Stories tagged with tourism
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Phuket to host medical tourism forum
The World Medical Health Tourism Conference will be coming to Phuket in September 2009, testifying to Thailand’s leading role in the realm of medical tourism. The event, which will be held at Karon Beach, is expected to draw more than 1,200 delegates from around the globe to discuss the present and future state of medical tourism.
The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Thai Airways are the major sponsors of the event, which will aim to promote Thailand as a preferred choice for medical tourism as well as a good venue for future conventions, conferences and exhibitions. Several prominent figures within the industry have confirmed they will be attending and speaking at the conference.
By holding the world conference in Phuket, its organisers hope to enhance Phuket’s ever-growing reputation as the “medical hub of Asia” as well as a destination for wellness and health travel throughout Thailand. The formal part of the conference will run for three days, and be held at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa. Dozens of pre- and post-conference events are also planned. It’s estimated that the conference will inject US$10 million in to Phuket’s economy over the two weeks of the event.
For more information about the conference visit www.sosmedicaltourism.com
Posted by: Andrew on 16 Oct 2008, 11:13 -
Pattaya shoots for sustainable tourism
Following in the wake of travel destinations like Koh Chang and the Chiang Mai Night Safari, Pattaya is trying to declare eight zones in the city Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA). With officials from all eight zones on board, the proposal has now been sent to the Thai Cabinet for official approval.
Although the concept has sound fundamentals concerning maintaining the environment, social traditions and cultural values, the scheme is also seen as merely being a vehicle for getting government funding for pipedreams and self-serving mega projects.
DASTA was created by the government in 2003 to ensure balanced tourism development in special areas that were considered valuable and potentially under threat. The group’s duties include conserving natural resources and cultural values in existing communities where tourism is an economic mainstay. DASTA is also designed to manage the impact of tourism as sites expand in the future.
New master conservation projects are planned for Rayong’s Koh Samet islands, Krabi’s Koh Lanta islands, and the Nongteng-Chakkarat forest in Nakhon Ratchasima. Pattaya’s mayor is trying to get Pattaya City included as one of DASTA’s new areas to ensure sustainable tourism development. One obvious issue would be how to classify the cultural value of Pattaya’s rampant sex industry.
Posted by: Andrew on 09 Oct 2008, 15:50 -
Bangkok hospital wins IT award
Bangkok’s famous Bumrungrad International Hospital was awarded the prestigious 2008 AMDIS Award at this year’s annual Physician Computer Connection Symposium in California, USA. The award, which was presented by the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems (AMDIS), is given to hospitals or individuals for outstanding and innovative achievements in applied medical informatics, a form of Information Technology (IT).
The non-profit AMDIS organisation represents more than 1,800 doctors who lead their fields of specialty in the realm of information technology. The annual award is given to an institute or individual that improves medical practice through the use of innovative information technology.
In 2007, Bumrungrad Hospital joined forces with Microsoft and installed an integrated information computer system within the hospital that gives doctors from every different department instant access to patient information. The state-of-the-art Amalga HIS system, as it is known, was developed in Thailand but is now being used in hospitals around the world. The system greatly improves the flow of information and the safety of patients.
Last year Bumrungrad Hospital treated over a million patients, 40 per cent of them foreigners who travelled to Thailand for medical care at this renowned hospital. Bumrungrad is the region’s most advanced private hospital, staffing 940 medical specialists and 800 nurses within its 30 specialty wings.
Posted by: Andrew on 28 Aug 2008, 12:15 -
Wealthy Chinese Targeted for Tourism in the Kingdom
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a promotional campaign called “Wonderful Thailand 2008” which is aimed specifically at wealthy Chinese visitors who have cash to spend. The new scheme is shifting its priority away from budget package tourism in the hope of luring a different breed of tourist to the kingdom.
Members of the Chinese media have been invited to Thailand to go on tours of high-end attractions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. The media will stay in 5-star hotels, exclusive resorts and dine in the country’s finest restaurants. The TAT hopes that the reporters will return to China and promote the luxurious marvels of the kingdom to affluent Chinese travellers.
Phornsiri Manoharn, the Governor of TAT, wants to rid the country of low-priced package tourism from China. “It might sound very controlled but we really need to maintain our standards,” she said. The average high-end tourist spends upwards of 50,000 baht during their stay. The TAT is now focusing more energy on attracting regional travellers due to rising fuel costs. More than one million Chinese visited Thailand in 2007, and the TAT feels that these numbers will continue to increase in the future.
Posted by: Andrew on 09 Aug 2008, 12:12 -
World’s First Symposium on Fireflies to be Held in Chiang Mai
Highlighting the importance of the firefly, Chiang Mai will host the world’s first international conference on this glowing insect in late August. Experts from 20 countries will discuss conservation measures and its potential role in tourism exemplified by Thailand’s own Samut Songkhram province.
The International Symposium on Diversity and Conservation of Fireflies will take place at Chiang Mai’s Botanical Garden Organisation with the goal of strengthening the global network of firefly conservationists. The event comes on the heels of Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday on August 12. The Queen is a dedicated firefly conservationist, and has established a number of projects to preserve their natural habitats.
This insect has particular importance for tourism in Thailand’s Samut Songkhram province, as firefly-watching cruises are a major attraction for visitors. Locals in Samut Songkhram blame the tour operators for using noisy boats that disturb both the fireflies and local residents.
The annoyance is such that some locals have cut down the firefly’s native lamphu trees to stop tour boats from stopping at their homes. The symposium group will visit Samut Songkhram to study the impact of tourism on the firefly and offer their ideas.
Posted by: Andrew on 05 Aug 2008, 10:22 -
Chiang Mai convention centre projected restarted
Visitors will soon have another excuse to visit Chiang Mai other than trekking, sightseeing, shopping and relaxing. The much anticipated international convention centre project which was originally floated by ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra is to be relaunched. Plans to make better use of the Royal Flora Expo grounds have also be announced.
The convention centre, which will be located on 200 acres of land near the 700 Years Stadium, was intended to boost this Northern cities appeal to the MICE market, attracting not just tourists as has been the case until now, but off season conferences, exhibitions and corporate large-scale meetings.
Much optimism was placed in the project when Shinawatra first proposed the project for his home town, and the effect was evident when several major luxury hotel brands started opening new resorts from 2006 onwards. However, the project was immediately put on hold in the wake of the September 2006 coup as the Junta installed government reviewed all mega projects of the Shinawatra government for possible corruption. It has left Chiang Mai in a difficult situation as over supply of hotel rooms following the masses of visitors to the 2006 Ratchaphruek Flora expo, has left many hotels struggling with less than 50 per cent occupancy. Of particular note is the glut of new five star hotels that have opened in this hitherto down-market destination.
Meanwhile, the Royal Flora grounds, which are presently a public park, will now get a new lease on life with plans to use it more often for fairs and permanent exhibitions, starting with a Lanna Culture Fair in mid August. A budget was recently approved by the cabinet to promote the usefulness of this extensive landscaped ground.
Chiang Mai has increasingly relied on its burgeoning tourism industry in recent years to enjoy a renaissance of prosperity for this ancient Northern town which previously depended on agriculture.
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Jul 2008, 10:57 -
TAT lowers tourism projections
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is expecting a significant downturn in the number of international tourist arrivals for 2008 and 2009, owing mainly to the rising price of oil and subsequent cuts in inbound flights.
The TAT cut its projection from 10 per cent for 2009 over 2008 to a little over three per cent; a sharp downward. This translates to an initial projected of 17 million arrivals in 2009 down to 16 million arrivals, and just 15 million visitors for 2008.
This will naturally have a knock-on effect on the revenue generated by international tourism and TAT thus expect revenue growth to be half that of previous expectations - five per cent.
Spending per head is expected to increase from 38,760 baht in 2008 to 39,375 in 2009, however, owing mainly to the rising costs of consumables. The total revenue projection for 2008 is 600 billion baht, or about US $18 billion.
In comparison, TAT expects domestic travel of 87 million trips, bringing in revenue of around 407 billion baht, about US $12 billion.
International marketing deputy governor, Santichai Eua-Chongprasit, said the main negative factors affecting travel to Thailand were the high oil price, the downturn in the world economy and less flights to Thailand.
He also acknowledged that the travel industry to Thailand would be greatly affected if and when the oil price climbs to US$200 a barrel.
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Jul 2008, 06:06 -
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 -
Bangkok to host annual Tourist Festival and Travel Mart
Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Center in Bangkok will play host to the Thailand Tourism Festival and Travel Mart 2008 from June 5th to the 8th. This year marks a growth in the event with exhibitors not only from Thailand but from Malaysia and Indonesia as well.
As the Thailand Travel Mart and the Thailand Tourism Festivals have grown and merged, the event as well has moved from a simply Thai affair to promote other regions, perhaps something to do with the increasing pacts of the ASEAN nations. Now without a doubt the biggest event of it kind in the Kingdom, the Tourism of Thailand-sponsored exhibition will feature booths and presentations leveled at both industry professionals and the public alike.
The official tag of ‘Visit IMT-GT Year 2008’ will make its debut, which hopes to encourage visitors not only to the Kingdom but the whole Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle. This follows talks between Thailand and the Philippines about a single ASEAN visa being possible at some time in the future.
Posted by: DaveB on 05 Jun 2008, 19:58 -
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 -
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 -
Pattaya cashes in from Songkran
The popular party city of Pattaya, a short journey southeast from Bangkok, has reportedly lined its coffers with more than 500 million baht after its celebrations of the Songkran festival this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reports that 500,000 people visited Pattaya during the three day celebration of the Thai New Year.
Pattaya stands as the centre of activity as far as tourism goes in Chonburi Province, and the TAT reports that 2007 recorded an upswing in tourists visiting the province, and that 2008 is shaping up to do even better. TAT says 6.62 million people visited Pattaya and Chonburi last year, an 8 percent increase from 2006.
As TAT figures show an increase in visitors, a marked distinction is coming from hotel owners, to whom it seems numbers are dropping. This is due to the fact that another big trend in Pattaya is hotel construction, spreading patronage out over more properties. Between 700 and 800 hotel rooms are expected to open over the next two years, including chain brands like the Hilton and the Holiday Inn.
Posted by: DaveB on 24 Apr 2008, 19:35 -
Pattaya promises no summer water shortage
The Chonburi Irrigation Department has promised residents that there will be no shortage of water available this summer, despite worries of a shortage. The head of water allocation at the department, Sombun Yutithampinyo, reported to the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association that recent surveys and studies had confirmed there would be plenty of water for the summer and traditional drought season.
City officials had been concerned that a water shortage during the summer months would adversely affect the region’s tourism numbers. Yutithampinyo reported, “When compared to the quantity of water in 2005, Chonburi had less water then. There was only 44.863 million cubic meters. However, this year we have 26 million cubic meters extra. The quantity of untreated water is therefore enough to meet the demand.?
Even if the rainy season does not deliver adequate levels of water, other reservoirs can be tapped, assuring a successful tourist season and beyond in Pattaya.
Posted by: DaveB on 24 Apr 2008, 18:15 -
TAT to expand to India and China
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is asking federal budgeters for upwards of 96 million baht to further expand their bases of operations to the two emerging world powers of India and China. The potential revenue that could be generated by getting Indian and Chinese tourists coming to Thailand is huge, and TAT is prepared to dig their heels in to get them there.
TAT Deputy Governor Juthaporn Rerngronasa says the first offices will be located in Mumbai, India and Kunming and Shanghai,China. So far the TAT has only one office in each country’s capitals of New Delhi and Beijing. The agency has already been promoting Thailand with campaigns in Indian cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Calcutta. Thai Airways offers direct flights to Bangkok form these cities.
Thailand’s focus on India is not unfounded. Amongst Indians, Thailand is the second most visited Asian country behind Singapore, and the third most-visited country by Indians after Singapore and the United States. With Malaysia aggressively advertising to Indians, Thailand will have to keep its presence known if it wishes to continue its attraction to Indian travellers.
Posted by: DaveB on 18 Apr 2008, 18:56 -
Thailand’s own Mme Tussaud’s
Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum is a big tourist draw in Europe, with its hundreds of wax sculptures of celebrities and historical figures. The museum is a bonafide success, evidenced by the exorbitant entry fees they charge in London and Amsterdam. Now Thailand has its own wax museum filled with recognizable personages, in Ratchaburi.
Nakhon Pathom’s Siam Cultural Park opened in 2006, and its many wax statues feature not only figures from Thailand’s history, but international figures like Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Deng Xiaoping and Mother Theresa. There is an emphasis in Thai culture and spirituality at the Siam Cultural Park, with a terrace featuring many beautiful Buddha images and a Disney-esque model show that tells the story of the last reincarnation of Buddha, Vessatara.
There is a specific area dedicated to the Buddhist monastic set of Thailand, with models of the most venerated monks in the country on display. One thing the Siam Cultural Park will have on Mme Tussaud’s is an upcoming attraction where visitors can learn how to mould their own wax sculptures.
Posted by: DaveB on 08 Apr 2008, 17:24 -
Local bus falls victim to high fuel prices
Record-setting fuel prices around the world are beginning to claim victims in many industries that rely on fuel to carry out their businesses. Some airlines have been forced to file for bankruptcy due largely to the high cost of fuel, but for beach bums in Pattaya, the case has hit close to home, with the yellow line of Pattaya’s Beach Bus folding due to the cost of filling up the tank.
The operator says that it was not feasible anymore with the high cost of gasoline to run the yellow line, and the dwindling number of passengers. The green and red line services will remain for now, but Suriyont Klindee, the company’s general manager says that there has to be at least 25 people on the bus for the route to be viable, as he says, “The service at present has a large number of problems. Gasoline prices continue to increase, but the price for service still remains the same at 20 baht per route.?
But the company is not going quietly, and has initiated a series of advertising campaigns to encourage locals to use the buses to get around town, and letting tourists know of the sites of interest along its routes.
Posted by: DaveB on 05 Apr 2008, 17:16 -
Songkran set for 12-16 April
This year's Songkran water festival will commence on Saturday April 12th and continue until Tuesday 15th, as gazetted by the Government. Since it falls over a weekend, a further holiday has been added on the 16th, although banks will open on this day.
Songkran is the busiest of Thailand's festivals and is a time when many Thais travel home to visit their families, making travel in the Kingdom crowded. Tourists are advised to make their plans in advance or avoid travelling during this period, especially on highways when accident rates increase.
Traditionally the splashing associated with Songkran starts several days in advance of the official dates (which according to the lunar calendar should commence on Sunday the 13th this year), therefore the whole country descends into an anarchic-like water fight for almost a week. Traffic jams ensue in the cities, and those travelling by motorbike find themselves drenched by roadside revellers.
Visitors who wish to avoid the water fights are advised to stay within the grounds of their hotel, take day trips away from the busy areas or travel by taxi. But the vast majority enter into the spirit of fun and join locals in the world's biggest water fight. The centre of urban areas, or locations near water are most populoar and lively and each city has a focal point for fun. In Chiang Mai - considered the best place to experience Songkran - the action is all around the moat, in Bangkok it can be found on the Khao San Road, while Pattaya's walking street is the 'wet' venue. In Phuket, Patong beachfront is perhaps the most popular, while other busy beach areas will also be active.
The first official day, Sunday, is likely to be the best day to participate, as the festival wears on people become tired and the turnout and atmosphere of the third day, Tuesday, is likely to be less lively. These are usually pre-occupied with the procession, while many Thai perform their traditional duties on these days. However, there is always a busy itinerary of events throughout the festival, taking place at local civic centres and temples, including sand castle building, parades, beauty pageants and more. Read your local press for more details.
Posted by: Andrew on 02 Apr 2008, 09:15 -
Samui set to become more expensive
Ko Samui has always been known as one of the more expensive islands in the tourist-centered south of Thailand, but with all the recent high-profile construction on the island, Samui is expected to become an even more expensive choice of holiday destination. Some of the world’s biggest names in luxury hotels are either renovating their existing property on the island or for newcomers- considering a new venture there.
High stakes players such as Banyan Tree, Conrad, Mandarin Oriental, Sheraton and W Hotels are all circling the island clucking and wringing their hands at the hefty profits to be had there. Ko Samui’s Tourism Association president Seni Puwasetthawon says, “International arrivals have been increasing gradually since the December 2004 tsunami hit the Andaman Coast. More than 10,000 guestrooms would be added over the five years to the 14,000 rooms available today.?
Hotels have been somewhat prompted to expand by the new Thai Airways flight connecting the island with Bangkok, which is currently bringing 300 tourists a day to the island. If things carry on in this fashion, Samui is set to overtake Phuket as the most expensive of Thailand’s island resorts.
Posted by: DaveB on 01 Apr 2008, 17:21 -
Lofty tourism income target for 2008
Under the newly elected government, the Tourism and Sports Ministry has set an ambitious target of Bt800 billion for tourism revenue, up from Bt490 billion in 2007.
Minister Weerasak Kowsurat made the proposal at the first meeting between travel agencies and the private sector recently. The original target was 547 billion, a reasonable 10% increase but the minister, in line with the ambitious economic growth projections of the Samak led government, has upped it to a whopping 90% increase.
Weerasak said he would search for more "quality" tourists as they could spend more money while staying. He did not elaborate how this was achievable however, given that tourism as a luxury item would be the first item to be cut from people’s spending during an economic slowdown.
TAT governor Phornsiri Manoharn, plans to organise 28 foreign roadshows and join 150 trade shows this year to promote Thailand as a destination, especially in emerging new markets like Eastern Europe.
From June 6-8, the TAT is scheduled to join the International India Fair to promote wedding and honeymoon trips to Thailand. The TAT also hopes to attract up-to 520,000 Indians this year.
But big question marks remain. Despite a return to democratic rule political instability still exists and this might affect confidence in the country during 2008. Then there is the gradually strengthening baht which is making Thailand a less value-for-money destination. This is coupled with a looming recession in the US, likely to affect inbound numbers from North America.
Other issues, such as poor law enforcement and news of murders involving policemen, continuing incompetence in managing the new Suvarnabhumi airport and environmental hazards such as burning in the Northern provinces during dry season, continue to hamper efforts to promote tourism here.
The council also called on the ministry to set a target for inbound tourism revenue to reach Bt1 trillion in the next four years.
Posted by: Andrew on 06 Mar 2008, 12:02