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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024352

Russian visitors and furry natives chill out in Yasothon

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023

Thailand’s chilly temperatures have brought thousands of wild ducks to a Yasothon reservoir after their 5,000-kilometre journey from Siberia.

Lam Thuan Reservoir in Muang district provided a treat for birdwatchers on Wednesday as the migrating flock basked in the cold 13C sunshine of the northeastern province.

Yasothon has declared the reservoir a no-hunting zone to protect the ducks and other wild birds that have migrated from the frozen Siberian tundra in Russia.

Wild ducks arrive in large flocks on Yasothon waterways around this time of year to spend the winter fattening up in Thailand. They fly back north during the summer months when temperatures in the Land of Smiles are too high for them to mate and lay their eggs.

The plummeting mercury in Yasothon has also brought macaques out in force.

About 1,000 of the creatures flocked to a spot in front of the Pu Ta Shrine in Pa Tio district to bathe in the warming rays of the sun on Wednesday.

Tourists visiting the shrine panned their cameras around to catch the sight of monkey families sunbathing and parents grooming the fur of their young.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024304

Cabinet approves 5th phase of tourism subsidy scheme

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the fifth phase of the tourism subsidy scheme with a budget of 2.016 billion baht, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Phiphat said the Cabinet had approved the fifth phase of the Rao Thiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together) scheme as well the budget for the subsidy.

Phiphat said the government expected to allow Thai tourists to register for the subsidy from next month. The ministry forecast that the subsidy rights would be grabbed by some 112,000 people and the programme would generate a tourism revenue of 12.539 billion baht.

He said the fifth phase of Rao Thiew Duay Kan will have the following conditions:

■ The government will subsidise 40% of room rates with a maximum 3,600 baht subsidy per room per night. A total of 560,000 subsidy rights will be available.

■ Each tourist can receive no more than five room subsidy rights.

■ Each subsidy right will include a cash voucher of 600 baht for buying foods or services.

■ The government will not subsidise airfare as in the previous phases of the scheme.

Phiphat said the ministry had yet to consult Krung Thai Bank on how to prepare the Pao Tang app’s system to accommodate the latest phase of the programme.

The minister added that the Cabinet also had approved a budget of 1.93 billion baht for other tourism promotion measures.

He said 518 million baht from the budget would be used to promote tourism among foreign markets and 582 million baht would be spent to stimulate tourism in the country.

Another 445 million baht would be spent for producing merchandises or holding activities to promote tourism, and 385 million baht would be a PR budget, Phiphat said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024295

Chachoengsao temple opens glass bridge above sea as new attraction

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

Wat Hong Thong, a popular tourist destination in Chachoengsao province, has opened a glass bridge high above the sea expecting it to serve as a magnet for tourists.

The temple announced on its Facebook page on Sunday that the glass skywalk, which it calls “sea walk”, is now ready to be visited by tourists.

Wat Hong Thong is a well-known temple with a chapel and a three-storey chedi building surrounded by the sea.

Phra Palad Watchara Panyawachiro, abbot of the temple, said Wat Hong Thong built the glass bridge above the sea to install a large Buddha image 2.50 metres wide base and 4.70 metres tall.

The Buddha image will be placed on its base at the end of the glass bridge on February 15, but the temple is already allowing tourists to walk on the glass bridge to enjoy a view of the sea.

The sea walk will be officially opened to tourists in April the abbot added.

The bridge can accommodate about 200 tourists at a time. It is 40 metres long and three metres wide. It is made of 240 large pieces of glass in three layers, each layer 10mm thick.

The temple initially had 22 rai (3.52 hectares) of land, on which the chapel and chedi building stood, but most of the land was claimed by the sea, leaving only 8 rai of dry land. The chapel and the chedi were surrounded by sea water and became a magnet for tourists.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024293

Clad in kimonos, Thai women savour the Japan experience among Loei’s ‘Thai Sakura’ trees

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

A large number of female tourists are visiting Phu Lom Lo or the “pink mountain” in Loei province to pose for photos with “Thai Sakura” trees for a virtual experience of Japan.

The trip has become popular among Thai women, who carry their own kimonos.

At this time of the year, the Phu Lom Lo mountain in Tambon Kok Sathon of Loei’s Dan Sai district turns pink with the lush blossoms of the Himalayan cherry trees, known among Thais as “Thai Sakura” trees.

There are over 100,000 Himalayan cherry trees spread over 1,200 rai (192 hectares) of land on the mountain, which is part of the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, according to the park office.

A woman, who was visiting the mountaintop on Monday with several friends from Phetchabun province, told The Nation that each of them had prepared two kimono dresses to pose for photos with the blooming Thai Sakura flowers.

She said she and her friends enjoyed the cool weather and they did not have to travel far to Japan to pose for photos with Sakura flowers.

Some women also dressed in Hanbok Korean traditional costume.

Phu Lom Lo mountain rises about 1,542 metres above the median sea level.

Tourists must park their vehicles at the tourist service centre in Tambon Kok Sathoin and must travel to the mountaintop by using one of nearly 100 SUVs provided by local people at the rate of 150 baht per person.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024259

Tourism gateway to Thailand’s largest lake opens in June

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

A 10-kilometre scenic road bounding Thailand’s largest natural lake will open in June to draw more tourists to Songkhla province and reduce holiday traffic jams, the Rural Roads Department said Monday.

Construction of the 10.655-km long two-lane road along Songkhla Lake in Krasae Sin district is 70% complete and scheduled to finish in June.

The Sor Khor 4009 rural road starts from kilometre marker 0 in Ranode district and runs along the northeastern shore of Songkhla Lake to the intersection with Highway No 4083 in Ban Krasae Sin village at kilometre marker 10.

The road, which is 7 metres wide and will carry traffic in both directions, is being constructed with a budget of 124 million baht.

The department said it will supplement the existing road network in the southern province and promote tourism on one side of the 1,040-square-kilometre Songkhla Lake.

The road is part of Cabinet’s Thailand Riviera project to promote tourism on the western coast of the Kingdom, it added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024249

Hong Kong superstars granted 5-year visas for promoting Thai tourism

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

Chanapat Komlongharn

Thailand on Sunday rewarded three Hong Kong celebrities with five-year visas in exchange for promoting its tourism industry in China.

Michelle Yim, Simon Yam and Roger Wu were handed the visas at an event hosted by the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) in Bangkok.

Yim, better known as Mai Suet, and Yam are veteran actors with huge followings in China while Roger Wu has a popular YouTube channel that focuses on Thai food and culture.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said all three were granted Thailand Privilege Cards with five-year visa validity for their unwavering support and contributions to Thai tourism, Yuthasak said.

Privilege Card holders also benefit from fast-track immigration, lounge access at airports, private limousine transfers, wellness and spa treatments, and discounts from partner restaurants and hotels.

“The rewards we have given to our friends are from the bottom of our hearts as a way of saying thank you for all they have done for Thailand,” Yuthasak added.

Yim and Yam, both 67, are avid travellers who love to visit Thailand, while 50-year-old Wu has lived in Thailand for many years and also works as a travel programme host and travel columnist for publications in Hong Kong.

Receiving her Privilege Card, Yim said: “I am glad to see advances in Thai tourism and truly honoured to receive these awards. Thailand is a shopping paradise. Thai people are kind and polite. Also, Thai food is good. I hope everyone loves Thailand as much as I do.”

Michelle Yim or Mai Suet (Left) and Yuthasak Supasorn (Right)

Yam said he appreciated the reward and extended an invitation to foreigners to visit Thailand.

Simon Yam

Wu, speaking with tears in his eyes, said: “I am really thankful for this award. After living here for years, I want to convey a positive message about the country to other nations. Thailand is not worrisome for travellers, so I want to invite everyone to the Land of Smiles.”

Roger Wu

Wu’s “roger wu” YouTube channel boasts more than 195,000 followers.

Thailand received only 40,382 arrivals from Hong Kong in November, according to Tourism Ministry data, but that figure is expected to rise after China lifted travel restrictions on January 8.

China was Thailand’s largest overseas tourism market in 2019, accounting for 11.5 million of the total 40 million international arrivals.

Related Stories: 

• Foreign Ministry to expand e-visa system for tourists, govt spokeswoman says
• Chiang Mai expects up to 1 billion baht in tourist revenue during Chinese New Year break
• Dancing dragons, bright lights greet the Rabbit in Samut Prakan

Chanapat Komlongharn

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024239

Foreign Ministry to expand e-visa system for tourists, govt spokeswoman says

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023

The government has assigned the Foreign Ministry to further refine the e-visa system so that tourists from all nations can apply for entry visas more conveniently, a government spokeswoman said on Sunday.

Deputy government spokeswoman Trisulee Trisaranakul said the Foreign Ministry has been told to expand the capacity of the e-visa system so that it can handle the increasing number of foreign tourists who want to use it.

Trisulee said the government wanted to treat foreign tourists from all countries with the same standards and the number of foreign arrivals was rising – especially after the

Chinese government ended its quarantine requirements.

She said the number of Chinese arrivals would further increase after the Chinese government starts allowing tour groups to visit 20 countries, including Thailand, from February 6.

To make it more convenient for foreign tourists, the Thai government has approved visas on arrival and e-visas. The Immigration Bureau is responsible for visas on arrival, while the e-visa system is run by the Foreign Ministry.

The e-visa system allows foreign nationals to submit visa applications and copies of passports online instead of having to visit a Thai embassy or consular office in their country.

Those who want to apply for an e-visa can do so at: https://www.thaievisa.go.th.

Once their applications are approved, they receive an electronic visa stamp that they can print out to show to their airlines and immigration officials upon arrival.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024230

Chiang Mai expects up to 1 billion baht in tourist revenue during Chinese New Year break

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023

Chiang Mai has been bustling with both Thai and Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year break, with many hotels boasting 90% occupancy.

The northern capital also expects to earn as much as 1 billion baht in revenue during this period.

This year, Chiang Mai is holding the Trok Lao Zho festival in Chinatown, while the municipality has also set up the Warorat Market in Muang district. The city, where most residents are ethnic Chinese, has burst into colour for Chinese New Year after celebrations were suspended for two years during the pandemic.

The Year of the Rabbit will be welcomed with celebrations in Chinatown on Sunday and Monday, including dragon and lion dances as well as a Mr and Miss Chinatown beauty pageant. More than 100 food stalls have also been put up in the area.

Assanee Buranupakorn, mayor of Chiang Mai Municipality, said the Chinatown festival has attracted many foreigners, especially Chinese tourists. He said the municipality expects revenue of at least 1 billion baht to be generated during the Chinese New Year holidays.

La-iad Boonsrithong, an advisor to the Thai Hotels Association, said up to 90% of Chiang Mai’s 40,000 hotel rooms have been occupied. Though the situation has not reached pre-Covid levels, Chiang Mai’s tourism industry has improved a great deal, she said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024229

Thailand among 23 ‘best places to visit’ in the world this year

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023

Thailand has been included in this year’s Insider.com list of 23 best travel destinations in the world.

In an article published on January 1, the website’s news and lifestyle editor Alesandra Dubin explained what these 23 destinations had to offer, though she did not rank them in a “best of” category.

Thailand was the 12th destination to be mentioned after Bhutan, Western Australia, the Cayman Islands, Dubai, France’s Loire Valley, Japan, Las Vegas, Bali in Indonesia, Merida in Mexico, Canouan Island in the Caribbean, and Turkey.

“Coming to Thailand for the first time in 2023 is America’s hip-hop music festival, Rolling Loud, which will be held at the Legend Siam Amusement Park in Pattaya in April. At the same time is Songkran, the festival of water that symbolises the cleansing of spirit and body,” she wrote.

“I’m also continually impressed by the number of luxury hotels in Bangkok, and Rosewood Bangkok recently reopened in the prime business and retail district of Ploenchit, which I think is an ideal destination for shoppers and foodies.”

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Sunday that the premier is overjoyed that Thailand has shown up on the radar of the American online media.

He quoted Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying that Thailand has been a popular destination among foreign tourists, and thanked Thais for playing good, kind hosts to foreigners.

“The PM believes Thailand has the potential to attract as many as 20 million tourists this year,” Anucha said. “This will bring income to the provinces and help make the Thai economy expand more sustainably.”

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/tourism/40024215

Chinese package tours allowed to land in Thailand, 19 other nations from Feb 6

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2023

Thailand is among the 20 countries that China has chosen to allow the resumption of group tours from February 6.

The Chinese Culture and Tourism Ministry on Friday gave travel agencies the go-ahead to start marketing package tours to the 20 countries. This decision was reported by the Chinese news agency Xinhua and the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok.

According to the embassy’s Facebook page, the 20 countries in this pilot project are Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Fiji, Cuba and Argentina.

Thailand has seen an influx of Chinese tourists after China dropped the requirement for mandatory quarantine for inbound travellers from January 8. Since the requirement was lifted, Chinese travellers have been arriving in small groups.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects some 5 million arrivals from China this year. In 2019, the year before the pandemic hit the global tourism industry, Thailand welcomed 11 million tourists from China, accounting for more than a quarter of 40 million foreign visitors that year.

As many as 240 flights from China are scheduled to land in Thailand during the Chinese New Year break, from January 19 to 25, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand president Nopasit Chakpitak said.

He added that an average of 34 flights daily will be landing in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, and Phuket and Chiang Mai international airports during the Chinese New Year period.

AeroThai estimates that the month of January will see a total of 1,160 flights from China, far fewer than the 12,209 flights recorded in January 2019.

In its announcement, China’s Tourism and Culture Ministry instructed provincial administrations to ensure that all Chinese travellers are safe and follow Covid-19 guidelines, the embassy said.

The local bodies have also been instructed to ensure that all package tours are in line with the law and do not include “unreasonably cheap tours”. This was an apparent reference to the so-called “zero-dollar tours”, which hit the Thai tourism industry hard years ago before a large-scale crackdown in 2016.

Zero-dollar tourism involves very cheap package tours in which Chinese tourists are taken on shopping trips to buy overpriced products. The hotels, restaurants, shops and bus services involved in these tours are normally operated by the same group of businesspeople, mostly Chinese, in cooperation with their Thai partners or nominees.