Tag: Thailand
Thailand sits up and takes action as tourist numbers fall
Bangkok (TAN): Thailand experienced a rare drop in the number of tourist arrivals and spending in March.
Data collected by data and media firm Bloomberg show visitor numbers fell by 0.7 per cent from a year ago to 3.5 million. Spending by visitors was THB 184.5 billion, a drop of 1.3 per cent.
The tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s economy and the government has already taken notice and initiated action to woo tourists. Continue reading Thailand sits up and takes action as tourist numbers fall
Thailand visa is now free till October 31, 2019
Bangkok (TAN): The Thailand government has given its nod to extending the ongoing waiver on visa-on-arrival fees for 21 countries, including India, till October 31.
The ongoing visa-fee waiver was scheduled to end on April 30.
Government figures reveal foreign tourist arrivals between November 15, 2018 and March 31, 2019 – during which time the visa fee waiver has been in place – had seen an 83 per cent spike as compared to the previous year. Continue reading Thailand visa is now free till October 31, 2019
Thailand: Visa fee waiver extended till April 30
Bangkok (TAN): The government of Thailand has announced extension of the visa-on-arrival fee waiver from January 31 to April 30, 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said the extension will be applicable for citizens of 20 countries.
Under the waiver, citizens from all these 20 countries will be granted stay in Thailand for up to 15 days without having to pay THB2,000 visa-on-arrival fee.
List of countries eligible for the fee waiver
- Andora
- Bulgaria
- Bhutan
- China, including Taiwan
- Cyprus
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Papua New Guinea
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Ukraine, and
- Uzbekistan
Continue reading Thailand: Visa fee waiver extended till April 30
Indians make use of Thailand visa fee waiver
December 1 (TravelAndy): A large number of Indian tourists are making plans to visit Thailand now with the country making visa on arrival free for the citizens of several countries, including India, from November 15, 2018 to January 13, 2019.
It normally costs THB2,000 (approximately INR4,300) for Indian citizens to get a visa on arrival.
The move by the Thai authorities came with the intention to increase tourist inflow. Inspired by the results of this visa waiver, tour operators in Thailand have appealed to the government to extend to visa fee waiver till April to attract more tourists for the festival of Songkran, Bangkok Post reported. Continue reading Indians make use of Thailand visa fee waiver
Football team rescue site now a tourist hotspot
November 30 (TravelAndy): Tham Luang, the cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province where 12 boys and their football coach were trapped in June, has become a big tourist attraction.
The incident had received huge attention from media around the world and even Elon Musk had offered to help. The rescue operation took 17 days.
With the number of visitors soaring since the caves reopened on November 16, the authorities are planning to set up a museum on the rescue operation, reports said. Continue reading Football team rescue site now a tourist hotspot
Join me on a trip to the tropical paradise of Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan has a very special place in my heart.
You might have heard of this island in the Gulf of Thailand as the venue of the infamous Full Moon Party, but during my visits there over the years, I have discovered that the place has so much more to offer than the party.
If you have a picture painted of the expression “Tropical Paradise” in your head, it is likely to resemble something like Koh Phangan.
With incredibly gorgeous beaches, heavenly sunsets, hikes through forested hills, biking opportunities over hilly, roller-coaster roads, and of course, delicious local food, this is a place you will want to go back to.
In February 2019 (Feb 23 to 27 to be precise), I am guiding a tour to Koh Phangan. Come, join me on this five-day adventure! Read on for details. Continue reading Join me on a trip to the tropical paradise of Koh Phangan
Tourist arrival numbers soar in Vietnam
September 8 (TravelAndy): Vietnam has recorded the biggest increase in tourist arrival in Asia as compared to the previous year, reports citing United Nations World Tourism Organization figures said.
Vietnam’s tourist arrival numbers climbed by 29.1 per cent. The country stands third on the list after Egypt (56.1 per cent) and Togo (49.7 per cent).
A major chunk of tourist arrivals in Vietnam are from Japan and representative of the both the countries’ tourism bodies discussed how to sustain and increase tourist flow between the two countries at the ongoing international travel expo on at Ho Chi Minh City. Continue reading Tourist arrival numbers soar in Vietnam
Thailand tourist arrivals slow in May
June 19 (TravelAndy): Thailand’s tourism growth slowed to 6.3 per cent in May as compared to around 10 per cent in the preceding months, Bangkok Post reported.
A representative of Thailand’s tourism ministry Pongpanu Svetarundra said the low season, Ramadan and World Cup were among the negative factors weighing on growth.
Of all visitors last month, a majority of 2 million hailed from East Asia, followed by Europe, South Asia, America, Oceania, Middle East and Africa, he said. Continue reading Thailand tourist arrivals slow in May
Furore over tiger poke video
December 23 (TravelAndy): An attendant of a tiger at a zoo near Thailand’s popular tourist destination Pattaya has been transferred after he was seen poking a chained tiger to make it road for visitors.
A video that has gone viral on social media shows people posing with a chained tiger to take photographs. Armed with a stick, this attendant is seen poking the tiger in the head to make it road for all the visitors.
The video earned a lot of criticism and has brought under the scanner the condition of animals at Thai zoos. Continue reading Furore over tiger poke video
Koh Phangan beyond Full Moon Party: Bottle beach
Most people who go to Koh Phangan — an island in the Gulf of Thailand — for the (in)famous Full Moon Party.
I have no shame in admitting that the two times I have been there, I went for the party [Also read: Dos and don’ts at the Full Moon Party] — the first time solo, and the second time with an old friend.
But while at Koh Phangan, I have tried exploring the island beyond the Full Moon Party.
I had heard about Bottle beach on my first time on the island. Sandra, a friend I made there, had been to the beach which could only be accessed by water and had a lot of good things to say about it. Continue reading Koh Phangan beyond Full Moon Party: Bottle beach
My best overnight train ride was in Thailand
In 2011 — the last time I had made the journey from Bangkok to Surat Thani — I had travelled by bus. The bus wasn’t uncomfortable, but this time — in 2017 — my friend and I chose to travel by train.
We made our reservations beforehand and got into our Second class AC (air-conditioned) coach on a wet June evening.
The problem with reserving seats on Thai trains is that their system is a little complicated and you can’t just go on their site and book a ticket. You need to email them beforehand and then on the day of your journey, collect the physical ticket from the station for a fee. And apparently, there have been instances when the railways have been really late in replying to emails. Continue reading My best overnight train ride was in Thailand
Vietjet to fly 14 Hanoi-Incheon return flights a week
June 5 (TravelAndy): In a bid to meet the rising travel demand, Vietjet is increasing its operation frequency on the Hanoi – Incheon route to 14 return flights a week. The increase will come into effect starting August 2, 2017.
Beginning July 21, 2017, the Hanoi – Taipei route will also enjoy a frequency of 11 round trips per week with flights available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
In line with the announcement, Vietjet is offering 800,000 promotional tickets priced from USD0 in a three-day promotion which runs from June 6-8, 2017, under its ongoing promotional campaign “Free summer, Fly for free”. Continue reading Vietjet to fly 14 Hanoi-Incheon return flights a week