LEADING envoys from Italy, Singapore, Switzerland and Russia are paying a short visit to Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga this week to help reinvigorate international tourism.
The thinking is that if diplomats are seen visiting the Andaman without risk, other visitors will follow their example.
Making the journey to Phuket on Thursday will be Singapore Ambassador Peter Chan Jer Hing and Mrs Diana Chan, Italian Ambassador Ignazio Di Pace and Mrs Helen Matos, together with Mr Pasquale Di Pace, Swiss Charge D'Affairs Lukas Gasser and Mrs Marilu Gasser, and Russian Charge D'Affairs Mikhail V. Baranov.
The group will be shown around Patong by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, dine at Patong's Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, and stay at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon.
The Governor of Krabi, Siwa Sirisoawaluk, would also like to see more ambassadors visit Krabi, where the high season is scheduled to open on November 20-22.
Khun Siwa said investment in resorts in Krabi was still going well. Some infrastructure projects, including roads and power implementation, required additional government help.
Ranong joined Krabi, Phuket and Phang Nga as part of the tourism group this year but Governor Kanchana Pakeemun goes into retirement from October 1 with her plan to establish a hot springs resort in the province unfulfilled.
Tourism and Sport Minister Weerasak Kohsurat is scheduled to visit China and Japan next week to reassure travel operators and tourists about Thailand.
A survey of resorts in Krabi and Phang Nga by Phuketwan reflects a variety of occupancy rates, but an improvement on the low number in the days following the closure of Krabi and Phuket airports in late August.
Kho Khao Island Beach Resort (75 rooms, open 2003), off Takuapa, reports occupancy at 70 percent. A Reservations spokeswoman said that November and December were at 50 percent in forward bookings. Guests come from Scandinavia. Dynamic rates begin at 4000 baht for superior room.
Kuraburi Greenview Resort(33 rooms, open 1998), reports occupancy at 60 percent. A spokesperson for the three-star mountain resort says this high season has bookings at 50 percent already. Guests usually came from England and Germany. Dynamic rates begin at 1400 baht for a deluxe room.
Baan Krating Khao Lak Resort (24 rooms, open 2003) Not a great number of tourists reported, with low-season occupancy at 40 percent. Some high-season bookings, but not yet on a par with last year. Guests are mostly from Sweden, with dynamic rates beginning at 1200 baht for a deluxe sea view.
The unusual Phang Nga Bay Resort (86 Rooms, open 1983) belongs to the Or Bor Jor Phang Nga. Occupancy at the four-star is at 50 percent, with high-season bookings at 20 percent. Guest are in the main from England and Canada. Dynamic rates begin at 1400 baht for overseas visitors and 1000 baht for Thais.
Nang Tong Beach Khaolak (197 rooms, open 2006) has occupancy at 20 percent. In October the five-star expects to top 80 percent with high season bookings up to 95 percent among guests from Europe and Scandinavia. The beach wing costs 7500 bath a night, said a spokesman.
La Flora Resort and Spa on Bang Neang beach (138 rooms, open 2005) has occupancy at 60 percent on November and December all full booking. Dynamic price deluxe 5700 baht. Overseas guests are mostly from Germany.
The Krabi City Seaview Hotel (29 rooms, open 2000) sits on the river. Occupancy is reported at 30 percent, a Reservations spokeswowan said. Guests tend to come mostly from Scandinavia. Dynamic rates vary between 500 baht and 1000 baht. Last year was better, a spokesperson said. ''We lost about 30 percent of guests during the Krabi Airport blockade,'' the spokesperson said
The Krabi Resort (130 rooms, open 1983) on Ao Phranang beach has an occupancy rate of 50 percent. A front office spokesperson said that December, January, Febuary and March have full bookings. The guests are 60 percent from Scandinavia and 30 percent from elsewhere in Europe. Dynamic rates begin at 4800 baht for a deluxe room.
Nakamanda Resort and Spa (39 rooms, opened 2004) on Klong Muang Beach reports occupancy at 10 percent but a Reservations spokeswoman said the resort was full for December and January. Last year was better than this year, a spokesperson said, because politics and the airport closure had had an effect. ''Guests were not sure about flights, so we lost about 25-30 percent of bookings,'' the spokesperson said.
On the beach road, Aonang Sunset (44 Rooms, open 2000) reported occupancy at 50 percent. A Reservations spokeswoman said that this high season, bookings were down. Last year was better than this year with the guest rate about 30 percent below expectations. Dynamic rates begin at 2700 baht, including breakfast.
The long-established two-star Vieng Thong Hotel (145 rooms, open 1973) reported occupancy at 40 percent. A spokeswoman said that this high season bookings are at 50 percent, which is down on usual levels. Dynamic rates begin at 1000 baht.
The Best Western Premier Maya Koh Lanta Resort (18 rooms, open 2006) is a four-star that reports occupancy at 50 percent. A Reservations spokesman said that for this high season, bookings were running at 80 percent. Guests come from Sweden, Singapore and Germany. Dynamic rates begin at 7000 baht for a deluxe room.
The thinking is that if diplomats are seen visiting the Andaman without risk, other visitors will follow their example.
Making the journey to Phuket on Thursday will be Singapore Ambassador Peter Chan Jer Hing and Mrs Diana Chan, Italian Ambassador Ignazio Di Pace and Mrs Helen Matos, together with Mr Pasquale Di Pace, Swiss Charge D'Affairs Lukas Gasser and Mrs Marilu Gasser, and Russian Charge D'Affairs Mikhail V. Baranov.
The group will be shown around Patong by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, dine at Patong's Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, and stay at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon.
The Governor of Krabi, Siwa Sirisoawaluk, would also like to see more ambassadors visit Krabi, where the high season is scheduled to open on November 20-22.
Khun Siwa said investment in resorts in Krabi was still going well. Some infrastructure projects, including roads and power implementation, required additional government help.
Ranong joined Krabi, Phuket and Phang Nga as part of the tourism group this year but Governor Kanchana Pakeemun goes into retirement from October 1 with her plan to establish a hot springs resort in the province unfulfilled.
Tourism and Sport Minister Weerasak Kohsurat is scheduled to visit China and Japan next week to reassure travel operators and tourists about Thailand.
A survey of resorts in Krabi and Phang Nga by Phuketwan reflects a variety of occupancy rates, but an improvement on the low number in the days following the closure of Krabi and Phuket airports in late August.
Kho Khao Island Beach Resort (75 rooms, open 2003), off Takuapa, reports occupancy at 70 percent. A Reservations spokeswoman said that November and December were at 50 percent in forward bookings. Guests come from Scandinavia. Dynamic rates begin at 4000 baht for superior room.
Kuraburi Greenview Resort(33 rooms, open 1998), reports occupancy at 60 percent. A spokesperson for the three-star mountain resort says this high season has bookings at 50 percent already. Guests usually came from England and Germany. Dynamic rates begin at 1400 baht for a deluxe room.
Baan Krating Khao Lak Resort (24 rooms, open 2003) Not a great number of tourists reported, with low-season occupancy at 40 percent. Some high-season bookings, but not yet on a par with last year. Guests are mostly from Sweden, with dynamic rates beginning at 1200 baht for a deluxe sea view.
The unusual Phang Nga Bay Resort (86 Rooms, open 1983) belongs to the Or Bor Jor Phang Nga. Occupancy at the four-star is at 50 percent, with high-season bookings at 20 percent. Guest are in the main from England and Canada. Dynamic rates begin at 1400 baht for overseas visitors and 1000 baht for Thais.
Nang Tong Beach Khaolak (197 rooms, open 2006) has occupancy at 20 percent. In October the five-star expects to top 80 percent with high season bookings up to 95 percent among guests from Europe and Scandinavia. The beach wing costs 7500 bath a night, said a spokesman.
La Flora Resort and Spa on Bang Neang beach (138 rooms, open 2005) has occupancy at 60 percent on November and December all full booking. Dynamic price deluxe 5700 baht. Overseas guests are mostly from Germany.
The Krabi City Seaview Hotel (29 rooms, open 2000) sits on the river. Occupancy is reported at 30 percent, a Reservations spokeswowan said. Guests tend to come mostly from Scandinavia. Dynamic rates vary between 500 baht and 1000 baht. Last year was better, a spokesperson said. ''We lost about 30 percent of guests during the Krabi Airport blockade,'' the spokesperson said
The Krabi Resort (130 rooms, open 1983) on Ao Phranang beach has an occupancy rate of 50 percent. A front office spokesperson said that December, January, Febuary and March have full bookings. The guests are 60 percent from Scandinavia and 30 percent from elsewhere in Europe. Dynamic rates begin at 4800 baht for a deluxe room.
Nakamanda Resort and Spa (39 rooms, opened 2004) on Klong Muang Beach reports occupancy at 10 percent but a Reservations spokeswoman said the resort was full for December and January. Last year was better than this year, a spokesperson said, because politics and the airport closure had had an effect. ''Guests were not sure about flights, so we lost about 25-30 percent of bookings,'' the spokesperson said.
On the beach road, Aonang Sunset (44 Rooms, open 2000) reported occupancy at 50 percent. A Reservations spokeswoman said that this high season, bookings were down. Last year was better than this year with the guest rate about 30 percent below expectations. Dynamic rates begin at 2700 baht, including breakfast.
The long-established two-star Vieng Thong Hotel (145 rooms, open 1973) reported occupancy at 40 percent. A spokeswoman said that this high season bookings are at 50 percent, which is down on usual levels. Dynamic rates begin at 1000 baht.
The Best Western Premier Maya Koh Lanta Resort (18 rooms, open 2006) is a four-star that reports occupancy at 50 percent. A Reservations spokesman said that for this high season, bookings were running at 80 percent. Guests come from Sweden, Singapore and Germany. Dynamic rates begin at 7000 baht for a deluxe room.
