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The Philippines bets high stakes on Entertainment City
Entertainment City, an 800-hectare integrated leisure
and entertainment complex along Roxas Boulevard, aims to position the
Philippines as Asia’s new tourism and gaming hub.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR) project is expected to attract over US$10 billion in foreign
investments and boost arrivals to 10 million in five years.
PAGCOR chairman and CEO, Mr. Efraim Genuino, said:
“The reason we lack tourists is we lack hotels. Development of big
hotels and entertainment areas is key.”
Entertainment City will contain five-star themed
hotels, amusement parks, educational and cultural centres, shopping
malls, a commercial district, sports stadium, restaurants, convention
halls, state-of-the-art theatres, gaming centres, racetracks,
residential and retirement villages and hospital district, among others.
Proposed themed attractions include a “Tropical” area
with white sand beaches and lagoons, a Winter Park with large ice
skating rinks and skiing facilities, a Marina Complex with a showcase of
the region’s marine life, a fishport and seafood restaurant, a Boardwalk
lined with specialty restaurants and an observation tower, and the
interactive, educational Nayong Pilipino Park.
Entertainment City will be developed in three phases over seven
years. Phase 1, comprising a gaming resort and theme park, will be
completed by 2009. (TTG)
Southern Germany targets wealthy Thais
The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce has
unveiled a major lifestyle travel exhibition targeting wealthy Thais.
The inaugural Germany: Lifestyle & Travel 08 will be staged
at Central World Hotel and Bangkok Convention Centre in November next year to
promote lifestyle products in Germany’s south, home to high-performance Porsche
cars, wine regions and deluxe hotels.
The exhibition’s promotion manager, Dr. Raimund Cerny, said
special VIP programmes would be tailor made to target wealthy Thais.
Dr Cerny said some 70,000 Thais visited Germany last year,
making it Thailand’s most preferred European destination in front of the UK.
He said Thai arrivals to Germany increased between six and 12
per cent each year, with visitors spending between US$120 and US$150 a day on
average. (TTG)
Overseas flights may operate from Don Mueang
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) board is
expected to soon discuss the possible use of international flights at Bangkok’s
Don Mueang Airport which officially reopened for domestic flights two weeks ago,
a senior official said.
Admiral Bannawit Kengrian, head of the National Legislative
Assembly committee investigating Suvarnabhumi Airport problems, said that AOT
planned to renovate passenger lounges for international flights at Don Mueang
Airport while it awaited a clear policy from the government.
Adm. Bannawit, who advises the AOT board chairman, said the
board is expected to confer on services to be provided to international airlines
at Don Mueang during its next meeting.
Don Mueang Airport was closed last September 28 on the
opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok’s Samut Prakan province. However, it
was officially reopened for domestic flights as the authorities believe it could
help ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport while workers repair cracks in
taxiways and runways and build more restrooms and other facilities at the new
airport.
Gift shops and restaurant facilities at Don Mueang are not
yet furnished but Adm. Bannawit said he was optimistic they could be completed
within a week.
The reopening of Don Mueang has sent joy to vendors and
motorcycle taxi drivers as they hope their earnings will increase.
Tawatchai Kompairee, a motorcycle taxi driver at Don Mueang,
said his income had dropped sharply after the closure of the airport almost six
months ago and he wanted the government to keep Don Mueang “opened forever”.
Mala Ngernsunthia, a coffee-shop employee at Suvarnabhumi
Airport, said she now traveled between the new and old airports daily and she
hoped that her employer would open a branch at Don Mueang if more airlines
operate there. If her dream materializes, she said she would not have to travel
as far as now. (TTG)
Thailand NTO takes new aim
Three new offices to target high-yield emerging markets
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is going ahead with
its plan to open three new offices in Dubai, Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City by
the end of its fiscal year for a total budget of 20 million baht
(US$627,185).TAT has 18 offices in Asia-Pacific, Europe
and North America. Governor, Ms Phornsiri Manoharn, said the new offices in
Dubai and Moscow would bring in more high-spending tourists from the Middle
East and Russia and the Ho Chi Minh City office would tap expatriates in
Vietnam.
TAT executive director for Europe, Mr. Satit Nillwongse,
who is responsible for the opening of the Dubai and Moscow offices, said TAT
had been in discussions with Middle East carriers - including Etihad
Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines - to
promote Thailand through their networks.
He said TAT was also seeking partnerships with airlines
to organise at least two familiarisation trips this year for some 20 travel
agents and media from the Middle East.
In addition, TAT will stage roadshows in Saudi Arabia and
Iran between April 2 and 10. It will also participate in the Arabian Travel
Mart in Dubai between May 1 and 4, and the International Health Tourism fair
in Bahrain in December.
With the new office openings and aggressive tourism
marketing activities, TAT expects to increase arrivals from the Middle East
by 20 per cent this year.
Last year, Thailand received 392,416 arrivals from the
Middle East, a 34.13 per cent increase over 2005.
Emirates area manager for Thailand and Indochina, Mr.
Jeyhun Efendi, told TTG Asia the opening of the TAT office in Dubai would
mean more business for Thailand. “Passenger traffic from the Middle East to
Thailand is growing as travellers from the region are exploring more of
Asia,” he said.
Qatar Airways area manager for Thailand and Cambodia, Mr.
Rohan Seneviratne, said the airline had been promoting Thailand in the
Middle East for the last few years.
“Many trade shows, fam trips and roadshows have been
organised by Qatar Airways (to promote Thailand) and will continue this year
as well. In addition, we have opened Qatar Airways Holidays offices in many
countries and Thailand has been one of the top destinations promoted by us
from the Middle East,” he said.
Mr. Seneviratne added Thailand was one of the top tourist
destinations for the Middle East market.
“Thailand has so much potential such as spas, cultural
destinations and beaches to promote traffic from the Middle East. The TAT
has also been very focused on promoting tourism.” However, he added: “There
is a need to create more awareness about what Thailand can offer as a
business and tourism destination.”
Mr. Nillwongse said TAT would leverage on the wealth of
Thailand’s spas, shopping and medical treatment options when promoting the
country in the Middle East. (TTG)
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