Kuoni India launches luxury packages to Thailand

In association with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in Mumbai, Kuoni India has launched luxury tour packages to Thailand offering various luxury destinations of Thailand including unexplored places like Koh Samui, Krabi, Chaing Mai and Hua Hin. The packages start from Rs. 54,500 per person and include a variety of options of beaches, spas, inland forests and world class hotels. The packages to Thailand include ‘Cultimo’ – a culture based package for short trips and ‘Ananea’ – packages related to responsible and eco-friendly tourism.

Speaking at the launch on Oct 22, Zubin Karkaria, CEO AND Managing Director, Kuoni India and South Asia said, “We have unveiled the luxury packages when the world is facing A global meltdown. I think this is the best time to travel as people are not busy with their business and are upset with their work opportunities. These luxury holidays will definitely make the travellers feel good and fresh.”

Kuoni India had introduced the luxury packages concept way back in 2006 with three destinations and today have about 16 luxury destinations to offer. “We are planning to introduce luxury packages to Egypt, Turkey and Spain by next year. These luxury packages are receiving amazing responses and the segment is growing at almost 25 per cent every year,” added Karkaria.

According to Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Director – India, TATA, a new office will be opened in Mumbai by year end to cater to Southern parts of India along with Maldives and Sri Lanka. “We have seen phenomenal growth since we opened our office in New Delhi five years ago. This year about 5.1 lakh Indians visited Thailand and we expect the figure to touch six lakh for 2009. We expect India and China to propel our growth in tourism.”

Exotissimo Travel opens its Phuket branch

Exotissimo Travel, the leading destination management company in Southeast Asia, has opened its office in Phuket. Besides Phuket, Exotissimo has two other offices in Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

General Manager of Exotissimo Travel Thailand, Edwin Briels said, T”he main reason for Exotissimo to open its own office in Phuket is to be able to offer Exotissimo signature tours on a private basis that will showcase the best of what southern Thailand has to offer and present the real character of Phuket.”

The head of the Phuket office, Operations Manager Christophe Rodriguez said, “Phuket is often deemed by many as a touristy destination, but we beg to differ. On the contrary, this island still has a lot to offer. There are in fact many unexplored pockets in Phuket and the surrounding provinces. We will come up with engaging new tours soon.”

In the coming months, Exotissimo Phuket will develop and operate more Thailand tailor made tours in and around Phuket. The focus will be on individual excursions, either operated by Exotissimo itself or in combination with carefully selected partners to showcase the best of southern Thailand.

Some unique product creations in the pipeline include a sunset cruise on fisherman boat, a comprehensive tour of the local art scene in Phuket, private cooking classes in a beautiful Thai-style bungalow and community-based projects.

Khaosan Road offers cheap accommodation in Thailand

If you have stepped in the land of Thais and are looking for a cheap accommodation, this one is the best place for you. Located at the Banglamphu, Phra Nakhon district in Bangkok, Thailand, Khaosan Road is just a 10-minute walk from Sanam Luang and The Grand Palace. Slowly but steadily, Khaosan Road has become one of Thailand most well-known destinations with relatively cheap accommodation.

Khaosan Road is the scene for “backpackers” looking for cheap hotels or for those who are arranging transport to their next destination in Thailand. There are many direct coaches from Khaosan Road to all major tourist destinations in Thailand.

At night, the street has stalls selling cheap clothes, handicrafts, souvenirs, second-hand books and many other items are useful for backpackers. The lights are turned on at many pubs, bars and restaurants where the travellers tell tales of the days adventures and discoveries and the plans for tomorrow. The pubs and bars found in abundance offer places for tourists where they can enjoy dancing and partying.

Not only with the tourists, Khaosan Road, in recent years, has also become popular among local people. During Songkran festival (Thai New Year) on April 13 to April 15, People wander all the streets with containers of water or water guns and drench each other and passersby.

Now all information on Thailand just a mouse-click away

Now, accessing any information about Thai culture, history, art, tourism and academic research is just a mouse click away for the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has completed “Digitised Thailand,” a project that marks the collaboration of several organisations.

The project has developed Thailand’s national digital archives by collecting and transforming all physical data scattered around the nation into digital form and allowing people at all levels to gain access to an enormous wealth of knowledge at any time and from anywhere over the Internet.

“The content goes beyond what have seen in video or audio content and Nectec will not cover the entertainment area, but will focus on knowledge-based content,” Nectec director Dr Pansak Siriruchatapong said.

The three-year project, which will be run from now until 2010, will start by collecting Thai-based data available on the Internet and will put it into the archive which concentrates on mainly five spheres of Thailand, namely, knowledge, language, culture, history and tribes. Apart from this, Nectec has also developed an encyclopaedia and dictionaries such as Thai-Japanese, Thai-Lanna and Thai-Malayoo so far.

In addition, Nectec has conducted pilot projects to develop digital content, starting by collecting data and knowledge related to Thai herbs under a project called “Knowledge Unifying Initiator for Herbal Information” (KUIHerb). This will be a herbal information resource that includes information about local medicines, photos, videos, medicine recipes and prescriptions and information about poisonous substances.

Dr Virach said, “We hope that once Thai-based data is converted and put into the digital archive, the country will have an enormous database that can be developed into sustainable knowledge and this will be invaluable information source, which will not only stimulate Thais to improve their self-learning but preserve Thai culture and offer new opportunities for business development.”

Koh Kong has more to offer than casinos

At the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) workshop on biodiversity conservation and tourism development in Bangkok, Mayuda Mang, deputy chief of the Tourism Department of Koh Kong, reminded the tourists that the 11,000 sq km province of Koh Kong had a wide variety of tourist attractions apart from its casino.

“Koh Kong is home to the country’s largest mangrove areas and we still have several small pristine islands eligible for ecotourism development,” said Ms Mayuda.

Though, situations have been tense between Thailand and Cambodia, Mayuda said Koh Kong and the opposite province of Trat have remained on good neighbourly terms. Trat has sent experts to help Koh Kong villagers preserve mangrove forests, said Ms Mayuda, adding: “We appreciate that cooperation and would like to see deepened collaboration on nature conservation in our country.”

However, she conceded that Road No 48, which was jointly opened by then-deputy prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, with a bridge linking the Thai border to Koh Kong and on to Phnom Penh, would inevitably attract all kinds of investors, traders and gamblers to Cambodia. The owners of the casino projects are Thais and Cambodians and gamblers come not only from Thailand, but also from China and Taiwan, as well as a few locals.

Phi Phi Don voted among Top 100 World Destinations?

Phi Phi Don in Krabi was voted as one of the Top 100 World Destinations on www.tripadvisor.com, a tourism website owing to its virgin natural beauty and tranquility winning the 82nd rank. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Krabi Director Pornprapa Lorsuwan is overwhelmed and said tourists voted through this website which has over 25 million visitors per month. Phi Phi Don ranked 5th in the top 25 for Asia Tourist Destinations. Other Thai destinations which were also rated in the top 25 included Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pha-Ngan Island, Koh Tao in Surat Thani and Krabi province itself, which ranked 25th.

Join the 12th Aerobics marathon for AIDS infected

Here is one event which brings charity and enjoyment jointly. Bangkok’s famous 34 storey Amari Watergate hotel’s Hatch Fitness centre is all set to host their fun filled annual ‘12th Aerobics Marathon for Aids Charity”. Purely aimed at encouraging people to make donations for the education of children whose parents have passed away due to HIV infection and HIV infected orphans, this 3-hour aerobics marathon will be led by fitness experts like Bankchart Kaewchompoo, Jirayu Somyoo, Ladda Pramote, Yodchai Ymmakup, and more.

The hotel’s Ballroom situated on the 8th floor, which will witness the event on the 28th of September, 2008, is being done up in style. Part of the proceeds which will be raised during the entire event will be distributed to ‘Chalerm Prakiat HRH Princess Sirindhorn School’ and the second beneficiary ‘Baan Gerda Children’s Project’, an Aids orphanage in Nongmuang, Lop Buri.

With more than 900 participants, who participated enthusiastically last year, the no. is bound to increase manifold for the 12th Aerobics Marathon. What’s more is that there will be various competitions like best female & male dancer, the most creative costume and the team with most participants. You can win grand prizes for your ardent moves!

If this really sounds interesting to you, then you still have the time to chip in. The tickets for the event are priced at 300 Bahts and are available with the reception desk of Amari Watergate Hotel’s Clark Hatch Fitness Center, on the 8th floor. So go ahead and prove your mettle!