Asif Ahmad, British
Ambassador to Thailand
The UK is welcoming unprecedented numbers of Thai
visitors to its shores. Over 50,000 visitor visas were issued to tourists,
family visitors and business travellers in 2011 - a 16% increase compared to
the same period in 2010. And 94% of all UK visit visa applications made in
Thailand last year were successful.
These high and growing numbers are a tribute to the
thriving business and tourism links between Thailand and the UK which the
British Government and this Embassy continue to work hard to foster.
British Ambassador to Thailand, Asif Ahmad said: “It is
great to see that even more Thai people are choosing the UK as the ideal
destination to travel and do business. The UK offers a wonderfully diverse
range of attractions, from historical sites to modern architectural designs
and, some of the best business event and conference facilities in the world.
We hope to welcome even more visitors in 2012, the year of the London
Olympics, where the world can see the best of what Britain has to offer.”
In response to the growing demand, the UK Border Agency
and its commercial partner, VFS Global, have introduced two new premium visa
services to provide customers with greater choice and flexibility.
A priority visa service is now available to eligible
customers who are applying for a visit visa. The service allows for
customers, who meet certain criteria and pay an additional fee, to have
their visa application placed at the front of the processing queue.
The new priority service costs 3,000 baht and is paid for
at the time the application is submitted. The UK Border Agency aims to turn
around priority applications within 3 working days.
A Prime Time appointment service has also been launched
for the convenience of customers. Those who pay a fee can make an
appointment to lodge their visa application and provide biometrics at the
visa application centre on a Saturday. Prime Time appointments must be made
online. Customers can also collect their documents between 9 a.m. and 12
noon on Saturdays at no charge.
For more information on the new premium and priority
services visit the UK Border Agency in Thailand website.
Long term
visit visas
If you are a frequent business or family visitor to the
UK, you may wish to consider applying for a long term visit visa. Long term
visit visas are available for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years. The long term visa has
the same conditions and benefits as a regular 6 months visit visa, but is
valid for a longer period of time for you to travel in and out of the UK.
The key benefit is that you will only need to make one application and
provide biometrics once for the entire duration of the visa. Details on the
requirements and conditions are on the UK Border Agency website.
Olympics - apply for your
visa early
The UK Border Agency has also started accepting visa
applications from those planning on travelling to the UK during the Olympic
period either as a spectator or a visitor. As there is expected to be an
increase in the number of applications in the lead up to the Olympics, those
planning to travel at this time, whether you are a visitor or student, are
encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
UK visa applications made in Thailand continue to be
processed well within published customer service standards - to make
decisions on 90 percent of all non-settlement visa applications within three
weeks and 95% of settlement visas within twelve weeks.
Thailand’s airports are preparing to serve more flights
during the 10-day Songkran Thai traditional new year with heightened
security, said Airports of Thailand (AoT) President Anirut Thanomkulbutr.
From April 9-18, many airlines asked for more flights,
particularly at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International airports.
AoT has prepared facilities and security to serve a
greater number of flights around the clock during this long holiday, he
said.
The agency assigned more staff to help passengers to
ensure no delay in baggage claims.
It has also cooperated with airport transportation
providers to have sufficient vehicles to serve the higher number of
passengers.
The AoT president said Suvarnabhumi Airport will have
some 9,437 more flights - 6,795 international flights and 2,642 domestic
flights - during the ten-day period with an increased passenger load of
about 1.7 million travelers.
Phuket International Airport will have 124 additional
flights and more than 27,288 passengers while Chiang Mai Airport will see 16
additional flights with an increase of 4,088 passengers.
Religious activities will be held at all airports with
special areas to facilitate passengers who want to sprinkling water on
Buddha images for good luck and jasmine garlands will be given to
passengers.
AoT has stepped up security measures, to check unattended
baggage and carry-on luggage. No vehicles will be allowed to park at
passenger buildings and vehicles entering airport car parking lots will be
examined, said Anirut.
Security at Thai airports remains at level three from its
highest level of four. Police and soldiers are manning checkpoints along the
route to Hat Yai Airport following the deadly car bombing of a hotel last
month. (MCOT)
Chatchawal Supachayanont
accepts the award for ‘Best Energy Management and Conservation” from
Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
This year’s Thailand Energy Awards, organized by the
Ministry of Energy in cooperation with the Department of Alternative Energy
Development and Efficiency was held on March 30 at the Government House
Building in Bangkok.
Dusit Thani Pattaya was one of the 91 recipients of the
plaques of recognition awarded to business operators that have shown
outstanding performance in the five categories, namely: Alternative Energy,
Energy Management and Conservation, Energy Champion, Energy Creation
(Renewable or Green Energy) and Effective Support for Energy Conservation. A
total of 309 business establishments participated and submitted their
entries for the event and only 91 passed all the criteria.
Chatchawal Supachayanont, general manager of Dusit Thani
Pattaya accepted the award from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who
thanked all the awardees for their efforts towards the success of the
country’s energy programs.
In his comments, Supachayanont expressed appreciation for
the resort’s entire Green Team Committee who contributed in making this
achievement possible. He said this would be added to the list of accolades
that Dusit Thani Pattaya has received for its environmental initiatives and
for the excellent energy management it has done that led to the Best Energy
Management and Conservation award.
“Dusit Thani Pattaya was the only hotel in the entire
Kingdom of Thailand to have received this award and for that, we feel truly
proud and honored. Our hotel will continue our endeavors and commitments as
an eco-friendly resort that has been awarded the Silver Certificate by
EarthCheck. We will not rest on our laurels but instead, do more for our
hotel’s green initiatives,” Supachayanont added.
Green Team representatives
(from left to right): Narin Phonjuntuk, Assistant Chief Engineer; Prawes
Akanimart, Green Team president; Chatchawal Supachayanont, and Thanyathorn
Khosinthanaphat of Devarana Spa in Dusit Thani Pattaya.
