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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated 31 March 2013 :-
WEF: Singapore, Malaysia ahead of Thailand for tourists
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When it comes to favourite destinations for tourists, Thailand is behind Singapore and Malaysia, according to a report of the World Economic Forum.
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report for 2013 placed Singapore on top of the countries in Southeast Asia and put Malaysia one spot above the kingdom.
It praised the friendly attitude of Thais towards foreign tourists and the solid performance of the private sector in Thailand to bolster tourism. But the industry was hampered by natural disasters, political unrest, the protection of property rights and red tape to start a business, noted the report, which is conducted every two years.
Thailand projects 24.5 million tourists this year, up from 22.3 million in 2012. The Tourism Department hopes 30 million visitors will come to the country in 2015.
Thailand ranked 43rd in the world's rankings, dropping two notches from the last survey in 2011. It also was the ninth most popular country in the Asia-Pacific region also lead by Singapore.
"Singapore benefits from excellent transport infrastructure", including ground and airport facilities, the report said.
Malaysia came second in Southeast Asia and eighth in the Asia-Pacific due to its low fuel prices, ticket taxes and airport charges, in addition to its competitive hotel rates.
Malaysia has ridden on its successful "Truly Asia" tourism campaign to lure tourists to the country.
Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia were behind Thailand respectively. Laos and Myanmar were not included in the report.
Natural resources and several World Heritage sites were among attractions enticing tourists to Indonesia, it said.
The report called the Philippines "the most improved country" among the Asia-Pacific nations, thanks to its aggressive spending on marketing and branding campaigns.
Improving protection of property rights, more openness toward foreign investment and fewer visa requirements for foreign visitors made the Philippines an up-and-coming country, although infrastructure remained a problem, it added.
Switzerland was in command as the world's best destination since the last report due to its top hotel and other tourism facilities. "Switzerland's infrastructure, especially ground transport, is among the best in the world," it said.
Haiti was placed last among 140 countries surveyed in the report.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:07 am on April 1, 2013
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Valetta
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It seems those persons who favored Singapore and Malaysia over Thailand as a "tourist destination"were more interested in conditions which supported the establishment of a business, rather than having a good time while on holiday.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 6:30 am on April 1, 2013
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated 27 May 2013 :-
Bangkok 'world’s top travel hotspot'
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Bangkok is this year's top city for travel, according to MasterCard's Global Destination Cities Index.
The study looked at the highest international visitor numbers in 2013, with London, Paris, Singapore and New York rounding out the top five.
While London reached the top spot in 2012, it was edged this year by the slimmest of margins with only about 25,000 visitors separating the two, a difference of about 1%.
Thawatchai Arunyik, deputy governor for the domestic market at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, "The Thailand tourism slogan 'Amazing Thailand Always Amazes You' is certainly apt as its capital, Bangkok, has emerged at the top of this year's index.
"And the word 'Amazing' focuses on the interest of foreign tourists towards the country of Thailand. What a tribute this is to our city's hospitality industry, the transport industry and food and beverage and catering industry and more."
Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, global economic adviser for MasterCard Worldwide and author of the report, said, "Bangkok brought with it great momentum from last year. Its ascent to number one is not only a first for Asia, it's emblematic of the rise of the Global South, which encompasses much of Africa and Asia as well as South America."
A noticeable trend in this year's report was the dominance of the Asia-Pacific region. Of the 132 cities ranked, 42 are in Asian countries.
Bangkok is followed by Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo and five of the top 10 in 2013 are in the Greater China region.
"With the rise of the Asia-Pacific region, this year's index reflects the rebalance that the globe is undergoing in large part because of the rise of emerging markets," said Ann Cairns, president of international markets, MasterCard Worldwide.
Ms Cairns said this shift is further underscored by electronic payments, which are enabling more people from more places to participate in the global economy than ever before.
Of the 20 highest-ranked Destination Cities for 2013, four of the top five are MasterCard Priceless Cities: London, Paris, Singapore, and New York with Los Angeles coming in at 20. Not only are these cities attracting international visitor arrivals, they are also top spots for residents.
The MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities ranks cities in terms of the number of their total international visitor arrivals and the cross-border spending by these same visitors in the destination cities, and gives visitor and passenger growth forecasts for 2013.
Public data are used in deriving the international visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the 132 destination cities, using custom-made algorithms; paying special attention to eliminate the hub effects for destination cities such as Singapore, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
This index and the accompanying reports are not based on MasterCard volumes or transactional data.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:08 pm on May 27, 2013
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Straits Times (Singapore) dated 5 June 2013 :-
Bangkok revels in tourism boom
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BANGKOK - On a balmy afternoon, Ms Alefiyah Hyder lingers at the fountain outside Siam Paragon shopping centre in the heart of Bangkok.
Row upon row of boutiques, department stores and eateries beckon the 36-year-old Indian tourist from inside the mall but she can afford to take her time. This is, after all, her 14th trip to the city in seven years.
The homemaker explains her love affair with Bangkok: "There is a lot of variety in the shopping. Taxis are easy to find and the people are very friendly."
Tourists like Ms Hyder helped to propel Bangkok to the top of the tourism league tables recently. The Thai capital's latest distinction - a MasterCard study estimates it will attract 15.98 million visitors this year, more than any other city including Dubai, Paris and London.
By comparison, London is tipped to get 15.96 million and Paris, 13.92 million tourists this year, according to MasterCard.
Those familiar with Bangkok, which is more than twice the size of Singapore, say the numbers are not surprising.
It has come a long way from its seedier past as a sex-for-sale destination to become a wallet-friendly cosmopolitan city with attractions and amenities that suit just about any type of traveller - glitzy malls, ancient temples, rustic markets, chic bars, backpacker haunts and five-star hotels. These keep tourists coming back again and again.
"The city is constantly evolving, even after more than two centuries," Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Suraphon Svetasreni told The Straits Times. "There are certain corners that even I am still surprised to discover."
Relative political stability - after often-violent street protests from 2006 to 2010 - has helped it to bounce back from the devastating floods of 2011. New mass transit lines and stations are slowly being added to the existing network, giving tourists an easy way out of its gridlocked roads.
Read the FULL STORY at :-
http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/news/1821432/Bangkok_revels_in_tourism_boom.html
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 3:13 am on June 5, 2013
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated 22 June2013 :-
Thailand still in demand among European tourists during low season
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Even during Thailand's tourism low season, the Kingdom is still a high-demand destination for many European - and especially British - holidaymakers, according to June-July flight search data collected by Skyscanner, a global travel search website.
In terms of the number of flight searches to/in Thailand by country, Skyscanner data reveal that seven of the top 10 markets are from Europe.
Top of the table is the United Kingdom, followed by Russia. Thailand is third, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, China, Italy, Ireland and Spain.
The 2013 top-10 countries, and their rankings, are very similar to Skyscanner results recorded for the same months last year, with one change - China replaces Singapore in the list.
"The stats reinforce two Thailand-related travel trends," said Grace Pobpabha Areerat, Skyscanner market development manager for Thailand.
The first is the enduring appeal of Thailand to British and mainland European tourists, many of whom are looking for summer vacation destinations between June and August.
"The data also confirm Thailand's current status as a 'must visit' destination for Chinese tourists.
This is backed by the Kasikorn Research Centre, which reported that Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand in the first quarter were up 93 per cent from the same period last year," she said.
In addition to the upsurge from mainland China, more arrivals from Belgium, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Macau, Taiwan and Myanmar can be expected in the near term.
Skyscanner data reveal that these markets recorded the biggest percentage increase in flight searches to Thailand, based on 2013 versus 2012 figures.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:55 pm on June 21, 2013
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bkkz
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EU: Protect tourists in Phuket
Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Phuket are being urged to put an end to intimidatory and violent behavior related to price-fixing by introducing a transparent system of set fares on the island, available to foreign tourists and residents alike.
The plea came after ambassadors from 18 European Union member states met with Phuket governor Mr Maitri Inthusu, local officials and tour operators, in a bid to resolve long-standing issues with tourists being scammed in the area.
Phuket has been plagued by issues with its tuk-tuks and taxis, with complaints about tourists being charged over the odds to be driven short distances, and reports of taxi associations threatening and physically abusing rivals who dare to pick up customers on their turf.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says the number of foreign tourists visiting Phuket has more than quadrupled since 2005, from 2.5 million to 11 million last year.
A statement from the ambassadors argued that citizens from the EU make up a large proportion of foreign tourists visiting Phuket.
“Their per capita spend is high, making an important contribution to the local economy,” the statement said. “Tourists need to feel safe and that they are being treated fairly.”
The 18 ambassadors called on local leaders to enforce strict standards of behaviour for public officials, including police and immigration staff, to make sure that foreign visitors and residents feel protected, are treated fairly and are “never at risk of extortion”.
More...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/356292/fears-over-tourist-safety-prompt-call-for-action-from-the-eu
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:52 am on June 22, 2013
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated 28 June 2013 :-
Government wants foreign visitors to be insured
Pradit mulls including health cover in visa fees
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Various state agencies have agreed in principle with the Public Health Ministry’s proposal to require foreign tourists to buy travel and health insurance before arriving in Thailand.
The ministry on Wednesday made the proposal at a meeting with representatives from the Airports of Thailand (AoT), the Royal Thai Police and various other government ministries.
Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong, who chaired the meeting, said the ministry proposed the cost of health insurance coverage might be included in visa fees.
He said non-visa tourists might have to pay for their health insurance coverage at immigration checkpoints or the fees could be added to the cost of airline tickets.
Every tour agency would have to tell their foreign customers about the insurance requirements before they travel to Thailand, Dr Pradit said. He said the method of payment for the insurance would be decided at the next meeting.
Dr Pradit said the meeting agreed on setting up a sub-committee to work on the issue and decide on the level and type of insurance coverage that would be required for tourists in cases of emergency care and the return of dead bodies.
The ministry called the meeting with state agencies after the cabinet in January asked it to set up a health care system for foreigners who are not members of universal health care schemes.
The government was concerned about the financial burden on the country’s state hospitals which are having to provide free medical services to foreign tourists, Dr Pradit said.
State hospitals in popular tourist areas were shouldering much of the burden, he said.
Jetsada Jongpaiboonpattana, director of the state-owned Vachira Phuket Hospital, said the hospital spent 3 million baht last year to provide free services to foreign tourists who received medication but later claimed they had no money to pay for it.
In some cases, the AoT had to provide free flights to send sick tourists home.
The meeting also discussed health care for migrant workers and marginalised people.
Each adult migrant worker is currently required to pay 1,300 baht for one year of health insurance, he said.
The price may increase to cover additional benefits, the health promotion programme, anti-retroviral therapy and other chronic disease treatments, he said.
The ministry will seek funding to provide health care for stateless people living here, illegal migrants and displaced people, he said.
Dr Pradit said his ministry also plans to help neighbouring countries set up their own universal health care systems.
He said helping neighbours develop their own health care systems would help improve medical care in the border areas and reduce the strain on Thai hospitals located near the borders.
Representatives of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Labour Ministry, Interior Ministry, Transport Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Tourism and Sports Ministry also attended the meeting on Wednesday.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:43 pm on June 28, 2013
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated 23 July 2013 :-
Chiang Mai, Hua Hin best places to retire to
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The Live and Invest Overseas website has ranked Chiang Mai and Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district as a couple of the world's best places to retire due to the low cost of living and beautiful beaches.
The website recently revealed its first annual "retire overseas" index which used several criteria to name the best places, including the cost of living, local people's English skills, entertainment venues, environment, public health, infrastructure, real estate, residential areas, safety and taxes.
Chiang Mai and Hua Hin were included in a list of 21 other cities, including Abruzzo in Italy, Ambergris Caye and Cayo in Belize, Boquete in Panama and Cebu in the Philippines.
Because of the low cost of living with Bt 37,500 per month. Moreover, the cost of insurance and medical service are not too expensive for foreigner.
While Hua Hin was picked up because of the precious beaches and low cost of living.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:48 pm on July 22, 2013
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thailife
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Cebu?
shit I was just there 2 months ago... it is a shit hole. Even the hotel staff warned us about leaving the hotel after dark... too dangerous.... although there is a great mall there and I am sure the beaches are great... traffic sucks, the roads are a mess, the girls are not really that good looking and the food sucks.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 12:28 pm on July 23, 2013
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dirty guru
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Same Boracay Island...
Day is really safe but at night when the armed security guards thin it it gets more worrying.
Once in a typhoons tail the power went down and the woman my brother and I had walking home convinced us to run......
They said witin the hour the criminals from the other side of the Island would be on the rampaging looting and robbing.
We locked the hotels door and did as they said and not lite candles to indicate the room had westerners.
Nothing happened but we heard gun shots.
They seemed close.
Security forces shot dead three armed men that night and 20 were arrested.
Korean woman raped and robbed and shop fronts smashed.
People forget how relatively safe Thailand is by comparison.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:49 pm on July 23, 2013
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