Have money, will travel

Have money, will travel

Daily travel expenses for visitors to Seoul have surged over the last year, making it one of the most expensive cities in the world. The daily travel cost for foreigners visiting Seoul was recorded at $438 (Bt15,500) this year, ranking it the 13th highest in the world and third in Asia. That amount covers $310 for accommodation and $128 for food expenses. The ranking was determined based on the Corporate Travel Index, an annual report released by Business Travel News in the US. The average daily travel cost of 100 major cities in the world was $351, down by $17. Seoul’s cost, however, rose by $12. Of the 100 cities, Caracas in Venezuela topped the ranking with $1,325 this year, followed by London with $576 and Hong Kong with $529. – The Korea Herald

 

Personified in pearls

Conrad Bali resort has launched its fourth instalment in the Living Lobby Art Exhibition Master’s Series showcasing the natural beauty of Indonesian pearls. The exhibition, “Women behind the Pearls”, features the stunning creations of Atlas Pearls and Perfumes and with stunning photographic images, video content and visual displays, is as much about the stories behind the women who created these natural masterpieces as the beauty of the finished products themselves. It continues through January 10.

 

Luang Prabang draws the crowds

The World Heritage town of Luang Prabang is on target to hit 500,000 visitors by the end of this year after reaching 470,279 in the first nine months. The number of tourists has continued to grow steadily as the town has improved its services and activities to attract visitors. A rich blend of nature, culture, traditions, history and the local lifestyle were seen as highlights to charm and attract visitors to the scenic town. During the first nine months of this year the provincial tourism department generated revenues of US$137,305 compared to US$92,628 in the same period last year while the department expects its revenue to reach US$163,450 by the end of this year.

 

Let’s go to San Francisco

Air India is to start non-stop flights between Delhi and San Francisco from December 2. The announcement was made by Indian Prime Minister, Narender Modi, during a visit to San Francisco, California last month. The new service will be fourth gateway to the USA, the others being New York, Newark and Chicago. Air India will offer an inaugural price exclusively for its First and Business Class passengers who travel on the new route.

 

When loyalty pays

Cathay Pacific Airways has announced it will be making changes to its Marco Polo Club loyalty programme to reflect the evolving travel needs of its most loyal customers. The airline aims to enhance the overall membership experience through more effective recognition of the contribution made by individual members. The new additional benefits include an extra for members and their invited guests, bookable upgrades for Gold and Diamond members and changing of qualifying age down from 18 to 12 years old.