Autos/All

February 22, 2012

Autos/All

Go-alone tourists shun Taiwan

Mainland residents have failed to take advantage of a new scheme allowing individuals to travel to Taiwan on their own rather than as part of closely monitored tour groups. A less-than-warm reception is seen as one factor; local island politics may be more central.

- Jens Kastner (Oct 18, '11)

Georgia seeks killer tourists

Georgia is preparing to allow the killing of all animal and bird species, even in national parks and nature reserves, to garner income from hunting tourism. The Environment Ministry would control slaughter of endangered species - but its inspectorate unit has been abolished.

- Natia Kuprashvili (Oct 12, '11)

Ford expands in India

Ford Motor's decision to build a US$1 billion car plant in Gujarat, India, underlines the growing importance of Asia's non-Japan markets to overseas manufacturers. Their success so far is justifying the high investments required - and is bad news for local rivals.

- Syed Tashfin Chowdhury (Aug 15, '11)

Crash course in political risk for Taiwan's tourism

Taiwan next month opens its doors to individual Chinese mainland travelers, a move that will significantly increase the already powerful impact of mainland tourism on the island's economy. But what happens when Beijing halts the tourist flow?

- Jens Kastner (May 18, '11)

Sales opening for Toyota's Asia rivals

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami that led to many of Japan's auto and auto-part plants to be closed may offer an opening to companies such as South Korea's Hyundai or Malaysia's Proton to boost sales in other Asian markets. Bangladeshi buyers are among those prepared to change buying habits.

- Syed Tashfin Chowdhury (Apr 05, '11)

China auto curbs snarl car stocks

The Chinese government, attempting to curb traffic congestion, has axed incentives to replace old models of automobiles and doubled the purchase tax on new car sales. With Beijing also imposing its own measures and other local authorities likely to follow suit, carmakers' share prices have tumbled.

- Olivia Chung (Jan 04, '11)

Thailand tourism picks up

International arrivals to Thailand have rebounded seven months after anti-government protesters occupied central Bangkok for months before a crackdown left 91 dead. But tourist sentiment, one of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's barometers for success, teeters as fragilely as the political peace.

- Muhammad Cohen (Dec 20, '10)

Medvedev a lonely tourist

The Kremlin was a far from disinterested party at this month's Group of 20 summit, with the impact of the hotly debated United States' monetary policy of vital relevance to Russia. Yet here as at other important international gatherings, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was largely isolated with little to say.

- Pavel K Baev (Nov 18, '10)

Indian tourism drive turns sour

Rishikesh in northern India attracts tourists through a mix of peace (yoga and meditation) and thrills (such as white-water rafting). Their cash floods into the economy and local officials like the chance to spring surprise "taxes" - but improving infrastructure is low on their list of activities.

- Raja Murthy (Nov 04, '10)

Speaking Freely

A dragon-tailed Trojan horse?

Beijing's recent investments in Greece's economy offer a rare beacon of hope for the debt-ridden country. The geostrategic implications of China's increasing presence on Europe's periphery, however, are far from a win-win situation. The European Union should be wary and watchful.

(Oct 06, '10)

Speaking Freely

Tajikistan courts tourism market

The immense tourism potential of Tajikistan is being unlocked through cooperation between the government in Dushanbe and international aid organizations. The recent visit of an Irisih senator to the mountainous country revealed the natural beauty and attraction that could be tapped for tourism dollars.

(Sep 16, '10)

Speaking Freely

Saving eels in the Mekong

The discovery of gargantual eels in Thailand illustrates the Mekong river delta's unique value as a biodiversity reserve and destination for wildlife conservation. As eels continue to be hunted for serving China's 'medicinal foods' market, preserving this species is a paramount task of Thai environmentalists.

(Sep 08, '10)

'Eat, Pray, Love' fever sweeps Bali

Even before the release of the Hollywood movie starring Julia Roberts, the Balinese inland cultural and tourist center of Ubud had been overrun with visitors seeking to follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir. Balinese believe good and bad balance, even if one seems more evident at the moment.

- Muhammad Cohen (Aug 17, '10)

Speaking Freely

Japan's whale wars get a TV spin

Anti-whaling vigilantes who harass Japanese fishing vessels are being featured for daredevilry in US cable television programming that is meant to garner sympathy for their cause. But it is time these wildlife conservationists are reined in for their acts of vandalism and violence.

(Aug 12, '10)

Speaking Freely

'Triple Ds' haunt global economy

Dreaded “Triple Ds”– deflation, demographics, and deleveraging– are stalling American economic recovery and also creating conditions that will erode Asian exports. Production costs for Asian exporters are rising while consumers in the U.S. wait for further falls in prices of goods. This spells danger for the world economy.

(Jul 28, '10)

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Go-alone tourists shun Taiwan

Georgia seeks killer tourists

Ford expands in India

Crash course in political risk for Taiwan's tourism

Sales opening for Toyota's Asia rivals

China auto curbs snarl car stocks

Thailand tourism picks up

Medvedev a lonely tourist

Indian tourism drive turns sour

Speaking Freely

A dragon-tailed Trojan horse?

Speaking Freely

Tajikistan courts tourism market

Speaking Freely

Saving eels in the Mekong

'Eat, Pray, Love' fever sweeps Bali

Speaking Freely

Japan's whale wars get a TV spin

Speaking Freely

'Triple Ds' haunt global economy

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