By Robert Bicknell Việt Nam won the “Asia’s Best Golf Destination 2018” award at the World Golf Awards last November. This is the second time Việt Nam has won. In addition, The Grand Ho Tram Strip won for “Asia’s Best Golf Hotel” and Ba Na Hill Golf Club in Đà Nẵng won the title of “Asia’s Best Golf Course”. The Việt Nam National Tourism Administration (VNAT) says “the tourism sector needs to devise a long-term development plan to popularize and bolster growth and investment in Việt Nam” and chose one of the biggest names in golf, Greg Norman, to act as a tourism representative for the country. Norman, aka “The Great White Shark” knows a thing or two about golf in Việt Nam as he designed five of the top courses in the country including The Da Nang Dunes Course, The Bluffs at the Ho Tram Strip, and KN Golf Links in Nha Trang. While working in Việt Nam, … [Read more...] about Golf tourism has a fair way to go to break par in Vietnam
Tourist killed in thailand
Storm Pabuk wreaks havoc in Thailand
Pabuk tropical storm makes landfall in Thailand on January 4. (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – At least five people were reported dead after tropical storm Pabuk, with winds reaching 70 kilometres per hour, battered southern coast of Thailand on January 4, Thai media said on January 5. Strong winds crumbled rooftops, uprooted trees and felled electrical poles while downpours inundated roads, isolated many areas in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Meanwhile, Surat Thani airport in Surat Thani province was ordered to close on January 4 and 5 due to bad weather. Ferry services have been ceased. Two of the country’s biggest gas production platforms in the Gulf of Thailand have suspended operations, and their personnel has been evacuated to shore as the platforms were in the direct path of the storm. CNN quoted the district chief of Surat Thani province’s Koh Samui island as saying on January 5 that there are about 20,000 tourists staying on the island, which is the second … [Read more...] about Storm Pabuk wreaks havoc in Thailand
Spike in bomb and grenade attacks in Thailand”s restive south
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha decried "opportunists" on Saturday (Dec 29) after a wave of coordinated bomb attacks by suspected insurgents hit Thailand's Muslim-majority "deep south" in the lead-up to the New Year holidays. The region bordering Malaysia has been in the grip of a low-level but bloody insurgency for more than a decade as ethnic Malay militants battle the Buddhist-majority state AFP/Madaree TOHLALA The region bordering Malaysia has been in the grip of a low-level but bloody insurgency for more than a decade as ethnic Malay militants battle the Buddhist-majority state for greater autonomy. Since 2004, insurgents armed with homemade bombs and grenades have clashed with Thailand's powerful military, killing nearly 7,000 people, mostly civilians, of both Muslim and Buddhist faith. However, 2017 saw a record low of 235 people killed in clashes. The latest attacks occurred Friday night in a series of seven separate incidents in three different districts of … [Read more...] about Spike in bomb and grenade attacks in Thailand”s restive south
Thailand to roll out tourism stimulus package to woo tourists
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
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
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