The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) has shortlisted 180 “Talad Thong Chom” or must-visit markets across Thailand for people to visit during the four-day New Year break.
Wattanasak Sur-iam, DIT’s director-general, said these markets showcase community art, culture and tradition and also offer unique souvenirs for people to pick up.
Here are some outstanding ones people can add to their itinerary:
• Talad Phlu, Thonburi, Bangkok: Known for its garlic chives steamed cakes
• Bueng Phraya Floating Market, Klong Sam Wa, Bangkok: Offers a first-hand experience of authentic riverside lifestyle
• San Chao Rong Thong Market, Ang Thong: Chinese-style architecture and street food
• Phikulthong Community Market, Singburi: Signature dishes including sun-dried snakehead fish
• Khlong Khang Pier Market, Nakhon Sawan: Unique desserts like exploding “khanom krok” and ice cream in a jar
• Old Town Market, Phuket: Location of Phuket Thai Hua Museum and province’s first Chinese language school.
All Thai airport weighing scales calibrated ahead of New Year holidays
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
The Commerce Ministry inspected the weighing scales at 33 airports across the country to ensure travellers are not unfairly hit with excess baggage charges during the New Year holidays.
Jakkra Yodmanee, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, said on Friday that since many people are expected to fly during the holiday season, he personally inspected the 200 weighing scales in Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.
He also instructed his staff members to closely examine the weighing scales in all airports across the country.
“The [Internal Trade] Department has always regulated airport weighing scales, and the Airport Department and Airports of Thailand have always cooperated,” he said.
He said the weighing scales were certified every two years by the Central Bureau of Weights and Measures.
According to Article 79 of the Measurement Act, “whoever, knowing that a measurement gauge has an inaccuracy of more than the contingency rate set under Section 26, uses or possesses such measurement gauges for use in business under Section 25 Paragraph 1 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht or both.”
False weighing scales can also be reported via the 1569 hotline.
New Year festivities aim to restore ‘happiness and hope’
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
New Year countdowns are being held nationwide this year as part of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s efforts to revitalise tourism.
Yuthasak Supasorn, the agency’s governor, said on Friday that it is working with private-sector associations to ensure the “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023” in Bangkok and other provinces will “bring back happiness and hope to Thai people”.
He thanked all those who are welcoming tourists from around the world and wished them a healthy and happy New Year.
The tourism agency provided the following list of countdown and related festivals in Thailand:
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Wat Phra Chetuphon pier in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok
• Neon Countdown 2022 December 30 to January 1 at Wonder World Extreme Park in Khan Na Yao district, Bangkok
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 @ ICONSIAM December 31 to January 1 at Iconsiam in Bangkok
• Centralworld Bangkok Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Centralworld in Bangkok
• The Ratchaprasong Light of Fortune 2022 December 8 to January 8 at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok
• Light Up Christmas Tree 2023 November 18 to January 1 at Centralworld in Bangkok
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 @ Hatyai December 29 to January 1 in Hat Yai district, Songkhla
• Amazing Mae Klong Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Wat Paknam bridge in Samut Songkhram
• Countdown Sea Sand Nights @Hatchaosamran December 30 to January 1 at Chao Samran Mai beach in Phetchaburi
• Countdown Party Happy New Year 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Klong Thap Sakae in Prachuap Khiri Khan
• Hua Hin Beach Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 in InterContinental Hua Hin Resort
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 Gift Box @Ratchaburi December 29 to January 1 at Pracha Phatthana Dam in Ratchaburi
• Suanphueng Highland Countdown Festival 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Suanphung Highland in Ratchaburi
• Kanchanaburi Countdown Festival 2023 December 29 to January 1 at River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi
• Suphanburi Festival 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Chalerm Patthara Rachini Park in Suphan Buri
• Amazing Chiang Mai Countdown 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Chaloem Phrakiat Park in Chiang Mai
• Chiang Rai Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Clock Tower Chiang Rai
• Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023 @Uthaithani December 29 to January 1 at Clock Tower Circle in Uthai Thani
• Sukhothai Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Sukhothai Seagrass Field in Uthai Thani
• Nakhon Sawan Lantern Festival December 22 to January 2 at Utthayan Sawan in Nakhon Sawan
• Balloon and Illumination Festival 2023 December 30 to January 1 at BN Farm in Khao Kho district, Phetchabun
• Music in the garden and Countdown Party 2023 December 25 to January 1 at Phetbura park in Phetchabun
• Khao Kho Countdown 2023 December 30 to January 1 at Khao Kho Viewpoint in Phetchabun
• Buriram Countdown 2023 December 24 to January 1 at Chang Arena in Buriram
• Si Sa Ket New Year Festival December 26 to January 4 at Si Sa Ket Provincial Hall
• Korat Countdown 2023 December 28 to January 1 at Central Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima
• Khon Kaen Soft Power Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Khon Kaen Provincial Hall
• 101 in love Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Roi Et Tower in Roi Et
• UD Town Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at UD Town in Udon Thani
• Nakhon Phanom Winter Festival 2023 December 26 to January 1 at the Vietnamese Memorial Clock Tower in Nakhon Phanom
• Amnat Charoen 2023 Happy New Year Time Countdown December 29 to January 1 at the clock tower in Amnat Charoen
• Amazing Grand Sand Dune Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 2 at Grand Sand Dune in Chumphon
• Trang City Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at the clock tower in Trang
• Patong Countdown 2023 December 29 to January 1 at Patong Bay Hill in Kathu district, Phuket
• Pattaya Countdown 2023 December 31 to January 1 at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya
• Rayong Countdown 2023 December 28 to January 3 at Rayong Provincial Stadium
• Trat Countdown 2023 December 28 to January 3 at Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine in Trat
Domestic tourists to spend THB 11 billion during the New Year holiday
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022
Domestic tourists will spend about 11.2 billion baht during the four-day New Year holiday, according to a forecast from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). It forecasts that domestic tourists will make 3.14 million visits during the break.
Between 700,000 and 800,000 foreign tourists are also expected to visit Thailand during the Christmas to New Year period. They will generate about 26 billion baht in revenue, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Friday.
He said the average reservation rate at hotels nationwide has already reached 75% for the four-day weekend starting on December 30. The reservation rate is highest in the North where it has reached 78%, Yuthasak said.
The TAT will spend about 50 million baht on two New Year countdowns – in Bangkok and Songkhla’s Hat Yai district – under the theme “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023”, he said.
The TAT will sponsor similar New Year celebrations in other locations, including Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui Island, Buri Ram, and Krabi, Yuthasak said.
He said that the cancellation of some previously scheduled New Year festivities would not affect tourism during the New Year holiday because events are going ahead as planned in many locations.
With 700,000 to 800,000 foreign tourists expected in the final week of this year, the total number of foreign arrivals will reach 11.5 million for 2022, exceeding the original target of 10 million. Inbound tourism will generate about 1.5 trillion baht in revenue this year, Yuthasak said.
Malaysia is the top source of foreign tourists this year. India, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore complete the top five, in that order. South Korea, Vietnam, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia follow.
The TAT has set a target of 20 million foreign tourists for next year, Yuthasak said, adding that the number is about 80% of the pre-pandemic level. They are expected to generate 2.38 trillion baht in revenue, he said.
Bangkok 2023 countdown at Iconsiam still on, says TAT chief
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022
Bangkok’s “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023” at Iconsiam on New Year’s Eve has not been cancelled, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) insisted.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Friday that no cancellation orders have arrived from the government or the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
“The ‘Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023’ focuses on happiness, hope and moving forward together to boost the country’s economy after it was hit by the pandemic for five years,” he said.
Yuthasak made the comment after news was published about Pattaya cancelling its December 29-31 fireworks display as Thais pray for the recovery of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati.
“Even though the Pattaya countdown and other festivals are being adjusted, TAT believes they should not affect the expected revenue during the New Year period because tourists have already made reservations,” he said.
TAT expects some 3.14 million domestic trips to generate around 11.2 billion baht from New Year’s Eve to January 2.
The average occupancy rate, meanwhile, is expected to be around 75%, he said, adding that hotels in the North should attract some 560,380 local visitors during the period, generating up to 2.05 billion baht.
TAT expects this New Year’s to be livelier as people can finally celebrate and return to their hometowns now that Covid has eased.
Bangkok ranks #1 trending global destination on Airbnb in 2022
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022
Looking ahead to 2023, Bangkok currently ranks 5th trending destination in the world on Airbnb
Airbnb is wrapping up the year with a bow, revealing the categories and destinations that topped the charts in 2022, and providing a sneak peak at what 2023 has in store for travel.
Searches made in Q1-Q3 2022 for check-ins in 2022 vs the same period in 2021, saw Bangkok emerge as the #1 most trending destination for Airbnb guests across the world in 2022:
Bangkok, Thailand Sydney, Australia Málaga, Spain Seoul, South Korea Melbourne, Australia Itapema, Brazil Angra dos Reis, Brazil Capão da Canoa, Brazil Auckland, New Zealand Brisbane, Australia
Bangkok’s popularity as a top destination carries into 2023, as searches in Q1-Q3 2022 for future check-ins in 2023 rank the city currently #5 on Airbnb’s list of top trending travel spots on Airbnb in 2023:
Málaga, Spain Sydney, Australia Melbourne, Australia Auckland, New Zealand Bangkok, Thailand
“In 2022, we continued to see changes in the way people live, work and travel on Airbnb. It’s clear that the newfound flexibility offered by remote and hybrid work has led to a revolution in how we travel –especially when it comes to international destinations. The reopening of more countries this year also unlocked pent-up demand from international travellers eager to reconnect with loved ones or visit their favourite destinations once more,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Having launched Airbnb Categories in May this year, Airbnb has added six new Categories to support guest travel this festive season, including New homes; Top of the world homes; Trending homes; Adapted homes; Play homes; and Hanoks.
Based on bookings from May 11 through September 30, these were the top 2022 travel categories for Thai guests:
Amazing Pools National Parks Beach Tropical Shared homes
Meanwhile, the top trending international destinations for Thai travellers in 2022 are:
Seoul, South Korea Bern, Switzerland Singapore Valais, Switzerland Île-de-France, France
Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022
Tourists are once again heading north in Thailand as cold weather and seas of mist signal the start of high season.
The Nation has selected five unmissable northern tourist attractions for the New Year holiday.
Pang Ung, Mae Hong Son
Visitors to the “Switzerland of Thailand” are immersed in a chilly alpine atmosphere of lakes, mountains and pine forests. Swans gliding serenely by add to the romantic vibe. Villagers under the Pang Tong Royal Development Project protect this pristine environment with sustainable agriculture that bears delicious fruits. Check out the avocados.
Doi Pha Hi, Chiang Rai
This mountain is a temple for coffee worshippers, producing the high-quality beans that go into Thailand’s premium brews. Visitors can sip the country’s finest coffee while enjoying spectacular views of the mountains and blue skies.
For a fascinating insight into the local way of life, visit Pha Hi Village and tune into the natural rhythms of the Akah ethnic group.
Kew Mae Pan, Chiang Mai
Unveiled along this 3.2-kilometre nature trail in Doi Inthanon National Park are some of Thailand’s most spectacular mountain views. Dress warm – temperatures can drop below 10C (50F) at the highest viewpoint during the cold season.
Beauty spots awaiting trekkers on the hike include Lan Sadet Waterfall, semi-alpine meadows, seas of fog, and red millenial roses that only bloom in the cold.
Phu Langka National Park, Phayao
Among Thailand’s most famous beauty spots during cold season, this national park is dominated by the 1,720-metre peak of Phu Thewada. From here, visitors look down on the pink seas of fog that swirl around its sister mountains of Doi Phu Nom, Doi Phu Langka and Doi Hua Ling on the Thailand-Laos border at sunset and sunrise.
Wat Phrabat Pu Pha Daeng, Lampang
The crags of this unique mountain temple in Jaehom district are tipped by 10 pagodas, glittering white and gold above seas of mist. Pilgrims make the long climb to view the Buddha’s footprint inscribed on a large stone base, as well as the atmospheric Pha Sawan cave.
Khao San Road runs short of staff to serve flood of festive tourists
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022
Chanchai Pratheepwatanawong
Business is roaring again on Khao San Road as foreign tourists return to celebrate Christmas and New Year. However, business owners in the Bangkok backpacking haven are suffering staff shortages as visitor numbers soar.
Abandoned by foreign tourists for almost three years of Covid-19, Khao San hotels, bars and other businesses have rebounded to almost pre-pandemic levels as Thailand’s high season takes off.
Sanga Rueangwattnakun, president of the Khaosan Road Business Association, told The Nation that local business operators are still short-staffed after most workers were laid off or left their jobs during the pandemic.
Other popular destinations around the country facing similar labour shortages include Phuket, which reported over 17,000 job vacancies in its tourism industry this month. Now, with arrivals expected to rise during the first quarter of 2023, concern is growing that the industry will not be able to pick up the pace as tourism returns to pre-Covid levels.
The Fifa 2022 World Cup saw foreign and Thai visitors flood Khao San Road to watch games on giant screens as the area returned to bustling normality.
Six months after Thailand lifted Covid restrictions in June, Khao San operators report that business is back to 90% to 95% of pre-Covid levels.
The end of the year always brings more foreign tourists to Khao San, with about 70% arriving from Western countries. However, this year almost all tourists staying in the backpacking hotspot are Westerners, Sanga said.
He suggested that energy and cost-of-living crises in Europe have made it too expensive for them to stay in their own countries this winter. Thai tourism destinations like Khao San Road offer affordable accommodation to stay over winter, he said, adding that he expects to see bigger crowds every day as New Year approaches.
Prayut praises resilience of Thailand’s tourism industry
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha praised all agencies involved in the revival of Thailand’s tourism industry, which earlier this month won the top spot in the 14th annual Agoda Gold Circle Awards (GCA), government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Sunday.
Anucha said Prayut was overjoyed that Thailand topped the list, which goes to the country that has the highest number of hotels receiving awards from the Asia-based online booking platform. Agoda selects the winning hotels based on reviews of travellers using its service, value, price, services and flexibility.
A total of 246 properties in Thailand won GCA awards, followed by 209 properties in Taiwan and 198 in Japan.
Anucha said the winning Thai hotels and resorts can display the GCA logo on their website and will also earn Agoda Growth Express credits, which will help them receive prominence and priority on Agoda’s booking platform.
Agoda also donated 5,000 trees to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the name of Thailand, the spokesman added.
Anucha quoted Prayut as saying that tourists kept visiting the kingdom after the government ended the Covid-19 restrictions, prompting the government to reach the target of 10 million foreign arrivals on December 10.
“The prime minister is pleased with the potential of the tourism industry and the hard work of all relevant agencies as well as hotels, resorts, aviation and land transport industries, and tourism companies for cooperating with the government so that the country could survive the Covid-19 crisis,” the spokesman said.
“The fact that Thailand earned the top spot of the Agoda Gold Circle Award for four consecutive years shows that Thailand’s tourism industry has high standards, resilience and it is ready to adapt,” he added.
Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
Installations and projections of light began transforming one of Bangkok’s oldest neighborhoods yesterday evening with the launch of the Awakening Bangkok festival, which will run from 6pm to 11pm daily till Christmas Day.
The festival aims to turn the Charoen Krung-Talad Noi area of Samphanthawong district into a canvas, organisers have said. It comprises 40 art installations and light projections onto historical buildings. The area includes Yaowarat, the city’s Chinatown.
The story of the area’s sustainability and how its residents adapted to Bangkok’s transformations is told with light projected onto iconic buildings on Charoen Krung Road, including the Patina Café, the renaissance-style East Asiatic Building, and the vintage 80s style Swan Hotel.
The festival is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Colourful Bangkok campaign, which brings festivals to different neighbourhoods of the city.
Anucha quoted Prayut as saying that tourists kept visiting the kingdom after the government ended the Covid-19 restrictions, prompting the government to reach the target of 10 million foreign arrivals on December 10.
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