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HRH Princess Ubolratana graces fantastic ITB Pattaya Night
A proud Pattaya gets reintroduced to the world
HRH
Princess Ubolratana graciously presented the Pattaya Night lucky draw
grand prize to winner Ingrid Platek (right) of INNOVA Sunshine Reisen Gmbh
at the ITB Berlin. Ingrid emotionally said, “This is the happiest day of
my life.” It was definitely a historic day for Pattaya.
It was a historic moment for Pattaya City when HRH
Princess Ubolratana welcomed nearly a thousand guests to the Pattaya Night
presentation at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin on
Monday, March 18.
In her welcoming speech, Her Royal Highness Princes
Ubolratana said that, “Thailand is the number one holiday destination in
South East Asia ... Not only does the great, beautiful Thai landscape
attract visitors, but more so the gentle Thai hospitality attracts
travelers to come to Land of Smiles.”
The Princess went on to say that Pattaya is considered
the gateway to the east coast, and expounded on the various improvements
made to the infrastructure of Pattaya, especially the water treatment
plant that ensures the beaches are now as clean as any of the best resorts
in the world.
She went on to extend an invitation to everyone to
experience our hospitality during this Night of Pattaya City, as just a
small sample of the amazing experiences that visitors would have when they
actually visit Thailand.
In closing, HRH Princess Ubolratana said, “On behalf
of the City of Pattaya, please be my guest.”
Then the party kicked into high gear. Singha beer was
the order of the day, plus every variety of wine and spirits. Hundreds of
guests lined up to taste the various delicacies that were being prepared
by a bevy of charming Thai ladies in their beautiful traditional Thai
costumes. Overhead, the Neptunia Duo performed amazing feats hanging from
the trapeze. Pantomimes moved through the throng of guests, leading them
through a maze of Thai delights. As an added attraction, a Thai ‘sala’
was erected where guests were treated to a sample of traditional Thai
massage, relieving them of their aches and pains. Even a Berlin version of
a drag queen sang and danced to the delight of the partygoers.
Even after the party was well underway, a long queue of
people faced the cold outside to wait until they were admitted through the
doors of the ‘Wasserwerks’ complex to join the jam-packed building.
Word had leaked out that the Pattaya Night would be one of the best ever
at this year’s ITB, and they were not wrong. The TAT staff in Pattaya
and in Germany worked tirelessly to put this magnificent show together.
Their months of preparation paid off.
Members of Pattaya’s private sector expressed how it
was encouraging to see that this time Pattaya’s efforts were being
supported by the government sector. In the past, it has been the private
sector that has been campaigning, doing what they could with their own
private funds to promote Pattaya as a top tourist destination. These
efforts have borne fruit as the public sector has come to realize that it
is them who should be taking the lead in promoting tourism and business to
Thailand. The money for the promotion of Pattaya in Berlin was indeed well
spent.
Towards the end of the evening the grand prize was
drawn. The winner and a guest would be picked up from home by stretch
limousine, flown to Thailand on Thai International and spend two weeks in
Pattaya all expenses paid. The lucky winner was Ingrid Platek of INNOVA
Sunshine Reisen Gmbh. After receiving her prize from the Princess, Ingrid
emotionally said, “This is the happiest day of my life. I love Pattaya
and from now on I will do all I can to encourage my clients to go there
for their holidays.”
This was a proud moment for the people of Pattaya. All
the major hotel and tourism businesses were represented, as was the press
and media.
Man on the scene, Pattaya Mail MD Peter Malhotra
said that, “HRH Princess Ubolratana has really touched our hearts with
her presence at ITB supporting us. On the afternoon before the Pattaya
night, the Princess visited the Thai Pavilion at the ITB. She showed a
very keen interest in the way Thailand was promoted by the TAT. Scores of
exhibitors involved in the hotel and tourism business were on hand to
welcome her. The princess spent a long time speaking to officials,
business people and foreign travel agents and journalists.”
He went on to say that, “The princess has committed
her time and efforts in the support of tourism to Thailand, but not only
that, this day, Monday the 18th of March 2002 will be an important day in
the annals of Pattaya history. This was the day that HRH Princess
Ubolratana proudly and graciously represented us in the world community,
speaking on our behalf, telling the world that Pattaya is a now more than
ever ready to receive them and to make their stay with us a most enjoyable
one.”
Chief of police admits social order campaign may be driving away tourists
Committee says Beach Road closing is causing more inconveniences than expected
Pol. Col. Padungsak Ubekhanon, chief of Pattaya police,
said that the enforcement of the social order directives have caused many
tourists to become disillusioned with the resort, and that it could be a
cause of failing numbers of tourists to Pattaya.
The police chief made the statement last week at a
meeting of the committee to monitor the work of the Pattaya police. He did
not elaborate on the subject.
Pol. Col. Padungsak also reported that petty crime is
on the increase; while at the same time there has been a decrease in
serious and drug related crimes. He said that drug users make up the
majority of arrests.
Surat Mekhavarakul, president of the Pattaya Business
and Tourism Association and a member of the committee said that closing
Beach Road for the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair was going against the nature
of the people and businesses in Pattaya.
Surat went on to say that in Europe streets were closed
on Sunday because most of the businesses were also closed. But in Pattaya
businesses are open 7 days a week and closing the road has caused a lot of
damage to the business operators in the area.
The PBTA president said that more than 100 business
people in Walking Street have presented a petition to the mayor asking him
to reconsider the road closing. He added that there were other methods of
promoting tourism to the resort.
Sopin Thappajug, another member of the committee,
questioned the closing saying that the plan was probably causing more harm
to tourism than good. People of Bangkok escape the capital city to come to
Pattaya for rest and recreation, and to get away from traffic problems.
But when they arrive, they are faced with the same traffic problems as at
home. “Once the word gets out, no one will want to come here anymore,”
she said.
Pol. Col. Padungsak said that he would report to Pol.
Gen. Saneh Khamthiang, the commander of Chonburi police, and ask for his
advice as to the further closing of Beach Road. He observed that the
activities along the fair were scarce and far between and were not really
of any interest to tourists, as most of the people walking on the street
were residents in the area. “Even the tourists that use the pier to come
and go from the islands have been inconvenienced immensely,” the police
chief said.
Pattaya Music Festival this weekend
North Beach Road closed 10 a.m. to midnight all weekend
The Pattaya Music Festival 2002 will be held this
weekend, from Friday March 22 to Sunday, March 24. Over the three days,
Beach Road from the Dolphin Roundabout to Soi 6 will be closed to motor
traffic from 10 a.m. to midnight.
At press time details were sketchy, but it appears
organizers are going ahead with the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair on Saturday
as well, closing Beach Road from Central Road to Bali High point from 4
p.m. to 2 a.m.
The Pattaya Music Festival 2002 will feature 3 stages,
one each at the end of Soi 4 (easy listening, pop jazz), the Dusit curve
(Indy, hip hop, dance music) and near the Dolphin Roundabout (pop rock).
Music begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and noon on
Saturday and Sunday. Many of Thailand’s top bands are scheduled to
perform.
Chinese officials visit Pattaya to study tourism
Hope to take back and implement what they learned
Wang Fu Yu, secretary of Sanya City in the Peoples
Republic of China, and other Sanya City officials visited Pattaya to study
Pattaya’s system of tourism.
 Secretary
Wang (left) and officials from Sanya City in the Peoples Republic of China
visited Pattaya to study how the local government manages tourism.
Pattaya mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat warmly greeted
the visiting dignitaries at city hall and expressed how delighted he was
to see that they had chosen Pattaya for their study.
Mr. Wang said that his group had come to Pattaya
because thousands of Chinese tourists visit the city each year to enjoy
the many activities that Pattaya has to offer, as well as to take
advantage of the many bargains to be had in the city’s shopping areas.
He said that they decided to study Pattaya’s management plan in order to
see how they could integrate some of the systems into their own city
tourist management scheme.
Also discussed at the meeting were the current problems
associated with tour operators taking advantage of many Chinese tourists,
including the touts offering false goods and services. Both Secretary Wang
and Mayor Pairat agreed to cooperate in resolving the problems.
Pattaya hosts over 10,000 Chinese tourists throughout
the year. The tourists provide an economic boost for a number of
businesses in the city.
High school student wins B6 million in lottery
A fifteen year-old boy recently found himself a
multi-millionaire after two government lottery tickets he had purchased
turned out to be the first prize numbers.
Stunned and finding it hard to keep the excitement out
of his voice, Thanakorn Tangsengki said that normally he wasn’t
interested in buying lottery tickets, but had decided to try his hand
after seeing a neighbor win.
When asked what he would do with the money the Trang
teenager said that he would use some of it to fund his younger sisters’
education, while some would go to his relatives.
His mother, Yupha, who makes a living running a small
grocery store and vegetable garden, said that while the family had often
gone for the underground lottery, this was the first time that they had
ever purchased government lottery tickets.
Not only were they first time winners, they nearly
bought a different ticket, as Thanakorn had only settled for what turned
out to be the winning number when it became apparent that the ticket with
the number he wanted was unavailable.
When asked if this remarkable luck would tempt him to
buy lottery tickets again, Thanakorn shook his head and said that it would
never buy another ticket. “This kind of luck only happens once in a
lifetime,” he said. (TNA)
City revives Clean Food Good Taste project
Begins training vendors and restaurant employees
The city has once again begun their Clean Food Good
Taste project, with the aim of providing higher quality, more nutritious
and healthier food, as well as to support tourism.
Chief of Pattaya’s deputy mayor’s office, Yutthana
Thanachot recently presided over the opening ceremony of a training
session for Pattaya food vendors.
More than a hundred shop owners, cooks and servers took
part in the training and learned how to attain the highest of standards.
Chief Yutthana said that enormous numbers of Thai and
foreign tourists travel to Pattaya each year; therefore it is necessary to
strictly control the standard of service, quality of food and cleanliness.
Restaurants and food outlets participating in the
project and achieving the standards set by the project will receive Clean
Food Good Taste accreditation.
Thailand gets first Internet-based degree course
Thailand’s oldest university announced that it would
offer the nation’s very first bachelor’s degree course taught entirely
via the Internet.
Prof Thatchai Sumit, dean of Chulalongkorn University,
said that the BSc in software development will give students flexible
study options, allowing them to access information at any time they chose.
Lecturers and students will also get a chance to meet each other at a
number of centers across the country, he said, adding that the university
will initially open such centers in Trang, Nan and Sri Saket provinces.
Prof Thatchai stressed that the quality of the
innovative program would be equal to more conventional courses offered by
the university. He said that the new program is aimed at allowing more
people living in the provinces to gain a higher education.
Students signing up for the coming academic year will
be selected both from a quota basis, based on areas of residence
determined by the university, and from general students having average GPA
scores of no less than 3.0 (TNA)
Srisuwit School presents certificates to graduating primary school students
 The
little graduates performed a song and dance they had learned in school to
entertain the crowd at their graduation ceremony.
Students who successfully completed their schooling for
the year 2001 recently received their certificates at a ceremony held at
the Alcazar complex.
Guest of honor Dr. Chalong Tunsri, dean of Burapha
University presented certificates to the graduating students.
One of the aims of the ceremony was to encourage the
students to continue their education in order to build a successful
foundation for their future.
The Srisuwit School was opened more than 40 years ago
and educates approximately 1,800 students from Prathom 1 (year 1) to
Mathayom 3 (year 9). Its staff includes100 teachers.
City Hall looks to improve Sukhumvit scenery
Removes offending advertising signs
City officials hope to “clean up” the scenery along
Sukhumvit Road and improve the first image tourists see of the city.
Deputy mayor Niran Wattanasartsatorn and related
officers recently took an inspection tour of the thoroughfare, looking for
ways to improve the tidiness and orderliness along both sides of Sukhumvit
Road from Krathinglai Intersection through to the end of Pattaya’s zone.
The first step of the operation was to order the
removal and seizure of advertising signs inappropriately placed on both
sides of the road. A large number were seized and removed.
Deputy mayor Niran said that there are many dilapidated
advertising signs, unauthorized buildings and houses, and garbage that
should be removed. He said that this destroys Pattaya’s scenery and
orderliness and may then affect tourism.
The Pattaya Tourism Image Improvement Committee
recently resolved to send letters to Pattaya citizens and vendors asking
for their cooperation in amending and revising the areas in front of their
constructions.
The effort is in support of the Chonburi provincial
government’s policy to improve Pattaya’s scenery and images, which in
turn is in line with the resolution of the Pattaya Tourism Image
Improvement Committee.
Jumbo celebration held for this year’s Elephant Day
Pachyderms treated to feast and fun
Elephants residing in the greater Pattaya area were
treated to a fun day, including a jumbo-sized feast, in celebration of the
annual “Wan Chang Thai” or “Elephant Day” on March 13.
 This
magnificent beast brought spectators back to a time when elephants were
the pride of the Kingdom, sometimes used to win wars.
A day is set aside every year for well-deserved
recognition of the talented elephants and their contribution to attracting
tourists.
This year the celebration was held at a vacant lot near
the Peace Resort Hotel on North Pattaya Road.
High importance is placed on the animal’s health, and
the day’s activities included examining the health of each elephant and
updating elephant registration on microchips. Information is maintained on
all elephants residing in Chonburi.
A parade of young elephants, each no older than
10-years-old began the activities and competed for trophies and cash
awards.
The magnificent elephants then displayed their
different talents during a show, including dancing, riding bicycles and
even drawing pictures.
Participating elephants were also treated to a special
buffet of food honoring the elephant’s enormous strength and
intelligence.
Local proprietors operating elephant entertainment
businesses pooled together with the Tourist Authority of Thailand’s
office in Pattaya and the Provincial Livestock Office to organize the
day’s activities. Deputy governor of Chonburi Preecha Kamolbutr presided
over the opening ceremonies, along with Pattaya mayor Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat, Banglamung district chief Chaen Cheunsiva and other
dignitaries
Purse-snatchers caught in the act
Police heard victims’ screams and sprang into action
Daniel and Gousse David were having a leisurely and
quiet after dinner stroll along Jomtien Beach when they were rudely
attacked by a couple of purse-snatchers on motorbikes. When Mrs. David’s
purse was snatched away, she screamed and the couple gave chase.
 Mr.
and Mrs. David gave police a positive identification of the thieves. The
two thieves can now look forward to a prolonged stay behind bars.
Apparently the incident did not go unnoticed. Recently,
innumerable claims of purse snatching in Pattaya and Jomtien have been
reported to the police and to the Pattaya Mail, so Pattaya’s finest
decided to increase their patrols along the beaches and keep close
surveillance at the problem spots.
Finally their determination paid off. As soon as Mrs.
David’s purse was snatched and the perps sped off into the dark, Pol.
Lt. Col. Kristh Sriprasertchoke, who happened to be nearby and saw the
crime, radioed his subordinates to seal off all the streets on Jomtien and
then ordered two policemen to give chase on their motorbikes. Twenty
minutes into the chase, the cops caught up to the suspects’ bike.
Speeding past, they cut in front of the perps’ bike, causing them to
brake hard and tumble off their bike and onto the road.
After apprehending the two, police found a mobile
telephone, keys to the victims’ hotel room and the snatched purse with
the ripped off strap in their possession.
The suspects were identified as Montri Kraithong aged
18 and Ronachai Jaemkrachang aged 16. At the police station, Mr. and Mrs.
David identified the items to be theirs and so the police booked the
thieves.
Drunken Pattaya cop proclaims his manliness to impress the fairer sex
Showdown on Soi 8 narrowly diverted
Boonlua Chatree
Two Pattaya tourist police officers just happened to be
in the right place at the right time when they discovered a disturbance on
the beach end of Soi 8 on the evening of March 12. The disturbance
involved a drunken man who was boldly protesting his manliness, trying to
impress a young girl selling clothing around the many beer bars in the Soi.
The girl’s companion was bravely defending her honor.
Tourist police officers attempted to intervene when the
drunken man proclaimed that he was a police officer and told them to back
off or face a showdown on the soi. However, the 2 tourist police officers
wrestled the man to ground and dragged him off to the nearby police
station.
Down at Pattaya police station, the drunken man was
identified by a colleague as a police sergeant with the crime prevention
and suppression unit in Pattaya. The tourist police officer, being a
captain and thereby outranking the drunken crime prevention and
suppression officer, demanded an apology for the sergeant’s actions on
the street.
The police sergeant refused point blank to apologize
for his actions and subsequently staggered out of the police station,
scrambled onto his motorbike, and rode off into the night.
Both the young girl and her brave defender did not
press the issue further, either for fear of retribution or just because
they were glad that the incident had ended.
Policeman gunned down by teenage motorcycle racer
Over 50 police dispatched for region-wide man hunt
More than 50 Pattaya police officers were sent out on a
region-wide manhunt last Friday after Pol. Sgt. Sahapan Wongsamart was
shot in the chest with a 12 gauge handgun by a teenager caught racing on
Sukhumvit Road.
The crime occurred at 1:30 a.m. in North Pattaya after
police had chased almost 30 motorbike riders racing on a 1 kilometer
stretch of Sukhumvit Road between North and South Pattaya. The gang of
racers scattered when they saw the police, many speeding off in the back
sois off Sukhumvit.
Police cornered four of the perpetrators in front of
the Sea Resort in Naklua. Pol. Sgt. Sahapan Wongsamart and Pol. L/C
Pornsap Supaporn from the investigation unit parked their police car in
front of the bikes to try to prevent them from fleeing. After jumping out
their car, they detained one of the riders, 16-year-old Somchit Malee, and
his pillion passenger Kasem Suchpiphat, age 17. When Pol. Sgt. Sahapan
approached Kasem, the 17 year old panicked, pulled out a handgun and shot
Sahapan in the upper chest before fleeing. 12-gauge shot fragmented into
the officer’s left lung.
Pol. L/C Pornsap Supaporn rushed his seriously injured
partner to Pattaya International Hospital, where Pol. Sgt. Sahapan
underwent emergency surgery.
A 50-officer posse was then assembled to track down
Kasem. The search continued throughout the night, and police were
eventually able to track down the man’s older brother, Salee Suchpiphat,
in Pluak Daeng, Rayong.
Upon initial questioning Salee denied all knowledge of
his brother’s crime. However, police finally wore down Salee and he
eventually told police that Kasem had visited him after the shooting and
described what had happened. He also left the weapon with him. Salee
eventually told police of his brother’s whereabouts.
Almost 12 hours after the shooting, police burst into
an unregistered address in Soi Wat Boon in Jomtien and found Kasem
sleeping. Kasem was promptly taken to Pattaya Police station where he
tried to defend his actions by stating that when Pol. Sgt. Sahapan went to
apprehend him he panicked, pulled out the gun, and accidentally shot the
police officer.
Kasem Suchpiphat was remanded in custody and charged
with the attempted murder of a police officer.
Ex-go-go dancing katoey arrested with 1,000 speed pills
Faces life imprisonment
Woman of the second category, Chula Pongdhamsingh was
arrested at the PTT petrol station on Thepprasit Road with 1000 speed
pills in her possession. Police officers, who had earlier received an
anonymous tip about the transaction, lay in wait for the unsuspecting
Chula to produce the goods. When police made their move, they found the
drugs stuffed in a pocket.
Once back at the police station, further interrogation
revealed that Chula, aged 37, had previously worked as a go-go dancer in a
gay bar in Pattaya and turned to moonlighting after amounting a large
gambling debt.
He said that she had received the drugs from another
major agent 200-300 pills at a time, and mainly sold to service girls and
motorbike taxi drivers in the city.
Chula is now facing life imprisonment for distribution
of a class 1 illegal substance under the new anti-drug legislation.
Frustrated foreign resident attacks 2 Thai women
Doesn’t like to drink alone
Russell Egon (sic) from Australia apparently
doesn’t like to drink alone. Earlier this week, after his neighbor Kanya
Gertsuwan refused to join him for a drink in his Yam Yim apartment off
Pattaya 3rd Road, Egon allegedly became so enraged at the woman’s
refusal, he pulled out a .22 Beretta pistol and fired a shot, narrowly
missing Kanya’s head.
Not satisfied, Egon calmly, albeit wobbly, lined up for
another shot. Fortunately, the gun jammed. Hearing the shot, Poo Suwanwong
rushed to the aid of her friend. Still in a fit of rage, Egon allegedly
brutally pistol-whipped Poo with the Beretta.
 Kanya
Gertsuwan and Poo Suwanwong point to Russell Egon (sic) from
Australia who they said shot at Kanya, then pistol-whipped Poo because
they refused to drink with him.
When police arrived on the scene after residents in the
building reported the disturbance, they found both women shaking and in a
state of shock.
Police restrained the 68-year-old Australian but not
before one of the women, not surprisingly, retaliated by hitting Egon in
the face.
At the police station, further questioning revealed
that Egon has lived in the Yam Yim Apartment house for the last 7 seven
years. During that period he said his room was robbed a number of times.
Egon said he suspected someone in close proximity to his room and
explained he had purchased the weapon to protect himself and his
belongings.
Egon was already inebriated when he asked Kanya to join
him. She said she saw that he was drunk and politely refused. Obviously
the rejection was too much to handle.
Kanya said she knew she had narrowly escaped death
since the gun was pointed directly at her head.
Egon has been charged with attempted murder and illegal
possession of a firearm in a populated area. He will now have plenty of
“friends” to drink (water) with at the local lock-up.
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