Month: August 2022

Update 26 August 2022

Posted on by admin

Hi everyone!

Hope you are all keeping well. 

What is happening in TAT? 

·         TAT Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn announced that he wanted to drive Thailand towards experience-based and sustainable tourism at the annual TAT Action Plan 2023 conference. “TAT is committed to help revitalise and transform Thai tourism under our three strategic objectives, which are: to drive demand for meaningful travel, to shape supply by developing a new tourism ecosystem, and to thrive for excellence by making the TAT a data-driven organisation. We believe this will heighten our goal for Thailand to achieve high value and sustainable tourism growth.” Sustainable, Responsible, Digital, and Inclusive – these four words are key to TAT Strategic Direction for 2023.

·         TAT will continue to use the “Visit Thailand Year 2022-23: Amazing New Chapters” as the communication strategies for international market.

·         For 2023, TAT expects Thailand to generate about 80% of Thailand’s tourism performance in 2019.

Destination Highlight – Choengmon Beach, Samui

Travellers visit Samui, not only for its array of beautiful beaches, but also for the eclectic culture. From the quaint Fisherman’s Village to the tranquillity of the Big Buddha, you can really gain a wider perspective of this island and Thai culture in general. While Chaweng Beach is the largest and most populated beach on the island, we’d like to steer your attention to Choengmon Beach not far away. Why this beach, you may ask. The sand on Choengmon is soft, white, and sugary. It is only minutes’ walk to the village on the high street, you can buy anything you need or have forgotten – total convenience. Spending time on Choengmon beach feels like you know a really good secret. It feels very tucked away. There’s fine dining at both ends of the beach, and casual breakfast and lunches in between. You can eat every meal with your feet in the sand. It is a small bay with coves and inlets and just offshore there is another island called Koh Farn Noi, which is easily accessible by kayak from the main beach. 

Product Highlight – Melia Koh Samui

If you’ve been craving to return to Samui, you need to check out this new resort. This idyllic beachfront retreat is located on the pristine Choeng Mon Beach overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. It’s only 9 mins drive from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng Beach. We recommend paying a little extra for Premium Pool Access Room, with direct access to the loop pool.  What’s interesting with their offering is their Boat Suites. Made from real repurposed traditional Thai Chinese boat vessels, it’s a perfect marriage of Thailand’s rich maritime heritage with sleek modern design and makes for a sweet honeymoon stay too. The suite pans two floors with the bedroom on the upper deck, and the bathroom and dressing room on the lower deck. It also has direct pool access. There is something very intimate about these suites, despite still being near to all the facilities.

Have a good day and weekend. 

Kind Regards,

TAT Australia

Andamanda: new water park opens in Phuket

Posted on by admin

New Phuket water park Andamanda offers a wide range of rides, slides, attractions, and activities, all interwoven with Thai culture, legend and mythology.

Andamanda Phuket is a brand-new water park and leisure complex that will immerse visitors in a world of Thai mythology and legend, while enjoying the thrill of several exciting waterslides. It is located in the Kathu district of Phuket, between the main tourism hubs of Phuket Town and Patong Beach.

Andamanda is the largest leisure and entertainment facility in Phuket, covering 9.3 hectares of land, comprising a wide range of recreational components, including a Thai heritage-themed water park with five separate zones, (Coral World, The Pearl Palace, Emerald Forest, Great Andaman Bay and Naga Jungle) and two dining areas (The Village and Tropical Beach) – plus extensive entertainment spaces and retail outlets.

The complex includes a collection of thrilling slides and rides designed by WhiteWater West, who have worked with global theme parks such as Atlantis Dubai and Disney. Guests can float down a 550-metre-long lazy river, the longest in Asia, and splash in a vast 10,000 square-metre wave pool that will generate waves up to three-metres high – the highest of any pool in Thailand. Andamanda offers cozy cabanas and VIP pavilions throughout the park, tropical beachfront restaurants, and a series of stunning swim-up bars – including one nestled in a near-life-size replica of Koh Tapu, Thailand’s famous “James Bond Island” – allowing visitors to chill out in style.

What sets Andamanda apart, is its focus on Thai culture and mythology. The park will immerse guests in the legend of “The Lost Kingdom of the Nagon”, an inspirational folk tale set amid the landscapes and seascapes of the Andaman coast. There is a floating market with traditional boats, local arts & crafts, authentic food & beverage outlets, and a stage for cultural performances.

Sustainability is at the core of this development. Andamanda will adopt a circular approach to water management, with a continuous loop of water being reused and recycled. Single-use plastics are prohibited, over 100,000 trees have been planted and solar energy is used to power the complex.

To celebrate the return of international guests, Andamanda Phuket has unveiled its early bird ticket prices. For adults, the “Adventure Explorer” ticket is priced at just THB 850 (AUD 34) – down from the standard price of THB 1500 (AUD 60), while children below 122cm in height can enjoy the “Mini Explorer” price of just THB 550 (AUD 22) – down from THB 1000 (AUD 40). Children under 90cm tall enter for free. Andamanda Phuket is open daily from 10am to 7pm.

To book your tickets visit andamandaphuket.com

137 Pillars support Elephant Nature Park

Posted on by admin

This year’s World Elephant Day on 12 August marked the first anniversary of 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts Thailand’s CSR partnership with the Elephant Nature Park (ENP) in Chiang Mai. This long-term collaboration raises much-needed funds and global awareness for elephant conservation and reforestation in Thailand.

137 Pillars’ Anne Arrowsmith (front) with Khun Lek, riding through Elephant Nature Park.

Since the start of the campaign in 2021, donations from guests staying at both 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok and 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai, personal and online donations through the online spot fund donation platform total over THB 1 million (approx. USD43,388)

Elephant Nature Park is a rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary and was founded by Ms. Sangduen Chailert (Khun Lek) in 1996. Providing a safe place for over 100 elephants from all over Thailand, the centre is also a sanctuary for rescued dogs, cats, buffaloes and many other abandoned and abused animals.

The hotel partnership came about when Anne Arrowsmith, General Manager of 137 Pillars House was asked to showcase some of the unique aspects of Chiang Mai for a Thailand segment on The Today Show, a popular US TV program. Anne chose ENP because of its authentic ethos including their policy of non-riding of elephants. It turned out to be a deeply spiritual and meaningful experience as Anne spent the day interacting with many of the elephants and learning the needs, complexities and challenges faced by ENP during her interview of K. Lek for the programme.  

In order to share this experience with hotel guests and to create a long-term partnership with the sanctuary to raise much needed money to support the work that Khun Lek and her team do on a daily basis, 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts offers guests at its hotels in Chiang Mai and Bangkok an option to donate to ENP on check-in with a nominal amount of THB 100 (USD 3.00), THB 300 (USD 9.00) or THB 700 (USD 20.00) per night. A larger one-off donation can also be made.  90 per cent of donations go to elephant conservation and 10% to reforestation. ENP sends a receipt and certificate to each donor.

According to Khun Lek; “Although the pandemic has had a devastating impact on elephants and people alike, it has also caused many elephant camp owners to re-think the current unethical programs they offer for tourists.

“My team and I work tirelessly to ensure that this will be a catalyst for positive change throughout the country. Many of the camps we have supported during the crisis through our elephant food bank campaign have now agreed to remove the saddles from the elephant’s back and move towards a more caring approach with our support.”

Download this Fact Sheet to learn more about these magnificent animals and the work done by Khun Lek and her team at ENP.

Discover more ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand here.

Update 12 August 2022

Posted on by admin

Sawasdee ka everyone!

How are you? 

I am sure by now you have all experienced travel whether domestic or international. It’s a bit messy, isn’t it? From flight delays, cancellations, frustrated customer complaints, to dealing with insurance companies.

These are testament that our industry still needs the time to recover. Collaboration is certainly key at this point. It is so important to address customers’ issues with clarity and logic reasonings, therefore setting their expectations right. I know it’s easier said than done, but TOGETHER we will get there.  

What is happening in TAT Australia office? 

We are excited to introduce our new Director, Mrs. Busakorn Prommanot. Her friendly nickname is Khun Apple.

Having worked in TAT for over 30 years, her wealth of experience is astounding, from policy and planning, training, to Europe Africa and Middle East market divisions. Australia will be her second overseas posting; she has led TAT Jakarta office previously. When asked about her favourite destination, Khun Apple has a soft spot on Northern regions of Thailand. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Nan have such rich culture, untouched nature, and beautiful distinctive food. For Oceania market, Khun Apple desire to interest Aussie and Kiwi travellers in meaningful and purposeful travels to Thailand. “I look forward to collaborate with our travel partners soon to make this a reality.”

Destination Highlight: Bangtao Beach, Phuket

You don’t hear much about this beach, but it is one of Phuket’s longest beaches (spanning 6km in length). Bangtao is about 30 minutes’ drive south of Phuket International Airport. A little closer than the popular beaches like Kamala, Patong, Karon or Kata Beach. Hotels mostly occupy its southern end, while the northern end is generally quite and peaceful. A few small beach bars are dotted along its length. Bangtao Beach attracts those looking to leave everything behind and do nothing more taxing than reading a book. The southern end of the beach though has several beachfront hotels and beach clubs, resulting in a lively atmosphere in the evening. Bangtao remains one of the most family-friendly beaches in Phuket.

Product Highlight: Sunwing Bangtao Beach (4*)

Such an easy family holiday accommodation with good entertainment program for all family members. If you seek a relaxing holiday on a beachfront,Sunwing Bangtao might be your answer. They offer various little touches to ease the pressure of traveling with little ones and they are reasonably priced. All rooms can take a minimum of 2A2C. These are separate beds for all in the room, and there’s even room for an additional cot if required. What’s amazing is their specially designed Happy Baby Studios for those with a new addition. The rooms are always at ground level with an enclosed terrace with a gate that can be locked. This room type is specially equipped with baby cot, baby highchair, stroller, nursing mat, baby resting chair, bumbo babysitter, children’s crockery and cutlery, baby bathtub, non-slippery bathmat, stool in bathroom, plastic potty, safety drawer locks and sunbeds & parasol at the gated garden terrace.

Enjoy your Friday and weekend! 

Regards,

TAT Australia

TAT plant 1000 trees for koalas on National Tree Day

Posted on by admin

This National Tree Day, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) joined forces with the Koala Clancy Foundation to plant 1000 trees, helping to restore vital koala habitat in regional Victoria.

Team Thailand, comprising members of the TAT Sydney office and the Royal Thai Embassy, including the honourable Ms Busadee Santipitaks, Ambassador to Australia, were joined at the Mt Rothwell site by Councillors from the City of Greater Geelong: Cr Belinda Moloney, Cr Ron Nelson and Cr Anthony Aitken, and a large group of enthusiastic volunteers.

According to Ambassador Ms Busadee Santipitaks; “It was wonderful to see how passionate and dedicated Janine Duffy, President of the Koala Clancy Foundation has been to protect and create a habitat for koalas.

“Equally impressive is Mr Michael Smith, the owner of the land provided for this tree planting, and I truly appreciate their hosting us at their shed (and distillery).”

Trees were planted on the property of Smith, who has offered up his land at Mt Rothwell to be revegetated by the Foundation to help create more koala-friendly habitat. Mr Smith hosted the group for morning tea and lunch in his converted sheep shearing shed, now a boutique gin distillery.

The ambassador explained that the event resonates with Thailand’s continuing efforts to restore elephant rainforest habitat in Thailand. Furthermore, the latest efforts to offset carbon emissions is the Bangkok governor’s campaign to plant one million trees in Bangkok during the next four years.

TAT Director Suladda Sarutilavan expanded on Thailand’s sustainability goals, explaining the Kingdom’s Bio-Circular-Green economy model, and what that means for the future of tourism in Thailand, with initiatives to support the development of more sustainable hotels, conscious dining, and community-based tourism.

TAT recently launched the 7 Greens campaign: Green Heart, Green Logistics, Green Attraction, Green Activity, Green Community, Green Service, Green Plus which encourages resorts and tourism operators to adopt, step by step, more sustainable strategies for the future.

Event sponsor Minor Hotels group have long embraced these ideals, pioneering efforts in Thailand to establish elephant sanctuaries through Anantara’s Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, and shared their vision with volunteers on the day.

The Koala Clancy Foundation plants trees for koalas on farms and private land, creates new habitat and advocates for better protection of wild koalas. Today, volunteers planted 1000 trees, helping the foundation reach its 2022 target to plant 26,000  trees in Victoria’s You Yangs region.

Founder and president Janine Duffy thanked TAT for the opportunity to share the foundation’s ambitions.

“I am incredibly proud to talk about our You Yangs koalas with decision makers from the local area and abroad, and to hope that these great people can keep the needs of our precious koalas in their minds.” Volunteers were rewarded for their efforts with a delicious Thai lunch followed by a koala-spotting walking tour of the You Yangs, where they were delighted to encounter a koala in the treetops, for many in the group, the first time they had seen a koala in the wild.