South Thailand’s hotel industry booming with increased tourist arrivals

South Thailand is seeing a resurgence in tourism, with room bookings in hotels reaching 85%, according to Sueksit Suwandissakun, the president of the Southern Hotel Association. This is a positive sign for the industry, which has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past year.

Many hotels in popular tourist areas are already fully booked, with the majority of reservations being made at three-star hotels and below. The booking rate for this month is at 80%, and even more, reservations are expected to be made for next month, with the rate expected to reach 60%, The Phuket Express reported.

The limiting factor for tourism currently is the number of flights that are back in service, with only 50% of flights being operational compared to 2019 when there were 450 flights in operation. Despite this, passenger numbers have improved by 70% on the flights that are running.

The top ten countries in terms of the number of arrivals in Phuket over the past year were Russia, India, Australia, Britain, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, America, and Israel. The increase in tourism is not solely driven by foreign tourists, however, as domestic travel has also been on the rise in recent months.

Recently, there were reports of police in Bangkok extorting money from a Taiwanese actress and rumours about officers allegedly extorting money from a Saudi Arabian tourist. However, Sueksit noted that this has not affected tourism, as the normal booking rate for this month is already good.

February is a special month, with Valentine’s Day being celebrated worldwide, but this is not likely to increase travel as there are no long holidays for foreign tourists. The southern region of Thailand has always been a popular destination for tourists, with its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture attracting visitors from around the world.

Overall, the southern region of Thailand is experiencing an improvement in the tourism industry, which is a positive sign for the future. With continued progress, the industry is expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels, bringing much-needed revenue to the region.

Source - The Thaiger

Thailand tourism predicted at 80% of pre-Covid in 2023

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Yuthasak Supasorn just predicted that next year, revenue from tourism will hit 80% of the level it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. He made the bold prediction at the 22nd World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit, being held in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.

At that summit, the TAT was invited to take part and present its path to successfully bringing back tourism as it nears the goal of 10 million international visitors by the end of this year. The governor served as a speaker on the panel “The Recovery of Travel in Asia and the Pacific.”

The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that Yuthasak highlighted Thailand’s more eco-friendly, sustainable, and inclusive tourism coming out of the pandemic. After borders were closed and then slowly reopened with various quarantines, lockdowns, and restrictions, Thailand has now fully reopened without restriction and seeing a boom in international travellers.

The TAT plans to continuously collaborate with the tourism industry and other sectors and concentrate on innovations to make tourism stronger and healthier going forwards. The Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model which has been a sustainability focus for the government is implemented in tourism campaigns as well. The TAT governor also touted the “Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters” marketing programme that promotes the country’s popular tourist attractions as well as introduces new ones.

With a goal of an 80% recovery of the tourism industry for 2023, which would be about 32 million visitors, Thailand surpassed the nine million visitor mark this year already. Some 9.4 million people entered the country from the beginning of the year to the end of November.

Now, between all airports and land borders, 50,000 to 60,000 people enter the kingdom per day. Malaysia continues to be the number one source of international tourists, with 1.5 million travellers crossing the Thai border this year. But, with the recent resumption of many flights from Russia, the number of European visitors and other long-distance travellers is increasing. The TAT governor attributed this in part to Thailand being a great warm-weather escape from the cold winters in Europe.

Source - The Thaiger

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Thai immigration reports over 900,000 tourists in Phuket since May

Phuket’s tourism is continuing to make its post-Covid-19 comeback. Thai immigration reported over 900,000 tourists in Phuket from May 1 to November 27.

The total number of tourists that visited the island province in that time frame is 934,164. Of those tourists, 914,746 are foreigners, and 19,418 are Thai.

Meanwhile the Phuket Walking Street Sunday Market, also well known as ‘Laad Yai’ is still full of tourists every week, The Phuket Express reported. The vice president of the Old Phuket Town Community, Somyos Patan, said…

“The market is one of the most important tourism destinations in Phuket which is a must for visitors to visit the signature market in the Phuket Old Town.”

Russians made up Phuket’s largest tourist demographic if November. This month, 55,097 Russians made their way to the island province.

The second largest tourist group in Phuket this month came from India, with 26,525 travellers, according to Phuket Immigration. The third largest group was Australians, with 13,868 tourists. British visitors made up the fourth largest group with 12,340 tourists. Germans came in fifth place, with 11,097 tourists.

The recent swarm of Russian tourists in Thailand has taken the country’s tourism forces completely by surprise. Despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian tourism market has returned much quicker than expected, according to the president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

Chartered flights to Phuket and Pattaya are being filled by Russian tourists. Less than two weeks after Russian airlines made their triumphant return to Phuket, Aeroflot announced an increase in direct flights to the island. The flagship airline of Russia announced on November 12 that it would be adding 14 new flights a week from Russia to Phuket.

Last week, TAT’s deputy governor said the number of Russian tourists flying to Thailand is expected to reach 1 million next year.

As of October 26, Thailand witnessed 7,349,843 international tourists arriving, surpassing the seven million mark. It’s put the country within its goal range set by the TAT of seven to 10 million visitors for 2022.

Source - The Thaiger

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Pattaya’s Walk and Eat food festival coming up

 Foodies in Pattaya have something to look forward to. The city’s Walk and Eat food festival is coming up, after being cancelled or restricted for years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The long festival will run from December 10 to January 29 at the Naklua fish market in Old Town Naklua. Attendees can sample tasty local dishes, and enjoy concerts and cultural events. But that’s not all, there will be activities for children, The Pattaya News reported. This will be the 14th Walk and Eat festival.

According to a Facebook post by the Direct Line to the Mayor of Pattaya City, the festival’s objective is “promoting and encouraging people and communities to participate in the conservation and development of tourist attractions in the local community area.”

Renowned as a tourism hub, Pattaya is known for hosting numerous festivals. These festivals have come back in full force now that Covid restrictions have been lifted.

From Friday to Saturday, the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival met its goal of drawing over 100,000 spectators. The fireworks illuminated the skyline of Central Pattaya Beach, and could also be seen from other points including Bali Hai Pier, and Phra Tamnak Mountain Viewpoint near Bali Nai Pier.

The festival featured stunning fireworks displays from Canada, the Philippines, Belgium, and Malaysia.

Last month, tourists flocked to two seafood festivals in Pattaya over the three-day weekend. The Central Pattaya shopping mall held the “Sea Bear” food festival, bringing in income for vendors.

There was also a seafood festival at Terminal 21 shopping mall, which saw hundreds of vacationers stopping by, Pattaya Mail reported. The festival had planned to feature street food vendors from across eastern Thailand, under a street market theme. The festival was hoped to bring in revenue to local vendors to revive Pattaya’s tourism. In May, the 20 vendors at Pattaya’s new Squid Fair seafood festival earned almost 30,000-40,000 baht a day. The president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association said that 3,000-4,000 visitors went to the festival every day it was held.

The ‘Walk and Eat’ festival is another opportunity for Pattaya dwellers and visitors to savour delicious foods while supporting the local economy.

Source - The Thaiger

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No direct international flights to Bali yet even though island has ‘officially’ reopened

The day has finally come for Bali’s long-awaited international reopening, but tourists might have to wait a little longer to actually get on a flight and holiday on the island, as officials appear to still be working on the nuts and bolts even today.

Indonesia announced only last night which source countries are eligible for entry into Bali, identifying 19 in total that include China, India, Japan, South Korea, and a number of countries in Europe and the Gulf.

With things being so last-minute, there are no scheduled international flights for today, as confirmed by the Bali Tourism Agency Chief I Putu Astawa.

“There is no information [yet] on plane arrival from abroad or foreign visitors coming to Bali [today],” Astawa said.

“Of course they need time to arrange visas or their flights.”

Even today, a spokesman for the Ngurah Rai International Airport told local media outlets that the facility is not welcoming international flights just yet, citing what appears to be bureaucratic hiccups. Though Indonesia’s COVID-19 Task Force has issued a regulation and identified Bali as among the points of entry for international flights, the airport is still waiting for official instructions from the Transportation Ministry to actually make that a reality.

“We have yet to receive a letter from the Transportation Ministry with regards to [welcoming] international flights,” Taufan Yudhistira said.

Only fully vaccinated tourists from the 19 eligible countries are allowed to visit Bali, and they must also get on direct flights, according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan. It might be worth mentioning that not all the countries listed have direct flights to Denpasar, even before the pandemic.

Other specific requirements include, but are not limited to, a five-day mandatory quarantine period upon arrival at the travelers’ expense, health insurance with coverage of at least US$100,000, and proof of booking for accommodation during their time in Indonesia.

So tell us Coconauts, are you among those making arrangements to visit Bali anytime soon? Let us know in the comments or via social media!

Source - Coconuts

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Thailand to charge foreign arrivals 500 baht “tourism fee” from next year

 

Despite Thailand struggling to reboot its decimated tourism sector, the government is pushing ahead with a proposed tourism fee – and has increased it by 200 baht. The National Tourism Policy Committee originally approved a fee of 300 baht at the start of this year, which would be used to develop tourism destinations and provide tourists with insurance benefits. According to a Bangkok Post report, the fee has now increased to 500 baht.

Yuthasak Supasorn from the Tourism Authority of Thailand says the extra 200 baht will be used to fund projects aimed at transforming the country’s tourism model from mass market to a more high-value, environmentally-conscious model. He’s pretty confident tourists won’t mind paying it.

“The additional cost won’t have an impact on tourists as we want to focus on the quality market. We hope this fund will support a national tourism makeover creating more safe and clean places.”

The Centre for Economic Situation Administration has approved the 500 baht fee, part of a wider “tourism transformation fund” to support transformational projects with a focus on sustainable, high-value tourism. The TAT says the fee will be collected from next year, with officials counting on getting 5 billion baht within the first year, based on 10 million foreign arrivals.

The Bangkok Post reports the TAT and the Tourism and Sports Ministry will hold talks with the relevant authorities to set up a fund committee and agree funding mechanisms, as well as deciding how the fee will be collected from foreign visitors. The fund committee will be tasked with deciding which projects qualify for support. Yuthasak adds that the goal of the fund is not to alleviate the economic devastation of Covid-19, but instead to focus on long-term growth.

Source: Bangkok Post

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Lao Domestic Tourism Targeted for 2020

The Lao government has announced it will begin promoting domestic tourism next year as a way to boost tourism in addition to attracting foreign arrivals.

In a succession of visit year campaigns, 2018 saw Visit Laos Year, which helped the country attract large numbers of overseas visitors. Following the campaign’s success, this year was dubbed Vist Laos-China Year 2019, and included bilateral activities and tourism promotion between Laos and China.

The apparent success of the previous two visit year campaigns has prompted the government to go for a third, with the yet to be named domestic tourism year happening in 2020.

Sources say the campaign may be dubbed Lao Thiao Lao 2020, meaning “Lao visit Laos Year 2020”.

Vientiane Times reported that the department of Tourism Marketing under the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, is working on a campaign to encourage Lao people to travel within the country, as part of the national socio-economic development plan for 2020.

Consultation with tourism operators has already begun, while an exact target for visitor numbers has not yet been released.

International Tourism Target Set

In 2020, the government expects to attract around 4.7 million international visitors and raise more than US$ 900 million in revenue.

More than 756,900 Chinese visitors came to Laos this year, an increase of about 26 percent over the same period in 2018, with the Vist Laos-China Year being hailed as a success by authorities.

Newly appointed Lao Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Mr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, recently met with Trip.com Group CEO Ms. Jane Sun for discussion on ways the website may assist tourism in Laos.

Source - Laotion Times

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Visa ‘Runners’ denied entry at Laos, Vientiane

For decades tourists, or ex-pats who are below the retirement visa age limit, have extended their stay in #Thailand by so-called ‘visa runs.’

One example is when people travel to a nearby country to apply for a tourist visa and extend their stay for another two to three months.

This is commonly called a ‘visa run.’

Companies providing ‘Visa Runs’ leave every tourist town in Thailand on a daily basis in convoys of mini-vans and coaches to head for the nearest border.

Tourists typically travel to border towns such as Aranyapratet on the Cambodian border, Nongkhai on the Lao border, Mae Sai or Mae Sot on the Burma border, Vientiane in Laos or to Penang near Malaysia’s border.

Visa runs may be a unique (or even traditional) part of Thailand’s tourism scene.

But, now reports are coming in of tourists and ex-pats being DENIED new visas at Vientiane, on the Laos border.

The Royal Thai Embassy at Vientiane, usually one of the easiest to pass through with a new stamp, has begun turning foreigners away.

Yesterday one American reported to a Visa Forum, ‘Just got denied my second tourist visa at Vientiane. Have one visa in my US passport and 3 exempt stamps. The guy simply said ‘my boss didn’t give you a visa, you have to go back to your country.’

Another American in the same queue was also denied and new visa.

When his Thai girlfriend asked for an explanation she was told that there is a ‘new rule’ and foreigners can only have ONE tourist visa every twelve months.

One tourist visa would only be enough to qualify for a three month stay. IE, one two-month visa plus a thirty day extension at a local immigration office.

At that point it is usually time for the famous VISA RUN, but not any more it seems.

Not for these two Americans it isn’t.

Please share your recent visa run experiences in the comments below.

Source - BangkokJack

#Cambodia - Day TripPER on Ten Bucks

It is a Friday night and you are feeling blue, stressed out after five days of work. A day trip over your long-awaited weekend would effectually bring you back to life. Yet, you have busted your budget this month and think you can’t afford the journey. So, you remain indoors all weekend listening to the off-key neighbour doing karaoke. Fact is, a good trip in and around Phnom Penh doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Taing Rinith sets his compass for a one-day trip. The price, he attests, is only 10 dollars.

Packing the night before

This $10-budget plan for a person is based on one assumption: that you have a vehicle with a tank optimistically half-full to avoid spending during your journey. Therefore, you should more cash on you in addition to the banknote bearing the portrait of Alexander Hamilton.

It is wise to prepare for your trip before setting off in the morning. Carrying too much weight can cause discomfort. Items recommended are: fill a small backpack with one change of outfit, a hand towel, a swimsuit, a bottle of water and a raincoat, and maybe your favourite book or e-reader. You should also bring a picnic blanket or a small mat with you. Sleep early because you will need a lot of energy tomorrow.

7:00am-9:00am

An artistic Breakfast

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 Begin your day by visiting the Royal University of Fine Arts, just across from the National Museum. The oldest university in Cambodia and the heart of the Art Street, RUFA can also be described as a museum without an entrance fee. In its peaceful and quiet compound, you can admire the artworks crafted by its outstanding graduates. Even during the weekends, you are able to see the industrious students working on their sculptures and paintings and listening to their nice music. Yet, don’t do that until you have slurped down a $1.5 bowl of Kuy Teav (Chinese noodle) with beef and meatball in the university canteen, which is filling and a famed delicacy in the locale. Don’t forget to order a bento of takeout rice with fried chicken and egg, also $1.5, for your lunch.

9:00am-10:30am

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Next, you have to head to Koh Dach, a natural isle on the Mekong River. To reach it from Phnom Penh, drive to Chroy Chongvar peninsular and then board a ferry at the pier about 5km from the Chroy Chongvar bridge. The ride, costing only 1,000 riels, itself is quite enjoyable with a simple but fetching view of the mighty river, especially from the top of the ferry. It takes only about 10 minutes. On the island, you will also find driving along the concrete road, lined with tropical trees and flowers, plantations and country houses, another pleasant experience.

10:30am-3:00pm

Lunch bites at the Love Plantation

Your next destination is Chomkar Sneh (translates as Love Plantation), a resort popular among cyclists. Entrance fee is only $0.50 for local and $1 for foreigner. Although it is designed to attract lovey-dovey singles, others too will find the visit worthwhile. Apart from lovely trees and flowers, there is a mini zoo, a swimming pool, sculptures and more. At noon, you can have your bento lunch in one of the huts built high from the ground, modelled after ethnic housing in the northern region of the country.

3:00am-5:00pm

Life is a Beach

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Yes, you heard right. A beach just outside of Phnom Penh. From Chomkar Sneh and after a rest, head back to the pier and then go south. After about 30 minutes, you will reach Koh Dach Beach Resort. The white sand of the natural beach on the tip of the island, just off the big parking lot near the entrance, is utterly beautiful, even superior to some crowded and spoiled beaches within the country’s coastal region. There are small huts on the beach or on stilts in the water. They are usually free on non-holiday weekdays. But on weekends or holidays, you are likely to pay $5 a hut. However, you do not need to pay anything apart from the $1 entrance fee. Instead, stay on your mat or picnic blanket under a big tree and enjoy a dip in the Mekong.

5:00pm-7:00pm

Fare thee well on a river cruise

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If you strictly follow our plan, you should still have around $5 in your one-day budget, which should be enough for a cruise along the riverfront. Boats will leave from along the bank of the Tonle Sap, cruise out, across the Tonle Sap, past the southern tip of Chruoy Changvar and traverse the waters of the Mekong River. From there, the vessels cruise along the far bank of the Mekong before circling around and slowly return to Phnom Penh. The sail takes around an hour and-a-half, and if you squint into that little red rubber ball on the horizon, you can just about see all your troubles riding off into the sunset.

Source - Khmer Post

#Laos - Pakxong – a fine place to chill out

 

People who are lucky enough to spend a few days on the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos always want to return because of the pleasant climate – it never gets really hot, either in the dry or wet seasons.

The Bolaven Plateau, which is often referred to simply as Pakxong, is located in the hills of Champassak province. I feel I know the area pretty well.

A long time ago I made many visits there when my wife was working for a coffee project in Pakxong. I have never forgotten it and liked this place very much as it was always cool throughout the year, both day and night.

The town of Pakxong is about 50 kilometres from the provincial capital Pakxe. I once went there in April when it’s usually extremely hot in Laos, especially in the south. 

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I stayed at km 35 and always felt comfortable but as soon as I ventured beyond Pakxong, the temperate spiked and it was really hot.

At that time of the year, many people can’t sleep because of the hot weather. Residents of large towns such as Vientiane and Pakxe have to use air conditioning to help them sleep.

But in Pakxong there is no need to use an artificial cooling device and Mother Nature will ensure you remain comfortable. The fresh air that surrounds you throughout the night will keep you refreshed so you don’t wake up feeling exhausted.

Some Thai visitors have been known to say they don’t need to go to Europe to enjoy a cool climate but can come to Pakxong district instead.

I don’t know if things are still the same in Pakxong because I haven’t been there for 15 years. But some people who have spent time in this beautiful area recently tell me that it’s as pleasing as ever.

The Bolaven Plateau runs through Champassak province’s Pakxong district, Saravan province’s Lao-ngam, and Xekong province’s Thataeng district, and boasts a wealth of scenic beauty.

Some of the most dramatic waterfalls in Champassak are Nheuang, Fan, Phasuam, Nong Luang and Champee Nang Sida.
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There are also three more waterfalls of note in Saravan province, namely Lo, Hang and Xeset, and then there is the Sinouk Resort in Xekong province, which are all very popular with both local and foreign visitors.

The Bolaven Plateau is set to be developed as the country’s top agri-business and agri-tourism destination thanks to its year round temperate climate and picturesque landscape.

When visiting Champassak province over the past few years, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has advised officials to seek more investment from domestic and overseas sources so that the coffee industry can be further developed and other crops can be cultivated on the Bolaven Plateau and nearby.

From Vientiane, tourists can reach Champassak by either road or air transport. And thanks to shared borders with Thailand and Cambodia, there are close tourist links with both those countries.

The local food is another attraction, with a wide variety of dishes on offer that will satisfy all palates. Set a date for a visit soon!

Source - Vientiane Times

#Vietnam - New helicopter allows aerial enjoyment of Ha Long Bay

A helicopter tour launched by a Vietnamese firm adds an extra dimension to the enjoyment of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

Starting May 10, visitors have been invited to book the Ha Long Heli Tours through Fastsky, the country’s first helicopter ride-sharing service run by ride-hailing firm FastGo.

The tour, provided by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company, uses two U.S.-made Bell-505 helicopters with five seats each.

The journey will start from the Tuan Chau heliport and go over famous Ha Long Bay attractions including the Thien Cung Cave and Ti Top Island, as well as Bai Tu Long, a lesser-known neighbor of Ha Long Bay.

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The trips, which start at $125 for a 12-minute journey, aim to tap the growing number of tourists to Vietnam, mainly from China, the world's second biggest economy, the company stated.

China has been Vietnam's main source of tourists in recent years, accounting for one third of all foreign visitors. More than four million Chinese visitors arrived in Vietnam last year, up 48.6 percent year-on-year.

Chinese visitors have also been encouraged by a new policy that allows groups to visit the border province of Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam, home to the popular Ha Long Bay, for up to three days without a visa.

The Vietnamese government has also allowed Chinese nationals to apply for 30-day single-entry electronic visas for holidays and business trips.

Visitors have two other options - 25-minute and 40-minute journeys, costing VND4 million ($172) to VND7 million ($301).

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Around four hours drive to the east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay was recognized as world heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO, and voted among the world’s seven new natural wonders by Swiss organization New Open World in 2011.

Recent events that have heightened the bay’s attraction include the filming of "Kong: Skull Island", a Hollywood blockbuster, in 2017; and the launch of Vietnam's first private airport Van Don International Airport late last year, providing foreign tourists with easier access.

Improved infrastructure makes the UNESCO-listed bay increasingly accessible.

However, the tourism boom has also left the once-pristine bay under mounting pressure, threatened by overcrowding and trash pollution that have sparked great concern among environmentalists and heritage experts.

U.K. travel site Rough Guides recently included Ha Long Bay in the top ten UNESCO heritage sites in Asia.

In 2015 the bay was hailed by U.S. travel guide site Smarter Travel as one of the best ecological spots in the world. U.S. news site Business Insider has described an overnight Ha Long cruise trip a "must-try" travel experience in Asia.

Source - VN Expess

#Indonesia - Mount Slamet to welcome hikers starting this weekend

The hiking trail to Mount Slamet through Bambangan, Kutabawa village in Karangreja district, Purbalingga, is set to be reopened on March 2 following improved weather and ecosystem recovery efforts over the past few months.

"Based on the consideration of weather and hiking trails that have been improved, we have decided to reopen the hiking trail to Mount Slamet through Bambangan in Kutabawa starting March 2," Prayitno, tourism department head of the Purbalingga Tourism, Sports and Youth Agency, told kompas.com on Friday. 

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The trail had previously been closed since Jan. 10 as part of an effort to improve the ecosystem balance in the area and preserve the flora and fauna.

"Following massive hiking activities over New Year's Eve, the trail needed to be rehabilitated, hence it was closed temporarily," said Prayitno.

The agency is said to have deployed two workers to guard the first hiking post and attend to cleanup activities and the maintenance of plants. 

Source - TheJakartaPost

Maya Bay made famous by The Beach film closed indefinitely to tourists

A beach in Thailand made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio film is to close indefinitely.

Authorities in the country announced earlier this year that they were closing Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi island for four months in a bid to help it recover from the effects of tourism.

However following a survey, it was found that in order for the island to fully cover from erosion and pollution, the beach would have to close indefinitely.

A statement from the Department of National Parks said: “The ecosystem and the beach’s physical structure have yet returned to its full condition until natural resources return to normal.”

The spot on the island was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle. It’s become a bucket list location for those travelling to Thailand.

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Environmentalists say that heavy traffic from boats and increasing numbers of visitors have damaged the beach and surrounding area’s ecosystem. 

Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat from Bangkok’s Kasetsart University told the South China Morning Post: “When I first came here 38 years ago, this place was heaven. This was all coral once but now there is nothing.”

Up until its closure, the island was seeing up to 5,000 tourists visiting the spot each day.

The news comes as the Philippines prepares to reopen Boracay after it also became inundated with tourists.

Boracay has been closed for six months and is set to officially reopen on October 26.

An environment official said that only 19,000 tourists will be allowed in Boracay on any given day.

Water and leisure activities including drinking on the beach will be prohibited.

Source - Evening Standard

Indonesia - Two decades for broken coral reefs to recover

The Environment and Forestry Ministry has announced that broken coral reefs covering 1,020 square meters near Pari Island of Thousand Island regency, which were damaged after cargo ship Ghanda Nusantara 15 rammed into them on Saturday night, will take over 20 years to recover.

Iksan, a ministry official who conducted a survey at the site of the incident, told The Jakarta Post recently that the majority of the damaged area consisted of hard coral — also known as stony coral — which takes a long time to grow.

“It takes 20 years or more for such kinds of coral reefs to recover to their normal condition, before the incident took place,” Iksan said, adding that the ministry would study the results over the next several days to determine total losses from the incident.

The ship’s owner, as regulated in Law. No 32/2009 on environmental management and protection, will have to pay for the losses, with the money being used for restoration of the coral reefs.

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Article 2 of the law states that every person or institution proven to have damaged environment is obliged to pay a certain amount of compensation.

The Thousand Island Police said separately that the ship, owned by the Transportation Ministry, reportedly rammed into the coral reefs near the island at around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.

The ship, intended to sail from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan to Tidung Island of Thousand Islands regency, was stuck near Pari Island due to bad weather. It was swept away by strong waves and finally left stranded atop the pristine coral reefs.

“Six crew members aboard have been evacuated by Pari Island residents, with help from officials from the fire and rescue agency,” said Thousand Islands Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Viktor Siagian. The ship’s crew were then brought to the police to be questioned.

Local residents urged the government to quickly move the vessel from the site to avoid further damage to the coral reefs.

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One of the local residents, Ahmad Taufik, 36, said the coral reefs played a significant role in boosting the island’s tourism. Pari Island is among the top tourist destinations in Thousand Islands regency, along with Tidung and Bidadari Islands.

Ahmad added that coral reef damage from ships occasionally occurred in the island’s waters. He, together with other residents concerned with marine protection, would replant the coral reefs using compensation from the owners of the ships that caused the environmental damage.

“At least one similar incident happens in the island’s waters every year, but the ships that caused the damage have never been as big as the [Ghanda Nusantara] ship,” Ahmad told the Post via phone. The Ghanda Nusantara has a weight of around 92 gross tons.

Environmental group Greenpeace urged the government to finish the valuation soon to figure out how much the ship’s owners had to pay.

It could be a great loss, said Greenpeace Southeast Asia oceans campaigner Arifsyah Nasution, reflecting on a similar incident that had occurred last year in Raja Ampat waters in Papua.

“Seeing the case at Raja Ampat, each square meter of damage had to be compensated with up to US$1,200,” he said.

On March 4, British cruise ship Caledonian Sky ran aground in Raja Ampat waters, West Papua, destroying nearly 13,000 sqm of coral reef.

Source - TheJakartaPost

#Myanmar aims to attract more travelers from Japan

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               The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism aims to lure more Japanese travelers to the beaches of Myeik archipelago in the JATA Tourism Expo in Tokyo from January 21 to 24,

The ministry will be setting up booths which will showcase the pristine beaches and islands of the Myeik archipelago.

Regional tourism ministers of Tanintharyi Region, Kayah, Rakhine and Kayin states would also be attending the expo to promote tourism development in their areas, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said. 

Among those that will be highlighted at the expo are Ngapali beach, Ngwe Saung beach, Chaungtha beach and Myeik archipelago since 60 percent of Japanese out-bound travelers like to enjoy water activities for relaxation, U Ye Tun Oo, chief executive officer of Vivo Myanmar travel and destination management  company told The Myanmar Times.

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  “Japanese holiday makers will increase if we can create more water activities and attract more working-age travelers. Currently, our destination packages, such as Bagan, Mandalay and Inle lake, are only for retired persons,” U Ye Tun Oo said.

There were over 100,000 Japanese travelers who visited Myanmar in 2016, but only 15pc of them are tourists while 85pc are business travelers, cooperation workers and workers in INGOs.

Myanmar had a total of 2.9 million foreign tourists in 2016, a decline of  about 38pc from a year ago.  

“It doesn’t matter if the percentage of tourists decline, the more important factor is we need to have real tourists statistics which is our ministry’s responsibility. We want tourists to be satisfied during their trip and then share their experiences about our country to their friends. It is a word of mouth promotion,” said U Ohn Maung, union minister of hotels and tourism on July 29.

According to the tourist arrival statistics, travelers from Asia market -- the medium and short-haul countries -- are still main market for Myanmar rather than the long-haul market, U Ye Tun Oo said.

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We want tourists to be satisfied during their trip and share their experiences with their friends,” said Minister U Ohn Maung. The Myanmar Times

“If we can promote in China, South Korea and Japan in-bound markets that would be more reliable tourism development. That is why we need to extend to short and medium-haul markets,” he said.

However, beaches destination in Myanmar need to create more water activities for tourists because it is very weak at the moment. Basic infrastructure such as accessibility, public toilets along the high way road, recreation parks, as well as human resources development still needs a lot of improvement, he said.

The horse-cart drivers in Mingin in Sagaing Region and Inwa in Mandalay drive like they are in a horse-cart race when they take visitors. They should be trained to take better care of the visitors. We need to improve human resources skills first, U Thet Lwin Toh, chairman of Union of Myanmar Travel Association told The Myanmar Times.  

  

“If we will implement tourism development without preparing basic infrastructure for the tourists, they all will not return again. So we need to be well integrated with private, public and government to be prepared to satisfy our customers, “U Ye Tun Oo said. 

The  Ministry of Hotel and Tourism said that from January to end July a total of 2,019,749 tourists visited the country, a 22pc increase from the same period last year.

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Top 25 Asian beaches poll released – three in Phuket, six in Thailand

                             Thailand has won kudos from travellers, with two beaches in the top 10 in the latest “Top 25 Beaches in Asia” survey. The survey is based on comments from Trip Advisor’s 300 million users – or at least those who visited a beach in Asia and took the time to leave a comment.

The top three beaches are Agonda Beach in India at number one, with White Beach in Boracay and Ngapali Beach in Myanmar filling out the podium spots.

Fourth place goes to Radhanahar Beach on Havelock Island in the Nicobar Islands, while fifth is the first of two Thai beaches in the top 10 – PhraNang Cave Beach in Ao Nang, Krabi.

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AO Nang

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 Benton Beach in Sri Lanka is next, with Phuket’s southern Nai Harn Beach in seventh place.

Nacpan Beach in El Nido, Philippines, Nusa Dua Beach in Bali, Indonesia and Veligandu Island Beach in The Maldives fill out the top 10 attractions.

Three other Thai beaches follow in 11th, 12th and 13th spots – Karon Beach, Phuket, Thong Nai Pan Noi on Koh Phangan and Kata Noi Beach, Phuket – giving Thailand a respectable five positions in the popular vote of Trip Advisor users.

The list includes a list of all the available hotels, along with recommendations for the best time of the year to visit. 

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Source - TheNation

#Vietnam - On cloud nine in the Tà Xùa mountains

Tà Xùa, a high mountain range locating in the natural border between northern provinces of Sơn La and Yên Bái, has been known as "Paradise in the Clouds", which hosts forests of ancient Shan Tuyết tea trees, some several hundred years old. 

The range consists of three peaks - according to the map by the People’s Army, the highest peak is 2,879m, the second is 2800, the lowest named Dinosaur Backbone is 2,582m.

Photographers and backpackers who’ve been to Tà Xùa always talk about hunting moving clouds on the dangerous routes.

The mountains covered with clouds create a mysterious beauty, which is more alluring when viewed from Sống Khủng Long (Dinosaur’s Backbone), which located in Bắc Yên District of Sơn La Province.

The Dinosaur’s Backbone, seems to lie in the middle of the sky.

The path to its peak is dangerous. In some places, there is only one small path with deep abysses on both sides.

When stepping on that path, strong winds can shake travelers’ bodies, forcing them to double over or be blown off.

A sign erected on the top of the peak says: “Tà Xùa Paradise of Clouds” - an official acknowledgement of the nickname.

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   People talk a lot about the beauty of the clouds. If lucky, tourists will see a sea of clouds nestled below them in the centre of the huge mountain range. They often come in all shapes and colours. It’s a fairy land.

Yet getting to this heaven is not simple. We reached Tà Xùa on a rainy day. The zig-zag roads were steep, muddy and covered with humid grey clouds.

Phạm Vũ Khánh, a low-land man, who has settled down in the locality for dozens of years, received us.

He said many people climbed up to Tà Xùa, but few were lucky enough to see the legendary "cloud land" appear.

He wished us good luck. That night, Khánh invited us to have Tuyết Shan tea, Hang Chú rice wine and some dishes made from a local species of black pig.

We enjoyed the local delicacies, which kept us warm, but worried a lot because it was raining cats and dogs. 

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   Most of us went to sleep wondering if we would be able to see the magic clouds in the morning.

Before dawn next day, we were awakened. Khánh urged us to get in a car to the Dinosaur Backbone peak without delay.

Because he has lived there for a long time, he senses when and where beautiful clouds will appear. It seems to depend on the seasons and time of day.

It was still raining, but much less than before. Khánh was correct. White clouds were flying up from the valleys. We had to reach Dinosaur Backbone as soon as possible to catch the beautiful images.

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Lake of clouds: Standing on top of Dinosaur Backbone Peak, one can see terraced fields and a valley filled with clouds. VNS Photo Trần Mai Hưởng

Three kilometres from the peak, our car could go no further as there was a landslide. We all continued by catching motorbike taxis servicing the remote area. My driver was fairly agile. He was only 16.

The last trek was only 2km, but extremely hard. From a distance, the path curving along the side of the mountain looked fairly romantic, but we slipped and fell when we took our first steps.

We had to overcome high slippery slopes in the rain. We pushed forward, pressing down with our toes on the path as there was nothing to hold on. We were lucky to reach Dinosaur Backbone peak together with many other young people hunting for clouds.

Then the sun started to shine. From the furthest edge of Dinosaur Backbone, we could see clouds hanging here and there.

The feeling of travelling on top of clouds, above the clouds, flying between land and sky was so special.

We took great photos of clouds of unforgettable scenes before it rained again.

Everything was then submerged in a huge grey blanket of fog. We returned to the small path with abysses on both sides.

The wind blew strong as if it would lift us off. What an experience!

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Domestic and foreign tourists are seen at Pink Beach in Komodo National Park in West Manggarai

Tips for a beginner’s solo trip to Flores

Traveling solo to an unknown destination might sound like a terrifying idea. But there are advantages to taking a trip on your own.

First of all, as pointed out by lifehack.org, it is a great way to discover your true self, as being alone out there on the road will require you to make decisions, overcome fears and rely on yourself. There will be experiences that test your ability to overcome obstacles, challenge you and help you grow as an individual. Don’t forget, all these challenges and chances to grow come with the beauty of a new place you have never been to. Feel like packing your bag now?

Choosing a destination for your solo adventure is at once exciting and thrilling. Especially if it’s a place you’ve never been to. And if you’re looking for a beautiful destination with a healthy dose of challenge in one place, Flores is the answer. You will meet the natives with their distinctive culture, and some of them will probably offer to take you to the hidden gems in the area. Not to mention you will also meet fellow travelers who may end up becoming your new friends.

Here are a few tips to get you ready for the adventure as compiled by tempo.co:

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Take a flight to Ende from Denpasar if you are planning an overland journey. Bear in mind that upon landing, the locals will be rather pushy about offering their transportation services .

Typically, the next destination after Ende airport is Moni village, from where you can depart to the iconic Kelimutu lake for a spectacular sunrise. Another must-visit area is the town of Bajawa, famous for its cultural festivals, picturesque nature and natural hot springs. Consider also visiting Bena traditional village, spiderweb rice field, and trekking to Wae Rebo to see the authentic traditional houses where you can spend a night or two.

Meanwhile, if you are into island hopping around Komodo, choose a flight to Labuan Bajo from Denpasar. Living on board is a great option that will enable you to hop on and hop off the islands and beaches. Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Manta Point, Gili Laba, Kanawa Island and Padar Island make excellent places to include in your itinerary.

Source - TheJakartaPost