Domestic tourists to spend THB 11 billion during the New Year holiday

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Domestic tourists to spend THB 11 billion during the New Year holiday

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.

Domestic tourists to spend THB 11 billion during the New Year holiday

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

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Bangkok 2023 countdown at Iconsiam still on, says TAT chief

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.

Bangkok 2023 countdown at Iconsiam still on, says TAT chief

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.

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“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.

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Bangkok ranks #1 trending global destination on Airbnb in 2022

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Bangkok ranks #1 trending global destination on Airbnb in 2022

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.

Bangkok ranks #1 trending global destination on Airbnb in 2022

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

Tourism is blossoming on Udon Thani’s pink lily lake

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Tourism is blossoming on Udon Thani's pink lily lake

Tourism is blossoming on Udon Thani’s pink lily lake

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2022

Isaan’s second-largest lake is seeing an influx of tourists since the pink lilies that blanket it began to bloom late last month, local officials say.

More than 100 boats are now available for tours of the lake in Udon Thani province, Paisit Sukrome, chairman of the lake’s tourism boat enterprise, told news outlet Thansettakij on Wednesday.

Paisat said the blooming lilies are more noticeable than in previous years because the lake’s floating moss has been eradicated. He said about 200,000 tourists have visited the lake so far this year, up from 50,000 in 2021.

Tourism is blossoming on Udon Thani's pink lily lake

The lake draws the most tourists during the cool season, when the lilies bloom. It is seeing a surge in visits since Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were eased nationally, though the provincial administration has kept some pandemic prevention measures in place.

Tourism is blossoming on Udon Thani's pink lily lake

Only three of five piers are currently open, Paisat said, adding that two were impacted by the efforts to remove floating moss.

The lake covers more than 22,500 rai and is the second-largest freshwater lake in the Northeast. It received a surge of visitors after CNN included it on its list of the 15 strangest lakes in the world in 2014. Boat guides say the best time to visit the lake is in the morning as the sun can be overwhelming after 11am.

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Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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.

Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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.

Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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.

Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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.

Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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.

Nothing like the North: 5 peak experiences in Thailand’s highlands

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.

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Khao San Road runs short of staff to serve flood of festive tourists

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Khao San Road runs short of staff to serve flood of festive tourists

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.

Khao San Road runs short of staff to serve flood of festive tourists

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.

Chanchai Pratheepwatanawong

Prayut praises resilience of Thailand’s tourism industry

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Prayut praises resilience of Thailand’s tourism industry

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.

Prayut praises resilience of Thailand’s tourism industryAnucha 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.

Related story:

Thailand and Taiwan Markets Lead the Nominations for Agoda Gold Circle Awards

South Korean Culture Ministry recommends must-see spots

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South Korean Culture Ministry recommends must-see spots

South Korean Culture Ministry recommends must-see spots

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization have unveiled the 100 Must-visit Tourist Spots in Korea list for the years 2023 to 2024.

The list is updated every two years, with the aim to introduce and promote Korea tourism to both Koreans and foreigners.

The latest list includes a total of 61 cultural attractions and 39 natural attractions.

By region, 24 destinations are located in the greater Seoul area, 10 in Gangwon Province, 13 in Chungcheong provinces, 17 in Jeolla provinces, 28 in Gyeongsang Province and six in Jeju island.

A total of 14 spots have been selected six consecutive times since the list was launched in 2013.

Newly chosen destinations include the five Joseon palaces in Seoul, Jeju Olle-gil Trail, Jeonju Hanok Village and Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, destinations that are already well known.

The 33 new additions on the list are evenly scattered out across the country, including Seoul Forest, Changwon Yeojwacheon Stream, Chuncheon Samaksan Moutain Lake Cable Car, Iksan Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri and Tongyeong Dpirang Garden.

The 100 tourist spots in Korea were chosen from 235 destinations through a three-step screening process.

Mobile carriers, navigation apps and social media were used to gather big data while academics, journalists and travel writers took part in the final screening.

The Culture Ministry said it has placed several of the chosen locations in “Travel Hunter K,” a series of Zepeto’s metaverse platform content, for a virtual experience of the destinations.

Next year’s Korea Travel Expo, hosted by the Culture Ministry, will have a hall dedicated solely to introducing the 100 Must-visit Tourist Spots in Korea. The ministry will also support the production of promotional videos of each location for marketing purposes.

South Korean Culture Ministry recommends must-see spots

“Next year, we will promote both the K-culture popular destinations and the beautiful natural landscapes of the country so that global travellers can think of Korea as a place to go to and experience.” an official at the Culture Ministry’s national tourism policy bureau said.

Pamphlets containing information on the must-visit sites can be obtained at tourist information centres around the country and at information booths in airports and KTX stations.

HiKR Ground, a popular venue for travellers near Gwanghwamun Station operated by the KTO, will also have pamphlets for distribution.

English, Chinese and Japanese versions of the pamphlet will be available as early as mid-January, according to the KTO’s marketing team.

The Korean version is now available online through the Visitkorea website.

The Korea Herald

Asia News Network

Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood

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Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood

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.

Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood

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.

Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood

The festival is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Colourful Bangkok campaign, which brings festivals to different neighbourhoods of the city.

Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood
Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood
Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood
Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood
Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood
Festival of light transforming Bangkok neighborhood

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Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

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Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

Stargazers turned out in force at three viewing points around the country for the annual Geminids meteor shower on Wednesday night.

Around 1,000 people gathered at the Huay Lan Reservoir campsite in Chiang Mai, and the Chalermphrakiart observatories in Nakhon Ratchasima and Chachoengsao. Most were wearing warm clothing to keep away the cold season chill.

The Chiang Mai stargazing event was hosted by the Ontai community in San Kamphaeng district, where the first shooting star was spotted streaking across the sky at 8.08pm.

Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

At the Chachoengsao observatory, people set up tents and telescopes to view the celestial fireworks show.

Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

The Geminids meteor shower streams from the tail of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. It can be seen from December 4 to 20 as the space rock passes close to Earth. It is thought that the asteroid may have collided with another object in the distant past to produce the stream of particles that create the meteor shower.

Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

This year, astronomers forecast the shower would peak on Wednesday with 150 meteors per hour and identified 8pm to 11pm as the best viewing period, before the bright moon obscures the phenomenon.

Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand said the Geminids were best viewed in a dark clear sky. Stargazers can just lie back and enjoy the spectacle without a telescope, it added. It posted the photos of last night’s stargazing seen here.

Geminids meteors shower Thai stargazers

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