Gear up for the upcoming festivals and events around Thailand

This annual event, Butterfly Watching will take place at Impact Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani from June 3 to 7 which will bring together wealth of sales and marketing. The showcase is divided into different zones, among them are Gourmet Tourism, Rustic Thailand, Health & Spa, Adventure and Eco Tourism.

The annual “Amari Watergate Hotel & BMW Thailand Charity Midnight Run” will kick off at midnight at Amari Watergate Hotel on Phetchaburi Road and continue through the city’s streets. Southeast Asia’s unofficial nightlife capital, will host the Charity Midnight Run on October 10, and the good news is that you don’t have to be the fastest to have fun.

The rainy season is here, and it’s about time to swap your summer sandals for hiking shoes. The butterfly watching season in Sa Kaew coincides with the fruit picking season in the eastern provinces, so don’t forget to stop off on your way back and stock up with your favorites. Pangsida National Park in Sa Kaew, beckons the butterfly-watchers to pitch up their tents in the park, more than 400 butterfly species can easily be captured for posterity even with the camera.

Thai spa is the latest craze in global spa trend

We all know that today’s consumers are savvy. They are well-educated, know the benefits of total-body wellness and are buying into the spa experience. The new trend touched on consumer behavior and found that people wanted “pampering” in order to stay healthy and look good, and that they generally were knowledgeable and demanding about spa services. “Thai spa” does not mean only traditional Thai massage to relieve symptoms or restore health; it means holistic health care too. The country prides itself in countless spas offering the highest world-class services. Herbs also play an important role in the Thai spa industry today and Thai massage, that helps relax tense muscles and stimulate blood circulation.

Thailand’s Department of Export Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce is organizing the Thailand health and beauty show 2009 at the Royal Paragon Hall Exhibition & Convention Centers, Siam Paragon shopping complex from June 5-7 and it will coincide with the launch of Thai Spa Day 2009 as a parallel main event. It will give rise to many related businesses such as spas, weight-reduction, Thai traditional massage, private hospitals, dentistry, herbal medicine, food supplements and cosmetics.

Thai spas are not only quantity, but also quality. The success of Thai spas lies in the beauty of Thai culture which cannot be copied anywhere else. Growth in the spa business also depends on the creative services, new opportunities in new markets, and the ability to create new trends to answer lifestyle needs with value-for-money services. The highlight of Thailand HBS 2009 will be Thai Spa Day 2009, will be a one-stop service center for sourcing, services, products, and franchises in the health and beauty business.

Despite the global economic downturn, there is a growth with the spa business outlook in Thailand. Apart from serving tourists and foreign visitors, it focuses more on Thai customers. That’s why the association has been organizing more spa promotion activities to create new markets, while at the same time working with travel agents to increase our customer base.

Thailand remains the best value destination

Thailand’s biggest tourism market is still UK, more than any other country outside of Asia, with nearly about one million British nationals entering the country each year.

Thailand is  is back and offers business event opportunities that are un-rivaled in Asia.  Thailand Conventions and Exhibitions Bureau bring with its 15 stakeholders from Thailand’s Meetings industry for hotels and convention centers to tourism. This ensures that Thailand is both safe, functioning and remains one of the best value destinations in Asia.

TCEB Meetings and Incentives Director, Mrs. Malinee Kitaphanich, said that Thailand visits form a part of the government’s investment and tourism restoration policy, being known as Thailand Moving Forward policy. TCEB has formulated the latest promotion to encourage small size of meeting and incentives from Europe, for campaign that aims to boost up the number of small groups meetings by 2009. This is to maintain its role to entice international visitors back to the country with all benefits that make Thailand a fantastic value destination for Meetings and Incentives.

Other similar packages have been launched. “Bring More Enjoy More” visitor promotion is aimed to bring more delegates from the region to attend conventions held in Thailand. Further TCEB will participate in 11 trade shows and more than 10 road shows this year, to promote the country’s Meetings industry and to restore Thailand to its rightful place in the business event world.

Bhundari – The luxurious Spa Resort in Thailand

Bhundhari Spa Resort & Villas Samui hotel Koh Samui is the ultimate tropical island getaway, that you must have dreamed of, a luxurious resort with privacy and without the distractions of being surrounded by families, where you could live right on the beach and simply wallow in the attractions of your natural surroundings and the fine service that the resort offered. Bhundhari means Lotus or Water Lily which is the religious flower of Buddhism which can be found around our resort. The four star hotel is actually a spa inspired by traditional southern Thai house in architecture.

The location of the hotel is quite favorable for peace and relaxation that demands of luxuries spa provided foe couples, families and children. With its 124 deluxe rooms and villas is built on a scale that allows privacy. There is lots of space in the rooms, the deluxe rooms start at 42 sq m, while the villas start at 48 sq m. Each room and villa has its own private terrace or patio, while the larger villas offer the choice of a private pool or a Jacuzzi on the sun-deck. Therefore been developed for this concept, and now that the resort is fully open it is being marketed to the adult sector, to honeymooners and to couples and individuals who want to get away for a quiet celebration and vacation, says Mr Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Central Hotels and Resorts.

The hotel amenities at this luxury hotel also feature number of recreational facilities for the leisure of the guests. There are some other hotel amenities too like baby sitting service, car rental service, children pool, doctor on call, Internet access, tour desk, etc.

Celebrating the Vesak day festival in Thailand

The Day of Vesak, or Visakha Puja, is the celebration, the birth enlightenment and passing away of the Lord Buddha. It falls on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month of Vesak, which falls in May 8 this year. About 2,000 Buddhist leaders from all over the world have joined an International Buddhist Conference on the United Nations Day of Vesak in Thailand. The Day of Vesak was first celebrated during the Sukhothai period. An extraordinary aspect of the occasion is that the three incidents took place on the same day but different years.

The General Assembly of the United Nations took into consideration the fact that Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest religions. The Buddha taught mutual loving-kindness and forbearance for the sake of peace and happiness in society. Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 35 and passed away at the age of 80. He spent 45 years propagating his principle of freedom from suffering. This still continues to make, a significant contribution to human spirituality, and therefore as a consequence, sixteen Buddhist countries jointly agreed to organize activities on the Day of Vesak at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, U.S.A. from 2000 onwards. In this way Buddhism began to make its way into Thailand. Buddhism gained wide acceptance because of its emphasis on tolerance and individual initiative, which complemented the Thais’ cherished sense of inner freedom.

At present, Thailand is the location of the headquarters of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, an international Buddhist organization which promotes coordination and cooperation to enhance Buddhism throughout the world. There are currently around 32,700 Buddhist monasteries and more than 350,000 monks across the country.

Thailand – The City’s Most Popular Western Restaurant

The most popular restaurant for western food in Bangkok is, The Bourbon street. It is probably the most popular restaurant in Bangkok with expats and tourists. It lies on Sukhumvit in downtown Bangkok. Its best thing about the restaurant is the ambience and the atmosphere which gives a cozy and friendly feeling, with burnt orange walls, very comfy rattan and leather fabulous furniture and subdued lighting. They also have a pretty area outside stocked full of huge leafy plants, where you can wait if your table isn’t ready. This is a perfect place to have western food and mind relaxation with its atmosphere. Its bar area is comparatively nice, where you can really hang out.

Thailand’s Bourbon street is really unbelievable, and just not worth missing. Bourbon Street is American owned and operated (a rarity in Thailand) and serves authentic Cajun, Creole and Mexican food in a very cool atmosphere. Food arrives quite quickly, it’s still piping hot. Bourbon Street is also always packed full of people every time for its goodness and delicious food. Even the staffs are the most efficient staffs of any other restaurant. They are so friendly and sweet, which is actually a given in Thailand but that doesn’t usually come with efficiency too!

Coronation Day – a special event in Thailand

In Bangkok, the Coronation day is celebrated every year for his Majesty king Bhumibol Adulyadej. He was crowned as Rama, the ninth King of Chakri dynasty on 5th may 1950. This event includes commemorative sport, dance, gun salutes and other cultural events across Bangkok. On this event, there are religious rites that last for three days.

On the very first day (3 may) there is a Buddhist ceremony at Amarindra Vinichai Hall, in which scriptures are chanted and a sermon is delivered by a high monk. On the second day, the ceremony includes two pars-  a Brahmanic one and a Buddhist one.

The last third day is Coronation day, in which the king is dressed in full regalia, and a feast is given to Buddhist monks. They hear their Royal Thai Army and Navy each fire a salute of 21 guns. This day is very special and is enjoyed by the Civilians.

Thailand’s world comedy film festival

Thailand will host the World Comedy Film Festival,which will be sponsored by The Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT) under the helm of the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand which will feature more than 50 comedy films, will run from 23 – 29 April, 2009, at Siam Paragon Cineplex and SF World Cinema at Central World. The first in Asia this April, will follow the success of the Bangkok International Film Festival, in an effort to position Thailand as the film industry hub of Asia and also to help boost the country’s tourism industry.

Thailand has long been known as the Land of Smiles. Laughter’s Beyond Frontier is the theme of this maiden comedy film festival in Bangkok, with an international array of films from such countries as the USA, UK, Italy, France, Germany, South Africa, Poland and Asian movies from Iran, Kazakhstan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Taiwan, as well as the host country Thailand. The film fest will feature 20 films from the World Cinema category, 20 movies from Asian Cinema, and 10 Thai comedies plus 5 classics.

This is the first time that the Comedian Association, the Federation of National Film Associations, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand are working together in close cooperation to showcase the local prowess of comedy acts in films and other kinds of media.

Explore the island of Koh Lanta in Thailand

Koh Lanta consists of 52 islands including the largest, Koh Lanta Yai. It’s located approximately 70 kilometres from Krabi town. It is yet a comparatively unexplored island and offers complete peace and quiet away from the bustling tourist areas. Its unique scenic beauty which is mountainous and rugged in some areas, especially near the southern tip, its green forested hills, gravel and sand beaches, pretty coral reefs, clear emerald water and traditional lifestyle, provide a charming retreat from modern life.

Only 20,000 people live on Lanta including a clan of Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsies. This distinct ethnic group still follows its traditional customs and culture earning their living from rubber, prawn farming and fishing. Traditional houses and friendly faces still remain.

There is reasonably good snorkeling all along the west coast of Koh Lanta where coral and reef fish can be found, usually the best spots are around the rocks at either end of each beach.

Koh Lanta Dive operators have close access to the dive sites at Koh Phi Phi, Ko Ha, Ko Rok, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Dive sites tend to reflect the scenery and marine life of the area with names like Shark Point, Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser Wreck, all within easy reach of dive operators based in Ko Lanta. Pinnacles Hin Deang and Hin Muang often play host to manta rays and whale sharks and are considered to be two of the best dive sites in Thailand.

If you want to explore the island, hire a car, rent a bike, or better still go with a local guide. Tours are available giving you an insight into the local area, stopping at rubber plantations, taking a short kayaking tour through the mangroves and visiting local sea gypsy villages.

CKA plans to build a movie town in Chiang Mai

CKA Chiang Mai Company Limited is located in Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai and is a subsidiary of the Los Angles-based entertainment firm Creative Kingdom Inc. The company has planned to invest 8.0 billion baht (220 million U.S. dollars) to build a movie town in Chiang Mai, “Chiangmaiwood”, and hopes that it would be able to surpass Hong Kong as the Asian hub of the movie industry.

The construction of this movie town on a 12-acre site in San Kamphaeng district will take an estimated seven years and by 2014 six studios of varying sizes would be available for different scales of movie productions, as quoted by Eduardo Robles, CEO of the company.

The project would officially be announced on June 19 this year, while movie producers and directors across the globe would be invited to see the business potential.

Chiang Mai has been chosen because of its good location and traffic, and also because the production costs are about 20 percent lower than those in rival locations, while the company has also received tax incentives from Thailand’s Board of Investment.

Delivery of first Rolls-Royce car to Thailand

As Dr Nikorn Hongsrisook, a prominent Thai businessman based in Bangkok and the President of Gems Gallery International Manufacturer Ltd, received his Phantom Extended Wheelbase car from Rolls-Royce Asia-Pacific Regional Director, Colin Kelly, this was the first delivery from Rolls-Royce to Thailand. The delivery of the car was supported by AAS Auto Service Co., Ltd.

At the handover ceremony, Colin Kelly said, “It is a great pleasure to be able to deliver this first car into Thailand to such an appreciative customer and automotive enthusiast. We look forward to being able to deliver more Rolls-Royce cars to customers in Thailand, in a market where we believe there is growing demand for ultra-luxury motor cars.”

Dr Nikorn Hongsrisook who was undoubtedly beaming said, “As a person who is truly fascinated with super-luxury cars, Phantom is a very special car which I have always aspired to own. I feel very proud to have become the owner of the first Phantom in Thailand”.

Dr Nikorn specified that the bespoke features of his car should include a Diamond Black exterior and an interior finished with piano black wood and contrast stitching. Amongst other Bespoke features, the car comes with the award-winning starlight headlining, an optional feature that incorporates 800 fine fiber optics in the ceiling, creating the impression of a star-filled night sky. Dr Nikorn’s car was built at the state-of-the-art Rolls-Royce Motor Cars manufacturing facility in Goodwood, West Sussex, England.

Koh Samui has seen a recent development in tourism

Koh Samui along with 40 other unpopulated islands makes up the Ang-Thong Archipelago, a chain of islands north-east of Surat Thani. Since the construction of the airport on Koh Samui, this island has seen a steep rise in the number of tourists. One can also take a bus from Surat Thani to Dan Sak and from here boat to Koh Samui. The best time to visit Koh Samui is between February and April, as in the following months the Gulf of Thailand is subject to heavy monsoon storms.

The chief town of the island is Nathon where there are fine beaches and some hotel and villa complexes. Other beaches with reasonable accommodation are Ao Maenam, Ao Bo Phut (with an enormous statue of Buddha), Ao Cherngmon, Chaweng Noi Beach and Chaweng Yai Beach (the two longest beaches on Koh Samui). Motorcycles and bicycles can be rented and are a good way of exploring the island.

The fishing villages in Koh Samui together with coconut and durian plantations and waterfalls hidden in the dense jungle among the 600-m (1968-ft) high mountains are the main attractions of this island. Besides, Koh Samui offers every kind of water sport: diving, snorkeling, windsurfing. It is advisable to check that the diving school belongs to one of the two international associations that regulate the safety standards of the equipment and quality of instruction.

Marriott International launches Courtyard at two hotels in Phuket

Marriott International has launched the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Patong Beach and by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach in Phuket, Thailand. The 390 room Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Patong Beach looks quite promising with room amenities, such as flat screen TVs, DVD players and high speed Internet. Again, the 180 room all-suite Courtyard by Marriott Phuket at Kamala Beach offers one, two and three bedroom options, with kitchenettes, private balconies and living rooms.

Both these properties have a lot to offer to their visitors including the MoMo Café, an all day restaurant that combines local cuisine with western favourites, KIDSWORLD, which offers toys, activities and entertainment for children of all ages and many more amenities.

The company is operating both hotels under a management agreement with Destination Properties Company, Limited. Sigrid Stelling is General Manager for Patong, while Lutz Mueller is General Manager in Kamala.

The shirts war on Valentine’s Day

The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in yellow shirts plans to hold its “PAD Caravan for New Politics” concert at a public park in the Northeastern province on Saturday, the Valentine’s Day. In the meantime, the red shirts plan to gather at a temple in Bangkok’s Don Muang district on Saturday. The red shirts belong to Udon Thani – people who support ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s bid to make a political comeback.

The Udon Thani governor chaired a meeting of senior officials from state agencies Thursday (12 Feb) in a bid to prevent serious incidents during the concert by ‘yellow shirts’. The PAD concert’s venue, a park, was the site of a violent clash last year when hundreds of red shirts stormed a political rally organised by the PAD.

Amnat Phakarat, governor of Udon Thani, said that strict safety measures would be taken to prevent any undesirable happening during the concert. The concert area will be sealed off Friday, one day before the event, for bomb searches. More than 1,400 police officers, including a crowd-control unit, will be involved in keeping law and order. Military staff will also be available to help police. Health personnel and ambulances will be on standby in case of emergency. He said officials were ordered not to use force with protesters but that “necessary measures” would be taken if the protest turned violent or protesters attempted to break into government offices.

Also, local leaders of the red shirts and yellow shirts assured him that no violent incident would take place.

Phra Viharn National Park opened for visitors

This one comes as the first sigh of relief with Thailand and Cambodia coming to peaceful terms with each other regarding the Preah Vihar temple issue. Phra Viharn National Park that has been closed for the past seven months because of a border dispute has been reopened by the authorities. Phra Vihran National Park in Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province, 350 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, had been closed to the public since July 14, 2008.

‘It’s an arrangement at the local level,’ Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said. ‘We’re letting the local people try it to see how smoothly it goes.’

However, the park visitors will not be permitted to cross the border into Cambodia to see Preah Vihear temple, a 11th-century Hindu monument perched on a 525-metre-high cliff on the Dongrak mountain range that defines the Thai-Cambodian border.