AMERICAN EXPRESS SHIFTS GLOBAL CONFERENCE TO PHUKET

Bangkok: American Express moved its Conference of 700 employees to Phuket to help promote tourism to one of the worst hit places by the tsunami strike of 26 December 2004. The Conference was to have been held in North America. Post Tsunami Amex donated $ 1 million to the Red Cross Tsunami Relief Fund. By changing the venue to Phuket, Amex wanted to help send a message worldwide that Phuket was waiting and ready to welcome tourists. The group flew Thai Airways and stayed at the Sheraton Grande Laguna.

ASIA - THE WORLD'S MOST VIGOROUS AND VIBRANT MARKET?

According to recent reports, Marriott International is focusing much of its international expansion strategy squarely on Asia Pacific. Apparently a large part of that focus is firmly on China, where the group currently boasts 31 properties.

"Overall, we see the region as the most robust and dynamic of any market worldwide," says Ed Fuller, President of International Lodging, Marriott International.

The Group has 11 signed deals in China and Hong Kong in the pipeline, with more than 3,700 rooms.

Baggage strike hits Advantage delegates

Around 25 delegates travelling to a travel agency conference in Italy have been affected by a snap strike by baggage handlers at Naples Airport.

Bosses of agency consortium Advantage maintained the event in Sorrento had still got off to an "excellent" start despite 25 of the 475 delegates on their way to the conference being forced to divert to Rome and endure a four-hour coach transit or wait for later flights.

BURMA OPENS VIEWING TOWER IN BAGAN TO TOURISTS

Rangoon: A viewing tower in the ancient temple town of Bagan was officially unveiled to provide an unsurpassed view of one of Asia’s most renowned heritage site. The 60 meter cylindrical steel tower will give tourist’s a birds-eye-view of Bagan and its thousands of pagodas, helping boost tourism and tourism revenues. The tower has observation decks, souvenir shops and a restaurant. The tower will help preserve the ancient pagodas as tourists will no longer have to clamber over these ancient historic structures to get a good view of Bagan which has thousands of 11th and 12th century pagodas spread over an 80 square kilometer area.

DESTINATION OF THE MONTH

SABAH--MALAYSIA’S LAND OF ECO TREASURES

By Deepti Bhagat

A tropical paradise of natural beauty and cultural diversity Sabah sits on the northern tip of the island of Borneo and is a land of eco treasures, making it a nature and adventure tourism destination. Thirty different ethnic groups with their unique culture, add to the colour and charm of the area. You can climb the highest mountain in South East Asia (Mount Kinabalu), dive at a wonderful dive site and explore one of the oldest rainforest in the world to find the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world and meet the Orangutan, Asian elephant and bizarre looking proboscis monkeys.

Kota Kinabalu is the capital. The Heritage Village located in the Sabah state museum grounds is a great place to see traditional houses, of all the major ethnic groups. Handicrafts are intricate and beautiful the Village souvenir shop or shops in the market. The bright colours of the tudung saji (food covers) are a great attraction and decorative blowpipes made by the Murut make good gifts.

The clear waters around Sabah’s islands provide a stunning view of the marine life including some endangered sea creatures such as the green and hawksbill turtles, napoleon wrasse, giant clams as well as thousands of barracuda. Sipadan is an excellent dive site. Layang Layang is also a great site to see the corals with sea fans more than 3 meters across, as well as 150 species of butterfly fish and schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks and leopard sharks.

A visit to the Turtle Islands Park on the east coast is very rewarding. Here the green and Hawksbill Turtles are protected. There is a hatchery on Selingan where turtle eggs are incubated and hatchlings released into the sea.

South of Kota Kinabalu visit the Pulau Tiga Park where the main attractions are mud volcanoes and negepode birds and interesting island vegetation.

While in Sabah do take time to pamper yourself and do nothing – just relax, read a book, enjoy the balmy sea breeze, while getting a healthy suntan. The coral islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu are the perfect place for jour own private getaway. You can also step back in time and explore North Borneo by rail. Take a leisurely steam train and relive the magic of the old colonial days as the journey comes complete with staff of the North Borneo Company dressed in planter’s style uniforms, solar topee (hats) and all and food is served in the Tiffin carriers (containers). From Tajung Aru, the railway station (5 km south of center of Kata Kinabalu) to Papar you can see monkeys swinging from vines by the tracks as turquoise colored kingfishers flit by and water buffaloes laze in the sun.

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