The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a customer satisfaction survey for the Best of SHA Awards 2021.
SHA stands for Safety and Health Administration and is a safety certification launched in May 2020 by the co-operation of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Public Health. TAT has certified 14,599 places and service providers so far.
To find the Best of SHA, TAT invites everyone to rate their satisfaction via an online questionnaire. Participants need to register themselves and choose one of 10 SHA certified categories before answering 20 questions. The groups include restaurants and diners; hotel accommodation and homestays; recreational activities and tourist attractions; transportation; travel agencies; health and beauty; department stores and shopping centres; and sports for tourism.
The respondents stand a chance to win prizes worth 1 million baht in total that includes an iMac, MacBook Air, iPhone 12, iPad Pro and tour packages. The last day to join the programme is Oct 20.
Visit thailandsha.com/thebestofsha.
FAD keeps museums, historical sites closed
The Fine Arts Department has extended the temporary closure of national museums and historical sites in the 29 dark-red zone provinces badly hit by Covid-19 until Aug 31.
The closures also cover the National Archives, National Library and National Theatre.
The provinces in the dark-red zone are Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Kanchanaburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Narathiwat, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachin Buri, Tak, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Songkhla, Suphan Buri and Yala.
FAD encourages people to virtually visit national heritage sites at virtualmuseum.finearts.go.th, virtualhistoricalpark.finearts.go.th, archives.nat.go.th/th-th, nlt.go.th and bookshop.finearts.go.th.
Pata to host virtual B2B travel event
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) will host Virtual Pata Travel Mart (PTM) 2021 from Sept 2-5.
PTM is a business-to-business travel and virtual networking event organised in conjunction with the Sichuan International Travel Expo with the support of the Leshan Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau.
The event will feature an interactive exhibition, video meetings, live forums for industry trends and insights as well as interactive networking sessions.
Visit Pata.org/ptm or email ptm@PATA.org.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- Cathay Pacific has launched direct flights between Hong Kong and Phuket.
The service is available once per week on Tuesday and will grow to three times a week including Wednesday and Sunday in October. The flight departs Hong Kong International Airport at 8.30am and will arrive in Phuket at 11am. The return flight will depart Phuket International Airport at 12pm and will arrive in Hong Kong at 4.45pm. The travel time is three hours and 30 minutes.
Visit cathaypacific.com.
- Thai Airways offers direct flights from Phuket to London and Frankfurt.
The flight is available one time a week. It departs Phuket International Airport on Friday at 11.55pm and arrives at Heathrow International Airport at 7.15am. The return flight from London will depart on Saturday at 12.30pm and will arrive at Phuket International Airport at 6.10am. The travel time is 13 hours and 20 minutes.
For the direct flights to Frankfurt, they will depart Phuket on Thursday at 10.40pm and the return flight will depart Frankfurt International Airport at 2.45pm. The travel time is 12 hours and 20 minutes.
At present, other international airlines that provide direct flights to Phuket include Emirates Airline (emirates.com), Etihad Airways (etihad.com), Qatar Airways (qatarairways.com), El Al Israel Airlines (elal.com) and Singapore Airlines (singaporeair.com).
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATES
- Centara Grand at CentralWorld has launched the "Place To Be – Junior Suite" package.
Prices start at 5,678 baht net for a night stay in the suite (54m²). The offer includes early check-in at 9am and late check-out up to 9pm (subject to availability), and full hotel credits based on room rates for purchasing food and beverages for stays between Sunday and Thursday. The credit will be reduced by half when staying on Friday and Saturday. The price excludes breakfast at 499 baht per person.
The package is available until Aug 31.
Visit bit.ly/3jl8r7V.
- Oakwood Hotel & Residence Bangkok has launched a Super Save promotion.
It offers a night stay in a Superior Room (20m²) for 999 baht net and 1,199 baht net for a Deluxe room (24m²). The prices also include breakfast for two, early check-in at 10am, late check-out at 5pm depending on room availability, and 20% discounts on food and beverage.
The promotion will last until Aug 31.
The hotel also has a special monthly package starting at 15,000 baht.
