Thailand’s Customs Department expects revenue from import and export duties will decline by Bt3-4 billon (US$90-120 million) in the wake of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) cuts which became effective on January 1, with the department adjusting its role from tariff collector to facilitator, a senior customs official said on Friday. (More …)
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. (More …)
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. (More …)
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. (More …)
This year the tourism industry of Thailand has been hurt by all sorts of bad publicity, causing tourists to lose confidence in traveling safely to Thailand. To counteract this false perception of Thailand, the TAT has launched “The Ultimate Thailand Explorers” event to create positive awareness of Thailand and inspiration for worldwide tourists to travel here, particularly through the use of the internet and web blogs, which influence tourists the most.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand therefore invites all interested parties to attend a press conference for “The Ultimate Thailand Explorers” project launch on Monday, September 14 from 14:00 to 16:00 in Lotus Suite 5-7, Centara Grand at Central World. This event is an exciting integrated online travel competition that will promote various Thailand destinations through various social and travel related websites.
Hope to see you there !