International visitors spent more money in Thailand than in any other Asian country in 2017, according to a UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report. The report said that Thailand recorded a total tourism expenditure of USD57 billion in 2017, ahead of Japan (USD34 billion), Hong Kong (USD33 billion), China (USD33 billion) and Taiwan (USD12 billion). The figures are based on surveys tabulated from credit card spending data and the cash receipts in different countries around the world. The survey also indicated that Thailand has everything for everyone, ranging from luxury villas on private islands to affordable street food, which is why tourists can always find good valuable experiences in Thailand. UNWTO also predicted that tourism expenditure will increase in the next year, thanks to strong Thai tourism promotion campaigns and growing foreign investment in world-class hotels in Thailand. The full report can be accessed here. Moreover, Bangkok ranked number one on the list of the world’s most-visited cities, according to MasterCard’s annual Global Destination Cities Index 2018. It has been ranked #1 for three consecutive years. The MasterCard index showed […]

Krabi was awarded the “Global Low-Carbon Ecological Scenic Spot” at the 2018 Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards ceremony held on 30-31 October, 2018, at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok. The two-day meeting organised under the theme of “Advancing Urban Innovations to Achieve SDG 11 and New Urban Agenda” was attended by more than 400 participants from 40 countries to conclude the observance of Urban October. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities is a cornerstone of localising the 17 SDGs. As a highlight of the Forum, the 2018 Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards were presented to 36 winners in seven categories. There were four winners from Thailand in three award categories. Krabi was awarded in the “Global Low-Carbon Ecological Scenic Spot” category, while Hua Hin was named among this year’s “Global Green City (District, Town)” category winners. In addition, two Thai high school students – Miss Wang Ruoxi, student of Satit Patumwan School and Mr. Thanik Siriphongpak, […]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to clarify that while the world famous Maya Beach is closed, stunning views of the Bay can still be enjoyed. The clarification is based on this week’s trip, from 19 to 20 October, by a TAT delegation led by TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn to obtain a first-hand view of the reality on the ground. The TAT delegation learned that Phi Phi Leh Island, where Maya Bay is located, is still open to tourists. Maya Beach itself is off limits, but visitors can still enjoy the stunning views of Maya Bay – without people – from a boat. They can also enjoy snorkelling in the front of the Bay. Diving and snorkelling trips around Mu Ko Phi Phi are also running as usual. Holidaymakers can also stay overnight on Phi Phi Don Island and enjoy many other beautiful beaches and bays of Krabi’s Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Phi Phi Don Island’s main pier is at Tonsai Bay, which is the busiest with a host of accommodation, restaurants and […]

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in conjunction with AirAsia, Bangkok Airways and VietJet Air launch a new campaign ‘Mega Deal to Thailand…Travel Is a Big Deal” to encourage tourists from ASEAN countries, especially Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, with special price tickets from the three airlines to pull ASEAN tourists to Thailand in Q4 as well as to strengthen the relationship in ASEAN. Open for reservation from today until 31 December 2018. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) disclosed the increasing number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand by 11% or around 2 million tourists compared to the previous year. The three most visited ASEAN countries to Thailand are Malaysia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam totaling over 5,628,156 tourists. It is a group of countries that can facilitate easy travels in a short time and having similarities in culture, food and languages. ‘Mega Deal to Thailand…Travel Is a Big Deal’ is a proactive campaign to stimulate tourism in Thailand. The three airlines have cooperated with TAT to encourage both tourists and businessmen to visit […]

After a record-breaking awards haul so far this year, Thailand has once again been recognised with yet another prestigious honour by Condé Nast Traveller’s readers, who voted Chiang Mai among the Top 20 Small Cities in the World in its 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards. This is hot on the heels of the recent Conde Nast Traveller UK 2018 Readers’ Travel Awards with Thailand voted into 3rd spot in the Best Country category. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said: “Chiang Mai, with its charming culture of the ancient Lanna capital plus the lovely weather and the beautiful hills, has always been popular with local and international tourists. I’d like to thank the readers of Condé Nast Traveller for naming Chiang Mai one of the World’s Top 20 Small Cities 2018.” According to Condé Nast Traveller, “There’s a reason so many travellers beeline for Chiang Mai when they visit Thailand—the city is undoubtedly the cultural capital of the country. (It also doesn’t hurt that the super-luxe Four Seasons Resort and intimate Rachamankha are fantastic home […]

Ministerstwo Morskie Tajlandii poinformowało o działaniach zwiększających bezpieczeństwo wycieczek morskich z Phuket oraz podniesienia standardu turystyki morskiej w kraju. Ministerstwo wyznaczyło 26 dodatkowych funkcjonariuszy w każdym porcie i nabrzeżu w Phuket, do przeprowadzania kontroli łodzi i pasażerów udających się na morskie wycieczki. Trwa również proces rozmieszczania większej liczby funkcjonariuszy w innych tajskich ośrodkach wypoczynkowych. Ponadto ogłoszono nowe rozporządzenie, które zostanie wprowadzone w nadchodzącym sezonie – wszystkie łodzie wycieczkowe będą sprawdzane dwa razy w miesiącu, (teraz raz w miesiącu), aby zapewnić że wyposażenie na pokładzie i załoga spełniają wymogi bezpieczeństwa. Regularna kontrola obejmuje sprzęt umieszczony wewnątrz łodzi i sprzęt na pokładzie, który musi być gotowy do użycia w nagłych wypadkach. Kapitan i sternik muszą zarejestrować nazwę i specyfikację każdego statku. Dokładną liczbę pasażerów i trasę wycieczki należy za każdym razem przedłożyć urzędnikom odpowiedzialnym przed opuszczeniem portu. Każdy pasażer musi będzie musiał podać takie informacje jak: imię i nazwisko, narodowość, miejsce pobytu i następny punkt wejścia na pokład. Zgodnie z prawem przewodnicy wycieczek muszą być również sprawdzeni. Ponadto żadna łódź wycieczkowa jakiegokolwiek typu nie może pływać w trudnych warunkach pogodowych. Tajlandzcy operatorzy […]

Bangkok is basking in the limelight of being named this year’s number one city in the world by the Mastercard’s 2018 Global Destination Cities Index, making it the third consecutive year that Thailand’s ‘City of Angels’ has been ranked in the top spot. With roughly 20 million international overnight visitors, Bangkok retained the top spot again this year. According to the study, the top cities once again underscored the importance of robust infrastructure, both business and leisure attractions plus strong local culture. All are key components highlighted in recent Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) marketing campaigns. TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn said TAT was delighted to hear the news of another award for Thailand’s capital city. “This is a wonderful validation for TAT’s ‘Amazing Thailand Open to the New Shades’ and ‘Go Local’ marketing initiatives. It identifies the length of stay and daily spending as two core criteria, and this is something to be very proud of. “Of all the awards and accolades that Thailand, and Bangkok in particular, has received over the past year this is one of the […]

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) celebrated 30 year of flights to Nagoya, Japan with a reception based on the theme “the World is Always New with THAI,” which was presided over by Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, THAI Chairman of the Board of Directors and attended by Mr. Sumeth Damrongchaitham, THAI President, Mrs. Usanee Sangsingkeo, THAI Senior Advisor, and Mr. Wiwat Piyawiroj, THAI Executive Vice President, Commercial. THAI Management and THAI General Managers in Japan welcomed Mr. Bansarn Bunnag, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Japan, Mr. Kimio Ishihara, Deputy Governor of Aichi Prefecture, Mr. Takashi Kawamura, Mayor of Nagoya, Mr. Akihiko Naoe, Deputy Chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), guests of honor, and members of the press who attended the reception in Nagoya, Japan. Mr. Wiwat Piyawiroj, THAI Executive Vice President, Commercial, said that THAI has operated flights to Nagoya for 30 years since 31 October 1988 as a code-share flight with Japan Airlines, which began with two flights per week and utilized Airbus A300-600 aircraft. Nagoya is the third largest city in Japan and […]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in partnership with Thai Airways International (THAI), Thai Smile Airways and Krungthai Bank, are coming together to boost domestic travel to 55 secondary destinations. This impressive alliance will launch new ‘Local Link’ tours with a dedicated e-payment gateway in the last quarter of 2018 to promote Thailand’s emerging destinations. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said: “The ‘Local Link’ initiative represents one of the seven activities under the “Amazing Thailand Go Local” project. It aims to improve the ratio of both domestic and foreign visitors between main cities versus secondary cities. It is currently 70:30 with the new target set at 65:35, with 10 billion Baht in revenue for the grass-roots level in 2018. “The initiative is also a reminder for Thais and local businesses to take advantage of the government’s tax deduction measures. It encourages them to hold seminars and business events or take leisure travel in second-tier cities for the rest of this year.” Under the partnership, TAT will design and promote ‘Local Link’ tours. They are categorised in three types: A, B […]

Indonesia-based Sahid Hotels & Resorts is set to foray outside the country with an Uzbekistan property opening mid-2019. Under the Operational Management Agreement signed in Jakarta on September 19, Sahid Hotels & Resorts will manage a three-star hotel owned by Royal Palace in Samarkand, one of the largest cities in Uzbekistan. The 65-room Sahid Royal Palace Samarkand will be the company’s launch property. There are also plans for further expansion in the city, including a 200-room hotel in the memorial complex of Imam al-Bukhari. Vivi Herlambang, director of business development, sales & marketing of Sahid Hotel & Resorts, shared that Sahid Royal Palace Samarkand will target travellers from China, Europe, Japan, and countries around Central Asia. Hariyadi Sukamdani, president director Sahid Hotel & Resorts, said that as a country that has just opened up after being separated from the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan has seen extraordinary development. He remarked: “The government is committed to developing the country and strongly encourages tourism to advance and become the main sector. After doing research, we see the big and untapped potential of Uzbekistan. The […]