The Naka Island, a luxury collection resort & spa, Phuket announces 2019 festive season offers
Its magical festive season offers for guests to join in the exciting festivities on the island this year-end, and make Christmas and New Year the most enjoyable. A wide range of dining and other celebrations will be on offer throughout Christmas and New Year, complemented by the resort’s idyllic ocean views, outstanding facilities and seamless services.
Christmas celebrations on the island
Featuring the Santa visit and the Christmas choir by his helpers, The Naka Island’s Christmas Eve celebrations begin with multiple celebrations across the resort’s restaurants and bar including all-day dining Tonsai restaurant, beachfront restaurant My Grill, scenic view Z Bar, the newly opened Rum Chapel and in-villa dining.
Tonsai – All day dining restaurant offers Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner priced at THB 3,200++ per person, featuring a wide array of local and international cuisine. (Food only)
Rum Chapel - New beachfront trendy dining venue with engaging ambiance and design presents its innovative 5-course Christmas set dinner priced at THB 4,500++ per person with welcome cocktail and wine pairing. In addition, guests can still enjoy a la carte dinner at the award-winning beachfront restaurant My Grill, Z Bar and in-villa dining, advanced reservation is required.
New Year’s Eve Dinner Party - Pirates of The Naka Island
On December 31, 2019, get ready to party in style with ‘Pirates of The Naka Island’ themed dinner party, and be entertained by live DJ, live band, talented dance shows and fire dance shows. A live DJ will also be playing everyone’s favorite hits all night long. Priced at THB 8,990++ per person including free flow beverages during 630 p.m. to 1 a.m., guests can start the year right and pamper with sumptuous buffet, drinks, entertainment plus a striking display of fireworks!
Guests can book the festive offers via the reservation desk available at Tonsai restaurant’s entrance during 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. from December 17, 2019 onwards. For more information, please call +66 76371400, email naka.reservations@luxurycollection.com or visit www.theluxurycollection.com/nakaisland
~Bangkok Post~
Laos, Thailand To Build Another Friendship Bridge
Laos and Thailand are considering the construction of one more friendship bridge to connect the two countries in a move that would link Vientiane Province and Loei.
The governor of Vientiane Province, Mr. Khamphan Sithidampha told reporters on August 16 that Vientiane provincial authorities had proposed the project to the government for its consideration.
“We are conducting a study on the location of the bridge, to decide whether it should be in Sanakham or Meun district,” Mr. Khamphan, as quoted by Vientiane Times.
It is unclear when the construction of the bridge would begin.
The first friendship bridge to connect the two nations was built in 1994, with help from the Australian government.
Since then, the two governments have constructed a total of four Lao-Thai bridges across the Mekong River and have signed an agreement to build another bridge linking Borikhamxay province with the Thai province of Bueng Kan.
Mr. Khamphan said the construction of the bridge and the upgrade of border crossings between Vientiane province and Loei Province would provide a significant boost for domestic and foreign investment.
Laos and Thailand have beefed up their efforts to improve connectivity between two nations in recent years.
The first freight train service to and from Laos was launched in early August, which will carry cargo from a container yard at Thanaleng Railway Station in Vientiane, Laos, to as far as the Laem Chaban seaport in Thailand.
Trains to and from Vientiane used to be only able to carry passengers only across the 3.5km track, while freight was carried across the border to Nong Khai by truck.
Meanwhile, Thailand is preparing to launch the country’s first bullet train that will run between Bangkok and Beijing, China, with Laos as one of the intermediate stations.
In particular, the first route, a Thai-Sino project linking Bangkok and Nong Khai in the far Northeast, is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2023.
In July, Laos and Thailand also signed an agreement to extend road and rail connections between the two countries worth more than THB 3 billion (USD 98.2 million).
Under the agreement, the two countries plan to improve the R11 road linking the Phudu border checkpoint in Uttaradit province in Northern Thailand with the Lao capital, Vientiane. The two-lane road will be paved with asphalt and will cost about THB 1.8 billion (USD 59 million).
~Laotian Times~
泰铢升值 中国游客锐减 泰今年恐难实现4000万入境旅游人次目标
旅游业是泰国经济的一大支柱，当局希望今年能吸引4000万入境旅游人次，然而近来泰铢升值，加上中国游客数量锐减，导致该国旅游业陷入低迷，恐难以实现2019年旅游人次目标。
18国游客免签证入境延长至明年4月
为了带动旅游业增长以刺激疲弱的经济，泰国首相巴育昨天宣布延长对18个国家游客的免签证入境措施至明年4月，希望能在明年1月农历新年和4月泰国新年期间吸引更多游客到访。
泰国政府上周出台一项100亿美元（约139亿新元）的刺激经济配套，其中就包括增加开销来促进国内旅游业和对中国及印度游客实施免签政策。泰国原本收取2000泰铢（约90新元）的签证费。
泰国的访客以中国和亚洲区域游客居多，但该国每年也迎来数以百万计的欧洲及美国游客，泰铢升值多多少少影响了游客的旅游计划，尤其是那些预算有限的游客。
泰国旅行社协会会长维奇说：“（泰铢升值）对旅游业绝对有影响，因为在与亚洲其他货币比较之后，游客宁可选择到越南、马来西亚、新加坡或印度尼西亚游玩。”
早在泰铢升值之前，泰国的中国游客数量已开始下降。2018年7月，一艘载有中国游客的观光船在普吉岛附近海域倾覆，造成多人死亡和失踪，加上中国经济放缓，导致赴泰的中国游客慢慢减少。
根据官方数据，今年首六个月访泰的中国游客人数同比下降了5%。当局认为，中国游客人数激增的情形不会再现。
另外，2018年访问泰国的全球各地游客人数比2017年多了7.5%，但今年首六个月，游客总数只增加了1.5%。旅游业表现低迷和泰铢升值，打击了泰国经济表现，泰国今年第二季度经济增长放缓至2.3%，是五年来表现最差的一季。
泰国旅游局国际行销部副主任猜丹说：“这项新政策将能够让泰国两大游客来源市场的游客，更容易做出来泰国游玩的决定。”他承认，泰铢升值可能会对游客在酒店和消费方面有所影响，但他相信政府放宽签证条例会吸引更多游客到访。
由为泰党控制的泰国旅游及运动部原本也提出，豁免中国及印度游客的签证一年以提振经济，但遭到内阁反对。《曼谷邮报》报道，泰国副首相兼国防部长巴维警告免签证或危害国家安全。他与外交部的立场一致，认为中印两国各有十数亿的人口，泰国未必有能力应付大批旅客涌入、同时担忧有人趁机非法居留。
~早报网~
Tourism Langkawi, Malindo Air to launch promotion to lure tourists from Phuket
Tourism Langkawi, a local tourism development organisation, in collaboration with Malindo Air, will launch a promotion to introduce tourism products and hotel accommodation offered by its members, to lure tourists from Phuket to the island, next month.
Langkawi Tourism president Ahmad Phisol Ishak said Malindo Air’s Langkawi-Phuket-Langkawi direct flights had opened up a huge opportunity for the island’s tourism sector as it would ease the travel of visitors.
“Fifteen members of Langkawi Tourism comprising travel agents, hotel and tourism product operators are joining forces with Malindo Air to launch the promotion at Langkawi International Airport on Sept 2.
“We want to take this opportunity to attract more tourists from Phuket. During the launching ceremony, representatives from 10 travel agents and three media organisations in Thailand will also be flown in as part of the promotion.”
He said this when met after chairing a meeting with Malindo Air's North and Central Malaysia manager Arasu Soundarajan and members of Tourism Langkawi at Ombak Villa Langkawi here today.
Ahmad Phisol said the promotion was also being held as a result of positive feedback received by the organisation following the Tourism Langkawi products engagement mission in Phuket from July 19-22.
“The mission was very successful, Tourism Langkawi with Malindo Air received positive feedback on what we were able to offer as a result of the meeting with 25 travel agents there. Furthermore, we see Phuket as an attraction not only for Thai tourists but also from Europe and China,“ he said.
Meanwhile, Arasu Soundarajan said the airlines hoped the cooperation and the promotion would increase the number of passengers on its Langkawi-Phuket-Langkawi sector.
“We hope to push our load through this collaboration with the marketing support from Tourism Langkawi. Through this campaign, we can offer special fares to travel agents offering hotel packages,” he said.
Malindo Air has been offering flights for the Langkawi-Phuket-Langkawi sector every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since March.
-- BERNAMA
成为亚细安物流枢纽 泰国要建跨亚洲多国高铁网络
泰媒报道，高铁工程主要分为泰国到老挝及中国南部、泰国到柬埔寨、泰国到马来西亚和新加坡，以及曼谷到清迈四条路线，全长达3193公里，造价约914亿新元。
（曼谷讯）泰国政府希望通过一个横跨亚洲多国的高铁网络，致力推动泰国发展成为亚细安的物流枢纽。
《曼谷邮报》报道，这项庞大工程主要分为泰国到老挝及中国南部、泰国到柬埔寨、泰国到马来西亚和新加坡，以及曼谷到清迈四条路线，全长达3193公里，造价约2.07万亿泰铢（约914亿新元）。
可从中国开到新加坡
泰国交通部副部长拜林说，泰国政府希望这个高铁网络可以从中国一路开往新加坡。他说：“到时候，人们就可从曼谷城区挽赐（Bang Sue）乘高铁北上中国北京或南下新加坡。”
连接曼谷和毗邻老挝的东北部廊开府（Nong Khai）的第一阶段工程正在兴建，预计2023年竣工。这一段铁路长达608公里，落成之后，将会成为曼谷通往老挝的主要运输系统。
下一段铁路将把泰国和老挝边境与老挝首都万象连接，最后一段铁路则会将万象与中国云南省边城磨憨镇相连接。
据一个不愿具名的老挝官员说，万象与磨憨镇之间长达414公里的铁路至今已经完成了55%，衔接万象与廊开的铁路工程也已经展开。
他说：“这是一个将我们从内陆国家转变为有土地联系的国家。”他指，目前人们要从万象前往磨憨镇需要两天，但如后有了高铁，来往这两地“就只需要三个小时”。
老挝希望跨国高铁网络能促进经济发展。受访官员预计，有了这条高铁路线，未来到访老挝的中国游客每年可能多达1000万至2000万人次。
泰国也希望借助这个跨国高铁网络来刺激其经济发展，尤其是该铁路网络将把廊开与泰国东部经济走廊（EEC）衔接起来；泰国东部经济走廊是在泰国东部沿海三府北柳、春武里和罗勇设立的国家经济特区，旨在将泰国东部打造为一个现代智能生产的工业中心。
由于项目的重要性和成本非常高，政府应该认真地与中国谈判，并研究随后的利益和条件。从长远来看，我们需要能自己照顾铁路的一切运作，而毋需依靠中国。——泰中战略研究中心前主任阿克松斯里
泰国国立法政大学经济学院副教授、泰中战略研究中心前主任阿克松斯里表示，高铁网络是中国倡议“一带一路”计划的一部分，落成后将会提高泰国的竞争力和与邻国的联系。
不过她指出，发展高铁网络存在一定担忧，主要是在软件和系统安全方面，其他可能影响铁路网络建造项目的障碍还包括“高建筑和征收成本”。放眼望去，泰国日后决定购买中国科技时，也必须明智地进行谈判。
她说：“由于这个项目的重要性和其成本非常高，政府应该认真地与中国谈判，并研究随后的利益和条件。从长远来看，我们需要能自己照顾铁路的一切运作，而毋需依靠中国。”
~联合早报~
泰柬列车中断45年 泰下周一重启通向边境车站服务
泰国东部最靠近柬埔寨边界的班克隆卢卡（Ban Klong luk）列车站，将来旅客可从这个站续程进入柬埔寨。（互联网）
泰国与柬埔寨两个月前重新开通中断了45年的跨境铁路，跨境通车至今还未落实，不过泰国境内通向边境车站的列车服务已定在下周一开始。
泰柬两国在4月22日在边境举行了盛大的跨境铁路重开仪式，但列车服务需等到两国确定班车列表和其他相关细节之后才能启动。
泰国铁路局昨天（6月25日）宣布，泰国境内铁路段的列车服务将从7月1日开始。
新列车服务连接首都曼谷和沙缴府（Sa Kaeo）城镇阿兰雅（Aranyaprathet），直到班克隆卢卡（Ban Klong luk）边境车站；每天来回各两趟。
按协议，这些列车服务将来可直达柬埔寨西北部边陲小镇波贝（Poipet），然后直达柬埔寨首都金边。从波贝到金边的370公里长铁路已在去年重开，不过，柬方至今还未宣布什么时候启动通往波贝的列车服务。
柬埔寨的铁路是由法国殖民政府建造，后来大多毁于战乱中。从波贝到金边的线路也在1973年内战期间被破坏和停用，近期得到亚洲开发银行出资协助重建。
泰柬铁路相通之后，来往两国的交通时间将缩短，对双边贸易和跨境旅游业都有好处。
~早报网~
