US ready to tax travellers
August 10, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
HAWAII, 8 August 2010 – The Department of Homeland Security announced last Friday that it will begin collecting fees on travellers from Visa Waiver countries beginning 8 September 2010.
According to yesterday’s ETurboNew news bulletin, travellers will be charged a US$14 fee when applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA).
A portion of the fee gained from tourists will be ploughed back into the Corporation for Travel Promotion, the US version of a tourism bureau established under the 2009 Travel Promotion Act.
State of Emergency remains for 10 provinces
August 10, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 10 August 2010 – The State of Emergency remains necessary to prevent possible terror incitement, particularly during the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday, according to National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Tawin Pleansri.
In a statement to the National News Bureau, Mr Tawin expressed concern over potential violence during the long holiday on the occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 78th birthday anniversary, 12 to 15 August.
Tips on avoiding identify theft
August 9, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
NEW YORK, 8 August 2010 – An estimated 5,500 travel professionals heading to the 2010 National Business Travel Association annual conference in Houston, US, over the weekend received emails warning them of the danger of identify theft while travelling and offering 10 top tips to help them avoid the traps.
The bottom line is be hyper aware and careful with personal and financial information even when travelling for business. Top tips from the experts:
1. According to recent reports, hotels are a favoured target of hackers, leaving hotel guests at greater risk of identify theft. Check credit card statement online immediately following checkout and upon returning from a trip and review for any unauthorized charges.
US warns of security risk in Bangkok
August 6, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK 6 August 2010 – The US Embassy has just issued an alert to its citizens travelling to or residing in Thailand claiming media reports indicate there is a possibility of bomb attacks against certain Royal Thai Government facilities and unnamed foreign embassies in the vicinity of Wireless Road. It added: “This information has not been verified.”
It reads:
“As there is a four-day holiday due next week the embassy warned that violent elements within Thailand had in the past taken advantage of the holiday to conduct disruptive operations such as bombings.
Thai PM warns further bomb attacks likely
BANGKOK, July 30, 2010 – Thailand’s premier warned Friday of possible further bomb attacks in Bangkok after a grenade blast left one man seriously hurt, days after a deadly explosion at a bus stop.
The grenade, which was in a plastic bag, exploded before dawn on a street in the capital, leaving a rubbish scavenger in critical condition with shrapnel in his head, police and hospital officials said.
Thailand eases emergency rule
July 30, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 30 July 2010 – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva revoked the emergency decree in six more provinces, Thursday, but Bangkok, remains on the list along with nine provinces, despite pressure from the travel industry to revoke the law.
The ruling has been lifted in Ayutthaya, Nong Bua Lamphu, Chaiyaphum, Chonburi, Mukdahan and Maha Sarakham reducing the provinces under state of emergency to just 10.
Clinton denounces Myanmar’s oppression at Asia meet
HANOI, 23 July 2010 – The United States told an Asian security forum Friday it was “deeply concerned” about oppression in Myanmar, calling for the release of political prisoners and an end to attacks against ethnic minorities.
Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Hanoi, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Myanmar’s “restrictive electoral laws” further stifled civilians’ lives and made polls due this year “unlikely” to be free and fair.
AF flight in bomb scare
PARIS, 11 July 2010 – An Air France jumbo jet with 405 passengers on board, en route to Paris, landed in Recife on Brazil’s Atlantic coast overnight after a hoax bomb alert, the airline said on Sunday.
“The crew of flight AF 443 Rio-Paris was informed during the flight that there could be an explosive device on board,” Air France said in a statement.
The pilot landed in Recife where “the aeroplane was inspected by the authorities,” but no bomb was found, it said.
Emergency decree for safety’s sake
June 29, 2010 by Duangrudee Somboonruangsri
Filed under News
BANGKOK 29 June, 2010 – Thailand’s travel industry will have to live with the emergency decree for the foreseeable future, as there are no signs of it being lifted, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Arttachai Burakamkovit.
Talking to ATTA members last week he said the ministry was working on rebuilding confidence, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would attempt to reduce the number of travel advisories.
Troop seal off Sukhumvit Road
May 17, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
Troops on Monday sealed off part Sukhumvit Road, extending their blockade of the red shirt protest site to just past the express exit at Ploenchit.
Razor wire and trucks blocked part of the road near Soi Nana a well-known red-light district mainly frequented by foreign travellers. About 100 soldiers carrying riot shields stood in formation, blocking the road in one direction.
Authorities late last week launched an operation to squeeze thousands of Red Shirt anti-government protesters encamped for weeks in an upscale retail and hotel district. Troops were deployed to seal access to several kilometres of roads around the camp. Authorities also said they had cut utilities to the area. Read more