Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: Bulgari Enters China, Malaysia Chairs ASEAN, India launches e-visa and more...
Há»" Trà m Poised For Development
Há»" Trà m, a small beach town of Vietnam Bà Rịaâ€"VÅ©ng Tà u province, may see further developments in the coming years as the government considers the possibility of revising the total ban on Vietnamese nationals into casinos; regulatory laws may be amended as early as next year. This move has garnered the interest of major casino operators, including Las Vegas Sands Corporation which has expressed interest in entering the market only if the local population is permitted to play. Currently The Grand â€" Há»" Trà m Strip, opened in July 2013, is the first casino along the strip. Asian Coast Development Ltd (ACDL), majority stakeholder of the 1100-room integrated resort, plans on introducing three more resorts along the strip. Harbinger Capital and Chinese hotel & junket investor Chien Lee has invested an additional $50 million and $20 million into ACDL’s project respectively. ACDL is obliged by the Vietnamese government to invest $4 billion into the Há»" Trà m Strip for its right to use the site and operate casinos.
Bulgari Enters China
Bulgari Hotels and Resorts, the luxury brand of Marriott International, has announced the opening of its Beijing property in early 2017. The property would be located in the Embassy District and within close proximity to the trendy Sanlitun. The 120-room hotel will be the -fifth property, opening shortly after the brand’s debut Chinese property in Shanghai due to open in 2016. Bulgari’s expansion into the Chinese market comes amid concerns of an oversupply of luxury hotels especially in first tier cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. China has seen a decline in arrivals by 2.51% between 2012 and 2013; inbound revenue however has seen an increase by 3.27% for the same period.
Malaysia Chairs ASEAN
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak will assume leadership of ASEAN on 1 January 2015. Malaysia will head key initiatives such as developing ‘Post 2015’ - a ten year roadmap for ASEAN and negotiations for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will be the world’s largest free trade agreement. Other issues at the forefront include tensions at the South China Sea, between China, Vietnam & Philippines, which had the previous Secretary General of ASEAN Le Luong Minh citing the gap between political commitment and action, impeding resolution to the issue. Observers continue to keep watch of Malaysia’s plans to resolve tensions at the South China Sea, having addressed the issue quietly in the past in a bid to maintain good relations with China. Malaysia’s overarching objective for ASEAN is to ‘steer ASEAN closer to the people of Southeast Asia’ under its leadership.
Air New Zealand Expands Routes
Air New Zealand is currently looking to expand its business on three different fronts. Having suspended its routes to Singapore since 2007, Air New Zealand will resume service between Singapore and Auckland from 6 January 2015 based on a codeshare agreement with Singapore Airlines. The Airline has also gone on to explore a strategic alliance that may see Air China operate a new direct Beijingâ€"Auckland route, pending regulatory approval. Earlier, in 2012, Air New Zealand had ceased its -Aucklandâ€"Beijing route, with the intent of focusing on the Aucklandâ€"Shanghai route. The airline however, is now interested in tapping into the Chinese market which is New Zealand’s second largest source market. Beyond Asia, Air New Zealand is currently evaluating the possibility of opening a new route from Auckland to Las Vegas, Houston or Chicago, which may commence within the next 12 months. Unlike its China routes, this new route is targeted at outbound travel by New Zealanders which has increased by a 15.3% CAGR since 2012.
Government of India launches e-visa for 43 countries
Giving the tourism sector a significant thrust, the government of India launched the much-touted e-visa facility for 43 countries including the US, Australia, Japan, Israel, Germany and Singapore, to be made available at nine major airports across the country. People traveling on leisure, short duration medical treatments, casual business visits or to meet friends and relatives, will be eligible to apply for a visa online and be able to receive it within 72 hours. The electronic travel authorization (ETA), having a 30-day validity, will be available at a fee of US$62. The launching of e-visa system is expected to boost the nation’s tourism industry and help achieve the seven million mark for foreign tourist arrivals this year. The new pro-tourism government at the centre aims to double tourism’s contribution to the nation’s GDP, which is presently at 7%.
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