Thailand Retreats News

After 10 years of corrective actions Thailand has been taen off the US PriorityWatch List and added to the lower Watch List of the intellectual property policies and enforcement 

The US Trade Representative (USTR) has now added Thailand to the lower Watch List (WL) category.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30334088

Prizes totalling 150,000 THB have been donated by generous partners from across Phuket and there will be a Christmas Giveaway for a week of prizes starting Monday 18th December on Class Act Media’s Live89.5, the island’s leading radio station. Answers to a simple question is required to win a prize every day next weel between 7 - 11am

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-live-89-5-gets-into-the-spirit-with-christmas-giveaway-65159.php#mZLrJx03RSoqsCtZ.97

The 5th annual Koh Samui Midnight Run organised by the Thai Hotal Association and the Thai Association of Koh Samui takes place on 25th March 2017. Proceeds of the charity event will be donated to very good causes such as the new school for Autistic children and the 'Green  Project'.

This popular charity event takes place in and around the streets off Chaweng Beach Road and the organisers are expectting over 1000 competitors.

For more information see http://www.samuimidnightrun.com

The Thai Government Cabinet have extended the 1 year long stay visa for foreigners to 10 years for foreigners aged 50 or older but they must report to immigration police every 90 days.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1141756/10-year-visa-for-senior-tourists

Thai Cabinet approves increased flights from Russia to Thailand to boost Tourism

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1136016/cabinet-approves-increase-in-flights-from-russia

Bangkok Airways recently announced a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines, Austria’s flag carrier, increasing its code share partners to 21.The new partnership will seamlessly enable passengers of Austrian Airlines to connect with world-class tourist destinations in Thailand and Cambodia.

As a result, new destinations in Thailand and Cambodia can be directly booked via Austrian Airlines, and reached from Vienna via flights to Bangkok.

In addition to the well-known vacation destinations of Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui in the south of Thailand, passengers can fly to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand and Trat located on the Gulf of Thailand. In Cambodia, the codeshare agreement with Bangkok Airways includes the destinations of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Read more at http://asia.etbtravelnews.com/289260/bangkok-airways-austrian-airlines-sign-codeshare-agreement/

In Phuket this weekend?

The Phuket International Boat Show is on from Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th January at Royal Phuket Marina and Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek will be there exhibiting in the exhibitors hall booth 10, you can register for raceweek at the same time if you wish, please pop in and say hello. At the same time sign up for the Earlybird registration for the Cape Panwa Hotel, Phuket Race week that willtake place 20th - 27th July 2016

We are pleased to announce that Fah Sai was awarded Best Villa South East Asia at the World Boutique Award ceremony on Oct 30th 2015.
As such Fah Sai is now a member of the Master Key Collection, a portfolio of outstanding properties worldwide with the utmost dedication to luxury service for the discerning travellers.
The villa management looks forward to welcoming  Guests at Villa Fah Sai and ensure they have an unforgettable experience.

Studies are being carried out to choose the most suitable location to build yacht ports in both Koh Samui and Krabi to attract more visitors especially long stay. The government has pledged 15 million baht in order to set Thailand as the centre for Asean marinas.

Phuket hosts the Thaiand Yacht show where 40 foreign super yachts, 300 yachts and more than 3000 people will attend the event next February.

http://www.samuitimes.com/yacht-port-confirmed-to-be-built-in-samui-to-attract-tourists/

In Koh Samui the 8th Four Seasons Cancer Care charity fun run is set for 22nd August 2015 this year. This is usually held at Nathon in a nice race track with a 5km and 10km race to choose from.

The 10km race starts and ends at the Seatran pier taking in great green views

The 18h June sees the start of the Queens Cup Golf Tournament in Koh Samui, Thailand  held at Santiburi Samui Country Club on the Asian Tour and international circuit bringing world-class golfing talent to Samui Island. Held in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit it attracts top Thai golfers such as Thaworn Wiratchant competing for the first prize of $300,000 with the main sponser being Bangkok Airways.

Descendents of Chinese immigrants known as the Peranakan or Straits Chinese people from the 19th century but nicknamed in Thailand as Baba are preparing for the annuall mass wedding ceremony held in Phuket town on 21st/22nd June.

The wedding ceremony is open to all including tourists with prior registration for a fee of 40,000THB and traditional dress for the bride and groom are provided.

If not participating it is a great photo opportunity to visit this colourful festival held in the most elegant sino- Portugese Mansions in Old Phuket Town thrown open for the occasion with a lively parade along Thalang Road decorated with lanterns.

http://www.phuket.com/phuket-magazine/baba-wedding-festival.htm

Over 7,000 runners and walkers are expected to join the 10^th The Laguna Phuket International Marathon the largest destination marathon in South East Asia. The event first held in 2005 is considered world class in the running scene and one of the most prestigious annual events taking place in Thailand

www.phuketmarathon.com

In cooperation with the Loei Provincial Administration and organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Life and Living Bikenet, and Nok Air, this 70km cycling event event is aimed at promoting green tourism in the northeastern region of Thailand, or I-san, under the Tour of I-san Classic tourism promotion project.

The tour is open to everyone but limited to 300 cyclists and the ultimate goal is to attract more tourists and travellers to visit I-san with the cycling route featuring a scenic, loop course that travels past lush nature and through cultural and ethnic communities of Loei. Applications close on 31st May 2015

http://www.tatnews.org/thailand-invites-cyclists-and-travellers-to-join-tour-of-i-san-loei-classic/

A group of young scientists from the International School of Samui have received Best Overall Film by key stage 3 students and Best Chemistry Film by key stage 2  students with entries for the competition received from all over the world.

http://www.samuitimes.com/international-school-of-samui-wins-prestigious-film-awards/

Zico's restaurant was opened 13 years ago presenting authentic Brazilion music, samba dancers and cuisine in the form of an all you can eat buffet in Chaweng Koh Samui and still is as popular as ever.

Tatler readers have chosen Zicos based on reviews to be included in the Thailand Tatler's Best Restaurant Gude 2015

http://www.samuitimes.com/zicos-in-chaweng-selected-for-inclusion-in-thailands-tatlers-best-restaurants-2015/

The best beaches in Thailand 2015 as voted by Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Awards 

No.1. Nai Harn Beach, Rawai, Phuket

No.2. Railay Beach, Krabi

No.3. Kata Noi Beach, Phuket

No.4. Phra Nang Beach, Krabi

No.5. Sunrise Beah, Koh Lipe

No.6. Thong Nai Pan Noi, Koh Phangan

No.7. Karon Beach, Phuket

No.8. Freedom Beach, Patong, Phuket

No.9 .Long Beach, Koh Lanta

No.10.Laem Tong Bay, Koh Phi Phi Don, Krabi

Thailand's exports and imports unexpectedly rebounded in September, a rare piece of good news for the military government which is struggling to revive the economy after seizing power in May.

The Southeast Asian country's exports have been struggling at a time when other Asian exporters have started to reap from a recovering U.S. economy and a spurt in global demand for smartphones and other tech goods.

Exports, which are equal to more than 60 percent of the Thai economy each year, rose 3.19 percent from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday, compared with a 0.25 percent drop in a Reuters poll. In August, annual exports declined 7.4 percent, the most since devastating flooding in late 2011.