Hotels across Thailand are offering huge discounts and special deals to entice both foreign and domestic tourists to travel more during the low travel season from June to October. The usually slow season is especially sluggish this year as a result of the global economic recession, the ongoing political upheaval, and now the H1N1 flu pandemic. Hotel occupancy rate across the country has plunged 16 percent. Luxury hotels in Bangkok are the ones receiving the biggest blow, as travelers shy away from splurging on top-notch accommodation. Thai Airways International has slashed prices of its domestic flights to compete with low-cost airlines and is even offering free domestic connections to those flying into Bangkok from outside of Asia.AP
South Korea’s Incheon International Airport has been voted the world’s best airport, stealing the title from Hong Kong International Airport who held the title for seven consecutive years. Skytrax, a UK-based aviation research group, conducted a survey on 8.6 million passengers over a ten-month period. Of all 196 international airports worldwide that participated in the survey, South Korea’s Incheonemergedthe overall best, closely followed by Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore’s Changi International Airport. Joining them in the top ten are Zurich Airport, Munich International and Japan’s Kansai International Airport. Kuala Lumpur came seventh, followed by Amsterdam, Nagoya Airport, and New Zealand’s Auckland airport secured the tenth place. In individual categories, Hong Kong won the best dining award, Kuala Lumpur won the best immigration service title, while Dubai International Airport won best duty free shopping.
The Times of India
The Times of India
Some British tour operators say they will not offer refunds to clients who have booked a holiday to Bangkok and no longer wish to travel, despite the unrest and rioting that are taking place in the Thai capital. The Bitish Foreign Office downgraded its overall threat level for travel to Bangkok on Wednesday of last week, after the riots had dissipated. "On Monday and Tuesday we were calling clients who were booked up to April 16 to see if they wanted to change arrangements, and we were also calling clients who were already in Bangkok," said Anne-Marie Hansen, a spokesperson for Kuoni Travel. "At that point if people wanted to cancel we would refund them the entire cost of their holiday, but when the advice changed back on Wednesday we reverted to normal booking conditions." Normal booking conditions means a 100% cancellation charge if the trip is less than seven days away. Other British travel companies including Thomson Worldwide and Thomas Cook Signature have both also reverted to normal booking conditions.
The Guardian
The Guardian