56 th MEETING OF THE APEC TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION WORKING GROUP (APEC TEL 56) ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR. Release date: 20 November, 2017

Transcription

1 1 56 th MEETING OF THE APEC TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION WORKING GROUP (APEC TEL 56) ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR Bangkok, THAILAND December 2017 Release date: 20 vember, 2017

2 2 Table of Contents 1. Welcome and Introduction 3 2. Meeting Dates and Venue Meeting Programme 4 4. Contact Information Accreditation 4 6. Meeting Registration 5 7. Guests 5 8. Meeting Identification 5 9. Accommodation Visa and Immigration Information Insurance Transportation Meeting Venue Facilities and Services Meeting Website and Documents Sharing Dress Code Special Needs General Information. 10

3 3 1. Welcome and Introduction Thailand welcomes all delegates and guests to the 56 th APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL 56) meeting to Bangkok, Thailand. This meeting will be hosted by Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) of Thailand. In hosting APEC TEL 56, Thailand reaffirms supporting the Working Group and its goals set forth by the TEL Strategic Action Plan The Administrative circular provides relevant information for the arrangements of the meeting, including administrative procedures, meeting logistics and requirements for all delegates. For inquiries and further information, you can contact the local secretariat. Information in this circular is current up to October 31 st, Any amendments will be sent via to all APEC economies. Updated information will be provided at the Information Desk of the meeting venue. 2. Meeting Dates and Venue The 56 th meeting of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL 56) will be held from Sunday December 10 th to Friday December 15 th, 2017 at the ANANTARA Siam Bangkok Hotel

4 4 Address: 155 Rajadamri Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) Fax: +66 (0) siam@anantara.com Website : 3. Meeting Programme The program for APEC TEL 56 is provided in ANNEX A. The schedule may be subject to change. An updated schedule will be provided at the meeting venue. Social and cultural program will be scheduled during the week, including a welcome dinner on Monday 11 th, and a cultural program on Wednesday 13 th. Further information on the events will be provided in due course. 4. Contact Information The MDES will provide support as local secretariat for the meeting. The local secretariat will be present during the meeting. For dedicated help with accreditation, registration and accommodation booking, delegates are encouraged to contact: Ms. Parin Hongbutr yingkhwanh@hotmail.com Phone: / Fax: Ms. Panita Saelim panita.s@mdes.go.th 5. Accreditation Each economy is required to appoint a Delegate Accreditation Officer (DAO). The DAO will be responsible for coordinating the registration of the economy s delegates and to provide a central contact for communication with both the APEC Secretariat and the local secretariat. Each member economy must forward the following details to local secretariat from 6 th vember to 15 th vember, 2017:

5 5 Economy: Full name: Title: Organization: Phone: The DAO will be responsible for replying to questions that may arise concerning the registration and accreditation of the delegation members and should be in constant contact with the APEC TEL 56 local secretariat. The DAO is not required to attend the meeting. 6. Meeting Registration To confirm attendance to the meeting, all participants must register for submitting registration form to Local Secretariat via through DAO from 6 th vember 2017 to 30 th vember Please see ANNEX B for the Registration Form. Confirmation of successful registration will be sent to DAO via , Delegates who have not received confirmation by 1 st December should notify their DAO or the Local Secretariat via Guests Guest speakers invited by any member economy may be included as members of a delegation of the respective economy through accreditation by the DAO of the member economy. Meeting guests who are not members of delegation should provide the full names, titles, addresses and phone numbers or fill in the registration form as ANNEX B and send to Local Secretariat no later than 27 vember. The host economy will facilitate proper registration of these participants. 8. Meeting Identification Delegates are required to provide a valid photo ID, such as passport or diplomatic identity card for receiving their ID badge at the Information Desk at the venue. Delegates are required to wear ID badge during APEC TEL 56 meeting.

6 6 9. Accommodation There is a designated hotel to the APEC TEL 56 and it is highly recommended to book the accommodation at the meeting venue (Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel). Room rates including taxes are stated below. Hotel Name Room Type Room Rates (with breakfast) Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel Single (Deluxe Room) Double Junior Suite 4,800 Baht (net) 5,300 Baht (Net) 11,000 Baht (Net) The local secretariat will arrange the accommodation of the delegates that choose to stay at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. The delegates can send your reservation form directly to hotel, and copy to local secretariat. Please see the ANNEX C for the Hotel Reservation Form. In addition, please see here reservation link: n=10/12/2017&nights=6&rooms=1&adults=1&group=1de17l&bc=an Delegates may choose to stay at alternative hotels and are advised to make their arrangements individually as follows: Hotel Name Room Type Room Rates (with Courtyard Bangkok (Walking distance 180 M. Deluxe (Single) Deluxe (Double) breakfast) 3,645++ Baht 3,915++ Baht

7 7 2 minutes) Grand Deluxe (Single) 3,915++ Baht Term and condition All above rate is subject to 10% for service charge and 7% tax per room per night Cancellation permitted before 1800 day of arrival otherwise one night charge will be applied Must stay 2 nights or more 10. Visa and Immigration Information Visa requirements to Thailand may vary for the citizens of different countries. Please check the visa requirements with your nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate General. For more details, Kindly visit Economy Visa Requirements for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders Australia Brunei Darussalam * Canada Chile ** PRC China * Hong Kong, China * Indonesia * Japan ** Republic of Korea ** Malaysia ** Mexico ** New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peru ** Philippines ** Russia ** Singapore * Chinese Taipei United States of America Vietnam * Visa is exempted for 30 days (*) and 90 days (**).

8 8 Ordinary Passport holders Here you can find visa requirements for ordinary passport holders. However, as visa requirements may change from time to time, delegates are recommended to check visa requirements with your nearest Thai Embassy or General Consulate of Thailand. Economy Australia Brunei Darussalam Canada Chile PRC China Hong Kong, China Indonesia Japan Republic of Korea Malaysia New Zealand Mexico Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Russia Singapore Chinese Taipei United States of America Vietnam Visa Requirements for Ordinary Passport Holders Tourist Visa is exempted for 30 days. APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders of APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) do not require a visa to enter

9 Thailand. For additional information or clarification on visas requirements, please contact your nearest Thai Embassy or General Consulate of Thailand. 11. Insurance In the unlikely event of illness or injury, delegates will be responsible for any costs incurred whilst attending medical facilities. Delegates should therefore consider making travel insurance arrangements before departing for Thailand, and ensure that they have an appropriate level of travel insurance to cover their stay in Thailand. 12. Transportation Participants are requested to use public transportation facilities of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand. For more information, please visit website: The following types of transportation are available from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to the Hotel: Public Meter Taxi - located on the 1st floor of the Arrival Hall, entrance 4 and 7. The fare is shown on meter, plus THB 50 surcharge for boarding at the airport, plus any expressway toll charges. Airport Limousine Service - the limousine service to various destinations in the city is located at the arrival floor of the airport. Hotel Limousine Services - Please see details in ANNEX C It takes about 50 minutes by car from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to hotel via express way. 13. Meeting Venue Facilities and Services Registration Desk will be located at the venue throughout the meeting. Information Desk will be located at the venue during the meeting. Additional dedicated working space will be made available for the use of the TEL Chair and the APEC Secretariat. Meeting Facilities and Services to all delegates will be provided at Common Delegation Room, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel Wi-Fi access will be provided in the meeting venue areas. Login details will be provided to delegates during the meeting. 9

10 Meeting Website and Document Sharing TEL WG is normally a paperless meeting. Delegates are encouraged to carry their laptop computers and electronic devices to use the free Wi-Fi internet access in the meeting venue. The APEC Information Management Portal (AIMP) collaboration System will be used as the APEC TEL 56 meeting website. All meeting papers, event information and updates will be made available through the AIMP Collaboration System. The AIMP can be accessed at : http// aimp2.apec.org To register for access to the AIMP, Please your request to the AIMP administration at aimp@apec.org. Delegates can register for the AIMP at any times but it is recommended that this be done before the meeting to provide sufficient time for the access to be created and enable delegate to become familiar with AIMP. 15. Dress Code Business smart/casual (no tie) is the acceptable dress code for most APEC TEL meetings and events. However, business attire is recommended for the plenary sessions. 16. Special Needs Delegates with accessibility requirements or those who require special arrangements are requested to contact the local secretariat with a brief description of needs in order to ensure that appropriate arrangements can be made. 17. General Information About Bangkok Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep or City of Angels, is the capital of Thailand. It is 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the sea. The city sprawls 1,500 sq km (58 square miles), on both sides of Thailand's main river, the Chao Phraya. Bangkok is the hub for most of the commercial and economical activities of the Kingdom. At the same time, the City is very famous and appreciated by visitors for its versatility and multiple points of interests. Bangkok definitely

11 has what it takes to entertain visitors from all origins, either first time or return travelers. Whilst Taxi fares are very reasonable, most of the sightseeing can comfortably be reached by Skytrain (BTS) or Underground train (MRT). Aside of the sightseeing and shopping, Bangkok has developed into a magnet for food lovers of all origins. The same range of choice applies to the accommodation options all over town, from high end international chain hotels to family run guesthouses, demands of all travelers are met. In terms of wellness and relaxation Bangkok has recently seen a huge development of city Spas and Wellness centers, in addition to the long established Thai massage centers. Climate Bangkok has a tropical climate which means it gets plenty of sunshine all year round. Despite this, temperatures don t usually become unbearably hot in December and generally range from about 20ºC to 31ºC. Humidity is quite high throughout the year and the average annual rainfall varies from 2,000mm-2,500mm. Language Thai is the official language but English is widely spoken. Clothing Tips Light jacket is suitable for the cooler months. Currency and Exchange Rates The Thai currency is the Bath (THB). tes are in denominations of THB 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and the coins in use are 1, 2, 5 and 10 including 25 and 50 cents. US$1 is approximately equal to THB as per 25 October There are money changers and banks for currency exchange. All commercial banks are authorized foreign exchange dealers. Major hotels, however, are only licensed to buy and accept foreign currencies in the form of notes. Credit Cards Major credit cards such as VISA, MasterCard and American Express are accepted by most business establishments. Tipping A service charge of 10 % is usually added to all hotel and restaurant bills in Bangkok. If not, a 10% tip is appropriate for waiters. Electricity The standard supply is 220 volts, Hz. The following electrical plugs are used in most hotels 11

12 12 Time Zone The standard Thailand time zone is 7 hours ahead of GMT. Getting Around /Transportation Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, The official hotel, is adjacent to the Rajadamri Station of the BTS SkyTrain, Bangkok s elevated metro system, with easy connections to the MRT subway. Taxis Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, though dense traffic in the centre can make even short distances a long trip. Taxis cost approximately THB 35 for the first two kilometres, then about THB 40 for each kilometre thereafter. Tuk-Tuks The Tuk-tuk, a motorised 3-wheeler with covered seats, is only suitable for short journeys. Prices must be agreed beforehand. Tourist Information For more information of tourist attraction sites in Thailand, please visit website or

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14 14 Annex A

15 15 56th MEETING OF THE APEC TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION WORKING GROUP (APEC TEL 56) DECEMBER 2017 Registration Form Annex B Please type and fill out one form per person and return this file to the Local Secretariat through DAO by no later than 27 vember Economy: Registration Form Honorific (Dr., Mr., Ms., etc.) Gender: Name: Male / Female First Middle (if any) Last Attendance : Head of Delegate Delegate Guest /Speaker others (pls specify) Date of Birth: (dd/mm/yyyy) Full title: Organization Telephone: Address: Travel Information Hotel Name Itinerary Date of Arrival: (dd/mm/yyyy) Time of Arrival:

16 16 Flight : Date of Departure: (dd/mm/yyyy) Flight : Type of Passport: Passport : Date of Issue: (dd/mm/yyyy) Diplomatic Arriving Airport: Time of Departure: Departing Airport: Ordinary Official Other ( ) Nationality: Date of Expiry: (dd/mm/yyyy) Personal Information Dietary Restrictions: ne Vegetarian Muslim Friendly Allergy ( ) Health Condition Accessibility Requirements <Contact Information> APEC TEL 56 Local Secretariat Tel: / Fax: yingkhwanh@hotmail.com, panita.s@mdes.go.th cc: info@karaked.com

17 17 ANNEX C