Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: Asian air traffic grows, Taiwan's first LLC, more Chinese visit Japan and more...

Asian air traffic climbs in 2014

Airlines based in the Asia Pacific region carried a total of 41 million international passengers in the first two months of 2014 – 7.4% more than the same period last year. This solid start to the year was revealed by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), whose data confirmed that January's strong start continued into February. Last month, 19.7m international passengers took to the skies in Asia, 4.6% up year-on-year, despite the fact that monthly results were impacted by the timing of Chinese New Year. Asian international load factors did slightly in February, however, falling 0.5 percentage points to 77.4%.

V Air to become Taiwan's first LCC

V Air was unveiled on 24 March 2014, along with the budget airline's new corporate logo and aircraft livery. The new LCC will use the symbol of Taiwan's native Formosan black bear, to be known as the ‘V Bear', along with a bold blue name on a white background. Expected to launch later this year, V Air will initially operate a fleet of two or three Airbus A320 or A321 aircraft on flights within a flight radius of five hours. This will include destinations in Northeast and Southeast Asia, which the airline said are "popular travel destinations for Taiwanese".

China drives soaring tourist arrivals to Japan

International visitor arrivals to Japan soared in February, rising 21% year on year to 880,000 people. According to the Japanese National Tourism Organisation, travellers from China made up the bulk of arrivals as they journeyed overseas for Chinese Lunar New Year. Diplomatic strains over disputed island territories appeared to have no bearing on traveller choice as the number of Chinese arrivals grew by 71% on last year. Officials speculate they were drawn over by the weaker Japanese yen, much to the joy of business owners in Tokyo's shopping and entertainment districts such as Shibuya and Roppongi Hills.

Archipelago expands favehotel portfolio

Archipelago International is expanding its budget hospitality offering with the signing of three new favehotels in Indonesia. Located in Jakarta, the favehotel Cendrawasih will consist of 120 rooms and will be located close to the airport. The 100-room favehotel Daan Mogot will be located near the Ciputra Mall and will provide easy access to the Toll Highway. In Bali, favehotel Cokroaminoto will offer 120 rooms and will be located in the commercial district of Denpasar.

Centara to launch in Laos

Set to open in 2017, the five-star Centara Grand Hotel Vientiane will be a new-build French colonial-style property located in the centre of the Lao capital. It is being developed by the Simuong Group at a cost of THB1.5 billion (US$46 million). Centara Grand Hotel Vientiane will have 200 rooms and a range of luxury facilities, including two restaurants, a spa, swimming pool, fitness centre and kids' club. It will also offer meeting facilities, including a ballroom. Laos becomes the ninth country in Centara's international portfolio, while the Centara Grand Hotel Vientiane will mark the company's 20th luxury ‘Grand' property.

Ritz-Carlton to return to Australia

The luxury hotel group, which forms part of Marriott International, has penned an agreement with the Far East Consortium for the development of the brand new Ritz-Carlton Perth, in the new Elizabeth Quay area of the city. The new 204-room Ritz-Carlton Perth will be developed on the banks of the Swan River in Elizabeth Quay, which forms the centrepiece of Perth's urban redevelopment plan. Work on the new hotel is expected to commence in 2015, and once complete the project will also include ground floor retail space, waterfront dining and a series of luxury apartments.

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