Foreign and Thai tourists are pouring into Talu Island
and Sang Island to experience the underwater world paradise in the
southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, located some 281 km south of
Bangkok.
Preeda Charuanpak, managing director of Ban Maprao -
Koh Talu Resort described the two islands as the new popular skin diving
and snorkeling sites, saying that about 200 foreign tourists from Hua Hin
and Cha Am flock to Talu Island for snorkeling during weekdays, whereas on
the weekends most of tourists are Thai.
“I can say that the number of tourists has recently
increased. Perhaps they enjoy coming to Talu Island because it is the
nearest beautiful diving site from Bangkok,” he said.
Preeda added that safety is the number one priority for
divers. Everyone should put on a life jacket and other diving accessories
while diving.
Besides the snorkeling sites around Talu Island, which
provide habitats for a variety of marine creatures, the fascinating coral
reef near Sang Island is a prominent scuba diving area.
Likit Boonyasit, district fisheries expert for Bang
Sapan Noi said according to a survey, the dive site near Talu and Sang
Islands has a lot of sea animals such as staghorn coral, table coral, disc
coral, sea anemones and feather stars. Scaly giant clams, aged between one
to five years, are also abundant.
Likit said buoys are placed to mark the coral reef zone
and boats are not allowed to drop the anchor in the area. Tourists must
help protect the coral reefs. They should not touch or collect coral from
the seabed.
Paramee Phechsum, 37, a tourist from Bangkok said that
the snorkeling site near Talu and Sang Islands is second to none amongst
the famous sites in the south of Thailand. However, she said she was
afraid that its growing reputation would bring more tourists and natural
resources could be damaged by reckless travelers who have damaged other
diving areas in Thailand’s waters. “The human factor is the key to
maintaining the abundance of marine life in Thai waters,” she said. (TNA)
Qantas Airways and British Airways would like to
correct information that has been reported in several publications re
airlines reducing their flights operating to Bangkok, and changing their
stopover from Bangkok to Singapore.
Qantas Airways and British Airways have reduced their
flights operating to and from Bangkok during the summer schedules from 01
April to 25 October 2002.
British Airways made a commercial decision to reduce
its schedule to Bangkok from March 2002 as part of the downturn in the
aviation industry after 11th September. The three times a week service
(BA19 and BA20) from London to Bangkok were suspended. There was never any
shift in flights from Bangkok to Singapore by British Airways.
Qantas Airways transferred its flights operating to and
from Bangkok during the summer schedule due to commercial reasons. The
airline suspended seven flights including four Melbourne-Bangkok-Rome
flights and three Melbourne-Bangkok-Frankfurt flights. Singapore has been
a leading hub in Southeast Asia of Qantas Airways.
Currently, British Airways operates daily flights from
Bangkok to Sydney and Sydney to Bangkok and daily flights from Bangkok to
London and London to Bangkok (14 flights per week). Bangkok continues to
be an important gateway for both Qantas Airways and British Airways daily
flights from Bangkok to London and London to Bangkok (14 flights per
week). Bangkok continues to be an important gateway for both Qantas
Airways and British Airways between Australia and Europe.
The days between September 19th and September 24th will be
very exiting for Pattaya. A group of 90 counter-travel sales people from all
over Germany will be here to take a close look at the city and its changes.
A look at the program shows there is excitement in store
for the visitors as well since the city, TAT, a few hotels and tourist
attractions will do their utmost to make these young people’s stay a
remarkable one.
The Germans will be staying at the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort and will be treated to this hotel’s famous hospitality.
Vice-director of the Tourism Organization of Thailand
Frankfurt, Frank Hauser will attend the conference and members of the German
media have also been invited.
TAT Germany Mega Fam Trip to Pattaya was organized to
improve German tourists’ perception of Pattaya. To achieve this, travel
operators and counter travel sales people who are directly in contact with
guests need to be informed beforehand. Those are the people who pass on
information to the traveling public and who can do a lot to publicize and
promote Pattaya in a positive way. The city council, TAT officers and hotels
administrators are joining hands in this Mega Fam Trip project.
TAT’s offices in Pattaya and in Frankfurt are working
together to show the distinguished guests all the improvements Pattaya has
undergone during the past few years. They really need to come here to see for
themselves that Pattaya’s sea is clean now and absolutely safe to swim in.
They will verify that the city has improved tremendously
and find that Pattaya’s nightlife is at the same level as in any big city
in the world - some say much better, but surely not worse! Pattaya has
nothing to hide any more. Pattaya can be proud of itself and its citizens.
After the welcome party on the first day of their stay,
joined by China Airlines, RCBR, TAT, and Eva Air, the guests will be treated
to a boat trip on the famous Royal Cliff Beach Resort catamaran, the Island
Dream. The trip will bring them to Bamboo Island, where they can enjoy the
beauty of a typical island in Thailand.
After an exciting day there, they will be brought back to
South Pattaya for a swim in the sea. The mayor of Pattaya, Pairat
Suttithamrongsawat and another guest of honor, Miss Thailand, will join the
crowd.
All this will be video taped for broadcasting in
Germany’s media some time later this year. Hopefully, many people in
Germany and her neighbor countries will be watching the program and will
learn that Pattaya Bay is now a clean and unpolluted place to swim.
After dinner at the Royal Cliff poolside, the young people
are going to have a wild night out at the Xzyte Pub.
A dinner will be served Friday evening at the Dusit
Resort’s luxurious terrace, the “The Point”. Emcee of the evening is
the ever-charming Ingo Rauber, General Manager Chachawal will present a
welcoming speech and the Honey Bees will let their legs fly for entertainment
during the sumptuous buffet time.
The next day, right after breakfast, the guests will split
up into groups of 20 to visit and get familiar with Pattaya’s hotels, where
they will be provided with lunch as well. Later on they will stroll
Pattaya’s streets, the beach promenade, shopping malls and Walking Street;
again to familiarize themselves with the facilities Pattaya has to offer.
Dinner will be partaken on the beach in the evening to let
the esteemed visitors watch the sunset, which is, according to many Pattaya
guests, one of the best in the whole world. Besides the sunset, the guests
will also be treated to Thai boxing and Thai dancing shows during dinner. The
Diana Inn, who’s owner Sopin Thappajug is always a very generous hostess,
will be supplying the band for the evening.
Not breakfast at Tiffany’s, but show time at Tiffany’s
is on the program after this open-air dinner. Transvestites are part of
Pattaya’s life and their shows here are amongst the best of their kind.
On Sunday, the group will be brought to the Horseshoe
Point. The owners, twin brothers Chainarin and Chaikiri Srifuengfung will
welcome the guests for lunch, and will treat them to their spectacular show
and let them ride with the wind.
All the guests will then ride (by bus) to World Gems to
take a look at precious stones and gems, before going to “Get Set” with
Moon River Pub’s outstanding new band. The Thai Garden Resort is hosting a
dinner for the guests that same evening, where they can enjoy the cozy
atmosphere of the Pub and dance the night away.
To demonstrate trips the guests can take, the travel
agents will be visiting Koh Samet, the National Park Island near Pattaya -
mixing business with pleasure - since hotels there will have to be inspected
as well.
After a full day in the sand and sun, something rocky is
missing. Yes, the Hard Rock Hotel! Here something else is waiting for the
German guests. A typical German night will be held, with ‘ump-ta-ta’
music - Thais in “Lederhosen” and lots of German beer and food. This will
signal that they will soon be back in Germany and to let the customers know
that everything under the sun is available in Pattaya and that Pattaya is
ready for the Germans!
