A temple in Bangkok (Source: Xinhua) Hanoi (VNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said new measures will be announced next month to woo tourists back to the country, especially those from China, in the lead up to the New Year. The Deputy PM added measures in the package will include a tax measure for jewellery purchases, a tourism package with free flights to second-tier tourist provinces and a waiver for visa-on-arrival. The planned exemption will include the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee, along with double-entry visas. The cabinet will approve a stimulus package in the second half of November. It will be effective until the end of December, said Somkid. The measures will involve the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Finance Ministry and Thai Airways International. During the first nine months of the year, Thailand received 28.5 million international tourists, representing 8.7 percent year-on-year growth. However, travellers from China slid 12 percent in … [Read more...] about Thailand to roll out tourism stimulus package to woo tourists
Tourist killed in thailand
Thailand suffers slump in number of Chinese tourists
A temple in Bangkok (Source: Xinhua) Bangkok (VNA) – Despite various measures to improve its image, Thailand has struggled to end its slump in the number of Chinese visitors, which is a great risk to an economy that is largely dependent on tourism. An unofficial report showed that the number of Chinese visitors to Thailand fell 12 percent in August 2018, the strongest drop in over a year, pushing the total number of foreign tourists to the country down to nearly lowest level in 16 months. Chinese tourists are the main source of foreign currency income for Thailand’s tourism sector, which makes up about one fifth of the country’s total GDP. Thailand estimates that Chinese visitors contribute one third of the total 65 billion USD that foreign tourists spend in the Southeast Asian country each year. The major reason behind the fall is the July boat accident in Phuket which killed dozens of Chinese tourists, along with other problems such as dengue fever outbreak, … [Read more...] about Thailand suffers slump in number of Chinese tourists
Dogs are back on the table in Vietnam
A recent statement by the Hanoi administration calling on residents to refrain from eating dog and cat meat in order to promote a “civilized” image has reignited a debate that shows no sign of being settled any time soon. “The city wants people to see the value in treatment animals humanely,” the statement said. It has received both support and criticism from prominent citizens and the common man. Historian Nguyen Ngoc Tien said consumption of dog meat in Vietnam dates back to the French colonial times. “Since 1888, the French banned the consumption of dog meat, as Europeans think they’re cute creatures,” he said. The police even punished those who did, he added. The ban was lifted in 1936. Food stalls selling dog meant began sprouting up on some of Hanoi’s most iconic streets in the Old Quarter, like Ma May and Hang Luoc. “People who loved eating dog meat were often from the countryside,” Tien said. He claimed city folk were … [Read more...] about Dogs are back on the table in Vietnam
Thailand evacuates tourists off Phuket island
Tourists are evacuated from Phuket (Source: nationmultimedia) Hanoi (VNA) – A total of 177 tourists were rescued from a rough sea on Koh Racha island off the southeastern coast of Phuket on August 8. According to local authorities, the Thai navy’s HTMS Narathiwat patrol boat took 161 foreigners, including Chinese and Russian tourists, and 16 Thai hotel employees to a safe place. The boat was promptly deployed on the rescue mission after the tides were reported 2 to 3m high in the lower part of the Andaman sea. Tourist boats and other vessels which shuttle tourists from Phuket to Koh Racha island have been strongly advised not to go out to sea due to strong winds and high tides during rainy season. Last month, luxury cruise ship Phoenix capsized near Phuket due to high tides, killing 47 passengers.-VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand evacuates tourists off Phuket island
Chinese visits to Thailand to fall after deadly boating accident
The accident that killed nearly 50 people is threatening to be a potential blow to the country's vital tourism sector, officials forecast. The Phoenix was carrying 105 people -- mostly Chinese -- when it sank on the way back from a popular snorkeling spot on July 5 off the southern resort island of Phuket. It was among three vessels which ignored a bad weather warning against island day trips. The boat's captain, an engineer and the owner of the company that operates the vessel have been arrested and are being held while authorities conduct an investigation, Phuket police told AFP. Divers and the navy spent more than a week retrieving bodies, some from inside the boat, with the final death toll at 47 Chinese nationals. Tourists from China made up almost a quarter of Thailand's 35 million visitors last year, official statistics show. In a statement provided to AFP, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports revised down its forecasted number of Chinese arrivals for July-December by nearly … [Read more...] about Chinese visits to Thailand to fall after deadly boating accident
Thailand prepares to lift sunken tourist ship
Survivors of the sunken tourist boat Phoenix (Source: Xinhua/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand's authorities said on July 8 that rescuers are preparing to lift tourist boat Phoenix which capsized off the coast of Phuket island three days ago, killing at least 42 people and leaving 14 others missing. The boat was carrying 105 people, including 93 tourists and 12 tour guides, when it was pummelled by huge waves on the way back to Phuket from the popular snorkeling spot of Koh Racha. Police on July 7 said they charged the ship’s captain with negligence leading to damages, injury and death. The captain has denied the charges, police said. Divers and helicopters have joined the search for any survivors. Friends and relatives of those injured and deceased have arrived in Phuket to identify their loved ones. In an urgent circular issued on July 7, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism said travel companies across China should carry out security checks against … [Read more...] about Thailand prepares to lift sunken tourist ship
Wealthy Vietnamese turn their backs on ‘boring’ Tet for overseas travel
Nguyen Thu Huong won’t be making the traditional pilgrimage back to Ha Tinh Province to celebrate the upcoming Tet with her husband’s family this year. Instead, they are going to Singapore to enjoy shopping and sightseeing. Traveling overseas allows her family to bypass the crowds, clogged roads and boredom that can mark Tet in Vietnam. Huong, her husband and their small son have also visited Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong in previous years. “I don’t want a boring Tet, staying at home in Hanoi or going to Ha Tinh. Tet celebrations are always the same old thing - eating, drinking and watching TV galas - every year,” said Huong, 30, who works for the State Bank of Vietnam. “Traveling overseas is interesting, and it doesn't cost much more than visiting tourist spots in this country.” Huong is just one of many Vietnamese people who have decided to go abroad this Tet holiday, which starts on February 15. Many travel agents said they have … [Read more...] about Wealthy Vietnamese turn their backs on ‘boring’ Tet for overseas travel
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/1
Vingroup, T&T to develop urban railway projects in HanoiThe government of Hanoi City has proposed the Prime Minister allow Vingroup and T&T Group to develop three urban railway projects which the city plans to complete by 2025, Tuoi Tre newspaper reports.The two domestic investors will use their capital to make pre-feasibility studies for these projects.When the projects were announced, many investors expressed interest in Hanoi. However, only Vingroup and T&T Group have registered to take part.Both of them proposed implementing the projects in the build-transfer (BT) format. Particularly, Vingroup registered to build the 38.4-kilometer metro line No. 5 which connects Van Cao and Hoa Lac and metro line No. 2 from Tran Hung Dao to Thuong Dinh with a length of 5.9 kilometers. Meanwhile, T&T Group is keen on metro line No. 4 connecting Me Linh, Sai Dong and Lien Ha, and measuring 54 kilometers in length.The two investors said they would use their own finances to study the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/1
Thailand: 239 killed in traffic accidents in New Year holiday
A road accident in Thailand (Source: Thailandnews.co) Bangkok (VNA) – Traffic accidents claimed 239 lives in the first four days of the 2018 New Year holiday (December 28 - 31) in Thailand, according to the country’s Road Safety Directing Centre. Statistics showed that 2,500 people were injured in more than 2,300 traffic accidents in the period. On December 31 alone, as many as 65 people were killed while 714 others wounded in 678 accidents across Thailand. The number of deaths decreased 14.6 percent whilst that of the injured fell 11.7 percent year-on-year, respectively. Most of the accidents occurred in the three provinces of Sisaket, Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani, which usually attract large numbers of tourists on holidays. Thai police set up 2,005 checkpoints on the last four days of the year to conduct road safety checks. Nearly 50 percent of the accidents were caused by drink driving, while 26.4 percent were attributed to speeding, said the centre. In addition, … [Read more...] about Thailand: 239 killed in traffic accidents in New Year holiday
Ever-resilient Thai tourism may bounce back after floods
Thailand's worst floods in 50 years have hit tourism at the start of the high season, but the country has recovered quickly in the recent past from all sorts of scourges and some tour operators are hopeful a recovery might start next month.Floodwater in some areas of the capital, Bangkok, and other provinces has started to recede, and the inner city and upmarket shopping districts have remained dry, but some in the tourist sector are still concerned."Trips from Japan have all been canceled since last month and there are no new bookings now. They're a bit afraid of the situation but I think they will come back next month," said Euamthip Panjai of All the Best Travel."But tourists from other countries are still coming and many of them go to Pattaya and Phuket," she said, referring to two seaside destinations south of Bangkok that are flood-free.Central Plaza Hotel, a big locally owned group, said it was seeing some impact from the floods, but it was a mixed picture, with poor business in … [Read more...] about Ever-resilient Thai tourism may bounce back after floods