| Notes from the Director |
Table of Contents
Travel, Hotels & Promotions
-- TAT Goes Green
-- Releasing Nemo at Phi Phi Island
-- Elephant Hills Luxury Camp
Thailand in the News
-- Bangkok Named World's Best City
-- Anantara Named Leading Spa
Fantastic Thai Events
-- Thailand Grand Sale
-- Long Boat Race
-- Festival of Dance & Music
-- Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Thailand on the Road
-- Thailand "State Fair" Campaign
-- Hispanic Travel Agents
-- Singapore Airlines Vacations
-- United Vacations
-- DEMA Trade Show
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Dear Friend,
Many of you may already have heard that I am approaching the end of my term as director of the TAT-LA office. I'm both saddened to be leaving all the new friends I've made while serving in Los Angeles, and also admit to looking forward to returning home to reunite with friends I've left behind.
Never worry however, as Mr. Chanchai Doungjit will be coming to head the Los Angeles office. He has served with TAT for 26 years and was formerly the director of TAT's Kuala Lumpur office. I hope you will all take a moment to say hello. Further, my excellent staff here in Los Angeles will remain in place and you can continue to call on them for any assistance you may require.
As I move on, I will continue my involvement with the TAT offices in the Americas, just serving from Bangkok rather than locally. I do expect that I will be coming back to visit regularly.
I thank you all for your continued support of Thailand and wish you the most success in your future endeavors.
Santi Chudintra, Director
LA Office, Tourism Authority of Thailand
For more information about TAT Los Angeles, as well as travel information about Thailand, visit our new website at www.tourismthailand.org/LA
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| Thailand Travel Packages, Hotels & Promotions |
More Information:
TAT Press Release
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TAT Goes Green
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has rolled out its Seven Greens campaign, which focuses on maintaining the delicate balance between tourism promotion and environmental protection by focusing seven areas.
Green Heart urges visitors to be socially responsible,
Green Logistics encourages more environmentally friend modes of transportation,
Green Destinations will promote responsibly managed visitor sites,
Green Communities supports community-based tourism programs,
Green Activities provides visitors with culturally enriching experiences that dont harm the surrounding environment,
Green Services urges tourism service providers to work with other green organizations, and
Green[Plus]+ urges corporate social responsibility among organizations.
TAT is working in collaboration with all stakeholders in the Thai tourism industry to develop an integrated industry plan which will be rolled out over a three-year pilot period from 2008-2010. |
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More Information:
www.ppisland.com
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Releasing Nemo at Phi Phi Island
In late 2007, Krabi government officials commissioned a breeding program to raise awareness about the declining number of fish species in southern Thailand. Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa, among others, was selected as one of the active partners of this program and in February 2008, hotel management, the hotel dive team, and guests participated in releasing 150 clownfish (Nemo) and 500 Damselfish back into the Thai waters. This will continue to be one of the hotels ongoing programs to help preserve the areas underwater ecological habitats and species for future generations. The hotels future environmental plans include reef rehabilitation, artificial reef construction, reef cleaning, and membership in Green Fins Thailand. Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort & Spa is a 4.5 star tropical resort overlooking the spectacular scenery of Andaman Sea at the world renowned Phi Phi Island. |
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More Information:
www.elephant-hills.com
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Elephant Hills Luxury Camp
Thailands first luxury jungle camp, Elephant Hills combines the camp feel of African national parks in a Thai tropical forest environment. The camps 20 luxurious tents are tailor-made and each one features twin beds, fan, kettle, and a luxurious bathroom with toilet and hot/cold shower. The tents provide ample space and are well protected against mosquitoes and other possible intruders. The restaurant, located in the semi-open air main camp area is the place to meet other guests and two resident monkeys make occasional appearances here. At night, the temperatures drop, and campfires create a romantic atmosphere in which to share travel tales. The rainforest and its inhabitants form an exciting concert through the night. In the morning the hills surrounding the camp are still covered in mist. Once the mist disappears, the lush greenery of the tropical rainforest stunningly lights the day and it is possible to take in the magnificent views of the surrounding rainforest covered mountains. |
| Thailand In the News |
More Information:
TAT Press Release
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Bangkok Named World's Best City
For the first time, Bangkok has topped Travel + Leisures Worlds Best City list. Bangkok has consistently placed in the top five for the last three consecutive years on the US-based travel magazines list, but the survey results announced July 10, 2008, marked the first time that the Thai capital was able to snatch the top ranking. The city of Bangkok has always been a perennial winner of tourism awards given by international organizations, and consistently scores high in readers surveys conducted by leading travel magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.
Bangkok was named Worlds Best City 2008 with a score of 87.61, ahead of Argentinas Buenos Aires, last years runner up, and Cape Town, South Africa, which jumped from no. 10 in 2007. Thailands Chiang Mai has retained its no. 3 ranking for two successive years, remaining one of the most preferred destinations among visitors to Thailand. |
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More Information:
TAT Press Release
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Anantara Named Leading Spa
Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa has been named Thailands Leading Spa Resort at the World Travel Awards recently held in Shanghai. The World Travel Awards in partnership with the Asia Luxury Travel Market are heralded as the region's most significant travel industry occasion, recognizing the very best offerings of the travel industry.
Anantara Golden Triangle in northern Thailand is a luxurious hilltop retreat featuring stunning views of not one, but three countries. The resort which opened in October 2003 is located close to the historic town of Chiang Saen in the heart of northern Thailands hill-tribe country. Anantara Golden Triangle is positioned hugging a hill ridge with views looking down over a jungle canopy to the Mekong River and up to the rolling, green hills of Burma and Laos. All 77 rooms and suites feature large balconies with in-built sofas and space for private dining. Signature terrazzo bathtubs large enough for two people are the central feature of the bathrooms designed in a flow-through style enabling them to be opened up to or closed off from the bedrooms with sliding fluted-glass doors. |
| Fantastic Thai Events |
More Information:
Thailand Grand Sale
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Thailand Grand Sale
June 1-August 31, 2008
The Thailand Grand Sale, Thailand's annual three-month shopping extravaganza from 1 June until 31 August, 2008, offers world-class shopping, a diverse selection of quality products and services, special discounts of 10 - 50 per cent and promotional offers by participating department stores, shopping complexes and retail outlets along designated "Shopping Streets" in Bangkok and other popular tourist destinations.
TAT-LA is give away "Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Discount Coupons" to Tour Operators or Travel Agents that have customers traveling to Thailand during June-August 2008. Professionals can send a request to our office by emailing tatla@ix.netcom.com // Re: Thailand Grand Sale Discount Coupons. There are a total of 1,000 sets of discount coupons available. |
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More Information:
TAT Press Release
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Thailand International Swan Boat Races and Long Boat Race Championship
September 13-14, 2008
Celebrating its 20th year in 2007, the Thailand International Swan Boat Races and Long Boat Race Championships Thailand will be held on September 13-14, 2008 in Ayutthaya. Recognizing the importance of preserving Thailand's river-based cultural traditions, the Tourism Authority of Thailand initiated the kingdoms first long-boat race contest in 1986. Since 1988, a series of long-boat race contests have been held on the local and national level. With the growing popularity of the event, in September 1999, the first international boat race was held on the Chao Phraya River near the Rama IX Bridge in Bangkok. Since then, it has become an annual international event drawing the participation of boat teams from around the world. |
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More Information:
Bangkok Festival of Dance & Music
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Bangkok International Festival of Dance & Music
September 15-October 13, 2008
Bangkoks International Festival of Dance & Music has garnered a reputation for excellence by presenting the best musical and dance performances from around the world.
Kicking off the festival is a piece entitled "Requiem," especially composed in the memory of H.R.H Princess Galyani and performed by the Russian Symphony Orchestra. The festival is a veritable global celebration with performances by such internationally recognized groups as the Paul Taylor Contemporary Dance Company from New York, the Ballet Flamenco from Spain and the Zurich Ballet. |
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More Information:
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival
September 28-October 10, 2008
It is believed that the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making.
Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples, and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song". |
| Thailand on the Road |
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TAT Los Angeles is traveling to you. We will be participating in the following trade shows. Come join or visit us at these venues. |
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Thailand "State Fair" Campaign
August 21 - September 1, 2008
At Alaska State Faire
2075 Glenn Hwy, Palmer, AK 99645
www.alaskastatefair.org
August 22 - September 1, 2008
At Oregon State Expo
2330 17th Street, NE, Salem, OR 97301
www.oregonstateexpo.org
TAT-LA is joining together with the Royal Thailand Consulate General to bring the Thailand Tourism message to states across the western U.S. The organizations will jointly be hosting a Thailand booth at state fairs in Montana, Alaska, Oregon, New Mexico and Washington states. At the Thailand Booth there will Thai cultural performances and TAT-LA will be distributing travel information from its tour operator and travel agency partners. |
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Hispanic Travel Agents Presentation
August 20, 2008
President Thai Restaurant
Pasadena, CA
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will present Thailand information to Los Angeles-based Hispanic travel agents in Pasadena. |
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Singapore Airlines Vacations
September 9, 2008
Sacramento, CA
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will have a table top at the Singapore Airlines/Singapore Airlines Vacations presentation in Sacramento, Calif. |
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United Vacations Product Launch
October 4-5, 2008
Vail, CO
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will team up with other travel organizations to present the travel trade with up-to-date information on booking travel with United Vacations. |
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More Information:
www.demashow.com
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DEMA Trade Show
October 22-25, 2008
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
The Tourism Authority of Thailand will host a "Thailand" booth at DEMA, the world's largest diving trade show. |
