by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai

The Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, is pleased to announce the 11th International Conference on Thai Studies on July 26-28, 2011. Held every three years, the International Conference on Thai Studies is a well-established forum for researchers across disciplines to share knowledge and perspectives on Thailand, Thai culture and society and the connection between Thailand and the world.

The third edition of CULTOUR, Global Heritage and Cultural Travel Exhibition, will open on June 22nd in Quito, Ecuador.

CULTOUR is the first and only truly international travel exhibition directed to the heritage and cultural travel niche. This year CULTOUR is held in Quito, Ecuador, as support to the city as American Capital of Culture 2011 and as such the Ecuador Ministry of Tourism and the City of Quito sponsor CULTOUR 2011.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner comes to Berlin-Tegel on June 25th, 2011

To celebrate the German premiere of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, airberlin will be hosting an official ceremony at Berlin-Tegel Airport on Saturday June 25th, 2011 together with the aircraft’s manufacturer Boeing and Berlin Airports. Guests from the worlds of politics, business and the media are invited to this event. Following the ceremony, airberlin employees will also be able to see this long-haul aircraft for themselves.

After a period of 12 years, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will resume scheduled service between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro with effect from 1 November 2011. Rio will then become KLM’s 70^th intercontinental destination. KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman: “Latin America is an emerging market. By adding Rio de Janeiro as KLM’s 9th destination in Latin America, we intend to greatly strengthen our position in this rapidly expanding region. Because Brazil is experiencing such strong economic growth we see Rio’s inclusion in the KLM network as beneficial to our business passengers. Foreign investment in the region is increasing strongly, fuelled by the growing oil and gas industry”.

by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai

In spite of the myriad negative news making headlines in Thailand since 2006 and sending travel industry jitters, Thai tourism performances are on a record high. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor’s Speech during Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TMM+) 2011 networking lunch on June 8, the last year 2010 turned out to be excellent and ended up with a total of 15.9 million visitors – a 12.6% increase over the previous year. “This positive trend has continued into 2011” was the surprised conclusion made by Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of TAT.

by Thomas Zhang

The Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitational tournament begin on the Pearl River in south China’s Guangdong Province on Sunday, June 12, to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Many dragon boat teams from America, Russia，Australia, Singapore and other regions across China participated in the race.