TAT pushes northern golf

CHIANG MAI, 28 April 2011 – Tourism Authority of Thailand introduced its annual Chiang Mai Golf Festival, Tuesday, that runs from 1 May to 30 June offering discounts on green fees and competitions at selected golf courses.

The two-month golf incentives have been organised by the Chiang Mai Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, TAT Chiang Mai office, Chiang Mai Tourism Association and Golf Course Association (North).

Golfers in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are the obvious targets. Drawbacks to success are the lack of direct airline services from these markets to the northern capital and TAT last-minute selling schedule.

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Chiang Mai attracts more domestic visitors

BANGKOK, 23 November 2010 – Tourism Authority of Thailand reports last weekend’s ‘Yi Peng’, Loy Kratong Festival, in Chiang Mai earned the city between Bt100 to 120 million in revenue.

Chiang Mai province invested more this year in the Yi Peng Loy Kratong festival to woo domestic travellers back to the province.

According to Tourism Authority of Thailand Chiang Mai office director, Chalermsak Suranan, around 30,000 tourists visited the northern city to participate in the Loy Krathong festival this year.

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Golf tournaments in the North

BANGKOK, 13 September 2010 – Thailand Tee-off Service invites golfers to tournaments, October through to November, at courses in North Thailand, according to a Tourism Authority of Thailand notice posted on its website Monday.

The first tournament Chiang Mai Tee off Cup will be hosted at six golf courses in Chiang Mai, 24 to 31 October. They are: Alpine Golf Course; Inthanon Golf Course; Highland Golf Course; Royal Chiang Mai Golf Course; Gassan Khuntan Golf Course and Mae Jo Golf Course. The package costs Bt25,000/ person for twin-share accommodation and Bt30,000/person in a single room.

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TCEB begins expo evaluation

BANGKOK, 14 September, 2010 – TCEB will conduct a detailed feasibility study in cities short-listed as potential venues for Thailand’s  World Expo 2020 bid, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau president, Akapol Sorasuchart reported Monday.

The short-listed provinces are Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya, identified in Thailand’s intention to bid statement made by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during his visit to World Expo in Shanghai, 5 September.

TCEB must complete its study within 120 days and its findings will be used to select the winning province.

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Chiang Mai’s convention centre hits fiscal snags

BANGKOK, 13 September 2010 – A mega project to give Chiang Mai a Bt1.8 billion convention centre is falling behind even its own revised schedule and it is now likely that it will exceed its budget by at least Bt1 billion, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Chumpol Silapa-Archa , admitted during a site inspection, last Thursday.

The cost overrun represents a Bt59% increase over the original Bt1.8 billion budget forcing ministry officials to spend considerable time at the inspection sessions studying ways to cut costs.

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Zoos offer joint package

BANGKOK, 30 August 2010 – Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiang Mai Office, promotes a package to Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium, Chiang Mai Zoo and Chiang Mai Night Safari plus Royal Park Rajapruek priced at Bt999.

Director of TAT Chiang Mai, Chalermsak Suranan, said the package was mainly geared for domestic travellers to attract more visits to Chiang Mai during the “green season”.

The city’s three zoos co-operated in the venture agreeing on a single entrance fee for all attractions, recruiting hotels and arranging  air-conditioned mini-van transfers between sites.

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Chiang Mai centre faces delays

BANGKOK, 13 July 2010 – It is very unlikely that the Chiang Mai Convention Centre will be completed by September 2011 as stated in the contract terms, according to Minister of Tourism and Sports, Chumpol Silpaarcha.

Last week, a progress report confirmed that the building was only 11% complete when it should have reached the 20% mark to stand a chance of meeting the deadline next year.

Construction started at least 43 days behind the original schedule. The contractor blamed the delay on architectural design that failed to meet specifications in the blueprints.

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Musicals replay in Chiang Mai theatre

Chiang Mai has a new entertainment venue the Playhouse Entertainment Complex that targets international visitors.

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