Representatives of 11 airlines from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) have agreed to further expand the sub-region’s air route network and increase the frequency of flights between the four ASEAN countries. They agreed at the recent sub-regional aviation meeting in Ho Chi Minh City that the number one priority will be the opening of services linking Myanmar with the other three countries and the expansion of the international routes to and from Siem Reap in Cambodia. In 2001, the airlines will introduce the CLMV Circle Trip Fare which will offer preferential fares to passengers who fly to or from at least two of the four countries in the sub-region. Participants at the meeting also agreed that civil aviation authorities in the four ASEAN countries should consider reducing airport fares and fees to encourage airlines in the sub-region to launch new routes and increase the frequency of flights. Representatives of the airlines also proposed the launch of a common website to promote their services and highlight the attractions of tourist destination in the four countries. Other issues concerning passenger and cargo transport in CLMV countries and air transportation between countries in the sub-region and other regions were also discussed at the meeting.

KHMER ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY IN PARIS

A visitor entering the airy entrance hall of the newly-remodelled Paris Museum Guimet is immediately confronted by a giant Buddha-like statue dating from the Angkor period. Like many other Khmer artifacts at the Guimet, the masterful sculpture has not seen daylight for many years and was last displayed during the World Exhibition held in Paris in 1878. The Museum Guimet which has been totally transformed after a six-year closure was recently opened by French President Jacques Chirac. Located in Paris’ chic 16^th arrondissement, the Guimet possesses a massive collection of about 45,000 artifacts from the length and breadth of Asia of which about 3,500 items are now on display.

New 'Sunset Terrace' at Nikko Royal Lake

Yangon’s Nikko Royal Lake Hotel has just opened a sunset terrace offering sunset views over the Royal Lake and Shwedagon Pagoda. The terrace is a great place to relax at the end of the day with its comfortable teak furnishings, exotic cocktails and terrace grill serving seafood, western and Asian specialities.

April opening for Noi Bai's new terminal

Construction of Hanoi’s long-delayed new airport terminal is apparently nearing first-phase completion. Passenger arrival trials could soon be followed by the real thing. It should receive its first passengers by April this year, according to airport officials. In the first phase the terminal will be capable of handling up to four million passengers per year. The second phase of the project, is scheduled to be completed by 2005. The International Air Transport Association has predicted that Vietnam will have around 17.5 million passengers coming in and out of its air space by 2010.