The government will invest 8.2 billion baht to build two more Thai-Lao Friendship bridges across the Mekong River.
At present, four Friendship bridges are linking Thailand and Laos at Nongkhai-Vientiane, Mukdahan-Savannakhet, Nakhon Phanom-Khammouane and Chiang Khong-Huay Xay.
The fifth bridge will be located in Muang district in Bueng Kan and will link to Paksan in Bolikhamxay province in central Laos.
The total budget for the co-investment project will be 3.9 billion baht. The Thai government will invest about 2.6 billion baht while the Lao government will put in another 1.3 billion baht that it will borrow from the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency founded in 2005 by the Thai government.
The project will feature a 16km four-lane road including a 12km road in Bueng Kan, a 1.3km two-lane bridge over the Mekong and a 2.8km road in Laos. The budget also includes border checkpoints and border control facilities in the two countries. The project will be completed in 2022.
The sixth Thai-Lao Friendship bridge will be built in Ban Na Hin Ngon in Na Tan district in Ubon Ratchathani. It will connect to Ban La Khone Pheng in Salavan province in the southern part of Laos.
The total budget will be 4.3 billion baht, of which Thailand will invest about 2.6 billion baht. The project is expected to start in 2023 and be completed in 2025.
Pattaya hosts bikini run
Pattaya City has joined hands with CentralFestival Pattaya to organise its first evening bikini run on Pattaya Beach.
The event is titled "Central Festival Pattaya Beach Bikini Beach Race 2020: Bikini Night Run". It has been organised for five consecutive years and this year will be special with the race starting after sunset.
With its glow-in-the-dark theme, the race features a 5km run and will start at the beach-side entrance to CentralFestival shopping mall.
About 2,000 runners are expected to participate.
Visit the event Facebook page at bit.ly/34ivb1X.
AIRLINES UPDATE
- ZipAir, the low-cost carrier of Japan Airlines, is offering commercial flights from Bangkok to Tokyo.
The service is still a one-way flight for outbound passengers from Bangkok. It will depart Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11.30pm. The return flight from Narita International Airport in Tokyo will be cargo only. Ticket prices start at 4,200 baht for a regular seat and 15,000 baht for a flat-bed seat.
The service is available now until March 27.
Visit zipair.net.
HOTEL DEALS & UPDATE
- The Grand Sukhumvit Bangkok on Sukhumvit 6 will be rebranded as Crowne Plaza Bangkok Grand Sukhumvit by the end of next year.
Owned by Sukhumvit Centre Point, the 386-room hotel will undergo renovation for a year before adding additional rooms by 2023. When completed, the hotel will be the largest Crowne Plaza in Thailand. Crowne Plaza is one of the upscale brands of InterContinental Hotels Group, a British multinational.
The hotel is temporarily closed due to the Covid-19 epidemic and has not yet announced the opening.
Visit grandsukhumvithotel.com.
- Dusit International has joined hands with Pixel One Production to offer virtual interactive conference experience (Vice) services at Dusit's properties nationwide.
Called "Vice Room", the service will change a meeting room to an online presentation or a livestreaming studio. Facilities include a multi-screen video wall for real-time interactions with up to 100 remote participants and a green screen backdrop for high-definition virtual backgrounds. Technology specialists will also be on site.
The hotel expects the service will serve corporate customers who look for a one-stop service for holding interactive seminars, virtual meetings or training sessions.
Prices for the meeting packages start at 90,000 baht for a day.
Visit dusit-international.com.
- Cape and Kantary Hotels has rebranded Karavel House Hotel & Serviced Apartment in Sri Racha, Chon Buri, after finishing a 100 million baht renovation project.
At present, the property is named Classic Kameo Hotel and Serviced Apartments. It features 155 rooms including one- and two-bedroom suites. Each unit is equipped with a kitchenette, a living room and a private balcony. The property also provides a restaurant, executive lounge, fitness centre and swimming pool. It accepts both short- and long-stay guests.
Visit kameocollection.com/classickameo-sriracha.
- Pullman Khao Lak Resort in Phangnga will be opened on Dec 1.
Located on Bang Muang beach, the property offers 253 rooms including family and presidential suites and pool villas, four meeting rooms, two restaurants and bars, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and Kids Club.
The resort also launches a special pre-opening offer. Available for booking and stays from Dec 1 to March 31, special rates for a night start at 3,100 baht including breakfast.
The resort is owned by Thailand-based real estate developer Khaolak Inter and managed by AccorHotels.
Visit pullmankhaolakresort.com.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
