Cargo growth boosts hope for aviation

Rising cargo volume is sparking signs of recovery for the North American aviation industry, Air Canada's chief executive said last week.

"We've seen some encouraging news from the cargo environment," Air Canada Chief Executive Calin Rovinescu told reporters on Friday.

"We are seeing a marked improvement over last year and generally cargo tends to be the bellwether indicator that the recovery is starting."

But Rovinescu is still not ready to declare a recovery, saying the airline industry still faces a weak market and must wait for business travel to rebound.

"Businesses tend to need to recover first before ... airlines that cater to businesses start seeing the recovery."

When Rovinescu took over as Air Canada's chief executive last April, the carrier was struggling financially and dealing with rumours that it might need to file for bankruptcy protection.

However, he has since strengthened the carrier's liquidity position, lined up equity funding and cut both capacity and costs according to Reuters.

Source ETB

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

AirAsia causes concern for Vietnam Airlines

AirAsia’s plan for a joint venture with a local Vietnam carrier has jolted a nervous Vietnam Airlines into action, urging the government this week to stop the move.

Last month, the Malaysian budget carrier purchased a 30 percent stake in Vietnam’s local VietJet Air. The carriers announced soon after joint venture plans for a new budget airline which was approved by the Ministry of Transport.
According to Thanh Nien Daily, VietJetAirAsia will operate both international and domestic flights starting May.

However, in a letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Vietnam Airlines asked the government to prevent the venture from materialising.

The carrier said AirAsia’s stake in VietJet was only a ploy to enter the domestic market.

Vietnam Airlines said foreign carriers such as AirAsia and Jetstar were taking advantage of the government’s 30 percent cap on foreign ownership in a local airline.

It said the trend of foreign airlines coming into the country to purchase stakes in local carriers was bound to harm the local industry.

If the venture goes ahead, Vietjet AirAsia will compete directly with Jetstar Pacific, who has not raised any objection to the planned venture. Source ETB

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

South Korea to fund Angkor road

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) - South Korea has provided US$9.2 million (S$12.9 million) to Cambodia to build a new road that will circle the famed Angkor temple complex and reduce traffic in the area, officials said Monday.

The 21-kilometer road will be closed to trucks to reduce pollution, noise and vibrations that could damage the ancient ruins, said Soeung Kong, vice secretary-general of the Apsara Authority, the government agency that oversees the temples.

Construction will start this year and take three years to complete, he said. It will be the second road in the Angkor area funded by South Korea, connecting with existing roads to the north and northwest of the temples, said South Korean Embassy official Son Sungil. The first road extended south from the temple complex.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earner for cash-strapped Cambodia, which hosts nearly 1.5 million foreign tourists each year, mostly from South Korea, Japan and the United States. More than half of the tourists visit Angkor, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northwestern Siem Reap province.

The temples were built when Angkorian kings ruled over much of Southeast Asia between the 9th and 14th centuries.

Conservationists have long expressed concerns about tourism's impact. They say uncontrolled pumping of underground water to meet the rising demand of hotels and residents in the nearby town of Siem Reap may be destabilizing the earth beneath the temples. -- AP

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

Mountain cycling along the Mekong Trail: a Carbon Free Travel Experience

Are you eco-traveler and want a friendly travel? If so, then try a carbon free travel experience along the Mekong Discovery Trail. Without harming the environment and gaining green house gas to the atmosphere, you can ride the mountain bike to see a magnificent landscape of the Mekong River. Along the way, you will immerse remote local livelihood lifestyle and also help improve their livelihood.

The unique experience and specialty of the mountain bike trail is that you will drive yourself through one of the Mekong Biodiversity Hot Spots where local people and non-government organization pay much attention on biological richness preservation. When you are on Mountain bike trail, be alerted to bring plenty of water (difficult to find at remote village), spare parts, first aid kid and sun protection lotion.

This mountain bike trail along Mekong Discovery Trail can be done at Kratie or Steung Treng Province. The mountain bike can be rented or purchased in Phnom Penh. Find the one that suit you and go on with a carbon-free travel experience that serves the environment and help improve remote livelihood where you reach.

More about Mountain cycling along the Mekong Trail: http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/news/Mountain-cycling-along-the-Mekong-Trail:-a-Carbon-Free-Travel-Experience.html

Cambodia tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours=> http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

880 million travelers last year, this year to be better: UNWTO

Many countries all around the world saw dramatic drops in lucrative tourism dollars last year, with the global average recording a 4% drop in international travelers says the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

According to the latest figures 880 million arrivals were recorded by people travelling for business, leisure and other purposes, a 4% drop from 2008 figures.

Despite this drop, the UNWTO says it saw a marked upswing in the fourth quarter, without which the figures would have been worse. Subsequently it has deduced that 2010 will see a rebound to the effect of some three to four percent.

"The global economic crisis aggravated by the uncertainty around the A(H1N1) pandemic turned 2009 into one of the toughest years for the tourism sector," said Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General.

"However, the results of recent months suggest that recovery is underway, and even somewhat earlier and at a stronger pace than initially expected."

Breaking 2009 into quarters, the first quarter saw international arrivals shrink by 10%, the second quarter saw a smaller drop of 7%, while the third recorded a drop of 2%. In comparison, fourth quarter 2009 saw an upswing of 2 %.

These recent figures also back a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report which stated that it was seeing a global recovery which was "significantly" faster than expected.

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: W.X
----------------------------------------------
Cambodia tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

The Krolan: a Landmark Production in Kratie, Cambodia

Krolan is one of local product in Kratie Province which is made of rice mixed with coconut and bean and cooked in the bamboo tubes. Kratie province is famous for Krolan, in particular Thmo Kreae Commune 10km north of Kratie.

This product has been significantly becoming a common job for people in the province and some families have been for more than half a century. If you travel across this province, you will see the Krolan is sold along roadside and waterfront in Kratie. This Krolan is also transported to Phnom Penh markets each day but it is cooked with more salt.

It can be kept up to two days without refrigeration. Making Krolan is good business since the 40 % of the cost come from the domestic supply and this business can contribute to poverty alleviation for people along the Mekong River.

More about attraction sites in Kratie province: http://www.tourismindochina.com/kratie-attractionsite.htm
----------------------------------------------
Cambodia tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...

The Kratie Trail, Cambodia

Being a famous province for its rare Mekong River Dolphin that shelter in pool, Kratie is the southern gateway to Mekong discovery trail where you can experience different kinds of trails along the friendly sunset town. In town you can hire a horse car, bike, motorbike, or even walking to view the street landscape and buildings. When seeing some of the building in town you may remind of French colonial days when the town was the river port since the buildings appear in French architectural style.

Just 16 Km northern of the town you can visit Kampi pool, recognized as the famous landmark of the province for its rare fresh water Mekong River Dolphins, either from the boat tours or from the river bank. Along the trail you may be excited with magnificent river scenery and rural friendly villages. From Kratie Town you can take an excursion through a spectacular view and even stay overnight with families in more remote island village where you see different way of lives.

Home stay accommodation have been prepared in good mood to serve you with friendly environment. You will feel you wake up with fresh atmosphere and lightening natural harmony. Also when you are in Kratie do not forget to buy such a wide range of local product, including Krolan (sticky rice) which Kratie province is famous for. Help buying local product and make the Kratie trail mean a lot for poverty alleviation.

More about Kratie province: http://www.tourismindochina.com/kratie-attractionsite.htm

----------------------------------------------
Cambodia tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/cambodia/tours/
Vietnam tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/vietnam/tours/
Laos tours: http://www.tourismindochina.com/laos/tours/

Read more...