Malaysian Nationals with Biometric Passports Allowed for Visa-Free Entry to Japan Beginning July 1, 2013

Photo by Manuel Cosentino

Beginning July 1, 2013, Malaysian nationals holding biometric passports are now allowed to book flights to Japan without hesitation as entrance to the country without a visa is now permitted. This is after the government of Japan had signed the visa waiver agreement in celebration of the 40th ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

In a press release circulated by the Japan National Tourism Organization, it is said that the biometric passport should have an embedded microchip that complies with ICAO standards. Bearers of this passport may stay in Japan for not more than three months. If exceeding, applying for an appropriate visa is necessary.

Due to this development, the number of Malaysians who travel to Japan is expected to escalate.

Japanese Visa Waived for Thais and Malaysians

Japanese Visa Waived for Thais and Malaysians

Hong Kong Ocean Park Milestone

source: Hong Kong Tourism Board

 

One should not be surprised if Hong Kong tours suddenly become more in demand these days. This is after Ocean Park authorities announced the birth of a king penguin in the park. It is a momentous event since it is the first of its kind to be born in Hong Kong.

Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park had recently stated that the newborn animal ambassador is doing well in its environment. It is thought to be highly curious as it goes around its habitat with its parents. Ample foods are given to the family, as well as various vitamins to keep it strong. The baby penguin is to stay in a safe zone where it can avoid constant disturbance from the onlookers. The said zone is also guarded by the team to make sure that the chick is kept safe as it still cannot swim.

The King penguin after 20 days. 

source: The Guardian

Definitely, the presence of the king penguin will attract travelers from major parts of the globe to Hong Kong. However, the birth of this lovely creature is not the lone reason why tours to Hong Kong are expected to double, and why there is a cause for celebration. Ocean Park has announced that in 2012, it recorded a total of 7.5 million visitors. 50% of which comes from China; 35% comprises local visitors, and the remaining 15% encompasses arrivals from other countries.

These record-high statistics are believed to be because of the completion of the Master Redevelopment Plan (MRP). Meaning, more facilities and attractions are opened to cater to the growing demands and needs of the tourists. 

It is not entirely a secret that Ocean Park Hong Kong is striving hard to provide its guests with the best kind of facilities. It is determined to retain its title as the first-ever Asian winner of the Applause Award, a prestigious recognition given to elite theme parks around the world. The head of the amusement park said that they owe gratitude to the people who have constantly patronized the beauty of Ocean Park.

Indeed, Hong Kong Ocean Park has gone a lot better with the birth of the king penguin, and the completion of its developments. Therefore, Hong Kong air tickets are expected to sell like hotcakes these days. Well, it’s not like it’s not a usual thing, right?

Tiger Airways Guarantee Better Transit Experiences at Changi

Image source: Travel Daily News Asia

Low-cost carrier Tiger Airways now assures hassle-free transit experiences for its passengers at the Changi International Airport. With this move, the airline company has set better standards for other budget airlines which said the airport had been servicing. This means better travel feats for many who have to fly through Singapore to other cities around the world.

Known as the TigerConnect, passengers with connecting flights at Changi are now permitted to obtain their onward boarding passes directly from the transfer desk at the transit area. Because of this, they can easily continue with their travel without the need to pass through immigration and baggage concerns.

The service, which is basically a part of the Changi Airport Groups’s (CAG) Changi Connects, will require passengers to pay SG$16 (US$13) per person. Budget travelers will surely find it affordable, considering the convenience it assures. Not going through the immigrations and baggage concerns is certainly a comfort for those who are just transiting through Singapore.

It is also stated that TigerConnect will be available not just to Singapore, but to 50 other destinations as well. It will also apply to the partner airline companies of Tiger Airways – Mandala Airlines and SEAir. Join itineraries with Scoot will also be offered, as well as an airport transfer feature.

According to Mandala Airlines President/Director Paul Rombeek , this will particularly benefit those coming from Indonesia as most of the flights to China, Australia, India, and others are transiting at the Changi International Airport in Singapore.

TigerConnect will be offered beginning February 1, 2013.  As a kick-off promo, there will be a 50% discount on connecting flights through selected routes booked from January 10 to 16 from its website.

Tiger Airways is the second LCC to offer this kind of development. Singapore-based Scoot Airlines has previously launched Scoot-Thru which is basically similar to the TigerConnect feature. It is also a program under Changi Connect.

This is definitely an exciting implementation from Tiger Airways and Changi International Airport. Aside from guaranteeing convenience, it will certainly allow passengers to save time and eventually grant them more chances to enjoy the features of the world-renowned airport while waiting for their flights. Hopefully, more and more budget airlines will follow the trend.

New Stopover Packages from Changi Airport, SIA and SilkAir

 

Aiming to provide better services to the people, Changi Airport Group (CAG) has renewed its ties with two top airline companies in Singapore, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir. This rekindling of partnerships paves the way for the introduction of new stopover packages.

 

Until March 28, 2013, people can avail of exciting packages for cheap promotional rates which start from S$54 (US$44). Promos are applicable only to flights scheduled from October 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013.

 

Known as the Singapore Stopover Holiday packages, these offers cover good accommodations and complimentary transfers. Making it more exciting, there are also packages that offer unlimited SIA Hop-on Bus rides and free admission to 14 top Singapore attractions like the Singapore Flyer, MINT Museum of Toys, HiPPO Rivercruise, Singapore Zoo, and National Orchid Garden.

 

Basically, this move from CAG, SIA, and SilkAir will contribute immensely to the tourism industry of Singapore. According to Peh Ke-Wei, VP for Passenger Development of CAG, these packages will surely encourage travelers to experience Singapore and Changi Airport at their best.

70 New Airports for China by 2015

Photo by Keith Chan 

Within the next three years, China will be establishing 70 new airports as part of a large-scale plan to expand the aviation industry despite the economic slowdown.

As pointed out by Li Jianxiang, the head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), this idea to build more airports in the country is based on its significant increase in the fleet – after settling a plan to buy more than 300 carriers in a span of five years.

Li added during the annual general meeting of IATA that aside from the plan to construct new airports, the old ones will be expanded and improved. This arrangement would give China more than 230 flight hubs by 2015, to cater to the 4,700 planes which are expected to be owned by the nation by then.

This ambitious move was set after IATA head Tony Tyler revealed that the global profits from airlines would most likely decrease due to the skyrocketing oil prices and various crises. Although the industry in the Asia Pacific is expected to receive a total of US$2 billion in gains, it is still less than half of the income received in 2011.

The group did not provide any prognosis to the Chinese market, especially since it has been a constant favorite of travelers and the Chinese people love travelling. However, the slowing economic growth of China (along with India) can be partly blamed.

In the first quarter of 2012, China’s economy raised only 8.1%. It is the slowest pace in three years.

More Filipinos Travel to Hong Kong and Singapore on 2012

Photo by Simon Zhu 

According to recent surveys, many Filipino tourists still prefer to travel to Hong Kong and Singapore for vacation and leisure. Thanks to the frequency of flights to the city offered by different airline companies, said Tim Tio, sales and outbound marketing manager of Travelite Travel and Tours Philippines.

Hong Kong received a 15.6-percent increase in arrival from the Philippines from January to July 2012. In 2011, it received 659,829 visitors. Singapore, on the other hand, has been visited by 677,681 Filipinos that year; and had served 154 flights, compared to the 148 which landed in Hong Kong.

It is the boosting tourism industries of Singapore and Hong Kong that are held responsible for the statistics. Hong Kong is very much known for its shopping culture which Filipino travelers truly take pleasure in. On the other hand, it is the Singapore attractions - Resorts World Sentosa and Universal Studios Singapore - which immensely contribute to the strong number of arrivals from the Philippines.

This kind of set-up is expected to continue especially with the opening of the Legoland in Johor Bahru (Malaysia), which is easily accessed from Singapore. Some travel agencies in the Philippines have begun to offer tours to the amusement park, which will cover transfers from a hotel in Singapore to Legoland, and back.

But if Singapore and Hong Kong are enjoying a great reception from Philippine tourists, Malaysia seemed to have experienced a drop in 2011. That is why Malaysia has prompted a more aggressive tourism program which includes product seminars in Manila, Clark, Cebu, and Davao. Positive results have been noted in June 2012 though.

Furthermore, new air links have been established by different airline companies originating from the Philippines to Malaysia. Airphil Express, Zest Air, and SEAir offered flights to the country earlier this year; while Cebu Pacific Air is set to launch flights from Cebu to Kuala Lumpur, come December.

Quick Facts about the 2012 London Olympics

After four years of enthusiastic anticipation (and thousands of air tickets to London sold), the 2012 London Olympics has finally set to light the torch at the Olympic Stadium.


Although some events had already started prior to the opening ceremony, the excitement didn’t die down a bit. So to heighten it up, why not learn some quick facts about the 2012 London Olympics, and the whole sports competition, itself?

• The Olympics is believed to originate from Ancient Greece but the truth is no one knows where it had started. The most popularly accepted legend though was that it was started by Heracles, a Roman and Greek mythology character 



• During ancient times, the Olympics served as the symbol of peace as joining cities would set aside their feuds and wars just so they could compete properly


• The term ‘gymnasium’ was derived from the Greek word ‘gymnos’ which means nude. This was used because the participants in ancient Olympics were required to complete their events with their clothes off


• During the Olympics in 1900, there were only a few spectators who attended the event. (Perhaps, the airfares were too high?)


• At least one of the colors of the Olympic rings is used in every national flag in the world


• During the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, the gold medals were really made out of pure gold

• The tradition of holding opening ceremonies for the Olympics started with the London Olympics in 1908


• London has been host to the Olympics three times already: 1908, 1948, and the present, 2012


• The 2012 London Olympics is also referred to as the Games of XXX Olympiad, and London 2012


• So far, London is the only city in the United Kingdom to have hosted the Olympics


• The oldest torchbearer ran a 12,000-km distance without her cane for the 2012 London Olympics. She is Diana Gould, 100 years old



• Olympic mascots were first used in the summer of 1972 after it was approved by the International Olympic Committee in Munich, Germany


• Almost four billion people were expected to grab air tickets to London to watch the events


• For the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics, the stadium will be transformed into a British countryside – complete with meadows, fields, rivers, and even herds of sheep. The production is entitled The ‘Isles of Wonder’ and is directed by award-winning directors Danny Boyle and Stephen Daldry


• There will be a total of 205 nations participating in the 2012 London Olympics

The 2012 London Olympics is a remarkable event for everybody as it is another manifestation of the unity which binds the different nations in the world.

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TRAVEL NEWS: Banyan Tree in Kerala, India Opens on December

source: Google Images

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts will be opening ‘Banyan Tree Kerala’, its first resort in India by December of this year.

Banyan Tree Kerala is situated in Nedithuruthu, midway between Kochi and Alleppey in the southern state of Kerala. It will feature 59 villas and one houseboat for a maximum of four guests. All villas will have two private pools – one lap pool and one regular – in addition to a common outdoor swimming pool.

The resort will also offer four meeting rooms, two F&B outlets, a kid’s club, a gym, and a spa with six treatment rooms.

Assistant Director Key Accounts of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Manas Sinha is quoted saying: “Our focus for Banyan Tree Kerala will be on the domestic luxury market. We are adopting a different business plan from what we practice elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, in order to boost brand recognition in the domestic market, Banyan Tree has organised a series of one-on-one meetings between high-end local tour operators and marketing representatives from its resorts in Asia, starting with one such meeting in Kolkata on March 20.

“Banyan Tree opening in India is very welcome, as we now have an option to send our high-end clients to a resort within the country. This will be handy for last minute decision-making by clients, and we will not have to bother about visas as in the case of overseas destinations”, Managing Director of Gainwell Travel Leisure Kolkata, Manoj Saraf said.

Banyan Tree had just acquired a plot of land in Goa for its second property in India which will be a 50 to 60-key resort, scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Within this year, the group will be opening a total of four resorts worldwide, including two in China and one in Vietnam while 2013 will see the launch of one Angsana in Vietnam and one Banyan Tree each in China and the Philippines.

TRAVEL NEWS: Making the Distance between Seoul and Chuncheon Closer through ITX Cheongchun High Speed Train

Image source

With the operations having officially begun on February 28, 2012, at 6:00 PM, the ITX Cheongchun High-Speed Train marked the reality of faster travel from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Chuncheon in Gangwon-do Province.

As the train speeds off to 180 km/hour, passengers could expect to cover the distance between the two places in just 73 minutes. A train departs from Yongsan Station every hour, and ten minutes after, one from Chuncheon would leave.

The route intersects four stations: Cheongnyangni, Pyeongnaehopyeong, Gapyeong and Namchuncheon. During rush hours on weekdays though, every train stops at Sangbong Station in Seoul and Sareung and Maseok Stations in Namnyangju.

The double decker-train is provided with facilities assuring every passenger of utmost convenience. There are restrooms and nursing rooms for mothers.

Train tickets are sold through easily-operated ticket vending machines positioned at every station. A trip from Yongsan to Chuncheon, and back, will cost 6,900 won while a trip starting from or to Cheongnyangni will cost 6,000 won.

ITX Cheongchun High-Speed Train operates daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Revised Flight Surcharge Rates from Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Starting March 1, 2012, there will be a slight increase in the number of fuel surcharges of airline companies Emirates, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Air. This applies to tickets issued on or after the given date, including those of infants and children.

A summary of the revised amounts of fuel surcharges is charted below:

EMIRATES (one-way surcharges only) From UAE to GCC, Middle East, South Asian Region	Economy Class : Dh60 First Class/Business Class : Dh390
From UAE to Africa, Europe, Far East, Australasia	Economy Class : Dh120 First Class/Business Class: Dh500
From UAE to the Americas	Economy Class : Dh170 First Class/Business Class: Dh610
CATHAY PACIFIC Between Hong Kong, Southwest Pacific, North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Indian Subcontinent	USD 133.20 HKD 1039.00 CAD 135.80 NZD 162.00
Between Japan and Korea Between New York and Vancouver	USD 29.50 HKD 230.00 NZD 36.00
SINGAPORE AIR Between Singapore and Hong Kong	USD 29.50
Between Hong Kong and San Francisco	USD 133.20

The revision on the amount of fuel surcharges is implemented with the guarantee to improve the facilities of the said airline companies. 

References:

Emirates Flight Surcharge Rates 2012

Cathay Pacific Flight Surcharge Rates 2012

TRAVEL NEWS: Hainan’s Duty-Free Stores Enjoy Huge Popularity

Image sources: China Daily

Duty-Free Stores in the Hainan province are enjoying huge popularity and profit as off-shore duty-free shops. Sanya and Haiku airport duty-free stores are drawing crowds of cash-rich Chinese who are eager to splurge on branded goods.

Unlike outlets in China international airports which can only offer duty-free goods to Chinese travellers leaving the country, the Hainan stores can sell to local tourists without requiring an outbound ticket.

The tropical island is treated as an off-shore location where Chinese returning to the mainland can buy tax-free branded goods with a wider selection, often available at lower prices.

Launched early last year, this pilot programme exempts Chinese tourists in Hainan from paying import duties which can be as high as 40% for cosmetics.

Branded goods in China are usually more expensive than the same products abroad. Coupled with hefty consumption and value-added taxes, the average total levy can add up to about 60%. This jacks up the prices of luxury goods in China and they end up costing about 70% more than similar goods in France and 50% more than those in the United States.

“Hopefully, more Chinese people will be able to enjoy better prices and convenience offered by off-shore duty-free stores without having to leave the country,” said the Sanya store’s spokesman Ms. Jessica Zhao.

The Sanya store racked up an impressive 800 million yuan (S$159 million) in sales in its first eight months of offering 100-plus brands of luxury items duty-free to Chinese tourists last year.

Experts expect to see more duty-free stores mushrooming across China in the next three to five years.

“The central government had set the trend and the conditions are in place,” said the Central University of Finance and Economics Professor Li Huan, who noted that are applying to become duty-free havens.

China’s southernmost island province hopes to take advantage of its “4S” reputation – sea, sand, sunshine, and now, shopping.

Because of the huge popularity of these duty-free stores, several travel agencies have included duty-free shopping in their Hainan tour schedules.

“We have added duty-free shopping to all our tour packages to Hainan and will arrange regular shopping-themed tours in the future,” said Zhang Lingjie, Deputy Director of the Domestic Tour department at China International Travel Service (CITS) in Beijing.

Hotels nearby the stores are also benefitting from the influx of guests, noting that the number of bookings has increased dramatically since the opening of the Sanya store.

Airline companies, too have added extra flights to meet the growing demand for Sanya flights.

TRAVEL NEWS: Myanmar to Introduce E-visas

Photo by Cheng Q 

 

Tourists who are planning to visit Myanmar will no longer need to go to the Myanmar embassy to apply for a visa starting in March.

The country’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is pushing for a significant liberalisation of the country’s visa regulations and is planning to introduce an electronic visa application system beginning next month.

Union Minister, U Tint San said “We are trying to introduce an e-visa system from March, that would allow international visitors to apply for a visa from anywhere via the Internet, before visiting Myanmar”.

The ministry’s efforts to roll out an e-visa system were first unveiled in January. The pilot project will start this month before it is officially launched in March.

U Tint San mentioned that the ministry is also working to attract direct international flights to airports at Bagan and Ngapali “in the near future”.

“We are also in discussions with other ministries to allow tourists to enter or exit the country at a checkpoint by either air or land,” he added. 

Presently, tourists who would like to enter Myanmar by land need to face quite a number of travel restrictions. Only a handful of border crossings are open to foreigners and a regulation introduced in mid-2011 which requires tourists to enter and exit at the same checkpoint are just a few of them.

Travel News: 2011, Busiest-ever year for Changi Airport

Image Source: SingaporePictures

Records showed that 2011 is the busiest-ever year for Singapore’s Changi Airport. It handled over 45 million passengers for the first time ever last year.

The airport registered 46.5 million passenger movements and 302,000 aircraft movements in 2011, an increase of 10.7 % and 14.5 % over the year before, respectively.

December 2011 was also recorded as the airport’s busiest ever month with 4.53 million passenger movements which is about 11.4 % more than its succeeding year and 27,700 aircraft movements, showing a 16.0 % increase from last year.

The substantial increase in the airport’s passenger and aircraft movements was attributed to the strong travel demand in Asia-Pacific. South-east Asia and North-east Asia were the two best-performing regions registering double-digit growth, while traffic to and from South Asia and South-west Pacific also enjoyed positive growth.

Jakarta, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila occupied the top five positions among Changi Airport’s top 10 routes. On the other hand Taipei, Manila, New Delhi, Melbourne and Hong Kong registered the strongest percentage growth with at least half a million passengers who travelled to Singapore last year.

 

It should also be noted that seven new carriers joined the airport’s portfolio of airlines in 2011. They are Air Macau, Hong Kong Airlines, Finnair, TransAsia Airways, IndiGo and Lao Airlines.

News Source:

TTG Asia

India Plans to Extend VOA Policy to 13 more Countries

Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel 

The Indian government is planning to extend visas on arrival (VOA) to citizens of 13 more countries including Malaysia and Thailand according to a source from India’s Ministry of Tourism.

Based on a report published in India’s “The Economic Times”, other countries which are being touted as potential beneficiaries of the VOA policy extension are Brunei, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and South Africa.

The report also stated that the VOA facility would be extended within a year to airports in Hyderabad, Kochi, Bangalore, and Goa, adding to the four active airports such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

Currently, there are 11 nations that are benefiting from the said policy, namely Luxembourg, Finland, New Zealand, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. In 2011, records showed that only slightly more than 10,000 VOA applications from nationals of these countries were granted.

Anju Desai, vice president of Mumbai-based HMA Travel was quoted saying: "The countries earmarked for the VOA are major source markets and will open the floodgates of inbound tourism. We have received complaints about delays in the issuance of Indian visas from our missions abroad. Now, all that will end and seamless travel will begin."

In relevance to the issue, the Indian High Commission in Malaysia released a statement clarifying that the Indian Government had not yet taken any decision to extend VOAs to Malaysian nationals.

News Source:

TTG Asia

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia Announced New Darwin Services and Frequent Flyer Tie-up

Singapore Airlines together with Virgin Australia announced the new international and domestic routes to Darwin and the launch of the frequent flyer programme cooperation last December 13, 2011. It is considered as the first two milestones of the recently approved alliance between the two airline companies. 

Part of the joint plan of the new alliance is to provide more flight services to northern Australia.  Starting on 26 March 2012, SilkAir – Singapore Airlines regional full-service airline will begin a four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin. Virgin Australia will be complementing these services with a daily flight between Sydney and Darwin from 02 April 2012.

The two airlines had also merged their frequent flyer recognition which started last 20 December 2011. This program will enable KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Virgin Australia’s entire network which goes the same for the Velocity members who can earn and redeem points on Singapore Airlines-operated flights. Reciprocal lounge access will also be available for eligible customers. 

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial and SilkAir Chairman, Mr Mak Swee Wah, was quoted saying: “We are delighted to be adding Darwin to our network and providing more travel options for our customers as a result of our alliance with Virgin Australia. Our partnership enables us to better serve this important market, particularly with the introduction of a strong business-class product and extensive international connections.

Mr Swee Mah added that the launch of the reciprocal frequent flyer ties will deliver tangible benefits to the customers of both airlines providing them more choice for domestic and international travel with excellent service.

On the other hand, Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network & Yield Management, Ms Merren McArthur stated that their alliance with Singapore Airlines enable them to open up important new routes in Australia and Asia.

Miss McArthur said: “Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s popular tourist destinations and is an increasingly important commercial hub. Together with Singapore Airlines, we will be able to offer visitors from Singapore, Asia, and Europe the opportunity to visit the Northern Territory and then travel on to Sydney and the East Coast of Australia. Our services will also be attractive to business travelers who now have the option of a quality business class service from Sydney to Darwin and on to Singapore and beyond.

Virgin Australia also announced that it would open a lounge at Darwin Airport that would accommodate eligible Virgin Australia guests and those of its alliance partners.

Both airlines are expecting to commence the codeshared arrangements on each other's services from early 2012.

Wizarding World Of Harry Potter in Asia?

Photo by Jules Marvin Eguilos

Harry Potter in Asia? Millions of “Harry Potter” fans in Asia were elated with the news of having a theme park based on the character of the “boy who lives” as part of the future attractions in Universal Studios Singapore and Japan.

Asian fans of the famous J.K Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series might get a chance to experience the magic of the ‘Wizarding World” in Japan or Singapore according to TravelWeekly.Asia. It said that reports have suggested that themed parks based on the character of the famous boy wizard could be coming to Japan and Singapore. If this attraction will push through, air ticket booking to Japan will increase in numbers as fans across Asia surely would not miss this exciting experience.

NBC Universal will be rolling out its “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” to the theme park of Universal Studios in Los Angeles after its successful launch at the Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida last year.

With the movie’s phenomenal success worldwide, theme parks of Universal Studios in Japan and Singapore could also be in line for future “Wizarding World”. Although there has been no confirmation from the management of NBC Universal, this project will surely attract more tourists to book air tickets to Singapore and Japan.

SOURCE : 

TravelWeekly.Asia is a business travel news portal in Asia for news and research for organizations that manage travel. It provides daily business travel news updates and regular tourism-related information.

Lao Airlines Fly Directly To Singapore

Lao Airlines is the newest link of Singapore to its neighboring countries, which means that the Lion City is now directly connected to all other nine ASEAN members. November 29, 2011, marked the arrival of the first direct flight from Vientiane to Singapore. Flights from Vientiane to Singapore will be a thrice-weekly service.

This newest direct flight shows strong bilateral ties between Laos and Singapore. According to Travel Weekly Asia, Laos’ top ten foreign investors include Singapore, with investment from sectors of manufacturing and hospitality. It also stated that the bilateral trade between the two countries saw a substantial growth of 40 percent year-on-year to reach U$ 29 million during the first nine months of the year 2011.

Since Laos joined the ASEAN in 1997, Singapore and Laos have been regular cooperation and exchange partners in education, health care, and tourism. Passengers traveling between the two countries increased steadily within the last five years. The statistic shows that Singaporean visitors to Laos grew by about 8% annually while the number of citizens of Laos who purchased an air ticket booking to Singapore increased by some 25% every year. With the direct flight connecting the two countries, business and leisure travel are expected to increase in numbers.

Laos is also positioning itself as an attractive place for investment as well as a tourist destination featuring rich heritage sites which visitors from around the globe will enjoy.

Home to many ancient wonders such as the mysterious Plain of Jars, the UNESCO World Heritage of Luang Prabang, and the Vat Phou Temple complex, Laos is indeed rich in culture and history.

With this new direct flight, Singapore is more accessible now for the citizens of Laos who would like to seek medical treatment, tour the Lion City or expand their field of study as well as use Singapore as a stop-over point to other destinations.