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Pattaya, the perfect place
for action man (and action woman)
Chatchanan Chaisree
No one can ever say that Pattaya City lacks variety in
its range of activities, and some of the attractions are a prime reason for
coming here.
Take Paintball, for example. This is a way of shooting
your friends or your boss without getting into serious trouble.
Hiding
behind an oil tank to attack the opposite team.
The game is run like a military action out in the
wilderness. Players are kitted out in special clothing and protective
equipment, handed a paintball gun each, and divided into teams. Then they
attack a rival team with the object of seizing the “enemy’s” flag.
Opponents are gunned down, with a judge present to ensure the “dead”
don’t get up again.
Paintball is more than just fun for tourists, it has
evolved into an important team bonding exercise for the corporate sector,
which now forms a substantial part of the business.
Bungee jumping is another attraction that draws those
visitors who like just a little extra in the way of a challenge.
Od has
more than 15 years’ experience in bungee jumping.
The jumping platform is about 60 meters from the ground
– the height of a 20-story building. A jump master controls the process,
weighing the jumper so that he or she is equipped with the correct kind of
chord. These are color-coded for extra safety: a green chord is for weights
of between 40 and 60kg, red for 70-80kg, and black for 80-100kg. For the
heavyweights, the chord is doubled up: 200kg is the maximum loading.
Pattaya Mail watched Od take a jump. Od has 15 years
experience in bungee jumping. He says that the first time he was not afraid,
but the second time he felt a sudden pang of fear. After that was easier for
him.
Od, a presenter for the publicity film for the jump, says
the technique is to stand in a straight vertical position, lift both hands,
and spring out a little for the dive. It does you good to shout out loud
too, says Od, although probably many people do that out of sheer fear.
Go-karting is another attraction that brings in the
visitors, and in addition to tourists it is very popular amongst incentives
groups.
There is a training track here for adults and children,
and a track for those who can already handle the karts, and there is also a
section of the grounds for off-road driving.
There are plenty more activities in Pattaya that can set the blood
racing, such as parasailing and mountain biking. But there are other more
contemplative activities such as horse riding and windsurfing. In other
words, something for everyone. And no doubt the list will keep on growing.
Idols on parade
Chatchanan Chaisree
Kornkanok Pongsomboon, a Thai Buddhist lady with a gypsy
dress style, owns a shop in Pattaya that sells religious figurines for
several different beliefs. Buddhists, Hindus and followers of other
religions come here to pick up their images of the Buddha, Siva, Aumatavee,
Ganesha, Kuan-Im and others.
 Kornkanok,
the shop owner displays the goods distributed in her shop.
Particularly popular are the imported images of Deva,
made from seven kinds of metal. Also popular are the perfumes, textiles,
joss sticks and sandalwood from India. From China come ceramic images, and
from Thailand carefully handcrafted items from the north.
Some of Kornkanok’s customers are believers, some are tourists after an
interesting souvenir, and some visit because the shop is a highly unique and
distinctive outlet and its owner a colorful lady.
Schoolchildren taught
the basics of food hygiene
Narisa Nitikarn
Food hygiene can never begin too early, which is why city
hall recently staged a training session for schoolchildren, teaching them
about the food we eat, its nutritional value, cooking cleanliness, and how
to avoid toxic substances.
Students
from City schools and private schools in the area enjoy taste testing the
food.
Recently, a Little Food and Nutrition school volunteer
consumer protection program course was attended by 200 pupils from 10
Pattaya City schools and eight private schools, along with teacher
representatives from each school.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn opened the session, with
Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rermkijakarn also attending.
Mayor Niran said that clean and nutritious food is
especially important for children whose bodies are growing. So much of the
food we eat has additives or toxic substances, said the mayor, and
recognizing this is important.
City hall had decided on the training session so that
each school would have a number of pupils who could pass on their knowledge
to their classmates, their families and the community.
The course was organized in conjunction with the Public Health and
Environmental Department. Children attending the training received a
certificate from the mayor, and were awarded the title “Little Or Yor
(Food and Nutrition)”.
Royal Cliff Beach Resort goes Wi-Fi
The Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya’s leading hotel
and meetings venue, recently signed an agreement with United Information
Highway (UIH) and Turnkey Communication Service (KTC) to bring 2Mbps
high-speed wireless access to guests of the 5-star, luxury resort. The
installation of the 2Mbps wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet service will make the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort the first convention resort in Thailand to offer
such high-speed wireless Internet access at its premises.
The
Royal Cliff Beach Resort recently signed an agreement with United
Information Highway (UIH) and Turnkey Communication Service (KTC) to bring
2Mbps high-speed wireless access to guests of the 5-star resort.
Earlier this year, all rooms in the Royal Cliff Grand
were equipped with high-speed Internet access and currently, there are
“M-Web wireless Hotspots” run by KSC in some public areas of the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort’s two largest hotels - the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel and
the Royal Cliff Grand. The new agreement will mean full resort-wide wireless
Internet coverage, both in all public places, including the Royal Cliff
Sports & Fitness Club and inside each and every room at the resort. With
the addition of the 2Mbps wireless access, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort can
now easily stake a claim as one of the most technologically-advanced hotels
in Thailand.
“In this day and age, high-speed Internet access is
absolutely essential to all businesses. The RCBR has two kinds of clients -
FIT guests and business delegates. The Pattaya Exhibition and Convention
Hall (PEACH), which can accommodate up to 5,000 persons, is also one of our
facilities. High-speed Internet, therefore, is very important and we want to
ensure that we are the first property to provide this service, because
exceeding our clients’ expectations has become our trademark. We are also
the first property to provide wireless Internet access in both public and
private areas to increase guests’ satisfaction,” said managing director
of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Panga Vathanakul during the signing
ceremony.
Surachet Hirankittisak, department director of sales
& key account dept for UIH, which pioneered wireless Internet access in
Thailand, confirmed the announcement, “UIH cooperated with TKC, whose main
expertise lies in integrating business solutions, while UIH is the leader in
providing rapid communication systems with wide coverage in this country.
Our team has the ability to take care of your clients, many of whom are top
management executives from around the world, and to deliver convenience and
satisfaction to your guests with 2Mbps wireless high-speed Internet at their
fingertips. The Royal Cliff Beach Resort team showed full confidence in our
success, and therefore we are happy to engage in this partnership.”
Speaking on behalf of TKC, Manat Suksaman, the chairman of TKC,
announced, “TKC operates System Integration Business to exceed clients’
expectations in order to develop the Network Systems, Wireless Communication
Systems, and the automatic controller machines. Our team has the expertise
in Information and Technology Systems and is able to advice and provide
timely service, which will lead to the resort’s clients’ satisfaction
with our services.”
Philippines slams Canada, UK advisories
The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) has
deplored the renewal of travel advisories against the Philippines by Canada
and the UK.
The Canadian travel warning cited the increased
possibility of protests and demonstrations, particularly in Manila, due to
recent political developments, while the UK advisory said it believed
terrorists and criminal elements planned to kidnap foreign tourists from
islands and coastal areas south of Panay in southern Philippines. Both
advisories also warned of terrorist threats.
PTAA president, Marciano Ragaza, stressing the
Philippines was a safe and viable destination for holidaymakers, noted that
demonstrations had been peaceful and there had been no untoward incidents
against tourists or foreign nationals.
He said, “We are particularly concerned with the UK’s
revised warning considering that London, with all due respect to those
affected by the recent bombings, seems to be a more dangerous place than
Manila these days.”
Ragaza added, while he understood the rationale behind
the advisories, the latter should reflect a more accurate picture of the
current situation. He said, “These travel advisories and warnings have
been quite unfair to the Philippines. There needs to be a more realistic and
equitable manner in which they are worded.” (TTG Asia)
Jonathan Wigley appointed group general manager Marriott Resorts & Spas, Thailand
Kevin J. Beauvais, chief operating officer of Minor
International Public Company Limited has promoted Jonathan Wigley as the new
group general manager of Marriott Resorts & Spas, Thailand.
 Jonathan
Wigley
A British native, born in West Yorkshire, UK, Wigley
started his hotel career in 1986. He has much experience in sales &
marketing as well as extensive knowledge of food & beverage and rooms
division. He is also well versed in Asian culture and traditions for having
worked in Asia since 1991. Prior to this position, he was general manager of
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa.
Wigley will be responsible for overseeing overall operations of Marriott
Resorts & Spa’s Hotel Group in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Pattaya. His focus
will be on operations and operational planning, brand audits, enhancement
execution, sales & marketing efforts and promotional synergies.
Global futurist to speak at IT&CMA/CTW
Global futurist Mr Rohit Talwar will keynote Incentive
Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel
World 2005.
The premier Asia-Pacific travel trade exhibition and
conference for worldwide MICE professionals and corporate travel managers
will be held at the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (PEACH),
Thailand, from October 11 - 13.
Talwar said, “Our world is getting smaller, change is
happening faster and customers are demanding ever more from travel
experiences. The travel industry needs to understand these forces shaping
the future and respond in innovative ways.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to inform,
shock, entertain and most of all motivate the delegates to look at the
future with great optimism and inspire them to get the maximum value from
the whole conference.”
With support from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition
Bureau and various national associations and organizations, IT&CMA/CTW
2005 expects 2,000 delegates.
For more information, please contact Ms Wendy Chan, TTG
Asia Media, tel: (65)6395 7513, fax: (65) 6536 0896, email: wendy.chan @
ttgasia.com. (TTG Asia)
Starwood to plant first Sheraton in Pattaya
Grace Chia
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced
that the first Sheraton resort will open in Pattaya in 2006.
The 156-room Sheraton Pattaya Resort will be the first
new five-star resort to open in Pattaya in recent years. Overseeing the Gulf
of Siam, the resort has 42 deluxe ocean front pavilions and two luxury beach
front villas, each with private pools.
Additional facilities include the exclusive Amburaya Spa,
wireless internet access, business center, restaurants, fitness center and
five meeting and function rooms able to open up to a terrace to accommodate
350 guests. The Pattaya Exhibition and Conference Hall (PEACH) is adjacent
to the resort. (TTG Asia)
Happy 40th birthday Singapore
Tourists to the Lion City were in a festive mood on
August 9, the day Singapore turned 40.
One highlight was a flotilla of luxury yachts that sailed
out to the waters off Singa Buoy to observe the fireworks display.
Singapore’s newest and grandest marina club, ONEฐ15
Marina Club, organized the flotilla, part of ONEฐ15’s National Day
Boat Jamboree festivity. The yachts are owned and crewed by members of the
club and passengers included club members, guests and representatives from
the Singapore press corps.
Nestling in Sentosa Cove, alongside multi-million dollar
residences and five-star hotels, ONEฐ15 is expected to be the crown
jewel of this world-class waterfront lifestyle development. It is
deliberately named to pinpoint its nautical location - one degree 15 minutes
north of the Equator.
It will be Asia’s first purpose-built mega-yacht center
with full facilities. It will be equipped with the international Ship and
Port Security System to monitor mega yachts and other vessels cruising in
the region. In addition, it will be a convenient gateway to boating
destinations around Singapore and Asia. They include Singapore’s Southern
Island, Indonesia’s Nongsa Point Marinas and Bintan Resorts, and
Malaysia’s Sebana Cove, Port Dickson, Sibu Island, Tioman Island and
Kukup.
ONEฐ15 is scheduled to open in the first quarter of
2007
Minimum room rate imposed
The Malaysian government has made it mandatory for
five-star hotels to impose a minimum overnight room rate of US$80 starting
next April, Malaysia’s deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
was quoted by local news agency Bernama as saying.
The minister said the Cabinet Committee on Tourism had
agreed upon new guidelines at its first meeting, which he chaired on
Tuesday.
He said, “To add revenue from tourists, the committee
has decided for all five-star hotels to charge not less than US$80 per night
for a room, effective from next year’s tourism contract season which is
expected to start in April.”
He added that the minimum rate is appropriate as it is
lower than neighboring cities, but is enough to ensure investor’s return
on investments. (TTG Asia)
India to build night zoo
Attracted by the success of similar attractions in
Singapore and China, India is set to build its own nighttime animal theme
park.
The project, called Safari India, is to be developed on a
60.7-hectare plot of land in Greater New Okhla Industrial Development
Authority (NOIDA) within the capital vicinity of New Delhi.
No timeframe has been given for the completion of the
project.
The Utta Pradesh (UP) tourism and forest departments have
given an in principal approval for the project. UP Principal Secretary for
Industry Ravindra Singh, said the project will cost between US$21 million
(Bt.840 million) to US$31.5 million (Bt.1.26 billion). A team of officials
from the central and the UP government is scheduled to visit China and
Singapore to study their night zoos.
Mr Singh told the media Safari India would offer
wholesome entertainment apart from adding value to the profile of Greater
Noida. (TTG Asia)
Trisara boosts room count
Trisara in Phuket will add 18 ocean view pool suites by
November 1, bringing its total room inventory to 42.
Meanwhile, the resort has added a seafront meeting room
with audiovisual equipment including an LCD projector, digital projection
screen, wireless microphones, eight-channel mixing desk, Bose speaker system
and Wifi broadband access.
The room can accommodate 40 guests and next to it is a 64
square meter breakout room and a secretarial room. (TTG Asia)
Banner month for Hong Kong tourism
Hong Kong received its highest number of arrivals in
June, at 1,742,745 visitors, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board
(HKTB). The NTO said this was a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent.
The strongest markets were long haul, namely Europe,
Africa and the Middle East with 121,759 visitors (an increase of 37.9
percent), and Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific with 55,928 visitors
(an increase of 33.9 percent).
Arrivals from North Asia grew by 13.9 percent to 147,898,
the Americas by 9.1 percent to 128,866, mainland China by 2.1 percent to
885,596 and South and South-east Asia by 3.1 percent to 192,279.
HKTB Executive Director, Clara Chong, said: “Thanks to
the exceptional performances of many of our long- and short-haul markets
during the past six months, we’ve comfortably surpassed our half-yearly
target by attracting more than 10.97 million visitors.” (TTG Asia)
Government preps public
for Disneyland launch
Prudence Lui
The Hong Kong Tourism Commission and Transport Department
will jointly print 300,000 information booklets to introduce the opening
arrangements of Hong Kong Disneyland and the various public facilities in
detail.
The park will kick start rehearsal days on August 16, the
same day as the opening of Inspiration Lake. The Disneyland Resort Pier is a
public pier by the Park Promenade and will be open to private vessels,
yachts and tour vessels free-of-charge and round-the-clock. However, public
ferry service is not available.
The government urges visitors to use public transport
services and plan their trip ahead. Details of the transport arrangements
have been uploaded on website www.td.gov.hk. The hotline for enquiries is
(852) 2804 2600. (TTG Asia)
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