China eyes high-speed rail links with Europe, India, Russia  10-Mar-2010
China is reportedly in negotiations which could see the economic behemoth build a high-speed railway connecting its capital with the United Kingdom, Russia and Southeast Asia. The new connections could potentially see passengers reach London from Beijing within two days, reports The Telegraph in London, who cites a source who is a senior consultant on China’s domestic high-speed rail project.

Garuda adds capacity to BKK  10-Mar-2010
From the beginning of summer schedule, 28 March, Garuda Indonesia will deploy a new B737-800NG on its Bangkok-Jakarta route. The change boosts seat capacity by 70%. Garuda phases out a 96-seat B737-500 for the new 162-seat B737-800 that has 12 seats in business class and 150 in economy.

Indonesia offers grace period on visa-on-arrival switch  10-Mar-2010
Indonesian resort destinations Batam, Bintan and Karimun have been given a transition period of three months to apply the single Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility. The government had announced regulations in January to remove the US$10 one-week VoA and leaving only the 30-day VoA costing US$25, a move that raised concerns in the three destinations as regional travellers tend to stay less than a week.

Only in Oz’ launch targets MATTA Fair visitors  10-Mar-2010
Tourism Australia has teamed up with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to sharpen the destination’s appeal, particularly to attract first-time visitors. The ‘Only in Oz Holidays’ campaign launched yesterday to boost Australia’s appeal over rival destinations will feature the launch of air and ground packages at this weekend’s MATTA Fair for consumers in Kuala Lumpur. Australian deals at the fair will kick off with MAS’ all-inclusive fares from as low as RM649 (US$195) to Australia, while Aussie Specialist

Cathay back to profit after 2008’s record loss  10-Mar-2010
Fuel hedging, cost-cutting and the sale of shares in an aircraft maintenance company helped Cathay Pacific Group return from its biggest-ever loss the previous year to profit in 2009. The group, which comprises Asia’s third-largest airline and Dragonair, booked a full-year profit HK$4.7 billion (US$605 million) compared with 2008’s record HK$8.6 billion loss, largely the result of fuel hedging bets going the wrong way. While the group had earlier reported a steady pick-up in passenger numbers, both

Israeli did not engage in sex, he and girl say  10-Mar-2010
A 69-year-old Israeli national charged with soliciting sex from a minor professed his innocence during a hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday, and his alleged victim denied that the two had ever engaged in a sexual relationship. Yehuda Aharon Zvi was arrested in December last year as the result of an investigation launched by the child protection NGO Action Pour Les Enfants, which became suspicious after learning that Zvi

‘Ethical’ Hacker Urges Cambodians To Take Cyber-Precautions  9-Mar-2010
Getting hacked usually inspires dread and panic in organizations— unless the hacker is Sok Yeng. Mr Yeng is Cambodia’s first certified “ethical” computer hacken a person hired by an organiza¬tion to try to infiltrate its digital networks and systems in order to find weaknesses. “It’s about finding countermeasures,” said Mr Yeng, who is accredited by the International Cou¬cil of Electronic Commerce Consu¬tants, at his office in Phnom Penh.

Asean’s Surin Disavows Test-Launch Quote  9-Mar-2010
Asean Secretary-General Surin Htsuwan issued a conciliatory statement yesterday to clarify remarks he made to the media last week that drew a stinging rebuke from Prime Minister Hun Sea. Mr Surin was quoted by the Malaysian news agency Bemama on Friday as saying Asean was “very concerned” by Cambodia’s test-firing of truck-mounted rockets last week in Kompong Chhnang province. Bernama also claimed the secretary-general said the test could signal to the outside world

Malaysia Airlines adds flights  9-Mar-2010
Malaysia Airlines adds frequencies on its Paris route from five times weekly to daily, effective 28 March. From Kuala Lumpur, the flight departs at 2335 and arrives in Paris at 0640. Thai passengers who are connecting with this service fly MH783 from Suvarnabhumi Airport departing at 1705 and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 2015. The flight from Paris returns to Kuala Lumpur at 0635 allowing Thai travellers

Singapore guns for double-digit growth in 2010  8-Mar-2010
Backed a new brand and its two integrated resorts, Singapore has set high arrivals and revenue targets for this year. Singapore Tourism Board (STB) chief executive Aw Kah Peng is aiming for a 19 to 29 per cent hike in visitor arrivals, translating to 11.5 million to 12.5 million, and a staggering 41 to 49 per cent boost in tourism receipts to S$17.5 to S$18.5 billion (US$13.2 billion).

Chinese Exchange Rate Unlikely To Change  8-Mar-2010
China’s central bank governor indicated Saturday that the government was unlikely to detach the value of China’s currency from that of the US dollar anytime soon, echoing Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s statement on Friday that exchange rates would remain “basically stable” for now. Many Western economists and leaders, including US President Barack Obama, have called for China to let its currency, the renminbi, appreciate against the dollar, arguing that an artificially cheap renminbi

Classical ‘Legend’ Ashkenazy To Perform in Capital  8-Mar-2010
The man who opened the door of the hotel suite at 11 am yester-day had a full head of white hair and a white polo shirt to match. He was also wearing a big smile on his face. Here was one of the world's most renowned artists—a “living legend” was how one fen described him—in Western classical music, having just landed in Phnom Penh and yet he was relaxed, ready for an interview. Pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy flew in from Melbourne, Australia, where he

Bank of Japan Faces Choice on Deflation in Coming Months  8-Mar-2010
Japan’s central bank looks more likely to ease monetary policy further in coming months, analysts say, though the finance minister has offered few hints on the possibility of additional monetary easing steps at the Bank of Japan's next policy board meeting. “I haven’t heard such a message directly from the BOJ. But both the government and the bank share the view that each has to make its own effort to beat deflation,” Naoto Kan said at a regular news

PG and VISA giveaway tickets  8-Mar-2010
Bangkok Airways partners with VISA to give Thai cardholders discounts on fares when buying two economy class tickets. VISA Premium Privilege is valid for VISA Platinum, VISA Signature and VISA Infinite cardholders and for bookings made via www.bangkokair.com only.

Revenue from tourism falls around 2pc in difficult 2009  8-Mar-2010
Revenue generated from the Kingdom’s tourism sector fell by about 2 percent last year as the sector suffered a drop in spending amid the fallout from the economic crisis, a Ministry of Tourism official told the Post. Director of Tourism and Statistics Kong Sophearak said the industry generated revenues of US$1.561 billion in 2009 compared to $1.595 billion the previous year despite an overall 1.7 percent rise in the

Despite Some Progresses in the Cambodian Women's Social Issues, More is Needed  8-Mar-2010
PHNOM PENH, March 8, 2010 - There has been progressed in a number of social areas for the Cambodian women as well as the legal aspect which have empowered the group to play a vital role in society in the last three terms, but still domestic violence against the group is high, said the Minister of Women's Affairs on the International Women's Day.

THAI upgrades channel business  8-Mar-2010
Thai Airways International says it will use its 50th anniversary celebrations to extend its reach through website and mobile phone communications.

Malaysia Airlines boosted after sweeping reforms  8-Mar-2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Not long ago, Malaysia Airlines was on life support, forced to sell off its headquarters and firing thousands of staff to avoid bankruptcy, but analysts are now bullish about its prospects.

Chinese airline says president under police probe  8-Mar-2010
SHANGHAI : The president of Shenzhen Airlines, China's fifth-biggest carrier, has been removed from his position and is under police investigation for alleged "economic crimes", the carrier said Monday.

Officials reject ASEAN concerns  8-Mar-2010
GOVERNMENT officials on Sunday rejected the notion that military exercises held last week in Kampong Chhnang province were designed to provoke neighbouring Thailand, re-sponding to comments reportedly made by ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan.

Anlong Veng – From Khmer Rouge Stronghold to Tourism Draw?  8-Mar-2010
The Council of Ministers on Friday approval a draft of a sub-decree to designate Oddar Meanchey province’s Anlong Veng district – the last bastion of the Khmer Rouge – a historical site to attract prospective tourists. The government “aims to protect, preserve and develop the last political center of Democratic Kampuchea,” according to the sub-decree, in order to help “national and international tourist to

Singapore Hopes Casinos Will Boost Tourism Revenue  8-Mar-2010
Visitor arrivals to Singapore may rise by as much as 30 percent this year, helped by an economic recovery in Asia and the lure of two new multi-billion dollar casinos, the government said on Friday. Genting Group’s $4.7 billion Resorts World opened in February, and Las Vegas Sands will partially open its $5.5 billion casino in April as part of Singapore’s attempt to expand its tourism industry to diversify its economy. Singapore Tourism Board Chief Executive Aw Kah Peng told a conference the

13 Charged in Nightclub ‘Naked Dancing’ Case  7-Mar-2010
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Saturday charged 13 staff from at Chamkar Mon district nightclub, the White Club, who were among 120 revelers and employees arrested in a Friday raid on the club by military police, Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun said yesterday. Mr Roeun, however, said that he “could not remember which charges” the 13 staff now face. The 107 nightclub patrons were release from military police custody early Friday morning while the 13 employees – two dancers related to what Pol Davy, deputy commander for Phnom Penh’s military police, described as “naked