The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined hands with the United Nations Development Programme to introduce "Following The Path Of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej" for the Sustainable Tourism Project. The project covers an initial four areas. They are the riverfront Chanthabun community in Chanthaburi, Ban Pong-Huai Lan in Chiang Mai, villages along the royally-initiated Nong Yai mangrove forest in Chumphon and Ban Nong San in Sakhon Nakhon.
According to TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn, visitors to the communities will learn the way of life of locals who applied the king's sufficiency economy philosophy to develop their living conditions and villages.
It's expected that the project will help promote TAT's policy on encouraging tourists to have local experiences.
For the Chanthabun community, visitors can stroll along a road flanked by old shophouses along Chanthaburi River. They will experience local food, snacks and can explore the community's museum, the remarkable Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and various temples.
Ban Pong-Huai Lan, on the other hand, is located in Chiang Mai's San Kamphaeng district, not far from the royally-initiated Huai Lan reservoir. King Bhumibol told the village to take care of their forest, the natural-water resource for farming, and gave fish to be raised in the reservoir. Today, the reservoir is one of the district's attractions.
Each family plants vegetables and herbs for their own consumption. Visitors are allowed to experience a traditional way of making cotton yarn and weaving cotton cloth. The community also provides homestay services.
In Chumphon, visitors can explore the Nong Yai Area Development Project, initiated by King Bhimbol to be Kaem Ling, meaning Monkey's Cheek, to help drain flood water. Visiting villages along the development project, tourists can experience a nursery for blue crabs, kayak along a mangrove forest area and visit a viewpoint at the hilltop of Khao Din So.
Last is Ban Nong San in Sakhon Nakhon's Phu Phan District. Tourists can experience dying cotton cloth with indigo, have local food made of organic vegetables and trek to Wang Pa Chiang Waterfall.
Visit www.kingwisdom.tourismthailand.org.
Airlines update
Bangkok Airways will launch its first direct flight from Bangkok to Phu Quoc, the resort island in the south of Vietnam, on Oct 29.
Also known as Pearl Island, it is the Vietnam's largest and is located in the Gulf of Thailand. It receives about 1.45 million visitors a year.
The airline will fly four weekly flights, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, to the island using a 70-seater ATR 72-600.
Flights will depart from Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 11.30am and arrive in Phu Quoc at 1.10pm. Return flights will depart from Phu Quoc at 1.50pm and arrive in Bangkok at 3.35pm. Travel time is 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Visit www.bangkokair.com.
Air France KLM has opened its refurbished lounge in Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
The 660m² SkyLounge offers 142 armchairs, a 20% increase from the capacity of the previous lounge. Each chair has electricity sockets. It also serves a round-the-clock buffet including Asian and European dishes. Magazines and newspapers are available in English and French.
Also provided are hi-speed Wi-Fi and shower rooms with toiletries. The lounge also offers reduced mobility access.
Visit www.airfrance.com.
Hotel update
Cachet Resort Dewa Phuket will be officially opened on Dec 16.
Formally known as Dewa Nai Yang Beach Phuket, the hotel has undergone a three-month renovation, scheduled for completion around the end of this month.
The hotel offers 128 rooms, including family suites and pool villas, two restaurants, meeting rooms which can accommodate up to 50 people, two swimming pools, fitness centre, spas and Kids' Club.
The hotel is about seven minutes drive from Phuket International Airport and a 50-minute drive to Phuket town.
Visit www.dewaphuketresort.com.
The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui has opened.
Located on a 147 rai plot of land of a former coconut plantation, the resort features 175 suites and pool villas. Room spaces range from 93-255m².
Other facilities are six restaurants and bars, meeting rooms, spa, three massage pavilions, swimming pool, fitness centre with a kick-boxing ring, two tennis courts and a special seawater pool called Swim Reef. The 1.3m-deep pool is designed for kids to experience snorkelling with 50 species of fish, as well as real and artificial coral reef.
Visit www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/koh-samui.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
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