Useful Information for Participants

The Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on e-Government, Smart Cities, and Digital Societies for Sustainable Development will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 19 ^th – 20^th August 2015. The ITU Regional Development Forum (RDF) on Smartly Digital Asia-Pacific will be held during 21-22 August 2015. The both events will be held at:

Plaza Athénée Bangkok Hotel
61 Wireless Road (Witthayu), Bangkok 10330 Thailand
http://www.plazaatheneebangkok.com/
Tel: +66(0) 2650 8800
Online reservation: https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/ITUMeeting

Venue Floor Plan

Exhibition Floor Plan (during 19-20 August 2015)

Visa and Immigration Requirements

To enter Thailand, all participants must possess a valid passport or accepted travel document. Participants who require a visa should apply for a visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or a Royal Thai Consulate-General in their respective country well in advance of their departure. For nationals of some countries, it may take up to two weeks for visa processing. As visa requirements change from time to time, please check with your nearest Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General for your visa requirements. You are also advised to visit http://www.mfa.go.th for more information on visas and travel documents.

Download the list of countries and territories entitled for visa exemption and visa on arrival to Thailand.

Weather

The weather in Bangkok is usually warm and humid. Light tropical clothing would be appropriate. The conference rooms where the meetings are to be held are air-conditioned and the temperature is maintained in the range of 23-24 degrees Celsius (73-75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Foreign Currency Declaration

The unit of Thai currency is Thai Baht (THB). The exchange rate as of 29 June 2015 is THB 34.12 to 1 USD.   

Under Thai law, any person who brings or takes an aggregate amount of foreign currency exceeding 20,000 United States dollars or its equivalent into or out of the Kingdom of Thailand shall declare the amount of foreign currency to a Customs Officer. Failure to make such a declaration or making any false declaration to a Customs Officer is a criminal offence.   

Currency exchange facilities are available at hotels.

Travel Insurance

Participants are reminded that it is advisable to obtain travel insurance. Such insurance should cover payment for your medical care in the case of hospitalization as well as the cost of repatriation to your home country if that should become necessary. The Organizers do not take responsibility for any individual, medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are advised to secure their own insurance policies as necessary.

Hotel Accommodations

Official hotel for the ITU Forums is Plaza Athénée Bangkok Hotel. It is a recommended hotel for participants attending the Forums.

Transport from and to Airport 

Participants should make their own transportation arrangements from Suvarnabhumi Airport to their respective hotels. Limousine, metered-taxi and bus services are readily available at the airport. Detailed information about Suvarnabhumi Airport can be found at www.airportsuvarnabhumi.com.   

Please note that the Don Muang Airport, the former Bangkok International Airport, currently handles domestic flights and some low-cost international flights.   

For your general information, the following transportation is available from Suvarnabhumi International Airport:

1. Public Meter Taxi, is located on 1^st floor of the Passenger Terminal, Gate 4 and 7. Fare shown on meter, plus Baht 50 surcharge for boarding at the airport.
2. Airport Limousine Service, the limousine service to various destinations in the city, is located at the arrival floor of the airport.
3. Hotel Limousine Services

For instance, 
Toyota Camry: THB 1,850 nett/car/way (maximum of 3 persons with luggage)
BMW Series 5: THB 2,150 nett/car/way (maximum of 3 persons with luggage)
Toyota Commuter Van: THB 2,650 nett/van/way (maximum of 7 persons with luggage)   

For participants wishing to avail themselves of the limousine and public metered-taxi services indicated above, it is strongly recommended that they approach only the authorized representatives at the counters located in the airport arrival zone. Upon request, a ticket will be issued for the assignment of either a limousine or a public metered taxi to transport passengers to the desired destination. Participants may access public taxi counters by exiting Gates 4 or 7 of the Passenger Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport. In addition to toll fees, there is a 50 baht surcharge to be added to the meter charge from airport to the city.   

There are good public transportation facilities at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand. For more information, please visit website: http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/.

Travelling within Bangkok 

Although traffic can be heavy at times, getting around Bangkok is relatively easy thanks to a well-integrated and inexpensive transport system of public buses, taxis, limousines, motorcycle taxis, tuk-tuks and mass transit.

• Taxis : a large number of taxis ply Bangkok’s streets 24-7. Look for the Taxi Meter sign on top and make sure the cabbie turns on the meter. Fares begin at 35 baht (roughly US$ 1) and increase according to distance traveled.
• Mass Transit : the city’s mass transit system consists of an elevated and underground rail service through the downtown area, providing links to city hotels, shopping malls, entertainment areas, business districts and the river. Both are air-conditioned, with signage and directions in Thai and English, and operate from 6am to midnight daily. Both systems are linked with change-over stations at three locations. As yet there is no common ticket.
• BTS Skytrain : elevated electric trains transport Bangkok’s commuters in wide air-conditioned carriages, running every 3-5 minutes at peak times and slightly longer off-peak, providing a quick, reliable and efficient service. The Skytrain has two routes, the Sukhumvit Line and Silom Line, with a changeover station at Siam Square. Fares are based on distance traveled.
• MRT Subway : the underground rail system complements the BTS Skytrain in moving commuters around central Bangkok through a special tunnel system. Lifts and escalators provide access to the trains. The MRT system has 18 stations running from Hua Lamphong railway station to the northern bus terminal at Mor Chit.

Communications

The Country Code for Thailand is +66
The City Code for Bangkok is +66(0)2
Area Codes in Thailand are referred to as STD codes. STD codes for some cities are:
Bangkok: (0)2
Dialing Thailand: Landline
International access code (00 or +) followed by 66, then STD CODE followed by Landline no.
e.g. +66 2 XXXXXXXX
Dialing Thailand: Mobile
International access code (00 or +) followed by 66 and the 9-digit Mobile no. eg. +66 XXXXXXXXX.

Language

English is spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants as well as in major tourist destinations.

Time

The time in Bangkok is 7 hours ahead of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +7).

Electricity & Power Plug

The electric current is 220 volt AC throughout the country. For Thailand, the picture/diagram shows the type of main power plug used in Thailand so participants can bring the right adaptor for their electrical appliances. This plug and receptacle are technically known as NEMA 5-15 (North American 15 A/125 V grounded.