The British government must review as a matter of urgency its decision to increase air passenger duty. That’s the view of the Pacific Asia Travel Association.

“It’s no more than a swingeing, punitive tax on business and on families. Destinations across the Asia Pacific region are battling against the dramatic impacts of the global economic downturn. The UNWTO states, quite right, that travel and tourism can be an effective part of the G20 stimulus packages – and yet the British government sees fit to maintain its plan to impose these dramatic increases in departure tax,” says President and CEO Greg Duffell.

In light of the current situation after the outbreak of the swine flu in Mexico, TUI, Germany’s leading tour operator, has decided to extend its offer of allowing trips to be rebooked at no charge until May 31. This regulation holds for all tour operators under the German TUI group who offer trips to Mexico in their catalogs. Besides TUI itself, this includes 1-2-Fly, Airtours, Berge & Meer, Gebeco and L tur.

The Federal Cartel Office in Bonn has informed air carrier Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG that it has no objections to the acquisition of shares by Turkish company ESAS Holding A.S., which had acquired about 15 percent of voting stock of Air Berlin PLC in late March of this year. ESAS Holding, which also operates the airline Pegasus, will now be represented on the board of Air Berlin PLC by a non-executive director.

All travel to Mexico City discontinued for the time being; free rebookings for entire Mexico program

TUI, Germany’s leading tour operator, has decided to discontinue all travel to Mexico City up to and including May 4th as a response to the outbreak of the swine flu in Mexico. The Mexican metropolis will no longer be included in round tours in the following weeks, either. This regulation holds for all tour operators under the German TUI group who offer trips to Mexico in their catalogs.

Vietnam’s long journey from a curiosity to a viable, upscale destination passed another critical milestone recently when the Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa opened on this pristine stretch of the South China Sea 150 kilometers from Saigon.

The Princess d’Annam joins a select few properties in Vietnam that woo guests who pay four-figure room nights as a matter of course, makes a bold design statement with its architecture and trades on a stunning oceanfront location.

Season highlight: Motor ship “Antares” to be launched on May 9, 2009.
Special offers: Children up to age 12 travel for free when accompanied by their parents. Also, tourists will be able to claim 10% rebates in over 60 restaurants between Lago Maggiore and the valleys of Ossola when showing their ship tickets.