5 Mar, 2013
Imtiaz Muqbil’s Columns in Lookeast Magazine
Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil writes two columns a month in Lookeast magazine, one of Thailand’s leading consumer travel publications. Here are some of the recent columns: Thammasat University – A Must-see Destination Russian Visitors To Thailand: Women Outnumber Men The Next Big Thing: Northeast Thailand China is Now Dominant Force in Thai […]
more…13 Sep, 2012
Airline Crews blamed for 40% of smuggling in Shanghai
September 13, 2012 – Airline crews accounted for about 40 percent of the suspects who smuggled items into the city on flights so far this year, Shanghai Customs announced yesterday. Customs detected 185 cases of smuggling in the first eight months of this year. Passengers accounted for the majority, at 108 cases, and airline crew […]
more…8 May, 2012
Orient-Express Hotels Reports 1Q Earnings Growth, Net Loss
HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH, http://www.orient-express.com) (the “Company”), owners or part-owners and managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, tourist train and river cruise properties operating in 23 countries, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. “In the first quarter of 2012, the Company’s […]
more…2 May, 2012
PATA Conference Highlights Malaysia’s Top 15 Cultural And Natural Attractions
The PATA annual conference held in Kuala Lumpur between 19-22 April 2012 allowed Malaysia to showcase some of its most important visitor attractions. The following is a compilation of 15 of the country’s top cultural and natural attractions – ranging from national parks to mosques and theme parks. One prominent attraction has been identified in […]
more…30 Apr, 2012
Beijing Theaters to Get Ticket-Price Subsidy
BEIJING (China Daily) 30 April 2012 – The Beijing municipal government has decided to subsidize large and medium-sized theaters, encouraging them to offer more low-price tickets to audience. From Monday to December, 15 theaters with capacities from 500 to 3,000 seats will get subsidy every month for performances such as Chinese operas, dramas, dance operas, […]
more…29 Apr, 2012
Cruise Industry Report Woos Travel Agents
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 27, 2012. (BUSINESS WIRE)–Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced today the launch of a new report calling for a travel-industry dialogue aimed at elevating the role of the travel agent industry, a critical sales force for the entire travel and tourism industry. CLIA’s new report, “From Travel Agent to ‘Travel Advisor’: […]
more…25 Apr, 2012
Australia Provides Financing “Security” for Airports Development
24 April 2012, (Minister for Infrastructure & Transport) – The Federal Labor Government has today announced that all federally leased airports will be offered the protection of a Tripartite Deed, giving them greater certainty in securing financing for infrastructure developments. The following statement was issued by Minister for Infrastructure & Transport Anthony Albanese: Last year, […]
more…15 Apr, 2012
“Welcome to Palestine” Campaign: Letter to Global Church Leaders & News Update
Bethlehem, 15 April 2012 – The following is the full text of a letter from Welcome to Palestine Campaign to Global Church Leaders in the spirit of the Kairos document (http://kairospalestine.ps/). As Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter, we Palestinians also welcome international visitors to Palestine as has always happened this season for hundreds of years. This […]
more…5 Apr, 2012
Close to Being Wiped Off the Map: Jews Control 85% of Historical Palestine
RAMALLAH, March 29, 2012 (WAFA) – Jews constitute around 52% of the total population living in historical Palestine and utilize more than 85% of the total area of the land, press release issued by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said Thursday. Arabs make the remaining 48% but are allowed to utilize only 15% of […]
more…5 Apr, 2012
More Chinese Mainland Tourists Get Nod to Visit Taiwan
BEIJING/TAIPEI, (Xinhua), 2012-04-02 — Residents of ten additional Chinese mainland cities will be allowed to travel to Taiwan as independent tourists, according to a deal reached between organizations from both sides of the Strait on Sunday. Residents of Tianjin, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Chengdu will be allowed to visit Taiwan individually starting from April […]
more…4 Apr, 2012
African Cinema Explodes on the Web To Combat Colonial Mindset, Force Change
NEW YORK, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — As the democratic process in Africa grows momentum and the people express their will, news from the Continent continues to dominate the headlines. The people are increasingly challenging the status quo, their efforts recalling the works and philosophy of the late author and director Ousmane Sembene, known as […]
more…4 Apr, 2012
EU Aviation Ban Update Now Lists 46 Indonesian, 51 Philippines Carriers
Brussels, 03 April 2012 (Source: European Union Media release) – The European Commission today adopted the 19th update of the European list of air carriers which are for safety reasons subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union. The list of 279 carriers includes 46 in Indonesia and 51 in the […]
more…3 Apr, 2012
U.S. Jewish Billionaire Wins Former Shepherd Hotel Land; Palestinian Owners to Fight On
JERUSALEM, April 2, 2012 (WAFA) – The Israeli Supreme Court Monday rejected an appeal by the heirs of the late Jerusalem mufti, Hajj Amin Husseini, against the Israeli government sale of the residence, also known as the Shepherd Hotel, located in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Editor’s Comment This report is further proof […]
more…3 Apr, 2012
US$43 million ADB Loan to Uplift Tourism Infrastructure in India
New Delhi, (Press Information Bureau) April 2, 2012 – The Government of India (GOI), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and States of Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand today signed a $43.84 million loan agreement for the second tranche of Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism. The Program was approved in 2010 for a total loan package of […]
more…31 Mar, 2012
Australia Seeks Public Comment for Strategy to Curb Growing Racism
Canberra, 29 March 2012 — Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke has called on all Australians to get involved in the development of a National Anti-Racism Strategy for the country. The Government’s National Anti-Racism Partnership, led by Dr Szoke, today launched a discussion paper, website and online survey to kick start the conversation about addressing […]
more…30 Mar, 2012
UNESCO to Launch Project for Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Myanmar
Bangkok, 30 March 2012 (UNESCO Press release) – UNESCO together with the Ministry of Information and Culture will launch the project “Capacity Building to Safeguard Cultural Heritage in Myanmar” in a ceremony at 9:00 am on 4 April 2012 at the Parkroyal Hotel in Yangon. The Deputy Minister of Culture, HE Daw Sandar Khin, the […]
more…29 Mar, 2012
BRICS Leaders Meet in New Delhi, Push More Intra-BRICS Trade & Business
New Delhi, March 28, 2012, (Press Information Bureau) – India is hosting the Fourth Summit of the leaders of Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa (BRICS) in New Delhi 29 March 2012. On 28 March, the Trade Ministers of the BRICS nations met for the second time since their first meeting in Sanya, China […]
more…27 Mar, 2012
Bethlehem – The Politics of Tourism
At first glance one may presume that Palestine has a booming tourism sector; the vast majority of sites important to Christian pilgrims are located in the area and to the naked eye, places such as Bethlehem are brimming with tourists much of the year round. However, there are many things misleading about this first impression. […]
more…24 Mar, 2012
Report Claims IPTV can Boost In-room Hotel Entertainment Revenues
DENVER, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — iBAHN, a supplier of IP-based entertainment and information services for the hospitality and meeting industries, today published a whitepaper: IPTV: Delivering a Higher Return on HDTV Investments. It is compiled from research and input from the hospitality industry, and responds to common pain points heard from hotel clients: despite investments […]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Human Rights Watch Says Abuses Continue in Strategic Kachin State
BANGKOK, March 20, 2012 – The complexity of the process that will underpin system-change in Burma was further underscored on March 20, 2012 when Human Rights Watch (HRW) unveiled a report about alleged human rights violations in Kachin state, the northernmost state of Burma, strategically bordering China and home to a Chinese-supported hydropower dam that […]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Bangladesh & Entire Region Will Benefit if Myanmar Reforms Progress – Ambassador Kazi Hussain
BANGKOK – The opening up of Myanmar will generate ripple-effect benefits for neighbouring Bangladesh, facilitate linkages between Southeast and South Asia and potentially contribute to the emergence of new development paradigm in the Asian Century, Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Kazi Hussain said. In an interview, Mr. Hussain said the significance of the changes in Myanmar […]
more…23 Mar, 2012
UNESCO Training Course To Help Myanmar Draft New Media Laws
Yangon, (UNESCO Media release) – Myanmar’s Ministry of Information in co-operation with UNESCO recently organized a review workshop on the country’s first draft media laws in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. “Myanmar is now transforming to a democratic society,” said U Ye Htut, Director General of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division, Ministry of Information […]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Airlines for America (A4A) Blasts Bid To Double Airport Security Tax
WASHINGTON, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today called on Congress to consider further efficiency within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) – not further taxes on airline passengers as proposed in the fiscal year 2013 budget passed by the House Budget Committee. The budget […]
more…23 Mar, 2012
Australia Relaxes Visa Policies to Draw More Foreign Students
22 March 2012 (Ministry of Immigration & Citizenship) – The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today announced key changes to the student visa program recommended by the Knight Review will commence from 24 March, as part of the government’s commitment to position Australia as a preferred study destination for international students. ‘International […]
more…20 Mar, 2012
Extremist Jewish Settlers Grab More Palestinian Water Sources – UN Report
UN Headquarters, Mar 19 2012 (UN News Centre) – Palestinians have increasingly lost access to water sources in the West Bank as a result of the takeover of springs by Israeli settlers, who have used threats, intimidation and fences to ensure control of water points close to the settlements, according to a new United Nations […]
more…20 Mar, 2012
U.S. Group Backs Surveillance of Muslims, Mosques For “National Security”
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Holder defending the surveillance tactics used by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) – a strategy that has prevented 14 known terrorist attacks […]
more…20 Mar, 2012
Learning the Lessons of Economic Crisis, EU Bids to Regulate “Shadow Banking”
Brussels, 19 March 2012 – So that the EU learns all the lessons from the crisis, it is implementing ambitious regulatory reforms in the financial sector in general and in the banking sector in particular. This will contribute to creating a stronger and sounder financial sector at the service of the real economy. As part […]
more…19 Mar, 2012
Crystal Cruises Launches Christian Heritage Cruises Around Mediterranean
March 16, 2012 – For its upcoming European season, ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises is offering new, interactive ways to explore the rich Christian history of the continent via new Christian Heritage Tours. Travelers cruising to the Mediterranean, Western Europe, or the North Cape will have nine new opportunities to make a pilgrimage, attend mass, contribute to […]
more…19 Mar, 2012
Beijing to Host Int’l Cultural Congress On “China And The Muslim World”
JEDDAH – The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) through its Research Center For Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) are jointly organizing a congress on “China and the Muslim World: Cultural Encounters” to be held in Beijing between 28-30 June 2012. The concept adopted for the congress […]
more…16 Mar, 2012
US Public Opinion in Disarray Over Waging War in Middle East
The latest Pew Research Centre poll of U.S. public opinion, released on March 15, indicates mass confusion about which war to wage in the Middle East. The results indicate public views supporting a pull-out from Afghanistan, not getting involved in Syria but in favour of starting another war by attacking Iran in order to protect […]
more…16 Mar, 2012
Australia to Host Inaugural Special Olympics Asia Pacific in 2013
Canberra, 15 Mar 2012 — Minister for Sport, Senator Kate Lundy and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas today congratulated Special Olympics Australia for winning the right to host the inaugural Special Olympic Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle from 30 November to 7 December 2013. ‘I know Newcastle will do a magnificent job […]
more…16 Mar, 2012
New Reports Out On Australian Aviation, Transport Stats
Canberra, March 15 – The Australian Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has released three reports providing economic analysis, research and statistics on infrastructure, transport and regional development issues. Highlights: There were 27.6 million passengers carried on international flights to and from Australia in 2010–11, an increase of 7.3 per cent over the […]
more…15 Mar, 2012
Encyclopaedia Britannica To End Print Edition, Go Completely Digital
CHICAGO, March 14, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., announced today that it will cease publication of the 32-volume printed edition of its flagship encyclopedia, continuing with the digital versions that have become popular with knowledge seekers in recent decades. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, which has been primarily an online product for almost 20 years, […]
more…15 Mar, 2012
India Gets First Expo for Civil Society and CSR Professionals
NEW DELHI, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — UBM India will launch NGO India 2012 at Epicenter, Gurgaon on 16 – 18 March 2012. NGO India 2012 will be an exhibition and conference aimed at fostering alliances and networking between the country’s CSR and NGO communities. As more and more corporates realise the brand value and […]
more…13 Mar, 2012
Indians, I.T. Professionals Top U.S. H1B Visa Profiles for 2012
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 13, 2012 — Indian citizens and Information Technology Myvisajobs.com, a leading employment website for immigrants, has released its 7th Annual H1B Visa and Employment-based Green Card reports. The H1B Visa reports were created based on an analysis of 358,857 Labor Condition Applications (LCA) filed by 66,970 U.S. employers during fiscal […]
more…13 Mar, 2012
Burma’s Karen People Caution Investors: Wait Until Peace Deals Cemented
Bangkok – Representatives of Myanmar’s Karen ethnic group, whose state is located right on the strategic transportation border contact point with Thailand, are cautioning investors and developers not to rush in until a proper political dialogue takes hold and yields a long-lasting peace agreement. Stressing that the current ceasefire agreed in the Karen regions only […]
more…9 Mar, 2012
China Overtakes U.S. as Market With Largest Number of Credit/Debit Card Users
Boston, MA (PRWEB) March 08, 2012 – China, now the world’s single largest credit and debit card market by number of cards, continued to record significant growth throughout 2011 despite signals of a slowing economic growth. Surprisingly strong growth in Chinese consumer spending and the increasing penetration of cards in people’s daily lives are the […]
more…9 Mar, 2012
New Report Explores Global Student Mobility Trends, as U.S. Seeks to Regain Market Share
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 01, 2012 – American Universities are seeking to regain their dominance in attracting international students, powered by the continued momentum from China and Saudi Arabia, revival of India, and emergence of new markets such as Brazil, according to a new report, “Trends in International Student Mobility,” released by World Education […]
more…9 Mar, 2012
More Europeans Plan to Holiday Closer to Home in 2012 – Eurobarometer
March 5, 2012 (Eurostat) – 72% of EU citizens travelled in 2011, and more than 80% said that they would do so in 2012, choosing to go either on short trips or longer holidays. These are the results of the new Eurobarometer survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism, which also sheds light on […]
more…9 Mar, 2012
Iran War Talk Raising U.S. Gas Prices, Affecting Summer Travel Plans
Worthington, OH (PRWEB) March 08, 2012 – Gas prices are expected to heat up this summer due to a variety of factors. With oil prices rising, talks of war with Iran in the news, and Americans marking their calendars for summer vacations, it is no surprise the majority is preparing to spend more to top […]
more…9 Mar, 2012
Growing Numbers of Women Outliving Men In Europe – Eurostat
Brussels, March 7 2012, (Eurostat) – There were in total 257 million women and 245 million men in the EU27 in 2011, meaning that there were 105 women per 100 men. There were around 15% more women than men in the total population in the Baltic countries: Estonia and Latvia (both 117 women per 100 […]
more…8 Mar, 2012
Business Travel to Australia Up 5% but Leisure Down 4%, 2011 Stats Show
International visitors to Australia remained steady last year although the mix of international visitors to Australia changed, with more coming for business and employment, and fewer coming on holidays, according to the latest International Visitor Survey. Tourism Research Australia found that business travellers increased by five per cent, visitors coming for employment by 14 per […]
more…8 Mar, 2012
U.S. Hits Record 62 million Visitor Arrivals in 2011
March 07, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Commerce today released its 2011 report on International Visitation to the United States, which is now available on the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries website. Highlights include: 2011 international visitation set a new record to support the National Export Initiative. The United States welcomed 62 million […]
more…7 Mar, 2012
Europe Hotel Market Up, Thanks to New Supply, Positive Demand
LONDON (STR Global) March 5, 2012 – The European hotel market reported overall positive revenue per available room growth 12-months to January, according to STR Global, a leading provider of market data to the hotel industry. Despite the economic conditions a majority of the 157 cities and destinations tracked in Europe, only 15 saw declining […]
more…7 Mar, 2012
How Chinese New Year Holidays Affected Travel, Cargo Movements
Montréal, 05 March 2012 (Airports Council International) –The Chinese New Year holidays in January saw a boom in passenger movements through many Asia Pacific airports as well as a decline in cargo movements, according to a release by Airports Council International Said the release, “On the whole, both international traffic and domestic traffic posted gains […]
more…5 Mar, 2012
Award for Sicilian Agency Which Backs Tourism Players Who Defy the Mafia
Berlin (March 5) — A Sicilian travel agency that supports local tourism products and services who refuse to pay protection money to the local mafia is one of the three winners of the international TO DO! Contest for Socially Responsible Tourism to be conferred at this year’s ITB Berlin. The other two are an ecolodge […]
more…3 Mar, 2012
Pan European Survey Reveals Online Customer Behaviour
Barcelona, Mobile World Congress, (February 28 2012) : Social reviews prove increasingly influential in consumer buying decisions, according to an independent survey of 3,000 European consumers announced today. The findings, published in the eGain 2012 cross-industry benchmarking report for multichannel customer experience comprehensively charts influences on consumer buying behaviour and service preferences in seven European […]
more…3 Mar, 2012
The World’s Worst Tourists? Americans Agree, It’s Us
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2012 (Businesswire) — Tired of the “ugly American” stereotype of U.S. travelers abroad? A new LivingSocial survey conducted among more than 5,600 respondents in five countries by Mandala Research discovered that Americans ourselves believe we are the world’s worst tourists. The survey found that Americans, Canadians and Australians all gave U.S. tourists […]
more…1 Mar, 2012
New Project Set to Forecast Future of Great Barrier Reef
29 February 2012 — The Great Barrier Reef is set to be seen in a whole new way through an innovative project that will provide for the Reef the kinds of products that the Bureau of Meteorology provides for weather. This new project, called eReefs, will allow everyone to see what is happening today on […]
more…27 Feb, 2012
U.S. Citizens Outbound Travel Totaled 58.5 Million in 2011
The U.S. Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) has released the final figures of outbound travel by US citizens in 2011. Total outbound travel was 58,496,587, comprised of 27,023,008 to overseas destinations and 31,473,579 to Canada and Mexico. Travel to Asia and Europe is up but Africa, Canada and Mexico is down.
more…25 Feb, 2012
ADB Calls Bids to Upgrade Mt Hagen Airport in Papua New Guinea
The Asian Development Bank has invited bids for the construction of a new airport terminal building and associated works at Mt Hagen Airport, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. The deadline for bid submission is 9 April 2012. The project is to be funded by an ADB loan for PNG’s Civil Aviation Development. The potential […]
more…23 Feb, 2012
UK Unions Win Fair Deals for Workers Making London Olympics Merchandise
LONDON 23 February 2012 – The organisers of London 2012 are to introduce new measures designed to protect workers producing merchandise for this summer’s Olympic Games, following allegations of exploitation by researchers working for the TUC and the Labour Behind the Label-led Playfair 2012 campaign. As a result of the research findings published Thursday – […]
more…23 Feb, 2012
Amadeus Free Report Released on “The Future of Travel Search”
Bangkok, 23 February, 2012: A new industry study released today, Empowering Inspiration: The Future of Travel Search identifies trend-setting consumers´ behaviour and motivations when shopping for travel online, and identifies their experience during the destination selection, shopping and booking processes. The study also details the key trends and predictions for how consumers want to be […]
more…22 Feb, 2012
Hotel Booking Channel Study: Hotel Websites, Third Party Sites Ranked Highest
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the market research and consultancy firm HawkPartners, LLC released results from its 2012 Hotel Channel Usage Study, based on survey data from over 1,200 business and leisure travelers, which provides insight into how hotel marketing executives can most effectively reach specific customer segments. The proliferation of marketing […]
more…22 Feb, 2012
Flood Warning in Europe As Danube Thaws Rapidly
GENEVA, 21 February 2012 – The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR, today said the European Flood Alert System could soon be put to its greatest test since widespread flooding ten years ago led to its creation by the European Commission. The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, said […]
more…21 Feb, 2012
European Court: Insolvent Tour Firms Must Refund Clients, Even If Fraud is Involved
Luxembourg, 16 February 2012 — The European Court of Justice has ruled that the protection of travellers against the risk of insolvency on the part of the package travel organiser also applies where the insolvency is attributable to the organiser’s fraudulent conduct. It is the obligation of the travel organiser to hold sufficient security to […]
more…21 Feb, 2012
World Conf on Women & Sport calls for More Women in Leadership Roles
(PRWEB) February 20, 2012 — Participants in the 5th IOC World Conference on Women and Sport called on sports leaders to take a more proactive role in advancing the cause of women in and through sport as the event came to a close in Los Angeles, California, on Feb 19. The three-day conference, whose theme […]
more…20 Feb, 2012
Australia Seeks Public Comment on Future of Great Barrier Reef
18 February 2012 – One of the world’s most treasured icons – the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area – will undergo a joint assessment to ensure future development along Queensland’s coastline is well-planned and its unique values are protected. The Bligh and Gillard Governments with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) have […]
more…20 Feb, 2012
Millions of Dollars in Australian Tourism Grants To Generate “Innovative Ideas”
17 Feb 2012 – Tourism businesses across Australia can apply for grants of up to $100,000 to develop and refresh their products as the 2012 round of the T-QUAL Grants – Tourism Quality Projects program opens today. T-QUAL Grants – is designed to spur private investment in tourism experiences, from eco-cabins and farm stays to […]
more…18 Feb, 2012
The Nightmare of Terror-Related Blacklisting (And Its Impact on Travel)
JURIST Guest Columnist Maureen Duffy of the University of Calgary Faculty of Law says that the use of “blacklists” as a tool for counter-terrorism efforts does not increase public safety, and instead may result in a form of legal punishment based on a subject’s associations alone…
more…18 Feb, 2012
UNCTAD Conf Gives Boost to Global Trade in Organic Products
Nuremberg, 17 February 2012 – The European Union (EU) and the United States signed a landmark “organic-equivalency” agreement here following a conference on opening markets to organic products. And an Asian group of government officials and representatives of organic farmers and marketers adopted an Asian Regional Organic Standard that should greatly expand trade in such […]
more…13 Feb, 2012
As Thai Tourism Rebounds, An Old Crisis Lurks in the Shadows
BANGKOK – As Thailand’s tourism industry gets set to soar again, a regional meeting on the global AIDS pandemic organised here last week has refocussed attention on a rarely-discussed subject: the extent to which Thailand’s nightlife and entertainment industry contributes to the global spread of HIV/AIDS. Although the Thai tourism industry robustly touts its contribution […]
more…10 Feb, 2012
Thailand To Start Dredging Canals to Avert Future Flooding
Bangkok, Feb 8 — The Thai government has agreed to an integration of responsibility for dredging canals in and around Bangkok between the city government and nine ministries in order to improve the capacity of water management in Bangkok areas, according to a Cabinet announcement. A newly-established umbrella grouping, the Strategic Committee for Water Resources […]
more…7 Feb, 2012
Distribution Specialist Demands Protection for Passengers Against Airline Insolvency
DREIEICH, Germany Feb 2, 2012 (Business Wire)–Hahn Air is demanding the introduction of a protection mechanism for passengers against airline insolvency. In future, only airlines with comprehensive insurance coverage should be allowed to sell through travel agencies in Europe. “Furthermore, travel agencies have to face unnecessary risks due to the outdated programming of global distribution […]
more…5 Feb, 2012
Europe Needs 1.5 Trillion Euros To Upgrade Transport Networks by 2030; Bonds, User Charges Coming
Text of speech (as prepared for delivery) by Siim Kallas, Vice-President and European Commissioner for Transport on “Transport Financing: The Way Ahead” at the European Policy Centre Brussels, 2 February 2012 Europe needs to invest heavily in transport infrastructure before 2050 to remain competitive. At the moment, Europe is going through difficult economic times. There […]
more…5 Feb, 2012
EU Moves to Upgrade Cruise Ship Safety
Brussels, 03 February 2012 (European Commission Media release) – Vice-President Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport today was briefed by the board of the European Cruise Council about cruise ship safety. Mr Kallas announced that the Commission strongly supports a passenger ship safety review at IMO (International Maritime Organisation) to ensure that European citizens can […]
more…3 Feb, 2012
Joint Statement Demands End to NY Cops Surveillance of Mosques
Washington, DC (American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) www.adc.org – February 2, 2012 — Recent reports indicate that the New York Police Department (NYPD) has been conducting covert surveillance of mosques in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The targeted mosques, highlighted in the secret NYPD document dated May 15, 2006 released by the Associated Press earlier today, […]
more…3 Feb, 2012
ASEAN Tourism Country Reports & Presentations 2011
The following reports on the tourism situation of 9 of the 10 ASEAN countries were presented at the ASEAN Tourism Forum meetings in Manado in January 2012. They have been made public in order to promote a better understanding of official ASEAN tourism policies, strategies, directions and trends, build the ASEAN tourism brand image and […]
more…1 Feb, 2012
India Issues 12,761 Visas on Arrival in 2011, New Zealanders Head List
New Delhi, Jan 31, 2012 (Press Information Bureau) – During December 2011, a total of 1640 Visa on Arrival (VoAs) were issued to foreign tourists, up from 1,382 in November. The breakdown was as follows: New Zealand (473), Japan (265), Indonesia (247), Phillippines (173), Singapore (194), Finland (246), Cambodia ( 7), Vietnam (18), Luxemburg (8) […]
more…1 Feb, 2012
India Embarks on Massive Railway Stations Upgrade Project
New Delhi, Feb 1, 2012 (Press Information Bureau) – The Ministry of Railways has moved to set up a separate corporate unit to upgrade and improve the country’s thousands of railway stations. In what was described as a “path-breaking initiative,” the Ministry signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle […]
more…1 Feb, 2012
Global Weather Body Launches Data Exchange System to Reduce Risks, Costs
Geneva, 31 January 2012 (WMO), A new international information system to improve and expand the current exchange of weather, climate and water data – and cut the costs involved – has become operational. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Information System will make it easier to find and use meteorological observations and products and to share […]
more…29 Jan, 2012
Thailand to Host Conference on Battling Alcohol Abuse
Bangkok – The Thai tourism industry’s efforts to promote more niche-market visitors is set to take a step forward when the Global Alcohol Policy Conference convenes jere between 13-15 February 2012. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organization, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the […]
more…29 Jan, 2012
India, Brazil, South Africa Issue Davos Declaration, Urge More South-South Ties
Davos, 28 January 2012 (Press Information Bureau, India) — Ministers Anand Sharma of India, Antonio Patriota of Brazil and Rob Davies of South Africa, had a meeting of the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Trade Ministers forum on the sidelines of the 42nd meeting of the World Economic Forum, on January 27, 2012 in Davos, to review […]
more…29 Jan, 2012
UN Marks Holocaust Day; Criticises Israeli Demolition of Palestinian Homes
The following five Press Releases were published back to back by the UN News Centre last week. Well worth thinking about. (Click on each link to go to the story) Jan 23: New Online Tool Featuring Video Testimonies Of Holocaust Survivors Debuts At UN Jan 25: Raising Awareness Of Holocaust Essential To Prevent Acts Of […]
more…27 Jan, 2012
Europe Hotel Room-Nights Hit 1.6 billion in 2011, up 3.8%
Brussels, (January 26, 2012) – In 2011, the number of nights spent in hotels and similar establishments1 in the EU27 reached a peak of 1.6 billion nights, up by 3.8% compared with 2010. The evolution of the number of nights spent in hotels in the EU27 showed alternating phases of growth and decline over the […]
more…27 Jan, 2012
More Than Half of “Happiness Country” Bhutanese Are Not Happy
26-01-2012, The Gross National Happiness index based on results of the GNH 2010 survey shows that 41 per cent of Bhutanese can be classified as happy, while 59 per cent are “not-yet happy”, according to an analytical presentation available on the GNH website. The categorising was determined by a sufficiency threshold and a happiness threshold. […]
more…25 Jan, 2012
Half of Real Estate Investment Concentrated in 30 Cities — JLL Report
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — As world leaders gather to address global challenges at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, a new report by Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) reveals that more than half of all global real estate investment resides in 30 cities. A quarter of the total investment is […]
more…25 Jan, 2012
Jewish Casino Baron Behind Anti-Muslim Films Being Shown to NY Cops
NEW YORK, N.Y., 1/24/12, (CAIR Media Release) — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to offer a concrete plan to help counter the misinformation about Islam and Muslims provided to almost 1,500 officers through the screening of “The Third Jihad,” […]
more…25 Jan, 2012
US Public Now Focussed on Poor Economy But Still Backs “Tough Stand” on Iran
Washington DC., Jan 23, 2012 (Pew Research Centre Media Release) – As the 2012 State of the Union approaches, the public continues to give the highest priority to economic issues. Fully 86% say that strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year, and 82% rate improving the job […]
more…25 Jan, 2012
STR Global Releases World Hotel Performance Results 2011
Hotels in Venice, Abu Dhabi, Santiago and Asian cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore were among the big winners of 2011, according to hotel occupancy and revenue data compiled by STR Global and released on January 24. The performance of Bangkok was a surprise inclusion. Cities worldwide showed the impact of both […]
more…24 Jan, 2012
World Economic Forum 2012 Gives Youth A Chance to Speak Out
Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 24 January 2012 (WEF Press release) – A new worldwide essay competition will tap into the ideas and energy of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Shapers Community in order to tackle the growing youth unemployment crisis. The Global Shapers, a worldwide network of people aged between 20 and 30 who have demonstrated […]
more…19 Jan, 2012
Kerala: From Wage-Earning To Entrepreneurial Society
Excerpts from speech by Mr Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, Jaipur, on 9 January 2012. As all of us know, globalization is an irreversible phenomenon. It has increased the mutual dependence of countries. While this has led to a greater sharing of economic growth, it has also resulted […]
more…19 Jan, 2012
Rajasthan: State Ministers, Govt Officers, Have To Disclose Property Holdings
Excerpts from speech by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, Jaipur.
more…19 Jan, 2012
Transparency Has Drawn More Investors to Road Projects
Excerpts from speech by Dr. C.P. Joshi, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, Jaipur.
more…19 Jan, 2012
India’s Brain Drain Has Now Become A Brain Gain
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s Keynote Address at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 at Jaipur, Topic: “Inclusive Growth: Two Decades of Economic Liberalisation.”
more…13 Jan, 2012
Airports Making More Money From Non-Aeronautical Sources
Montreal, 12 January 2012 – Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General Angela Gittens has announced the release of the Airport Economics Survey 2011. Gittens stated, “As background on the financial results in 2010, as always, it is important to consider the traffic trends during the reporting period. Powered by a strong rebound in the […]
more…8 Jan, 2012
India Taps Diaspora To Build Links With the Caribbean
JAIPUR, January 8, 2012: Prime Minister Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago was the Chief Guest at the annual caucus of the overseas Indian diaspora, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012, which opened here this morning. Wearing a resplendent Indian sari, the first female Indian-origin leader outside of India hailed the contribution of Indian-origin culture […]
more…8 Jan, 2012
Global Trade Stats Show U.S. Down, Developing Countries Up
Geneva – The UN Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD) has released its Handbook of Statistics 2011, a wide-ranging survey of numerical information on international trade flows, commodity prices, migrant remittances, maritime transport, and the economic performances of developing countries. As transport and tourism usually follow in the footsteps of trade flows, this handbook is […]
more…7 Jan, 2012
Public Safety: Aviation Remains Well Ahead of Road Transport
Thailand ended the New Year long holiday with a road casualty count of 335 deaths and 3,375 injured. Compare this carnage over a mere seven days to only 707 fatalities in all of 2010 in the scheduled commercial air transport sector worldwide. The comparison shows that while road transport remains one of the least safe […]
more…7 Jan, 2012
Four New Airports Ready in Afghanistan, Tourists Now Sought
The Asian Development Bank has announced the completion of four airports in Afghanistan that are expected to play a major role in the economic development of the landlocked country. The airports involved a funding of US$35.3 million of which US$ $29.1 million was in the form of an ADB loan.
more…14 Nov, 2011
Tourism Needs Sharper Human Rights Focus – UK NGO
The issue of human rights in the travel & tourism industry hit the public spotlight for the first time at the World Travel Market 2011. Panelists at a seminar were briefed on a new report issued by the UK-based tourism watchdog group Tourism Concern calling on the industry to start incorporating human rights into their […]
more…31 Oct, 2011
After The Floods: Will Thai Tourism Now Ponder the “Karma” Factor?
The devastating floods is the latest in a series of almost back-to-back crises that have struck the Thai travel & tourism industry over the last 10 years. As a Buddhist country, Thailand knows all too well the deeper meaning of cause-and-effect. Is it time for travel & tourism to indulge in some self-introspection and identify the root causes of this ceaseless suffering?
more…25 Oct, 2011
Transparency Is A Good MICE-Catcher, Says Indian Dental Association Secretary
Singapore: The Secretary of an Indian dental association says that transparency is a critical factor in both earning membership trust as well as in winning bids for international conventions.
more…20 Oct, 2011
Buses, Coaches “Beat Cars, Planes for Greening Travel & Tourism”
Kortrijk (Oct 20, 2011) – About 200 European transport and travel political and business leaders have met here for the 7th European Bus and Coach Forum to discuss best policies and operational practices to further green the travel and tourism chain. They say that buses and coaches offer the “best transport solution” for ensuring the […]
more…20 Oct, 2011
ITB Asia Edges PATA Mart As Region’s Leading Trade Show
SINGAPORE: When the ITB Asia opened on Oct 19, the largest delegation of sellers was from Indonesia and the largest delegation of buyers from India. Business was in full swing on the trade floor and the various side-events packed to capacity. Europe may be facing a huge debt crisis, the US economy is in dire […]
more…18 Oct, 2011
New Era Dawns – East Tells West: Put Your House In Order
The Bangkok-based UN Economic & Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific convened a high-level consultation amongst the region’s ministers, central bank governors and senior policymakers between 11-12 October to formulate an Asia-Pacific perspective for the G20 Summit to be held in Cannes, France on 3 and 4 November 2011. The meeting reflected a growing […]
more…17 Oct, 2011
Transparency & Accountability: UNWTO Raises Industry Standards to New Level
The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) ended its 19th biennial General Assembly in Seoul last week by setting new standards of transparency and accountability for the global travel industry as well as its many membership-based associations, both public and private.
more…14 Oct, 2011
Gateway to Krakatau – A New ASEAN Destination Takes Flight
Bandar Lampung, Indonesia’s gateway city to the famous Krakatau volcano, hosted its first international tourism event during October 12-14. Inaugurated with a colourful, pulsating ceremony of spectacular music and dance that even surprised the country’s tourism marketing director, the Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) has helped the city of just under one million people […]
more…12 Oct, 2011
The Asia-Pacific Statistical Yearbook 2011 Released – Download FREE!
Bangkok, Oct 12, 2011 (UN ESCAP Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section) – Asia and the Pacific is undergoing major demographic transformation, according to United Nations statistical data released here today. “At some point this month, October 2011, a child will be born and the world’s population will have reached seven billion. There is a good […]
more…12 Oct, 2011
US Cabin Crew Union Backs Occupy Wall Street Movement, Blasts “Corporate Greed”
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) International President Veda Shook issued the following statement after AFA leadership applauded the Occupy Wall Street movement: “As the world’s largest Flight Attendant union, we stand beside our sisters and brothers who are participating in the Occupy Wall Street movement in cities across […]
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