In an interview with US newspaper The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Grylls expounded the benefits of adventure tourism and travel. “The wild can empower you”, he said, “and that’s not something money can buy.”

Adventure holidays are all about testing yourself as well as experiencing nature at its best – as Grylls put is, they enable us to “see what we are all really made of”.

Borneo is the perfect destination for adventurous travellers. Grylls visited the country when filming season six of his popular show Man vs Wild, which aired on 10th March 2011. During the episode Grylls rappelled into dense jungle, scrambling 100 ft from the canopy to forest floor before tackling white-water, mudslides and vast caves.

Malaysian Borneo, the majority of the northern part of the island, is split between two states: Sabah and Sarawak. The rest of the island consists of Indonesian Borneo and the Nation of Brunei.

Many of the best dive sites on the island are off the coast of Sabah, while Sarawak has several national parks and is also home to The Great Orangutan Project.

As Grylls suggested, two of Borneo’s main attractions are jungle treks and scuba diving. While the former allows tourists to get up close and personal with monkeys, snakes and all manner of forest life (and maybe even spot some of the aforementioned Orangutans), the latter involves swimming with turtles and sharks.

The island also boasts and increasable system to caves, and spelunking – the practice of cave exploration – is a major draw.

Patagon beach, Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and is commonly known as the ‘Pearl of the Andaman’. Visitors spending their holidays in Phuket often choose Patagon beach as a destination. Renowned for being the island’s most famous beach resort, Patagon has a strong reputation as being the perfect blend of calm and relaxing days followed by exhilarating parties after dark.

Kata beach, Phuket

Phuket holidays also offer plenty of options for tourists who want to spend their time away from the boisterous nightlife of Patagon. During the day, sunseekers can enjoy golden white beaches or go on a snorkelling voyage. Minutes away from Kata and its laidback way of life are some great restaurants and shopping centres for a more upbeat experience.

Phang Nga

Phang Nga’s unspoiled beach is the idyllic spot for couples looking for a romantic getaway in Thailand. Only 20 minutes north of Phuket, this exotic stretch of beach is a honeymooner’s dream. Whole days can be spent soaking in the sun and cooling off in the Andaman Sea, while for the more active traveller there are loads of fun activities like tai chi and cooking classes.

Khao Lak

One of Thailand’s best kept secrets, Khao Lak’s picturesque beach surrounded by tropical forests is a blissful hideaway. Visitors can choose between hikes around the region’s hillsides, or explore the stunning coral reefs on an underwater snorkelling adventure.

Krabi

Within the province of Krabi are some of Thailand’s most breathtaking views and best holiday spots. Ao Nang is its most famous beach and where tourists find the best accommodation, restaurants and nightlife. Water taxis are available to take visitors around the area where the region’s dramatic cliffs, known to be great spots for rock climbing, can be found.

Phi Phi Islands

Only 45 minutes from Phuket, the Phi Phi islands are renowned for their magnificent limestone cliffs that rise from the crystal clear water adorning the islands. It’s a perfect location for an exciting adventure holiday and regardless of experience, visitors can take advantage of the many PADI dive centres located on the island.

Bo Phut, Koh Samui

Holidaymakers flock to Bo Phut for relaxing days surrounded in exclusive and secluded resorts. Couples especially can enjoy a romantic sunset stroll along the perfect white sand beaches, followed by mouth-watering Thai meals in the traditional local restaurants.

Chaweng, Koh Samui

Chaweng’s natural beauty resembles its quieter neighbour Bo Phut, with equally as unforgettable blue waters and a brilliant white sand shoreline. In addition to this, Chaweng provides visitors with more options in the way of restaurants, shops, bars and cafes.

Pattaya

Pattaya is a haven for tourists looking for thrills and adventure from their holidays in Thailand. From scuba diving to kite surfing, bungee jumping to horseback riding, this beach resort is world renowned for being able to satisfy a desire for thrills.

The rankings, which are based on number of visits and tourism revenue generated, reflect the fact that an increasing number of people are being drawn to the south-east Asian country.

Some of the most popular areas of Thailand include the northern city of Chiang Mai and the country’s many beaches, for example holidays in Phuket.

In addition to culture and relaxation, the country has also become a destination for adventure-seekers as governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Suraphon Svetasreni, explained:

“Adventure travel has become very popular in recent years and is likely to grow in the years ahead, for both domestic and foreign visitors. We are very proud of the many adventure travel opportunities in Thailand and have designed the entire package of information to help visitors make us their first-choice destination.”

Elephant trekking, white-water rafting, scuba diving and rock climbing are all activities that are readily available in Thailand.

One of the factors that has significantly boosted the appeal of adventure travel in Thailand is the stunning backdrop against which the various activities take place, with warm, crystal-clear waters, soaring mountains and dense jungle all prominent.

Thailand is well placed to overtake Hong Kong, which currently sits in 10th place in the UNWTO’s rankings, which are published three times a year as part of the organisation’s World Tourism Barometer report – and the Thai Tourism Authority is confident the country will break into the top 10 in the near future.

This is represents a significant achievement given the uncertainty of the global tourism industry, and further highlights the enduring popularity of Thailand and the great value of money offered by the country.

Some 13 historical sites, including the ancient northern capital of Hoa Lu and Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, will be afforded greater protection by Vietnam’s ministry of culture, sports and tourism following a request from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The relics will now be managed according to the nation’s regulations on cultural heritage, which spells good news for current and future generations of Vietnam holidaymakers.

Hoa Lu, located in the Ninh Binh province, was Vietnam’s capital during the ancient Dinh and early Le dynasties. It’s as famous for its history as it is its stunning landscape, which is dominated by spectacular rocky outcrops.

The Temple of Literature, which also served as the country’s first university, dates back to 1070 and the regime of King Ly Nhan Tong. Also accommodating Hanoi’s Imperial Academy, the compound is dedicated to Chinese philosopher Confucius.

Other sites of interest to receive ‘special national relic’ status are Thanh-Hoa’s ancient Ho Dynasty citadel, the commemorative site to former president Ho Chi Minh in Nghe An province and Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s Con Dao prison, with the island having been used for incarceration by France, South Vietnam and the US.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported last Friday (11th May) that Vietnam is establishing itself as a leading cycling holiday destination, with Route 1, which stretches from the capital Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, particularly popular among holidaymakers.

Many of the country’s cycle routes also offer the possibility of exploring the nation’s coast, with its excellent beaches and picturesque fishing villages.

The event, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated in the region will feature numerous acts from across the globe, including Tropic Green (Singapore), Koh Mr Saxman and Takeshi Band (Thailand), Schalk Joubert and the Three Continents Sextet (South Africa, United States, Norway, Sweden), New Cool Collective (Netherlands), and Slixs (Germany).

A preview of what is to come takes place at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus from 8pm today and tomorrow (8^th and 9^th May).

The event, which is organised in conjunction with the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will be held at the Parkcity Everly Hotel, and provides a different flavour of what holidays in Borneo can entail.

Dato Rashid Khan, CEO of the STB said “This festival and also the upcoming Rainforest World Music Festival in July are two of the most anticipated events organised annually by STB. We promise a truly memorable experience for all.”

The festival ties in with plans by the Malaysian government to promote jazz in order to foster inter-racial unity across the country. Jazz is particularly important in this regard as it transcends racial divides.

“As there are many jazz music enthusiasts in the country, we should popularise the music in line with the ministry’s aspiration to popularise arts and culture,” said Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf, secretary-general of the Malaysian Information, Communication and Culture Ministry.

“The annual Borneo Jazz Festival, for example, has been held for the past seven years in Sarawak and it has become the most awaited event for jazz enthusiasts across the world,” he added.

Mr Kamaruddin said the festival would generate an income of RM15mil for the people in Sarawak and called for a similar event to be set up in the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur.

Gusti Kade Sutawa, the alliance’s chairman told the Bali Daily yesterday (3^rd May) that the proposed resort, which would be situated around Lake Buyan, in Buleleng regency, risked damaging the island’s environment.

“The government should be careful when giving investors permits,” he continued.

The resort – which will include hotels, villas and associated infrastructure – would be located within one of Bali’s most important water catchment areas. And not only is the 1,700 hectares around Lake Buyan a conservation area, the lake itself is a sacred site.

The planned development would not only damage the surrounding area it also risks permanently altering the ecosystem of the entire island.

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has led criticism against the resort, and he has been joined by academics, legislators and environmentalists.

The environment is an important part of Bali holidays, acting as a big draw for tourists. Consequently, as Mr Sutawa argued, “Bali needs to develop a sustainable tourist programme that combines tourism activities with natural conservation efforts. This is the way Bali can survive as one of favourite tourist destinations in the world.”

The Lake Buyan area is particularly fragile. The lake already suffers from sedimentation, which has been responsible for flooding – as recently as a month ago, 35 families were forced to take refuge as water encroached on their village.

The plans are dependent on whether an agreement is reached between developer PT Nusa Bali Abadi and the Forestry Ministry. However, this seems likely as in 2007 the developer was handed the rights to another 20-hectare plot.

The province’s winners are the Na Ton Chan Community (Ban Tuk, Si Satchanalai District) and the Organic Agriculture Project at Sukhothai Airport – the former winning gold in the Heritage and Culture category, and the latter in the Environment-Ecotourism category.

“Winning these two gold awards is tremendous recognition of the TAT’s focus on encouraging more environmentally-responsible tourism and the development of community-based tourism,” stated Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Both projects allow “visitors to experience Thai culture up close while providing direct benefits to communities in Thailand,” he added.

Already a recipient of the 2010 Thailand Tourism Award for Agro-Tourism Attractions for Northern Thailand, the Organic Agriculture Project at Sukhothai Airport is an immersive experience.

Created on an area of unutilised airport land the project is home to a working farm, which produces organic vegetables, fruit and rice. Visitors are able to experience first-hand the life of rice farmers and even work alongside them in the fields, riding buffalo and learning about organic farming.

Sukhothai, an independent kingdom in the 13^th century, has been a key part of many holidays in Thailand for a number of years. Up until now, however, the main draw has been the province’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now tourists can experience another side to Sukhothai, the agriculture and traditional arts and skills for which it is known locally.

A non-profit organisation PATA’s Gold Awards acknowledge those destinations and attractions that set industry standards for excellence within their category.

With plenty of sun and sand and not a hint of snow in sight, a holiday in Thailand makes for the perfect Christmas getaway. It may only be April, but planning now and booking ahead will mean no headaches later in the year when everyone starts wondering what to do over the festive period.

For anyone who struggles with fobbing off unwanted relatives, a winter getaway at Christmas is the perfect way to relax. Thailand is sunny and warm in December, so you'll also be able to return home with an enviable tan.

A survey last year for a new resort in Koh Samui found that over half the UK population considered spending the Christmas period abroad, with 25 to 34-year-olds the most likely to plan an escape.

"For an alternative to the traditional turkey dinner, head further afield and experience the magic of Thailand," says Nadine Hallak, travel expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

"No other country offers the amount of four and five star hotels available for the cost of three star accommodation elsewhere in the world.

"Also, as a mainly Buddhist country, Christmas is not a public holiday in Thailand, so all of the main attractions, shops and businesses remain open, meaning you can experience all of the wonders that Thailand has to offer."

But going away on a holiday to Thailand is more than just escaping the British weather and annoying relatives. People should think of Christmas as a holiday, as well as a celebration, according to psychologist Cliff Arnall.

"A winter holiday is good for the soul. It is something refreshing, different and a real opportunity to let go of the performance element of Christmas and get some serious relaxation and pampering," he says.

And when it comes to which countries to choose, his advice is simple, go for somewhere warm. "A destination that is going to suit all the people that are on the trip so that there is a relaxation element and a fun element to it as well," he adds.

Holidays to Thailand are proving increasingly popular as more people catch on to the endless opportunities for fun, relaxation and excitement that the country has to offer.

Figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Tourism Department show the Southeast Asian nation received 1,906,402 international tourists last month, reports TR Weekly. This marks a surge of nearly 12 per cent on last year.

For the first three months of 2012, holidays in Thailand were up over seven per cent, with 5.6 million visits so far this year.

Visitors coming from the UK were up by nearly seven per cent in March to 83,802 people last month alone. For the first three months of the year, British visitors totalled 239,128, a five per cent increase on the same period in 2011.

The biggest increases came from holidaymakers from Denmark, Norway, Spain and Belgium, with visits from these countries up between 25 and 36 per cent on the year.

Bangkok's Suvanabhumi Airport saw 1,220,620 tourists pass through the terminal in March, a rise of 11.28 per cent on the same month last year. Phuket Airport welcomed 210,509, up by over ten per cent on 2011 figures.

Meanwhile, tourism bosses are expecting a major uplift in visitors during April, thanks to the hugely popular Songkran Festival. After flooding last year hit the country's vital tourism sector, it is welcome news for the hotels and restaurants of Thailand.

"The Thai tourism sector has proven its ability to bounce back when faced with similar situations in the past," says Sansern Ngaorungsi from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

"This is due to the uniqueness and quality of our tourism products and the strength of the Thailand brand, which has strong affinity with travellers all over the world."

For 2012, the TAT is aiming at more than 19.5 million arrivals from abroad, a 26 per cent increase over last year's target.

The opening up of Burma to foreign tourists could be seen as a threat to the continued popularity of its Southeast Asian neighbours. But Thailand holidays are not in any danger of being usurped by Burmese trips just yet, and in fact, it could be quite the reverse.

Thanks to a German carrier you could soon quite easily incorporate a trip to Burma  into your holiday in Thailand, getting the best of both countries. Condor is planning a weekly flight from Frankfurt to Phuket from November this year, which will make a stopover in the old Burmese capital of Yangon, known previously as Rangoon.

Phuket's future could be boosted by the opening up of Burma to more Western tourists, as interest in the newcomer grows and people look to somewhere nearby that is familiar.  Diving is one of the big drivers of tourists to Phuket, and there are already links between the island's and Burma's best dive sites.

But the emergence of Burma on the mainstream tourist trail has an impact on more than just one little corner of Thailand. With Bangkok such an important hub for the region, anyone visiting Burma could also be likely to make a stop in Thailand.

Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and China are where most of the international capacity to and from Burma, or Myanmar as it is also known, is deployed, according to a report from CAPA, the Centre for Aviation. Of these, the Thai capital is the largest international destination and accounts for over two-fifths of all international seats.

"Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore have until now been also been the main gateways for long-haul traffic coming into and out of Myanmar," says CAPA.
"As Myanmar opens up, a large influx of business and leisure long-haul traffic is expected with these three hubs being the main beneficiaries, although some new point-to-point long-haul routes will also be launched.

"Local traffic from these three countries is also expected to grow significantly given the close economic ties that already exist between these countries and Myanmar."