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Skål International Bangkok
reiterates goals for 2009 at AGM
The Skål Intl Bangkok Executive Team (L-R)
Samir Wildemann, Somsak Kiratipanich, Doris Gerecht, general manager of
the Montien Hotel, Skål Bkk President Andrew Wood, Brinley Waddell,
Scott Smith, Robert Lee, and Malai Sakolviphak.
Andrew J Wood
President-Skål Int’l Bangkok
The Annual General Meeting of Skål International Bangkok was recently
held at the Montien Hotel, Bangkok. During the meeting President Andrew
Wood outlined the past 12 months’ activity and reported on the club’s
future plans. President Andrew also thanked everyone for their help in
arranging the presentation of the Skål Membre D’Honneur received on
behalf of Bessie Samargachan for her lifetime devotion to Skål
International.
The club, which was founded in 1956, is one of the most active in the
region and President Andrew Wood reported a 39% increase in Y-O-Y
membership. He thanked all the members for their continued support for
the club and he promised that the executive committee would work even
harder for them in 2009.
He also commented on his commitment to ensure that Skål Intl remains
relevant to today’s tourism industry and through its industry
connections at all levels, Skål Intl Bangkok will continue to formulate
plans and activities that will help unite Thailand’s travel and tourism
industry for its Skål members at local, regional and international
levels.
Grand Sales to become grander
Watchiranont Thongtep, TTG Asia
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to push the
Amazing Thailand Grand Sales 2009 from a local campaign to a global one
to draw tourists for the next high season.
TAT deputy governor for tourism merchandise, Akkapol Prueksawan, said
TAT had set aside 60 million baht for the promotion and planned to kick
it off in ITB Berlin in March.
Akkapol added hotels, shopping centers, theme parks, airlines, tour
agents and restaurants nationwide would offer a 50 percent discount in
this campaign. TAT has also joined Visa International to promote to Visa
card members.
He said now is the right time, amid the global recession, to draw
tourists and achieve the tourism target through pricing strategies.
However, there are some concerns from the travel trade. Imperial Queens’
Park Hotel corporate director of sales and marketing, Somkiat Kantawat,
said this sales promotion might affect price negotiations with overseas
tour agents for the coming winter agreement contract.
Meanwhile, TAT has lowered its targets for this year to 14.8 million
visitors and 531 billion baht.
SGA Airlines announces it is ready to launch the first air shuttle services between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son Air
SGA Airlines is proclaiming its readiness to launch, for the first time in
Thailand, air shuttle services between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.
“Air shuttle service is about high flight frequencies that can be as high as
every 30 minutes or 1 hour depending on the market demand. Air shuttle services
are very common in many developed countries as well as developing ones such as
between Singapore - Kuala Lumpur,” said Dr. Jain Charnnarong, president of SGA
Airlines.
“Chosen aircraft size with multiple units matches the market demand creating
conveniences for the passengers who can now choose to fly any time of the day.
Such high frequencies cannot be accomplished with larger aircraft.”
SGA has been pioneering commuter airlines for more than 8 years. In addition,
the airline has offered flight services in the Northern Region between Chiang
Mai - Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai - Pai for more than 2 years. SGA maintains a
small but highly competitive staff, with pilots, engineers, ground service staff
and management under ISO9001:2000 quality standard. Its maintenance department
was also appointed an “Authorized Service Facility” by Cessna Aircraft Company
for Thailand and South East Asia.
“We use uncompromised approaches for operational efficiency and safety,” Dr.
Jain added.
Approved budget
gets prompt allocation
Watchiranont Thongtep, TTG Asia
Thai tourism minister, Chumpol Silpa-archa, has unveiled a 2 billion
baht ad hoc tourism budget approved by the cabinet January 13.
The minister said 1 billion baht out of the budget would be set aside for
marketing and development.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will receive around 450 million baht marketing
budget to rebound tourist numbers, particularly regional markets such as China,
India and the Middle East, in next two months.
Meanwhile, the Office of Tourism Development will receive 550 million baht to
improve tourist sites and infrastructure this year.
Another 1 billion baht will be used for soft loans reserved for both government
and commercial banks to assist small-and medium-sized travel operators
nationwide affected by the global recession and the closure of the gateway
airports last year.
The minister will also summit a proposal of urgent measures for the cabinet’s
approval. The measures include waiving the visa fee for all nations for six
months, reducing company tax for hotels for one year, and waiving entrance fee
for national parks for three years.
Another measure seeks to urge the Airports of Thailand to reduce airport taxes
as well as landing and parking fees, to attract international airlines back to
the kingdom.
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