THA and TAT rate Road Show a success

Predict surge in tourism from “Down Under”

Chachawal Suphachayanont, President of the Thai Hotel Association, Eastern Chapter, and Setthaphan Buddhani, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3, both said that they expect big returns coming from last month’s Pattaya Road Show to Australia and New Zealand.

Chachawal Suphachayanont, President of the Thai Hotel Association, Eastern Chapter, promotes Pattaya hotels during the Road Show Down Under.

Chachawal said that results coming from the Pattaya Road Show might be more successful than first anticipated. He said that the success has hotels preparing for an increase in Aussie business in the year 2000.

The THA Eastern Chapter President said that with Australia and New Zealand having a very large tourist market, the Pattaya hotel industry is expecting a substantial increase in the number of tourists. "The tourist agencies are able to choose the class of hotel in advance, with the majority of tourists inclined to go for hotels in the mid-priced range. Therefore," he said, "the smaller hotels are sure to benefit from the anticipated increase in the number of tourists expected from New Zealand and Australia in the year 2000."

Assistant Managing Director of Woodlands Resort, Lalida Phanthusak promotes her resort and Pattaya at the Road Show Down Under.

Chachawal also said that one of the main accomplishments of the Road Show, aside from the anticipated results in tourism, was the combined effort put forth by the government and the business community.

Setthaphan Buddhani, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3, agreed that the Road Show was a great success, certainly promising to increase tourism to Pattaya in the coming years. The idea of marketing the plan during the two countries’ cold season coinciding with the low season here in Pattaya is sure not to miss.

Statistics from the Tourism Authority of Thailand show tourists from Australia and New Zealand during the years 1988-1991 were approximately 50,000 and 10,000 persons respectively each year. However, by 1997 arrivals had decreased to 17,837 and 3,353 persons respectively. The decrease is thought to have been caused from the Middle East crisis and the political problem in May of 1992.

But the coming years expect to see the numbers substantially increase, due to the success of the Road Show.

Setthaphan added that it was well worth the money spent because the Road Show was met with overwhelming interest from the great turn out of representatives from the many tourist agencies in both countries.

"The portion of the Road Show that took place on Friday was a special surprise," Setthaphan said, "as it was thought to be the day Australians would be getting out of town. But representatives from over 100 tourist agencies showed up at the Road Show presentation. Even Australian television came, as well as Thai television channel 5, broadcasting the news of the presentation to 130 countries. If the numbers of tourists do substantially increase as expected in the year 2000, then the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3 plans to support another Road Show to other cities such as Brisbane, Perth, and Wellington."

(L to R) Setthaphan Buddhani, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3, Pundhuwat Komarakul na Nakorn, General Manager Australia for Thai Airways International, and Phornsiri Manoharn, Director of the Tourism of Thailand for Australia and New Zealand, field questions from the assembled tourist agents. THAI Australia and TAT Australia and New Zealand were the main sponsors of the Pattaya Road Show, and both Pundhuwat Komarakul na Nakorn and Phornsiri Manoharn were instrumental in its success, bringing to tour agents and putting together venues.

The Road Show was accomplished by the combined efforts from the Pattaya business community, Tourism Authority of Thailand Central Region 3, Pattaya Business and Tourist Association, Thai Airways, and the Thai Hotel Association Eastern Chapter.

The Pattaya Road Show to Australia and New Zealand took place from June 19-28, with the objectives of increasing tourism to Pattaya from both countries.

Wolfgang Ullrich’s home robbed

500,000 baht worth of household items stolen

The home of the now infamous German restaurant owner, Wolfgang Ullrich, was robbed last week. Thieves gutted the house of everything valuable, making off with an estimated 500,000 baht worth of items.

The robbery was discovered by Ullrich’s wife, Mrs. Rosarin Chaisayan, when she returned home on July 1st after a few days stay in Bangkok.

The three-story townhouse was not occupied during the days Mrs. Rosarin was away on personal business, although a neighbor had been asked to look after the place.

That helpful neighbor gave police the following account of what she observed: On June 30th, at around 11:00 p.m., a green Toyota pick-up parked outside the house. Four men unloaded from the vehicle what she described as ark-welding equipment, a gas tank and electrical cord. The vehicle left the house at around 4:00 a.m.

The neighbor recalled that the same vehicle had driven through the area two or three days earlier. She added that the thieves were probably "casing" the place.

Investigating police found a rear window of the house had been opened by gas torches. The rear area of the home is bordered by tall, thick grass.

Items taken from the home included five large air-conditioning units, all the premium water faucets throughout the house, teakwood doorframes, windows and shutters, beds, and the electric oven. Everything of value was taken away, totaling about 500,000 baht.

A similar incident occurred recently in Pattaya when the home of famous Thai boxing promoter Songchai Ratanasuban was robbed. Thieves also gutted his home of everything valuable, making off with two million baht worth of merchandise. Police suspect the same gang of thieves may have done both of the crimes.

Residents of the posh neighborhood are pressuring police to concentrate their efforts in catching the gang.

Mayor and police to the rescue

Save woman threatening to jump from 5th floor

Pattaya Police were called to the Lek Hotel on Pattaya 2 Road when a woman there threatened to jump from a fifth floor balcony.

Police had the hotel management provide a spare key to the apartment as the woman was still out on the balcony threatening to jump. The door lock was opened but the chain on the inside was preventing entry into the room. Police began calling to the girl hoping to change her mind but she refused to open the door.

Mayor Pairat does his best to sooth the distraught Bangkok lass.

The fire department was then contacted to use ladders to reach the girl. However, after 30 minutes the truck had still not arrived. By this time the incident was attracting a large group of on-lookers.

Apparently, the Mayor of Pattaya City, Mr. Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, was passing by and noticed the crowd of people and stopped to investigate. The mayor immediately gave the order to break down the door. The mayor and police rushed to the girl at the balcony and convinced her to come back into the room as the on-lookers outside cheered and applauded the rescue.

Mrs. Bunloi Chuka, age 29, recounted her predicament to the mayor and police. She explained she had just come from Bangkok to readjust after having a disagreement with her husband. Her husband, a foreigner, opened a beer bar on Sukhumvit Road and they recently had an argument. Her husband left the country leaving Mrs. Bunloi in a state of confusion and very distraught making her consider suicide.

Pairat and the police officers were able to calm Bunloi down and convinced her that ending her life was not the answer to her problem. She appeared to regain her composure and assured the officials that she would not cause any further disturbance. The officials departed as soon as they felt Mrs. Bunloi could be left to sort out her own dilemmas.

Local murder suspect has history of violent crime

Banglamung Police arrested Suchat Phetrarat, age 28, as he was drinking with friends at a restaurant in Soi Nern Plab Wan on June 28th. Suchat was wanted for his suspected involvement in a recent murder in Banglamung.

Suchat Phetrarat.

Suchat was taken in to the station where police investigated further and found out he was on the wanted list for stabbing a Phuket police officer seven years ago. After inflicting serious injuries on the Phuket policeman, Suchat had disappeared.

Suchat admitted to police his guilt in both crimes. He said he has been living and working in Pattaya as a photographer on Pattaya beaches since 1992, and he now has a wife and children.

Suchat faces murder charges in Banglamung and will also face charges in Phuket for his original crime from seven years ago.

Pattaya Mayor helps Naklua cleaning campaign

Community urged to continue effort

Pattaya Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat grabbed a plastic garbage bag and led a clean-up campaign on June 29th in and around the streets of Naklua’s Soi Post Office and the New Market area.

City Manager Niran Watanasadsathorn, Council Member Adisorn Phonluk-In and other city officials also joined with members of the local community as they walked through the area picking up trash from the streets.

As the officials were conducting the clean-up effort they stopped and talked to local residents and merchants, imploring every one they met to pitch in and help.

The people of the area were urged to use black plastic bags when putting the trash out for pick-up. Some of the black bags were provided to the residents.

Later, the mayor treated the people who participated in the cleaning campaign to a lunch and asked the community to continue the cleaning effort. The cleaning campaign will soon be going to other areas in Pattaya.

Local officials continue battle against drugs

Members from Ministry of Interior lend assistance

Chonburi Governor Sujarit Pachimnan presided over the opening of the Drug Prevention and Corrective Measures Training at the Pattaya Sunbeam Hotel on June 29th. The Anti-Drug Committee joined with the Ministry of Interior Administration in presenting strict measures to deal with the drug problem to the 100 people attending, including members from the provincial administration, officials from 11 districts in Chonburi, and officials from nine districts in Rayong.

Songkhram Kosuthithirakul, Deputy Governor of Chonburi, brought the Drug Prevention and Correction Training to a close with an impassioned speech on June 30th.

"The problem of drug addiction, mainly the amphetamine (Ya Ba) problem, is considered to be a very important factor, even affecting the stability of the country," the Governor said.

The training also stressed that the district level officials are to make the community aware that they must also become involved in correcting the drug problem.

Songkhram Kosuthithirakul, Deputy Governor of Chonburi, brought the Drug Prevention and Correction Training to a close with an impassioned speech on June 30th.

The Deputy Governor said that, "The government must spend a large portion of its budget in support of drug prevention and suppression. But (the campaign against drug abuse) faces two major obstacles, making the desired results difficult to achieve. There are many government officials with unsuitable behavior associated with and benefiting from the drug trade, which causes the community to become disheartened and uninterested in solving the problem, ultimately believing the problem belongs to the government alone.

"The fact of the matter is the problem does not belong to the government alone nor does the responsibility belong to any single agency alone. It is the duty of each and every individual who must collectively pursue the problem with the same intensive goal. This includes the government agencies, the business community, and every social group or organization within the community, from the village level on up to the provincial level, with the identical purpose of attacking the drug problem until it can be resolved throughout society."

The training emphasized attacking the drug problem in the village community by utilizing simple measures and available resources. But if outside assistance is required, then resources in the sub-district and district levels are available with experts to provide assistance and additional training.

The campaign is dedicated to honoring His Majesty the King’s upcoming 72nd birthday, with the slogan "Love your King, look after your children, and unite in the fight against drugs".

Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind holds Teachers Day Ceremony

Thanachai Wongrod, Assistant District Education Director, presided over the Teachers Day Ceremony at the Redemptorist School for the Blind. Father Raymond Brennan, Director of the Redemptorist Social Welfare Center, presented graduation Diplomas to 6th and 9th grade students. Supporters of the Center also attended the ceremony.

From left: Father Michael Phichan Chaiseri, Thanachai Wongrod, Assistant District Educational Director, Father Wichien Likhitatham and Father Raymond Brennan, Director of the Redemptorist Center.

The Redemptorist School for the Blind was established on May 18, 1987, with the first Teachers Day Ceremony held in 1988, preserving the Thai tradition of demonstrating respect and honoring teachers.

This year the school has 140 students attending and 135 students receiving private educational assistance. The school accepts students from all over the country from the age of 3-20 years old, in the kindergarten level to the 9th grade. In 1988, the latter grades were expanded.

In addition, the school looks after the children’s dental and optical needs with help from the Banglamung Hospital and the Queen Sawang Wattana Hospital in Sriracha. The Caulfield Foundation provides professional masseuses for monthly physical therapy services.

Rayong to host 21st Handicapped Athletic Competitions

The city of Rayong will be hosting the 21st Handicapped Athletic Competitions from September 23-27.

Late last month, Banharn Silapa-Archa, former Governor of Rayong and currently the Leader of the Chart Thai Party, now acting in the capacity of consultant for the Ministry of Education, along with Miss Kanchana Silapa-Archa, met with the current Governor of Rayong, Chaijit Ratakhajorn, to discuss the upcoming games.

The discussions were to sort out various preparations for the event in advance and to ascertain if budgeted funds were sufficient. If not, assistance would have to be sought from other agencies.

The Director of the Education Department, Suwan Kusudcharit, explained that the Education Department has been involved in establishing the Handicapped Athletic Competition each year. The intention of the games is to introduce exercise to handicapped persons by way of athletic sports. It is a method of building confidence and affords the handicapped persons the opportunity to prepare for future international competition.

Thus far the Handicapped Athletic Competition consists of 15 events: Goal ball, badminton, football, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, Petong, Judo, table tennis, weight lifting, target shooting, archery, volleyball (standing & sitting), and boxing.

The events are divided into various categories of physical abilities. Participating athletes are the age of 15 years and older.

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Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.