Statistics just issued by the Ministry of Tourism in Cambodia indicate the number of international arrivals could top the five million mark for 2016. Kong Sopheareak is the ministry’s director of information and he explained that 3.5 million overseas tourists had visited between 1 January and the end of September.
The UK’s Prince William landed at Hanoi Airport yesterday and was due to attend a seminar on the global trade in illegal wildlife today. In the UK, Kensington Palace released a statement on Tuesday saying the heir to the British throne believed the Vietnamese people would empathise with his aim of preserving the planet’s rarest creatures for posterity.
Thai banks have started celebrating the Christmas festive season early by offering customers fee free ATM cash withdrawals. Customers making withdrawals from their own banks’ ATMs in other provinces will not be charged the standard THB15 service fee.
A number of Thailand’s historical parks and museums are waiving admission fees for visitors until the New Year. The Ministry of Culture’s Fine Arts Department says 42 facilities are covered by the entry fee exemption and it will run through until the 31 January 2017.
The State Railway of Thailand’s brand new rolling stock made its public debut last Friday. An SRT spokesperson said the two trains with the new China-built carriages were just about full and most of the berths had been pre-booked by international travellers.
A proposal by Bangkok’s public transport operator to buy electric buses is due to be presented to the Thai government today. The nation’s deputy transport-minister says that if the cabinet gives the thumbs up to the 200 buses the contract will be put out to tender straight away.
Vang Vieng District council has confirmed the dates for its second annual international music festival. At a media briefing staged late last week, the audience was told the fest would be held on the 16 and 17 December and tickets would be on sale in the near future.
Provincial authorities in Chiang Mai say the launch of sky lanterns for Loy Krathong is being allowed, but with a few restrictions. Governor Pawin Chamniprasart says the launch of the balloons is limited to the hours of 19:00 to 01:00 this evening and tomorrow evening.
A Hanoi development company recently reached agreement with the Hello Kitty brand proprietors on the construction of a theme park in the city. The memorandum of understanding between Sanrio Wave and the BRG Group could see Vietnam’s first international theme park launch in two years.
Kuala Lumpur boasts a whole collection of attractions for tourists and there is never a dull moment when holidaying here. Even a walk around the Malaysian capital reveals a city of contrasts. Pockets of old-style Malay settlements mix nicely with British-colonial era architecture and contemporary edifices such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the KLCC convention centre.
The ancient northern Thai city of Sukhothai has already begun its Loy Krathong Festival. The festival and its traditions are said to have evolved from the old Sukhothai Kingdom and most 21st century Thais claim it is still the best place in the country to celebrate it.
Municipal authorities in Phnom Penh say they expect a record turn out for this year’s Water Festival. The festivities which mark this time-honoured annual happening are due to begin on Sunday and will run through until Tuesday.
Thailand’s national rail operator will be introducing new carriages on two major routes tomorrow. The Chinese made bogeys will be launched on select northbound services between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
The organisers of the annual Pattaya Boat Show say the four-day event will take place as originally scheduled between 24 and 27 November. Ocean Property has issued a statement saying the trade and display side of the event will be as normal, but the social programme will have to be tweaked.
If the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism gets its way, one of the nation’s most famous boulevards will become pedestrian only on weekends. The ministry has put forward a proposal to turn the Tonle Sap riverside esplanade in Phnom Penh into a pedestrian precinct on Saturdays and Sundays.
Local government authorities in Suratthani Province say next week’s full-moon party on Koh Phangan will be going ahead. The boss of the Thai island’s Tourism Association announced late last week that the world’s best known party had been given the green light.
Municipal authorities in Bangkok have released a list of parks at which residents and tourists are able to celebrate Loy Krathong next week. Due to the recent death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand is in the middle of a period of mourning and the traditional activities associated with the festival have been scaled down.
The coach of the Australian national football team has confirmed the squad that will be travelling to Bangkok for a World Cup qualifying match next week. Star striker Tim Cahill is injured and and will not be joining the 23-player squad for the Bangkok trip.
The Vietnam National Tourism Bureau has confirmed that foreign nationals will soon be able to apply for visitor visas online. Local news sources reported last month that the Vietnamese government had agreed in principal to set up an e-visa application portal.
Thailand’s transport minister says four high-speed railway projects due to start this year have been put back until next year. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith says that while the initial start of the developments is behind schedule, the deadline for completion is the same.