The number of airline passengers is expected to rise 31% between 2012 and 2017 to 3.91 billion, with Asia Pacific alone expected to add 300 million to the growing market over that period, according to the latest International Air Transport Association forecast.

Of the 300 million generated by APAC, 75% are expected to be domestic passengers.

“The fact that the Asia-Pacific region –led by China–and the Middle East will deliver the strongest growth over the forecast period is not surprising,” IATA director general and chief executive Tony Tyler said.  “Governments in both areas recognize the value of the connectivity provided by aviation to drive global trade and development.”

He pointed to similar opportunities for Africa and Latin America, but stressed that in order for them to reap the benefits their governments must stop thinking of aviation as a “luxury cash cow”.

Sunshine Coast tourism has welcomed Air NZ's decision to extend its seasonal flights from Auckland to the Sunshine Coast, saying it will provide a boost for leisure, business and conference travel.

The carrier announced on Monday that it will operate the services between June and October for another three years.

"Tourism is one of the four pillars of the Queesland economy and increasing aviation access is key to helping the industry reach the goal of growing overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30b by 2020," state minister for tourism Jann Stuckey said.

Mittagong-based Travel Your World has become the first Independent Travel Group member to adopt Express Ticketing's new Express Desktop service.

The fully integrated cloud system means agents no longer need an IT team with all business and office applications, email, data backups and security managed from a local data centre.

The group also announced a special EFTPOS deal for its 500 Select and Independent Travel Group members with reduced merchant fees and no set up costs.

Abercrombie & Kent has launched a 13-day private jet adventure into remote Western Australia and the Northern Territory for no more than 30 guests.

The new release follows the launch of the luxury operator’s first three Private Jet journeys which included an Africa itinerary and an around the world trip, all of which sold out within months.

“Interest in a similar offering in Australia then emerged and so we are now introducing the first in a series of unique Australian journeys by private jet,” managing director Sujata Raman said. “This sort of itinerary has never been offered before – the aircraft is a cut above anything else available and will access places which larger planes cannot.” 

The tour, operated by a Fokker F70LR aircraft, departs on August 26 and is priced at $28,000 per person twin share with a single supplement of $4,000.

Trafalgar has extended invited home-based retail firm TravelManagers to join its new invite-only loyalty program, Insiders Circle, in recognition of TravelManagers’ significant sales contribution in 2013.

Accor has signed an agreement with a Burmese developer to develop three newly-built hotels in Myanmar – Pullman Yangon Myat Min, The Sebel Yangon Myat Min and Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min.

The announcement brings Accor's Myanmar development pipeline to six projects over the next three years.

"Accor is proud to announce the signing of three hotels with our new partner, Myat Min Co., Ltd., making this one of the largest hospitality partnerships in Myanmar," Accor senior vice president for Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Cambodia. Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines, Patrick Basset, said.

"Southeast Asia has long been a strategic market for Accor, and as Myanmar's tourism industry develops, we see significant growth potential in this country as well."

The 37-room Amoy boutique hotel is the latest property to be opened by Far East Hospitality in Singapore.

It is is located in FarEast Square, a heritage conservation project in the heart of the city centre, and is accessible via the city’s first street museum, Fuk Tak Chi. 

G Adventures is getting into the festive spirit by offering 12 days worth of travel deals in the run up to Christmas Eve this year in its 12 Days of G promotion.

Savings of 15% on selected trips around the world will be unveiled daily on the G Adventures website and Facebook page from December 13.