The world at their fingertips

Not only are locals travelling longer, they are also spending more by going to more exotic locations. Last month’s survey of 20 outbound travel agencies found that a Singaporean who booked a flight in the first seven months of this year went away for an average of seven days. It was five days during the same period last year. Travellers are also paying between S$1,500 and S$2,000 (Bt37,000 and Bt49.500) for their package or free-and-easy booking, an increase of 20 per cent from last year. This was due to more Singaporeans putting more unusual destinations, including South Africa and Mongolia, on the itinerary.

 

Luxury on the edge

The Park Hyatt Siem Reap has now opened under new ownership with an additional 108 luxury rooms and a complete makeover. Formerly known as Hotel De La Paix, the hotel underwent a 14-month top-to-bottom renovation by interior designer Bill Bensley. It’s located in the heart of downtown Siem Reap, offering guests easy access to the town’s largest old market, several night markets and the bustling and eclectic restaurant and shopping district. Visit http://SiemReap.Park.Hyatt.com. 

 

Hue airport to re-open next month 

Phu Bai International Airport, Hue s rescheduled to re-open on September 20 following an extensive rehabilitation programme that includes new landing points. reopening, with new landing points. The airport closed its doors on March 20 for runway repairs and upgrades and the reopening is two months ahead of schedule. Located 15 kilometres from the city centre, Phu Bai International Airport is the main gateway to Hue, Vietnam’s ancient capital and the seat of power during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue’s well-preserved citadels, tombs and pagodas have been recognised by UNESCO and are among the country’s top cultural attractions.

 

Sleeping with the dinosaurs

A struggling resort hotel on Australia’s east coast is hoping to turn its fortunes around with the world’s largest collection of life-size dinosaur statues. Queensland mining tycoon Clive Palmer has received the approval of the Sunshine Coast council to erect 165 models of prehistoric creatures at the Palmer Coolum Resort, 120 kilometres north of Brisbane. Palmer has already installed 40 exhibits, including an animated tyrannosaurus rex and a 20-metre deinosuchus. More than 200 objections were lodged with the council over Palmer’s plans to enhance the appeal of what used to be the upmarket Hyatt Coolum, popular with politicians and celebrities. – DPA

 

The buzz about ice cream

A pretty German hill town popular with tourists is offering a free serving of ice cream to any child that is bitten by a mosquito on vacation there. The PR gag uses the slogan, "A bite = an ice cream," and is a sly jab at lowland towns that are being hit by loads of mosquitoes swarming around their lakes after floods in June. “Only the idyllic family town of Inzell in the Bavarian Alps can defy the pests,” says the community's tourism office. Inzell lies more than 600 metres above sea level, out of mosquito range. The tourist information office will inspect any bites if a rogue bug strikes and distribute coupons to be redeemed at local ice cream parlours.

 

Sky high to Kiev

The United Arab Emirates airlines Emirates is expanding to the Black Sea region with the start of a daily non-stop connection from Dubai to Boryspil International Airport in Kiev starting on January 16. The airline says it will use Airbus A340-500 planes for the route, providing 12 private suites in first class, 42 flatbed seats in business class and 204 economy class seats. The flights will take off at 5.15pm from Dubai and land at 8.35pm in the Ukrainian capital. The return flight will leave Kiev at 10.10pm and arrives in Dubai at 4.55am the following day.