Choosing an Asian Travel Destination

osing a destination point in Asia for your next vacation means choosing between the following locations: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen. Russia and Turkey are part of Europe and Asia, by the way.How to choose the right destination spot is the focus of this article.Where To BeginThere are really so many options here that you must narrow it down quickly or get overwhelmed. Exclude those countries that are at war or have a high level of violence associated with them at the moment. Then, break down the possibilities according to what interests you most. Is it religion, cuisine, architecture, art, crafts, natural phenomenon, history, a particular event, or even a particular animal? Choose a category or come up with your own and then consider further breaking down the chosen category.Building On An IdeaFor instance, an interest in the religions found in Asia could center around Hinduism and a trip focused on visiting the various areas where Hinduism is concentrated. Building on this idea add the category of architecture. Now you can locate and visit the Hindu temples in the regions you have identified. Further add the crafts that are associated with the Hindu religion and you now have something to collect on your trip.Lets try another one. Start with cuisine. Maybe you love hot, spicy food. What makes food hot and spicy? What if your whole trip centered around chili? Discover which country has the kind of spicy food you love best and not only eat your way through the trip but visit the farms and people where these chili's are grown and harvested. Build this trip further by learning about the history of the plant and discover whether there are particular tribes, a person or a location connected to the cuisine and worth adding to your trip.Triggering The Travel BugIn taking the first steps to plan a trip, you may stumble upon a new idea or path to follow. If a topic tugs at your interest, read up on it and see where it takes you.Another way to choose an Asian destination is to plan a trip based on a favorite region. Even a trip like this can be overwhelming to plan due to the vast landscape of Asia. Again, break it down once you have chosen a region. What is it about the region that draws you in?Plan your daily activities around a city, a district, or an idea. What if you were to follow in the footsteps of Genghis Khan? What if you have family history in Asia?One visit is not enough when visiting Asia because its vastness and variety do not fall under one category. Each country, each city, each street corner is filled with something worth traveling to see. Be prepared to return again and again. . by John Parks. on Sat Jan 3rd, 2009.

Thailand plans to waive visa fees for tourists

Thailand is considering waiving visa fees for three months in a bid to revive its key tourism industry, which has been battered by political turmoil that culminated in the occupation of Bangkoks two airports late last year. The measure, already approved by the governments economic ministers, will be proposed to the full Cabinet next week, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said Friday.
We hope this will be one of many measures that will boost the tourism industry in Thailand amid the global slowdown and following the political crisis, Juthaporn said.
Residents of many neighboring and Western countries already enjoy visa-free entry privileges for short visits, but those planning longer stays must obtain visas in advance for a fee of at least $30 per entry.
Earlier this week, Thailands new government allocated 1 billion baht ($28.6 million) of its 115-billion-baht ($3.3 billion) fiscal stimulus package to rejuvenate the tourism industry, which accounts for about 5 percent of the countrys economy. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who took office last month, earlier said the government will also consider discounts on aircraft landing fees.
Anti-government protests last year included the weeklong seizure of Bangkoks airports at the end of November, stranding more than 300,000 travelers.
The Bank of Thailand has estimated the country would lose 290 billion baht ($8.3 billion) as a result of the protests, which called for the ouster of the previous government led by allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. They accused Thaksin of corruption and abuse of power.
The central bank forecast that tourist arrivals this year would drop by 8.8 percent from 12.8 million in 2008. Deputy government spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said the Cabinet plans to discuss other measures as well, including a short-term reduction in interest rates and property tax for hotel operators, and a reduction of airport surcharges, as well as discounts on air tickets.

Source: The Independent

Bishaw Ijtema starts 30th-January-2009

The three-day long Bishaw Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslim community will start from January 30 at Ashulia on the riverbank of the Turag, 25 kilometers away from the capital city Dhaka.
Around 50 per cent work has been completed in this regard and the remaining works would be completed by January 20, the organisers hoped. Hundreds of people coming from different parts of the country are now working hard to finish the necessary work for
smooth conduct of the Bishwa Ijtema.
Latrines for the locals as well as the foreigners will be set up at a cost of Tk 7.59 croe while LGRD will expend Tk 3.5 crore to fill up low land, install pipelines for water and sewerage system.
Thousands of musallis offered Jummah prayer on the bank of the river Turag. Praying for happiness, peace and welfare of the nation, a 'Special Doa' was offered there with participation over 30,000 musallis

Source:The Daily Independent Dated: 10-01-2009

Fake visas Fail to wake up Authorities

Dubai-bound Bangladeshi jobseekers are being scammed with fake visas more than ever, but the authorities are yet to take any effective measure to remedy the situation.
This ill practice came to the forefront again on Monday when a total of 87 Bangladeshi jobseekers were deported from Dubai Airport as the immigration authorities found their visas to be fake.
"This sort of case is not new. Every week some workers are deported from Dubai for similar reasons," said an immigration police officer at Zia International Airport. Only when a large number of workers are deported, it catches the attention of the media, he added.
Abdul Malek, director general of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issues "photocopy visas" and the BMET does not have any way to verify the authenticity of the visas.
When a country, such as the UAE, issues photocopy visas to foreign workers, the workers will not have the original visa attached to their passports. Instead, they will receive photocopies or faxed copies of the original visas to present before the immigration authorities in the port of entry of that particular country.
When the workers arrive in Dubai and go through immigration process, their employers or their representatives come to the airport to receive the workers with their original visas.
"Our mission [Bangladesh Embassy] in Dubai cannot attest all the visas issued for our workers. Besides, the small number of officials cannot attest all of the approximately 30,000 visas issued a month," said Abdul Malek.
Fraudsters are highly active to take advantage of this process and they are producing fake visas to cheat the jobseekers, said an immigration official.
Asked about the matter Didarul Haque, managing director of Heaven Overseas, that processed documents of six of the deported workers, said they only helped the workers get emigration clearance from BMET and that they were not involved in securing or buying visas of the workers.
In the cases of other countries, there are mechanisms that authenticity of visas could be checked on their websites, but no such mechanism is available for visas issued by the UAE, he said.
"The government should take up the issue immediately with UAE authorities. Otherwise, workers will continue to suffer and the travel agents that arrange the air tickets for the workers will also be affected, as they have to pay the cost of for the return ticket of the deported workers," Didarul Haque said.
Preferring anonymity, another recruiting agent said workers may be deported also because the employers or their managers in Dubai do not accept the workers if they do not get the "payment" for the visas, which are sold against good amount of money.
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Abdul Matin Chowdhury, however, believes that there are people in Bangladesh who prepare such fake visas and that they have links with the recruiting agents.
"We shall take actions against the recruiting agencies who processed the documents for the deported workers," he said.
Asked if it was not government indifference about the fact that it has not taken up the issue with UAE authorities or have a mechanism to check the authenticity of the visas, the secretary said, "We have asked our mission in Dubai to talk to the authorities about it. They also tried, but they do not have enough access to UAE authorities."
Abdul Matin Chowdhury, however, said Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UAE and the joint committee formed under the MoU will soon discuss the issue in the UAE. There are also initiatives at diplomatic levels, he said.
Asked what will happen to the workers already deported, BMET DG Abdul Malek said, "We shall write letters to the 13 agencies involved to arrange jobs for the deported workers.”

Sourece: The Daily Star Dated 20-08-2008

Dhaka Tourism Fair begins on 21-Aug-2008

A four-day 2nd Dhaka Tourism Fair 2008 will begin at the Bashundhara City Complex on Thursday for promoting local tourism.
About a hundred organisations including tour operators, hotels, motels, resorts, theme parks, youth adventure clubs, travel agencies and airlines will take part at the fair which will remain open from 11:00am to 7:0pm till August 24 on the 7th floor of Bashundhara City Complex.
Parjatan Bichitra, a monthly magazine, will organise the tourism fair in association with Banglalink. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh, Tour Operator Association of Bangladesh and Tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh will coordinate with the organiser.
Mahbub Jamil, special assistant to chief adviser and in charge of the ministry of civil aviation and tourism, is expected to inaugurate the fair.
The Parjatan Bichitra editor, Mahiuddin Helal, speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club on Tuesday said the participating organization will exhibit their discount package tours, discount hotels and motels.
Visitors would also get the chance to visit the Bashundhara indoor amusement park and the Toggy World with the same ticket, said Helal, also the convener of the event.
Workshops on finance for tourism business, travel safety and adventure tourism will also be held at the venue during the fair. ‘Tourism gossip corner for the travel writers and adventurer tourists would be extra attraction at the fair,’ said Helal.
The BPC will set up a stall for the visitors to cast their votes for Cox’s Bazar and Sundarban at the natural seven wonders voting website.
The objective of the fair is to make the local tourism more attractive and market the local tourist destinations in the world tourism market, Helal said.
The entry fee is Tk 10 and visitors would be able to participate in raffle draw with the same ticket.
Banglalink’s marketing executive, Samnun Moheb Chowdhury, and the Tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh president, Jamiul Ahmed were present at the press conference.

Sourece: New Age Dated: 20-08-2008

Number of Hajj Pilgrims Drops by 33pc on 2008

The number of Hajj pilgrims will be lesser by around 33 per cent this year from the expected target of around 65,000, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB).

A total of 45,416 intending pilgrims have deposited their 'Moallem fee' until the last date on July 13, to perform Hajj this year of them, 7,363 were ballotee and 38,053 non-ballottee pilgrims.

Leaders of HAAB, an association of 330 Hajj agencies, told the FE that the number of Hajj pilgrims fell due to the government's new rule for paying Moallem fee much ahead of the occasion.

Abdus Shukkur, former HAAB president said that economic constraints, new rules for depositing Moallem fee were the main reasons for the slump in Hajj business this year.

He also said: "We think that the general election scheduled for December might be another potential reason for the drop in number of hajj pilgrims."

The Hajj is likely be take place on December 7 or December 8 depending on the sighting of the Moon, and the national elections as per the election road map was also planned in December this year.

Moulana Yakub Sharafati, secretary general of HAAB said the increase in the airfare has also discouraged many Muslims from performing Hajj.

This year, the Dhaka-Jeddah plane fare has been fixed at US$ 1350. Chittagong/Sylhet- Jeddah is $ 1450.

Bangladesh Biman Airlines transport most of the Hajj pilgrims while Saudi Airline carry a small number of Hajis. Hajj flights generally start a month before the Hajj.

HAAB secretary, however, urged the government to declare open sky policy for the interest of the country's thousands of Hajis as every year they suffer much due to mismanagement by the national carrier.

Mohammed Faruk, HAAB president told the FE that cancellation of around 60 hajj agencies might be another reason for the drop in the number of Hajj pilgrims this year.

Source: The Financial Express, Dated:2008-08-13

Paksey can be built as striking tourism area

A T M Nurun Nabi: Paksey, in the district of Pabna, can be built as a striking tourism area. Tourism has nowadays become one of the major sources of income in many countries. And It becomes possible only when the government pays due attention and draws a strategy. The governments of the advanced countries of the world spend a huge sum of money for developing the infrastructure of the possible tourism centres for attracting the foreigners. As a result, countries like Singapore, Hong Kong of China and Malaysia earn billion of dollars annually, meaning that tourism can make a good contribution to the economic development of any country. In this race, Bangladesh may be a good contestant because there are potentials. Those places which could be turned into striking tourism centres are Paksey in the district of Pabna, Cox's Bazaar, Jaflong in Sylhet, Ramsagar in Dinajpur, Banaripara in Barisal, Kuakata in Patuakhali, Sonargaon in Narayanganj, all historical places and the islands of Hatiya, Sandwip and Kutubdia.
Paksey, home of the country's largest railway division, is linked with the rest of country by both the rail and the road. It can be conjoined by air if the damaging and perishing infrastructures of the abandoned airport at Ishurdi, five miles in the north-east, are rebuilt. Paksey has many potentialities to qualify as tourism centre. Some of them are the 5,900 feet long Hardinge Railway Bridge, the Lalon Shah Bridge, the newly constructed EPZ, the friendly environment, the sands and dunes of once rough and tough river Padma and the height of the railway station above the surface (it looks like a hill from distance).
Hardinge Bridge was commissioned to traffic in 1915 when the World War II was burning half of the world. It was constructed at such a time when Great Britain was involved in the fierce war against Germany and her allies. But the then government continued construction work fearless of the last effect of the war. In fact, the success of a project depends upon the good gesture of the government.
However, the specialty of the bridge is its imposing design and marvelous construction. Perhaps, very few railway bridges in the world can match Paksey in the field of design and construction. The double-lane broad gauge lines and a footpath have added extra dimension which can be viewed from under the bridge and Paksey Station. The best prize of Paksey is its friendly environment. As no bus or truck plies in the town, and as baby taxi and cab are seldom found moving with passengers, there is little possibility of the environment becoming polluted. As such, there is little chance of health hazard.
The height of Paksey Station is magnetism. About 45 feet above the surface from the south gives one a unique opportunity to view things of a far distance places around him. Another feature of Paksey is its large trees. Although the unscrupulous people chopped many large trees after independence, particularly during the nineties and onwards, yet Paksey looks beautiful, especially at night owing to electricity. One traveling by train will be charmed when the train passes through Paksey Station and the Hardinge Bridge.
Looking at the dune of Padma, the tourists will be able to experience the bite of the Farakka Barrage constructed on the Indian part of the river Padma. The barrage was commissioned in 1979 and later dried up river Padma and seriously affected GK Project in Kushtia. The bitter experience the foreigners will justify Bangladesh's right to the water of the Padma.
Paksey has been promoted as business centre following the construction of EPZ. Many new buildings have been constructed to increase the potentiality of the town.. In addition, Paksey has green landscape, an extra beauty for the tourists.

Sourec: The Bangladesh Today Dated:2008-08-14