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Volume 1, Issue 3, September 25, 2008 |
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After weeks of anti-government protests in the city, Thailand’s government has finally lifted the state of emergency in Bangkok. Bangkok ’s acting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat recently announced the repeal of emergency rule on national television, saying the order had adversely affected the country's economy — in particular, tourism. He said he hoped that ending the state of emergency would help ease some of the tensions in Thailand and bring more tourists back to the country.
The decision by to lift the State of Emergency Decree was welcomed by the Association of Thai Travel Agents and many involved in the tourism business. ATTA president Apichart Sankary said he believed that scrapping the decree would help boost confidence among foreign tourists and businesses wishing to invest in Thailand.
In 2007, about 15 million foreign tourists visited Thailand bringing in THB 600 billion while Thai tourists spent approximately THB 400 billion, Mr. Apichart said. This year the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand is expected to be about the same as last year.
Mr. Apichart said that the ATTA would work to explain the positive news to foreign countries while Thai envoys based overseas should also help explain the situation to the public in the countries where they work. 
Starting Oct. 2, Siem Reap Airways International will launch a new air link between Siem Reap (REP) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) on a daily non-stop basis. The new service will be operated by Airbus A319 with 138 seats. Flight FT 981 will leave Siem Reap at 11:00 to arrive in Ho Chi Minh City at 11:55. From Ho Chi Minh City, the flight will leave at 12:40 to arrive in Siem Reap at 13:35. The new service will utilise the carrier’s Airbus A319 aircraft.
Bangkok Airways recently launched a Web Check-In service for passengers travelling from its key domestic routes. The service enables passengers to check in online and select their preferred seats as early as 24 hours prior to departure, by logging onto the website www.bangkokair.com. Passengers simply bring a printed boarding pass to the designated counter for quick ID verification and baggage check. The airline initially offers the online check-in service to passengers who fly from Bangkok (BKK) to Samui (USM) and Phuket (HKT) and will apply the service to its other destinations in the near future.
Pakistan’s leading private airline, Airblue has announced plans to launch direct flights to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) by mid 2009. Airblue’s general manager for marketing, Sarosh Bhatti, said: “After evaluation, we found that Malaysia is a potential market for us. In the past one year, more tourists and workers are going to Kuala Lumpur and when you combine both these segments, there is a lot of growth.” He added the carrier will use its newly ordered Airbus A320 aircraft on the route, as they are more fuel-efficient. The first of the 14 ordered planes are expected to be delivered by the end of this year.
Air France-KLM plans to double daily frequencies between Amsterdam (AMS) and Shanghai (PVG) this winter, offering four daily frequencies to the Chinese metropolis. The capacity growth on Shanghai adds to the total amount of 69 weekly frequencies that Air France and KLM offer to mainland China this winter season. With a total of 40,000 weekly seats offered between China and Europe, Air France and KLM underline their strong position in this market.
Langham Hotels International is set to open its first hotel in India. The Langham Place, Koregaon Park, Pune, India is scheduled to open in early 2010, and will comprise of 180 contemporary guestrooms. Featuring the latest technology to support connected lifestyles, Langham Place, Koregaon Park will blend with the city’s reputation as the technological hub of India. The hotel will feature India’s first Chuan Spa, bringing a signature range of pampering spa treatments based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
1 Jiabin Road, Shenzhen, China
tel 86 755 82233888
www.sunshinehotel.com
I have stayed at many hotels throughout the Asia Pacific. Mostly, I like to stick to well-known brands as they guarantee a high standard of service. On a recent trip to Shenzhen, however, a friend convinced me to try the Sunshine Hotel which she said offers exceptionally good service, not to mention being exceptionally economical. I took her advice, and had a very pleasurable stay at the hotel.
Conveniently located at the heart of the bustling metropolis in Guangdong, Sunshine Hotel is a modern high-rise property conveniently located for business, shopping and entertainment. The service was excellent: the reception staff was polite, courteous and spoke very good English. I was escorted to a spacious room on the 10th floor as I had requested and I was pleased that the room was clean, quiet and with everything provided for.
Starting from RMB 700 per night, the Sunshine Hotel is a worth-your-every-penny hotel. Breakfast is included in the room rate, as is use of the indoor swimming pool and the gymnasium and complimentary shuttle bus service between the hotel and a near-by golf course, Luohu Train Station, Window of the World, Happy Valley and Nantou Technology. I recommend this hotel to all travellers going to Shenzhen, for business or for pleasure.
Score: ••••• Joyce Woo
Marriot Rewards members can now earn more miles with the MegaMiles promotion. Members will earn double miles on 27 different partners beginning with their second stay from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31. MegaMiles points can be earned at more than 2,900 participating Marriott International hotels around the world. Registration is required. Members can register any time between Sept. 9 and Dec. 31. Once registered, members can log onto MarriottRewards.com/PromoProgress to view their bonus progress.
Through to Dec. 31, The Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, which opens in October, is offering a special introductory rate of RMB 1,280 per night. In addition, the hotel is also offering a B2B package. Starting from RMB 2,380, the deal includes accommodation in a deluxe room, breakfast, free Internet access, a laundry allowance and a one-hour massage.
For just HKD 3,500, The Excelsior Hong Kong’s Experience Hong Kong in Style package allows travellers accommodation in a Harbour View Room, four hours of chauffeured limousine comfort to any desired shopping spot in the city, complimentary daily breakfast, a packed lunch for the tour and a 45-minute foot massage.
Swire Hotels has joined Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific’s loyalty programme. Members of Asia Miles can now earn 500 miles for every stay at any Swire Hotel in Asia Pacific. Future properties from Swire Hotels will include a luxury hotel opening in Pacific Place, Hong Kong next year and a hotel at TaiKoo Hui in Guangzhou opening in 2010. Swire Hotels will also be managing a business hotel called EAST, opening in Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong in 2009, as well as developing a collection of luxury boutique hotels in the city.
Through to Dec. 31 2009, The Conrad Bangkok is offering a special 3Bs (Bed, Breakfast and Broadband Internet) package for travellers. An Executive Room starts from THB 7,800 per room per night. The rates include: daily buffet breakfast, in-room broadband Internet access, a complimentary THB 1,500 spa voucher, and 15 per cent discount on food and beverage at participating restaurants and bars.
