Tourist visa fee waiver for Chinese and Chinese Taipei visitors

Effective 9 August, 2014, holders of Chinese and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) passports will be exempt from paying visa fees when visiting Thailand purely for the purpose of tourism between 9 August – 8 November 2014.

The short-term waiver has been passed by the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) as part of a package of measures to rapidly revive Thai tourism in the second half of 2014. The move has now passed all the stages of regulatory approval through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior and been published in Royal Gazette.

The exemption will apply only to visitors coming to Thailand for tourism, and submitting their tourist visa applications at Thai diplomatic missions or via the visa-on-arrival desks at the international checkpoints. Only a Tourist Visa is applicable to this measure; visitors who apply for other categories of visa; such as, Transit Visa or Non-Immigrant Visa still have to pay for the visa fee as normal.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Thawatchai Arunyik said, “Thailand and China have very close relations and have much in common in terms of food, cultural and ethnic relationships with many Thai prominent businessmen and political families having roots in China.  Chinese visitors were selected for the exemption as part of the commemorative activities marking the 40th  Anniversary of Thailand – China Diplomatic Relations. Moreover, this measure is also to help the Thai private sector and the many small and medium sized enterprises to recover.”

From both mainland China and Chinese Taipei, Thailand is considered a short-haul and value-for-money destination with good airline connections and an excellent range of accommodation and tour products for people of all age groups. The kingdom is well-known for its long-standing tradition of friendliness and hospitality.  Bangkok also has a very large and bustling Chinatown area where Chinese visitors can regularly be seen shopping for herbal medicines, jewellery and gold. Many of them also go to make offerings at the numerous Chinese temples.

cr: Tourism Authority of Thailand

cr pictures: ibtimes, echinacities, lohwendy blogspot

Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2014 launching its first Shopping Challenge

     The annual Amazing Thailand Grand Sale is set to kick off with its first “Shopping Challenge” aimed at spicing up the event and encouraging shopaholics to spend, spend, spend during the 3 months and a half-long shopping extravaganza from 15 June to 30 September, 2014.

     The event’s first-ever shopping competition is scheduled to take place on 18 June, 2014, in the heart and bustle of Bangkok’s most popular shopping districts – Ratchaprasong and Siam – and at the city’s most popular shopping malls – Siam Paragon, Central World and Gaysorn.

     Joining this fun competition are 15 teams, each comprising well known media figures and celebrities from 11 Asian countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan.  These teams will be assigned one of three shopping routes along the BTS Skytrain or five teams for each route.

     The teams will be given a shopping bag and the equivalent of 10,000 Baht with which they have to buy certain items at specified shops in the Gaysorn, Siam Paragon or CentralWorld shopping complexes within two hours (from 14:30 – 16:30 hrs.). At each outlet, theteams have to seek out their assigned shopping item, snap a picture that includes the “purchased” object and team members and post on instagram with #amazingtgs2014. The shopping action in real time will be put up on screens at the main stage in Siam Paragon.

     The winning team will be the one who finds all the items on their “shopping lists” in the shortest time. If it is too close to call, then the budget and money spent becomes the main factor. In a “photo finish” the team who spent the least will be declared the winner and be rewarded with a cash prize of 100,000 Baht.

     The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) believes this “Shopping Challenge” publicity stunt will help attract more international visitors to Thailand during this year’s grand shopping period as well as to encourage them to spend more in the country. 

     Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT Governor said, “Now that the world knows that it’s ‘business as usual’ here in Thailand, they will be looking forward to coming back and taking advantage of the kingdom’s wonderful shopping. So we are opening our arms to tourists from all over the world to come here and lose themselves in a shopping paradise... More than 15,000 shopping malls, department stores, brand-name outlets, and restaurants in seven major tourist destinations: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Ko Samui are offering irresistible special deals and bargains for tourists, making the next couple of months the best possible time to come to Thailand.”

* Visit www.thailandshoppingparadise.com for Shopping Tips ea. VAT refund process, and tips to avoid buying sub-standard products.

cr: TAT News Room

Happy Thai New Year – Songkran Water Festival is Here!

In Thailand - Songkran is considered to be the most magical festival of all, as it creates the important bonds of unity between families and communities that bring the Thai people together. It is not just about throwing water at each other, but about the traditions of hospitality, love and relationship in Thai families.

Generally, Songkran is celebrated and marked as public holidays during 13^th – 15^thApril of each year. However, Songkran in Thailand is actually lasts from 5-20 April, depending on the local culture and traditions in different areas of the country.

Top tips to get the most out of Songkran:

• In the morning, make merit and listen to temple sermons to understand and benefit from the spiritual side of the festival.
• To purify the Buddha or other statues, water should not be poured directly onto the head of the relic, rather on other parts of the statue’s torso.
• The custom of pouring water onto the hand of elders’ (people above 60 years old), is to show respect and seek their New Year blessings.
• Water used to splash on others should be clean or mixed with Thai traditional fragrances. Avoid throwing water aggressively or using high-pressure water guns or hoses.

cr: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Apart from Songkran Festival,
April is also well-know as the hottest month of the year in Thailand. If you can’t stand the heat, be prepared and take our tips to reduce the Thai temperature!
 
Eat something cold – Nothing better than cool down your body from inside out! Yes, eat some ice-cream, soft drink with ice cubes, or even try Thai cold rice (Khao Chae)!

Go indoor – There are many interesting in-door tourist attractions especially in Bangkok. Plan your trip in advance; try to put some indoor places in your itinerary! Ea. Siam Ocean World, Madame Tussauds, Escape Hunt, or Flight Experience 

Keep yourself cool – When you go out to the water battle at Songkran, try to take a bottle of drinking water with you. You will find it useful to cool your body down when you get too hot or even for cleaning your face off the ‘white clay / powder (Din-Sor-Pong)’ that often come together with the water during Songkran!

Sizzling Summer Hotel Hot Deals 
Only this April 2014!
 
Bliston Suwan Park View
Chidlom, Bangkok
Get 40% OFF when you book minimum 2 nights in our one-bedroom suites, rates start from ฿3,100 net (All inclusive).[See details]

For reservation please contact Reservation Department at;
reservation@blistonresidence.com 
Tel. +662 658 7979 
Booking Code - Songkran Splendors
 
Baan K Residence by Bliston
Sathorn / Silom, Bangkok
Guaranteed free upgrade (for Studio and Superior bookings) when you book through our website, rates start from฿2,100 net (All inclusive). [See details] 

For reservation please visit our websiteor contact Reservation Department at;
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Tel. +662 633 9911
Booking Code - April Free Upgrade