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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Bangkok ranks best Asian city tourism destination

Thailand leads way in creation of regional conservation zones

Phuket moves to phase out jet-skis

Regent re-enters Bangkok

Lanta Island marked for special tourism zone

TAT upbeat over Phuket tourism prospects

Bangkok ranks best Asian city tourism destination

Bangkok and the northern capital of Chiang Mai have been ranked by a popular magazine, the Conde Nast Traveler, as the number one and four respectively best tourism destinations in Asia, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s office in Los Angeles.

The magazine has made a survey for the 17th consecutive year in its ‘Top 100 Best in the World 2004’ in which frequent travelers were asked about their favorite cities, resorts, islands, hotels and luxury liners.

In the category of favorite islands, Phuket and Samui were ranked second and fifth respectively out of the 10 most popular islands in Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Three Thai resorts, namely Amanpuri in Phuket, Four Seasons in Chiang Mai and Le Meridien in Phuket, were ranked 5th, 8th and 10th respectively, according to the survey by the up-market magazine.

Eight deluxe hotels in Bangkok were ranked among the top of 50 hotels in the region. The Peninsula Hotel was chosen as number one on the list. (TNA)


Thailand leads way in creation of regional conservation zones

Thailand is to stand at the forefront of region-wide developments to create conservation zones which cross national borders, a senior National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation recently revealed.

Speaking in Bangkok during the third IUCN World Conservation Congress, Schwann Tunhikorn, director of the Wildlife Conservation Office, said he had discussed with representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) a Thai proposal to create extensive regional conservation zones.

Noting that wildlife moved and migrated without respecting national boundaries, he said that the divergence in protection measures enforced in each ASEAN country was having an adverse impact on wildlife, particularly the larger animals such as elephants, rhinoceroses, and tigers.

Thailand has 46 conservation areas immediately adjacent to its borders with Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Malaysia. Schawann said that the ASEAN countries now aim to create a region-wide forest conservation area to maintain biodiversity. (TNA)


Phuket moves to phase out jet-skis

Phuket is making a serious attempt to rid the island of jet-skis following several accidents to tourists and the deaths of two Europeans, including a 12-year-old German boy.

Phuket Marine Department director, Surin Teerakulpisuth, recently revealed the policy of the new governor was to phase out jet-skis altogether within seven years. He said no new licenses have been granted since March 1 and several people have been arrested for illegally operating unregistered jet-skis.

“There are 219 jet-skis operating on four beaches on the island, Patong, Kata, Karon and Bang Thao. The license for about 70 of them expires next year and the longest license expires in seven years time,” Surin said. He added there had been objections from jet-ski owners and operators who said the ban would deprive them of their ability to earn a living and support their families. “The governor is sympathetic to their problems but he believes his policy is right and in the best interests of safety for visitors and also for locals when they go swimming.” Surin said. (TTG Asia)


Regent re-enters Bangkok

The Regent name is making a comeback in Bangkok. Carlson Hotels Asia-Pacific and Grand Asset Public Co. Ltd. have signed an agreement for a new Regent on Sukhumvit Road to open in late 2006/early 2007. The Regent name disappeared from Bangkok when the hotel was re-branded the current Four Seasons.

Carlson Hotels Asia-Pacific chief, Paul Kirwin, said, “One of our principal strategies is to revive the growth of the Regent brand. This is the fourth we’ve signed this year, and I feel good about the progress. We’re excited to bring it back to Bangkok and to work with a strong and experienced development company such as Grand Asset.”

The hotel will have 327 rooms. There are additional 300 condominium units under the Regent Residences brand. (TTG Asia)


Lanta Island marked for special tourism zone

Thailand’s popular southern resort island Lanta, off Krabi Province, is to be turned into a special zone for sustainable tourism, according to Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop.

Suwat, who recently traveled to Krabi to survey development work in the province, said the government will accelerate the search for sustainable tourism programs for the island and its environs. However, he warned that nearby tourist destinations, particularly Koh Phi Phi and the Phranang Bay, still lack clear and workable wastewater management practices. The government would therefore provide 37 million baht for local environmental work, he said.

The deputy prime minister also said that the government would meet half the costs of a 600 million baht project to provide electricity for Koh Phi Phi, with the Provincial Electricity Authority funding the remainder of the project. He added that the government is also funding a 400 million baht project to construct a four-lane highway linking Krabi and Phang-nga provinces. (TNA)


TAT upbeat over Phuket tourism prospects

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident of meeting its tourism target figures for the southern resort island of Phuket this year, despite concerns over the security situation in the southern border region.

According to figures from the TAT’s 4th regional office, over three million tourists visited Phuket over the first nine months of this year, and forecasts are looking good for the final trimester, traditionally the Phuket high season.

Suwalai Pinpradap, director of the TAT’s 4th regional office, said that visitor numbers from Asia were noticeably up, with arrivals from South Korea up 100 percent from last year’s figures. She attributed this to the success of TAT road shows, including one in Seoul. At the same time, she said that Australians were making more repeat visits to the island. (TNA)