After a period of 12 years, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will resume scheduled service between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro with effect from 1 November 2011. Rio will then become KLM’s 70th intercontinental destination. KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman: “Latin America is an emerging market. By adding Rio de Janeiro as KLM’s 9th destination in Latin America, we intend to greatly strengthen our position in this rapidly expanding region. Because Brazil is experiencing such strong economic growth we see Rio’s inclusion in the KLM network as beneficial to our business passengers. Foreign investment in the region is increasing strongly, fuelled by the growing oil and gas industry”.
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by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai
In spite of the myriad negative news making headlines in Thailand since 2006 and sending travel industry jitters, Thai tourism performances are on a record high. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor’s Speech during Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TMM+) 2011 networking lunch on June 8, the last year 2010 turned out to be excellent and ended up with a total of 15.9 million visitors – a 12.6% increase over the previous year. “This positive trend has continued into 2011” was the surprised conclusion made by Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of TAT.
→ read more...by Thomas Zhang
The Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational tournament begin on the Pearl River in south China’s Guangdong Province on Sunday, June 12, to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Many dragon boat teams from America, Russia，Australia, Singapore and other regions across China participated in the race.
→ read more...By Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai
According to the latest business news on www.bangkokpost.com, hoteliers in Chiang Mai have urged authorities to help them survive as their occupancy rates continue to drop year-on-year to below 40% in this low season. Their own efforts, as evidenced by big discounts of more than 50%, do not help and hotel occupancy rates continue to decline, said Kanok Suwansutr, an adviser of the Thai Hotels Association’s Northern Chapter.”The hotel situation in Chiang Mai is worsening. The average occupancy rate is estimated to be lower than 40% in this low season, down 10% from 46-50% in the same period last year,” he said.
Staff of Thai Airways International are pressing it to cancel two expense-reduction programmes, saying they jeopardise inflight service
More than 300 Thai flight attendants gathered at the Headquarters in Bangkok´s Chatuchak district yesterday said the Bangkok post. They submitted a petition listing their demands to chairman Ampon Kittiampon before the board meeting. The protesters said they disagreed with reducing the number of flight attendens based on the number of passengers on board and reducing the number of days for breaks during layovers on long-haul flights such as from Thailand to Europe.
→ read more...According to the Bangkok Post Thai Airways derailed plans to reduce state ownership and gradually scale back government guarantees for loans taken out by the flag carrier. Chairman Ampon kittiampon said after a board meeting that now was not the right time for the caretaker government to pursuing “policy matters” in light of the july 3rd. general election. He also insisted there was no policy for the Finance Ministry to cut its stake in the airline to 49,99 % from 51,03 %, ending THAI´s state enterprise status.
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