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International News
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Shanghai Banking on World Expo 2010
Shanghai is counting on the World Expo 2010 to be held next month in order to create a tourism boom and propel the country's monetary capital into the league of world's great tourism cities. China is the first d eveloping nation to host the World Expo and officials hope the event will prove a springboard for bigger and better things. The city government has already paid more than $700 million on renovating the Bund riverfront to ensure its reopening andrebirth in time for the Expo, which is scheduled to be held from 1 May to 31 October this year.
“We are still actively working on activities to attract 70 million visitors and we remain positive on reaching this target,” Connie Cheng, vice director of the Shanghai Tourism Administration revealed it to the media.
Leading media in Shanghai had already started from January, conveying 100 celebrities' visions of the 2010 World Expo kicking off the 100-day countdown to the grand event.
The project, called "Expo tributes from 100 eminent voices", is being organized by the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government, the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, Jiefang Daily and Wenhui Daily. One hundred international and domestic figures from various walks of life were invited to share their visions about "Better City, Better Life" and convey their expectations and wishes for the Expo. The list includes Singapore's veteran politician and Minister  Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan, NBA star Yao Ming and Olympic hurdle champion Liu Xiang.
A convoy of “Expo caravans” have set off from Shanghai this month touring the neighbouring regions and marketing the World Expo to ordinary Chinese. International brands are also eyeing Expo as a prime opportunity to leave an impression on the emerging world power's 1.3 billion consumers. The Smurfs, some Bollywood stars, tenor Andrea Bocelli, Cirque du Soleil and German bratwurst..... all will be part of a colourful diplomatic effort to win Chinese hearts at this year's show.
India hopes its Bollywood spectacle on July 17 will be a highlight of the event. It will accommodate 50 performers, backed by a team of film effects people and choreographers to act out 40 years of classic movie moments.
Emirates to Launch A380 Flights Between Dubai-Manchester
Dubai based Emirates is planning to launch A380 flights to Manchester in England from September 1, 2010. The A380 will replace Boeing 777 aircraft on EK017 from Dubai and EK018 out of Manchester. As per the company release, Manchester will become the world's first regional airport to have a regular A380 service. The airline currently operates eight A380s to London Heathrow, Toronto, Paris, Jeddah, Bangkok, Seoul, Sydney and Auckland.
The airline already has two flights a day to Manchester. The A380 flight - EK017 will depart Dubai at 07:55 hrs and arrive in Manchester at 12:25 hrs. The return flight - EK018 will leave Manchester at 14:10 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 00:15 hrs the following day.
Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe and Russian Federation, Emirates said, “Manchester has become one of the strongest performers in our growing network of regional gateways. Our customers value our commitment to a regional network at a time when other airlines are abandoning them. We are delighted to give our Manchester customers the best available in the shape of the Emirates' A380 which, without doubt, has revolutionised flying.”
Andrew Cornish, Managing Director, Manchester
Airport said, “Emirates' decision to operate daily A380
services between Manchester and Dubai represents a
historic moment for this airport and the region that we
serve. We have invested close to ten million pound (AED
54.8 million) in upgrading the airfield and terminal, both
to accommodate the aircraft itself and to create a
fitting environment for Emirates' customers, whether it
is at check-in, using the airline's executive lounge or at the gate area.”
PATA Annual Forecasts for Asia-Pacific Region
The Executive Board of the Pacific Asia Travel Association has released its forecasts of tourism demand across the Asia Pacific region for the next three years. At the aggregate level, international arrival numbers are predicted to increase by an average of around +2.7 percent each year to 2012. Not surprisingly, these forecasts show a significant slow down in growth rates from the pre-financial crisis level of seven percent per annum.
According to PATA Chairman Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn the three-year projections are very much in line with expectations on how the global economy is expected to perform generally. Overall international arrivals growth to Asia Pacific destinations, for example, are predicted to be marginal at just over one percent in 2010, rising to around 4.5 percent in 2011 and then stabilizing at around four percent in 2012. These forecasts are subject to an y further major economic, social or health disasters.
On a sub-regional grouping basis, destinations that in aggregate make up South Asia, are forecast to grow the fastest at an average rate of +4.9 percent per annum over the period to 2012, followed by Southeast Asia at +4.8 percent. Northeast Asia is predicted to expand at a rate of +2.2 percent each year over that same period, while the Pacific can look to increases of around +4.0 percent per annum. North America is forecast to expand by around 1.7 percent per annum to 2012.
Growth is, however, predicted to be very uneven at a number of levels but especially at the individual origin-to-destination country level. Some of these growth rates are of relatively small numeric basis so it is worth considering the actual increase in numbers for a similar set of origin-destination pairs.
One significant aspect of these forecasts is that the overall growth rates will remain very much lower for the next few years and most certainly lower than has been the case in the recent past. This, in turn, heralds the need for tourism-based businesses to continue to find profits in cost containment rather than in volume growth, at least for the current three-year cycle.
Visa's Offering to the Football Fans
Visa cardholders and students in Asia Pacific are invited to use their knowledge of money management in the Visa 'Financial Football' competition. It's a free, interactive video game that allows players to gain financial knowledge. A trip to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa will be provided for four lucky winners and their friends.
Visa, a major corporate World Cup sponsor, is running the 'Financial Football' competition in Asia Pacific until 7 May 2010. The four players with the highest scores will each win a package for two (inclusive of airfares and accommodation) valued at US $12,000 to watch two 2010 FIFA World Cup matches. That means they could be watching Wayne Rooney (pictured above left) and his England teammates. England are 5/1 second favourites with bookmakers Ladbrokes to lift the World Cup.
In addition, the best 11 players will each receive a Visa FIFA merchandise pack. The competition is open to Visa cardholders and also to students aged 15 and above, living in the Asia Pacific region.
As part of its commitment to promote financial literacy Visa has pledged to equip 20 million people around the world with personal financial knowledge by 2013. Visa has been a FIFA Partner since 2007 and 'Financial Football' is an innovative way to channel the passion for football to make learning about money management entertaining. 'Financial Football' is free to play and available in five different languages –English, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese and Korean.
Hilton Nagoya Starting Complementary Bicycle Rides
Hilton Nagoya guests can now enjoy a new complimentary bicycle rental service, part of the hotel's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by encouraging an eco-friendly and convenient way to travel around the city. The new service follows  an experiment (called 'Mei Chari') conducted by Nagoya City in 2009, that offered registered members complimentary use of bicycles in the city.
Its overwhelming success not only confirmed the pleasures of cycling but also showed a growing acceptance of bicycles as an effective eco-friendly way to respond to global environmental issues. Hilton Nagoya is working closely with ‘The Forum for Citizens with Bicycles‘, a non-profit-organization, to encourage staying guests to take advantage of the hotel's fleet of meticulously maintained “Corratec” and “Raleigh” bicycles.
Hilton Nagoya offers the perfect base to enjoy the various cycling-friendly events scheduled throughout 2010 in the city of Nagoya - from the Conference of the Parties Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) to the acclaimed international artistic festival, ‘Aichi Triennale’ – both sure to attract many environmentally-conscious travellers to Nagoya – and the ideal opportunity for Hilton Nagoya to encourage cycling as a way to enjoy the cityscape and local culture. Bicycles offer the ideal way to see Nagoya, especially its tiny lanes and pedestrian areas that are difficult to reach by car or bus.
“We are strongly committed to address environmental issues and to promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Hilton Nagoya General Manager, Jamie Mead. “Using one of our complimentary bicycles is not only a smart choice for convenient transport and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but will also add great value to exploring this beautiful city. Our staff is also on hand with up-to-date city maps and
advice on the best cycling routes to fully enjoy your stay with us,” he said.
There is a maximum of 4 hours per rent per person, reservations are required before use and a contract needs to be signed before using the bicycle. Other terms and conditions may apply. |
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