Looking East
PATA E XCHANGE – MA RC H 10 2014 SHOW REVIEW
Tourist offices, operators, hotels and airlines from the Pacific Asia Region came together in London to promote their region, Laura Gelder reports
Shangri-La opens in mystical Tibet
SHANGRI-LA Hotels' Lhasa Hotel opens in the Tibetan capital this month. Conveniently located within walking distance of the fabled city's Potala Palace, the 289-room hotel is inspired by traditional Tibetan architecture and its meeting point, Lodgers Lounge, is decorated with a 6.5-metre bell-like chandelier draped in flowing red fabric which emulates a prayer wheel. In order to help guests acclimatise
to the city, which is 3,650 metres above sea level, the hotel has built an oxygen lounge. There is also a spa, gym and indoor swimming pool. Shangri-La's signature tapas bar and lounge, Shambala, serves authentic Tibetan and Yunnan cuisine,
whilst
all-day dining restaurant, Altitude offers more international dishes.
shangri-la.co.uk
"WE'RE DELIGHTED TO SEE THAILAND AND INDOCHINA CONTINUING TO SELL WELL"
ANDREW HOSKINS, BANGKOK AIRWAYS
IN BRIEF
Myanmar to Chiang Mai: Myanmar- based airline Asian Wings has started the first direct flight between Mandalay and Chiang Mai, its first international flight. The airline has flown domestically since 2011 to 16 destinations from Yangon. Japan’s All Nippon Airways also announced it will buy a 49% stake in Asian Wings
asianwingsair.com
Pattaya hotel debut: The five-star
Centara Grand Pratamnak, south of the resort
10-minute drive from Pattaya city centre and two hours from Bangkok,
the
property has 165 rooms with Italian furnishings, a rooftop pool and Jacuzzi, rooftop resaturant, bakery and fitness room.
centarahotelsresorts.com
city of Pattaya, has opened. A Jeeva Resorts expands: Jeeva Resorts
has opened a new hotel in the lesser- developed East of Bali, to add to its two Lombok properties. Jeeva Saba House is a new-build property which sits on a 70-metre beach. Facilities include an infinity pool, library, fitness centre and an
jeevasaba.com Philippines on the up: International open-air sea-front restaurant.
visitors to the Philippines grew by almost 10% in 2013 from 2012, with UK arrivals reaching 122,759 (a growth rate of 8.37%). The rise is no doubt aided by the direct Heathrow-Manila flights that Philippine Airlines launched late last year. The airline has also launched Manila-Tokyo flights this March 30.
itsmorefuninthephilippines.com
Cruises boost PNG numbers
Macau goes off the beaten path
THE Macau Government Tourist Office has unveiled four new walking tours designed to take visitors off the beaten tourist trail and into lesser-known communities to savour local cuisines and cultures. The four walking tours each take in a
different aspect of Macau and are titled: Historical Trails, Nature and Creativity, East Meets West and Arts and Culture. and last 90-130 minutes. The routes are available free from
MGTO tourist information centres or downloadable from the MGTO website's Trip Planner.
macautourism.gov.uk
PAPUA New Guinea Tourism figures show a healthy 35% increase in visitor arrivals from the UK, with growth particularly marked in the cruise sector. There is also a steady increase in the number of operators offering expeditions in PNG. P & O cruises has announced that it is
committed to an increased programme of eight voyages in the area, starting this month (April). The cruises will continue to go to Madang and Kavieng, but also plan to also take in the exotic islands of Manus. Noble Caledonia has scheduled an
expedition cruise from the capital, Port Moresby, to Guam on the MS Caledonia Sky, which has Zodiacs to land on otherwise inaccessible beaches and lagoons.
And Silversea's world cruise itinerary for 2014 has included Alotau and Madang, whilst its Melanesia cruises includes PNG. Orion Expedition Cruises is extending the length of its PNG cruises to 19 and 21 nights respectively. Coral Princess Cruises has scheduled a
fifth departure for 2014, with further departures sure to be added. Its founder and Managing Director, Tony Briggs, added: "PNG’s authentic cultural experiences, untouched landscapes and stunning coral reefs continue to attract intrepid travellers." PNG is home to 38 of the 43 species of the Birds of Paradise, and is also a top diving, fishing and trekking destination.
papuanewguinea.travel
Emirates to Taiwan
EMIRATES has launched a new direct route between its hub in Dubai and Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. The service consists of three daily non-
stop flights and should prove popular for its connections to UK regional airports such as Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle, as well as London Heathrow. Taiwan is also getting set to see the opening of the 300-room Mandarin Oriental Taipei this Spring, in the city's business and financial district and with city views.
eng.taiwan.net.tw
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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