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“Privilege Card” soon on sale
The first set of Thailand’s ‘privilege card’ for
affluent tourists will be in service domestically on 15 September, with an
overseas launch of the card in major cities to be followed soon.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has agreed with the
‘privilege card’ project approved by the cabinet, said Tourist Authority
of Thailand (TAT) Governor Juthamas Siriwan, adding that a company owned by
the TAT, named Thailand Privilege Card Company, would run the project.
The card called “Thailand Elite” ensures that card
holders will be treated as the country’s special guests. The project will
also be launched in overseas markets, promoted mainly through advertisements
in magazines. Targeted cities in which the project will be launched include
New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo.
“The privileges will include special discounts on local
golf course membership, medical treatments, hotel room rates and others,”
Juthamas said. “Sixty-two hotels, 26 spas, 14 hospitals and world-class
golf courses have confirmed their willingness to participate in the
project,” she added. (TNA)
Lufthansa introduces medically based relaxation program on board
How can you relieve pressure in your ears when an
aircraft is descending to land? And how can you adjust your body clock to
time changes? From 1 September, Lufthansa will be providing answers to many
questions like these in its in-flight entertainment program.
The new relaxation channel in German and English combines
techniques that can be applied immediately with well-sourced background
information.
Dr. Lutz Bergau, who for many years headed Lufthansa’s
Medical Service, discusses a number of topics, such as the specific pressure
conditions on an aircraft. Passengers will find that the simple breathing
and keep-fit exercises will enhance their flight experience. The exercises
are also demonstrated on the Lufthansa Flyrobic video or the current
in-flight entertainment program and further health tips can be viewed at
www.lufthansa.com
TAT dives into the US
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will be leading a
delegation of Thai dive operators to the DEMA Show, being held in Miami in
the first week of October.
The dive delegation will be accommodated on the
400-square-meter Thailand Country Pavilion. In all there are 14,280 dive and
travel industry professionals representing 721 professional organizations
from around the world participating in this year’s show.
A TAT spokesman said Thailand, with more than 2,700km of
coastline, is now seen as one of the world’s leading dive destinations.
TAT deputy governor for international marketing, Phornsiri Manoharn, said,
“International awareness of the quality and diversity of dive products and
services and marine ecotourism opportunities in Thailand is high. What we
have to do now is convert more of that awareness into holidays.” (TTG
Asia)
Mercure to mushroom in Thailand
ACCOR will open a brand new Mercure hotel in Pattaya one
year from now as the opening move to establish the brand throughout Thailand
and meet rapidly growing demand for three-star accommodation.
The 253-room Mercure Pattaya is located in central
Pattaya about 300 meters inland from the beach on Pattaya Third Road. Accor
Asia-Pacific managing director, Michael Issenberg, told TTG Asia the Mercure
Pattaya was just the first of a large number of Mercures that Accor was
planning to open throughout Thailand in the near future. (TTG Asia)
Guide profession to be reserved for Thais
Labor Minister Suwat Liptapanlop sought to allay the
fears of Thai tour guides that their profession could be opened up to a
flood of foreign nationals. Speaking on August 28 in response to protests by
tour guides incensed by new regulations which they alleged would leave up to
30,000 Thai tour guides out of work, Suwat said that the tour guide
profession would continue to be closed to foreign nationals.
While conceding that the Cabinet had approved new
regulations allowing companies to hire foreign nationals in the tourist
business, in accordance with suggestions made by the Ministry of Tourism and
Sport to attract more foreign investment into the Thai tourism industry,
Suwat stressed that the Ministry of Labor had imposed several conditions on
the new rules.
Any tourism company wishing to hire a foreign national
will have to possess 2 million baht in registered capital to hire just one
person and the new regulations also prohibited companies from hiring more
than 10 foreigners. In addition, companies will have to bring 5,000 tourists
to Thailand each year to be eligible to hire foreigners. Requests by
companies to hire foreign nationals will be considered on a case-by-case
basis. (TNA)
South African Airways to suspend Bangkok-Johannesburg link
South African Airways is planning to
suspend its thrice weekly Bangkok-Johannesburg service from November 1 until
January 31, and may drop the service altogether.
A spokesman in Bangkok said nothing had been confirmed
but the carrier’s 18 staff had been told the SAA system would not accept
bookings from November 1 onwards. “We’re hoping the service will be
re-instated sometime next year, but we aren’t certain just at the
moment,” the spokesman said, claiming high operating costs, not bookings,
were the problem. (TTG Asia)
Air New Zealand Holidays launch
Air New Zealand (ANZ) Holidays, a
travel planning guide to vacations in New Zealand and the South Pacific
Islands, will made its first appearance September 1 in Singapore, Malaysia,
Thailand, Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka at Air New Zealand Travelcenters
and travel agencies specializing in selling the region.
The travel planner incorporates preferential airfares for
travel to 10 top domestic destinations in New Zealand, tour packages, as
well as fly/drive/stay packages, and accommodation options from luxury
lodges to campervans and bed and breakfast establishments.
It also offers discounted airfares from Auckland to Nadi
(Fiji), Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and Papeete (Tahiti). Air New Zealand
Holidays niche segments include Great Golfing Getaways, Wonderful Wine
Getaways, plus Sensational Spa Gateways and Sizzling Ski Getaways. More
details will be online at www.airnew zealand.com/holidays from October 1.
Dragonair launches flights to Bangkok in November
Dragonair will start its twice-daily
scheduled flights to Bangkok in November, according to the airline’s chief
executive Stanley Hui, adding the service will be important in taking
tourists from China to Thailand.
The first flights will be using the 150-seat Airbus 320
aircraft, which will be replaced next year by the 300-seat A330. Dragonair
also has rights from Hong Kong to fly to Manila, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. (TTG
Asia)
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