On 15 February, 2008, Thai Airways International launched two direct flights a day between Bangkok and Samui. In addition, Hong Kong tourists can fly direct with Bangkok Airways from Hong Kong to Samui, 4 flights a week.

In 2007, Hong Kong visitor arrivals to Thailand (by nationality and mode of transport) totalled 367,862 a slight decline of 2.33% over 2006.

In 2006, Hong Kong visitors had an average length of stay of 4.82 days and an average daily expenditure of US$127.07 per person, which generated US$283.79 million or 10.75 billion baht in tourism receipts.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 700 kilometres south of Bangkok, Ko Samui is one of Thailand’s most famous and popular attractions.

Known for its popular tropical beaches, the island offers a mixed combination of vibrant day and nightlife alongside fishing villages and marine parks.

A 50-kilometre paved road encircles the island, making it easy to get around. Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai are Samui’s most beautiful beaches, with a huge selection of accommodation suitable for every budget.

A group of 48 nearby islets in the surrounding waters of the Gulf offer excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities. The best time to visit Ko Samui is from February to April when the sea is calm.

Bangkok Airways is putting two additional ATR 72-500 propeller planes into its growing fleet to support its expanding network in Indochina and Burma in the next few years.

The two new planes would be provided to the privately owned airline through a leasing agreement arranged by Ireland-based Aircraft International Renting Ltd (AIR), which purchased the ATR 72-500s for about US$37 million from ATR, part of the European defence and aerospace giant EADS.

The airline hopes the new planes will help it consolidate its network in Indochina and Burma by allowing it to serve more cities, including Hanoi, Vientiane, Sihanoukville, Danang and Bagan. It also plans to raise frequencies to existing destinations from its Bangkok hub.

Growing tourism and economic expansion in those countries were cited by Bangkok Airways vice-president Nandhika Varavan as the main reasons for the carrier stepping up its flight operation to build on its current routes.

Bangkok Airways is capitalising on new business opportunities in those countries after expanding into longer routes to Japan, namely Hiroshima and Fukuoka, in the past two years.

"We feel the need to make a stronger presence in the Indochina states where we pioneered," she said.

In the case of Cambodia and Laos, Bangkok Airways was the first carrier to fly from Bangkok to major cities in those countries. Bangkok Airways has operated flights to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Rangoon and Ho Chi Minh City.

Deliveries of the two turboprops in late 2008 and 2009, capable of carrying 70 passengers, would be instrumental to Bangkok Airways' expanding regional routes.

Their arrival would expand Bangkok Airways' ATR 72-500 fleet to 10, making it one of the largest ATR operators in Southeast Asia.

Bangkok Airways flies ATRs on some domestic routes, including to Sukhothai and Trat. It also uses them for airports with short runways in neighbouring countries, such as in Luang Prabang.

It uses Airbus A320s, A319s and Boeing 717-200 jets on high-traffic and longer routes. ATR has to date has sold 953 aircraft, 760 of which were delivered with a current backlog of 193.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited today announced it will start commercial flights, for the first time, to the popular southern resort island of Samui.

THAI’s Boeing 737-400 aircraft, capable of carrying 149 passengers (12 on Royal Silk Class / 137 on Economy Class) will start the twice daily service on 15 February, 2008. The schedule will be:
 
Flight  Destination      Time of Depart  Time of Arrive 

TG285   Bangkok – Samui  0745            0855           

TG286   Samui - Bangkok  0935            1045           

TG287   Bangkok – Samui  1600            1700           

TG288   Samui - Bangkok  1730            1900

According to Mr. Pandit Chanapai, THAI’s Executive Vice President, Commercial Department, said the new route supports the Thai government’s policy to promote inbound and domestic tourism, particularly to the southern and outer island resorts. THAI expects up to 70 percent of passengers into Samui on its flights to be from overseas. It fits with our policy of “First Flight, Full Flight, Every Flight.

“This is a breakthrough for THAI. Samui is a premier destination. We aim to make the route very competitive by marketing it to tourists from major European cities currently served by THAI connecting through Suvanarbhumi Airport. In addition, THAI’s policy is to expand its network and connections in order to provide seamless travel and convenience for its passengers,” Mr Chanapai said.

Special Royal Orchid Holidays [ROH] packages, including a wide range of packages and products, will be offered to travelers. These include selection of twenty hotels in Samui and two hotels in Pha Ngan plus 11 optional tours to the popular Ang Thong Marine National Park
and Koh Tao.

In addition, THAI will offer a special promotional fare of 2,450 baht per flight on Economy class and 3,600 baht per flight on Business class (fares excluding airport tax and other surcharges) for passengers traveling between Bangkok and Samui during 15 February – 31 March 2008. For further details and information, passengers may contact THAI’s 24-hour Call Center at tel. 0 2356-1111.

Samui has, until now, been the exclusive airline destination of Bangkok Airways, which owns the airport on the island. 

Samui is one of Thailand’s top travel destinations, known for its water sports, adventure activities, shopping and food.

The other southern destinations serviced by THAI are Hat Yai, Phuket, Surat Thani and Krabi. The Samui route brings to 12 the number of THAI domestic routes. It services 64 international destinations (including Bangkok) in 35 countries worldwide.

About THAI’s destinations: Thai Airways International currently flights to 11 domestic destinations, three in the north, three in the northeast and four in the south. THAI flies to 64 international destinations, 12 in Europe, one in North America, 46 in Asia/pacific and three in the Middle East, a total of 35 countries.

ADB approves billion dollar project loan for highway links Ha Noi, Kunming .

Asian Development Bank is providing loans totaling US$1.1 billion to Viet Nam for the construction of a modern 244 kilometer highway stretching from suburban Ha Noi to Lao Cai, on Viet Nam ’s border with the People’s Republic of China ( PR C).

It currently takes two days for passenger cars and three days for trucks to travel from Kunming , PR C to Ha Noi. Once the new highway is completed in 2012, drivers will be able to make the overland trip in less than one day.

Reduced travel times will allow industries clustered around Ha Noi and Viet Nam ’s major port city, Hai Phong, to expand into the country’s impoverished northwest region, increasing employment opportunities and social service access for communities along the highway corridor.

With World Heritage sites Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam and The Three Parallel Rivers in Yunnan , PR C, the new highway is also expected to expand cross-border tourism between the two countries.

Traffic volume on existing roads between Ha Noi and Lao Cai has been increasing at a rate of 12% per year. Over 5.5 million vehicles are expected to use the corridor in 2012, a number that will increase more than three-fold to 17 million by 2022.

ADB’s Southeast Asia department – infrastructure division director, John Cooney, said: “Traffic along the Ha Noi-Lao Cai corridor is already reaching saturation levels in many areas, and without this new highway, traffic costs would increase, while trade and growth would be suppressed.”

The new highway is designed to reduce the volume of traffic passing through cities and towns, which should decrease the number of traffic fatalities along the corridor.

Lao Airlines opened a new route between the World Heritage town of Luang Prabang and Kunming, capital city of China's Yunnan province to meet the need of growing tourism in the region, Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Monday.

"The opening of this new route (on Jan. 5) will mean we can better meet the demand and change in the tourism industry, as more tourists become interested in traveling to the region," said the deputy director of the airline Leuy Bounbandit.

In 2007, Luang Prabang province, home to the World Heritage site, welcomed 320,000 visitors, including 195,175 foreigners, and generated tourism revenues of about 80 million U.S. dollars, said deputy head of the Provincial Tourism Administration, Khamtanh Somphanvilay.

The province is expected to receive 500,000 visitors in 2010, 650,000 visitors in 2015 and 800,000 visitors in 2020, and gain tourism revenues of more than 200 million dollars in 2020, he said.

Now, Lao Airlines operates four flights a week between Vientiane capital and Kunming. The carrier, currently having three aircraft, plans to purchase a new MA60 plane in the near future.

Lao Airlines transported 251,000 passengers in 2005, over 275, 000 in 2006, and 330,000 passengers in 2007, the newspaper said.

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