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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023613

Devout Chiang Mai Buddhists call on ‘Luang Por Tan Jai’ for a lucky, healthy 2023

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022

Hundreds of locals and tourists flocked to Chiang Mai’s Wat Phra That Doi Kham on New Year’s Eve to pray for good luck and prosperity.

“Luang Por Tan Jai”, a 1,300-year-old Buddha image enshrined in the temple, is believed to help fulfil wishes in exchange for offerings.

Several visitors said they were at the temple to pray for good health and a blessed 2023 for themselves and their families. Many had also arrived to admire the temple’s ancient Lanna architecture.

On Saturday, 49 Buddhist monks gathered at the temple to chant prayers for the recovery of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, who is being treated at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for a heart-related issue.

On Friday night, tourists also flocked to what remains of the 726-year-old city wall – the Tha Phae Gate – which has become a tourist landmark. The gate, glowing with flowers and lights for New Year celebrations, offers a beautiful backdrop for selfies. The area has been turned into a carnival, with concerts, games and booths selling street foods and souvenirs.

People will get to ring in the New Year with fireworks and musical performances at the “Chiang Mai Countdown 2023” across from Tha Phae Gate.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023599

Thailand to offer Covid-19 shots to tourists at an affordable price

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

Foreigners arriving in Thailand will soon be able to pay for Covid-19 vaccines as part of a collaboration between Public Health and Tourism and Sports ministries.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Friday that the “service” will be available for tourists from any country and may possibly cost between 500 and 800 baht per person.

This is in preparation for a potential influx of Chinese tourists now that China will drop the requirement for mandatory quarantine for inbound travellers from January 8.

Though Chinese nationals can go overseas freely, the easing of the quarantine rule will make it easier for them to return home.

However, the quarantine rule is being relaxed at a time when the number of Covid-19 cases in China is reportedly rising, causing concern for many countries that are popular among Chinese travellers.

Phiphat said he will meet Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob to discuss plans for preparing for a potential surge in foreign arrivals next year. All three ministers hail from the Bhumjaithai Party.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had said earlier that it expects some 500,000 Chinese tourists to visit the country during the Chinese New Year in late January.

After travel restrictions were eased in China, TAT has adjusted its forecast for foreign arrivals in 2023 from 20 million to 25 million, with up to 5 million of them being Chinese nationals.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023591

BMA offers free buses to Bangkok floating markets every weekend from New Year’s Eve

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2022

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is offering Bangkokians who have decided to stay behind free buses to floating markets in the capital.

The BMA announced on Friday that this is part of a pilot project to boost local tourism by linking tourist attractions to main transportation routes via feeder buses at the weekends.

The service will start this weekend, when Bangkokians can hop on a BMA electric bus at MRT Bang Khun Non station, to get off at either Song Khlong or Taling Chan floating market. After these stops, the bus will head to the Southern Bus Terminal to pick up more passengers and then head to Lat Mayom and Wat Saphan floating markets, before terminating at the MRT Bang Khun Non station.

The service is available four times a day from 9am, with buses terminating at Bang Khun Non MRT station at 4.45pm.

An electric feeder bus seats 20 people, has a ramp for wheelchairs, free wi-fi and phone charging systems. Passengers can check the route and timetable through the ViaBus app.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023557

Tourism Ministry proposes free booster shots for tourists

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

The Tourism and Sports Ministry will ask the Public Health Ministry to provide free Covid-19 booster shots to tourists at a meeting next month that also includes the Transport Ministry to discuss the return of Chinese tourists.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Thursday the three ministries would hold a meeting on January 5 to discuss preparations for the possible return of Chinese tourists following relaxation of travel restrictions by China.

Phiphat said the booster shots would be among the proposals of his ministry during the joint meeting.

He said he would propose that all foreign tourists who request Covid booster shots receive free vaccine, not only Chinese tourists.

“I’ll discuss the possibility of providing booster shots to tourists from all countries who want to receive Covid vaccine in Thailand,” Phiphat said.

“I think it’s worthwhile. It will be like a promotion to draw more foreign tourists to visit Thailand.”

The tourism minister explained that each vaccine shot would cost just a few hundred baht while each foreign tourist would spend an average of 40,000 baht in Thailand per trip, including 7% VAT of 2,800 baht. He said the VAT value alone would cover the cost of booster shots.

Phiphat said the government should allocate a budget from the central fund for the Public Health Ministry to buy Covid vaccines for providing booster shots to tourists.

Phiphat added that he would also ask the Public Health Ministry to use remaining Covid vaccines in stock to provide booster shots to personnel in the tourism sector.

He said the government should step up its PR campaigns for young working people in the tourism sector to come out to receive booster shots ahead of the return of Chinese tourists.

The personnel should also campaign to continue wearing flu masks to protect themselves, the tourism minister added.

“The proposal of free booster shots is based on the principle that we must take good care of foreign tourists since Thailand is ranked among the top five countries with the best public health system,” Phiphat added.

Meanwhile, Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the TAT had held a meeting with representatives of the private sector on Wednesday to discuss preparations for China’s reopening of its country.

The meeting expected that during the first three months of next year, about 300,000 Chinese tourists would visit Thailand, compared to some 274,000 arrivals from China throughout this year.

The meeting agreed that no sector must discriminate against Chinese tourists but must threat them with the same practices used for tourists from other countries.

Yuthasak said the meeting also saw the need for the personnel in the tourism sector to step up self-protection measures, including receiving booster shots. Hotels are also advised to use the Safety and Health Administration measures like what were used during the Covid pandemic.

In a related development, Phiphat said the National Tourism Policy Committee would meet on January 24 to deliberate the proposed entry fee rate for foreign arrivals by land. If approved, the entry fee rates for foreign arrivals by land, air and water would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval in February, Phiphat added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023550

Bangkok, Tokyo and Bali are top year-end destinations among Singapore travellers

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

Bangkok, Tokyo and Bali were well-loved destinations before the pandemic and they continue to be popular during this year-end travel season.

Kuala Lumpur and Seoul round out the top five places people in Singapore are visiting between December 2022 and February 2023, based on accommodation search data from travel booking platform Expedia.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost arm Scoot declined to reveal the airlines’ most popular routes, citing commercial sensitivities. But a spokesman for SIA said it expects demand to pick up in East Asia with the recent relaxation of border controls, especially over holiday periods such as Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan 22.

SIA’s load factor in East Asia, which includes destinations such as South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong, has recovered to almost pre-pandemic levels. It was 81 % in November, compared with 88 % in November 2019.

Newlyweds Tan Ting Wei, 33, and Ronda Lim, 32, who got married in December, spent two weeks in Japan on their honeymoon visiting cities such as Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.

Both are fans of the country. Mr Tan, who is the transformation lead at a fire protection equipment supplier, has been there for ski trips, while Ms Lim, a public servant, is on a quest to visit all 47 prefectures in Japan.

The couple had intended to go to Croatia, but changed their plans less than a month before their trip after the airline cancelled their connecting flight from Turkey to Croatia.

“Japan had just reopened and we saw friends going there for holidays. Both of us like the country a lot and we enjoy Japanese food,” said Ms Lim.

They found that hotel prices were higher than during pre-pandemic times, especially in Tokyo, where basic rooms in two- to three-star hotels could cost about $500 ( 17,314 baht ) a night. Many affordable chain hotels were also fully booked.

For others such as Jayden Ong, 29, the appeal of a familiar destination is being able to unwind and explore without feeling the need to pack her schedule with sightseeing.

She spent nine days in Thailand in December with her partner and a group of friends. In Bangkok, they visited a slew of restaurants and bars, including Khua Kling Pak Sod, which serves southern Thai food in a refined setting.

Ong, who is the co-founder of composting start-up Soil Social, also spent four days at Wonderfruit, an art, music and culture festival near Pattaya.

“I’ve been to Thailand about 10 times and it is always a comforting place to visit. People are friendly, it is affordable and there are new districts to explore,” she said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023551

Pattaya packing 3-day firework show into single countdown explosion

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022

Pattaya has relit the fuse for New Year’s Eve celebrations by announcing the city’s countdown fireworks display will be held after all on December 31.

On Wednesday the resort city reversed its earlier decision to call off the New Year fireworks display – one of the country’s largest – amid nationwide prayers for the recovery of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati.

Firework displays were originally scheduled for December 29-31, along with countdown concerts and fairs throughout the three days at Bali Hai Pier in Bang Lamung district.

The city’s latest announcement said the fireworks will be packed into one explosive countdown event, while the concerts and fair will still be held for three days.

The concert line-up includes Zani, Pop Pongkool, The Toys, Tilly Birds, Palmy, Bowkylion, Lipta, PP & Billkin, Body Slam, Wonderfram and Klear.

All routes leading to Bali Hai Pier will be closed to traffic from 3pm to 2am on Thursday to Saturday, with visitors advised to visit the fair on foot.

Pattaya’s backpedalled on the firework show after the Interior Ministry declared on Monday that government and private sectors can still organise year-end celebrations under public safety and Covid-19 rules.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023532

Eight ‘must-see’ flower gardens in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2022

For those seeking to enjoy and pose for photos in beautiful fields with a rich range of flowers in bright shades of colours during the New Year holidays, a trip to Mae Rim district in the northern province of Chiang Mai is a must.

The Travel Desk of The Nation has selected eight flower gardens in Mae Rim that our readers could consider visiting to enjoy the natural splendour and take colourful photos.

They are:

● I Love Flower Farm 

This flower farm has an English name and it features hydrangea in purple, white and light blue. This year, the farm has organised photo props under the theme “Find me in I Love Flower Farm”. The props include colourful balloons.

The farm has been open to tourists since last month. It will stay open until January 15.

● Kuv Niam Hydenyia 

This flower field is popular among tourists. It features a hydrangea field over three rai (0.48 hectares), surrounded by mountains and a sea of mist in the morning. It is about a 40-miniute drive from Chiang Mai downtown and it provides shuttle bus services for tourists from downtown.

● Sixflowers Garden

This garden features long strips of celosia flowers in bright colours of yellow, red, orange, pink, green and purple. It is located in the middle of a valley in Mae Rim. Tourists can enjoy taking selfies amid cool mountain breeze. Entrance tickets can be used for free drinks from a café. The garden is open until the end of January.

● Yingyong Flower Garden

This garden is located in the Mon Jam area in Mae Rim. The garden features red salvia flowers as well as sections of purple and white salvia flowers. Since it is located on a mountaintop, tourists can enjoy taking photos of colourful flowers against the backdrop of clouds of mist.

● Suan Lung Ron

This garden features multi-coloured Margarette and celosia and celosia plumosa flowers. The garden has been open since October. Tourists like to visit the garden to enjoy the sunset and delicious meals.

● Surachai Farm Suan Chiang Mai

This garden features blooming yellow sunflowers as well as rainbow flowers and white cutter flowers. The garden also allows tourists to borrow props, such as flower crowns, umbrellas, and hats for photo ops.

● Pa Nok Iang Flower Garden

This garden features mainly sunflowers on a 40-rai plot, which is very large. Entrance is free for children under five years old. The garden also has purple Margarette flowers and provides a lot of props for tourists to use for taking photos, including hats and locally-crafted handmade bags.

● Rai Klin Kesorn

This garden features several shades of purple Margarette flowers on a large field. The owner has also built platforms for tourists to move between flower fields. The garden also has white cutter flowers as well as red and yellow celosia for taking photos.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023530

Khon Kaen Soft Power Countdown 2023 kicks off December 29

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2022

Khon Kaen province invites tourists to visit the “Soft Power Countdown 2023” event from Thursday to Sunday, featuring merit-making ceremony on New Year’s Day for luck and prosperity, as well as selling of hand-woven fabrics and OTOP products.

Mayor Theerasak Theekhayuphan held a press conference on Wednesday before the launch of year-end festivities that are a collaboration among the province, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, and the Khon Kaen Tourism Operator Association.

The event that will kick off tomorrow at Heun Boran Pavilion, a historical landmark in front of the city hall in Muang district, features booths selling iconic hand-woven fabrics, local foods and desserts, as well as handcrafted souvenirs. Visitors will also enjoy stage performances of traditional dance, concerts, and contests of traditional costumes.

The countdown event on the night of December 31 features a tunnel that sprinkles holy water on visitors as they walk under it, signifying the moving forward toward the next year with prosperity.

On January 1, the province will hold a merit-making ceremony in front of the city hall where all visitors are welcome to give morning alms to Buddhist monks from 6.30 am onward. 

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023527

Unique coffee brew is drawing tourists to a mountain top in Tak province

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2022

The Tak provincial office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand is encouraging more tourists to visit Doi Muser mountaintop to sample the unique Arabica coffee grown there.

The coffee beans harvested on the mountain have a unique taste and aroma, and they have transformed the area into a tourism destination, said Thamolwan Charoenwongpisit, director of the tourism agency’s office in the province.

The coffee beans are in the process of being registered as a geographical indication product of Doi Muse, Thamolwan added.

On Tuesday, she visited Doi Muser mountain to promote the coffee beans.

Doi Muser is located on Highway No 1099 (Omkok-Mae Tuen road) in Tambon Dan Mae Lamoh, Mae Sot district. Its peak is about 1,400 metres above sea level.

Besides coffee, the mountain is well-known for its hill tribe villages and cabbage plantations.

Thamolwan said the mountain’s coffee beans are drawing an increasing number of tourists and generating more income for local residents.

Tak’s tourism industry is bustling as it prepares for the New Year holidays, which are expected to draw plenty of tourists to the mountain, Thi Lo Su Waterfall in the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, Thamolwan said.

At 250 meters in height and 450 metres in width, Thi Lo Su Waterfall is the widest and highest waterfall in Thailand. It flows down from Huai Klotho into Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thamolwan said the province’s Rim Moei Market, a large border market opposite Myanmar, is also a popular destination for tourists.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40023501

Iconsiam’s New Year extravaganza puts Bangkok high on CNN list

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022

Iconsiam’s “Amazing Thailand Countdown” makes Bangkok one of the top 10 places in the world to welcome 2023, according to CNN.

CNN Travel recently published its list of 10 great places to ring in the New Year, and Bangkok made the roster with other favourites like Sydney, Taipei, Dubai, Cape Town, Rome, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, and Las Vegas.

Describing the Bangkok countdown, CNN said: “Catch an amazing fireworks show at Iconsiam, a major shopping and entertainment destination along the Chao Phraya River.

“You may want to continue the celebration at one of Bangkok’s stunning bars such as Sky Beach Bangkok, the city’s highest bar, or Sirocco, also set high above the bustling streets.

“If the revelry becomes too much, get some calming down time on January 1 at a temple such as Wat Pho, with its reclining Buddha.”

This year’s “Amazing Thailand Countdown 2023” is being hosted by Iconsiam on the night of December 31.

The extravaganza is jointly organised by the riverside shopping mall, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and several private partners including Charoen Pokphand Group and Magnolia Quality Development.

Highlights include eco-friendly fireworks under the concept “Win the World for Thailand” and the world’s first “Hybrid World Countdown” show, as well as an augmented reality (AR) show portraying the story behind each set of fireworks through the ONESIAM mobile application.

Apart from the fireworks, visitors can also enjoy stage performances and concerts. Those who are unable to make it in person can watch the live broadcast on Channel 32HD, Iconsiam’s Facebook page as well as the TrueID application.

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