Final count on Songkran slaughter

BANGKOK, 19 April 2013: Thailand’s highway carnage over the seven deadly days of Songkran, 11 to 17 April, reached 321 fatalities surpassing the 2012 toll by 0.31%, or just one death.

The Road Safety Centre reported 321 road fatalities over the seven days, up from 320 recorded during the festival last year.

However, Road safety experts were disappointed with the result as they had earlier hoped that an extensive pre-Songkran safety campaign and a ban on the sale of alcohol would help to curb accidents.

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North still popular despite smog

BANGKOK, 3 April 2013: North Thailand will continue to be the  most popular region for tourism during 12 to 17 April Songkran festival, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand, but beach resorts are catching up and they can guarantee clean air.

TCT president, Piyaman Tejapaibul, said northern destinations remain the top choice for Thais planning to travel despite the smog crisis.

“Chiang Mai continues to be the most popular destination followed by Chon Buri in the East and Krabi in the South,” the president said.

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Splash with VISA card

BANGKOK, 19 March 2013: Tourism Authority of Thailand partners with VISA International to  launch Thailand Splash and Spice 2013, a campaign to encourage food and beverage spending pre and post-Songkran festival, mid-April.

The three-month promotion kicked off 15 March and will run to 31 May at participating hotels, restaurants and entertainment outlets in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket.

TAT governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, said the campaign will showcase Thai food at its best to a worldwide audience.

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Festival moves to monument

CHIANG MAI, 14 February 2013: Organisers of the fifth Chiang Mai International Music Festival that was due to take place at Tha Phae Gate from 8 to 10 March have moved the venue to the Three Kings Monument.

They made the change in response to pressure from local vendors who trade at Tha Phae Gate. They threatened to block the festival. The event was always held at the monument, but this year faced with the need to expand booth capacity the city gave the organisers permission to move to an area around the historical city gate.

The three-day annual event will feature a mix of cultural, traditional and popular entertainment.

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Chiang Mai hosts music festival

CHIANG MAI 18 January 2013: The fifth Chiang Mai International Music Festival will take place at the historic Three Kings Monument in the centre of Chiang Mai’s old city 8 to10 March.

The three-day annual event will feature a mix of cultural, traditional and popular entertainment. Professional artists and dance troupes will be flown in to  to perform, centre-stage.

Expatriate residents in Chiang Mai will host colourful booths displaying specialties from their homelands. Some residents will join the onstage performances, while local businesses, hotels, and restaurants will take booth space to showcase their products.

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February is month of love

BANGKOK, 17 February 2013: Festivals built around flowers and love are lining up for February across Thailand.

Three events will open 1 February: Chiang Mai Flower Festival; February Love Festival, Suphaburi and Pong Pha Flower Festival, Chiang Rai.

The 37th Chiang Mai Flower Festival, 1 to 3 February will be held at three locations — Nong Buak Hat Public Park, Nawarat Bridge and Tha Pae Gate.

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Cambodia plans river festival

PHNOM PENH, 14 January 2013: Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism plans to organise an annual river festival along the Mekong and Tonle Sap to attract tourists and raise awareness for environmental protection.

Phnom Penh Post quoted Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, last Friday saying: “The concept of a River festival… will strengthen our range of tourism services,” the minister said.

The first river festival will take place this year in Kratie province, the home of the Mekong’s freshwater dolphins, to support nearby eco-tourism sites and create awareness and help to save the endangered species.

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HCMC hones calendar events

HO CHI MINH CITY, 8 January 2013: More events need to be added to the city’s calendar, according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The department’s deputy director, La Quoc Khanh, said a monthly event should be created if the city is to reach its target of 4.1 million international tourist arrivals in 2013.

“The events can be on fashion, tourism or food. They will create attractiveness for Ho Chi Minh City,” he said.

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Myanmar in countdown mode

YANGON, 27 December 2012: Myanmar will host its first New Year Countdown from 1700 to midnight 31 December at Minor Myo Ma Grounds in Yangon.

The New Year Countdown will be organised by Thailand’s Index Creative Village responsible for the AIS Bangkok Countdown2013 @ Central World. It is working with Forever Group, a media company in Myanmar.

According to Index Creative Village founder and co-CEO, Kreingkrai Kanjanapokin, the group would spend Bt35 million to host an estimated 50,000 people at the event.

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Festival season in Luang Prabang

BANGKOK, 22 November 2012: Films and handicrafts are the themes of two festivals that will add variety to Luang Prabang’s tourist attractions this December.

Usually considered the region’s chill-out town even at the height of its tourist season in December, authorities are hoping the 3rd Luang Prabang Film Festival scheduled 1 to 5 December, will add entertainment value.

Films will be shown at three venues starting from 1000 at a site near the central market plaza, Amantaka Hotel and LPFF visitor centre, free of charge.

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