World Hotel Travel Blog

Visa and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have released findings from their latest Travel Intentions survey. The 2010 survey shows Australia and Japan have cemented their status as the most sought-after holiday destinations for the next two years, with 40% of the 6,714-respondents surveyed in this year’s research saying they would consider travelling to Australia or Japan in the next two years.

The survey asked respondents from 13-key Asia Pacific travel source markets (Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States) about past and future travel plans.

The survey indicated that most travellers prefer organising their own trips by booking their own airlines and accommodation. However, travellers from Mainland China, which is fast becoming a major generator of tourism revenues for the region, still prefer packaged group tours. Travellers from Australia tend to take the longest breaks – nearly one quarter intend to spend more than 20-nights whereas the average traveller is happy with three-to-five nights. Australia was the favourite destination for vacationers from New Zealand, UK, US, and Japan, while Japan won out with travellers from South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Hong Kong.

Said Greg Duffell, chief executive officer, PATA: “One of the most heartening features from this year’s report is the relatively wide spread of Asia Pacific destinations under consideration by the 13-source markets studied, including the long-haul sources of the UK and the USA.”

Originally published by http://www.pata.org

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and Tiger Airways Holdings Limited today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to form a new low fare airline called Thai Tiger Airways Private Limited. The new airline will operate the same low fare, low cost model as the other airlines in the Tiger Airways Group, and is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2011, pending regulatory approvals.

Based in Bangkok, Thai Tiger will operate international and domestic flights out of Suvarnabhumi International Airport offering short-haul, point-to-point services within a 5- hour flying radius. The route network and further information on the corporate structure will be announced in due course. Read the rest of this entry »