The government has set aside 63.5 million baht to launch the "Roi Dieo Thieo Thua Thai" or "Visit Thailand With 100 Baht" campaign.
The programme will allow 40,000 people to pay 100 baht for a choice of tourism products and services including hotels, resorts, airlines, spa and man-made attractions, according to the Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
The campaign is scheduled to launch on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's website (tourismthailand.org) next month. The registration will be available on only four days during the months of November to December. The first date is expected to be announced soon. Only 10,000 people will be allowed to join the campaign per day.
The government expects the measure can encourage people to spend more during the end of this year.
The "Visit Thailand With 100 Baht" campaign is the second programme of the government's economic stimulus measures after the popular 1,000 baht cash handout. Ten million people registered their names via the campaign's website within 13 days.
The government will announce more economic stimulus measures including the "Shocking Price Weekday Travel" campaign to offer up to 70% discount on tourism packages next month. The aim is to encourage people, especially senior citizens, to travel from Monday to Friday.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Thai Smile will launch direct flights from Bangkok to two cities in India.
The first destination is Ahmedabad. The airline will start the service on Oct 28 and will be available four times a week on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The airline will fly with Airbus A320-200 featuring 12 Premium Economy seats and 150/156 Economy seats.
The outbound flight will depart from Suvarnabhumi at 8.30pm and will arrive in Ahmedabad at 11.55pm. The inbound flight will take off at 12.55am and will arrive in Bangkok at 6.55am. The travel time is about five hours.
The second destination is Varanasi. The airline will start the service on Nov 18. It will fly three times a week on every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
The flight will depart from Bangkok at 2.10pm and will arrive in Varanasi at 4.20pm. The return flight will depart at 5.20pm and will arrive in Bangkok at 10.25pm. The flying time is three hours and 40 minutes.
To promote the flight to Varanasi, the airline offers all inclusive one-way ticket fares starting at 6,095 baht. The promotion will last until Oct 16 for a travelling period from Nov 18 to Jan 31.
Visit thaismileair.com.
- Thai VietJet Air has launched direct flights between Bangkok and Taichung in Taiwan.
The flight departs from Suvarnabhumi airport at 9am and the arrival time in Taichung is 1.45pm. The return flight departs from Taichung airport at 2.40pm and will arrive in Bangkok at 5.15pm. The travel time is three hours and 35 minutes.
The service is available until the end of November.
The airline also launches "Priority Check-in" service, allowing passengers to board their flights before others. The cost is 140 baht per flight.
Visit vietjetair.com.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATE
- Avani Hotels & Resorts announced an Instagram competition to win a five-night stay for two at brand new Avani+ Samui.
Guests of Avani hotels worldwide can participate in the photo contest by sharing their favourite pictures from the hotels or within 160km of any Avani hotel or resort and tagged #AvaniLovesTravel on the Instagram posts.
The last day for posting the pictures is Oct 31. Six lucky Instagram posters will be selected at random. One will be the winner and the rest will be the five runners-up.
The winner will receive a package of five-night stay for two at Avani+ Samui, daily breakfast, island-hopping trip and round-trip airport transfers. The five runners-up will win a voucher for a two-night stay at any Avani of their choosing excluding air tickets.
Avani has about 20 properties in Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, the Seychelles, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal.
Visit avanihotels.com/en/instagram-contest.
- TraveLodge, the United Kingdom-based budget hotel, will open a hotel in Chiang Mai.
Called TraveLodge Nimman Chiang Mai, the hotel will feature 406 rooms, restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre.
Located on Nimmanhaemin Road, the property will start to welcome guests in 2021.
Visit travelodgehotels.asia.
- Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed a contract with Taisei Corporation and Kanden Realty & Development to launch CentaraGrand Hotel Osaka. It will be the first Centara branded property in Japan, the 14th country in its portfolio. The tower with 34 storeys will feature 515 rooms, a lounge on the top floor, rooftop restaurant with sky bar, Spa Cenvaree and banquet facilities.
The hotel is scheduled to open in mid-2023.
Visit CentaraHotelsResorts.com.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
