Hat Yais famous Kim Yong market up and running as lockdown relaxed
Merchants at Hat Yai’s Kim Yong market are ready to welcome a large number of shoppers after Covid-19 measures were relaxed in Songkhla province. Virus prevention measures are to be strictly adhered to while most of the merchants have been vaccinated.
On Monday, the Kim Yong market was bustling with activity as people came out in large numbers to buy dried food and snacks, after the easing of restrictions in the province.
A shop owner told reporters that the market had come back to life the past Saturday and Sunday as interprovincial travel has been resumed.
“Sales during the past weekend got a major boost as some customers purchased bulk quantities of products for reselling. If this satisfying trend continues, sales should shortly reach THB10,000 per day like it used to.
Hat Yais famous Kim Yong market up and running as lockdown relaxed
Most of the vendors at Kim Yong market have received the first shot of the vaccine and some are receiving the second one. On Tuesday, some of the merchants have closed their shops to get the second jab,” said the owner of Somchaipanich general store.
The Kim Yong market is strictly following Covid-19 prevention measures by providing alcohol-based gel and checking the customers’ temperature before they enter the shop.
‘Thailand Reopening’ schemes see 27,000 arrivals, 1.6 billion baht in revenue
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has reported that 27,000 international tourists have visited Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus, and 7+7 Extension programmes launched on July 1, July 15 and August 16 respectively.
Phuket Sandbox
Under the sandbox scheme, Phuket welcomed 26,400 visitors from July 1 to August 31, generating 1.63 billion baht in revenue.
The revenue comprised 565 million baht spent on accommodation, 376 million baht on shopping and tours, 350 million baht on food and beverage, 229 million baht on medical and health services, and 114 million baht on others. Each traveller spent an average of 61,894 baht per person.
The five largest source markets remained the US with 3,482 arrivals, followed by the UK with 3,351 arrivals, Israel with 2,909 arrivals, Germany with 2,092 arrivals, and France with 2,083 arrivals.
The 26,400 tourists, who were fully vaccinated and did not require quarantine, arrived using major airlines from key across the world. This included Thai Airways International from Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Paris, London, and Zurich; Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi; Qatar Airways from Doha; EL AL Israel Airlines from Tel Aviv; Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong; Emirates from Dubai, and Singapore Airlines from Singapore.
The arrivals generated 366,971 room nights at SHA Plus-certified hotels in Phuket – 190,843 nights in July and 176,128 nights in August, respectively. With 95,997 room nights booked for September, the three-month total stands at 462,968 room nights. Looking ahead, bookings between October and February 2022 stand at 24,947 room nights.
Travellers under the Phuket Sandbox scheme are required to stay at SHA Plus-certified hotels for their added safety. SHA Plus certification indicates a hotel meets measures required to curb Covid-19 and at least 70 per cent of the workforce has been fully vaccinated.
Alongside the necessary health and safety measures in place for international travellers, as of August 31, 92 per cent of Phuket’s population had received their first dose, while 75 per cent had received both doses.
Samui Plus
The Samui Plus programme was launched on July 15, under which tourists can visit Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao. To do this, they can either land on Samui or from August 16, can travel via Phuket after spending seven nights there. So far, 347 tourists have taken advantage of the second option.
From July 15 to August 31, the scheme has welcomed 918 tourists, with 6,329 room nights and 37.6 million baht in revenue. Most of these arrivals were from Europe and the US.
Bangkok Airways’ 92 sealed flights between Samui and Bangkok helped facilitate the programme. The airline also provided connecting flights between Phuket and Samui.
Until December 9, Samui Plus has recorded the booking of 9,195 room nights. These include 7,397 room nights booked by 591 visitors under Samui Plus and 1,788 room nights by 269 tourists under the Phuket Sandbox and 7+7 Extension.
Launched on August 16, the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 Extension programme allows tourists to visit several destinations during their visit.
Under this scheme, travellers can spend their first seven nights in Phuket and the remaining seven in Krabi (Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai, or Railay Beach), in Phang-Nga (Khao Lak or Koh Yao), or in Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan, or Koh Tao).
From Phuket, Surat Thani’s Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao can be reached via Bangkok Airways’ direct flights from Phuket; Krabi’s Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai and Railay Beach can be reached by SHA Plus-certified boat and ferry services from approved piers; Phang-Nga’s Khao Lak can be reached by SHA Plus-certified car transfer services from Phuket, while Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai can be reached via SHA Plus-certified boat and ferry services from approved piers.
Bangkok reopening plan delayed until most residents fully jabbed
The plan to reopen Bangkok to fully vaccinated foreign tourists will likely be postponed by a month at least to ensure at least 70 per cent of people living in the capital and its adjacent provinces are fully jabbed first.
Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Monday that the plan had been postponed from October 1, when Bangkok and four other provinces – Chiang Mai (Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin), Phetchaburi (Cha-am) and Chonburi (Pattaya, Bang Lamung and Sattahip) – were scheduled to reopen.
He said the country should be fully reopened by January 15 if at least 70 per cent of the population has been fully vaccinated by the end of this year.
Phiphat added that foreigners who arrive under the Phuket or Samui sandbox schemes and stay there for at least seven days will be allowed to travel to 23 provinces from October 15. The provinces are:
North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Lamphun and Sukhothai
East: Rayong (Koh Samet), Chanthaburi and Trat (Koh Kut and Koh Chang)
West: Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi
South: Ranong, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung
Central: Ayutthaya
“The Tourism and Sports Ministry will propose the third phase of the reopening plan to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration [CCSA] within this month,” he said.
“The ministry will also propose a fourth phase of reopening, which will allow travellers from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Malaysia to enter Thailand under a bubble from January 1.”
Phiphat added that if daily Covid-19 infections dropped significantly from 15,000 to just a couple of thousand by September 20, then the ministry will propose that the CCSA and Public Health Ministry cut the mandatory quarantine period from 14 days to seven days.
Khao Yai draws a rush of visitors as national park reopens its doors
Khao Yai National Park came back to life after the easing of Covid-19 measures. Tourists were asked to follow the park’s regulations and enjoy the World Heritage Forest with responsibility.
The viewpoint at the 30-kilometre range in Khao Yai National Park was bustling with visitors on Saturday to experience the beautiful natural scenery. The 30- kilometre spot has become popular among tourists and photographers as hornbills flock there to eat ripe banyan fruits in the area, creating magical moments for the visitors.
Khao Yai National Park chief Adisak Pusitwongsanuyut has urged tourists to strictly follow the park’s regulations amid the ongoing pandemic, including the “4 NOs” — no littering, no loud noise, no fast driving and no feeding animals — in order to protect and conserve this World Heritage Forest.
Thailand moves up to 7th rank in 2021 world heritage rankings
Thailand has been ranked seventh in the heritage sub-ranking and 28th in the total best country ranking, organised by US News Best Countries rankings for 2021.
The rankings are based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics, impressions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment and directly affect national economies.
The 2021 Best Countries rankings, organised in partnership with BAV Group, a unit of global marketing communications company VMLY&R, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, are based on a study that surveyed more than 17,000 people from four regions to assess perceptions of 78 countries on 76 different metrics.
The heritage sub-ranking is based on an equally weighted average of five country attributes that relate to a country’s heritage: culturally accessible, has a rich history, has great food, many cultural attractions and many geographical attractions. The geographical attractions attribute is new for 2021. The heritage sub-ranking had a 1.93 per cent weight in the overall Best Countries ranking.
While old world front-runners Spain, Italy and Greece make up the top three yet again, their order changed slightly in 2021. Spain took the No. 1 spot from Italy. But the trifecta performed extremely well in the heritage sub-ranking overall – each scoring at least 9 points on a 10-point scale.
As a region, Europe fared much better than others. Generally small in area and population, European nations are viewed as far more culturally accessible, pulling them up in the ranks past large nations like Russia (No. 15) and the United States (No. 16) despite contributions like Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballets and jazz music, the organisers said.
Egypt was one of the biggest upward movers near the top of the sub-rankings in 2021, jumping up from No. 13 in 2020 to No. 8 this year. Thailand also moved up from No. 9 to No. 7. Mexico (No. 5), India (No. 6), Turkey (No. 9) and Japan (No. 10) round out the top 10.
At the bottom of the heritage sub-rankings are Kazakhstan, Qatar and Oman. Ghana, which was near the bottom of the list in 2020, failed to meet all four of the data benchmarks this year and dropped out of the 2021 rankings, the organisers said.
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Seals in Songkhla Zoo are ready to welcome visitors with a special “volleyball show”. Staff are preparing for the reopening of the zoo in 14 days when Covid-19 measures are eased.
Suchada Sri-kwan, a seal and penguin trainer at Songkhla Zoo, told reporters on Sunday that three of the zoo’s seals, namely Pokky, Conne’ and Peepo, have been trained daily for over one month to welcome visitors when the zoo is back in operation.
The trainer said that the seals were very determined with the training. The penguins are also being trained for a parade show. Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla ZooSporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
“The zoo is currently closed, but we train these animals every day so they do not forget the routines. The three seals are being trained for their famous volleyball show. “Peepo” is a supportive spectator, while “Pokky” and “Conne'” battle it out.
“We are preparing the zoo to welcome visitors with some spectacular new shows when the zoo reopens,” the animal trainer at Songkhla Zoo said.
Mae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract tourists
Mae Hong Son launched a drive to attract domestic tourists for its high season on Thursday, highlighting two natural wonders of the northern province.
Governor Sithichai Jindaluang led a team to the waterfall at Namtok Mae Surin National Park, where work is underway to boost safety and convenience for visitors. A major tourism magnet, the 180-metre-tall waterfall in Khun Yuam district is currently closed but will open on October 1.
Sithichai also revealed efforts to upgrade the Bua Tong wild sunflower fields that carpet the slopes of Doi Mae U Kho in the same district. The forest park has been planted with pine trees and wild Himalayan cherry trees, adding even more colour to the mountain scenery.
Mae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract touristsOfficials are busy preparing for the local tourism festival from November 1-10, upgrading campsites, restrooms, tourist reception buildings and various tourism activities, to generate much-needed tourism income for locals.
Mae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract touristsMae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract tourists
Chiang Mai ready to share its ‘charms’ under new travel scheme
The Tourism Council of Chiang Mai plans to launch the “Charming Chiang Mai” scheme on October 1 in a bid to bring tourists back to the North.
Council president Punlop Saejew said the scheme is over 90 per cent ready and is waiting for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration’s approval.
Like Phuket Sandbox and other schemes launched to boost tourism, Charming Chiang Mai will also have tourists visiting under specific conditions.
Punlop said tourists will be given several options under the scheme, like spending only five days in Chiang Mai before flying back home or dividing their first 14 days between Chiang Mai and Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere in Thailand.
He said travellers going for the five-day option will only be allowed to stay in specific hotels and visit golf clubs.
However, if they choose to spend 14 days in Chiang Mai or divide the period between the North and Phuket in the South, they will be allowed to travel around Thailand once that period is completed, and they test negative for Covid-19.
The areas earmarked for the Charming Chiang Mai scheme are Muang, Mae Taeng, Mae Rim and Doi Tao districts and the initial target are travellers from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan before it expands to travellers from China and India.
Punlop believes the scheme should generate up to 100 million baht for the province if it can be launched without any problems.
He explained that Chiang Mai’s earnings from tourism had dropped to 60 billion baht in 2020 from 1.2 trillion baht the year earlier.
“Over the past one year and eight months, when foreign tourists were banned from entering Chiang Mai, the province has lost at least 180 billion baht in tourist dollars,” he added.
TAT announces details of domestic travel from today
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has provided an update on domestic travel by air, bus, train and boat following the government’s latest announcement allowing the resumption of interprovincial travel between the 29 dark-red zone provinces and other areas from today, September 1.
Air Travel
Thai Airways
Thai Airways International will operate twice weekly one-way flights from Bangkok to Phuket – Flight TG922 every Thursday from September 2-October 28, 2021 and Flight TG916 every Friday from September 3-October 29, 2021.
Bangkok Airways
Bangkok Airways resumed its direct return flights between Samui and Phuket in support of the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus programmes on August 25. It presently offers three flights per week – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Flights between Samui and Singapore and flights operated under the Samui Plus programme will operate as normal.
The airline’s temporary suspension of in-flight meals and temporary closure of passenger lounges is extended until further notice.
Nok Air is coming back into service at Don Mueang International Airport from September 1 and will operate flights to Buri Ram, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chumphon, Hat Yai, Lampang, Loei, Mae Sot, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Ranong, Sakon Nakhon, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.
There are guaranteed flights for passengers who reserve seats from Don Mueang International Airport until September 7, with travel from September 1-7.
More information can be got via www.nokair.com, Nok Air’s sales counters or Call Centre 1318.
Thai AirAsia
Thai AirAsia will fly back into service at Don Mueang International Airport from September 3, with flights to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Phuket, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.
The Transport Company will resume services on 26 Northern, Northeastern, Eastern and Southern routes from September 1.
North (8 routes): Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Khlong Lan, Bangkok-Lom Kao, Bangkok-Mae Sai, Bangkok-Mae Sot, Bangkok-Pa Daet-Chiang Khong, Bangkok-Thung Chang, and Bangkok-Uttaradit.
North and East (10 routes): Bangkok-Buri Ram, Bangkok-Chanthaburi-Trat, Bangkok-Loei-Chiang Khan, Bangkok-Mukdahan, Bangkok-Nakhon Phanom, Bangkok-Nong Bua Lamphu, Bangkok-Rattanaburi, Bangkok-Saraburi, Bangkok-Surin and Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani.
South (8 routes): Bangkok (Mo Chit 2)-Hat Yai, Bangkok-Koh Samui, Bangkok-Krabi, Bangkok-Phuket, Bangkok-Songkhla, Bangkok-Su-ngai Kolok, Bangkok-Takua Pa-Khok Kloi, and Bangkok-Trang-Satun.
Bus passengers are asked to comply with strict health measures – social distancing, wearing masks, washing ones hands frequently, and registering through the Thai Chana application.
For more information on bus travel, contact bus ticket offices at terminals across the country, call centre 1490, or bus terminals 24 hours a day.
Train travel
The State Railways of Thailand is continuing with its selected Northern, Northeastern, Southern and Eastern routes. Information is available via hotline 1690.
Water travel
Boonsiri High Speed Catamaran
The Boonsiri High Speed Catamaran service will continue to operate daily between Koh Kut and Laem Sok Pier. Departure from Koh Kut is at 10am and return at 2.20pm.
The company is also offering a special charter private catamaran between Laem Sok and Koh Kut. This is suitable for groups and large families, as well as for the elderly and pregnant women. Passengers can choose travel times. For more information, call 061 689 9222.
Raja Ferry
The company will continue operating on the following routes:
Don Sak-Samui and Samui-Don Sak from 5am to 6pm daily.
Samui-Pha-ngan: Last departure is at 7pm.
For the Don Sak-Pha-ngan and Pha-ngan-Don Sak routes, passengers can transit Samui.
More information is available on FB: rajaferryport, or via Line: @rajaferryport
Saen Saep boat service
Between 10am and 3pm.
There will be only one Saen Saep service per hour – from Wat Si Bun Rueang Pier. There will be no services on Saturdays and Sundays. These changes are in place until further notice.
The Tourism Authority is reminding all travellers to continue with the D-M-H-T-T-A precautions to prevent Covid-19 from spreading further – distancing, mask wearing, handwashing, temperature checks, testing for the virus, and getting alerts from relevant applications.
For regular updates on the tourism-related Covid-19 situation in Thailand, visit TAT newsroom via www.tatnews.org; Facebook (tatnews.org); or Twitter (Tatnews_Org). For additional information and assistance relating to Thailand’s tourism, contact TAT via 1672 or Tourist Police hotline 1155.
Tourism extension scheme brings the buzz back to Krabi, Phang Nga, Surat Thani
The tourism sector in Krabi, Phang Nga and Surat Thani provinces has started picking up since the launch of the 7+7 Extension scheme last week.
Under the scheme, tourists arriving under the Phuket Sandbox scheme can travel to specific destinations in Surat Thani, Krabi and Phang Nga after spending their first seven days in Phuket.
The destinations they can travel to are:
• Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao in Surat Thani
• Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai and Railay Beach in Krabi
• Khao Lak, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said foreigners have been travelling to the abovementioned islands since last Wednesday and more than 1,874 room nights have been booked. Most of the room nights or 1,026 have been booked in Surat Thani’s three islands.
TAT said travellers are free to return to Phuket to complete their 14-day requirement under the sandbox scheme.
Separately, Krabi Tourism Association said the province has started buzzing again thanks to the extension scheme after nearly two years of silence. It added that everybody living on the three islands has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Hat Yais famous Kim Yong market up and running as lockdown relaxed
Hat Yais famous Kim Yong market up and running as lockdown relaxed
Hat Yais famous Kim Yong market up and running as lockdown relaxed
Khao Yai draws a rush of visitors as national park reopens its doors
Khao Yai draws a rush of visitors as national park reopens its doors
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Sporty seals ready to show off volleyball skills at Songkhla Zoo
Mae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract touristsOfficials are busy preparing for the local tourism festival from November 1-10, upgrading campsites, restrooms, tourist reception buildings and various tourism activities, to generate much-needed tourism income for locals.
Mae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract tourists
Mae Hong Son unveils 2 natural wonders to attract tourists
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