Tag: Thailand Tourism Authority

Avani Hotels & Resorts has officially opened its latest resort and the first in Thailand’s southern beach town of Krabi – the Avani Ao Nang Cliff Krabi Resort. Centrally located, the resort boasts stunning views of limestone formations rising up from the Andaman Sea. Just steps away from local cafes and bars, as well as the ever-popular Ao Nang Night Market, visitors can immerse themselves in the bustling social scene while still being able to enjoy Ao Nang’s natural beauty, the resort said in a press statement. The contemporary 178 guest rooms and villas reflect Krabi’s natural landscape and are ... Read more

Bangkok tourist destination Khao San Road is usually heaving with people on weekends, its cheap beer bars, tattoo parlours, street vendors, hostels and buzzing nightlife drawing budget travellers and tour groups alike. On a recent Saturday evening, the street was deserted except for a few dozen locals who wandered past boarded up shops, ignoring restaurant staff calling out meal and drink deals, news agency Reuters reports in its industry feature. Khao San Road clearly shows the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Bangkok, the world’s most visited city for four consecutive years before a ban on international travel. “I have ... Read more

Thailand’s tourism ministry aims to introduce its “Safe and Sealed” tourism plan in Phuket by October 1, while operators in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are teaming up as a northern hub for long-stay travellers, Bangkok Post has reported. Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the ministry will join a meeting with Public Health, Interior, Foreign and Transport ministries on August 27 about the plan to open the country to tourists from low-risk cities or provinces who seek an excursion to Thailand. After a plan is developed, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) must approve it before launching the scheme. ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is expecting tourism revenues in September to grow by 20% compared to the same month last year, after the government approved September 4 and 7 as compensation holidays for this year’s Songkran Festival. The festival was postponed due to the pandemic. TAT’s governor has said the long weekend in September will stimulate people to take advantage of the ‘Rao Tiew Duay Kan’ (We Travel Together) tourism stimulus campaign. September normally has no national holidays, and schools nationwide are already open. In addition, the TAT aims to organise a fair to stimulate the tourism sector this month. ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) deputy governor for international marketing, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, has said there was “no talk of a timeline issued for reopening the country to inbound or outbound leisure travel”. He said he doesn’t expect Thailand to welcome tourists until at least 2021. He noted that discussions about potential re-openings had been very “risk averse”. “The Christmas period, usually the high season, is in jeopardy and I’m looking horribly even to Chinese New Year in February, which is an iffy proposition at best now. Unfortunately, this is not a rosy picture.” Earlier plans for travel ... Read more

Thailand’s Tourism Ministry is encouraging hotels to offer fair packages to expatriates, by avoiding price discrimination as the country aims to attract 2 million foreign residents to travel more domestically. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, has urged expatriate associations to travel domestically instead of going abroad, as they may face back-to-back 14-day quarantines when arriving at other destinations and then upon returning to Thailand. The idea has received some positive feedback from expatriates, but points of concern remain regarding local sentiment towards foreigners during the outbreak and overpriced accommodations, Bangkok Post has reported. He said the Tourism Authority ... Read more

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says that if the country remains closed in the last quarter of the year, the number of foreign tourists will dramatically shrink to seven million for 2020. TAT deputy governor for tourism products and services, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, said while domestic tourism has started to rebound, most businesses are still feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first six months of this year, the number of foreign tourists stood at 6.69 million, a contraction of 66% compared with 2019, according to a report by Bangkok Post. The industry, however, has been helped by ... Read more

Suvarnabhumi Airport is seeing an increase in passenger traffic after the government eased lockdown measures in the fifth phase that allowed domestic travel, Nation Thailand has reported. Wing Commander Suthirawat Suwanawat, general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said that from July 1-15, the airport had seen operation of 3,205 flights (1,604 incoming and 1,601 outgoing) or 214 flights per day on average. “The total number of passengers using the airport was 174,912 (85,758 incoming and 89,154 outgoing), or 11,661 passengers per day on average, which is a big jump from the previous months when the fifth phase of the easing of ... Read more

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) will enforce a new rule requiring all passengers, even on Thai-owned chartered flights or special flights transitioning through Thailand to have a valid Covid-19 clearance certificate, the Bangkok Post has reported. CAAT has prohibited all transit flights with Covid-19 infected passengers following China’s temporary ban of two Thai registered airlines after several passengers tested positive upon arrival in China. In both cases the flights only transited through Bangkok, and no passengers disembarked. The carriers, Thai AirAsia X and Thai Lion Air, were flying from Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur earlier this month and reportedly stopped ... Read more

Thailand’s medical tourism and wellness programs will go ahead despite the controversy swirling around two Covid-19 cases this week – in Bangkok and in Rayong. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin says the Ministry of Public Health will announce a list of hospitals that pass its criteria next week, and the first group of medical tourists will be allowed to land in Thailand within the next 2 weeks. He says the program will be operated under strict guidelines, including ensuring general patients are safe and visitors are not allowed to enter public areas. The visitors, ... Read more

Thailand’s Immigration Bureau is considering extending the current visa amnesty for foreigners stranded in Thailand. The Foreign Ministry’s deputy spokesperson made the announcement at the s daily Covid-19 briefing by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The Cabinet’s last resolution was to grant an automatic visa extension for foreigners stranded here to stay until July 30, The Thaiger has reported. The deputy spokesperson asked for patience and said the bureau’s decision on the subject will be announced soon. In April, the Cabinet granted a second automatic visa extension for foreigners for 3 months. The extended amnesty was a bid to prevent long ... Read more

People returned to some of Thailand’s famed sandy beaches this week, maintaining adequate social distancing. The authorities have eased coronavirus restrictions for the first time in more than two months, and tourists were only too happy to take advantage. Local authorities ordered beachgoers to stay at least a metre apart. Not all beaches were closed during the lockdown, and not all re-opened this week. So, it’s like a slow roll out. Phuket, in the south, is still off-limits, while Hua Hin remained open throughout. Pattaya, the hotspot, is back in action. Despite recording the first case of the virus outside ... Read more

The global spread of the corona virus has hit Thailand tourism hard. Last year, the number of tourists who visited Thailand stood at 39 million, earning the country a revenue of more than $60 billion. According to a BBC report, out of the total number of tourists more than 10 million were Chinese. So when the virus hit China hard, Thailand felt the tremors. As more flights from China got cancelled, the Thai airports fell empty. Tourism contributes one-fifth of the country’s total economy, and with manufacturing and agriculture struggling, a hit on tourism was the last thing that Thailand ... Read more

The Royal Coronation Ceremony for His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, a historic event in Thailand, will take place between May 4 and 6. It is an ancient traditional practice, dating back to over a century ago, to celebrate the accession to the throne of the King of Thailand. “On the fourth of May, a time to celebrate not only by the Thais but from the world, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn will be officially crowned as King Rama the tenth of the Chakri dynasty, according to traditions governing the monarchy,” said Weerasak Kowsurat, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Thailand. The earliest ... Read more

Thailand has been one of the sought after destinations for Indians travelling abroad.  Thailand is famous for its heritage sites, pristine beaches and resorts. Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe, Pattaya, Jomtien Beach, Maya Beach etc. are some of the renowned tourist destinations in Thailand. Those who have not visited Thailand yet have a golden chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Thailand now. It was announced by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi. The aspirants have to participate in a contest announced by TAT to become a lucky winner to visit Thailand for free. In ... Read more