Thai Air Asia offers “Knock-0ut Sale 2007″

Thai AirAsia has introduced its “Knock-Out Sale 2007″, offering extremely low airfares starting at Bt55 for domestic routes and Bt255 for international routes

Interested persons may reserve seats online at www.airasia.com. The booking date for tickets is today to November 18 for travel from next January 8 to March 31. 

“From now to March is a peak season for travel in Thailand. Thai AirAsia is giving low airfares, the better to serve the travel needs of domestic and international passengers. Air travel no longer remains unaffordable, because now everyone can fly with Thai AirAsia,” said CEO Tassapon Bijleveld.

In a related development, ThaiAir Asia is acquiring its 11th aircraft about the middle of next month, enabling it to increase its flights to selected destinations and thereby enhance its services for both domestic and international passengers. Starting on December 15, Thai AirAsia flights from Bangkok will increase to five times daily to Phuket, three to Krabi, six to Hat Yai and six to Kuala Lumpur.

Next month’s aircraft acquisition is part of Thai AirAsia’s plan to expand its fleet of aircraft next year. Thai AirAsia, which expects to carry 6 million passengers this year, is aiming at 8 million passengers next year.

Thai AirAsia currently flies domestic routes to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Narathiwat, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. International destinations include Phnom Penh, Macau, Xiamen, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Rangoon, Singapore and Hanoi.

Source: www.nationalmultimedia.com

Add comment November 7th, 2006

Special Tourism Awards Favorite Attractions 2006

Awards are given to 8 most popular attractions in Asia presented in conjunction with the Asia Travel and Tourism Creative Awards 2006 jointly orgnaized by Corporate Media Services Pte Ltd., Travel Discovery Channel and Reader’s Digest. Winners were determined by responses from tourists and tour operators in the Asia Pacific region who participated in the survey.

Winners are:

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Halong Bay, Vietnam
Sydney Bridge Climb, New South Wales, Australia
The Great New Zealand Touring Route, New Zealand
Orchard Road, Singapore
The Royal Reglaia Museum, Bandar Seri Bengawan, Brunei
Boracay Beach, Kalibo, Aklan, The Philippines

Source: www.tourismthailand.org

Add comment November 7th, 2006

Recommended sites to visit at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006

MOST recommended site to visit first will be The Royal Pavilion. A truly manificent Royal Pavilion constructed in the exquisite Lanna architectural style. The Royal Pavilion is located right in the heart of the event site housing exhibits related to His Majesty the King’s work and dedication. Designed to be the center of the knowledge, Royal Pavilion is an important element in Royal Flora Expo. With a total area of over 6,000 square meters, the Royal Pavilion has 2 floors and is part wood, part concrete. An exhibition called “An Agricultural King - A Brilliance that Benefits the People” will be housed on the 1st floor.

The 2nd floor of the Royal Pavilion will contain murals depicting activities of His Majesty the King. The murals are being painted by a famous Thai National Artist, Preecha Taothong, who also designed The Royal Virtue Tree, which by the time the exposition ends, will have 21,915 leaves — the number of days His Majesty the King has been on the throne. Each leaf is embossed with one of the Ten Royal Virtues — guidelines based on the teachings of the Lord Buddha that have been observed by Thai kings for generations. These virtues are meant to bring about good and just government, and include integrity, sacrifice, compassion and kindness.

There are three tiers of leaves, each with a different color. The leaves on the bottom tier are a coppery red, and relate to the time when His Majesty had recently acceded to the throne and began taking an interest in agricultural matters. The leaves in the middle are golden, symbolizing the time when his projects started to yield successful results and improve peoples’ lives. The leaves on the upper tier are the color of platinum, and symbolize the present day sixty years since His Majesty’s accession.

Residents of Thailand will be able to pay tribute to His Majesty the King by making a contribution of 999 baht (approximately USD 24). Each contributor will get one leaf to help complete the Royal Virtue Tree, and will receive a certificate as a memento of their contribution.

Another most-visited zone in the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 is the international garden zone featuring flora from 33 countries. The gardens from the countries of Bhutan, Japan, China, The Netherlands, Belgium and Laos seem to be the most crowded site.

“The Himalayan Garden of Peace” by Bhutan has won the 3rd prize from 33 countries participating in the International Horticulture Exhibition the “Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006″ at Chiang Mai during November 01 2006-January 31 2006.

The garden consists of boundary wall with carvings of the Eight Lucky signs, Geykars and main gate with Bhutanese carvings; chukhor mani dedicated for the long life and good health of Thai King and Peace on Earth; a sangthap; a bridge of friendship with the carvings of Blue poppy, Ratchaphruek, the Royal Flora of Thailand and Thuenpa Puen zhi, and a resting pavilion. The Garden also displays diversity of fruit and aromatic plants and orchids from Bhutan.

Pictures from www.nationalmultimedia.com , www.manager.co.th, Ministry of Agricultural, Bhutan

Add comment November 7th, 2006