Thousands of tourists are flocking to Wat Kham Chanod in Udon Thani province during weekends after the temple reopened its doors to the public on Wednesday.
The temple stands on a lake that’s purportedly home to a fireball-breathing snake deity, but had been off-limits to visitors since December 24 due to the new wave of Covid-19.
Online reservations to visit Wat Kham Chanod can be made on the temple’s website, while temperature checks and limits on the number of visitors are also being followed as part of new Covid-19 measures.
Pongsak Srichana, Ban Muang subdistrict headman, said he expects up to 6,000 tourists to visit Wat Kham Chanod on Sunday, adding that about 7,000 tourists had visited the temple on Saturday.
“However, all tourists must strictly undergo measures to contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Tourists can visit Wat Kham Chanod every day from 8am to 4.30pm.
Ayutthaya to commemorate iconic Muay Thai master who stunned Burmese 247 years ago
ThailandMar 07. 2021Nai Khanom Tom monument at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
By The Nation
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province will organise an event to mark Nai Khanom Tom Day on March 17.
The event will take place at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Stadium.
Provincial Governor Panu Yaemsri appointed his deputy Sarunphat Pramotaka to preside over the meeting on Friday in a bid to stimulate tourism.
The event commemorates the victory of Nai Khanom Tom, a famous Muay Thai master, against Burmese boxers in a tournament at King Mangra’s Palace on March 17, 1774.
King Mangra was so impressed that he reportedly remarked, “Every part of the Siamese is blessed with venom. Even with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents.”
King Mangra granted Nai Khanom Tom and his fellow-Thai prisoners freedom following the victory.
Later, King Taksin marked March 17 every year as Nai Khanom Tom Day to celebrate the Muay Thai master, while Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya people built the Nai Khanom Tom monument at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province Stadium.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is targeting revenue of Bt1.218 trillion in 2021 for the tourism sector with strategies focusing mainly on domestic tourism.
In an interview to Thansettakij Thai newspaper, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that his organisation planned to focus less on revenue from foreign travellers, and more on domestic tourists.
TAT estimates 6.5 million foreign travellers in 2021, generating around Bt347 billion in revenue.
Meanwhile, 160 million tourists in Thailand are expected to generate around Bt870.4 billion.
He added that Thailand’s tourism would see a V-shaped recovery from the present situation.
The TAT will kick off campaigns to woo foreign tourists in April. The governor expected at least 15,000 foreigners to visit Thailand in the third quarter of this year.
Initially, the TAT had targeted 100 million persons/times domestic tourists. However, to achieve its revenue target the organisation aimed to increase tourists by 50 to 60 million/times.
The main tactic to stimulate domestic tourism is to encourage travel on working days. The TAT is holding discussions to run stimulus campaigns linked to local holidays of each region.
Tourists can once again brave the mythical Naga that guards Wat Kham Chanod in Udon Thani from Wednesday, when the temple reopens its doors after more than two months.
The temple is situated on a lake that’s purportedly home to a fireball-breathing snake deity, but has been off-limits to visitors since December 24 due to the new wave of Covid-19.
Tourists can also try out the temple’s new wooden bridge, which stretches more than 100 metres to the lake’s island and offers spectacular views of the local scenery.
Online reservations to visit Wat Kham Chanod can be made at the temple’s website. Temperature checks and limits on the number of visitors are also in place as part of new Covid-19 measures, said Udon Thani’s deputy governor Chamras Kangnoi. Visitors from Covid high-risk areas will also be screened before entering, he added.
Thailand’s tourism sector wants country reopened on July 1
Mar 02. 2021
By THE NATION
Leading tourism companies in Thailand launched a campaign on Tuesday to reopen the country’s borders from July 1, 2021.
The #OpenThailandSafely campaign was launched by more than 15 major companies including Minor Group, Asian Trails, YAANA Ventures, Capella Hotels and Resorts EXO and many others. Minor Group boss Bill Heinecke is among leading Thai hoteliers pushing for vaccination-based early opening of the tourism industry.
The Open Thailand Safely campaign laid out its arguments in a petition backing a formal request to the government to respond favourably to the rollout of Covid-19 vaccination in Europe, the US and other markets for Thai tourism.
The petition is open to anyone in Thailand or abroad who would like to see the country reopen.
The campaign argues July 1 is an appropriate date for five reasons: the majority of citizens in many source markets will be vaccinated by then, it gives time for Thailand to vaccinate frontline hospitality staff and/or vulnerable citizens, it gives travellers time to make travel plans and bookings, the date gives time to airlines, hotels, tour operators and others to start marketing, sales and preparations for the restart of operations, and it will take Thailand at least a year to restore the number of visitors it had before Covid-19.
Under the July 1 restart plan, tourists could be asked to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination, a negative test with 72 hours of departure, health insurance, etc.
“The July 1 reopening would be a strategic opportunity for Thailand to show a leadership role among Asian countries and prepare the way for a solid recovery of the Thai economy in 2022,” said Willem Niemeijer, CEO of YAANA Ventures.
Open Thailand Safely organisers said they will also send the July 1 request to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the minister of tourism and sports, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand governor.
Organisers pointed out that tourism destinations such as Seychelles, Maldives, Greece and Sri Lanka have either opened their borders or are considering doing so following successful vaccine rollouts in their key source markets.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects tourist numbers during the Makha Bucha holiday weekend to drop by almost half from last year due to Covid-19.
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn forecast the number of domestic tourists from February 26-28 would be around 1.09 million, down 44 per cent year on year. He expected tourism revenue of around Bt3.9 billion, down 38 per cent year on year, and an occupancy rate of 16 per cent, down 51 per cent.
“The Covid-19 outbreak, economic slowdown and PM2.5 air pollution are still affecting people’s confidence in travelling,” he said.
He said tourism in the Eastern region was under pressure after the February-March festival of the Buddha’s footprint in Chanthaburi’s Khao Khitchakut National Park was cancelled.
“However, we still believe that Buddhists will participate in events to mark Makha Bucha Day and spend time with their families at tourist attractions near their homes.”
He added that tourism had been lively in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Petchaburi.
“People are also taking trips in Chiang Mai as the temperature is still cool there,” he added.
Betong gets ready for arrivals once flights start landing in April
Feb 25. 2021
By THE NATION
Local businesses in Yala’s Betong city are getting ready to greet visitors once flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport start landing in Betong’s new airport from April.
The Betong District Tourism Association said relevant agencies and businesses have discussed plans of opening the city to visitors, as well as putting in Covid-19 curbing measures.
The association also said some 2,000 hotel rooms are being prepared for the influx of tourists and should be ready by April.
The top tourist attraction in Betong is the 61-metre-long skywalk, which gives visitors amazing views of the Ai Yerweng sea of mist from an altitude of over 600 metres. As many as 230,000 visitors have walked down the skywalk between October and December last year.
TAT exploring idea of cryptocurrency use in tourism
Feb 19. 2021
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn
By THE NATION
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to draw digital asset holders from Japan to Thailand, and allow cryptocurrency to be used in the tourism sector.
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said he had discussed this idea with the Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan). He explained that this strategy would serve the growth of cryptocurrency in the future, as well as the usage of technology in tourism business in the post-coronavirus era.
“If this idea is successful, Thailand will be one of the countries where cryptocurrency can be spent in the tourism sector,” Yuthsak said.
The governor added that Japanese people were the world’s top bitcoin holders with 11 per cent of holdings.
He said cryptocurrency was popular among young people in Japan. Some hotels and restaurants have grown by receiving the digital asset.
Yuthasak also claimed that Elon Musk would visit Thailand in the post-coronavirus era, if cryptocurrency could be used in Thailand.
He added that TAT was now focused on “the big fish in the market”, and cryptocurrency was one of them. The cryptocurrency tourist idea will be discussed with restaurant and hotel entrepreneurs, as well as the Bank of Thailand.
He said there was awareness of malafide elements taking advantage of the use of cryptocurrency in Thailand to act in illegal ways.
Voucher incentive for visitors to Chonburi, Pattaya City
Feb 13. 2021
By THE NATION
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), together with its allies in Chonburi and Pattaya City, is giving away Bt500 e-vouchers to people visiting the areas, under a campaign “Check in Chonburi Free 500”.
Visitors will receive the vouchers when they check in at hotels participating in this campaign, from February 12 to March 31. The total voucher amount a visitor can receive is Bt1,000.
The vouchers are also available at attractions, spas, cafes and restaurants participating in this campaign. Total quotas are over 3,500.
Nai Khanom Tom monument at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Wat Kham Chanod in Udon Thani
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