Thai PM backs world expo bid

BANGKOK, Thailand’s, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will officially announce Thailand’s intention to bid for World Expo 2020 during his tour of World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, 5 September.

The Cabinet approved the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s proposal to host World Expo 2020, at its weekly meeting last Tuesday.

It assigned deputy prime minister, Sanan Kachornprasart, to coordinate with TCEB to select a host city which will involve a detailed feasibility study of the three short-listed provinces; Ayutthaya, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai to be submitted within120 days. The study will be paid for out of TCEB’s annual budget and identify a single candidate city.

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Myanmar the missing link in ADB plans

BANGKOK, 2 September, 2010 – The thick forested Dawna mountain range in southeast Burma is a major obstacle blocking Asian Development Bank ambitions to link Burma’s road network with the East-West-Corridor highways that cross central Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

A detailed report in the online Irrawady states that “the still-to-be-built 40-km stretch across the mountain in military-ruled Burma is a key to making the Asian Development Bank’s East-West Corridor a reality.”

The Manila-based bank has been promoting the 1,450-km long highway claiming it will improve trade and tourism across mainland Southeast Asia. The East-West Corridor, as it is identified in ADB reports, starts in central Vietnam at the country’s coastal port of Danang and crosses Laos to Savanakhet on the banks of the Mekong River.

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JTB and TAT organise fam trips

BANGKOK, 2 September 2010 – JTB, a leading tour wholesaler in Japan is working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s East Asia division to send retail travel staff to Thailand on familiarisations trips.

The programme will host hundreds of so-called frontline travel staff, all working for the Japan’s largest outbound organisation, on all-expenses paid trips to Thailand, .

According to TAT’s International public relations division, the project is in response to lack of confidence in the Japanese travel market as potential travellers show concern about their safety.

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Bangkok dreams of a car-free day

BANGKOK, 2 September 2010 – Will the Tourism Authority of Thailand governor leave his car at home for day and take public transport to work?

Well along with Bangkok City officials, he is pushing for a car-free day in the city along with other measures to make the city a little more greener for tourists.

Bangkok City officials joined the Tourism Authority of Thailand, last Tuesday, to host a travel trade seminar aimed at building awareness on environment protection and ecotourism.

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Chon Buri prepares for buffalo races

BANGKOK, 2 September 2010 – Local farmers and buffalo breeders are  fine tuning  training schedules for their fleet-of-foot buffales as the countdown begins for Chon Buri’s famous Buffalo Racing Festival, 16 to 22 October.  

Held at Chon Buri provincial’s recreational grounds, the 139th Chon Buri Buffalo Racing Festival 2010 will be separated into two sections, the fair and races.

The fair will feature merchandise stalls, game activities, exhibits and shows, while the buffalo races are held on a 100- metre long race track adjacent area.

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Turkish Airlines backs tennis

BANGKOK 1 September, 2010 – Turkish Airlines yesterday signed an agreement with PTT Thailand Open to be the platinum sponsor of this year’s tournament, scheduled 25 September to 3 October at IMPACT Arena – Muang Thong Thani.

In announcing the sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, Suwat Liptapanlop said: “We welcome Turkish Airlines as a Platinum sponsor to this year’s PTT Thailand Open, which promises to be a highly competitive and exciting event having attracted such players as World #1 Rafael Nadal.

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Vietnam considers bullet train project

HANOI, 1 September, 2010 – State-owned Vietnam Railways reported, yesterday, the government was seeking support from Japan to finance and build a bullet train project.

However, the request failed to gain approval from parliament, based on the high cost of funding a 1,570 km track and train system.

An official of the state-owned Vietnam Railways told the media in Hanoi that the government would go ahead despite statements by parliament that claimed the cost would run up a bill equivalent to two-thirds of the nation’s gross domestic product.

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ATTA promotes medical tourism

BANGKOK, 1 September, 2010 – Medical tourism will generate around 2 million visits this year up from 1.39 last year, Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre director, Dr Som-arch Wongkomthong, told 300 ATTA members attending a monthly meeting late last week.

Medical tourism was top of the agenda of the Association of Thai Travel Agents’ meeting held 26 August at the Amari Watergate Hotel. A group of experts presented a briefing on market potential and competition in medical tourism as ATTA attempts to build a connection with the country’s main hospitals in this market segment.

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Malaysians head for Hat Yai

HAT YAI, 31 August 2010 – Thousands of tourists crossed the Thai-Malaysian border near Hat Yai, Songkhla, today to take  advantage of Malaysia’s Independence Day holiday, according to Regional Customs Bureau IV director, Prayut Maneechote.

“I instructed officers to speed up the process for tourists at checkpoints at Sadao and Padang Besar,” Prayut said.

To handle with the influx of tourists, Sadao checkpoint remains open to 2300.

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TCT appoints new president

BANGKOK, 31 August 2010 – Managing director of Holiday Inn Resort Regent Cha-am, Piyaman Tejapaibul, was elected for a two-year term as the new president of TCT, replacing Kongkrit Hiranyakit.

The election took place, last week, in Bangkok at the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s head office.

Tasked with co-ordinating policy and projects between private sector associations and the government, the council has 68 ordinary members and 121 associate members.

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