TRAVEL TITBITS
Koh Tao waste reduction
Local citizens and business operators on Koh Tao have joined hands to reduce the use of plastic products and foam containers to lower the amount of waste on the island.
“It is really amazing to learn that locals have kicked off the initiative by themselves,” said the Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat during a recent visit.
Locals replace plastic straws with bamboo tubes, paper straws, stems of morning glory and reusable straws made of glass and stainless steel. They use cotton bags instead of plastic bags and promote the use of degradable plastics, biodegradable food containers such as cassava- based packages and leaves.
They also use leaves of leb khrut ( Polyscias) plants, which are widely grown on the island as dishes for serving snacks, he said.
Leftover food from households, restaurants and hotels are used for making bio-fertiliser. Garbage on the island will be separated. Non-organic waste will be pressed into cubes for further transportation to the mainland for garbage management. “I don’t have to launch any environmental campaigns because locals are moving forward to sustainable tourism. Koh Tao is going green,” he noted.
Easier travel to Singapore
Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has allowed holders of Thai passports to use the automated immigration-clearance facilities at the country’s immigration checkpoints.
The announcement was made after eligible holders of Singapore passports were allowed to use the automated immigration-clearance facilities in Thailand.
According to the authority, the mutual extension of such facilities will boost trade, business and tourism links between both countries.
Thai passport holders who apply for the Frequent Traveller Programme must be at least six years old and have a passport with more than six months’ validity. They must have already visited Singapore at least twice in the past two years.
Interested applicants can apply for the service at the enrolment centres located at Terminal 3 Changi Airport, the Visitor Services Centre at the ICA Building, and at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints in Singapore. Enrolment is voluntary and free.
Visit ica.gov.sg.
AIRLINES AIRLINES UPDATE UPDATE
Airlines have announced that they will ban plastic straws and stirrers from their services.
The aim is to promote sustainability by reducing single- use plastic products, providing guests with biodegradable products like paper straws and bamboo stirrers instead.
Airlines joining the initiative are Virgin Australia, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines.
Until Oct 10, Thai Airways will serve Bavarian cuisine for its special in-flight meals to celebrate Oktoberfest 2018 in Munich, Germany.
Served will be crispy pork belly marinated in beer caraway sauce and served with papaya salad. The food will be provided for passengers flying from Frankfurt to Bangkok and Munich to Bangkok in Royal Silk (Business) Class and Royal First Class.
Visit thaiairways.com.
Japan Airlines will add another direct daily flight between Tokyo and Manila starting on Feb 1.
The service will be available from Haneda International Airport. Together with two existing daily flights from Narita International Airport, the airline will soon operate three daily flights to Manila.
Visit jal.com.
HOTEL HOTELS DEALS DEALS & UPDATE & UPDATE
Anantara Hotels & Resorts has this week rolled out a global ban on the use of single- use plastic straws at every property worldwide. The initiative is the second step after the hotel group banned the use of plastic straws in Asia and also replaced the packaging of all dry amenities with compostable paper. Plastic toothbrushes are replaced with a biodegradable alternative.
For years, locally sourced toiletries have been provided in larger ceramic pumps to reduce the amount of packaging and waste created by individual mini-servings. According to the hotel, the initiative alone prevents an estimated 4.16 million plastic bottles from ending up in landfills around the world annually.
The next step is to get rid of plastic water bottles by using recyclable glass or refillable containers by the end of 2018. Bamboo baskets will replace plastic bins throughout the properties.
Other hotel chains that have already announced bans on single-use plastic straws are Akaryn Hotel Group, Banyan Tree Hotel & Resorts, Hilton, Four Seasons and Marriott International.
Novotel ibis Styles Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 has been opened. The property features 133 rooms with a choice of two room types: a standard room (20m ²) and a superior corner room (26m²). The hotel also has two rooms for people travelling with wheelchairs.
Other hotel facilities are a restaurant, rooftop bar, swimming pool and fitness centre.
Visit accorhotels.com
MeStyle Garage Hotel Bangkok has been opened in Pracharat Bamphen 7 Alley, Huai Kwang.
Located about 600m from Huai Khwang MRT subway station, the seven-storey boutique hotel has a unique design, inspired by the ughounder’s passion for cars
“Most of the decorative items are from our family’s personal collection, especially inspired by our father’s love of cars and auto parts. We brought collectable elements to decorate the hotel,” said hotel vice-president Soramon Sangratkanjanasin. “The hotel is a piece of art.”
Throughout the property are 75 guestrooms decorated with automotive memorabilia and car parts. Room sizes range from 22m² for a standard room to 32m ² for a deluxe room. The hotel has one rooftop restaurant and two bars.
Visit mestylegarage.com