Tourism to Thailand is again booming with the latest official figures showing an 8% increase in UK visitors for January 2004 despite the outbreak of Avian flu and the problems in Southern Thailand.
Kuoni travel says the whole of the Far East is selling well but Thailand is again the strongest player with a continuing 10% year-by-year increase in UK tourists. Francis Torrilla, director of Kuoni Travel, is expecting Thailand to regain its position as the Kuoni's top seller this year after being knocked off the top position in 2003 by the Maldives because of SARS outbreak.
"Thailand is doing tremendously well as a holiday destination, partly because people were put off traveling to Thailand last year due to SARS and have now decided to book this year, but also because the prices are very competitive and flight capacity into Bangkok is so good," Torrilla added.
Another factor in the country's success as a tourist destination is the high number of new luxury hotels available at incredibly low prices. The four-star Amari Trang Beach Resort, for example, only charges 2,300 Baht (US$ 60) for a double room including dinner and free transfers from Trang airport.
In the north the new Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort and Spa has 36 luxurious suites and two villas offering panoramic views of the hills, an infinity edge pool and private plunge pools in 6 of the suites also from around 2,300 Baht (US$ 60), while the Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Beach Resort and Spa, an hour's boat transfer out of Phuket, starts at about 4,000 Baht (US$ 100) for a double room.
Other recent new hotel openings in Thailand include Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National Park, the country's first safari-style lodge, The Racha Resort, a minimalist hideaway on Racha island, and The Aleenta, a new 10-suite beachfront property only 3 hours south of Bangkok.
The Anantara Resort and Spa Golden Triangle, overlooking the jungle and the Mekong river and Belle Villa, a small boutique hotel in Pai, are both being introduced this year by Audley Travel in the UK.
Hot on the heels of the Anantara and Belle Villa comes Mandarin Oriental's latest venture in Thailand, a luxurious 142-villa retreat in Chiang Mai with a huge spa, adventure tours and cooking lessons, expected to open towards the end of 2004.
