Thailand lures Asian tourists for Songkran

[Admin]

Thailand lures Asian tourists for Songkran 
Bangkok Post: 25 Mar 2010
TAT to spend B30m to lure Asians

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is preparing to spend 20-30 million baht in a short-term campaign to win back Asian travellers made nervous by the country's political tension.

Funds would be shifted from programmes planned for May and June to promotions centred on the mid-April Songkran holiday, said Sansern Ngaorangsri, a TAT deputy governor for Asia, Oceania and the South Pacific.

Thirteen overseas offices of the TAT would stage the campaign in late March and early April.

Mr Sansern said the decision to extend measures to help the industry - particularly waivers of visa fees - should also help encourage Asian visitors to come back to Thailand between Songkran and May Day.

The incentives, introduced in January last year and due to expire this month, will be extended until the year-end, while waivers of visa fees would be extended until March 2011.

Other incentives include waivers on airline landing fees and a 50% discount on national park entry fees.

The government also offers insurance for tourists with coverage of $10,000 for a $1 fee, and special tax deductions for corporate seminars.

The TAT this week is hosting 250 media representatives from around the world and hopes they will report that conditions in Thailand have not been negatively affected by the current red-shirt anti-government rallies.

Amnuay Thiamkeerakul, director of the TAT's Beijing office, said China was expected to lift its advisory on travel in Thailand if the demonstrations continue to be peaceful.

Mr Amnuay said the number of Chinese visitors who are expected to visit Thailand during Songkran remained on target.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/34995/tat-to-spend-b30m-to-lure-asians

[perra]

Thats right...discounts for asian tourists and more. What about the european and american ones? And the note that China will lift the recomendations on traveling to Thailand, just puts more fuel one the red shirts fire to continue the demonstrations past Songkran. They never learn do they?

[Admin]

Thailand gears up for Songkran festival 
Bangkok Post: 28 Mar 2010
Getting Away
Songkran, the popular and much anticipated Thai New Year Festival, is coming, so hopefully you have your water-pistols ready for battle. Celebrations will be held throughout the Kingdom, but if you're looking for a local experience, Nakhon Phanom may be the ideal choice this year, as it will mark both the Thai and Lao New Years.

On April 12, there will be a "cultural street", so you can glimpse the local way of life. The next day will see 20 parades on the streets of Renu Nakhon district. Visitors can take part in water fights all over town, especially on the banks of the river.

Head to Chon Buri where you will get a second chance to celebrate Songkran as the province observes the festival later than the rest of the country.

In Pattaya it is referred to as Wanlai, and the party begins in Na Klua, north of the city, and stretches to Jomtien beach. In Bang Saen, on April 16, there will be a sand pagoda building competition and alms-giving ceremonies on the beach. This will be followed by watersports, beauty contests and water fights all over town.

Similar activities will take place in Si Chang, a small island near Si Racha, and Sattahip Naval Base from April 15 to 17. On April 18 in Na Klua a procession will be held with bathing rites for Buddha statues. For more information, call the TAT Call Centre on 1672.

Still hungry for more action?

The southern province of Trang is famed for its beaches and cuisine. The Trang Food Festival, at the Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahisoraphakdi Memorial in Trang town from April 3 to 8, showcases local delicacies. It will feature two zones, one will have booths selling famous provincial dishes, including seafood, roasted pork and Trang cakes, and the other will resemble an ancient marketplace.

There will also be cultural performances, including traditional puppet shows. For more information, call the local TAT office on 07-521-5867.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelscoop/35179/getting-away