Recommend December 2013 - (Page 58)

The village of Yuifin in Kyushu is a classic Japanese destination. Irrawaddy River with a backdrop of distant, hazy, pewter-colored mountains. Rising from a green jungle canopy, 2,200 radiant temples from an original 4,500-built between 1057 and 1287, before Kubla Khan invaded the region-remain. Although only a handful are regularly visited (visitors are increasing) this is still, by the standards of archaeological sites of similar beauty, a resplendent and untarnished destination. A number of airlines began service to Bagan in 2013. Asian Although this mysterious and appealing country has had its share of headlines because of recent economic and political upheavals, Myanmar is the place to visit if one wants to witness first-hand a nascent tourism industry emerging within a dreamlike destination that enthralls anyone willing to venture beyond the proverbial well-trod path. That's why I had to flip back to the November 2012 issue, which praised Myanmar as one of the hot destinations for 2013. In that article, Myanmar-The Place Where Time Stood Still, Risa Sekiguchi, product manager for Abercrombie & Kent, noted that the tour operator saw an "80 percent plus increase in bookings this year [2012]." It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that Myanmar's rise in tourism has been meteoric. According to a report by the country's Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, "tourism grew by a whopping 30 percent in the last year-Southeast Asia's largest- surpassing Thailand and Vietnam." Myanmar is no easy destination-especially when it concerns independent travelers. But when it comes to opening its doors to tourism, now that Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD party have sanctioned responsible tourism, significant inroads are being blazed. The recent surge of visitors has created some problems, notably the country's infant tourism infrastructure struggling to cope with the emergent number of visitors. But Myanmar is a spectacular treat for those willing to put up with small inconveniences. Yangon, the capital once known as Rangoon, has a gasp-inducing skyline, highlighted by golden pagodas that stand incongruously in front of the steel skeletons marking new construction as the country braces itself for the inevitable influx of visitors. Colonial facades stand next to improbable gardens lining wide streets in a genuinely Southeast Asian scene. Those visiting Myanmar would be remiss to skip Bagan in central Myanmar. It's one of the world's most spectacular archaeological sites, outshining Peru's Machu Picchu and Cambodia's Angkor Wat. Says Geoffrey Kent, founder, CEO and chairman, Abercrombie & Kent (abercrombiekent.com), "This is a truly spiritual destination [because] the Burmese countryside is largely untouched by the influence of Western civilization. The stunning landscape of pagodas and temples surrounding Bagan has changed little in 1,500 years." As personal experience proves, Kent is correct. Bagan is transcendent. It sprawls on a 26-sq.-mile plain in a bend of the placid 58 december 2013 Wings (asianwingsair.com), Air Mandalay (air-mandalay.com), Air Bagan (airbagan.com) and Yangon Airways (yangonair.com) offer regular service from Yangon. This year, Abercrombie & Kent unveiled a dazzling package called Myanmar & the Ayeyarwady, an 11-day journey touching on the country's most significant spots. The tour extends into next year. Abercrombie & Kent is bullish on Myanmar (a rising star in the A&K menu), and Asia in particular. According to Richard Harris, senior v.p. of operations and product, "India rose dramatically in popularity in 2013. It has always had a fantastic history, but now that it's seen as one of the major countries of the future it has added to travelers' interest...we also saw great interest in Nepal and in neighboring Bhutan." Read through last month's issue where we highlight Bhutan as a "hot destination" for 2014. india Based on the rosy outlook resulting from 2013's figures, Incredible India (incredibleindia.org) is optimistic that the country will set additional new records. As of October 2013, tourism to the subcontinent increased 4.8 percent from 2012. Although U.S. arrivals represent approximately 5 percent of that figure, the number is expected to rise due to the Indian government's relaxation of visa requirements for Americans. Clearing that previously cumbersome hurdle is already showing positive results. Hotels in Jaipur and Agra, the two most popular destinations for Americans, are already booked until February. As a result of these bullish numbers, India went into something of a hotel building frenzy in 2013. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore (ritzcarlton.com) opened its doors early in the year followed by the Westin Chennai, Velachery (starwoodhotels.com/westin); Conrad Bangalore (conradhotels3.hilton.com); Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa (hilton.com); and the Hilton New Delhi Palace. According to Incredible India, 2014 will see even more new properties-such as the Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa (starwoodhotels.com)-spring up in anticipation of India becoming one of the world's more popular destinations. pacific region According to most travel specialists, the South Pacific region underwent impressive growth during 2013, no doubt due to the great beauty within the vast watery expanse that encompasses Australia, New Zealand and the jaw-dropping island groups of the South Pacific. I have found that destinations like Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tahiti recommend.com SERGIO ORTIZ http://www.asianwingsair.com http://www.air-mandalay.com http://www.airbagan.com http://www.yangonair.com http://www.incredibleindia.org http://www.ritzcarlton.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin http://conradhotels3.hilton.com http://www.hilton.com http://www.abercrombiekent.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Canyon Ranch
Tour Talk: Insight Vacations
17th Annual Recommend Readers' Choice Awards Winners
Cruising 2013
Discovering North America
Caribbean Trends
Anguilla Travel Agent Specialist Program
Asia & The South Pacific in the Rearview Mirror
Mexico 2013
Latin America in 2013 and Beyond
Africa + The Middle East Continue to Make Stides
Nostalgic for Europe

Recommend December 2013