Nearly two decades since Star Cruises took delivery of the SuperStar Virgo, Genting Cruise Lines will transform the ship into the Explorer Dream, which will join the Dream Cruises fleet in spring 2019 as a pathfinder for the brand’s global aspirations. The SuperStar Virgo will undergo a US$30 million dollar transformation in March 2019 that will incorporate new facilities including The Palace, Dream Cruises’ signature, luxury private enclave featuring 50 suites and butler service. Guests will be able to enjoy new East-meets-West F&B options and a new Crystal Life Spa. Taking the first step to bring Dream Cruises outside Asian waters, in autumn/winter of 2019, Explorer Dream will homeport in Sydney and Auckland where she will embark on 21 seven-night itineraries. Explorer Dream will feature a multi-lingual crew conversant in English, Putonghua and other Asian languages and entertainment options reimagined to appeal to Asian passengers. With pre and post stays available in Sydney and Auckland, Dream Cruises’ seven-night itineraries in Australia and New Zealand is set to be an important cornerstone for Asian travellers who typically enjoy nine- to 14-day […]

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn and Expedia Group’s director of market management Pimpawee Nopakitgumjorn, yesterday signed an MoU to boost tourism to secondary cities in the country, aligned with the TAT’s direction. As part of the MOU, the collaboration will include the sharing of traveller-centric insights and trends that will boost TAT’s capabilities to plan effective promotional campaigns to attract more travellers and encourage longer stays in Thailand. Both parties are also expected to embark on joint destination marketing campaigns to spotlight Thailand’s hidden and unique tourist attractions in its secondary cities, promoting the variety of lodgings to Expedia Group’s 675-plus million monthly visitors globally. Expedia Group will also launch key programmes in destination marketing and skills transfer to the local hospitality industry in secondary cities. Workshops for local hotel partners will include ways to leverage Expedia Group’s Partner Central platform to accelerate skills development and build revenue and hotel management capabilities among local SME hotels. Other aspects of the cooperation include a joint corporate social responsibility campaign aimed at enhancing environmental consciousness among hotels in Thailand […]

Myanmar has introduced the Be Enchanted brand, replacing Let the Journey Begin launched five years ago. According to a statement from the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association, the new brand “portrays Myanmar as a friendly, charming, mystical and as-yet-undiscovered destination”. “Be Enchanted is as much a promise as it is an invitation. It’s realisation. It’s a memory. It’s a moment. The word ‘enchanted’ holds within it the true heart of Myanmar,” the statement read. The logo font is based on the shapes and identification of the Myanmar alphabet. The new brand will be used officially in Myanmar’s marketing activities such as travel shows, tourism road shows and any digital marketing related to tourism promotional activities/events. source: TTG Asia

Hotel Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside od lat uczestniczy w programie edukacyjnym Sprzątanie Świata, realizowanym w Bangkoku pod nazwą Clean Up Bangkok River 2018. – Włączenie się w sprzątanie rzeki Chao Phraya (Menam), nad którą leży nasz hotel, jest czymś naturalnym nie tylko przy okazji tej społecznej akcji. Dbamy o czystość rzeki cały rok – powiedziała podczas targów IT&CMA Pornnapa Sastraruchi, dyrektor Ramada Plaza. Jose De Jesus Ting, dyrektor sprzedaży i marketingu Ramada Plaza dodał, że hotel jest jednym z partnerów akcji w Bangkoku współpracujących m.in. z Urzędem Miasta Bangkok, Ambasadą Stanów Zjednoczonych, Eco Capitals Forum, Uniwersytetem Mahidol oraz innymi organizacjami społecznymi w celu usuwania śmieci z rzeki Menam. Akcja obejmuje także sprzątanie ulic, przestrzeni publicznych i kanałów. Angażuje się w nią wielu wolontariuszy studentów, którzy są najlepszymi ambasadorami troski o naturalne środowisko Bangkoku. Na całym świecie Sprzątanie Świata (Clean Up the World) to program społeczny zwracający uwagę na zanieczyszczenie naszego globu. Program ma na celu edukację mieszkańców globu, aby osiągnąć stałe angażowanie się społeczeństwa w troskę o czystość środowiska naturalnego. Kulminacja programu przypada na trzeci weekend września. Polega na […]

Dialog między Unią Europejską (UE) i Stowarzyszeniem Narodów Azji Południowo-Wschodniej (ASEAN) rozpoczął się oficjalnie podczas X posiedzenia ministrów spraw zagranicznych stowarzyszenia w 1977 roku. Ponad 40 lat wzajemnych relacji obu międzynarodowych organizacji skłania do podsumowań. Do końca bieżącego roku, zgodnie z informacją podaną 3 lutego przez Voice of Vietnam, umowa o wolnym handlu między UE a ASEAN powinna zostać ratyfikowana. Opinię należy uznać za bardzo optymistyczną, szczególnie, że sama UE milczy w sprawie postępów i perspektywy jej zawarcia. Europejska Służba Działań Zewnętrznych znacznie chętniej chwali się dwustronnymi umowami zawartymi z Singapurem (2013), Wietnamem (2015) oraz faktem prowadzenia negocjacji z innymi członkami ASEAN-u. Biorąc pod uwagę milczenie źródeł oficjalnych oraz prasy, należy przychylić się do tezy, że zamiast umowy międzyregionalnej uwaga UE skupiać się będzie na rozwijaniu współpracy bilateralnej między Unią, a poszczególnymi krajami swojego azjatyckiego partnera. Wnioski, które nasuwają się w odniesieniu do prawdopodobnej przyszłości relacji między UE a ASEAN-em, można zawrzeć w trzech możliwych scenariuszach. Najbardziej prawdopodobnym rozwojem wydarzeń jest de facto zastąpienie umowy międzyregionalnej zestawem wspomnianych umów bilateralnych. Jest to korzystne dla UE ze względu na jej przewagę […]

Mrs. Pornkamol Amnucksoradeja (sixth from left), Deputy Director, Passenger Services, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), recently represented the company in welcoming Thailand’s Asian Games Gold Medalist for Taekwondo Ms. Panipak „Tennis” Wongpattanakit (fourth from left), in the Republic of Indonesia. Mr. Choi Young-seok (third from left), Thailand’s Taekwondo coach, together with Mr. Thanadit Raktabutr (fifth from left), Deputy Secretary, Taekwondo Association of Thailand, also traveled back to Thailand with THAI flight TG434 on the Jakarta-Bangkok route at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is encouraging travellers to remain extra vigilant by following all safety rules and guidelines during the country’s current monsoon season. Visitors are also advised to keep up-to-date with daily Thailand weather forecasts by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) on impending storms, heavy rains, rough weather, etc. The TMD also issues regular flood, flash flood, or mud slide alerts while regular surf forecasts help predict high waves and other coastal threats that are common to the Andaman Sea. If it is a particular torrential monsoon shower, many tourist activities are curtailed or delayed if tour operators are responsible and think that there are undue health and safety risks, or threats. Activities likely to be affected include: Mountain trekking White-water rafting Zip lining Bungy jumping Snorkelling Sailing Diving Ferry transfers While some activities will not run at all during the rainy season – for instance, liveaboard dive trips to the Similan Islands – many will run as usual, especially those in the high traffic tourist areas. May to October sees the Thailand monsoon season sweep into […]

Thailand is set to undertake a sweeping overhaul of all the country’s safety and security measures relevant to the travel and tourism industry. More than 150 participants from all around the country attended a half-day forum on 9 August, 2018, at the Athenee Hotel Bangkok to analyse the key issues and brainstorm ways to enhance safety and security for visitors. Presided over by H.E. Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sports, the forum was held under the theme of “Travel around Thailand, Safe Everywhere”. It was also attended by Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and representatives of numerous private and public sector associations. Mr. Weerasak said: “Thailand has recently experienced numerous incidents impacting the safety and security of both Thais and foreign tourists. This has had a negative impact on the image of tourism and could potentially impact on the tourist atmosphere of the country over both the short and long term. “In the short term, it could lead to cancellation of travel bookings. In the long term, it could lead to a […]

Phuket is celebrating its most recent award after being named the ‘Second Best Beach in the World’ by prestigious business publication US News & World Report. It continues to win accolades from major international media for its white sands, aquamarine waters and limestone cliffs that attract millions of travellers to Thailand every year. This island was hailed as “a little piece of paradise” according to the magazine. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, said everyone in Phuket, both public and private stakeholders should take pride in this achievement as it displayed the island’s appeal as one of the world’s most desirable beach destinations. “Obviously we are delighted to win this important award. The fact the honour comes from the US News & World Report is even more gratifying given its target audience and readership. “In the past Phuket has won several other prestigious awards for its beaches as well, so we are very grateful for the continued recognition.” Mr. Yuthasak added. Phuket also continues to expand its appeal as it shifts upmarket. It is also quickly established […]

Thailand’s Tourist Police Bureau recently took Chinese media members to Phuket to see first-hand how improved Phuket tour boat safety measures and shipyard standards are being implemented and enforced. The one-day trip on Friday, 3 August, 2018, was also joined by national experts on shipbuilding quality standards and officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This is to re-build tourism to assure confidence among tourists that the necessary measures are moving forward. The Chinese media inspected Chalong Pier, its dock and its procedures before allowing vessels to leave for sea tours and diving. In the latest attempt to uplift Phuket’s tour boat safety, there have been improvements of Thai tour boat rules and regulations. The captain and helmsman must register each boat’s name and specification, plus the exact number of passengers and tour route must be submitted to the responsible officials including Phuket’s Marine Office, Tourist Police and Provincial Administrator before leaving port each time. Thai boat operators will be swiftly punished with the maximum penalty that the law affords if found in violation of the new laws related […]