Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai has now reopened to the public, but only 1,200 at a time.
Visitors are required to make a reservation via the QueQ mobile app. When they arrive at the park, they need to check-in with the government's Thai Chana app. Each attraction inside the park also has a quota limit. The Doi Inthanon royal project allows up to 200 visitors per time; Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Nophamethanidon allows 150 visitors; and Ban Mae Klang Luang 50 visitors.
Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail remains close and will be open on Nov 1.
Visit facebook.com/DoiInthanonNationalPark
Recycled paving bricks in Wat Umong
Wat Umong in Chiang Mai is the first temple in the North to use colourful recycled paving blocks for its temple ground.
The project was initiated by Asst Prof Wechsawan Lakas, a lecturer at the Industrial Technology Department of the Science and Technology Faculty of Chiang Mai Rajabhat University. He introduced the Green Road project years ago to reduce single-use plastic bags.
Last week, dozens of volunteers joined the Green Road project to help make the recycled bricks at the temple ground. Each recycled brick is made of single-use plastic bags and sand. The volunteers laid out 1,000 recycled paving blocks, which can eliminate about 2,000kg of single-use plastic bags.
According to the temple's deputy abbot, the recycled paving bricks are a good project that can help reduce waste in the community.
In addition, the new temple ground is now more famous and attracts more tourists.
Phuket is TripAdvisor's 6th favourite
Phuket and Bangkok have been listed in the Top 25 Popular Destinations in the World for the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2020 awards.
Top of the list is London, followed by Paris, Crete, Bali and Rome, with Phuket in sixth and Bangkok in 14th.
For Trending Destinations this year, Chiang Mai ranks 18th. Top of the list is Kochi in India, followed by Luzon in the Philippines, Porto in Portugal, Porto Seguro in Brazil and Gramado in Brazil.
According to TripAdvisor, the winners were calculated based on the quality and quantity of millions of reviews, opinions and ratings in 2019, before the pandemic.
The 18th annual award celebrates travellers' favourite hotels, restaurants and airlines around the world, honouring 4,817 unique businesses this year.
Visit tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Thai VietJet will launch Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani flights starting on Oct 6.
The flight will depart Suvarnabhumi daily at 10.45am. The return flight will depart Ubon Ratchathani at 12.25pm. The travel time is one hour and 10 minutes.
Visit vietjetair.com.
- Global passenger traffic will return to pre-Covid-19 levels in 2024, a year later than previously forecast, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
One of the reasons includes slow virus containment in the United States and developing economies. Their continued closure, particularly to international travel, is a significant drag on the recovery.
Furthermore, corporate travel budgets are reduced as companies are under financial pressure. Lastly, consumer confidence in travelling is still weak due to concerns over job security, rising unemployment and risks of catching Covid-19.
IATA reported that international traffic in June shrank by 96.8% compared to June 2019, only slightly improved over a 98.3% decline in May. For Asia-Pacific airlines, traffic in June plummeted 97.1%, little improved from the 98.1% decline in May. Capacity fell 93.4% and load factor shrank 45.8 percentage points to 35.6%.
Visit iata.org.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATE
- Ascott of the Singapore-based CapitaLand has opened its first Lyf property in Bangkok.
Located in Sukhumvit 8, Lyf Sukhumvit 8 Bangkok features 196 units to serve both short- and long-stay travellers.
During the opening period, the property offers promotion prices starting at 1,105++ baht a night.
Visit lyfbyascott.com.
- Hilton Hotels have launched the Thailand Dream Away package to offer up to 30% discount off the best available rate in its 11 properties nationwide.
The programme is designed for Thais and residents. Booking is available until Aug 31 for stays until March 31, 2021.
Visit discover.hilton.com/en_ap/offers/thailand.
- Novotel Hua Hin has offered a weekday promotion on its website.
The offer is available until Aug 31. Prices for a night stay start at 2,000 baht from Sunday to Friday while early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability.
Visit novotelhuahin.com/offers/book-direct-offer.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
