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Thailand to host ‘PATA Travel Mart’
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will host the
27th PATA Travel Mart 2004 (PTM) this month. The 27th Pacific Asia Travel
Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2004 (PTM) will be held at the Queen Sirikit
National Convention Center in Bangkok on September 22-24 according to the
TAT’s governor, Juthamas Siriwan.
The three-day event is aimed at promoting tourism-related
businesses in the region. Juthamas said it would be a good opportunity for
Thailand to publicize its improved communication networks and infrastructure
at the event, including the sky train, subway, the new Suvarnabhumi
International Airport, the expansion of commercial aviation routes, the
operation of low-cost airlines, and the expansion of hotels.
The PTM will also assist member states in marketing
strategies, and in promoting Thailand’s tourism destinations. Thailand has
hosted PTM twice - the first one in Bangkok in 1984 and the second one in
Pattaya in 1996. (TNA)
Anantara brand for Thailand’s Khao Lak resort
Royal Garden Resorts (RGR) will open an Anantara hotel in
Khao Lak in September, the first of three new properties to open under the
Anantara flag before the end of the year.
The Anantara Royal Coco Palm Resort will open on the Khao
Lak beachfront with 51 rooms, to be followed by the opening of the 108-room
Anantara Samui in November. A 107-room Anantara is under construction in
Cambodia’s Siem Reap and is slated to open in December.
The new openings will bring to five the number of
properties operated under the Anantara brand, the two already open being in
Hua Hin, just south of Bangkok, and the Golden Triangle near Chiang Rai.
A RGR spokesman added that announcements could be
anticipated soon in Vietnam and Indonesia. (TTG Asia)
Thai travel trade takes dim view of fuel-saving measures
Inbound tour operators are concerned that measures to
save energy being put into effect throughout Thailand will have an impact on
tourism spending and could make the kingdom less attractive to tourists.
>From September 6, department stores and petrol
stations will close early and billboard lighting will be switched off at 10
p.m. as the government implements new controls to limit the impact of high
oil prices on the economy.
Department stores will not be allowed to open until 11
a.m. and will have to close at 9.30 p.m. on weekdays and at 10 p.m. during
the weekend. Many stores at present are open until midnight or in some cases
around the clock.
A government spokesman told reporters the measures would
be in effect at least until the end of February 2005, and could last longer
depending on the price of oil.
Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) president,
Suparerk Soorangura, said the move was bound to affect spending,
particularly among Asian visitors for whom shopping is a major objective.
“But I don’t think the new opening times will affect arrival numbers. I
don’t think fewer people will visit Thailand just because the shops are
not open for so long,” said Suparerk.
The managing director of one of the country’s biggest
inbound operators from China, Roongsarp Grand Tour, said the change in
shopping hours was less important than switching off billboard lighting
early. Manus Pipathananunth said, “Street-lighting will still be on but
switching off the billboard lights at 10 p.m. may send the wrong signal to
tourists who, even if they go to bed at 10 p.m., like to think they are in a
city with vibrant nightlife.” (TTG Asia)
New pier in Phuket for tourists
The government plans to build a new pier in Phuket to
help improve its tourist facilities. Senior Phuket provincial official
Anchalee Wanichthepphabutr said the pier will be located at Po Bay and
will cost 140 million baht to construct. It will be 500-meters long and
seven metres wide with a pavilion in the middle. Local authorities hope
the new pier will help boost the number of tourists visiting Po Bay to
more than a thousand a day when it is completed in 2007.
Po Bay is a hub for eco-tourism. It is also a stopover
site for tourists heading to other islands and marine tourist spots off
Pang Nga and Krabi provinces. Local residents say they want eco-tourism to
remain a highlight of Po Bay in order not to spoil its natural beauty. (TNA)
Lost cost AirAsia takes delivery of 19th aircraft
The Malaysian based airline AirAsia has received its
latest Boeing 737-300 delivery. The 9M-AAR, which had earlier undergone an
extensive refurbishment exercise and overhaul completed by ST Aerospace
Engineering in Singapore, is now at the KL International Airport (KLIA).
Featuring a one-of-a kind livery, the 9M-AAR spots a
picture of AirAsia Cabin Crew on the aircraft’s tail. The 9M- AAR is the
fifth aircraft in AirAsia to spot a unique design. The other aircraft are
the “lat” plane (9M –AAP), “Jalur Gemilang (9M-AAI),” “Carabao
(9M-AAN)” and “TimeCell (9M-AAD)”.
“AirAsia is committed to offering a service that is
more than just low fares. Our cabin personnel are trained professionals who
not only provide care for our guests, but will also go the extra mile to
ensure the comfort of our guests on board. From boarding guests, to selling
food, and organizing our signature in-flight games, our crew is a pool of
multi talented and dedicated individuals. The 9M-AAR is a dedication to our
very own ambassadors in the sky.” (TTG Asia)
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