Bangkok, Thailand, 5 June 2008 — The beautiful Mae Sa valley of Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Mai and the Northeastern province of Uthai Thani are to be featured in a new TV travel programme to be launched in Singapore in 2009.

The new information cum entertainment travel program entitled “Destination: Most Wanted! Hosted by Mr. Bryan Wong”, will be broadcast on Channel U during weekday prime time. Mr Wong is one of Singapore’s popular artistes and TV hosts.

The TV programme has identified two themes to be featured, Nature Living: Mae-Sa Valley in Chiang Mai and Beautiful Land: Uthai Thani. A five-member crew will be visiting Thailand during 18 – 23 Jun 2008 to shoot the programme.

The filming at Mae Sa Valley will feature its natural environment, hotels, facilities, and the well-known Craft Village. The scenes from Uthai Thani will include the morning market and Wat Tha Sung (crystal temple), lifestyle along the Sakae Krang river and accommodation in the raft-houses.

The TV programme is designed to help viewers plan their trips to “the world’s hottest trends, destinations, journeys and experiences!” It is being positioned as an interactive, informative and entertaining travelogue, with Mr Wong playing the role of the holiday planner.

Worldwide, 39 destinations based on 13 themes are planned to be featured. Mr Wong will also share his personal opinions on a web-blog from September 2008.

Channel U is owned by MediaCorp Pte Ltd, a long-established radio and television broadcasting company based in Singapore. MediaCorp TV owns and manages the entertainment channels, Channel 5, Channel 8 and Channel U as well as the Malay entertainment and information channel, Suria and the Channel of choice for the kids, Indian and arts communities, Central.

Channel 5 and Channel 8 offer viewers round-the-clock quality English and Mandarin mass entertainment and information programmes respectively. Channel U is a Chinese News and Entertainment Channel for young adults and working professionals.

MediaCorp TV also owns TVMobile, Singapore’s first outdoor digital television channel, and Digital TV, which promises viewers the interactive television experience of the future.

In 2007, Visitor arrivals from Singapore totaled 799,100, making them the second largest number of ASEAN visitors after Malaysia. Singaporean visitors spent US$ 128.68 per person per day which, based on an average length of stay of 5.31 days, generated US$ 546.02 million in tourism income.

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