,” Corporate Plan Says
PERTH: Released here last week, the 2006/08 corporate plan of the Australian national tourism organisation, Tourism Australia, contains a noteworthy comment: “Destination awareness is not destination demand – just because we’re loved doesn’t mean we’re visited.” In other words, the Australian ‘brand’ may elicit a generally positive feel among global travellers, thanks to the country’s […]
more…27 Jun, 2005
Bangladesh Executives Bemoan Tourism Woes
DHAKA — Bangladeshi travel & tourism officials and executives got a chance to let off some steam at a seminar on sustainable development organised here last week by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific and the World Tourism Organisation. Thirty four years since gaining independence and 32 years since the establishment of the […]
more…26 Jun, 2005
Those Who Send Others to Die for a Lie Are all Cut from the Same Cloth
Originally Published: 26 June 2005 The editor of Sunday Perspective emailed me last week thus, “Several readers have requested that you comment on Islam’s view on killing of innocent people by Muslims. Is it OK for Muslims to kill people who kill fellow Muslims?” The answers to both those questions are short and easy, but […]
more…20 Jun, 2005
Thai Industry Veteran Says 20 Million Visitors Would Be A “Disaster”
In a remarkable shift in tone and approach, the head of Thailand’s umbrella private sector industry association said last week that the target of achieving 20 million visitors by 2008 would be a ‘disaster’ for Thai tourism. After years of focussing on marketing designed to bring in the numbers at any cost, the comments by […]
more…13 Jun, 2005
Changing Media Landscape: Cultural Challenge To Globalisation
Although relations between the travel & tourism industry and the media are subjects of ad nauseum discussion at international conferences, they avoid core issues like media ownership, journalistic integrity and wider subjects like the ‘war on terror,’ and the impact on culture, conflict and geopolitics.
more…12 Jun, 2005
Courageous whistle-blowers are loyal to Constitutions, not to political leaders
Originally Published: 12 Jun 2005 The issue of ‘whistle-blowing’ regained some media attention week before last with the coming out of “Deep Throat,” the man credited with leaking the stories that ultimately led to the resignation of former President Nixon in August 1974. Whistle-blowing was the subject of this column way back on September 22, […]
more…7 Jun, 2005
‘Brand America’ Hit By U.S. Foreign Policy
The ‘deep unpopularity’ of US foreign policy is ‘dragging down’ its ‘nation brand’ and “may begin to have an effect on people’s acceptance” of US products, culture and tourism, according to a survey that claims to be the “first ever global poll of how the world sees the world.”
more…7 Jun, 2005
“Brand America” Hit By U.S. Foreign Policy
The ‘deep unpopularity’ of US foreign policy is ‘dragging down’ its ‘nation brand’ and “may begin to have an effect on people’s acceptance” of US products, culture and tourism, according to a survey that claims to be the “first ever global poll of how the world sees the world.”
more…6 Jun, 2005
“Fair Treatment Of Staff Will Lead to Fair Treatment of Customers”
Travel & tourism companies looking for ways to better retain and motivate staff to deliver quality customer service are being offered a very simple piece of advice – ensure they are treated fairly in the workplace. Employee retention and motivation are major issues in the highly competitive, globalised travel & tourism industry which relies heavily […]
more…30 May, 2005
Indonesia Faces Tourism Backlash From Aussies Upset by Drug Verdict
Travel and tourism relations between Indonesia and Australia appeared set to take another hit following the guilty verdict against 27-year-old beauty therapist Schapelle Corby by a Bali court last week. An outpouring of emotional reaction against the verdict included several callers to radio talk-shows and website public comments indicating that they “will never travel to […]
more…29 May, 2005
Australians Rage Over Schapelle Corby Verdict in Bali
The following is a roundup of reactions in Australia after Schapelle Corby’s sentencing on drug smuggling charges in Bali. I’M GOING TO BOYCOTT BALI TOO, SAY CALLERS May 28, 2005 http://www.theage.com.au/news/Corby-Case/Im-going-to-boycott-Bali-too-say-callers/2005/05/27/1117129896430.html Talkback callers were quick to voice their disgust yesterday after Schapelle Corby’s sentencing. Many vowed to boycott Bali as a destination, including one Melbourne […]
more…24 May, 2005
CIA Now Tracking Disease Risk in Asia, Africa
The US Central Intelligence Agency’s new World Factbook, which records 6 million visits each month, has just been expanded to include a “new category” listing the risks posed in 35 countries by infectious diseases.
more…24 May, 2005
Gargantuan A380 Aircraft Raises Fear Of Medical Emergencies
The A380’s ability to carry twice the number of passengers as many of today’s planes will almost double the chances that on any given flight someone will need urgent medical attention. Yet the air transport industry appears unprepared for this.
more…24 May, 2005
Indigenous Peoples Gaining A Voice
More than 300 million strong, the world’s indigenous peoples are beginning to make themselves heard in international arenas like the new United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, and at the national level, where their growing numbers are translating into political muscle.
more…18 May, 2005
Changing Lifestyles, Shifting Societies
Britain’s much vaunted ‘enterprise culture’ is little more than rhetoric, according to MORE TH>N Business. Research commissioned by the small business insurer, the direct arm of Royal & SunAlliance UK, found that alterpreneurs , not entrepreneurs, are the bedrock of Britain’s small business community. MORE TH>N Business has published the Health, Wealth & Happiness Report, […]
more…15 May, 2005
‘Islamophobia’ taking hold in the US
Originally Published: 15 May 2005 Since the 9/11 attacks, the most disturbing trend in the United States is the growing disparity in how American Muslims are being treated under the law on many different levels, says a report released last week by a prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group. Called “Unequal Protection,” the […]
more…15 May, 2005
Changing Lifestyles, Shifting Societies
How the early days of global change in 2005 were impacting on lifestyles, jobs, families and corporate life in Europe, China and Australia.
more…
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