Thailand ranked 84th in worldwide corruption index

Thailand ranks 10th in Asia and ends with 84th in the world, in this year’s corruption perceptions index released by Transparency Thailand.

Thailand, El Salvador, Kuatemala, India and Panama scored 3.4 out of 10 points in the ranking. Corruption Perceptions Index measures the perceived level of public- sector corruption in 180 countries. A higher score means less corruption. The ranking was based on surveys from 10 pollsters.

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Thailand ranked 2nd best-value destination

Railay Beach peninsula located between the city of Krabi and Ao Nang

Thailand is ranked second for the world’s best-value destination by Lonely Planet.

Lonely Planet in its “Best In Travel 2010” guide regards Thailand as one of the cheapest long-haul holidays for European tourists. The famous travel guide publisher said when traveling in Thailand tourists always have various choices of accommodation at proper prices.

Marriott plans 21 new Asian hotels amid global downturn

the JW Marriott Hotel in Indonesia. Marriott International already has 37 hotels under construction across the region, planning 21 new hotels in Asia. AFP Photo.

Hotel group Marriott International announced Wednesday it was planning 21 new hotels in Asia, despite the impact of the global economic slowdown on travel and demand.

The company already has 37 hotels under construction across the region, meaning that it will have built 58 new hotels by 2013, creating an estimated 24,000 jobs.

“We are excited by these spectacular, architecturally interesting additions to our already dynamic Asia-Pacific pipeline especially since this growth is occurring in the context of the difficult global economy and tight credit markets,” said Ed Fuller, president of international lodging.

International Swan Boat Races

Swan Boat Races

Teams compete for prizes in the 21st annual swan boat races at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Craft Centre, 19 to 20 September.

Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre, Ayutthaya province, is worth visiting any time of the year, but it has a special fascination for visitors in September, when the riverside complex hosts the annual international swan boat races.

Now in its 21st year, the dates were changed this year to 19 to 20 September moving back a week from its usual mid-month slot. But it still promises to be a tough, contested, series of races with nine international teams, mainly from around Asia, vying for the annual trophy.

BANGKOK’S 11th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF DANCE AND MUSIC

BANGKOK’S 11th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF DANCE AND MUSIC

September 7 – October 17, 2009
All performances at Thailand Cultural Centre, Bangkok
Evening performances 7:30 pm
Afternoon performances 2:30 pm
Contact information:
Ticket Reservation
Thai Ticket Major
Tel: +66 2262 3456

Festival enquiries:
International Cultural Promotions Limited
Tel: +66 2204 2394

Navy to the rescue!

What more appropriate source of aid for the imperilled turtle than a body of seafarers?

You’re allowed to touch the larger turtles.

Apart from providing a semi-permanent berth for the world’s smallest and the Kingdom’s only aircraft carrier, the HTMS Chakri Naruebet, and operating a restaurant which serves up some surprisingly tasty seafood dishes (cooked by navy personnel, no less!), the country’s largest naval base in Sattahip, a district of Chon Buri, is also the unlikely home for a sea turtle conservation centre.

Commercial turtle fishery was outlawed in Thailand back in 1947 and since 1950 the Royal Thai Navy has been responsible for the welfare of sea turtles born along the Chon Buri coast and on islands off Sattahip. Of these, Koh Kram boasts the largest turtle hatchery in the country and is the birthplace of some 30,000 of the little critters each year.

UNESCO awards ´Sam Chuk Market´ of Thailand a prize for cultural heritage place

Sam Chuk Market by Kanok / panoramio.com

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of Thailand awards ‘Sam Chuk Market’ of Suphan Buri province in central Thailand a prize for cultural heritage place.

The UNESCO has announced the competition result of the cultural heritage conservation project 2009 covering Asia and Pacific region. There were 48 places from 14 countries in the region in the competition such as hotels, office buildings, cultural places, academic institutes, religious places, public places, residence buildings and cities.