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Archive for December, 2023

29 Dec, 2023

Person of the Year: The Israeli conscientious objector Tal Mitnick, 18

The travel and tourism industry has long feigned concern about the “NextGen”. Multiple activities are organised regularly to help them inherit a better future. The way things are going, that does not seem likely. Today, I am making a small attempt to thwart that downward trend by conferring, for the first time, a Travel Impact […]

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24 Dec, 2023

Thailand tourism enjoys robust rebound in 2023 but danger looms high for 2024

Bangkok — Since the end of the Covid-19 crisis in 2021, Thai tourism has enjoyed a robust rebound and is set to end 2023 just a little shy of 30 million visitors. While that may heighten optimism of hitting the pre-Covid total of 40 million in 2024, the Israel-Palestine war is already having an impact […]

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22 Dec, 2023

Thailand’s telegenic, fashionable, peace-promoting tourism Brand Ambassador

Bangkok – I am often challenged to prove my characterisation of Thailand as “The Greatest Story in Global Tourism HiSTORY.” Having covered this chaotic yet magnificent country’s high-flying tourism industry since 1981, I have seen and experienced its unique selling propositions across multiple sectors. Today, I can claim that Thailand has the world’s most telegenic, […]

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21 Dec, 2023

PATA Chairman, an American, blasts global geopolitical unrest as “existential threat” to tourism

Bangkok — Mr Peter Semone, the American chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, has unleashed a blistering attack on the “ethnocentrism and extreme views” dominating the political discourse in his country. “America used to be a melting pot where anyone could succeed regardless of your place of birth, race, creed, religion, or ethnicity. The […]

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19 Dec, 2023

Bangkok art exhibitions reflect Peace and Tranquility but Reality paints a different picture

Bangkok — On 16 December 2023, my wife and I spent a few hours immersed in the grandeur of art as an expression of peace and tranquility at the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok. One exhibition titled “Echoed Tranquillity” combined the works of Din Q. Le (Vietnam), Toshiko Tanaka (Japan) and Pratchaya Pinthong (Thailand). […]

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6 Dec, 2023

Gaza butchery set to boost bottom-lines of global merchants of death, especially the Israelis

Bangkok – The blood of innocent Palestinians is set to generate a financial goldmine for Israeli arms dealers Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the aggregate arms revenue of these three companies rose by 6.5 per cent to $12.4 billion in 2022. That was triggered […]

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