#Thailand's International Balloon Festival returns

                             This year marks the 10th anniversary of Thailand’s first and only International Balloon Festival, which will be held March 2-4 at the Cowboy Army Riding Club, Chiang Mai.

Visitors can expect the spectacular sight of colourful hot air balloons gracefully drifting through the air, and the festival’s signature balloons night glow that will decorate the sky at night.

This year will be the first time ever in the world that “The Sparkling Glow” of the balloon nightglow has been created by Sornchat Krainara, the Festival’s Owner, and composer, Bringkop Vora-Urai. The night glow will be synchronised with specially composed music performed by the Lanna Orchestra. The music combines The Tiger Drum and Opera, and has never been performed anywhere before.

Famous German Opera singer, Thomas Kiessling, will be joining popular Thai singer Pe’ Kamonporn in performing La Vie En Rose in a duet battle of the stars! The highlight of the evening is a fantastic performance of the Tiger Drum group. Another combination of East and West performances will be ‘SPLASH’, an event that fuses Flamenco and Lanna Contemporary Dance. These two dance styles will come together in a wild array of colours and movement that will truly ‘splash out’.

There will be plenty more special attractions, activities for the whole family and delicious food from Chiang Mai’s top hotels and restaurants. One of the special guests will be Thai celebrity chef Som Chanakarn, who will be putting on quite a display. For those who love coffee, there will also be a coffee carnival showcasing some of the best coffees that Thailand has on offer.

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Other events include art exhibitions and workshops from many artists, a Thai fashion extravaganza and jewellery shows from well-known Thai designers.

Kent Gregory, founder of Sop Mei Arts will proudly present his work undertaken in collaboration with Anna Ferrari, a former Ikea Interior Designer.

The Thailand International Balloon Festival this year will continue to include Chiang Mai’s diverse international community in the International Heritage section with booths from India, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Germany and many other countries featuring performances, special activities, food and more.

Single-day tickets are 300 Baht for adults, 100 Baht for children aged 7-12 years, and free of charge for kids under 7 years of age. Buy tickets online at Eventbrite. Once registered online, visitors won’t need a paper ticket. The event this year is going fully digital, reducing its carbon footprint, and encouraging vendors and visitors to avoid using plastic and straws.

Source - TheNation

#Thailand - TAT official denies boat ban at Phi Phi’s Maya Bay as parks grapple with environmental toll

                             A PROPOSAL to close Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley to boats to limit damage to the beach was just an idea that was still being considered, the head of Krabi’s tourism office said yesterday.

Apichai Aranyig, director of the Krabi office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), denied reports in international media that said the once-pristine Thai bay, which became a tourist magnet after the 2000 movie “The Beach”, would be closed to boats for several months this year to prevent further damage to coral.

Hordes of tourists flock daily to Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley to take selfies and relax in front of the famed limestone cliffs and blue waters, leading to complaints of environmental damage.

Apichai said there were several proposals to protect the beach being discussed by an advisory committee of Hat Noppharat Thara Beach and Phi Phi Islands National Park. The measures include closing the beach to boats, allowing boats to drop tourists off at the beach and pick them up later, and requiring boats to moor at a designated area, from which a trail would be constructed to the beach.

“We won’t close the island or the beach. We just try to find a solution to allow the beach to regain its natural beauty,” he said. 

“Currently, boats occupy 70 per cent of the beach area, leaving only a small area for recreation. So it is necessary to prevent the ruin of the tourism area,” said Apichai, who declined to disclose the number of tourists and boats that visited the beach each day. 

The committee had not yet made a decision, he said. 

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 His response came after AFP reported on Wednesday that Worapoj Lomlim, an official with the Phi Phi islands National Parks, had told the agency that the picture-postcard beach would be closed to boats from June to September this year.

“For around 20 years the bay has welcomed boats to moor in front of the beach ... but their engines have damaged coral reefs and caused problems with the sand,” said Worapoj. 

“Overcrowded tourist boats have also blocked the view,” he added, saying tourists would still be able to reach the beach by foot from an adjacent bay where boats could park.

Apichai will today meet Worapoj, who is responsible for the measures, to discuss the matter.

The plan is the latest effort to mitigate damage caused by tourism, a major revenue-earner for the Thai economy with more than 35 million visitors coming to the country last year.

Environmental experts and officials are worried that mass tourism is causing irreversible damage to idyllic beaches, with litter and unchecked development disrupting local ecosystems.

Smoking has been banned on 20 of the country’s most famous beaches since the start of high season, with hefty fines or even jail for smokers who violate the law.

Source - TheNation