The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the TAT Newsroom Blogger Thailand 2019 competition.
Applicants must reside outside the Kingdom and must have an active blog plus at least one main social media account. Contents can be photos, vlogs or blogs about Thailand and must cover one of the TAT's "Amazing Thailand Open To The New Shades" categories. For those who have never visited Thailand, their content can be about experienced-based impressions.
The content categories include gastronomy, nature and beach, arts and crafts, culture and way of life. The last date for submissions is Jan 31.
Six most outstanding entries will each win one port-to port return air ticket and a five-day trip to explore Bangkok, Phuket and Phangnga.
Two of the six winners will be selected by popular votes while other four winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and the TAT Newsroom team.
Visit http://tatnews.org/bloggerthailand.
Airlines forecast increased profits
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts the global airline industry net profit to be US$35.5 billion (1.1 trillion baht) in 2019, slightly ahead of the US$32.3 billion (1 trillion baht) expected net profit in 2018.
The factors driving the growth will be lower oil prices and solid economic growth. IATA also forecasts that the number of passengers will increase from 4.34 billion in 2018 to 4.59 billion this year. Passenger traffic is expected to grow 6% from last year. Passenger revenues are expected to reach US$606 billion (19.7 trillion baht), up from US$564 billion (18.3 trillion baht) in 2018.
Airlines are expected to contribute US$136 billion (4.4 trillion baht) to government coffers in tax revenues in 2019, a 5.8% increase over 2018.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Thai AirAsia will introduce new flights from Chiang Rai airport.
The first route is Chiang Rai-Macau. The flight will start operation on Jan 30. It will depart Chiang Rai at 8.15am on every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The arrival time in Macau will be 11.35am. The return flight will be at 12.05pm and will arrive Chiang Rai at 2.05pm.
The second route is Chiang Rai-Singapore. The first flight will be available on Jan 30 and the service will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It will depart Chiang Rai at 7.10am and will arrive Singapore at 11.30am. The return flight will be 12.30pm and the arrival time in Chiang Rai will be 2.30pm.
The third route will be Chiang Rai-Kuala Lumpur. The service will be available four times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, starting on Jan 31. The flight will depart Chiang Rai at 3.15pm and the arrival time in Kuala Lumpur will be 7.20pm. The return trip will be 7.50pm and the flight will arrive Chiang Rai at 9.40pm.
Lastly, it will introduce Chiang Rai-Phuket route. The first flight will be on Feb 1. The service will be available on every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight will depart from Chiang Rai at 2.45pm and will arrive Phuket at 4.50pm. The return trip will be at 5.20pm and the flight will arrive Chiang Rai at 7.30pm.
Visit http://airasia.com.
- Bangkok Airways has added another non-stop flight between Bangkok and Mandalay.
The airline flies with Airbus A319 with 144 seats. The new daily service, effective from Jan 1 to April 1, is the evening flight. The departure time at Suvarnabhumi airport is 5pm and arrives Mandalay airport at 6.25pm. The return flight is 7.15pm and the arrival time in Bangkok is 9.40pm.
Visit http://bangkokair.com.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATE
- The US-based Capella Hotel Group will open its first hotel in Thailand.
Capella Bangkok will be located in Chao Phraya Estate, the mixed-use project of Country Group Development. The property is located on a 35.2 rai site on the bank of Chao Phraya River on Charoen Krung Road.
The hotel will have 101 rooms and suites, a restaurant curated by Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, bar, lounge and spa. The hotel is set to open in the first half of this year.
Visit http://capellahotels.com/en/capella-bangkok.
- AccorHotels will launch King Power Mahanakhon Orient Express in Bangkok.
The property with the investment at 100 million baht will be the world's first luxurious Orient Express Hotel. Located in the King Power Mahanakhon Building on Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road, the hotel will feature 154 rooms including nine suites and two penthouses. It will also have two restaurants including Mahanathi by David Thompson who established the Michelin-star restaurants like Nahm in London and Bangkok, a rooftop bar, swimming pool with jacuzzi and spa.
The hotel will be opened in the last quarter of this year.
- Dusit International has soft launched dusitD2 Ao Nang hotel in Krabi.
The hotel features 173 guest rooms and suites with room space starting from 29m² to 60m², meeting rooms including a 200m² ballroom, restaurant, lobby bar, swimming pool with a separate children's pool, fitness centre, spa and children's playground.
