As the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is improving, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a promotional campaign in association with local entrepreneurs to boost tourism and economy in Surat Thani province.
“The Once in a life time @ Khao Sok, Surat Thani” promotion will offer Bt600 room discount for the first 300 rooms reserved at participating hotels around Khao Sok National Park and Rajjaprabha Dam, also known as the Cheow Lan Dam, which is dubbed ‘Thailand’s Guilin’ by Thai and foreign tourists,” Nantawan Siripokapat, TAT director of the Surat Thani offices, said.
Meanwhile, Suphakarn Yodchun, director of TAT Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pha-Ngan office, said that the office will launch a campaign “Unlocked Samui” that would offer up to 70 per cent discounts on hotels and facilities on the island.
“The campaign, which will run until October 31, is joined by hotels, car rental providers and guided tour boats on the island to attract tourists to explore the beauty of Koh Samui, which normally welcomes around 400,000 visitors per year,” she added.
Meanwhile, Omphan Nanthapanich, general manager at Celes Beachfront Resort and Samui Palm Beach, a five-star hotel on Koh Samui featuring 200 metres of private beach front, has said that the hotel is offering discounts under the government’s “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) campaign with rooms starting at Bt1,788 per night, while the pool villa package (three days, two nights) starts at only Bt12,000. Reservation must be made before August 31. For more info, visit https://www.celesresorts.com
For further information about promotions in Surat Thani, contact TAT Surat Thani office on tel: 0 7728 8817-8.
More than 40 rare Nicobar pigeons have been spotted in Koh Rok in Mu Koh Lanta National Park after the park was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Thursday (August 13), the park’s officials recorded a video of Nicobar pigeons searching for food in the forest near the park office, exciting all officials who had rarely seen the birds in such a big group.
Park chief Weerasak Srisatjang said that it was the first year that Nicobar pigeons had gathered in such a large group. Earlier they came in flocks of around 10.
Their arrival signals the abundance of ecosystems in Koh Rok Island since the closure in the beginning of the year which will continue until October, he said.
Nicobar pigeons are 40-41 centimetres long with a small head, green, yellow and grey body and white tail. The bird has signature feathers on its neck.
This species of bird lives in the region of Andaman Sea and Indo-Pacific such as Nicobar Island and Andaman Island. They normally mate between April and June.
Thai Airways International Pcl (THAI) will operate two roundtrip flights on the Bangkok-Taipei and Bangkok-Copenhagen routes in August.
Passengers who wish travel to these two destinations or to neighbouring countries and Thais stranded in Taiwan, Denmark, Scandinavian countries who wish to be repatriated can avail of the opportunity, Chansin Treenuchagron, acting THAI president, said.
Flight TG632 will depart from Bangkok at 8.25am and arrive in Taipei at 1.05pm (local time) on August 5 and 14.
Flight TG950 will depart from Bangkok at 6.50am and arrive in Copenhagen at 1.05pm (local time) on August 16 and 3p.
THAI is partnering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to operate the Taipei-Bangkok and Copenhagen-Bangkok special flights to fly Thais home. Covid-19 preventive measures and physical distancing will be applied in every aspect of service the airline said. In addition, cargo will be delivered on roundtrip flights. Passengers who wish to be repatriated may visit: http://www.tteo.org.tw/main/ th/organize (Thailand Trade and Economic Office, Taipei) and http://thaiembassy.dk (the Royal Thai Embassy, Copenhagen).
Tickets on the Bangkok-Taipei and Bangkok-Copenhagen routes are sold as one-way tickets with limited seats available. Reservations can be made at https://www.thaiairways.com/th_TH/book/offers/special_ offers/bkk-tpe.page (Taipei flights), https://www.thaiairways.com/th_TH/book/offers/special_ offers/special_flights.page (Copenhagen flights) and through the THAI Contact Centre Tel 0-2356-1111, from 8am to 8pm.
ThailandJul 31. 2020Photo Credit to ThailandFootpath Facebook page
By The Nation
Nakhon Sawan residents were delighted to find that the canal down Ban Ko Yuan village had been turned into an area that looks as beautiful as the promenades in Paris or Seoul.
The beauty of the area was captured in photographs posted on the ThailandFootpath Facebook page, with many netizens saying it was a great idea to turn a polluted canal into something that pleases the eye.
Nakhon Sawan Municipality said the Ko Yuan canal area can now be used for leisure, exercise or as a tourist attraction. It will also work on improving the quality of the water and start breeding fish to add to the charm.
Tourists to Trang’s Koh Libong were in for a surprise yesterday (July 29) when seawater receded at one point to reveal a freshwater well.
The well is located near Leekpai bridge, approximately 200 metres from the coast.
However, to villagers on the island, this is not new. They said once the saltwater receded, people could drink the freshwater from the emerging well.
“Fishermen on the island have drunk water from this well for the past 200 years,” the villagers said. “Tourists to the island can also taste the freshwater from the well once the seawater sinks to its lowest. This well can be found only in Trang province,” they claimed.
Villagers explained that in the past, people who lived on Koh Libong had to drink rainwater or freshwater transported from the mainland, before artesian wells and water tanks were dug.
“This particular freshwater well is one of the tourist attractions travellers should not miss,” they said.
“Due to strong wind, the high seawater level and dugongs in the area, we placed rocks around the well and set up a yellow flag to make it easier to find,” they added.
Meanwhile, 45-year tourist Kamonthip Watkhok confirmed that the water in the well is indeed drinkable, adding that travelling to this island was not as difficult as she had thought.
A Bryde’s whale emerged from the water in the Gulf of Thailand on Monday (July 27), wowing tourists who were passing on a boat trip.
The giant female, named “Wan Dee” (Good Day), was accompanied by her baby, which was swiftly given the name “Wan Yud” (Holiday) after the day on which it appeared.
Pictures of the whales were posted on Twitter by Forest for Wild Life and instantly drew attention from Thai nature lovers.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said Wan Dee could often be spotted swimming in the Gulf of Thailand in search of food, and that this was her third offspring.
Between April and August, the Gulf is teeming with anchovies and tiny shrimp that lure hungry whales in search of a meal.
Blacktip reef sharks seen frolicking off Koh Samui beach
ThailandJul 28. 2020Photo Credit to Starving Travelers
By The Nation
As many as 10 blacktip reef sharks were spotted just off the beach in Koh Samui on Tuesday (July 28), and the occurrence was shared on the Starving Travelers Facebook page with the caption “abundance of Koh Samui island”.
The blacktip reef shark is identified by the black tips on its fins, long thin body and a big mouth. They are known to swim into brackish water near the mouth of a river to hunt for food.
These sharks are not aggressive and usually feed on small marine animals. They are also known to swim up to divers and demand food.
The crowds were back in Pattaya City as domestic tourists in large numbers visited the beach in Chonburi province during the long holiday period.
Wichit Manmee, a local lifeguard, said that people had begun flocking to the beach since Sunday (July 26) and the authorities had to tighten security in the area to prevent crime, as it was the first time that such a big crowd had gathered there after the lockdown.
Some tourists said they drove from Bangkok despite the traffic jam but after spending time on the beach, they found it was worth the effort.
Pattaya City is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country but crowds are well below the pre-Covid-19 outbreak levels as the country is yet to open its doors to international tourists.
Southern secrets: Lifting the veil on Yala’s rich tourism potential
ThailandJul 28. 2020The Ay Yer Weng Skywalk over the sea of mist is expected to be complete by the end of 2020. /Photo by Charoon Thongnual
By Jintana Panyaarvudh
Special to The Nation
Despite its negative image of unrest, Yala province offers a rich bounty of tourist attractions for visitors – from Ay Yer Weng’s famed sea of mist to grand historical monuments, cultural events, and of course, great durian.
And with the new Betong airport about to open, visitors will soon find this province on the Malay border far more easy to access.
A tourist walks past a street-art mural in Betong. /Photo by Jintana Panyaarvudh
Meanwhile, its popular attractions are being joined by new spots discovered and developed by a team of community-based tourism researchers.
The team is focusing on Yala’s beautiful landscapes and unique and rich local cultures to reveal the province’s potential as tourist hub for the Asean region.
“We are trying to develop natural and tourism resources for the whole province, not just Betong district, which is already the most popular destination in Yala,” said Prachyakorn Chaiyakot, a lecturer at Hat Yai University’s Business Administration Faculty who headed the research team.
Their research stems from an agreement signed between Yala province and the Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TRSI) two years ago to use tourism to stimulate the economy of local communities and promote peace in the restive South.
Yala’s durian are among the best in Thailand. /Photo by Charoon Thongnual
Researchers found that Yala was suited to alternative tourism – attractive to visitors who love nature, food, trekking and culture, Prachyakorn said.
He added that tourists could explore the province from two bases: Yala city or the Betong on the southern border.
Among the wealth of new attractions proposed by researchers are walking and trekking tours, and cultural expeditions. The tentative tour routes will be offered as one- to three-day trips packed with various attractions.
For nature lovers, there’s a trek in Muang Yala’s Lam Phaya and Na Tham to the mysterious cave temple of Wat Khuha Phimuk and the Tham Sua and Tham Sin caverns.
Another new attraction unearthed by researchers is the century-old Labu Tin Mine in Yaha district’s Patae subdistrict, where the preserved reception building, museum and mineshaft give visitors a taste of Yala’s industrial heritage. The spot also boasts spectacular scenery, with a beautiful waterfall and fertile forest.
Meanwhile, tourists who prefer to dig for cultural riches can tap the sights and sounds of the old Malay Muslim community at Asong in Raman district.
Those heading to southernmost Betong district should make time for the scenic Bang Lang Dam in Bannang Sata district. Here, they can go rafting or take a boat to view the tranquil Hala Forest and island above the dam.
For Betong, a major tourist town with several famous attractions, the researchers propose adding an app that guides visitors on a walking tour of street art and street food. The old town of Betong is renowned for its many delicious dishes, some of them unique to this locale – such as chopped chicken and stewed pork belly with taro.
And needing no introduction is Ay Yer Weng’s sea of mist, which is said to be among the country’s most enchanting natural sights. A skywalk set to open at the end of this year will give visitors an even closer view of this meteorological marvel.
New airport ready for take-off
Inside Betong International Airport, which is set to open at the end of 2020. /Photo by Jintana Panyaarvudh
Tourists will have more options for getting to Yala when Betong Airport opens at the end of this year.
Betong is about 140 kilometres from Yala city down Highway 410 and borders Malaysia’s Kedah and Perak.
Duangporn Suwanmanee, director of Betong Airport, says tourist attractions in Betong and nearby districts should benefit from the new air hub.
The Bt2-billion airport occupies an area of 921 rai and is almost 100 per cent complete after nearly 10 years of construction. It was designed to handle smaller aircraft such as the ATR twin turboprops with 60-80 seats, with capacity for about 300 arrivals per hour. The airport was scheduled to open in June this year before the Covid-19 outbreak intervened.
The airport is expected to mainly serve domestic tourists flying from Bangkok, as well as travellers from Malaysia, with Nok Air is interested in opening an 86-seat turboprop service to Betong, according to Duangporn.
The airport is among a series of tourism-related infrastructure projects designed to attract visitors to Yala’s Betong, Narathiwat’s Su-ngai Kolok and Pattani’s Nong Chik towns, under the Thai government’s “triangle economy city model”.
Prachyakorn added that the airport would help boost tourism in Yala as domestic visitors may be concerned about safety when travelling by car while tourists from Malaysia could save travel time journeying to Penang airport.
According to Prachyakorn, around 500,000 Malaysian tourists visit Betong every year.
However, while his research team found the province has potential to attract tourists from the Asean region, they expressed concern at whether local communities could cope with various problems that come with economic growth.
Several challenges lie ahead, including how to combat the area’s image of unrest, pinpointing which types of tourists to attract, and readiness of tourism infrastructure and facilities, as well as participation of local people, Prachyakorn concluded.
Jintana Panyaarvudh is a freelance writer and former managing editor of The Nation.
Thousands of people took advantage of the long weekend and headed to Loei province to check out the all-glass skywalk in Chiang Khan district.
Though this new landmark is not officially open yet, local authorities made visits possible by providing shuttle buses and having police secure the area.
Tourists also visited the Nang Khoi beach and Chiang Khan’s old teak-wood town, while some woke up early to enjoy a misty sunrise over the Mekong River. Also on the itinerary for many was the Pha Ngam Stone Garden 3 kilometres away.
Chiang Khan, an off-the-beaten-track destination, drew more than 10,000 people looking for something special over the four-day weekend.
Photo Credit to ThailandFootpath Facebook page
Photo Credit to Starving Travelers
The Ay Yer Weng Skywalk over the sea of mist is expected to be complete by the end of 2020. /Photo by Charoon Thongnual
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