VOL 44 • ISSUE 01 • JANUARY 2021 NEWS FOR ASIA’S TRAVEL PLANNERS NEWS UPDATES at www.ttrweekly.com Elephant rides replaced by a learning experience Princess Cruises World Thailand sets up Cruise 2023 48 hours in Langkawi shop to tax tourists January 2021 Thailand sets up shop to tax tourists Thailand’s tourism policy hands of competitive Local media latched Covid-19, registered just board revives travel tax destinations that will on to the board’s short of 40 million tourists. proposal prompting one obviously benefit if they announcement noting When you multiply the travel executives to ask: can demonstrate empathy that it would take effect 2019 total by THB300 you “Have they lost their with cash-strapped once the Royal Gazette have an enormous war marbles.” travellers,” another tour publishes details of the chest for the government operator suggested. ruling possibly later this to tap, but Covid-19 Thailand’s National To be fair the THB300 month. changed all that. Today Tourism Policy Board says travel tax has been Arguments favouring the arithmetic is not so a proposal to tax tourists stewing on the board’s taxing travellers suggest compelling. Although THB300 when they stove for years, six to that a portion of the THB3,000,000,000 enter the country will be be exact, and despite it cash payment (The should not be sneezed used to rebuild tourism gaining the green light last Bangkok Post claimed at, there is the risk that confidence. week there remain serious THB34) would cover a it could be perceived as Travel companies obstacles to negotiate basic insurance package the proverbial straw that disagree. They believe the before final approval. One to cover medical broke the camel’s back timing is way off when the is the collection process emergencies incurred by in the minds of cost- tourism industry is on its that has left the architects tourists. Some of them conscious tourists. They knees and amid a second of the proposed tax in a abscond without settling would shuffle off to other Covid-19 surge that has constant muddle. their hospital bills. The shores. stalled domestic travel; Would airlines add the remainder of the tax It’s a pity the board the only remaining source travel tax to other fees would support tourism made the decision this of revenue. and taxes included in the marketing, management month. It might hint of One travel company’s airfare? The answer is no and development a mercenary mentality CEO emailed TTR Weekly unless there was a hefty including the restoration at play or a sneaky asking: “Have they finally commission on offer to of heritage sites. manoeuvre to get yet lost their marbles?” make it worthwhile. Or Based on the latest another tourism-related Others confided that it would airports have to Tourism Authority of tax through the net was the worst possible provide airport counters Thailand forecast for while the industry is time to extract additional and queue channels for 2021, the country could preoccupied. It is grappling cash from the few the thousands of tourists welcome at the most 10 with a financial crisis, international tourists who who in normal times million visitors up from mass closures of resorts might venture to Thailand. jam Thailand’s gateway around 6 million in 2020. and travel companies and “It plays into the airports? The 2019 peak year, pre- a virtual travel lockdown. Follow us on: TTR Weekly is a controlled circulation newspaper for the travel industry specialising in Thailand and the Mekong region. Published every Wednesday, alternatively in English, the publication is distributed free to travel agents. Available on subscription outside this qualifying category. Published by Ross Publishing Ltd. Managing editor: Don Ross: [email protected] EDITORIAL: [email protected] MARKETING: [email protected] PRODUCTION: Editor: Don Ross Content editor: Danai Stephen Ross Creative director: Danai Stephen Ross Publishing director: Lars Magnusson Graphics: Suradej Chatsomsiri, Kamolapat Sriveriwan Ross Publishing Ltd. 92/347 Moo 2, Lak Hok, Muang, Pathumtanee 12000 Tel: 66(0) 896 882 289. Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.ttrweekly.com 25 January 2021 Princess Cruises World Cruise 2023 MedallionClass Ship Island Princess Sails the World on a 111-day voyage to 50 Must-See destinations. Princess Cruises’ World Cruise guests have been fulfilling their travel dreams of traversing the globe via a cruise ship for more than two decades. The cruise line’s newly- announced 2023 World Cruise itinerary continues to deliver Aqaba, Jordan), Mount Etna (from Catania, Italy) and the ancient Greek city of Ephesus in Turkey. • The World Cruise will cross the Equator twice. • The cruise will offer overnight visits Dubai and Venice, and 10 “More Ashore” late-night calls including Singapore, Casablanca, Barcelona, Sydney, Tahiti and Honolulu. • Destinations visited include Panama Canal, Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Monte Carlo, Valetta (Malta), Muscat (Oman), Phuket, Komodo Island, Bora Bora and many more. The 2023 World Cruise’s rates start at US$19,199/person. Guests a destination-packed itinerary to Cruise from Los Angeles to Ft. booking the 97- or 111-day World more countries than ever before. Lauderdale is also offered, setting Cruise by 31 August 2021, receive Sailing roundtrip from North sail on 19 January 2023. early booking perks. America, the 111- or 97-day journey Princess MedallionClass ships from both Ft. Lauderdale and Los Noteworthy 2023 World Cruise also offer the best Wi-Fi at sea, Angeles sets sail in January 2023, details include: MedallionNet, so guests can stay onboard Island Princess. Guests will connected to the things and people experience 50 destinations across • Island Princess will sail 34,500 they love and share vacation 31 countries and six continents, nautical miles in 111 days. memories with ease. MedallionNet including Africa, Asia, Australia, • Maiden port of call to Gythion, offers unprecedented connectivity Europe, South America and North Greece, famously known as the that’s fast, unlimited, reliable, and America. port for ancient Sparta, rich with affordable. The 111-day roundtrip voyage Greek history. More information is available at PRODUCTION: from Ft. Lauderdale departs on 5 • Visits to 21 UNESCO World www.princess.com/world. Creative director: Danai Stephen Ross January 2023, and from Los Angeles Heritage Sites, including the Graphics: Suradej Chatsomsiri, archaeological city of Petra (from Click for full report. Kamolapat Sriveriwan on 19 January 2023. A 97-day World January 2021 Elephant rides replaced by a learning experience A Thai elephant song reflects the complicated and emotional links between humans and elephants as the elephant’s role changes from circus acts to providing daily life insights. A Thai children’s song titled, ‘Chang’, (Elephant) is probably the very first song most Thai parents sing to their kids as they teach them how to sing. The lyrics ask if the child has ever seen an elephant. more in protected national parks where conservation measures have improved. Wild Then they go on to describe the elephants can be elephant’s physical features such spotted in 69 National as tusks and trunk as it explains the Parks across the attributes of this magnificent giant country, according to of an animal. the Department of The country’s most loved animal National Parks, Wildlife has a deep bond with Thai social and Plant Conservation and cultural roots evident in ancient domesticated since the Sukhothai The population history. The enduring relationship Kingdom dating back to the 13th nationally stands at around 3,500, between humans and elephants can century and are commonly referred with the biggest concentration in be spotted in Thai daily life events to as a symbol of power. They were the western forest reserves of Khao today. used to transport royalty on special Yai-Dong Phayayen, PhuKhieo – At the kindergarten, children occasions. In 1851, King Rama IV Nam Nao and Kaeng Krachan. are taught the Thai alphabet by designated the white elephant Meanwhile, the captive pairing the different sounds to emblem as the national flag. elephant population registered different objects. The 10th letter in Beyond the auspicious symbolism with the Department of Livestock the Thai alphabet is Cho Chang [ช], linked to the royal institution, the Development stands at around representing a ‘ch’ sound paired to elephant is portrayed in Buddhism 3,700. The welfare of the domestic the word ‘Chang’ to help children traditions and history. elephant is being revisited. As memorise the letter. Chang is also a In the real world, beyond the practices come under review, the common Thai nickname. ancient symbolism, there are signs domestic elephant’s role also needs Historical records show that that the wild elephant population to adapt to a kinder version of elephants in Thailand have been is regrouping and expanding once tourism that encourages visitors 25 January 2021 to interact with the elephant and understand its daily life and needs. Both wild and domestic elephants are protected. The country adopted a law to preserve wild elephants back in the early 1900s after logging was banned, and today, stakeholders are working together to improve laws to protect domesticated elephants and improve their welfare. A new animal welfare law and a ‘National Elephant Care Master Plan’ have been drafted and is now awaiting government approval. Captive elephants require constant human care to survive. This is evident in the emerging Kanta Elephant Samui Elephant elephant care trend in tourism that promotes a clearer understanding Sanctuary, Chiang Mai Sanctuary of the bond between elephants Kanta Elephant Sanctuary is a The winner of the 12th Responsible and humans and illustrates how retirement home for elephants that Thailand Awards – Animal Welfare they rely on each other. In Thailand, previously worked in entertainment category – it offers tours that there are elephant conservation shows or the logging industry.