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His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn pilots Buddhist pilgrimage flight to Gaya, India, for merit making

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn goes through
pre-flight preparations before takeoff.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajarakitiyabha, and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti attend Buddhist ceremonies in Bodhgaya, India.

Thai Airways Corporate Communications

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) recently organized a Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight to Gaya, Republic of India for merit making. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn graciously piloted this special Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight, departing Bangkok for Gaya on November 13, and attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajarakitiyabha, and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti.

Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI president, said that in the spirit of THAI’s 50th anniversary, this flight carried the honorable participants to Bodhgaya, India, where Buddha attained enlightenment, and is considered to be the spiritual center for Buddhists worldwide.

THAI invited government ministers, businesses, government entities, and state enterprises to join in this Buddhist pilgrimage flight, with a total of 100 seats available for a kind contribution of up to 500,000 baht per seat. The entire net proceeds received from this Buddhist pilgrimage flight will be presented to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and will go towards His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Scholarship Foundation and to His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti’s Fund for Disaster Victims.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Scholarship Foundation, set up in 2009, was established to create scholarship opportunities for young Thai students with financial hardship but who attained exceptional academic performance in school and exhibited determination in learning, good behavior and morals. Qualifying students will be granted scholarships for study in high school, undergraduate university education to earn a Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent, and through to the highest level of post-graduate study. Students who are awarded this scholarship are considered the future of Thai society, whereby there is no commitment to pay back the equivalent value of scholarship through service. Two students (one of each gender) from each province who fit the criteria will be selected. The first academic class in 2009 has 152 scholarship recipients, while the total currently throughout Thailand is at 300.

Proceeds from the Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight also will go towards His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti’s Fund for Disaster Victims, a fund established by decree of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, to assist those who face extreme hardship as a result of natural disasters. In the past, His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti’s Fund for Disaster Victims provided medical equipment to various hospitals located on the border of Southern Thailand. As well, the fund has granted scholarships to train more nurses, whereby these nurses return to the border area of Southern Thailand to develop and improve the livelihoods of the local Thai people.

Those who contributed to this Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight took part in a significant merit making, whereby all Thais nationwide may be provided the opportunity to study medicine, public health, religion, and athletics. In addition, Thais who are affected by natural disasters will receive necessary assistance from the graciousness of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and members of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Thailand.


Nong Nooch elephants celebrate Loy Krathong a day early

Elephants and staff at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden celebrated
Loy Krathong a day early this year.

Patcharapol Panrak

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden celebrated Loy Krathong a day early with 12 elephants leading a parade at the Najomtien tourist attraction’s lakefront.

Sattahip District Chief Chaichan Iamcharoen, Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya Director Niti Kongkrut, Najomtinen Sub-district President Sornchai Thongyangyouen and Nong Nooch officials attended the Nov. 20 event, as did many tourists.

The elephants, ages 3-13, highlighted this year’s “Charm of the River” festival, which honors the river goddess of Loy Krathong. Niti said the events timing a day before area municipalities hold their own Loy Krathong events ensured the park’s festival will be a success.

Chaichan said Nong Nooch’s resident elephants are always a popular draw with tourists and tour groups.


TAT looks to Indonesia to fuel Pattaya tourist growth

Travel agents from 10 Indonesian agencies visit a TAT sponsored travel fair at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is looking to Indonesia as its next big tourist market for Pattaya.

TAT’s Pattaya office hosted 10 Indonesian travel agencies at a travel fair at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel Nov. 9. The trip comes as TAT opened its first full-time office in Jakarta, and budget airline Air Asia begins new routes to Jakarta, Bali and Medan.

Niti Kongkrut, TAT’s Pattaya office director, said the hope is Indonesia will be responsible for as many tourists as India. It also marks the TAT’s continued de-emphasis of Europe, where tourists are shunning Thailand due to unfavorable exchange rates, and its reliance on China, where travelers have become skittish of Thailand’s unstable political situation.

Tourist arrivals from Indonesia this year are up 9 percent from 2009 with TAT estimating 200,000 Indonesians will visit the kingdom this calendar year. The agency hopes to increase that number to 300,000 next year with annual increases afterward of 10 percent. TAT estimates 60 percent of Indonesians coming to Thailand will be package tourists.

While Pattaya has been less popular than Muslim-dominated Hat Yai, and Bangkok and Phuket, Indonesians are interested in Pattaya due to its low prices, ample shopping opportunities and selection of accommodations packages, Niti said. TAT Jakarta office Director Nithee Seeprae was quoted as saying Pattaya is being emphasized more in new markets like Surabaya while Phuket and Chiang Mai are pushed harder in mature markets such as Jakarta and Bali.

TAT Jakarta Director Nithee Seeprae said the agency recently invited 30 Indonesian tour agents and local media to travel via Air Asia to Thailand. The airline recently launched new service from Phuket to Bali and Jakarta and added Surabaya and Medan to its existing route map from Bangkok, which already serves Jakarta and Bali.

Thailand is still unknown to many Indonesians, however, which can cause problems with the spicy cuisine and local customs. Nithee said the opening of the Jakarta office - which won’t be fully operational until the spring - will help ease any problems.


Bangkok Airways and Air Berlin announce new partnership in frequent flyer program

New agreement to be launched with double points promotion

Bangkok Airways, in partnership with its European codeshare counterpart Air Berlin have announced their frequent flyer program partnership to offer extra privileges to passenger of both carriers. The launch of the new agreement will be topped with double points promotion starting from today until December 31, 2010.

Bangkok Airways’ FlyerBonus members can now earn and redeem points when travelling with Air Berlin on qualifying fares and vice versa for Air Berlin’s top bonus members. Frequent flyer program members of both airlines must quote the membership number when making a reservation and present their membership card at check-in. In addition, FlyerBonus members who wish to redeem FlyerBonus points for Air Berlin flight awards must contact FlyerBonus 14 days prior to the intended date of travel.

Prote Setsuwan, marketing vice president for Bangkok Airways commented, “I strongly believe this partnership will benefit Bangkok Airways and Air Berlin passengers to a great extent.”

Stefan Magiera, general manager covering Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Thailand for Air Berlin commented, “The partnership offers our customers an extended route network and frequent flyer program members can now enjoy additional benefits.”

In October 2009, Bangkok Airways and Air Berlin jointly announced a codeshare agreement. Under this codeshare agreement, Bangkok Airways connects Air Berlin’s passengers to Thailand’s key tourist destinations, including Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai under the same flight code.


HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn pilots Buddhist pilgrimage flight to Gaya, India, for merit making

Nong Nooch elephants celebrate Loy Krathong a day early

TAT looks to Indonesia to fuel Pattaya tourist growth

Bangkok Airways and Air Berlin announce new partnership in frequent flyer program

 

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