Thai Airways ready to carry foreign tourists

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is ready to arrange special direct charter flights from six countries and territories to Phuket under the government’s plan to revive the subdued tourism sector, said THAI acting president Chansin Treenuchagron on August 27.

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is ready to arrange special direct charter flights from six countries and territories to Phuket under the government’s plan to revive the subdued tourism sector, said THAI acting president Chansin Treenuchagron on August 27.

The six countries and territories are Denmark, Germany, the UK, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan and Hong Kong (China).

The airline can make two flights per month on each of these routes, Chansin said.

THAI is expected to begin these special flights in late November. The airline will even increase the flights on these routes if it sees rising demand, he said.

It is also expected to make special charter flights from China to Phuket.

Chansin said THAI has attached the utmost importance to the security and health of passengers on all these routes.

Tourism businesses have asked the government to open the country to some groups of foreigners to help boost the struggling sector, which is suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on August 26 that he was in talks with state agencies on how to open the country to foreign tourists once the pandemic situation improves./.

Source - PattayaNews
 

Lufthansa to resume some European services in June

German airline giant Lufthansa said Friday it will fly twice as many aircraft in June as in recent weeks and return to some European destinations, but the flight plan remains a shadow of pre-coronavirus operations.

Spots beloved of holidaymakers like Spanish island Mallorca, Crete and German North Sea retreat Sylt will return to the timetable, with 160 aircraft aloft bearing Lufthansa's crane or the logos of subsidiaries Swiss and Eurowings.
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More details of the 106 planned destinations will be published next week, Lufthansa said.

Source - TheJakartPost

THAI resumes flights to Europe via China airspace

THAI AIRWAYS International (THAI) yesterday resumed its flights from Bangkok to Europe after cancelling some the previous day due to Pakistan’s closure of its airspace. 

The national carrier also plans to provide special flights to some select countries in Europe in order to |help passengers get to their destinations.

Around 4,000 passengers were stranded as 16 flights arriving and 20 departing from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport were cancelled after tensions with India led Pakistan to close its airspace. 

Of the cancelled flights, 21 were of THAI, to and from Europe, and six to and from Pakistan. 

THAI usually flies over Pakistan’s airspace when going to or returning from Europe, but after the closure, the carrier had asked for authorisation to fly over China’s airspace, the airline said yesterday. 

Flight Lieutenant Pratana Patanasiri, THAI’s vice president for aviation safety, security and standards, said the national carrier has received permission from authorities to fly over China. However, he said, the permission was granted on a daily basis, so the airline needs to update the situation daily.

Also, he said, flying over China actually cuts the flying time down by 20 minutes. 

Meanwhile, a source from THAI said the national carrier has unofficially been given permission to provide special flights to substitute the flights to Frankfurt, London and Moscow that had been forced to return to Suvarnabhumi on Wednesday.

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 THAI is also seeking cooperation from its allied airlines to transfer passengers, and has asked for permission to arrange special flights to London, Paris and Frankfurt, from where passengers can easily head to other destinations. 

Thousands of passengers were stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday night, as they had not been given advance notice of the cancellations. Some only learned their flight had been cancelled when they showed up at the check-in counter. 

Officials were worried if it could be a PR disaster for THAI with passengers complaining about the lack of communication about the situation.

It will take about three days to clear Suvarnabhumi of stranded passengers, said Thera Buasri, director of the Airport Authority of Thailand’s Ground Service Control.

As for flights to Pakistan, THAI re-routed its TG507 and TG508 flights yesterday by flying directly to and from Muscat and not stopping over in Karachi. The Bangkok-Lahore-Bangkok flights on TG345 and TG346 yesterday were also cancelled.

In a related development, Auramon Supthaweethum, director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations, said talks on a Thailand-Pakistan free trade agreement (FTA) will not be affected by the India-Pakistan conflict.

The Kashmir border crisis between the two countries recently resulted in both countries claiming to have shot down each other’s jets and an Indian pilot being captured by Pakistan. India has since demanded the safe return of the pilot, AFP reported. 

Thailand has an FTA with India, and a pact with Pakistan has been in the pipeline since 2015. 

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 “Up to 99 per cent of the FTA chapters have already been negotiated, and we believe the pact will be concluded and enacted by the end of 2020,” Auramon said. 

She added that the FTA negotiations with Pakistan had been delayed due to its general elections, which took place in July. She also noted that negotiations between the two countries would resume this year as a video conference.

“The remaining issue that needs to be discussed is the level of market access in goods that both sides will offer,” she explained. 

Banjongjitt Angsusingh, director-general at the ministry’s Department of International Trade Promotion, said the impacts of the Kashmir conflict are still unclear, but if there were to be any negative impacts on Thai trade, they would only be for the short term. 

In 2018, the total value of trade between Thailand and Pakistan stood at Bt54.045 billion, growing by 2.77 per cent year on year. 

Of the total trade value, Thailand exports Bt47.411 billion and imports Bt6.634 billion worth of goods, giving the Kingdom a trade surplus of Bt40.776 billion, the Commerce Ministry said. 

Source - TheNation

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#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 10 destinations on the rise revealed

An Idyllic tropical lagoon full of clear turquoise water and perfect white sand beaches on Ishigaki island, Okinawa, Japan.

Travel planning and booking website TripAdvisor recently released its list of the world's top destinations on the rise based on its algorithm and comparisons to last year's data.

As reported by kompas.com, the top ten list is as follows:

Ishigaki, Japan

Kapaa, Hawaii, United States

Nairobi, Kenya

Halifax, Canada

Gdansk, Poland

San Jose, Costa Rica

Riga, Latvia

Rovinj, Croatia

Nerja, Spain

Number 10 we not promoted

Ishigaki, which tops the list, is particularly interesting since it beat out the world's popular tourist hot spot Hawaii. 

An island in Japan with a population of around 50,000 people, Ishigaki is actually known as the Hawaii of Japan because of its abundance of white sand beaches, crystal clear sea water, mangrove forests and breathtaking diving spots.

In 2016, this place was said to have welcomed up to 8.77 million tourists, an increase of 10.5 percent over the previous year. It is predicted to greet even more tourists this year.

Another interesting place on the list is Kenya's capital city, Nairobi. Many travelers are said to be very keen on visiting this destination, with one TripAdvisor user praising it as a modern city, full of spirit, blessed with fantastic wild nature but also home to glamorous nightlife.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Booking.com reveals most affordable months to travel

Saint Petersburg

Online reservation platform Booking.com has released a list of the cheapest months in which to travel, based on holiday seasons with the highest traffic in the northern and southern hemispheres. From Miami to Kyoto; Saint Petersburg to Auckland, each city in the world has an affordable period for traveling.  

Southern Hemisphere

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is the place to go when you want to immerse in nightlife and master the legendary samba dance. The seaside city is home to the iconic Copacabana Beach, breathtaking mountain views and the art deco statue of Jesus Christ, Christ the Redeemer.

The most expensive time to visit Rio de Janeiro is in January, so choose December to enjoy 24 percent lower prices.

Where to stay: The exclusive Windsor Marapendi is located in the lively Barra da Tijuca. Enjoy fruit cocktails and a beautiful ocean view. Visitors can also relax in the hotel spa and indulge in local and international cuisine in the hotel restaurants.

Melbourne, Australia

Visiting trendy Melbourne means a chance to meet the lovely locals, visit white sandy beaches and become engrossed in the city's stunning art scene.

There is also the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the stylish urban neighborhood of Southbank, where some of the city's best restaurants and bars can be found.

The most expensive time to visit Melbourne is in January, so it is advised to go there in February, when the prices are down 11 percent.

Where to stay: Bella Apartments in Southbank is where you can shop and dine as you please. You can choose a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment equipped with a complete kitchen and a living room with a view.

Auckland, New Zealand

This is the place to enjoy cultural fusions, gorgeous views and delectable cuisine. Visitors can go to inactive volcanic spots, natural beaches on the west coast or beautiful vineyards on Waiheke Island, a ferry ride away from Downtown Auckland.

The most expensive time to visit Auckland is in March, while in October, prices are down 15 percent.

Where to stay: The trendy CBD Viaduct Harbour allows you to enjoy amazing views with floor-to-ceiling windows. Just a few steps from the apartments, you can find the best bars, restaurants and shops in town. There are also exciting activities such as dolphin and whale watch tours and visits to the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, the iconic Sky Tower.

Kyoto, Japan

Japan is always a good pick if you want to get lost in traditional cultures. Meet geishas in their colorful traditional attire or visit the spiritual temples awash in the pink colors of the spring.

The most expensive time to visit Kyoto is in March, so consider heading there in June to save up to 41 percent on travel costs.

Where to stay: To fully immerse in the culture and history of the former capital, spend your holiday in a traditional ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). NAZUNA Kyoto Nijo-tei offers traditional décor and furniture, as well as Wi-Fi and television. Don’t forget to check out the beautiful gardens and try out the outdoor wooden bathtubs.

Miami Beach, United States

Famous as the United States' playground, this art deco paradise is filled with excitement, sand and sea. There is always the charm of drinking cocktails at the beach, the thrill of riding jet skis across the sea or the bliss of parties in the heart of the city.

The most expensive time to visit Miami is in January, while the prices are down 42 percent if you go in September.

Where to stay: The luxurious Redbury South Beach offers a posh swimming pool and dishes inspired by the Mediterranean. Shop your heart out at the nearby Lincoln Road Mall.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

For a chance to soak in the richness of Russia’s art and history, Saint Petersburg is the right place to start. Visitors can go to the Mariinsky Theatre for opera and ballet shows, or head to the State Russian Museum to see the largest depository of Russian fine art in the city.

The most expensive time to visit Saint Petersburg is in June, so plan for an April trip as the prices are 49 percent lower.

Where to stay: To fully experience the art and culture of Saint Petersburg, a stay at the unique Soul Kitchen Hostel is recommended. Situated right in the heart of the city, along the Moika River embankment, the building was built in the 19^th century. A short walk from the hostel takes you to Saint Isaac’s Cathedral and the Hermitage Museum. A plethora of cafés, restaurants and bars are also nearby.

Source - TheJakartaPost

Airbnb lists recommended travel destinations based on Chinese zodiac

According to Chinese beliefs, many aspects of people’s lives are determined by the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Hence, in this Lunar New Year, United States online home-rental service Airbnb has shared several travel destinations suggested for the 12 signs.

Those who fall under the rat sign (1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008) are recommended to visit South Korea, Canada (https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/5636845), Russia and China.

Meanwhile, those born in the Year of the Ox (1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009) may consider traveling to Taiwan, Japan, Australia or Bali, where you can ride the waves on Legian Beach by signing up for a surf lesson by Bang through an Airbnb Experience.

Spain is among destinations suggested for people born under the tiger sign, especially because you can stay in a cave with a garden facing the historical Alhambra in Grenada. Other countries that are recommended for you to visit are South Africa, France and Italy.

If you are born in the Year of the Rabbit (1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011) it is recommended to travel to Australia, Turkey or India, where you can learn how to dance Bollywood style with choreographer Gilles.

People with the mythical dragon as their sign, which includes 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988 and 2000, are advised to go to Russia, Thailand, Poland or Denmark.

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Among the recommended destinations for people born under the snake sign, those born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001, are China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brazil, where you have the chance to discover Rio de Janeiro from the sea and visit famous Brazilian landmarks, such as Copacabana and the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Those born under the horse sign (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002) are suggested to explore the United States, India, Italy, Mexico or Bhutan.

Aside from being an auspicious destination for the ox sign, Australia also suits people born under the goat sign (1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 and 2003).  Savor the flavors of native Australian foods with a professional chef. Other countries that may bring prosperity to your sign are Singapore, Indonesia and Greece.

People who born in 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 and 2004 or under monkey sign should travel to Mongolia, Malaysia, Canada or the US and stay in a treehouse.

For roosters (1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005), fly to South Korea, Taiwan, Romania and Japan as they can learn calligraphy in the historical Zojoji Temple in Tokyo.

Those who are born in the Year of the Dog (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006) are recommended to take a trip to US where they can stay in a giant Beagle Bed and Breakfast in Idaho. They are also suggested to travel to Australia and Malaysia.

Last, those who fall under the pig sign (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 and 2007) are advised to go on a trip to Canada, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, where they can try sandboarding.

Airbnb has also shared the top city destinations for Chinese New Year 2018. The first rank is given to Bandung in West Java, while Denpasar in Bali is tied in second position. Jakarta is in third place, followed by Yogyakarta and Kuta in fourth and fifth positions, respectively. 

Source - TheJakartaPost