#Bangkok named world’s top destination of 2017

Renowned for its street food, exciting nightlife, and loveable, eccentric culture, Bangkok has once again topped the chart of the world’s most popular destinations for international travelers, according to a report by Mastercard released this week.

In Mastercard’s 2017 Global Destination Cities Index, Bangkok is expected to welcome 20.2 million overnight visitors this year, a four percent increase from last year’s 19.4 million headcount. (Overnight tourists refer to those whose trip includes an overnight stay, so don’t confuse them with the total 32 million tourists last year.)

In terms of tourist spending, Bangkok came in fifth in the world, and Mastercard expects a 10.9 percent increase in tourism revenue from last year, with peak months for visiting being April, July-August, and December-January. 

 
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Regionally, tourists spend the most money in Singapore (which makes a lot of sense considering the higher cost of almost everything there). The city generated US$15.7 billion in tourism revenue last year and is expected to earn about the same this year, or 0.3 percent more, to be exact.

Globally, London follows Bangkok in terms of tourist arrivals, taking the No.2 spot for the second year. Paris, Dubai, and Singapore round out the top five.

Source - Coconuts.co 

 Here are top 10 travel destinations:

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. London. England
3. Paris, France
4. Dubai, UAE
5. Singapore
6. New York, US
7. Seoul, South Korea
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
9. Tokyo, Japan
10. ,,,,,,

Cheap Charlies

Did you know that Dutch and especially German people are ''Cheap Charlies'' 

The want all services but not want use any Affiliate link or Booking search block, for a Hotel, Resort or Flight.  

The think maybe become big commissions from them. 

The say the booking on one of our sites, but the lie.

We can see in the admin from all the booking affiliates where the come from. 

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Even when the not make a booking today, the system hold up the cookie into a full month, on PC, Tablet and there Smartphone. 

#Thailand - Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession 2017

A raft of events marks the end of the rains in the border province of Nakhon Phanom

The Lai Reua Fai, Nakhon Phanom’s famous and mythological annual illuminated boat festival, is considered one of the Kingdom’s most spectacular cultural festivals to mark the end of Buddhist Lent, or Ok Phansa.

The Illuminated Boat Procession is held annually during the eleventh lunar month when Thai Buddhists in this northeastern province launch the Lai Reua Fai to float them down the Mekong River. Residents pay respect to the Lord Buddha and make offerings to mythical serpents (‘Naga’ in Thai) which supposedly reside in the mighty river and its many tributaries.

It is also believed that this ceremony washes sadness and life’s troubles down the river while also bringing good fortune to participants and believers.

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 The local people of Nakhon Phanom gather together with Buddhist monks from each village temple to spectacularly decorate the boats and rafts weeks before the festival takes place. They then load them with food, flowers, incense sticks, candles and handmade lanterns. Once lit, these illuminated boats are then launched creating a spectacular visual spectacle as they float down the legendary Mekong River.

Highlights at this year’s Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession Festival include:

-​ Daily Lai Reua Fai illuminated boat processions on the Mekong River. Visitors can view illuminated boats from around Nakhon Phanom, cultural performances, music and entertainment plus a walking street featuring local food and handicrafts over nine days.

-​ Historic Lai Reua Fai daily display at Wat Pho Sri temple

-​ Cultural performance paying respect to Phra That Phanom at Wat Phra That Phanom (5 October)

- ​Illuminated boat street procession at Nakhon Phanom Municipality (5 October)

- ​Lan Tawan Boek Fa music and cultural festival (5 October)

-​ Long boat racing at Wat Phra In Plaeng from 2 to 4 October

- ​Lan Phanom Naga local food fair from 30 September to 2 October

- ​Tak Bat Devo Festival at Lan Phanom Naga (6 October)

Source - TheNation

#Thailand - Maya Bay to be closed for three months next year.

Park officials said they were going to close Phi Phi island’s famous Maya Bay from June for three months next year.

Officials of the Koh Phi Phi National park authority held crisis talks on Thursday where they were told that the bay has been ravaged by too much tourism.

So it was going to be shut to allow the beach side of Maya Bay, as well as the waters in the bay, to recover ahead of the 2018 high season.

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Photos and stories in international media have shocked officials into doing something about the massive crowds heading to Maya Bay every day, sometimes leaving standing room only on the iconic beach, made famous by the 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio film, The Beach.

 Officials have also been receiving complaints from concerned locals about tour boats anchoring indiscriminately in the area causing damage to the bay floor and any remaining corals.

Source - TheNation

Not a Red or Yellow, but a Black Day in #Thailand

Yingluck sentenced to five years in prison

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled unanimously to sentence fugitive former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to five years in prison.

The fugitive politician was convicted of negligence in preventing corruption and irregularities in her government’s rice-pledging scheme prior to the 2014 coup.

The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders ruled that Yingluck had acknowledged the illegality of government-to-government rice deals but refused to cancel a contract with a Chinese state enterprise.

The court ruled that the deal involved ill-gotten gains and the dishonest discharge of official duties.

Not a Red or Yellow, but a Black Day in Thailand

“The defendant was found guilty of the alleged offences under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and Section 123/1 of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption 1999 and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment,” a statement from the court read.

The court will issue another arrest warrant against Yingluck, after an initial warrant was issued when she failed to appear before the court on August 25, when the verdict was originally scheduled to be read.

Source - TheNation

Get into the excitement of #Thailand’s very own boat races

Don’t miss Saraburi’s traditional boat races to mark the end of the rainy season

The Saraburi Long Boat Race Festival, an ancient cultural event that dates to the golden age of Thailand’s Ayutthaya era, is held to mark the end of Buddhist Lent, or Ok Phansa.

The long boat race competition comprises three categories including longboat race with rowers numbering not more than 55, 40 and 30, respectively.

Apart from joining the fun-filled traditional Saraburi Long Boat Race Festival, visitors are encouraged to visit numerous historical attractions nearby. These include a golden Buddha image from the Ayutthaya period at Wat Payao, beautiful mural paintings depicting famous ancient folklore ‘Kavee’, and paying respect to the revered Buddha image at Wat Samuhapradittharam.

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Visitors are also invited to view weaving demonstrations at Ban Ton Tarn Cloth Weaving Learning Centre to learn first-hand how local Thai handicrafts are made.

The festival is held on September 23-24, 2017 at the Pasak River in Saohai district, Saraburi.

Source - TheNation

Free Bangkok transit rides for Royal Cremation period

Free public transport in Bangkok will be provided from October 25-27 to help people coming into, and moving through, the capital to attend the funeral flower-laying sites for the Royal Cremation of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

The BTS Skytrain’s On Nut-Samrong and Wongwian Yai-Ban Wa extensions, the Airport Rail Link, and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRT)’s Purple Line will provide 

free services for the three days, said MRT deputy governor for operations, Anusilp Sirivejchapan.

The MRT Blue Line services and the BTS Skytrain for On Nut-Mo Chit and National Stadium-Wongwian Yai routes would be free only on October 26 when they would remain open until 2am, Anusilp added.

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 From October 25-27, the Bus Rapid Transit services and public boat services at Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem and Khlong Pasicharoen will be free, said Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Deputy Governor Pol Lt-General Chinnatat Meesuk.

There will be a return to black-and-white TV broadcasts and a general toning down of all entertainment from October 23 until the end of the month out of respect for the late King’s funeral ceremonies.

Medical teams and qualified first-aid volunteers will provide assistance to people attending the Royal Cremation at Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace, as well as at designate sites nationwide from October 24 until the end of the cremation ceremony, according to Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn. 

Dr Sopon Mekthon, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said the Public Health Emergency Response Division had been assigned to open a central public health emergency operation centre (EOC) during the Royal Cremation.

The Department of Medical Services would coordinate with hospitals to provide manpower for medical treatment. Teams would be stationed at 21 main service points in Bangkok and the vicinity and 113 designated sites to collect funeral flowers. At each province during the same period a provincial public health office head would open an EOC to manage medical services provided at each of the designated sites to collect funeral flowers.

The already-running joint operation centre for medical and public health has provided medical and first-aid services to 3.2 million people who visited the Grand Palace to pay respects before the Royal Urn. It will continue services until September 30 before its personnel would 

be moved to work with the EOC in central Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the number of people visiting the Grand Palace to pay their respects in front the Royal Urn yesterday morning reportedly reached the week’s peak of 32,000. Attendance has increased in recent days as the September 30 deadline approaches.

The Royal Household Bureau yesterday reported that 11,065,577 people had paid their respects over the past 324 days and, during the same period, public merit-making donations for the late King totalled Bt820 million.

Source - TheNation