FTF
02-12-2004, 06:03 PM
Posted by FTF on August 14, 2003 at 12:44:43:
Travel players pick up pieces after Jakarta
Even as Asia's travel trade reeled from the bomb blast at the JW Marriott Jakarta last week, the industry showed
its resilience by picking up the pieces almost immediately.
Neighbours Singapore and Malaysia moved to assure visitors of their commitment to providing a safe and secure
environment for visitors, while industry players in Jakarta moved to underscore their belief in the tourism
business.
TravelWeekly's Magic of Asia presents this special report.
Singapore committed to providing "safe environment"
Lim Neo Chian, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of Singapore Tourism Board, issued a statement
immediately following the bomb blast, saying, "There are currently no specific terrorist threats against targets in
Singapore. Singapore is committed to providing a safe holiday environment for travellers and its international
visitors."
Lim remained confident that the destination's past security record would hold.
"Singapore's security and emergency response agencies have, over the past 15 years, built up their capabilities
to respond to contingencies or threats. These plans are in place and have been exercised regularly over the
years."
However, it was too early to assess the possible impact on inbound.
"It is too early to tell if there will be any long-term effects to inbound traffic to Singapore. Since the incident
however, we have received a number of queries from the media and public about the safety of travel to Singapore.
The STB will continue to work with its partners to monitor any developments and keep them abreast of the
situation."
Travellers from Jakarta have been a key part of the recent recovery of inbound travellers to Singapore. Lim said the
STB would continue to work hard to promote to its largest market.
"Indonesia remains a key market. The blasts should not derail our marketing plans in Indonesia substantially,
but where necessary, we will review and adapt our plans to the present situation at hand."
Malaysia: No change to tourism plans and events
In Malaysia, Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Dato' Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir assured visitors in the
country and those planning to visit that precautionary measures wre in place in Malaysia and have been even
before the September 11 terrorist attack in the US.
"The government will continue to tighten security to ensure such incidents do not take place in Malaysia."
The minister is adamant that all the tourism players in the country, including the media, should pass the
message that "life in Malaysia is normal and it's business as usual."
Normalcy is also reflected in the countless tourism events Malaysia has lined up for this year and beyond.
"We will be having a whole month of celebrations, from August 17 to September 16, in conjunction with our
national day on August 31. There will be a huge carnival in Kuala Lumpur to launch the celebrations on August 17, a mammoth parade in Putrajaya on
August 31, culminating in the closing ceremony on September 16 in Sabah." Hundreds of travel agents and the international media will converge on
Malaysia on the Mega Fam trip to join in the National Day celebrations.
Other events to watch out for are the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival currently on till August 31, with the last one for the year lined up for November 8-January
3, 2004, the Hari Raya and Christmas Open House in November and December respectively, and festivals celebrated by the various ethnic groups.
Kadir is hopeful that all these "happy" events will keep the visitors coming to Malaysia. - Corinne Wan
Annual travel fair to go ahead in Jakarta
In Jakarta, stakeholders in Indonesia's tourism industry underscored their faith in the industry by announcing that
it would go ahead with its national travel fair, Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo (TIME) 2003.
TIME, an annual trade fair, will be held September 3-5.
The weekly meeting of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) including stakeholders from national and
local government, airlines and industry discussed the formation of a 24-hour crisis centre, to be set up by the
government.
"Of course this (the bombing) is very bad news for us, and everybody is very concerned. But we've decided to
continue," said Andi Rusli, event director for TIME 2003.
"No matter what happens, we have to hold the mart on schedule. We are positive we can do it without any
problems. This year we have a lot of support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Jakarta City
Government." - Luke Clark
Australians stick with Bali
Australians appear ready to back Bali and ignore the advice of their Foreign Affairs Department to avoid
unnecessary travel to Indonesia.
Air Paradise International national business manager Gary Hilt said the Jakarta bombing last week had not
dampened enthusiasm for Bali.
Air Paradise has announced that it will acquire a second aircraft next week and will use it to launch
four-times-a-week Sydney-Bali services from September 1.
Hilt said, "So far bookings and cancellations are stable but the next few days will be critical. We are taking a
business as usual approach."
Qantas said it is monitoring the situation but so far bookings to Indonesia were holding up.
Travel players pick up pieces after Jakarta
Even as Asia's travel trade reeled from the bomb blast at the JW Marriott Jakarta last week, the industry showed
its resilience by picking up the pieces almost immediately.
Neighbours Singapore and Malaysia moved to assure visitors of their commitment to providing a safe and secure
environment for visitors, while industry players in Jakarta moved to underscore their belief in the tourism
business.
TravelWeekly's Magic of Asia presents this special report.
Singapore committed to providing "safe environment"
Lim Neo Chian, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of Singapore Tourism Board, issued a statement
immediately following the bomb blast, saying, "There are currently no specific terrorist threats against targets in
Singapore. Singapore is committed to providing a safe holiday environment for travellers and its international
visitors."
Lim remained confident that the destination's past security record would hold.
"Singapore's security and emergency response agencies have, over the past 15 years, built up their capabilities
to respond to contingencies or threats. These plans are in place and have been exercised regularly over the
years."
However, it was too early to assess the possible impact on inbound.
"It is too early to tell if there will be any long-term effects to inbound traffic to Singapore. Since the incident
however, we have received a number of queries from the media and public about the safety of travel to Singapore.
The STB will continue to work with its partners to monitor any developments and keep them abreast of the
situation."
Travellers from Jakarta have been a key part of the recent recovery of inbound travellers to Singapore. Lim said the
STB would continue to work hard to promote to its largest market.
"Indonesia remains a key market. The blasts should not derail our marketing plans in Indonesia substantially,
but where necessary, we will review and adapt our plans to the present situation at hand."
Malaysia: No change to tourism plans and events
In Malaysia, Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Dato' Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir assured visitors in the
country and those planning to visit that precautionary measures wre in place in Malaysia and have been even
before the September 11 terrorist attack in the US.
"The government will continue to tighten security to ensure such incidents do not take place in Malaysia."
The minister is adamant that all the tourism players in the country, including the media, should pass the
message that "life in Malaysia is normal and it's business as usual."
Normalcy is also reflected in the countless tourism events Malaysia has lined up for this year and beyond.
"We will be having a whole month of celebrations, from August 17 to September 16, in conjunction with our
national day on August 31. There will be a huge carnival in Kuala Lumpur to launch the celebrations on August 17, a mammoth parade in Putrajaya on
August 31, culminating in the closing ceremony on September 16 in Sabah." Hundreds of travel agents and the international media will converge on
Malaysia on the Mega Fam trip to join in the National Day celebrations.
Other events to watch out for are the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival currently on till August 31, with the last one for the year lined up for November 8-January
3, 2004, the Hari Raya and Christmas Open House in November and December respectively, and festivals celebrated by the various ethnic groups.
Kadir is hopeful that all these "happy" events will keep the visitors coming to Malaysia. - Corinne Wan
Annual travel fair to go ahead in Jakarta
In Jakarta, stakeholders in Indonesia's tourism industry underscored their faith in the industry by announcing that
it would go ahead with its national travel fair, Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo (TIME) 2003.
TIME, an annual trade fair, will be held September 3-5.
The weekly meeting of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) including stakeholders from national and
local government, airlines and industry discussed the formation of a 24-hour crisis centre, to be set up by the
government.
"Of course this (the bombing) is very bad news for us, and everybody is very concerned. But we've decided to
continue," said Andi Rusli, event director for TIME 2003.
"No matter what happens, we have to hold the mart on schedule. We are positive we can do it without any
problems. This year we have a lot of support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Jakarta City
Government." - Luke Clark
Australians stick with Bali
Australians appear ready to back Bali and ignore the advice of their Foreign Affairs Department to avoid
unnecessary travel to Indonesia.
Air Paradise International national business manager Gary Hilt said the Jakarta bombing last week had not
dampened enthusiasm for Bali.
Air Paradise has announced that it will acquire a second aircraft next week and will use it to launch
four-times-a-week Sydney-Bali services from September 1.
Hilt said, "So far bookings and cancellations are stable but the next few days will be critical. We are taking a
business as usual approach."
Qantas said it is monitoring the situation but so far bookings to Indonesia were holding up.