• 50 reasons why Bangkok is popular

    August 3, 2012

    BY GREG JORGENSEN  

    1. Most accomplished monarch
    Although His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej spends much of his time outside of Bangkok, the city is pivotal to his (and his ancestors’) reign. Revered as semi-divine by Thais, he’s been more than just a moral compass for his 60-plus years on the throne. His Majesty was born in Cambridge, educated in Switzerland, he speaks multiple languages, and holds several agricultural patents.He composes (and plays) some mean jazz, designs sailboats, is an accomplished painter and photographer, was the first recipient of the UN’s Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award and, oh yeah, is the longest reigning monarch on Earth.

    2. Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit – statue with the craziest back story
    In 1955, renovators dropped a five-ton, 13th-century image of the Buddha, cracking its plaster casing. Horror gave way to awe when they realized that, underneath, it was in fact made of gold, covered up to fool the invading Burmese back in the day.A brand new temple, Wat Traimit, has just been finished to augment the glitz factor.661 Tri Mit Road, Talat Noi, Samphanthawong, near the Hualumphong Train Station, tel +66 (0)2 509 9091 

    3. Real cities have long names
    Known as Krung Thep to locals, the full name of Bangkok – given by Rama I, first king of the still-reigning Chakri dynasty in the late 1700s – is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. Try to fit that on your tax return.

    4. Most ornate palace
    Filled with over 54 acres of spiky temple spires; gold-plated walls; and overly elaborate painting, sculpture, and metalwork, the Grand Palace was once the private home of the Thai monarch, but is now Bangkok’s most-visited attraction. Check out the mural of the Ramayana along the inner wall, the longest wall painting in the world.Tha Chang Pier, tel +66 (0)2 623 5500 ext 3100

    5. A hearty bowl of pig brain soup – an outrageous variety of street food
    Bangkok’s well-deserved reputation for 24-hour street food gets crazier with each corner. Barbecued duck tongues and soup made from bird saliva are passé. Head to Phraeng Phuton a few blocks west of the Giant Swing in Chinatown to indulge in some pig brain soup that’s surprisingly good… if you can forget that it’s pig brain soup.

    6. See it while you can
    Built on a vast expanse of plains and river deltas at an elevation of about six feet, the entire city is sinking into the muck at the rate of about three inches per year, say scientists. Like Van Gogh or the one from Milli Vanilli who’s not still alive, you’re only going to love us more when we’re gone.

    7. See a sunburned British college kid dance in the street with a tipsy African businesswoman while downing a falafel sandwich and a Laotian beer
    The (in)famous Khao San Road is still the champion of whacked-out people watching, with every nationality, age, color, occupation, education level, and smell getting equal representation. Take a seat on the curb outside of Buddy’s Bar and get to know the local punk rockers who flock here for after-hours beers.

    8. The coolest movie poster shop ever – best little movie poster shop in the East
    This tiny closet of a space is home to the densest collection of new and classic movie posters this side of Hollywood. When owner, Mr. Santi, isn’t here selling to collectors from all over Asia, he’s on the web trolling for lost treasures. Best find: original Thai-language posters for Star Wars, Apocalypse Now, and The Great Escape.236/6-7, Siam Square Soi 2, Rama 1 Road (next to Lido Theater)

    9. Reddest red light district
    Pat Pong is watered down and clogged with tourists. Nana Plaza is big, but too crowded. But Soi Cowboy (BTS Asok; MRT Sukhumvit) is big enough to have fun, and small enough that you won’t lose any friends. Its neon glow can be seen for miles around, and a quick drink with the boys here can turn into a night that few remember but no one will forget.

    10. Hang out with Thai-Chinese octogenarians as they argue, gamble, smoke, play mahjong, smoke, drink coffee, spit, and smoke
    Iae Sae coffee shop on Chinatown’s Padsai Road has been straining java for 60 years. The coffee’s actually nothing special, but the lively, loud clientele will entertain for hours. Raise a glass to the gaffer at the next table and he might regale you with wild tales of a time when the area was accessed by dirt paths and tram lines.42 Padsai Road, Yaowarat, Samphantawong

    11. Took Lae Dae, like the name suggests, is cheap and good. Very good – best all-night food counter
    Took Lae Dee (cheap and good) at the 24-hour Foodland grocery store on Sukhumvit soi 5 is great for breakfast, lunch, or a hair-of-the-dog nightcap at 4:00 am. Its krapow gai (fried chicken and basil) is unforgettable, as is the motley crew that will be sharing the counter with you.87 Nai Lert Building, Soi 5, Sukhumvit Road, tel +66 (0)2 254 2179 

    12. The market to end all markets
    You’re not a serious shopper until you can spend a day at Chatuchak Weekend Market without screaming for help. It’s a 35-acre maze of aisles and alleys that offers solid wood furniture, pets from around the globe, original art, old comic books, antiques, plants, and clothes from every decade since the Great Depression.BTS: Mochit, MRT: Chatuchak Park or Khampaeng Phet

    13. Watch the sun set above the little people
    Sirocco sits on the roof of Silom Road’s 64-story State Tower, giving diners a near-360-degree view of the entire city. If the US$10 chocolate martinis from the bar that pulses with pastel lights aren’t enough, get a bottle of the Chateau Petrus 1990, Pomerol AOC Bordeaux, a steal at $3,600. Those with vertigo are advised to stay away from the edge – a four-foot glass wall is the only thing separating you from an exciting BASE jump.State Tower, 1055 Silom Road, tel +66 (0)2 624 9999 

    14. A pretty girl can sell anything
    From Burger King promotions and temple fairs to 7-Eleven giveaways, the ubiquitous “pretty girl” and her flashy, colorful outfit are there to make sure you pay attention to whatever it is that’s being hawked. If you … hey! Are you paying attention? I’m pretty!

    15. Learn to speak Englash like a pro – intermittently hilarious business names
    Japan has the market locked on Engrish, but Thailand takes the “Thinglish” ball and runs with it. From “Hair Saloons” to “Englash Programs” to names we can’t reprint on a family website, a wary eye will often reward you with comedy gold.

    16. Steak that will break the bank
    Anyone can cook a slab of beef, but few in Asia can cook it as skillfully as the JW Marriott’s New York Steakhouse. It ain’t cheap, but after a meal here, the next time you slum it at McDonald’s your stomach will churn and gurgle in protest.4 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 2, +66 (0)2 656 7700 

    17. Most ironic monument to consumerism
    Why anyone would go to Bangkok and buy a genuine Gucci shirt that’s just as – if not more – expensive as it is back home is beyond us, but who are we to judge? The local “hi-sos” certainly enjoy their luxury brands. The lower levels of Paragon shopping mall (BTS: Siam) are packed with restaurants and teenyboppers, but the other four floors are chock with high-end merchandise, from Lamborghinis to McIntosh stereos.

    18. Eager (too eager?) bathroom attendants
    Men using the urinals at many bars and clubs might be startled when a strong pair of hands grabs theirs shoulders. Don’t whip around with your zipper down ready for a fight – it’s just the bathroom attendant, who will put a hot towel on your neck and give you a quick shoulder rub – for a small tip. If you find this creepy, like many do, just say “no thanks.”

    19. Bangkok’s best Middle East cuisine can be found off Sukhumvit soi – best Middle Eastern food outside the Middle East
    Bangkok is a huge melting pot of undiluted cultures, and with culture comes cultural food. Sukhumvit soi 3/1 (BTS: Nana) is lined with Middle Eastern restaurants that won’t disappoint.

    Burqa-clad women and Nigerian fashionistas mingle amid hawkers of laser lights and imported Arabian perfume. The steering-wheel-sized bread baked fresh in wood ovens is perfect for scooping up freshly prepared hummus and tahini.

    20. Cutest attempts to suppress teen hormones
    Mill around any known teen hangout on Valentine’s Day, and you’ll likely see a lot more police than usual. The boys in brown are out in force on February 14th – usually with press in tow – to deter any amorous youths from doing anything more than holding hands. Because, obviously, the first place teenagers go to make out is a bench at the shopping mall.

    21. Eat among forgotten 20th-century curios
    A night at Tuba, on Soi Ekkamai, is like partying in Grandma’s attic. Ancient glasswork, 1950s pop culture iconography, and oddly-shaped furniture give each dark and musty corner its own unique dose of kitsch. Best part? Every bit of it is for sale.11-12A Soi Ekkamai 21, Sukhumvit 63, tel +66 (0)2 711 5500 

    22, Beware the little green bus – adrenaline-fueled affordable mass transit
    It’s not perfect, but for what Bangkok’s mass transit system offers, the prices can’t be beat: $0.25 canal taxis, $0.50 river taxis and buses, $1 taxicab flag fall, and $1.25 end-to-end skytrain and subway rides. Throw in the haggle-happy tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis, and the permutations are complex enough to make those “Amazing Race” amateurs throw in the towel.

    Privately-owned green minibuses are the bulls in Bangkok’s china shop. Often seen flying around corners with the ticket attendant hanging out of the door with one hand, bored out of his mind, they don’t offer the safest trip from A to B via S, but it’s certainly not the dullest.

    23. Party like it’s 1989
    The house band at Rock Pub, next to the Rachathewi BTS station, belts out classics from Guns N’ Roses, Warrant, Ozzy, and Iron Maiden at astonishing volumes. Put on your leathers and aviator shades and walk in with your fist held high.Hollywood Street Building, Phrayathai Road, BTS: Rachathewi, tel +66 (0)2 251 9980 

    24. Best place to see cutting-edge trends that you don’t get
    On weekends, the maze of shopping aisles at Siam Square (BTS: Siam) is crowded with teenagers wearing the latest and greatest Bangkok fashions. In vogue this week: outrageously impractical high heels; eyeglasses with no lenses, and teased hair that recalls the glory days of Joan Jett. Begin shaking fist at darn kids in 3, 2, 1…

    25. Chuwit’s campaign billboards were simply awesome – swinging-est politician
    They don’t come much livelier than Chuwit Kamolvisit, the massage parlor tycoon-cum-politician. After an alleged kidnapping following his threats to release the names of the people he’s given “gifts” to, he unsuccessfully ran for governor of Bangkok – twice – and had most of the city’s power elite sweating when he said he had hours of security camera footage from his various after-hours establishments. His in-your-face campaign billboards are sadly no more.

    26. It’s easy to give back
    There are plenty of worthy charities in Thailand, and most are based or have offices in Bangkok. The language barrier and various levels of mismanagement often make it difficult to find something, but a local blogger named Dwight Turner has put a lot of work into separating the wheat from the chaff.

    27. Eat without touching your food
    If you’re feeling lazy – really lazy – the helpful girls at the aptly named “No Hand Restaurant” (there are several around the city) will help you out by actually putting food in your mouth for you, leaving your hands free for other more worthy pursuits, such as drinking beer or playing PSP.19 Rama IV Road Sri Phraya, tel +66 (0)2 235 5000 

    28. Great food where you least expect it
    Pantip Plaza, the dingy Roman-columned monument to all things tech, has a surprisingly awesome food court on the 3rd floor. Try the khao soi gai (chicken and egg noodles in a tangy coconut curry), dished up by possibly the surliest old lady since “The Goonies.”604/3 Petchaburi Road, BTS: Chidlom, tel +66 (0)2 251 9008 

    29. Takraw at Benjasiri Park – world-class acrobatic mash-ups
    If you’ve never seen a guy spike a wicker ball over a net with his foot – while upside down – you’ve never seen Takraw. Benjasiri Park (BTS: Phrom Phong) in the late afternoon is the best place to catch some crazy moves. Imagine Jackie Chan playing volleyball with his hands tied behind his back.

    30. Pizza toppings most likely to give an Italian heartburn
    Thailand sure knows how to shake things up pizza-wise. Normally eaten with ketchup, popular ingredients include squid, octopus, corn, green curry, mayonnaise, broccoli, and salad dressing. Great for the adventurous epicure, but if you prefer a more traditional pie, check out Ronnie’s New York Pizza on Sukhumvit soi 4. Order something custom to ensure they cook it fresh and your taste buds will be dancing.

    31. The coolest night market
    Forget Pat Pong and Suan Lum, with their shopkeeps numbed by the clumsy haggling of sweaty tourists. Head to Rachadaphisek Market at the Lad Phrao MRT station for a real Thai shopping excursion. Ancient typewriters, refurbished Vespa bikes, hipster clothing, and funky apartment decorations shine brightly under the bare light bulbs strung from overhead wires.

    32. Doreme’s owner may not be young but she’s musically cooler than most of us – world’s heppest musical grandma
    Doreme music shop at the back corner of Siam Square soi 11 is run by a musical-minded lady who can chat about everyone from Billie Holliday to the Clash to Green Day. Her little store is stocked with an incredibly disparate variety of western and international music, and she can help you find just the thing to spice up your library.422/6 Siam Square Soi 11

    33. Rally an army for a few bucks
    Bangkok’s trusty motorbike taxis – recognizable by their orange vests – are the under-utilized chore champs of Asia. Need a package delivered? Bill paid? Envelope dropped off? Friend picked up? Someone to lead you to your destination while you follow behind in your taxi as lost as you’ve ever been? They’re willing to help with pretty much any task you have, after a bit of haggling, of course. Best part – no waiting in traffic.

    34. The disappearing school uniform
    Every year around September, the same stories turn up in the press about the incredible shrinking university uniform favored by female Thai students. Dresses get shorter, blouses get tighter, conservatives get louder, and the rest of us sit back and watch the brouhaha. Although, when you see students climbing stairs sideways because going straight up would mean a flashing, you have to wonder if the powers that be have a point.

    35. Affordable luxuries
    Maids, manicures, massages, tailors, and personal drivers can all be enlisted for a fraction of what you’d pay in any western country. Expats be warned: friends back home don’t want to hear you grouse about how you’ve forgotten how to do your own laundry or drive a stick shift.

    36. Most indulgent movie theaters
    Any recently-built cinema in Bangkok offers some type of Gold Class seating. For the price of a regular ol’ ticket in the west, you get a plush recliner, a pillow, and blanket, and even a welcome drink. The Paragon shopping mall’s Major Cineplex venue is newer, but the EGV Grand in Siam Discovery Center has comfier chairs.

    37. Escape the city without actually escaping the city
    Phrapadaeng, also known as”‘Bangkok’s Lung,” sits amid an oxbow bend in the mighty Chao Phraya River. A bylaw stating that no building can be higher than three stories ensures that, infrastructure-wise, the place remains suspended in the 1950s. Cement pathways and densely-treed mangrove swamps cover the whole area, which is popular with bicyclists. It’s actually rather eerie to be surrounded by quiet, lush jungle, yet still be able to see skyscrapers and city lights.

    38. You want fresh food? We got fresh food
    The sprawling Klong Toey market is a stunning mishmash of smells, sights, sounds, and people. Runners scurry back and forth with raw food ingredients, many of which just came from the farm/sea/ranch that morning, and hawkers of all sizes yell at each other, as well as potential customers. It’s also home to the Mercy Centre, long-time resident Father Joe’s shelter/orphanage/hospice/school for the poor.

    39. One of Lumpini Park’s unique weight benches – the most innovative way to pump iron
    The outdoor gym at Lumpini Park (MRT: Lumpini) is full of ancient, rusting, laughably outdated gear, which apparently doesn’t bother the hugely-muscled dudes sweating buckets in the midday heat. To your muscles, 50 pounds is 50 pounds. Try your hand at the bench-press station, with tractor tires on the bar instead of weights.

    40. No walking allowed at 8:00 am or 6:00 pm
    Many an unwitting tourist has been caught outside at the aforementioned hours and experienced a slight Twilight Zone twitch when everyone else around them simply stops moving. Have no fear, they’re just paying respect to the national anthem, which is played twice per day. Continuing to move isn’t illegal – but you’ll get the frowning of a lifetime from the people around you.

    41. Best crab curry in all of Asia
    At Somboon Seafood on Surawong Road, you’ll find a plate of their famous crab curry on every table in the joint. Surrounded by a thick, sweet sauce, the juicy chunks of crab ensure there’s hardly anything for the waitress to clean up. According to legend, one fan from Singapore actually jets up to Bangkok just to get his monthly fix.169/7-11 Surawong Road, Silom, tel+66 (0)2 233 3104

    42. On the right is a little statue of David Beckham – we worship football – literally
    On Rama III soi 30 there’s a temple called Wat Pariwat, whose abbot was such a fan of football that he agreed to the placement of a David Beckham statue alongside the usual divine effigies during the 1998 World Cup. No word on any plans to add Posh to the altar.

    43. World’s Creepiest Museum
    Think you’ve seen it all? Bangkok’s Forensics Museum at Siriraj Hospital is filled with the freaky, grisly stuff you hear about, but rarely see. Some of the highlights: a scrotum with a diameter of 30 inches taken from a victim of elephantitis; the wax-filled body of infamous Thai child-eater Si Quey; and various victims of gunfire, road accidents, and industrial mishaps. It’s kind of like the anti-Disneyland.2 Prannok road, Siriraj, Bangkok Noi, tel +66 (0)2 419 7000 

    44. Double-take t-shirts
    From brilliant non-PC slogans and cuss-heavy diatribes to rhymes that don’t make sense, the young and trendy sport a variety of shirts for every taste. Many of them are juvenile and silly, but once in a while you’ll find one that borders on brilliant(ly out of place).

    45. A pair of tech-savvy monks – hippest monks
    Many people think that monks spend all day sitting on the ground praying, but in Thailand they’re significantly cooler than that. While always remaining true to their spiritual calling, the perpetually saffron-robed holy men can be seen at various spots around the city riding the subway, chatting on iPhones or updating blogs in internet cafes.

    46. The police are actually Boy Scouts
    “Be prepared” is a motto many of us know, and the Bangkok police live it every day. An example: because of the city’s legendarily bad traffic, being stuck in a car while, oh, say, giving birth, can really put a damper on things. That’s why many of the police are equipped with special clippers that they can use to cut an umbilical cord. Back-seat births happen more often than you’d think.

    47. The world’s most beautiful pain
    Traditional Thai massage is renowned the world over, and for good reason: it’s painful, but you’ll never sleep sounder once you get back to your room and you’ll be bounding with energy the next day. The well-known HealthLand Spa offers many types of massage from quick finger rubs to two-hour full body oil marathons that will leave your muscles wondering what just happened.

    48. Lumpini Park’s lizards are harmless. We think. Dinosaurs!
    It may not be Jurassic Park, but Bangkok’s version of Central Park – Lumpini – has reptiles big enough to give you a fright if you’re not expecting to see one. The Varanus salvator (water monitor), which can grow up to nine feet in length, usually just ambles along the mud and grass around the water, but sometimes scrambles across a pathway to another pond. Don’t worry, most of them are only about three feet long. Most of them…

    49. LGBT-friendliest
    Sexual orientation in Bangkok is often a rather … elastic classification. “Oh, they turned gay” is often heard when talking about an ex. But the amazing thing is, no one cares. Many Thai celebrities are openly gay, bisexual, or even full-on transvestites. Gay, straight, transgendered, stuck in the closet, or flamboyantly out of it, most Thais consider one’s sexuality a personal decision and leave it at that.

    50. Color-coding of… everything
    In Bangkok, colors help define and separate everything, from ideas and zones to political movements. In fact, each day is assigned its own color; you’ll likely see a lot more blue shirts on a Friday, pink on Tuesday, yellow on Monday and so on. It’s even spilled over into politics, with the disparate factions turning up to mass rallies in “their” color. After the recent political turmoil in the capital, a popular joke suggested changing the traditional Thai greeting from “Have you eaten yet?” to “What color are you?”  Source: cnngo.com

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      Shared Tourism Future

      Tourism leaders from both Africa and the Americas have jointly committed to working together to make the sector a pillar of collective sustainable and inclusive development across both continents.

      The “Punta Cana Declaration” was adopted at the conclusion of the very first joint meeting of UN Tourism’s Regional Commissions for Africa and the Americas and followed two days of shared dialogue around the key themes of education and investments into the sector. Recognizing the historic ties between the two regions, as well their unique and complementary cultures, the Summit served as a landmark platform for strengthened cooperation, capitalizing on innovation, education, investments and creative industries for the future development of tourism.

      This summit offers a unique platform to forge connections and build bridges between Africa and the Americas, create strategic cross-regional partnerships, foster South-South cooperation projects, all for the benefit of the tourism sector of the two regions

      Welcoming around 200 high-level participants among them 14 Ministers, representing 27 countries (15 from the Americas and 12 from Africa), UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This summit offers a unique platform to forge connections and build bridges between Africa and the Americas, create strategic cross-regional partnerships, foster South-South cooperation projects, all for the benefit of the tourism sector of the two regions.”  – 3 Oct 2024 ( UN Tourism )

      UNWTO becomes “UN Tourism” 

      The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era  with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage.

      UN Tourism: Transforming tourism for a better worldTo achieve this goal, UN Tourism engaged the services of Interbrand, the leading global branding agency. Interbrand successfully translated the Organization’s renewed vision for tourism into a new visual identity and brand narrative.

      This involved renaming the Organization, transitioning from UNWTO to UN Tourism. At the same time, a new brand narrative was meticulously crafted, one that seamlessly aligns with UN Tourism’s central mission and priorities. This narrative pivots around three main messages: the UN as a global altruistic organization, the notion of connecting humans around the world, and the concept of proactivity and movement.

      Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism

      By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the “UN”, signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. This change has been endorsed by the Organization’s membership, highlighting its united support for the profound transformation and reinvention of UN Tourism in recent years, as it has become more agile, visible, and ever closer to its Member States, partners and the sector as a whole.

      With 160 Member States and hundreds of private sector affiliates, UN Tourism has its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and Regional Offices in Nara (Japan) covering Asia & Pacific, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for the Middle East, as well as forthcoming Regional Offices for the Americas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Africa (Morocco). Its priorities center on promoting tourism for sustainable development in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals. UN Tourism promotes quality education, supports decent jobs in the sector, identifies talent and drives innovation and accelerates tourism climate action and sustainability . – UN Tourism Jan. 2024

      TAT launches

      “Thais Always Care” Campaign 

      “The Tourism Authority of Thailand launches ‘Thais Always Care’ campaign in collaboration with other organizations to ensure tourists’ safety and enhance positive image.”

      The “Thais Always Care” online communication campaign was officially launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with the Tourist Police Bureau, Grab Taxi (Thailand), and Central Pattana (CPN) to ensure the safety and welcome of tourists from around the world. The campaign aims to provide seamless travel experiences for visitors to Thailand while also reinforcing the positive image of the country as a safe destination.

      The campaign reflects Thailand’s renowned hospitality and warmth to visitors, showcasing the country as a desirable destination for tourists. “CARE” stands for Compassion, Assistant, Relief, and Elevate, encompassing the generosity of the Thai people and their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for tourists.

      Partners involved in the campaign have strengthened their safety measures and are utilizing technology to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand. This includes installing CCTV cameras, implementing strict security checks at department stores, and utilizing technology like the “POLICE I LERT U” application to offer emergency assistance to international visitors. The campaign will also involve working with international KOLs to enhance the positive image of Thailand’s tourism assets and reinforce the country’s reputation as a safe destination. -Tourism Authority of Thailand

      China’s resort island receives

      90 m tourists in 2023

      More than 90 million domestic and overseas tourists visited south China’s tropical island province of Hainan in 2023, up 49.9 percent year on year, local authorities said .

      Hainan’s total tourism revenue surged 71.9 percent year on year to about 181.3 billion yuan (about 25.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the provincial department of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

      Last year, Hainan experienced rapid development in cruise tourism. Cruises to the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea saw 400 trips, up 277.8 percent year on year, and received 149,400 domestic tourists, up 405.33 percent.

      This year, Hainan aims to receive 99 million tourists and its tourism revenue is expected to reach 207 billion yuan. The province aims to receive more than 1 million inbound tourists in 2024.

      China aims to build Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center by 2025 and a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035. – Xinhua

      Vietnam  to welcome 17-18

      million tourists  this year

      Việt Nam’s tourism industry has set a target to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors in 2024, approaching the pre-pandemic record in 2019 when COVID-19 had yet to disrupt global travel.

      In 2023, the figure hit 12.6 million, surpassing the initial target set earlier in the year (before China, which accounted for a third of foreign arrivals to Việt Nam pre-pandemic, announced reopening plans) by 57 per cent and achieving the adjusted goal of 12-13 million.

      The number of domestic travellers, meanwhile, stood at 108 million, up 6 per cent compared to the set target. Tourism activities generated about VNĐ678 trillion (US$27.85 billion) in revenue, 4.3 per cent higher than the yearly plan.

      Despite substantial recovery in 2023, the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the domestic tourism recovery will still face challenges in the year ahead. This is particularly true in the context of the unpredictable global developments stemming from economic uncertainties, regional conflicts and climate change.

      Việt Nam’s socio-economic conditions remain stable; the economy continues to grow and inflation has been kept in check. But the persistent threat of disease and natural disasters are likely to create uncertainty affecting production, business activities and the daily lives of citizens.

      According to forecasts from the UN World Tourism Organisation and the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travel activities may fully recover by the end of 2024, reaching the levels achieved in 2019. However, the recovery is expected to be uneven across different regions.

      The ever-changing demands of international tourists require higher standards in product quality, diversity and unique experiences. The trends of integrating information technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation are envisioned to drive the emergence of new forms of tourism.

      Based on these analyses and projections, Việt Nam aims to serve 17-18 million foreign and 110 million domestic visitors this year, with an expected total revenue from tourism nearing VNĐ840 trillion.

      To achieve the stated objectives, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng has instructed the VNAT to continue focusing on advising and improving the institutional framework, policies, reviewing identified deficiencies for adjustment, and international commitments in the field of tourism. Collaboration with other ministries and sectors is emphasised to formulate policies for developing various types of products such as agricultural tourism and digital transformation in tourism. He also noted the need for attention on strengthening tourism statistics and digital transformation to enhance the effectiveness of data collection, providing reliable figures to efficiently support tourism policy planning.

      The ministry also calls for enhanced training for tourism officials and workers to meet requirements of new situations, especially in terms of language proficiency and technology expertise. — VNS

      Global Medical Tourism market 

      USD 136.93 billion in 10 years

      Newark, Jan. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 20.07 billion in 2022 global Medical Tourism market will reach USD 136.93 billion by 2032. There is a growing trend towards health and wellness tourism, with individuals seeking medical treatments, preventive care, wellness programs, and holistic health experiences. Medical tourism destinations can capitalize on this trend by offering comprehensive health and wellness packages.

      Furthermore, integrating digital health technologies, including telemedicine, virtual consultations, and electronic health records, can enhance the accessibility and coordination of medical tourism services. Digital platforms can streamline pre-travel consultations, post-treatment follow-ups, and information exchange between healthcare providers and patients. Introducing new and advanced medical treatments, therapies, and procedures can attract medical tourists seeking cutting-edge healthcare solutions. Countries and healthcare providers that stay at the forefront of medical innovation can position themselves as leaders in the industry.

      In addition, customized and personalized medical tourism packages catering to individual patient’s unique needs and preferences present an opportunity for service providers. Tailoring experiences that include cultural activities, recovery retreats, and concierge services can set providers apart in a competitive market.

      Besides, wellness tourism, including genetic testing and personalized health assessments, is gaining traction. Medical tourism destinations can offer specialized wellness packages, including genetic evaluations and preventive health screenings, to attract individuals interested in proactive healthcare.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)