Expecting more wealthy visitors to the region.

The Hong Kongbased company also plans to open offices in Jakarta and on Bali in Indonesia next year, as well as establishing representative offices for marketing in New York and Los Angles.

The company currently has two offices in Hong Kong, two in Thailand - in Bangkok and at Don Mueang Airport - one in Phnom Penh and a marketing representative in London.

Managing director Simon Wagstaff yesterday said the tourism industry in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and elsewhere would gradually grow over the long term and that the company expected more wealthy visitors to the region.

"Now that Phuket and Samui in Thailand, Bali in Indonesia and Seam Reap in Cambodia are becoming worldclass destinations, these places can attract more niche and highend foreigners," he said.

He said the company was working with 20 major luxury hotels and companies in Thailand, such as the Minor Group and Red Bull, to provide services to their top executives.

Most of the customers currently handled by the ASA Group are members of royal families, leading businessmen and celebrities.

The group provides a range of tailormade travel services, including arranging aircraft, helicopters and yachts, landing permits, ground handling supervision in more than 37 domestic and regional airports, crew and passenger transportation and hotel accommoda¬tion, inflight catering and refuelling.

Moreover, it offers aviation, personal, executive and VIP security; global secure groundtransportation travel services; tour guides, clubs, golf, hotel bookings, spa treatments, restaurants, event services and visa assistance.

The company projects the operation of 300 private jet tours in Thailand this year and 500 next year.

One of its offerings is a sevenday triangular trip - BangkokPhuketChiang Mai - costing Bt3 million for six or seven people, using a Cessna aircraft and including accommodation and full travel services.

With 31 years in the security and travel business, Wagstaff has worked as a consultant in Asia since 1990 and lived on the continent for almost 20 years. He established the company in 1999. -