Travel Business News - Asia / Pacific.

Aug 9, 2009

Hogg Robinson Group 

A new survey by Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) of Chinese companies has found their main focus is on cost control. The poll found that Chinese companies were being forced to make dramatic cuts in travel spend by the recession. The survey was carried out by HRG at the Corporate Travel and Expense Management Forum held in Beijing on July 14-15. More than half the companies (56 percent) said they had downgraded form business to cabin class on airlines but 60 percent said senior staff could still travel premium class. Nearly one third of corporate questioned (32 percent) said they were aiming to save more than 20 percent on their travel budget while 52 percent had targeted savings of up to 20 percent. A substantial majority of companies (72 percent) said they were ready to downgrade "traveller experience" to save money. But the survey also found that more than half the companies believed the recession would end in 2010 while 52 per cent of corporates were planning to save up to 20 per cent in travel expenses while 32 per cent were targeting to save more than 20 per cent in 2009. More than half the companies believed the recession would end in 2010 while 52 percent said corporate responsibility, including security and environmental issues were higher on the agenda than a year ago. www.hrgworldwide.com Aug 3, 2009

Malaysia

The first climate change convention would be held in Langkawi island in northern Malaysia next year, said the organizer at its launching ceremony on Monday here. The convention was a non-profit project organized by a local company named Asian Overland Services Conventions & Events Sdn. Bhd., supported by the Malaysian Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry and the Malaysian Tourism Ministry. Aug 6, 2009

Pacific Islands

In a report to the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum from the regional powers of Australia and New Zealand, it states that the global recession has cut economic growth and government revenues in vulnerable South Pacific island nations, forcing more people into poverty. With some states running "unsustainable" budget deficits and struggling with "flat or declining growth" even before the downturn hit, the report warns that more will face destabilizing deficits if they fail to get spending under control. The economic crisis will be a major focus of talks by leaders during the forum, which opened with a meeting of the region's seven smallest island states Tuesday. The forum ends Friday. Aug 6, 2009

Phuket

Up to 48 percent of all new hotel developments in Phuket are experiencing major construction delays triggered by the global economic downturn and concerns over Thailand's political stability, a report has found. According to the Phuket Hotel Market Update Mid-Year Report released by respected hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks, the slowdown on hotel construction sites has however not dented developer's enthusiasm for entering the accommodation market on the island. Aug 6, 2009

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands is seeing a steady increase in the number of visitor arrivals in the second quarter of 2009. The latest figure released by the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) indicated an 8 percent increase to 4,832 compared to the same period last year. Aug 7, 2009

Sri Lanka

Compared to last year, the number of tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka increased by nine percent at the end of June this year. This is the first time such an increase in the number of tourists was recorded after twelve months and this is the result of the end of the civil war, said the Vice President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, Srilal Miththapala. Aug 6, 2009

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