Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat has introduced its 80 rai sunflower field as a tourist attraction.
According to Walailak University acting dean Prof Dr Sombat Thamrongthanyawong, the flowers were planted for research purposes. The aim is to find a breed of sunflower that can best grow in the southern province's weather. The university plans to develop new products from sunflower seeds in the future.
The university is open for the public to visit the field daily, for no entrance fee.
Visit facebook.com/WalailakUniversity or call 075-673-723 or 075-673-725--30.
Free long-term parking
Parking fees will be temporarily waived at long-term zones C, D and E at Suvarnabhumi airport.
The aim is to facilitate passengers who want to pay tribute to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok. Each parking zone offers 718 parking bays and can support 2,154 cars. Those who park in the long-term lots need to take a shuttle bus to the passenger terminal.
The normal service fee at the long-term car park is 140 baht per day, 44% cheaper than the daily parking rate of 250 baht at car-park buildings next to the passenger terminals.
The free parking service will be available from Oct 19-30.
Visit suvarnabhumiairport.com.
Japanese in Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) promoted the country at the four-day Tourism Expo Japan 2017 in Tokyo last week.
The 108m² booth features 10 exhibitors who showed products and services related to the themes of "Local Experience" and "Women Travelling To Thailand". There were also shows and cultural performances such as a demonstration of Thai boxing, Thai food and quiz games.
The event, formerly known as the Japan Association of Travel Agents Tourism Expo, is regarded as the country's largest trade show, supporting 1,180 companies from 150 countries. The show attracted almost 50,000 trade visitors and 136,000 consumers.
During the first eight months of the year, 890,317 Japanese visited Thailand. The number rose 6.07% over the same period last year. TAT expects the total number of Japanese tourists will increase from 1.4 million last year to 1.5 million this year, generating up to 65 billion baht.
Airlines update
Thai AirAsia X will increase its flight frequency from Bangkok to Osaka to two flights a day on Dec 1.
According to CEO Nadda Buranasiri, by increasing the frequency, passengers will be able to fly Thai AirAsia X both in the morning and in the evening.
The airline will fly with Airbus A330 aircraft, offering 12 premium flatbed seats and 365 economy seats. The new flight will depart from Don Mueang airport at 1.15am and arrive in Osaka at 8.40am. The return flight will be at 9.55am and arrive in Bangkok at 1.55pm.
Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia will add another flight in the early morning to its popular routes from Dong Mueang to Chiang Mai and to Phuket.
From Oct 29, the airline will fly 13 flights daily between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Its new flight will depart from Bangkok at 5.10am and arrive in Chiang Mai at 6.25am. The return will be at 7.25am and arrive in Bangkok at 8.25am.
For the new Bangkok-Phuket route, flights will depart from Don Mueang at 3.35am, reaching Phuket at 5am. The return from Phuket will be at 5.45am and arrive in Bangkok at 7.10am. The new flights mean the airline will provide 18 flights a day between Bangkok and Phuket.
Visit www.airasia.com.
Singapore Airlines has signed a code-share agreement with Alaska Airlines.
The agreement will allow passengers of Singapore Airlines to fly to more destinations within the United States and to Mexico.
"Our new partnership with Alaska Airlines enables us to improve connectivity between Singapore and the important North American market, providing customers with more code-share destinations and enhanced KrisFlyer benefits," said Singapore Airlines senior vice-president of marketing planning Tan Kai Ping.
Members of Singapore Airlines' and Alaska Airlines' frequent flyer programmes, KrisFlyer and Mileage Plan, will be able to earn miles when travelling on flights operated by either of the two carriers from today.
Visit singaporeair.com.
Hotels update
Accor Hotels has opened Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 11.
The hotel offers 232 rooms including four suites. The room sizes range from 34-87m². Other facilities are two restaurants, a rooftop swimming pool with a pool bar, club lounge, fitness centre and spa.
The 4-star hotel is about 300m from BTS Nana.
Visit mercure.com.
Two chain hotels opened in Yangon last week.
One is Hotel G Yangon, operated by GCP Hospitality. The hotel is its third property, after the Strand Hotel Yangon and Inya Lake Hotel.
The new Hotel G Yangon features 85 rooms ranging from 15-30m², a restaurant and bar and fitness centre.
The hotel is about 16km from Yangon Airport.
The other property is the 5-star Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.
The hotel offers 300 rooms and suites. Room space ranges from 40-300m²
Other facilities are restaurants, swimming pool and pool bar, spa, fitness centre, Club Lounge, meeting rooms and grand ballroom that can accommodate up to 450 guests.
The hotel is also about 16km from Yangon airport.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
