Cash bailout for stranded tourists

BANGKOK, 22 February 2012: Ministry of Tourism and Sports will introduce a compensation scheme for tourists stranded in Thailand and review the guide registration law to prepare for the advent of a free-trade era in 2015.

The ministry confirmed it was prepared to remove unfavorable articles in the Act of Tourism and Guide Registration 2008, which could disadvantage Thailand in a free trade era of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

The ministry spokesperson, Watchara Kannikar, said the ministry will review the law to prepare for AEC 2015.

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Vietnam:Training a top priority

HANOI, 19 January 2012: Vietnam Tourism Association says staff training is a long- term task needed to ensure the country can step up its competitiveness in the region.

The association deputy chairman, Nguyen Huu Tho, said new training programmes will be introduced through to 2016 to achieve objectives to move the country up the scale to become a leader in ASEAN.

“Over the next five years, the association plans to ask relevant authorities to establish a Tourism Knowledge Fostering School to train staff and managers,” he said. Read more

ASEAN goes green

MANADO, Indonesia, 11 January 2012:  The newly constructed Golden Kawanua Exhibition Hall, venue for ATF 2012 TRAVEX, will welcome over 1,400 delegates this week to negotiate contracts to draw more tourists to ASEAN’s destinations.

Pre-TRAVEX registration statistics indicate that close to 1,000 exhibitors, 390 buyers and more than 100 media delegates will fill the exhibition venue during the event. Representing travel trade and tourism organisations, worldwide, delegates  will conduct business transactions during the 13 to 15 January trade mart.

The event continues to draw the attention of international media as well. This year, media from 36 countries worldwide including first-time participants Bahrain and Indonesia.

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Research identifies free trade challenges

BANGKOK, 30 September 2011 – Thailand’s travel and hotel SMEs are not prepared to compete for business once the ASEAN Economic Community kicks in 2015, Kasetsart University’s Centre for Applied Economics Research reported this week.

The university presented its SWOT analysis called ASEAN Tourism Industry Research at the Association of Thai Travel Agents monthly meeting, Thursday.

Project leader, Kampanat Pensupar, said the six-month (January to June 2011) research on ASEAN member countries’ strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats  showed Thailand SMEs need to build strategies, tighten awareness and improve competitiveness to prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

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Thailand invests in job skills

BANGKOK, 31 August 2011 – The Ministry of Labour says it will concentrate on improving job skills to meet the challenges of borderless movement of skilled labour under the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

Labour minister, Pademchai Sasomsap, said a budget of Bt3 billion would be distributed to the Department of Skills Development and the Department of Employment to improve standards.

About 12 provincial institutes under the DSD and  centres for skills development in 65 provincials across the country will benefit. Read more

Wake up call on AEC 2015

BANGKOK, 26 August 2011 – Business experts say the emergence of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 will seriously challenge Thailand’s tourism operators, while offering opportunities for those already prepared to expand their business regionally.

During a seminar AEC: Trends for Thailand Tourism, held Wednesday, Tourism Council of Thailand Policy and Planning president, Kongkrit Hiranyakit, warned it would seriously challenge tour company owners who would need to upgrade staff to a higher level of competence to compete.

“ AEC 2015 will allow more foreign companies to invest in travel here, while facilitating the flow of skilled labour across borders in the hotel and travel segments. That alone will mean company owners will have invest more in skilled labour and be prepared for more competition,” Mr Kongkrit said. Read more

Time to act now on AEC 2015

BANGKOK, 23 August 2011- Travel companies in Thailand need to build partnerships and network with their counterparts in ASEAN to prepare for borderless trade that will emerge through the ASEAN Economic Community 2015 initiative.

That was the conclusion of a panel discussion held last week, “AEC: the Turning of Thai MICE,” and organised by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

Panalists said business experts should look beyond the definitions and statements surrounding AEC 2015 and focus on how to take practical steps such as securing partnership agreements with companies in neighbouring countries that have similar corporate DNAs. Read more

Moves to change school year

BANGKOK, 16 August 2011 - Thailand’s  tourism sector says it can live with a plan to change the university academic year to bring it in line with an ASEAN proposal to unify school years throughout the 10-member countries by 2015.

But tourism associations are asking for enough lead time to rework their tour package schedules and more importantly the travel fair schedules that play a vital role in driving bookings during school holidays.

Adopting a single academic calendar is part of the wider Asean Economic Community 2015 strategy. It would encourage more exchange student programmes particularly focused on Asian language studies and technology within the region while raising educational standards. Read more

What AEC 2015 means to the trade

BANGKOK, 2 August 2011 – Department of Tourism is partnering with the College of Innovation Thammasat University to host a travelling seminar, 1 to 10 August, to explain ASEAN Economic Community concepts to travel industry executives.

The seminar kicked off in Pattaya, Monday, but continues to tour the country with the final session, 10 August, in Bangkok. The Thai Hotels Association is supporting the event recommending that its hotel members attend when the series visits their region. Read more

ATTA president outlines plans

BANGKOK, 25 July 2011 – Thailand’s leading travel agency association says it will build business for its members by helping them prepare for the ASEAN Economic Community that rolls out 2015.

That was the pledge made by the Association of Thai Travel Agents’ acting president, Sidivachr Cheewarattanaporn, who outlined the association’s policy statement for 2012 at a meeting Thursday.

“ATTA needs to move forward to build business benefits for members, following the resignation of Surapol Sritrakul, last month who was president of the association for two years 2009 to 2010,” Mr Sidivachr explained.

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