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Partner sought for new Japan report

PATA is seeking an established, professional, research-based consultancy to assist the Association in producing a 'Total Tourism' report which focuses upon the Japan market.
     "We are not seeking primary quantitative research as the main component of this proposed report but rather a strategic report covering both the trends and insights of the domestic, inbound and outbound segments of the Japan travel market, using a combination of statistical data, publicly available industry reports, secondary research and primary trade interviews," explains Oliver Martin, Associate Director — Strategic Intelligence Centre at PATA.
     A key component of the report will be strategic recommendations on how industry professionals can grow their Japan business (domestic, international inbound and/or outbound). More details are available from Patcharin Hongprapat at patcharin@pata.org.

     Deadline for submissions to PATA is December 12th 2008.

Siem Reap Airways clarifies EU 'ban'
Siem Reap Airways International (FT) is seeking to clarify the announcement by the European Union Commission (EU) that the airline is banned from flying into the EU countries with Cambodian-registered aircraft due to inadequate compliance to safety standards.
     The airline's GM Lao Santi said, "The ban is only subject to FT aircraft registered in Cambodia. As a matter of fact, none of the aircraft operating FT services has been registered in the Kingdom as they are entirely operated on a wet-leased basis at, and to, international standards."
     The airline is in the process of clarifying the situation with the EU. FT continues to operate normally with aircraft and third-party liability remaining under full insurance coverage. The airline is owned by PATA member Bangkok Airways.

Softening job market 'frees up best talent seen in years' - TMS
Industry employers should now be 'stocking up' on quality staff in anticipation of the global business upturn predicted next year. That's the view of Andrew Chan, Managing Director — Asia for specialist recruitment consultancy TMS. He said that while many companies were continuing to implement hiring freezes other more canny businesses were using the current situation to source top level candidates in preparation for next year's eagerly anticipated business boom.
     He added that those companies taking the initiative now would pull ahead of the rest in terms of their staffing and company performance when the current situation changes. "We are now starting to see some very strong talent emerge — in fact some of the best we have seen in a number of years," said Mr Chan.

On this day ...

November 19th In 1863 President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address as he dedicated a national cemetery at the site of the American Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania.

And finally...

Air New Zealand is teaming up with Boeing to conduct a sustainable biofuels flight from Auckland using a 747-400 jetliner. Conducted in partnership with Rolls-Royce and UOP, one of the airplane's four Rolls-Royce RB211 engines will be powered in part using advanced generation biofuels derived from jatropha. The test flight is scheduled to take off on December 3rd.
     According to Wikipedia 'the hardy jatropha produces seeds containing up to 40 percent oil. When the seeds are crushed and processed the resulting oil can be used in a standard diesel engine while the residue can also be processed into biomass to power electricity plants'.