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Ambassador of Peru visits Pattaya International Music Festival
On March 20, H.E. Carlos Velasco took in the Pattaya
International Music Festival just 3 weeks after arriving at his new post as
the Peruvian Ambassador to Thailand. While in Pattaya/Jomtien he was the
guest at Pattaya Hill Resort and Spa where he was greeted by the general
manager, Mrs. Pathama Boonta (Pat). He was also met by the Thailand Tourism
Authority director in Pattaya, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, who presented the
ambassador with flowers and a discount booklet used as a promotion for
tourists to enjoy the different activities in Pattaya.
 H.E.
Carlos Velasco and Bobby Brooks, the new MD at Pattaya Hill Resort and Spa.
(Photo by Suchada Tupchai)
The ambassador attended the music festival with former
SCCA Racing champion and American Indy Car Series director, Bobby Brooks,
who is also MD for the new owners of the Pattaya Hill Resort and Spa.
Musicians from the Armchair and Saturday Seiko groups, who performed at the
event, also greeted the ambassador and Bobby Brooks at the music festival.
The ambassador showed keen interest in the opportunities that Bangkok and
Pattaya’s Eastern Seaboard have to offer as a way to mutual trade and
economic benefits between the two countries of Peru and Thailand.
Government to pour billions into fighting severe drought
The government has set aside a budget of 200 billion baht
to provide a long-term solution to the drought problem, Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra announced. He said there is a comprehensive plan to
improve the country’s irrigation system and to build new dams to prevent
the reoccurrence of severe drought. However, the prime minister declined to
go into details about how many dams would be built.
“The plan will include new dam and reservoir
construction to help tackle the water shortage and to provide sufficient
supplies for the future,” he said. Any river-based projects will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
Thaksin also said that the government has set aside an
emergency budget to help farmers affected by the current drought. The money
will be allocated on an individual needs basis. Funds have been earmarked,
too, for the digging of artesian wells to provide fresh water for both
community and agricultural use.
The prime minister said cloud-seeding operations were
also in full swing to fight the drought. At the same time, governors in
drought-hit provinces had been ordered to ensure water supplies were
distributed to local residents.
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has put the damage bill of the
current drought at two billion baht more than expected, cutting the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.18 per cent more than earlier
projected.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister
Newin Chidchob predicted that while this year’s drought was severe, the
rainy season was expected earlier than usual because of the nationwide
artificial rain-making operation.
The deputy minister said fleets of aircraft from seven
cloud-seeding bases had begun their mission, focusing on the hardest-hit 19
provinces in northeastern region. (TNA)
Government eyes biotechnology to boost fish yields
The Department of Fisheries recently announced that it
was jumping on the bandwagon of genetic modification, harnessing
biotechnology to modify Thai fish breeds and boost yields.
According to director-general Niwat Suthimeechaikul, the
department is currently drawing up biotechnology development plans for
research into the modification of fish breeds, with the aim of producing
strong and healthy brood stock.
To date, aquaculture farmers have often lacked good brood
stock, and the brood stock available on the market has not been certified by
either origin or quality. The result has often been poor yields and high
production costs.
The Fisheries Department is conscious of the fact that by
the year 2008, the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB)
wants the fisheries sector to be recording annual growth rates of 11.22
percent, with annual yields of freshwater fish rising from 206,000 tons at
present to 233,000 tons next year.
Speaking of the need to develop new genetically modified strains of fish
to achieve these targets, Niwat said that his department was also poised to
establish a brood stock bank which would sell its products on to aquaculture
farmers. It will also seek to conserve existing fish breeds for future
development. (TNA)
Improved irrigation needed to keep Thai rice competitive
Thailand must improve the country’s irrigation
infrastructure if Thai rice exports are to compete with emerging competitors
including China and Vietnam, a leading expert warned. Thailand is the
world’s top rice exporter, but is only the sixth biggest producer. Rice
cultivation in Thailand is heavily dependent on rain, and output per acreage
is low compared to other countries, according to Somsak Thongdeethae,
Director of Pathumthani Rice Research Center.
Thailand’s rice producers need an improved irrigation
system to give them regular access to water throughout the year round as
many of the popular varieties of rice consume large amounts of water, Somsak
said.
“China and Vietnam are working hard to develop fragrant
rice varieties. If Thailand does not improve, it may lose its share of the
fragrant rice export market. Labor is cheaper, and the soil composition and
water supply relatively better in both China and Vietnam than in Thailand,
enabling these countries to produce rice at a lower cost. Countries, which
are currently key importers of Thai rice, are also developing hybrid
varieties suitable for local production, including India, Myanmar,
Philippines and Indonesia,” he said.
Thailand should also draw up a long-term rice production
plan and allocate different zones for specific varieties of rice in line
with domestic and export demand, the expert said. (TNA)
NESDB concerned over fivefold increase in credit card debt
Thailand could become a society of luxury consumption in
which the public fails to save their earnings, the National Economic and
Social Development Board (NESDB) warned, pointing to a fivefold increase in
credit card debt.
According to NESDB studies revealed by the board’s
secretary-general, Ampon Kittiampon, the period from 1999 to the third
quarter of 2004 saw the number of credit cards in use in Thailand rise from
1.6 million to 8.2 million.
Most worryingly, the social group which recorded the
highest rate of credit card debt was the group with monthly income levels of
under 10,000 baht. Describing the situation as ‘critical’, Mr. Ampon
noted that credit cards were being used to purchase luxury goods and
entertainment, and that the public was turning away from saving money.
The NESDB will hold talks with the Bank of Thailand (BOT)
to discuss rising credit card usage, and will also focus its attention on
the advertising tactics used by credit card companies to attract new
customers. At the same time, the NESDB will look at whether credit card
applicants are being thoroughly assessed prior to the decision to issue them
with cards. (TNA)
Patong beach needs two years to recover
Patong, a main tourist beach in Thailand’s southern
resort province of Phuket, will need at least two years to recover fully,
according to local tourist officials. More European tourists are, however,
expected to visit Phuket between November and December this year, said the
provincial governor, Udomsak Assavarangkul.
But a lot of work is needed before the paradise island is
fully revived and able to attract tourists back to the resorts, according to
the head of the entertainment operators’ club on the Patong Beach, Sompet
Musophon.
Udomsak said many hotel rooms had been booked in advance.
But many tour companies have told the governor that European tourists were
reluctant to visit Phuket because of their lingering sorrow over last
December’s tsunami disaster. The province’s deputy governor has been
made responsible for coordinating assistance to the foreign private sector.
Sompet said the situation at Patong was still bad as a
result of the falling number of tourists. Workers in the entertainment
industry have had to seek work elsewhere, for example, in Pattaya City,
Bangkok and on Samui Island in the southern Surat Thani Province. (TNA)
Hotelier complains of monkey business
Monkeys entering Prachuab Khiri Khan town in southern
Thailand to flee the drought are proving such an annoyance that they are
threatening the local tourism industry, a local hotelier warned yesterday.
Songkhram Sangsiri, manager of Hat Thong Hotel, told
reporters that both Thai and foreign clients had complained of the troops of
monkeys from Khao Chong Krajok in the vicinity of the beachside hotel.
The monkeys, which are facing severe food and water
shortages due to the current drought conditions, are said to be climbing
along low-voltage electricity wires into the town in their search for food.
According to Dr. Rach Praditsathawong, a leading local
conservationist, the troop of over 2,000 monkeys has long been a problem for
the town, and no agency has yet offered to come in and address the issue.
Although in the past local officials attempted to
sterilize the male monkeys, the program proved unsuccessful due to high
costs and the side effects of anesthetizing the animals. (TNA)
Rehabilitation of tourist sites in Phuket in rapid progress
The rehabilitation of tourist sites in Phuket has been in
rapid progress since they were afflicted by the tsunami disaster almost
three months ago, according to Provincial Governor Udomsak Assawarangkul. He
said the progress in the rebuilding of tsunami-affected tourist destinations
in the province had been more rapid than those in other provinces in the
first two months. A budget of 300 million baht has already been set aside
for the rehabilitation of Patong and Kamala Beaches.
Of this, 200 million baht is allocated for the Patong
Beach and another 100 million for the Kamala Beach. The province was in the
process of selecting a building contractor for the rehabilitation task.
Udomsak said the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA)
had earmarked a budget for the installation of power transmission lines
underground in Patong, Kamala and Krata-Kraron Beaches. The project has
already been incorporated in the development plan.
On the Patong Beach order, he said, the municipality had
begun the task earlier; so local people could earn incomes to make ends meet
first. (TNA)
Songkran revelers told to go easy on water
The traditional Thai New Year festival this year could be
a little less wet this year if revelers - who traditionally drench each
other in buckets of water - follow an Interior Ministry directive to go easy
on the water due to the current drought.
Interior Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said that orders
will be issued for the Songkran period, warning that the drought situation
would worsen if revelers used water with their usual abandon.
However, he denied reports that 12,000 villagers across
the country only had sufficient water for the next 10 days, saying that the
governors of the provinces affected had assured him that there would be
enough water as long as it was used sparingly. He also urged villagers
facing water shortages to contact their provincial governor or district
chief as soon as possible. (TNA)
Songkran parade goes international
The parade through the streets of Bangkok to mark the
traditional Thai New Year festival of Songkran will take on fresh color this
year with the participation of foreign nations, a move which the Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT) hopes will serve to boost tourism.
Parades to mark Songkran, better known abroad as the
Water Festival, will be held in several places across the country from April
9-15, but the TAT will emphasize events in Bangkok, which will be centered
on Rachadamnoen Avenue.
According to TAT Governor Juthamas Siriwan, the TAT has
invited participants from several countries to take place in the parade on 9
April, and has already received affirmative replies from 30 nations.
Describing the participation of foreigners as a new
highlight of the festival, Juthamas said that this year’s Songkran
festivities would help promote Thailand abroad. (TNA)
Tourist numbers reduced to trickle
as drought hits north
Tourist numbers in Mae Hong Son Province are drying up as
rivers and waterfalls succumb to the nation’s crippling drought, according
to local national park officials.
Suwit Janyadara, an official at Nam Tok Pha Suea National
Park, told reporters that the drought was so severe that the Pha Suea
waterfall had now completely dried up. As a result, only a small handful of
tourists were visiting the site each day, and were coming away disappointed.
His reports were collaborated by Siri-orn Rangsiritanon,
manager of Mae Hong Son TN Tours, who noted that several tour companies had
abandoned trips to the northern province altogether due to the drought. She
also pointed to the fact that the Pai River, normally popular for rafting
and longboat trips, had now been reduced to little more than a trickle. As a
result, longboats which could once take up to eight tourists were being
forced to take only 4-5 passengers to prevent the boats scraping against the
riverbed. (TNA)
Amari Watergate supports Distance Learning Foundation
Thanit
Vajarodaya, on behalf of Kwankaew Vajarodaya, president of the Distance
Learning Foundation, recently received a donation from Pierre Andre
Pelletier, Amari Watergate Hotel general manager. The donation came from
funds raised during a photo exhibition titled “Golden Land”, which the
hotel organized to support the foundation. Photo shows: Thanit Vajarodaya
(2nd right), the foundation’s public relations committee vice president,
receiving the donation from Pierre Andre Pelletier (center), as looking on
from left are: Thatphol Vajarodaya, Nisara Kumphong, asst. PR manager of the
hotel, and Nichaya Chaivisuth, the hotel’s director of public relations.
Etihad Airlines hosts seminar and party for Pattaya travel agencies
The Arab airline Etihad has now been operating for one
year in Thailand. What a good time to have a party to thank customers and
supporters!
 Chaiyavut
‘Billy’ Chomsakon gives a speech at the opening of Etihad’s party in
the Dusit Resort Pattaya.
Held at the Napalai function room in the Dusit Resort,
Pattaya, the party took place on last month to thank employees of the
airlines, and employees and managers of local travel agencies. Besides a
sumptuous buffet, there were also a number of fun games prepared for the
guests in a cozy and fun atmosphere.
Chaiyavut ‘Billy’ Chomsakon, Etihad’s sales and
marketing manager for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, heartily welcomed all
guests and splendidly filled the role of the master of ceremonies for the
evening. Hilarious games and a karaoke contest were on the program. The
evening closed with a lucky draw, in which many precious prices were won by
those whose luck was running. The party gave attendees a chance to meet and
mingle.
Since November 2003, Etihad has been the national airline of the United
Arab Emirates and is based in Abu Dhabi. On April 2, 2004, Ethihad launched
the first direct services from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok. The airline is one of
the leading air carriers of the Arab world with many destinations in Asian
and Arab countries and is expanding the routes constantly.
New fare structure from Qantas and BA
Qantas and British Airways (BA) will introduce a new and
more flexible fare structure for economy class travel between Australia and
the UK and Europe from April 26.
There will be three fare types. The Qantas Red e-Deal or
BA Value Deal has the most competitively priced fares. The Super Saver
offers mid-range fares with fewer conditions and a wider range of stopovers
and the Flexi Saver has the most flexible fares offering full choice,
variety and additional stopovers.
Qantas executive general manager, John Borghetti said,
“The new fares are aimed at “the price-conscious traveler to those
planning short journeys.” He added similar fare structure changes will
soon occur across the rest of the Qantas network.
BA’s premium economy World Traveler Plus fares will
also be available in the new structure. (TTG Asia)
Phuket Aquarium reopens
The Phuket Aquarium will reopen on April 9 after being
closed for more than two years for an 82-million baht renovation program.
New features include revamped tanks, including one
designed with a nine-meter underwater observation tunnel inspired by
Singapore’s Underworld, and a new layout for the grounds with life-sized
models of fish, dolphins and whales. New species on display include Emperor
Wrasses, squid and seahorses.
Phuket Marine Biological Center chief, Dr Somchai
Bussarawit, said the major share of funds for the centre would come from
overseas visitors, for which the aquarium depended largely on tour
operators.
“We are enlisting the aid of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand to get the word out to international operators that the aquarium is
up and running, and better than ever,” he said.
Cost of entry is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for
children. It is open between 08.30 and 16.00 daily. Email:
[email protected] for more details. (TTG Asia)
Raising the bar
The new Royal Phuket Marina, to be located along
Phuket’s east coast will offer a combination of a marina, luxury homes and
lifestyle facilities.
It is expected to open in September/October, and will
comprise two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, penthouses and villas,
300 berths, restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
The retail and lifestyle product is aimed at the Hong
Kong, Singapore and Bangkok expatriate market for its luxury homes and the
high-end Europe sector for its tourism market. (TTG Asia)
Bangkok Noi to be a cultural tourism site
Bangkok’s municipal authorities and the Fine Arts
Department plan to jointly renovate historical and cultural sites in the
city’s Bangkok Noi district in order to attract more tourists, the
capital’s governor, Apirak Kosayothin, said.
The project is expected to cost 300 million baht. Three
historical and cultural sites are earmarked for improvement, he said.
Under the joint project between the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration (BMA) and the Fine Arts Department, historical and cultural
sites will be restored, scenic points will be built on the waterfront along
the Chao Phraya River, and local transport will be improved. The areas to be
renovated include several temples, mosques, old communities, a barge museum,
a historical railway station and a century-old hospital. (TNA)
SAS consolidates Asian operations
As part of Scandinavian Airlines’ (SAS) cost-cutting
measures that started last year at its head office, the airline will be
consolidating functions in Southeast Asia served by the Bangkok and
Singapore sales office under one area manager based in the Lion City.
The move, expected to reduce the airline’s operational
costs by 20 percent, comes after the consolidation of its Hong Kong office
into China, and the retrenchment of sales staff in offline markets including
Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hanoi and Manila, which are now served by general
sales agents.
Singapore-based general manager Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia and Brunei, Paul Kristensen’s replacement will also be in charge
of Thailand, Indochina, Taiwan and the Philippines, and will start by April
or May.
Bangkok will still be served by the same sales team
headed by a manager, who will now report to the Singapore office. SAS’s
Asia-Pacific regional management office will remain in Bangkok.
SAS is expected to launch flatbeds in its business class
and offer audio/video-on-demand on all long haul flights from Asia by 2006.
By the end of this year, it will also have Internet access on its entire
long haul fleet. (TTG Asia)
Call for more neighborly co-operation
Malaysia’s deputy tourism ministry, Datuk Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi, wants to improve co-operation with its neighbor Singapore to better
target the German market.
Datuk Zahid, who was at ITB in Berlin last month, said
there was already close cooperation with Singapore in targeting Chinese
travelers where Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand combination itineraries were
popular.
“I would like to see the Malaysia-Singapore Tourism
Council become more active and for Malaysian tour operators to work more
closely with their counterparts in Singapore,” he said. He was referring
to the opportunities from the recent tripartite agreement signed by Malaysia
Airlines, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir to promote destinations such as
Sabah, Sarawak and Penang.
“For example, Sarawak received some 21,000 German
visitors last year, and with the airline agreement we can attract more
tourists to Borneo. The interest is there and we need to raise the level of
awareness,” Datuk Zahid said. (TTG Asia)
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