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Tourist entrepreneurs from Thailand’s east head north
Autsadaporn Kamthai
To introduce tourist attractions in the central provinces
of Chonburi and Samut Prakarn to people in the North, the Tourism Authority
of Thailand (TAT), Central Office, Region 3 in cooperation with the Chonburi
Provincial Administration Organization (PAO) and Chonburi Attraction Club
arranged the tourism road show in four prominent northern provinces.
Deputy
Governor Prinya Parnthong (second left) talks to an entrepreneur during his
visit to the road show.
Many tourism-related enterprises in Chonburi and Samut
Prakarn joined the trip. The road show trip started from Phitsanulok, and
continued to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Lampang.
The Chonburi road show was held at Duangtawan Hotel,
Chiang Mai on September 15. Chonburi entrepreneurs offered special packages
to encourage northerners to visit them. “The road show invites Lanna
people to visit tourist sites in different parts of the country and provide
the chance for tourism-related enterprises between the two regions to
network,” said Dr Pichai Sonjaeng, chairman of the Chonburi Attraction
Club and director of the Bangsaen Institute of Marine Science, Burapha
University.
Having decided to build networks between enterprises in
the North and the East, Dr Pichai was confident it would draw tourists from
China to visit Thailand, by traveling first to the North and then continuing
on to the East, to bring Thailand more tourism income.
For this year, the Chonburi Attraction Club has set its
goal to increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists by 10 percent.
The number of tourists is over a million each year.
Dr Pichai said that Chonburi province had a high security
system for tourists, especially in the larger hotels, so that there was no
international organized crime against tourists who visited the cities.
Chonburi is promoting its Tourist Visa Card, which can be
used as a discount card, and special educational tour packages to visit, for
example the Underwater World and Butterfly Garden.
For more details please contact Dr Pichai at 0-1815-8473
or pichai@bims.buu. ac.th
Next month, the road show will head to the Northeast region.
Chiang Mai artists contribute to major peace project
Novica announces launch of World Peace division
Pornupa (Pia) Wunna
Novica.com <http://www. Novica.com>, the popular
international gifts and home d้cor web site affiliated with National
Geographic, announced the launch of its new World Peace Project division,
featuring a “Paintings for Peace” exhibit and hundreds of peace-themed
gifts and home decor offerings, created by artists and artisans worldwide.
 “Dharma
cuddle” by Thai artist Raewat Wongla
More than 80 Thai master artisans and artists, 50 from
Chiang Mai alone, contributed to this project. Proud to share with the
world their own vision of peace ceramists, jewelers, wood carvers,
painters, weavers etc, set to craft creative works of arts with Thai and
Lanna flair.
Launched at the behest of artists and artisans around
the world, Novica’s peace project is believed to be the largest of its
kind, bridging races, cultures, religions, and continents.
 “Peace
brothers” by Thai artist Anurak Chaijit
“So many artists around the world began submitting
peace-themed art that we finally decided to launch a World Peace division
of Novica,” said Roberto Milk, co-founder of Novica.com. He said the
positive response has been overwhelming, from artisans and customers
alike.
“Novica’s goal remains, as always, to dramatically
improve the lives of more and more artisans in developing nations each
year, while actively working to help preserve traditional cultures and
skills,” Milk said. “Now, with Novica’s new World Peace division,
we’re able to provide a specific exhibit and retail space for our many
artists around the world who have been inspired to create peace-themed
works of art.”
Novica, in association with National Geographic, is
headquartered in Los Angeles, with seven regional offices in Asia, Africa,
and Latin America. Founded five years ago, Novica recently expanded to
represent more than 10,000 international artists and artisans, including
2,000 master artists. It is the largest Web site of its kind in the world,
offering more than 20,000 limited edition and unique gifts and home decor
items. Unlike traditional retail channels, Novica works directly with
artists and artisans through its seven international offices.
THAI holds customer services seminar for cargo agents
Thai Airways International (THAI) Cargo and Mail
Commercial Department, held a Customer Services seminar at the Rama
Gardens Hotel in Bangkok for its agents on its ‘THAI Cargo, Thai Care’
theme launched in May this year to encourage customer satisfaction.
Charnchai Singtoroj, THAI’s managing director, Cargo
and Mail Commercial Department, said that the objective was to inform its
agents of the progress of the Cargo and Mail Commercial Department at the
Suvarnabhumi Airport. Opinions and suggestions from THAI’s customers
were also discussed to improve the quality of its services and products.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport, THAI’s Cargo and Mail
Commercial Department will cover a total area of 90,000 square meters,
capable of handling 1.26 million tons of cargo annually. A major plus is
that the whole international terminal area will be a Customs Free Zone.
Transit shipments can be repacked in the Free Zone area without customs
formalities.
THAI’s Cargo and Mail Commercial Department currently
serves 47 customer airlines equivalent to 63 percent of the market share
in Thailand.
Mae Hong Son expresses concern over suspension of THAI flights
The governor of Thailand’s northern province of Mae
Hong Son warned on September 16 that the decision by Thai Airways
International Public Company Limited (THAI) to suspend its Chiang Mai-Mae
Hong Son flights in November could deal a heavy blow to the province’s
tourism industry.
Suphot Laowansiri said that he would ask THAI to
reconsider its decision to halt its flights to Mae Hong Son in November
for the purposes of aircraft maintenance, noting that November was a major
tourism month in the province.
Normally the airline operates two aircraft on its
Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son route, but one of its planes is being held at the
Mae Hong Son Airport after a recent malfunction, and the airline has not
indicated when it will be put back in service.
Mae Hong Son derives its principal source of income
from tourism, with most tourists arriving by plane. November is
particularly important for the province’s tourism industry as visitors
normally flock to the Bua Tong Festival in Khun Yuan district. Suphot
warned that rumors of the suspension of THAI flights were already having
an adverse impact on the province’s tourism business. However, Suthep
Khemthong, director of Mae Hong Son Airport, hinted that the situation
might be resolved by the Department of Aviation’s bringing in
alternative aircraft on the route. But he added that he had not yet been
officially informed by THAI of the decision to suspend the operations.
(TNA)
Fly with Thai AirAsia at Tesco Lotus
Thai AirAsia sales counters at nine outlets in Thailand
Thai AirAsia has signed an agreement with Tesco Lotus
to expand the airline’s distribution channels throughout Thailand. Since
mid-September, passengers can book or pay for their flights directly at
Thai AirAsia sales counters at five Tesco Lotus outlets in Bangkok. Four
more sales counters will open shortly at outlets outside Bangkok.
Tesco Lotus outlets in Bangkok, Bangkapi, Bang Yai,
Rangsit, Seacon Square and Sukhumvit, plus the new ones in Chiang Mai, Hat
Yai, Phuket and Udon Thani.
At Tesco Lotus sales counters, passengers can pay by
cash or credit cards. Two Thai AirAsia staff are available at each sales
counter to assist.
Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO, Thai AirAsia said, “I am
delighted with our partnership with Tesco Lotus, which helps us strengthen
our distribution channels. With Thai AirAsia sales counters at nine Tesco
Lotus outlets, we offer a convenient way for our passengers to book easily
our cheap fares. Both Tesco Lotus and Thai AirAsia target identical
customer profiles and our association is a win-win situation for both of
us.”
Loy Krathong festival to cover nine days
Autsadaporn Kamthai
This year’s Loy Krathong festival will be bigger and
better, in honor of HM the Queen’s 72nd anniversary, says the
municipality.
Loy Krathong, known in the North as the “Yi Peng”
festival, will be a grand celebration from November 19-27, said Chiang Mai
Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn in an official announcement. It will feature
entertainment to attract tourists to the city, he added.
Activities will be held at the Three Kings Monument,
the Thapae Gate multi-purpose stage, in front of the governor’s
residence and at the Municipality office.
There will be a beauty contest to find Miss Yi Peng
(AKA Miss Noppamas beauty contest), traditional arts competitions, local
products’ fair, walking street, ‘kom loy’ hot air balloons,
processions with both large and small Krathong floats, and many other
highlights.
All the activities will have a traditional Lanna
atmosphere and each venue will be decorated in Lanna style.
Income generated will be given to HM the Queen’s fund
to support charity projects under her royal patronage.
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