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World’s first online medical tourism concierge launched
Karen Yue, TTG Asia
Global medical travelers seeking treatments and lifestyle
services in Singapore and Thailand for their accompanying family can now
turn to the world’s first online medical tourism concierge network,
hosted by Fly Free For Health (FFFH), a medical tourism portal that was
established mid last year.
Medical travelers can log in at www.flyfreeforhealth.com to obtain
information from a team of medical butlers, who are registered nurses
specially trained to provide concierge skills by Singapore-based Medical
Tourism Academy, an affiliate company of FFFH. The medical butlers will
also connect medical travelers to renowned doctors for pre-selection
interaction.
FFFH founder Dr Wei Siang Yu said the medical concierge network is an
unprecedented solution in the global medical tourism landscape. “Medical
travelers need an unbiased platform and ease of communication with the
health service providers. Currently, a marketing agent for the hospitals
may only represent two to three hospitals, which means a limited choice
for medical travelers.
“FFFH, however, works through a network of renowned, qualified doctors
instead of hospitals, thus offering medical travelers a wider choice.
FFFH’s medical tourism concierge network will completely revolutionize
the way medical tourism is managed.”
Dr Wei added the introduction of the medical concierge network was
timely as the US slipped further into recession and its cash-strapped
citizens turned to more affordable medical treatments in Asia.
The concierge network was launched on February 24 in partnership with
medical service providers in Singapore and Thailand and Singapore-based
travel agent CTC Holidays, with the support of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand which has set its eyes on the medical tourism segment.
CTC will provide support with its expertise in coordinating air travel,
accommodation, leisure and entertainment programs in Singapore and
Thailand.
FFFH will be exploring expansion into India and South Korea in the near
future to provide global medical travelers a wider choice of medical
services and doctors.
Thailand throws out temporary visa fee exemption
The government has agreed to exempt the fee for tourist visa
applications for a three-month period from March 5 to June 4, in a
continued effort to expedite the revival of the country’s tourism
industry.
Within this temporary period, citizens of 20 countries including
Chinese, Russians, Indians and Taiwanese, who are required to apply for
visa at Thai embassies overseas or pay 1,000 baht (US$28) for a
visa-on-arrival, will be exempted the visa fee for a stay of not
exceeding 15 days.
Only citizens of another 42 countries including the UK, US, Australia,
Germany, Japan and South Korea are allowed a visa-free stay in Thailand
not more than 30 days.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is seen as personally spearheading
efforts to revive the tourism industry and boost the country’s
competitive position to offset the impact of the global financial
crisis.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Phornsiri Manoharn said, “The
support we are getting from the highest levels of the Royal Thai
government is a clear indication that Thai travel and tourism is back to
business with excellent deals and marketing support for our friends in
the travel trade.” (TTG Asia)
THAI makes passengers happier with Thailand Plus and More
Sirima Eamtako, TTG Asia
Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced a new global campaign
called Thailand Plus and More.
The promotion, valid from March 1 to October 31, will offer THAI’s passengers
travelling on first and business classes or those purchasing a Royal Orchid
Holidays package on economy class, one free night’s accommodation at 100
selected hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh
Samui.
THAI’s passengers from Europe, Australia, New Zealand or North America will get
one roundtrip THAI domestic air ticket free.
The global campaign came on top of the Thai flag carrier’s recently launched
Thailand Double Happiness promotion, offering special air fares on its regional
routes for two adults or more travelling together to Thailand.
Valid until March 31 and at prices from US$130 up to US$300 per person on
economy class, passengers travelling in pairs or more can choose to “double
their happiness” with a continued trip from Bangkok to one of 11 Thai
destinations, including Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui.
THAI’s executive vice-president for commercial, Pandit Chanapai, said the
promotions had resulted in the carrier achieving load factor of 75 percent in
January on international routes and 85 percent on domestic routes, exceeding the
targets.
SIA in India deadlock
Sim Kok Chwee, TTG Asia
AS the boycott of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir by Indian travel
agents nears the end of its second month, any hopes the Singapore carriers will
relent appear to be fading.
SIA vice-president public affairs, Stephen Forshaw, confirmed it was steadfast
in not returning to the commission-based environment.
“Since the boycott started, our online booking volume has more than doubled and
is growing week by week.”
The six travel agent associations behind this action had targeted SIA as it is
one of the largest foreign airlines operating in India, and were confident if it
could be forced to return to a commission-based landscape, the rest of the dozen
airlines that had implemented zero commission would fall like dominoes and
buckle.
Bangkok Airways holds anointment ceremony for new aircraft
Bangkok Airways recently held aircraft anointment ceremony, a Buddhism religious
rite performed as a blessing to new vessels for the latest five aircraft - four
Airbus 319s and one ATR72 - delivered to the fleet.
 Somdej
Phra Buddhacharn blesses a new Bangkok Airways’ jet.
The ceremony was presided over by Somdej Phra Buddhacharn Abbot of Wat Saket
Rajavoramahavihara, Executive Committee of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch
Member of Sangha Supreme Council; and attended by the airline’s president, Capt.
Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, at the Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Inclusive of this five new aircraft, Bangkok Airways’ fleet currently consists
of nine ATR72s, two Boeing717s, three Airbus320s, and six Airbus319s.
Gateway airports will not be closed again, assures PM
Sirima Eamtako and Watchiranont Thongtep, TTG Asia
Thailand is in an aggressive mode to win back foreign tourists with the
country’s latest tourism marketing activity receiving a backup from Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and all in the public and private sectors related to
tourism.
At the opening ceremony of the Amazing Thailand Amazing Value mega-fam trip last
week, Abhisit said, “It is the government’s top priority (to ensure) Thailand
remains a friendly and welcoming country, where the safety, security and
wellbeing of international visitors are paramount - be they leisure travelers or
investors.”
He added, “I wish to ensure you there will never be a repeat of the closure of
our main gateway airports. The Cabinet has approved laws to protect our major
airports from any future disruptions.”
Abhisit delivered his speech to about 450 overseas tour operators and media
participating in the mega-fam trip, which was co-hosted by Thai Airways
International and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
TAT governor, Phornsiri Manoharn, said the majority of participants were from
regional and medium haul markets - ASEAN, East Asia, South Asia and Russia and
the Commonwealth of Independent States - where the number of arrivals to
Thailand has declined.
Held from February 23 to 25, the mega-fam trip was centered around Thailand’s
reputation as a value-for-money destination by leveraging on special deals and
promotions offered this year by hotels, airlines, tour operators, travel agents
and related-tourism establishments throughout Thailand.
Critical for government
to act fast to win travel groups
Sirima Eamtako,
TTG Asia
The Thai travel trade is urging the government to move fast with plans to waive
visa fees for tourists, and allow transit passengers to leave Suvarnabhumi
airport without visas, in order to secure imminent business.
Association of Thai Travel Agents president, Apichart Sankary, said a host of
China-based operators was planning to schedule as many as 100 charter flights to
Thailand during the Songkran and Golden Week periods, in mid-April and
early-May, respectively. “If the government can announce soon when the
three-month visa fee-waiver period will take effect, (this will facilitate) the
signing of charter flight arrangements from China,” he said.
The Cabinet in January approved in principle the plan to waive visa fees for
tourists for three months, and in early February agreed in principle to allow
transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport to leave the airport for 12 hours
without visas to boost shopping in the city.
But at press time the implementation dates of both policies have yet to be set.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) board chairman, Weerasak Kowsurat, said he
was confident the implementation dates would be announced before the end of
February, and would cover the Songkran and Golden Week periods.
To-date, Chinese visitors, and 20 other nationals including Indians, Russians
and Taiwanese, are required to apply for visas at Thai embassies overseas or pay
1,000 baht (US$28.60) for a visa-on-arrival.
Thailand exempts tourist visas for 42 nationalities from countries such as the
UK, US, Australia, Germany, Japan and South Korea.
Quality Express managing director and Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance president,
Sidivachr Cheewarattananaporn said, “If the starting date is soon and the Thai
political issue eases up, I expect the country to receive one million Chinese
tourists. But if the political issue prolongs, Chinese arrivals will only total
around 800,000.”
His views come amid a sea change of yellow-shirt to red-shirt street protestors,
who have taken to the streets sporadically since early this year.
Unithai Travel president, Anake Srishe-vachart, agrees, saying Japanese tourists
too were concerned over safety and security. But he said the Japanese market
remained one of high potential as the Japanese still have spending power.
“This year, Japanese arrivals could amount to one million if there is no
political turmoil, but could drop by 50 percent if the country is deemed
unsafe,” he said.
TAT is projecting 14 million tourists this year.
Weerasak said TAT would be more aggressive in marketing to Oceania, the Middle
East, Scandinavia and India. He added the China market has been picking up
strongly due to promotions launched by TAT in the last few months.
(See related story: “Thailand throws out temporary visa fee exemption” on this
page)
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