PBTA to expedite tourism projects
Baht buses, FCCT visit amongst projects on the agenda

The Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA) held a meeting on July 10 at the Royal Garden Resort, Pattaya, to expedite its various projects to encourage tourism in Pattaya.

PBTA President Suphadit Maneeratcharatsri, Executive Director of the Royal Garden Entertainment, chaired the meeting. Banglamung District Chief Prasert Thanasethakorn was also present in his role as advisor to the PBTA.

Sutham Phantusak, who has been pushing for a municipal baht bus system, stated that he has already presented the proposal to the City Council, and that they have agreed in principal. Songsak Yomjinda, Pattaya’s City Manager, will be coordinating this project.

The city says that although the Land Transportation Department, under the Ministry of Communications, has approved the project, approval from the Ministry of the Interior must come first.

Sutham stated that, "I do not believe Pattaya City is really sincere in its desire to bring this project to fruition. This project would be beneficial to the tourists of Pattaya."

"There have been many problems with the administration of the baht buses. There are over 500 baht buses in Pattaya and they are not properly managed. Under the new proposal, shares will be held by Pattaya City and offered to the public as well," Sutham concluded.

PBTA President Suphadit stated that it wouldn’t be possible for Sutham to push this project through on his own and requested assistance from Banglamung District Chief Prasert Thanasethakorn.

Suphadit also said that two ways to accomplish this project were: 1. to have the city and the private sector have shares in the company; or 2. have the private sector conduct the business itself. He said there was a possibility that the city could rent vehicles from the Bangkok Microbus Company, as the number of buses used by the company has lowered due to the poor state of the economy.

Banglamung District Chief Prasert Thanasethakorn brought up other projects that need addressing, including getting Pattaya fully prepared to host various sports in the upcoming 13th Asian Games. Part of this preparation includes the planting of trees on Sukhumvit Road and Siam Country Club Road, out to the reservoir, to beautify the path to the venue for the water sports Pattaya will be hosting in the Asian Games.

District Chief Prasert also brought up the ‘Pattaya 2000’ project, and stated that, "The public relations and marketing of this project are the main points... New Zealand and Australia are the target markets."

Another suggestion in the meeting was that the city of Pattaya administer the Walking Street project. This is because the area is a valuable attraction for the tourist trade. At this point, the only people benefiting from the walking street are the businesses there. It was agreed that the city should receive some benefit from this, too.

The visit by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in August, which will be coordinated by the Pattaya Mail with City Hall, was also a topic of discussion.

Anusak Rordboonmee, former mayor of Pattaya, said he did not know if the Thai Hotels Association of the Eastern Seaboard was in agreement with this project. "This is because the visit by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand last year proved to have many failings and few good results. The various activities did not proceed as planned and were unorganized and ill-attended."

Anusak expressed his concern over Pattaya being in the process of renovation, stating "the digging up of the streets could look bad in the press, and a visit (from FCCT) could produce harmful rather than good results. We should be 100% prepared to welcome them."

Suphadit responded by stating, "The reason why the streets are being dug up is to lay the pipes necessary for the new water treatment plants, and it is an important point that we are trying to improve the quality of the water. This can only make things better and not worse. The news people probably know more than us anyway. The media might even have suggestions for improving or expediting this project. This would be much better than empty praise. We should be glad that the FCCT is coming to Pattaya. We welcome them."

Railways Authority of Thailand changing caterers

Many train passengers have been left hungry after being caught unaware that food services on some routes of the Railways Authority of Thailand have been temporarily discontinued.

The Railways Authority of Thailand said, however, they had not discontinued their food service. The organization has opened the service to competitive bidding from private companies and is waiting for all the envelopes to be submitted.

The contract’s length is 3 years as set by the authority, but most private companies only use the rights for 1, 2 or 3 years.

With the Railway Authority of Thailand in the process of changing caterers, some routes may be temporarily left without food on board.

When the company stops using the rights for which they bid, the Railways Authority often allows the former company to use the rights until the contract expires.

The rights are bought for different routes and different lengths of time. This depends on the company’s bid and the length of time for which they bid.

One company may bid for the rights to use the containers on the express train from Bangkok to Udorn while another company may bid for the rights for the route from Bangkok to Surat Thani.

The Railways Authority is now in the process of considering new policies for a whole new method of administering this process.

The two main considerations are: 1. is the company going to bid for rights to sole advantage from the shipped goods, and 2. is the company going to bid on a profit share basis with the Railway Authorities?

The results of the consideration of the new policies will be decided by the administrative committee of the Railway Authorities. The organization believes the whole matter will be solved by October 1998.

Those interested in details of bidding for rights to container usage may contact the Railway Authority of Thailand at (02) 220-4224 (direct line) or receive ‘automatic’ information by calling (02) 225-0300.

Davis Cup matches this weekend at Royal Cliff

Thailand will take on Taiwan in Davis Cup Tennis this weekend, July 17-19 at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced.

General Vicha Siritham will be the official organizer of the event.

Playing for Thailand will be Pharadorn Srichaphan (world seed 372 singles, 578 doubles), Narathorn Srichaphan (world seed 1067 singles, 578 doubles), Vitaya Samrej (world seed 1332) and Danai Udomchoke (world seed 1105 singles, 1332 doubles). Chuan Roymanee is the Thai team’s manager, and Chanuan Roymanee is the team captain.

Ho Pai Hsin is the captain of the Taiwanese team, and five tennis players will represent their country on the courts. They are Chern Chi Choo (world seed 989, singles and 485 doubles), Lin Bing Chai (world seed 668 singles, 1023 doubles), Lui Chen Yung (world seed 1109 singles, 814 doubles) Sai Chia Yen, (world seed singles 908) and Chen Weir Joo (world seed 847 singles, 885 doubles). The team is coached by Wang Moon Chol, with Yu Wei Lee (trainer), and Annie Lin (Officials)

Chen Chi Jung and Lui Chen Yung won over the Thai sibling team of Narathorn and Phradorn Srichaphan when they last met on the ITF Master’s Championship Thailand ITF Satellite Circuit in 1997. This brought them a US$25,000 cup.

In the first round of Davis Cup matches in April of 1998, the Thai team won over the Filipines 4-1 in Manila and the Taiwanese team won over the Hong Kong, Republic of China team, 3-2 at Taipei.

The head referee this weekend will be Bill Gilmore, a Grand Slam level judge. Mr. Gilmore, an Australian, has been a referee at the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Mr. Gilmore is also a renowned teacher and Member of the International Tennis Federation.

Fancy Fair & Harley Parade at the Pattaya Orphanage

The Pattaya Orphanage will be holding a "Fancy Fair" on Sunday, July 19th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Orphanage on 384 Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya City.

In the morning there will be games for the children and handicapped young adults. In the afternoon football, basketball and "Pentaque" is on the schedule. There will also be chess, backgammon and various other games for everyone to play.

In the evening there will be a lucky number draw for one Honda motorcycle.

Preceding the event, on Saturday July 18th, the Pattaya Orphanage invites everyone to come and see a large parade with the Bangkok and Pattaya Harley Davidson Clubs. The parade will be collaborated with Pattaya City Police and the Tourist Police Authority.

The parade will depart the Orphanage at 3:30 p.m. to visit Naklua, Pattaya City, and Jomtien, then return to the Orphanage.

Street kids rounded up

The Rayong Child Protective Services Department, with the help of the Pattaya Tourist Police and the Rayong Police, last week rounded up a large group of ‘street kids’ who had been begging on the streets of Pattaya. Thai law states that all children under 15 years of age must attend school.

Child Protective Services officials are alarmed at the large number of children on the streets.

The concerned group took more than 20 children between the ages of 8 and 15 into custody. Police brought the twelve boys and eight girls to the Pattaya Tourist Police Headquarters.

None of the children were Chonburi natives. The kids said their parents were poor and they had no chance to receive an education.

Child Protective Service officials took the children into custody. They will be placed at facilities and given shelter, food and education.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.