Weekly news updates about travel @14th August

This is the weekly news updates on travel related events happening around the world. Some would affect your travel plans or your upcoming travel itinerary, while others could lead you to embark on new travel ideas. These are things happening in the past week:

• Air Asia tied up with its rival Malaysia Airlines – Fast-growing budget flyer AirAsia will acquire 20.5 percent of flag-bearer Malaysia Airlines under a strategic tie-up announced Tuesday 9th August, aimed at turning around the loss-making Malaysia national carrier. One one hand, the deal is seen leading to a mutually profitable route rationalisation and other cost savings such as shared aircraft maintenance and joint purchases of planes. On the other hand, it also has raised anti-trust concerns and subject to a monopoly review, it may not necessarily lead to lower prices for travellers. Ream more from MSN News. *Yet to be seen, I doubt this could benefit us as budget travelers and I doubt I could get stealing airfares of Beijing from MAS in future.*
• MATTA Travel Fair 2011 in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. From 12th to 14th of August, this is the largest travel fair in Malaysia with over 920 exhibition booths being taken up by over 190 exhibitors, ranging from travel agencies, tourism organizations, airlines, cruises, hotel operators to travel related products vendors. Ten’s of thousands of avid travelers are expected to attend the fair to find some good deals in travel packages or air tickets. Read more from the official MATTA Fair website. *If you are looking for all-inclusive travel package like how I traveled to China 3 years ago, then you should be able to get good deals there. Since I dislike those travel hoaxes in all-inclusive travel package, I would rather stay at home and grab good deals online and plan my self-guided travel.*
• The Thai parliament has elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the country’s first female prime minister. She will face the immediate challenge of bringing stability to the kingdom, after five years of political turmoil since her brother Thaksin Shinawatra was thrown out of office in a 2006 army coup backed by Thailand’s elites. *We love traveling to Thailand and I always want to go back there after my Phuket travel 2 years ago, but reluctant after the political turmoil. I really hope Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra could gain back tourists confidence once again and I would definitely visit Thailand again*
• London riot since 7th of August. The trigger for last Saturday’s riot, which then sparked a wave of arson, looting and disorder across London and then to cities beyond, was the death of Mark Duggan. The 29-year-old black guy was shot dead on Thursday, August 4 by armed police operating with officers from Trident, the unit of London’s Metropolitan Police that deals specifically with gun-related murders in the black community. Last Saturday’s events began with a peaceful march to Tottenham police station on the High Road from Broadwater Farm. However, within hours, rioting broke out. London police had arrested more than 1,600 people including 11-year-old student. *I can’t believe my choice of the safest city to travel in Europe could be messed up in 24 hours.*

These are some of the travel news that attracted me last week. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel blog

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.