Friday, November 22, 2013

Krabi 2013/2014 tourist high season


Krabi has come far from its humble beginnings as a rural backwater of coconut farms and fishing hamlets, and is now ranked the number one beach destination in Thailand by TripAdvisor members (May 2013 survey).

Air Asia, the low cost airline, has announced two new routes for this high season: from Singapore direct to Krabi; and a link between Krabi and Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, which will facilitate travel for many tourists on the popular “temples and beaches” itinerary, which splits time in Thailand between the north and the southern islands.

Air Asia will also increase flights on its Bangkok – Krabi route to 8 a day, meaning there is now a total of 16 flights daily connecting Krabi and the capital. Krabi already has direct connections with Koh Samui on Thailand’s east cost, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and has weekly charter flight arrivals from Russia, China, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

With neighbouring Phuket Airport currently operating at capacity, plans are also underway to reroute more flights to Krabi and create a high speed airport link between the two popular Thai beach destinations.
In Krabi itself, international investment is bullish, with Holiday Inn recently opening an 118 room family wing; as well as several other new resorts and a Tesco Lotus supermarket on the way in the tourist hotspot of Ao Nang – the area’s first large convenience store.

Krabi Riviera Co., Ltd, the region’s leading provider of luxury serviced pool villas, has also announced major additions to its portfolio for the 2013-14 high season, including “The Beach House”, the only absolute waterfront villa with private beach in the Ao Nang area.

Amari Vogue Krabi
Amari Vogue Krabi
“Growth in Krabi seems unstoppable at the moment,” admits Pierre-Yves Loriers, the company’s managing director. “Even with 15 properties now on offer, we are close to fully booked over peak periods. With local services and infrastructure improving all the time, I believe Krabi can now start to attract high spending visitors as well as families and package tourists.”

Government investment in Krabi is also on the increase, with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Chinawatra earmarking public funds to help promote the area as an eco-friendly, family destination. Meanwhile, local government is funding the construction of a super-stadium, to house Krabi FC, a Thai Premier League team, on the outskirts of Ao Nang, which will be the largest multi-purpose venue of its kind in southern Thailand.

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