Pattaya tourism picks up

PATTAYA, 3 December 2010 –Pattaya ‘s tourism business is picking as the peak season kicks in and there is a degree of optimism that 2011 will see a slight recovery in hotel rates, Thai Hotel Association eastern chapter president, Bundarik Kusolvitya , reported Thursday.

“Pattaya bookings are improving during this month, she said, “mainly due to the Russian market representing around 35% of the overall bookings at star-rated hotels, while the Iran market too is showing improvement.

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Hilton opens in Pattaya

BANGKOK, 16 November 2010 – Hilton is scheduled to open its first Pattaya managed property, 29 November, the hotel company announced last week.

Property owners, Central Pattana Plc, gave the management contract to Hilton Group despite owning its own hotel management firm, Centara Hotels and Resorts, that actively canvases to manage properties in Thailand and the region.

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Lao Airlines will fly to U-Tapao

BANGKOK, 21 October 2010 –Lao Airlines announced Wednesday it will start a circular route, 29 October, linking the Lao capital, Vientiane, the World Heritage site of Luang Prabang and Pattaya resort, on Thailand’s eastern seaboard.

Lao Airlines will operate a twice weekly service on Friday and Sunday using a 70-seat ATR72-500. Fares were not available at press time.

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Grand Sale tourist ride goes wrong

PATTAYA, 21 October 2010 – A woman in Pattaya fell from a popular amusement ride during the Pattaya Grand Sale event, causing her serious injuries, national radio and TV newscasts reported Wednesday.

Pattaya City officials and police are carrying out a full investigation.

Thirty year-old, Suphanna Sangchanchai was thrown from the “Takada” amusement ride and investigators initially claimed the ride operator failed to provide adequate and basic safety devices such as safety belts for customers.

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Classical guitar festival in Pattaya

PATTAYA, 20 October 2010 – Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa has teamed up with the Thailand Guitar Society to host “Guitar Festival 2010” 23 and 30 October. The concert will raise funds for the Father Ray Foundation that helps needy children in the Pattaya area.

The two-day festival will feature activities such as the grand master gala charity concert, 23 October, which will feature performances from Flavio Cucchi (Italy), Leon koudelak (Swiss) and Alssio Monti (Italy).

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Pattaya sets out its stall

PATTAYA, 27 September 2010 – Pattaya will have around Bt20 million to spend on promotions in 2011, Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office director, Niti Kongkrut, reported last week.

The Bt20 million has been sourced from the Chon Buri provincial administrative Organisation and Pattaya Municipality and will be used to support 12 activities.

“Our bottom line objective is to create new markets for Pattaya and support existing markets.” said Mr Nitti. “Turkey and Iran are now emerging markets as well as Indonesia and Vietnam,” he noted.

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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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Pattaya resort signals recovery

Pattaya should make a robust recovery in the up-coming high season, Tourism Authority of Thailand director Pattaya office, Niti Kongkrut, reported, last week.

“Earlier this year, tourism looked good and Pattaya hotels were reporting improvements in occupancy,” he said “But everything changed after May and every single hotel, regardless of their ranking, has suffered.

“Pattaya’s tourism business is very much linked to Bangkok and any decline in business to the capital will impact on the resort’s ability to capture traffic.”

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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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Golf pros head for Pattaya

BANGKOK, 24 August 2010 – Pattaya will host an international golf tournament, Thailand Open OneAsia, 26 to 29 August at Burapha Golf & Resort.

This is the sixth round of the annual OneAsia Golf tournament with prize money worth US$1 million. Warm up games start 25 August.

Pattaya City hopes the tournament will attract more visitors and boost its “Pattaya Grand Sale,” which is an on-going promotion until the end of this October.

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