Transfer passengers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport making a stopover of 12 hours or less will soon be able to take short “appetiser” tours of the Thai capital and its environs in order to whet their appetites to return later for “main course” tours.

To be inaugurated on 1 June, 2009 by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chairman Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, the “Package Tour for Transfer Passengers” project is being organised by TAT together with the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Airports of Thailand, Ministry of Transport, Immigration Department and Thai Airways International. It will be effective until 31 May, 2011.

The facility will allow 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 will not be required to pay the 500-Baht airport tax, upon re-checking in for their onward flights.

TAT Chairman Weerasak commented, “The campaign will give transfer passengers a chance to enjoy a brief tour of the Thai capital and nearby provinces. By giving them a quick first impression, we hope to encourage them to come back for a longer stay in future.”

“Certainly, the money they spend during this whirlwind transfer will go some way towards helping some of our travel and tourism enterprises, especially small- and medium-sized companies, and keeping Thai people in jobs,” Mr Weerasak said.

ATTA has been appointed the sole official organiser of the tours, which are of about four hours duration each.

Information on the tours will be 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 transfer 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, 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 Transfer 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 & 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 return to the airport, stop to visit the Gemopolis jewellery factory.
  
  
• Massage & Spa
  Relax with the Thai traditional massage package, followed by a 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, Summit Windmill Golf Club, etc.
  
  
• Erawan Museum and Crocodile Farm
  The Erawan, the three-head elephant is the vehicle of the Hindu God Indra. The museum houses a collection of antiques and contributes to the preservation of yjr Thai cultural heritage. Many of these are priceless objects of art. Proceed to the world largest crocodile farm. Over 60,000 crocodiles of different kinds in various pits. Watch a live demonstration of crocodiles being caught bare-handed and enjoy the elephant show.
  
  
• Siam Ocean World
  Billed as the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, with world standard exhibits and features.
  
  
• Siam Niramit
  One of the world’s largest theatres stages a lavish production exploring the cultural heritage and beliefs of the Thai people.

The prices will include an air-conditioned vehicle with English-speaking guide, and admission and tour expenses as mention in the programme. Golf tours will include transport, green fees, and caddy fees.

According to the Airports of Thailand, the number of transfer passengers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport totalled 1.5 million (-9.79%) in 2008 and 446,997 passengers during January-April 2009, a decline of 9.29%.

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