Travel

Four-hundred youth trained in Hotel Management

The Winestone Hotel School is affiliated to the City and Guild Institution of London, Vocational Training Authority of the Ministry of Tertiary Education of Sri Lanka and Distance Education Modernization Project for online education

Ashraff A. Samad, Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Sp. Corr.

The Wine Stone School of Culinary Art (Pvt) Ltd, Nugegoda which aims to be the premier Hotel School has trained youth for the hospitality industry. The Winestone Hotel School is affiliated to the city and Guild Institution of London, Vocational Training Authority of the Ministry of Tertiary Education of Sri Lanka and Distance Education Modernization Project for online education.

The Hotel School trains professionals for the certificate, diploma and advanced diploma level courses in the hospitality industry in Asia and the Far East.

Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff called upon the Winestone Hotel School Managing Director Chief, Iyanthi Goonewardena and Mrs. Aruni to train and develop 400 youth in the Batticaloa and Amparai districts under the Asian Development Fund.

Minister Ferial Ashraff thanked the Hotel Management for the free training given to the 400 youth in the Eastern Province.

AirAsia abolishes administration fee:

Guests only pay for real low fares and airport tax

With the aim of further stimulating travel and tourism in Malaysia and the region, AirAsia is abolishing the administration fee from its fare structure. This presents further real savings to AirAsia guests as they now only have to fork out the seat fare and airport tax. ‘No Admin Fee’ as it is aptly called, will come into effect for bookings made for all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights from June 24. From this date, AirAsia.com will display All-In Fares (fare + airport tax) throughout the booking process. This ensures transparency from the advertised price to selecting your flight and paying for it on AirAsia.com

In conjunction with the ‘No Admin Fee’ announcement, AirAsia is launching a regional promo-fare campaign. Many of the promo fares are even cheaper than the airport tax. The promo-fare seats are open for booking from June 24 until June 28, 2009 for travel between October 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010. The promotion is offered exclusively online via AirAsia.com

AirAsia Group CEO Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, said: “At AirAsia, we are continuously ramping up our efforts to give the best to our guests. This will distinguish us from our competitors as we are going the extra mile to live-up to our brand promise to have the lowest fares in the market. Our recent Q1 result showed that there was a surge of over 21 percent in our passenger growth compared to last year, which goes to prove that people appreciate the true value we offer especially in these difficult times. We will continue our commitment to provide more affordable air fares for business and leisure travellers. We were the first airline to abolish our fuel surcharge and lead again in removing our admin fee.”

“With ‘No Admin Fee’ more people will travel with AirAsia, especially in view of the current economic uncertainties and travel worries. AirAsia is always committed to delivering low fares to the people and enjoy the best quality service. The World’s Best Low Cost Airline award from Skytrax speaks volume of our quality and efficiency,” said Fernandes.

Regional Head of Commercial, AirAsia Berhad Kathleen Tan, said, “The airline which brought you original low fares is taking yet another bold step to excite the demand to travel. The economies of scale are accomplished through our ever increasing route network, fleet and ancillary income and it is supported by our operational efficiencies.

ITB Asia 2009 to feature report:

Helping SMEs in travel and tourism

ITB Asia 2009 will continue its focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the travel and tourism industry by issuing a report on the responses by Asia-Pacific national tourism organisations (NTOs) to the challenges facing their SMEs.

Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), Dr. Martin Buck said, “It is apparent that the recent global financial crisis has had a significant impact on travel and tourism SMEs. In all countries, there is general acknowledgement that SMEs comprise the bedrock of the travel and tourism industry.”

Dr. Buck said that at the inaugural ITB Asia 2008, a report was issued outlining the importance of SMEs in Asia-Pacific travel and tourism.

That report also issued some recommendations on ways in which Asia-Pacific’s NTOs can refocus their strategies and policies towards helping SMEs.

“That first report was more general in nature. This year, it is time to follow that up with something more specific,” said Dr Buck.

He said, “The survival of the travel and tourism SMEs is very important to us. We believe they are producing some of the most creative, innovative products and services in the Asia-Pacific region. There is no doubt they are being affected by some serious external issues. We have to do everything we can to help them.”

Positioned as “The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market,” the second ITB Asia will be held from October 21-23 at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre. It will be attended by travel companies representing business travel, conferences, meetings, incentive trips, leisure groups and special events.

This year’s SME report, like the one in 2008, will be compiled by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil. It will offer a comprehensive round-up of the various efforts being made by regional NTOs and other social, financial and economic arms of Governments to help the SMEs in the wake of the global financial crisis.

According to Muqbil, “Regional NTOs have had to snap to attention because the ripple-effect of the financial and various other crises, such as swine flu, has been felt in the grassroots of society and affected the most vulnerable, low-income people.

“That defeats the purpose of developing the tourism industry in the first place. NTOs have always claimed that their tourism plans are driven by the need to benefit rural areas and distribute earnings in a more fair and equitable way.”

Because Governments realise that economic problems at the lower-income levels of society can quickly translate into wider social and political problems, a lot of work is being done to support SMEs through low-interest loans, training programmes, access to marketing opportunities, and much more, Muqbil said.

“I am working to compile all these efforts and activities into one comprehensive report that can be used as a reference for the benefit of everyone. There is a lot that both the public and private sectors can learn from each other. That is what the report is intended to do.”