|
Happy 40th birthday Singapore
Marion Vogt
Many tourists enjoyed Singapore’s 40 th
birthday, aboard a fleet of luxury yachts organized by Singapore’s new
marina, ONEº15 Marina Club, to watch the fireworks display on August 9.
 The
futuristic esplanade looks like a huge Durian, which has already become the
common name among Singaporeans. The roofline serves as a shield from the sun
and each ‘spike’ is designed and placed to redirect the sunlight while
letting enough natural light through.
The club gets its name ONEº15 from its nautical position
- one degree and 15 minutes north of the Equator, and is just ten minutes
outside town in Sentosa Cove next to five star hotels and millionaire
villas.
The newly opened (but not yet 100 percent ready) yacht
center, will be a well located gateway to boating destinations around Asia,
such as the Southern Island, Indonesia’s Nongsa Point Marinas and Bintan
Resorts, Malaysia’s Sebana Cove, Port Dickson, Sibu Island, and Tioman
Island.
The grand opening date for ONEº15 is set for the beginning of 2007 but
their website is already up on www.one15 marina.com. Until all is completed,
when you can berth your yacht in Singapore, we can recommend you to take the
direct flight from Chiang Mai International Airport with Tiger Airways and
spend a unique weekend in one of the most stylish cities of the world.
Philippines slams Canada, UK advisories
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) has
deplored the renewal of travel advisories against the Philippines by Canada
and the UK.
The Canadian travel warning cited the increased
possibility of protests and demonstrations, particularly in Manila, due to
recent political developments, while the UK advisory said it believed
terrorists and criminal elements planned to kidnap foreign tourists from
islands and coastal areas south of Panay in southern Philippines. Both
advisories also warned of terrorist threats.
PTAA president, Marciano Ragaza, stressing the
Philippines was a safe and viable destination for holidaymakers, noted that
demonstrations had been peaceful and there had been no untoward incidents
against tourists or foreign nationals.
He said, “We are particularly concerned with the UK’s
revised warning considering that London, with all due respect to those
affected by the recent bombings, seems to be a more dangerous place than
Manila these days.”
Ragaza added, while he understood the rationale behind
the advisories, the latter should reflect a more accurate picture of the
current situation. He said, “These travel advisories and warnings have
been quite unfair to the Philippines. There needs to be a more realistic and
equitable manner in which they are worded.” (TTG Asia)
Minimum room rate imposed
The Malaysian government has made it mandatory for
five-star hotels to impose a minimum overnight room rate of US$80 starting
next April, Malaysia’s deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
was quoted by local news agency Bernama as saying.
The minister said the Cabinet Committee on Tourism had
agreed upon new guidelines at its first meeting, which he chaired on
Tuesday.
He said, “To add revenue from tourists, the committee
has decided for all five-star hotels to charge not less than US$80 per night
for a room, effective from next year’s tourism contract season which is
expected to start in April.”
He added that the minimum rate is appropriate as it is
lower than neighboring cities, but is enough to ensure investor’s return
on investments. (TTG Asia)
|
