TRIS Rating has affirmed the company rating of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and the ratings of its existing and new issuance senior unsecured debentures at “A+”.Mr. Charamporn Jotikasthira, THAI President, said TRIS Rating (TRIS) assigned the rating of “A+” to THAI‘s existing senior unsecured debentures. THAI received a rating of “A+” to the proposed issue of up to Bt 4,000 million in senior unsecured debentures with a “negative” outlook. The proceeds from the issuance of the proposed debentures will be used to refinance THAI’s maturing debts and finance investments.

Haiti will host UNWTO’s annual regional gathering of tourism authorities, the UNWTO Commission for the Americas. The 58th Meeting of the Commission reflects Haiti’s preparedness to seize the growing tourism momentum in the region to further open sustainable development opportunities through tourism.

INAUGURAL TICKET TO FLY IN THE WORLD’S ONLY THREE-ROOM SUITE IN THE SKY SOLD TO MIAMI-BASED BUSINESSMAN, GINO BERTUCCIO.Etihad Airways revealed that the most exclusive ticket in aviation history – the inaugural flight in The Residence by Etihad™ – has been booked by Miami-based businessman and aviation enthusiast, Gino Bertuccio, who will be the first person ever to experience the world’s only private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft.

… and a Happy New Year !
The Team of Tourism–Insider wishes all of you a Merry Christmas with your family and a Happy New Year!
We will be closed during Christmas and are going to be back in the office on January 5th, 2015.
(left: a picture from Elke Backert, the Munic Airport Wichtel)
Tourism Insider is thanking its readers for this great year 2014

The number of the international visitor arrivals has continuously risen for the second month. Visitor arrivals to Thailand in November totalled 2,438,301, a growth of 2.53 percent over November 2013. Figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports show that the main contributing factor was a 58.8% surge in Chinese visitors to 513,441.The November arrivals are a clear indicator that a recovery is underway and has brought back the confidence of international tourists to visit Thailand again. Preliminary figures of daily visitor arrivals in December at international airports are also showing a steady upturn in the last month of 2014.

by SU ZHOU, Travel Impact newswire
Tourism authorities will urge travel agencies to monitor tour groups and will explore the use of personal credit reports to identify possible offenders in advance.The move comes after four Chinese travelers poured hot water on a Thai flight attendant and triggered public outrage online.The China National Tourism Administration released a statement asking all provincial tourism authorities and travel agencies to help regulate tourist behavior.