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2007

	Airport checks done in by efficiency targets? If there are such targets, could this have, in some way, compromised the comprehensiveness of the security checks? -ST		Fatigue? Officer with music earphones, texting away Mdm Teo relates how car boots were not checked by officials at the Causeway immigration point. -ST

Langkawi hotels in dire straits 68 hotels stand to lose more than $8mil a month following the M'sian government's decision to cancel bookings for meetings, seminars and courses on the resort island. -The Star		Penang Hill cable car site to be decided soon The state government was in favour of the cable car project as it would be an added attraction to the hill and the state's tourism industry. -NST

Mega Sale Carnival starts this Friday The sale will mean big savings for the people. -NST		What's on - events in Malaysia The various events you can look forward to in July if you're travelling to Malaysia. -NST

SIA gets 5th A380 jet The world's biggest airliner will be the second deployed for SIA's London service. -AFP		Mexico's 3 airport operators feel the pinch But analysts say 20% slide in share prices is overdone. -Reuters

Indonesia grounds five airlines on safety fears They are given three months to improve safety standards or face a ban. -AFP			Long budget flight delays? Get travel insurance To appease delayed travellers, Jetstar Asia/Valuair offers meals, drinks and even service recovery vouchers. -TNP

Low hotel occupancy in Negri Sembilan It recorded the lowest hotel occupancy rate in Malaysia last year at 51.2% despite being home to some good beaches. -The Star		AirAsia will stay in Sepang: Dewan Rakyat There are no plans to move AirAsia's flights from the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang to Subang airport. -NST

Hotel faces nearly $418,000 suit over missing belongings A leading hotel operator has been slapped with a RM1 million suit by a couple who claimed that their belongings had gone missing in a hotel room in Malaysia. -NST		Airport celebrates 10th anniversary KLIA celebrated its 10th anniversary by holding a special reception for its 191 millionth international passenger and the 65 millionth domestic passenger. -NST

750 set to make trip to Taiwan A total of 353 people will fly from Beijing, while four other groups, each comprising 100 travelers, will leave from Shanghai, Nanjing, Xiamen and Guangzhou. -China Daily, ANN		Feeble pound shifts Britons' holiday targets As the summer holiday season begins, sterling's frailty coupled with a rise in airfares due to soaring oil prices are changing Britons' holiday plans in Europe. -China Daily, ANN

	Are long-distance buses safe? Reader Mr Quah questions how safe it is to travel in Malaysia-owned buses, after the numerous crashes. -myp		Confusion over biometric passport for travel to US ICA and US Embassy give conflicting information when asked if non-biometric passport holders require a visa for travel to US. -myp

	Remove thumbprint scanners at checkpoints Reader Ms Khoo feels a person could still clear immigration if he/she could not pass the thumbprint scanner. -myp		Unparalleled luxury with Singapore Airlines' all-Business Class flights Every leather-upholstered seat comes with exclusively designed Givenchy bedding and a 15.4 inch LCD screen. -BT

Live the high-flying life of New York Indulge in luxury at the city's hotels, restaurants and malls. -BT			Let Shu Qi take you around HK Wait, before you get all excited, it?s only her voice on an audio guide launched by Louis Vuitton. -ST

India airports consider no-frills terminals This is because carriers are bleeding red ink and have had to hoist fares, leading to a big drop in business. -BT		Travel bargains Check out ASA Holidays and Zuji.com for good deals on flight tickets and hotel rooms. -ST

Jakarta grounds 5 carriers lacking safety standards The move was part of an on-going process to improve the safety standards of Indonesian airlines. -Reuters			HopOn buses a tourism boost The coaches are equipped with a stunning audio-visual system using nine different languages to highlight and promote Malaysia's tourism attractions. -The Star

Alcoholic drinks seized in Perhentian A 3-day operation saw the seizure of 261 bottles of alcoholic drinks and 1,392 beer cans at a resort in Perhentian Island. -The Star			Frequent-flyer programme: Not an Enriching online experience How hard can it be to apply for anything online these days? -NST

	Glory days swept away by tides The oldest resident of Kampung Sungai Punggur has concluded that nothing could be done to bring back the glory days of Punggur Beach in Batu Pahat. -NST		Da Nang Airport gets makeover By 2025 the airport will be able to accommodate six million passengers. -VNS

	Cuba marks anniversary of Hemingway death "Hemingway could be a tourist destination but more than that he's a legend," said Cuban museum director. -Reuters	Cathay Pacific cuts baggage allowance as oil price soars Maximum weight per bag will be reduced from 32 kilograms to 23 kilograms. -AFP

	Weekend flights a boon to ailing airlines But security issues still force planes to fly over Hong Kong. -ST	HK air travel and tourism sectors may lose out Unlimited direct flights between China and Taiwan could shave 8.5 per cent of Cathay Pacific's net profit. -ST

Yuan for Taiwan Some of the must-see attractions in Taiwan. -ST		Mainland Chinese eager to visit Taiwan Thousands vie to be among the first 760 to fly to island on Friday despite steep costs. -ST

	Straits flights ready, island ups fund ratio China Southern operated the first flight from the mainland to Taiwan, which left Guangzhou for Taipei at 6:30 this morning. -China Daily	Taiwan, China airlines seen gaining from direct flights Long term, unlimited direct flights would cost Cathay Pacific 10% of its profit. -Reuters

Continental to stand trial for Concorde crash US Continental Airlines and two of its employees are to stand trial for manslaughter over the crash of an Air France Concorde in 2000 that killed 113 people. -AFP			Historic China flight lands in Taiwan A group of 100 Chinese tourists were among 258 passengers on the China Southern Airlines flight which touched down at 8.05am from Guangzhou. -AFP

BA, American, Iberia deal possible soon They could reach an agreement on revenue sharing within a week. -Reuters		British Airways hit by higher fares, UK slowdown Its traffic fell 3.7% in June. -Reuters

	Bruce Lee's home may be turned into a museum Billionaire owner Yu Panglin to consider donating it to HK community. -myp		From celebrity homes to museums Celebrity homes hold a certain appeal for voyeurs who chase fame and fortune. -myp

Proposed Tioman airport plan may be off The proposed RM120mil airport here could be cancelled due to environmental reasons. -The Star			ICA: Officer removed from checkpoint duty ICA's Corporate Communications explains it takes a serious view of officers who don't perform duties professionally. -ST

	Something new to cruise about The luxury cruise liner offers a range of unique features, ranging from a miniature golf course and a rock-climbing wall, to a temporary tattoo parlour and even a psychic service! -AsiaOne		Royal Caribbean sees cruise terminal investment as positive It is a major reason why the company is deploying a vessel in Asia-Pac year-round. -BT

	A city aiming to be the soul of Asia Seoul is tapping on its unique culture as a new engine of economic growth. -BT	More cruises - plus new stops Royal Caribbean adds second ship to ply Asian routes; new stops include Yokohama, Busan. -ST

You're a lovely country and a wonderful people Two English tourists have endless praise for Singapore - from the efficient MRT system to the friendly people. -ST			Playing politics over ancient Hindu temple Hindu Temple is within Cambodia's borders, but is only easily accessible from Thailand. Who does it belong to then? -ST

A culture of price-fixing in airline industry Lack of Asia-wide anti-trust provisions seen as a contributing factor. -AFP		Airlines shed weight to boost fuel efficiency as oil prices soar Next time you take to the skies you may find there are fewer pages in your in-flight magazine, your fork is slimmer and your plate feels different. Blame it on soaring oil prices. -AFP

US share of tourists drops Despite the weak US dollar, a global boom in travel has not translated into an explosion of foreign tourists to the United States. -ST			Going to China? Get in line for visa A long queue was spotted outside the Chinese embassy recently after a temporary rule made it compulsory for Singaporeans to have a valid visa to enter China. -myp

	Guide to US VWP eligibility for S'poreans The US embassy clarifies Singaporeans require a biometric passport only if passports were amended on or after Oct 26, 2006. -myp	ICA clarifies visa issue ICA clarifies Singaporeans holding nonbiometric passports can continue to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme. -myp

Unesco adds 3 new heritage sites to its list including a former slave hideout in Mauritius, the Nabataean archaeological site in Saudi Arabia, and China's Fujian Tulou earthen houses. -Reuters		Visitors allowed to film and take photos at airport This is because many are keen to video-record or photograph special moments in their visits. -myp

	Budget Terminal getting a makeover New improvements costing $10 million will begin in Sept. -ST		Check journey's ERP cost at Oneshift.com A new mapping service lists the number of ERP gantries you will pass through during your journey, along with costs.

One-stop online guide links SMRT, SBS routes Commuters can now plan their journeys on integrated website. -ST			At the mercy of cabbies With the recent hike in fuel prices, some taxi drivers have resorted to what they do best - overcharging. -The Star

QANTAS, SIA removal of curfew hours at Sydney Airport Qantas and Singapore Airlines are seeking for the Sydney Airport to allow flights throughout the night. -NST		More visitors to Sarawak Sarawak recorded an encouraging increase of 7.5 per cent in domestic tourist arrivals during the first four months of this year. -NST

	Crash site The cargo plane, carrying a load of car parts, crashed shortly before landing near the Plan de Guadalupe international airport. -Reuters	Chips are down for Macau's casinos Macau's casino industry is showing the first signs of slowing down after seven years of breakneck growth. -ST

Ice dam to break prematurely on Argentine glacier It is likely a result of global warming. -AFP			Asian sites win Unesco world heritage status A Hindu temple in Cambodia, two historic Malaysian trading towns and an early agricultural site from Papua New Guinea were added to UNESCO's World Heritage List. -AFP

	Orang-utans in danger of extinction Sabah orang-utans may become extinct in 50 years if steps are not taken to link fragmented forests. -The Star	Penang plans to fly high The Penang Travel Trade Members Roadshow from July 9 to July 30 will help promote the state as a tourist destination. -The Star

	Calls flood CVLB on errant cabbies Some callers even want to know why KL is unable to learn from Singapore on ways to manage the taxi system. -The Star	RM27m Felda hotel opens in Kuala Terengganu The RM26.5mil three-star hotel in Jalan Hiliran started accepting patrons after its soft launch on Thursday.

Air China plane bumps lorry at Hong Kong airport No passengers or staff were injured, said airport spokesman. -AFP		Cambodia temple deal violated Thai constitution: court The cabinet should have sought approval for the joint communique backing Cambodia's bid for Unesco recognition. -AFP

Thailand revises down tourism projections High oil prices and political instability are hurting one of the kingdom's biggest industries. -AFP			Cambodians cheer World Heritage nod for temple Cambodians celebrated in the streets over their nation's success in having an ancient Hindu temple named a World Heritage landmark. -ST

Museums' growing pains A free-admission policy on China's public museums ahs caused curators much grief watching crowds of schoolchildren swarm through a gallery of ancient ceramics. -ST		US 2008 airfare increase on track to outpace 2007 Data from FareCompare.com show that the number of successful fare hikes in 2008 is on track to surpass the total number of increases in all of 2007. -Reuters

	Baby elephant is zoo's pride The two-month-old female baby Borneo Pygmy is the newest addition to the 10-elephant herd at the zoo. -NST		PM: Attract tourists with better facilities Abdullah also said he was proud that both cities had been named as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. -NST

	More Hong Kong tourists coming to Langkawi Last year, the country recorded 13,386 tourists arrivals from Hong Kong, and the number is expected to double this year. -NST		Unesco listing to boost tourism It is expected that the hotel, transport and food industries in both Malacca and George Town would thrive. -The Star

	Malacca, Penang cheer listing on world heritage site Besides an increased commitment towards heritage conservation, George Town and Malacca should also see a boost in tourism. -The Star		Wonders of Islamic tourism Get ready to discover Hidden Islamic Wonders at the World Islamic Tourism Conference in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 8-11. -NST

Banquet of music and arts The inaugural Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar is going to be a grand event, says Sarawak Craft Council chairman Datuk Gramong Juna. -NST			Here's the magnitude of checkpoint security ICA thanks readers for their letters on the checkpoint security issues arising from the passport mis-clearance incident. it says it will be useful to set out some of the background and the context when they look at these issues. -ST

Vineyard Deals Deals for your holiday dining all about beautiful Thailand. -The Nation		Boutique getaways Deluxe getaway deals in Thailand. -The Nation

Special Island Holidays Great value package holiday deals to many Thai islands. -The Nation		Hua Hin Holidays Finding new deals by the beach in Thailand. -The Nation

Love jazz, will travel The annual Hua Hin Jazz Festival returns to its beach home on June 13 and 14. -The Nation		Wait it out for cash Travel deals sure not to burn a hole in your pocket. -The Nation

Perfectly paired Don't miss out on these exciting happenings in Thailand! -The Nation			Eiffel Tower takes steps to slash mega-queues Pre-paid Internet tickets for groups will be on sale from next year, when the tower turns 120. -AFP

	Race to the Olympics Some Singaporeans say nothing beats watching the Games live, so they bought pricey tours to Beijing that include tickets to Olympics events. -ST		Probe into report of spy cameras in hotel rooms M'sian government will investigate claims that some budget hotels have installed hidden cameras in rooms to capture sexual acts of unsuspecting couples; then sell recordings to DVD and VCD pirates for between $420 and $1,262. -NST

	Take flight in Colorado Skiing buff Michael Switow goes in search of fun in the snows of the Rocky Mountains. -SPU	S-E Asian tourism industry going for a greener image As climate change guilt among tourists grows, many hotels and resorts in emerging hotspots like Cambodia are touting their environmental credentials in an effort to cash in on the 'eco' tag, but it's not easy. -AFP

Travel bargains Don't miss out on these great deals to Malaysia and Nepal. -ST			Vacation deals You can still get bargains even as fuel prices go sky high. -ST

	"I will bring in triads to protect Asians" S'pore immigrant's comments create furore in New Zealand. Low feels the NZ police can't protect the Asians, and wants to take the law into his own hands. -TNP	An Aussie air disaster waiting to happen? Many international jets flying unsupervised Down Under, say air traffic controllers. -TNP

	Chinese conglomerate snags $705m contract for Sentosa theme park China Jingye will be in charge of general building works and an amphitheatre for the Singapore version of the Universal Studios attraction. -ST	Successor to A320 in 2014: report Airbus is planning to launch the successor generation of A320s in 2014 and put them in service around 2018. -BT

Made-in-S'pore info system in world's largest airport Trust and confidence win plum deal at Beijing Airport T3 contract for Infologic Pte Ltd. -myp			The "world's toughest mountain race" is back Kota Kinabalu is the fourth leg of the circuit and the only one outside Europe. -NST

Three women from China missing Taiwan authorities are looking for three female Chinese tourists who went missing after leaving their hotel in a Taipei suburb. -AFP			Hot travel bargains Fly for free and save up to $600 or get away to Phuket for just $120. -ST

EU includes aviation in CO2 curbs 'Polluter pays' principle applied to help cut greenhouse gas output. -Reuters			Going to Malaysia? White cards are back Signs have been put up at immigration booths to alert travellers that it will soon be necessary to fill up the cards again. -TNP

	Is the music moving? Foreign ownership of a local festival like SINGfest can pull it away from our shores. -BT		Living gallery of trees Nearly 900 trees found only in the rainforests of the Indo-Malayan region have been planted in Yishun Park. -ST

	RR, British Airways launch alternative fuel trial Tender to be called for suppliers to offer samples for testing on BA plane engine. -BT	Airlines purchase fewer new planes in 1st half Soaring fuel prices have sent several airlines bust and forced many more to cut routes and jobs. -ST

	Bugis makeover wins global award Past winners include Tokyo's Roppongi Hills and Shanghai's Xintiandi. -ST		Sculptures and the City Beijing Olympic Forest Park adds artistic feel to Games. -TNP

	Racism a crime in HK but is it enough? Landmark law passed, but critics say it still does not do enough to protect minorities. -ST		Culture shock for Chinese tourists and Taiwanese hosts Mainlanders find island rundown; residents put off by visitors? spitting habit. -ST

	Toronto hotel boasts own honey from rooftop The arrival of three queens and their 40,000 workers has created a new buzz at one of Toronto's oldest hotels. -Reuters		Invasion of the body scanners 9 of the busiest airports in the US have introduced a high-tech security screener that offers an alternative to the traditional pat-down method of detecting concealed weapons. -ST

	N. Korea's killing of S. Korean tourist cannot be justified: Seoul Pyongyang has expressed regret but refused to apologise over the death of the 53-year-old woman, who was shot twice after straying into a military zone at a North Korean resort. -AFP		Bangladesh's GMG trims flights over soaring fuel costs The spokesman also blamed a price war with the country's national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines. -AFP

	Flyer stops turning for 30mins Two overseas passengers were suspended mid-air in the Singapore Flyer. But that may not have been such a bad situation - after all, they had extra time to enjoy the view of the city. -TNP	40 years on, Singapore impresses more than ever In my mother tongue, Sinhalese (which means 'lion blood'), Singapore means 'lion city', the word originating from Sanskrit. -ST

Odds are steep, but don't bet against Las Vegas All things considered, it's perhaps premature to suggest at this point that Las Vegas is in a severe state of decline. -BT		Better immigration clearance is the answer A reader says it was painfully clear to him that the reason for the huge traffic congestion was caused by the slow immigration clearance process at the Causeway on the S'pore side. -ST

	London's Oxford Circus set for Tokyo-style makeover In a bid to ease crowd congestion and cut out the lengthy routes around the interchange, people will be able to walk diagonally across to their destination in a pedestrian free-for-all. -AFP		How police can make it easy for public to help nab queue jumpers A reader suggests making it convenient for other motorists to submit photographs of such queue-cutting drivers on the Causeway, taken with their mobile phone cameras. -ST

	Heritage status brings prestige - and peril Coveted place on Unesco's list brings protection and funds but also hordes of tourists who may do more harm than good. -ST		S Koreans raise new questions over North's killing of tourist The 53-year-old housewife had strayed from her resort into a military zone while taking a walk. -AFP

Emirates chief slams British, EU aviation policies He said they were stifling moves towards greater efficiency. -AFP			M'sians fear heritage nod will create 'glorified theme parks' Experts and heritage site conservationists fear the new status will erode the cultural and historical value of the place, as businesses take advantage of an expected rise in tourism that follows recognition. -AFP

	Immigration visa racket: Another top officer nabbed He is alleged to have accepted money for approving specially extended passes to foreign tourists. -NST		Tea and crafts top souvenir list 62% of visitors from HK said they were most interested in buying local food products, while Australians, New Zealanders and S'poreans said they were more likely to opt for buying clothing in China. -China Daily, ANN

	KLIA sees green on its radar KL International Airport (KLIA) strengthened its position as eco-friendly and environmentally-concerned by organising the "Walk The Environment" campaign recently. -NST	Defective GPS device: Tourist wants refund She said following the problems she had emailed and called the company but was ignored. -NST

Putting Desaru back on tourist map The Tourism Ministry is holding discussions with the Transport Ministry to revive ferry service between Tanjung Belungkor in Pengerang and Changi in Singapore. -NST			Taxi touts strike at ferry terminal Drivers offer a flat rate of $40 or $50, higher than the metered fare. -ST

Raya travel plans at risk Express bus operators may not sell tickets in advance for the Hari Raya break in October, as they are still not receiving the full amount of subsidised diesel that they need daily. -The Star			Rainforest fest venue bursting at its seams, hundreds turned away Partying all night long, music fans had a great time as the 7 foreign and local musical groups thrilled them during the 5-hour concert on Saturday. -The Star

	Taking off in Sept: First direct flight to N Korea Singapore is only the fourth country in the world to establish direct flights with North Korea, after China, Russia and Thailand. Currently, Singapore travellers have to fly through China, staying a night there while waiting for a connecting flight. -ST	Public transport woes slow fast-moving Dubai For a city building the world's tallest skyscraper, largest airport and biggest man-made islands, Dubai's public transport system is still less than ordinary, straining its taxi fleet and roads. -ST

	Niagara's Fury... unleashed indoors The biggest challenge in creating a new tourist attraction at Niagara Falls is trying to live up to the main event. Besides being breathtaking, the waterfalls are free to look at. -ST	White card immigration ruling put off till Aug 15 No reason was given for postponing the enforcement of the ruling. -ST

	Life at sea for KL-bred turtles The marine turtle conservation project was developed by Aquaria KLCC and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu with the BodyShop and Media Prima as official partners. -NST	Manila airport terminal to open 5 years late Terminal 3 will have a dry run on July 23, involving about 20 domestic flights. -AFP

Tourists hurt in bus crash The accident could have occurred due to slippery conditions. -The Star		Tourism board to finalise campaign with Brunei airline soon Efforts were being made to put Sarawak on the RBA Global Distribution System to enable foreign tourists to make direct ticket bookings to destinations in the Land of the Hornbills. -The Star

Beijing plays down worries on Olympic hotel bookings They insist the numbers were in line with expectations and refuse to draw a link with new visa controls. -Reuters			S Korea presses North on shooting, funeral held it has been angered by Pyongyang's refusal to cooperate and insistence that Seoul apologise. -Reuters

	Changi's T3 offers choice of 'body scanner' or physical searches The new technique is an alternative for those who do not wish to be physically searched, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. -ST		N. Korea's CCTV may hold clues to tourist's death Bang Jae-joung, son of tourist Park Wang-ja, who was shot and killed at a mountain resort in North Korea, cries during a funeral service for his mother. -AFP

	MAS blog to push sales malaysiaairlinesblog.com is aimed at providing customers with a better understanding of the organisation's changing work culture. -The Star		Skytrax votes KLIA as world's fourth best Hong Kong International Airport was voted the best, followed by Singapore's Changi Airport and Seoul's Incheon International. -The Star, ANN

	Mel Gibson loves KL Hollywood superstar Mel Gibson loves visiting Malaysia. -NST		Okay to use hotels but cut spending The Sabah government will continue to hold functions at hotels, but on a reduced budget. -NST

General worker held over visa scam Cash totalling nearly RM500,000 and visas for foreign workers were also seized from various individuals. -NST		Squad to weed out corrupt Customs staff This elaborate set-up will identify corrupt officers whose names will be put on a database for all to see. -NST

Mid-air bombing plot just a publicity stunt, say trio 3 men accused of plotting to kill transatlantic airline passengers by detonating liquid explosives have changed their pleas at the last minute. -ST		Easier entry into Thailand The Kelantan Immigration Department will make it easier to enter Thailand by issuing border passes all year round beginning next month. -NST

Qantas reviews flight operations This could lead to more job cuts, capacity cuts and higher ticket prices. -Reuters		British Airways to advertise virtues of Terminal 5 The airline is launching an advertising campaign to rescue the reputation of Terminal 5, which opened to chaotic scenes of lost baggage and cancelled flights in March. -Reuters

	Scanner issues mainly due to unclear thumbprints ICA explains possible reasons why a person's fingerprint cannot be verified against the database records. -myp		Festival time in Alor Setar With all the events planned for Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah's Golden Jubilee, visitors to Alor Setar are in for an exciting time. -NST

	For the record: Big on shopping It's that time of the year again ? the shopping frenzy has started now that the much-awaited Mega Sale Carnival is back. -NST	Malaysia festivals in July Take a trip across the Causeway this July and take part in these exciting festivals. -NST

	Promoting Pahang Tenun If the recent Malam Tenun Pahang Diraja is anything to go by, Pahang?s woven fabric cottage industry is in for a good time. -NST		Kazakh capital a monument to its leader Astana stands as a monument to Nazarbayev's two-decade rule in the former Soviet state. -Reuters

NZ fair trade watchdog files criminal charges against SIA Cargo, 2 other carriers They are charged with withholding information in probe over alleged price fixing in the air cargo market. -AFP		It's now Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah The new name was chosen so that international tourists would acknowledge Langkawi as being part of Kedah. -The Star

	Flower power See the best of Malaysia's blooms at the annual Flora Fest. -SPU	Off-beat Asian destinations the latest travel offerings Catch the dramatic mass choreographed gymnastics display at the Arirang Festival in North Korea, or trek to the tomb of Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan. -myp

Branson's eco-resort He will transform Mosquito Island, an uninhabited speck of land in the Caribbean, into what he calls the world's most environmentally-friendly resort. -myp			Hong Kong airport voted No. 1 for 7th year Singapore's Changi Airport was at No. 2, with Asian airports dominating the top positions on the list. -Reuters

	N Korea rejects joint probe into tourist's killing The North blames the South for the incident and refuses to let it send government officials for an on-site investigation. -ST		Beijing hotels only half-full as Games draw near Less than half the rooms in the city's 116 four-star hotels have been reserved for the duration of the Games from Aug 8 to 24. -ST

Stricter China visa rules hits expats from S'pore Many businessmen forced to return home to reapply when visas expire. -ST			Waterfall site solely for women in Terengganu The state government also plans to employ only women to manage the site and female security guards. -The Star

	Sex on foreign shores: A whiff of hypocrisy Nothing is more guaranteed to whip the British media into a frenzy than the plight of a white, middle-class British woman holed up in a grubby prison cell in a Muslim country. -ST	Airbus has high hopes for low-fuel planes Airbus has set itself the goal of cutting carbon dioxide and noise by half from 2000 levels and nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent. -Reuters

US set to unveil new jetliner fuel tank safety plan Airlines are also grounding older, less efficient planes to save on fuel. -Reuters		Airline fuel crisis boosts biofuel drive With oil prices poised to break through the US$150 a barrel barrier, biofuels based on sources like algae and nuts no longer seem far-fetched. -Reuters

	Qantas to review ops next week The carrier would slash 5 per cent of its 36,000-strong workforce and unprofitable routes into Asia and at home. -Reuters	Olympic sailing venue now algae-free Officials at the picturesque seaside city in northern China's Shandong province had been embarrassed by the unsightly algae that left offshore waters green. -Reuters

Flight routed to Langkawi The Kuala Lumpur-Penang flight was supposed to land at 10.05am but landed in Langkawi as the airport had to be closed due to the bad weather. -NST			Time to spruce up tourist attractions Maintenance needs to be stepped up for Malaysia's existing 'tourism products' to remain attractive, says the Menteri Besar. -NST

It's a new hotel next to historic Majestic Property developer YTL is planning to construct a 15-storey 330-room hotel at the site. -NST			New hub for inter-Asean travel The Sultan Ismail International Airport in Senai is on its way to becoming the hub for inter-Asean travel with more regional routes being opened by budget airline carrier AirAsia. -NST

	Lively festival to honour the dead Every year in July, the Panasonic Sports Complex in Shah Alam is turned into an Asian melting pot with Japanese and Malaysian folk mingling in a festive atmosphere. -NST		Back to nature Want to escape from the city's hustle and bustle? Head over to the Panti Forest Reserve in Kota Tinggi to enjoy the peace and serenity of the rainforest. -NST

	It's party time at Desaru Desaru will be in the limelight again, as the Tourism Ministry will launch "Karnival Zoom! Desaru" today at Tanjung Balau. -NST	Sabah to conserve 78,000ha of mangrove, wildlife reserves The areas included were Trusan Kinabatangan, Kuala Segama-Maruap Mangrove Forest Reserves and Kulamba Wildlife Forest Reserve. -The Star

Plane diverted after naked passenger scare American Airlines flyer went full monty and attempted to open an emergency exit. -AFP		More S'poreans travelling abroad over the National Day weekend break Tour agencies say packages to popular spots like HK, Thailand and Taiwan are selling fast. -ST

Thai budget airline suspends services No-frills carrier One-Two-Go will undergo a financial restructuring. -AFP		Five seconds is all it takes to scan you New scanner on trial at T3 allows passengers to forego a physical check. -TNP

Airbus has high hopes for low-fuel planes Airbus has set itself the goal of cutting carbon dioxide and noise by half from 2000 levels and nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent. -Reuters			Old schoolhouse to become hip hotel This pre-war building in Little India will start hosting well-heeled travellers keen on spending a night or two in hip luxury. -ST

	Fish Leong keen on becoming Penang envoy The smiling angel-faced songbird expressed interest in the role during the launching of a slimming centre at the Island Plaza shopping centre. -The Star		White cards for all arrivals from Aug 15 The forms, popularly known as "white cards", are meant to be filled by all foreigners and will not cause longer queues at immigration points. -NST

	High living on the high seas Lili Marleen can accommodate up to 150 passengers and offers world class facilities such as deluxe cabins, restaurants, a lounge with bar and a sunbathing deck. -NST	Top London attractions are most expensive in world A family of four would have to pay 549.30 pounds (S$1,480) if they wanted to take part in all 10 activities in London, compared with 386 pounds in Paris and 376 pounds in New York. -ST

	Lost in Port Dickson A Tourist Information Centre situated among a row of shops along the Seremban-Port Dickson highway has been closed to the public despite a notice outside which details its operating hours. -The Star	Golfers spent RM720m in Malaysia last year Tourism Malaysia general manager for advertising Abdul Hani Daud said Malaysia was named last year as the number one golf destination in the Asia-Pacific. -The Star

Basque separatists bomb Spanish tourist resorts 2 bombs struck a seafront promenade at Laredo, damaging the walkway and a cabin used by lifeguards and the other two went off in sand dunes and a golf course in Noja. -AFP		British backpacker drowns in Philippines He was swept away by a river torrent while climbing a mountain. -AFP

	Fun for shoppers It?s more than just bargains galore at the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival as Zalina Mohd Som joins in the various launch events happening in the Klang Valley. -NST		Stirring back to life Construction of Pyongyang's pyramidshaped Ryugyong hotel restarts after a 16-year lull. -Reuters

	Pat or peek, it's all in the name of safer skies Civil liberties groups are up in arms over new body scanners at Changi Airport Terminal 3, describing the new technology as a "virtual strip search". -ST		Night party at museum National Museum, Singapore Management University and Zouk have joined forces to put on an inaugural Night Festival for the next two weekends. -BT

	A date with destiny Malaysia's foremost exponent of Odissi shares the experience of performing the ancient classical Indian dance form in an Indian city virtually unchanged since the 12th century. -The Star		Singaporean girls - hot or not? One online travel mag ranks S'pore in top 10 cities with the hottest girls. Why? Because of her 'sexy' Singlish. Are they for real? -TNP

If you're going to the US next year From Jan 12, travellers will need to register online 72 hours before boarding a carrier bound for the United States. -ST			High-tech glory of Terminal 5 It's now a breeze to check in at Heathrow's Terminal 5. But BA flights from Singapore to London don?t land there as the terminal serves inter-Europe flights. -BT

Ferry service revival The Tourism Ministry is in talks with the Transport Ministry over resuming the vehicle ferry service from Changi to Tanjung Belungkor to boost the entry of Singaporeans to Malaysia. -The Star			It takes you to the past Dubai's new underground mall is themed after the legendary Khan Murjan souq in Baghdad of the 1300s, and is a close copy of the ancient Arabian market. -TNP

	Preserving cultural sites What it means to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. -The Star	Thai budget carrier suspends services Services will stop from July 22 until Sept 15 as the impact of high fuel prices hits the no-frills carrier. -AFP

	Counting birds The International Bird Race in Malaysia draws bird watchers like bees to honey. -NST		Qantas says no danger after plane aborts flight 'The aircraft landed without incident and all passengers were accommodated on other flights. There was no safety risk at any time,' said a spokesperson. -AFP

	Protect the underwater Golden Triangle Known as the "epicentre of marine life abundance and diversity", the Coral Triangle has more to offer than Australia?s Great Barrier Reef or the Caribbean. -NST		Wonders of the Islamic world The inaugural Global Islamic Tourism Conference and Exhibition, to be held for three days from July 30 at Putrajaya International Convention Centre, is set to make history. -NST

Focus on Nature Rhythm Of Nature is the theme for this year's Malaysian International Landscape and Garden Festival which opened last Saturday and will be on till July 27. -NST		Act now to save reefs Perhentian Island in Terengganu is in danger of losing its marine and coral life in 10 years time, no thanks to over development. -NST

	One night in Bangkok Readers of the Travel+Leisure magazine have named the "City of Angels" the world's best city. -The Nation		By the light of Ubon The Lenten Candle Festival is underway, and today is the day secrets are revealed. -The Nation

A new online booking service Lonely Planet Hotels & Hostels relaunches a new booking service in partnership with Expedia & Hostelworld.com. -The Nation			Let there be light! And, there was. After more than a decade of bickering and procrastination Bangkok gets its swanky new arts centre. -The Nation

	"I was sexually harassed on flight" Victim did not alert flight attendants as he feared: "Will the laws in S'pore protect me since I am a man?" -TNP	Welcome aboard Beijing's new Olympic Express A high-speed Beijing airport rail link built in time for the Olympics won kudos from its first batch of passengers who were whisked from the city's gleaming new terminal to downtown in under 20 minutes. -TNP

	Lecturer on holiday loses bag to thieves Iraqi lecturer's bag which contained US$3,300 was stolen at the Berjaya Times Square monorail station in Jalan Imbi. -NST		Taipei spruces up night markets The clean-up, which will include roofs and toilets, aims to make a good impression on growing number of Chinese tourists. -Reuters

	Subway overwhelmed as traffic curbs kick in Besides the unprecedented spike in passengers, Beijing's subway was also disrupted by an apparent suicide attempt. -Reuters, Xinhua	Argentina signs accord to buy back national carrier The deal will see the government take on Aerolineas Argentinas' staggering US$890 million debt. -AFP

	Qantas chief tips 100,000 jobs to go in global aviation industry "Right now, airlines around the world are cutting routes and capacity, grounding and retiring aircraft and unfortunately shedding staff." said Qantas CEO. -AFP	Penang ready to celebrate Interesting programmes have been lined up to celebrate the listing of George Town as a Unesco World Heritage Site this weekend. -NST

	Going multilingual on signs But Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the move should not be politicised as Bahasa Malaysia would still be prominent. -NST	Hotline for Singaporeans in JB The Johor police have set up a hotline for Singaporeans to report incidents of crime in Johor. -NST

	Trishawmen told to pull their weight The trishaw pullers will play a key role in bringing tourists to historic sites during the celebrations which are set to run from Aug 1 until National Day. -NST		Who needs clothes when you've got flowers? The Nai Lert Park annual fair in Thailand is taking a fun-filled approach in a bid raise funds for charity. To advertise the event, organisers are parading naked models covered with orchids. -Daily Xpress

	Harmful substances in Thai air Beware when you travel to major cities in Thailand, the air could contain at least five carcinogenic substances. -Daily Xpress	Garuda Indonesia pilot charged with 'deliberately' crashing jet He ignored 15 automated cockpit warnings not to land. -AFP

Radioactive Russian woman sparks airport evacuation She had a level of radioactivity 15 times greater than the norm. -AFP		Hotel rates up while occupancy dips ADRs at 5 and 4-star hotels rise 20% and 26% from last year. -BT

	Thai airline in fatal crash grounded It was concluded that pilot error caused the crash of a One-Two-Go plane in Phuket on Sept 16 last year that killed 89 people and left 41 badly injured. -ST		Zuji reports heavy travel bookings Customers are travelling in greater proportion to the US and regional destinations such as Bangkok while travel to Europe has softened. -BT

	Penang celebrates listing as World Heritage Site The inner city was abuzz with activity yesterday as colourful banners and streamers were put up at heritage areas to prepare for three-day celebrations starting today. -The Star		Take a virtual tour of T3 You'll find unparalleled luxury and comfort at Changi Airport's Terminal 3 - from shopping to dining and cosy hangouts. -ST

	Boasting S'pore's largest vertical indoor garden From a smart roof and art masterpieces to a garden theme and even a powder room, T3's unique features blend art and class to great effect. -ST		Luxury services for travellers Travellers enjoy exclusive service, state-of-the-art baggage, boarding and clearance facilities in the new terminal. -ST

	Foreign visitors impressed with T3 Built at a cost of $1.75 billion, T3 will raise Changi Airport?s handling capacity to 70 million passengers a year. -ST		Places to chill at in T3 With 100 shops plus 40 food and beverage outlets housed on five levels, there's plenty to buy, eat and drink. -ST

	State-of-the-art T3 able to handle 70 million passengers annually Terminal 3 has a smooth take-off that promises to bring Changi Airport even greater heights. -ST		A virtual gallery of T3 View exciting snapshots of the people and facilities that create the buzz in T3. -ST

	Visitor: Flyer must do more to pack them in Tourist Reggie Joseph feels the Flyer is located too far from tourist areas, is too expensive and also not nearly promoted enough. -ST	Expats rank S'pore as world's best place to live Singapore also ranked first for quality of accommodation and second for luxury living, behind the UAE. -ST

	US airlines blame oil prices for steep losses The outlook for 2009 appears equally overcast for the major carriers. -AFP		Museums, galleries must be disabled-friendly Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister said only some museums and galleries in cities like Kuala Lumpur were disabled-friendly while others lacked infrastructure for people with special needs. -The Star

	Woman sues hotel after falling down steps She blames lighting at entrance, but judge tells her "hotel not responsible for your carelessness." -TNP	Fatal turn to Aussie trip Singapore woman dies in a car crash at the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park. -ST

	Clubbing in S'pore - Are you a target for thieves? Drinks and bags left lying around by clubbers make tempting targets for thieves. -TNP		S'pore is 13th most expensive city It is also the 5th costliest in Asia for expats: Mercer survey. -BT

	No hotel boom for Beijing Olympics Tight security and visa curbs blamed for putting a damper on visitor numbers. -ST		Long, long queues for tickets It's two weeks to the Olympics and the last 250,000 tickets have just gone on sale, resulting in crazy queues in Beijing. -TNP

	A night at our museums Explore the vaults that once kept S'pore's banknotes, a mysteriously-sealed spiral staircase, and the icon of the National Museum, a 100-year old banyan tree. -TNP	Fake passport offence: Uncle and niece jailed Jeevanantham Mangaleena was handed a one-year jail term along with her uncle, Ponnambalam Ratnasababathy, who gave the 26-year-old a Canadian passport. -ST

	Works of art inside and out Ten colourful designs will envelop the walls of the National Museum and Singapore Art Museum on Friday and?Saturday in the inaugural Night Festival. -ST	SIA faces unpaid wages lawsuit in Chicago S'pore carrier is one of nine companies sued by ground workers at Chicago's O'Hare airport. -ST

	MAS denies Qantas senior pilot's claims It refuted Qantas pilot's allegation that maintenance of the Qantas Boeing 747 that suffered a ruptured fuselage had been outsourced to M'sia, as being baseless. -The Star		Rich Asian tourists splurge in Japan Visitors help lift country's ailing economy by splurging in department stores, lounging in hot-spring resorts and exploring the remote mountains and forests. -myp

	Qantas CEO retires, replaced by Jetstar CEO Joyce Joyce, head of Qantas's low-cost subsidiary Jetstar, will take over when Dixon steps down after the annual shareholder meeting in November. -Reuters		Visa rule could scupper AirAsia X flights to Japan Japan's highly restrictive visa system could virtually rule out AirAsia X from starting a service in 2009 as it had planned. -The Star

Exploding oxygen cylinder may be to blame Safety implications for all 747s if cause is confirmed, says aviation body. -ST			Will Singfest match up? Celebration of world music at the Sarawak Cultural Village draws a record turnout of more than 7,000. -The Star

S'pore not that pricey S'porean who moved to Sydney faces shock of how expensive basic items are. So he says: "We should not grumble too much about the cost of living in Singapore." -myp		Johor to get tourists to stay the night More activities such as cultural stage shows and markets selling local items should be created to get tourists to stay longer. -The Star

	Changi chalks up healthy growth in passengers PM opens T3; airport handled 18.7m travellers in first half, boosted by budget airlines. -ST		Oxygen masks faulted on Australian jet Scenes aboard the Qantas Airways QF30 after the cabin lost pressure - passengers recall how they were forced to share oxygen masks when some masks failed to drop at all. -AFP

	Qantas defends safety record after emergency landing Said Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon, "Incidents do happen. This is a tremendously bad one, and it's one we regret." -Reuters		Changi's new scanner a reasonable search The new technique is an alternative for those who do not wish to be physically searched but is not compulsory. -ST

	Fewer tourist arrivals in June The first drop in 51 months signals the sector is being affected by the global economic slowdown. But there is still hope as the Jan-Jun period sees record total number of visitors. -BT		Too scared to fly This 56-year old fast-food worker spent her honeymoon in Singapore as she was too afraid to fly, but is now bent on conquering her fear for a trip to Beijing to witness the Olympics live. -TNP

	Qantas jet forced to make emergency landing in Australia A Qantas jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Adelaide airport after a door opened during a flight to Melbourne. -AFP	Beijing denies new Olympic business visa curbs Business groups have already complained about tightened visa policies ahead of the August Games. -Reuters

Emirates picks up Airbus superjumbo, orders more jets Emirates plans to launch nonstop service between Dubai and New York on August 1, the first service to the United States with the world's biggest passenger jet. -AFP			History comes alive on Taipei graveyard tours Ms Arrigo has led groups see the ornate graves of Muslims who fled from China's communists to Taiwan, and the chipped, barely-marked headstones of 200 people who died in the "white terror" era. -Reuters

US unveils online travel permit to enter force in Jan The Electronic System for Travel Authorizationwill be needed by all US-bound travellers from the 27 visa waiver countries from January 2009. -AFP			Lotus Village sleepy no more Influx of 20 Vietnam brides who marry middle-aged men turn sleepy Johor town's reputation around. -TNP

WTO talks: US makes key offer on temporary visas Possible concession for professionals sparks fresh optimism over chances of trade pact. -Reuters		Lufthansa faces strike during peak holiday season Ground personnel and flight crews would stop working yesterday at midnight after workers approved the action by an overwhelming majority of 90.7 per cent. -AFP

	Nine resorts join drive to save turtles The objective of the year-long campaign is to stop people from eating turtle and terrapin eggs, with the group hoping to record a million lifetime pledges online. -NST	Singapore Airlines sees no drop in business travel The group reported a 15 per cent drop in first-quarter earnings due to costlier jet fuel, but earnings from partners helped it beat market expectations. -Reuters

	Malacca celebrates for a month A month-long programme has been lined up next month to celebrate Malacca's selection as a world heritage site. -NST	Talks on listing seven Islamic wonders The Seven Wonders, which will draw nominations from all over the world, will include buildings and tourist sites, and new and established destinations. -NST

	Raining music in Santubong For the first time, it rained during the Rainforest World Music Festival but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of either the performers or audience. -NST		Love Hello Kitty? Visit HongKong The 'Hello Kitty Black Wonder' exhibition on in HK till 3 Aug showcases the cult cartoon in her own role-playing game. Visit the exhibition for a chance to experience the game in the real world, trying out demanding challenges in order to rescue the kitty. -TNP

S. Korea proposes free tourism zone with North Officials aim to build a tourism site stretching 220 kilometres from the South's northeastern port of Gangneung to the North's eastern port of Wonsan. -AFP		China sauna users to show IDs for overnight stay The Guangzhou authorities now require sauna clients to show identification and register personal information to try to limit China's booming sex trade. -AP

Business clients save SIA's day But airline expects fuel costs to cut margins amid global downturn. -Reuters		China plans to spy on Olympic hotel guests: US senator This means journalists, athletes' families, human rights advocates and other visitors will be subjected to invasive intelligence gathering by the Chinese Public Security Bureau. -AFP

	Emergency landings for 2 planes, fire breaks out in another These 3 incidents come just days after a Qantas plane made an emergency descent and landing in the Philippine capital with 365 passengers and crew onboard. -Reuters	Spain's Iberia, British Airways in merger talks It would create an airline that is dominant on both the north and south Atlantic routes. -AFP

Jerry Lewis detained for carrying gun at airport The 82-year-old had a small .22-calibre handgun when he arrived at the security screening area at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. -Reuters		MAS in talks with banks to expand online sales MAS was in talks with three other banks in Malaysia and several others in the Asean region on similar partnerships. -The Star

SIA chief tells shareholders: Expect smaller profits The forecast came during SIA's annual general meeting yesterday, a day after the airline reported first-quarter earnings had fallen 15.4 per cent. -ST		British probe into stolen passports The documents, meant for delivery to embassies abroad, were snatched after the van driver stopped and went into a shop. -Reuters

Singapore Air profit drops as fuel price soars Q1 profit at S'pore Airlines dropped 15%, but earnings from partners helped it beat market expectations. -Reuters			Ailing Hong Kong Disneyland thrown magic lifeline HK government has made Disneyland the sole beneficiary of an easy-visa scheme that could bring millions of tourists from mainland China. -Reuters

MAS in talks with banks to expand online sales Since its e-ticketing service was wholly implemented in May, MAS has seen nearly three million hits a month, equivalent to RM100mil in online ticketing sales. -The Star			Brooke 'returns' to Sarawak Growing up, Jason Brooke heared stories about the state from his father and grandfather. Now, the descendant of Sarawak's second White Rajah is here to see the place for himself. -The Star

	Britain to educate Malaysians on the risks of overstaying British High Commissioner said the campaign would target travel agents, those in the restaurant business and those who advise others on going overseas. -The Star		Tourist info centre on the go again The centre provides information on the goings-on in Port Dickson and tourism events in the state and throughout Malaysia. -The Star

	Out to woo Japanese tourists Penang aims to attract more Japanese tourists by focusing on health and educational tourism. -The Star		Move to revive heritage houses' past glory Khoo Kongsi president Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew said it was timely to embark on the restoration project with George Town's recent listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site. -The Star

Penang Assembly: Inspiration from foreign cities The state government will use Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai as models in efforts to restore Penang to its former glory. -NST		NPC holds treasure hunt for heritage Fancy exploring the new Unesco World Heritage Site in Penang? Do it the fun way! -NST

Cylinder fragments blasted into Qantas cabin: investigators The cylinder fragments shifted the aircraft door's handle halfway to the open position after exploding through the floor of the passenger cabin, but the door held fast. -AFP		Strike forces Lufthansa to cancel long-distance flights Lufthansa plans to cancel 78 flights in all, including four to Calcutta, Calgary, Chicago and New York. -AFP

Travel bargains Save by travelling on Qantas or British Airways's special land packages to Australia, or take an eco-friendly vacation at low prices on accomodation website Wotif.com. -ST			ICA officers are overworked and understaffed Overtime hours are piling up, annual leave is still unclaimed and the quit rate has doubled. This is the result of ever-rising numbers of travellers who file past our land, sea and airport checkpoints. -ST

NZ inventor and his flying machine Mr Glenn Martin has unveiled what he calls 'the world's first practical jet pack', which can fly an average-sized pilot about 48km in 30 minutes on a full 19-litre tank of gas. -AP, NYT			'Sauna' Beijing haze won't last The city's chronic pollution, a sometimes acrid mix of construction dust, vehicle exhaust and factory and power plant fumes, has been one of the biggest worries for Games organisers. -myp

	Olympian facelift for Beijing China spent US$40 billion to prepare the capital for the Olympic Games and it?s all systems go. -SPU		Travel deals Many vacation packages are on offer at the Natas Holidays fair. -SPU

Tank blast damaged Qantas jet's landing systems Part of the oxygen tank blasted into the passenger cabin through the floor, smashed into a door handle and was embedded in the ceiling. -AP		Woman dies on Delta flight from LA to Atlanta There were no signs of foul play and the body of a woman in her 60s was taken to a medical examiner's office for an autopsy. -AFP

	Baggage glitch delays American Airlines JFK flights Workers were sorting bags by hand, but many items were not being put on flights before departure. -Reuters	Be careful when travelling to India following attacks Malaysia had so far not barred anyone from travelling to India. -The Star

SIA adds second daily A380 service between Singapore and London The additional A380 flights will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. -AsiaOne		Closure of the Singapore Visitors Centre @ Orchard for renovations It is scheduled to re-open by mid-September 2008. -AsiaOne

	S'pore Flyer crosses 1m ticket sales in 5 months Nearly half was sold to tourists. -ST

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