Krabi in southern Thailand is one of my favourite beach resort areas: there is a good selection of hotel accommodation without it being over-developed.

“Singapore’s budget carrier Tiger Airways will resume flights to the Thai resort of Krabi four times a week from end-October. “

Read: Tiger Airways to resume flights to Krabi, Thailand

OK at the macro level the wildlife population is, as you would expect, sadly depleted but with some 40+ parks and gardens there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy nature.

I was pleased to read this week that “Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) has set aside S$1 million to protect and save Singapore’s native endangered species.”

Read New conservation fund to protect Singapore’s endangered species

Kuala Lumpur by Phalinn

The skies over Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and other places around the region, are once again in danger of being enveloped by “The Haze” said to be caused principally by slash-and-burn agriculture production on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

It was in October 1997 that I first became aware of The Haze. Although slash-and-burn agriculture has been practised for millennia, it was in that year the Haze caused extensive problems for the region. It significantly affected the tourism industry, the health of the population and the environment. The total economic loss was estimated to be US $9 billion.

Apparently, the cyclical weather phenomenon known as El Nino exacerbated normal atmospheric conditions such that the smoke from these slash-and-burn activities, and sporadic forest fires, spread in swathes across the region: it caused the air quality, measured by the Air Pollutant Index (API), in many places to reach dangerous levels.

In major cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, just as with any city in the world, you expect to see levels of pollution caused by traffic, industry etc but during the Haze those levels shot up. I recall at one point in Kuching, East Malaysia the API was around 300.

As a result of the Haze in 1997 (which continued into 1998), Indonesia outlawed the clearing of land by fire but the government’s efforts in eradicating it so far appear to have had little effect. Indeed there have been further episodes of especially bad Haze (albeit not to the ’97/98 levels) in 2002, 2005, 2006 and there are signs that it is returning in 2009.

Haze Over Kuala Lumpur in 2005 (Wikipedia)

Only today I read that:

<< Malaysia has offered to help Indonesia curb forest fires as air quality fell in the country.

“We have special aeroplanes which can be used to carry out water bombing,” the Sunday Star quoted Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak as saying.

“It is up to the Indonesian government to accept it,” the premier told the newspaper, as he urged Malaysians to avoid open burning.

Malaysian environment authorities said air quality and visibility in parts of the country over the past week fell from “good” to “moderate.”>>

The report goes on:

<<Environment ministers from Singapore, Malaysia and other regional nations have urged Indonesia promptly to ratify a regional treaty aimed at preventing cross-border haze pollution.

Malaysia said last year that it will help Indonesian farmers practise safer farming methods, to help curb the forest fires, by sending experts to the fire-prone Riau region on Indonesia’s Sumatra island.>>

With all the other issues affecting the region from the Global Financial Crisis to Swine Flu, as far as tourism is concerned this is the last thing the region needs right now. Perhaps more important though is the threat to the health of the local residents and to the environment. I just hope that the Indonesian government, together with its neighbours, finds a speedy solution to the problem for everyone’s sake.

Sumatran Tropical Rainforest by Wild Tiger

As I understand it, the slash-and-burn preparation of the land starts around June and lasts through until November with a peak in September and October. However there is no suggestion that the conditions this year will be anything like as severe as they were in ‘97/98, and personally I would not be dissuaded from visiting at that time.

Being a weather-related phenomenon the Haze is very unpredictable and all the visitor can do, especially if you have a respiratory condition, is to monitor the situation. Fortunately, the two countries which seem to suffer most from the Haze now publish daily API (PSI in Singapore) figures; and these can be viewed at Singapore’s National Environment Agency site and on Malaysia’s Department of Environment site.

It is of course bad enough for the tourist visiting these places when there is a Haze episode but what must it be like for the local residents? Have you been affected by The Haze in South East Asia?

The Singapore Flyer by Cheeweng

From 01 July 2009 another no-frills airline will be flying between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Firefly, Malaysia Airline’s budget carrier, will be joining rivals AirAsia, Jetstar and Tiger Airways on this traditionally lucrative route. It will start with 3 flights daily and move up to 4 on 12 July.

The recent liberation of air services between Malaysia and Singapore means that competition is really hotting up: good news for the consumer. Firefly has an introductory price of RM88 one way, which is around £15. (Currency Converter)

The airline arguably has the edge on its rivals because it flies from the ‘old’ airport at Subang, which is around half the distance from the city as Sepang.

Later on in July the airline will also be flying between Singapore and the Malaysian cities of Ipoh, to the north of KL, and to both Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan on the east coast. This will open up the opportunities for more Singapore beach combos. The weather will still be good on the eastern seaboard until around September when the rainy season kicks in.

Photo source: Cheeweng

Centara: 2 new hotels

in southern Thailand

I hear that the Thailand-based Centara Hotels & Resorts has taken on the management of two more hotels in Thailand: the Bhundhari Spa Resort & Villas Samui, A Centara Resort, on Ko Samui, and Centara Pariya Resort & Villas on Koh Pha Ngan – famous (or is that infamous) for the backpackers’ full moon parties. This must mean Ko Pha Ngan has entered the mainstream. It has always interested me how backpackers pioneer destinations and lay the foundation for mainstream tourism. That’s a whole debate right there but if I am to get this post published I have to move on.

The Bhundari Spa Resort has an introductory offer on at the moment for bookings made by 10 May 2009 with prices from THB 2,950 (Currency Converter) – that’s around £56: worth looking at if you can get this rate for the July/August peak.

New Flights Kuala Lumpur to Phuket

Firefly, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, will launch a daily flight between Kuala Lumpur (Subang) and Phuket from 01 May 2009.

The airline operates out of Penang and flies to Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu and Langkawi in Malaysia, and Koh Samui and Phuket in Thailand.

I remember being cheesed off when Thai Airways withdrew their flight that used to operate between Phuket and Penang: it made a great combination for clients. It is good that Firefly has been on that route since April 2007 and now with this new one it is possible to have some interesting local combos: e.g. Singapore/Penang/Phuket/Kuala Lumpur.

New from Tiger Airways

- Singapore/Langkawi and Singapore/Penang

Following on from news that AirAsia will be flying between Singapore and Langkawi (at time of writing I am still awaiting the schedule), Tiger Airways announced this week that the Governments of Singapore and Malaysia have given approval for the low-cost carrier to commence daily services to Langkawi and up to 3 services a day to Penang from Singapore.

Rosalynn Tay, Managing Director of Tiger Airways Singapore, said “Tiger Airways continues to buck the global aviation trend. Over the last four months we have added 7 routes to our group network including daily flights to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, a new daily service between Singapore and Jakarta, more services on the ever popular Singapore – Kuala Lumpur route, as well as 4 extra flights a week to Guangzhou bringing the total number of weekly services to 11.” The airline has yet to announce the flight schedule to Langkawi and Penang.

Good news for the islands of Penang and Langkawi, and for the independent-minded traveller, but I do wonder where all the passengers are going to come from.

Independent Travellers Buck The Trend?

I drop into forums when I can and help out where I can and I have noticed that, whatever might be happening in the travel industry as a whole, the independent-minded traveller is still planning and still taking the annual (if not more often) vacation. Is it just my imagination or are those that are clued-up making the most of the cheap Asia travel?

Courtesy of Tanjung Rhu Resort, Langkawi

I was pleased to read that the Malaysian government has agreed to Air Asia operating direct flights between Singapore and Langkawi.

The timetable operated by Malaysia Airlines and SilkAir is limited (currently there is no flight on Mondays for example) and thus to have more capacity on the route is a good thing for consumers. Admittedly whether it is good for the airlines is another matter: the local Chinese community seem to believe there is enough traffic so let’s hope so.

From the longhaul perspective I would say that if consumers see there are more flight options they are more likely to consider Langkawi as an end destination. Certainly from my point of view I would. On my last visit to Asia I couldn’t decide between Langkawi or Ko Samui: flight availability and cost were two of the factors I considered and I chose Ko Samui.

I will though be returning to Langkawi and a 2-centre Singapore/Langkawi for me is a good holiday combo. I enjoy just pottering around Singapore and contrary to what some people think there are little gems to be discovered. On our last visit for example we wandered around Chinatown and stumbled upon the Chinatown Heritage Centre on Pagoda Street. (Ok, I know had I read a guidebook I could have saved the ‘stumbling’ but I enjoy just discovering!).

We met a very charming man, Andrew Yip, on one of the stalls outside the Centre and we now have 3 stunning black and white prints taken by his late father Yip Cheong-Fun, an award-winning photographer. You can see some of his work here .

Langkawi Cable Car

Langkawi, on the other hand, is somewhere you go pretty much just to relax. The beaches are good and the scenery on the north coast is stunning. During our last visit we took the cable car ride at Gunung Machinchang. I am not a great one for heights but the views were worth the anguish!

The best time to visit Langkawi, weather-wise, is December through to March. Any other time there is a risk of rain although generally the sunshine is not too far behind. I usually go May/June when it is quieter and the hotel rates are just about at their lowest. You do get very spoilt though having swimming pools all to yourself, which we have had on many an occasion.

So I look forward to seeing the start of an Air Asia service between Singapore and Langkawi before our next visit!

Singapore Airlines has teamed up with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a global campaign to attract visitors to Singapore.

The special SIA Holidays package to be launched from the end of this month will be supported by a range of promotional activities throughout the year in the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir route network of 93 cities in 38 countries.

“The thrust of the campaign is to bring visitor numbers back to Singapore. Both short and long haul markets would be targeted from the outset,” said Mr Huang Cheng Eng, Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President, Marketing & The Regions.

“The promotions will be launched in phases across Singapore Airlines’ network and over $9 million will be pumped in jointly by Singapore Airlines, STB, CAAS and the travel industry for joint in-market promotions and advertising, as well as value-adds to the package,” he added.

“STB’s collaboration with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and CAAS is a prime example of the travel industry here working together.  We are very excited with the partnerships that are being forged – and pleased that travellers will benefit and get to enjoy so much more value in the great deals and irresistible offers under the ‘2009 Reasons to enjoy Singapore’ banner”, said Mr Ken Low, Singapore Tourism Board’s Assistant Chief Executive (Marketing).

CAAS’ Deputy Director-General (Development), Mr Tan Lye Teck, said, “This partnership is an example of CAAS’ commitment to support airlines, the tourism industry and also to pass on greater value to our passengers, especially during this time. We hope such collaborative campaigns will help entice more travellers to come to Singapore and also from here to the region.”

To kick-start the campaign, Singapore Airlines and its industry partners have lined up many irresistible packages for travellers, including a FREE first night’s stay in Singapore, with a minimum stay of two nights, subject to terms and conditions.  Also included in the package are free airport transfers, discounted entry to selected Singapore’s leading attractions and unlimited free rides on the Singapore Airlines “Hop-On Bus” – an air-conditioned bus service that allows customers to visit over 20 major attractions in Singapore, including the popular shopping malls and restaurants.  Customers staying at participating hotels will also enjoy 50 per cent off food and beverage discounts at their respective hotels’ designated F&B outlets.

Apart from boosting tourist arrivals, there are also attractive deals for Singaporeans looking for short-getaways!

Singapore Airlines and SilkAir are offering SIA Holidays and SilkAir Holidays to their destination cities in countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong.  Some of these exciting holidays will first be offered from 27 February to 1 March 2009 at the NATAS Travel Fair.

SIA Holidays and SilkAir Holidays will continue to introduce more free-and-easy packages progressively to more destinations worldwide.  These packages comprise attractive airfares, hotels and transfers bundled together to provide customers a variety of value-offers to suit their budget. Customers can look out for promotions in their markets and at singaporeair.com for these packages. Tradewinds Tours & Travel is the appointed manager for SIA Holidays and SilkAir Holidays.

Depending on the markets, customers can begin their journey by visiting their nearest travel agent or Singapore Airlines/SilkAir offices to savour hot deals and enjoy big savings. In Singapore, the packages can be booked with participating travel agents and Tradewinds Tours & Travel directly.  Customers will soon be able to directly access the available holiday packages and book online at singaporeair.com.

The sale of SIA Holidays and SilkAir Holidays packages is subject to local regulations and terms and conditions in the different countries.

SIA Holidays Participating Hotels in Singapore
1. Allson Hotel Singapore
2. Carlton Hotel Singapore
3. Concorde Hotel Singapore
4. Copthorne Orchid Hotel Singapore
5. Furama Riverfront Singapore
6. Hotel Miramar Singapore
7. Hotel Royal
8. Hotel Royal @ Queens
9. Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen
10. Link Hotel Singapore
11. Pan Pacific Orchard
12. Parkroyal on Beach Road
13. Peninsula Excelsior Hotel
14. Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
15. River View Hotel Singapore
16. The Regent Singapore
17. York Hotel