Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/462634
www.travelweekly-asia.com | 3 In 2014, Travelport won the leading travel industry awards in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. We were voted Best GDS in APAC by the readers of TTG Asia for the sixth year in a row, Best Travel Agency Technology Innovator by AFTA and Best Technology Supplier by TAANZ. The awards are recognition of our continuing commitment to redefine travel commerce for the benefit of all our customers and partners across Asia Pacific. Our cutting-edge technology makes it easier and faster for you to search and book the widest range of travel content, so that you can provide unrivalled value to your customers. To discover more about APAC's best travel commerce platform, contact your Travelport representative today or visit travelport.com MYANMAR: International arrivals to Myanmar last year reached 3.08 million, a 51% lift on 2013's 2.04 million arrivals but the country's tourism sector has been advised to "learn from lessons elsewhere" in successfully capturing the growth. "Managing 51 percent growth per annum is one of Myanmar's challenges," said tourism consultant, Paul Rogers. MALAYSIA: Tourism Malaysia is seeking a little help from a friend in promoting the country's Year of Festivals. The festival's mascot is Bayou, a proboscis monkey found on the riverbanks of Borneo. CAMBODIA: Cambodia is keen to increase tourism traffic along the Mekong River and will develop more homestay accommodation and build new infrastructure to support the initiative. It will also hold a river festival in March to increase awareness of the potential of the Mekong River. PHILIPPINES: In a year that began with a hugely successful Papal visit, the Philippines is expecting to end the year with more than the 4.8 million international visitors who arrived in 2014 – itself a record number. "We've created a real buzz with our 'It's more fun in the Philippines' campaign'," said Benito C Bengzon, undersecretary, tourism development in the Philippines Department of Tourism. THAILAND: Thailand will target weekend short break visitors form neighbouring countries as part of its strategy to maintain the momentum of a strong recovery following a challenging 2014. Thailand finished the year with 24.7 million arrivals, a slight drop on 2013 figures, but believes the new "Thainess" global marketing campaign will drive up international arrivals to 28 million in 2015. SINGAPORE: A sharp decline in Chinese arrivals to Singapore in 2014 was "a surprise, but not altogether a bad thing", according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). "While numbers are down, the Chinese visiting Singapore now are staying longer and spending more," ASEAN TOURISM FORUM: MONKEYS, MEKONG AND MYANMAR said an STB spokesman. Length of stay by Chinese visitors has increased from 2.2 nights to 4.4 nights. BITS & BOBS ATF in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.