|
TAT pushes two key tourism initiatives
Thai Riviera and Northeast Khmer culture
to attract more visitors
The government is pushing two major tourism initiatives
to promote cultural visits to Thailand’s northeast and to plug the Gulf of
Thailand as the nation’s new Riviera, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat
Liptapanlop recently stated.
Suwat said that during a recent meeting of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT), it had been decided to promote the country’s
southern coasts stretching from Petchaburi through Prachuap Khiri Khan,
Chumporn and Ranong as a global tourism destination - the ‘world’s
longest beach’. “These provinces do, indeed, have beautiful pristine
beaches which have not yet been tapped for their maximum potential,” Suwat
said.
Noting that the designation of the area as a new
‘Riviera’ would help pull in high quality tourists; Suwat said that it
would also encourage sustainable investment in the region’s tourism
sector.
Meanwhile, in the northeast, the government will work to
promote the region’s Khmer cultural heritage, as well as local goods being
made under the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) scheme. Thailand’s
northeastern provinces are distinctive in native culture and ancient history
and are of particular interest for visitors seeking cultural holidays.
The promotion, aimed at both domestic and foreign
tourists, will be focused on Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket,
Ubon Ratchathani and Sa Kaew provinces, as well as Siem Reap in Cambodia.
The government hopes to be able to publicize the country’s lower northeast
as a center for tourism in the Mekong sub-region. (TNA)
Foreign airlines flock
to Thailand in cold season
According to Deputy Transport Minister Vichet
Kasemthongsri, successful open sky negotiations have significantly boosted
the number of foreign airline flights arriving in Thailand during this
year’s cold season.
With 95 open-sky agreements now under its belt, the Thai
government is now reaping the rewards, with three new airlines coming to
Thailand over this year’s cold season. Of these, two are from Russia and
one a cargo airline from Saudi Arabia.
“The increase in flights gives a boost to business
contacts, investment and tourism, leading to more visitors coming to
Thailand and a boost in foreign revenue,” Vichet said, adding that the
open sky agreements were helping transform Thailand into a regional aviation
hub.
This year a total of four Russian airlines will fly to
Thailand, while Thailand’s own Phuket Air has expressed an interest in
launching flights to Moscow.
Last year saw 90,665 Russian visitors coming to Thailand,
while 63,695 Russians visited Thailand over the first seven months of 2004,
an increase of 35.49 percent. (TNA)
World Tourism Organization to help Phuket development
Planning experts from the World Tourism Organization (WTO)
are to work with officials in Thailand’s southern resort island of Phuket
to help develop its tourism sector, Phuket Governor Udomsak Assawarangkura
announced.
The WTO experts will collect data on Phuket before
drawing up their plans, in accordance with a deal forged between the WTO and
the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Phuket is one of 21 provinces to be
scrutinized by WTO experts over the next couple of months. (TNA)
No-frills airlines take off
at government performance fair
They may be a new phenomenon, but already public interest
in low-cost airlines is soaring, with the booths set up by no-frills airline
companies proving among the most popular at the recent government’s
performance fair.
With AirAsia flights to Thailand’s northern resort
provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, the northeastern province of Udon
Thani and the southern resort province of Phuket being peddled for a mere
499 baht - less than the cost of a coach ticket - the crowds flocking round
the booth were hardly a surprise.
Naturally these cut-price tickets were reduced to the
first 1,500 comers, and the airline admitted that passengers would have to
pay an additional 150 baht in airport fees and insurance, as well as seven
percent VAT.
One Two Go, meanwhile, was promoting its flights by
offering 200 baht discounts on subsequent flights for anyone who purchased
tickets during the fair.
The five-day exhibition, ‘Look backward, look forward:
from the grassroots to the taproots’, was held at the IMPACT Exhibition
Center on November 6-10 at Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province on the
outskirts of Bangkok. (TNA)
AirAsia launches no-frills Phuket-Singapore flights
AirAsia is hoping to grab a greater share of the low-cost
airline market with the introduction of flights between Thailand’s
southern resort island of Phuket and Singapore, the airline’s chief
executive recently announced.
Thassapol Balewelt said that the new route, which saw its
inaugural flight on November 6, would facilitate business and tourism,
making it possible to fly from Phuket to Singapore without having to go via
Bangkok.
With promotional fares of only 1,200 baht the airline
executive said that the route would particularly appeal to holidaymakers who
simply wanted a bit of relaxation. He also noted that the airline had
achieved considerable success on its twice-daily Bangkok-Singapore route,
with most flights at least 80 percent full. (TNA)
Amari Airport Hotel hosts
Thai Food and Culture Festival
Peter Cummins
Sponsored by HM the Queen’s SUPPORT Foundation, the
Bangsai Arts and Crafts Center, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai
Airways International, amongst others, the Amari Airport Hotel was the venue
for this year’s superb Thai Food and Culture Festival.
Ribbon-cutting
ceremony: Prof. Tanin (center), Amari GM Robert Jaermann (far right) and
Sompop Boonvaseth (4th right), with some of the attendees.
H.E. Privy Councilor Prof. Tanin Kraivixien presided over
the event, attended by more than 250 invited guests, business partners and
dignitaries. After the welcome cocktail at the hotel lobby, a Thai dinner
buffet was enjoyed by all at the hotel’s Kinaree Thai Restaurant.
 The
“sax man”, Khun Saxman (right) teams up with Khun Patchara for a
virtuoso performance.
Highlights of the evening’s entertainment were recitals
by famous saxophonist Saxman who played cool jazz and popular favorites,
together with Thailand’s virtuoso of the ‘khim’ instrument, Pachara
Thareepian.
A silk dress fashion show by the Rajabhat Valayaalongkorn,
University Ayuthaya, was featured and starred the charming guest model
Chadatarn Seesuk, who was crowned Miss Teen in 1992.
High fashion was followed by a spectacular folklore show
by talented performers of the Thai Village of the Bangsai Arts & Crafts
Center. Demonstrations of handicrafts and an exhibition of some of the works
performed by students from the center rounded off the evening’s
festivities.
It was, indeed, a splendid evening.
|
|
|
|
|
