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Archive for April, 2024

29 Apr, 2024

Exclusive Lectures on How Visit Thailand Year 1987 Revolutionised Global Tourism

In 1987, Thailand marked the auspicious 60th birthday of His Majesty the late King Rama IX the Great with an extraordinary national celebration known as Visit Thailand Year. It was a grand invitation for visitors worldwide to join the Thai people in marking the King’s historic 5th 12-year cycle of life. The event proved to […]

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23 Apr, 2024

Celebrating my ouster from the PATA Thailand Chapter Executive Committee

Bangkok — On 22 April 2024, I was ousted from the PATA Thailand Executive Committee by a vote of 6:5 with one abstention. A paper-thin margin but enough to complete the well-orchestrated job. I was the only nominee voted out. All the others sailed through with unanimous votes. In the spirit of turning the negative […]

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21 Apr, 2024

Thailand, Laos, Australia mark 30th anniversary of the Mekong’s first post-war Peace Project

Bangkok – Thailand, Laos and Australia are this week holding a series of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1st Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the first infrastructure project to reinforce the peace and promote travel, tourism, transportation and trade as a conduit for the economic development of the post-war Indochina region. The 1,170-kilometre bridge […]

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18 Apr, 2024

How Thailand, the “Land of the Free”, can bring peace to the Middle East

Bangkok — This may come as a shock to many, but the people of Thailand, the “Land of the Free”, are uniquely placed to help bring peace to the Middle East. How so? Very simple. Just visit both Israel and Palestine, see and experience the reality for themselves. A nice, peaceful way of establishing the […]

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16 Apr, 2024

Travel & Tourism pays the price of not investing in peace

Bangkok — The global travel & tourism industry is waiting with bated breath to see what happens next in the Middle East. After ignoring the rising geopolitical tension for months, the industry was jolted out of its comfort zones by a sharp escalation which threatened to again bring the entire house crashing down. Climate change […]

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12 Apr, 2024

First TRIPS report: From the Frying Pan into the Fire

Welcome to TRIPS (Trends-Risks-Innovations-Policies-Strategies), a new research publication I have launched to fire up honest and realistic discussion on the challenges facing Travel & Tourism in the post-Covid era. The first issue explores the Artificial Intelligence pandemic, and takes a critical look at its opportunities and threats. Please click on the image to download the […]

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7 Apr, 2024

The four keywords of sustainable economic development, by a former head of the Thai Central Bank

The following opening remarks were delivered by Dr Veerathai Santiphrabhob, former governor (1 October 2015 to 30 September 2020) of the Bank of Thailand (Central Bank) at the launch of the 2024 edition of the United Nations Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific on 04 April 2024 at the Foreign Correspondents Club […]

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6 Apr, 2024

Flagship UN report pinpoints pivotal role of Travel & Tourism in Asia-Pacific economic recovery

Bangkok — Robust domestic demand and Travel & Tourism are the two major factors contributing to the post-Covid economic recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, according to the flagship annual report of the UN Economic and Social Commission for the Asia-Pacific. Released on 04 April, the report notes that although GDP growth has resumed, multiple risks […]

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3 Apr, 2024

PATA members should deny Peter Semone a second term as Chairman

Bangkok — On 02 April, PATA Chairman Peter Semone sent out an announcement to the membership saying it has “successfully regained its footing in terms of finances, management and vision.” With a “highly talented” CEO and new plans and structures in place, he hailed PATA’s readiness to face the future in good shape. Alongside, he […]

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