The News Review:

- Myanmar tourism sector reels after cyclone
- Training days
- ‘Sustainable’ Hotel Show opens tomorrow
- Marriage is for life (says the man who has said ‘I do’ to…

Myanmar tourism sector reels after cyclone
USA Today – Jun 7, 2008
“How can foreign people come to Myanmar even if they’re brave enough?” asked Ko Tin o. Statistics on international arrivals for May were not yet available but liver Martin of the Pacific Asia Travel Association PATA said a “substantial decrease” was expected. Maarten Groeneveld of the Bangkok Thailand branch of Diethelm Travel Asia agency said new reservations for Myanmar have stopped and many existing bookings were canceled. Any upswing would depend on “how quickly the current relief effort bears fruit and reinstates some sort of confidence internationally” Groeneveld said in an e-mail. Though the military government has strived in recent years to promote the country as a vacation destination Myanmar’s underdeveloped infrastructure and dismal human rights record have made it a hard sell. Its tourism sector is minuscule compared to that of neighboring countries. In 2007 Myanmar received 248000 international travelers compared to nearly 14… “You won’t see any bounce back in the short or maybe even in the medium term. Meanwhile those who depend on tourist dollars are feeling the pinch. Yangon’s budget hotels catering to backpackers are all but empty. With few takers for their T-shirts emblazoned with images of temples or monks souvenir vendors at the Bogyoke Aung San market nap in the midday heat. Tour guides at the city’s most famous landmark the golden-domed Shwedagon Pagoda sit idly waiting in vain for potential customers. Since the storm 33-year-old guide San San has spent his days chewing betel leaf in the temple’s parking lot. He said that May the start of the monsoon season is generally a slow month but that he usually averages about three clients a day throughout the off season.

Training days
The Australian – Jun 7, 2008
Those booked in pullman superior compartments are offered one free night at the Mandarin riental Singapore or The riental Bangkok. If booked in a state compartment the offer includes a free night at each of the above hotels and an additional night in Singapore or Bangkok. Hotel offers also apply on selected longer itineraries. Asian Explorer holidays in Thailand Laos and Cambodia using rient-Express properties in Luang Prabang and Siem Reap the gateway to Angkor are also available.

‘Sustainable’ Hotel Show opens tomorrow
ameinfo.com – Jun 7, 2008
”Managing directors and general managers account for over a third of total visitors giving exhibitors access to key decision makers boosting their on-site orders and providing quality sales leads’ said Moore. The size and number of country pavilions at this year’s show has grown enormously. Brazil Cyprus Greece France Germany Italy Korea Lebanon Malta Pakistan Philippines Portugal Singapore South Africa Spain Taiwan Thailand the UK and the USA are all mounting pavilions. The largest will be that of Spain followed by Germany Italy and France. With more than 100 different systems being used by hotels the importance of technology in the hospitality industry will be on display at an enlarged Technology and Security pavilion. Another addition for 2008 is a pavilion focused on textile with leading companies from around the world participating. There will also be an industry fashion show The Corporate Catwalk featuring new styles and developments in hospitality uniforms.

Marriage is for life (says the man who has said ‘I do’ to…
Telegraph.co.uk – Jun 7, 2008
r to Lesley whom he married two years later but left when the glitzy allure of a job at a Pontin’s holiday camp became too strong. r to Kathy only 18 when they married in 1982 and only 22 when they divorced so that Ron could marry Sue in 1986. r to Usha a hotel worker from Singapore or to Thai-born Wan both of whom Ron married and divorced with striking efficiency within three years. But marriage Ron insists has always been for life. It’s just that Ron is an inveterate fan of reincarnation. In his 56 years he has enjoyed a staggering array of jobs – butcher’s assistant bingo-caller holiday-camp entertainer Army recruit British Rail customer services manager singer charity worker tour manager and self-appointed talent scout – and he seems to have acquired a wife for each change in direction. Could it be that Ron simply doesn’t know what he wants?”No I’ve always wanted a marriage like my parents had” says Ron when The Telegraph meets him and his eighth wife in a London hotel on their way back from the Trisha studio to their new home in Malvern Worcestershire.

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