Archive for September 20th, 2006
International Tourism contribution to Indonesias balance of payments this year is expected to decline to 2.7% in 2006 , down from 3.2% in 2005, which is caused by a number of natural disasters suffered by Indonesia in the past months, and the threat of bird flu, said Jeffrey Kairupan, Bureau Chief of the Economic Statistics Directorate of Bank Indonesia. On the other hand, travel outflow is estimated to increase to 2.4% from 2.3% last year, reports Bisnis Indonesia.
Jeffrey further explains that travel inflow comprises earnings from all expenditures made by visitors during their stay in Indonesia, whether for tourism, business or other personal purposes, comprising hotel accommodation, tours, souvenirs and transportation. Whereas, travel outflow includes total expenditures made by Indonesians traveling abroad for tourism purposes and haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
In 2005, real income from tourists to Indonesia totaled US$ 4.5 billion, while outbound Indonesians spent a total of US$ 3.5 billion in foreign currency overseas. Jeffrey Kairupan further explained that travel inflow contribution in the first quarter of 2006 was US$924 million and US$1.129 billion in the second quarter. And with expected contributions of US$ 1.307 billion and US$ 1.160 billion in the third and fourth quarter respectively, receipts from the tourism sector in 2006 could remain level at US$ 4.5 billion, reports Bisnis Indonesia.
source : www.budpar.go.id
September 20th, 2006
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation notes that All Nippon Airways reportedly plans to establish up to two LCC subsidiaries next year to grow and defend international and domestic markets.
“This provides even more evidence that the LCC movement in this region is increasingly being fostered by full service carriers. The subsidiaries - in many cases intended to help carriers defend market shares - are increasingly viewed as effective market segmentation/branding tools, and cost reduction/restructuring vehicles,” stated Peter Harbison, Executive Chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
“Independent new carrier entry (other than in India and China) has slowed in Asia in the past 18 months, due to weaker investor sentiment over high fuel and aircraft costs and intense competition in the sector,” noted the Mr Harbison.
ANA could join the ranks of full service carriers in this region with their own leisure-focussed low cost units. These already include Thai Airways, Air India, Qantas, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines. Elsewhere, Iberia’s Spanish LCC subsidiary, Clickair, is due to launch services next month, while Lufthansa is reportedly exploring establishing a Germanwings-style operation in Italy. In the Americas, the LCC subsidiary model has been less popular.
source : www.bali-tourism-board.com
September 20th, 2006
The Japanese penchant for the latest gadgetry expenditure on phones is double that of international travel’s has extended into a taste for distinctive tours and fresh destinations.
This according to Evolution Tourism Institute Director Mr Tenshin Kobayashi, who added: Japanese are losing interest in traditional travel products Mr Kobayashi joined Marriott International Global Sales Vice President-Japan Mr Victor Osumi and Travel Journal Chief Operating Officer Mr Kiyotaka Kaburaki on an interactive panel about Japanese outbound tourism at PATA Travel Mart 2006 in Hong Kong today.
Mr Kobayashi said the travel preferences of Japan’s 37 million passport holders are increasingly shifting from passive to actives; fast to slow; general to specifics; short to longs; looks to experience; famous to unique; moneys to times; shopping to memory; et cetera.
Mr Osumi agreed. “Today’s generation of travelers is looking for customized and individualized products with “simple-is-best” originality he said. Significantly, Mr Osumi thinks Japanese are becoming more individualistic. Japanese now pay more attention to their individual needs rather than society’s expectation’s. ‘’Self-priority is cool in Japan, he said.'’
Mr Osumi highlighted what’s fashionable among Japanese travelers. Original and simple are considered a new trend among luxury and premium travelers he said. Heritage and culture is also considered classy and elegant.
In line with a long-standing global trend, Japanese consumers are increasingly interested in LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability).
‘’Being fit and healthy is considered cool, ‘’ said Mr Osumi. ‘
Exercises like yoga, boxing and dancing are becoming lifestyle trends in the market and consumers are increasingly into ‘’organic foods.
Eco-friendliness has also become trendy in Japan, according to Mr Osumi.
‘’There is increasing awareness in the well-being of the environment, and consumers are more conscious of environmental impacts when they buy products,'’ he said.
According to Mr Kobayashi, the percentage of international trips relative to the size of Japan’s population, at 14%, is low compared to developed world counterparts: Korea (ROK) (18%); US (20%); Chinese Taipei (34%); New Zealand (43%); Germany (87%); and the UK (108%).
However, Mr Kobayashi reaffirmed that Japanese who do travel are big spenders at US$2,200 per travelers, compared to the American’s US$1,060; Germans, US$980; Koreans (ROK), US$980; and Brits, US$840.
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Strategic Intelligence Centre statistics show a modest 1.2% average annual growth in international outbound trips from Japan to Asia Pacific destinations since 2001. However, the market still offers a significant 17 million outbound trips.
According to Mr Osumi, ‘’speed and flexibility are the name of the game” for travel and tourism marketers trying to keep up with lifestyle trends in Japan
source : www.bali-tourism-board.com
September 20th, 2006
Lovely sunny day here in Seminyak Bali. Great to be alive, lucky to be here. I had 2 things happen to me this morning which stood out, getting a haircut and losing my debit card.
The haircut was at one of those little salon places on Jl. Benesari, jast past the old Good Luck restaurant. Sometimes I pull up ask ask if they can do a haircut (like their adverstising board says) and they say “No, hairdresser not come yet.” That happened at the first place, so about 10 meters away I popped into place #2 and she started snipping.
Most Bali haircut place have 1 person who can actually cut hair, and 4-5 other hangers-on, who fold towels, mop the floor and give head massages. My haircut took maybe 25 minutes including getting it washed with a little massage at the end. Price, 20,000rp.
My hair is quite thick in places and after using the electric shears she got into it with the thinning shears, “Sama anging” (like a dog, I said. Right after paying my 20,000rp I realized my debit card wasn’t where it was supposed to be. It occured to me I may of left it in an ATM machine, so after investigating the placed I had been, I cancelled the card and asked for a new one.
One of life’s little inconveniences, but when you live in Bali its a series of small mishaps, that you have to get used to.
source : www.baliblog.com
September 20th, 2006