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Bangkok ranks best
Asian city tourism destination
Bangkok and the northern capital of Chiang Mai have been
ranked by a popular magazine, the Conde Nast Traveler, as the number one and
four respectively best tourism destinations in Asia, according to the
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s office in Los Angeles.
The magazine has made a survey for the 17th consecutive
year in its ‘Top 100 Best in the World 2004’ in which frequent travelers
were asked about their favorite cities, resorts, islands, hotels and luxury
liners.
In the category of favorite islands, Phuket and Samui
were ranked second and fifth respectively out of the 10 most popular islands
in Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Three Thai resorts, namely Amanpuri in Phuket, Four
Seasons in Chiang Mai and Le Meridien in Phuket, were ranked 5th, 8th and
10th respectively, according to the survey by the up-market magazine.
Eight deluxe hotels in Bangkok were ranked among the top
of 50 hotels in the region. The Peninsula Hotel was chosen as number one on
the list. (TNA)
Thailand leads way in creation
of regional conservation zones
Thailand is to stand at the forefront of region-wide
developments to create conservation zones which cross national borders, a
senior National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation recently revealed.
Speaking in Bangkok during the third IUCN World
Conservation Congress, Schwann Tunhikorn, director of the Wildlife
Conservation Office, said he had discussed with representatives from the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) a Thai proposal to create
extensive regional conservation zones.
Noting that wildlife moved and migrated without
respecting national boundaries, he said that the divergence in protection
measures enforced in each ASEAN country was having an adverse impact on
wildlife, particularly the larger animals such as elephants, rhinoceroses,
and tigers.
Thailand has 46 conservation areas immediately adjacent
to its borders with Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia. Schawann said
that the ASEAN countries now aim to create a region-wide forest
conservation area to maintain biodiversity. (TNA)
Phuket moves to phase out jet-skis
Phuket is making a serious attempt to rid the island of
jet-skis following several accidents to tourists and the deaths of two
Europeans, including a 12-year-old German boy.
Phuket Marine Department director, Surin Teerakulpisuth,
recently revealed the policy of the new governor was to phase out jet-skis
altogether within seven years. He said no new licenses have been granted
since March 1 and several people have been arrested for illegally operating
unregistered jet-skis.
“There are 219 jet-skis operating on four beaches on
the island, Patong, Kata, Karon and Bang Thao. The license for about 70 of
them expires next year and the longest license expires in seven years
time,” Surin said. He added there had been objections from jet-ski owners
and operators who said the ban would deprive them of their ability to earn a
living and support their families. “The governor is sympathetic to their
problems but he believes his policy is right and in the best interests of
safety for visitors and also for locals when they go swimming.” Surin
said. (TTG Asia)
Regent re-enters Bangkok
The Regent name is making a comeback in Bangkok. Carlson
Hotels Asia-Pacific and Grand Asset Public Co. Ltd. have signed an agreement
for a new Regent on Sukhumvit Road to open in late 2006/early 2007. The
Regent name disappeared from Bangkok when the hotel was re-branded the
current Four Seasons.
Carlson Hotels Asia-Pacific chief, Paul Kirwin, said,
“One of our principal strategies is to revive the growth of the Regent
brand. This is the fourth we’ve signed this year, and I feel good about
the progress. We’re excited to bring it back to Bangkok and to work with a
strong and experienced development company such as Grand Asset.”
The hotel will have 327 rooms. There are additional 300
condominium units under the Regent Residences brand. (TTG Asia)
Lanta Island marked for special tourism zone
Thailand’s popular southern resort island Lanta, off
Krabi Province, is to be turned into a special zone for sustainable tourism,
according to Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop.
Suwat, who recently traveled to Krabi to survey
development work in the province, said the government will accelerate the
search for sustainable tourism programs for the island and its environs.
However, he warned that nearby tourist destinations, particularly Koh Phi
Phi and the Phranang Bay, still lack clear and workable wastewater
management practices. The government would therefore provide 37 million baht
for local environmental work, he said.
The deputy prime minister also said that the government
would meet half the costs of a 600 million baht project to provide
electricity for Koh Phi Phi, with the Provincial Electricity Authority
funding the remainder of the project. He added that the government is also
funding a 400 million baht project to construct a four-lane highway linking
Krabi and Phang-nga provinces. (TNA)
TAT upbeat over
Phuket tourism prospects
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident of
meeting its tourism target figures for the southern resort island of Phuket
this year, despite concerns over the security situation in the southern
border region.
According to figures from the TAT’s 4th regional
office, over three million tourists visited Phuket over the first nine
months of this year, and forecasts are looking good for the final trimester,
traditionally the Phuket high season.
Suwalai Pinpradap, director of the TAT’s 4th regional
office, said that visitor numbers from Asia were noticeably up, with
arrivals from South Korea up 100 percent from last year’s figures. She
attributed this to the success of TAT road shows, including one in Seoul. At
the same time, she said that Australians were making more repeat visits to
the island. (TNA)
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