Omicron ‘overreaction?’ Airline ticket sales see sharp drop, IATA says

Airline ticket sales have fallen sharply since the end of 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Wednesday, blaming governments for having "overreacted" to the omicron COVID variant by closing borders.

IATA, which groups more than 290 airlines, said international air travel had been slowly but steadily recovering from the mass shutdowns of 2020 and early 2021 before the fast-spreading omicron strain was discovered at the end of November.

Ticket sales in November were 60.5 percent below their pre-pandemic November 2019 level, marking an improvement on the 64.8 percent decline recorded a month earlier.

"Unfortunately, governments overreacted to the emergence of the omicron variant at the close of the month and resorted to the tried-and-failed methods of border closures, excessive testing of travelers and quarantine to slow the spread," IATA president Willie Walsh accused.

As a result, he said, the industry was bracing for "a more difficult first quarter than expected."

IATA's members account for 83 percent of global air traffic.

In October, the association forecast cumulative industry losses of $11.6 billion in 2022, down from an estimated $51.8 billion in 2021 and $137.7 billion in 2020.

IATA said it expected US airlines to turn profits again this year but that European carriers, which operate more long-haul flights and are therefore more exposed to border closures, would remain in the red.

Agence France-Presse

Oxford Economics: Wuhan coronavirus seen to cut tourism revenues in Asia, including PH

MANILA, Philippines — The influx of Chinese tourists to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries would take a hit from the outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus, but most economies in the region were expected to be ready in offsetting any potential economic impact of the illness, UK-based Oxford Economics said Sunday.

“The Wuhan coronavirus outbreak could potentially be a high-impact but short-lived event, similar to the SARS experience in 2003. As such, we think that the current virus outbreak poses a downside risk to our China growth forecast, particularly in the first quarter and possibly the second quarter should the outbreak be prolonged. But beyond that the impact should begin to fade,” Oxford Economics senior economist Tommy Wu and head of India and Southeast Asia economics Priyanka Kishore said in a Jan. 26 research briefing titled “Wuhan virus raises downside growth risks in short-term.”


Oxford Economics explained that while China’s gross domestic product (GDP) may be impacted especially on the consumption side (such as retail and tourism), and to a lesser extent on investments and industries, the economic effect would be “less severe compared to the SARS episode, at least for now.”

“The faster reaction time by the Chinese authorities this time around, with increased transparency and firm actions taken recently, are certainly helpful in mitigating the impact on public health, confidence and the economy. That is so even though municipal and provincial governments have at times been late, faulty and non-transparent in their response, especially at the early stage of the outbreak. We also expect the government to roll out measures, if needed, to stabilize growth,” Oxford Economics said.

Elsewhere in Asia, the economic impact of the Wuhan coronavirus would be felt by countries hosting many Chinese tourists as they get locked down in the mainland.

“We expect the economies that have a higher share of tourism in GDP and are more reliant on Chinese tourists—Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines—to feel the impact more,” Oxford Economics said.

Citing Tourism Economics and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) data, Oxford Economics noted that travel and tourism activities accounted for up to 25 percent of the Philippines’ GDP.

“Tourism and related industries, such as food and beverages, recreation, clothing, etc., are prominent drivers of growth for most Southeast Asian economies and Hong Kong. Moreover, Chinese tourists account for a higher share of total tourist arrivals in these economies compared to the SARS outbreak period,” Oxford Economics pointed out.

Asian economies were nonetheless seen to be able to withstand decline in foreign tourism receipts, especially from China. “All these economies have available policy space to buffer domestic demand, if needed,” Oxford Economics said.

As of Sunday, the Philippines remained free from infection of Wuhan coronavirus.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia last week said “there’s always a potential impact” on the economy when diseases such as the Wuhan coronavirus and African swine fever strike.


In a separate Jan. 24 report, London-based Capital Economics said that “if the outbreak continues to spread, one of the main channels through which the region will be affected is through a decline in tourist arrivals from China.”

“The number of Chinese travelling abroad has increased nearly ten-fold since the SARS outbreak in 2003 and spending by Chinese visitors now accounts for sizeable share of some countries’ GDP, most notably Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore,” Capital Economics senior Asia economist Gareth Leather said in a report titled “Coronavirus to hit tourism, upside surprise on growth.”

In the case of the Philippines, spending by Chinese visitors in the country was still very low compared to most of its Asean neighbors, at less than 1 percent of GDP, estimates compiled by Capital Economics showed.

“During the SARS outbreak in 2003, Chinese tourist numbers fell by around one-third. If they fell by a similar amount again, it would knock around 1.5-2 percentage points from GDP in the most vulnerable countries. Overall though, lessons from past epidemics show that while the initial hit to the economy can be severe, growth tends to bounce back quickly after the virus is contained,” Capital Economics said.

source: business.inquirer.net

Hainan envisions China as a medical tourism destination

BEIJING — Southern China’s Hainan province has unveiled plans aimed at building the tropical island into a world-class medical tourism hub, combining high-end medical tourism with characteristic Chinese healthcare.

The move follows a plan released a week ago by the National Development and Reform Commission to encourage tourism-related activities in Hainan, such as medical tourism, horse racing, sports betting and an instant lottery.

Focusing on four key areas — medical treatment, medical cosmetology, rehabilitation and health promotion — Hainan will introduce internationally renowned institutions, insurance providers and intermediary service agencies to build a high-end foundation for the international medical tourism market, the plan said.

In 10 years, Hainan is projected to become a major medical tourism destination with total annual business revenue reaching 40 billion yuan ($5.84 billion).

Eight major tourism projects will be developed, covering fields such as cancer treatment and rehabilitation, fertility therapy, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease treatment and rehabilitation, environmental healing and sports recuperation, traditional Chinese medicine and spiritual retreat.

Medical tourism has become one of the world’s fastest-growing emerging industries, and Hainan has unique conditions for developing it, Governor Shen Xiaoming said on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in April.

Under the plan, Hainan will tap its characteristic resources of vast coastal areas, tropical rainforests and hot springs to cultivate innovative healthcare and leisure products, and develop a high-end and characteristic medical tourism service system.

It will strive to establish a complete healthcare tourism service system that provides high-end, precision medical treatment and high-quality specialty in medical beauty and health promotion services, it said

To stimulate the industries, Hainan will explore flexible policies, regulatory models and management systems for investment, financing, fiscal and taxation, financial innovation, entry and exit, to create a highland for medical tourism opening up.

Worldwide, increasing convenience in transportation, expansion of the internet and improvement of people’s incomes have led to a booming medical tourism industry, which grows at about 20 percent annually around the globe. According to media reports, the business volume of medical tourism jumped to $700 billion in 2017 from $10 billion in 2000. In China, more than 600,000 people went overseas as medical tourists in 2016.

As a demonstration project, launched in 2013 by the State Council to explore international medical tourism, Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone has been granted nine special preferential policies including permission to import medical technology, equipment and medicine, and cutting-edge technological research on stem cells before other parts of China.


Twenty-seven medical projects have been completed or are under construction in the pilot zone, and another 38 projects have passed medical technology appraisals. Eight projects are now open. All projects in the pilot zone are targeted to be completed within five years.

According to Shen, the pilot zone will first attract domestic patients who would otherwise travel abroad, and later patients from Southeast and even the whole of Asia. Last year, medical institutions in Sanya alone received nearly 20,000 medical tourists from overseas.

“Hainan will first attract domestic tourists with advantages of prices, convenience, language and culture over outbound medical tourism,’’ said Chen Yang­le, a professor at Hainan University’s Tourism College.

“The industry will also attract international medical institution investors. … In the long run, there will also be comparative advantages for Hainan to attract medical tourists from southeast Asian countries and other areas in terms of natural environment, favorable policies and convenient air services,’’ said Chen.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Holiday reads: Beachgoers check out French seaside libraries

Going to the beach can be tough work, but if you need a break from all the grueling swimming and sunbathing this summer, a trip to one of France’s pop-up seaside libraries could be just the thing.

Lulled by the gentle cries of seagulls in the distance, flocks of readers have been heading to the book-filled beach huts that authorities have opened along the coast of Normandy in northern France and elsewhere.

“It’s a perfect break for reading and relaxing between two dips in the sea,” said 52-year-old hairdresser Isabelle from her deckchair at the library in Etretat, a Normandy resort famed for its dramatic white cliffs.


“Since I’m not going away on holiday, this is my treat every afternoon,” she said, before diving back into a detective novel.

Etretat is one of 12 local resorts where authorities have set up library beach-huts this summer. Open from July 7 until August 26, each of the wooden huts has been filled with 1,000 books.

Normandy launched its “Read At The Beach” scheme in 2005 with three huts and by last year was welcoming more than 38,000 bookworms along this stretch of the coast.

The idea has since taken off elsewhere in France, with the Herault region in the south attracting 21,000 readers to its own beach huts last year.

Similar schemes have also been launched in other countries including Australia, Bulgaria, Israel and Spain.

Poetry and gentleman-thieves

In Normandy, anyone is welcome to dip into a book, with no registration needed — but readers must stay in the deck chairs provided, rather than taking them down to the sea to get sand between the pages.

This year 400 chairs are up for grabs around the region at the beach huts, which are open every day between 2 pm and 7 pm, with some books in English, German and Italian provided for foreign readers.


On a recent sunny afternoon in Etretat, a dozen readers — aged between nine months and 70 — come to transport themselves to other worlds from the hut, overlooking the sea.

“We need more of this kind of place,” said Romain Mace, an engineer on vacation from the city of Rouen, enjoying a volume of poetry as his baby slept beside him — a rare pleasure for sleep-deprived young parents.

Since the books cannot be taken off-site, the hut’s two librarians will happily put aside a novel you’ve started so that you can pick up the story where you left off the next day.

Corinne Ait Amar, 47, had returned to delve back into the thrilling exploits of gentleman-thief Arsene Lupin while her daughter was engrossed in a Japanese manga comic.

“It’s perfect,” said the nurse, on vacation with her family from the eastern city of St Etienne.

“My daughter and I have been saying to ourselves that we might meet up with the rest of the family a little later than planned…” NVG

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Kit Kat durian suggested by Thailand to boost tourism

One of the smelliest fruit in the world, many both love and hate the durian. And yet a curious bid could result in a durian-flavored Kit Kat.

As a means to help boost tourism, Thailand sent in a list of suggested local delicacies that they believe would be ripe for a Kit Kat flavor, reports RocketNews24.

Kit Kats in Japan are well-known for featuring all sorts of flavor, from green tea to sake, even wasabi. Having a Kit Kat flavor after Asia’s pungent “king of fruits” would be quite a curiosity.

Thai minister for tourism and sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul stated that Nestlé, Kit Kat’s manufacturer, is currently exploring the feasibility of a durian Kit Kat.

While surprising, this is not the first time that an odd Kit Kat flavor was released. Currently, the title of “oddest creation” would probably go to either Kit Kat pizza or Kit Kat sushi. But if they get the smell right, Durian Kit Kat could be a close contender. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

How Trump’s immigration order could hurt the US economy

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries could slow the US economy by hampering two of the nation’s top export industries: tourism and higher education.

Trump’s immigration order followed his order to build a wall along the border with Mexico and his vow to rip up NAFTA. Combined, those moves could discourage visitors and students from many countries – not just the seven covered by the order – economists say.

They also reflect Trump’s shift toward an “America First” approach and away from the pro-globalization policies embraced by his predecessors. His combative trade stance potentially could open the door for China and other economic powers to fill a void.

Foreign tourists provide critical support to the US economy. In 2015, they spent roughly $199 billion on items ranging from hotel rooms and restaurant meals to plane tickets and amusement parks. That spending counts as exports. Travel and tourism made up nearly 9 percent of US exports that year.

Some economists say they worry that Trump’s order could create an echo of the post-9/11 period, when travel to the United States plunged, in part because of much tighter security. In the 10 years that followed – a period the travel industry recalls ruefully as the “lost decade” – the US share of overseas travel fell by nearly one-third, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. That cost the US economy $500 billion.

“The message got around the world that the United States was an unfriendly country to visit — that it’s a big hassle to visit there,” said Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council and author of “The Closing of the American Border,” a book about US security after 9/11.

Given the disruptions at US airports caused by Trump’s immigration order, which were widely covered by television news around the world, “it’s that story all over again,” Alden said.

Many high-tech companies have also opposed Trump’s order because they say it blunts their competitive edge in recruiting high-skilled talent.

“Apple would not exist without immigration,” the company’s CEO, Tim Cook, said this week. The biological father of Apple’s founder, Steve Jobs, was an immigrant from Syria.

When foreign students attend an American college or university and pay tuition, that spending also counts as a US export. Education spending from overseas reached roughly $36 billion in 2015 – up nearly 50 percent from three years earlier, according to Commerce Department data.

Proceeds from tourism and education help narrow the nation’s trade deficit, a frequent target of Trump’s criticism on the campaign trail. Travel and tourism exports exceed overseas sales of autos and auto parts, which totaled $152 billion in 2015. Agricultural exports amounted to $137 billion.

Yet Trump’s orders “couldn’t happen at a worse time,” said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics. Even before Trump’s executive orders, a strong dollar had made it costlier for foreign travelers to visit the United States.

And weaker economies in many countries, from China to European nations, have begun to slow the flow of tourists to the United States. Sacks estimates that travel and tourism spending barely grew last year from 2015’s record level.

“The P.R. optics on this are terrible,” Sacks said.

Trump’s immigration order and belligerent rhetoric about a wall along the Mexican border add up to “a series of immigration and trade policies that are all conveying to the world that we’re not interested in visitors coming to the US,” Sacks said.

Laura Mandala runs a company in Alexandria, Virginia, that does market research for clients in the travel industry, including the Marriott hotel chain and state travel bureaus. Many of her clients spent less on her services in the years that immediately followed 9/11. Now, she fears a repeat.

“It’s the uncertainty,” Mandala said. “When something dramatic happens, they put a freeze on spending until they can figure out what the environment will be like.”

Concerns are rising among administrators of colleges and universities, too. Over the past decade, the number of foreign students in the United States soared 73 percent, according to Moody’s Investors Service. Overseas students typically pay the full tuition price, receive little financial aid and make up 8 percent to 10 percent of tuition revenue in the United States, Moody’s estimates.

More than 1 million foreign students studied in the United States during the 2015-2016 academic year, supporting 400,000 jobs in the process, according to data compiled Open Doors, a joint project of the Institute of International Education and the State Department.

“Universities and colleges have already begun reporting cases of students and scholars stranded after traveling for reasons including studying abroad, attending conferences, and visiting sick or dying family members,” said Esther Brimmer, executive director of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

After visa procedures were tightened in the wake of 9/11, the enrollment of overseas students fell for three years, according to NAFSA. One reason for the drop: US consulates overseas were required to conduct in-person interviews with all would-be travelers and students seeking visas. Those tightened procedures caused significant delays.

The State Department subsequently allowed foreign students to seek waivers from the interviews when renewing their visas. But Trump’s order suspends the waiver program.

That could lead to future delays, said Rachel Banks, director of public policy at NAFSA, and potentially limit the flow of overseas students to the United States. –Christopher S. Rugaber

source: business.inquirer.net

Miss Universe bets make a splash in Boracay

Sixteen Miss Universe candidates visited the world-famous island of Boracay in Aklan on Saturday as part of pre-pageant activities.

The Department of Tourism said the candidates were welcomed by town officials along with the Ati-Atihan dance group following their arrival at the Geodofredo Ramos Airport in Caticlan.

The delegates included Miss Argentina, Miss Australia, Miss Belize, Miss Chile, Miss Costa Rica, Miss Ecuador, Miss Guyana, Miss Malta, Miss Mexico, Miss Myanmar, Miss Namibia, Miss Nicaragua, Miss Poland, Miss Turkey, Miss US Virgin Island, Miss Honduras.


DOT said the candidates tried weaving, fishnet making, and dragon boat-rowing aside from their swimwear photoshoot.

“Boracay is even more exciting and meaningful. The people are very friendly and joyful to be with,” Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun was quoted as saying.

“The intricate weaving shows the rich Filipino culture,” said Miss Mexico Kristal Silva.

On Sunday, the Miss Universe candidates will visit the city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur, known for its well preserved heritage houses. CBB / YG/rga

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Tourist boom threatens Sri Lanka’s golden beaches

Tourists have flocked back to Sri Lanka’s palm-fringed beaches since a bloody civil war ended in 2009, but environmentalists warn unchecked development means some areas are now so polluted, swimming there is a health hazard.

Sewage from thriving hotels and guesthouses pours, often untreated, out into the water polluting the sea and shore.

Even the country’s own tourism minister says he has stopped swimming in the seas close to capital Colombo because of the dirty water.

More than two million visitors now head to the tiny Indian Ocean island every year, more than four times the number that came in 2009.

Yet there are fears it is becoming a victim of its own success.

Guesthouses have sprung up to cater for soaring numbers of visitors — but often with little thought for how to deal with the waste they produce.

Many simply discharge raw sewage straight into the sea, exposing bathers to potential health issues.

The problem is most acute just south of Colombo at Mount Lavinia, an upscale neighborhood and resort known for its “Golden Mile” of beach.

Environmental engineering expert Mahesh Jayaweera said the bays in Mount Lavinia were now so polluted that people should not bathe in them.

“When you look at the water you won’t notice it. But at certain times of the year, the water in Mount Lavinia is so filthy it is worse than taking a dip in a cess pool,” he said.

Levels of fecal contamination at Mount Lavinia are 60 times higher than maximum safe limits, said Jayaweera, of Sri Lanka’s University of Moratuwa.

Many visitors are unaware of the dangers, but locals are more aware of potential issues.

“We just come here to play,” said local resident Harsha Swadesh, 26, enjoying a game of volleyball with friends. “The sea is rough and it is not very clean.”

Unawatuna, just south of the historic port city of Galle, is promoted as a pristine beach perfect for snorkelling and is famous for its coral reefs.

But researchers say it is among the most polluted, with many guesthouses dumping their raw sewage into the ocean, especially at night.

“Sometimes the current brings back most of the stuff back to the beach in the morning and it is awful,” said one tourism industry figure who asked not to be named.

Tourist boom

Tourism minister John Amaratunga said visitor numbers have soared since the end of Sri Lanka’s 37-year-long Tamil separatist war.

“This year, our target is 2.2 million tourists, but we may end up with 2.5 million,” Amaratunga told AFP.

But he conceded unchecked growth could be having a negative impact on the environment, admitting that he has stopped swimming in the coastal waters off Colombo after seeing sewage flowing into it from a southern suburb of the city.

“I also used to go and bathe at Wellawatte… I stopped it when I saw the canal bringing in all the sewage into the sea,” he explained.

He insisted the government was trying to get the tourist industry to clean up its act.

Authorities have started registering guest houses to try to ensure they dispose of their waste without harming the environment.

Beaches in the former war zone in the island’s north, where tourism is still relatively new, remain cleaner.

But Jayaweera said the situation was deteriorating there too — notably at the popular Nilaweli beach in the eastern district of Trincomalee. Often hailed by travel guides as one of Sri Lanka’s “most perfect beaches,” visitor numbers have jumped in the past few years.

Industry expert and environmental specialist Srilal Miththapala believes Sri Lanka needs to make urgent changes to ensure the tourism industry survives long term.

“A few years ago, we tried to shift the focus from beaches to eco-tourism, but the vast majority still visit us for our beaches,” he told AFP.

“The beaches predominate the tourism industry and that is why it is absolutely important for us to clean up and protect the beaches.”

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

5 low-cost travel destinations

Who doesn’t want an affordable vacation?  Each year, more and more travelers are looking for places that give them a lot more bang for their buck. Finding places where your well-earned dollars are worth a lot more can really make your vacation truly more enjoyable and exciting.

Here are five countries where a dollar equates to a whole lot more when converted to the local currency:

Indonesia

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = IDR 13,201.11

A whopping exchange rate means that you really get a whole lot more for your hard-earned cash. From safaris to exotic accommodations and even fine dining at a relaxing rice paddy field, there’s a whole lot of fun experiences you can have with this much moolah.

Cambodia

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = KHR 4,008.02

Cambodia is a great place to get a lot bang for the money you earn. One dollar can net you enjoyable rides to the many Wat temples and sample a wide variety of the local cuisine and so much more. It’s a great place for sightseeing a lot of history.

South Korea

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = IDR 1,150.46

Who hasn’t wanted to experience the exciting atmosphere of trendy South Korea? Your dollars are worth a lot more in the country, from enjoying the spicy dishes to buying hip clothes and make-up. Make sure to pack some extra bags to carry your haul when flying back home.

Japan

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = JPY 108.23

With this great exchange rate, you can now enjoy both the quirky and calm sides of Japan without spending so much. Explore the cultural landscape of modern Japan, from the youthful streets of Shibuya to the electronic paradise that is Akihabara. You’ll be able to encounter many fun and amazing activities when you have the right amount of money in your pocket.

Philippines

Dollar exchange rate: USD 1.00 = PHP 46.15

This exchange rate opens your world to a multitude of fun beaches, exciting island-hopping adventures and a lot more. It’s the perfect escape for people who are looking for an affordable adventure in a tropical land without having to spend too much to enjoy themselves.

Have these dollar exchange rates made you feel like taking your very own inexpensive vacation? Take the time to indulge yourself in low-cost travel to these lands where you will definitely get a whole lot more for your hard-earned money.

Mango Tours is a provider of quality, affordable and convenient travel services that include low-priced airline tickets, customized Philippine and International Tour Packages, Cruises, Land Transfers, and more. Visit www.mangotours.com to know more about its latest promos and travel offers

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

A Filipino among dozens killed in Bangkok bombing –Thai police

BANGKOK  -  A Filipino was among the 27 people killed when a bomb on a motorcycle exploded on Monday just outside a Hindu shrine in the Thai capital, media reported, in an attack the government said was a bid to destroy the economy.

Two people from China and one from the Philippines were among the dead, a tourist police officer said. Domestic media said 27 people had been killed, 10 of them men and 17 women.

Police said 78 people were wounded. Media said most of them were from China and Taiwan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at the Erawan shrine at a major city-center intersection. Thai forces are fighting a low-level Muslim insurgency in the predominantly Buddhist country's south, but those rebels have rarely launched attacks outside their ethnic Malay heartland.

"The perpetrators intended to destroy the economy and tourism, because the incident occurred in the heart of the tourism district," Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told Reuters.

The Erawan shrine, on a busy corner near top hotels, shopping centers, offices and a hospital, is a major attraction, especially for visitors from East Asia, including China. Many ordinary Thais also worship there.

The government would set up a "war room" to coordinate the response to the blast, the Nation television channel quoted Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying.

"It was like a meat market," said Marko Cunningham, a New Zealand paramedic working with a Bangkok ambulance service, who said the blast had left a two-meter-wide (6-foot-) crater.

"There were bodies everywhere. Some were shredded. There were legs where heads were supposed to be. It was horrific," Cunningham said, adding that people several hundred metres away had been injured.

POLITICAL TENSION

At the scene, authorities ordered onlookers back, saying they were checking for a second bomb.

"We are now looking for another two to three bombs, as we have found one suspicious object," national police chief Prawut Thawornsiri told Reuters.

"There could be another explosion, so we have blocked off the crime scene and are asking bystanders to move back."

Authorities stepped up security checks at some major city intersections and in tourist areas.

While initial suspicion might fall on Muslim separatists in the south, Thailand has been riven for a decade by an intense and sometimes violent struggle for power between political factions in Bangkok.

Occasional small blasts have been blamed on one side or the other. Two pipe bombs exploded outside a luxury shopping mall in the same area in February, but caused little damage.

Police said that attack was aimed at raising tension when the city was under martial law.

The army has ruled Thailand since May 2014, when it ousted an elected government after months of at times violent anti-government protests.

The shrine intersection was the site of months of anti-government protests in 2010 by supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Dozens were killed in a military crackdown and a shopping centre was set ablaze.  — Reuters

Same-sex marriages expected to boost global travel, hospitality industries

NEW YORK - Growing acceptance and legalization of same-sex marriages in the United States and around the globe will fuel the travel and hospitality industries and boost spending by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers, experts say.

Seventeen US states and the District of Columbia, and a similar number of countries recognize gay unions. Last month Scotland legalized gay marriages, joining a list that includes the Netherlands, Brazil, France, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and others.

Although the LGBT community is a small segment of the U.S. population, Charlie Rounds, of the Florida-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) Foundation, said the changes in marriage laws will have big implications for travel in the United States and abroad. 



"It is going to be an inordinate percentage of the wedding market in the next five to 10 years," he said in an interview during a visit to New York.

"Even though we are only maybe 4 or 5 percent of the population, the number of us getting married is probably going to be 20 times that because we couldn't and now we can," added Rounds, who is also the managing director of U.S. marketing agency OutThink Partners.

Gay couples who have waited years, and in some cases decades, to legalize their unions will be tying the knot and many have the economic resources to pay for large, expensive weddings in far-flung locations.

"We're getting married at a different place in life," said Rounds, who wed his long-term partner in a big church wedding.

Increased visibility, new destinations

Data released in November by Out Now Business Class, a resource website to reach LGBT consumers, showed that in 2014 LGBT tourism spending is expected to top $200 billion for the first time.

The United States accounts for $56.5 billion of the spending, according to the figures, followed by Brazil with $25.3 billion. LGBT Europeans are expected to spend $66.1 billion on tourism.

LoAnn Halden, media relations director of IGLTA, said LGBT travel has increased in visibility in recent years.

"As acceptance of LGBT rights increases people feel more comfortable being open when they are traveling and more destinations are getting on the bandwagon to market to gay travelers," Halden explained.

Key West in Florida, San Francisco, New York and Provincetown in Massachusetts, which have long welcomed gay tourists, are being joined by new cities, regions and countries.

"The number of people marketing openly has also increased," Halden added in an interview. "Now we are seeing places like Door County, Wisconsin, marketing to the LGBT community. In South America we are seeing more smaller regional destinations."

Gay cruises now travel to Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as some Croatian ports, and Asia, Brazil and India are among the growth markets.

Major hotel brands and airlines are also appealing directly to the LGBT community through microsites and advertising.

Rounds said safety and legal protection are still concerns for gay travelers and he stressed the importance when searching for travel destinations to look at their rights on LGBT issues.

"We are demanding visibility and equal rights," said Halden. "There are a lot of people who haven't been able to get married and they are queuing up." — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Tourists, pilgrims throng Bethlehem for Christmas

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Thousands of Christian pilgrims from around the world packed the West Bank town of Bethlehem for Christmas Eve celebrations on Tuesday, bringing warm holiday cheer to the biblical birthplace of Jesus on a cool, clear night.

The heavy turnout, its highest in years, helped lift spirits in Bethlehem as leaders expressed hope that the coming year would finally bring the Palestinians an independent state of their own.

"The message of Christmas is a message of peace, love and brotherhood. We have to be brothers with each other," said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, as he arrived in town.

Excited tourists milled about the town's Manger Square, stopping in restaurants and souvenir shops and admiring a large, illuminated Christmas Tree. Marching bands and scout troops performed for the visitors in the streets, and on a stage next to the tree.

Will Green of New York City, along with his wife, Debbie, and their 2-year-old daughter Daphne were among the crowds of people who greeted Twal's motorcade as he entered town from nearby Jerusalem.

Green said that being in Bethlehem for Christmas was a dream come true. "All the stories that we grew up with. It's here. It's part of our life. We heard them in the family, school and church. This is the birthplace," he said.

Green slowly pushed a stroller and his wife held their daughter as they followed a crowd toward the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was born.

Palestinian dignitaries greeted Twal at the entrance of Bethlehem. His motorcade crawled through the town's narrow streets as he stopped to shake hands and greet the throngs of visitors. It took him nearly 90 minutes to make the short trip to celebrate Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity compound.

Hundreds of people packed the compound for the service. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh were among the dignitaries in attendance.

In his homily, Twal addressed Abbas, telling the president he prays for a "just and equitable solution" for the Palestinians. Twal, himself a Palestinian, also expressed sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians, particularly families with relatives imprisoned by Israel or those who have suffered as a result of the conflict with Israel.

"The world is living through a long night of wars, destruction, fear, hate, racism and, at the present time, cold and snow," he said. Lamenting strife in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, he also urged worshippers "not to forget our own problems here: the prisoners and their families who hope for their release, the poor who have lost their land and their homes demolished, families waiting to be reunited, those out of work and all who suffer from the economic crisis."

Yet Twal called on people not to despair. "We are invited to be optimistic and to renew our faith that this land, home of the three monotheistic religions, will one day become a haven of peace for all people," he said.

"Oh Holy Child, God of goodness and mercy, look with kindness on the Holy Land and on our people who live in Palestine, in Israel, in Jordan and all the Middle East. Grant them the gift of reconciliation so that they may all be brothers — sons of one God," he said.

The number of visitors to Bethlehem remained below the record levels of the late 1990s, when Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts were at their height.

Following a Palestinian uprising that began in 2000, the numbers plunged. But thanks to a period of relative calm, they have been steadily climbing in recent years -- and got an extra push this year thanks to the resumption of peace talks.

"Our message is a message of justice and peace," said Palestinian Tourism Minister Rula Maayah. "We Palestinians are seeking peace and we deserve to have peace and our children deserve to live in peace."

Maayah said the number of visitors to Bethlehem was expected to jump by about 14 percent from last year.

A spokesman said 10,000 foreign visitors had entered town by the early evening, slightly higher than last year. Israel's Tourism Ministry, which coordinates the visits with the Palestinians, said the number could reach 25,000 during the holiday season.

Despite the Christmas cheer, Mideast politics loomed in the background. In order to enter Bethlehem, Twal's motorcade had to cross through the hulking concrete separation barrier that Israel built during the uprising. Israel says the barrier is needed to keep attackers from entering nearby Jerusalem, but Palestinians say the structure has stifled the town and stolen their land.

Maayah said that the barrier, along with nearby Israeli settlements and Israeli control of archaeological sites in the West Bank, has made it difficult to develop the tourism sector.

In addition, few Palestinians seem to think that the current round of peace talks will bear fruit. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry relaunched the talks last summer, but there have been no signs of progress.

Israel carried out a series of airstrikes and other attacks Tuesday in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the deadly shooting of an Israeli civilian who had been working along the border. The fighting, which left a 3-year-old Palestinian girl dead, was the heaviest in more than a year.

Christmas also serves as a reminder of the dwindling numbers of Christians who live in the Holy Land. Over the decades, tens of thousands of Christians have left, fleeing violence or in search of better opportunities overseas. Christians now make up a tiny percentage of the population.

Bethlehem is now only one-third Christian, with most residents Muslim. In an annual gesture, Israel permitted some 500 members of Gaza's small Christian community to leave the Hamas-ruled territory and cross through Israel to attend the celebrations in Bethlehem.

But for one night at least, residents and visitors brushed aside their troubles to celebrate the holiday.

Nick Parker, a student from Georgia Tech University, said he was enjoying the food and making friends with local residents and fellow travelers.

"It's special to be here where Jesus was born," he said. "It's a special opportunity, once in a lifetime." — AP

source: gmanetwork.com

3 PHL beaches on CNN's top 100 list

Puka Beach in Boracay, El Nido in Palawan, and Palaui Island in Cagayan Valley are among the world's top 100 best beaches, according to CNN.


“We’ve scoured the planet, demanded answers from our most well-traveled friends, colleagues and cohorts, absorbed passionate pleas from readers, researched, investigated and examined the evidence then finally tipped the sand from our shoes, washed the brine from our eyes and put together a pretty good guide to the best beaches on the planet,” said CNN on how it came up with the list.

With over 7,000 islands, it’s not surprising that beaches are big tourist attractions in the Philippines.  “Whatever your mood, there’s something to suit: from kilometers of fine white sand with not a soul in sight, to party strands, to specialist water-sports beaches, to tiny, sandy isthmuses in the lee of tropical islets,” wrote Lindsay Bennett in her globetrotter island guide, “Philippines.”




However, CNN handpicked only three beaches. Puka Beach – named for its puka shell, which means “the sand here is coarse” – is ranked 84th on the list.  Among Puka's amenities Puka has are “powdery beaches, water sports and spas.”

On what makes Puka Beach special, CNN notes: “Puka is the second-longest beach on Boracay Island and relatively empty most times, with no resorts and a limited number of restaurants.”

Number 14 on the list was El Nido, which was featured in the Hollywood movie “The Bourne Legacy.” CNN said it has “powder-fine beaches and gin-clear waters,” which “complement the stunning views of karst limestone formations, empty lagoons, marble cliffs, prehistoric caves and waterfalls.”

“Surrounding waters contain more than 50 species of coral and attract whales, whale sharks, sea cows, manta rays, dolphins and endangered turtles,” CNN noted.

On another list of “The Philippines’ best beaches and islands,” CNN’s Candice Lopez-Quimpo wrote: “If Palawan is indeed ‘the last frontier’ of the Philippines, as it’s been dubbed, the coastal town of El Nido is the gateway to wild adventure.”

Ranked No. 10 was Palaui Island, which is noted for its “glorious white sands (that) meet volcanic rocks and blue-green waters topside.”  Likewise, its “coral gardens and a rich marine reserve meet divers under the surface.”

“Palaui is all about raw beauty,” CNN said, but cautioned, “Treks to get there require battling thorny grass, muddy ground and a mangrove forest.”

For those who want to be far from the madding crowd, CNN has good news: “With no resorts or hotels, Palaui has only two real options: camping under the stars or home stays.” — LBG/HS, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

PNoy: PHL to make peace with China

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday called for a  calm approach in resolving conflicts peacefully, specially the geopolitical issues with China in the West Philippine Sea.

 

The world will witness Philippine efforts to make peace with China over tensions regarding the disputed West Philippine (South China) Sea, the President said in an ambush interview with reporters at the 114th Foundation Anniversary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City.

 

Asked if the Philippines is capable of engaging China in armed conflict should the tensions with Beijing further escalate, Aquino said, “We are always ready... based on our own limitations. Pero... having thoughts of armed conflict.. enhance the prospects of having an armed conflict...

 

Most Chinese and foreign security policy analysts believe China wants to avoid military conflict across sea lanes that carry an annual $5 trillion in ship-borne trade, particularly if it raises the prospect of US intervention, according to a Reuters report Thursday.

 

However, they say Beijing is increasingly determined to block any unified effort from rival claimants to negotiate over disputes, preferring instead to isolate much smaller and weaker states in direct talks.

 

China has adopted a more aggressive stance in recent weeks on territorial disputes in the South China Sea as hard-line officials and commentators call on Beijing to take a tougher line with rival claimants.

 

“China's supreme policymaking body, the Politburo Standing Committee, is made up entirely of civilians, but outspoken People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers, intelligence advisers and maritime agency chiefs are arguing that Beijing should be more forceful in asserting its sovereignty over the sea and the oil and natural gas believed to lie under the sea-bed,” Reuters noted.

 

Most of them blame the United States' so-called strategic "pivot" to Asia for emboldening neighboring countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, to challenge China's claims, the report added.

 

"China now faces a whole pack of aggressive neighbors headed by Vietnam and the Philippines and also a set of menacing challengers headed by the United States, forming their encirclement from outside the region," wrote Xu Zhirong, a deputy chief captain with China Marine Surveillance, in the June edition of China Eye, a publication of the Hong Kong-based China Energy Fund Committee, Reuters reported.

 

"And, such a band of eager lackeys is exactly what the US needs for its strategic return to Asia," he wrote.

 

The Philippines and China have been locked in a standoff over Panatag Shoal since April, with both countries claiming sovereign rights over the shoal.

 

“So ulitin ko lang ho, sinabi ko nung SONA… kailangan nating ng hinahon, kailangan ng pagsasaliksik ng mabuti at mareresolba natin ‘yan at talagang mapapangalagaan natin ang interes ng sambayanan,” said Aquino.

 

“And let us reiterate, our interest is a peaceful resolution of this conflict,” he added.

Tourism and bananas

 

A retired journalist who was based in Beijing said during a forum Friday in the financial district of Makati the dispute with China is bad for business.

 

It could mean a “difficult period” for the country’s banana exports and tourism industry, where China plays a significant role, said Emmy award-winning journalist Chito Santa Romana, a  former Beijing bureau chief of ABC News.

 

“I think there is still a potential for developing banana exports (and tourism). But we’re going through a difficult period right now,” 

 

In the heat of the standoff over Panatag Shoal last May, China imposed tighter phytosanitary measures for Philippine bananas after it allegedly saw bugs in the shipments.

 

Also last May, China issued an advisory suspending tourism flights to the Philippines after Filipino society groups staged a protest against Beijing’s growing aggression in West Philippine Sea. The protest was staged in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati City.

 

Santa Romana said the Philippines and China should “get (the dispute) off the back-burner” to normalize trade relations with the world’s second largest economy.

 

“You need gestures of good will on both sides and we have to meet halfway in order to meet normal relations,” Santa Romana said during a forum on the impact of the Panatag Shoal dispute on the Philippine economy.

 

The Philippine-China Conflict Forum was organized by the Center for Philippine Futuristics. 

 

China is the fourth largest source of foreign visitors in the Philippines. Tourist arrivals from China increased by 29.7 percent to 243,137 in 2011 from 187,446 in 2010. 

Before the travel advisory was issued by China, the Philippines was targeting 2 million Chinese tourists by 2016, Santa Romana said. — With a report by Marc Cayabya/BM/VS, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com