A host of associations, foundations and Chinese shrines, as well as both government and private departments in Songkhla, teamed up to organise the festival.

Vegetarians who believe in Hinduism also carried statues of their respected gods during the parade. It was considered a perfect combination of cultural preservation and tourism promotion in a move to boost the economy of Songkhla and other provinces in the South.

The tropical paradise, which is nestled among 23 acres of landscaped gardens and coconut groves and with a 300-metre-long stretch of private sandy beach, recently received a certificate from the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation, which confirms that it operates in a completely efficient manner, slashing the amount of carbon it emits and successfully offsetting the rest.

Santiburi operates a comprehensive environmental programme comprising waste water treatment, energy saving, waste management, organic gardening and recycling, according to a Friday release. It also substitutes chemicals, plastics and other harmful products with green alternatives, including a natural salt cleaning system for its private pool villas.

The resort also trains its team in all areas of “eco-friendly” operations and works with responsible local suppliers that share its values.

Guests are encouraged to play a role; they can decide how often their towels and bed linen should be changed and participate in community activities such as beach cleaning. The resort supports many important local community initiatives, including a conscientious elephant sanctuary.

The certification programme was created in collaboration with VGreen, Kasetsart University’s environmental research programme. The accolade was presented to Santiburi in a ceremony held in Bangkok on September 19. In total, more than 300 organisations were honoured for their outstanding contributions to greenhouse gas management.

“We are thrilled to have been certified as a carbon-neutral resort. The entire team at Santiburi has been working towards this status for many years by undertaking a series of important initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, lower our energy usage and preserve our ecosystem,” Sabine Lamberts, Santiburi’s general manager, said. “This award is a recognition of their efforts. I am confident that our guests will be delighted to know that their stay is in perfect harmony with Koh Samui’s fragile island ecosystem.”

Prior to receiving the certificate, Lamberts took part in a seminar to educate other hoteliers on successful ways to reduce greenhouse gases and plastics.

Sabine Lamberts, General Manager, Santiburi Koh Samui

The 269-room hotel features ten types of guestrooms, including suites and villas with spacious balconies offering panoramic ocean views, while interconnecting rooms are available for families of up to two adults and three children under 12.

The property is a new addition to the brand’s portfolio of more than 100 hotels in nearly 40 countries and territories.

“We are excited to offer a glimpse of the European spirit of savouring the good life through the hotel’s international dining options, freshly made gelato with local ingredients, as well as a sparkling beverage programme in this distinctly Thai tropical paradise,” said Mike Fulkerson, vice president/brand & marketing, Marriott International Asia-Pacific.

“The hotel introduces Le Méridien’s French heritage and the allure of Côte d’Azur to Khao Lak, connecting curious and creative-minded guests looking to travel in style.”

“Khao Lak is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Thailand for both MICE and leisure travellers. With a new airport arriving in Phang Nga and infrastructure plans laid out, this province has the potential to promote tourism and grow the local economy,” said the new hotel’s General Manager Trevor May.

“The aim is to attract more tourists to boost income during the green season,” said Klissada Ratanapruk, the agency’s executive director for Asean, South Asia and South Pacific, referring to the rainy season.

Klissada said visitors from those nations flying with BA in a group of three or more anytime this year would be eligible for “WOW Deal” exclusive privileges. They include a Bt800 voucher for shopping at department stores and discounts at more than 63 hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and spa lounges.

“The number of tourists from CLMV and Malaysia, Singapore and India is expected to increase by 25,000 thanks to this project, generating approximately Bt924 million,” Klissada said.

Sirirak, who calls Ban Muang sub-district home in the Northeast, said the natural mist and gorgeous breezes would persist into winter and the area had good hotels, resorts and camping sites.

He’s expecting more than a thousand visitors this season and warns that accommodations might run short, so bring a tent just in case.

Nong Khai is also the spot for watching the “Naga fireballs” leap from the Mekong River – a natural gas phenomenon or offerings from a mystical creature, it’s up to you, but it’s a sight to behold.

Sangkhom, the district that’s home to Ban Muang, has enough interesting activities to keep visitors busy for three days. As well as experiencing the seas of mist, there are caves waiting to be explored and rides through the Nong Khai Grand Canyon.

The best places for panoramic views of the mist are Phu Huay Isan, Phu Nong and Phu Pha Dak.

Sangkhom is also the gateway to charming Chiang Khan district in neighbouring Loei province.

Airbnb’s head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia Mich Goh and adviser to the Minister of Tourism and Sports Siraphop Duangsodsri jointly launched the campaign, titled ‘Sustainable Travel with Airbnb: Beyond Big Cities’. The video features Buriram’s unique attractions and way of life, as seen through the eyes of Airbnb’s host community.

The video, which will run on Airbnb’s global platforms, aims to promote and drive both domestic and international travel to emerging destinations in Thailand. The global end-to-end hospitality company has plans to expand its destination marketing efforts to other emerging destinations in Thailand, including Saraburi’s Nong Saeng and Sao Hai districts.

The launch also featured a panel discussion with Chompu Marusachot, Director of Marketing Information Technology Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Ratthasart Korrasud, Senior Executive Vice President, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA); Suthep Keasang, Deputy Director, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA); and Khanchai Arram, Executive Director, B-STAY.

Panelists shared their perspectives on digital tourism and sustainable travel, and discussed how Thai government officials and community stakeholders can best leverage technology to support local communities and budding hospitality entrepreneurs.

Airbnb first partnered with the Buriram-based homestay provider B-STAY, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, to build flexible accommodation for the participants of Thailand MotoGP 2018, while providing hospitality training and boarding in the process.

Mich Goh, Airbnb’s head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, said: “Driven by a desire for more local and authentic experiences, we are seeing more travellers from Thailand and the world visit off-the-beaten track destinations. Our community’s unique accommodation and experience offerings help emerging destinations, like Buriram, attract and host more visitors. Looking forward, we will continue to work closely with government and community stakeholders to support the growth of tourism in emerging destinations and spread the benefits beyond big cities and tourism hot spots”.

Speaking at the event hosted by Airbnb, adviser to the Minister of Tourism and Sports Siraphop Duangsodsri, said: “Tourism is a key industry for Thailand and positively impacts job creation, investment and infrastructure development. The tourism industry has generated more than Bt2 trillion for the nation over the past year, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is committed to continue boosting tourism growth both in terms of quality and safety. We will work to ensure Thailand remains a top-tier tourist destination, and support digitisation to promote and provide better tourism experiences for all, including accommodation which help to distribute incomes and tourism benefits to local communities”.

A record attendance of 1,000 delegates attended this year’s one-day event, held at Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa.

PHIST is the brainchild of the Phuket Hotels Association, C9 Hotelworks and Greenview.

Dedicated to generating fresh ideas and fostering a spirit of cooperation, the forum included a series of expert panels and discussions covering vital topics including destination management, development, ocean health, over-tourism, hotel operations and community tourism.

There was also a series of practical workshops for green champions, hotel developers and social enterprises, plus an exhibition area showcasing green solutions, allowing hoteliers to interact with eco-suppliers.

Speakers included local and international experts like Raini Hamdi, Asia Editor, Skift; Sharry Sun, global head of brand, Travelzoo; Jesper Palmqvist, STR’s area director for the Asia Pacific; Ang Choo Pin, Expedia’s senior director of Government & Corporate Affairs; Guy Heywood, CEO, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas; and Franck Droin, hotel manager, Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok.

This year’s PHIST also celebrated the launch of the Great Big Green Hotel Guide, an important collaboration between the Phuket Hotels Association’s 74 members.

Featuring real-life examples of environmental best practices and case studies, this guide serves as a practical user manual for hotels in resort destinations all across Asia.

“PHIST is becoming one of the most important events on the tourism calendar,” said association president Anthony Lark.

“Climate change, plastic pollution, environmental degradation; these are issues that affect us all, and they are felt even more profoundly in island communities like Phuket. The only way to tackle these problems is through a collective approach. By working together we can make a difference. The release of the Great Big Green Hotel Guide is one of the ways the industry is crafting long-term, workable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” he added.

“Global tourism is growing at an unprecedented pace, and this is putting unprecedented pressure on resources, communities and the environment,” noted Six Senses COO Guy Heywood. “At Six Senses, we’ve been pushing the environmental agenda for many years, but it’s fantastic to see the hotel industry now taking a proactive approach to these critical issues. By joining PHIST 2019, we want to create a viable future for Southeast Asia’s tourism industry.”

PHIST has already shown it can make a real difference: at last year’s inaugural event, more than 74 hotels agreed to remove plastic water bottles from their properties.

In the 12 months since this pledge was made, the association’s member hotels experienced a 51 per cent reduction, which equates to more than 4.4 million bottles not ending up in landfill sites, or worse, the ocean.

PHIST 2019 also aimed to inspire the next generation, with a series of children’s workshops and activities.

The forum featured the final of Green Beat 60, a film-making contest that invited eco-warriors of all ages to have their say on critical issues. Thai rappers Rattanachot Srikhongmuang and Kanthep Srikhongmuang won for “Refill Not Landfill”.

You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMUV1p3Advw.

For this visitor, relaxing in the ocean view pool villa of the world-class Ritz-Carlton taking in the tropical blue waters lapping on white sand against a backdrop of coconut trees was a truly memorable experience.

Located on the north-eastern part of the island close to the airport, the 5-star hotel occupies a vast 58 acres of former coconut plantations that stretch from hilltop to beach. The resort’s landscape and architecture have been designed harmoniously with nature and are rich in colour and texture. Concrete walkways link one part of the resort to another though the friendly staff are always on hand to drive guests. That said, more shady trees would be welcome.

The luxury resort features 175 suites and pool villas boast contemporary interiors in soothing tones. Expansive windows and verandahs invite natural light in and the furniture is designed specifically for comfort, the perfect place to admire the panoramic views over the Gulf of Thailand.

Further treats can be found in its gastronomic experiences, knowledgeable chefs, fresh ingredients, service mind and friendly staff. The Sea Salt Shack by the resort pool faces the tranquil beach and offers a healthy and international casual lunch along with Thai favourites and refreshing fruit and coconut juices. Highlights include Tacos Crispy Grouper with chili mayo and green mango slaw, Koh Samui Ceviche with its lime, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaf, Thai chilli and shallots. Yellowfin Tuna Crudo comes with a spicy lime dressing, mint, chilli powder, red shallots, and cracked rice a Margherita Pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, blistered cherry tomatoes and local basil.

At night, the Sea Salt Deck serves freshly caught seafood and grilled specialties to the sound of live music and has a thrilling fire show on selected evenings.

The culinary journey continues at Pak Tai restaurant, which is a colloquial name for the south of Thailand. Pak Tai presents traditional hot and spicy southern cuisine using fine ingredients with lots of herbs sourced from local markets daily and offers views over the swim reef from its private dining alcoves.

Shook is the venue for breakfast and serves innovative Asian and Western creations, from healthy to traditional Thai dishes to freshly baked pastries and homemade Granola, which runs out pretty fast. At night, the restaurant morphs into The Ranch at Shook and dishes out grilled steak and seafood with robust flavors.

Tides is an ideal spot for sun-lovers to unwind with a refreshing cocktail from the poolside bar and a citrus-cured specialty from the cevicheria. Tides Upper Deck offers great views of the sunset that are best enjoyed with one of the many inventive cocktails. Afternoon Tea and dinner meanwhile are served at The View Dining at The Peak, the highest area of the resort. It is said that on a clear day, guests can see nearly Koh Pha-ngan Island. Here, handcrafted sandwiches and pastries are offered with a choice of tea, tea-inspired cocktails or champagne. A full menu is available for dinner and on Saturdays, guests can enjoy “Baan Talat”, a weekly outdoor dining experience that serves an authentic street food.

For the little ones, there’s a Ritz Kids programme featuring a playroom, beach activities, snorkeling discoveries in the unique swim reef and fish-feeding experiences. The latest addition to the beach is the first Ocean Pool in Samui, which offers a deck on the floating barricade in the ocean. For sport enthusiasts, there are two floodlit tennis courts.

Total relaxation for mind and body can be enjoyed at Spa Village, which offers uplifting traditional Thai healing practices that incorporate coconut, herbs, water therapy and fresh flowers. There are eight treatment salas, three massage pavilions, a yoga pavilion, a lap pool with cabanas and a Health Bar. The signature experience is the Songkran shower, which is inspired by the traditional Thai New Year involving the joyful throwing of water, followed by a body scrub with herbal exfoliation and a Thai massage with a hydrating coconut oil.

Find out more or make a reservation at www.ritzcarlton.com/kohsamui.

A large bamboo tower stands in the middle of the market and is said to be the largest in the world. It was built from bamboo by the villagers and offers a 360-degree-view of the surrounding area.

The market is open daily and bargains are up for grabs over the weekends and bank holidays.

The temperature at the national park fell to 18 degrees Celsius, park chief Bancha Ramsiri said on Tuesday. It is therefore a good time to enjoy the spectacular sea of mist at the park’s Doi Kiew Lom viewpoint, he added.

The Huai Nam Dang National Park, which features scenic mountain viewpoints, waterfalls, and hot springs, covers Mae Taeng, Wiang Haeng and Chiang Dao districts of Chiang Mai as well as Pai district in Mae Hong Son.