Anantara Golden Triangle Offers Virtual Field Trips

Kids in online classes can now join a video call with elephants and scientific experts in northern Thailand.

Redefining the term “trunk call,” Thailand’s Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort has introduced complimentary field trips for schoolchildren learning from home while in lockdown. The new initiative builds on the success of twice-daily livestreams done by the resort in tandem with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), through which Internet users can admire rescued elephants walking in the jungle and taking a mud bath in the Ruak River. These showcases have garnered more than 5 million views since the start of the pandemic.

The latest livestreamed experience recalls the resort’s signature Walking with Giants experience, and callers will be able to see three-ton Asian elephants roaming the jungled surroundings of the property, located where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. The pachyderms will be accompanied by the mahouts and either a GTAEF veterinarian or biologist, from whom viewers can learn insights about the behavior of these majestic animals. Children will also have the chance to observe the elephants’ social interaction in their native habitat, and each virtual field trip is customized to meet the needs and curriculum of the students.

John Roberts, Group Director of Sustainability & Conservation at Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, said in a statement, “Whilst this entertaining and educational experience is a temporary virtual substitute for educational institutions’ learning through exposure to nature and nature-based activities, it is the escapism and the enthusiasm that it affords young minds — some often trapped in challenging and confusing circumstances — that make it all worthwhile.”

The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation can organize these video calls as a complimentary experience for online school classes held during Thailand daylight hours. For more information or to reserve a spot on a live virtual field trip, get in touch by emailing jroberts@anantara.com or by calling 66-53/784-084.

Source: https://www.destinasian.com/blog/news-briefs/anantara-golden-triangle-now-offers-virtual-field-trips

TAT launches virtual tours to 4 top destinations in Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a virtual reality tour of top attractions in four of Thailand’s leading tourism destinations comprising Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Surat Thani.

The tours are an immersive 360° adventure that allow visitors to explore the attractions in 3D. After clicking on individual links from the main page https://www.tourismthailand.org/Articles/virtual-tours, it leads visitors directly to the attraction.

There are icons on the bottom left for viewing floorplans and for navigation, while other functions allow visitors to view in VR or share with friends on social media.

Once inside an attraction, visitors can move around using the cursor, while some of the attractions have information about its historical background or details of items on display in both English and Thai.

The 3D virtual tour helps give visitors a visual image of each attraction and that will hopefully encourage them to visit some of them in real life in the near future.

In Bangkok, the Mekhala Ruchi Pavilion lets visitors virtually explore the two-storey teak wood building in all its glory, which was the residence of King Rama VI while Phayathai Palace was under construction. Meanwhile, the virtual tour of Thewarat Sapharom Hall showcases the elegant interior of the palace’s throne hall, and the Phiman Chakri Hall stands out for its iconic turret.

In Chiang Mai, visitors can dive deep into a virtual visit of Phra Chao Tan Chai Ma Tam Na Bun Chapel or the Big Reclining Buddha at Wat Chedi Luang. There is also a tour of Phra Maha That Chedi for the 12 astrological signs and Phra Chao Pun Ton. The final two attractions in Chiang Mai include the statue of Khruba Chao Teung Na Ta Si Lo and Ma Tam Na Bun Chapel.

In the southern region, there are virtual tours of Chedi Khao Hua Chuk in Surat Thani and Chinpracha House in Phuket.

The virtual reality tours give visitors a bird’s-eye view of these famous attraction, allowing them to move around simply by clicking on points of interest. The tours also allow virtual travellers to enjoy these Thai tourist attractions and get immersed in each one’s history. For more information, please visit https://www.tourismthailand.org/Articles/virtual-tours.

Source: https://www.tatnews.org/2021/01/tat-launches-virtual-tours-to-4-top-destinations-in-thailand/?fbclid=IwAR39NAp3nDaNU-YfwxKB5Db4-PblyHAJPe9XQjZt5SFbxVFnphKwKgeQy6E

Zoom enables virtual guided tours

Exploration Travel Myanmar has announced a new tour that visits the Unesco World heritage temples of Bagan virtually of course.

In the first week of operation, the company says it has sold several tours to clients from tour operators in Germany and the Netherlands and is planning to expand to other tour operators worldwide and other locations in Myanmar.

According to Exploration’s Managing Director, Edwin Briels, the main reason to launch these virtual tours is to “create jobs and income for Bagan based tourist guides who have been deprived of any income for since March last year.

Overseas tour operators can book a private tour in Bagan that lasts about 45 minutes, using Zoom software. The guide has a camera with stabiliser, an electric bike and a mobile phone connection and takes the clients along a predetermined route explaining the history of Bagan, the lifestyles in villages while showing some of the highlighted temples such as Ananda and the Dhammayangyi temple.

During the tour, clients can interact with the guide and request specific camera in various directions. In much the same way as an in-person tour, they can ask questions while the private guide acts as their eyes and ears on the ground.

Briels said clients could ask family members or friends to join the tour from the comfort of their own home. The service is limited to a group of no more than 10 persons. 

“We have also received requests from clients who visited Bagan in the past and want to re-visit with the same guide so they can also show their family members what they experienced pre-Covid times.”

See a short video of Exploration’s virtual Bagan tour on YouTube

The company has been restructuring and is actively adapting to the new normal since the Myanmar government closed international airports in April 2020.

After the first Covid-19 wave, the company took over Grasshopper Adventures Myanmar aiming to offer more nature experiences, cycling biking, trekking and kayaking tours.

It also re-focused on the local Myanmar and expatriates market in Yangon and created new experiences within Yangon. Recently the company re-opened its Lalay Lodge in Ngapali beach after successfully passing the Myanmar government Covid-19 safety regulations.

Exploration Travel is the first DMC in Myanmar offer virtual tours after having seen the success of similar ventures in Singapore and from the start-up www.virtualtrips.io which recently gained funding.

Read more: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2021/01/zoom-enables-virtual-guided-tours/

TAT promotes “Single Journey’ routes encouraging single Thais to travel domestically

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) together with Thai Smile Airways, leading online travel and lifestyle platform Drive Digital, and application Tinder have launched a collection of new ‘Single Journey’ tours around Thailand specifically designed for the single traveller.

TAT Governor, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, said, “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed travel behaviour and necessitates that we think ‘out-of-the-box’. The ‘Single Travel Route’ targets solo travellers who prefer to travel alone to various destinations in Thailand.”

TAT is preparing nine Single Journey tour routes at destinations around Thailand, including Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai, Lop Buri – Saraburi, Si Sa Ket – Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani – Loei, Chumphon – Surat Thani, Phuket, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok.

To help launch the new Single Journey tour product, TAT and its partners are organising three pilot tours for interested single travellers.

The first trip will take place on 20 December, 2020, and is free-of-charge to join with space available for up to 100 single Thai travellers. Organised together with Grand Pearl Cruise, this is a cruise along Bangkok’s famous Chao Phraya River taking in nine temples and hosted by renowned fortune teller and Feng Shui expert Chang-Tosaporn Sritula, who will share tips on how to pay homage to Buddha and ask for blessings. The full-day trip includes a cruise dinner.

The second trip is on 9 January, 2021, with seats for 50 single Thais at 222 Baht per person. This is being organised with Love Andaman and involves a beachside party concert at Ko Kai in Phuket.

The third trip is on 23 January, 2021, for up to 50 single Thais and priced at 555 Baht per person, and is an exclusive train tour in cooperation with the State Railway of Thailand to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri with a meal at the Dam included.

Singles interested to join any of the three pilot trips can make bookings from 15 December, 2020, onwards.

For more information on Single Journey routes from TAT and partners, please go to the official LINE @singlejourney account, www.tourismthailand.org or www.sneaksdeal.com/singlejourney

Thailand DMCs Unite to Create Uniform Health & Safety Standards Ahead of Tourism Restart

As the world has seen the almost complete halt of travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DMC community in Thailand has been hard at work formulating and implementing standards that will solidify Thailand and its tourism facilitators as a destination that is safe for travel.

The Thailand Hygiene Plus Initiative (THPI) has been developed by a group of leading Destination Management Companies (DMCs) operating in Thailand’s tourism industry. Their aim is to create a safe and healthy environment for travellers, and get the message out to tour operators and travel agents.

The standards cover six areas: offices, staff, ground teams, meals, vehicles and transportation, sports equipment and facilities. The standards include, but are not limited to, those to be certified by the “Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration” (SHA).

A checklist of operational requirements has been developed and an agreement to implement reached by all DMCs who have signed up to the Thailand Hygiene Plus Initiative. These members include Abercrombie & Kent Thailand, Asia Exotica, Asian Trails, Black Rice Travel – A Member of LUXPERIA Collective, Destination Asia (Thailand), EXO Travel Thailand, Go Vacation Thailand, Khiri Travel Thailand, Panorama Destination Thailand, Remote Lands, Smiling Albino, Tour East, and Travel Exclusive Asia Thailand.

Daniel Fraser, Founder and Director of Smiling Albino said: “When COVID hit the industry our collective focus was on the swift and safe return of travel. The implementation a of united standard for future travel, formed through the collaboration of our peers, was natural.”

He added: “Collectively changing for the better, to create a safe and healthy travel experience for each DMC’s travellers shows that we are in this together and stronger as one.”

Khiri Travel CEO Herman Hoven said: “With the Thailand Hygiene Plus initiative, responsible DMCs in Thailand are giving international tour operators tangible proof and meaningful assurances that we are taking extensive and proactive hygiene measures in order to restore confidence while travelling.”

The initiative will implement infection prevention measures to ensure that travellers have an enjoyable experience, knowing that they are in the best of care. Travellers will have greater confidence in Thailand as a safe and healthy travel destination.

About Khiri Travel
Since 1993, Khiri Travel has won awards and earned a reputation as a destination management company dedicated to working with select tour operators to provide quality leisure travel experiences across Asia. With 16 offices in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka (which has responsibility for the Maldives), Khiri Travel’s entrepreneurial associates craft innovative itineraries that reflect their passion for authentic, local and sustainable experiences. Visit khiri.com

Contact Khiri Travel
Head Office
226/9 Soi Tiwanon 24
Tiwanon Road, Bangkasor
Muang, Nonthaburi 11000 Thailand
Tel: (+66) [0] 2968 6828
travel.trade@khiri.com
http://khiri.com/

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