The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Guangxi Tourism Administration (GXTA). The objective of the MoU is to strengthen cooperation in the sharing of research, intelligence, marketing activities and training as well as support the UNWTO/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook in Guilin, China.

“Economic benefits from meetings attendees will be widely felt throughout China in the future”
Growth in PCO’s helps push conventions sector
The results of this year’s annual China and Asia Meetings Industry Research Report shows that China and Asia offer huge potential for growth in the domestic, regional, international inbound and outbound markets for all types of meetings and events.

Marcus Puffer, 38, has been appointed as the new Manager of airberlin’s Loyalty & Partnerships Department and will take up his post on 1st November 2011.
Born in Vienna, Austria, Mr. Puffer studied International Business Administration at the University of Vienna. In 1998 he embarked on his professional career with Austrian Airlines, where he was engaged in market research and long-term network planning. In 2001 he joined Star Alliance Services GmbH, a company based in Frankfurt. His first appointment was as Business Project Manager, focusing on global network and membership development. From 2007 onwards Mr. Puffer also headed the Network Development section.

The charm of a land of intense beauty in the words of the President of Gal (Local Action Group) Lomellina, Mr. Giorgio Guardamagna

Among the objectives of Gal, it is not marginal to highlight the tourism potential of Lomellina and bring it strongly to the consideration of a wider audience as a part of the territory of our province that has a high potential and deserve the success that we wish to obtain, thanks to our work.The landscape of Lomellina is itself a resource and an asset: its preservation is a fundamental goal to encourage the recent revival of tourism in a territory which aims to affirm itself.
The water, the land, the rice fields, the heronries, the forests: a constant stream connects the wonderful Lomellina nature; in past centuries, men have changed the environment,

The Local Action Group “Lomellina Terra del Cuore” has organized with Visit Italy a fam trip for European buyers in September
A territory at the border of Piedmont and Lombardy, between the rivers Sesia, Ticino and Po: Lomellina is a land of territorial and cultural resources to be discovered. Just because of the rich and varied tourism heritage, the Gal – Local Action Group, chaired by Mr. George Guardamagna, has decided to focus on a coordinated and effective promotion of the territory, working alongside the farmers and private entrepreneurs who own accommodation properties and provide the public an offer of excellence.

AirAsia Berhad (“AirAsia” or “the Company”) posted commendable second quarter numbers in its results announced Tuesday. The Group in 2Q11 registered a revenue of RM 1.08 billion, profit before tax of RM 145.0 million, RASK up 6% (y-o-y) for MAA, up 14% for AirAsia Thailand and 2% for AirAsia Indonesia. EBITDAR margins for MAA, TAA and IAA stood at 35%, 26% and 24% respectively.
Responding to the decrease of 47.6% in profit after tax, Group CEO Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes said, “Profits after tax are down only because of deferred tax where there was a big swing in this quarter from an income to a charge primarily because there were no aircraft delivered, which impacts deferred tax balances.”