Phuket Rendezvous. Photo: Sarot Meksophawannakul
Two international boat shows will be organised in Phuket.
The first event is the Phuket Rendezvous, which has been renamed from the Phuket International Boat Show.
The aim is to capture wider groups of visitors, from yacht lovers to average families.
This year, there will be more than 50 yachts to show, including superyachts and classic yachts. The event will also have seminars, sailing workshops, a shopping zone participated in by about 70 luxury and lifestyle brands, fashion shows, a photo exhibition, a section for supercars, food and kids zones.
Also on show is the Elephant Parade, an international art exhibition of decorated life-size, baby-elephant statues, which was launched worldwide to raise awareness on the need of elephant conservation.
The Phuket Rendezvous is organised by Asia Rendez Vous (Thailand) and supported by the Thailand Convention Exhibition Bureau and Thai Marine Business Association.
The event will run until Jan 7 from 11am-7pm at Royal Phuket Marina, about a 30 minute drive from Phuket International Airport.
A separate event, called the Thailand Yacht Show, will take place from Feb 22-25 at Phuket’s Ao Po Grand Marina.
Operated by Singapore-based Verventia, in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the event will highlight superyachts and opportunities for potential buyers and charterers to try a wide range of watercraft, including sailboats, sports-fishers, dinghies, tenders and water sport boats. There will also be street food and a night market, dinner cruises, activities for kids and a spa pop-up during the four-day event.
Visit thephuketrendezvous.com for the Phuket Rendezvous and thailandyachtshow.com for the Thailand Yacht Show.
Blogging competition
Worldwide bloggers are invited to participate in the “Tourism Authority of Thailand Newsroom Blogger Thailand 2018” competition.
The third-year contest focuses on the concept of “Open To The New Shades”, inspiring people to visit the Kingdom.
Entries must be written in English and can be about food, arts and crafts, nature, culture or ways of life. The deadline for submissions is Feb 15.
The six most outstanding blogs will win round-trip air tickets on Thai Airways from their hometown and a five-day trip package in Bangkok and the east.
There will also be voted prizes, with special gifts from TAT. The voting period is until Mar 15. Winners will be announced in the last week of March.
Visit blog.tatnews.org.
Cruise re-routing
Star Cruises, a subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong, has stopped its new routes in the Gulf of Thailand. The company launched the service on Dec 1 from Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, said to be the new home port connecting Thailand to neighbouring countries like Cambodia.
The service was operated by the SuperStar Gemini liner, which can support up to 1,530 passengers. The cruise ship has been rerouted to serve charter cruises for passengers from Taiwan instead.
Hotels update
Oakwood Hotel Residence Sri Racha has opened.
The 43-storey property offers 458 rooms, including studios as well as one- and two-bedroom suites.
Other facilities are meeting rooms, restaurants, bar, car-park building, golf-driving practice room, children’s play area, fitness centre, swimming pool, high-speed fibre-optic internet and pet-friendly service.
Visit oakwoodasia.com.
Absolute Hotel Services will open the Eastin Grand Hotel Panorama Nha Trang in Vietnam this year.
The beachfront hotel will feature 1,086 rooms and suites, restaurant, fitness centre, swimming pool with pool bar, executive lounge, retail outlets and a 500m² conference space along with meeting rooms. Nha Trang is the capital of Khanh Hoa province on the south central coast of Vietnam.
Visit absolutehotelservices.com.
Airlines update
Nok Air will launch its first flight from Udon Thani to Ubon Ratchathani on Jan 17.
The service is available on every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
The flight will depart from Udon Thani at 11.05am and arrive at Ubon Ratchathani at 12.05pm. The return trip will be at 1pm and the arrival in Udon Thani will be at 2pm.
Visit nokair.com.
AirAsia has launched flights between Khon Kaen and Phuket.
The service is available four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Flights depart from Khon Kaen at 8.45am and arrive in Phuket at 10.40am. The return flight from Phuket is at 11.10am and arrives in Khon Kaen at 12.50pm.
Visit airasia.com.
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