MANILA, Philippines – Hotels and resorts in Boracay, Cebu and Bohol are reporting cancellations in bookings from China, as tensions continue between Manila and Beijing over Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways and Airphil Express suspended their charter services to and from several destinations in China on May 12, in the wake of the canceled trips by Chinese tourists.

Isabel Garcia, Boracay Regency Beach Resort Spa’s director for sales and marketing, confirmed to the BusinessMirror that “10 percent to 15 percent of our daily arrivals were affected by the travel ban.”

She said this covered the Henann Resorts Group that includes the Regency Lagoon Resort in Boracay as well as the Boracay Garden Resort and Henann Resort at Alona Beach in Bohol.

Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa also confirmed canceled bookings from China.

In a text message, Patti Javier, the hotel’s director of communications said, “Yes we have [received booking cancellations from China].” She, however, added that she did not have any information on how large the cancellations were.

But according to Eugene Kaw, assistant secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the cancellations reported to them only represented 1,500 persons “until the first week of June. Most affected are Boracay, Cebu and Bohol hotels/resorts.”

Separately, Noemi Garcia, tourism officer of Clark Development Corp. in Pampanga, said they still had to get detailed reports from  hotels in the economic zone.

But she said Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino would likely be “most affected” by the canceled bookings from China. Fontana officials could not be reached for comment as of press time.

The DOT called the cancellations an “obstacle that we will have to overcome” and a “temporary setback” that should not “derail our momentum” in marketing the country to foreign tourists.

Kaw said, “China’s important but it’s just one of the 12 key markets of the Philippines. The success of Philippine tourism cannot be dependent on one market alone.” He added that the DOT is “optimistic that despite the situation with China,” it will still reach its targeted 4.6-million visitor arrivals in 2012.

Meanwhile, Candice Iyog, spokesman for Cebu Pacific, also told the BusinessMirror that the airline’s charter company in China “just informed us about cancelling the charter, but did not give us a reason.”

She declined to identify the charter company.

The twice-weekly charter service, between Shanghai and Clark, started in December 2011, and “was supposed to run for nine months,” or until September 2012.

The airline flew a 150-seat Airbus 319-100 for the service and was “averaging 90 percent” of the seat capacity, Iyog said.

Art Alejandrino, a board director of Zest Air, also confirmed that their twice-weekly charter flights from Shanghai to Kalibo, Aklan, have been suspended since Saturday.

Also, he said, their thrice-weekly charters from Jinjiang province to Manila, which started in April 26, have been suspended. “It would have been daily flights starting June 26.”

He added that the Shanghai-Cebu, and Beijing-Kalibo charter flights were also supposed to start June 29.

“It was a business decision on our end, to suspend those charters. If there is no demand, we can’t fly those planes. But I think this situation [between the Philippines and China] is temporary. I can understand why they had to cancel,” Alejandrino said.

Zest Air uses 180-seat Airbus 320s for its charter flights. Alejandrino said they had an “average passenger load of 90 percent” for those charters.

Airphil, meanwhile, said it was also “temporarily suspending our charter flights due to the advisory from China.”

An airline source added, “We hope this is temporary. We’ll probably resume our flights when the dust has settled.”

In a fax “emergency notice” to its travel agents dated May 9, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, the Beijing Xinhai Charterer said, “Due to recent emergency situation between the Philippines and China, and for the security of passengers, Flight 2P-826/2P-825 [Peking, China-Kalibo, Philippines and vice versa] will be stop effective May 12, 2012. Resume of flight will be base on the situation [sic].” 2P is the airline code of Airphil.

On May 10 several Chinese travel agencies were reported to have suspended trips to the Philippines on safety concerns of its clients, anticipating the political and civil-society organizations’ protest action against China the next day.

Tensions between the Philippines and China were re-ignited last month when the Philippine Navy tried to prevent Chinese fishing vessels from fishing in the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc). China thereafter sent “government vessels” to the area. The standoff continues with the two countries’ vessels refusing to budge from their positions.

If you’re Chinese or Brazilian, the long wait for your U.S. visa may be over.

Against the backdrop of Disney World in Orlando, Fla., President Barack Obama acknowledged on Jan. 19 the importance of tourism to the U.S. economy and promised that the waits for visas, which published reports said often took three months, would improve.

“We will always protect our borders and shores and our tourist destinations from people who want to do us harm,” Mr. Obama said. “But we also want to get more international tourists coming to America. And there’s no reason we can’t do both.”

So the State Department added workers in key locations and reallocated resources to other consular offices.

The result, said David T. Donahue, deputy assistant secretary with the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, is a marked improvement in processing times.

In some cases, wait times in China are as little as two days, Mr. Donahue said, and in Brazil, waits can be as little as a week. Tourism from these countries has increased significantly, which warranted improved handling.

In these days of plentiful information and instant everything, the question may be this: Why do countries require a visa at all, never mind one that’s tough to get?

It’s a matter of security, Mr. Donahue said, to ensure that people won’t misuse the visa (overstaying their allotted time here, for example) or enter the country intending to commit crimes or carry out terrorist attacks.

So consulates use a combination of interviews, biographies and biometrics on “each applicant to ensure they don’t pose a threat,” he said.

Visitors from 36 countries do not need a visa to enter the U.S. Some of those countries won’t surprise you — Britain, Switzerland and Spain, for instance — but a couple of them might: Brunei and Singapore, for example.

These visa waiver countries achieve this status because they generally have a visa rejection rate of less than 3 percent, Mr. Donahue said, and they participate in information sharing with the United States.

Everybody else will need the ticket to ride.

If you’re traveling abroad, chances are you won’t need a visa to visit those visa waiver countries.

To find out the details about visa requirements, go to the Americans Traveling Abroad page at www.lat.ms/IELMew.

Dino Land theme park in China recently unveiled the $20-million Dinoconda, a thrilling fourth-dimension roller coaster with independently rotating seats.

Located in Changzhou about two hours west of Shanghai, the Chinese park known as the “Jurassic Park of the East” features roller coasters, thrill rides and attractions themed to dinosaurs and mythical creatures.

The mechanically complex coaster boasts wing-shaped vehicles with seats that rotate head over heels, both forward and backward.

Built by Utah-based SS Worldwide, Dinoconda will ascend to 259 feet before plummeting down a nearly 90-degree first drop at 78 mph. China’s first 4-D coaster will pull up to five Gs as it navigates three inversions, including a pair of raven turns and a zero-G roll.

At a length of more than 3,500 feet, Dinoconda will be roughly the same size as Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan, a 2006 SS fourth-dimension coaster.

X2, the world’s first fourth-dimension coaster, debuted in 2002 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. X2 remains the scariest and most thrilling coaster I’ve ever ridden, making my pulse race and palms sweat every time I climb aboard.

In 2007, Intamin unveiled a new twist on the fourth-dimension coaster called ZacSpin, a tamer and more compact ride with a vertical zigzag track configuration. Four ZacSpins have been installed worldwide, including Green Lantern: First Flight at Magic Mountain.

(Forimmediaterelease.net) A hassle-free visa application process is one of the main factors destinations need to consider to increase Chinese outbound visitor arrivals, WTM Vision Conference-Shanghai delegates heard this week.

Destinations are desperate to increase the number of Chinese tourists due to their high-spending habits. In the first session, Euromonitor International China Travel and Tourism Analyst Ray Li predicted Chinese tourists will spend US$36 billion on shopping when overseas in 2016, which is double the amount they spent in 2011.

Speaking as part of the panel debate on the Chinese inbound and outbound markets, General Manager of MIKI Travel Cecelia Zhou told a packed room of delegates a smooth visa application process is vital for Chinese travelers when deciding their next overseas holiday destination.

Executive President of Jin-Jiang International Travel Ge Wanjun added, Chinese people leave booking their holiday until the very last minute so visa application processes need to be made quick, easy, and accessible.

Other factors destinations need to consider when trying to attract this increasing market is the “joint exercise from both the private and public sectors” CEO of TUI Travel China Marcel Schneider commented.

“There is a need to be willing to invest money, HR, and time to develop the destination in order to meet the Chinese market’s expectations,” Schneider added.

President and General Manager of Anhui Region in China Li Guoqing explained: “Chinese tourists really need to be educated on outbound destinations, what is there to do? what is there to eat? where is there to stay? in order to attract a high numbers of Chinese tourists.”

Reed Travel Exhibitions Director World Travel Market Simon Press, who opened WTM Vision Conference-Shanghai, said: “WTM Vision Conference Shanghai offered a fascinating insight to the Chinese tourism industry.

“Chinese tourists are in high demand due to their high in-resort spending patterns, and delegates heard the secrets to attracting high numbers of visitors from China.

“The event, in association with Chinese Business Network, is a great addition to the Vision portfolio, following on from similarly highly successful events in Moscow, London, and Dubai.”

The final event in the 2012 series, WTM Vision Conference-Florence, takes place next Friday (May 18).

MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Collett, Press and PR Executive,
World Travel Market, Tel: +44 (0) 20 8910 7836, Fax: +44 (0) 20 8334 0624, Web: www.wtmlondon.com

A store on Yongxing Island in the South China Sea on Sunday. (Photo: China Daily)

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhuanet) — The Xisha Islands in the South China Sea may open to tourists this year, officials said.

Located 330 kilometers southeast of South China’s Hainan province, the Xisha Islands are one of four big island groups in the South China Sea, together with the Dongsha, Nansha and Zhongsha islands.

Tourists will be able to visit the islands mainly on cruise ships while some can travel by air, Feng Wenhai, an official in charge of the Zhongsha, Nansha and Xisha islands’ affairs under Hainan provincial government, was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying.

“They will eat or sleep on the cruise ships, instead of on the islands Tourists can leave only footprints on the Xisha Islands,” he said.

Planning is under way to estimate the islands’ capacity for handling tourists and draft regulations for protection of the islands’ environment, he said.

Calls to Feng’s office on Wednesday afternoon went unanswered.

The arrangement is due to the islands’ limited capacity.

Cai Damao, who works on Yongxing Island, one of the Xisha Islands, told China Daily that the Xisha Islands have to rely on supply boats to transport drinking water from Hainan Island to the Xisha Islands, and use electricity produced by diesel generators.

But islanders like him welcomed tourists, because “facilities on the islands could be further improved and benefit us, too,” said Cai, adding that a wharf for cruise ships to dock on Yongxing Island is under construction.

Changes have been great in the past decade, said Cai, who moved from Hainan Island to Yongxing Island 10 years ago with some co-workers.

Cai takes care of vegetable and poultry for the army on the island. “The island now has a supermarket, two guesthouses, a few restaurants and even an Internet cafe,” he said.

“Vegetables are grown in agricultural sheds that have automatic water spray Things are much easier than before,” he said.

Though the Xisha Islands are regarded as the frontier and not suitable for developing tourism, some individual tourists still made their way to the islands to fish or visit family.

Earlier news reports said a four-day and three-night tour to the Xisha Islands by a supply boat costs 5,500 yuan ($870) per person.

Insiders said that Hainan province has been pushing to exploit the Xisha Islands’ tourism resources since the 1990s, but has made no progress in the field.

With the complications of the situation in the South China Sea, the proposal looks more hopeful than before.

Tan Li, deputy governor of Hainan province, told a provincial tourism industry’s meeting on April 24 that tours to the Xisha Islands must be opened this year.

Some netizens expressed interest in visiting the islands on Wednesday, saying the islands could rival Phuket Island in Thailand or other tropical islands.

Cai Ying, the daughter of Cai Damao, who works in Haikou, capital of Hainan, and has visited Yongxing Island, believes that the Xisha Islands will make a great tourist attraction.

“It’s very quiet on Yongxing Island. The dazzlingly blue sea and sky really took my breath away,” she said.

“Though it is hot all year-round, the breeze in the evening cools the air, and it is really a joy to circle around the island in a two hours’ walk,” she said.

The Xisha Islands boast more than 40 different kinds of birds, experts said. “Some of them you cannot find in other places,” said Ouyang Jie, who visited the islands a few years ago.

(Source: China Daily)

Leo Wang. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund.

If you’re planning to visit cosmopolitan Shanghai—and we think it’s worth a trip to experience the booming nightlife, restaurant and cultural scenes—Leo Wang, the concierge at the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, is an expert on what to do in his city. Check out his tips on the best of Shanghai, then take a look at Forbes Travel Guide’s new Star Ratings of the city’s top hotels and spas.

What’s the best way to spend a day in Shanghai?

In the morning, you can walk from the hotel to Yuyuan Garden because they are close. It’s open very early, so you may find some traditional Chinese dim sum for your breakfast. In the morning, it’s not too busy. But in the afternoon, there will be a lot of people there. After the gardens, you can walk along the Bund to the Fairmont Peace Hotel and turn left to Nanjing Road, which is the famous [shopping] road in Shanghai. … This is the first pedestrian street in China.

Then you can take the taxi to the French Concession’s Xintiandi. There you can find over 30 or 40 restaurants with different cuisines, both Chinese and Western. After lunch, you can walk around the French Concession or you may just walk around Wei Hai Road and do some shopping.

If you still have enough time, go to the Jade Buddha Temple. [Two Buddha statues] are made from jade … both are from Japan and 100 years old. … After dinner, you might have a river cruise on the Huangpu River.

What must-have souvenirs should travelers bring home from Shanghai?

Not only [material things], but the experience. … Eat traditional food—try some dim sum—go sightseeing to see the shikumen (traditional Shanghainese stone houses) that [aren’t found] anywhere else in the world.

What are the best things to see in Shanghai?

Don’t miss the Bund—if you walk along it, you can experience the modern city [and] the historical construction of the city. A hundred years ago, it was the financial area of Shanghai, and now the financial area has moved to the other side of the river. So you can compare the modern and the classical. … Also Yuyuan Garden—150 years ago, [Shanghai was concentrated in that area]. That’s why we call it Old Town.

What is one thing visitors might not know about Shanghai?

I think that most of the foreigners don’t have an idea of what China is like, or what’s in Shanghai, because most of the reports are negative. So … if they stay in Shanghai, they feel how friendly and how kind the Shanghainese of China are. … I have met a lot of guests who are impressed with the development of China and of Shanghai, and … the service we can provide. Some guests even tell me that our service is better than New York, which is true.

MANILA, Philippines -The Philippine tourism industry is bracing itself for the effects of Chinese travel agents’ suspension of tour packages to the Philippines.

China is the fourth largest source of tourist arrivals to the Philippines, and the fastest-growing market.  In the first quarter, there was a 77% surge in Chinese tourist arrivals to 96,455.

With the loss of Chinese tourists, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) on Thursday said the industry would have to focus its efforts in attracting tourists from other markets.

“Of course, it’s very impactful for us considering its one of the top 5 markets that we have initially targeted. However, we just want to put into perspective that they are one of the target markets. If we want tourism to grow in the Philippines, then obviously, we would have to adjust our efforts into the other countries, should the conflict continue to persist,” PTAA president Aileen Clemente told ANC’s On the Scene.

Clemente sought to downplay the impact of the loss of Chinese tourists, saying the Philippines’ top three markets are still South Korea, U.S., and Japan.

She also noted the PTAA has seen increased interest from countries like Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

“We believe they can augment whatever it is the Philippines will lose from Chinese tourists arrivals,” she added.

Earlier, Chinese travel agents, such as Ctrip.com and Beijing International Travel Service, announced they are halting all tours to the Philippines and say they will not accept bookings until the situation improves.

China has also warned its citizens in Manila to stay off the streets on Friday, when anti-China protests are expected to be held.

Clemente said the effects of the Chinese cancellations will probably be felt within a week, and will last for about 2 months.

“Some of our airlines are definitely going to hurt because we just recently got an update that their chartered flights have already been cancelled. It’s a risk that we all take in travel,” she said.

However, the PTAA still remains hopeful that the Philippines and China will resolve their differences amicably.

“While the PTAA wishes that circumstances are different right now, we are still very much hopeful the prevailing tension at the Scarborough Sholes will be resolved at the soonest possible time by our respective governments,” she said.

Top 5 Tourist Arrivals to the Philippines (January-March 2012)

KOREA            265,031
U.S                  179,561
JAPAN             104,558
CHINA              96,455
TAIWAN           57,745
*Source: Department of Tourism

A police officer from the exit-entry administration of Beijing Public Security Bureau presents the new e-passport, which is to be issued on May 15. Provided to China Daily 

China’s e-passports will better protect citizens’ personal data and national security, said customs officials on Tuesday, as authorities nationwide geared up for the introduction of the new high-tech system.

The 48-page travel document, which will be issued starting May 15, is fitted with a chip on the last page. Each page has an anti-forgery label.

Only police and customs authorities will be able to access the information on the chip, which includes the holder’s name, photograph and fingerprints.

“In this way, no one can copy or use an e-passport that is lost or stolen,” said Tang Lei, head of e-passport management for Beijing Public Security Bureau’s exit-entry administration.

“The e-passport will be effective in protecting national security and convenient for residents when passing through customs checkpoints.”

So far, more than 100 fingerprint recorders have been installed at the exit-entry administrations that process applications across the capital. Authorities say that staff members responsible for coping with the application work have received extensive training.

Although the e-passport will increase the workload for staff, it will take just one or two more minutes to finish an application.

Starting May 15, new applicants will get e-passports after storing thumb fingerprints and signatures, while old passports can still be used, if valid, said Lin Song, an officer in the administration.

The cost for the passport application will remain 200 yuan ($30).

The application process in Beijing will be suspended on Monday to transfer the system.

In Shanghai, the acceptance of passport applications will be suspended for the three work days prior to May 15 to prepare devices and make system upgrades, said Li Feng, a publicity official for the Shanghai Public Security Bureau’s exit-entry administration.

More than 90 countries in the world, including the United States and Japan, already use e-passports, according to the administration.

“It’s inevitable for such advanced technology to step into residents’ lives,” said Tang, who hailed the arrival of e-passports as an important step for China to take toward automatic processing at customs points.

“If the e-passport is developed well in China, the automatic pass, or pass without labor management, in customs will be implemented as soon as possible,” Tang said, adding that it would be like the self-service ticketing on buses in the capital.

However, exactly when that could be realized is uncertain, he said.

The e-passport service has received plaudits from applicants.

“A passport can sometimes work as a substitute ID card when checking in at hotels or boarding a flight. It would be horrifying if my passport was fraudulently used by others,” said Zhou Shuwen, 25, who works in a public relations agency in Shanghai.

However, others fear the need for fingerprints will be inconvenient, especially when it comes to visas.

“I have to personally go to the site to give my fingerprint with this new passport,” said Tang Wenzhe, a Shanghai native and a travel enthusiast.

“Then what is the need to pay for travel agencies? I want them to help me with the string of application procedures,” she added.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, China issues more than 10 million regular passports every year, and that number is increasing by 20 percent annually.

Madrid (global-adventures.us): Asia leads the world’s growth in travel and holds seven out of the ten busiest inter-city routes. In addition to the countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China, known as the BRIC markets, Indonesia, the Philippines and Chile showed an impressive growth, according to analysis by the market intelligence solution Amadeus Total Demand.

Traffic between Asia and Europe, and between Asia and North America, grew by 9 percent. Traffic between Asia and the Middle East grew six percent, reaching 38 million travelers in the year. Compared with the previous year, two percent fewer passengers traveled between Africa and Europe in 2011; making it the only region pair with a significant traffic flow decrease over the period.

Traffic between North America and Europe remains the busiest inter-regional flow with over 60 million passengers in 2011, followed by Asia and Europe with over 53 million, and Latin America and North America with 47 million passengers.

In terms of connecting traffic, over 50 percent of all passengers in the triangle between Asia, Europe and North America change aircraft at least once. On the other hand, only 7 percent of all passengers traveling within Asia travel with a connecting flight, compared to 10 percent in Europe and 31 percent in North America. The largest airports in Asia have a lower percentage of connecting traffic than the North American and European hubs. The average connecting rate of the ten busiest airports in Asia is 19 percent compared with 32 percent for the top ten hubs in Europe and 45 percent in North America.

The 2011 country statistics reveal that the strongest growth in absolute passengers is led by the BRIC countries. China registered an additional 19 million passengers in 2011, compared to 2010. Brazil’s numbers increased by 12 million, India’s by 8 million and Russia’s by 6 million passengers. Indonesia was the fifth strongest growth market with an additional 5 million passengers in 2011.

Brazil (plus 17 percent), India (plus 13 percent) and Russia (plus 15 percent) are also among the top ten fastest-growing countries by percentage growth. Chile (21 percent), the Philippines (15 percent) and Indonesia (11 percent) reserve top spots for themselves as well, while Egypt and Japan are among the fastest shrinking markets, probably due to the Arab Spring and the Tsunami.

From the world’s top ten inter-city routes, seven are within the domestic borders of Asian countries, out of which three are in Japan. In terms of volume, the route between Jeju and Seoul is the most important (almost 10 million passengers), followed by Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (circa 8 million passengers).

Of all the things you might want during a lengthy flight delay, bouncy cheerleaders waving white pom-poms in your face are probably far from the top of the list.

But the airport in Dalian, a city in northeastern China, was widely praised for just such a response to foggy weather last week. When flights were grounded, stranding some 5,000 passengers, the airport authorities provided tea and a squad of dancing cheerleaders.

The cheerleaders were without question an improvement over a frequent alternative in Chinese airports: utter chaos. Over the previous few weeks, flight delays had led to scuffles, police deployments and, on two separate occasions, passengers storming the runway in protest.

Frequent fliers in China were bemused but hardly shocked by these stories. We have all experienced interminable delays and bungled responses by airlines leading to passenger tantrums.

Delays are a fact of air travel globally. But the frequency and severity in China begin to add up: something has gone wrong with the Chinese aviation industry.

The government has built gleaming airports around the country, airlines have acquired large modern fleets, and in-flight services from food to entertainment have improved. But the most basic need of any air traveller – to get from point A to point B on time – has suffered.

China’s economic growth over the past two decades has been remarkably linear. Whether looking at industrial output, income levels or retail sales, the situation in China has improved in a more or less straight line. Air travel is one major exception to that rule.

Data from the civil aviation authority show that flights have become less and less punctual. Last year 77.9 per cent of flights in China departed on time, down from a peak of 83 per cent in 2007. And that only measures when aircraft close their doors, not when they take off, so the true number of on-time flights is lower still. By comparison, 85 per cent of flights in the US arrived on schedule last year, according to government figures.

So what has gone wrong? Industry insiders point to three factors, all of which connect to broader points about doing business in China.

First, while government investment has enabled China to quickly expand its aviation industry, excessive government control is also holding it back. This is most striking in airspace management. Only about 30 per cent of Chinese airspace is for civilian use, with the rest under military control, according to Liu Guangcai, a professor at the Civil Aviation University of China. Commercial aircraft are confined to congested corridors with little flexibility.

Second, for all of the money spent on airports, China still has scope for far more investment. At the start of 2010, the US had 15,095 airports for its 300 million people, while China had 1.3 billion people and only 175 airports. No wonder Beijing is set to break ground on the world’s largest airport, having opened the world’s second-biggest four years ago.

Finally, there are vast gains to be had from improving Chinese corporate management. The civil aviation authority last year blamed 41 per cent of delays on airlines themselves, with problems ranging from poor fleet co-ordination to inexperienced flight crews.

“At the same time as upgrading its hardware, the industry’s software really needs improvement,” said Li Lei, aviation analyst with China Securities Co.

However, the solutions to delays – freer airspace, more investment and better management – will all take years. In the meantime, airlines and airports must pay more attention to how to cushion the blow from regular delays. At present their responses are often ham-fisted. They share little information and offer even less in the way of compensation.

The inadequacy of their responses has been underlined by the two recent runway protests. First, a flight to Harbin in the north was diverted to Shanghai and delayed overnight because of thundershowers. Angry that they had received no compensation, 20 passengers forced their way on to the tarmac and stood in the path of an aircraft that had just landed.

Then, with word and photos of that spreading online, travellers in Guangzhou were inspired to stage their own tarmac protest when their flight was delayed by four hours.

Hence the welcome that the Dalian cheerleaders received in Chinese media – at least the airport was trying to do something to distract passengers from the tedium of waiting. Other airports are also busily devising new ways to deal with delays, though some are rather harsher.

Police stationed at Beijing airport signed an agreement with Air China last week to beef up officer patrols at check-in counters and boarding gates when delays occur, using a show of force to silence pesky passengers.

Pom-poms or police batons? If that’s the choice, I know which one I’d pick.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2012.