Travel Bulletin All About the Far East Supplement 2012

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All About the

Far East

Your one-stop guideto all the latest news and developments in the Far East

September 2012

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Regional round-up - 17

There’s nothing like a visit from a future king and queen andthe PR bandwagon that accompanies them to turn the globalspotlight on the countries that welcome them.

While Kate and William’s visit to Asia and Pacific has beensomewhat overshadowed by the issue of the royal family, press andprivacy, the round-the-clock coverage of the Duke and Duchess’snine-day Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Far East can only bringpositive PR opportunities for the countries that they have visited,which included Singapore and Malaysia.

Like Wills and Kate who have had to squeeze a tour of Asia andthe Pacific into nine days, I found it a challenge to decide on whatcountries to focus on for this All About the Far East supplement.

There is a multitude of destinations to feature and a myriad ofstories, resorts and attractions to include that it is difficult to knowwhere to start.

To kick off the supplement, What’s new (page 4) looks at what theFar East specialists are introducing for 2013 – it’s well worth a readas there are so many tours, and resorts, not to mention emergingdestinations, such as Burma and North Korea.

China (page 7) is on many people’s wish lists, and it seems, thebest way for first-timers to experience this marvellous destinationis on an escorted tour. We get the lowdown from the experts.Meanwhile, Hong Kong (page 9) has a lot to shout about at themoment; particularly on the new hotels’ front.

An eternal favourite with the UK market, Thailand (page 10) hasleft its hippy trail roots well and truly in the 21st century. Thissection of the supplement looks at the inroads it is making into theniche holidays market, as well as what’s new for all the family.

From the jungles of Borneo to the high-tech capital of KualaLumpur, Malaysia (page 14) has a lot to offer Brits looking for varietyon their holiday. We get the lowdown from the tourist board onwhat to do, where to go and how to get the most out of a two-week holiday to the destination.

Finally, the Regional round-up (page 17) gathers news fromcountries in the Far East that are starting to flex their muscles in anattempt to grab some of the limelight from the more establishedcountries.

So, I hope our first All About Far East supplement is a good readand helps you to convert enquiries into bookings.

Angela CroninSupplements editor

All About The Far East 3

All About the

Hong Kong - 9

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX

Tel: 020-7834 6661Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe

Written and researched by: Angela CroninEmail: [email protected]

Design/Layout: Genaro SantosPrinted by: Wyndeham Grange Limited

Cover Picture: Families WorldwideISSN: 0956-2419

CONTENTS

China - 7

What’s new - 4

Thailand - 10

Malaysia - 14

Far East


Stunning landscapes, a myriad ofcultures and great value for moneymake the countries in Asia irresistable

to the UK market, and consequently, an easysell for agents.

Add to that emerging destinations,such as Burma and North Korea, and theregion has practically every single holidaywish list covered.

We look at how the operators are copingwith the relentless demand for the Far Eastfrom first-timers and repeat visitors whojust can’t get enough of the destination.

KuoniThe Asia specialist has launched its 2013Far East brochure featuring a range of newresorts, multi-centres, tours andfamily-friendly holidays.

The highlights include: an increase inmulti-centres, beach stays and touringholidays in Vietnam due to the new directservice from Vietnam Airlines; new hotelsin Hanoi, Phan Thiet, Mui Ne and Nha Trang,including the five-star Fusion Alya in Hoi An,the country's first culinary resort with openshow kitchen opening later this year, andthe new four-star Liberty Central. Tenhotels in Thailand that are exclusive toKuoni have been introduced including theAndaman White Beach and the Holiday InnResort Phuket Mai Khao Beach in Phuket,the Let's Sea in Hua Hin and Lit! Bangkok.

An array of emerging hotels in thequieter beach destinations of Khao Lak,Koh Lanta and Krabi are also new alongwith family-friendly properties such as theHoliday Inn Resort Phuket Mai KhaoBeach.

New tours include the 10-night DiscoverVietnam tour that touches all the mainattractions, the two-day Mekong DeltaTour that cruises past floating markets,rice fields, forests, villages and sugar canefields and the Eastern and Orient ExpressRoad to Mandalay cruise to Burma.

Wendy Wu ToursThe tours specialist has launched its 2013brochures featuring 11 new itineraries toChina (see pages 7-9) and eight new toursto Indochina.

New for 2013 is the your-way travelplanner, which allows customers totailor-make their own packages from achoice of 70 short stays that they can puttogether. The new tours include a range ofclassic, specialist and adventurousprogrammes as well as the chance toexplore a range of new destinations.

The latest Indochina itineraries includethe 18-day Indochina Delights group tour,which takes in Vietnam, Laos and thetemples of Angkor in Cambodia. The firsttour departs on 26 January 2013 withprices from £3,190 per person.

As demand soars fortours that taketravellers more offthe beaten track inthe Far East, operatorshave bolstered theirprogrammes for 2013

All About The Far East

What’s new

4

A visit to Vietnam isn't completewithout a cruise around Halong Bay


The 13-day Vietnam by Rail tour is alsonew and enables visitors to see thehighlights of Vietnam with Vietnam’sReunification Express Train. The journeystarts in Hanoi and takes in Halong Bay,Hoi An, My Son and Qui Nhon, an IslandCruise at Nha Trang before finishing in HoChi Minh City.

The first tour departs on 1 January 2013and leads in at £2,690 per person.

Travel IndochinaThe specialist has launched a DVD for thetravel trade that showcases its keydestinations and enables travel agents togain in-depth knowledge of Vietnam,Cambodia, Laos, China and India.

The DVDs are categorised into destinationsections, meaning that agents can choose torefresh their knowledge on a particular townor resort or use the videos for backgroundviewing to whet customers’ appetites.

The format can also be used by managersto train their teams on Travel Indochina’sdestinations and products or to send tocustomers they know will be inspired tobook by watching the footage. Internationalsales and marketing manager Lesley Wrightsaid: “The DVDs provide a one-stop shop tofind out all there is to know about TravelIndochina’s products and style of travel inour key destinations. We hope they willprove a helpful tool foragents.”

If OnlyThe luxury operator has seen a growth indemand for holidays that give clients theopportunity to explore Asia beyond thebeach.

The specialist puts the increasinginterest in once-in-a-lifetime tours downto its tie-up with luxury cruiselineSilversea that has allowed it to extend itsprogramme to incorporate cruises andrail journeys with Eastern and OrientalExpress.

“Our current offering of flights,transfers, a two night, five-star HongKong city stay, a seven-night Silverseavoyage through the South China Sea andan overnight in Ho Chi Minh City from£4,329 has been really well received byagents, as are the optional add-ons thatinclude a three-night cultural tour toCambodia or a seven-night indulgentbeach stay at Banyan Tree Lang Co inVietnam” said Brendan Maguire,managing director of If Only

“The success of our cruise, tour and stayoptions with Silversea has inspired us topromote even more of these packages inthe future”.

Hayes and JarvisThe long-haul specialist has launched itsFar East programme for 2013 with a focus onnew tours in Burma (see box on page 6) andSouth Korea.

The operator has also added touringoptions for Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia andis offering guaranteed departure dates forits China tours, alongisde new resorts in Baliand Vietnam as well as an expansion in thenumber of Uniquely H&J properties and awider hotel collection in Thailand.

For South Korea, Hayes and Jarvis hasintroduced a new cultural tour. Theeight-day Highlights of South Koreaspotlights the contrasts of the country,from the capital Seoul and the Royal Tombsof Gyeoungju to the history of theDemilitarised Zone. Prices for the tour leadin at £2,199 per person.

Hayes and Jarvis has also revamped itstours in Vietnam and Malaysia. The11-night Malaysia Explorer now takes inKuala Lumpur, Malacca and the CameronHighlands, linking these with a four-nightstay in Penang at the end of the tour.Prices start at £1,890 per person.

In Vietnam, the established Highlightsof Vietnam itinerary has been replacedwith a longer Journey Through Vietnamtour offering guaranteed departuresfrom the UK on Tuesdays andaccommodation in four-star hotels.

The operator’s Bali programme hasalso been strengthened with newproperties on the west coast includingLegian Beach, with prices from £1,259per person, and the five-star JimbaranPuri Bali with packages from £1,819 perperson. Both prices are for five nightsand include flights. Meanwhile, thereare seven properties featured asUniquely H&J in Thailand and Bali. Newresorts include the Hard Rock HotelPattaya, the Veranda Resort and Spa,Cha-Am and the Bali Tropic in TanjungBenoa, Bali.

Condor The airline is poised to launch flightsfrom Frankfurt to Siem Reap inCambodia and Rangoon in Burma.

The flights to Siem Reap will operateon Fridays with flights to Rangoon onTuesdays.

Condor is a wholly-owned subsidiaryof Thomas Cook. The fleet comprises 35aircrafts, including 12 Airbus A320s, 13Boeing 757-300s and 10 Boeing 767-300s.

A holiday to China isn’t complete without a visit to see the impressive Terracotta Warriors


Far East


Off the tourist map for decades, political reformsinitiated by new president Thein Sein, who came topower last year and the subsequent easing ofinternational trade sanctions has helped to propelBurma into the tourism spotlight with operators addingtours to their programmes, which are selling out as Britslook to explore the next new destination. Here are just some of the operators who have areventuring into this new tourism territory.

Cox and KingsThe tailor-made specialist has introduced a new tour toBurma following a 20% increase in bookings to thecountry, making it one of the operator’s best-sellingdestinations.

The new private tour, Burma Explorer, takes clientsaway from the usual tourist sights to areas such as thesacred Golden Rock and Rudyard Kipling’s fabledMoulmein, which still retains a quaint British colonialcharm.

The 19-day/16-night tour leads in at £4,245 per person,while the 13-day/10-night escorted group tour, theGolden Land of Burma starts at £2,995 per person.

Travel Indochina The Far East specialist has introduced additionaldepartures for its 13-day Burma Revealed Small GroupJourney following a surge in the demand.

From October to March 2013, Travel Indochina willoffer weekly departures on this specialist tour in orderto cater for the high demand.

Intrepid TravelThe operator has also added extra departures for itsBest of Burma tour due to demand.

Intrepid introduced Burma to its Far East programmeafter opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed thereturn of tourists if they travel in a small-scale way thatbenefits local people. In response to phenomenalcustomer demand, Intrepid tripled the number ofdepartures of its Best of Burma tour earlier this yearand already has strong bookings into spring 2013.

The must-see sites are included in the tour, which visitsYangon, Bagan, which has thousands of ruined templesand rivals Cambodia's Angkor Wat, the picturesque InleLake, the mountain town of Kalaw, and the U BeinBridge in Mandalay, the world's longest teak bridge.

Prices start at £1,230 excluding flights.

Wendy Wu ToursThe escorted tours specialist has added Burma to itsprogramme for the first time.The 13-day Burma Explorer tour visits Rangoon, theformer capital of Burma, the pagodas and temples of

Bagan, Mount Popa, the last Royal city of Mandalay,Mingun, Pindaya Cave and Lake and Inle Lake.

Prices lead in at £2,390 per person and include flights,local transportation, accommodation and all meals,tour guides, entrance fees and visas for UK passportholders.

Hayes and JarvisThe long-haul specialist has introduced Burma for 2013. “Burma has hit the headlines over the past year for allthe right reasons and, as a result, has attracted anincreasing number of enquiries to our call centre. Thatis why this is exactly the right time to offer the countryto H&J clients,” said head of product Andrea Loddo.

Prices for the Classic Burma escorted tour, availablewith daily private departures, start from £1,899 perperson. The itinerary includes stays at Yangon andBagan, with the opportunity to visit the famous 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda as well as many of Bagan’stemples and pagodas. The second half of the seven-dayitinerary features scenic boat tours around Inle Lake.

Another new option for clients who want to visitBurma is to take the luxury Road to Mandalay Cruisewith Orient-Express. Priced from £4,249 per person, this10-day cruise tour visits Yangon, Bagan and Inle Lake,while also including stays at The Governor’s Residencein Yangon and the Thiripyitsaya Sancutary Resort.

Bales WorldwideThe tailor-made specialist features a 14-day Burma theGolden Land tour.

The itinerary visits the capital Yangon, the formercolonial capital of Rangoon, Mandalay, the ancientcities of Amarapura and Ava, the famous gardensaround Pyin Oo Lwin, a cruise down the Irawaddy River,the temples of Bagan and Inle Lake. Prices lead in at£3,095

Burma – the emerging destination

All About The Far East6

Far East

The temples of Bagan are said to rival those of Angkor Wat andfeature in most tours of Burma


Hosting the Olympics back in 2008gave China the chance to show theworld what a spectacular country

it is. And as the market to the destinations

matures, operators are finding that whilefirst-timers still make up a big part of theirbookings, clients are returning in search ofdifferent experiences, whether that be todiscover more about the culture of thecountry or to pick up some tips on how toknock up a tasty Chinese dish or two on aculinary tour.

Also, while Hong Kong is a populardestination in its own right, many visitorsinclude it as an extension to a holiday toChina. So what’s the latest news on whatoperators and hotels have to offer for thenext 12 months in China and Hong Kong?

Collette Worldwide HolidaysThe escorted tours specialist has launchedits 2013/14 brochure, which features threetours to China – Highlights of China, Bestof China and Ancient Wonders andYangtze River Cruise.

The Best of China tour has beenextended from 13 to 15 days with newadditions to the itinerary including a visitto the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition

Centre, Tian Zi Fang, Xian City Wall, theTreasure Hall in Forbidden City and a visitto a calligraphy master.

The city of Guilin has been added to thetour, with accommodation in the GuilinBravo Hotel and visits to the Reed FluteCaves and Elephant Trunk Hill. Prices leadin at £2,499 per person, with departuresfrom 1 May 2013 through to April 2014.

The Ancient Wonders and Yangtze RiverCruise has also been extended by one dayto 17 days, with extra nights added inBeijing, Shanghai and Xian (and two nightsremoved in Guilin). Prices start at £2,899.

The 10-day Highlights of China tour issuited to first-time visitors to China as itincorporates all the must-see highlights ofthe country, with prices from £1,469. Thistour is based in Beijing and includesTiananmen Square, Forbidden City, theGreat Wall, Summer Palace, Lama Temple,a Hutong Rickshaw Tour, Acrobatics Showand culinary delights including a PekingDuck dinner, hot pot dinner and ImperialCuisine Courtyard Dinner.

Bales WorldwideThe tailor-made specialist has added anew 17-day tour to China.

The Yangtze and Pandas Tour starts off

in Beijing and Xian, before flying toChongqing in west China to start a cruisedown the Yangtze River to visit sanctuariesto see giant pandas, ancient monasteries,cave sculptures and the Three Gorges.

The tour continues on to the Shanghaibefore exploring the karst landscapesalong the Li River. There is also the optionto extend your holiday and add 2 extranights in vibrant Hong Kong.

Prices start at £2,995 with the option toadd two extra nights in Hong Kong.

Travel IndochinaThe Far East specialist has added a new 14-day China Culinary Discover tour for 2013.

The tour will travel through Beijing, Xian,Chengdu and Shanghai and will includethree cooking lessons in special locations,for example, in Beijing’s hutongs, a familyhome in Chendu.

Clients will also be offered the chanceto go on two specially-designed foodwalking tours through backstreets andlocal areas to discover the tasty treatsfound hidden away; and some of thecountry’s most famous dishes, such asPeking Duck and Shanghai ‘soupdumplings’ in restaurants favoured by thelocals.

From getting up close with giant pandas to marvelling at one of theworld’s most impressive skylines, China and Hong Kong have plenty ofexperiences to whet your appetite

Made in China


Shanghai city skyline, China

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The small group tour leads in at £2,295per person, based on twin-shareaccommodation. The price includes allaccommodation, road transport,English-speaking guides, all sightseeingand airport transfers. Internationalflights are excluded.

Wendy Wu ToursThe escorted tours specialist hasintroduced new tours to China for 2013.

The latest additions include China &Beyond, which includes a 11-day privateprogramme ‘China by Rail’, offeringvisitors the chance to experience thehighlights of China on a private railexperience starting in Beijing and endingin Hong Kong.

The first tour starts on 1 January 2013and leads in at £2,190 per person.

The new nine-day private tour InPursuit of Pandas is targeted at first-

timers who are short of time. It offersvisitors the chance to discover China’shistorical sites, such as Great Wall,Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors andthe Grand Buddha of Leshan beforeheading to the giant panda conservationcentre in Chengdu.

The first tour departs on 19 Januaryand leads in at £1,490 per person.

The 24-day tour Road to Samarkandhas been added to Wendy Wu’s classicSilk Road Explorer programme. The tourcrosses through China, Kyrgyzstan andUzbekistan ending up in the UNESCOlisted city of Samarkand.

The first tour departs on 5 May 2013and is priced from £4,290 per person.

ExploreThe adventure specialist has introduceda new tour of China to its LimitedCollection, a new programme launched

earlier this year that focuses onlittle-visited destinations, undiscoveredfestivals and special events. The 11-dayHarbin Ice Festival and Chinese NewYear tour allows customers to spend oneand a half days exploring the hugeHarbin Ice Festival where they can watchwinter swimming, admire the SnowSculpture Exposition and exploreZhaolin Park where beautiful ice lanternscan be found on display. The tour alsovisits Beijing and Xian, as well as HongKong’s New Year Parade wherecustomers can watch from reservedseats.

Departing on 1 February 2013, the tourleads in at £2,272 per person andincludes return flights, nine nights’ hoteland one night’s train accommodation ona bed-and-breakfast basis; two meals;transport and the services of a tourleader, driver and local guides.


Far East

Elegant Resorts product manager Sandra Harrisonrecommends the sites that must be on the list of everyfirst-time visitor to China.The Great Wall of China – it runs 5,500 miles from eastto west China, but most tours access the Great Wall fromjust outside Beijing.The Forbidden City – the world's largest palace complexand covers 74 hectares, it is located at the centre ofBeijing. The Forbidden City was built during the reign ofEmperor Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) andwas the imperial palace for 24 emperors during theMing and Qing dynasties. It is called the Forbidden Cityas it was forbidden to enter without permission of theemperor.Tiananmen Square – mass protests back in 1989, whichled to the killing of several hundred people by theChinese army put Tiananmen Square on the map for allthe wrong reasons. Today, tourists flock to the square tovisit the Tiananmen Tower, the Monument to thePeople's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People and MaoZedong Memorial Hall. The Summer Palace – just nine miles northwest ofBeijing, the Summer Palace is a masterpiece of Chineselandscape garden design. It was first built in 1750,largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on itsoriginal foundations in 1886. Its setting is magnificentamong natural landscape of hills and open water,combined with pavilions, halls and palaces.Panda Research and Breeding Centre in Chegdu – aholiday to China isn’t complete without a visit toChegdu to see the giant pandas – China’s nationaltreasures.

Sanya – hit the beaches of Sanya. Described as thegateway to the South China, Sanya is a popular touristdestination for those who want a bit of sun, sea andsand Chinese style.Mogao Caves in Dunhuang – located in GansuProvince, the caves are believed to be the richesttreasure house of Buddhist art in the world, itcomprises 492 caves with more than 450,000 sq ft ofmurals dating from the 4th to the 14th centuries in adesert oasis.The Li River at Guilin – located it n Guangxi Province,the Li River flows through Guilin and Yangshuo. Its realpulling is a 50-mile stretch that is flanked on both sidesby stunning limestone formations.The Shanghai Art Museum – based in the ultra moderncity of Shanghai, which boasts an impressive skyline aswell as being the centre of finance, technology, tradeand culture in China, the Shanghai Art Museum is amust for visitors keen to get to grips with ancientChinese art. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses – probably themost significant archeological excavations of the 20thcentury. Located in Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi Province, thearmy of Terracotta Warriors were built 2000 years agoto guard the first Chinese emperor Qin Shihuang'stomb. Warriorrs Work is ongoing at this site; in factmore warriors were discovered earlier this year.Yangtze River – nearly 4,000 miles long, the mightYangtze is the longest river in China. The most famouspart of this river is the Three Gorges area betweenChongqing and Yichang, so hop on a cruise to get themost out of a visit to this area.

Must-see sites – China


Whether a standalone city break, an add-on to a holiday in China, or a stopover toAustralia and New Zealand, Hong Kong hasplenty to offer visitors.

We get the lowdown from the HongKong Tourist Board about the new kids onthe block for 2012/13.

HKTB newsThe Hong Kong Tourist Board has given itsDiscover Hong Kong website(discoverhongkong.com/uk) a new look.

Visitors can make their very own HongKong guide, add areas and attractions inHong Kong and organise them into apersonalised guide.

The guide includes essential information,a map and information on the attractionsor area that visitors to the site have chosen.

The website also has information on allof the apps that visitors can use duringtheir trip to Hong Kong. For more details,go to discoverhongkong.com/uk/plan-your-trip/travel-kit/mobile-apps

Hotel newsA new four-star hotel has opened inMongkok.

The Cosmo Mongkok has 285rooms with six different roomtypes, including familyrooms.

The Peninsula Hong Kong hascompleted the first stage of its roomrenovation programme.

The luxury hotel has unveiled itsnewly refurbished guestrooms in ThePeninsula Tower, with high-end materialsused in the furnishings to echo thedesign touches in luxury cars andfashion design.

In the bathrooms, LED touch-screenpanels have been installed on the walland beside baths so guests can watchterrestrial and internet TV or listen tothe radio. New mood-lighting to createa spa setting has also been installed.

A new hotel has opened in the QueensRoad Central area of Hong Kong.

The Ovolo Hotel has 60 rooms with aJapanese twist and some of the latestgadgets including the new Apple TV 3sand an in-room tablet that features afull e-guest directory and links guestsdirectly to Ovolo’s 24-hour ReceptionTeam.

The hotel also boasts an all-inclusiveconcept, a 24-hour Lo Lounge: Work,

play, mingle and a gym.A new hotel has opened in the

vibrant business hub ofKwun Tong, East

Kowloon.

L’Hotel L’elan has 254 guestrooms andsuites, including two duplexes located onthe top floor. The hotel offers a selection ofe-tech services and facilities includingeCheck-in and eKiosk information servicesthat are available via the eGuest systeminstalled in each iPad in their guestrooms.

InterContinental Hotels Group will beopening the first Hotel Indigo in HongKong in December. This part of the IHGbrand will also be located along Queen’sRoad East in Wan Chai, an area rich inhistorical sites.

The group behind the Mira Hotel, MiraGroup, are set to open its second hotelMira Moon in the first quarter of next year.

A member of the Design Hotelsconsortium, the hotel’s location close tothe Hong Kong Convention and ExhibitionCentre in Wan Chai will make it a popularchoice with business travellers.

The new hotel will have 90 guestroomsand one penthouse suite.

Meanwhile, sister hotel the Mira HongKong has launched a round-the-clock Mira24 room package allowing for flexiblecheck-in around the clock.

Budget hotel group Ibis has opened a newhotel in Hong Kong.

The Ibis Hong Kong Central andSheung Wan is the brand’s flagshipproperty in Asia and will showcase thebrand’s new identity, that is being rolled outacross the world

The 550-room property is just a shortwalk from Sheung Wan MTR station and theMacau Ferry terminal, and features threeroom types; Studio, City View, and HarbourView rooms, which offer views of HongKong’s famous harbour.

Far East

A view from the peak over Victoria Harbour and Kowloon

Hong Kong


Thailand has been a hot favourite with Brits for many years now, and for a good reason, the country just

keeps on delivering when it comes tovariety and quality of holiday experiences.

While Thailand has some of the world’smost stunning beaches that appeal to sunworshippers looking for some R&R, it alsohas an established reputation as a spalovers’ retreat with resorts such as ChivaSom setting the pace in establishingprogrammes that help guests find the rightequilibrium for their mind, body and soul.

For visitors keen to get away from thecrowds, operators have a number ofitineraries that include hill trekking in thenorth of the country with guides. Thenthere are the more niche options such ascookery holidays where guests learn howto cook the Thai way, or temple tours

We catch up with some operators tofind out how your clients can experienceThailand away from the beaches.

TrekkingCox and Kings has seen a 30% increase inpassenger numbers to Thailand this yearcompared to 2011 with a particulardemand for clients wanting to see more ofthe local culture and explore beyond themain tourist trails.

For 2013, the specialist has introduced a

number of pages dedicated to tailor-madeholidays with a focus on getting off thebeaten track.

New for next year is the 15-day Issan:Thailand’s Hidden Gems, which venturesthrough northeast Thailand, also known asIsaan, which is a land-locked agriculturalregion located on the Korat plateau,bordered by the Mekong river and Laos tothe north and east, and Cambodia to thesouth.

The tour visits many of the region’snational parks and archaeological sitesincluding a dinosaur museum in Kalasin,the UNESCO World Heritage centre andprehistoric settlement of Baan Chiang inUdon Thani, the prehistoric rock paintingsat Pha Taem in Ubon Ratchathani, andancient Khmer temples.Sample product: £3,395 per person withflights, transfers, excursions andaccommodation with breakfast daily andother meals as specified.

Cooking holidaysTell Tale Travel has launched a newcooking holiday in Thailand calledSizzingly Fruity.

It is a nine-day private tour for two andstarts with an overnight stay in Bangkok toexperience the delights of the city beforeheading off to Krabi in southern Thailand,

From the beaches inthe city to the vibrantcapital of Bangkokand the hill towns andjungles of the north,Thailand ticks all theright boxes when itcomes to culture,history, relaxation andbreath-taking scenery


It’s Thai time

10

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Born to fly.

Buddha on the beach.

Fly from Frankfurt with Condor to Phuket, Siem Reap and Rangoon.

Feeders from London/Manchester with Lufthansa are available.

Myanmar

Thailand

Cambodia

New th

is

wint

er

Condor flies once weekly to Siem Reap, Rangoon and 4 times weekly to Phuket.

For more information please call 0870 774 7633 or email [email protected]


where the cooking lessons start and guestsget to grips with the basics of Thaicookery and how southern Thai food fitsinto it.

After a day of relaxation exploring thesurrounding islands, the following day, TellTale’s local guide will take guests to Krabimarket to see to buy ingredients for thedishes they will learn to cook.

Later that day, the guides will teach theguests how to cook their secret familyrecipes including a delicious Massamancurry.Sample product: the nine-day tourcosts from £1,400 per person based ontwo people sharing a tour. It includesflights, accommodation, activities andexcursions, some meals and transfers.

Tell Tale Travel also offers a longer 16-day tour called the Lemon Grass Trail,which is perfect for those keen to honetheir Thai cookery skills. Prices for this tourstart at £1,900.Intrepid Travel offers a two-dayexperience at the Chiang Mai Cooking

The Vijitt Resort Phuket

For family-friendly, affordable holidays, Thailandis tough to beat. We look at a small range ofhotels and tours that make child’s play of keepingall the family happy.

Vijitt Resort Phuket in Phuket's southern, laid-back and unspoiled Rawai district hasaccommodation well suited for family groups,with stand-alone pool villas and two-bedroompool villas, allowing plenty of space for the kidsto run around. During the day the kids can headto the Rotunda, which houses a kids’ pool, indoorand outdoor playground, activity room, relaxationroom and a movie and games room. The kids’ clubhas an extensive programme of day-time activitiestoo.Sample product: rates start at £497 for atwo-bedroom pool villa.

Tell Tale Travel’s Reefs, Rays and Lagoons tourstarts with an overnight stay in Bangkok beforeheading off the following day to the island of KoTalu. The crystal-clear waters around the islandare shallow so it's perfect relaxation for all thefamily. The adults can even enjoy a traditionalThai massage right on the beach, while thechildren play.The following days’ activities include: trekkinginto the jungle on the island to the peak of the

island’s mountain before abseiling down the side;a private boat trip for some snorkelling; a dayworking on the island's coral reforestationproject; and a day’s kayaking to discover theisland’s wildlife that lives on along the coastline.On day eight, the tour leaves Ko Talu for Hua Hin,where here is the opportunity to visit the eveningmarkets, marvel at some of the biggest waterfallsin Thailand and go horse riding.The tour returns to Bangkok for the last few daysto explore the city’s sights, including a cruisedown Chao Praya river.Sample product: this 15-day tour costs from£1,800 per adult and £1,350 for under 12s andincludes flights, accommodation, activities,transport and most meals.

Family adventure specialist, The AdventureCompany offers a number of options in Thailandfor families.These include the 14-day Land of Smiles tour,which features elephant rides through the junglein Soppong, a journey through Bangkok's canalson a long-tail boat to discover its many temples, afew days’ fun on the tropical beaches of Hua Hin,and a cooking class in Chiang Mai.Sample product: prices start at £1,629 per childand £1,789 per adult including flights. Childrenmust be aged seven and over.

Keep it in the family


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School. It is ideal for foodies andpassengers who are looking for somethinga little different either as an add-on to alonger tour or holiday, or as part of anindependent trip through the country.

After a tour of the local markets to learnabout the ingredients that make Thai foodso fragrant, the group transfers to acooking school to learn how to master anumber of popular Thai dishes, and arecipe book is provided to help themrecreate the dishes back home.Sample product: two days from £50 perperson twin share, excluding flights.

Island hoppingIntrepid Travel recently introduced a rangeof island-hopping sailing adventures.

The holidays are designed with solotravellers in mind as they can be bookedby the berth. Passengers can help to sailthe boat, learn the ropes, or just relax andenjoy stops at idyllic islands. The ship sailsfrom Phuket to Ko Hong, Railay in Krabi, KoLant and Ko Phi Phi.

Sample product: prices start at £515for four days’ sailing, excluding flights.

Taster tourPitched as the travel company for thegrown-up backpacker, EncountersTravel offers a choice of longer grouptours, ideal for those in their 20s throughto their 40s who want to explore acountry off-the-beaten-track, within thesecurity of like-minded travellers.

The operator offers an 18-day SiamTreasures tour, which begins in thecapital Bangkok before heading north bysleeper train to Thailand’s second city,

Chiang Mai. Here, the tour guides willtake visitors into Thailand’s mountainousjungle for a two-night trek among thelocal hill tribes, where they will enjoybamboo rafting and elephant rides,before returning to central Thailand toexplore the Khao Sok National Park. Thetour ends with three days on Ko Samui.Sample product: prices start at £1,145per person and include airport transfers,internal transfers, local guidesaccommodation on a mixed-board basisin hotels, village huts, tree houses andbeach resorts. International flights areexcluded.

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Elegant Resorts is planning to host a fam trip for agents to support the newproduct in its 2013 brochure, which is due out in early November.The operator is also planning to team up with the Tourism Authority ofThailand for a dedicated campaign to lift the profile of the destination.Agents interested in joining future fam trips should [email protected]

For agents


Malaysia is a country of twohalves, separated by theSouth China Sea with

diverse landscapes, cultures andexperiences.

Bordering Thailand to the north ofthe country, Peninsular Malaysia is oneof those halves and is home to thecapital Kuala Lumpur and the moreestablished resorts of Penang andLangkawi, which is an island just offthe west coast.

The other half is the jungle paradiseof Malaysian Borneo, which is dividedinto the states of Sarawak and Sabah,with Brunei a small enclave squeezedin between them.

Both states are covered by densejungle and Sabah is home to Malaysia’shighest mountain, Mount Kinabalu.

With a country so vast, the holidayexperience is unquestionably variedand as a consequence is the perfectdestination for a twin, or multi-centreholiday that can combine a few daysin the capital Kuala Lumpur with sometime trekking in the jungles of Borneofollowed by some chilling out time onthe beautiful beaches of Penang andLangkawi.

Its assortment of holidayexperiences make Malaysia a perfectdestination for a family holiday, withchildren guaranteed to be enthralled

From the jungles ofBorneo to thebeaches of Langkawi, Malaysia has a lot toshout about


The high life

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by the buzz of the capital, the fun ofthe beaches and the excitement of thejungles.

We catch up with some operators tofind out what holidays they canrecommend that will fit the bill forfamilies looking to have a holiday of alifetime.

Island-hopping If your client doesn’t fancy staying inone place during the holiday and iskeen to explore, then why don’t yousuggest they do a bit of island hopping– they will be spoilt for choice inMalaysia.

This is the perfect way to enjoy thebeaches with Tioman Island beingparticularly well suited to families.Children can snorkel in the shallowsand meet the marine life at RedangIsland or watch the enormous yetharmless water monitor lizards baskingin the sun off the coast of KotaKinabalu on Pulau Sapi. Sample product: Kuoni offers sevennights in Malaysia on room andbreakfast basis, staying one night at theMelia Kuala Lumpur in a MeliaGuestroom and six nights at theBerjaya Tioman Resort in a standardchalet, including flights and transfersfrom 2013 for £1,507 per person.

City lifeMalaysia is the premier shoppingdestination in southeast Asia. With itsmultitude of luxury malls, stores andstreet-side stalls throughout the countryoffering a variety of clothes, cosmetics,shoes, handbags and the latest intechnological and electrical appliances,Malaysia is a shoppers’ paradise.

The fantastic exchange rates andduty free status on most items in thecountry result in visitors to Malaysiaenjoying great shopping.

Shopaholics can make the most ofdiscounted goods during Malaysia’s Endof Year Sale from 10 November 2012 to1 January 2013.

In these sales months, shoppers aretreated to discounts, bargains andpromotions on everything from gifts,souvenirs and branded items. Anotherevent not to be missed is KualaLumpur’s 1Malaysia International ShoeFestival at the end of March each year.

Malaysia Airlines has launched daily non-stop flights betweenHeathrow and Kuala Lumpur using the new super-jumbo Airbus A380.The new service follows the inaugural A380 service earlier in thesummer, which operates three times per week on this route.Malaysia Airlines’ A380 flight departs from Heathrow daily at noon andarrives in Kuala Lumpur at 7.35am the next day. The inbound flightdeparts Kuala Lumpur daily at 11.40pm and arrives in Heathrow at5.50am the following day.The A380 has a capacity of 494 seats with 350 economy and eight fullyflat first-class seats on the main deck, and 66 fully flat business class and70 economy seats on the upper deck.Malaysia Airlines’ A380 has the widest first-class seats at 40ins and hasintroduced a gourmet Chef-on-Call service for first and business-classguests

Malaysia Airlines launches A380 service from UK


Far EastThe Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are the tallest twin towers in the world, whichmakes them a must-see site on any visit to Malaysia


Sample product: Hayes and Jarvisoffers a one-week twin-centre thatincludes two nights’ room-only at theHotel Capitol in Kuala Lumpur and fivenights’ B&B at Mutiara Burau Bay BeachResort, Langkawi. Prices lead in at £995per person (based on two sharing).

Kuoni offers three nights’ room-onlyat the Dorsett Regency, Kuala Lumpur ina deluxe room, including flights andtransfers. Prices start at £1,113 per person.

Walk on the wild sideFamily adventure specialist TheAdventure Company has devised a tourdesigned to give children the chance toget up close with the wildlife ofMalaysia.

The 15-day Flavour of Malaysia tourtakes families to meet orang-utans onOrang-utan Island, the world’s firstrehabilitation and conservation facilitywhere orang-utans roam free.

They also visit the Turtle BreedingStation in Penang where the childrencan enjoy close encounters withendangered creatures, including one ofthe world's largest firefly colonies inKuala Lumpur. There are also a numberof temples and massive Buddha statuesof historic Penang to visit.

The tour includes guided walks in thejungle too with a chance to swim inforest waterfalls and sample rural life ata traditional Malaysian village ..

And a trip to Malaysia wouldn’t bethe same without a visit to the capitalKuala Lumpur to marvel at the PetronasTowers and explore the depths of BatuCaves Hill. Sample product: prices start at £2,129per child and £2,269 per adult includingflights. This holiday is only that issuitable for children aged seven andover.

Funway Holidays recommendsfamilies also consider hopping on ashort flight from the mainland across toBorneo to rock climb, mountain bikeand trek through the highland rainforestwhile tracking animal footprints orlearn to dive in the depths of the SouthChina Sea. Caving is also an increasinglypopular and invigorating attractionfound throughout Malaysia, wherefamilies can stroll amongst thestalactites and roosting bats.

Product administration executive

Nandita Patel says: "Borneo is verypopular with our clients as it’s anappealing and exotic option forfamilies who want to escape thenormal theme parks and attractions ofOrlando.

“Borneo is a natural paradise, withtropical jungles, mountain ranges andhome to the endangered Orang-utans."

Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort caterswell for families, says Patel. "Located inSabah, along Pantai Dalit Beach,Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort offers arange of exciting activities for thewhole family to enjoy, from horsebackriding on the beach, taking a visit totheir private orang-utan sanctuary ortaking a hike or bicycle ride alongjungle trails, exploring the exotic floraand fauna on the way. Children canalso be entertained at the resort’s kidsclub, with an 18-hole golf course closeby and luxury spa on hand whereparents can unwind whilst the kids areat play."

Sample product: Funway Holidaysoffers seven nights staying atShangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort, Borneoincluding transfers and flights from£4,099 for two adults and twochildren.

Family funLegoland Malaysia has opened in KotaIskandar, Johor, in the southern regionof Peninsular Malaysia.

The new 76-acre theme park has 40rides and attractions including fromroller coasters to race cars as well asfamily-focused interactive shows.

Tickets are £29 for adults and £23 forchildren.

Kota Iskandar, Johor is 220 milesfrom Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.UK visitors can fly to the closestairport Johor Bahru via Kuala Lumpur.

Lagoon SunwayJust 15 minutes from the capital KualaLumpur, Lagoon Sunway is five themeparks rolled into one, boasting a waterpark, a scream park and a wildlife parkcomplete with petting zoo and anamusement park.

Kuala LumpurFamilies can shop till they drop in theshopping malls at the Petronas Towers,or enjoy a adrenaline-pumping ride inthe lifts to the top of the towers forstunning views of the city.

For kids who love science, seek outthe Petrosains Discovery Centre, insidethe towers. It has lots of fun andinteractive exhibits as well as a numberof science programmes for children toget involved in.

Alternatively, for some outdoors funin the sun, visit the Heritage Park in theheart of the city, which is more thanjust a park. It is also home to threemuseums, a theatre and a planetarium.


Far EastLegoland Malaysia has just opened in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia


Finding ways toattract travellers awayfrom the moreestablished tourismhot spots of the FarEast is a priority forthe countries thatwant to share centrestage with the likes ofThailand, China andMalaysia. We find outwhat they have uptheir sleeves.

Regions to be cheerful


KoreaBritish Airways is to start services toSouth Korean capital Seoul inDecember.

BA will operate six flights a week toSeoul, although tickets for the serviceshave been on sale since the beginningof May.

A Boeing 777, with First class, ClubWorld (business class), World TravellerPlus (premium economy) and WorldTraveller (economy) cabins, will servethe six flights a week to Seoul.

Meanwhile, Korean Air has expandedservices from the UK to Korea with anextra three flights a week. The newoperation comprises the current dailyservice from Heathrow and an extrathree services per week from Gatwick.

These Gatwick flights depart at10:30am arriving in Seoul Incheon at5:25am the following day. The inboundflight will depart Seoul Incheon at6:40pm arriving into Gatwick at10:35pm the same day.

The Korea Tourism Organisation hasseen UK visitor numbers rise by 7.3%from 97,519 in 2010 to 104,781 in 2011.This year got off to a good start too

with forecasts suggesting a 14.2%increase in arrivals in January over thesame month last year.

The KTO says operators have played abig role in increasing visitor numbers,for example Hayes and Jarvis hascreated a new tour, Highlights of Korea,while Explore, Cox and Kings, Austraveland Inspired by Asia have expandedtheir programmes. The KTO is focusingon niche markets to increase arrivalswith themes such as Recharge yourenergy, which is designed to promotehealth and well-being holidays to Korea.

The tourism board is also keen topromote luxury tourism by creatingnew luxury products that will bepromoted through press and operatorfam trips.

Cruise, rail and sport tourism are alsoon the agenda.

Meanwhile, the KTO has launched anuprgraded version of its Visit Koreasmartphone app. Visit Korea 2.0contains more Korea travel content andinformation, which have beenoptimised for mobile use and increaseduser-friendliness. It is available for freedownload on iPhone and Android.

Inside Japan's 14-night Best ofJapan tour visits all the must-seesites including three nights in Tokyo

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SingaporeSingapore has seen a 5% increase in UKvisitors in the first three months of 2012compared with the same period lastyear.

More than 139,000 people visitedfrom the UK between January andMarch, and the tourist board puts muchof this increase down to a range of newentertainment facilities, attractionsdesign hotels and a wealth of newdining options.

These new attractions includeGardens By the Bay, the opening of theMarina Bay Cruise Centre and the RiverSafari.

Stephanie Yong, area directornorthern and western Europe, said:“It isfantastic that the ever-changing skylinecontinues to see Singapore remainhugely attractive to UK visitors. AsSingapore continues to evolve it hasbuilt more state-of-the-art facilities,such as Gardens By The Bay adding tothe wealth of options for visitors,meaning that they are staying longerthan ever before.”

MacauThe Macau Government Tourist Officehas launched new apps and tools for

mobile phones to help visitors get themost out of their stay in the SpecialAdministrative Region.

iPhone and iPad users can nowexplore areas such as the UNESCOWorld Heritage-listed Historic Centre ofMacau with the support of the newMacau Geoguide free app, offering mapbrowsing, keyword search, GPS mapping,distance and area measurement, as wellas a bookmark system.

A mobile version of the MacauOnline Map (webmap.gis.gov.mo) hasalso been launched, enabling visitors tonavigate Macau by tapping in the nameof a hotel, restaurant, street or place ofinterest. A Macau Taxi Translator apphas also been launched which will helpnon-Chinese speaking visitors tocommunicate with local taxi drivers.

Meanwhile, the St Lazarus district ofMacau has been rejuvenated into a hubof creativity and fashion, with one ofthe newest attractions, the MacauFashion Gallery, opening earlier thisyear. Another new space is the MacauStory House, comprising historicalresearch, education and arts.

Other notable openings in Macau thisyear include a new harbour sightseeingcruise, the launch of the Sands Cotai

Central, the first integrated city inMacau, with hotel rooms from brandssuch as Conrad, Sheraton and HolidayInn brands, 92 luxury retail outlets,entertainment, three health clubs; twospas; and 20 dining options.

JapanJapan Journeys has introduced a newtour to offer clients the opportunity tomake the most of the Japanese autumn.

The 10-night, expert-guided ClassicGardens Tour takes in Kyoto BotanicalGardens, the landscaped gardens atKorakuen and the award-winning AdachiMuseum of Art garden at Yonago, whichare dotted with beautiful temples andshrines, and surrounded by fire-redmaple trees. The trip also includes ajourney on the Bullet Train to Hiroshimato visit the Peace Memorial Park andMuseum, before taking the ferry to theisland of Miyajima to see the famousgate of Itsukushima Shrine. Prices leadin at £2,695 per person sharing andinclude flights, transfers, bed andbreakfast accommodation, someevening meals, a seven-day Japan RailPass, all train and subway fees, entrancefees and the services of a bilingualguide throughout.


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Cox and Kings has ventured into North Korea with a new tour for 2013 that visits the capital of Pyongyang


Inside Japan Tours has seenbookings bounce back following lastyear’s tsunami that devastated thenorth of Japan.

Marketing manager James Mundysaid: “Almost half of our customerscancelled their trips in the few monthsdirectly after the tsunami, but wordbegan to spread that the majority ofJapan was unaffected. particularly thetourist favourites such as Tokyo, Kyotoand Okinawa.

“As a consequence, visitors to Japancontinually increased throughout 2011with February 2012 seeing InsideJapan's busiest sales month in its 12-year history with an 8% increase insales,” he added.

“Sales have continued positivelythrough the summer which is a bigtraditional festival season in Japan andit is hoped that numbers continuethrough the often overlooked autumnmonths.”

The operator has a 14-night Best ofJapan self-guided package thatincludes all the must-see sites alongwith the laid-back island of Miyajima,the craft town of Takayama and thecity of Osaka. Prices start at £2,190 perperson and include all accommodationand transport within Japan as well as anumber of meals and private guiding insome areas.

IndonesiaCox & Kings has introduced a 14-day/11-night escorted group tour,Highlights of Indonesia.

The tour starts in Java, visiting theTemple of Prambanan and Borobudur,the colonial towns of Surabaya andMalang, and Mount Bromo beforeheading to Bali, where clients will stayin Ubud, located among rice paddies inthe central foothills of the Gianyarregency.

Prices start at £2,995 per person.Also new is the enchanting Bali and

Lombok 11-day/eight-night private tourpriced from £2,145 per person.Included in the itinerary is a trainjourney across Java and theopportunity to watch the sunrise fromMount Borneo.

Bales Worldwide has introduced anew tour of Indonesia

The 17-day Java and Bali Uncovered

is targeted at customers who want atruly exotic experience.

It includes a full-day tour ofYogyakarta with a shadow puppetperformance, dinner overlookingPrambanan temple, sunrise atBorobudur temple, a visit to theDutch colonial city of Malang, sunriseat Mount. Bromo, dolphin watching inBali, a visit to Pura Ulun Danu templein Bali, a cycle ride through the Bali’srice terraces and sunset at Tanah lottemple.

Prices lead in at £2,895.Meanwhile, four new Terrace Tree

Villas are set to open at the boutiqueBalinese resort of Alila Ubud thisautumn.

Set high above the Ayung river valleyoverlooking the alang alangplantations and rice paddies andpositioned to capture the sunrise, thenew villas feature an indoor andoutdoor living experience with an al-fresco, wood-decked living area.

The Spa Alila serves up home-grownBalinese treatments using the brand’ssignature products, sourced and madefrom fresh, natural, organic ingredientson the island.

The resort also offers a wealth ofexperiences, whether a trek throughthe rice terraces, exploring theregion’s rich arts and crafts ordiscovering Bali’s colourful templetraditions.

Prices start at £277 per night

North KoreaCox and Kings has introduced a newtour to North Korea.

Fully escorted from Beijing, the NorthKorea Explorer tour visits themonuments of North Korea’s recenthistory as well as its natural scenery.

The tour includes five days in thecapital of Pyongyang, a day in Kaesong, asmall city and former capital of KoryoDynasty, a trip out to Lake Sijung, MountKumgang and Wonsan.

Departures are set around annualfestivals or celebrations such as Kim JongIl’s Birthday and National Day, to enhancethe visit and give as much of an insightinto the lives of locals as possible.

The 14-day/12-night tour leads in at£3,395 per person and includes threenights in Beijing as well as full boardthroughout the stay in North Korea.

MongoliaCox and Kings has enhanced its Landof Blue Sky group tour to Mongolia toallow visitors more time to interact withthe local communities and learn some oftheir skills and traditions such as erectinga ger tent and participating in an archerycompetition. Sample product: the 14-day/11-nightLand of Blue Sky group tour leads in at£2,945 per person and some departureshave no single supplements. Pricesinclude flights, transfers and guidedexcursions and accommodation withbreakfast daily and some other meals.


One of Singapore's USP’s is itsever-changing skyline.

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Documents

Travel Bulletin All About the Far East Supplement 2012