TAT offering new tours for transit passengers is a post from: Thai Hotels

SPECIAL TOURS FOR TRANSFER PASSENGERS AT SUVARNABHUMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Transfer passengers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport making a stopover of 12 hours or less will soon be able to take short “appetiser” tours of the Thai capital and its environs in order to whet their appetites to return later for “main course” tours.

To be inaugurated on 1 June, 2009 by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chairman Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, the “Package Tour for Transfer Passengers” project is being organised by TAT together with the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Airports of Thailand, Ministry of Transport, Immigration Department and Thai Airways International. It will be effective until 31 May, 2011.

The facility will allow thousands of daily air passengers with time to spare between connecting flights to take a wide variety of tours in Bangkok and surrounding areas. As an incentive to take the tours, they will not be required to pay the 500-Baht airport tax, upon re-checking in for their onward flights.

TAT Chairman Weerasak commented, “The campaign will give transfer passengers a chance to enjoy a brief tour of the Thai capital and nearby provinces. By giving them a quick first impression, we hope to encourage them to come back for a longer stay in future.”

“Certainly, the money they spend during this whirlwind transfer will go some way towards helping some of our travel and tourism enterprises, especially small- and medium-sized companies, and keeping Thai people in jobs,” Mr Weerasak said.

ATTA has been appointed the sole official organiser of the tours, which are of about four hours duration each.

Information on the tours will be provided to all transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport through a number of in-flight collaterals, especially on THAI Airways International aircraft, and in the transfer halls.

Passengers keen to join the tours will need to follow these simple procedures:

* Check whether their stopover time is enough to take any of the tours (not over 12 hours), and then select the appropriate one. Full tour programme details including costs, travel times to and from the airport will be provided.

* Contact either of the two tour counters that will be set up on both sides of the Transfer Hall and fill in the application form requesting an exemption of the airport tax.

* Tour counter officials will assist the passengers with all immigration formalities and take them to join the selected tours.

* After the tour, guides will take the passengers back to the airport for their departure flight and help them with immigration formalities.

List of interesting tour packages:

* Klong Tour
Take a boat ride to the Thonburi canals, discover a part of Bangkok that remains the “Venice of the East”.

* Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha
Tour the Royal Palace complex which is still used for ceremonial occasions. Thailand’s most superb royal temple with some of the finest murals in Asia.

* Shopping Paradise
Enjoy the prime shopping area at Central Chidlom, CentralWorld, Zen, Siam Paragon, or MBK Shopping Complex. On the return to the airport, stop to visit the Gemopolis jewellery factory.

* Massage & Spa
Relax with the Thai traditional massage package, followed by a Thai herbal hot compress massage and aromatherapy full body oil massage.

* Golf Tour
Experience the high standard of golf courses nearby Suvarnabhumi International Airport such as, Kiarti Thanee Country Club, Summit Windmill Golf Club, etc.

* Erawan Museum and Crocodile Farm
The Erawan, the three-head elephant is the vehicle of the Hindu God Indra. The museum houses a collection of antiques and contributes to the preservation of yjr Thai cultural heritage. Many of these are priceless objects of art. Proceed to the world largest crocodile farm. Over 60,000 crocodiles of different kinds in various pits. Watch a live demonstration of crocodiles being caught bare-handed and enjoy the elephant show.

* Siam Ocean World
Billed as the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, with world standard exhibits and features.

* Siam Niramit
One of the world’s largest theatres stages a lavish production exploring the cultural heritage and beliefs of the Thai people.

The prices will include an air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking guide, and admission and tour expenses as mention in the programme. Golf tours will include transport, green fees, and caddy fees.

According to the Airports of Thailand, the number of transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport totalled 1.5 million (-9.79%) in 2008 and 446,997 passengers during January-April 2009, a decline of 9.29%.

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TAT provides accommodation assistance to stranded passengers is a post from: Thai Hotels

The following is a press release issued by The Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) provides assistance to the stranded passengers.

Bangkok, Thailand, 27 November, 2008 – Due to the Airports of Thailand (AoT)’s suspension of services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, all inbound and outbound flights were cancelled since 04.00 hrs. during 25-26 November 2008, causing inconvenience to over 3,000 passengers. The stranded passengers who fly with THAI have been accommodated by Thai Airways International.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and Thai Hotels Association (THA) transferred the remaining stranded passengers to the following hotels:

1. Regent Suvarnabhumi Hotel
Address: 30/1 – 32/1 Soi Ladkrabung 22, Ladkrabung District, Bangkok 10520
Tel: 02-326-7138-43
Contact person: Khun Pitchaya (Tel: 081-255-4833)

2. Twin Towers Hotel
Address: 88 New Rama 6 Rd. Rongmuang, Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330
Tel: 02-216-9555-6
Contact person: Khun Nalinee (Tel: 085-075-9998)
Khun Watchirachai (Tel: 081-831-5554)

3. IBIS Hotel
Address: 5 Soi Ramkhamhaeng 15, Ramkhamhaeng Rd., Bangkok 10240
Tel: 02-308-7888
Contact person: Khun Duangkamol (Tel: 089-892-4851)

4. Eastin Hotel
Address: 1091/343 New Petchburi Road, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400
Tel: 02-651-7600
E-mail: info@eastinbangkokhotel.com
Contact person: Khun Isada (Tel: 081-692-1919)
Khun Niti (Tel: 081-207-0970)

5. The Centric Ratchada
Address: 502/29 Soi Yuchroen, Asoke-Dindaeng Road, Dindang, Bangkok 10400
Tel: 02-246-0909
E-mail: info@centricratchada.com

6. Ambassador Hotel Bangkok
Address: 171 Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok 10110
Tel: 02-254-0444
E-mail: info@amtel.com

Besides the above, the Rose Garden Riverside Hotel at Petchkasem Road, Sampran, Nakhon Pathom (Tel: +66 34-322-544, +66 34-322-545, +66 34-322-588) has announced welcoming the stranded passengers stay with the hotel during 26-27 November 2008. Also, the Hotel Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok at Phaholyothin Road has been welcoming their guests, who just checked out from the hotel and cannot fly to their home country due to the temporary closure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, back to the hotel without charges.

On the basis of assistance, for tourists and travellers who cannot travel to their destination as of 25 November, 2008, till the airport reopens, TAT and Ministry of Tourism and Sports have provided accommodation and meals, as well as facilitated tourists as much as possible until they are able to return to their destination. For more information regarding accommodation, please contact the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) ( Tel: +66 2 237- 6064 – 8, +66 2 632-7400 – 2), as well as the following Hotlines:
- 1414 : Ministry of Tourism and Sports
- 1672 : Tourism Authority of Thailand
- 1155 : Tourist Police

On the other hand, for any tourist whose visa has expired since 26 November, 2008, till the airport reopens, there will be no penalty or charge for overstay from the Immigration Bureau. However, tourists must show their original tickets to avoid being charged.

International Public Relations Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Fax: 662 253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th

For questions or more details, please contact the author of the press release at TAT at the following email address.

TourismUpdate@tat.or.th

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