New bus links to Don Mueang

New bus links to Don Mueang

Two air-conditioned bus services have been added to the routes between Don Mueang airport and central Bangkok starting Thursday, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) says.

They are the A1 route between Don Mueang Airport and Mor Chit bus terminal, and the A2 route between the airport and Victory Monument.

The BMTA said the A1 route will have 6-8 buses making 14 round trips a day and the A2 will have 8-10 buses running 20 round trips a day. The first bus leaves at 9am and the last trip is at midnight.

The fares on both routes are no more than 30 baht a trip.

The routes will connect with other routes throughout the capital, the BMTA said.

The new routes are in line with Transport Ministry policy to promote the airport by providing more public transport to cater to tourists and air travellers.

~News courtesy of Bangkok Post~

促销旅游 春蓬推海洋一日游

促销旅游 春蓬推海洋一日游

春蓬府【Chumporn】府尹披拉萨昨天（18日）主持「春蓬海洋一日游路线」启动仪式，以宣传该府海洋旅游路线，他邀请国内外游客前来观光该府治逾40个岛屿，欣赏泰国燕群最多的岛屿，促销春蓬群岛丰富的旅游旅游资源。  

披拉萨表示，每年3-4月期间，大量国内外游客到该府旅游，目前正是春蓬府的旅游旺季。该府有丰富的海洋旅游资源，各大海滩、岛屿共有40座，海景美丽，海天一线。游客乘坐快艇或随团旅游，也可以参加海上活动，自由潜水，欣赏丰富多彩的海底世界。  

披拉萨指出，春蓬府管辖范围内的岛屿内是燕子最佳栖息地，使得该府是全泰国燕子数量最多的府治，并使得该府治每年因销售燕窝创收超过1亿铢。而该府的朗嘎九岛是具有历史意义的岛屿，拉玛五世皇陛下曾3次驾临该岛观察岛上燕窝，并曾把第五世皇的御名标志刻在该岛的岩洞内石壁上。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

防猕猴抢劫 兰达岛禁游客喂食

防猕猴抢劫 兰达岛禁游客喂食

甲米岛兰达群岛【Koh Lanta】国家公园主任哈立猜昨天（17日）透露，目前该岛已贴出告示牌，禁止游客给猕猴喂食物。因为接到多名游客投诉，被猕猴抢劫或入室偷劫财物，造成财产损失。官方还提醒游客做好安全防范，每次出门前收好财物，关好门窗，并切勿给猕猴投食。  

哈立猜指出，过去许多前来该岛海滩观光的游客喜欢给猕猴投食，导致越来越多的猕猴以为游客的行李就是「食物来源」。据探查发现，因此今年有3群200多只猕猴从山上下来到该国家公园附近栖息，以等待游客投食。当猴子等到不奈烦时，就会成群抢劫游客的行李，游客见到猴子成群而来，只好丢下行李让猴子随意翻，造成财产损失。  

他表示，还有游客投诉停车期间因为没有关好车门而被猕猴闯入窃取车内食物，甚至曾发生猕猴入室盗窃的现象，导致该公园内的酒店必须补偿游客损失，因此很有必要提醒留宿游客，每次进出都要关好门窗，以防猕猴入室盗窃。所幸的是没有游客投诉被猕猴抓伤或咬伤。  

他说，为使得游客的旅游安全放心，该公园办事处才在景区内外张贴禁止为猕猴投食的告示牌，因为一旦养成给猕猴投食的习惯就会有更多的猕猴下山而来，如果得不到食物，饥饿的猕猴就会做出攻击游客或者盗窃行为。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

复兴航空曼谷线启航

复兴航空曼谷线启航

复兴航空今天正式首航曼谷，以A330-300新客机执飞，每天1班，下午16时05分起飞、18时55分抵达曼谷。旅客抵达曼谷后，可另行安排其它航班前往欧洲、澳洲。回程是19时55分自曼谷起飞，午夜约零时25分抵达桃园。这是复航继新加坡之后，东南亚区域第2个重要转运点开航。  

复航管理层表示，团体行旅客抵达泰国后，可简单安排体验曼谷夜晚生活；商务旅客更可休息，有充足精神展开隔天的拜访会晤。团体行回程可多一整个白天时间安排行程，搭晚上班机回到台湾。  

根据交通部观光局统计，去年12月与今年1月，台湾赴泰国旅游人次皆大幅成长，分别较前1年同期成长153%与58%。今年1月台、泰双边往返已超过3万5000人次。 4月泰国新年即将到来，也就是有名的泼水节，正逢泰国旅游旺季，预估观光人次将再成长。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～

春蓬海洋世界游 首办东盟沙雕展

春蓬海洋世界游 首办东盟沙雕展

春蓬府【Chumporn】府尹披拉萨昨天（14日）透露，第23届「春蓬海洋世界游」观光促销与宣导活动将于本月22-26日在该府直辖县公共海滩举办​​，活动期间将推出世界最大的独具东盟10国特色的沙雕群展览，以促进该府的旅游业发展，吸引更多的海内外游客前来观光。  

披拉萨指出，「春蓬海洋世界游」今年已经是第23届，而今年的活动将是史前最盛大的一次，因为在本次活动将重点推出独具东盟10国特色大型沙雕群展览，绽放东盟国家独特的艺术文化。本次沙雕展览是世界上首次最大的沙雕艺术展。沙雕群包括，泰国哈努曼神猴、缅甸仰光大金塔、寮国郎普拉邦佛骨塔等东盟各国代表性标志和建筑。  

披拉萨透露，东盟10国沙雕将由泰国和外国沙雕艺术专家、政府部门、私企、学生、军人等共同联手堆砌而成，虽然沙雕还没有完全完工，但现在每天已经能吸引大量国内外游客前来光顾了，相信沙雕完成后将会吸引更多的游客前来观看。  

此外，「春蓬海洋世界游」还将推出摄影展，将从生活、文化、风俗、旅游景区等方面全面介绍和宣导春蓬府丰富的人文旅游资源。同时还将举办水上运动比赛、劳工培训活动等。  

他说，春蓬府的海岸线与巴蜀府以及素叻他尼府延绵相接长达222公里，其中有大小岛屿40座，海景广阔无边、海水纯净天蓝。海边的海鲜餐厅数量极多，游客可以在观赏美丽海景的同时，还可以尽情享受丰富可口的海鲜。t

～以上新闻转载世界日报～

Pattaya high-speed link on track for 2018

Pattaya high-speed link on track for 2018



The government is aiming to complete the country's first high-speed train between Bangkok and Pattaya by 2018.

Three other lines linking the capital with Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin are also scheduled to be completed the following year.

The planned four high-speed rail routes are part of infrastructure projects under the 2-trillion-baht borrowing plan to be tabled before the cabinet for its approval next Tuesday.

Barring any problems, the bill will be forwarded to parliament by the end of this month for final approval, with a target to complete all projects in seven years.

Other key projects to be financed with borrowing under the bill include 10 mass transit projects, dual track railways and road projects which have undergone environmental impact analyses.

Of the total borrowing, 1.65 trillion baht will be spent on railway development, 30.7 billion baht on water transport system development, 243 billion baht on road development, and 12.19 billion baht on road checkpoint development.

Chula Sookmanob, director of the Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Office, said the government expected to invite bids for the four high-speed trains in September. Bidders will be required to specify their technology for the train in the bidding contest to enable the government to project the construction cost. Interest is expected from Japan, China, South Korea, France, Germany and Spain.

Mr Chula said the government will establish a new organisation before September to manage the high-speed links.

He said the government hopes to be able to reduce the country's logistics costs by at least 2 per cent after all projects featured in the bill are completed.

The country's logistics costs stood at 1.75 billion baht in 2012 against its gross domestic product of 11.5 trillion baht in the same year.

The projects could also reduce fuel costs by at least 100 billion baht a year and cut travelling time between Bangkok and the provinces within a 300km radius to 90 minutes from three hours.

PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn said the government would meet state agencies on Friday to make sure it can clearly answer questions about the projects that may be raised in parliament.

The government has extended an exhibition on the projects by another four days to Saturday to make sure the public are informed about them, he said.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva reiterated Monday he disagreed with the borrowing plan.

Mr Abhisit visited the exhibition with deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij and party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut Monday at the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road.

They were accompanied by Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Transport Minister Chadchat Sittipunt.

Mr Abhisit said the projects could be implemented through the original 300-billion-baht plan using the annual budget since some of them are already included in ongoing development plans. He cited dual-track railways as an example.

He also said the planned high-speed railways should be extended to Nong Khai and Malaysia instead of ending at Nakhon Ratchasima and Hua Hin.

~News courtesy of Bangkok Post~

防欺诈 观光与体育部盼游客多投诉

防欺诈 观光与体育部盼游客多投诉

观光与体育部副常务次长他妮塔小姐昨天（8日）主持「旅游安全预警宣导」活动，该活动旨在提醒国外内游客应防范观光行业中的欺诈行为，同时推介投诉举报欺诈行为的渠道。在活动展示了举办热线及促进观光安全代言吉祥物，而该部设立的举报投诉热线电话为02-1344077。  

他妮塔表示，旅游安全预警活动已持续举办了2​​年，旨在提醒泰国及外国游客在旅游充分注意安全、防范遭受欺诈，同时民众介绍防范与应对欺诈行为的方法与渠道，提高国内外游客在泰旅途的安全，促成放心观光。她说，该部去年共接到425次相关投诉，例如观光购物价格过高、酒店价格高出预订价格、出租车不按计程表收费等。  

他妮塔指出，本次活动将在全国9个府治10个旅游区加强宣传投诉举办热线和渠道，9个府治分别是：曼谷、宋卡、沙敦、普吉、甲米、攀牙、素叻他尼、春武里以及清迈，而今天将在曼谷乍都节周末市场进行首站宣传活动。此外将在4个府治增设援助受欺诈者中心，分别是：清迈、邬汶叻他尼、素可泰以及北碧府。

～以上新闻转载自世界日报～