Author Archive
24 Sep, 2019
First OpenTech Summit in Bangkok can help Travel & Tourism regain control of its destiny
Bangkok – Travel & tourism IT executives seeking to break the stranglehold of the technology mega-corporations now dominating everything from booking engines to data-mining may find some opportunities at an OpenTech Summit to be held for the first time in the Thai capital on Oct 1-2. Funded by Thailand’s National Innovation Agency and supported by […]
more…16 Sep, 2019
Have Your Say: The Rise and Fall of PATA
Bangkok – In 1994, exactly 25 years ago, this was the full membership list of PATA, excluding the chapter members. In 1999, exactly 20 years ago, PATA relocated its HQ from San Francisco to Bangkok to take advantage of the opportunities of a Rising Asia. Instead of rising to new heights, an organisation that had […]
more…13 Sep, 2019
UN launches new plan to ‘reaffirm the sanctity’ of religious sites, counter hate and violence
United Nations, 12 September 2019 – In a landmark document that should be must-reading across the entire Travel & Tourism industry, the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) on Thursday launched a new plan of action to “counter hate and violence around the globe”. It goes right to the heart of what this editor has termed […]
more…12 Sep, 2019
Minor Corp Chairman Bill Heinecke challenges value of “disruptive” technologies
Bangkok – Mr William Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Bangkok-based Minor Corporation, has raised some serious questions about the growing influence and impact of OTAs, ride-sharing services and other “disruptive” technologies that the travel & tourism industry is going ga-ga about. Speaking at the Thailand Focus 2019 Forum organised by the Stock Exchange of Thailand […]
more…10 Sep, 2019
PATA Foundation Chairman quits following “inquisition” by two Executive Board members
Bangkok – The Chairman of the PATA Foundation, Mr Peter Semone, has quit abruptly, less than a year before he was due to start an official process to hand over the baton. The shock resignation, the first of its kind in the Foundation’s history, comes in the midst of a major restructuring programme under way […]
more…9 Sep, 2019
“Colours of Africa” festival held in Bangkok to drive tourism, trade
Bangkok – Thousands of middle-upper income consumers from Thailand and tourists from all around the world were treated to a three-day “Colours of Africa” festival held in one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls over the 6 – 8 September weekend. The festival was intended to promote a better understanding of the African continent amongst […]
more…6 Sep, 2019
Insights, Information key to Thailand’s diplomacy and focus on “Holistic Sustainability”
Bangkok – Insights and information is the fuel that drives diplomacy, the ability to anticipate change and the pursuit of “holistic sustainability” in a rapidly changing world, Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, said in a speech on 5 September 2019. Addressing a gathering of Bangkok-based foreign diplomats at the relaunch of […]
more…17 Jun, 2019
Historians in, futurists out, as Thai tourism reflects on the next 60 years
Bangkok – As the Thai travel & tourism industry prepares to mark its 60th anniversary in 2020, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is turning to historians, not futurists, to help it chart a path forward. On June 5, the TAT’s annual trade show, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus, featured a talk on Thailand: The Greatest […]
more…31 May, 2019
60th anniversary book hails umbilical lifeline that bonds Thailand-Malaysia
Bangkok – Did you know that the first Prime Minister of Malaysia after its independence in 1957 was half-Thai? That the winner of the 1939 Miss Siam pageant was a Muslim who later married the Sultan of Perlis? That in 1979, Thailand would have been hit by a major power crisis had an emergency shipment […]
more…22 May, 2019
Exclusive Photographs: Timor-Leste’s faith-based tourism potential
Dili, Timor-Leste – On May 17, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded a conference on the theme of “Peace, Harmony and Fellowship: Faith-based Tourism Development” in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili. The event was organised under the USAID’s Tourism For All Project in collaboration with the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) and the […]
more…22 May, 2019
Timor-Leste promotes faith-based tourism as pathway to Peace, Harmony and Friendship
Dili, Timor-Leste – In a high-profile bid to energise its national tourism policy and craft a unique selling proposition, Asia’s youngest country has reached out to its religious leaders to back a new faith-based promotion strategy built around the dozens of elegant Lady of Fatima shrines and churches dotting the country. At the first conference […]
more…9 May, 2019
What on earth is the PATA CEO talking about?
The difference between a mediocre CEO and a great CEO is his/her ability to articulate a core leadership message in clear, simple language. This week, at the PATA Annual Summit in Cebu, board members will open their working papers to read the message below from CEO Dr Mario Hardy. Frankly, it left me scratching my […]
more…9 May, 2019
More preaching to the converted at the PATA Annual Summit 2019
In April 2018, the Philippines announced a six-month closure of Boracay, a draconian order unprecedented in the history of Asia-Pacific tourism. Referring to it as a “cesspool”, President Duterte ordered the shutdown to facilitate the cleanup of an island once grandiosely cited in the tourist brochures as being “pristine” and “unspoiled”. The move triggered a […]
more…29 Apr, 2019
Tourists out, turtles in at Conservation Centre run by Thai Navy
Phuket/Phang-nga, South Thailand – South Thailand’s famous beaches are visited by millions of tourists annually. But just a few kilometres off the coast of Phuket is an island where tourists are out, turtles are in. In an era when overtourism and beach closures are making headlines, Huyong island is a fine example of the need […]
more…30 Mar, 2019
Sustainable Development Forum flags chasm between rhetoric and reality
Bangkok — When Sabrina Rose Rasu, a young women’s rights activist from Vanuatu, spoke at the Sixth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development on behalf of the Youth and Civil Society movements, she said explicitly, “We demand system change.” In four crystal clear words, she pinpointed both the problem (The System) and the solution (the need […]
more…18 Mar, 2019
June 14, 2019: First Forum on The Greatest Story in Global Tourism HiSTORY
Bangkok – At 0900 hrs on March 18, exactly 59 years ago, what was then known as the Tourist Organisation of Thailand opened for business. Its duty, in the words of Gen Chalermchai Charuvastr, its first Director-General, was to promote visitor arrivals by “creating a wholesome image” of the Thai people. Editor’s Note The Forum […]
more…15 Mar, 2019
Revealed: How Alwin Zecha and I helped the TAT bring the PATA HQ to Bangkok
Alwin Zecha, who passed away on 12 March 2019, was a passionate believer in the grandeur and glory of Asia. His multi-cultural background and multi-lingual capabilities allowed him to convert his passion into action, using the travel & tourism industry and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) as conjoined conduits. He was the first to […]
more…13 Mar, 2019
As garbage mountains pile up, young Southeast Asian leaders seek ecotourism solutions
Luang Prabang – Appalled by the mountains of garbage and waste being generated by tourists and local citizens, emerging young leaders from Southeast Asian countries ended a five-day workshop in this UNESCO World Heritage City by pitching a broad range of reduce-reuse-recycle solutions designed to cutback everything from household waste and street trash to plastic […]
more…8 Mar, 2019
What the “Industry of Peace” can learn from the Indo-Pak conflict
In 2018, the South Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka) received a total of 27.9 million tourists, a minuscule market share of 2% of the 1.4 billion tourists recorded globally. By contrast, the Southeast Asian countries received 129.3 million visitors (market share: 9.2%) and the Northeast Asian countries 168.4 million (market share: […]
more…4 Mar, 2019
ITB Berlin good place to start monitoring “mental health” of Travel & Tourism executives
As the ITB Berlin, the world’s largest trade show, gets under way today, it may be a good time to shine a light on one of the most important UN Sustainable Development Goals – improved global health, or more specifically, mental health. “Health and Wellness” is one of the most high profile niche-market segments of […]
more…18 Feb, 2019
Travel Impact Newswire Editor quits PATA membership. Here’s why.
Bangkok – This year, PATA began its third decade in Asia. I marked the occasion by terminating my membership. It was not an easy decision, but one I feel will actually benefit PATA over the long run. Everyone joins an association, or any club or organisation, for a reason. Mostly, it is to grow a […]
more…7 Feb, 2019
How Social Media is Dehumanising Humanity
Global communications, both professional and personal, is dominated by social media. Like legacy airlines and travel agents, the mainstream channels of media and marketing, such as newspapers, magazines, TV and Radio, are gradually losing ground to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the like. Note from the Editor This inaugural column by Reshma Dhewan, a […]
more…6 Feb, 2019
The best analysis of Thailand’s 2018 record-breaking visitor arrivals
Bangkok — A detailed and comprehensive analysis of Thailand’s 2018 visitor arrivals and expenditure released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports last week show some fascinating results that will have long-term implications for Thailand, ASEAN and the entire Asia-Pacific region. The two charts below show total Thai visitor arrivals and expenditure by month. More […]
more…11 Jan, 2019
Thailand plans seven ASEAN centres in 2019 to enhance regional sustainability, security and culture
Bangkok – Seven ASEAN Centres that could provide significant intellectual support for the growing challenge of managing the region’s rapidly growing travel & tourism industry are expected to be established/upgraded in Thailand over the course of 2019, when the kingdom will hold the chairmanship of the 10-member grouping. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Division Director […]
more…8 Jan, 2019
In “disruptive” move, Thai Tourism Minister publishes stats on scams, cheats and rogue cabbies
Bangkok – Thai Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat has taken an extraordinarily “disruptive” step by publicly releasing the results of a crackdown by the Thai Tourist Police on hundreds of scams, frauds and other illegal actions faced by visitors to Thailand between Jan-October 2018. This is arguably the first time that any Tourism Minister worldwide has […]
more…24 Dec, 2018
Looking to liven up a boring tourism conference? Call “The Intrepid Traveller”
Many in the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry are familiar with publications such as TTG Asia, industry events such as IT&CMA, editorial personalities such as Yeoh Siew Hoon. Not many are aware of the behind-the-scenes persona who facilitated the rise of all three in the 1980s-90s. The 1980s was a golden period for Asia-Pacific travel. […]
more…19 Dec, 2018
First Buddhist University conf on SDGs mulls challenge of averting Global Warming AND Global Meltdown
Bangkok – When the Rector of the World Buddhist University (WBU), the Venerable Phra Anil Sakya was invited to speak recently at a conference of bankers and economists on alleviating poverty and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he asked if they had made a mistake inviting him in the first place. After listening to […]
more…13 Dec, 2018
New Era for Travel Journalism: Rating Bali on the First Tourism SDG Scorecard
Bali, Indonesia — A new era for travel & tourism requires new genres of travel journalism. Today, I am proud to launch a new kind of travelogue that transcends the traditional been-there done-that narrative. Instead, it will track how well destinations are faring in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Bali, the Island of […]
more…5 Dec, 2018
PATA Destination Marketing Forum skips addressing mistakes of dispersal and overtourism
Khon Kaen, Thailand – The PATA Destination Marketing Forum held in this Northeastern provincial city between 29-30 Nov stuck to the long-standing travel events formula of over-discussing topics within the traditional comfort-zones and under-discussing everything beyond. Based on the theme “Growth with Goals”, the forum was designed to promote secondary and tertiary cities in Thailand […]
more…29 Nov, 2018
Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim on Palestine: Their pain is my pain
Bangkok – With Israel wiping Palestine off the map in slow motion, accompanied by a wink-and-nod acquiescence from a growing number of Arab and African countries, the last remaining hold-out appears to be Asia. On 23 November, resurrected Malaysian political leader Anwar Ibrahim delivered an inspiring message of support for the long-suffering Palestinians in their […]
more…11 Nov, 2018
Brown Univ study tabulates casualties of the “War on Terror”, a wake-up call for the “Industry of Peace”
Bangkok — For the last few decades, and especially since the 9/11 attacks, the United States, the self-proclaimed “leader of the free world”, has been involved in several wars under the umbrella of the “War on Terror.” Today, as the killings continue unchecked, academic studies are striving to tabulate the grim costs in human life, […]
more…9 Nov, 2018
American Spring: Energised Muslims, Arabs, moderate Jews, set to battle Trump on travel ban, Palestine, and more
A number of Muslim, Arab-American and Jewish advocacy groups in the United States have celebrated what they consider to be historic victories in the U.S. midterm elections, along with rousing calls for more solidarity, unity and funding support to ride the wave to even bigger wins. This dispatch of Travel Impact Newswire compiles four such […]
more…22 Oct, 2018
ITB Asia 2018 continues the Great Dumbing Down of global travel trade shows
Singapore – Although the core focus of the mega-billion travel & tourism industry has unmistakably shifted from marketing to management, international events such as the ITB Asia, the region’s self-proclaimed “leading travel trade show” are still failing to reflect that transition. A search of the ITB Asia 2018 conference programme website yielded 113 results for […]
more…4 Oct, 2018
Blasts from the Past: Two historic speeches to cement the future of PATA
Langkawi, Malaysia — Backed by a disruption-free global and regional environment and commensurately steady rise in travel flows, the Pacific Asia Travel Association took positive steps forward at the PATA Travel Mart in Langkawi, Malaysia, between 12-16 Sept 2018. From an energetic Youth Symposium to a quality-not-quantity Travel Mart, high-profile Gold Awards ceremony to panoramic […]
more…26 Sep, 2018
UK-based watchdog group Tourism Concern dies, aged 29, due to funding shortage
Bangkok, 26 September 2018 — The UK-based tourism watchdog group Tourism Concern has announced its closure, citing a “lost battle for financial survival in these difficult times.” The group’s website has been shut down and replaced with the closure notification. The group was funded by volunteers, charities, foundations and membership fees. The closure announcement said […]
more…26 Sep, 2018
Langkawi’s “Green Laboratory” owner to share expertise at PATAcademy Dec 11-13
Langkawi, Malaysia — This is Anthony Wong, owner and Managing Director of the the award-winning,Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa. Hosting the PATA Environment Committee meeting just before the recent PATA Travel Mart 2018 in Langkawi, he sat quietly all through, listening patiently to the committee members banter on about their sustainability initiatives. After all the […]
more…25 Sep, 2018
Forging ASEAN integration at the PATA Travel Mart 2018: Two Buddhists and a Muslim visit a prominent Langkawi temple
Langkawi – One of the core objectives of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community 2025 Integration Blueprint is to build “a dynamic and harmonious community that is aware and proud of its identity, culture, and heritage.” UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the United Nations Agenda 2030 is to promote “peaceful and inclusive societies.” And Travel & […]
more…21 Sep, 2018
Three young women from India sweep top awards in The Olive Tree essay competition
Bangkok – Three young women from India have swept the top honours in the second round of The Olive Tree awards, a unique essay competition launched by this editor to forge a stronger linkage between Travel & Tourism and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Twinkle Malukani, 22, Vinita Srinivasan, 22, and Natasha Goel, 25, received […]
more…12 Sep, 2018
How long before Langkawi becomes another Boracay?
Langkawi, Malaysia — How long before the once pristine, unspoiled island of Langkawi goes the same way as Boracay, the Philippines island that was shut down earlier this year for a few months breather from the pressure of tourism? That was the question I posed right at the start of a workshop on forging stronger […]
more…27 Jul, 2018
Sri Lanka’s Jetwing group hosts world’s first communications course linking travel & tourism to UN SDGs
Colombo — On July 17-18, twenty young executives from the hotel and travel divisions of Sri Lanka’s prominent Jetwing group attended what is claimed to be the first global training course on improving the communications linkages between travel & tourism and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. With the support of Jetwings Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray […]
more…13 Jul, 2018
Imtiaz Muqbil to deliver first communications course on enhancing Travel & Tourism’s linkages to UN SDGs
Bangkok/Colombo – On July 17-18, 2018, I expect to deliver the first, ground-breaking communications training course on enhancing the linkages between Travel & Tourism and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Executives from Sri Lanka’s Jetwing hotels and travel group will be the first beneficiaries of this tailor-made, 12-hour course, entitled “People Planet Profits — How […]
more…9 Jul, 2018
The Olive Tree Ed 8 highlights World of Work, Decent Jobs, in Travel & Tourism
Bangkok – Discussions of human resources in travel & tourism for the most part focus on the shortage of qualified personnel for our rapidly-growing industry. This is a chicken-and-egg issue. Has the travel & tourism sector ever done a serious, comprehensive study of our working conditions, and critically compared them to those in other equally […]
more…9 Jun, 2018
GDPR – Another chapter in the book of European extra-territorial neocolonialism
Bangkok – The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is yet another example of European neocolonialism in an age of globalisation and borderless communications. While the Information Superhighway is opening up vast opportunities to create a better, more peaceful, stable and sustainable planet, it is simultaneously and very paradoxically also doing quite the opposite. Slap in […]
more…28 May, 2018
A thought-leadership SWOT analysis of the PATA Annual Summit 2018
Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea: The most perceptive thought-leadership question asked during the PATA Annual Summit 2018 was by Christina Luo Xiao Yan, 21, a student of Hotel Management at Macau University of Science and Technology. After listening to the speaker, Ms Raya Bidshahri, the Canadian-based CEO of Awecademy, an online platform, discuss the impact […]
more…23 May, 2018
PATA Annual Summit: Ex-UN Chief says leaders “talk big” at UN but don’t walk the talk once back home
Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea – Delivering a powerful message to the global travel industry, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon told delegates at the PATA annual summit here on January 18 that the world needs “global leaders” and “global citizens” to “stem the alarming rise in racism and xenophobia.” In his keynote address, Mr. Ban […]
more…22 May, 2018
PATA signs first peace-building pact with Buddhist temple in Korea
Woljeongsa Temple, Odaesan National Park, Korea — This beautiful Buddhist temple, located in the midst of Korea’s largest natural forest, was the site of the first peace-building agreement signed by the Pacific Asia Travel Association on 19 May 2018. The Memorandum of Understanding commits the signatories to “cooperate for the development of peace through tourism” […]
more…16 May, 2018
PATA Annual Summit 2018: A chance to move beyond clichés and Censorship by Sponsorship
Gangneung, Korea — A confluence of recent global events has set the stage for this week’s PATA annual summit in Korea to be a potentially historic game-changer – but only if the speakers rise to the occasion. Focussing on the theme of “Building Bridges, Connecting People,” the summit will bring together one former United Nations […]
more…11 May, 2018
Trump’s Iran deal reversal proves Israel controls the U.S.
The U.S. decision to unilaterally exit the nuclear agreement with Iran cements the country’s status as the greatest threat to global stability, totally subservient to Israel, the Jewish lobby and its own military-industrial complex. The latest in a series of my-way-or-the-highway policy reversals, the Trump Administration has no regard for international norms and is accelerating […]
more…29 Apr, 2018
Korean peace will force change in Israel’s live and let die policy towards Palestinians
The Korean peace deal has confirmed the status of Israel under its current government as an extraordinarily stupid country. In an age when the pursuit of peace has become the greatest hallmark of visionary, pragmatic, sustainable leadership, Korean leaders have risen to the occasion. Not so the Israelis. On the same day that the Korean […]
more…27 Apr, 2018
OECD Latin America report: Regaining citizens’ trust in public institutions is key to inclusive growth and well-being
Brussels, 09 April 2018 – Three out of four Latin Americans today show little or no confidence in their national governments. Around 80% think corruption is widespread. These levels are both up from 55% and 67% respectively in 2010. Mistrust is rising as in most regions of the world and risks deepening the disconnect between […]
more…27 Apr, 2018
Int’l Olympic Committee President: How the “Power of Sports” facilitated Korean peace talks
chinadaily.com.cn, 2018-04-26 — When the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea meet on April 27, it will be only the third such summit since the end of the Korean War (1950-53). Only a few months ago political tensions were escalating rapidly, raising fears of military confrontation on the […]
more…26 Apr, 2018
The Sukhothai Shanghai joins Small Luxury Hotels of the World
London, 26 April 2018 — Small Luxury Hotels of the World has announced its newest member hotel in China, The Sukhothai Shanghai, which opens on 28th April. The official joining ceremony was held today at The Sukhothai Shanghai. The contemporary lifestyle hotel is conveniently located at HKRI Taikoo Hui in the vibrant Jingan district which […]
more…26 Apr, 2018
UNCTAD commentary: Nobody really wins a trade war
Geneva, 25 April 2018, (UNCTAD commentary) – Are we seeing the start of a trade war? Although there is a long history of countries blaming each other for their own economic misfortunes, during the last few months there has been an escalation both in the rhetoric and in trade policy actions. The initial round of […]
more…25 Apr, 2018
12 questions to disrupt the boring programme content of Islamic tourism events
Dubai – The second ATM Global Halal Tourism Summit held at the Arabian Travel Mart on April 24 proved again how the entire travel industry is increasingly becoming a mutual admiration club of people preaching to the converted. As usual, key challenges having a significant impact on travel & tourism flows to, from and within […]
more…19 Apr, 2018
WTTC’s Mission Still Not Accomplished
In September 2003, exactly 15 years ago, the World Travel & Tourism Council issued a Blueprint for New Tourism. It was yet another assertion of the WTTC mantras flagged since the formation of the rich mans’ club in 1991 — make T&T a priority, liberalise travel, open markets and remove impediments. These mantras have produced […]
more…16 Apr, 2018
Open Letter to the U.S. travel industry: Is state terrorism serving your interests?
Bangkok – Shootings in U.S. offices, schools, universities and other public places are always followed by an enormous outpouring of outrage, anguish, hand-wringing and soul-searching. Much time and attention is devoted to understanding the shooter’s motivation. If it’s a Muslim, the violence is automatically assigned the “T” word. The others are somehow disturbed, loners, etc. […]
more…12 Apr, 2018
Hard questions for travel & tourism millennials: Does global war & conflict matter to you?
Bangkok — Here we go again. Fifteen years after the United States-led “Coalition of the Willing” attacked Iraq in pursuit of “weapons of mass destruction” that were never found, killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of people and devastating an entire country, war-drums are again reverberating in the Levant, this time in Syria. And as […]
more…26 Mar, 2018
Why the Facebook scandal makes travel technobabblers look like idiots
Travel technology forums, aka technobabblers, have experienced a shock-and-awe reality check in the wake of the Facebook scandal. I stopped attending technobabble forums many years ago. I just got bored of the starry-eyed delegates listening with open mouths to the usual gang of suspects spewing out the latest techno-toy wizardry and how it was going […]
more…13 Mar, 2018
Millennials’ essays highlight need to disrupt the global tourism agenda
Bangkok – Perhaps the most important thing that struck me upon perusing the great essays sent in by young people for my competition was the yawning disconnect between their very perceptive views on the global status quo and the topics that figure on the agendas and programmes of global travel & tourism forums. Embedded within […]
more…16 Feb, 2018
Northeast Asian destinations hammering ASEAN in pursuit of Thai outbound travel boom
Bangkok – With Japan at the forefront, Northeast Asian countries and Special Administrative Regions are clobbering the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in attracting the booming Thai outbound tourism market. A survey of the recent Thailand International Travel Fair, held between February 7-11 showed clearly how Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR […]
more…9 Feb, 2018
20 years after moving to Asia, PATA’s pursuit of relevance remains elusive
The Pacific Asia Travel Association this week marks the 20th anniversary of its move from San Francisco to Bangkok. Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil, who has covered PATA since 1981, takes a look back and a look ahead. Bangkok – When PATA began pondering its move from San Francisco to Asia in the […]
more…21 Jan, 2018
ASEAN Tourism Forum V.1 is dying, Time to Plan ATF V.2
The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 to be held between 22-26 January in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai will have the lowest turnout of buyers and sellers in the last 10 years. The figures reported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand of 240 buyers and 275 seller organisations continues a downtrend that began three […]
more…8 Jan, 2018
Christmas eve 2017: When Jewish Intellectual Noam Chomsky went to bat for Palestine
On Christmas eve, 24 December 2017, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), one of the groups on the entry-ban list issued by the Israel government, issued a fund-raising appeal featuring a personal message by Prof Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and laureate professor at the University of Arizona. I am […]
more…8 Jan, 2018
Global publicity follows Israel entry ban on 20 pro-Palestine groups
Jewish Voice for Peace, a prominent U.S.-based group of Jews battling the Israeli occupation of Palestine, is among a list of 20 global civil society movements whose activists will be barred from entering Israel. It is the only Jewish group on the list released by the Strategic Affairs Ministry on 08 Jan and published by […]
more…3 Jan, 2018
Mandela Peace Summit, Sufficiency Economy amongst highlights of The Olive Tree Edition 5
Bangkok – The January-February 2018 edition of The Olive Tree has been published on the Travel Impact Newswire website. This Edition 5 of the first and only publication designed to help travel & tourism achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals is sponsored by Jetwing Hotels Sri Lanka, the Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa, Asian Overland […]
more…3 Jan, 2018
U.S. travel industry off to a most Unhappy New Year
The people of the United States will awaken this morning, the first day of work after wishing each other a Happy New Year, to news that will make them most unhappy. Preliminary statistics published by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) for July 2017 show visitor arrivals heading south big-time. While other countries are […]
more…18 Dec, 2017
Aligarh: A Captivating Tale of Two Remarkable “Sities”
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India – Between Nov 27-29, one of India’s best-known institutions of higher education, Aligarh Muslim University, held its first Tourism Research Conference. Made possible thanks to a grant of Rs 852,500 (about US$13,300) by the Ministry of Tourism, it was packed with world-class presentations by research students, academics and private sector on […]
more…18 Dec, 2017
World-class research at Aligarh Muslim University tourism conference
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India — Although this was the first tourism research conference held at Aligarh Muslim University, the subject matter and depth of the presentations were world-class. Of the nearly 140 presentations included in the abstracts, 36 were devoted to the impact of the situation in Kashmir. Numerous others focussed on issues such as […]
more…18 Dec, 2017
Aligarh Muslim University – Much more than just a University
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India — Aligarh Muslim University is more than just a University; it is a citadel of cultural, architectural and artistic heritage. In accordance with the principles of its founding fathers and the constitution of India, the campus, museum and library brim with fine works of Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu traditions, all meticulously […]
more…18 Dec, 2017
In pictures: The amazing grace and rustic charm of Aligarh Old City
A motorcycle tour of Aligarh Old City, an experience beyond description. All pictures by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil. One of a three-part compendium on the first Tourism Research conference held at Aligarh Muslim University between Nov 27-29, 2017 on the theme of “New Tourism Paradigms in a Changing World: Innovations, Dynamics and […]
more…15 Dec, 2017
Beauty and Braille at the first “Tourism for All” Miss Thailand Friendly Design Expo
Bangkok – Thailand’s rapidly ageing society is expected to lead to a major redesign and restructuring of the way Thai people live, work and move around in the years ahead. As many other countries are undergoing the same demographic transition, the changes will open up opportunities to attract more silver-aged visitors, too. The business potential […]
more…13 Dec, 2017
Frontiers 2017: UN Report flags Six Emerging Issues of Environmental Concern
How does our careless disposal of antimicrobial drugs produce bacteria that can resist them? Why are Marine Protected Areas vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals? Can off-grid solar plug the energy gap for cities in the developing world? UN Environment experts will address these and other emerging issues with the launch of Frontiers 2017, […]
more…13 Dec, 2017
A message from the Thailand Halal Assembly 2017 to the Myanmar tourism industry
Bangkok – A tourism-promotion forum organised as part of this year’s Thailand Halal Assembly has sent a clear message to the Myanmar tourism industry about the Thai approach to building inclusive, Muslim-friendly tourism and what Myanmar can learn from it. Editor’s Comment This special report is dedicated to the memory of my good friend, the […]
more…8 Dec, 2017
The TRiUMPh of Jewish extremist terrorism
U.S. President Donald Trump has just proved that terrorism works – Jewish terrorism, that is. It was on 4 November 1995 that the Jewish extremist fanatic terrorist Yigal Amir, then only 25 years old, shot and killed former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a joint Nobel Peace prize winner with the late Palestinian leader Yasser […]
more…6 Dec, 2017
Silence of the Lambs: Global travel industry associations remain mum on U.S. Muslim ban
Bangkok – The U.S. Supreme Court has produced a guilty-until-proven-innocent ruling that effectively allows the Trump Administration to “temporarily” implement a ban on arrivals from most or all nationals from six Muslim-majority countries. The ban effectively bypasses a number of legal and constitutional challenges currently being heard in the lower courts. According to the American […]
more…5 Dec, 2017
America First backlash: U.S. visitor arrivals swimming in a sea of red ink
The United States’ tourism industry is swimming in a sea of red ink. On 29 November, the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary data of visitor arrivals for the first half of 2017. It showed an overall decline of 3.9%, with significant drops in arrivals from key markets such as China, Europe, the […]
more…23 Nov, 2017
Wonderful Indonesia Festival in Thailand highlights weaknesses in intra-ASEAN travel
Bangkok – The Indonesian Tourism Ministry held its biggest ever tourism promotion festival in Thailand over the Nov 17-19 weekend. Located at one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls, attendance at the outdoor event was strong on the opening day but impacted by both hot weather and rain over Nov 18-19. It also raised questions […]
more…16 Nov, 2017
World Economic Forum report calls for sweeping overhaul of “slow, top-down, backward-looking” ASEAN bureaucracy
Bangkok, 14 November 2017 – A joint report issued by the World Economic Forum and the Asian Development Bank has called for a sweeping administrative, operational and financial overhaul of the ASEAN secretariat to make it more functional and efficient in meeting its own over-arching goal of closer socio-cultural, economic and political-security integration. According to […]
more…13 Nov, 2017
Chula Univ conf on Asian diaspora gives new meaning to “Thainess”
Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s latest marketing campaign, “Open to the New Shades of Thailand”, positions the kingdom as being welcoming to people of all “shades” regardless of caste, creed, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Packaged under the theme of “Thainess”, the campaign pitch presses all the normal tourism marketing buttons – culture, […]
more…3 Nov, 2017
Flashback 25 years: The speech that exposes U.S. airline U-turns, hypocrisy and double standards
In March 1992, at the 41st PATA annual conference in Hong Kong, Mr Robert Crandall, former Chairman and President of American Airlines, and Chairman of the World Travel & Tourism Council, delivered the keynote address in which he castigated Hong Kong, the conference host, plus Thailand, Japan and Korea, for protecting the interests of their […]
more…7 Oct, 2017
With recovery on track, PATA extends CEO’s contract for another three years
Bangkok – The Pacific Asia Travel Association has confirmed the extension of CEO Mario Hardy’s contract for another three year term starting Jan 2018, a move that will facilitate the slow but steady recovery of the region’s once high-flying industry association. Mr Hardy signed the extension contract on Oct 5. In a message to the […]
more…3 Oct, 2017
Globocop, gambling, fake news and security morons: Eight issues emerging from the Las Vegas tragedy
Apparently unnoticed by any mainstream media, the tragic Las Vegas shooting occurred on the UN International Day of Non-Violence, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Going right to the heart of multiple challenges threatening the future of travel & tourism, it should force some heavy-duty, industry-wide soul-searching about how to deal with them. A deeper debate […]
more…28 Sep, 2017
Thailand first to make UN SDGs a criteria for National Tourism Awards
Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand raised its bi-annual industry awards to a new level this year by including the principles of the national Sufficiency Economy and the global UN Sustainable Development Goals as core components of the judging criteria. It is arguably the first time any country has made the UN SDGs a […]
more…20 Sep, 2017
Myanmar proves that women leaders are no better than the men
Bangkok – In February 2012, just a few months before the end of his five-year term, the then ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan spoke at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on the topic of “ASEAN and Change in Myanmar”. During the Q&A, I asked him if Myanmar had a chance to exercise the Last […]
more…16 Sep, 2017
Many Businesses Still Fail to Report Financial Value from Strong Environmental Performance – Research
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE) — September 13, 2017 – Four in 10 telecommunications and consumer goods companies reporting to CDP fail to capture or report any financial value from strong environmental performance, according to new research released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN), CDP and Hermes Investment Management. The largest emitters in the global economy – responsible […]
more…15 Sep, 2017
Permanent People’s Tribunal on Myanmar to be held in Kuala Lumpur 18-22 Sept
Kuala Lumpur, 15 Sept (International Movement for a Just World) – The Permanent Peoples Tribunal’s concluding session on Myanmar which will convene at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur from the 18th to the 22nd of September 2017 has assumed extraordinary significance in light of the UN Security Council’s unanimous call […]
more…13 Sep, 2017
Jewish Rabbi slags Israel for travel curbs on activists, Palestinians
A female Jewish rabbi has rebuked the Jewish state of Israel for barring inbound travel by pro-Palestinian activists, including herself, as well as for blocking travel in and out of occupied Palestine in general. In a Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur message to global members of the pro-Palestinian group Jewish Voice for Peace, its Deputy […]
more…11 Sep, 2017
R.I.P. Inder Sharma – The Indian stalwart who brought China into PATA
Bangkok – Much has been written in praise of Mr Inder Sharma, the Indian travel & tourism stalwart who passed away on Sept 5 at the age of 86. The award-winning chairman of SITA World Travel was indeed one of India’s most eminent personalities – a thorough professional of impeccable integrity and formidable intellect, equally […]
more…31 Aug, 2017
In Palestine, UN chief says two-state solution ‘only way to guarantee peace’
United Nations, (UN News Centre) 29 August 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today reiterated his call for a political solution to the Middle East conflict that would end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and would create an independent Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. “It is my […]
more…24 Aug, 2017
Thai Foreign Ministry fam trip spotlights double-edged future facing the Kingdom
Bangkok – Courtesy of the Thai Foreign Ministry, 16 Bangkok-based foreign correspondents were treated to a whirlwind 15-hour fam trip on Aug 18 which spotlighted the double-edged future facing Thailand. While three of the stops underscored Thailand’s positive scientific, agricultural and infrastructure progress in line with its 4.0 national development policy, the last stop was […]
more…17 Aug, 2017
What Charlottesville and the emergence of white supremacists means for the future of global travel
Bangkok – The emergence of the American white supremacist movement in the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia, has opened up a Pandora’s Box of issues that will have a significant impact on travel & tourism to and from the United States and around the world. By further complicating an already unstable geopolitical environment, it will have […]
more…9 Aug, 2017
ASEAN@50: New book shows how ASEAN tourism undermined the ASEAN Miracle
Bangkok – When ASEAN marked the 50th anniversary of its founding on 08 Aug 2017, let the record show that the travel & tourism industry of Thailand, where ASEAN was born, negotiated and signed, did nothing, absolutely nothing, to commemorate the event. Neither did the Ministry of Tourism & Sports, nor the Tourism Authority of […]
more…4 Aug, 2017
How Thai tourism’s history deficit saw it lose a huge ASEAN@50 opportunity
Bangkok – As ASEAN prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of its formation on 08 Aug 2017, the Thai tourism industry has lost a major opportunity to celebrate the central role played by the Kingdom in ASEAN’s formation, and better understand the significant linkage between peace, ASEAN integration, diplomacy and travel. Had there been greater […]
more…3 Aug, 2017
Lessons from the Malaysian National Museum for the future of ASEAN
Kuala Lumpur — As a history buff, I enjoy visiting museums. These homes for the preservation of history are the best places to learn the lessons of history, and perhaps avoid repeating past mistakes. Last week, I visited the Malaysian National Museum in Kuala Lumpur for the third time. This visit had a special significance. […]
more…24 Jul, 2017
Why the Thai Tourism Action Plan has outlived its usefulness, and what to do about it
Bangkok – When Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn unveiled the TAT Action Plan for 2018 on 17 July 2017, he did something never done before at this annual event. He flashed up a slide showing the impact of climate change and the deteriorating conditions of some popular Thai beach resorts. Without mentioning […]
more…20 Jul, 2017
Maldives about to enter mass tourism era – is it prepared?
Malé, Maldives – A US$845 million expansion of the Malé international airport, the country’s biggest construction project ever, is expected to help the country hit a target of two million arrivals by 2020, about five times the national population and up from 1.3 million arrivals in 2016. Although it will open a new era in […]
more…11 Jul, 2017
Thai hotels show that it pays to be Muslim-friendly
Bangkok – July 8 marked the start of Buddhist Lent, a three-month period of abstinence from alcohol and other forms of self-restraint. As Buddhists still have to travel for both business and leisure, those keen to abide by the Lord Buddha’s precepts may find it easier to avoid alcohol by staying in a Thai Muslim-friendly […]
more…27 Jun, 2017
U.S. Supreme Court Muslim Travel Ban: Get set for chaos, confusion, maelstrom and more Islamophobia
The following is a roundup of reactions by four advocacy groups representing Muslims, the Arab-American community and the Business Travel community. ADC Troubled by the Supreme Court’s Decision to Partially Reinstate Travel Ban Washington, D.C., June 26, 2017 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination (ADC) condemns the Supreme Court’s decision to partially reinstate the Arab and Muslim […]
more…14 Jun, 2017
153 detained for airline ticket fraud following worldwide Interpol operation
Lyon, France, 13 June 2017, (Interpol media release) – An international operation targeting airline fraudsters has resulted in the detention of 153 individuals suspected of using tickets purchased with stolen, compromised or fake credit card details. Involving 64 countries, during the sixth Global Airport Action Days from 6 to 8 June, 84 airlines and eight […]
more…13 Jun, 2017
Mekong Tourism Forum 2017: Prospering, but for what Purpose?
Luang Prabang, Laos – One of the most powerful messages of the Mekong Tourism Forum held in this UNESCO world heritage site between 7-9 June was the contrast between the core argument advocated by the keynote speaker and the rest of the programme content. While Anna Pollock, the UK-based Founder of Conscious.Travel, flagged clear warnings […]
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