Thailand ponders mandatory travel insurance

Thailand is considering making it mandatory for tourists to have travel insurance before they are allowed to enter the country.

The Asian nation has seen an epidemic of stupid tourists who have been unable to pay their hospital bills. We've all seen the pathetic GoFundMe appeals for the ill-prepared or tight-arsed.

Now there is a push for regulations requiring international tourists to obtain accident insurance before entering the country.

Unpaid medical bills and accident risks posed by the unwary place a mounting strain on public healthcare, the Bangkok Post reported this week.

"Each year, we absorb about 10 million baht (over $450,000) in treatment costs for foreign patients without insurance," Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham, the director of Vachira Phuket Hospital told the newspaper.

He pointed to inexperienced motorcycle use and consumption of alcohol and drugs. 

"Many visitors come to Phuket and try riding motorcycles for the first time, which increases accident risks," he said. 

The Thai Ministry of Public Health estimates unpaid medical bills from foreign patients amount to at least 100 million baht annually, with major tourism hubs such as Phuket and Chiang Mai most affected.

Emergency care cannot ethically be delayed, meaning hospitals often treat patients regardless of their ability to pay, leaving health facilities to absorb the financial costs.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy a drink or two here?

Another press release, Another rooftop bar. Meh.

But then I took a look at the images.

Chiang Mai is one place that I have not yet visited and I have added Meliá Chiang Mai’s 360-degree rooftop bar to my list of has "must dos" next time I am in Thailand.

The highest bar in Chiang Mai, named Mai the Sky Bar, is perched on the hotel’s 22nd floor, with views of the Ping River to the city’s east and Doi Suthep Temple on the mountain top to the west.

Drawing on the Meliá hotel group's Spanish roots, it has a new menu showcasing a variety of tapas and pinchos, grazing boards and desserts under sections dubbed “Para Picar”, “Tableros” and “Postres” respectively.

The menu features dishes underpinned by local sustainable and organic farming.

Crafted by Jartisann’s Original Thai Cheese, from locally sourced raw cow’s milk from Chiang Mai, the new menu’s artisan cheese board options include ‘Forest Tail’, ‘Palazzo di Palma’, ‘Ricotta Affumicata’, ‘Saltara Machima’ and ‘San Paquanburie’ paired with coated nuts, dried fruit, grapes and other morsels.

Dishes such as the seasonal fruit platter, and ingredients including the tomato and basil used for the platter are sourced from nearby gourmet organic farm SEED as part of the hotel’s ‘360° Cuisine’ program.

 


In addition to cold cuts, the menu also features mixed grill skewers, croquetas, fresh summer rolls with vegetables in fresh spring roll wrap and sweet tamarind dip, and salmon tiradito with mango/passionfruit dressing, avocado mousse and pickled onion.

The dishes are designed to be accompanied by the bar’s spirits, cocktails, mocktails, wines, beers, coffees, signature teas, smoothies and shakes, fresh juices, and soft drinks.

“Mai the Sky Bar may be one of the loftiest venues in town, but we have a ground up approach when it comes to working with sustainable farmers, cheeseries, honey makers and more in Chiang Mai to ultimately support sustainable agriculture and healthier eating,” said the hotel’s general manager Marc Selinger.

As part of its “Sunset Chill and DJ Live Sessions” held every Thursday to Sunday until December 31, the bar will host a live music band from 6-8pm and a resident DJ from 8-11pm.

Call +66 52 090 600 or visit https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/chiang-mai/melia-chiang-mai/index.htm

Why tourists are avoiding Chiang Mai

Tourists are avoiding visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand's third-largest city, because of high air pollution levels.

Poor air quality has been affecting the city for several weeks after local farmers undertook a series of burnoffs in the region.

Thailand’s health ministry this week advised people not to partake in outdoor activities and to wear masks to avoid breathing in the polluted air.

The Thai Hotel Association Northern Chapter told local media that hotel bookings had plunged to just 45% occupancy.

The city welcomed over 10 million visitors annually before the pandemic.

In recent weeks Chiang Mai air pollution levels reached 289 on IQAir’s air quality index, which is reported to be one of the worst in the world.

Authorities blamed a combination of forest fires and crop burning.

When hotel marketers get it wrong

You usually need to be an astute businessperson to open a new international brand hotel.

If you've invested a whole lot of money it would make sense to have a memorable name; easy for clients - and potential customers - to remember.

Why then, would you chose a name that hardly anyone from overseas will be able to remember, or even say?

ibis, the world's leading economy hotel brand, has expanded its portfolio in Thailand with the opening of a brand-new property in Chiang Mai, the attractive city in the north of the country.

They could have called it ibis Chiang Mai. Simple. Memorable.

Instead they opted for ibis Chiangmai Nimman Journeyhub.

The name of the suburb of Nimmanhaemin is hard to remember. The hotel name even harder.

The hotel sounds nice. It is within walking distance of the ancient walled city and Chiang Mai University is just a short stroll away, apparently giving the entire area a hip, youthful vibe.

It has a nice looking pool, and an attractive terrace café.

But why didn't they do some market research, or take some advice?

My bet is there will be a name change sooner rather than later. Which will involve a whole lot of expense.

In Hobart, the Mid City Hotel was recently rebranded to the Allurity Hotel. A made-up name that's not easy to remember. Bad move. Even worse, they chose a script for their signage that is extremely difficult to read.  

I have no idea whether the name was chosen by an owner's dim-witted child, a moron in a hurry, or a focus group. Either way, it's a bad idea.