Stories tagged with thailand
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Cambodia Closes Thai Border at Preah Vihear Temple
Cambodia closed a border gate with Thailand leading to a centuries-old temple, which both nations claim as belonging to them. An unnamed official said the action was taken on Tuesday as Thai protesters gathered outside the gate and opposition members in the Thai Parliament accused the PM of yielding sovereignty over the site to Cambodia.
The border closure at Preah Vihear temple was the latest in a long series of flare-ups between Thailand and Cambodia over the ownership of this area.
Located atop a cliff around 245kms north of Phnom Penh, Preah Vihear is actually more accessible from Thailand than it is from Cambodia.
The two countries have disputed ownership of this temple, which is found on territory that is also under dispute. The International Court of Justice, however, awarded ownership to Cambodia in 1962.
This most recent conflict came to life a week ago when the Thai government supported Cambodia's attempt to register Preah Vihear with UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Critics in Thailand condemned the actions of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej when he bypassed Parliament and endorsed Cambodia's bid to UNESCO, accusing him of violating Thai sovereignty. According to the critics, the two countries should make joint application for the site’s World Heritage Status.
A large crowd of Thai protesters gathered early in the week near the entrance to the temple at the border, shouting that Preah Vihear belongs to Thailand and telling the Cambodians who live in the temple area to move away, reported the director-general of the Preah Vihear Authority, Hang Soth.
"We decided to shut down the border entrance because we are afraid that Thai demonstrators will reach the temple and cause problems with our people who live the near the temple," said Hang Soth.
Authorities will consider reopening the entrance "when the situation becomes normal and Thai demonstrators stop protesting in front of the temple," he added.
Posted by: Andrew on 01 Jul 2008, 21:00 -
TAT Promotes Thailand at Goa Programme
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a two-day training programme for Indian travel agents last month in Goa, India.
Many are predicting a shift in the travel climate as high-end, luxury travel becomes a more important segment of the market. An indicator of this is the mass market-directed Tourism Authority of Thailand aiming for an audience of high-end travelers. Strategically located between the two burgeoning superpowers, India and China, Thailand has its eyes on a huge market.
As part of the TAT initiative to promote Thailand as an up-market destination and to create a solid base of partners in the travel trade, the tourism agency conducted a two-day workshop for Indian travel agents in Goa, making India and the US the only two countries where this has occurred. The initiative is called the Amazing Thailand Champion Agents Program.
Speaking about the programme, Prakit Piriyakiet, executive director for the South Asia & South Pacific Region of the TAT, remarked: "The programme is designed to educate travel trade members on our up-market products. The workshop gave them an opportunity to interact with senior TAT representatives from Bangkok and co-participating hotels and tourism attractions from Thailand." This recent workshop involved 40 trade member participants from across India.
The US was the first country chosen for the programme, followed by India. Expansion to additional countries is still under consideration. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the director of the TAT, commented: "I am not aware of plans by other TAT offices to organise a similar activity. However, directors of our offices in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were also present in Goa as observers and they will probably do similar things in their respective regions. So you can say that Goa was a successful pilot project that TAT can implement in other parts of the world."
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Jun 2008, 21:16 -
Thailand Tourism Festival 2008 Opens
The Thailand Tourism Festival 2008 opened this past week at the IMPACT Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi province, just outside Bangkok. This is Thailand’s premier travel and tourism event.
The festival was held from 5-8 June, alongside Thailand Travel Mart + 2008.
The travel and tourism event was organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which is responsible for promoting domestic travel in the country to develop the base for promotion of Thai destinations in the international travel market.
The objective of the festival is to create awareness of the fragile nature of the environment and ecotourism opportunities and the country’s national cultural heritage sites, as well as to encourage the preservation Thai traditions and encourage economic growth in all of the country’s provinces.
Visitors were treated to a variety of spectacular cultural performances, representing the four regions of Thailand. Among these was the Khon, a traditional masked dance, which was the first to be performed.
The Thailand Tourism Festival also featured cultural showcases sponsored by other member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
A number of games and fashion shows were presented by private operators in the tourism sector.
Posted by: Andrew on 17 Jun 2008, 10:54 -
Thais Want to Be Reincarnated as Thais
A recent survey revealed that nearly 90% of Thais taking part in the survey wanted to be reborn Thai, even given their concerns that their fellow Thais may not remain kind, loving and peaceful over time. Reincarnation is a fundamental part of the Buddhist belief system. The director of the ABAC Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation & Research, Dr Noppadol Kannika, reported that the group conducted its survey in May 2008 on 3,487 respondents throughout Thailand.
When asked about violence due to the country’s political situation, over the next six months, 66.3% feared that violence would increase.
More respondents, 72%, said that they feared young people will follow the lead of some adults in showing nasty behaviour.
Nearly 80% said they believed violence seen at anti-government protests was provoked by other groups in the country. They placed the blame on these ill-intended people, the protesters themselves, incompetent officials and media reporters sensationalizing the situation.
When asked about effective solutions for the current political turmoil, 80% indicated that reason and not emotion should be used to resolve political differences.
A full 75% of those responding to the survey said that both sides needed to show restraint in order to avoid possibly tragedy. Almost the same percentage said that it was crucial that people on both sides show forgiveness and compassion.
Posted by: Andrew on 14 Jun 2008, 20:00 -
Canadian appears in Thai court
Thai2 http://www.ctv.ca
A native of British Columbia, Canada appeared in a Thai court yesterday to face charges of pedophilia, Canadian news agency CTV reports. If convicted, the alleged pedophile could face up to 35 years in prison. 33-year old Christopher Neil appeared in shackles in front of a Bangkok judge on Monday, but the court case was adjourned until October.
Neil had taught English for many years in Asia and was arrested last October as the international law enforcement agency Interpol descrambled an online photo of what is alleged to show Neil in lewd acts with a nine year old Thai boy. Neil heard the charges leveled against him for the first time in the courtroom, which included taking a child without parental consent and subsequently holding the child against his will. There are also videos of what investigators purport are illegal cast involving Neil and other children.
The boy’s father, who will seek $10,000 in damages says, "I want him jailed. The money is not a big deal."
Neil will have to wait until the fall for his day in court, and his family says they are having trouble raising funds for a private lawyer to defend him.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:46 -
FCO issues Thai travel advisory
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a travel warning for Thailand, in anticipation of the political demonstrations that are expected to take place in Bangkok in the coming weeks that it says are potential flashpoints for violence.
Last month there were several incidents in the Kingdom of protests turning nasty, despite the fact that the government has become relatively stable following the bloodless coup two years ago. The FCO says that the situation is still unstable despite the fact that democratic elections were held at the end of last year.
With the planned large-scale protests, the FCo is warning travellers that violence could escalate in the wake of the demonstrations, and caution should be exercises both if in the country and in making the choice to visit. Warnings come after two bomb attacks in Bangkok killed two people and injured 15 others at the CS Pattani Hotel in March.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:44 -
Canadian appears in Thai court
A native of British Columbia, Canada appeared in a Thai court yesterday to face charges of pedophilia, Canadian news agency CTV reports. If convicted, the alleged pedophile could face up to 35 years in prison. 33-year old Christopher Neil appeared in shackles in front of a Bangkok judge on Monday, but the court case was adjourned until October.
Neil had taught English for many years in Asia and was arrested last October as the international law enforcement agency Interpol descrambled an online photo of what is alleged to show Neil in lewd acts with a nine year old Thai boy. Neil heard the charges leveled against him for the first time in the courtroom, which included taking a child without parental consent and subsequently holding the child against his will. There are also videos of what investigators purport are illegal cast involving Neil and other children.
The boy’s father, who will seek $10,000 in damages says, "I want him jailed. The money is not a big deal."
Neil will have to wait until the fall for his day in court, and his family says they are having trouble raising funds for a private lawyer to defend him.
Posted by: DaveB on 01 Jun 2008, 19:46 -
Rich Thai travellers speak out
In a recent survey undertaken by American Express, High-end travellers from Thailand declared they wanted a bit more minimalism when it comes to premium service. Words like flexibility and privacy came up, with the vast majority of those surveyed stating they preferred getaways that focused on privacy and exclusivity rather than being involved with a large group.
Many business professionals and luxury travellers were surveyed to reach the results, and one man who wished to remain anonymous said, "Privacy is very important to me, so I stay at less known, smaller hotels now - I feel more at home at these places. I'm worn out by large hotels and the crowds; it's all just too much. Boutique hotels are like going to your friend's house – comfortable."
It was also found that package holidays are out. Travellers want to be flexible and be able to go where the wind blows them a bit when on holiday instead of having a day’s itinerary to face in the morning. One man said, "A perfect travel experience is something I design myself. If I travel, I want to be the one who sets the schedule. I don't want to do things that are pre-arranged. You have to do many things in life you may not want to do. So when you relax, you want it to be your way, not in a box that someone else has created for you."
Posted by: DaveB on 23 May 2008, 20:24 -
Chiang Mai adventure race a success
More than 100 competitors turned out on Sunday May 18th for the first Chiang Mai Amazing Adventure race, part of a multi-event series that has been held across Thailand for the past three years.
The event attracted more than 50 teams of two, who had to compete in several disciplines including running, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking, reaching each of the five check points together.
First home was the Thai duo of Boonyarit Boonjang and Choochart Tayasuthi in 4 hours 12 mins 48 seconds, while the first mixed team of Runsan Masurin and Saifon Boonjang achieved a commendable third overall. The race attracted participants from more than a dozen nationalities based in cities as far away as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.
Starting out at the 700 Year stadium, the challenge comprised of a cross country mountain run, followed by a mountain bike stage, then a swim across Huay Tung Tao lake, before the runners took to the running trails again. Kayaks (supplied by the organisers) were used for the fifth leg, followed by another bike stage to the finish, and took some teams up to eight hours, including several obstacles thrown in.
“We had a great turnout for an inaugural Race and far from Bangkok where most of the competitors come from.� Said race organiser Serge Henkins afterwards. “We had also a beautiful weather after a week of heavy rain…Another positive thing is that the winners are a local team from Chiang Mai�.
“After the great success of the last River Kwai Trophy, which is now the second Adventure Race in South East Asia, we can say the sport is now taking off nicely in Thailand� says Henkens.
The overall consensus among participants was that the course was an excellent challenge in a great setting, not too gruelling. Next year’s event promises to be even more popular and better supported.
The event was organised by Active Management Asia who are professionals in putting on such races as well as providing corporate and schools team building events.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 May 2008, 15:18 -
Pattaya hotel owners protest expansion
With the sizeable number of new hotels being built in Pattaya, many hotel owners are feeling the pinch as residency becomes more spread out over the various new properties. A complaint on behalf of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association has been issued to the government claiming not enough restrictions on new growth have been placed on the hotels in Pattaya, driving prices below those of neighbouring countries Malaysia and Vietnam.
While tourist numbers remain constant if not raised, Pattaya hotel owners feel more like there is a drop in visitor numbers due to the new properties. President of the THA Chatchawan Supachayanont says, “The government should study the number of five-star and other levels of hotels in the country to see if they have rooms corresponding to the number of tourists. They should not only support new investments. They should study the control of rooms in Malaysia and Vietnam. Their governments achieved this, and it resulted in their room rates being different when compared with Thai entrepreneurs.�
Pattaya hotel list
Posted by: Andrew on 22 May 2008, 16:18 -
European prostitutes arrested in Pattaya
Sex workers plying their trade on Pattaya’s Walking Street were arrested last week, and it was determined that they were part of a growing number of prostitutes in Thailand from Uzbekistan and the countries formerly part of the Soviet Union and the Russian Republic. 12 women in all were taken into custody by Pattaya Police, with all of them confessing to working as prostitutes. They said that their services earned them anywhere form 2,500 to 3,000 baht. The girls will appear in court soon, and if they are found guilty of prostitution, which is certainly likely, they will be deported form the kingdom.
Investigations show that women from the CIS countries are using the high profit margin paid for sexual favours not only in Thailand, but also Bahrian, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and the big daddy of them all, Dubai. Officials in Thailand say that if these women are deported, chances are they will turn up in one of the above mentioned countries.
More on Pattaya nightlife
Posted by: Andrew on 22 May 2008, 16:15 -
Cops get tough on chatting drivers
A new law affecting Chiang Mai motorists passed last month and implemented a few days ago bans the use of mobile phones while driving a car or a motorcycle. This has been put in place to counteract the number of road accidents caused by the driver of a vehicle losing concentration by talking on a mobile, phone. In an attempt to ease the change, any handsfree technology will be acceptable for now.
Drivers caught in violation of the new law face fines between 400 and 1000 baht, and police have been on the streets of Chaing Mai informing local drivers and tourists alike about the new rules. A parade left from the Airport Plaza shopping centre and continued along Hang Dong Road where explanatory leaflets were distributed to the public. The parade and the new law has been endorsed by Zoom Technology Ltd, who will provide a free headset or a Bluetooth device to people who can pass a Q&A relating to the new rules.
Posted by: Andrew on 22 May 2008, 16:13 -
TAT wants tourists to tout Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched an online campaign to garner more interest in travel to the Kingdom. TAT and its ‘Amazing Thailand’ campaign are putting 200,000 baht up for grabs to tourists who upload their most amazing holiday videos of recent trips to Thailand to http://amazingexperience.tourismthailand.org. If photography is more your thing, the ‘Thailand Portfolio Project’ focuses on photos taken by tourists and journalists alike that relate to the Amazing Thailand theme.
The Deputy Governor for TAT’s marketing Communications Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni cites the common practice of tourists exchanging photos and video online that already exists as enough reason to take it one step further and promote Thailand using the recorded memories of regular people.
As more and more tourists share their personal videos and photos on websites like YouTube an d Flickr, Svetasreni comments, “Many of these photos and video clips are really amazing and they help to inspire other people to visit those destinations. TAT has realized the massive potential that this channel provides for e-marketing, so it has developed these two schemes to build stronger relationships with the web-communities."
Posted by: DaveB on 08 May 2008, 11:41 -
Parts of Thailand on flood alert
More than a dozen provinces in north and central Thailand have been put on a state of alert for potential flash floods and mudslides between Sunday and Tuesday due to nearing tropical cyclone, Nargis.
The seasonal cyclone is currently edging its way towards Thailand from Burma according to Thailand's Meteorological Department.
The report said that cyclone Nargis was around 400kms southwest of the Thai/Burma border at Mae Hong Son province early Saturday morning and was moving at a speed of 15kph in an east - north-easterly direction.
Provinces in the northern and central western regions of Thailand are expected to receive heavy rains anytime between now and Tuesday. Tourists in risk-prone areas of the following provinces should stay on alert and heed any local weather warnings:
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kamphaengphet, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Chanthaburi, and Trat.
Cyclone Nargis hit Rangoon (the Burmese capital) hard on Saturday ripping roofs from homes and felling trees and power lines.
There have already been four reported deaths in Rangoon and the Burmese meteorological office has said that the cyclone may trigger a storm surge in the Andaman of up to four metres. Those staying on the Andaman coast are therefore advised to postpone any boat trips until the cyclone has blown over.
More on the Weather in Chiang Mai
Posted by: Andrew on 04 May 2008, 10:20 -
Friendly match between Iraq and Thailand
Iraq has arranged to play a friendly football match in Bangkok against Thailand on May 25, according to the Asian Football Confederation website.
The match will essentially be a warm up for both nations in preparation for their forthcoming World Cup 2010 qualifiers in June.
Asian Champions Iraq, in Group 1, already have a qualifying point from their opening two games and will take on Australia on June 1 in Brisbane.
Thailand, on the other hand, have zero points after their first two encounters in Group 2, being defeated by Japan and Oman. Thailand's next qualifier will be against Bahrain on June 2.
Thailand's Football Association have confirmed that the game will take place in Bangkok on May 25 along with another friendly against Syria which will be played a week before on May 17.
The 19 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa between 11th June and 11th July, 2010 and will be the very first World Cup tournament to be staged on the African continent.
Posted by: Andrew on 02 May 2008, 19:10 -
Plans to expand airport in Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok was built to replace the former hub, Don Meuang International, and with the flashy new airport only having been open for 18 months, there is already talk of expansion. Airport operator Airports of Thailand is seeking cabinet approval for a $2.3 million expansion that would se a new passenger terminal constructed, along with more parking spaces for planes and a third runway.
Former and deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rushed the opening of the airport in the lead-up to 2006 elections, but there were still many wrinkles that had to be ironed out. The Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation’s Derek Sadubin told an Australian radio program, "The airport was really undercooked when it opened, and some problems have emerged since and I think that the Airports of Thailand are working very hard to address those issues, and a lot of them had been addressed."
Shinawatra’s involvement in the airport has led to corruption charges on many levels, from selling the land to his friends long before construction in order to sell at highly inflated prices, and buying millions of dollars worth of water pumps that were of questionable quality.
Posted by: DaveB on 30 Apr 2008, 19:44 -
Killer crossings on Thai railways
It’s just as well the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has just the one main line running up and down the length of the country as the amount of accidents at its level crossings of late is staggering.
The main reason being that many crossings have been built illegally by local people who are too lazy to cross at designated crossings. According to the railway traffic manager, Siripong Pruetiphan, the SRT ‘can do nothing to stop this kind of encroachment.’
Accident figures released by the SRT for 2006 numbered 185 involving trains and vehicles at railway crossings, with 53 deaths and 190 injuries. In 2007, the number of accidents almost doubled to 327.
Trains hitting animals and vehicles running into level crossings cause even further delays.
These startling figures - not unlike those of rural India - not only cause needless loss of life but add to the misery of passengers through hefty delays and cost the SRT in fuel.
According to Mr Siripong there are 2,443 crossings nationwide, of which just 1,908 were built with SRT permission. The other 535 were built illegally by local administrators mostly in remote areas.
The upshot of all these extra crossings is delays and extra costs for the SRT. Train drivers need to slow down when they approach a crossing and the effort to regain speed uses more fuel.
Tourists traveling by train, especially in rural areas, should allow plenty of extra time at the destination end to allow for any delays.
More on Rail travel in Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 29 Apr 2008, 09:56 -
Danes get bigger breasts in Thailand
More Danish women than ever are heading to Thailand’s shores to get bigger breasts, with 120 ladies alone having breast augmentation in 2007.
Danish women are taking advantage of the cheaper surgery prices in Thailand and combining the surgery with a holiday.
Martin Olsen from travel agent Hygeia Beauty, which is one of the main organizers of the trips, says that women are now aware of the ‘quality of the operations in Thailand’ and that combining the surgery with a holiday will still cost significantly less than if the women had the breast augmentation at home.
The cost of breast enlargement in Denmark is in the region of 36,000 kroner, while the same procedure in Thailand’s best hospitals (namely Bumrungrad in Bangkok) works out at around 12,500, or around 30 per cent.
Companies like Hygeia Beauty and Kirurgirejser have taken advantage of this and put together packages to include travel, hotels and the surgery, costing 22,000 kroner.
The number of Danish women having breast augmentation in Thailand is likely to rise in the near future as currently at least three women per day in Denmark have breast augmentation. Once more people become aware of the cheaper treatment options in Thailand and the popular service that Hygeia Beauty and Kirurgirejser are offering, more are likely to travel to Southeast Asia to have the surgery.
Thailand Travel Tips
Posted by: Andrew on 29 Apr 2008, 07:20 -
Thailand hosts Tattoo Arts festival
The 2nd World Tattoo Arts Festival and Exhibition Thailand is set to open for the second time in the country, with festivities kicking off may 16th on Pattaya’s Bali High beach. 70 booths from artists from around the world will be set up, and organizers hope that hosting the prestigious event will give Thailand’s tattooing industry a reputation of quality on par with other countries known for their skilled tattooists like Japan, the United States and Germany.
The convention’s theme will focus on traditional Thai art styles and the evolution of the art form into contemporary times. With over 7,000 visitors to last year’s event, organizer Suphatchaya Lattisophonkul says she hopes that the festival will give the Thai tattoo industry a good name as it showcases its advances in professional ethics, equipment while showcasing its skilled artists. The event will last for three days, finishing up on May 18th.
Posted by: DaveB on 28 Apr 2008, 19:45 -
Holidays That Costa Lot
British tourists would be better off traveling to Thailand for a holiday as opposed to the Costa del Sol, owing to the weaker pound and rising euro.
Sterling has lost 19 per cent of its value over the euro in the past year meaning holidaymakers get much less bang for their buck.
The Post Office surveyed 16 popular holidaying countries around the world and purchased 10 common items, with Australia topping the lot and Thailand the cheapest.
The basic purchases included a coffee from a cafe, an English newspaper, a bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, insect repellent and an evening meal for two.
The cost of these items in Thailand worked out at £28.58 and was easily the cheapest of the 16 countries surveyed. These same items in Spain, traditionally a cheap continental holiday destination, worked out at £59.24, while in France they were £68.97.
Italy was the most expensive place in Europe at £73.40, while a three-course meal for two with wine would cost around £42 - just £17.64 in Thailand. The same 10 purchases in Australia, however, was a staggering £88.97.
The US is one destination where the pound stretches further due to the weak dollar of late, but to travel on the continent is costing so much more.
British holidaymakers have already been putting off traveling to the continent as a result of the strong euro and worldwide ‘credit crunch’, while many have been looking at destinations farther afield with Thailand fitting the bill for a growing number of people.
Even Thailand has become more expensive, though, owing to a combination of a stronger baht and the removal of the onshore rate reserve, more expensive rice, and higher oil prices.
Posted by: Andrew on 25 Apr 2008, 18:08