Jump in domestic tourists to Thailand’s west during rainy season: study

Thailand’s rainy season is typically associated with travel to the western region, where nature becomes its most beautiful during the period. 

 

Despite the weather, new data from Hotels.com has revealed a 26-per-cent jump in searches among Thai travelers for accommodation in the Western region from 2018 to 2019.

According to search data from Hotels.com, local searches for hotels located in Thailand’s western region, including Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Tak and Prachuap Khiri Khan, increased by 26 per cent during May to September 2019, compared with the same period of last year. 

Perhaps surprising to some, the most desired province for Thai tourists in the Western region this year during the rainy season is Ratchaburi – which experienced an 83-per-cent rise in searches for overnight accommodation in 2019. 

Other Western provinces experiencing an increase in search volume included Phetchaburi (31 per cent), Tak (19 per cent) and Prachuap Khiri Khan (18 per cent).

“The data indicates a positive, upward trend in travel to Thailand’s Western region, especially during the rainy season. Come rain or shine, locals are still willing to travel to great lengths to explore regions with natural, untouched beauty for truly rewarding experiences,” Jessica 

 Chuang, the Hotels.com regional marketing director for Greater China, Southeast Asia and India, said. 

“With a wide range of accommodation options, [the brand] aims to provide more inspiration and opportunity for travellers to stay in hotels they never knew existed – whether they are in the forest, the jungle or even up a mountain!” she said.

Source The Nation

 

#Thailand - Weather warnings issued as heavy rains threaten Phetchaburi dams

Heavy rains have battered Thailand’s West, North and Northeast over the past few weeks, causing dams to fill up early in the annual wet season, threatening to flood downstream areas.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said that from today until Thursday, “a monsoonal trough will lie across the upper North and upper Northeast while the southwest monsoon will strengthen across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Outbreaks of more rain, as well as isolated heavy downpours will be expected.”

Meanwhile heavy rains are causing problems a lot further South, with residents in low-lying parts of Phetchaburi province being warned to brace for flash floods with the local Kaeng Krachan dam expected to reach maximum capacity on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall has hit Phetchaburi and nearby provinces over recent days causing huge amounts of water to flow into the dam. The dam was reported to be at 97 per cent capacity as of Saturday evening with water starting to flow into the spillways, threatening downstream villages.

Further south, the TMD is warning of strong winds and two to four-metre high waves in the Andaman Sea and two to three-metre high waves in the upper Gulf of Thailand.

“Ships should proceed with caution, and small boats should stay ashore. People along the coast of the western South and the East should beware of strong winds,” the TMD warned.

The forecast says that scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain will persist until Friday. From Phuket northwards, there will be southwesterly winds of between 20 to 45 kilometres per hour, waves two to four metres high and above four metres high in areas getting thundershowers. 

 People in western provinces urged to move to higher ground as more water to be released from reservoirs.

MANY dams in the western region are rapidly filling up due to heavy downpours, with the situation at Kaeng Krachan Dam being of the greatest concern.

The reservoir was expected to reach maximum capacity last night.

Source - TheNation