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American tourists continue visiting Thailand despite bird flu
Thailand’s bird flu epidemic has not discouraged US
tourists planning to travel to Thailand, according to the governor of
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Juthamas Siriwan.
“Americans understand that the disease is restricted to
certain areas and that human-to-human transmission has not been
confirmed,” Juthamas said.
Juthamas said the US is one of Thailand’s significant
tourist markets. In 2003, nearly half-a-million US tourists visited the
country. This is expected to increase by 20 percent this year.
“During the first eight months of 2004 the number of US
tourists visiting Thailand increased by more than 25 percent. The TAT head
is currently visiting Los Angeles to promote Thailand as a key tourist
destination. It is part of the TAT’s tourism promotional strategy for 2005
themed ‘Happiness on Earth’. Juthamas said. (TNA)
Accor arrives on Phi Phi Island
with Sofitel beach resort
Sofitel Phi Phi Villa & Spa will open early 2005 on
Thailand’s picturesque Phi Phi Island featuring a unique all-inclusive
concept for guests seeking to get away from it all and indulge themselves.
The hotel is tucked into a leafy hillside on the main Phi
Phi Don Island, just north of the uninhabited Phi Phi Ley Island and film
location for Hollywood’s “The Beach”.
Accor Asia Pacific managing director, Michael Issenberg,
said, “The opening of Sofitel Phi Phi Villa & Spa adds one of Asia’s
best-known destinations to Accor’s growing network of Sofitel resorts
around the region. For many years, and well before Hollywood, the Phi Phi
Islands were well known to discerning travelers who wanted an exquisite
location, with sympathetic tourism accommodation and a multitude of
activities available. Once completed, Sofitel Phi Phi Villa & Spa will
offer a new level of luxury accommodation on the island that has not been
available before.”
International sporting events
to help pull in tourists
Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT) Santichai Euachongprasit recently stated that Thailand hopes that a
number of international sporting events taking place in Thailand over the
coming months will serve to draw more tourists from around the world,
Using the recent Tennis Thailand Open tournament held in
Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province as an example, Santichai said that
sports were one of the five selling points being promoted by the TAT.
Noting that international sporting fixtures had helped
generate a good reputation for Thailand in terms of its ability to organize
international events and to ensure the safety of visitors, Santichai said
that the TAT is pressing for more international sporting tournaments to take
place in the kingdom.
He also noted that the participation of Thailand’s
sportspeople in such events demonstrated the prowess of Thai athletes, while
international sportspeople visiting Thailand were able to learn about Thai
traditions and culture. Santchai added that sporting events planned for next
year include a women’s football contest, a series of golf tournaments and
the Asian Indoor Games. (TNA)
Lufthansa overhauls website
Lufthansa is revamping its website, www.lufthansa.com
with the help of IBM and e-Travel. The airline has signed a five-year
agreement with the IT giant and Amadeus’s ecommerce business unit to build
and run its Internet portal.
IBM Business Consulting Services global relationship
partner, Dr Matthias F๖rster, said, “The airline will be able to
react quickly to market demand at any time, thanks to the built-in
flexibility enabled by the new portal.”
Under the terms of the agreement, IBM will supply the
consulting, solution development, maintenance and hosting operations.
Amadeus will provide and operate the overall booking and fares solution.
Both companies will provide the infrastructure, middleware and network
technologies for the entire project. (TTG Asia)
Best Western enters Lak Island
Best Western International has signed an agreement to
lend its name to a new four-star property in Lak Island, north of Phuket. If
the owners of Best Western Palm Galleria Resort agree to a management
contract the chain is pursuing, it will be the second property to enter into
its hotel management business in Asia.
Director of development for Southeast Asia, Craig Chau,
said the company entered into its first management contract in September
with the Best Western Ban Aonang in Krabi. “We are looking at managing
hotels in Asia as a way to bring locally owned hotels up to company
standards,” Chau said.
The 100 million-baht (US$ 2.5million), 74-key Palm
Galleria is now under construction and due to open on Pakarang Cape, one
hour north of Phuket International Airport, by the end of December. (TTG
Asia)
Don’t miss out on fabulous Zurich in autumn
Zurich, Switzerland’s beautiful cultural and business
center has become one of the country’s major tourist destinations. Zurich
is the city with the world’s highest quality of life that has a good deal
to offer with all the attractions of city life: eating out, nightlife,
fashion, architecture and design. World-famous cultural institutions and
modern design can be found here, as can top restaurants and diverse
nightlife attractions in the various trendy parts of the city. Throughout
the autumn months of 2004, Zurich Tourism will be initiating several
fascinating, varied and exciting events. Zurich’s downtown invites you to
join us, as we celebrate Autumn 2004.
From Bangkok getting to Zurich couldn’t be easier than
on SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines), which operates daily non-stop
flights (except Tuesday) between Bangkok and Zurich utilizing its brand new
Airbus A340-300. This state-of-the-art aircraft features some of the airline
industry’s most advanced innovations in comfort throughout the plane and
in all classes.
THA commits to conserving world elephant population
An initiative taken by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has
led to the complete elimination of the sale of ivory products in Thai Hotels
Association (THA) Bangkok member hotels. WWF director for Thailand, Robert
Mather said the success of the initiative was entirely due to the commitment
of the THA.
Mather said, “It’s true that we made the first move,
but the THA has really worked hard over the past 18 months to make sure none
of their members is selling any item made from ivory. It really is a great
success story.”
In November 2003 TTG Asia reported there were still 18
THA member hotels allowing their premises to be used for the illegal sale of
articles made from ivory. The WWF said at that time Thailand was Southeast
Asia’s major center for the illegal trading of ivory and hotel shops were
the biggest single identifiable distribution channel. (TTG Asia)
New airport drainage system due for 2008 completion
Deputy director-general of the Royal Irrigation
Department, Kamolporn Hudsarang, recently admitted that the drainage system
at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport will not be completed until 2008,
three years after the airport’s opening.
Kamolporn said that the drainage system was not part of
the contract which required completion prior to the opening of the airport,
scheduled for 29 September next year. Nonetheless, he said that existing
drainage channels would help drain off water until work on the drainage
system was completed.
The government has given the Royal Irrigation Department
a budget of 8 billion baht to construct the drainage system at the
Suvarnabhumi Airport, some of which will go towards requisitioning land from
217 local farmers, who will be relocated to other areas.
Although the construction of the new airport has been
plagued by delays, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently spent a
night camped out at the construction site, has repeatedly insisted that it
be opened on schedule. (TNA)
Tourism-related operators support liberalization
Most tourism-related operators have agreed to the
liberalization of the service sector under the free trade area (FTA)
framework, according to a survey by the University of Thai Chamber of
Commerce (UTCC).
Atta Pisalvanich, director of the UTCC’s International
Trade Study Center, said the survey was made by seeking opinions of
tourism-related operators including hotels, restaurants, food shops, and
guided tours on the liberalization of the service sector under FTA.
It found more than 50% supported the liberalization
although they viewed it could have both pros and cons such as new employment
and investment, stiffer competition, decline in market share obtained by
local people, and capital outflow.
They suggested the government give financial support to
local investors in the service sector and oversee service price
determination by local and foreign operators. They also urged the government
to develop human resources in the sector, boost the security image of the
country, protect investors, and suppress illegal guided tours.
Revenue earned from tourism has increased to more than
500 billion baht or 10% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)
since 2000. Last year, the number of foreign tourists totaled 9.7 million
with revenue 289 billion baht and was expected to increase to 12 million
this year with revenue of 384 billion baht. It is projected that in the next
4 years, the number of foreign tourists will reach 18 million with revenue
expected to rise to 700 billion baht. (TNA)
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