Kudos for the Shangri-La

The Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Readers’ Poll is conducted annually among subscribers, and the 2013 results were based on data collected between April and June this year. Kieran Twomey, centre, the general manager of Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, Maggie Garcia, left, area director of sales and marketing and Rashana Pimolsindh, director of Communications, right, show off the trophy.

 

Living the Thai life

Don’t leave home without the TAT’s upgraded “Lifestyle Thailand” app on your smart phone. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reveals the travel application has been downloaded 50,000 times so far this year and in continuously updated with new information. Like the old-fashioned guidebook, the application gives the visitor ideas on how to make the most from their trip in Thailand. From “slow travel” to extreme and adventure trip, the application will prove a helpful assistant. It’s available for Android phones. 

 

China, Thailand visa waiver pending

The much-anticipated tourist visa waiver between China and Thailand is unlikely to materialise anytime soon despite pleas from tourism operators in both countries, according to a Thai minister. Thailand will need more time to improve security measures and improve infrastructure to manage any surge in Chinese tourists that a waiver would bring, Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak said recently during the 2013 China International Travel Mart in Kunming. However, Thai authorities may provide multiple-entry visas to Chinese tourists in the short term. – China Daily/ANN.

 

Direct flights to Pune

India’s popular low-cost carrier SpiceJet introduces four direct flights a week between Bangkok and Pune, making travel between the two major cities a lot more convenient and cheaper. Bangkok has long been popular with residents Pune for medical tourism – a place where they can meet the dentist in the morning and go shopping in the afternoon.