Bangkok Airways has set its sights on introducing two new routes to its regional network next year, with Mandalay and Krabi the next ports of call.

The Tourism Department's 2013 budget will rise to 2.7 billion baht from 1.7 billion this year as it seeks to attract more visitors to Thailand's attractions.

Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Wednesday to implement a single visa agreement, which will enable tourists to obtain one visa to visit both countries from Dec 27.

Inbound tourists to Thailand reached 21.8 million persons this year, representing a 14 per cent increase from last year and generating a total revenue of Bt 930 billion (US$31 billion), a senior official of the Tourism and Sports Ministry said today.

Thailand now has the best warning system in Southeast Asia, eight years after the Andaman coast was ravaged by a devastating tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004.

At 9PM yesterday, police officially opened Bangkok’s fourth Safety Zone on Soi Nana Tai. The Safety Zones are intended to ensure the safety of tourists and reduce the number of crimes.

By 2026, AirAsia would have received 475 aircraft and Fernandes does not think the 100 planes would be the last order.