Khao San tops splash spots

BANGKOK, 12 April 2012: Bangkok Poll released a survey on international tourists’ opinions about the up-coming Songkran festival in Bangkok that indicated 50% of international visitors will participate in the festival this year.

The top splash venue in Bangkok for tourists is Khao San road.

However, the study also found that most tourists were concerned more about natural disasters than terrorism threats such as the one that resulted in a car bombing of a hotel in Hat Yai recently.

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Bangkok taxi fares to rise

BANGKOK, 13 March 2012: Taxi fares are likely to increase by the latest mid-April,  once the Ministry of Transport approves details of a Land Transport proposal.

In principle the increase has the green light, but there are discussions over the actual price increase whether it should be for the flag-down charge or the charge per kilometre. Possibly both if the taxi drivers get their way.

An issue weighing on the decision is the government subsidiary on gas prices that cushions the market fuel price increases for taxi drivers until this May.

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QF and BA rationalise services

BANGKOK, 31 January 2012: Qantas and British Airways will cut London and Sydney services  transiting in Bangkok this March for services that turnaround in the Thai capital.

Both airlines will continue serving the  popular Sydney-London Kangaroo route through Singapore, which has been positioned as the primary Asian hub in a restructured Joint Services Agreement signed August last year.

As part of the JSA changes, British Airways will cease its Bangkok-Sydney service  which means all of its flights from London will turnaround in Bangkok effective 3 March. Read more

Bangkok alerts continue

BANGKOK, 25 January 2012: Travel alerts issued by 21 countries continue to warn citizens to be cautious when visiting Bangkok.

According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are now 21 countries led by the United States that are advising caution.

They are: US; Ireland; Italy; Sweden; Netherlands; Denmark; Israel; Japan; Taiwan; New Zealand;  Germany; France; Greece, Norway; Austria; Canada; Romania; Brazil; United Kingdom; South Korea and Australia. Read more

Bangkok suffers sinking feeling

BANGKOK, 8 November 2011 – The Thai capital, built on swamp land, is slowly sinking and the floods currently besieging Bangkok could be merely a foretaste of a grim future as climate change makes its impact felt, experts say.

The low-lying metropolis lies just 30 km (18 miles) north of the Gulf of Thailand, where various experts forecast sea level will rise by 19 to 29 centimetres (7 to 11 inches) by 2050 as a result of global warming.

Water levels would also increase in Bangkok’s main Chao Phraya River, which already overflows annually at the close of the rainy season when seasonal high tides back up the river.

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Floods bear down on Bangkok

BANGKOK, 11 October 2011 – The government is resisting pressure to declare  12 to 14 October a holiday to allow Bangkok residents to prepare for floods that could hit the city later this week.

Proposals were presented yesterday to Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, suggesting the government declare a holiday in specific regions or nationally to help deal with the crisis.

A nation-wide disaster is rolling through the lower north and central regions, slowing inundating villages and towns and causing immeasurable damage. So far 269 people have died and thousands made homeless. Hospitals have been forced to evacuate patients and vast industrial estates have been knocked out for at least six months.  Thousands of workers will not be able to return to work.

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Mastercard forecasts 2011 winnners

BANGKOK, 8 June 2011- Bangkok  should gain the first position in 10 Asia/Pacific cities, this year, based on estimated tourist arrivals by airlines and visitor expenditure, according to the latest MasterCard Worldwide Index of Global Destination Cities.

The report’s forecast that Bangkok should welcome 11.5 million airline visitors who will spend US$14.4 billion in 2011 followed by Singapore at 11.4 million arrivals spending US$10.8 billion and Hong Kong at 10.9 million visits with US$10.4 billion.

According to the card’s top 20 global destination rankings, Bangkok is in third place for popularity among air travellers and fourth in visitor spend after London with an estimated spend of US$25.6 billion and Paris at US$14.6 billion.

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Madame Tussaud sets up shop in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 17 December 2010 — Bangkok’s teenage population will discover that the city’s latest attraction, Madame Tussauds, features their favourite TV stars on centre stage ahead of the usual wax work icons, Prince Diana and Albert Einstein.

A prime target for the new attraction is the city’s young generation, who are expected to visit the famous wax work in their droves to ogle the life-like images of their local TV stars.

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Arrivals positive in November

BANGKOK, 7 December 2010 – Tourist arrivals registered at Suvarnabhumi Airport in November surpassed 1 million according to Royal Thai Police, Immigration Division II data, released last week.

The raw data gives a daily tally, which stood at 1,044,071 foreign passport holders for November recorded at Bangkok’s main airport. The performance improved 6.14% from 983,669 during the same month last year. In addition, the bureau recorded 219,530 Thais travelling overseas.

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Fire closes Fusion Hotel

BANGKOK, 26 November 2010 – A fire broke out Wednesday evening at The Fusion Suites, Sukhumvit 21, Bangkok,  seriously damaging the property. There were no reports of death or injury, but the hotel was forced to close while a police investigation is carried out on site to determine cause and structural damage.

Fire department officials believe the fire broke out in a utility control room on the 4th floor. It is understood that five foreign guests were trapped on the 7th floor and had to be rescued by fire fighters. Police are now investigation the cause of the blaze.

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