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Dr. Suvit Yodmani, Minister of Tourism and Sports to speak at next Skål meeting
Skål International Pattaya and East Thailand (Club
439) is very fortunate that Dr. Suvit Yodmani, Minister of Tourism and
Sports, has accepted the invitation to speak on Monday, October 22,
2007. His topic in English will be “Improving Pattaya’s Image”. The
landmark event will be held at Sheraton Resort, Pattaya during the
club’s monthly luncheon meeting with registration beginning at 11:30
a.m.
 Dr. Suvit
Yodmani,
Minister of Tourism and Sports
Dr. Suvit Yodmani is one of Thailand’s most respected environmentalists,
academics and technocrats. “Tourism is an export industry that generates
high income for Thailand. At the same time, we have to focus on
attracting up-market visitors and also reduce the zero-cost tour
problem. This will create a good image for Thai tourism and benefit
investors, thus attracting more visitors,” Dr. Suvit said.
The Minister graduated with a doctoral degree from Boston University. He
is a former deputy secretary-general of National Youth Bureau, Founder
and Director of the National Identity Board and Office, Executive
Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) office in the
Asia Pacific. He also is a chairman of the Green Leaf Foundation,
Founder of Elephant Alliance of Thailand, Executive Director of the
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). He is also a former Deputy
Government Spokesman and Government Spokesman under previous
governments.
For more information or to make a booking, please contact Skål
International’s Pattaya office at (038) 303-303.
Coup leader becomes deputy PM
Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, former army commander-in-chief who led the military
junta after last year’s September 19 coup d’etat, was officially appointed
Tuesday as deputy prime minister in the interim government.
Thailand’s HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed the appointment of General
Sonthi, former chairman of the Council of National Security (CNS), in a royal
command which was officially announced on Tuesday.
Gen. Sonthi became a Cabinet member just two days after his mandatory retirement
from the post of army chief and one day after his resignation as head of the
CNS, the military council formerly known as the Council for Democratic Reform
(CDR) which staged a bloodless coup toppling the Thaksin Shinawatra government
on September 19, 2006.
It was widely anticipated that Gen. Sonthi, as deputy premier, would take charge
of security affairs.
Gen. Sonthi’s appointment came at a time when a Cabinet reshuffle was in the
pipeline after five ministers tendered their resignations over the controversial
issue of excessive shareholdings in private companies, as disclosed by the
National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC).
As yet there has been no announcement of the replacement of the ministerial
portfolio vacancies, but it was expected that Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
would soon announce the list of reassigned cabinet members this week. (TNA)
Asia Pacific airports ready for A380
An Airbus A380 superjumbo prepares to touchdown at
the Chiang Mai International Airport. Photo courtesy of Neil Perry
With the first commercial flight of the world’s largest airplane, Airbus A380,
on October 25 poised to make history in the annals of commercial aviation, plane
maker Airbus has announced it is taking its test plane on a “landing tour” of
Asia Pacific airports.
Airbus said in a statement that its test flights will be powered by the new
Engine Alliance GP7000 engines, as part of its technical route tests. A similar
test tour flight was completed using the Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines in 2006.
Its “certification exercise test flights” will “accumulate” destinations in the
US, South America, Middle East and Asia Pacific, while its Asia Pacific stops
will include Dubai, the Philippines and Japan.
So far, Airbus has flown a total of 15 of its A380 on its route “test flight”
demonstrations program around the world.
Its flight tests, among others, will cover plane maintenance and behavior, fuel
efficiency and airport operations which will confirm the aircraft’s readiness
for commercial service. “The technical tests will prove the plane can turn
around under normal conditions,” it said.
Airbus said it is expecting most airlines who have ordered the plane to opt for
an average seat configuration of 525 (medium density layout) seats - more than
471 on SIA, with the exception of Emirates which has opted for 644 (high density
layout) seats. “Airports around the world ready to accept the A380 will in fact
be processing fewer seats than originally expected,” the aircraft manufacturer
said.
Singapore Airlines has made a firm order of 19 planes, with an option for an
additional 6, one of the largest orders for the A380.
“Everyone at Singapore Airlines is keenly anticipating the delivery of the new
plane,” said CEO Chew Choon Seng, commenting on SIA’s first A380 flight to
Sydney, Australia. “The first flight promises to be one of the most exciting
occasions in aviation history.”
According to Sydney-based Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, airports around the
world which have invested on upgrading their airport infrastructure to handle
the A380 may have to wait longer for returns on their investments, as well as
the promised congestion reductions until higher capacity A380 versions enter
service.
“The lower than expected numbers may also affect airports’ income from passenger
charges, duty free, retail and F&B sales,” adds the Center.
To date, Airbus has a total of 173 orders from 14 airlines, out of which 66 will
be delivered to Asian Pacific airlines by 2010. But hit by production delays,
including the loss of 10,000 jobs, the giant twin-deck plane’s first commercial
flight comes two years later than first promised.
By 2025, industry analysts expect up to 800 of the ‘WhaleJet” to be flying in
the world’s skies. (eTN)
Monorail goes through test runs at zoo
Foreigners to pay higher price
The Chiang Mai zoo monorail goes
through tests runs as it prepares to enter into service in November.
Saksit Meesubkwang
The 200 million baht monorail project at the Chiang Mai zoo recently
went through several test runs as it prepares to enter into service in November.
Members of the Board of Zoos Organization of Thailand carried out an inspection
of the project and concluded that more greenery will need to be added along the
routes of the elevated transportation system.
Mr. Prasert Kasemkomase Managing Director of Assets Co Ltd said the construction
of the monorail began in 2005. The contract with the Chiang Mai zoo states that
Assets company will receive 50% of the profits until the term expires and the
zoo will take sole ownership of the monorail in 20 years.
The test runs were conducted to ensure all safety procedures and mechanisms were
in working order. Tests included preparing staff on how to handle situations
such as power cuts or accidents.
The monorail system will has 50 carriages able to transport passengers over a
two kilometer route above the Chiang Mai zoo.
The monorails maximum speed has been set at 35 kilometers per hour.
Ticket prices for Thai nationals have been set at 40 baht while foreigners will
be charged 100 baht for the ride.
The adjacent marine park is still under construction and 70% complete according
to the zoo officials and it is expected to open after the monorail system
becomes operational.
Suvarnabhumi airport development
‘Phase 2’ begins early 2008
Plans to expand Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport will cost
between Bt.48-50 billion and construction is projected to start early in
2008 if there are no problems, airport director Serirat Prasutanond said
recently.
He said the airport is negotiating with the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) to prepare the master plan under the ‘Phase 2’ programme
in which three major constructions would be made.
These three construction phases include building a midfield concourse which
will be separated from the main passenger terminal, an electric train tunnel
linking the midfield concourse and the passenger terminal, and a
3.7-kilometre third runway on the western side of the airport.
It is expected that the ICAO could conclude its study early next year and
construction could start immediately, said Mr. Serirat. Construction for the
second phase programme is expected to take between one to two years and
would be ready to cater to an expected rising number of passengers - as many
as 55 million annually - in the coming three to five years.
Serirat said expansion plans could, however, be delayed if all domestic
flights are moved to Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport. The issue is being
considered by the ICAO and the results of the study should be made public in
late October.
The number of passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport is projected to reach the
government’s target of 45 million in 2008. The airport opened one year ago
on September 28, 2006. (TNA)
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