webfact Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Tour de France to be held in Thailand next yearTAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri (middle) and Mr. Jean-Etienne Amaury, Chairman of the Amaury Sport Organisation (4th, left)Bangkok, 2 October 2014 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is in talks with Paris-based Amaury Sport Organisation for the possibility of staging the world’s biggest cycling race, the Tour de France, in Thailand in 2015, the year when the entire Southeast Asian region will integrate under the ASEAN Economic Community framework.Thailand’s high-level delegation led by TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri, held a preliminary talk with Mr. Jean-Etienne Amaury, Chairman of the Amaury Sport Organisation – the main agency organising the annual Tour de France – in Paris, France on 11 September, 2014, to seek ways of organising such prestigious sporting event in Thailand.TAT Governor, Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said, “More talks are underway, but we expect Thailand to play the perfect host to this esteemed and prominent cycling race as early as in 2015.”The Tour de France is an annual multiple stage bicycle race, primarily held in France. The race was first held in 1903 originally just to increase sales for France’s L’Auto magazine. Following the inaugural event’s tremendous success, the race turned into an annual event and has since become so famous that riders from all over the world make it a must-participate race of a lifetime.TAT Governor said, “The Tour de France, being the world’s oldest, biggest and most famous international cycling race, is the ultimate hope and dream for all professional cyclists to participate in at least once in a lifetime. Thailand has also become a destination that international tourists must visit at least once in their lifetime. This makes a perfect combination for the Tour de France, the world’s famous bicycling race, to be held in Thailand, the world’s famous tourist destination.”It is a known fact that for cyclists joining the Tour de France, winning or losing the race is not their ultimate goal. But for the team to complete the entire three-week race, covering more than 3,500 kilometres in distance, is the biggest challenge. The competition also requires the teamwork spirit to achieve the goal.The initiative to organise the Tour de France as part of TAT’s plans to develop cycling tourism, which has been around for decades in Thailand. It is also to promote eco-friendly travel and green tourism since cycling is energy-saving and harmless to the environment, as well as promotes good health for the riders.Mr. Thawatchai added, “By playing host to a world famous cycling race as the Tour de France, we are saying that Thailand is ready to host any international sporting events of all types and sizes. We are saying that Thailand is the place to enjoy sporting events, to enjoy unique natural and cultural experiences, and to share the memorable travel moments with the world.”Source: http://www.tatnews.org/tour-de-france-held-thailand-next-year/-- TAT NEWS 2014-10-02 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CelticBhoy Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 Do they all have to cycle over here from France? Gonna need Lance's supplier's phone number to tackle that jaunt, methinks. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post uptheos Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 Tour de France Thailand.........ridiculous!! I thought UK was bad enough, keep it in France Thailand could organise it's own T de T in conjunction with TAT and sponsored by TOT. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 Thai Govt Hopes To Host First Asian Tour de FranceBy Khaosod EnglishCar Free Day in Bangkok, 21 Sept 2014.BANGKOK — In an effort to boost the Thailand’s struggling tourism industry, Thai authorities are reportedly seeking to be the first Asian nation to host the world-renowned Tour de France cycling competition.The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is currently in talks with Paris-based Amaury Sport Organisation about the opportunity to stage the world's biggest cycling race in Thailand next year, according to a report on the TAT's website.“More talks are underway, but we expect Thailand to play the perfect host to this esteemed and prominent cycling race as early as in 2015," TAT Governor Thawatchai Arunyik was quoted as saying in the report.“By playing host to a world famous cycling race as the Tour de France, we are saying that Thailand is ready to host international sporting events of all types and sizes," he said. "We are saying that Thailand is the place to enjoy sporting events, to enjoy unique natural and cultural experiences, and to share memorable travel moments with the world.”Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412236294 -- Khaosod English 2014-10-02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post speleo Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 This is not going to happen in 2015 as the TdF will start in Utrecht next year. And probably never will happen due to the logistics of moving the race back from Thailand to France in a sensible time frame. What they may be talking about is having ASO organise a race in Thailand - not the same as having the Tour de France in Thailand. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DP25 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Those mandatory tracking devices for tourists will prove useful after all 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deckape Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 It is a known fact that for cyclists joining the Tour de France, winning or losing the race is not their ultimate goal. What? I wonder if they write this stuff after a 4 cocktail lunch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertthebruce Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Yes nothing nicer than Cycling around Thailand, safe as anything ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) and when I thought lets charge a fee for security on KT was the daftest news story on TV, along comes this one Well TAT you can always be counted on to give everyone a laugh or shake their heads in disbelief Will the Tour de Thailand be before or after the Thailand F1 Grand Prix ? Edited October 2, 2014 by Soutpeel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arunsakda Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 How long would it take top pros to do the climb to Wat Doi Suthep from Hauy Kaew arboretum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 How long would it take top pros to do the climb to Wat Doi Suthep from Hauy Kaew arboretum? I dont know, but I am sure one of TV members who has had a top BG who has climbed up to Wat Doi Suthep before may be they can answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NongKhaiKid Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Yes nothing nicer than Cycling around Thailand, safe as anything ???? Would the riders be exempt from wearing bracelets or being tagged and not having to pay a security fee wherever they go plus triple entry charge if the route goes through a national park ? Of course the fees would stand, Thais don't allow money to slip away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Flinstone Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Its just endless propaganda - Thais consider Mars landing- Host World Cup. Endless silly stuff- The idea is to take peoples minds of their lives being taken over. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SoFarAndNear Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 They want to do the Tour the France in a country where probably 95% of the citizents couldn't point where France is. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post micky plumb Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 Maybe Paris Roubaix would be a better target given the state of the roads here in Thailand If it does come here I hope it passes by my vicinity so that we get a deck of tarmac... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pib Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Tour de France (FDF) Tour in Thailand (TIT) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Bob Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Will they give each cyclist a wristband so we can monitor them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CobraSnakeNecktie Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 All hat and no cattle This is extra extra ambitious claim even for Thailand. How about starting a Tour of Thailand and building it up over many years to get a shred of credibility first? Yeah I know there is a Tour of Thailand now but it's not on many international teams radar or priority list now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dom samui Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Mythos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jucel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I've never heard such ridiculous piffle in my life! Btw, in other sporting news Thailand have been assured of the 2022 world cup, as Qatar has been unable to convince Sepp Blatter that their weather changing machines will be ready in time. A TAT spokesperson stated that their weather changing machines were in a far more advanced stage and could guarantee temperatures of 15 degrees celsius at every ground. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGareth2 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 fanciful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jucel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 You can just imagine a stage being held up as a farmer crosses the road with 100 cows 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldragon Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 This will go over like the last FIFA event that never happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiaranO Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 its a shame TAT didnt bother to check the tour de France schedule for next year - they might have noticed that it has already been decided where it will be. TAT seriously need to get a grip - they are the absolute laughing stock. Maybe they are planning to lure the Tour here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fab5BKK Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Of course! And the bicycles would have to be tandem bicycles! 1 rider, 1 companion Yes nothing nicer than Cycling around Thailand, safe as anything ???? Would the riders be exempt from wearing bracelets or being tagged and not having to pay a security fee wherever they go plus triple entry charge if the route goes through a national park ? Of course the fees would stand, Thais don't allow money to slip away. Edited October 2, 2014 by Fab5BKK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisY1 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Oh great....36c....humidity 85%.....2000+kms........yeh...they'll be rushing here to compete!!.........(if they don't get robbed or mugged on the way)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Songhua Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 You can just imagine a stage being held up as a farmer crosses the road with 100 cows.... and forty soi dogs snapping at the heels of the peloton. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RJF Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 Please stop it! I had not even recovered from the whole wristband tagging claim and then they follow it up with this one. The 2015 course has pretty much been decided upon, it will start in Utrecht about a 12 hour flight from here and Thailand will not be part of it, period. I saw the original press release by TAT which literally had the subject line: Tour de France to be held in Thailand next year. It's scary to think these people are responsible for one of the biggest sectors of the Thai economy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bluespunk Posted October 2, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2014 Hmm, that reminds me......how's the F1 bid coming along? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jucel Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Can you imagine the original and ongoing correspondence. I would love to hear/see that, it would be an absolute pisser! At least half a dozen frenchies got an all inclusive (probably 5 star) visit on the Thai Tax payer!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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