New faces for Asean tourism
Bartenders, house-keepers and chefs are among the 32 tourism industry-related professionals who will be eligible to work in any member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) once the Asean Economic Community starts in 2015, thanks t
The inter-state job opportunity aims to reduce costs as well as increase the competitiveness in the bloc’s tourism industry. The new job opportunities are expected to attract workers to the area’s most famous tourist destinations including Bangkok, Phuket, Bali and Singapore. – Viet Nam News/ANN
Myanmar looks to upgrade hotels
Most hotels in Myanmar are waiting to be visited by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and Myanmar Hoteliers Association as part of a “national” hotel inspection programme aimed at upgrading Myanmar’s hospitality standard. The arrival of tourists to Myanmar has increased since 2012, resulting in a high demand for hotel rooms and facilities and services of a good standard. The entire country boasted just 30,000 hotels. – Eleven Media
Beaches with a view
Florida’s beaches are currently being photographed with special cameras and the images will hit Google Street View starting in 2014, according to Visit Florida. Trekkers appointed by the tourism organisation are walking the entire 1,300-kilometre Florida coastline until October and taking 360-degree pictures as they go. The photos will allow tourists to see any holiday destination from the beach before travelling there. Visit www.VisitFlorida.com.
A plane to call your own
Emirates’ Airbus 319 “Luxury Private Jet” is now available for private charter services via on-line booking at www.Emirates-Executive.com. Customers seeking unsurpassed luxury in travel can book a tailor-made experience on Emirates Executive, the ultra-spacious Airbus 319 aircraft, and enjoy new technology and design to meet the most discerning traveller’s requirements. A319 Emirates Executive aircraft features two main zones: a wide dining and executive lounge at the front of the aircraft designed to seat up to 12 passengers, combining a work area and a rest zone. The second distinct area comprises 10 Private Suites.
A “whale” of a time
Whales can be observed from the land, water and in the air on whale watching tours off the coast of South Africa. The giant animals come up to 20 metres from the coast off the small town of Hermanus. Tours are offered along the 12-kilometre coastline, including once a month by moonlight. Visitors can listen to the deep breathing of the whales. Thirty-minute flights out over the Indian Ocean take off from Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Participants in whale-watching kayak tours along the coast can get as close as 300 metres to the animals. Visit www.Hermanus.co.za.
Baiyoke heads for the clouds
Asia Atlantic Airlines is a new chartered airline alliance between Japan’s H.I.S. Group and Thailand’s Baiyoke Group of Hotels. The airline will begin operations from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok with two Boeing 767-300ER aircraft to Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai). An expanded route network is planned with destinations including China, South Korea, Guam and Hawaii, as further aircraft are delivered. Visit www.AsiaAtlanticAirlines.com.
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