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ASIAAsia Pacific Singapore sets its sights Singapore targets to increase its number of visitors from 8.9mn in 2005 to 17mn in 2015; that represents an average annual increase of 7% - which is a hard-but-reachable target. The Singapore Tourism Board continues to focus its marketing efforts on markets like China, India, and the Middle East. Singapore expects to boost its tourism profile with building two ‘integrated resorts’ of which the major element would be their casinos. Malaysia celebrates 2007 In 2007 Malaysia will be celebrating a golden jubilee - 50 years of independence from the UK. A new ‘Visit Year Malaysia’ will be linked with this, and tourism officials hope the destination will count 20mn visitors. Compared with the 17mn expected this year, that would be a hard-to-achieve 17.7% growth. Hong Kong The Conrad hotel in Hong Kong is in the middle of a 2-year renovation that is due to be completed next September. This will be a comprehensive new look, but there are no planned changes in outlets, room numbers or type. China China Kempinski continues with its rapid expansion in China; it has just added two more, bringing its total to eight.The Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski has been operating since 2002, but Kempinski took on management in 2005 and, together with the Chinese owner, has built an additional 21 villas providing another 191 rooms. New resort routes for Korea At the end of last month, Korean Air added two significant routes in Malaysia and Thailand from Seoul. In particular, the Pattaya route may take growth from Thailand’s main resort, Phuket – which has still not recovered from the downturn following the December 2004 tsunami. Thailand reorients its tourism Sustainability and environment-friendly tourism are Thailand’s new credos for the new government’s new minister of tourism, Suvit Yodmani. He wants to reorient the kingdom’s tourism strategy - less prestigious and costly projects, and more focus on a sustainable environment and training. The minister promises funds to restore 1,000 sites and monuments of historical or natural importance. According to provisional data for the first three quarters, Thailand counted 7.19mn visitors, up 17.9%. Japan remains on top with 850,000 visitors, up 11.3%. Sulawesi, new destination for Indonesia Indonesia wants to open up more regions to international tourism. South Sulawesi is known for its beaches and islands around Makassar as well as Torajaland, for its authentic traditions and homes. North Sulawesi is known for the Bunaken maritime park. Vietnam rising tourism Vietnam targets 5.5-6mn visitors in 2010 against 3.8-4mn estimated for this year, and a 3.5mn total in 2005. To reach 6mn requires average annual growth of 11%; however, growth through August this year was only 5%. New tourism plan for Nepal Following the relatively-peaceful political transition in Nepal, the new minister for tourism and aviation recently proposed a master plan for tourism. This will incorporate policies, strategies, and action plans for development, expansion, and promotion of the visitor business. The minister hopes to better integrate private initiatives with the government’s tourism agenda. China to expand airports China’s civil aviation department says that there are plans to spend US\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\$18bn to build 48 new airports over the 5-year period 2006-10, and to expand others. Another 48 airports, one-third growth, would bring China’s commercial airport count to 190. Although impressive, when set against the 10,000 airports in the US, for instance, there is still a long way to go. Philippines to pass 3mn The Philippines may surpass 3mn visitors this year. Growth has been good since the 1.5% fall in the SARS-pandemic year of 2003. Recovery from that resulted in 20% growth in 2004, but then there another good year in 2005 – up 17%. This good result is in accordance to other tourism indicators for the archipelago. More for the Maldives Tourism prospects for the Maldives once again look encouraging. The December 2004 tsunami had a devastating effect, with visitor arrivals falling from 616,716 in 2004 to 395,320 in 2005. The tourism ministry says that arrivals have now surpassed pre-tsunami levels. But according to data from the Pacific Asia Travel Association, the visitor total through August this year was still 6% down on 2004, and only in one of the eight months was the total higher than in 2004. Another source puts the 2006 target at 600,000.
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