Bangkok, 10 November 2009 — UK residents travelling beyond Thailand to Australia or New Zealand can “break journey” at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport and take short “appetiser” tours in and around the Thai capital, as long as the transit stop is for a minimum of 12 hours.

The “Package Tour for Transfer Passengers” project is being offered by the TAT together with the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Airports of Thailand, Ministry of Transport, Immigration Department, and Thai Airways International.

The facility allows thousands of daily air passengers with time to spare between connecting flights to take a wide variety of tours in Bangkok and surrounding areas. As an incentive to take the tours, they are not required to pay the 500-Baht airport tax, upon re-checking in for their onward flights.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) is the sole official organiser of the tours, which are of about four hours duration each.

Information on the tours is provided to all transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport through a number of in-flight collaterals, especially on THAI Airways International aircraft, and in the transit halls.

Passengers keen to join the tours will need to follow these simple procedures:

	Check whether their stopover time is enough to take any of the tours (not over 12 hours), and then select the appropriate one. Full tour programme details including costs, and travel times to and from the airport will be provided.
	Contact either of the two tour counters that will be set up on both sides of the Transit Hall and fill in the application form requesting an exemption of the airport tax.
	Tour counter officials will assist the passengers with all immigration formalities and take them to join the selected tours.
	After the tour, guides will take the passengers back to the airport for their departure flight and help them with immigration formalities.
List of interesting tour packages:
	Klong Tour: Take a boat ride to the Thonburi canals, discover a part of Bangkok that remains the “Venice of the East”.
	Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha: Tour the Royal Palace complex which is still used for ceremonial occasions. Thailand’s most superb royal temple with some of the finest murals in Asia.
	Shopping Paradise: Enjoy the prime shopping area at Central Chidlom, CentralWorld, Zen, Siam Paragon, or MBK Shopping Complex. On the way back to the Airport, stop to visit the Gemopolis jewellers factory.
	Massage and Spa: Relax with a Thai traditional massage package, followed by Thai herbal hot compress massage and aromatherapy full body oil massage.
	Golf Tour: Experience the high standard of golf courses nearby Suvarnabhumi International Airport; such as, Kiarti Thanee Country Club and Summit Windmill Golf Club.
	Erawan Museum and Crocodile Farm: The Erawan, the three-headed elephant, is the vehicle of the Hindu god Indra. The museum has a large collection of antiques reflecting Thai cultural heritage, including many priceless works of art. Proceed to the world’s largest crocodile farm, over 60,000 crocodiles of different kinds in various pits. Enjoy a show featuring bare-handed grappling with crocodiles.
	Siam Ocean World: the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, with world standard exhibits and features.
	Siam Niramit: A performance hall boasting one of the world’s largest theatre stages. It has a lavish production exploring the cultural heritage and beliefs of the Thai people. All prices include air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking guide, and admission and tour expenses as mention in the programme. Golf tours include transport, green fees, and caddy fees.

Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org