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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023891

Leaner travel subsidy scheme may be added to Cabinet agenda next week: minister

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023

The toned-down fifth phase of the Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) subsidy was not added to this week’s Cabinet agenda.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Tuesday that the Cabinet may deliberate on it next week, once it has undergone the process of being added to the agenda.

“I think it should be ready for the next Cabinet meeting,” Phiphat said.

The ministry has tried several times to win Cabinet approval for the fifth phase of the scheme since last year.

After the Cabinet more than halved the budget for the tourism stimulus package from 8.7 billion baht to 4 billion baht, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to discuss the budget in detail with the Budget Bureau.

TAT then came up with a toned-down subsidy scheme that will cost 2.02 billion baht.

Under the new programme, only 560,000 hotel bookings will be subsidised, and each tourist will get a discounted rate for no more than five nights and a 600 baht cash voucher per booking. The scheme will not subsidise airfares.

The remaining 1.98 billion baht of the budget will be spent on tourism promotions in Thailand and overseas.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023872

First group of 200 Chinese tourists lands in Thailand

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023

THE NATION

The first direct flight from China since the pandemic shut borders arrived in Thailand on Monday (January 9), a day after Beijing dropped COVID border controls that had largely prevented its 1.4 billion residents from travelling for three years.

Passengers of Xiamen Airlines flight MF833, carrying 269 Chinese travellers, were given a warm welcome upon landing at Suvarnabhumi Airporton the outskirts of Bangkok.

Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul handed out garlands while airport officials distributed bags of souvenirs to the arriving visitors.

“We’re very excited to come back to Thailand. We have been waiting for three years already.”

“Before the start of COVID, we come here every year. And this time I take my family to come here.”said  Wang Zheyin CHINESE TOURIST 

The arrival comes as Thailand suddenly rescinded a policy announced at the weekend requiring visitors to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, Anutin said, citing sufficient immunisation levels in China and globally.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference, Anutin said requiring visitors to show evidence of vaccination was inconvenient and a panel of experts had resolved that it was unnecessary as enough vaccinations had been administered globally. The minister also said visitors not vaccinated would also be granted entry without restriction.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023857

TAT heading to three major cities in China next month for tourism roadshows

MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planning to organise its first tourism roadshow in China, as the country has finally lifted travel restrictions.

TAT’s Regional Director of East Asia, Chuwit Sirivejkul, said on Monday that the roadshow is set to be held in three major cities of China – Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu — during the third week of February this year.

He added that as many as 120 businesspeople from both China and Thailand are set to join the roadshows in a bid to create tour packages for foreign independent travellers (FITs) and group tours.

During the pre-pandemic period, 60% of Chinese visitors in Thailand were independent travellers, while the other 40% travelled with tour agents.

“This will be the first roadshow in China after the Covid-19 pandemic, as their restrictions on inbound travellers have been lifted,” said Chuwit.

He added: “The TAT has been notified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand as well as airlines operators of the restoration of flights between Thailand and China, which will start on January 18 until the third week of March this year, when the winter season finishes.”

Meanwhile, Chinese online travel agent Ctrip said that the company would launch an online marketing campaign on social media to promote its tour packages in Thailand, especially targeting FITs, Chuwit added.

Tanes Petsuwan, TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and South Pacific, said that all five TAT offices in China as well as domestic tourism operators are looking to prepare for the return of Chinese tourists.

According to the TAT’s estimates, since international flights to Thailand have not yet been fully resumed, the country could expect only around 300,000 Chinese travellers in the first quarter, with the number forecast to increase from the second quarter onwards.

However, as air travel has not fully recovered, some Chinese nationals may choose to enter Thailand via border checkpoints, especially those in Chiang Rai and Nong Khai provinces.

“The TAT has instructed Chiang Rai and Nong Khai authorities to prepare for the visitors coming through border checkpoints. Aside from the two provinces, other provinces such as Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Khon Kaen will also benefit from Chinese tourists,” said Tanes.

Thailand saw a record-breaking 11 million Chinese visitors in 2019, who generated 531 billion baht in revenue. They accounted for 27% of 2 trillion baht revenue from foreign travellers.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023855

Uttaradit national park shut for 6 months to rehabilitate itself

MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023

The Phu Soi Dao National Park in Uttaradit’s Nam Pat district will be closed to tourists for six months, so nature can rehabilitate itself, an announcement said.

Sarawut Mahathanakhom, the park’s chief, announced on Saturday that the park will be closed from January 10 to June 30.

The park chief reasoned that seasonal forest fires are normally sparked this time of the year, so it will become dangerous for tourists.

He also said that this would be a good time for nature to rest and heal itself from human activities.

The park in the North of Thailand is closed for six months annually and reopens on July 1.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023850

Wat Phra Kaew: Home to Thailand’s most sacred deity

MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023

The Emerald Buddha Temple or Wat Phra Kaew is one of Bangkok’s most venerated sites, housing many objects deemed sacred in Thailand.

The temple, also known as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, lies within the Grand Palace compound and is home to the Emerald Buddha, which is venerated as Thailand’s protector.

Construction of the temple began in 1783, under the auspices of the Chakri dynasty’s first king, King Rama I. Since then, each successive king has been personally involved in adding, restoring and embellishing the temple as a way of making merit and glorifying the dynasty.

Many key state and royal ceremonies presided over by the King are held within the temple each year.

The King also personally changes the deity’s costume thrice a year to mark summer, rainy season and winter.

Since the temple is considered the country’s most sacred venue, visitors are not allowed to wear sleeveless, strapped, short or see-through shirts, short, torn or tight trousers, biking shorts or mini-skirts.

Visitors wearing prints depicting death will not be allowed to enter, while those with tattoos related to Buddhism or Hinduism will be required to cover them.

Tourists unable to meet the dress code can rent respectable attire near the entrance.

All visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering the temple and are recommended to tuck their feet while seated so they do not point at the deity or objects of worship. Drinking, eating, smoking or wearing accessories like sunglasses or earphones is not allowed in the temple’s sanctum.

The temple is open daily from 8.30am to 3.30pm and visitors can take photographs around the temple, but not inside the inner sanctum where the Emerald Buddha deity is enshrined.

The closest MRT station to the temple is Sanam Chai, though it can also be accessed by public bus and taxi.

Entrance is 500 baht for foreigners and tickets can be bought at the door upon arrival or online via www.royalgrandpalace.th/en/home at least 24 hours in advance.

Related stories:

• Thais eager to welcome Chinese travellers in post-COVID rebound
• Underground tunnels open portals to Bangkok’s historic attractions
• His Majesty marks birthday with call for unity, integrity

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023844

3 ministers welcome first Chinese group of tourists at Suvarnabhumi

MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023

The first big group of Chinese tourists received a hero’s welcome by three ministers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at around noon on Monday.

Xiamen Airlines flight MF833 brought the first group of 269 Chinese tourists to Bangkok after Beijing lifted quarantine measure for arrivals on Sunday.

Greeting the group at the arrivals hall were Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

Meanwhile, officials were also at hand distributing orchid garlands, souvenirs and Chinese-language leaflets on tourism information. They also held up a banner with a slogan in Chinese reading: “Chinese-Thais come from the same family. Amazing Thailand will always warmly welcome Chinese people.”

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had said earlier that independent travellers from China will start returning to Thailand later this month during the long Chinese New Year holidays.

Chinese travellers were the biggest group of foreign tourists in Thailand before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in 2020. In 2019, Thailand welcomed 39.9 million foreign tourists, of whom 11 million were Chinese.

TAT expects some 300,000 Chinese visitors in the first quarter of this year – 60,000 in January, 90,000 in February and 150,000 in March. TAT expects some 5 million Chinese tourists this year.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023841

Phitsanulok national park turns an autumnal beauty, but only for this week

MONDAY, JANUARY 09, 2023

Phitsanulok’s Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park was full of tourists on Sunday who had shown up to take photos of maple trees that are emblazoned in the autumnal colours of bright red, orange and yellow.

The autumn leaves on the ground, sheds and rocks by the creek in the park’s Mun Daeng zone have created a magnificent backdrop for selfies in the comfortably cool temperature of about 15 degrees Celsius.

A park official said the maple trees should finish shedding their leaves within next week and the bright leaves carpeting the floor will turn brown as they reach the end of their natural course.

He said people should grab this opportunity to witness the phenomenon this week, otherwise they will have to wait until next year.

Located mainly in Phitsanulok province some 130 kilometres from downtown, this 307-square-kilometre mountainous park extends east into Loei and Phetchabun provinces.

The park has recorded sightings of rare wild animals including leopards, leopard cats, Asian black bears, Asian golden cats, hog badgers, serows and barking deer, as well as more than 200 bird species.

Related Stories

Phu Kradueng’s maple trees turn fiery red for winter

The winter lure of Phitsanulok

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023826

Stop sending tour groups to Suvarnabhumi 10 hours before flights: AOT

SUNDAY, JANUARY 08, 2023

Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has sought cooperation from two associations of tour operators to reduce overcrowding at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by better organising outbound group tours.

AOT sent a letter to the Association of Thai Travel Agents and the Thai Travel Agents Association asking them to enhance cooperation from members scheduling outbound group tours, a source from the agency that manages six international airports said.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport has been crowded recently, especially in the outbound passenger terminal, the AOT source said.

AOT found that several outbound tour operators had told their clients to arrive at the airport more than 10 hours before departure, and some operators failed to manage their customers.

As a result, tour groups ended up stuck in the hall of the outbound passenger terminal.

The two associations were asked to tell their members to better schedule airport arrival times for their clients and tell them to gather only at the area in front of Gate 10 on the fourth floor of the outbound passenger terminal, the AOT source said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023809

Chinese tourism set to surge as 15 airlines open routes to Thailand

SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023

The long-awaited return of Chinese tourists will be a surge, as the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand has given permission for 15 Chinese carriers to fly from major cities in China to Thailand from Sunday.

After enduring more than two years of lockdowns and restrictions on travel, citizens of the world’s most populous nation are rushing to take advantage of the relaxation of China’s zero-Covid-19 policy to travel abroad, and Thailand remains a preferred destination.

Thailand welcomed more than 11 million Chinese tourists in 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic paralysed air travel.

Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand director-general Suttipong Kongpool said on Saturday that 15 Chinese airlines have submitted schedules for winter flights to Thailand.

The commercial flights are from major cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanning, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, Suttipong said.

Air China will fly between Bangkok and Hangzhou, China Eastern has two routes – Bangkok and Kunming, and Bangkok and Shanghai – while China Southern Airlines will connect Guangzhou and Wuhan to Bangkok.

China’s 9 Air will fly between Guangzhou and Bangkok as well as Guiyang and Bangkok.
Guangxi Beibu Gulf Airlines will open a route between Bangkok and Nanning, while Hebei Airlines will fly between Bangkok and Hangzhou.

Juneyao Airlines offers four routes connecting Shanghai with Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai, as well as Nanjing and Hat Yai.

Kunming Airlines and Lucky Air will fly between Kunming and Bangkok, and Ruili Airlines between Kunming and Chiang Mai.

Shanghai Airlines offers flights between the largest Chinese city and Thailand’s capital, while Shenzhen Airlines will fly between the eastern border city and Bangkok.

Spring Airlines will offer flights linking Shanghai and Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai, Bangkok and Nanning, and Chiang Mai and Guangzhou.

Sichuan Airlines will fly between Chengdu and Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Xiamen Airlines offers two routes connecting Bangkok with Tianjin and Xiamen.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023750

Thai hotels in dire need of staff as tourists flock back

THURSDAY, JANUARY 05, 2023

The Thai hotel industry is seeking migrant workers to help relieve staff shortage as millions of tourists have returned to the country.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA), called on the government to relax the existing rules to make it easier for migrant workers to work in the hotel industry to help alleviate the shortage of workforce.

She suggested that the Thai government’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with neighbouring countries allow more positions in which migrant workers can be hired, easier hiring of migrants, and allow more foreign nationals to work in the hotel industry.

At present, Thailand has MoUs on migrant workers with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. The THA wants such agreements to cover Indonesia, the Philippines, India and China. Also, the THA urged the government to revise the MoU to allow foreigners to work in the front office, which is now reserved for Thai nationals only.

Industry executives pointed out that hotels are suffering from a severe shortage of staff as many workers who were redundant during the Covid-19 crisis have not come back while Thai tourism is recovering. Several experienced hotel employees now have their own businesses or have taken up new jobs with more flexible work hours. Meanwhile, many young people avoid routine jobs.

Suksit Suvunditkul, president of the THA’s southern chapter, said that as many as 45 per cent of 1,463 hotels in the resort island province of Phuket are experiencing staff shortages.
“Positions in high demand include receptionist, maid, food and beverage staff, maintenance mechanic, and spa therapist,” he said.

In order to help ease the problem, hotels in the South are now attempting to attract short-term trainees (college students), inexperienced workers willing to get training, and former hotel employees, according to the executive.

The MICE industry – which stands for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions – is also in need of staff, as the sector is recovering from the Covid-19 crisis, according to Thamita Chongswatvorakul, director of corporate human resources at Impact Exhibition Management Co Ltd.

She said that as MICE is not popular among young job-seekers, Impact has come up with more flexible employment plans. Some jobs may be project-based while others are outsourced to independent contractors.