VIETNAM AIRLINES TO PIONEER DIGITAL HEALTH PASSPORT PROJECT

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will work with domestic and foreign agencies in building and applying a “COVID-19 vaccine passport” project, Dang Anh Tuan, head of the airline’s Communications and Branding Department, has said.

Representatives from the airline have held a working session with partners from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on a digital health passport project.

Vietnam Airlines was invited by the association to pilot the IATA Travel Pass app, which can help travellers and governments manage travel health credentials.

The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that allows travellers to store and manage certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. The app has been available in iOS and Android stores.

The information provided through the IATA Travel Pass can be used by governments requiring testing or vaccination proof as a condition of international travel during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A critical aspect is the fact that the information supplied is verified. It is a secure means to manage health requirements and much more efficient than paper processes.

The IATA Travel Pass will help people travel with ease while meeting any government’s requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines.

It enables passengers to create a “digital passport”, receive test and vaccination certificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and share testing or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitate travel. The app can also be used by travellers to manage travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout their journey, improving the travel experience.

According to IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac, the successful implementation of the IATA Travel Pass demonstrates that technology can securely, conveniently, and efficiently help travellers and governments manage travel health credentials.

This is an important basis for international aviation activities to restart, he emphasised.

The IATA Travel Pass has received positive feedback from governments in more than 70 countries and is being piloted by more than 20 airlines worldwide, including five-star airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

The app is forecast to become a global trend, helping countries be more confident in easing travel restrictions and thus rebounding their aviation industries as soon as possible.

Read the full article at VietnamPlus: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-airlines-to-pioneer-digital-health-passport-project/197967.vnp
Image: Vietnam Airlines to pioneer digital health passport project – Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Tags: Covid-19 vaccine passport, Vietnam, Vietnam airlines

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS KEY TO MEKONG’S TOURISM RECOVERY

It is vital private sector players step up their game to coordinate unified tourism recovery across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries in the wake of change at Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), say regional stakeholders.

Earlier this month, Jens Thraenhart, MTCO’s longest serving executive director, handed in his resignation, citing “personal values” as the reason for leaving his seven-year tenure.

He said: “It’s about standing up for my values and doing what I believe in. This office was formed to develop collaborative sustainable tourism across the Mekong region and we have created a very unique and powerful private-public partnership that does that. But in the current situation, it’s difficult.”

Thraenhart will continue his service during his 90-day notice period.

A special MTCO board meeting of GMS member governments will be held in April, where the six tourism ministries will decide how to move forward.

In the interim, regional tourism stakeholders say now is the time for the industry to unite and strengthen the innovative framework Thraenhart has created through MTCO; the secretariat of GMS Tourism Working Group of the six governments; and Destination Mekong, a DMO driven by the private sector; to move forward.

Willem Niemeijer, CEO of YAANA Ventures, noted: “MTCO is a powerful regional lobby and countries need to all come together as one. Stakeholders now have the chance to be part of the building back in tourism recovery. Post-Covid, regional tourism is going to be very important and discussions need to be had.”

Nick Ray, product director at Hanuman Travel, agreed, adding: “The challenge is that each country is working unilaterally. As we begin to reopen, there needs to be coordination and forward-looking countries really need to work together to promote the region.”

He added that while MTCO is driven by GMS governments, it is vital the private sector remains involved in decision-making. “It’s important that Destination Mekong carries on in tandem with MTCO – and the private sector needs to make that happen.”

Geoffrey Lipman, former WTTC president and president of International Coalition of Tourism Partners, said the region’s industry needs to seize this opportunity to strengthen.

“There is now the chance for the organisation to evolve and become much more of a public-private economy. The right components have been put in place by MTCO over the past few years, now, the private sector needs to get engaged to make Destination Mekong a sustainable regional DMO. Often, the private sector better understands the digital and travel world than governments, and they need to work together.”

Destination Mekong is also the driving force behind a series of initiatives, including award-winning Mekong Moments and Mekong Mini Movie Festival, Mekong Innovations in Sustainable Tourism (MIST), and Experience Mekong Collection and Showcases.

Thraenhart expects the majority to continue, with a tourism recovery campaign in development and a virtual internship platform slated to launch in the next few months.

With the military coup currently taking place in Myanmar, this has raised questions over how this will impact MTCO’s work promoting the region. Niemeijer said that while political distractions create a “challenge”, it is important to keep conversations flowing.

Read the full article at TTG Asia: https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/03/24/public-private-partnerships-key-to-mekongs-tourism-recovery/
Image: Coordination needed among GMS governments, private stakeholders to promote region post-pandemic.
Tags: COVID-19 recovery, GMS, Greater Mekong Subregion, MTCO

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

LAO GOVERNMENT AND HANDICRAFT STAKEHOLDERS PLEDGE TO PROTECT TRADITIONAL DESIGNS OF LAOS

Representatives from the Lao government, Lao Handicrafts Association, and cultural heritage stakeholders met on Friday to discuss models for legal action in the protection of Laos’s traditional designs.

The meeting on “Protecting Cultural Intellectual Property Rights in Laos: A Way Forward” was organized by the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) and the Lao Handicrafts Association, with support from VOICE. The event drew panellists and participants from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, as well as handicraft businesses, young designers, village artisans, embassies, and non-governmental organisations.

The meeting agreed that protecting the traditional designs of Laos’s ethnic groups is an urgent priority, kicking off with a video about the importance of traditional cultural knowledge in Laos, particularly for rural crafts producers and the tourism sector.

It also highlighted a prominent case in which fashion company Max Mara copied designs from the Oma ethnic group of Phongsaly.

Mr. Saybandith Sayavongkhamdy, of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), helped define important legal terms to refer to traditional designs and explained why tools like copyright and trademarks have limited use for traditional handicrafts.

Ms. Thongkhoun Soutthivilay, Co-Director of TAEC, was in attendance to present the project that TAEC has been implementing with the Oma, documenting their traditional designs in a database. This database will then be copyrighted by the Department of Intellectual Property, to help protect the information.

“We should replicate this model for all the artisan communities of Laos, to ensure that they do not get plagiarised as the Oma did,” said Ms. Thongkhoun.

Read the full article at The Laotian Times: https://laotiantimes.com/2021/03/26/lao-government-and-handicraft-stakeholders-pledge-to-protect-traditional-designs-of-laos/?fbclid=IwAR36LZIWvuBlRQpqgHqKNsWHBVtxvNrdWNXIKfeqP2dnPK9XXmUdn5VoaB4
Image: TAEC Co-Director Tara Gujadhur with Oma Artisans.
Tags: cultural heritage, cultural preservation, Lao Handicrafts Association, Laos

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

Mekong Tourism Stakeholder Engagement trip to Chiang Mai on March 23-27, 2021

On March 23-27, 2021, Mekong Tourism is visiting travel businesses, partners, and friends in Chiang Mai as a part of a stakeholder engagement trip, including Experience Mekong Collection members. We met and had several fantastic meetings for casual to discuss Mekong Tourism collaboration and the Experience Mekong Collection program on how MTCO can further support and collaborate with members to drive tourism recovery and resilience, especially with small businesses.

On day 1 & 2 of the Mekong Tourism Stakeholder Engagement trip to Chiang Mai, we visited and inspected Experience Mekong Collection small businesses, including Monsoon Tea and Wild Nature Artisan – An Edible Memoir of Chiang Mai.

On day 3 of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Stakeholder Engagement trip to Chiang Mai, we visited another Experience Mekong Collection member Elephant Poopoopaper Park, an innovative business that created lots of impact on the environment and the local community.

Day 4 Morning of our Mekong Tourism Stakeholder Meetings, we visited Experience Mekong Collection small businesses and social enterprises; Siamaya Chocolate is a social enterprise making quality chocolate, buying cacao from local farmers. In the afternoon, we met with Chai Lai Orchid Eco Resort & Elephant Experience, 90 minutes drive from town, a peaceful oasis with freely roaming elephants. In the evening, we dropped off at Craft & Care is a new social enterprise by 2020 Mekong Heroes recipient Potjana Suansri. It was such great learning about the health benefits of herbal drinks.

On our last day, we visited another inspiring small business and social enterprise, Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade, a social enterprise established in 1973. Great meeting with Managing Director Elias from Myanmar to discuss collaboration.

Overall, it was a successful Mekong Tourism Stakeholder Engagement trip to Chiang Mai, visiting inspiring social enterprises as part of the Experience Mekong Collection. Working on our new and exciting “Made in Mekong” initiative, by Destination Mekong. Stay tuned!

#tourismmekong #mekongmoments #MekongMemories #experiencemekong

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

CHINA LAUNCHES COVID TRAVEL PASS

China has launched a digital Covid-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travels, joining other countries issuing similar documents as they seek ways to reopen their economies.

As vaccines are globally being rolled out, a few countries including Bahrain have already introduced certificates identifying vaccinated people, and the EU agreed to develop vaccine passports under pressure from tourism-dependent southern countries.

The certificate issued by China will have details about the holder’s Covid-19 vaccination information and coronavirus test results, the department of consular affairs under China’s foreign ministry said.

The Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech showed a high ability to neutralise coronavirus strains first detected in Brazil, the UK and South Africa, according to a new study.

Read the full article at Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-launches-covid-travel-pass-101615331351530.html
Image: The Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech showed a high ability to neutralise coronavirus strains first detected in Brazil, the UK and South Africa, according to a new study.(REUTERS)
Tags: China, digital Covid-19 vaccination

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au
Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAILAND TO NOMINATE TOM YUM KUNG FOR UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST

The Thai cabinet has day endorsed the Culture Ministry’s proposal to nominate Thailand’s most popular dish, tom yum gung, for inclusion on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list.

Government deputy spokesperson, Ms. Traisulee Traisoranakul, said that the tom yum kung dish reflects the simplicity of the way of life in Thai farming communities, living along rivers and canals in central Thailand, who have their own culinary culture related to nature.

The dish is prepared by putting fresh shrimp, which are abundant in Thailand’s waterways, into boiling water containing a mixture of herbs, such as fragrant lemon grass, fresh galangal root and kaffir lime leaves, which are typically grown in the back garden.

“Hence, tom yum kung reflects the simplicity and the way of life of Thai people, which is both self-dependent and dependent on nature. The dish is good for health,” said Ms. Traisulee.

She further explained that the dish, which is also favoured by many foreigners, reflects the practice of Buddhism among Thais, who avoid eating the meat of large animals, especially on Buddhist religious days.

Read the full article at Thai PBS World: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-to-nominate-tom-yum-kung-for-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list/
Photo: Thai PBS World
Tags: Thailand, tom yum gung, UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

FORBES SPOTLIGHTS VIETNAMESE HOSPITALITY SECTOR’S CREATIVITY AMID PANDEMIC

US business magazine Forbes has recently published an article highlighting the Vietnamese hospitality sector’s creativity to survive the COVID-19 blow.

According to the article, titled “Vietnam’s hotels get creative to survive the pandemic” by Brett Davis, COVID-19 forced some in the industry to rethink their approach to how to cater to guests and innovate their offerings.

It said one such innovation was developed at Alma Resort on the shores of Cam Ranh Bay in southern Vietnam, which built its own in-house app to create a safe, contactless way of delivering key information to guests.

Developed by the resort’s IT team and available for download on Android, Apple, Windows and Amazon devices, the ‘Alma Resort’ app provides COVID-19 health and safety tips, menus for the property’s restaurants, activity schedules and promotions as well as live stream broadcasts and information about events.

The resort’s general manager, Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, said he believed it would soon be incumbent for five-star resorts across Vietnam to offer the same technology.

The author went on to note that thanks the Government’s drastic measures, Vietnam was one of the world’s leading countries in controlling the spread of the pandemic.

Read the full article at VietnamPlus: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/forbes-spotlights-vietnamese-hospitality-sectors-creativity-amid-pandemic/197762.vnp
Image: Alma Resort on the shores of Cam Ranh Bay in southern Vietnam (Photo: VNP)
Tags: creativity, Forbes magazine, Vietnam, Vietnamese hospitality

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAILAND LAUNCHES NEW TOURISM CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTING TEMPLES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a new tourism campaign highlighting temples and other places of worship, offering tourism products for specific tourists while promoting the preservation of Thai traditions.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) campaign is known as the WAT, short for Worship Activities Tradition, as a preparation for the country’s anticipated reopening to tourists.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the TAT has created 15 tourism routes across the country that lead tourists to places of worship and other tourism attractions, with a connection to local communities.

Speaking at the press conference, the Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, said the new campaign will offer domestic tourists information on places of worship that they can visit and pay their respects to, while at the same time experiencing local cultures and traditions in each area.

Read the full article at Pattaya Mail: https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-launches-new-tourism-campaign-highlighting-temples-and-places-of-worship-348718
Image: The new campaign will offer domestic tourists information on places of worship that they can visit and pay their respects to, while at the same time experiencing local cultures and traditions in each area. (Photo – Wat Phra That Khao Noi, the hilltop temple with the Blessing Buddha overlooking the city)
Tags: TAT, Thailand, tourism campaign

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

VIETNAMESE CUISINE AMONG TOP 10 MOST POPULAR ON INSTAGRAM

Vietnamese cuisine was the world’s ninth most popular on Instagram in 2020, reaffirming its rising popularity among food lovers, a study found.

There were 2.84 million #Vietnamesefood tags posted on Instagram, the world’s largest photo sharing network, last year, according to the study released this week by New York-based foodie magazine Chef’s Pencil.

It analyzed Instagram tags to reveal what cuisines and foods were trending around the world as shared by millions of foodies via the online platform.

Research showed Japanese food ranked highest with about 15.5 million related tags, followed by Italian dishes with 14.7 million tags and Indian cuisine with 8.5 million.

Apart from Italian and Mexican cuisine, which came sixth, the top 10 Instagram hits comprised Asia staples.

A survey conducted among 250 chefs by Chef’s Pencil last year ranked three Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam among the world’s five most underrated foodie destinations.

“The chefs we interviewed felt these three cuisines, and pretty much all of Southeast Asia, deserve more respect and higher recognition in the culinary world,” the magazine stated.

Read the full article at VNExpress: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/food/vietnamese-cuisine-among-top-10-most-popular-on-instagram-4249712.html
Image: A banh mi filled with stewed pork thigh on Huynh Van Banh Street, HCMC.
Photo by VnExpress/Thien Chuong.
Tags: Instagram, Vietnam, Vietnamese cuisine, visual contents

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAI LAWMAKERS EXTEND “WE TRAVEL TOGETHER” DOMESTIC TOURISM SCHEME

Thai lawmakers have approved the extension of the “We Travel Together” scheme to cover an additional 2 million people, to boost domestic tourism in Thailand. The cabinet meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved the third-phase extension of the stimulus package.

Lawmakers also approved a packaged domestic tour stimulus program, Tour Tiew Thai.

Earlier, the cabinet had turned down the proposed Rao Tiew Duay Kan extension, after the first stages were found to be riddled with fraudulent claims. It instructed the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Tourism and Sports Ministry to redesign it to prevent further misuse.

At the cabinet meeting on March 9, the TAT presented improvements and proposed extending it to cover more than 2 million more people and extend its life. It was scheduled to end on April 30.

Under the proposal approved on Tuesday, the stimulus will run from May to Aug 31.

Launched on July 15, 2020, the domestic tourism stimulus policy is part of the government’s effort to spur domestic travel, with foreign tourists still largely refused entry because of the pandemic.

Reviving tourism with We Travel Together

We Travel Together was designed to raise consumer demand to help revive the tourism sector. Registered participants pay only 60% of normal room rates, with the government picking up the rest of the tab.

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), said after the cabinet meeting that the Rao Tiew Duay Kan scheme would use the remaining 5.7 billion baht in its budget to cover 2 million more people, beginning in May.

Hotels taking part must submit details of the number of rooms they have and room rates.

Mr Danucha said businesses that had registered earlier would have to register again, so that TAT could compare the information they give about rooms and charges with that registered earlier.

Registered people wanting to use their entitlements under this scheme have book hotel rooms at least seven days in advance. Krungthai Bank (KTB) would send the information to the TAT, so it could examine it for any irregularities.

The value of e-voucher given to registered people has been changed, from 900 baht for weekdays and 600 baht for weekends to a single rate, 600 baht a day, he said.

Mr Danucha said the cabinet also approved the Tour Tiew Thai stimulus, which is for packaged tours.

Under the Tour Tiew Thai scheme, the government will subsidize 40% of the payment, up to 5,000 baht per person.

People must buy packages with a domestic tour agency for three days and two nights, with a minimum price of 12,500 baht, and must visit places from Sunday to Thursday. Participants must be aged 18 or more on the date of registration.

The target is one million participants in Thailand. It also runs from May to Aug 31 and has a budget of 5 billion baht.

Read the full article at CTN News: https://www.chiangraitimes.com/tourism/thai-lawmakers-extend-we-travel-together-domestic-tourism-scheme
Tags: domestic tourism, Thailand, tourism campaign, We Travel Together

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

PM ORDERS CONSIDERATION OF COVID ‘VACCINE PASSPORT’ FOR ECONOMIC, TRAVEL RECOVERY

Foreign tourists walk on Bui Vien backpacker street in downtown HCMC, March 2020.
Photo by VnExpress/Nguyet Nhi.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered relevant agencies to map out plans for “Covid-19 vaccine passport” implementation to soon help tourism and aviation sectors recover.


Speaking at a government meeting Wednesday, Phuc requested relevant agencies to consider “appropriate anti-pandemic prevention measures” as the country adopts an official policy for Covid-19 vaccine passport holders.

His directive came after tourism experts earlier this month suggested the government consider opening up to vaccinated foreign visitors from the third quarter in a similar vein to regional peers to revive the hard-hit tourism industry.

While some experts proposed those holding “vaccine passports” should still undergo 14-day quarantine in the absence of information on the potential risk of infection following two-dose inoculation, others suggested the exemption of mandatory quarantine if foreign arrivals show a vaccine certificate and negative test results before and after entering the country.

A “vaccine passport” entered the agenda as the Southeast Asian country committed to both containing Covid-19 outbreaks and ensuring economic growth, rebooting hard-hit sectors like aviation and tourism.

Phuc said many businesses in sectors like transport, tourism and services have been badly affected; as a result, many people have been left unemployed.

The PM also ordered relevant agencies to consider gradually resuming international flights.

The government has closed national borders and canceled all international flights since March last year with only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers allowed in with stringent conditions.

The government last year green-lighted the resumption of commercial flights to seven Asian destinations, mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand, but Vietnamese carriers are still not allowed to operate inbound flights.

Read the full article at VNExpress: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/pm-orders-consideration-of-covid-vaccine-passport-for-economic-travel-recovery-4249896.html
Image: Foreign tourists walk on Bui Vien backpacker street in downtown HCMC, March 2020.
Photo by VnExpress/Nguyet Nhi.
Tags: tourism recovery, vaccine passport, Vietnam

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAILAND TO FULLY REOPEN TO TOURISTS IN JANUARY 2022 IN NEW PROPOSED FOUR-PHASE REOPENING RULES

Thailand is considering a four-phase reopening that will most likely to kick-off in April and will relax quarantine rules. However, the kingdom may not fully reopen to international tourists until January 2022.

The latest Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ recovery plan includes four reopening stages starting with the “Wellness Leisure area Q and Hotel Q” due to start on 1 April and to continue to the end of May. Under this latest proposal, tourists from UAE, Israel, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and possibly India and Russia staying in five provinces will be eligible for relaxed quarantine rules. The five provinces that are eligible for eased quarantine rules are Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani (Samui, Tao and Phangan islands) Chonburi (Pattaya), and Chiang Mai.

Moreover, groups of one to four tourists must stay in their room from day 1 to day 3, and then they will be allowed to access hotel facilities from day 4 until the rest of the quarantine period. Currently, tourists staying in quarantine are given limited access (around 1 hour per day) to some of the hotel facilities after their first negative COVID-19 test conducted on day 4. Access to more activities and facilities are allowed after the second COVID-19 test on day 12.
Four-phase reopening

Phase 1 – April and May

Tourists will be able to use fitness facilities, swim and go on cycle rides in the grounds (subject to protocols) in the ASQ. Tourists are also allowed to eat food delivered from outside the hotels.

Phase 2 – June to September

Tourists are allowed access to an exclusive travel area or “seal route” while doing Area Quarantine for 10 days. Once they completed their quarantine, they can travel anywhere in Thailand.

The plan is to have Area Quarantine in Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani (Khon Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan), Phangnga and Bangkok.

Phase 3 – October to December

Dubbed as the “Sand Box” reopening phase where seven specified tourism provinces that are mostly by the sea where tourists that completed vaccination must test negative and stay in quarantine for a day. Also, the requirement Certificate of Entry document will be replaced by a vaccine certificate.

Phase 4 – from January onwards

This will see the “Sand Box” reopening phase all throughout the country. Moreover, tourists will be able to come for a stay of 45 days (up from the previous 30) or utilize Special Tourist Visas, Yacht Quarantine or Elite cards.

Source: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/thailand-fully-reopen-to-tourists-in-january-2022-four-phase-reopening-rules/

Tags: relax quarantine, reopening stages, Thailand, Wellness Leisure area Q and Hotel Q
Photo: Travel Daily

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

PANDEMIC MARKETING TIP? GO QUIRKY AND WEIRD

From national flags projected onto the side of a Swiss mountain to ‘scream therapy’ in Iceland, creative and original campaigns are key to staying top of mind until travellers can return, say destination marketing experts. Domestic tourism, Covid-19 transparency and sustainability should also be pillars of any recovery campaign.

Tim Russell, Southeast Asia commercial director of itinerary building platform eRoam, and Jens Thraenhart, executive director of Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, shared their recommendations in a recent ‘Destination Recovery: How to Promote your Destination When No-one is Travelling’ webinar.

Among Russell and Thraenhart’s top tips? Creating striking campaigns and imagery with quirky and weird content. They pointed to the month-long nightly light projections on Matterhorn mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland, and Iceland’s invitation to “record your scream” to be released in the country’s wilderness, as prime examples of pandemic marketing panache.

Using Covid-19 as a marketing tool should also be a priority. “Stress your destination’s safety by showing statistics related to your country’s handling of the pandemic and its recovery and vaccination plan,” Russell said.

Quoting data from management consulting firm McKinsey & Company — which projects domestic tourism will recover one to two years earlier than outbound travel — the pair said offering new insights into places locals think they know, and promoting unique and little known destinations, are two of the most effective ways to reach the domestic market.

Singapore’s S$45 million (US$33 million) SingapoRediscovers campaign, which supports local lifestyle and tourism business and encourages exploration at different sides of the island, and the Lao Thiao Lao 2020 (Lao Visit Laos) campaign, were highlighted as particularly strong attempts to boost domestic tourism.

When travel does recover, Russel and Threanhart believe that sustainability will be a major concern and booking driver. “We have seen what the world is like without mass tourism and many do not want to go back,” Russell said. Promoting sustainability, as well as initiatives that support small businesses that are suffering, should be a major focus for destination marketers.

Read the full article at Travel Weekly Asia: https://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Marketing/Pandemic-marketing-tip-Go-quirky-and-weird?fbclid=IwAR1q_azozQLc2i2vy7PgMgNJk3rpJEKhgJZTcgxIAsPtQpKR_jrjJgjF07Q
Image: Gerry Hofstetter’s light art projected onto Switzerland’s Matterhorn mountain is one of the pandemic’s most unique destination marketing campaigns. Photo Credit: Michael Portmann
Tags: Mekong region, MTCO, tourism recovery campaign

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAILAND TOURISM OFFICIALS TALK OF POTENTIAL TRAVEL BUBBLE WITH CHINA

With restrictions in Beijing easing and plans to issue digital Covid-19 vaccination certificates to Chinese nationals, there may soon be a travel bubble between Thailand and China, allowing those vaccinated against the coronavirus to travel between the countries without quarantine.

Just yesterday, the Chinese government announced it would issue the digital certificates to help citizens travelling overseas, a move that made the tourism industry in Thailand “jubilant,” the president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Vichit Prakobosol, told the Bangkok Post.

Immediately after the announcement, tour agencies in China contacted operators in Thailand to talk about the possibility of quarantine -free travel for vaccinated tourists.

“If Thailand can implement a travel bubble with China by that time, we have high hopes we can have 8 million Chinese visitors this year… If a pact is finalised in July, Chinese arrivals would be less than 6 million, and if not until October, the figure is more likely 3 million.”

Thailand may potentially set up a tourism project called the “Andaman sandbox” that would allow quarantine-free travel to tourism destinations along the Andaman coast such as Phuket, Koh Ngai, Railay and Khao Lak, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

The Andaman pilot projects will benefit the tourism industry, Vichit says. He also says travel arrangements with China should be a top priority.

Read the full article at Thaiger: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-tourism-officials-talk-of-potential-travel-bubble-with-china
Photo by Gerrie van der Walt for Unsplash
Tags: China, digital Covid-19 vaccination, Thailand, travel bubble

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

CHINA-LAOS FILM FESTIVAL HELD IN LAO CAPITAL TO PROMOTE CULTURE EXCHANGE

Organizers of the China-Laos Film Festival have expected to promote culture exchanges between the two countries as the 2021 version of the event are being held in Lao capital Vientiane.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the film festival on Monday, Director of Department of Cinema Khamphao Vannavong said this is the fourth time that the Department of Cinema collaborated with the Chinese side to host the event, which has become an activity that integrates the friendly relations between the Lao-Chinese people with increasing popularity among Lao people.

“I believed that China-Laos Film Festival will become a platform for cultural exchange between the two nations by watching Chinese films in Lao language. It will also create opportunities for people of all ethnic groups in Laos to get to know and learn more about Chinese culture,” said Khamphao.

The China-Laos Film Festival 2021 invited famous Lao artists and professionals to participate in the dubbing of four Chinese movies and some Lao movies.

The movies will be screened in eight provinces of Laos including Champasak, Sekong, Khammuan, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Huaphan, Bokeo and Xieng Khuang, besides capital Vientiane.

The opening ceremony was held by the Department of Cinema under the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in collaboration with China Media Group.

Read the full article at Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/asiapacific/2021-03/16/c_139814438.htm
Photo: The Star
Tags: China, China-Laos Film Festival, culture exchanges, Laos, tourism promotion

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAI MINISTER WANTS EARLIER REOPENING DATE AND NO QUARANTINE WITH ONE CONDITION

While Thailand’s COVID task force is considering easing or eradicating the mandatory quarantine for foreign travellers by October, Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn suggested an earlier reopening date in July given that the province has achieved herd immunity.

Speaking at a meeting with tourism representatives, Ratchakitprakarn stressed that the key to early reopening is vaccinating at least 70% of the population in three provinces. These three provinces are Phuket, Phang-Nga and Krabi, which are heavily reliant on tourism and is responsible for bringing 20% of the total tourism revenue in Thailand.

“According to the timeline set by the government, foreigners will be allowed to travel to Thailand without quarantine. But we want to do it faster. We hope this can be done starting with Phuket in July under the condition that at least 70% of its population is vaccinated, a requirement of 900,000 doses for 450,000 people,” Ratchakitprakarn said.

Ratchakitprakarn echoed Open Thailand Safely’s call for a more concrete tourism reopening plan. The organisation also suggested a full reopening without quarantine in July, which it argued as a low season for Thailand that will enable the country and tourism providers to adequately prepare for the arrival of foreign travellers.

Read the full article at Travel Daily: https://www.traveldailymedia.com/thai-minister-wants-earlier-reopening-date-and-no-quarantine-with-one-condition/
Photo: Travel Daily
Tags: Thailand, tourism reopening

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

VIETNAM TOURISM OFFICIALS CONSIDER COVID-19 VACCINE PASSPORT

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is working with relevant agencies on a proposal to welcome vaccinated foreign tourists back to the country.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the administration, on Thursday said after working with relevant agencies, it would consult the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to report to the government on the possibility of vaccine passports, a certificate identifying those that have been inoculated against Covid-19.

The move came after many tourism experts suggested the government consider opening up to vaccinated foreign visitors from the third quarter in a similar vein to regional peers to revive the hard-hit tourism industry.

As the world started rolling out Covid-19 vaccine shots, inoculation certificates have emerged to identify those that have been vaccinated for cross-border travel.

China and Israel were the first to issue digital health certificates for travelers who had been vaccinated against Covid-19, also dubbed ‘vaccine passports.’

The U.S. and Britain are among countries currently considering issuing similar permits, while the E.U. is also working on its own vaccine ‘green pass’, allowing those who have had the jab to travel more freely within the region this summer.

Government Office chief Mai Tien Dung said Thursday the government has not yet considered easing pandemic prevention protocols for those that have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Those entering the country and holding ‘vaccine passports’ still have to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine as per Health Ministry regulations, Dung noted.

Luong Hoai Nam, member of Vietnam’s Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), said the reopening of foreign tourism could “help lift the country’s status” as Vietnam could not wait until the Covid-19 pandemic ends to welcome international tourists back to the country.

Pham Duy Nghia, director of Viet Food Travel Company, which specializes in bringing foreign experts into the country, said vaccine passports could create a boost for the tourism industry when widely applied in future.

But he noted these passports could only be applied in the next three to four months when the global pandemic situation shows signs of abating and many people in the world have been inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines.

Nguyen Ngoc Toan, director of Images Travel Company that specializes in welcoming European visitors to Vietnam, suggested initially the country could consider opening up to business travelers from countries and territories in the region where Vietnam has close trade relations like Japan, South Korea or Singapore.

“Those who have been vaccinated should enter Vietnam without being quarantined. Neighboring countries such as Singapore and Thailand all have plans to welcome business travelers,” Toan added.

Read the full article at VNExpress: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/vietnam-tourism-officials-consider-covid-19-vaccine-passports-4247478.html
Image: Foreign tourists row a boat near Mua Cave in northern Ninh Binh Province, February 2020.
Photo by Shutterstock.
Tags: Covid-19 vaccine passport, Vietnam, VNAT

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

THAI TRAVEL NEWS PHUKET LAUNCHES THAILAND’S FIRST ‘DIGITAL YACHT QUARANTINE’ PROJECT

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) together with Thai yachting organisations in Phuket, as well as key public and private sector technology providers, are partnering to launch Thailand’s first ‘Digital Yacht Quarantine’ project.

The initiative is meant to stimulate yacht tourism to Phuket and allow visitors to conveniently complete their 14-day quarantine requirement in the comfort on their own yacht.

Digital Yacht Quarantine is based around smart watch health trackers using NB-IoT technology that will allow Thai medical officials to monitor the health of visitors up to 10 kilometres offshore. After arrival, visitors are to liaise with a representative from the Thai Yacht Business Association (TYBA), which will act as the coordinating agent between the Thai health authorities to arrange COVID-19 RT-PCR testing.

After testing, visitors will then be fitted with one of two smart watch health trackers, either the Activ 10+ or the Smartwatch Active 30+ models, developed by PMH Holding Company Limited (POMO House).

The smart watch health tracker must be worn by visitors at all the times to measure the pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature. The information will be monitored in real time by relevant Thai health authorities via a dashboard at the Ao Po Pier. Both devises can also send out an emergency SOS signal if visitors need urgent medical assistance.

After the 14-day quarantine period is complete, all data will be analysed again before allowing visitors to embark and go ashore in Phuket.

Thailand first launched the yacht quarantine in October 2020, with no COVID-19 infections detected since then and expects the expanded digital project could attract more than 100 yachts and 300 to 500 visitors during 2021.

Read the full article at TAT News: https://www.tatnews.org/2021/03/phuket-launches-thailands-first-digital-yacht-quarantine-project/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=phuket-launches-thailands-first-digital-yacht-quarantine-project

Tags: Digital Yacht Quarantine, Phuket, TAT, Thai yachting organisation, Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), tourism reopening

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

VIETNAM AMONG WORLD’S LEAST SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: EUROMONITOR

Vietnam finished in the bottom five of a global sustainable tourism ranking, placing 96th out of 99 economies, according to a Euromonitor International report.

Vietnam joined Morocco, Mauritius, India and Pakistan in the bottom five of the ranking compiled by British market research firm Euromonitor.

The country lagged far behind all its Southeast Asian neighbors like Laos (51), Myanmar (59), Cambodia (74), Thailand (76) and Malaysia (85). Indonesia took up the 92nd spot, followed by Singapore and the Philippines.

The index, which ranked 99 countries and territories around the world, analyzed seven aspects of sustainable tourism, including environmental, social and economic sustainability, country risk as well as sustainable tourism demand, transport and lodging.

Globally, Sweden has been ranked the most sustainable destination for travel, followed by Finland and Austria. Rounding out the top five are Estonia and Norway.

“Sustainable travel has raced to the top of the tourism agenda in recent years. However, only 55 percent of travel businesses implemented some form of sustainability strategy,” Euromonitor said.

The research firm predicted there would be growing awareness among consumers, businesses and governments to prioritize the planet alongside people and profit when global tourism begins again following travel restrictions across the world.

Some popular tourist destinations in Vietnam have been eyeing sustainable tourism development.

Read the full article at VNExpress: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/vietnam-among-world-s-least-sustainable-travel-destinations-euromonitor-4249165.html

Image: An aerial view of Tam Coc-Bich Dong, a popular travel destination in Ninh Binh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: VNExpress
Tags: Euromonitor International, global sustainable tourism ranking, sustainable tourism, Vietnam

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1

Yacht quarantine scheme to set sail in Thailand

Thailand will soon launch its first Digital Yacht Quarantine project, designed to stimulate yacht tourism to Phuket and allow visitors to complete their 14-day quarantine requirement onboard their own yacht.

The initiative, announced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is led by Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency, together with Thai yachting organisations in Phuket, as well as key public and private sector technology providers.

The Digital Yacht Quarantine scheme will rely on smart watch health trackers using NB-IoT technology that will allow Thai medical officials to monitor the health of visitors up to 10km offshore. After arrival, visitors are to liaise with a representative from the Thai Yacht Business Association (TYBA), which will act as the coordinating agent between the Thai health authorities to arrange for Covid-19 RT-PCR testing.

After testing, visitors will then each be fitted with a smart watch health tracker, which must be worn at all times to measure the pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature. The information will be monitored in real time by relevant Thai health authorities via a dashboard at the Ao Po Pier. Both devises can also send out an emergency SOS signal if visitors need urgent medical assistance.

After the 14-day quarantine period is complete, all data will be analysed again before allowing visitors to embark and go ashore in Phuket.

Read the full article at TTG Asia: https://www.ttgasia.com/2021/03/12/yacht-quarantine-scheme-to-set-sail-in-thailand/

Image: Yacht quarantine scheme aims to stimulate yacht tourism and boost confidence as Phuket gradually reopens to travel. Photo: TTG Asia
Tags: Phuket, TAT, Thailand, yacht quarantine, yacht tourism

Website: www.theholidayandtravelmagazine.blogspot.com.au

Website: www.DestinationMekong.com

Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1