TRAVEL TITBITS
UN tourism post filled
Lionel Messi has been named the ambassador for responsible tourism of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
Messi was chosen to reflect the unity between sport and tourism, according to UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. His role is to boost and promote the value of responsible holidays.
“Messi is a unique sportsman and an example of how willpower and constant work yield good results. It is a great honour to have Messi joining UNWTO and other well-known personalities in promoting the positive values and benefits that tourism represents,” he said.
Lionel Messi is the Argentine-born football player who was named World Player of the Year five times by Fifa from 2009-12 and in 2015.
“During my travels, I have had the opportunity to know other cultures and societies, as well as others’ ways to see the world, and this is very enriching,” said Messi. “The World Tourism Organisation as a specialised agency of the United Nations works to make tourism a source of development, and I am happy I can join this mission of promoting responsible tourism.”
New Otop Select outlet
An Otop Select shop has been opened at Don Mueang airport.
Otop stands for One Tambon, One Product. The project is operated by the Community Development Department of the Interior Ministry. The aims are to promote local entrepreneurship and to enhance the quality of locally-made products through the government’s Otop certification.
In 2014, the first Otop Select shop was opened on the fourth floor of the Departure Hall at Suvarnabhumi airport. The second outlet was opened at Phuket International Airport in 2016.
The Otop Select outlet is managed by the Department of Business Development (DBD) of the Commerce Ministry. The Department has created its Otop Select List to highlight premium Otop products.
During the past years of operation, the outlet at Suvarnabhumi airport has provided 571 items from 147 producers, while the shop at Phuket airport has offered 433 items from 109 product developers. The two branches can generate 342.63 million baht in total earnings, said DBD Director-General Kulanee Issadisai.
The third outlet, at Don Mueang airport, offers 186 products from 64 selected Otop producers.
DBD expects that the earning of its third Otop outlet would have an impressive outcome, she said, adding that Otop Select outlets will open in other international airports soon.
App for Isan food
The Street Food Isan app has been launched to promote local food in the Northeast.
Owned by the Thailand Foundation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the app has listed some 100 street food stalls in Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nong Khai, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.
The app allows mobile phone users to search for food by type, restaurant or nearest location. Users can rate and review street food stalls or restaurants. The app also has information about tourist attractions in the eight provinces.
Street Food Isan is available for both iOS and Android phones in Thai, English and Chinese. It is the latest in the series of Street Food apps launched in 2015. Other apps that have been launched are Street Food Bangkok, Street Food Chiang MaiChiang Rai and Street Food Phuket.
Hotels update
Radisson Hotel Group has announced worldwide support for SOS Children’s Villages, the not-for-profit organisation for orphaned, abandoned and other vulnerable children.
Under the partnership, each of the group’s 1,100 hotels will sponsor the upbringing and education of at least one child.
“Our partnership with SOS will allow us to help provide a home and a better future for the most vulnerable children in the world,” said Federico J. Gonzalez, president & CEO of the Rezidor Hotel Group and chairman of the Radisson Hotel Group Global Steering Committee.
Active in 135 countries and territories, SOS Children’s Villages impacts the lives of millions of children through family support and care programmes, as well as education, medical and emergency relief efforts. The partnership will also encourage members of Radisson Rewards, the group’s loyalty programme, to redeem their points for donations towards SOS Children’s Villages.
Airlines update
Bangkok Airways will add another non-stop flight between Bangkok and Mandalay in Myanmar from July 1.
At present the airline flies daily to Mandalay at 11.55am by using a 162seater Airbus A320 aircraft. The new service will be available four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
It will depart Suvarnabhumi airport at 5pm and will arrive Mandalay airport at 6.25pm. The inbound flight will depart Mandalay at 7.10pm and will arrive in Bangkok at 9.35pm.
Visit bangkokair.com.
Thai Vietjet has launched two daily flights between Bangkok and Krabi.
The flights depart from Suvarnabhumi at 8.35am and 7.25pm. The return flight will depart from Krabi at 9.05am and 9.20pm. Travel time is one hour and 25 minutes.
Visit vietjetair.com.